Through the Mirror

Chapter 9

Finally alone...*sigh*..it feels like it's been days since I got the chance to just be alone and think, even though it has only been a couple of hours.

I slowly walked over to the window to admire the beautiful night sky and let another big sigh slip

This is a mess...there is a legend of a hidden library here in the crystal empire and from the way Celestia made it sound I don't think the legend is going to give us much of a lead...
"That's if this legend is even real..."
At least tomorrow it will be six heads instead of just the one. Still though, with little to no information on this Vheshar and this library

*sigh*

"Aaaaarrrgggg!! Why do I always get dragged into these things...and my friends..always us needing to save Equestria, not that I mind but it's just a lot. I don't know, I should be used to the pressure by now but this, this feels different than all the times in the past."  My frustration and anxiety are getting to me and being alone only gives my brain more opportunity to over think things. "What if we can't find anything? What if this library is just what they said, a legend? What if there's nothing we can do to stop this? WHAT IF WE FAIL?!" With more force than I wanted to use I pushed myself from the window and start pacing.

Seconds turn to minutes,  minutes that felt like an eternity with no solution or calm coming to my frazzled brain. Before I knew it the moon had shifted in the night sky telling me that if I didn't get to bed within the next hour I'd be no good to my friends or Equestria. I stopped, and took a deep breath..
"Ok Twilight, you need to sleep before your pacing causes a groove in the floor." 
I couldn't help but let out a small laugh after saying that to myself, half because I felt like sleep was pointless and half because I sounded just like my favorite dragon.  He may not be here with me right this second but he's with me, just like my friends and the princesses.
I had stopped pacing in front of the mirror in my room, taking a good look at myself I could see the bags under my eyes had gotten even bigger and darker. I sighed again still looking at myself in the mirror "ok Spike you win." Saying this to myself somewhat helped put me at ease since now I could feel Luna's dream world calling me.  With my hooves feeling heavy, as if they were incased in cement and my eyes failing to stay open I threw myself into the bed.  With one more look at the night sky and moon I let out one last breath, slipping into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~Back in Ponyville~~~~~~~~

"I wonder what the princesses wanted Twilight for?" Fluttershy said in a half whisper
" I don't know Darling but whatever it is we will find out soon." Rarity responded with as much poise as always. "Don't worry Fluttershy! We'll kick whoever's butt we need." Rainbow Dash adding in her two cents. "...That's what I'm afraid of.." Fluttershy whispered this time to herself. The last thing Fluttershy wants is to have to fight, fighting really isn't something she enjoys as much as Rainbow Dash does.
"We'll kick the Nasties butt and be back in time for cake!" Pinkie exclaimed exuberantly.

The playful yet somewhat serious conversation continued between the 4 girls for a good time. Rarity noticed Applejack sitting quietly with a concerned look on her face. It wasn't long before the other 4 stopped talking and looked in AJs direction. A few minutes passed and Aj still hadn't noticed the girls looking at her or that the room had become eerily quiet. Finally she looked up and noticed she had everyone's full attention. A little embarrassed and bewildered Applejack cleared her throat.
Rarity was the first to break the silence.
"What's the matter dear?" She asked with a comforting smile.
"Honestly girls, I don't know." Aj replied with a sigh "Something about this here situation just feels off."
"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash retorted "What ever this "big" problem is we'll take care of it. I mean how many baddies have we taken care of? We've saved Equestria more times than I have feathers on my wings! Nothing is stronger than us!" The confidence Rainbow has in herself is nothing but amazing but it's the confidence she has in her friends that helps make Aj feel a little better.

Aj sighed before responding to Rainbow Dash. "You're right Rainbow Dash, we have saved Equestria more than a few times but this whole situation just feels different than all the others..." she trailed off, thinking better on what she was going to say. "As long as we face it together nothing is stronger than us." Fluttershy finshed for Aj, not sure if that was what she was going to say but it brought a slight smile to her friends face.
"WHO WANTS CAKE?"
"Pinkie!" They all responded with a laugh

A light atmosphere surrounded the five ponies as they all just tried to keep worry far from their minds as they waited for news. No pony knew when they would hear something from anyone so keeping the light atmosphere was a little tricky. Though Pinkie had enough tricks up her sleeve to keep their minds distracted whenever the slightest sign of worry showed.  Apples to apples was the new thing keeping them laughing, until they heard the heavy door open and a small purple dragon came running in.
*huff* "Twilight...*huff* needs you..*huff*." All five of the girls moved to get spike a drink of water and a chair to sit in. Spike sat and happily took the glass of water Fluttershy offered him and started to chug it down.
"Now Darling breath and tell us what's going on?" Rarity said while petting the top of Spikes head. As mush as Spike loves it when Rarity did that he had to stop her which shocked Rarity and the other girls.
"As much as I love you doing that Rarity," Within a few second the water was gone and Spike was already out of the chair, heading for the door.

"There's no time. I'll explain everything on the train but we need to leave now. Time isn't on our side." All five of the girls nodded their heads in unison, as they started to slowly follow Spike.
"Do we need anything for this mission Spike? I don't want to arrive unprepared." Rarity asked the question the other girls were thinking. Spike stopped to turn towards his friends.
"All you need to bring is yourselves." As he was speaking his stomach grumbles making the girls giggle. "And maybe some snack too." Spike finished with his face red with embarrassment from his stomachs protest.
"Don't worry Spike I got you!" Pinky exclaimed while pouncing past him towards the trains station.

"Wait! Doesn't the train stop running at night? How will we get there if the train isn't running?" Apple Jack stopped to ask, just realizing what time it was.
"Well since it was urgent and an order from Princess Celestia the train is still running."
With that they all picked up the pace and took their seats on the train.
"It's going to be a long ride to the Crystal Empire we might as well get some rest, I'm sure Twilight would wants us at our best when we get there." AJ spoke, watching as her friends all settled in for the long ride ahead. As they got comfortable, they heard the train doors shut and the car start moving.