Dear Diary,

It has been a year to this day since the Stragons invaded Ponyland. Our border patrols have thus far been able to repulse their forces, with thanks due to our Steeds, a quantity of pony-shaped machines with defenses capable of repulsing them. However I must wonder how much longer it will be until one of us is captured. Tirak is a ruthless and persistent commander, I fear it is only a matter of time before events turn sour.

On a more upbeat note, preparations for the Springtide Festival are well underway, with Pinkie Pie and Posey in charge. Posey is our resident gardener, and Pinkie Pie is, as she might so eloquently phrase it, "the absolutely positively partyingest pony in all of Ponyland". I would have assigned Cupcake to keep an eye on them, but she is in charge of cooking for the festival.

Meanwhile, North Star has finally finished building what she has dubbed her 'rainbow'. It is a device that allows interdimensional transportation between Ponyville and other worlds. Perhaps on the other side, we will find someone capable of defeating Tirak and the stragons?

Wind Whistler closed her diary, making sure to lock it. Stepping out of the castle, she looked around at all the activity outside. There was Pinkie Pie, putting up the decorations, and Posey, tending to the castle's gardens. Crimson Rose was telling jokes, as usual, and Fizzy was playing with some other unicorn ponies. Spark was further outside the castle, running with her friends, but she didn't see Surprise. This worried her, as she knew Surprise would probably pop out and surprise her at the worst possible moment.

She turned to look as another pony walked up to greet her. It was Sunny Daze, a white pony with brightly-colored hair and shades, and a surfer accent.

"Yo, Windy!" she said. "How do you like the decorations?"

Wind Whistler observed the decorations for a moment. "They are quite aesthetically pleasing, Sunny Daze," she said. Sunny Daze looked confused for a moment, before Gusty walked up, blowing some of Fizzy's bubbles before her.

"She means they look good, Sunny Daze," she said. Wind Whistler looked confused.

"Isn't that what I just said?"

Fizzy ran over to Sunny Daze and Wind Whistler.

"We need one more pony to play Volleyball. Do either of you want to play with us?" Fizzy asked. Fizzy made a bubble and started to bounce it on her head.

Wind Whistler shook her head as she walked off. "I cannot," she said. "I have important business that I must attend." She continued on her way, heading into the Steeds' hanger.

Sunny Daze, however, was more than happy to play ball. "Sure thing, Fizz," she said. She followed Fizzy over to where the others were playing volleyball.

Crimson Rose grinned. "What's dangerous and swings from trees?" Without waiting to hear any answers, she cried, "A monkey with a chainsaw!" The crimson pony started to laugh at her own joke. She saw Fizzy and Sunny Daze walking over. "Yay! Time to watch some volleyball!"

Suprised rolled about near the garden. She grunted and snorted. Suprise was practicing her new special somersault where she bounces up half way through. So far she's been able to bounce but landing her new technique has been very unsuccessful.

Suprised rolled pass posey and took notice of the decorations. She spotted Wind Whistler just outside the castle.

"Ah! Win-," Suprise yelled but stopping half way. "I know," she thought. Suprise snorted once more and decided to sneak behind Wind Whistler.

Sunny Daze rolled her eyes at Crimson Rose's joke. But she didn't have time to respond as suddenly the volleyball hit her on the head. Adjusting her shades, she hit the ball up, and spiked it towards the other team.

Meanwhile, Wind Whistler stood watching as North Star finished working on the Rainbow. The latter looked up as Wind Whistler approached.

"Ah! Wind Whistler," she said. "I didn't realize you were there. Um, the Rainbow is almost ready for testing. It should be ready by the end of the festival."

"That is most salutary," Wind Whistler said. She glanced up at all the steeds, still in the hanger. "I am most distressed by the possibility that the stragons may encroach upon our castle unannounced during the festival," she admitted. North Star nodded.

"I know what you mean," she said. "Well, I don't, but I get the gist of what you're saying. I'll take a steed out to keep a lookout."

Wind Whistler nodded, and North Star jumped into her steed, the large, pegasus-shaped machine taking flight.

Elsewhere, Pinkie Pie was decorating the castle. Of course, being Pinkie Pie, everything was pink. Posey walked over to see her work.

"Well? Did I capture it?" asked Pinkie Pie.

"Yes, and you might want to set it free," replied Posey. "I suppose that depends on what 'it' is."

"It's a pink balloon, of course."

"Yes ... interesting use of pink added to pink. And of course, there's all the pink."

"Hey Wind..," whispered Suprise from behind Wind Whislte's right ear. Anticipating Wind Whistler to turn to the right, Suprise quickly bounced to the other side of Wind Whistler.

"Winnnd!" cried Suprise. "I want to eat some of the festival food!"

Wind Whistler looked to her right as Surprise whispered in her ear, then jumped as she dodged to the other side and practically screamed into her ear.

"Ow," she winced, rubbing her ear. "Go commune with Pinkie Pie," she said crossly. "She's the one in charge of the festival."

After the spike, Buttons served the ball. Fizzy hit it too hard and the ball flew towards the stable.

"I'll get it." Fizzy said. Fizzy ran to the stable and made it right after Surprise surprised Win Whistler. "Wind Whistler, did you see the volleyball?" Fizzy asked.

Wind Whistler gave a distracted sigh as Fizzy's volleyball came soaring into the stable. She picked it up and tossed it back to her as she came in wondering where it was.

"Really, Fizzy," she said. "You should better observe the trajectory of your ball."

Fizzy looked confused. "What?" Fizzy asked Wind Whistler.

Fizzy picked up the ball.

(OOC: Okay, since D-D hasn't posted yet, we'll just continue on without her. Hopefully she'll work her way in somehow.)

Sunny Daze had followed Fizzy to the stable to get the ball. As Wind Whistler simply rolled her eyes and said nothing, Sunny Daze translated for her.

"What she means, Fizz, is keep your eye on the ball," she said. Wind Whistler was about to say something, but was cut off as the world seemed to darken. She looked up to the sky.

"Woah," said Sunny Daze. "What, did the sun go behind a cloud or something?"

The sky went dark with clouds, casting a pall of darkness over the land. The wind picked up, and lightning cracked the sky like a whip. Cries of "What's going on?" were quickly transmuted to screams of terror as a horrifying visage appeared from the clouds. Gigantic, green-skinned creatures with wings descended upon the castle, with pure evil and menace in their eyes. The stragons had come, and in massive numbers.

Wind Whistler quickly stood up and took charge. "Everybody report to your steeds!" she ordered. "Prepare to engage the stragons!"

((Sorry! Real life has been keeping me really busy!))

Crimson Rose's blue eyes widened as the sky darkened. She looked up as gusts of wind blew her multi-hued hair from her face. Her eyes spotted the stragons heading toward them.

"I guess this means the party's over!" Crimson Rose said.

She perked her ears forward to hear Wind Whistler order, "Everybody report to your steeds! Prepare to engage the stragons!"

Crimson Rose charged over to her Captain. "Captain, we've got stragons attacking us!"

(OOC: Don't worry about it, it happens. ^_^)

Wind Whistler gave Crimson Rose an odd look.

"Yes, I am aware of the fact!" she shouted over the wind. "Report to your steed and prepare to engage them!"

Fizzy put the ball down and ran to her steed. She jumped into it, ready to take charge of the other Unicorn Ponies.

Fizzy was closely followed by Gusty and Galaxy jumping into their steeds. "Where are the rest of the Unicorn Ponies?" Fizzy asked Gusty.

Gusty responded with "They are getting the baby ponies to a safe place. It looks like it's just the three of us fighting the stragons for the Unicorn Ponies."

"Okay, then let's fight to protect the castle!" Fizzy started. "Wind Whistler, should we attack now or wait for another Unicorn Pony?" Fizzy asked Wind Whistler with a serious tone in her voice.

"Yes, of course, Captain!" Crimson Rose said, flicking her tail in the excitement. "Right away, Captain!"

The crimson red pony turned and rushed to her steed. She took a deep breath and got ready for battle.

Wind Whistler entered her own steed. Inside, the cockpit was not overly-beautified, like many of the steeds, but designed in a more practical manner. Special restraints clamped down on her hooves, these restraints would keep her secure even flying upside down. She activated the engines, as Fizzy's communication came through.

But Wind Whistler never had the chance to respond, as a fourth unicorn pony entered her steed. It was Rarity, a young pink unicorn pony. Her cockpit was decorated in lots of pink and shiny things, but her visage still showed up distinctive and clear on the viewscreen as she contacted Fizzy.

"Rarity it reporting for duty!" she said cheerfully.

"Thanks for coming, Rarity. Make sure that you do not get captured." Fizzy started. "Unicorn Ponies, DEFEND DREAM CASTLE!" Fizzy commanded.

As the four Unicorn Ponies started to head out in their steeds, Fizzy gave one last command. "Gusty, you guard the nursery."

"Yes ma'am." Gusty said.

Gusty broke off from the group and headed towards the nursery. The rest of the Unicorn Ponies went to Dream Castle while making sure not to attract too much attention.

Surpise didn't realize what was happening, but she did manage to gulp down a few cupcakes. After feasting on some more food, Surprise decided to take a look around.

"Hmmmm... It seems like we're under attack!" mumbled Surprise. Shouldn't she do something? She is a defender after all.

Surprised scurried around, looking for communications.

Wind Whistler glanced around, observing the situation. Not everyone had entered their steeds yet, but there was no time left to wait. She gave the command to launch her steed, and it took to the air, it's mechanical wings spreading wide.

The stragons descended upon the castle, and Wind Whistler moved to engage. With a command, the steed lashed out and kicked one stragon in the chest. Another stragon came at her, but she dodged to the side and lashed out at it with a wing.

Crimson Rose took to the air in her steed. She dodged past one stragon and slammed into another, sending it flipping out of control through the air. The red pony gave a shout of excitement as she whipped around and kicked a third stragon in the back.

Fizzy noticed Surprise running around. "What is Surpris thinking? She is gonna get herself captured, or worse if we don't help her." Fizzy said. "Rarity, keep on defending the castle while Galaxy and I take out the stragons near Surprise." Fizzy ordered.

Galaxy's steed's horn started to glow red and spin. Suddenly, a big fireball flew at two stragons, knocking them out of the air.

Fizzy's steed's horn started to spin. A large bubble came out of the horn and captured another stragon.

"We just need to stall them until Surprise can get away." Fizzy stated.

Surprise looked up in surprise. She saw Fizzy and Galaxy intercepting the stragons just above her.

"AMAZING!!!" She shouted at them. She smiled excitedly at the action for a moment but then realized it was getting dangerous.

She backed up, taking cover under the castle. Surprise really wanted to help out but unbeknownst to her the knowledge about steeds and fighting. "Oooh it looks so fun!" she thought.

Rarity nodded to Fizzy. "On it!" She turned her steed to face the castle, seeing a stragon try to attack it. She concentrated, and a rainbow shot out of her steed's horn and stuck the stragon down.

Meanwhile, Wind Whistler flew over the castle, keeping an eye out for any straggling ponies. She saw two still running for cover, but before she could reach them, a stragon swooped down and scooped them up. Wind Whistler tried to stop the stragon, but it flew high and fast, and she couldn't catch it.

Their mission accomplished, the stragons retreated from whence they came. Wind Whistler activated her viewscreen.

"All ponies, return to the castle immediately!" she ordered.

Crimson watched in terror as the stragons took off with two of the ponies. She stomped her foot in anger as she heard Wind Whistler's voice, "All ponies, return to the castle immediately!" She wanted to chase down the stragons and save the ponies, but she couldn't ignore a direct order.

Crimson landed her steed in front of the castle and clambored out. She stomped around in circles, venting her frustration. After a few circles, she took a deep breath, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. It wouldn't do any good to get angry about not being able to save the two ponies.

Finally calmed down, Crimson Rose went to look for Wind Whistler.

Fizzy got out of her steed and walked over to Crimson Rose. "We need a plan to get the ponies back." Fizzy said.

Fizzy impatiently waited for Wind Whistler, ready for action. "Where is Wind Whistler?" Fizzy asked.

Wind Whistler landed her steed, and went to join the others. She saw how anxious Crimson Rose was, and trotted over to her and Fizzy.

"You must remain placid," she said. "Perturbation will only exacerbate the situation."

Surpise followed the others, as if magnetized at the overwhelming heroism within these ponies. She dared not to bother their gathering, but she had to find out more. Surpise mounted herself on the ground near the group.

Crimson Rose shook her head. "We should have gone after them! No, we should have done something to make sure nobody got taken in the first place!" She stomped her foot once before turning to Wind Whistler. She knew her captain needed her to remain calm.

"What's the plan? You must have a plan to get them back, Wind Whistler," Crimson Rose said.

Fizzy walked around in a circle, wondering what Wind Whistler said. "What did you say, Wind Whistler?" Fizzy asked.

Wind Whistler didn't reply to Fizzy, as she seemed calm enough already. However, Crimson Rose was right, she had to come up with a plan. Just then, North Star trotted up to them.

"Wind Whistler," she said, "I've finished the Rainbow, and I've detected a very powerful aura on the other side! This could be the breakthrough we've been waiting for!"

Wind Whistler simply nodded, processing the information. Somebody needed to go through the rainbow and fetch whoever was emanating this aura, but she couldn't spare any steed pilots. She'd need them if the stragons mounted another attack.
Then she saw Surprise hanging a little way away from the group.

"Surprise," she said. "We need a pony to fetch whoever or whatever is emanating this aura, but we cannot spare any of the pilots in case of another attack. Would you be able to fetch this individual?"

Surpise jolted up as the attention found her. "Ahoy there captain!" Surpise spurted. She lifted her front right hoof and placed it on top of her head like in a salute.

"Surprise will go through the rainbow and fetch this person!" Surpise squinted her eyes at the sky and frowned. Her eyes fell back down to Wind Whistler and then back up back toward the sky, hoping to catch Wind Whistler's response.

Wind Whistler nodded to Surprise, then to North Star. The latter stepped over to Surprise.

"Follow me," she said. She led Surprise over to the stable, where the steeds were kept. In a corner was a circular device, with a metal surface that shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow.

"Before you step through," she said, "I should warn you, this device has never been tested. It basically creates a portal between worlds, and it's entirely possible it may collapse. Do you still wish to do this?"

"Never been tested?" Surprise repeated North Star. Surprise looked away hesitantly, then returned her gaze at North Star. She was afraid of what will happen to her, but within a moment she thought of Wind Whistler. "Well, I guess! If it is to save those poor ponies!"

"Please tell me what I should do and what I should expect," said Surprise.

North Star nodded satisfactorily, then stepped back.

"Honestly, I'm not quite sure," she said. "I imagine it's kind of like a rainbow road, but no pony has ever gone through. I really want to, but ... what if the stragons attack again? The ponies need me here to defend the castle."

(OOC: Feel free to take it away from here. I won't exactly be active over the next week and a half, due to finals. Yuck.)

Fizzy was getting bored while waiting for North Star. "When will she come back?" Fizzy asked Wind Whistler.

"I just want to get back to playing." Fizzy stated.

"I understand," said Surprise. She looked around at the other ponies and nodded her head at them.

"I am ready North Star," said Surprise.

North Star nodded to Surprise.

"Right. There's nothing else I can do to help you, you're on your own from here."

((OOC: Feel free to RP the trip through the portal. Use your imagination, don't just blindly follow what I lay out. ^_^;;))

Meanwhile, on a farm in the human world, a young girl named Megan was had just returned from a morning ride on her own not-so-magical pony. As she put up the pony, she thought she sensed something odd in the air, but put it up to her imagination.