This story is a sequel to My Little Balladeer

It was a few years ago that Twilight Sparkle and the Element Bearers sought for aid against a threat from beyond their world, and found it in the person of John the Balladeer. After the threat was defeated he was returned to his world, and Twilight has been searching for her human friend ever since.

Now with Princess Luna's aid she's found him in dreams. Dreams dark and terrible, and haunted by enemies both alien and frightfully familiar.

And this time she and John are alone.

MLP:FiM (c) Lauren Faust and Hasbro; John the Balladeer and associated beings (c) the estate of Manly Wade Wellman.

The Elements of Harmony find themselves facing an old evil united with one from beyond their world entirely, bringing magic so alien that Equestrian magic cannot defend against it. Yet, long ago, when the Elements existed in a different form, they summoned aid from beyond the world to defeat a similar threat from beyond.

Out of desperation, today's Elements repeat that ancient summoning, and they get – a hillbilly with a silver-strung guitar?

MLP:FiM (c) Lauren Faust and Hasbro; John the Balladeer and Rowley Thorne (c) estate of Manly Wade Wellman

And due to the grace of several fans, primarily Jordan1179, this story now has its own Tropes page: Tv Tropes My Little Balladeer