They've plotted, they've planned, they've waited. Now the time has come for them to enact their revenge and bring Equestria to its knees. This time the Fires of Friendship will be snuffed out.
Nyx's life could not be better. She has a family that loves her, friends that understand her, and a better life in Ponyville. Not to mention that her mother, Twilight Sparkle, has become an alicorn just like her. Things couldn't be better. However, Nyx covers up a dark secret: something that could spoil her happiness and the happiness of those she cares about. With Hearth Warming day is soon to approach and her mother chosen by the Princesses to plan the thousand year anniversary of the Windigos defeat. Nyx is determined to keep this secret more than ever. However, that is the least of her worries, for unbeknownst to Equestria an ancient enemy plans to enact its terrible revenge on the nation. Will Nyx and the mane six rise to the occasion, or will Equestria and the world fall?
I don't own Nyx, Lumber Jack, Proper Ettiquete, Spell Nexus, and Snap Shot. They are the intellectual property of PenStroke.
The OC Dazzle also does not belong to me but is the intellectual property of Dekumaru.
Long ago in the old country, there lived three tribes: the Earth Ponies, the Pegasi, and the Unicorns. The three tribes despised and distrusted each other and would not have had anything to do with one another if not for the fact that each pony provided a service that each tribe needed for survival. The earth ponies with their great strength and skills in agriculture provided food for the three tribes and in return, the unicorns would raise the sun and moon, while the pegasi controlled the weather. It was a very uneasy peace but it seemed to work. Until one day, an endless winter overtook the land, plunging the three tribes into turmoil, each tribe blaming the other for the destruction of their land. All attempts at repelling the winter had failed, so the leaders of each tribe decided that they would find a new home for their own tribe and leave the other tribes to their fate. Therefore, Chancellor Puddinghead and Smart Cookie of the Earth Ponies, Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy of the Pegasi, and Princess Platinum and Clover the Clever of the Unicorns set off to find a new home for their subjects.
The journey was long and dangerous, but the leaders had eventually succeeded, and to each leader’s horror they had discovered the same place. As they began to argue over which tribe had found this new land first, a snowstorm came out of nowhere and drove the three leaders and their servants into a cave. Even then, the leaders still argued, their servants looked on in dismay as the storm became worse until it penetrated the confines of the cave and froze the three leaders in ice. An eerie and evil wail echoed throughout the cave, Smart Cookie, Private Pansy, and Clover the Clever looked up and saw the true source of the storm: the Windigos. They were spirits of winter that fed off fighting, hatred, and negative emotions, the fighting and distrust of the three tribes attracted them. They had caused the storm, waiting for the moment when the hatred of the leaders would peak and they became as frozen as their hearts, transforming them into a constant food and power source for all time. With the leaders gone their subjects’ hatred of each other would continue to grow until they succumbed to the same fate.
However, as the Windigos reveled in their triumph, Smart Cookie, Private Pansy, and Clover the Clever went over to each other and comforted one another in what they thought would be their final hour, as they talked, they began to bond and friendship began to form. Suddenly, Clover the Clever’s eyes lit up as she levitated into the air releasing a strange fire that formed into the shape of a heart that drove back the Windigos and the storm they had created. The fire kept the servants warm as they talked, laughed, and sang. Soon the fire also melted the three leaders who were moved by the friendship and love between their servants. Following the example of their servants, the three leaders created a new peace accord ending the feud between the tribes. With the Fires of Friendship to light their way and warm their hearts, the three leaders and their servants guided their tribe to a new land and a new beginning. The tribes named their new land Equestria and together they worked to make their new home flourish.
However, unbeknownst to the ponies of Equestria the story does not end there. After the Windigos were repelled, they returned to their lair in the Tundra Mountains with temperatures so cold that it could freeze fire and winter weather raged constantly around the snowy peaks all year round. Nopony had ever dared tried to get to the top, for those that went there never came back. They said that the mountain was cursed but they were only half right. In a way it was cursed, for it was home to the Kingdom of the Windigos. The three windigos flew into the cave entrance of their home, at first the cave did not look like much until they moved further in to reveal a huge cave full of ice and snow, it was practically another world and it was home to the many legions of windigos. All around the cave were their many victims, all of them frozen solid but alive and perfectly preserved. In the middle of the cave was a throne of ice that nearly filled the entire cavern.
As soon as the three windigos approached the throne, the storms outside ceased. The three windigos and their brethren bowed down towards the throne as the dark mass of clouds seeped in through the top opening of the cave and floated down in front of the throne. Blizzards, hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons flared from the clouds as they spun together, fusing, into a mighty and dark pillar; made out of the storms that raged within the malevolent being. A head began to shape itself at the top of the dark mass into the likeness of the windigos. When the creature finished forming its head, a long and jagged horn made of ice sprouted from its forehead, glistening like a doubled edged sword honed to perfection. A long and writhing mane made of lightning burst from its spine. The creature stood for a moment and opened its eyes to reveal orbs of lighting pulsing with raw power. As the monster sat down on its throne, the windigos rose from their genuflection, except for the three that had returned, not daring to so much as move until their king addressed them. The King lowered his head over the three scouts and spoke in the windigo language.
“I biid you riisse,” the King commanded. The three windigos rose from their kneeling, their eyes still locked on the ground. "Cuumuluss, Niiimbuss, Straaatuss. Have you ssuccced in your tassk?”
Nimbus and Stratus nudged their brother towards the throne; he was the leader after all. Cumulus slowly glided forward in fear knowing that his king would not be happy at his report. He raised his head and spoke.
“My kiing Noreasster, we have…faailed,” Cumulus said shaking in terror.
Noreaster's eyes narrowed at Cumulus and then started to laugh, the other windigos nervously joined in. As soon as Noreaster stopped the throne room became silent.
"I musst have misssundersstood what you ssaaid. It wass humurouss, gave uss all a good laugh. Nooow, diid you succced in your tassk?”
Cumulus cringed unable to look Noreaster in eye; he said nothing because he could not give any other answer than the one he had given. Nimbus and Stratus also looked away in fear.
A dead and heavy silence filled Noreaster's throne room the tension so thick that it could have been cut with a knife. Noreaster closed his eyes and let a sigh of disappointment as he raised his head. Suddenly, Noreaster's eyes shot open, they and his mane became blood red as his very being manifested his fury in a storm that now raged throughout the throne room. Three dark tendrils whipped out of Noreaster and grabbed the three windigos as his head dissipated, reforming in front of the three scouts his eyes flashing with anger. Lightning surged through the tendrils electrocuting the offensive windigos.
“Hooow DAAARE yooou RETUURN?!” Noreaster demanded, speaking with the power and force of a hurricane.
“Pleasse...my lord!" Stratus begged as he writhed in excruciating agony. "The fault waass not our own. Weee did asss you commanded!”
“Yoou have the gaaall to imply that the faault waas miine!” Noreaster shouted his eyes blazing in anger and his gripping growing ever tighter.
The other windigos shrank back in terror at the temper of their king and knew that unless their three fellows choose their next words carefully they would be their last.
“Nooo my king! It wass the attendantss. Wee nearly had the leadersss trapped in icy tombss. But their sservaantss found a new poweer!” Cumulus explained.
At the mention of this information, Noreaster’s anger began to die down as did the storm.
“Whaat power iss sso great that it could do what even the mightiesst of empiiress and magic ussers could noot!?” Noreaster demanded his gaze never leaving his spies. "Sshooow meee!”
The three scouts opened their minds to their leader and showed him the heart shaped fire that came from the friendship of Private Pansy, Smart Cookie, and Clover the Clever. The king released the three scouts in shock as he returned to his original position. This was truly a formidable power; it could ruin all he had planned. Furthermore, to add insult to injury they were defeated! They, the bringers of the endless winter, they who brought entire kingdoms to their knees, they who strike with the power of the storm and the speed of the wind, defeated by the likes of these ponies. This insult could not go unpunished. With that, Noreaster stood up and looked at all his subjects.
“Heear me my subjectss, and mark me well. The Three Triiibess have won the battle but not the war. Ssearch high and low all over the world, we sshaall find a way to overcome thiss Flame of the Heart. Even if it takess ccenturiess, we will haave our revenge on the three triibesss and plunge the world into an eternal age of iccce and sssnow. Now GOO!” Noreaster commanded as the windigo legions scattered to the four winds to obey their king’s command.
As Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus started to leave a bolt of lightning struck in front of them.
“Not, you threee, I have a better way for you to redeem yourseelvess. You sshaall watch the tribess in sseccret, they are not to make a ssingle move without me knowing it or you will wiissh I had destroyed you!” Noreaster stated.
“Not if I have anything to say about it, you foul monster,” the mare whispered and quickly and stealthily left the cave.
She went over to the cliff side and leapt off, suddenly her cloak expanded and she flew up into the sky following the trail of the windigos hopping to stop or at least to delay their plans.
The three windigo spies did as their king commanded and watched as the three tribes banded together and traveled to their new home determined to treat it and each other with love and respect; peace and prosperity reigned as Equestria flourished. It was a nauseating sight to the windigos. Where was the hatred, where was the fear, all this…friendship was sickening. However, what was truly an infuriating sight was that every year on the day of the windigos defeat in the dead of night, Clover the Clever, Private Pansy, Smart Cookie, Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddinghead, Princess Platinum and the other ponies would go out into the middle of the kingdom and would once more create the Fire of Friendship. Not to mention they would make a complete racket singing those ridiculous songs. Furthermore, as per orders from their king, Stratus, Cumulus, and Nimbus would challenge the power of the fire to find a weakness of some kind only to be repelled every time. One night, the spies went to report to their king, after once again being repulsed by the Fire. The windigos flew to a frozen lake and landed near its snowy banks, they breathed on the icy surface. The ice glowed with an eerie light and Noreaster appeared in the reflection of the lake.
“My kiing Noreasster the flame sstill shiiness and grows brighter with every passing year,” Stratus said.
“Yess, all attempts at desstroying it have faailed. Its power cannot be beaten,” Cumulus said. Noreaster mulled over the news and smiled evilly as he thought of way to use the pony’s happiness against them.
“Thiss may woork to our advantage. Where there is happinesss there is also complacencccy. Listen to my instructionss carefully. Sow complacenccy into the mindss of the poniess after the New Year staartsss. Lull the foalss into a falssse sensse of ssecurity until the flame losssesss its importancce. When the time comesss, I will endow you with ssome of my power and then we will ssstrike down Equestria and there will be noting to sstand in my way!” Noreaster howled as he vanished from the ice surface.
The three spies eagerly went about their task, spreading complacency upon the wind little by little chipping away at the urgency to light the flame. Some ponies even began to question why they even needed to continue the ritual anyway, after all no more enmity existed between the tribes anymore and the windigos stopped their attacks, so what was was the point? Nevertheless, the leaders and their attendants still performed the ritual every year but as time passed, only a handful of ponies from each tribe took part in the spell. Soon the leaders of the three tribes and their attendants grew old and one by one began to die, as Clover the Clever breathed her last, breath the windigos rejoiced. For the hated ones were at last all dead and their successors were barely into marehood. Even if they were alicorns, the time had finally come.
In the halls of the castle, a young white alicorn with a flowing pink tail and mane with a sun cutie mark searched for her sister. They had just come from Clover the Clever’s funeral and her sister was taking it very hard and even the mare had to admit that it took everything she had not to lock herself in her room and cry her eyes out. As a servant dressed in medieval maid attire came by levitating the clothes she had just washed, she saw the princess and inclined her bonnet-covered head.
“My lady Celestia,” the servant said, making sure not to make eye contact with the princess as was proper. Celestia inclined her head inwardly hating her full title she missed being plain Tia, the filly that gossiped with the servants, related to her subjects, and knew how to have a good time. Now she had to be this proper and prim Princess Celestia.
“How now good servant, tell me hast thou seen my sister Princess Luna?” Celestia asked the servant.
“Prithee I did see her majesty in the garden. She looked very out of sorts, the death of Clover the Clever must still weigh on her,” The unicorn sighed.
“Thank you good madam,” Celestia said and trotted off towards the garden.
As soon as she was out of the sight of the servant, Celestia galloped into the directions of the royal gardens. When she arrived there, she saw a younger alicorn mare with a light blue coat and even lighter blue mane and tail. On her flank was a mark of the night sky. Princess Luna sat glumly by a statue of Clover the Clever in the snow. Alicorns did not feel the cold unless it was truly extreme or had a magical property about it. Celestia saw the puddle of frozen tears by her sister’s feet and looked on in sadness. Celestia hated to see her sister so sad, but what was she to do? Celestia thought and came up with the answer. As Princess Luna sulked by the statue, she felt a snowball hit her in the neck. She turned around looking for the assailant but saw no one and once more stared at the statue. Then another snowball hit her in the neck once more. Luna knew for sure that one was real and knew of only one who could sneak up on her.
“Sister reveal thyself, I know thee are there,” Luna said. Celestia stepped out from behind the statue of harmony levitating a snowball with her magic.
“We are not amused by thine actions sister get thee away from us and leave us to our sorrow,” Luna said. However, before she could turn around Celestia launched another snowball at her.
“Sister…thy actions are like that of a foal and such things should be behind us, leave me be or we shall be forced to retaliate,” Luna warned her sister.
Celestia flung another snowball at sister but Luna stopped it in midair and raised it above her horn and used her magic to make the snow falling from the air add itself to the size of the snowball.
“We warned thee,” Luna said launching the gigantic snowball at her sister watching as it covered Celestia in a powdery blanket.
Suddenly, a light burst forth and melted the snow. Celestia’s horn went out as she shook herself dry. Then with a mischievous smile, Celestia conjured animated snow ponies dressed in the sun guard armor made of ice. A small smile formed on Luna’s face as she too conjured animated snow ponies; except they were dressed in the attire of the moon guard. The armies clashed as Celestia and Luna threw snowballs at each other laughing and playing as they did as young fillies. When the armies were decimated and the princesses grew tired of their fight, they laid down in the snow laughing as if they did not have a care in the world. After the sisters stopped laughing, a silence beset them as they looked at the statues of the ponies that taught them to be rulers.
“They would not want us to be sad, my sister,” Celestia said as she leaned her head over to Luna.
“I know Tia, tis unfair that those we hath love doth slowly age and pass away, while we liveth on,” Luna said staring at the snowy sky.
“Sister, I confide in thee that I too feel the same way, but it is the duty of the living to live on for the dead,” Celestia said.
“But why sister? Why did destiny see fit to make us long lived but not the ones that came before us, what makes us so worthy?” Luna asked as she lay over on her side.
“I don’t know why little sister, because neither of us are worthy of our gifts. Nevertheless, for whatever the answer may be, I know that there is a reason. Our mentors are now at peace, sister. Now it is time to find ours and lead our people,” Celestia said as she got up.
Luna smiled thoughtfully and did the same then she leaned against her sister.
“I love thee Tia,” Luna said hugging her sister.
“And I love thee too,” Celestia said hugging her sister back.
The windigo spies watched this display from the top of the castle, their king watching the scene through their eyes.
“It iss time my ssubjectss, take my power!” Noreaster intoned.
Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus all felt an intense pain come over them. It was as if somepony was filling their veins with fire and tearing them apart at the same time. Suddenly, the pain stopped and in its place was a rush of power and ecstasy. Cumulus was the first to recover from the pain he looked in awe at his transformation; he was no longer composed of the wind but of dark black storm clouds. He looked at his associates to discover that they too had undergone a similar transformation but their hooves, mane, and eyes were now formed out of lightning in different colors. Nimbus was an emerald demonic green, while Stratus was an electrified cobalt blue. Cumulus looked at his hooves and saw they radiated with blood red lightning. The windigos looked at each with glee at the gift that their king gave them, they would not fail.
Suddenly, the winds in the garden grew stronger as the snowfall began to increase rapidly. Luna’s eyes snapped open as she felt a change in the air an evil feeling began to permeate the atmosphere of the garden. Luna looked at her sister and knew that she felt it too.
“Sister can thee feel the air?” Luna asked.
“Yes, for it feels cold and it chills me to the very bone,” Celestia said.
“Impossible…unless…what sorcery is this?” Luna asked.
“One that Clover the Clever and her master had hoped never to see again. Get thee behind me sister, when I say, I pray thee run towards the castle with haste!” Celestia commanded as her horn glowed with a golden yellow light.
“Nay sister, I will not leave thine side, I will stand by you,” Luna said as her horn glowed with a dark gray deep blue light. Celestia sighed but nodded and looked around the garden.
“Reveal thyselves windigos foul creatures of snow and hate!” Celestia demanded.
“Tia up there,” Luna said as she looked to the sky.
Celestia turned to the sky and stared in horror, these windigos were as black clouds with their eyes and mane radiating with lightning. They swirled together in a circle and sent a blizzard blast at the pony sisters. Before anypony could blink, Celestia erected a shield blocking the assault. Seeing that the shield was cracking, Luna added her own power to the shield sharing the burden with her sister until the storm cleared. When the assault finished the sisters lowered their shield and looked around them in shock. Every inch of the garden had been completely frozen over. Even where they stood had a layer of frost.
“Sister, to the skies! Let us take the battle to them,” Luna said as she spread her wings.
Celestia nodded and launched herself into the air, her sister following suit. Celestia gathered the power of the sun and combined it with her magic until she formed a miniature sun around her horn. She aimed and fired a blinding solar flare at the windigos. As the windigos writhed in agony over their burns, Luna’s horn lit up and stars began to form in front of her. Luna bucked and the stars charged at the windigos pelting them in a shower of meteors bathing the sky in bursts of light. As the light cleared, the princesses flew in closer to see if their enemy was gone. Suddenly, a mighty vortex of wind formed around them trapping them in a funnel of stormclouds generated by the windigos. Now that they had, the pony sisters in their grasp the windigos assaulted them with burning hail, blazing lightning, and winds so fast and cold that it cut like a sword. Celestia and Luna fired power blast and power blast at the spirits but the attacks had missed their marks. With their prey finally weak, the windigos sent a blast of freezing wind at the sisters knocking Celestia and Luna out of the sky to land on the garden ground. As the sisters looked up into the sky, the windigos descended upon them and covered the garden in darkness separating the two sisters from each other as a blizzard spiraled around them.
Celestia’s Journey
Celestia rose shakily to her hooves. Every part of her even parts she did not know that she had ached in excruciating agony.
As Celestia tried to flex her wings, a searing pain shot throughout her body, in shock, she put her full weight on her left back leg and her suffering intensified tenfold Celestia fell back into the snow letting out a cry of hurt. She then took a deep breath and remembered the survival skills that Commander Hurricane had taught her and her sister. Celestia calmed her body, mind, and spirit and tuned out the howling winds. She began to analysis her situation.
“Alright Tia your wings are broken and even if they were not they’d still be useless in this blizzard, your left back leg is broken but you can still walk with three. The best course of action right now is to get up, keep moving, and look for your sister,” Celestia said to herself.
Celestia once more got to her hooves careful not to put any weight on her broken leg or disturb her wings. As she looked around the inky darkness, her doubts seemed to be echoed all around her.
Your sister is dead.
You have failed your kingdom.
Not worthy
Sleeeeeeep and it will all be over.
Celestia did not know if that the windigos or her own mind playing tricks on her either way she would not let them stop her.
“No my sister lives I’d know it in my heart if she were dead I refuse to lie down and die!” Celestia proclaimed. Celestia focused her magic reserves into her horn, sweat pouring from her pores until her horn began to flicker and small but bright light radiated the area around her. She took in a deep breath and began to call her sister.
“Luna, Luna, sister where arête thou?!” Celestia pleaded as she trudged through the snow and cold raging wind. Celestia was determined to find her sister even if she had to be the first alicorn to get frostbite. She tried to conjure the Fire of Friendship but to no avail. Without the light of the sun, Celestia felt so weak and empty. Finally, she collapsed from exhaustion into the snow, she just could not do it anymore her eyes becoming heavier and heavier.
“Luna, forgive me sister,” Celestia whispered as the light from her horn began to dwindle until it went out.
Luna’s Journey
In another part of the windigos weather sphere Princess Luna also struggled to her hooves everything seemed to hurt the pain was almost unbearable. Even though her legs were not broken, her wings were in tatters. She had a serious wound on her right side. Remember her survival training she used her magic reserves, formed some of the snow into a bandage, and placed it over the wound. She looked up at the darkness with fear. Many would think it silly that the Princess of the Night would be afraid of the dark but Luna had reason too. For every time that it was dark, they came to her. Creatures of darkness each with different colored eyes and forms came to her in her nightmares trying to get her to join them. However, she remembered her sister and the thought that she was looking for her snapped her out of her fear. She had already lost too many of the people that she loved to death; she would not lose her sister. She looked up into the sky and shouted.
“Cowards! Face us like a stallion thou foul wretches, I will not die!” Luna said. Concentrating her remaining magic, she caused her horn to light up and began her walk towards to try to find her sister.
“Tia, Tia, answer us sister!” Luna shouted.
“Lunaaaaaa,” A voice called out.
Luna’s blood froze as she recognized the voice. The Nightmare Forces they found her and sure enough, a mass of darkness began to form into a being with a smoky bird like form and red eyes.
“Join us Princess give us a vessel,” the monster said.
“No, never!” Luna shouted as she tried to blast the creature.
“Why deny what you are Queen of Darkness. Why protect those that revel in the day, practically worship your sister, shun the nigh, and scorn you. You are not loved we will love you,” The monster said.
“Thow lieth!” Luna shouted and tried again to blast the fiend.
Even though her magic was, nearly gone adrenaline and survival instincts called on what little magic Luna had left and fired weak power blast out of her horn. They did nothing to the creature before her, so she ran blasting at anything that seemed to move in the storm. When the adrenaline high faded, Luna collapsed on the ground. The monster smugly appeared before her and changed into one of the windigos it seemed to laugh evilly as it faded back into the storm. Tears of fury and grief fell from Luna’s eyes as realized that she was tricked into using up her remaining strength.
“Forgive me Tia because of me we will both die here. At least we will die together,” Luna said as her horn went out and she succumbed to the storm.
As the blizzard began to close in on the sisters to finish them, a voice spoke to them within their heads.
“Princess you must rise up for your kingdom and sister needs thee,” the voice said.
“Who are you?” Celestia asked as she not recognizing the mare’s voice.
“A friend,” the mare said.
“How do we find our sister?” Luna asked.
“I will show thee the way,” the mare spoke
Suddenly, a long spiral white horn penetrated the darkness radiating with bright light. Then snow began to fall from beyond the veil of darkness, it was light, gentle, and seemed to glow with the same light of the horn. The snow beat back the blizzard and canceled out the howling winds. Celestia and Luna opened their eyes and found themselves miraculously healed and their strength restored. They each got back onto their hooves marveling as the spheres of light floating down from the sky Luna saw the white horn and followed it. As Celestia marveled over the glowing snow, she heard somepony approach her from behind, she turned around and with great relief saw that it was her sister.
“Tia, Oh Tia!” Luna said as she galloped to her sister as tears began to fall from her eyes.
“Luna, I… I thought I’d lost thee!” Celestia said as she tearfully enveloped her sister in her wings.
“And I…thee,” Luna responded tearfully.
Then the blizzard picked back up the howling of the windigos piercing the silence of the moment. Luna looked at her sisters legs in shock.
“Tia!” Luna said as she saw ice enveloping her sister.
Celestia stared in shock as the saw the same happening to her sister. She tried to free them both but the windigos magic was too strong. The royal pony sisters looked at each other and embraced but as the ice was about to overtake them their eyes radiated with power and dark pink flames erupted out of them shaping itself into a heart. Its power shot forth causing the windigos to disperse and vanish along with the damage they had done to the garden. The sisters floated back to the ground and hugged each other thankful that the nightmare was over. Celestia looked over her sister’s shoulder and saw a mare in an Ursa Major fur cloak; even though they could not see, her face and body a long white spiral horn protruded from her head glowing with the same light of the snow that helped the sisters find each other. The royal sisters went over to the stranger.
“Pray thee stranger what is thy name, who do we thank for saving us?” Luna asked.
“My name is not important I barely use it anymore but you may call me the Wanderer,” the Wanderer said.
“Please, reveal to us who you are so that we may reward thou properly. If not for your spell me and my sister surely would have perished,” Celestia pleaded.
The Wanderer merely stared at the Fire of Friendship that burned above the castle.
“If you wish to thank me, never forget the power of the fire, always make sure that it is lit, and do not allow it to go out,” said he Wanderer.
"Also, remember these words and mark them well. The Bringer of Eternal Winter shall come and unless stopped he will plunge this world into its final days and usher in an age of ice and despair, unless stopped by the one who was created for evil but destined for good. For within her is the final element and with the hope of a nation she shall save this world."
As her words echoed throughout the garden the mare’s horn lit up and the snow enveloped her, swirling around her until she was gone. The royal princesses looked everywhere in the garden for her but never found her. However, they had both decided something at that very moment that as long as they ruled the Fires of Friendship would never again lose its importance and so came up with a plan to ensure just that.
Kingdom of the Windigos
Back in his kingdom the Noreaster seethed in anger as his brilliant plan was thwarted, he would teach those fool spies too fail him when they reformed, but it was not a total loss for he had discovered a weakness. Noreaster’s horn lit up as an ice sculpture of Luna began to form surrounded by the Nightmare Forces that stalked her dreams. As Noreaster pondered, a way to use this tidbit to his advantage the wail of his returning subjects broke him away from his thoughts. The Windigos flew into the throne room and presented five cleanly cut book pages and a journal with a black cover titled The Findings of Daedal to their king.
"So, that staaallion proved hiimseeelf ussefull after aaalll," Noreaster said as he conjured a breeze that carried the pages and journal close enough to his face so he could read what knowledge they held. As Norester read, the pages and the notes within the journal a cold sneer began to from on his face and he turned once more to the statue he made of Luna and the Nightmare Forces.
“Yess it iss only a matter of tiiime,” Noreaster said to himself.
In the richer part of Canterlot next to the School for Gifted Unicorns stood a mansion, this however, was no ordinary mansion but in fact the house of the reinstated headmaster of the of S.F.G.U. The door opened and a stallion in his late twenties with a blue coat, a white mane and tail stepped out of the mansion wearing a scarf enchanted to look like the night sky and keep him warm. On his flank was a cutie mark was a sun with a crescent moon in it surrounded by a sphere, this was Spell Nexus. After the fight with Nightmare Moon, Princess Celestia had charged Spell Nexus and his team to find a way to permanently dispose of the Nightmare Force that was left within the armor once and for all. However, through an error in judgment Spell Nexus instead became its next victim. It controlled him and made him attempt to resurrect Nightmare Moon and take over Equestria. He failed on both counts and was returned to normal.
For half of that year he kept punishing himself even tried to lock himself up in the rarely used Canterlot dungeon. In fact, it was not until Hearth Warming eve last year after a visit from Nyx the last filly that he had thought would visit him that he finally started to forgive himself. As he walked out of the house, a unicorn stallion trotted up next him. The stallion’s coat was white and perfectly groomed. His mane was expertly oiled and slicked back to the side, his tail was brushed so perfectly that not a hair dared to be out of place. He wore a monocle over his right eye, an exact replica of the cutie mark on his flank. He levitated a winter coat with a matching hat and hoofins.
“Sir, are you sure that you won’t need these. It is frightfully chilly out there,” The unicorn said.
“Thank you Proper Etiquette but I won’t need them. This scarf is enchanted to repel cold and the elements. Besides I’m not going far,” Spell Nexus said.
“A spell will never be able to replace good winter gear if you ask me,” Proper Etiquette said.
Spell Nexus laughed at Proper Etiquette’s persnickety attitude.
“I’ll be fine Proper Etiquette I won’t be long,” Spell Nexus said.
“Would you like me to start decorating while you’re gone sir?” Proper Etiquette asked.
“Yes and watch out for Lumber Jack he’s bringing the tree over soon,” Spell Nexus said.
“Oh joy,” Proper Etiquette said in an annoyed tone rolling his eyes.
“Oh and please try not to get into a hoof fight with him this year,” Spell Nexus implored.
“As long as he keeps his tree decorating tips to himself,” Proper Etiquette said in a huff.
Spell Nexus smiled and shook his head, as he walked out on the path the scarf’s spell began to take effect an invisible barrier formed around him keeping him warming and toasty. Spell Nexus detoured over to his fountain, touched his horn to the base, and closed his eyes. A white aura lit up his horn as it flowed throughout the fountain a white fire flowed from the top of the fountain and into the base filling it with multicolored lights and soothing flame. Then a heart began to form a few inches above the fountain until it became an exact replica of the Fires of Friendship. Spell Nexus looked up and admired his handy work he then trotted out the gated and headed to S.F.G.U.
From the doorway, Proper Etiquette watched this display and smiled. He was glad that Spell Nexus was finally getting out of his depression; it had been troubling to say the least. After Spell Nexus’s ordeal, he was a broken stallion, Proper Etiquette shuttered to think what would have become of his friend if he had not stayed, but thankfully, it was finally starting to be put behind them. Proper Etiquette walked back into the mansion and magically closed the doors behind him.
Spell Nexus went over to the doors of the school and put his horn in the lock causing the door to open, as he trotted inside the door closed behind. As he walked through the hallowed halls he could not help but remember his own days here as a colt. He smiled at the living book spell accident that caused the entire school’s books to come to life and rebel against the student and teacher body, it also helped him to realize his special talent of creating new spells when he countered the enchantment. Spell Nexus sighed at the memory until he came to his office and inserted his horn into the lock causing it to open. As Spell Nexus entered his office he magically the closed door and locked it, a barrier of privacy formed over the entire room. He then looked at the wall behind his desk and pointed his still glowing horn at the center, a door began to form on the wall’s surface when it was completely formed, it slowly swung open to reveal a long stairwell lit by crystal orbs of light. Spell Nexus entered the door and descended the stairwell as the door closed behind him and once more vanished into non-existence.
This secret door was one of many secrets that the school held. This one was only known to the headmasters and to the Princesses. It was a special warehouse under the school that held powerful magical artifacts, spells and things best left forgotten and in the wrong hands could lead to extreme disastrous consequences, in fact, the room was charmed to implode if somepony tried to steal anything. Good thing that he sealed the doorway when he realized that he was about to be taken over by the Nightmare Force or there would have been real trouble. Spell Nexus walked down the last of the stairs and stood at a huge and wide set of oaken doors. On the door where heavy nth metal bolts all connected to a lock made of nth metal on every wheel was a circle of symbols, the picture writing of the ancients. Spell Nexus closed his eyes and focused his energy into the only spell that could open the door. As he opened his eyes, they lit up with power and plunged his horn into the hole in the middle of the lock. The symbols lit up and the wheels began to move until the symbols matched up. As Spell Nexus took his horn out of the lock he shook his head.
“I’d forgotten how that takes a lot out of a pony,” Spell Nexus said as the room stopped spinning.
The doors opened revealing the treasures that it held, the walls were lined with books so numerous that they rivaled even the library of the Crystal Empire. Ancient artifacts and scrolls laid in glass cases including the map used by Smart Cookie to find Equestria. A more curious piece on display was a spell book opened to some ripped pages. Since the school was first established the missing spells was still a mystery all attempts to magically restore the missing pages had failed so the attempts were abandoned.
'"For the best," Spell Nexus thought as looked at the display. "The pony who wrote that grimoire was a horseshoe shy of a pair."
Spell Nexus however, was not here to marvel or check on the things held in this room but on the thief that nearly succeed in stealing one of the most dangerous items this vault had ever held the Nightmare Moon's armon. The one who started everything, he remembered it like was yesterday. Spell Nexus had stayed late that night doing some paperwork to put a new colt into the school system, when he suddenly felt tired, he had thought he would rest his eyes for a minute. When he fell asleep, somehow the thief sneaked in and accessed the passage. If it were not for that bolt of lightning that woke him up the mare would have gotten away.
“At least I think it was mare couldn’t tell with that strange cloak on,” Spell Nexus said to himself.
At the sound of the lightning Spell Nexus’s eyes shot open and saw the thief levitating the Nightmare Force in a completely sealed box made of ice. He commanded the thief to stop but she fled. Spell Nexus quickly activated the anti-thief barrier that kept thieves from leaving the school. He gave chase the mare cornering at the school’s entrance.
“There’s no place to run give up now and make things easier for yourself,” Spell Nexus said.
“I’m sorry but for the good of this land I can’t afford to do that,” The mare said and fired a blast at the headmaster.
Spell Nexus dodged the blast and returned fire only to see in shock that the spell completely bounced off her.
“How the buck did you do that?” Spell Nexus asked astounded at what he just saw.
Even though Spell Nexus could not see her face, he knew the mare was smiling.
“It is foolish to reveal one's advantages in battle,” The mare said as she raised her horn causing a gust of snow and wind at Spell Nexus sending him flying.
However, in midair he stopped, conjured a force field around himself and floated down to the ground.
Spell Nexus’s eyes lit up as he reared up and brought his hoofs down with a crash, as waves of energy rose up from the ground and headed for the mare a ball of energy formed around the thief blocking the magic attack. The mare sent bolt after bolt at Spell Nexus, he barely dodge most of them and wherever the spell made contact an ice crystal appeared. Spell Nexus knew that he couldn’t keep dodging forever and long as the mare wore that cloak would protect…her.
“The cloak; that’s it I know how to beat her,” Spell Nexus said in his thoughts. "I can trick the cloak into turning its charm against the wearer. All I need to do is use her magic against her and with a few modifications it will not be able to deflect the spell because it will think that it is her's. It’s not going to be easy but Celestia didn't entrust me with her school for nothing."
Spell Nexus took a deep breath and concentrated on this new spell, when he was ready, he leapt out of his hiding spot, the mare sent another attack at him but a funnel swirled from his horn, caught the attack, and sent it right back at the mare. Spell Nexus panted heavily as the energy cost began to take its toll, when he looked up the mare was frozen solid a look of shock on her face. Next to her stood the case of ice that held what remained of the Nightmare Moon's armor. Spell Nexus trotted towards the mare and scanned her with a health analyzation spell. The mare was frozen but very much alive and unharmed. Spell Nexus then performed the "mess be gone" enchantment and cleaned up the havoc that was left by the spells, when that was done he teleported the thief and the chest to a little windowless and doorless room hidden in the back of the vault.
“In case you’re wondering you are alive and I know that you can hear me. I deflected your spell back at you and since you are still alive this tells me that you are not a killer and not intended to hurt anypony. I promise that I will report this to Princess Celestia when she thaws you out and questions you. Until then you will remain here under citizen’s arrest, I modified the spell so that you will remain alive without the need for food or water until you are freed” Spell Nexus said as he used his magic to create a sphere of light. The sphere floated up into the air lighting up the dark room like a star.
“You should at least have some light in here, I’m not an unreasonable stallion after all,” Spell Nexus said as he vanished.
Of course, he never did report it to Celestia due to his exposure to the Nightmare Force contaminated armor and his depression that followed, the thief was the furthest thing from his mind. Nevertheless, now was the time to get some answers. As he walked to the back of the vault, Spell Nexus’s horn lit up as the bricks began to recede revealing the hidden room. As he walked in Spell Nexus’s jaw dropped in shock, were the thief once stood a pile of cracked ice took her place, she was gone.
“No this isn’t possible only I and the Princesses can come and go out of here at will!” Spell Nexus shouted out loud.
“I’m such a foal! I should have told the Princesses the first chance I had,” Spell Nexus said slapping his hoof to his face.
As many scenarios flashed on the motive of the thief to try and steal the Nightmare Force, a thought came to the forefront of his mind that made his blood run cold.
“Oh sweet Luna, Nyx! What is this thief goes after her now? Oh Celestia what have I done?!” Spell Nexus berated himself.
He had caused so much pain in that filly’s life and yet she still chose to help him even if she did not know it. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself. Spell Nexus galloped out the room determined to do what he should have done long ago.
It was around late December in Ponyville and everypony was finishing their decorating for Hearth’s Warming Day decorations were being hung, food was being made, and presents were being bought. However, nopony was more excited than the foals at the school taught by Ms. Cherilee especially a little filly alicorn named Nyx. She and her classmates squirmed in their seat with excitement over what they would do over their break. Ms. Cherilee could not help but smile at the memory of another little filly that would practically be bursting at the seams moments before winter break.
“Okay class, remember to have a good and safe Hearth’s Warming vacation and as a special treat I’m releasing you all early enjoy your vacation,” Ms. Cherilee said as she leapt out of the way of her stampeding students.
“Out of my way Nightmare Moon unlike someponies me and Silverspoon have a family to get too,” Diamond Tiara said as she pushed Nyx out of the way followed by her lackey Silverspoon who looked back inwardly glad that Nyx was not hurt.
Ms. Cherilee shook her head at Diamond Tiara’s behavior and at times like this; she wished that teachers were still allowed to spank the flanks of fillies like her. She trotted over to Nyx and helped her to her hooves.
“Are you alright Nyx?” Ms. Cherilee asked.
“Yes, Ms. Cherilee I’m fine,” Nyx said as she put her saddlebag on her back.
Even though things had gotten better for Nyx in Ponyville there were still a few that still gave the poor filly a hard time.
“Do you want to me tell your mother about this Nyx?” Ms. Cherilee asked.
“No its Hearth’s Warming season the time for forgiving. Besides even if my mommy convinced Mr. Rich to tell Diamond Tiara to stop, I doubt she would,” Nyx said.
“Well, have a good Hearth’s Warming Nyx,” Ms. Cherilee said putting on a smile for Nyx.
“Thank you Ms. Cherilee,” Nyx said hugging her teacher.
Ms. Cherilee watched as Nyx walked out the door and seriously hoped that this year’s Hearth Warming for Nyx would be better for Nyx unlike last year with that whole news reporter fiasco nearly ruined the holiday for her and her family. Ow well things just might be better this year after all what could possibly go wrong.
Nyx ran to the back entrance of Sweet Apple Acres making sure that Granny Smith was not around and headed towards her Cutie Mark Crusaders or CMC for short she entered the where saw some of her friends Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Twist and Apple Bloom where waiting for her.
“Nyx what took you so long? We were getting ready to start without you,” Scootaloo said.
“You mean you were going to start without her,” Sweetie Belle said.
“So wat was the holdup partner?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Come on Nyx tell us what’s wrong,” Twist said.
“It was just Diamond Tiara,” Nyx said as she explained what happened.
“Why that snooty…boy what I wouldn’t give to make that tiara a permanent fixture to her head,” Scootaloo said.
“Guys it’s alright I’m used to it,” Nyx said.
“No its not alright just say the word Nyx and every apple from this farm that winds up in her daddy’s store will have a mealy worm in it,” Apple Bloom.
“Or I can ask my sister to make Diamond Tiara’s entire clothes clash with each other with a spell. She’ll look hideous,” Sweetie Belle said.
“Actually Sweetie Belle that might actually be an improvement,” Scootaloo said.
“That and a miracle,” Twist said. The fillies burst out laughing at that thought. Nyx went up to her friends and hugged them.
“What did I ever do to get friends like you?” Nyx asked.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get all mushy on us. Now the first order of business,” Scootaloo said.
Apple Bloom took out a blue print from her saddlebag and unfurled it on the ground; it was a blue print of a snow mobile.
“Sometime during the next few months after winter break we will work to get our snow mobile cutie marks,” Scootaloo said.
“Didn’t the mayor say we weren’t allowed to operate machines in the confines of the town anymore after the steamroller incident,” Nyx said.
“I thought we’d agreed to never speak of that incident again,” Sweetie Belle said cringing at the memory of trying to get the tar out of her mane.
“That’s why we’re operating it outside of the city limit,” Apple Bloom clarified.
“I motion that if we don’t get a cutie mark in snow mobile I think that we should give figure skating another try,” Sweetie Belle said.
“Ow no you are not getting me into those sparkly skirts again,” Scootaloo whined.
“Come on Scootaloo you didn’t look that frufuuuuuuuuu……………I ‘m sorry scoots I couldn’t say that with a straight face,” Nyx said as she laughed.
As the CMC got into the meeting, Nyx looked around her and smiled. Diamond Tiara was wrong she did have a family and she could not wait to go to Canterlot to see her grandparents again or aunt Cadence and uncle Shining. Nyx hoped that this year she and uncle Shining would really bond this year it was all so exciting especially since her mom became a princess. Except for when she got that crystal heart necklace from aunt Cadence that was nearly a disaster but like always her mother always came through.
Nyx looked at the clock in clubhouse and realized that she was late getting home.
“Guys, I have to go, mom is expecting me in a few minutes to begin planning our trip to Canterlot,” Nyx said.
“Oh come on Nyx you worry too much. So what if you’re a few minutes late how worried can Twilight get, relax,” Scootaloo said.
“Ah Scootaloo yu du realize tis iz Twilight we’re talking about ere right?” Apple Bloom reminded Scootaloo.
“On second thought hoof it girl before she calls the royal guard,” Scootaloo said.
“Okay see you guy,” Nyx said as left the tree house.
Nyx once more checked for Granny Smith, seeing that the cost was clear she ran through the back entrance into town. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a pony completely covered in a cloak made of Ursa Major’s fur and a long white spiral horn protruding from its confines. When she blinked, the unicorn was gone.
“That’s odd I’ll ask Pinkie Pie about the new unicorn later,” Nyx asked as she continued on her way.
On her way, home Nyx passed by the cakes bakery and saw Pinkie Pie outside dressed in winter attire with a plate with an airtight dome on it.
“Free samples! Get your free samples here! They’re scruptalicous and in case you didn’t hear me the first time they are FREEEEEEEEEEE!” Pinkie Pie shouted.
When she saw Nyx, Pinkie Pie zipped over.
“Hey Nyx how’s it going, where’re you coming from school, a club meeting, an ice skating rink, or were you under the mistletoe with a special somepony?!” Pinkie Pie asked in her hyperactive way.
“No, Pinkie Pie I was at a CMC meeting besides I’m too young to have a special somepony,” Nyx said laughing.
“Riiiiiiiiiiiight, don’t worry Nyx your secret is safe with me,” Pinkie Pie said with a wink.
“Anyway, what are you doing out here?” Nyx asked.
“Ow I’m handing out free samples of the Cakes owie goey strumchilous ginger bread cookies! So far, I’m not having any luck. Hey there’s somepony now!” Pinkie Pie said as she zipped over to the old father stallion.
She zipped up behind him and took out a megaphone.
“Hey, wanna try a free sample of ginger bread cookies!” Pinkie Pie shouted through the mega phone.
The father pony jumped up into the air and zipped away in fright, making a note to himself to pray for Pinkie Pie and to hire the next available exorcist as soon as possible. Pinkie Pie sighed as she turned back to Nyx.
“See what I mean, I thought everypony loved ginger bread. Ow well I’ll get em next time,” Pinkie Pie said with a laugh.
“Ow Pinkie Pie I need to ask you something, have…wait don’t tell me you saw a sparkly fur cloaked covered mare with a long spiral white horn that seemed to vanish in the snow,” Pinkie Pie said finishing Nyx’s sentence with a huge smile.
Nyx starred in wonderment at Pinkie Pie wondering just how she knew that, looks like there was more to the pinkie sense than they knew.
“Yeah that’s her, so do you know her?” Nyx asked.
“Huuuuuuuuh…no never seen her before, wait a minute if I’ve never met her that means she’s new and a new pony means a new friend, I have to start planning a Welcome to Ponyville party right away that way she can make lots of new friends!” Pinkie Pie said jumping up and down excitedly.
“Pinkie you do know that you’re still on the clock right?” Nyx reminded Pinkie Pie hoping to give the mare a few more hours to settle down before she met Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie Pie stopped jumping in midflight and laded back on the ground.
“Oh yeah well better get back to work the faster I do this the faster I can make a new friend,” Pinkie Pie said with glee.
“Good luck Pinkie Pie,” Nyx said.
As she was about to trot off Pinkie Pie zipped in front of her.
“Wait Nyx before you go would you like a gingerbread cookie?” Pinkie Pie asked as she took the lid off.
Delicious aromas filled the air as the steam from the gingerbread cookies filled the square. Each one was decorated in white and brightly colored frosting swirled into festive designs, each cut into their own shape, they were almost too beautiful to eat. Nyx really wanted one but sighed.
“No thanks Pinkie Pie mommy wouldn’t be happy if I spoiled my dinner,” Nyx said.
“Okay then I’ll save you a few though,” Pinkie Pie said.
Nyx nodded and went off. As Nyx trotted through the snow, she thought of the reason why she didn’t take a gingerbread cookie. She had nearly revealed a secret that she had kept since the Tirek Inceident, something that if discovered would plunge Ponyville and possibly all of Equestria into chaos. She was slowly starting to regain her powers. Whenever a unicorn or alicorn needed to pick something up they used their power of levitation, it can even happen without them realizing it, to them it’s like a fifth hoof.
“If I hadn’t caught it in time,” Nyx said to herself.
Many of the ponies in Ponyville and in Equestria in general still feared and hated her. If it got out that, she was getting her magic back it would bring never-ending trouble to the Princesses and a whole lot of grief to Twilight. Nyx could not put her mother through that. not again. Moreover, she was getting along so well with Uncle Shining, if he knew that some unknown and probably dangerous power was growing inside they would be back to square one. No, it would be worse this time, her family, friends, and even the ponies that had forgiven and accepted her would shun her.
“What if I turn into Nightmare Moon again?!” thought Nyx, as she began to panic. “I’ll be imprisoned in the moon or banished from the solar system or be imprisoned in the solar system I’m banished to!”
Feeling a panic attack and magic surge coming on Nyx stopped and began to practice the breathing exercises her aunt Candence had taught her. As Nyx inhaled and exhaled her fear and magic surge began to be calmed, however, inner turmoil still raged within her. Nyx knew she could not keep suppressing her powers forever but what else could she do. As Nyx continued on her way she became lost within her thoughts trying to answer that question.
A strange chill entered Nyx as she felt that she was being watched by something or somepony but every pony on the road was going about their business. Nyx shrugged to herself thinking that it was the winter wind as it started to pick up blowing snow in every direction. Soon Twilight’s Castle came into a view. It resembled a tall crystalline tree with a multi-level purple castle in its branches with a great balcony, two golden spires, and a tower that flew a violet banner with a white star on it. At the top of castle was a large crystal star, while two sets of five strings of beads hang off the side lower branches of the castle.
As Nyx approached the golden stairs of the castle, she could not help but feel a small sense of loss. It is not that she didn’t like the castle she loved it and it suited her mother’s personality perfectly but she still missed the Golden Oaks Library, it held so many memories for her a few were bad but many of them were good. Nyx was pulled out of her nostalgia by the sound of the doors opening and feeling of warmth that radiated inside. Greeting her at the doorway was a purple and green-scaled baby dragon.
“Nyx hurry up and come in the snow’s starting to come down,” Spike said as Nyx entered the doorway. Nyx took off her snow gear and put them in the dragon’s arms, while Spike put the winter gear by the fire to dry Nyx was greeted by a hoot from Owlowiscious who flew down from the castle rafters, he landed onto Nyx’s back and nuzzled her.
“Hey Spike, where is mom?” Nyx asked.
“She’s in the throne room reading up on royal etiquette,” Spike said as he rolled his eyes making a vomiting motion with his claw.
“Why, mom knows everything there is to know about royal etiquette,” Nyx said.
“That’s what I said. You know Twilight she just had to make sure that the same rules apply now that she has her own kingdom and all. You would think that becoming the Princess of Friendship would have made her less high strung but she’s still the same old Twilight,” Spike said.
“Yeah she’s still my mom,” Nyx said.
Spike noticed the relief in Nyx’s voice. For months now he and Twilight had been sensing Nyx’s insecurities and had tried to get her to open up to them but she wouldn’t give. So Spike did what any other big brother would go and put his arm around her neck and hugged her.
“Hey now, you know that she doesn’t care what those elites think or say. Even if it means turning in her wings, she’ll always love you,” Spike said.
“How do you always know just what to say Spike?” Nyx said as she hugged her brother.
“It’s a gift, now go say hi to Twilight and tell her not to strain her eyes,” Spike said as she went into the royal kitchens.
Nyx flew up the stairs, headed towards her mother’s throne room, and opened the door. Sunlight streamed in from green glass windows making the throne room sparkle and shine. In the middle of the throne room were seven crystalline thrones about a star shaped dais on a golden dish. Sitting on the throne marked with the Element of Magic was a violet hide alicorn mare with a purple and pink stripped mane. On her back was a pair of regal wings. Her horn glowed with violet light as levitated the book she was reading using her powers to turn each page. Nyx looked at Twilight Sparkle in wonder she looked so regal in her appearance. When Twilight saw her daughter, she smiled and placed her book down.
“Nyx you’re home, I’m sorry I didn’t hear you come in?” Twilight said as she leapt off the throne and landed gracefully near her daughter.
“It’s okay mommy,” Nyx said as she hugged her mom.
“So, how was school and the Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting?” Twilight asked.
“They were great, especially the CMC meeting after the holidays we’re going to try to get the others snow mobile cutie marks,” Nyx said excitedly.
“Why don’t we put a horse shoe nail in that one until you’re a little older,” Twilight said making a mental note to talk to Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack about this.
Nyx knew from experience that that meant the snowmobile ride was never going to happen. Then Spike came bursting into the throne room with a scroll in his claw, slightly out of breath from long run.
“Twi…light…this just…came from Princess Celestia?” Spike said.
Twilight levitated the scroll from Spikes claw, opened it in midair, and began to read. Twilight’s eyes bulged as she read the letter’s contents. Suddenly, her legs buckled under her and she fainted to the floor.
“Twilight!” Both Spike and Nyx called out in unison as the two went to her side.
They checked to see if anything was amiss but Twilight was fine other than the fact that she had fainted.
“What was on the letter?!” Nyx asked frantically.
Spike picked up letter with the edge of his claws and began to read half through his eyes bulged in surprise.
“Ah oh we’d better get the girls for this one Nyx, trust me we she’s gonna need her friends for this one,” Spike said.
An hour later
Twilight felt an overly sweet smell fill her nostrils as her eyes started to open. In front of her face was a little crystal bottle that lets out the aroma being levitated by Rarity under her nose.
“It’s a good thing I always carry this smelling salts with me at all times. Don’t even think about it Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said.
“What I wasn’t going to say anything,” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk that suggested otherwise.
“Wish I’d brought my camera this is hilarious,” Scootaloo said trying not to laugh.
“Scootalo!” Sweetie Belle and Rarity exclaimed at such a scandalous idea.
“Stop yur fueding you three she’s beginning to cum around. Cum on sugur cube up at um,” Applejack said as she helped Twilight up from the floor.
“Twilight what happened? I mean if you don’t want to talk about it I understand in fact forget I asked anything,” Fluttershy said.
“It’s alright girls I was just overwhelmed by the news. Brace yourselves Princess Celestia has asked me to organize the Centennial Hearth Warming Day Celebration,” Twilight said.
“What’s the big deal you organize things all the time Twilight this should be a piece of cake,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Cake, I love cake, rich delicious moist cake let’s go get some!” Pinkie Pie said.
“Why don’t we put a rain check on that one dear,” Rarity said as Twilight continued with her explanation.
“You don’t understand this is the Hearth Warming party that comes once in a decade for it marks the anniversary of the Windigos defeat. This party will be happening all over Equestria. Delegates and their leaders from all over the world will come to Canterlot for this celebration and I’ll have to organize it all,” Twilight said in a panicky voice as she began pace about the throne room.
“Darling relax you have nothing to worry about. I mean organizing is second nature to you. It’s a part of your charm if not somewhat disturbing. Anyway you put together an entire Crystal Fair, you fixed Ponyville’s winter wrap up system, planned the biggest wedding in Canterlot in spite of an invasion from a bunch of love sucking horrendous looking Changeling and their somewhat portly queen and saved all of Equestria and the world from Tirek,” Rarity said.
“Wow Rarity you’re so smart. Isn’t Rarity smart guys?” Spike said as little hearts appeared in his eyes. Nyx rolled her eyes at her older brother’s obvious crush on Rarity. Scootaloo made a gaging expression with her face.
“Mommy you stopped me or Nightmare Moon three times from taking over Equestria, defeated Discord, saved Princess Cadence, and restored the Crystal Empire. Compared to all that this is nothing,” Nyx said.
“Yeah Twilight this’ll be superupper snaperiffic easy for you,” Pinkie Pie said jumping up and down in excitement.
“Besides I’m sure that Princess Celestia will be willing to help you anyway she can,” Fluttershy said.
“Don’t forget that you have us to help you Twi,” Rainbow dash said.
“Wit all of us wirking tugether there ain’t nuthing we can’t do,” Applejack said.
Twilight smiled gratefully at her friends, happy to once again that becoming a princess had not once changed her friendships.
“I’m so relieved especially since Princess Celestia had asked for each of you specifically,” Twilight said.
The group gasped in amazement as Twilight read the instructions.
“Rarity Celestia request that you make her and the royal family outfits for the Hearth Warming celebration,” Twilight said.
Rarity gasped and began to swoon, her horn lit up a dark blue as she summoned her silk couch to Twilight’s room and fainted on it.
“The entire royal families Hearth Warming wardrobe I feel so light headed,” Rarity said as put on her damsel face.
“Not saprisin consderin ya heads full of hot air,” Applejack said.
Everybody except Pinkie Pie resisted the urge to laugh as Rarity sent a scathing look at Applejack. Twilight then continued with the instructions.
“Applejack and a few other ponies of your choice need to cater the event, the Princess asks that you keep in mind that every culture has different taste in food,” Twilight said.
“Don’t worry Twi ya can count on me,” Applejack said.
“Fluttershy rare birds are being brought worldwide to Canterlot and the Princess would love for you to turn them into a choir just as you did your birds,” Twilight said.
“Oh my I hope I’m up for it, I’m up for it right?” Fluttershy asked her friends.
“Rainbow Dash the Princess wants you to preform your sonic rainboom with the Wonderbolts,” Twilight said.
“Will you excuse me for a sec?” Rainbow Dash said as she flew out into the hallway in a rainbow colored blur.
“You know you’d think she’d be a lot more excited,” Pinkie Pie said.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Rainbow Dash shouted in excitement at the prospect at being in a performance with the Wonderbolts.
Rainbow Dash flew back into the throne room looking as if that squeal never happened.
“Alright girls we have our assignments it’s time to start planning. Nyx why don’t you, your friends, Spike, and Owlowiscious go to your room and play, I’ll call you down when it’s time for everyone to leave,” Twilight said seeing the board expressions on the CMC’s face.
“Ow thank Celestia come on Nyx let’s go have some real fun,” Spike said. Owlowiscious hooted in agreement and flew to Nyx’s room.
“Race ya’ll up the hall,” Applebloom said as she zipped off into the hallway.
“Hey, no fair you gotta head staaart,” Sweetie Belle whined as she chased after Applebloom.
“Whoa no way am I loosing,” Scootaloo said as she buzzed off to catch up to the others.
Even though Nyx wanted to stay for the planning, she had to admit she’d probably be in the way besides playing with Spike and her friends sounded much more fun. As she went after her friends, a strange feeling made Nyx look out one of the hall windows window and standing in the snow was the mare, she raised her regal head and looked directly at Nyx. Nyx backed away from the window completely unaware that Spike had come up behind her.
“Nyx what’s wrong?” Spike asked.
“Spike, do you see that mare out there?” Nyx asked.
Spike looked out the same window. “What mare?” Spike asked.
“What do you mean “what mare” she’s right out there I saw her at school today,” Nyx said.
“Nyx there’s nopony out there see for yourself,” Spike said.
Nyx looked out the window and sure enough, the mare was gone.
“But I was so sure that I saw her,” Nyx said.
“Maybe you were just seeing things, nopony would stand outside for long in whether like this,” Spike said.
"You’re probably right Spike it’s just my imagination,” Nyx said with a smile.
“Come on race ya,” Spike said as she zoomed off to Nyx’s room.
In the throne room of the royal castle, Celestia and Luna sat on their throne going through the RSVP’s from all the leaders invited to the Hearth Warming Eve Centennial Celebration. Even with magic, the task was very strenuous. Each one had to be personal and could only be written by hoof or horn and in the language of the leader it was being sent to, then the princesses had to order the food and the supplies needed for the party, not to mention also doing their royal duties as leaders of Equestria. However, most of all they had to watch for the windigos, even though it had been many centuries since they attacked they still remembered the very reason that they started the Hearth Warming holiday in the first place. However, why those windigos looked different from the others still eluded them.
“Sister the hippogriph ambassador Silver Quill of the hippogriph provinces has agreed to attend our festivities,” Luna asked as she put down the invitation.
“If he’s anything like his great, great, great, great, grandfather we’d better not order anything stronger than haynogg and cider,” Celestia said.
“Ow, now that was a Hearth Warming’s party to remember,” Luna said laughing at the memory of the old hippogriph doing cartwheels all around the ballroom.
“The his wife was furious,” Celestia said as she remembered seeing the old ambassador sleeping in the hallway for the rest of his stay in Canterlot.
Celestia and Luna laughed at the memories but as the laughter faded, a small sad frown formed on Celestia’s face. That party was the last Hearth Warming Celebration that Celestia had spent with her sister. After that, she’d never had much fun at the party because it reminded her of what had and could have been. It was like looking at constant movie footages of what she had lost because she had been too much of a foal not to see her sister’s pain before it was too late. Luna noticed her sister’s sadness and wrapped a wing around her.
“It’s alright sister you did what you had to do for Equestria and for me,” Luna said.
“For a thousand years Hearth Warming brought much sadness to me as it did joy. As I watched our subjects celebrate with their families, it reminded me that I had no one to celebrate with and I always wondered what I could have done or said, to prevent you from being consumed by the Nightmare Forces and exiling you to the moon,” Celestia said as tear slid down her muzzle.
“I know sister, as I watched from my prison I saw loneliness in your eyes that matched my own especially when you saw said good night to me. But sister we are together now and we can truly celebrate Hearth Warming day,” Luna said.
Celestia was at a loss for words so she just hugged her sister as it truly dawned on her that she was not alone for the holidays she was finally with her family. The sister’s then broke their embrace and smiled at each other.
“Although, I do worry that the organizing of the celebration may be too much for Twilight Sparkle. Even though many months have passed she has still just come into her wings,” Luna said.
“Do not worry my sister my stud…former student can handle more than even I or herself give her credit for it is time that we trust her and give her more responsibilities. Do not forget that she has her friends and family to help her if she needs it. I guarantee you between herself, her daughter, and her friends they’ll make this the most eventful party in history,” Celestia said.
“Also, is the celebration still as boring as one of Star Swirl Bearded’s lectures?” Luna asked.
“Unfortunately sister the celebration is still as fun as the Grande Galloping Gala. Why else do you think that I asked Pinkie Pie to help plan the party in the first place? Also, I’ve arranged for another pony known for his party skills to host the event,” Celestia said.
Luna smiled conspiringly with her sister; the Canterlot elite were going to get a run for their money that’s for sure.
“Ah finally somepony said it. Seriously Celestia I don’t know how you can stand being around those uppity posh ponies, they really are a bore,” A disembodied male voice echoed around the room.
Celestia and Luna sighed knowing that voice anywhere and wondering why for the umpteenth time they ever let him out of his prison.
“Discord will you please manifest yourself?” Celestia asked with an aggravated sigh.
Suddenly, the windowpane that held the image of the mane six once more imprisoning the Draconequus radiated with a brief flash and Discord inhabited the depiction of himself and floated across the panes.
“Even after a thousand years you’re still no fun Celestia,” Discord said as floated onto the stain class head of Celestia.
“Ow sorry Discord but me and my sister don’t take pleasure in plunging an entire nation into chaos,” Luna said scathingly.
“Luna it’s been over a thousand years,” Discord said and snapped his eagle claw fingers.
He then wore a valley mare outfit, a Rarity original, with long blonde hair and red lipstick over his mouth.
“Like, totally take a chill pill girlfriend, and like get over it. Those frown lines are so doing murder on your face honey,” Discord said as he conjured a cell phone and started texting.
Luna quickly puts her hoof to her face and began to feel around for frown lines. Discord then snapped his fingers and appeared in front of the royal pony sisters.
“Besides I’m completely reformed,” Discord said and snapped his fingers again.
He then wore a white robe and halo appeared on his head. Light shone down from above as the sounds of an angelic choir filled the air. Little birds then appeared and landed on Discords shoulders. The Princesses looked skeptically at Discord knowing that while he was no longer evil he was still Discord.
“Not buying it huh,” Discord said.
“Not in the least Discord,” Celestia said.
Discord snapped his fingers everything returned to normal.
“Alright Discord cut to the chase, what do you want?” Celestia asked.
“What, can’t a Spirit of Chaos just pop in after finishing his chores to say hello to his closest friends?” Discord asked innocently as he appeared behind the pony sisters and hugged them.
When Discord saw, the annoyed looked on the sisters’ faces he knew that he was busted.
“Alright fine you caught me, about this little party you’re having I want in,” Discord said.
“Forget it foul spirit of mischief. This party cannot afford your shenanigans!” Luna exclaimed.
“Ow come ooooooooon LuLu pwease?” Discord asked making his eyes huge and puppy dog like.
Then Discord snapped his fingers and was dressed like Lucy Ricardo he was even in black and white.
“It’s not fair Tia, you never introduce me to your friends, and you never let me meet anypony I don’t even know why I stay here. I have a good mind to take little Ricky and move back home to my mother,” Discord said conjuring up a suitcase and baby version of himself in a bundle.
Celestia lets out a sigh.
“Okay Discord you may attend the party,” Celestia said.
“Sister, are you out of sorts?!” Do you know what he could do to the party if he were to be there?” Luna demanded.
“Yes, my sister, just like I know what he would do if he wasn’t allowed to attend,” Celestia said.
Discord pretended to be scandalized at the implied accusation.
“Do you really think that I would snoop so low as to crash your party and ruin it for everypony,” Discord said snapping his fingers once more.
Suddenly, the throne room became a courtroom. A judge Discord sat at the bench dressed in an old-fashioned judge’s outfit complete with a white wig. On the jury stood twelve discords six male, six female all dressed in either business or casual attire sat in their chairs. On the right hand, side of the courtroom sat a Discord a lawyer Discord and a Criminal Discord dressed in a white jumpsuit with black stripes. On the left side sat, Luna dressed in a dark blue trouser suit with a black tie covered in tiny stars held in place by a crescent moon tie clip. Celestia sat in the audience stand wearing a yellow and white Chanel.
“Your honor I object to these accusations made by the defense against my client,” The Discord Lawyer said with a southern accent.
“Overruled, jury, how have you reached a verdict?” The Judge Discord asked.
A Discord dressed in a business suit stood up.
“We have your honor. We the jury find Discord guilty of being a reformed Spirit of Chaos who it still a jerk, petty enough to ruin a party for everypony if he’s not invited,” The Juror said.
“Discord you are sentenced to being a branded a big meanie case dismissed,” The Judge Discord said.
As the Judge brought down his gamel there was a bright flash and the ballroom was restored to normal.
“Hold it Discord, I anticipated that you’d want to come so I took a few precautions,” Celestia said with a coy smile.
Discord was then dressed like a young Arnold Coleman.
“What'chu talkin' 'bout, Tia?!” Discord demanded.
Celestia’s horn lit up and a contract appeared in midair.
“You see Discord so I had the royal lawyer, Ironclad, make a magically binding contract that basically will ensure that you will be on your best behavior at the party,” Celestia said.
Discord zapped himself back to normal and looked defiantly at the princesses.
“And if I refuse to sign it,” Discord said folding his arms.
“Then I guess as a precaution I’ll have Twilight bring back an old statue to the Canterlot gardens till after the party,” Celestia said.
“You wouldn’t dare?! You two are bluffing!” Discord exclaimed though the smile on Celestia’s and Luna’s face told him otherwise.
“Maybe we are, maybe we aren’t but remember this Discord. The last time you didn’t take us seriously, you were a bird perch for a thousand years,” Luna said with a coy smile.
“This is a new low Celestia, completely below the belt. I’m so proud of you, I knew you had it in you,” Discord said as he conjured a tissue and blew his nose.
He then turned the tissue into a pair of reading glasses and proceeded to read the contract.
“What, no pranks, mischief, or tricks of any kind. You may as well rip out my heart!” Discord exclaimed as he pulled his heart from his chest.
“There is actually a clause for that,” Luna said.
Discord sighed, turned his heart into a pen, and signed the contract. It then disappeared in a flash of light.
“I will find a loophole, till then though I have to get my horns done,” Discord said taking on the clothes of a gansta rapper.
“Discord is out yo, Peace,” Discord said as he vanished.
“I will say this sister, it’s never a dull moment with Discord around,” Luna said.
Celestia nodded her regal head in agreement.
Then the doors opened a Pegasus pony walked into the throne room. His coat was a brilliant gamboge, with a sapphire blue mane and tail mirroring the cornflower blue of his eyes. He wore golden saddle plate with a black strap that, a helmet, and studded horseshoes. As soon as the stallion was at proper distance from the throne, he bowed his head to the princess and removed his helmet.
“Your Majesties,” The Pegasus stallion said.
“Flash Sentry is there a problem that needs my attention?” Celestia asked.
“No your Majesty but Spell Nexus would like an audience with you,” Flash Sentry said.
“Send him in please,” Celestia said.
Flash Sentry nodded and went to retrieve Spell Nexus.
When Flash Sentry returned with Spell Nexus, the princesses stared in shock he looked like he had galloped all the way across Canterlot. Celestia and Luna raced over to the stallions, Celestia conjured up a gold chalice filled with water and placed it in front of Spell Nexus who drank it gratefully.
“Spell Nexus what is wrong? Did something happen to you?” Celestia asked as checked Spell Nexus for any injuries.
“No…Princess…but I have…urgent news,” Spell Nexus said breathing deeply after each word.
“Spell Nexus breathe and tell us what happened. Guard you are dismissed,” Luna said to Flash Sentry.
“No…don’t send him away just yet…what I have to say the guards will need to know as well,” Spell Nexus said taking another gulp of water.
He took in a deep breath and explained the situation to the Princesses and Flash Sentry. Each one listened intently as Spell Nexus finished explaining his tale.
“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna I am so sorry that I let this slip, I am a total foal,” Spell Nexus said placing his head into his hooves.
“It’s okay, Spell Nexus as I said before we don’t blame you for what you did under the Nightmare Force control, what matters is what we do now,” Princess Celestia said.
“Twilight Sparkle must have a security detail and I move that she, her family, and friends stay at the castle for their own protection,” Luna said.
“I agree sister and with Twilight and her friends helping to plan the party it won’t be so suspicious,” Princess Celestia said.
“Your Majesty’s if I may be allowed to speak freely?” Flash Sentry asked.
Princess Celestia nodded.
“I would like to be the bodyguard of Princess Twilight Sparkle during her stay at Canterlot. I believe that Princess Twilight and her filly Nyx will feel more at ease with someone the Princess’s age. Also, it won’t draw so much attention,” Flash Sentry said.
“That is a bold request Sentry, excuse me for a minute as I converse this with my sister,” Celestia said as she and Luna went over to the far side of the room and huddled together.
“Idiot, what were you thinking?” Flash Sentry said in his head.
He could not believe that he was doing this, making such an outrageous request to the Princesses could cost him his armor, but more importantly, it could cause him to lose any chance of getting close to Twilight Sparkle. Even though the only few times they had met in the Crystal Empire was when they bumped into each other he could not stop thinking about her, even though she was out of his league he at least wanted to get to know her and have a chance at her, it was the entire reason that he transfered back to Canterlot. Furthermore, he felt bad for Nyx, she had been through Tartarus and back and she could not have one year without some psycho pony trying to use her for some sick purpose. A gentle cough from Luna pulled Flash Sentry out of his thoughts. Flash Sentry gulped at the frowning faces of the royal sisters.
“My sister and I have discussed your request and before we come to our decision we must ask a question. Why should we choose you out of all the guards in Canterlot for this task?” Luna said.
Flash Sentry sighed and took a deep breath.
“To be honest Princesses I don’t know. I could tell you of many other guards more qualified than I am. All I can do is swear that I will protect Princess Twilight and her child with my life,” Flash Sentry swore meaning every word of it.
The Princesses looked him dead in the eyes. Celestia walked over to Flash Sentry still maintaining her frown.
“Flash Sentry by the power given to me as one of the rulers of Equestria your request has been…granted,” Celestia said with as her and Luna’s frowns turned into smiles.
“Thank you your highnesses you won’t regret this,” Flash Sentry said bowing down.
“I know we won’t, now go, inform the other guards of this development and tell the captain to come meet with me at once,” Princess Celestia said.
Flash Sentry nodded and walked out of the throne failing to keep the spring out of his step as the doors closed magically behind him.
“Forgive me Princesses but are you sure it is wise to have someone so young watch the bearer of the Element of Magic and her child?” Spell Nexus asked.
“We are sure Spell Nexus. Flash Sentry is one of the best guards we have and I believe that he has more personal reasons for wanting to guard Twilight, which is why I know he’ll protect her with his life,” Princess Celestia said smiling as she remembered the way Twilight looked at him in the Crystal Empire.
“Sister, what of the thief should we alert the masses?” Luna asked.
“Not just yet sister. Spell Nexus was there any distinctive markings on the mare or any symbols?” Celestia asked.
“No, her cutie mark and her body was covered by the cloak and my…group was the only one bent on resurrecting Nightmare Moon, there hasn’t been anyone since nor have I seen anyone else with the style of cloak she used,” Spell Nexus said.
“What was so unique about the cloak’s style?” Luna asked.
“It was strange, it seemed to be made out of some kind of fur, the designs made the cloak look a night sky filled with stars,” Spell Nexus said.
Both princesses’ mouths opened with shock.
“It can’t be, it can’t be her it’s not possible,” Luna said confused.
“Is something the matter with your highness?” Spell Nexus asked wondering if he had said something wrong.
“No Spell Nexus it’s just that we knew a mare who looked exactly as you described except the first and last time we saw her was over a thousand years ago,” Celestia said.
A hushed silence overtook the room.
The Crystal Empire
Crystal Castle
In the royal bedchamber’s Prince Shining Armor looked over the Empire from the balcony. The buildings gleamed with shining decorations and wreaths made of crystal. Crystal pony fillies and colts frolicked throughout streets as the snow fell from the sky it almost made the prince want to cry…shed liquid pride over the beauty, love, happiness, and prosperity of his kingdom. Normally this scene would clear his head but it seemed to make him more melancholy.
“Shining, there you are I was looking all over for you,” A voice said behind him.
Shining Armor turned around and smiled. Coming towards him was the love of his life and the Ruler of the Crystal Empire, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza but she preferred to be called Princess Cadence.
“Hi Cady, I didn’t mean to make you worry,” Shining Armor said as his wife joined him on the balcony.
She walked over to him and rested her head against his neck.
“Shiny what’s wrong?” Cadence asked.
“Ah wrong, nothing’s wrong, what makes you think anything is wrong,” Shining Amor said trying and failing to hide his sadness.
“Come on Shiny I know you,” Cadence said.
Shining let out a huge sigh and cracked a small smile as he turned his head to face Cadence.
“I can’t hide anything from you, I’m worried about Nyx and don’t worry I’m over the whole she’s still Nightmare Moon paranoia and my big brother complex. It’s just… I was a total monster to her last year and believe me when I tell you that’s exactly how she saw me and I don’t blame her. The sad thing is that it wasn’t until I held our daughter for the first time that I truly understood what I put Twily and Nyxie through, what I could have passed on to our filly. I guess I’m a little disgusted with myself that I didn’t realize what I could have lost sooner,” Shining Armor said.
“Good, I’m glad you feel disgusted with yourself,” Princess Cadence said.
Shining Armor’s eyes shot open as he starred at his wife who met his gaze with a look that said “time for some tough love”.
“That means that you know and acknowledge that what you did to Nyx and Twilight was wrong and that you won’t do it again. However, wallowing in self-pity and guilt won’t do anything to make up for what you did; only actions can do that. Yes, you did mess up last year but this is a new year a new chance to make things right a new opportunity to be an uncle to Nyx and as far as I’m concerned, you're one of the best fathers in Equestria. I’ve seen the way our Skyla looks at you Shiny she adores you. Me, Twilight, and Nyx already forgave you my love now it’s time for you to forgive yourself,” Cadence said as she placed her right front hoof on her husband’s cheek.
Shining armor took his wife into his hooves and hugged her.
“What would I do without you Cadie?” Shining Armor asked.
“You’ll never have to find out Shiny,” Cadence said as she hugged him back.
Suddenly, a loud wail pierced the silence. Cadence and Shining armor looked at each other happily and walked out of the bedroom to the nursery. The nursery was filled with tons of toys all covered in a crystal sheen. The carpet was made from the finest wool of the tiny yews and crystal wallpaper that sported intricate and fantastic designs lined the walls. On the corner of the room was a changing station, a long and tall bookshelf, and a rocking chair. In the middle of the room was a crystal crib lined with soft pillows. Over top, the crib was a dome mobile made of shining crystals of every color. At the bottom of the dome suspended in midair was an exact replica of the crystal heart surrounded by three glowing rings of gold with wavelike lines carved into them, each ring held figurines attached not by wires but by magic. On the top ring were crystal replicas of the sun and full moon underneath the heavenly bodies were crystal figurines of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna underneath their respective charge, on the side with Celestia were figures of the ponies of Equestria, and on the side with Luna were the restored fantastic creatures of the Moon. Around the middle ring were the replicas of the Elements of Harmony in their old form and the ponies that wielded them, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle in her new alicorn form. On the final rung hung the figurines of Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Twilight Velvet, Night Light, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Celestia, Luna, and Nyx so the little princess would always know her family.
Shining Armor and Cadence went over to the crib and looked lovingly at the crying child.
“Aw what’s wrong little Skyla don’t cry. Agogo a bubibibibwo,” Shining Armor cooed over his five-month-old baby filly, levitating a diamond rattle over his daughter's head.
The filly was a baby alicorn, she had her mother’s light cerise gray coat, along with her dark violet colored mane and gold streaks, but she had the light cerulean eyes of her father. She looked at her father shortly, stopped crying, and then once more started to wail. Cadence levitated her daughter out of the crib, took a quick whiff of Skyla’s diaper, and quickly pushed it away.
“I think I found the reason she was crying,” Cadence said as her husband also took a quick whiff.
Shining Armor quickly pulled his head back and nodded in agreement. Cadence placed her daughter on the changing table and removed the diaper; Shining Armor took up the levitation spell, opened the trashcan, and placed the diaper inside. He then prepared a baby formula as his wife finished changing Skyla. Cadence held her child in her hooves as she sat in the rocking chair. Shining floated the formula over to Cadence, who took up the spell and placed it in her daughter’s mouth as her child drank Cadence began to sing rocking the filly gently in her arms. As Skyla finished the formula, her mother gently patted her on the back and burped her. Shining Armor looked at the scene with joy, a tea…liquid love flowed down his cheeks as Cadence put the sleeping child in her cradle. Shining Armor levitated a stuffed crystal yew into Skyla’s crib and with a little magic activated the mobile. The device radiated soft lights and played soothing songs as the figures magically began to dance over Skyla’s head. When they knew for sure their daughter was asleep, the royal couple tip hoofed out of their daughter's nursery, turned off the light, and quietly closed the door behind them.
“Now I know why they say that raising a child is the hardest job you’ll ever love,” Princess Cadence said.
“You know Skyla might like a little brother or sister,” Shining Armor said nudging up against Cadence seductively.
“Oh I see we have quite a bit of energy. Why don’t we put it to good use,” Cadence said as she seductively brushed her tail against Shining's face makeing sure that he caught a teasing glimpse of her plot as she coyly sauntered over to the bedroom.
Shining Armor followed with a smile of anticipation on his face. However, as he entered the room Cadence conjured up some suitcases.
“What are we supposed to do with these suitcases?” Shining Armor asked wondering if this was a new kind of foal play.
“To pack with Shiny, to visit our family in Canterlot soon, time to put that energy to good use,” Cadence said with a wink and a cheeky smile.
Shining Armor’s face fell at the realization that he’d just been played.
“Alright…juuuust perfect,” Shining Armor said even though his disappointed tone indicated otherwise.
Canterlot Urban Districts
Night Light levitated the Hearth Warming decorations down the attic down the stairs as he walked into the living room he saw his wife, Twilight Velvet, looking at a family album that showed Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle when they were just little foals. Night Light smiled at the sight.
“Where does the time go?” Night Light asked as he lowered the box to the ground and joined his wife on the couch.
Twilight Velvet looked up from the scrapbook.
“I was just thinking the same thing. It seemed like only yesterday our little colt was going to the royal guard academy and our sweet filly became Celestia’s apprentice. Now look at them they’re both out in the world…and I just feel so not needed,” Twilight Velvet said as a tear fell down her cheek.
“Oh look at me I must look silly.”
“No dear, I felt the same way. When I found out the trials that our daughter had faced I nearly had a heart attack and I also felt like a failure as a father because I couldn’t protect our little filly but during her coronation I saw that she wasn’t a little filly anymore but a young mare. Nevertheless, she is still our daughter and she will always need us just in a different way, especially with raising Nyx. And don’t get me started on the guidance Shining Armor’s going to need once Skyla reaches her teenage years,” Flashlight said laughing at the prospect.
“Now if only we can get Twilight to settle down with a nice stallion, Nyx needs a father after all and few brothers and sisters wouldn’t do any harm either,” Twilight Velvet said in her husband’s shoulder.
Flash Light’s eyes popped open. He knew that tone in his wife’s voice. Twilight used that same tone whenever she had a plan. Out of the corner of his eye Night Light saw a piece of paper sticking out of the album.
“Honey what’s that sticking out of the album?” Flash Light asked suspiciously.
“Ah nothing dear just a…manuscript for another…Daring Do book I’ll just put it in my office,” Twilight Velvet said nervously as she levitated the family album off the table and made it disappear.
Night Light’s horn lit up as he summoned the book back and took out the packet from the album. Inside the packet was a perfectly organized and categorized list of eligible unicorn, earth, and Pegasus stallions. All of them were smart, kind, well mannered, and over all perfectly suitable for Twilight Sparkle.
“Care to explain this,” Flash Light said to his wife levitating the list up close.
“Ah it’s a Hearth Warming gift list,” Twilight Velvet said nervously.
“Honeeeeeeeeeeeey,” Flash Light said sternly.
“Okay fine maybe I decided that I could offer my assistance in helping Twilight find that special somepony,” Twilight Velvet said.
Night Light sighed he was afraid of that. He knew his wife meant well but she could sometimes get carried away, besides Twilight should only find that special somepony when the time is right.
“Sweetie, we talked about this, we shouldn’t interfere in our children’s love life,” Night Light said.
“I wasn’t planning on it. But with Twilight becoming a princess, soon she’ll have her own kingdom to rule and she’ll be too busy between that and raising a daughter to meet ponies so I’d thought I’d make a few suggestions of a few available bachelors,” Twilight Velvet asked.
“A few, Velve this is half of Equestria, Trontingham, Brussia, Eurohasia, Haysia, Judopan, Pawtrica, and…Saddle Arabia!” Flash Light exclaimed.
“I wanted to make sure that Twilight had plenty of options opened,” Twilight Velvet said.
Flash Light sucked in a breath and exhaled it.
“Honey, we cannot rush these things that’s the lesson I thought you’d learn with Cadence and Shining Armor. Twilight will find her special somepony in her own way and time,” Flash Light said.
“I guess you’re right,” Twilight Velvet said with a sigh.
“Now, give me the backup list,” Flash Light said.
Twilight Velvet’s horn lit up a backup list appeared.
“And the back up to the back up,” Flash Light said as another list joined the others on the table.
“And the flash drive, notes, in fact just give me everything,” Flash Light said in a knowing voice.
Twilight Velvet rolled her eyes as conjured up everything she’d used to make the list. Flash Light used a disintegration spell and the stuff was no more.
“Well that takes care of that, now let’s start decorating,” Night Light said.
Before either of them could get off the couch there was a knock at the door.
“Were you expecting anypony?” Twilight Velvet asked.
Night Light shook his head and went over to the door. His horn radiated with magic as the door was engulfed with his aura and made to open. Standing at the front door were two pegasus ponies on the Royal Guard.
“Are you Night Light?” The First Royal Guard asked.
“Yes, is something wrong?” Night Light asked.
“No, however, Princess Celestia has invited you and your wife to stay at the castle for the remainder of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s visit,” The Second Royal Guard said.
From the trees in the Everfree forest, three pairs of energized eyes watch the preparations for the Hearth Warming festivities with disgust. Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus had indeed reformed after their fight with the princesses and were severely punished they were cursed by their king to stay trapped in their empowered forms and to be in constant agony from the power that flowed through them. Century after century of watching the celebration of their defeat and the constant torture they endured year round, enraged the three spies to no end but the ponies time was coming, they’ve waited this long a little longer wouldn't hurt. The Windigos looked at each other and nodded knowing that it was time as they turned away from the town and flew deeper into the Everfree forest.
They then came upon a thicket of brambles, flew over to a giant rock over top a hole, changed into their fog form, and seeped past the rock into the hole. They glided down through the cave until they came upon the Mirror Pool, the perfect place to secretly contact their king. Of course, there was a close call when some hyperactive mare came and kept using the magic waters but in the end, it had worked out in the windigos favor for it had insured that nopony would ever disturb this place again. The spies formed their legs as they landed near the edge of the pool. They lowered their heads over the water and blew a freezing breath onto the pool freezing the lake’s surface. They breathed once more on the pool causing a dark cloud mass to form on the surface until it took the shape of their king.
“Myy kiing Noreeasster, wee haave newsss to repooort,” Cumulus said.
“Weee have fooound whaaat iss left oof the Nightmaare Fooorce,” Nimbus said.
"And whaaat of the Changelingsss and the Alicooorn Amuleeet?!" demanded Noreaster.
"The Changelingsss aaare still traaapped beneeath theeir cassstle, the amulet, ssstiill remaaains under the guard of the Zeeebra enchaaantresss," Stratus said.
“Excccelleeent my loyal spiiies. retrieeeve what remaaainss of the Nightmare Fooorce and the Parasiiitesss and briiing theeem to meee!” Noreaster commanded.
"Whaaat of the Alicooorn Amuleeet?" Nimbus questioned.
"Leeeave it beee for nooow, I dooo not want any suspicions aroused of my plaaans, at least, nooot yeeet."
"It shaaall be asss you saaay my king, however, there isss the proooblem of the alicorn filly,"said NImbus. "A neeew power iss grooowing within her, an anciiient pooower that manifesssted itseeelf after the fall of Tireeek."
"Is ssshe awaaare of her powersss?"
"Nooo my king, if anything, sssheee is afraaaid of it, hiiides it, and repressess it. Her seeelf loathing isss...intoxicating," said Stratus his eyes twinkling with lust.
"Curbe your urgesss! I know of the fiiilly's truuue powerrr I feeelt it the minute sheee wass brought into this miiiserable wooorld, but sooon whatever threeeat sheee poooses will be nuuullifiiied along with the othersss. Until then, just keep waaatching heeer," Noreaster ordered.
“But myyy king, the filly isss weeeak we should striiike her nooow before she ruins your plaanss!” Stratus argued. No sooner than the words had left Stratus's mouth that he wished that he could have taken them back.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped, the cave became so cold that a thick layer of ice formed along the walls, ceiling, and floor of the cave. The surface of the frozen lake became as black as tar. The three windigos starred in horror as long tendrils of lightning burst forth from the lake. Cumulus and Nimbus quickly moved out of their's king line of fire as a tendril snaked out and grabbed Stratus and lifted him over the ice to stare into the furious and merciless eyes of the king reflected in the icy surface.
“YOOOU INSSSIGNIFICANT FOOOL!" Noreaster shouted in fury sending a cold blast of wind across Stratus's face.'WHOOO ARE YOOOU TO QUESSSTION MEEE?!
“Fooor...giiive meee my kiiing!” Stratus pleaded. “III miiisspoke."
Noreaster flung Stratus against the wall. Cumulus and Nimbus flew over to their brother as he got to his feet. The tendrils receded back into the ice. “Neeever quuuesstion me again!” Noreaster commanded in a low but powerful voice.
“Weee exiiist only to seeerve yooou my kiiing,” Cumulus said.
“Dooo...nooot...faaail...meeee. NOOOW GOOO!” Noreaster commanded. Noreaster’s image vanished and the lake unfroze. The spies seeped out of the hole and went about their business.
In the dense part of the Everfree, forest there is a hut and in that hut lives Zecora the zebra. She takes out a cup from her cupboard and goes over to her herb shelves. She searches until she finds the tea leaves she desires and places them in the tea, she then waves her hoof over the cup and piping hot tea filled the cup. As Zecora took in the tea’s aroma a look of pure pleasure formed on her face. She sat down and began to drink as she nearly drained the tea from her cup thinking of her Hearth Warming plans a strong gust of wind blew into her window. Zecora put her tea down and walked over to the window, but as she was about to close it shut she saw an unfamiliar mare in front of her hut. Zecora could not see the mare’s face the only features that could be seen where the long spiral white horn from her forehead and the Ursa Major cloak the covered her. Zecora let out a gasp as she backed away from the window. The snow spiraled around the mare and she was gone.
“A star cloaked mare all alone in the snow presents a great omen of danger and whoa,” Zecora said to herself.
Zecora rushed back to her table and took her teacup in her hoof. She closed her eyes and began to chant. However, she was not casting the spell on the tealeaves she was casting it on herself. The information on tea leave reading is greatly misconstrued and for the most part is a lot of crock, for the tea leaves cannot tell the future but can be used as a focus for ponies that can and Zecora was one of those ponies. She didn’t use the gift too often because knowing the future can be a dangerous thing and the gift can be turned into a crutch if used too often. As Zecora finished her chant, she opened her eyes and starred into the cup as the leaves began to take shape and form.
“A grave future for Equestria I see for this year shall return an ancient enemy. However, I see the future doesn’t just rely on the mane six but in the inhabitants of this nation and especially little Nyx. A terrible trail she must face and regretfully I see it is the only way for her to come into her destiny. The outcome of her trial is blurred but in order for even the smallest victory to be assured of these things I must not say a word,” Zecora said sadly remembering another reason why she didn’t like to look into the future.
As Zecora was about to put the cup down the leaves once more swirled around until they shaped themselves into a familiar shape of a certain piece of jewelry that she now protected.
“So unwelcomed visitors soon I will get and they wish to steal the Alicorn Amulet. Though futile for certain future events to impede, the thieves will get the amulet over my dead body,” Zecora proclaimed.
In another part of Everfree the windigos fly over to the castle of Nightmare Moon. When Nyx had briefly taken over Equestria, Spell Nexus had insisted that a new castle be built in honor of their new ruler. When Nyx was returned to normal the castle was abandoned, nopony ever went there…well almost nopony. The Windigos entered the castle and flew through its empty halls, it seemed as though loneliness itself lived there, the howling winter winds made it sound as if the castle itself wailed like an abandoned foal. They flew into the throne room until they had come upon the discarded remains of Nightmare Moon’s armor. The spies were impeded the first two times they had tried to claim the armor for their king for both times the princesses were there and they would have sensed their presence. However, the wait was worth it for the power that this armor could now provide since it was from the queen of nightmares herself while she was in her own physical body was so much stronger than the armors used by the host the Nightmare Force had possessed. Cumulus and his brethren landed around the armor. Cumulus closed his eyes and dark energy began to radiate around his eyelids. Normally, it would be impossible for a windigo to use dark magic and that fact would have held true if not for the "Blessing of Noreaster". As Stratus watched his brother, he was reminded of another that had received the blessing besides themselves, King Sombra.
In ancient times, the Crystal Empire battled an evil race of demons called the Umbra Ponies and imprisoned them deep beneath the land of their empire, their leader and her child however, were cast into the frozen waste and placed into a timeless sleep and that is how they would have remained if not for the interference of Noreaster. When the time, came during the reign of Princess Amore, Noreaster commanded his spies to find the Umbra Queen's prison and to use the spell that he had made to wake her up. Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus searched the frozen waste until they found a crystalline structure the color of blood. The three brothers encircled the statue and cast their spell. Suddenly, the statue began to glow bright red and the entity within the crystal began to stir, until it fully awakened.
"Who awakens me!?" The Umbra Queen demanded as she looked at the three windigos.
The three brothers said nothing as they stood in front of the queen, their eyes lit up and the wind, snow, and ice began to construct itself into an imposing statue of Noreaster, as the statue finished forming, the windigos bowed down their glowing eyes to the ground as the statues final features took shape. The statue then opened its eyes and looked at the queen.
"That would be me my lady," Noreaster said using his power to speak through the statue in the Equestrian tongue. "I am Noreaster, King of all the Windigos. Through my magic I was able to wake you from your timeless sleep."
"The Windigos, I have heard of your work, big fan, though I hope that you are not offended that I have never heard of you," said the Umbra Queen.
"Quite the contrary my lady, I am very well known, it's just that those who discover me never make it back to tell the tale," Noreaster said as malevolent chuckle escaped his lip.
"Ponies, weak minded creatures who meddle where they don't belong," The Umbra Queen said with a snarl.
"I feel your pain my lady which is why I will get right to the point, you and I have a common goal in bringing Equestria to its knees, the Crystal Empire in particular," said Noreaster.
The Umbra Queen let out a hiss of disgust and rage. "Those ponies and their "love" are the bane of my existence!"
"My lady I couldn't agree more. Which is why I have a proposition for you, to help free you and your people," said Noreaster.
"You have that kind of power?" The Umbra Queen said in awe.
"Unfortunately, my lady I am just as much a prisoner as you, so my magic is limited, for now. Besides, the spells that keeps you and your people contained are strong and any attempt at freeing you would alert the current ruler. However, that foolish Queen Bleeding Heart, must have felt some pity for your son, because the spells on his prison are weaker. Should he ever wish to change his ways he would be able to break out," Noreaster said.
"Typical pony, so weak minded and naive, if it wasn't so pathetic I'd laugh. So, I assume that you know a way to free son so that he can be sent behind enemy lines," The Umbra Queen said eagerly.
"Yes, even though I cannot free you I have weakened your prison enough to do small things with your magic. I will use my magic to create a hole inside the spell then you can erase his memories of who and what he his is save his name. An alarm will be sounded, my minions will take him to a place where he will be found. My only concern is whether or not they will take him in."
"Put your mind at ease Noreaster, the current ruler of the empire is just as weak as her ancestor she will take him in and try to convert him to their love," The Umbra Queen said with a shudder of disgust. "However, he will learn about his true enemy and the darkness within him will draw him back here and he shall embrace his destiny."
"My lady I will ensure he does just that," Noreaster said with an evil smile.
"So what do you gain from this Noreaster?" The Umbra Queen asked.
"I will finish what I started all those eons ago. Without the light of the Crystal Empire this world will become the cradle of its own despair!" Noreaster proclaimed.
"What a lovely world you describe a paradise for Umbra Ponies and the perfect way to even the score on those disgusting pony pest. Noreaster you have a deal," said the Umbra Queen.
Noreaster smiled as the statue of him broke apart, its debre surged towards the little crystal prison that held the umbra pony that would later be known as Sombra. The crystal began to crack, as a little hole formed within the crystal the Umbra Queen sent a beam of red energy that struck the foal in the forehead, erasing his memories and freeing him from the prison. Cumulus, NImbus, and Stratus arose from their genuflection and walked towards the unconscious colt and teleported Sombra to where he was later found by the crystal guard.
One the day that Sombra saw his destiny within the crystal heart, he started to his whispers inside of his head, that spoke with the wispiness of the wind and they encouraged his fears and his sadness. When Sombra's friend, Hope Radiance, gained her cutie mark the whispering became louder until it drove him to the outer reaches of the Crystal Empire where he met his mother and officially became the King of Monsters.
“IIIt’s a shaaame reeeally,” Stratus thought to himself as he watched Cumulus work his spell. “Wooould have maaade our kings plaaans eassier if that foooal had ssurvived. Whaaat a wasste, even wheeen we aaaided hiiis escaaape he faaailed once mooore. At least hiss horn provided uss with sso much information.”
Stratus was pulled from his thoughts as he saw Cumulus’s eye lids shoot open to reveal energized light green glowing eyes. Cumulus looked around the throne room, now able to see what was unseen because of his spell and unfortunately, for Equestria he found what he was looking for, the dark memories of Nightmare Moon all that remained of the Nightmare Force. Although Nyx did defeat her evil self, she did not destroy it but merely tore it apart to the point that it couldn’t hurt anypony ever again and be trapped in this room forever.
“It isss all here brothersss, let uss begin,” Cumulus instructed.
Nimbus and Stratus nodded as they drew upon the dark arts. When their eyes matched Cumulus, he motioned for them to take their place. Nimbus stood at the bottom right of the armor, followed by Stratus who stood at the bottom left. Cumulus took his position at the top center of the armor and began his spell. Suddenly, three green lines began to form midair air above the armor formed in the shape of a triangle. Light shone down from the triangle forming a funnel around the armor. The Nightmare Force particles began to stir and began to swarm around the windigos like a hoard of bees. Unable to resist the dark spell the Nightmare Force was sucked into the funnel and placed into the armor until there was none let in the throne room. The funnel then descended around the armor and formed an inescapable pyramid around it, the armor then disintegrated into mist, their spell now complete the windigos eyes returned to normal. Cumulus engulfed the pyramid in his being and then motioned for his brothers to follow him as they flew out the window towards the direction of the castle ruins.
Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters
Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus soared through the night sky until they reached the entrance of the ruin. While the Twilight and her friends had gone good repair work, they still had a long way to go. Stratus's eyes and mane flared as looking at the ruin with loathing. Nimbus turned towards his brother.
"I know Stratuss it mockss me too. A consstant reminder of oour defeat." The grass at Nimbus's hooves begins to turn black and charred as they release small charges of lightning into the ground.
"Enough, we have no tiiime to dwell on passt failuress. Come, we sshould let our hosst know that we are here," said Cumulus. "Stratus you know what to do."
Stratus nodded and took his spectral forms and went about the castle making calculated messes to get the attention of the only thing that lived in those ruins. As Stratus blew over a line of armor, he noticed something moved out of the corner of his eye. Stratus sneered, "Finally got your attentiooon hmmm."
As if to answer Stratus the shadows under him feet suddenly grew long and shaped itself into mare wearing a long cloak. Opening its dark yellow eyes the Shadow Pony glared at the intruder that dared to destroy its home and the fierce look in its eyes made it perfectly clear that Stratus and his brothers would pay. With a cocky grin, Stratus zipped down the hall with the Shadow Pony chasing after him, until they came into the throne room. It was then the Shadow Pony had decided it had enough of the game and extended an elongated hoof and grabbed a hold of Stratus's shadow causing him to come to an abrupt halt. The Shadow Pony slowly rose from the ground until is shaped itself into a physical form and slowly pulled Stratus closer to it. Suddenly, the feel of dark magic filled the air, the Shadow Pony released Stratus in shock as it felt that it was being pulled towards something. The Shadow Pony turned its head around and saw Cumulus and Nimbus standing near an open obsidian sphere alight with green fire. The Shadow Pony tried to struggle but it could not escape the pull of the flame, with a silent scream the Shadow Pony was sucked into the orb as it sealed itself shut.
“We have done it brothersss, the Nightmare Force is now under the control of the Windigoss,” Cumulus said as placed the pyramid next to the orb of swirling mass. He then turned to Stratus. “Take thesse to our kiing, me and Nimbuss will retrieve, the Parasites.
“Asss you ssay,” Stratus said as he swirled around the pyramid and orb and vanishing without a trace. Cumulus and Nimbus went about the task of making sure that all evidence of their presence was gone. When their task was complete, they flew out the entrance and onto their next target.
Kingdom of the Changelings
Deep beneath the castle of Queen Chrysalis, her majesty and her subjects endure the torment of the singing of that Pinkie Pie costume. All attempts to destroy get past or at least to silence this pink menace had all failed. For the fifth the time that day, Queen Chrysalis banged her head repeatedly and slowly against her crystal ball in her royal chambers.
“What could I have possibly done to deserve this torment?” Chrysalis asked herself.
“Well you tried to take over Canterlot and drain the love out of Equestria, then you tried to drain Twilight Sparkle of her power and turn her into your student, not to mention the kidnapping…I KNOW WHAT I DID YOU IDIOT THE QUESTION WAS RHECTORICAL!” Chrysalis screamed at the changeling.
“All I wanted to do was drain the love out of few ponies is that so wrong…DON’T…say…a …word!” Chrysalis shouted at the changeling. “Being imprisoned is one thing but being trapped with that…thing is just cruel and unusual, after all it’s not like we plunged all of Equestria into eternal chaos. I swear the next country I enslave I’m doing a background check on its inhabitants.”
Suddenly, the singing stopped. Chrysalis and her subjects raised their heads and listened for any sign that the Pinkie Pie costume would resume singing but there was only silence.
“We’re free, we’re free, and we are finally free of that overgrown Hoovesbro reject!” Chrysalis shouted with glee as she levitated into the air.
As the changelings joined the reveling of their queen, a dark fog began to ever so slowly seep through the doorway. The cheering slowly stopped as the changelings began to take notice of two dark specters forming behind their queen.
“Come my subjects let us plot our revenge against Twilight Sparkle and the ponies of Equestria the day of our revenge will soon be at hA…what the hey are you starring at!” Chrysalis shouted as she saw the look of terror across her changelings faces.
One of the Changelings raised his hoof and pointed behind Chrysalis.
“Who dares intrude in my palace and strikes fear into the heart of my subjects?! After all, if they should be cowering in fear of anybody it should be me,” Chrysalis thought as she channeled her magic to her horn. She whipped around to confront the intruders, her eyes widened in shock at the terrible creatures that stood in front of her, before she could utter so much as a scream the creatures enveloped her in dark clouds and all Chrysalis could see was darkness.
Queen Chrysalis’s eyes slowly opened as she began to regain consciousness. She rose shakily to her hooves and checked herself, nothing was broken or injured in any way. Chrysalis shook herself and looked around her staring in shock as she realized that she was on top of a snow-covered mountains. When she calmed down she realized that she was utterly alone her subjects were nowhere in sight. This was not good. For without her to find food, her subjects would starve and the changelings would go extinct. Chrysalis looked at the raging sky lightning flashed through the air illuminating the snow that plummeted from the heavens.
“Okay, so flying is out of the question,” Chrysalis said to herself. Then she noticed a cave entrance behind her, it was dark, freezing, and the perfect place to put someone or something that has been captured.
“When I find whoever did this, I’m going to show them why love hurts!” Chrysalis shouted inwardly. As she headed into the caves Chrysalis swore that she felt herself being watched, she once more looked around her surroundings and still she saw no one. Unbeknownst to Chrysalis she really was being watched by the very storm that raged around her and so far, all was going according to his plan.
When the Changeling Queen walked into the cave an eerie light emanated from the ceiling, Chrysalis looked up and saw hundreds of icicles glowing with energy radiating a pale but bright light.
“Well whoever brought me definitely wants me to find them, the fool,” Chrysalis said. “But I would be a bigger fool if I didn’t see this for the trap that it was. Seriously, could they make it more obvious, the things I do for my subjects.”
Chrysalis trekked through the cave, as she got closer to the inner chamber she saw blocks of ice. However, what was strange about these ice blocks was that Chrysalis was picking up love energy from them. Feeling curious she went over the ice block and whipped away the excess snow and mist. Chrysalis’s jaw dropped open as she saw the frozen pony inside dressed in medieval clothing. She went to more blocks and saw ponies, unicorns, pegasi, horses, animals, and all other manner of creatures all frozen solid perfectly preserved and alive.
“It seems like my host has an interesting...taste in decorum, if I don’t destroy them I must find out how to get a hold of their decorator,” Chrysalis said begrudgingly admiring the work of her new enemy. Though Chrysalis was no fool, this was no idle threat but a full-blown promise that to underestimate this foe would get her killed. Taking another look at the frozen pony, she continued on her way.
As she followed the trail of icicles, Chrysalis began to see a light at the end of the tunnel, the entrance to the heart of the mountain. Chrysalis was just a few feet away from her destination when she suddenly stopped, all of her instincts told her to turn back as torrents of negative emotions radiated from the entrance, along with a powerful but neutral energy that felt very familiar to her.
“That’s odd,” Chrysalis said out loud, as she used her magic to examine the source of the negative energy. “This energy comes from two sources and only one of them is produced by something alive. In all my centuries as queen I’ve never felt hatred like this, this is not good,” Chrysalis said as she cut off the spell, she slumped near the cave wall in exhaustion from the exposure to the hatred.
It was a well-guarded secret of the Changelings that negative emotions were not only completely inedible to them but also very toxic and in Chrysalis’s case in more ways than one.
“You’re a clever one I’ll give you that,” Chrysalis said as she pushed herself up on the wall. “But I’m afraid you’ll need to do better than that if you want to defeat me.” Chrysalis regained her regal composure and walked into the mountains heart closing her eyes to the glare of the entrance’s light.
When the glare cleared, Chrysalis stood in a huge cave of ice and snow shaped into the form of a rotunda with walls that seemed to blur together. Upon looking at the walls, further Chrysalis realized that the walls were covered in a strange fog. Curious, Chrysalis walked over to the wall closest to her and touched it with her right hoof. The fog was thick and solid. No matter how hard Chrysalis pushed, she could not move the mist, she decided against using magic on it.
“What are you hiding my mysterious host?” Chrysalis asked herself. However, what truly caught Chrysalis’s attention was a huge pit in the middle of the chamber that radiated with a faded purple light. Chrysalis gasped in shock as recognized the power that this pit held.
“It can’t be, light from the Secretariat Comet,” Chrysalis said in disbelief but she would know it anywhere. The same power that she used in her second attempt to take over Equestria, the same light that Twilight Sparkle used to imprison her and her people there was no mistaking it. “How is this possible? The power of the comet is too powerful to be contained much less store. Just how powerful is my host?”
As if to answer her question, waves of dark energy drew Chrysalis from her thoughts and she looked up to see its source. On the roof of the cave were eight giant interconnected crossguards made of obsidian, with a huge cluster of fused obsidian that hung from the center point of the crossguards. A long blood red crystal protruded from the cluster, making the structure look like a sword poised to strike. Chrysalis did not find that comforting, but, her curiosity got the better of her and she flew up to the crystal structure to take a closer look. Careful, not to get too close she flew around the crystal cluster and admired herself in its reflective surface. However, it was crystal in the center of the cluster that fascinated Chrysalis out of the entire sculpture. Upon further inspection, Chrysalis realized that it wasn’t a crystal at all but a giant horn, but not just any horn, but King Sombra's, what was even more curious however, was a dark purple star at the center of the horn, an exact likeness of the Element of Magic, except it was colored a malignant purple/black with green, violet, and blue highlights.
As Chrysalis drew closer she saw a shadow writhing within the star, but before she could take a better look, a beam of dark energy shot out of the nearest obsidian crystal and struck Chrysalis causing her to plummet to the ground, she landed on the ice with a huge smack; the fall wasn’t long so the impact on the ice only left her a little shaken.
Chrysalis slowly rose to her hooves, anger contorting her face.
“Alright that does it! NO...MORE…GAMES! I demand that whoever captured me and my subjects to come forth this instant!” Chrysalis demanded oblivious to the dark cloud mass that descended from the top of the mountain and over the pit. Sensing someone was behind her Chrysalis turned around.
“How DARE you keep ME waiting, don’t you KNOW who I am! I am the Queen of the Changelings and I wi…wi…wi,” Chrysalis starred at the monstrous pillar of storm clouds before her unable to look away from the storms that seemed to pulse through its entire being. “Wiiilll be leaving now, sorry for the intrusion, BYE!”
As Chrysalis tried to make a break for the exit a wall of ice rose up out of the cave floor and sealed off the exit, she hit the ice wall with a thump as she failed to stop herself in time.
“Leaving so soon I won’t hear of it, after all what kind of host allows their guest to leave so soon after they arrive,” The Monster said.
Suddenly, an ice chair formed from the cave floor along with a dark blue chalice with a beverage that radiated a thick mist.
“Please, come and sit I IN….SIST!” The Monster proclaimed in menacing voice. A gust of wind blows from the creature’s form picks up Chrysalis and plops her into the chair.
Chrysalis sits in the chair and stares at the monster and for the first time in centuries sees a creature that she should truly fear. For it had no love, it had nothing to control or drain and to a changeling that made somepony a real threat to them. However, Chrysalis tried to regain her composure, after all, if somepony scarred you, don’t let them see you afraid.
“Aren’t you going to have your drink, it’s very good it can really take the edge off,” The Monster said still gazing down at Chrysalis.
“No thank you I don’t think that it would agree with me,” Chrysalis responded as she sat up in her chair.
“Ow well I guess it’s an acquired taste.” The Monster stared at the chalice and it melted back into the chair.
“Alright enough with the small talk, just who...or what are you and where are my subjects?” Chrysalis asked careful to avoid making the creature angry.
“I am Noreaster, King of the Windigos,” Noreaster said as the wind began to swirl around him.
“I’m sorry but I’ve never heard of you,” Chrysalis said.
“That is no surprise, I didn’t want to be heard of and those that did know about me became my…permanent guest in my kingdom. Although, they are so eager to greet new visitors they are always the first ones people see when they come here," Noreaster said with a cruel sneer. “
"Ow yes, your guest certainly gave me the warmest and most...unique reception I've ever had," Queen Chrysalis said as she smiled and laughed nervously, while discreetly looking for a way of escape.
"But that will all change very soon. After this year's Hearth Warming day everypony will know that we exist!!” Noreaster proclaimed his voice echoing throughout the cavern.
Chrysalis yelped in fright at the intensity of the booming voice. Even though it was below freezing in the cave Chrysalis started to sweat profusely.
"Oh I'm sorry my dear I didn't mean to startle you. However I would ask that you indulge me. Do you know the history between the Three Tribes and the Windigos?”
Queen Chrysalis regained her composure and spoke. “Yeah, yeah everypony knows that story,” Chrysalis said rolling her eyes. “Including the humiliating defeat that your kind suffered at the hands of the tribes, so clop to the chase I know you didn’t bring me here just to give me a history lesson.”
“Really, then why did I bring you here your highness?” Noreaster asked in a sarcastic voice.
“You want my help in getting revenge. I know somepony with a grudge when I see one, I am noponies fool,” Chrysalis said with an arrogant air.
“Is that so your highness? Because your failed "attempts" and I do use that term generously at trying to conquer Equestria have all shown me otherwise,” Noreaster said.
Chrysalis spluttered indignantly at this insult.
“HOW DARE… SILENCE!” Noreaster shouted drowning out Chrysalis’s rant with bolts of lightning that shot from his writhing mane, Chrysalis cowers in her chair beginning to comprehend the danger that this creature presented to her.
“I am the king of this domain the only reason you are still alive despite your impertinence is because I permit it. Am…I…Clear?!” Noreaster demanded as he lowered his head to look Chrysalis dead in her eyes. Chrysalis gulped and nodded not trusting herself to speak.
Noreaster raised his head and spoke. “You are correct I did have you brought here for my plans of revenge against Equestria. One that has been in the works for centuries, I require your power to aid in the crusade. When all's said and done Equestria will fall to its knees and the world will follow!” Noreaster said as fervor began to radiate through his entire being. Freezing winds burst from his body and swirled around the cave.
Chrysalis stared wide eyed at this monstrous display of power, it had only confirmed what Chrysalis suspected from the first moment this creature revealed itself that having the Windigos as allies would be even more hazardous than having them as enemies.
“At least I’d know where I stand with my enemies,” Chrysalis thought to herself as she collected herself and spoke.
“Wh...While that proposition does sound attractive I’m afraid I must decline, I really don’t play well with others. However, I will take my subjects and leave Equestria and not stand in your way when you do…whatever it is you’re going to do to Equestria,” Chrysalis said with her royal air.
Noreaster was silent for a moment and then the sound of thunder boomed from his mouth. It took Chrysalis only a moment to realize that Noreaster was laughing…at her. Her left eye began to twitch as something within her began to snap.
“What…is…so…funny?!” Chrysalis demanded in a deadly calm a snarl forming on her face.
The thunder within Noreaster stopped. As he lowered his head he began to shrink until he only a few feet taller than Chrysalis, he looked at her as if she was a very slow student that had to once again be taught a simple concept.
“You misunderstand me Chrysalis,” Noreaster said as he vanished from Chrysalis’s sight and reappeared behind the chair. “Your part in my plan is not optional.” Noreaster vanishes once more but this time into thin air. “Nor was it a request.” Though Chrysalis could not see Noreaster, she knew that he was still there. Suddenly, a chill ran throughout her entire body as she felt ice-cold breath next to her as Noreaster began to whisper in her left ear. “I will have your power Chrysalis.” Noreaster then appears in front of Chrysalis. “And I do intend to take it.”
That was the final straw for Chrysalis. Fury and anger rushed coursed through her body, somepony could kidnap her subjects, invade her kingdom, and even drive her from her conquest but nopony gave commands to her. Chrysalis floated up into the air till her eyes glowed with the energy of her power.
“You dare to make demands of me! I am not some common foal, I am Chrysalis Queen of the Changeling! If you think that I’m going to be ordered or defeated by a glorified puff of smoke, you have another thing coming!” Chrysalis fired a beam of energy from her horn. As the power beam approached Noreaster did nothing, in fact he looked rather amused as the beam hit him radiating a blinding flash, when the light cleared there was small crater where Noreaster stood.
Chrysalis let out an evil laugh gloating in her triumph, however, it was very short lived. Suddenly, out of nowhere a bolt of lightning soared towards Chrysalis and struck her down, hard, onto the ice floor. She spasmed as the electricity coursed through her, painfully raising her head she saw that her wings were in taters, nearly half of her body had second-degree burns some border lining on third degree. Her mane and tail where charred nearly to a crisp. Then when the spasming began to cease she raised her head and starred in shock. Noreaster stood in front her, restored to his normal height without so much as a scratch on him. A tendril extended itself from him until it was a few feet from Noreaster’s head. He then wagged it like a finger of disapproving parent. A tendril of clouds began to trail out of Noreaster’s mass and encircle itself around Chrysalis. She weakly raised her head.
“W…w…ait I…thought…you…ne…needed…me?” Chrysalis said in a weak and barely audible voice as she helplessly watched the cloud ring swirl faster and grow taller around her. Beneath Chrysalis the ice covering the energy from the Secretariat Comet, the purple light of the comet's energy began to seep through cracks.
“Me…need the help…of a glorified parasite, you truly are a fool Chrysalis. I said I need your power I never said I needed you to wield it,” Noreaster clarified with a smirk.
“No, No, NOOOOOOO!” Chrysalis screamed in terror as the cloud engulfed her. The comet's energy seeped into the cloud mass, warping Chrysalis into a gelatinous mass of green energy and magic. Then, the false element flew from its groove, hovered over Chrysalis and absorbed her into itself until there was a blinding flash. Then there was silence, the star fell to the scorched iced were Chrysalis once stood. Noreaster laughed in triumph as he levitated the star to his face to see a green light glowing emanating from bottom left point of the star.
"Well Sombra it seems like you finally have some company," Noreaster said addressing the writhing shadow at the top right point of the star, laughing at his joke. "Cooome forth my suubjectsss, it isss done."
Suddenly, millions of eyes appeared from the mist against the walls as the windigos manifested themselves and flew out of the fog with Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus who still carried the green pyramid and obsidian orb containing the Nightmare Force. As the windigos dispersed the fog began to clear, revealing the secret that they had hidden. Carved into the funnel like rotunda of the mountain were circular shelves all perfectly shaped and equally apart. On each, shelve were rows upon rows of the windigos trophies. The ones that Chrysalis saw were just poor victims of the windigos evil and there were many more throughout the mountain, these victims were not full of hate and were basically useless to them. However, the ones on the shelves were the windigos true prizes entire civilizations, tribes, ponies, and other creatures from different times and nations all with different cultures and languages but with one thing in common: hatred. The Ponies of Equestria were neither the first nor the last victims of the windigos and those that had not overcome their hatred or differences ended up as another frozen trophy. The Changelings were the latest additions.
Noreaster looked at four of his subjects and motioned for them to take the star to it's place on the horn of King Sombra, the four windigos swirled around the star and lifted it up into the air, placing it in the groove on King Sombra's horn.
“Addss a niiice tooouch to the caaave,” Noreaster said switching back to the windigo language.
The Windigos howled with laughter at the humiliation of Queen Chrysalis. Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus flew up to their king and presented the pyramid and the orb that contained the Nightmare Force. A funnel of wind formed under the containers as Noreaster took the objects from Stratus and held it like a giant hand.
“Yooou haaave aaall done weeell. Sooon eeeverything we haaave striiived fooor will coome tooo paaass. EEEverything shaaall belooong tooo the Windigooos!” Noreaster shouted with triumph.
The mountain shook as the windigos cheered.
“Nooow leeeave meee, III mussst feeed,” Noreaster commanded.
The windigos all inclined their heads as they vanished into thin air. Once Noreaster knew that he was alone, he glided around the rotunda looking over his captive as a restaurant patron looks over a menu. Then he stopped in front of the shelves with his newly acquired quarry and looked at the changelings dead in the eye. Even though Noreaster's victims were in stasis, they could still hear and see.
"You know, I've never had changeling hate before. I wonder how you taste." Noreaster's horn lit up an eerie electrified blue light as a dark liquid began to see out of the eyes of the changelings. As Noreaster opened his mouth, the black tears fazed through the icy prisons and flowed into Noreaster's gaping maw. Inwardly the changelings screamed as they felt as if their very souls were being violated and drained. When Noreaster had his fill, his horn dimmed and the tears vanished.
"Hmmm, your hatred is more unique than I thought it was. So much hatred but it all stems from the jealousy of never being able to experience the emotion that keeps you alive, so tragic," Noreaster taunted with mock sympathy. "Now onto business.
A rectangular block of ice flew out from Noreaster's body and floated before him in midair. His horn and eyes lit up with dark magic as a black fire consumed the ice making it melt revealing four pages and a journal thought to be lost to time each one protected by a magic barrier. With a gesture from Noreaster the pages and journal began to grow is size until they were big enough for the king to read. The first page had a picture of the Alicorn Amulet, the second page had a picture of a unicorn draining the essence of another pony, and using that essence for power. On the third page the picture was always changing from one thing to another, on the final page was the picture of the same structure that hung from the ceiling cave of the windigos lair, underneath each page was the writing of ancient Equestria. Noreaster looked at the pages until he saw the spells he was looking for.
“Ah here we go, the Spell of Essence Extraction and the Charm of Change,” Noreaster said switching to the Equestrian language so that the Nightmare force could understand him. He then brought the second and third pages in front of him along with the journal. Noreaster conjured up a wind and began to leaf through the book until he found the entry and notes he was looking for. Noreaster turned to the green pyramid.
“You can stop trying to escape your prison,” Noreaster said to the Nightmare Force as he levitated pyramid and sphere up to him. “I have big plans for you Nightmare Moon and good news for you, they involve making you whole again.” The Nightmare Force stopped struggling at the mention of the prospect.
“Ah I see I have your attention,” Noreaster said with a satisfied sneer. “Now my services are not free and believe me you will pay but you will finally get the chance to wreak your revenge. I’m afraid though the payment begins now, this will hurt a lot,” Noreaster said as he brought the pyramid, orb, and the second spell in front of him.
Noreaster’s eyes lit up with the dark magic as the pyramid and orb glowed with a blinding green light. The Nightmare Force let out a high-pitched wail as it felt as though it was being warped and twisted. Suddenly, the page with the third spell flew in front of the second one as Noreaster began the final stage. From each of the trophies that lined the shelves dark tears flowed from their being and into the pyramid and orb wrapping the items into a black cocoon. Unable to cry out the victims minds rang with their agony. Tendrils of energy from the power of the Secretariat Comet slithered up to the ice floor, phased through it, and fused with the cocoon . The comet’s light turned the cocoon from black to blood red, to a snowy white, and finally to a light purple. The tendrils then receded back into the pit and the cocoon cracked to reveal a pendent in the shape of a dark purple gem shield cutie mark that hung from a silver and platinum necklace, in the middle of the gem was a quadrilateral shaped hole.
Noreaster levitated the pendent up to his critical eyes to inspect his work, seeing that the Nightmare Force was intact and dormant Noreaster sneered to himself.
“It is done, soon my Elements of Destruction will be complete,” Noreaster said as he absorbed the necklace into himself for safe keeping.
Twilight and her friends spoke late into the evening of what they would do for the Centennial Hearths Warming Celebration. But for the life of her Twilight could not fully concentrate on the planning.
“Anyway Twi what other moves do you think will wow the crowds besides my signature sonic rainboom because I was thinking that…hello Equestria to Twilight Sparkle,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Ah!” Twilight shouted with a start. “Ow I’m sorry Rainbow Dash what were you saying?” Twilight asked.
“Alright sugurcube what’s eatin ya?” Apple Jack asked as looked up from her book One Thousand and One Apple Cuisines from Around the World.
“No don’t tell me…you want to make all birthdays a national holiday,” Pinkie Pie said with a big smile.
“No Pinkie that’s not….Okay don’t tell me…um…ow, your’re wondering if that guard you kept running into at the Crystal Empire, you know the one that reminded of you that guy you met in the other world…Bash Pantry,” Pinkie Pie guessed.
“Ah Pinkie Pie, darling, I don’t think that was his name,” Rarity corrected.
“His name is Flash Sentry and I figured out that I was only smitten with him because he reminded me of the guy I met in the other world,” Twilight said still not convinced of this herself as her face turned red even though she didn’t quite believe it after all the ponies in that world were practically mirror images of those in this world and from the looks on her friends faces they didn’t buy it.
“Okay maybe that’s part of it but that’s not the main reason, it’s Nyx,” Twilight said.
“Is sumone giving er a ard time?” Applejack asked.
“No, no it’s nothing like that, its just…she’s hiding something from me. I can’t explain it I just know, I think my mother called it mothers intuition. I just feel something’s not right. I wonder if I’m a good mother I mean I’ve only been one for a year,” Twilight said as a tear fell down her face.
“Twilight that is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard, of course you’re a good mother. Nyx knows you love her,” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah Twi there are just some things that little bit needs to work out for herself you know,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Besides darling if something was really wrong I’m sure she’d tell you in a heart beat,” Rarity said with a flick of her mane.
Twilight Sparkle smiled at her friends. “Thanks guys but if Nyx or her friends mention anything will you tell me?” Twilight asked.
“That’s a silly question, of course we’ll tell you and that’s a Pinkie Promise,” Pinkie Pie said.
“Also Rarity, AJ, Rainbow Dash there’s something that you should know,” Twilight said as she went into detail about the snowmobile.
Then the clock struck seven as it let out a chime throughtout the throne room.
“Oh sorry for keeping you so long girls. alright so you will be ready to leave by morning?” Twilight asked her friends.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy all agreed.
“Nyx come say goodbye,” Twilight called up to her daughters room. “Everybody is getting ready to go.”
“Okay mom we’re coming,” Nyx shouted from her room.
Nyx, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Spike ran out out the room and zipped the throne room.
“Mom, since you, me, Spike and your friends are all going to Canterlot for Hearth Warming is it okay if I bring my friends along?” Nyx asked.
“Well it’s fine by me, what about you guys?” Twilight asked.
“Ow its fine, that’s not a problem is it,” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah, I always wanted my own little helpers,” Pinkie Pie said doing her Pinkie hop.
“Granny’s goona ave a barnyard size fit if she finds out Applebloom iz still hangin out with Nyx. I guezz we’d betta nut tell er then,” Applejack said with a smile and wink.
“Alright, but Sweetie Belle you must be on your best behavior and stay out of the way,” Rarity said.
“I’ll have to run it by Scoots parents but I’m sure I can bring them around,” Rainbowdash boastfully said with a big smile.
The CMC cheered at the good news. With a lady like cough Rarity got everyone’s attention.
“Come girls, we don’t wanna hold up Twilight any longer after all we have our own packing to do,” Rarity said.
“Not to worry Rarity I’ll have you all home in a second,” Twilight said as her horn filled with magic and in a bright flash everypony except Twilight, Nyx, Spike, and Owlowiscious was gone.
“Wow,” was all Nyx could say still stunned at how effortlessly her mom cast a mass teleportation spell.
“Being a princess has its benefits,” Twilight said with a mischievous smile. “Alright everypony time to plan, organize, and pack for our trip.”
“Hooray!” Nyx cheered since she loved nothing more than to organize with her mom. “Can I use the clipboard this time?”
“Yes, of course you may,” Twilight said with a smile as Nyx pumped her right front hoof into the air. “Everypony means you to spike,”Twilight said as she levitated Spike off the ground as he tried to sneak away.
“Ow…joy,” Spike said rolling his eyes as Twilight magically carried him next her.
So that night Twilight, Nyx, and a begrudging Spike spent nearly half the night packing laughing and telling stories. When the packing was finished Twilight conjured up a meal for herself, Nyx, Spike, and Owlowiscious. They had the gingerbread cookies Pinkie Pie brought over from the bakery for dessert. When the meal was done and the dishes were washed Twilight helped Nyx get ready for bed. After Nyx was bathed and brushed her teeth Twilight helped Nyx into her pajamas, she couldn’t help but reminded of the first day she’d found Nyx and brought her home.
“Mommy are you alright?” Nyx inquired concerningly as she saw a melancholy look come over her mothers face.
“Oh yes Nyx, I'm fine, I was just remembering, now, how about a story?” Twilight asked.
“Ow yes,” Nyx said as a she leapt into her bed. “Count me in to Twi,” Spike said leaping up beside Nyx. Owlowiscious flew into the room and land onto Nyx’s bedpost while Twilight settled next to her daughter’s bed.
“This is a story that my mother told me. Once a long in a far away land there lived a prosperous and happy kingdom ruled by a wise king and loving queen. The rulers also had a daughter a beautiful princess who was kind and wise but also loved to have adventures. “Like you mommy.” Twilight giggled at her daughter’s comparison. “Yes Nyx like me, except she was born a princess and her coat was whiter than any snow and her mane and eyes bluer than any sapphire. Her name was Princess Lazuli. One day during her wondering Lazuli found a unicorn stallion with a black coat and blue mane, inured in the woods with a talisman of shining crystal hanging around his neck.The princess ran over to the unicorn stallion. He was alive but barely breathing, she used her magic and brought him back to her castle and her healers attend to him immediately.After a few days the stallion awakened from his unconsciousness covered in bandages. At his side he saw the Lazuli levitating a bowl of water while dipping a cloth into it.
As Twilight spun her tale the characters soon began to take on a life of their own inside of Nyx’s mind.
“Where…am I?” The Stallion asked as he slowly tried to rise up.
“You’re here in my parents' kingdom. I found you injured in the woods, I brought you here to be healed you’ve unconscious for two days,” Lazuli said.
The stallion's eyes widened as his right front hoof shot to his neck to find it bare. “The amulet… where it it?!” The Stallion asked looking around wildly.
“Oh that thing, it’s by your bedside,” Lazuli said as she walked over to the mysterious stallion’s side.
Seeing the medallion the stallion struggled to rise up. “Please…I have…to go… it’s na..AAAAH!” The Stallion shouted as his injuries sent a searing pain throughout his body. Lazuli gently pushed the stallion and applied the healing salve to his forehead. “Lie still your injuries still haven’t completely healed and moving around will only reopen though wounds. I can assure you that you’re quite safe here,” Lazuli said in a soothing tone.
The Stallion shook his head slowly and sadly. “I’m afraid that nowhere is safe and I put you and your kingdom in danger. I am Aero former apprentice of Wain the Brilliant. Some time ago my master defeated a terrible sorcerer by the name of Boreas the Storm Bringer and took his amulet, the very one I had hung around my neck. It was some time before Boreas regained his power but needed the amulet to complete his renewal. My master was very old and Boreas had used his dark powers to preserve himself, as he sensed Boreas’s coming, he passed on his knowledge and power to me, gave me the amulet, and told me to run. I didn’t want to leave him but… I,” Aero began to cry as he remembered the hut that he and his master lived in exploding as Wain sacrificed himself so that his apprentice could get away. Lazuli gently enfolded the sobbing stallion in her arms as he mourned the loss of the stallion who was like a father to him.
After what seemed like hours Aero’s tears dried up and he looked at the tear stains on Lazuli’s gown. “My apologies princess I ruined your dress,” Aero said in an apologetic voice.
“It’s alright I gave ten more just like it. You’re worried that this Boreas will come for you, to retrieve the amulet,” Lazuli said. “Yes and he will destroy all those that get in his way, he nearly caught me once but I got away but just barely, that’s why I must leave,” Aero said.
“No, you must stay and get well, I promise that as long as you stay in this you shall be protected,” Lazuli said. “But… no buts I’ll tell your story to my father I know that he will help you. Now get some rest so that you can better,” Lazuli said to Aero as she went to get some more healing salve. Nyx then heard Twilight’s voice as the story once again took on a narration.
“It was some time before Aero was fully healed but during that time he and Lazuli fell in love with each other and soon they decided that they should be wed. Aero still worried about Boreas but with his love by his side he felt he could do anything. On the day of their wedding as they stood before Lazuli’s father in the castle gardens to say their vows a dark storm appeared out of nowhere. Aero looked to the sky in horror,” Twilight said as Nyx once more became enthralled with the story.
“He has found me my love,” Aero lamented as a bolt of lighting struck the middle of the ailse. The wedding guest scattered as the light cleared. In the middle of the scorched garden grass stood a yeti with red eyes in a black robe that looked like a snow storm in a dark night.
“Guards seize him!” The King shouted. His guards swarmed around Boreas forming a tight ring around him, leveling their magic, wing blades, and other weapons at him. Boreas merely rolled his eyes a gust of wind burst from his robe and scattered the guards all over the royal gardens. He then turned his gaze towards the happy couple.
“You have snagged yourself a fine bride Aero, though I am a little upset that I didn't get an invitation but I came bearing a gift anyway. This gift is an opportunity and I rarely give them, this gift is the opportunity to keep your lives and insure the safety of your kingdom. Give…me…my…talisman. After-all we don’t want the fate that befell your master to befall others,” Boreas said his threat hanging in the air. Aero seethed with rage, but what choice did he have now he did not have the skills to beat Boreas and he would not put his love or her kingdom in danger. Before his hooves moved to his neck Lazuli stepped forward.
“Never you abomination!” Lazuli shouted. “Besides we know you won’t keep your word!”
Boreas arched his eyebrow in amusement. “You have a fire within you little mare I’ll give you that but it’s not very lady like to have such a fiery temper. Let me help cool you down!” Boreas shouted as he shot an ice blast from his hands. Aero left in front of his beloved to protect her from the blast. Suddenly, the talisman radiated a with a gold and red light a shield formed around the couple and blocked the attack. Lazuli and Aero looked at each in amazement, they were alive their love had saved them. Boreas looks on in shock, then the shock turned to rage. “ NO, NOOOO, I will not be denied!” Boreas shouted as he shot another ice blast at them. “Aero and Lazuli focused their love into the amulet and a wave of light burst from the talisman and blasted Boreas into nothingness. The sky cleared and Lazuli and Aero were wed,” Twilight said as her voice once more took over the narration. The sound of a soft whinny and loud snore stirred her from her tale. Twilight smiled as she that her daughter and her number one assistant had both fallen asleep.
“And they lived happily ever after,” Twilight whispered as she gently kissed her daughter Goodnight. Owlowiscious glided onto Twlight’s back as she levitated Spike into the air. After making sure Nyx was tucked into her bed, Twilight walked out of her daughter’s room using her magic to gently close the door behind her. Twilight walked down her castle's corridor until she came to her room and she quietly opened the door. She magically pulled back the covers of Spike’s bed and gently lowered him onto his mattress and tucked him in as well. “Sleep tight my number one assistant we have a long week ahead of us,” Twilight said.
Hearing a hoot behind her Twilight turned around and saw Owlowiscious sitting on tree branch, Twilght smiled as she went over to her bedroom window and looked out over the empty streets of Ponville as others settled into their houses for either rest or for celebrations. The view of the town and the night sky was amazing from her castle.
“Princess Luna has really outdone herself this time,” Twilight said as she admired the night sky. Closing the window Twilight let out a yawn as she magically pulled back the covers of her bed as she climbed in. After magically tucking herself in Twilight fell into a deep sleep.
However, not everypony was inside this snowy night for The Wanderer stood in front of the library unfazed by the cold, her fur cloak glittering underneath the moonlight. Tears flowed from her hooded face forming little puddles of ice where she stood.
“If only…that story were true,” The Wanderer said weeping after hearing one of the versions of her story, the ones that ended happily always made her sad, making her long for what could have been.
The Wanderer raised her cloaked head to the sky her horn emitting a bright light. She felt herself leave her body as her consciousness extended from herself to observe all of Ponyville or rather five of its inhabitants from the astral plains. These planes were the land between awake and asleep, dreams and nightmares, life and death, the energies of this world seemed to meld and fluctuate in this realm, the physical forms of the ponies were overshadowed by their inner selves.This realm was a place of many wonders and possibilities and also a place a danger even the Royal Pony Sisters didn’t come here unless they had to.The Wanderer “split” herself and went to observe the vessels of the Rainbow Power. As she approached each dwelling The Wanderer shielded her eyes from the light that radiated from their souls, as her eyes adjusted she saw that their power saturated their very homes.
“No wonder the Tree of Harmony chose these ponies,” The Wanderer said in awe especially when she “saw” the essence of Twilight Sparkle. However, the brightest light didn’t come from her but from her daughter Nyx. “So she is the one who will decide the fate of this land, so young.” But The Wanderer got a hold of herself she couldn’t afford to get sentimental now, what had to happen, had to happen, soon it will all be over. The Wanderer “looked” into the vessels dwelling and saw that each of them was asleep and were beginning to dream.
Suddenly, The Wanderer felt a strange feeling come over her. She slowly turned around and saw six spirits beginning to appear before her. The first spirit was a tall black Pegasus stallion with the body of a warrior his mane was as white as lighting and his were as gray as a storm cloud, his entire body was adorned with scars that told the stories of many battles. He wore a purple toga with pure gold trim underneath a golden breastplate decorated with the symbol of the Pegasus tribe. The second pony was also a Pegasus but was a foot smaller than his associate, he had cinnamon colored flank with a chestnut colored mane. He wore a silver breast plate with a matching breast plate on his head was a helmet. The second set of spirits that manifested where earth ponies. The first was a mare about the same size as Luna and had shining free eyes her coat was a light brown and her mane was dark chocolate brown with a thick braid on each side of her head looped into a ring. The mare wore a chocolate truffle brown dress with a bustle flap made of golden thread, with a large pink bow at the top of it, and two golden ruffles around her shoulders. From the bustle twisting vines made of the same gold thread twisted themselves into swirling patterns. Around her neck was a huge white collar that seemed to radiate light. On her head was cap with a huge cup of chocolate pudding on it. Next to her stood an earth pony stallion. His coat was a doughy brown with a jet black mane with blue eyes. He wore a brown servant’s coat with a brown hood that covered his mane his suite was also trimmed with gold. On his head was straw hat with a red band wrapped around it that housed a white feather. The final group of ponies to appear were unicorns. The first was a mare only two feet shorter than Celestia. She had a platinum coat, blue eyes, and a long flowing blonde mane styled in flaxen curls. She wore a blue cape trimmed with fur with a collar with intricate designs made with white dyes. Her crown was platinum and had pink diamonds placed in a circle around it. The final spirit was also a unicorn mare. Her coat was a ducal purple with a dark purple mane that had green streaks running through it. His eyes were emerald green and seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. She wore a simple black cloak with stars and constellation patterns, a hood hung behind hrt shoulders.
“Hail founders of Equestria, why have you awakened from your slumber?” The Wanderer asked. Clover the Clever stepped forward and raised her head, suddenly images of the three windigos that had attacked her and her friends before appeared out of nothingness and raced around the assembled ponies before disappearing into non existence.
“Yes I’m afraid that the windigos are soon to return.” The founders looked distressingly at one another at the news. Commander Hurricane raised his wings and flapped them creating a strong gust that formed into the three spies in their empowered form. “No commander I don’t know how powerful they have become nor do I fully know their plans, but I do know is that they are planning their revenge and trying to get the power to do it.”
Private Pansy shyly lowered his head as an image of the Fires of Friendship flickered in and out of existence above the assembled ponies. “Yes, the flame has kept them away so far but this time it’s not enough.” Princess Platinum waved her right forehoof in front of her and images of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity appeared each one wearing their Element of Harmony. “I don’t know if even the Bearers can stop the Windigos foul plans. Noreaster is no fool he has waited long for his revenge I'm sure that he has prepared something to counteract the ponies power."
Chancellor Puddinghead breathed out and her breath formed into the Crystal Heart.
“Founders, these powers that you suggest all play apart in what was foretold to me but ultimately the fate of Equestria lies in hooves of the one created for evil but destined for good. Smart Cookie starred intently at the Wanderer looking her dead in the eye. “There is nothing you or I can do to interfere in what is to come. It’s not time for the ponies to know the truth, my curse forbids it and your elevated status prevents it.”
The leaders looked downcast at the ground once more regretting not heeding the words of the Wanderer when she tried to warn them the first time. Then an idea filled Clover the Clever’s head as she trotted over to the Wanderer and motioned from her cloak to the castle of Twilight Sparkle. “Warn the princess in her dreams,” The Wanderer said. Clover nodded her head vigorously.
“Yes, that could work, as long as you only give her hints to take the proper course of action to ensure Equestria’s survival. I’ll help you enter the dream realm undetected but you must hurry for Princess Luna will soon begin her duties."
However, as The Wanderer raised her horn to cast her enchantment, a dark wind blew from the north and engulfed the Founders of Equestria in its twisted gale. The Wanderer watched in horror as the panic-stricken specters dissipated in the falling.
"Now, now," A voice echoed throughout the Astral Plains. "There will be none of that I will not have my Hearth Warming surprise ruined."
The Wanderer let out a snarl of fury as she recognized the voice of the unwelcome presence.
"Reveal yourself Noreaster!" The Wanderer demanded. "Or have the millennia’s trapped in dung hole you call a kingdom frozen your set off!"
At The Wanderer's challenge Noreaster let out a howl of fury causing the snow and wind to bear down on her, but she refused to look away as a pair of malvolent glowing red eyes manifested in front of her.
"Well I see that the ages haven't done anything to melt your cold demeanor," Noreaster said snidely.
"Nor has it done anything to fix your twisted heart. What have you done with The Founders?!"
"Ow they're incapacitated and no longer able to get in the way of my plans. I thought you would have learned by now to never get in the way of my ambition," Noreaster said like a teacher to a slow student.
"Then you should have killed me when you had the chance because that's one lesson I have no intention of learning," said The Wanderer defiantly.
Noreaster let out a snort of laughter. "Now why would I do that? When watching you fail to stop me is so much more entertaining unable to interfere, yet you still try to stop the inventible. It is both amusing and pathetic."
"No Noreaster, what is pathetic is how everything you have done and are going to do is leading to your demise and after millions of years your own ego keeps you from seeing it. The prophecy will be fulfilled and your power will be broken!"
"Your naivety never ceases to amaze me," Noreaster said with a snort of laughter. "I thought you would have stopped believing in fairy tales, especially after what happened to your people."
The Wanderer lunged at the pair of spectral eyes only to pass right through them and fall hard into the snow.. "Ow I'm sorry," said Noreaster mockingly. "Did I hit a sore spot?"
"Don't...you...DARE...speak...of my people!" The Wanderer shouted as she got up off the ground. "You were the one who cursed them and me!"
"Which would not have happened if you had not tried to play the hero and now you make the same mistake of once again acting without thinking."
"What are you go on about demon?" The Wanderer demanded baring her teeth.
"Ow just the simple fact that the lives of your people and mine are linked. I OWN them so if I die then...so...do...they."
Noreather's eyes lit up with glee as he saw The Wanderer turn her back to him and carry on his taunt.
"You will lose your very reason for existence. With everypony you love gone you will face the ages truly alone and spiral down into madness unable to find happiness or even have the luxury of putting yourself out of your miser. So tell me something Star Chaser are you really ready to lose your people a second time?!"
Letting out a war cry The Wanderer turned around and balsted the pair of eyes into nothing as she hyperventilated with grief and heaviness, her tears glistening in the moonlight as they crystalized and fell into the snow.
"You...will...not...win," The Wanderer said through choked sobs. "You will not win!"
The Wanderer looked once more at the Rainbow Kingdom Castle and cast the deram spell on Nyx and Princess Twilight. She may not be able to directly tell what was about to come but she could at least give them a fighting chance. Knowing that she had done all she could do for now. The Wanderer left the astral planes and vanished into the falling snow as Princess Luna and her battalion of bat ponies soared over the sky to begin her patrol of the night.
Twilight Sparkle and Nyx tossed and turned in their beds as their dreams soon became nightmares.
“Twilight, Twilight, TWI…LIGHT!” Twilight Sparkle’s eyes shot open as she zipped into the air, hitting her head against the sealing, and landing back on her bed with a thump. As the stars began to fade from around her head, her vision began to clear as she saw a certain baby dragon smiling sheepishly at her. “Oops, ha-ha, sorry, I’ll just… ah go get some ice for that bump,” Spike said as he began to back away from Twilight.
“Don’t worry Spike I got it,” Twilight as she conjured an ice pack and placed it gently on her head. “But seriously Spike what in Celestia’s name was the shouting for?”
“I should be asking you that, did you read The Spotter before going to bed again?” interrogated Spike.
“No Spike and that night terror only happened one time, but I was having a nightmare,” Twilight said.
“It must have really been a nasty one because you were twisting and turning in your sleep, it was kinda freaky,” Spike said.
“Oh Spike you don’t know the half of it.” As Twilight was about to relay her dream Nyx poked her head into her mother’s room with a look of worry.
“Mommy are you okay, I heard a loud thump in your room, are you alright?” Nyx asked.
Twilight quickly put on a smiled, “No Nyx I’m fine I just had a little scare that’s all. Now go wash up, pack , and double check your saddle bag it will be time to leave before you know it,” Twilight said shooing her daughter away with a gesture from her right wing.
“Alright mommy I’ll be ready soon.” As Nyx walked out the questions began to fill her head.
“Why was mommy so jumpy this morning?” Nyx thought to herself as she quietly trotted off to the bathroom, possible scenario is zipping through her head and all of them involved her. Had her mother found out about her returning abilities, was she at risk of becoming Nightmare Moon again? “No,” Nyx said firmly to herself. “If that was the case then mom would have told me, maybe she’s just nervous about planning the celebration, yeah that’s it,” Nyx said even though she did not believe it.
When Nyx arrived at her little bathroom, she knocked on the access point of the door and it opened. She walked in and magically closed the door, careful not to use so much magic that her mother sensed it. Nyx concentrated and a blue-purple light radiated from her horn and enveloped her toiletries and levitated them around her as she used each one to, as Rarity would call it “Make herself presentable”. When everything on Nyx was either washed or brushed, she put everything away and put on her pair of magical glasses that disguised her eyes. As Nyx walked out the bathroom, Twilight walked out of her room with Spike trailing behind her. Nyx stared open mouthed at her mother’s new look.
“Well how do I look Nyx?” Twilight asked. “Mommy you look like…a princess,” Nyx said gasping in awe, even though Twilight did not look that different, the air about her radiated royalty. She wore a gold collar connected by a magenta gem carving of her cutie mark in its center. On her hooves were golden horseshoes each bearing the symbol for her element. Her mane and tail looked as if somepony, most likely Rarity, had taken all the colors of the twilight and artfully put them into Twilight’s hair. They sparkled from the light that bounced of the tiny gems on Twilight’s crown that now rested on Twilight’s head.
“Yeah Twi you’re going to have to beat the stallion’s off with a stick,” Spike said as he walked up from behind Twilight. Twilight blushed as an embarrassed smile passed across her face.
“Stop guys you’re embarrassing me, after all, I’m still the same old Twilight,” Twilight saw a look of melancholy come over her daughter as her eyes fell to the ground. “Nyx, sweetie what’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she nuzzled her neck.
“Oh it’s nothing mommy it’s just that…you are so amazing mom you’ve done so much for Equestria and you’ve earned your place as a Princess of Equestria and as an alicorn…I just feel like such a fake,” Nyx said as a tear trailed from her right eye onto the floor while she confessed her sadness.
“Nyx nopony deserves to be a princess or even an alicorn, it must be earned.”
“Yeah kiddo trust me when I say if some pony told me that Twilight would have become princess one day I would have called the stallions in the white coat,” Spike confessed laughing.
“Thanks a lot Spike,” Twilight said as she rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Nyx you’ve come so far and have overcome much. I know you’re destined do great things and you know that you can tell me anything.” Twilight conjured a tissue and wiped away her daughter’s tears. Nyx smiled at her mother’s assurance.
“I know mommy and I will. Well I’d better go check my room to make sure that I have everything and pack my saddle bag,” Nyx said her sadness now gone. “Okay sweetie we’ll be leaving soon.” Nyx gave her mom a hug and slipped into her room.
As soon as Nyx closed the door behind her, Spike turned to Twilight. “Twilight you know that there’s still something she’s not telling us right?”
Twilight let out a sad sigh and turned towards the stairs. “I know Spike, but we can’t force it out of her, have you managed to get anything out of her?”
“Not a thing Twi, but I do know that whatever it is, is really eating her up inside,” Spike said as he followed Twilight down the stairs.
“Oh Spike I nearly forgot did Owlowiscious come back?”
“Yeah Twilight he’s downstairs warming up by the fire and before you ask he knows he’s supposed to go to AJ’s farm. I just hope the guy has more luck taking care of the pets than I did,” Spike said as he followed Twilight down the stairs. When Twilight and Spike reached the bottom level of the library Owlowisicous greeted them with a hoot from the stand he sat on by the fire. He flew over to Twilight and landed on her back nuzzling her neck in affection. Twilight then turned to Spike and conjured up her magic trunk that held both here’s, Spike’s and Nyx’s luggage. She levitated its contents out of it a made a checklist appear in Spike’s hand.
“Alright Spike, let’s make sure we have everything. Let’s see, yours, mine, and Nyx’s clothes and auxiliary clothes.”
“Check,” Spike said striking that item from the list.
“Books on world cultures, traditions, etiquette, and languages.”
“Check.”
“Quills, scrolls, journal, and charts.”
“Check.”
“Jewelry box.
“Check, alright Twilight it’s like we have everything,” Spike said as he rolled up the list. Twilight levitates all the objects back into trunk and makes it once more vanish into nothingness.
“Come on Nyx we’re ready to go,” Twilight called up the steps as she conjured winter attire for Spike.
“Coming mommy,” said Nyx from the top of the stairs as she raced down to Twilight.
Twilight could not help but smile at the as she said saw Smarty Pants hanging from her daughter’s saddlebag. Do you have everything sweetie?” Twilight asked Nyx as she conjured weather gear onto her daughter.
“Yes mom I’m ready to go I have everything on my check list,” Nyx said.
After Twilight did a quick inspection, she decided that everything was in order, now came the part that she did not like.
“Mommy come on we don’t want to be late,” Nyx said as she bounded fo the door.
“Nyx,” said Twilight.
“If we don’t hurry all the good seats will taken,” Nyx whined trying to stop what was to come.
“Nyx, I have to put it on,” Twilight said as her horn began to glow.
“It’s not fair I’m not Nightmare Moon anymore, I apologized for everything, why should do I still have to wear a stupid disguise?” Nyx asked.
“Nyx I don’t like doing this anymore than you do but there are ponies out there that don’t understand the magic of friendship like we do so for them forgiving does not come easy. This can and will cause them to try and do things to you for one reason or another. I just want you to be safe,” Twilight said as her magic engulfed Nyx.
However, nothing seemed to happen, Nyx looked herself over and looked into the nearby mirror on the wall she looked the same.
“Twilight did that spell go bad or something because Nyx looks exactly the same?” Spike asked confused.
“To you, me, herself, and her loved ones, but to other ponies she looks like a white unicorn filly with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. I know it’s not much of a consolation sweetie but...”
Before Twilight could finish her sentence Nyx ran up and hugged her mother tightly, Twilight nuzzled her daughter affectionately.
“Don’t worry Nyx, there will come a day when you won’t need a disguise and people will see you as I do,” Twilight said.
“I hope it comes soon mommy,” Nyx said.
“Me too Nyxie me to,” Twilight said.
“Guys I hate to break up the moment but if we don’t get to the train station soon we’re gonna have to fly to Canterlot and I am not going through that again,” Spike said as he opened the door Owlowiscious hooted his goodbye as he flew up into the air on his way to Sweet Apple Acres. Just then, a rumbling noise emanates from Spike’s stomach, Spike smiles bashfully as a huge blush spreads across his face.
“Opps sorry, Twilight do we have time for some breakfast?” Spike asked.
“Sorry Spike no time for a big breakfast you can get something to tide you over on the train,” Twilight said as she magically closed and locked the door, which enacted the spell of protection that she had placed around the library. As the spell finished taking effect,
Nyx looked at her mother in both confusion and worry.
“A spell of protection in Ponyville?” Nyx thought to herself in confusion. “Mommy are you sure that you’re alright?”
“Yes Nyx I’m fine, now, stand next to me and Spike I’m going to teleport us,” Twilight said.
“Oh thank Celestia I worried that you were going to say fly,” Spike said remembering the first time he rode on Twilight while she was flying.
Twilight chose to ignore that comment as she filled her horn with power, she, Nyx, and Spike vanished in a flash of light.
Train Station
At the train station Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom all waited for Twilight and Nyx. Opal sat on one of the suitcases and taking a catnap, while Angel Bunny sat on Fluttershy’s back.
“Where en tarnation are those two?” Applejack asked as she paced back in forth.
“Applejack, darling you must stop pacing you’re wearing a hole into the floor,” Rarity said as she pointed to the circular groove that Applejack had made.
“Yeah AJ chill out,” Rainbow Dash said reclining on cloud. “If nothing else can be said about Twilight it can be said that she is never late for anything.”
“Besides if we miss this train then we can just take the next one,” Fluttershy said.
“Personally I like it when a friend is late,” Pinkie Pie said hoping in place. “They can totally appear at any time it’s like a surprise party.”
Just then, magic began to gather in the air as Twilight, Nyx, and Spike appeared in a flash of light near the group.
“See what did I tell ya,” Pinkie Pie said as she trotted over to Twilight.
Upon seeing Princess Twilight, many of the ponies much to Twilight’s chargin bowed to her in greeting.
“I wonder who that little filly is with the princess,” An old mare whispered to her husband.
“Maybe she’s decided on taking a student of her own,” The dappled colt whispered to his wife.
The CMC clopped over to Nyx a look of confusion on their faces at the statement of the older couple.
“Nyx care to explain what’s going on?” Scootaloo asked.
“Ow, mom put a spell on me so that nopony but you guys and a few others can see me as I am. However, to everypony else I’m snowflake,” Nyx said.
“Wow that’s sum spell,” Applebloom said in awe.
As Spike cleared the light out of his eyes, he looked at Fluttershy’s luggage in dismay.
“YOU!” Spike exclaimed pointing his claw at Angel Bunny who gave him haughty wave. “What is he doing here?”
“Ow, Angel jumped out his carrier and sneaked into my saddlebag as I dropped him off at Sweet Apple Acres,” Fluttershy said.
Angel stuck out his tongue at Spike, quickly retracting it as Flutterfly turned her head to face him.
“Now Angel you promised to be good if I let you come with me. Besides it’s Hearth Warming can’t you both put your differences aside for one day?” Fluttershy asked.
Angel rolled his eyes but nodded in agreement. He’d do this for Fluttershy but the minute that dragon peeved him off it was on. Fluttershy turned expectinly at Spike who folded his arms and glowered.
“Yeah sure I guess, but I’m watching you furball,” Spike said pointing a claw at Angel.
“Opal didn’t like the idea of spending Hearth Warming on a farm so I decided to take my dear Opalescence with me,” Rarity said. Opalescence cracked one eye open to acknowledge Rarity and then went back to sleep.
Sweetie Belle looked at Twilight and stared in wonder.
“Gee Twilight you look amazing,” said Sweetie Belle
“Thank you Sweetie Belle but I don’t look that different.”
“Twi if I didn’t know ya I’d think that you were Celestia’s younger sister,” said Applejack.
“Alright I admit I look pretty but I wish I could take these off these horseshoes,” Twilight complained.
“DON’T YOU DARE TWILIGHT SPAKLE!” Rarity commanded. “Without those horse shoes the entire ensemble will be incomplete and I will not have any friend of mine going half-dressed especially in Canterlot. Do you think that it was easy of comfortable for me when I wore those glass slippers at the gala and I was in excruciating agony but I toughed it out darling.”
“But I don’t understand, if those shews were so uncompfortible the then why’d yew wear um?” Apple Bloom asked.
Rarity looked at looked at Apple Bloom in shock and gave Applejack a scandalized look. “Just what are you teaching her Applejack?”
“Apple Bloom my dear sweet little filly you will one day learn that great beauty requires sacrifice,” Rarity proclaimed as a white light radiated around her.
“Alright if we’re all done speech-a-fying then let’s get on the train,” Applejack said as she got ont the train.
As Nyx walked behind her mother, she had the strangest feeling that she was being watched. She turned around and she saw the same mysterious mare in the Ursa Major furred cloak standing in the middle of the crowd unseen and unnoticed by the other ponies, time seemed to slow down as Nyx felt the eyes of the mare starring at her.
“Nyx,” Twilight said as she starred as she noticed her daughter’s trance like state.
“Huh what?”
“Are you alright?” Twilight asked.
Nyx looked back out to the crowd but once again, the mare was gone.
“Nothing mom I thought I saw somepony that I knew,” Nyx said.
When Twilight and her friends entered the train the conductor bowed his head to Twilight.
“Your majesty it is an honor. Please follow me,” The Conductor said as he raised his head and guided the group to their seats.
“I will never get used to that part of being a princess,” Twilight said.
“Ow but Twilight that’s one of the perks of being a princess darling,” Rarity chided as they got to their coach.
The conductor bowed again to Twilight as they entered the compartment, seeing that they were comfortable he returned to his rounds.
The CMC bubbled with excitement as they took their seats all except Nyx.
“I still can’t believe we’re going to Canterlot guys,” Scootaloo said bouncing slightly in her seat.
“Yeah, maybe we’ll get our cutie marks in helping planning parties,” Apple Bloom said.
“This is going to be so fu….Nyx are you alright?” Sweetiebelle asked.
"I’m fine guys just thinking about some things is all.” As Nyx looked out the window she wondered if she was slowly losing her mind as the train whistle sounded and the train trudged down the tracks.
Hidden in the shadows of the trainstation a pair of green electrified eyes looked at the departing train with glee.
Crystal Empire
Shining waited at the bottom of the stairs levitating his, Cadence, and Skyla’s luggage, plus the Hearth Warming gifts that that they’d bought for his family, waiting for the love of his life to finish getting Skyla ready. As he waited Shining talked to crystal stallion with a shining white coat, an emerald colored mane, eyes, tail, and crystal empire flag cutie mark.
“Loyal Regent, are quite sure that you don’t need us for anything,” Shining Armor asked.
“Ow quite your majesty, everything is in perfect order, besides everypony should be with their families on Hearth Warming, if there’s a problem I’ll be sure to contact you both, but you’d better hurry sire train waits for nopony not even royalty,” Loyal Regent said.
“Come one Cady we’re going to miss the train if we don’t hurry up,” Shining Armor said as he called up the stairs.
“In a minute Shiny I have to finish getting Skyla ready,” Cadence called down the stairs as she finished magically wrapping Skyla in her winter cloth. She levitated Skyla into her crystal carriage, a strong gust of wind blew open the double window. Cadence turned towards the window to close it, but a strange feeling engulfed her as the cold breeze blew in her face, it was a feeling of malice, anger, hatred, and a deep sadness kept alive by a great pain. As she fell deeper into the trance a small voice called out to her crying out her name, steadily the voice grew louder and louder until she recognized it. Cadence shook herself as she saw her husband standing before her.
“Shiny, what happened?” Cadence asked as she started to become fully aware of her surroundings.
“I don’t know, I heard Skyla crying and I galloped up here as soon as quick as I could,” Shining said.
At the mention of her baby, crying Cadence snapped out of what was left of her stupor.
“Skyla, is she alright?!”
“Yes dear she’s fine as soon as I came in she stopped crying. But are you alright?” Shining asked concerningly.
“I’m fine Shiny, really, I just blacked out for…a minute.”
Cadence saw the picture frame that held the family photo that was taken last Hearth Warming. Cadence levitated it with her magic and an eerie feeling came over her. The glass of the frame over the faces of Celestia, Luna, Twilight Velvet, Flashlight, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Nyx had been smashed and only those areas.
“Evil reveals itself on the wind,” Cadence said aloud.
“I’m not superstitious but I can be very open minded at times,” Shining Armor said slightly unnerved by the exact smashes made in the glass.
Suddenly, Cadence began to laugh and soon was joined by Shining Armor.
“Shining listen to us we sound like a bunch of superstitious old mares,” Cadence said as she gained control of herself.
“Yeah we do sound silly, come on let’s go we don’t want to walk to Canterlot,” Shining said as he magical closed the window and walked out the nursery.
Cadence made sure Skyla was all right and magically pushed the stroller out of the baby room and closed the door behind her. As Cadence, Shining, and Skyla left the castle they were greeted by their subjects and escorted by royal guard to the train station. As his family entered the train Shining’s guard instincts kicked in as he felt that they were being watched. However, as he scanned the perimeter he found nothing out of place. He entered the train as its whistle blowed and it started to trudge down the tracks. Shining Armor did not understand how right he was for up in the sky above the empire a suspiciously black cloud hung in the air watching the royal couple and their child leave for Canterlot. As the cloud moved towards Everfree, it shifted into a black spectral stallion with electrified blue eyes, mane, tail, and hooves. Stratus soured through the sky transforming into mist as he slid under the rock that hid the Mirror Pool, were he saw his brothers awaiting his return.
““Brotherss, the monarchss of the Crysstal Empire go to Canterlot asss we sspeeak,” said Stratus.
“Exxccellent, Nimbuss reportss the ssame of the Princcess of Magic and her enteroouge. Our king will be pleeassed,” Cumulus said.
“IIIII am pleassed,” Noreater’s voice echoed throughout the cave as his image appeared on the mirror pool. “All iss going according to plaan. The ruling powersss of Equestria in one convenient placce to destroy at my leissuure.”
“My kiing, sshouldn’t we destroy them now before they prepare for IIt?” Nimbus asked, his mane crackling with rage as the memory of the Fires of Friendship still burned in his memory.
“Nooo, let the triibess think they are ssafe, let them fill their homess with giftss and friendsshiip. When their hope iss at itss peak we…will…CRUUSSSH IT AND THEIR PATHECTIC NATION WITH THEEM!”
Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus whinnied with twisted glee and mad blood lust.
