At the Mighty Helm village, a group of paleontologist ponies and two fillies were digging for props of the Mighty Helm. A filly named Petunia Paleo dug up a helmet from a dirt pile. “Professor, look! It's a Mighty Helm headpiece! Maybe it belonged to Rockhoof himself!”
“Legends don't wear helmets. This belonged to a real pony,” Professor Fossil said. “Oh, I can guarantee Rockhoof was as real as you and me,” Applejack said. Professor Fossil chuckled, “And I suppose that ravine was dug with his trusty shovel to save the village from an erupting volcano.”
“Exactly,” Applejack said. “I love old legends as much as anypony. But a pony strong enough to save a village from rushing lava with a shovel is... preposterous,” Professor Fossil said. Suddenly, a few rocks came rumbling and tumbling down from an old house, and Applejack saved the professor and her students from the big boulder, and then shoved it into the air, until a huge thud and splash was heard.
“I can't believe you just did that! H-How?” Professor Fossil asked. “I bet if you told somepony else the story, it might sound hard to believe,” Applejack said. Suddenly, a few rock diggers found Rockhoof’s house, and a tomb that had Rockhoof’s shovel before grit her teeth on the bar and removed it carefully. “I suppose some stories might be true after all,” Professor Fossil said, as she and the other rock diggers saw the shovel glowing a golden yellow aura. “And Rockhoof's appears to be one of them.”
The gate creaked open, and Rarity entered a old garden until she saw Mistmane’s flower in the middle. When she was about to touch it, a garden shovel smacked Rarity’s forehoof, “Ow!” A old Imperial unicorn mare named Lotus Petal confronted Rarity, “You keep those hooves to yourself, dearie! This place has been in my family for generations, and I'm not about to let some whippersnapper take the last good piece of it! Time was, ponies came from far and wide to see these gardens. But that flower's the only worthwhile thing left!”
Rarity lit up her horn and then used some hedge trimmers and the garden shovel, and then remodeled the entire garden by trimming the bushes and sweeping the dirt with the broom and dust pan, until it left a remodeled garden with beautiful flowers and perfectly trimmed bushes. “Perhaps it just seemed like your gardens were worthless. But a little pruning can work wonders. Of course you will have to look after more than just one flower now,” Rarity said.
Lotus Petal made a tearful smile on her muzzle, “You've given me back my family's legacy. The flower you wanted seems like a fair trade for that.” Rarity nodded, and saw the flower glowing in the same golden yellow aura.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash and Spike flew over to the Dragon Lands looking for Flash Magnus’ shield. “I can't believe Flash Magnus' shield ended up in the Dragon Lands,” Rainbow Dash said. “Good thing you brought the official Equestrian friendship ambassador to the dragons to help you navigate our customs,” Spike said. “Hey, look over there!” Thomas said, as he pointed at a couple of dragons gorge surfing.
“Wahoo!” Maar whooped. “Ollie!” The dragons cheered for her performance. “Okay. That was awesome,” Rainbow Dash said, as she landed on all four hooves. “Dragon Lord Ember commanded us to make peace with ponies, but it doesn't mean you can surf in our spot,” Billy said, as the other dragons started growling at her and Thomas, who hid underneath her underbelly and hugged her foreleg. “Whoa, fellas. As the official Equestrian friendship ambassador to the dragons, I have to say that's not very friendly,” Spike said, as Thomas nodded in agreement.
“Well, what do you know? The puny pony-dragon's sticking up for his pony pal,” Garble said, until Rainbow Dash saw Flash Magnus’ shield. “Hey! That's an ancient pony artifact!” Rainbow Dash said. “Hooves off my gorge board! I found it in the desert, and finders keepers,” Garble said. “It isn't yours,” Thomas said. “Huh. It sure looks like mine. But I might consider racing you for it,” Garble said jealously. “No problem,” Rainbow Dash said. “No. I mean you,” Garble said, pointing at Spike. He nervously chuckled, “But I don’t know anything about gorge surfing. Sorry.”
“Fine, then let me give you a demonstration!” Garble said, as he kicked him into the lava with a rock, until Spike saw that Thomas was with him.
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoooooaaaaa! Aaah!” Thomas and Spike said, until they grunted and panted. “You okay?” Spike asked. Thomas nodded, and then he saw that the shield was with them. “Hey! The shield!” Spike said. “How did that happen?!” Thomas asked. Garble grunted angrily, “Lord Ember only commanded us to be nice to ponies. She never said anything about pony-loving dragons, or wimpy little humans.”
“Uh, s-since Dragon Lord Ember commanded you to make peace with ponies, you can't very well attack two of their friends, can you?” Spike asked nervously, as Thomas hid behind him with the shield. “I guess we'll find out!” Garble suddenly threw at rock at them, until Rainbow Dash swooped in and tossed it over to Garble, landing on his tail. “Nopony messes with my nephew or our friend!” she said, as Thomas and Spike hugged her.
“Ugh. Why is he always hiding behind ponies, and what does that stupid shrimp mean so much to you?” Garble asked angrily. “It really would’ve been easier if you hadn’t pushed us down the cliff,” Spike said. “You fell, and that wasn’t surfing,” Garble said.
“That’s because you’re a big, mean bully!” Thomas said, until he whimpered about what he said, and hid behind Rainbow Dash’s leg. “Wow. You must be slow if all Spike and Thomas had to do to win was fall down. And Thomas is one of the most awesomest humans I’ve ever met,” Rainbow Dash said, wrapping her wing around the little boy.
“I'm faster than you,” Garble said. “Doubt it,” Rainbow Dash said. “Fine! I'll race you back to the top. If you win, you can have your pony junk. But if I win, you'll leave and I get to give it to them!” Garble said, snarling at Thomas and Spike, who shook nervously. “Fine. I'm pretty sure I could beat you anyway. But with one little problem. Your board?” Rainbow Dash said. “Huh? Oh, yeah,” Garble said, as he couldn’t find it on his back, but he turned around and saw the three fly away. “Hey! That's mine!”
“Finders keepers, remember?!” Spike said, as Thomas blew a raspberry with his tongue, and the shield glowed the same golden yellow aura. Garble growled angrily at them.
At Hayseed Swamp, Cattail was taunting the flash bees with Meadowbrook’s mask and walking backwards, while Fluttershy hid behind the long grass. “Just remember not to turn away from them, Cattail. Flash bees can get pretty aggressive. I guess that's why none of the other bayou animals can get to the water,” Fluttershy said, looking down at the animals as they were whimpering with fear.
“Wouldn't it make more sense for you to wear the mask that calms the bees?” Cattail asked. “It would,” Fluttershy said, as she flew up to a branch where the hive was. “If I didn't have to fly up here to move their hive,” Fluttershy then replaced the hive upwards onto another branch, “There!” Cattail then jumped for cover in the grass, and the flash bees went back into the hive. “Now the other bayou creatures can get to the water without the bees feeling threatened,” Fluttershy said, as the bayou animals went back into the water. “You know, you didn't have to help with this. I would've lent you the mask anyway,” Cattail said. “I know,” Fluttershy giggled. “But I couldn't leave without helping.” The mask started to glow in the same golden yellow aura.
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie and Daring Do, along with a few Somnambulan ponies were in the pyramid searching for Somnambula’s blindfold. “I don't think anypony can find anything in there,” Fahal Alkhayl said. “I wouldn't give up hope just yet,” Daring Do said, pumping air for Pinkie Pie. Suddenly, the green slime was being drained down the hole as Daring Do grabbed the pump.
Pinkie Pie climbed out of the drain with a diver suit on, and then removed the visor, and held Somnambula’s blindfold in her hoof. “This old blindfold was stuck in the drain,” she said. “Weren't you looking for a blindfold?” Daring Do asked. Pinkie Pie suddenly remembered while looking at the blindfold, “Oh, yeah!” She then climbed out of the suit and gritted the golden yellow aura glowing blindfold with her teeth.
Back at Ponhedge, Twilight, Sunburst and Starlight were getting ready for the arrival of the Pillars. “I can't believe I'm gonna meet Starswirl the Bearded! You know, outside of my dreams,” Twilight said. “I can't believe you're actually going through with it,” Starlight said, after pulling a vine from a rune, and magically disintegrating it. “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “I'm all for pushing the envelope, obviously, but this is pretty out there for you, Twilight,” Starlight said.
“What's "out there" about saving the most legendary ponies of all time from a thousands-year-old prison?” Sunburst asked. “Well... nothing when you say it like that. Unless "the most legendary ponies of all time" knew what they were doing, and we shouldn't mess with it,” Starlight said. “I mean, what if something else bad happened?”
“I'm sure Starswirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then, but magic has come a long way. Mostly because of the work they did,” Sunburst said. “That's true. And you did get your wings from finishing one of Star Swirl's spells,” Starlight said. “Exactly,” Twilight said, unfolding one of her wings and remembering how she became an alicorn. “But then I messed with one and nearly destroyed the universe, so...” Starlight cut herself off. “Starlight, Starswirl the Bearded is the greatest wizard who ever lived,” Twilight said. “The chance to have him back in Equestria is worth the risk.”
“That's good news,” Spike said. “Otherwise, we'd have brought this shield for nothing,” Rainbow Dash said, as Thomas nodded in agreement and placed the shield on the rune.
“I hope you don't think you're the only one to find her artifact, because this here shovel says otherwise,” Applejack said, standing the shovel on the rune. Rarity laughed, “Honestly, you two. Not everything is a competition. But Mistmane's flower is by far the most attractive of the artifacts.” She then neatly placed the flower on the rune.
“You're just saying that because you didn't have to scuba dive in a pit of green slime to get yours!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with the blindfold placed on the rune. “Or move a flash beehive,” Fluttershy said, wearing the mask.
“Good work, everypony,” Twilight said, placing Starswirl’s journal on the rune.
“Hold on!” said a voice. They turned around and saw Sunset Shimmer, as a unicorn, walking over to the group. “AUNTIE SUNSET!” Thomas exclaimed, running over to her for a hug. “Hey, honey. I missed you too,” Sunset said. “Did you really think I’d let you all start off without me, or having some fillies to watch over?” Sunset mentioned the Cutie Mark Crusaders by the bush. “Sorry for being here, but we wanted to come keep Thomas company while you work,” Scootaloo said. “It’s alright, girls. Thomas, go with them,” Twilight said, and then Thomas went over to the fillies, as Sweetie Belle hugged her little brother towards her neck.
Sunset then walked over to the other three unicorns and then she was ready. “Ready?” Twilight asked, and then received nods from Starlight, Sunburst, and Sunset. “Let’s do this!”
Sunburst lit up his horn and blasted a beam of magic, and so did Starlight, Sunset and Twilight. When they stopped, Starswirl’s journal started glowing white, and then blasted a beam of magic on the other artifacts from the shield to the flower, blindfold, mask, and shovel, and then formed the same spell circle that sealed the Pony of Shadows in the black box long ago.
Thomas hid underneath Sweetie Belle’s fur as he whimpered nervously, and then the artifacts made a huge explosion of light, and suddenly, six ponies were brought back. Thomas suddenly went underneath Sunset and hugged her leg as he felt nervous. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” she said.
Rockhoof was a big, strong viking attired earth pony stallion with pale light grayish cyan fur with a light cyanish gray muzzle, a braided and bearded moderate gamboge mane and tail with a light gold stripe, grayish blue eyes, and his flank had a cutie mark of three ringed triangles.
Mage Meadowbrook was a earth pony mare with light cerulean fur, a braided pink and moderate scarlet mane and tail, brilliant turquoise eyes, and she was wearing a dark gold necklace on her chest and a bracelet on her left hoof, a tan bra on her chest and headband that had room for her ears, and a green skirt.
Mistmane was a elderly imperial unicorn mare with light mulberryish gray fur with lighter gradient shades on her horn, ear tips, and hooves, her mane and tail were flowing like clouds and were colored with gradients of grayish arctic blue to turquoisish gray and grayish turquoise to malachite greenish gray, she had pale light grayish cerulean eyes, her flank had a cutie mark of a turquoisish gray cloud, and she was wearing pale turquoisish gray imperial clothing with a sash around her waist and a flower on her crest.
Somnambula was an ancient Egyptian pegasus mare with light scarlet fur, a dark arctic blue Cleopatra braided mane and bead braided tail with moderate turquoise streaks, grayish blue violet eyes with dark arctic blue eyeshadow and Egyptian mascara and eyeliner on her eyelashes, her flank had a cutie mark of a gold necklace with two white beads on top, and she was wearing a white linen dress with a gold piece around her belly, and a white headpiece with a gold tiara.
Flash Magnus was a male pegasus with brilliant amber fur, moderate amaranth mane and tail, brilliant turquoise eyes, his flank had a cutie mark of three darker blue lightning bolts, and he was wearing a red and dark chrome Roman armory all over his body and helmet, and a gauntlet on his hoof.
Starswirl was a unicorn with light gray fur and darker light gray hooves, a white and light bluish gray wizardly beard, mane and tail, dark violetish gray eyes, and he was wearing a moderate sapphire blue wizard hat and cape with yellow moons and stars, and gold bells on both his hat and cape.
“What... What has happened?” Starswirl asked. “It worked! We brought you back!” Twilight said excitedly while trotting over to her idol. “To where?” Starswirl asked. “You and the others have been trapped in limbo for over a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you home,” Twilight said.
Starswirl then realized where he and the other pillars were, “You brought us back?! How... How did you do it?!” Starswirl asked. “It’s kinda a long story, but we brought you back because of something bad that happened recently, and we kinda need your help,” Twilight said. “He... has returned... hasn’t he?” Starswirl asked. “Technically, he escaped, but that still counts,” Starlight said. Suddenly, a flash of thunder and lightning was heard, causing Thomas to whimper, and then he and the girls hid underneath Fluttershy for protection, and then they suddenly saw a roaring black cloud coming, until it revealed itself as the Pony of Shadows.
“Your pitiful attempt to imprison me inside that poor excuse for a sacred imprisonment black box has failed, Starswirl!” The Pony of Shadows said cruelly. Thomas whimpered while nuzzling his mother’s leg fur, until she covered him with her wing. “That’s the bad thing I may have told you about,” Twilight said to Starswirl as he made an idea, “Then we shall trap you with or without the box!”
“Working on it! Agh! No table of contents!” Sunburst said. “It’s a journal!” Sunset said.
“Allow me to assist!” The Pony of Shadows said, as he stretched out his tendrils, destroying the runes that trapped him. “There! Without the power of Ponhenge, your banishing spell is useless!“
“You’ve studied my notes! Surely you have a plan, young mare!” Starswirl said. Twilight then started to panic, “I never read anything about a banishing spell like you once did! I didn’t even think—!”
“Don't fret. When I extinguish the light and hope of this miserable world, you won't remember any of this,” The Pony of Shadows said, as he blasted a beam of his black magic aura at the others. “NO!” Twilight exclaimed, as she blasted it back at the Pony of Shadows, causing him to grunt in pain.
“Argh! This one is almost as... strong as you, Starswirl. But even in my weakened state, she cannot stop the might of shadows!” The Pony of Shadows said, as he and Twilight dueled with their magic beams, and while Twilight kept straining with her magic, Starlight and Sunset joined in. “Lucky for her, she’s not alone!” Starlight said, and she and Sunset concentrated their magic and blasted it back at the Pony of Shadows. “Arrrrggghhhh!”
“Know this, fiend! We will not rest until we find a way to return you to limbo!” Starswirl said, as the other ponies, except the children who hid behind a bush for safety, came over with angry faces. The Pony of Shadows growled, “Never! Your days of glory are through, Starswirl. Now my dark power will reign, and you six will bow to me!” He then disappeared.
“Um... where'd he go?” Rainbow Dash asked. “That is a riddle we must unravel. And quickly,” Somnambula said. “How long have we been gone?” Mage Meadowbrook asked. “Over a thousand years,” Fluttershy asked. “Then my spell worked, and the realm has been at peace for a millennia!” Starswirl said. “Weeeeell... we did have to save everypony from Nightmare Moon and Discord and Chrysalis and King Sombra and Lord Tirek, and there was that one time when Starlight traveled through time and almost destroyed life as we know it! But that's all in the past,” Pinkie Pie said. Thomas then came out from hiding and hid behind the girls.
“If you are truly this accomplished, we will stop the Pony of Shadows twice as fast together,” Flash Magnus said. “We shall see. It is an easy thing to say you have saved the world. It is quite another to do it,” Starswirl said. “Oh, we've saved the world, Beardo. And we can do it again,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Be that as it may, the problem of locating the Pony of Shadows remains, and this land is vast,” Starswirl said. “It sounds like you need a map. Luckily, we have just the thing,” Rarity said. “Why don’t you all come over to my castle? I have a map that can pinpoint his location and a library that may have a book for information on what we’re dealing with,” Twilight said. “Of course. Lead the way,” Starswirl said.