//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Upheaval 
// by Erie 
//------------------------------//

The ancient castle in the Everfree stood eerily silent in the aftermath of the confrontation. The six mares who harmony chose to be its champion had won. Their new friendship being able to persevere and overcome the challenges they had faced. Nightmare Moon was defeated, purged by the manifestation of harmony itself in terrific fashion. Princess Celestia was free from her Sun, and her younger sister, Princess Luna freed from the Nightmare at last. A new era of friendship and magic was coming, and nothing could stop it.

Or at least, that was what they believed. For long after they had all left the Everfree to celebrate their supposed victory a shadow stirred in the castle, flying through its unruly skies once night fell once more.





Shade watched as the shadows coalesced in front of him in the hidden grotto, eventually becoming the True Queen of the Night in all her beauty and glory.

“My Queen,” he said bowing before her, “I see you have returned relatively unharmed. Am I right to assume it was a rousing success?”

“Rise, faithful servant, and thou are right to assume so. Our “sister” believes that our construct is Luna, and whilst t’will not hold for long, ‘tis more than enough. Now, let us proceed.”

Rising, he led his queen through the cave until he reached a pool of crystal-clear water that reflected the pretenders' moon and stars through the opening above. It was nothing compared to the magnificent masterpiece his Queen had created yesterday, and it almost made him blanch at how terribly bland it was now. Still, he channeled that disgust into resolve and turned his attention back to his Queen with a question he already knew the answer to.

“Shall I activate it than my Queen?” 

“Yes! We shalt have need of an army if we are to overthrow our sister and take back what is ours!” She commanded, her voice booming.

“Then your will shall be done.” 

Nodding, he focused upon the water and his horn glowed a soft violet. The waters surged at his command until they formed an incredible visage which was the cumulation of decades of study; an entirely different planet surrounded by the wonderful light of Her Stars. 

Her own horn glowed as she focused upon the waters and a shining black pearl materialized before her, floating in her magic until it dissipated.

It fell into the pool and everything changed.