Rainbow Dash has always proclaimed that she was the fastest pony in all of Equestria. Ten years later, she was still willing to brag about it but going almost mach-3 was a lot more tiring than it was ten years ago. Still, she had a mission to complete and nothing was going to-
“Excuse me!?” Dash almost snapped at the two royal guards in front of the castle. “What do you mean Twilight is ‘preoccupied’?”
“Princess Twilight is currently meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia,” one of the guards said. “She is not to be disturbed.”
“Okay that’s nice and all but this is kind of an emergency and I really need to speak with her,” Dash said, her patience slipping away quickly.
“I’m sorry, but we have our orders,” the other guard said. “You’ll have to wait until she is finished.”
Dash gritted her teeth. “You do know who you’re talking to, right? Rainbow Dash, hero of Equestria, member of the Council of Friendship?” I got a much bigger resume than all of you combined I bet…
“We are aware.”
Dash snorted and was about to make a snappy retort…but then stopped. “You know, I came here to be all formal and polite and stuff but you do realize I can fly up to the top and find her myself.”
“…We wouldn’t recommend doing that. We do have security around the perimeter you know.”
Dash suddenly flashed a feral grin. “Wanna put that to the test?”
“I must say Princess, it always amazes me that when we first met, you were just an up and coming princess, and now here we are,” the Duchess says with a slight chuckle. She, her husband the Duke, and Twilight were sitting at a table on the balcony enjoying a cup of tea. Spike was standing within earshot of them, listening but keeping to himself.
“That feels like such a long time ago,” Twilight said with a smile as she took a sip of her cup. “Celestia and Luna say their hellos from Silver Shoals.”
“Ah, I’ve heard only good things about Silver Shoals,” the Duke said. “Probably the best beaches you can find in all of Equestria.”
“Indeed, and they’ve definitely earned it,” Twilight said proudly. She has managed to visit the two sisters at least once a year and between that they would exchange letters almost constantly. As expected, Celestia wanted to do anything that involved excitement while Luna wanted more relaxing. Needless to say, they were at least able to meet halfway…most of the time.
“It would seem you are cut of the same cloth as well,” the Duchess said. “We will be most happy to endure another Golden Age of peace.” ‘Peace’ was probably a poor word choice considering a commotion was starting to form down below.
“Is that all you got? I could easily lift four of you off the ground!”
Spike glanced below and his eyes suddenly widened. He came over at a slight pace. “Uh, Twilight?”
Twilight could hear what was going on and trying her best to keep a smile. “Spike, please tell me a fight isn’t breaking out…”
“About that…there’s four Royal Guardponies trying to pin Rainbow Dash down.”
“Huh?” Twilight had no choice but turn around and look below. It was as Spike said, Dash was trying to get off the ground and four- make it five Royal Guardponies were trying to keep her grounded.
“You guys should be embarrassed, if Twilight was watching right-” She had looked up at that moment and saw the mare in question looking back at her. “Oh, hey Twilight. Think you can call off these guys for me?”
“I am so sorry…” Twilight said with a hoof to her face. She and Dash were in the throne room while Spike escorted the Duke and Duchess back to their carriage. “They should’ve let you through right away.” She was planning on having a long talk with her Royal Guard.
“Don’t worry about it,” Dash said. “To be honest, I did kind of antagonize them…”
“It can’t be helped. I like what you did with your mane by the way.”
“Thanks. Sorry if I interrupted- wait I don’t have time to apologize! Applejack and Starlight need our help!”
“Probably should’ve led with that first but tell me everything.”
Dash told her everything, from what happened inside the well to the townsfolk going crazy. “Somehow I had a bad feeling about this,” Twilight said with a concerned frown. “But the Pony of Shadows was sealed away years ago by the Elements and there’s no other power that can match that.”
“Tell that to the crazed ponies in Hollow Shades…” Dash deadpanned.
“Alright, then we have no time to waste. We have to get the other girls and-”
“How? It’ll take too long for them just to reach Canterlot!”
“I may have an idea for that,” Twilight said with a confident smile.
“…Wait you’re not gonna ask-”
“Oh indeed she is!” a voice suddenly called out. They looked over to the stained glass and saw a figure was standing on Flurry Heart’s head.
“Of course you’d ask Discord…wait were you eavesdropping on us?” Dash asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Discord said, disappearing and suddenly reappearing before them. “Call it a ‘gut feeling’ that I knew Twilight was going to need my help for something.”
“A gut feeling huh?” Twilight said, looking bemused.
“Well, not to offend you but sometimes I can read you like an open book,” Discord said. “Either way, out of the kindness of my heart and as a good friend, I’ll be willing to grant you at least one favor.”
“Good, I need you to get the others here right away,” Twilight said. She then put up a wing. “But please at least use some discretion…”
Discord rolled his eyes. “Fine, I wanted to get at least a chuckle from their bewildered expressions…” He then snapped his fingers and almost instantly in a flash of light, three new ponies were standing in the room.
“W-What in the-?” Rarity said. “Twilight? What just happened?”
“Discord!” Twilight snapped.
“What?” Discord asked innocently. “I left notes letting everypony know what was going on.”
“Aw, and here I thought my last batch of chocolate cupcakes had turned out so good I could be in two places at once,” Pinkie said, looking disappointed as she ate a cupcake.
“Um…I’m guessing if we’re here and Discord is involved it must be something important?” Fluttershy asked.
“Sorry girls, I kind of needed you here and time wasn’t an option,” Twilight said. “Long story short, Starlight and Applejack need our help.”
“Well I was in the middle of producing a very exquisite night gown but if the fate of Equestria is hanging in the balance it’ll have to wait,” Rarity said with a smile. “Equestria is hanging in the balance, yes?”
“I’m kind of hoping not but-”
“Knowing our track record, it probably is!” Pinkie said with a smirk.
“That’s what I was worried about…” Fluttershy sighed.
“You worry too much, we’ve been able to handle anything that comes our way!” Dash said. “So let’s get going! …Actually how are we going to get there?”
Twilight looked a little embarrassed as she glanced at Discord. “I was kind of hoping…”
“What? And skip over potential scenes that would easily help meet the word quota?” Discord asked, looking horrified.
“We don’t have time for that!” Dash snapped.
“Fine, fine, but let it be known that I played my part in helping you seven save Equestria and I better get a proper thank you for it.”
“Thank you Discord,” Fluttershy smiled.
“…I suppose coming from Fluttershy is enough,” Discord replied as he snapped his fingers.
The five ponies suddenly found themselves in a forest. “Wow, that really does save a lot of time!” Pinkie said. “We should ask Discord for favors more often.”
“Alright Rainbow, you know the way?” Twilight asked.
“Yes ma’am,” Dash quickly saluted. “Just be warned, these ponies will attack as soon as they see us.”
As soon as they reached the village, Dash could tell something was wrong for it was really quiet and no one was around. “Wait, where’d everyone go?”
“Bingo?” Pinkie offered.
“It looks completely deserted,” Rarity said.
“Hey, I’m not making this up, there were ponies here when I left,” Dash said.
“I believe you,” Twilight said. “Let’s look around and see if we find anypony.”
The five of them split up and checked the houses, however there was no sign of anyone inside either. “Hang on, what about the Apple house?” Dash said as she went over.
“They were the only ones who weren’t affected?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, not sure why though.” Dash looked through the window. “Hello? Apple family? Its me, Rainbow Dash!” There was no response.
“It doesn’t look like anypony broke in,” Fluttershy observed.
“The door’s locked too,” Pinkie said as she tried to open it.
“Okay, that does it, I know something’s going on!” Dash suddenly rushed forward broke through the door.
“Honestly Rainbow…” Rarity sighed.
The five of them looked around the house. No one was inside. “This makes absolutely no sense,” Dash said. “Where would Starlight and Applejack be?”
Suddenly, they could hear a noise coming from the other door. “Did you hear that?” Twilight asked. They went into the living room and the noise could be heard coming from the closet.
“M-Maybe we should think before opening that…” Fluttershy whispered.
“Just be ready,” Twilight said as she used her magic to open the door. To their surprise, inside there was a pony who was gagged and had their legs taped up.
“Apple Strudel?” Dash asked. Twilight went ahead and took the gag out of the stallion's mouth.
“The well…they took them down into the well,” the stallion said. “One of the ponies…is behind all this. They’re doing some sort of ritual. You have to hurry!”
“Where’s the rest of your family?” Twilight asked as she used her magic to unbind him.
“They’re inside, but I can take care of them,” Strudel said as he got to his feet. “Now go!”
“Hold on Twilight,” Dash said as they approached the well. “There’s something down there and its not natural…Starlight said something about dark magic.”
“Don’t worry, I can keep us all protected as long as we all stick close,” Twilight replied. They made their way down and almost immediately they, especially, could feel the dark presence. Her horn lit up as a protective shield surrounded them. “There, we should be protected for now.”
“I really don’t like the sound of the word ‘ritual’,” Rarity said. “Ritual for what?”
“Nothing good I’m sure,” Twilight said as they made their way forward.
The shield doubled as a light source as they went further down the waterway. It wasn’t long before they saw light up ahead and- “Is that chanting I’m hearing?” Dash asked.
“Yeah…I’m not liking this one bit,” Pinkie said, shivering slightly.
“Well, well, well…the Princess of Friendship and her friends have graced us with their presence,” a voice suddenly rang out. “Please, don’t be shy…come closer!”
“I’m smelling a trap…” Dash muttered as the group came forward. Candles were lit all around them and a large table stood in front of them, a table where two ponies were bound and gagged. Behind them stood a pony wearing a dark cloak but also a mask, one very similar to those worn in the old times.
“What are you doing with my friends?” Twilight demanded.
“Oh these two…they weren’t quite as cooperative as I had hoped and…force needed to be used.” The pony’s voice was slightly muffled from the mask but there was no doubt they were female. “But don’t worry, no harm will come to them, I just require a little bit of magic, specifically from one who embodies the Elements of Harmony?”
“What?” Twilight had heard of such rituals in her studies: being able to steal one’s magic, one’s essence as earth ponies or pegasi may call it, was a practice used in the old days, going back even before Celestia and Luna’s rule. As many rituals were considered, it was barbaric in nature and always had consequences.
“Technically, I don’t really need the unicorn’s magic but considering her connection to you all, it should make this much easier, and now here are the rest,” the masked pony said. “Perhaps now it has dawned on you just what my little plan is?”
The setting. The nature of the ritual. It was too obvious. “No…you mustn’t! You’d bring untold destruction to all of Equestria! Why would you do this!?”
“My story is no concern of yours,” the pony said. It was only then that Twilight realized they were surrounded. The villagers stared at them, ready to move at the pony’s command it seemed.
“Sorry lady, but we’re here to stop you!” Dash said.
“Ah, ah, ah…” the pony said condescendingly. “As you are well aware, the dark magic is here is almost overwhelming, even to the Elements of Harmony. You are nothing but a flame ready to be snuffed out and your friend’s magic is the only thing keeping you all protected. Now my underlings, do me a favor and keep our guests busy. I just need a little more time…”
“I hope you have a plan, Twilight,” Rarity said as the ponies tried to attack but couldn’t get past the shield.
“I hate to say it, but that mare is right,” Dash said. “Once you step out, the darkness overwhelms you almost immediately.”
“Perhaps, but I can resist it long enough,” Twilight said.
“You can?” Fluttershy asked.
“Remember when we first dealt with Sombra? I’ve used dark magic before but only a few times, however Princess Celestia has taught me how to control it and resist against it. I do have an idea but we have to time it just right and if we do, we can save the villagers as well…I hope.”
“Wait, just what exactly are you gonna-?” Dash’s words were cut off as the group attacked at once, thinking their combined force would be enough to shatter the shield. Twilight had been hoping for that.
As if time had slowed down, Twilight quietly marked the position of each pony coming at them and as they were about to make contact, holes in the shield opened and suddenly, both to their surprise and the ponies inside, they fell through as the shield closed up again and Twilight suddenly teleported out and reappeared in front, charging for the mare in the mask.
The mare suddenly teleported as well and Twilight had to dodge against a bolt of energy. Now she could see her adversary was a unicorn as well.
“Very clever, princess,” the mare said. “I suppose I underestimated you after all. But you’re too late.”
“We’ll see,” Twilight said as she focused a laser of magic towards the table Applejack and Starlight were sitting on. To her surprise, the beam bounced off harmlessly.
“Sorry, but that magic is older than any alicorn magic and cannot be broken so easily.”
“Just who are you?” Twilight asked. Her only answer was the earth around them beginning to shake.
The mare laughed underneath her mask. “It is done. The moment has finally come!”
Twilight could hear muffled screaming and when she looked over she saw both Starlight and Applejack writhing in pain. Strings of magic, pink and orange, appeared to be plucked from their bodies and floated towards the ceiling. A third string suddenly appeared, black, and they combined to form a triangle.
The shape grew larger as it covered the wall behind them and suddenly a mass of energy appeared, a portal to the Void. A dark figure soon came through, a figure Twilight had thought she would never see again.
“I am free!” the Pony of Shadows bellowed and laughed triumphantly. It looked around and a wicked smile came to its face. “Ah, so the Elements of Harmony are here to see my return…but who is the one who has freed me from my prison?”
The masked mare suddenly stepped forward and drew back her hood and took off her mask, revealing a brown-colored mare with a red mane and copper eyes. “My lord,” she said, bowing before the entity. “I am Adaj, of the Caligo Tribe. I am the one who freed you.”
“Ah…Caligo…a name I haven’t heard in millennia…it is good to see the tribe has lived on after all these years.”
“Our numbers have dwindled, but our cause has never been stronger…” Adaj said. She suddenly reacted as Twilight tried to fire a beam of magic at the Pony of Shadows, only to deflect the attack with her magic. “But you are not safe here.”
“Very well… our reunion may be short, Twilight Sparkle, but know we will meet again very soon!” the Pony of Shadows said as he and Adaj suddenly disappeared. Just like that, it seemed as if the darkness lifted and everything, including the villagers, returned to normal.
“Um…what just happened?” Pinkie asked.
Rainbow Dash looked to Twilight and the expression on her face said it all. “I think we just royally screwed up…”