Surviving pirates taking over their Ocean liner, and understanding it was too late to go back to what was once Equestria, Twilight, suck in a lifeboat with Spike, Whooves, and Gabby, knew they had to finish the trip they started. However, with no guide on their boat, they had to rely solely on what they had on it, a motor boat engine, emergency paddles, a compass, a marine gps, and enough food and water to last the four of them for five weeks. At first it seemed that they were going to get nowhere, since none of them had driving experience, but thankfully it didn’t take long before they were able to learn the basics on boating.

All night they drove, and on into the morning, they finally finally reached land, and not just land, the land, Bermelia. Now Bermelia was the smallest, as Equestria was the largest, content in their world. Remember, equestrian empire slang often called a content a land, and could confuse those who aren’t familiar with this fact. At least that’s what Doctor Whooves claimed, when he saw the sign that said, “Welcome to Bermelia. The content that is also a land.” Everyone though that was an interesting fact. “Neat.” Said Gabby. “Does it say anything else, we need to know?” Asked Twilight. “Hmm… “ Said Whooves, while taking another look. “It also says, that the top of tallest mountain, in the Echo Mountains, lies the urban legend of the Monarch Alicorn Palace, a spiritual dimension where the alicorn king’s soul remains, waiting for a worthy successor. The only problem is that no one alive has ever been able to explore the top, and return alive.” Twilight and Spike looked up. There was the mountain, mesmerizing and tall. Doctor and Gabby checked the riddle they received.
“The mountain top flies. The mountain exhausts, to survive team must be with the star of sparkle, then fly the stream will three, and the star will enter the dream. The element can only be found in two parties.” Spike looked Gabby, while everyone else was confused. “What does that mean?” Spike asked. “I guess that means we have to stick together, as we climb the mountain, until we find a jet stream.” Gabby said, walking towards the mountains. “I agree.” Said Twilight, as she followed. “How come, our riddle doesn’t a question?” Said, Whooves following. “Wait. Don’t you think we should rest first?” Spike asked, trying to catch up.

Upwards, and upwards, they started hiking upwards. At first thing were going well. In fact, there were even a few hiking trails, guided by marks and a few maps. However the, higher trails got, the higher the altitude, and the higher the altitude, the more they slowed down, due exhaustion and heart race. Furthermore, as they were getting closer to a mountain top, it was starting to get windy, causing it to feel colder. By the time they reached a mountain top, they all needed to sit down, only to find a sign, in front of the tallest mountain. The sign said, “Mt. Guru Starswirl. Danger: Few have returned, claimed that there are slippery rocks, extreme colds, and low oxygen. The top was never reached. Climb at your risk.”
After talking ten minute break, they hike towards the mountain. During the hike up the mountain, exhaustion kept coming, despite walking at a slow pace. No trail, cold rain starting, yet still determined. The way started to become rocky, slippery, and narrow. One slip on that part of the mountains, left or right, and it would a long, painful, and cold fall. Once they made it past, they realized they had to rock climb 65 feet up, while it was still raining cold. Luckily Gabby had a rock climbing hobby, and always came prepared. Everyone used her equipment, the harness and the ropes, to climb the rock wall, and hook the safety ropes. Spike tried to fly, during the climb, but the wind was too strong. Luckily, the ropes saved him, and he ended up getting blown back the wall. A rock fall happened, but Gabby pulled him to safety, back to the group. Gabby slipped off, but rope caught her, while Spike held onto Twilight. After several more close calls, they finally reached the top of the rock wall, but not the mountain. Now they had to hike up a path, battling exhaustion, high-altitude, and low air pressure. Luckily Twilight learned a spell, from Celestia, that could make it oxygen more accessible, to them. So up, and up, eventually passing snow. Higher and higher, it was getting colder. Upwards and upwards, things were getting steep. So cold, so high, normally everyone would pass out at this point. Step by step, it was a struggle with the winds.

Finally, at last, they were almost there. At the to of the mountain they saw, a cave, in that cave was a glowing white light. Twilights took some heavy breaths. “This is it. I think we’re almost there.” She said. The walked up to they saw a flying machine carrying Klip Klop soldiers. “The Majestic Resistance.” Gabby gasped, with fright. “… with a helicopter.” Doctor Whooves said. Twilight, Gabby, and Spike all gave him a look, as if they didn’t know what a helicopter was. “I’ll explain later.” He said. “Right now we have to… “Before he could finish, a few of the soldiers jump into a wind so strong, it was visible, causing them glide with it. “That must be the jet stream.” Gabby said. “If I recall correctly, the riddle wants us to split up.” Whooves said. “No time to argue. I think it wants you to go into the cave.” Spike said. Twilight looked at soldiers, and the jet stream, and back at Whooves, Spike, and Gabby. “You’re right. There’s no time.” She said, right before she walked as quickly and quietly as her exhaustion would let her.

Twilight walked into the light, not noticing one of the soldier saw her.
Twilight step into a dimension of nowhere, where the air pressure was normal. She looked around, but there was nothing, just an void of emptiness, with the exception of a black hooded figure. As tight got closer she noticed the figure was white pony, with yellow armor plating on his wings, and a brown beard. As soon as she walked up close to him, close enough to see height, she stopped, and paused. The figure turned his body towards her, and put his hood down, revealing a white alicorn, with a shaved head, a small scar above his eyes, his eyes were light blue, and some sort of yellow armor, with a large purple gem. “You must be the original alicorn.” Twilight said. The alicorn sighed, with disappointment. “You finally reached the top.” He said. “Alas, I am no longer of your physical world.” Twilight understood him, and replied, “Well, Sage Guru, was it? Could you at help me save Equestria, and two of your students.” Sage put hood back up. “No.” He said with disappointment, before trying to walk away. “… but they were you and your cousin’s students.” She said. “Does this limit…”
“I have failed.” Sage interrupt. “My goal was originally to bring peace in between world super powers, Crystal Empire and the Klip Klop Kingdom. At first I tried without any sort of violence, but my first capture involved a new empire of Equestria, and it ruler, Gorgar, gave me this scar. Nevertheless, he would free me, when I fulfilled his desire to end Queen Majesty IV’s evil reign. Among the journey, I would Tia Daybreaker, whom I renamed Celestia, her sister Luna Moon, whom she originally bullied, Stygian, the first to neglect the permanence of an alicorn, Tree Fairy, the zero to hero, Dusk Glimmer, the one who always broke free, and Carefree, Starswirl and I’s nephew. Together the six students, the grand teacher, and I banished Majesty’s body in a tree of death, in hopes that she would no longer spread harm and fear. Alas, Majesty eventually found out how make her soul escape. It is unknown how. During this period, she gain the help of the demon ponies, called the Umbrum, an manipulated them into attacking the over world during this, it was said she gained a transformation, to kill the Empress, Lauren Faustcorn, with one of her killing the unkillable spells, thus causing an imbalance of the universe. That is why Celestia was in charge of the sun. That is why the alicorns are in charge of the balance of all.” An orb, that showed the outside of the cave, appeared, as he continued. “After King Sombra killed me with a killing the unkillable spell. I ended up here, awaiting a successor, but the all seeing orb showed the alicorn students broke apart, and with it Celestia use the elements of harmony, on a fellow representative, making me realize that pride had consumed her. Starswirl and I, from that point on, lost faith. I thought I could make good students just… “ “… but you did make good students.” Twilight interrupted. “Did you expect to make them perfect?” Sage turned to Twilight. “No.” He said softly. “… but never had I wanted any of them squandered for their personal gain.”
Twilight understood how mentally broken he was, even though he was a spirit. “There is still hope, King Sage.” She said. “I was taught by Princess Celestia, and I made it up here. Also there are bad guys outside. They used a flying machine to get up here, something I didn’t use.”

Noticing the face Sage making, there was only one thing, she could say next. “Their coming in, aren’t they?” Twilight quickly turned around, and saw seven Klip Klop Soldiers, marching, ready to attack, one unicorn, two pegsi, and four earth ponies. Twilight, after a brief pause, said, while getting into attack position, “I guess reasoning with with you is out of the question.” None of the soldiers replied, but all began to go from walking to running, towards Twilight. She teleported behind them, and preformed a unicorn shot from the horn. Unfortunately it didn’t effect the earth pony, she shot at. The soldiers turned and charged at her. Twilight shot again, but she soon realized that their uniforms, regardless of race and color, were immune to her shots. “Your unicorn magic is no match for our magic proof uniforms.” Said one of the earth ponies, who’s voice sounded familiar. As soon as they got close enough to her, Twilight teleported above, to crossbody the soldier who spoke. Once she got the attention of the other soldiers, she kicked one of the pegsi in the masked face, and leaped up.
Once she was on her feet, she ran, and punched one of the other earth ponies, then turned and said, “Listen, to me. Majesty IV is evil.” The pegasus, who was kicked, said, clearly in pain, and also a familiar voice, “Maybe you’re right, but as foals we were forced to pledge allegiance to her flag.” As the earth ponies got up, and closed in on her, Twilight quickly replied, “Listen to yourself. She’s used the elements of disharmony to corrupt you.” The pegasus shook his head and said, “No. She did that to them.” He pointed behind her, and the unicorn and the other pegasus grabbed her. “I’m sorry, pr- Twilight.” He said. “Don’t apologize to her, remember your training.” Said one of the other earth ponies, whom had another familiar voice.
The unicorn used a sleeper hold on Twilight, and while victory seemed almost theirs, an ice beam unexpectedly came, and froze his back, causing him to release her. It was at that moment they noticed Sage in the background, finally helping. “How did we miss him?” Said one of the earth ponies. The other three earth ponies charged towards him, passing Twilight, but as they approached, Sage froze the ground they ran on, causing them to slip and fall. He then used some guided sort of noise, this time from his front hooves, not his horn, and cracked apart the unicorn and one of the pegasi’s vizors. Luckily, they were out of Twilight’s way by that point. So other than minor ringing in the ears, she was mostly fine. “Our visor can be broken?!” Said the other earth pony and other pegasus. Ignoring them, Sage stood on his hind legs, and shouted, “Spell of Purification!” a beam of energy appearing around him, and beam then blasted forward in a beam. Once the Beam hit the unicorn and pegasus, a ball of light appeared, and started growing bigger and bigger, as Twilight was mesmerized by it, while backing up. After ten seconds of growing, the ball quickly shrank, until it was absorbed, by the two. A beam of light shot up, out of them. high up until the light somehow exploded.
Twilight turned and saw the remaining soldiers, then uses a a spell to create a strong gust of wind, causing them to fall and break some bones. Since that took most of Twilight’s power, she collapsed on to the ground, exhausted. While on the ground, she noticed, by the angle she was laying, Sage talking to the soldiers he used the spell on. She didn’t hear what they were saying, because of the distance, and her ears ringing. All she heard was unintelligible words, as they took their masked off. It was Zephyr Breeze and Night Light. While Zephyr walked away, Night noticed her and walked towards her with Sage. Twilight finally heard something from Night, while on the verge of passing out. “That’s my daughter.”

Just everything was starting to go black, a banana yellow light appeared, and Twilight was suddenly recovered. Her ears were healed, and she regained some energy. Night was standing in front of her, as Sage was standing beside her. “Your father told me everything.” Said Sage. “About how his mind was corrupted, into thinking Majesty was the true ruler, and how you stopped and reformed many of twisted, including Prince Stygian.” Night turned to him, with surprise. “Prince?!” He said. “We just found out about it… a couple days ago.” Said Twilight, tiredly. “You have taught me something I had forgotten.” Sage said, while putting his hoof on her back.
As Twilight turned to Sage, she suddenly realized something. “What about them?” She said, while turning around, and then pointing at the remaining soldiers. They were still on the ground, with broken bones. Sage turned into an Anaconda, and used his body to tie them up, forcing them to sit upwards. “Let your masks be removed, so I may heal you.” He said. “I’ll do it.” Night said. Twilight recognized every single face and hair that was unmasked. From the first earth pony, “Sweetie Drops!” The second one, “Tree Hugger?!” She even sighed while rolling her eyes, and replied with, “I you remember me.” Despite only meeting the human versions, she recognized the third earth pony, “Micro Chips?!” Whom had replied, in a voice of pain, with, “Do I know you?” She also recognized the fourth earth pony, but was interrupted by Tree Hugger. “That’s Sandlewood… my brother.” Finally, Night unmasked the pegasus, who Twilight recognized, as well. She gasped, right before saying, “Flash Sentry?!” Flash quickly replied, in gaps of pain. “I’m sorry… Twilight. I never wanted… to be a member… of the… Klip Klop Kingdom guard… or the… Majestic… Resistance… or any… Equestrian… guard. I always… wanted to be… “ Twilight interrupted him, knowing what he was going to say. “A musician. I already know.”
Sage released them, changed back, used the ice beam on them, froze all but their head and organs, preformed the recovery spell on them. Although they were mostly healed, they were still freezing cold. “Now, as long as you are here, pay attention.” He said, then he turned to Night Light, made a letter appear, and said, “You may go, but the next time you find Prince Stygian, give him this.” He gave him the letter, and Night assured him, he will, and left.
“Hello, what about us?” Tree said. “You will watch train Twilight, before I let you out.” “What?!” Shouted Twilight, Tree Hugger, Micro, and Sandlewood. “They need to learn when and what free thinking is necessary, and you were right, about hope.” Sage said to Twilight. “So, you will help find the lost elements?” She asked. “You were also right about this place limiting me, but I will help prep you, to face Majesty IV.” He replied.
“Okay.” Said Twilight. “King Sage, why don’t you use that spell of purification on them?” She pointed at five still partially frozen. Sage turned his head at them, then turned back at Twilight. “As it is impossible to know for sure how corrupted one is, the spell has a 50% chance of obliterating their bodies.” He replied.

Takes place before [**Fiendship is Dark Magic; Chapter 8:** Diversity is a lost element](https://derpibooru.org/images/2773018) Takes place after [**Fiendship is Dark Magic; Chapter 6:** Passing through the Lunar Republic](https://derpibooru.org/images/2764372)