Twilight finished her story by wrapping it up with what happened the night before. She had gone through several mugs of chai, and a few slices of cake. Feeling full and needing a break she told them that she need to take a breather before continuing. She took this time to go the the bathroom and let her mind relive alot of the memories that she skipped over. There was a lot of lessons that she learned that she didn’t feel right talking to them about. Such as Luna teaching her alot of her memory and dream magics. The learning of the darker magics from Celestia. Most of that was to learn to control herself when she was using them and more importantly how to recognize someone under the influence of those spells.

She had grown alot in only six short months. A lot of that growing was growth that she never thought she would have to do. But at the same time this was an experience that she had always fantasized about. This was the major problem that had lead to her current dilemma. She had everything she had always wanted, yet it was so different than what she thought it would be. Upon relieving herself from her meal and washing up. She spent a few minutes splashing water on her face to wake herself up. When she walked back to the room everyone was looking at her in anticipation, almost bursting at the seams to ask what had been on her mind since she started her tale.

“Wow Twi’ ah never thought that you were going through all that. Ah would never have guessed that Equestria had that kinda secrets hidden in our closet. And it just goes to show ya how well the Princesses do their job that we never heard of these terrorists groups. Although I will never understand how somepony could actually see Discord or Nightmare Moon as somepony to follow,” AJ Said breaking the ice. Her southern drawl more pronounced since her soul was somewhat stabilized. “And this Watcher fella sounds mighty fishy.”

“Yeah I’ve been dealing with some of the paperwork of those groups working with warlords in the outer reaches. I’ve been trying to get a centralized agency to handle all that stuff but scheduling it, getting the logistics needed to making it a feasibility, and getting the various groups of that nature to work together in a more centralized way has been trying. It’s more of a side project that I’m going to talk to Celestia when I get everything needed to make it work.

As for the Watcher, I agree he does sound fishy. But honestly until I learn more I’m going to hold off on judgment. Since he seems to know that I’m going to meet him soon, I’m not going to worry about it. After all I’ve seen the problems I cause when I over analyze a problem. It’s actually one of the good things I things I learned as a Princess. To compartmentalize my priorities and to fine tune my multitasking abilities. Anyways what I wanted to ask you all was this, I’m going on a journey of self discovery, and I wanted to retrace my steps starting with the Royal Sister’s Castle. Then see where that takes me. I know that you are all busy, but it would mean a lot to me for you to be there with me. Would you all like to join me?”

They all let her know that they had already hired workers to fill in with their work, and they had already talked amongst themselves that they’d be there for her. Letting a smile play across her face, she let out a small sigh as she called Spike over. “ Listen Spike I need you to watch over the Cutie Mark Crusaders while were gone. They haven’t seen you since before your growth spurt, and I’m sure that you’ll be able to handle it. Just make sure that they come here tonight incase we don’t get back by then and don’t let them get into to much trouble.”

She ushered Spike out of the house planting a light kiss on his forehead as he left. Smiling as he walked off to the CMC clubhouse she felt a sense of pride in him. He had grown so much over these last few months and in her opinion was more mature than he had been. Turning around she walked in and told her friends that she’d meet them by the entrance to the Everfree Forest in an hours time.

*******************

“What do ya mean ya don’ know when y’all will be back?” Big Macintosh asked Apple Jack after she called in the family for a group meeting.

“Ah said what ah said, Twi’ needs us and we’ll be there for her. It’s not like we are short on workers if ya catch my drift. All that extra business we got from being close to Twi now she’s a Princess has got us more than enough money to cover me bein’ gone for a bit.”

“Eyup, we got the bits, but these workers are still a bit too green to allow them to go about un supervised.”

“Now listen here, Ah turned my back on here three times now when she needed me. Ah’m not going to allow it to be a fourth. Especially know that I know how bad things have been on her, and how good she’s been to the family.” She said with her voice cracking slightly near the end.

Sighing he Big Mac sat his head between his forehooves which were resting on the dining room table. “Well ah see that you’ve made up your mind, and ah can’t say that the workers won’t learn fast if ah light a fire under there flanks. Just try not to get into any crazy adventures out there. This seems just like the kinda thing that seems innocent but’ll lead to trouble real quick.”

“What’s the worst that can happen Big Mac? All were doin’ is retracin’ our steps. Look around an old castle that if anythin’ was there would have been long gone turned to dust or left. Well I’m gonna get a saddle bag ready. Ah’ll be back soon enough.”

**************************

Pinkie Pie sat in the corner when all the talking was going on, no one seemed to notice that Pinkie’s mane had started to slowly deflate throughout Twilight’s recollections till it hung in between her normal fluffy cloud like hair and flat, nor did they notice that her smile was a little to forced when she left. As she walked to Sugar Cube Corner, to the Cakes Shop to get her stuff she let her mind play back all that she heard.

This is going to be harder than I thought. How can I make Twilight super happy, when these last few months have been super sad. I knew a life changing decision was coming to one of my friends, I just didn’t see it being all of us. What do I do? What do I do? It’s not like any ordinary party will fix this, I tried my party and she smiled. But it wasn’t enough to chase away the sadness in her eyes. I remember that look in a pony’s eyes. When they’ve seen to much and don’t know what to do. I guess I just have to be there for her and help her when the chance arrives.

She arrived in her room without her being aware that she had finished that stretch of her journey. Packing her saddle bag, and making sure her Delux Party Cannon was well supplied just in case a random party needed to be thrown out of the blue she could set it up in a jiffy. She then walked in to Pumpkin and Pound Cake’s room, it was a habit that she had developed a year prior, to make sure they were safe and sleeping well. She saw them as her baby siblings and even though she was never formally adopted into the Cake Family, they were the family she always wanted.

As she walked down to the shop she was glad that the lunch rush had died down and things were relatively quite. When she got to them she threw ear to ear smile as she greeted them, “ Hiya Mr. and Mrs. Cake listen I have to go on a super duper important trip with my bestest friend Twilight. I know this is short notice, but my Pinkie Sense told me I was going on an adventure so I left you enough gold bits that I had saved up so you can hire a few more extra workers while I’m gone.”

Looking at her with worried smiles it was Mrs. Cake that spoke first, “That’s nice, and we appreciate the gesture but we already have enough workers to pick up the slack until you get back. I have to ask, you seem like how you were before that spell. Are you all right?”

“Yeppers! Well I want you two to know that I’ll be back as soon as possible take care, and give the twins a hug from me.” She said with a slightly less forced smile than she had been wearing earlier. They laughed before she headed out, ready now that she had said her good byes.

***************************************************

“So you see Sweetie Bell, I’ll be leaving with the others for a little while and you’ll be being watched by Spike. Now I’m sure you’ll be under your best behavior.”

“Of course Rarity, but I don’t see why I can’t come with you.”

“Well you see it’s something for only big ponies. That and you still have school to go to. Don’t you want to hang out with your friends?”

“Of course I do, but I also want to hang out with you too. And I am a big pony!”

“I didn’t mean it like that Darling, it’s just that this is something that is personal. I promise that when I get back we’ll spend sometime together. Well take care, and try not to destroy Ponyville while I’m gone.”

“That was only once! And it was not all of Ponyville only apart of it.” Sweetie Bell said pouting, remembering when her and the fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders tried their hand at Demolition, and with help of Pinkie Pie’s explosive cooking compounds that they ‘borrowed’ destroyed a few buildings. Without telling anyone that they were going to do it. Or permission of the building owners. Her, and her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders were lucky that they didn’t any jail time.

“Well regardless be careful, I’d hate for anything to happen to you while I was gone. I’m going now. Bye Sweetie, I’ll be back soon, and don’t worry, unlike our parents I mean it when I say that.” Rarity said as she headed out the door.

**************************************************

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sat outside of the entrance of the Everfree Forest. They had the least to pack up, Rainbow Dash because she was always ready to be on the move. Ever since she became a Wonderbolt she made sure that everything she needed for a trip was packed. As for Fluttershy she always had a saddlebag ready incase she needed to make an emergency trip into the Everfree Forest, so they waited for the others to arrive while they chatted with Twilight.

It was thirty minutes later before everyone was gathered. Making sure that everyone had their Elements on them, and everything they needed they left through the entrance to the Everfree Forest that they went in chasing Nightmare Moon. Twilight let herself get lost in memories of that day as they walked.