The sun was just peeking over the mountains in the east when a cold sense of dread washed over the ruler of Equestria. Startled, Celestia let the spell on the sun slip, causing it to momentarily dip back down on the horizon.
After regaining control and finishing her duty, the white alicorn remained where she was standing, trembling and breathless.
"It cannot be." She muttered under her breath.
Quickly, she turned and darted into her chambers. Celestia began searching her wardrobe just as a dark alicorn entered the room, a concerned look on her face.
"Sister, I fear something is amiss. I felt this strange, magical surge coming from the direction of Ponyville-"
"I know," Celestia spoke firmly, cutting her sister off.
"I had always feared this happening, but with recent events, I had grown complacent." There was a noise of victory as the eldest brought from the hidden depths of her wardrobe, a small dusty book.
Luna blinked in surprise. "What is that?"
Celestia said nothing as she opened the book and began flipping through it.
"There are many things you have missed, Dear Sister. And, regretfully, this was something I should not have attempted on my own. However, there was only one pony that could have pulled it off flawlessly, and he died before he finished hiding them all." She stopped somewhere towards the end of the book, going silent as she read the familiar hoof writing.
"I am aware of the time we spent apart, Sister," Luna spoke lowly, "but I am more concerned over the sudden release of magic that I cannot tell whether it is Unicorn, Chaos, or our own somewhere in the same vicinity as your beloved student and here you are reading your old diary like a filly. Is your old coltfriend's name still there?"
Sighing, the white monarch shook her head.
“Luna,” she started before stopping herself, pushing past her sister to the hall to see if anypony was there. She saw no pony, but still, cast a privacy spell on the room to be safe. Turning to Luna, she continued, “I understand your frustrations. Believe me, I do. I will tell you everything I know pertaining to this matter, but first, we must gather the Elements. Twilight and her friends must know what they are up against.”
The younger princess frowned, worried.
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The Canterlot Mines
Far below the streets of Canterlot, in the darkest depths of the mines, something gave a shiver as the scent of great magic suddenly filled the air. Something it had thought lost had returned, the first piece of a puzzle finally reappearing after fifty, long years.
There is a buzzing of wings as the thing laughs, the time was nearing.
Soon, Equestria would be hers.
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The Friendship Express
Fluttershy was walking through the train cars, searching for something. As she searched, an Earth Pony stallion walked beside her, keeping pace.
"Don't lose hope," he was saying. "They'll find you when the time comes. Take your time."
"But it's important that I gather all of them?" she asked, though she didn't know what "they" referred to.
"Not yet, and not so fast. Many seek their hidden power, though within plain sight it be."
Normally, Fluttershy would ask what that meant, but what came from her mouth was, "But I must protect the spell in its entirety, for it is Harmony that is in jeopardy."
She looked down at herself. There were stripes over her yellow fur. The stallion chuckled.
"You are quite right. The bugs will be coming soon, and you've barely started. You must teach yourself my teachings to survive the trials ahead. Don't worry though. There's a reason why-- Fluttershy"
"Fluttershy-"
"Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy yelped as she jerked awake. Rainbow had her hoof on the other mare's shoulder, having been shaking her.
"C'mon sleepyhead! The princesses are waiting!"
With that, the cyan pegasus bolted out the train to meet their friends on the platform. Fluttershy hoisted her saddlebag onto her back and followed, trying to make sense of the dream that was already fading away.