A warm trickle of light slowly engulfed the yellow pegasi, her sleeping form resting against the bark of an old oak tree. As drops of dew collected in its leaves one fell upon her nose, causing it to twitch and stir. Her eye’s slowly slipped open, quickly shutting with sudden flash of sunlight. Stretching her wings out she could feel all the aches and pains of sleeping rough vanish, the small water droplets running down and soaking her feathers. The yellow mare let out small timid yawn as only she could, her eyes finally adjusted to the bright of day.

Around her she could hear the chirping of swallows and the buzzing of bumble bees, the setting a tranquil escape. But there was one thing still missing, something she couldn’t place her mind on. Of course, how could she forget? Her eye’s desperately searched the trees around her, the forest ahead offering no sign.

“Rainbow?” Fluttershy let escape her lips, the call for help little more than a whisper among the many others. Had she left her behind?

“Rainbow?!” He head began to rush with random thoughts as she quickly began to hover around the clearing. There was still no sight of her companion. She was gone. The timid pegasus felt her eye’s slowly pool with tears, her lip quivering uncontrollably.

“Oh Fluttershy, you always did… just slow her down.” Giving in, Fluttershy set herself down on the ground; her head hung low and her mane dragging in the wet grass. It was these moments where she simply wanted to just give up and go home. What place did she have in all this? What use was she in a world so big?

“Hey, you’re awake finally!” Fluttershy’s ears pricked up slightly at the voice of her friend, her eyes searching eagerly for any sign of her.

Across the small clearing landed the charismatic mare, her mane ruffled and unkempt, her eye’s still full of determination. “Didn’t miss me too much, did ya?”

Her answer was given when the yellow mare rushed up and hugged her tightly, nuzzling her neck affectionately and holding back tears. “I guess that means yes then.”

They both shared a small chuckle before Rainbow Dash’s voice became one of concern, looking at her friend curiously. “What’s gotten into you ‘Shy? I was only out to check if the sky ahead was clear. Should be smooth sailing from here to the Crystal Empire.”

“I just…  Oh Rainbow, just warn me next time you’re about to do something like that. I-I was afraid you just left me behind, that you just didn’t want me with you.”

Rainbow rested a sympathetic hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Don’t think like that, I would never leave my friends hanging, especially you.”

“Just- just promise you won’t do that again without letting me know first.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes slightly, but the soft stare from her timid friend melted away any reluctance. “Fine, I’ll let you know before I head out on my own. Just make sure that you don’t spend the whole time worrying about me, I can handle myself.”

Fluttershy pulled her back into a tight hug. “I know you can.”

“F-fluttershy! Wings!”

“Oh, um, right. Sorry.”

“We’re here!” Pinkie cheered, almost toppling out of the basket and plummeted to the ground. “Canterlot here we come!”

Rarity tried to calm the eccentric pink mare. “Yes we’re all excited darling, but please save the celebrations for when our hooves are firmly on the ground again.”

“Okie Dokie Lokie!” Pinkie went back to gazing over the edge of the basket, leaning at a rather nerve wracking angle. Rarity was about to voice her concerns but decided she was old enough o handle herself.

“Ah’m happy we’re nearly there sugercube, but what in blazes is that big sparkly thing around the city?”

Applejack was right; the city was encircled in a bulb of magical light, every building encased in its grasp. “It appears to be a magical barrier, like the one during the Royal Wedding. We should have no trouble getting through; Twilight will surely be able to let us pass.”

Suddenly Pinkie appeared from under Rarity’s hat for some strange reason. “You better hope that you’re right, because we’ve got company!”

She pointed her hoof towards the ground, waving it uncontrollably. Rarity and Applejack quickly rushed to the edge to take a look, the pink mare jumping around the basket with a rather panicked look on her face.

On the ground far below the armies of the east had gathered, their forces readying for the battle to come. The scouts scanned the air for any ponies attempting to make some kind of daring move. They were rather surprised to see a large balloon racing towards the city. With hate they flew back to their generals, giving a quick bow and regaining their breath.

From the group stepped forth Dellas, quickly followed by Azzal Khan himself.

“Speak quickly, what have you seen?”

“Th-they have flying craft, a balloon of sorts.”

Dellas looked to his other generals, their expressions rather confused and unconvinced. “He must be lying; no such craft has been invented without the means of pegasi wings.”

“I wish I was. Look!” The scout pointed his hoof the sky, the brightly coloured balloon drifting above towards Canterlot. The generals tossed around random statements of disbelief but quickly turned the matter at hoof.

Dellas quickly cantered to Azzal’s side. “Orders my lord?”

The scarred stallion turned his gaze back to the general, his eyes brining a uneasy tension. “I think it’s time we took our arsenal for a test run.”

“So that must be what Twilight was so worried about, and I can plainly see why.” Rarity said in an over dramatized voice.

“Let’s just get outta’ the sky and in Canterlot before they start gettin’ any ideas.”

“Ah, guys!” Pinkie pushed the two mares out of the way making room for herself to point furiously with her hoof. “Look out!”

A large piece of rock was slowly getting uncomfortably close to their balloon. It only seemed to occur to them that they were being targeted when it whizzed past the balloon, missing it by mere inches. “Rarity, get us out of here!” Pinkie shook the farmpony wildly.

“On it darling. Applejack, get the ropes. I’ll lower our altitude with my magic.”

“Sure thing sugarcube.”

“Pinkie, watch out for anymore for any more of those projectiles.”

Pinkie gave another salute. “Okie Dokie Lo- there it is!”

Another boulder came souring through the air, its trajectory unimpaired. Rarity and Applejack held onto the basket for dear life while Pinkie seemed to be moving erratically. The boulder made contact, scrapping the side of the balloon with an almighty rip. Air instantly began to escape from the tear, they were losing altitude fast.

Rarity reached out and clung to Applejack in a tight embrace, Pinkie soon following. As they plummeted to the earth bellow they held each other lightly and screamed for what may be there last few seconds.

A bright flash of purple encircled the three ponies, holding them in a magical grasp while the balloon continued on its path to the ground. Pinkie didn’t exactly stop screaming for a few seconds after, a deep sigh of relief escaping her. They all looked up to see what fortunate bit of luck had saved them from certain death only to find Twilight furiously beating her wings, her horn glowing and her face held in concentration. Another bright flash and they woke up within the walls of Canterlot, the palace gardens, safety.

Twilight tried to regain her breath, her tongue hanging out in exhaustion. Her friends were sprawled out on the grass, unmoving after their close encounter with death.

“Are- you guys crazy! I said go get help, not go get yourselves killed! What would happen then!” None of them seemed to respond to her small outburst, Twilight shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath. “But never have I been happier to see you guys again.”

She galloped up to them, picking them all up and holding them in a tight hug. They all returned the gesture, but were utterly spent. “I-I’m sorry, I just wanted you guys to be safe.”

“And leave ya alone ta fight this here battle by yourself? Not a chance.” Applejack pulled herself away from the hug. “We ain’t leaving you that easy.”

Twilight looked around at three of her friends, a sudden realization coming over her. “Where’s Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy?”

“Ah… we kinda..”

Pinkie cut in, her energy returning as if nothing had happened. “They went to the Crystal Empire themselves! Isn’t that great!”

“Wait, what!?”

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