//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Harmony's Light // by iml1994 //------------------------------// "Then Juniper Montage broke the mirror, and everyone was okay." said Starlight Glimmer. Her, along with her six friends, were having a picnic at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Applejack was sharing an apple brown betty with Rainbow Dash, Rarity appeared to be sketching a new design in her sketchbook, Fluttershy was grooming a wild rabbit that had invited itself to their little gathering, and Pinkie was surprisingly still. Meanwhile, Twilight was listening as intently as she could to her student, taking notes along the way. "That sounds amazing. I'm gonna have to go back there to see if Sunset and I can track all the magic there. See what we can do." "Kinda surprised that Juniper would just up and turn good just like that, though." said Applejack. "Doesn't surprise me. We've got a great track record of reforming bad guys." chimed in Rainbow Dash. "Well, Yeah!" said Pinkie Pie, taking a chalkboard out of nowhere with all of Equestria's biggest threats on it. "Nightmare Moon is now Princess Luna, Discord and Starlight Glimmer are our best friends, King Sombra is searching Equestria with Radiant Hope, and all the Changelings are good!" She drew an x across each of the villains' faces. "Not to mention all those mean old bullies, like Trixie and Gilda." said Fluttershy, allowing the rabbit back into the wild. "Don't forget those awful little girls our sisters have changed for the better." said Rarity. "And Sunset Shimmer, along with all those she's helped." said Applejack. "You know, the Pinkie of that world said almost the exact same thing. We ARE a very forgiving group." "Really, the only two creatures that are even close to a threat to us are Tirek and Chrysalis, and we've already kicked their flanks all across Equestria." said Rainbow. "And I think that's for the best." Twilight shut her notebook, and took a stance. "After Equestria has been threatened Celestia knows how many times, I think we all deserve a nice break from the madness." Her friends nodded in agreement. "Why do I get the feeling we're about to be proven wrong..." said Rainbow. A split-second later, Spike ran to the picnic, looking extremely nervous. "Twilight! Sombra! Crystal Empire! Help!" he said as he jumped up and down. "Spike, Calm down! Now, what's going on?" Twilight put her hoof on the baby Dragon's shoulder, bringing him back to reality. "Sorry, it's just I'm a little nervous. King Sombra is attacking the Crystal Empire again!" The seven girls now shared Spike's look of fear. "What? That can't be!" said Twilight. "I don't understand. He's supposed to be with Radiant Hope, searching for the pieces of Princess Amore." said Rarity. "Looks like our whole redemption-dealy finally came to bite us in the hoof." said Rainbow. "Hold on a second!" yelled Pinkie, breaking up the commotion. "The Crystal Empire can't be invaded cause they still have the Crystal Heart! Sombra can't get in so long as their love, and that place is like the love capital!" "Pinkie's right. And even then, surely Cadance n' Shinin' Armor got that place secured, right?" "I wouldn't be so sure." Spike burped up a letter. "Princess Celestia sent us this message. She says she needs us all in Canterlot at once." Twilight read over the letter, and faced her friends. "Well girls, looks like we have to beat Sombra. Again!" - Princess Celestia and Princess Luna out their window, faintly seeing the auroras generated from the Crystal Empire. "How could this be sister? Where did things go so wrong?" "Do not fret Luna. We have faced many a challenge together. We've always come out on top. This time will be no different." The Mane Six, plus Starlight Glimmer and Spike, entered the Canterlot Castle's throne room, each taking a determined stance. "We're ready whenever you are, Princesses! Anything to help the Crystal Empire!" Celestia and Luna turned around, the looks on their faces looking a lot more downtrodden than what the girls had ever seen. "I'm afraid the situation has just escalated from bad to worse." said Luna. "Oh no, what's happened now?" Celestia walked up to Spike, placing a hoof on his cheek. "I'm sorry Spike. But it appears Queen Chrysalis is at war with the Changelings. Somehow, she has amassed her own army to try and reclaim her kingdom." Spike backed up, tears forming in his eyes. "No...Thorax...I have to go!" Spike tried running out the door, until Celestia stopped him. "I'm afraid I've done all I can do. I've sent many of my soldiers to aid Thorax in this time. We have already lost so many..." Celestia looked away, fighting back tears as hard as she could. "What do you mean?" asked Starlight. "Princess Cadance informed us of how scared her forces were of King Sombra's sudden return. Even if he can't get in, none of them are willing to fight. Knowing what he's done, I can't blame them. We've tried to send our own forces, but alas, Sombra got to them." said Luna. The implication was all to real for the ponies. "We're willing to do whatever it takes, right girls!" Twilight's friend's spoke at the same time. "Right!" "Thank you all so much. You truly are Equestria's heroes. And Spike, I promise we will do everything we can to save your friend." Celestia said. The tears on Spike's face ceased. "Thanks you." "Now, I think it's important for us to try to come up with a strategy to get rid of both of these threats." said Twilight. "Why waste your energy! All of Equestria will bow to me anyway, you may as well give up now!" A loud but all too familiar voice bellowed through the halls of the castle. An array of black star dust weaved its way around the group, until taking the form of a tall black Alicorn with a cutie mark representing the moon. An Alicorn all of them knew to well. Princess Luna backed up. "It's...It's you! Nightmare Moon!" -Canterlot High- "Well, I'm all out o' ideas." Applejack shrugged. "Well, we can't just leave this here!" said Rainbow Dash. "Sunset will know what to do. This is, after all, her specialty." said Twilight Sparkle. Sunset approached her friends with a sprint. "Where is it?" her friends backed away, revealing a hole in the fabric of their reality. On the other side was a blue castle made of crystals, in what was undoubtedly Equestria. It was not unlike one of the portals created by Midnight Sparkle, but it was just the one. Sunset stepped towards it. "And none of you know where it came from." "None of us saw how it formed. I was just walking home when I saw it." said Fluttershy. "Yeah, and look at this weird thing." Pinkie placed her hand on the portal, like there was a window separating the two worlds. "Do you think this is more magic from Equestria leaking into this world? Like the geodes or the hand mirror?" asked Rarity. "I don't know. But I think it's important we find out soon. Don't want anyone seeing this." Sunset outstretched her hand towards the portal, but she saw her hand turn into a yellow and orange hoof. "Ah!" Sunset screamed and tried to take her hand out of the portal, but it was stuck. Even worse, she felt her whole body being pulled into the portal. "Guys!" The Rainbooms tried to grab their friend's remaining hand, but the portal was too strong. Sunset was pulled into the other world, and the portal disappeared.