When they got back, Celestia was surprised to see them so soon. While she was happy to see them again, she was also concerned seeing as how they had returned so soon and also because Harmony seemed to be different. Before, she was withdrawn but still capable of being close to others. Now, she was more withdrawn than before and was also more sarcastic, pessimistic, and snarky than before. Overall, she looked on the negative side of almost everything. And for the next month things continued down this path.
The day before the Summer Sun Celebration
"Over the past month I have noticed that you have become more withdrawn towards other ponies," said Celestia. As she was saying this, Keith looked up from his notebook that he was drawing in throughout the following conversation.
"Ugh. You have known me for like a year, what makes you think I've gotten more withdrawn?" responded Keith snarkilly.
"Well you talk to less ponies than before and even to the ones you talk to from before you talk to them less."
"Yeah this coming from the relationship expert. Isn't your best student the mare that almost never interacts with anyone outside of you, her assistant, or her family on occasion?" Keith snarked back.
"You can't judge me on Twilight's study habits," replied Celestia. "Besides, I have been looking for ways for her to make friends."
"Ugh, what was your plan? Close the library and have her attend a party? Chances are she would just bring a book, you know," Keith responded.
"Oh, I have a much different plan," after she said this a letter appeared. Upon reading it and seeing that it came from Twilight herself, she began writing her response. "See? By giving her the duty of looking over the Summer Sun Celebration, she'll have to meet other ponies and hopefully she'll make friends."
"What if she doesn't make friends? What if she only completes the bare minimum and does very little else? I can see her doing that just like I can see myself doing that." Keith countered.
Celestia's smile did not disappear as she said, "Don't worry. If that doesn't work I have a Plan B."
"What's Plan B?" Keith questioned out of confusion.
"It's nothing that you have to concern yourself with," Celestia responded.
"Whatever." Keith responded while rolling his eyes, his attention starting to leave the current conversation.
At this, Celestia left the room and Lance entered the room.
"What was that all about?" asked Lance.
"Celestia was trying to convince me to make friends while also saying she can get Twilight to try and make friends with this plan of hers. I doubt the plan will work." Keith responded full of doubt.
"Just give it a chance, maybe she'll be right. About both her and you. I know you have your doubts but I swear that if you give people a chance they won't let you down," Lance responded optimistically.
"I gave people a chance before and look where that got me."
"Being royalty in a castle?"
"Not what I meant. Besides you and the Blades everyone from our dimension has abandoned me."
"I doubt you know everyone in our dimension. It's pretty big. Besides, Pidge and Hunk may still be worth giving a chance."
"This is not a joke! Besides, it is complicated when it comes to Pidge and Hunk."
"Look," Lance started to say genuinely. "I know what Shiro said hurt you and I know that the other's silence also hurt you. It hurt me too. You don't have to take all of your walls down at once. But it would be good to at least try starting. This place seems as good of a place as any given how nice everypony is. Besides, even if that doesn't work, you're stuck with me, Samurai."
Later that night
Keith was in the middle of practicing a new spell, one that would hide his horn from being seen by other ponies for a few hours .
"Hey it worked," Keith said.
"Cool," said Lance as he looked at his cutie mark. "Hey, what do you think our cutie marks mean?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well you know how every cutie mark represents our individual destiny and what we are best at, correct?
"Correct. But what does that have to do with us?" Keith questioned.
"Well, we both have a shield as a cutie mark, with yours being red and black with a sword added on behind the shield and mine being red and blue with a bow and arrow added on behind the shield. On top of that, they each have six multicolored gemstones on them surrounded by a six pointed magenta star."
"Yes. And?"
"I just want to know what ours means seeing as how we lack any real indication what these marks mean. Especially since our marks are so similar to each other. Besides, being a hippogriff, it is unusual for me to even have a cutie mark."
Just then the clock chimed telling everyone in the room that it was the next morning and Celestia will be raising the sun soon.
"Maybe Aunt Celetia can help you with that when she gets back," Keith offered.
"Ok, you're right. Hey, I'm going to watch the sunrise. You want to come?" Lance asked.
"Sure, but only because you asked."
They waited five minutes then another ten.
"Ok something is wrong the sun should be up by now," Lance brought up in concern.
"Maybe something is keeping her up," Keith brought up as a possibility. They waited five more minutes and still there was no sign of the sun coming up at all. "Ok something is wrong. Let's go see what's going on."
They arrived in Ponyville and went to the library where Celestia's student was supposed to be staying.
They entered the library and found Twilight's assistant, Spike the dragon, who was asleep in a basket. They shook him awake to see if he knew what happened and what he told them was shocking. As it turns out, the old pony's tale, Nightmare Moon, was real and she was back for revenge against Celestia. She wanted to make the night last forever to spite the world that slept while it was night outside rather than enjoy the night she created. They all looked around and found a book on the elements of harmony Lance laughed at the name and Keith gave him a look. After reading, Spike told them Twilight probably went to get the elements. Spike wanted to go help Twilight but Keith and Lance stopped him and told him to go to Canterlot and tell Cadence and Shining Armor what happened and get the royal guard. He nodded and went on his way while they went to the Everfree Forest.
The Everfree Forest looked like any other forest, except there was an air of creepiness to it. Said creepiness was present even from looking inside the forest from the outside.
As they tread through the forest they felt like something or somepony was watching them. They did not notice the blue smoke following them.
They looked up ahead and what they saw looked like a person which confused them both. When they were close enough to see it clearly they were shocked.
"Shiro, is that you?" asked Lance as he looked at Keith with worry.
"You are both just cowards and selfish, thinking of no one but yourselves. You are both useless and easily replaced. Everyone thinks so," "Shiro" said.
"This has to be fake. You're not real," Keith said.
"Why would you think that?" he said as he got closer, ready to attack.
"Why are you attacking us? Because you are a monster," Keith responded. They tried to fight back but Keith's right hoove was starting to spasm.
"What? Does the truth hurt too much?"
They both did not know what to do so they ran off the path away from "Shiro." As they ran away "Shiro" turned into blue smoke and disappeared.
Meanwhile, in the Everfree Forest, Pidge, a deer, and Hunk, a yak, had gone out to look for and collect food to eat.
"Man, it would be so much easier to get food to eat if the town was opened up whenever we went in," Hunk was annoyed. "Still, I'm taking what we can get. I can find ways to make what we can find good."
"Yeah, what do you think is the reason it is always closed up when we go there?" Pidge was curious and confused.
"I don't know. But if everywhere is as dangerous as this scary forest, then I take it that we better stay in the less dangerous parts of the forest," Hunk was wary.
"According to Zecora, it is called the Everfree Forest, not just a scary forest, Hunk. Anyway, I'm more curious as to why it is still night out. It should have been daylight by now," Pidge was curious. "If only this civilization was as advanced as ours, we would have news as to why this is the case."
"Maybe there is a villain like Zarkon taking the sun away," Hunk jokingly commented.
"We don't know that, Hunk. Maybe when we get back we should ask Zecora. She may know what is going on," Pidge suggested.
They ended up in a clearing in the middle of the forest. Before they were able to catch their breaths, they were attacked by a manticore.
"What the heck is that thing?!" asked Lance.
"A manticore!" responded Keith.
"What do we do?" Lance questioned.
"Just fly!" Keith responded. They flew away almost getting hurt by the manticore neither noticing the thorn in its paw and not caring that it was going to the main path where, unbeknownst to them, Twilight and the others were going to get the elements were.
As they walked forward, they found a grove of trees with "scary" looking faces. This did not scare them so they walked through. They were so focused on the tree's faces that they didn't notice they were going the wrong way.
As they walked through deeper into the forest they were both starting to get hungry they both stopped and took the apples and carrots Lance brought. Before they ate, Lance noticed some small forest animals looking very hungry. Looking around the clearing, seeing no food for them to eat then at the food and then at the animals again, he then gave his share of the food so the animals could eat. Keith then gave half of his food to Lance. The animals were so grateful that they showed them the way back to the path towards the castle of the two sisters.
As they walked, Lance tried to talk to Keith about what fake Shiro said but Keith was not hearing it.
"You know that it wasn't really Shiro that said that, right?" Lance tried to comfort Keith.
"I know, but that doesn't change what the real Shiro said," Keith countered. Lance tried to think of something else to say Keith said, "Can we talk about this later? Nightmare Moon needs to be stopped." They were so into their beginning of an argument they didn't see the stairs blocked by fog and fell down. Luckily, they were able to get a downdraft and flutter down to the ground but got separated in the fog.
"Why do you stay by each other's side? I can give you anything you want if you join me," a sweet, yet sinister voice said. In front of each of them was something different. In front of Lance was his family, friends, and Allara looking at him with love in her eyes. In front of Keith was his parents, the other paladins, Coran, and the Blade all looking at him with acceptance and love. "This can all be yours if you join me," said the mysterious voice.
Both Keith and Lance took a moment to consider what they were shown. From the looks of it, this was a good deal for them. They would gain back what they lost in their home dimension and more. However, they were both still conflicted as they would have to give up their close friend and possibly betray Celestia and the nation of Equestria if this was who they thought it was. So they both know what to do, no matter how hard for them it would be. So with a solemn look they both yelled, "I will not join you!" and ran away from the illusions. They kept running until they bumped into one another.
They looked at each other with suspicion for a second.
"Is that you?" asked Keith.
"Wait, how do I know your the real one?" Lance asked, wanting to make sure he was talking to the real deal and not a fake.
"I don't know, Lance. Maybe you should ask around and see if you see any other versions of me nearby," Keith sarcastically said.
"Oh, Keith it is you!" Lance hugged Keith in relief.
"How can you give up on my deal so easily?" said an ominous figure in the fog.
They both backed up from the figure into a tree made out of crystal.
"You two really believe that you stand a chance against me? ME?! Nightmare Moon?! The true ruler of Equestria?! I can destroy you without a second thought if I wanted to, you know!" Nightmare Moon screamed at the two of them. "However, if you kneel before me now, maybe I will forgive your insubordination."
Before they can say anything Keith's spell wore off and his horn returned.
"You? You are an alicorn?! How can there be another alicorn in Equestria?! I should be the only one remaining! What, did Celestia get another alicorn to replace me?" Nightmare Moon got ready to attack, but before she could the crystal tree sensed the presence of Keith and Lance and the tree sent out a beam of rainbow light that hit the figure in the fog. "The tree, of course!" The figure suddenly disappeared before she was fully enveloped in the light. "As soon as I am done with the other six ponies, I will be back for you two!"
As Nightmare Moon disappeared into the castle after the six ponies that came here to stop her, Keith and Lance were worried about their safety. They flew up the stairs and over the bridge into the castle. When they got into the castle they looked all over but could not find anypony then they noticed a bright rainbow light coming from a tower. They went to investigate, hiding at the door frame and found six ponies, two earth ponies, two pegasus, and two unicorns, one being Twilight, that were all wearing strange jewelry. Five wearing necklaces and Twilight wearing a tiara.
"Gee, Twilight! I thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship." the orange earth pony said.
"Indeed you do." Princess Celestia's voice suddenly rang out. At this, the sun finally rose and a bright light orb entered the room. Eventually, the orb took the physical form of Celestia herself as the light itself vanished. All six of the ponies bowed upon seeing their ruler take form.
Twilight gave out a gasp as she saw her mentor. "Princess Celestia." Twilight called out as she approached her mentor, happy to see her again, nuzzling against her mentor's neck.
Celestia returned the gesture, then said, "Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I knew you could do it."
Twilight was confused at this, "But... you told me it was all an old pony tale."
Celestia politely countered by saying, "I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart. Now if only another will as well. Princess Luna!" At this, Celestia turned her attention to another smaller, blue pony surrounded by several bits of glowing blue armor. This smaller pony, who was apparently Princess Luna, gasped upon seeing her smaller size and how Celestia was walking towards her while towering over her. "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."
"Sister?" Twilight and Rainbow Dash said in confusion, as they never knew Celestia had a younger sister before. Meanwhile, Keith and Lancelot were also confused, seeing as how the only sister they knew about was named Dawn.
"Will you accept my friendship?" Princess Celestia offered her sister this second chance.
Silence fell across the room, as all six of the ponies leaned forward expectantly, hoping that the younger princess would accept. The pink earth pony leaned forward so much that she fell forward. Finally, the younger sister responded, approaching her older sister, "I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!"
Not wanting to interrupt the touching reunion, Keith and Lance left the castle to inform the guard that Celestia was safe and that they didn't need to storm Ponyville.
Later that day after Keith, Lancelot (Lance wanted to be called this after everything that happened) and the guard got back to Canterlot.
They were waiting for Celestia and Luna. When they walked into the throneroom and saw the two princesses there, Lancelot and Keith ran even if it hurt his hoove to do so into Celestia's hooves. As Celestia hugged Keith, Luna looked at him confused at the new alicorn.
"Aunt Celestia, are you and Aunt Luna ok?" Keith questioned to make sure the two princesses were fine.
"How did you know Luna's name?" Celestia asked, seeing as how no one else had said Luna's name in this conversation yet.
"Uhhh. Read it in a book?" Keith awkwardly answered.
"Lucky guess?" Lancelot awkwardly answered.
Celetia looked at them with a knowing look. "So you know or guess that this is my sister Luna." Celetia explained to the both of them about Nightmare Moon, what happened, and how the day was saved. Luna didn't say anything because she felt very shy and discouraged about what happened.
"So Twilight and Spike are going to stay in Ponyville and Twilight is going to send me letters about her findings and lessons on friendship. I think it would be in your best interest to read them with me." Celestia explained.
"Just what I wanted to do with my time. Learning lessons five year olds learn." Keith sarcastically quipped.
"I know that you have your own misgivings in regards to making friends. However, I think that you would be better off reading these lessons. It would be helpful in getting you ready to make friends again," Celestia calmly responded.
"Ugh, fine! But Lancelot has to be there too." Keith answered as he pointed to Lancelot. "I will not be going through this torture alone."
Celestia was not exactly pleased with this response. However, instead of addressing it, Celestia decided to ignore the bitter quip and said, "It has been a long, exciting and eventful day. I would recommend that we all go get some sleep."
At this, Keith and Lancelot both left the room. After they both left the room, Luna finally spoke, "So, this Keith pony is he related to you?"
Celestia shook her head, "No. He is the great, far off, grandchild of our sister, Dawn. Look, it is pretty late. We should probably get some rest and talk about this more later, Luna."
Luna nods, and they both go off to head for bed.