"What do you think is holding up their response? Cadence and Shining Armor know how important this is." Said Princess Luna, glancing out the nearest window. "It's already almost time for me to raise the moon."

"I don't know, Luna. But what I do know is that we can trust they're doing their best to get back to us. Until then, we just need to remain patient with them." Celestia replied.

The younger alicorn began to pace around the room, muttering under her breath - an action Princess Celestia hadn't seen from her sister in a while. They had been working for hours together on the Equestrian foes issue at hoof in a study near the back of the castle. Typical royal duties coupled with the current threat of three of Equestria's greatest dangers made for a pretty exhausting day. Being cooped up in the study certainly didn't ease any stress, but at the very least it was private, allowing them to talk freely.

Eventually it came time for the moon to rise, and the sisters worked their magic from inside the room. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna quickly wrapped that up then continued with their duties, which today consisted of paperwork and some reading Princess Celestia took upon herself to do before an event she would be attending. Before long, a letter appeared on front of Princess Celestia. To her slight dismay it wasn't Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, however, seeing her former student's writing on the scroll was a pleasing sight.

"Twilight Sparkle believes the bearers have retrieved their elements. She says she's going to look into it personally tonight." Princess Celestia announced.

Luna gave her sister a small smile, "Excellent, now that they have the elements-"

A loud bang brought the conversation to a screeching halt, and the princesses turned towards the door, lighting their horns with magic. Though their plan was to confront whatever - or whoever - was on the other side of that door, they didn't get the chance to. The double doors flung open and in the doorframe stood a tall dark figure with glowing green eyes and fangs peeking out from their muzzle. Seeing this figure, Celestia's gaze hardened as she spat out a harsh greeting:

"Queen Chrysalis, I should've known you would come find us soon."

"Why is that anyway to greet an old friend?" The changeling queen taunted. "No need to be so harsh, Tia."

"Save your breath, Chrysalis."

Princess Luna glared at Queen Chrysalis, "Where's your army? I thought you were smart enough to bring back up."

"Oh, they're nearby. I would just like the satisfaction of besting your sister in a duel again. How about it, Tia?"

Princess Celestia visibly cringed at the sound of her sister's nickname for her coming out of this beast's lips. Her horn surged with power, and the Princess shot a beam of magic at Queen Chrysalis. The changeling queen immediately deflected this attack with a sort of greenish-transparent magic shield, which rebounded and grazed Princess Luna. At this, Princess Luna lunged forward, shooting a blue beam of magic at Queen Chrysalis, who met it with her own green magic. The spells collided, and the beams became one as the two engaged in this game of magical tug-of-war.

Princess Celestia joined in, aiding in her sisters efforts and adding another yellow beam to their side of the match, pushing the green magic back. Sweat clung to Princess Luna's and Princess Celestia's coats as they tried to force their beams forward more. But Queen Chrysalis was still standing strong, and with hardly any more effort on the queen's part, both princesses ended up on the floor after her magic took over the beam, touching the tips of their horns.

"This- This is impossible!" Princess Luna shouted. "We worked together!"

The changeling queen chuckled, "Oh Luna, I've consumed the love of at least half of your subjects and several from the Crystal Empire, there's no way either of you could stand a chance."

"You've... you've what?!"

"You monster!" Celestia growled, rising from the floor along with her sister.

"Now, now, Tia, I was only doing what I had to in order to survive." The queen paused, smirking as she continued. "Besides, Cadence's love for her subjects was definitely strong and delicious."

Hearing enough, both sisters fired magic at Queen Chrysalis again, Princess Luna from the left and Princess Celestia from the right. However, Queen Chrysalis had a plan for this too, and a wave of her green magic washed away both the princesses spells and themselves. Princess Luna was sent crashing into the wall, before slumping down onto the floor, out cold. Scratched up and depleted of most of her magic power, but not ready to give up, Princess Celestia stood up, and continued fighting. The queen and princess then flew around the room, firing spells and occasionally landing physical hits.

Eventually Princess Celestia was on the floor again, her horn singed and body battered. She looked into the cold eyes of the tyrant queen standing above her.

"Equestria will not fall at the hooves of the likes of you. I have faith that a group of capable ponies will stop you and King Sombra and Tirek as well!"

"Not if I dispose of them."

And with that, she dealt the final blow to Princess Celestia, and the princess's vision became a vast expanse of nothing as she slipped into unconsciousness.

...

The six bearers of the Elements of Wilderness walked out of the Everfree Forest, still excited about their newfound discovery. Each pony still wore their silver element necklace - and in Winter's case, crown - as they walked into the moonlit clearing in front of the forest. They grinned at each other as they started to wish each other good night when they heard several sets of hoofsteps. Geode and Whirlwind were the first two to notice this, and after seeing them turn to look at something in the distance, everypony else following suit.

Six ponies were walking towards them. As they came closer, Winter recognized them as Twilight Sparkle and her best friends. At first the light blue alicorn had a smile on her face, but this subsided and gave way to worry, paired with an unsettling feeling in her stomach. Surely the princess would know what the Elements of Wilderness were, and knowing that they aren't exactly common knowledge, she might question how she found out about them. Winter swallowed, shifting from hoof to hoof awkwardly.

"Winter, there you are!" Twilight Sparkle greeted. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Um, y-you have?" Winter stuttered.

"Yes, I see you've found the Elements of Wilderness since I last saw you!" Said Twilight, the excitement in her voice clear.

"Um, yes I have. So... you're not mad, or confused, or-"

"Mad? Why would I be mad? You've managed to find an amazing part of Equestria's history! I'm thrilled! I trust the book helped you?"

At this Pinkie Pie shrieked that this was a cause for celebration and threw confetti in the air from somewhere no Pony could quite place. Once it settled onto the ground, Winter realized what Twilight had said.

Winter straightened at her response, her heart racing, "You know that I read your book?"

"Of course! I figured you must have borrowed it when you visited the library."

"We knew you had it in you!" Rainbow Dash commented.

"Never doubted ya for a second, sugar cube." Said Applejack, fiddling with her hat and grinning.

Winter raised an eyebrow, "You knew I was looking for them? How? Does this have to do with Queen Crysalis, King Sombra and Lord Tirek?"

Twilight nodded slowly, "Well, yes. Naturally I knew since I had to point you in the right direction once I figured out you were the ice element. But you took to finding them and the others better than I-"

"Point me in the right direction... Is that why you suddenly took an interest in me when you invited me to have lunch with you? Is that the only reason?"

Twilight paled, "Um, Winter, you have to understand that I was thinking of Equestria when I realized you could be the element of ice."

"But is it true?" Winter pressed on, her voice coming out strained.

"Yes... it's true Winter."

"What?!" Whirlwind exclaimed as she heard Twilight's response.

Meanwhile Winter's head seemed to be spinning, and the uneasy feeling in her stomach increased as she watched Twilight's expression. After what she had guessed had been a few seconds, Twilight began talking again, not that Winter Frost could hear the princess's explanation. All she could think of was the fact that Twilight didn't invite her into her life to start a new friendship, and that she was never really interested in her to begin with, only what she had to offer. So... was she just being used this whole time?!

"So you were never really my friend to begin with? I-it was all a lie?!"

"No, no, no! Winter I was- I am your friend!"

Tears brimmed at Winters eyes as she bit her lip, "Just, don't even talk to me Twilight...!"

At that moment, she did the only thing that made sense: Run away. She galloped away, away from the pony that had lied to her, away from the fake friend that hadn't really bonded with her. Sharing her cutie mark story with her, talking about the Daring Do series, discussing magic spells and conversing about the goings on in Ponyville together, was it all just a way to ensure she could 'lead her in the right direction?' Tears fell from her eyes, creating tear tracks on her coat as the previous moment replayed in her head.

It was like she was a little filly again, one that always ended up crying and running from her problems. A little filly that always had needed Whirlwind to save her. A little filly that had spent much of her childhood being mocked and emotionally hurt by her peers was now the grown mare who had just gotten hurt again.

She was the mare who heard the voice of her best friend, who called out to her just like she had done years ago. A bittersweet feeling finally eased her stomach somewhat as her rescuer came flying towards her. Memories of her and Whirlwind in their younger years resurfaced, as Whirlwind came to comfort her yet again.

AN: Wooooaaaahhh, what's gonna happen?! Lol, I hope all of you enjoyed. Feelings, predictions? See y'all at the next update! -TheSecretAlicorn