Later on, the others sat on the map table and had a conference. “It seems there are fewer dark corners in the realm these days,” Starswirl said, while reading the map. “Isn't that a good thing?” Rainbow Dash asked with a mug of apple cider. “True. The Pony of Shadows will have a hard time regaining power. When he rears his head, we'll be ready!” Flash Magnus said, until he and Rainbow Dash bumped their mugs together.
“Isn't there some way to banish him without losing all of you?” Fluttershy asked. “Oh, I wish there were. But to save our home, we are willin' to leave it,” Mage Meadowbrook said.
“I don't think you'll have to!” Twilight said. “My spell isn't finished yet, but I think we can send the Pony of Shadows to limbo without all of you having to go as well!” She then showed Starswirl her unfinished spell. “Hmm... While I appreciate your enthusiasm, Twilight, this is hardly the time to take risks on half-baked spells,” Starswirl said, until Twilight sighed sadly.
“Beggin' your pardon, Mr. the Bearded! But Twilight doesn't do anythin' halfway!” Applejack said. “Especially not magic!” Pinkie Pie said dramatically. “Seriously! She got her wings by finishing one of your spells!” Rainbow Dash said, touching one of Twilight’s wings. “I think you'll find her work is worth reading before you dismiss it out of hoof!” Rarity said. “Mm-hmm!” Fluttershy said. “While it is an unconventional approach, I believe it could work,” Mage Meadowbrook said. “Hmm. I suppose there is a chance,” Starswirl said. “But we still have no idea where to find the villain,” Sunburst said, until they all heard the Mane 6’s cutie marks glowing and shimmering for a friendship problem. “Maybe we should try there?” Spike asked, pointing at the cutie marks on the map pointing to a rocky mountain.
“The Hollow Shades. I think a branch of the Apple family lives there,” Applejack said. “They'd have to be pretty distant. The Hollow Shades was abandoned eons ago,” Sunburst said. “Hmm, that's odd. The only time the map's called all of us to one place was Starlight's village,” Rarity said. “So it's like a super-villain tracker! No offense,” Rainbow Dash said. “None taken,” Starlight said with no amusement.
“Do you think the map could be trying to tell us where the Pony of Shadows is?” Twilight asked to Starswirl. “Hmm... The Tree of Harmony acting to protect the light of the realm... Yes. A good thought, Twilight,” he said, as Twilight made a ecstatic smile on her face.
“I will make my notes on this spell. Ready yourselves for battle. Twilight, Sunburst, would you accompany me? I wish to refine this spell for our use,” Starswirl said, and Twilight and Sunburst followed him. “Uh, I know I'm not as experienced as all of you, but is this type of banishment really going to work? I mean, it's been a long time,” Starlight asked. “Starlight, I'm sure Starswirl and the others did try,” Twilight said. “Come. We must prepare for the struggle ahead,” Rockhoof said, as the others went to prepare themselves for battle.
The three fillies saw Sunset, Spike and Starlight near the door and cutie map. “Girls? What is it?” Starlight asked. “Starlight, we’re really worried about our little buddy,” Scootaloo said. Sunset, Spike and Starlight started to feel concerned as well. “He’s still feeling bad about the accident earlier today, and is already crying himself out,” Sweetie Belle said. “Well, did you try to talk to him?” Sunset asked. “We did, but he didn’t have the guts. He’s really in a bad place,” Scootaloo said. “Can you go talk to him for us?” Apple Bloom asked, until they formed puppy eyes in unison. “Could you lead the way?” Starlight asked. The girls nodded, and then Starlight, Spike and Sunset followed the three fillies to Twilight’s bedroom.
When they got there, Starlight knocked on the door, but it suddenly opened and she saw Thomas hugging her neck and buried in her chest fur bawling his eyes out. Starlight and Sunset then looked with sad faces, and then Starlight picked him up with her left hoof and held him for a hug, until he rested his head beside the left side of her neck and gently grasped her mane. “Shhhhhh shhhhhh... It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re right here,” Starlight said softly. “Gosh, he is in a bad place, especially after the accident involving the Pony of Shadows,” Spike said.
“Honestly? We don't know anything about him,” Starlight said. “Well, nopony does,” Spike said. “That's not entirely true,” Starlight said, until she thought about her nephew. “Do you want your mother?” Thomas nodded, and then Starlight kept holding him while she, Spike, Sunset and the girls walked to wherever the Pillars were preparing themselves for battle.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, the Pillars and other Mane 5 were preparing for battle, as Rainbow Dash shined Flash Magnus’s shield and Applejack helped Rockhoof sharpen his shovel with a grinding wheel.
They suddenly stopped after hearing Thomas’s sobs as he cried underneath his Auntie Starlight’s chest fur. They looked at him, and Starlight holding him in her hoof, and then Sunset, Spike and the girls with concerned faces. “You still feelin’ down in the dumps, aren’t you?” Mage Meadowbrook asked. Thomas nodded at her and rubbed his tear stained eyes. Fluttershy walked over and then held him with both hooves and gently rubbed his back up and down while sitting on her haunches, until she felt him nuzzling with her mane. “Shhhhhh shhhhhh... There, there. It’s okay, my baby boy. I’m right here,” she said softly. “You all knew the Pony of Shadows before he became what he is now, right?” Sunset asked. The Pillars nodded, and then Thomas stroked his mother’s mane and hugged his teddy while leaning towards her chest and listening to her heartbeat. “Were you friends with him?” Thomas asked. “Yes, we were,” Mistmane asked. “So, what happened?” Thomas asked. “The tale of our rift is a sad one,” Rockhoof said.
A flashback appeared, revealing an old depressive village with a windmill, until the three Sirens appeared slithering in midair and then began to make an chaotic operatic singing noise, causing ponies to magically argue and fight with each other, and destroy everything while the Sirens consumed a green aura of the ponies’ negative emotions.
A unicorn colt named Stygian saw what was happening, and went to go get the Pillars to help. He had medium gray fur, a combed and cut moderate cerulean and arctic blue streaked mane and tail, brilliant azure eyes, and he wore a light brown cloak.
”Stygian was a pony like the rest of us, though more scholar than hero. He recognized our emerging world would need champions to defend it.”
The Pillars then charged into action to fight against the Sirens. Flash Magnus flew around Aria, until she hissed and roared by blasting a red magic beam from her mouth, but Flash Magnus blocked it with his shield.
Rockhoof threw some big rocks with his shovel at the Sirens, until Aria blasted them with her magic beam again. The Sirens roared and slithered while Somnambula surrounded them in a circle to lead them somewhere far enough to allow Starswirl to banish them to another realm and then close the portal after the three Sirens went through. When it was over, the ponies cheered for the pillars, except Stygian.
“He may have gathered us together, but he himself was just an ordinary unicorn who soon grew jealous of our abilities.”
Stygian went over to Ponhedge later in the night with the Pillars’ sacred artifacts.
“He stole objects from each of us. Artifacts to use in a spell.”
The Pillars came over with disappointingly angry looks.
“And we cast him out for it.” The Pillars sent him away, breaking his spirit and forgiveness for an apology.
“We always thought he'd return and seek forgiveness. But when we saw him again, something affected his heart, something that was bent on revenge and hatred. It dashed even our hopes of saving him.”
After Stygian came back, he uncontrollably became the Pony of Shadows and then he and the Pillars had a duel, until a white bang ended the flashback.
“But why did he steal the artifacts from you?” Starlight asked. “No doubt it was an enchantment to take our powers for himself,” Mage Meadowbrook said. “But if there is still good in him, would you still forgive him if he said he was sorry?” Thomas asked. “Perhaps, but it would be impossible after his dark path consumed him,” Somnambula said. “I kinda feel sorry for Stygian,” Thomas said, until felt Mage Meadowbrook stroking his shoulder with her hoof. “Why don’t we go see how Twilight and Starswirl are holdin’ up?” Applejack asked. The others nodded in agreement and then they went over to the library room.
The door opened and they all saw Starswirl looking over Twilight’s spell while Twilight and Sunburst looked for books to add to the spell. “That looks like a lot of work,” Starlight said, as Sunset nodded in agreement. “It is what must be done, and it would be best if we were not disturbed,” Starswirl said. “I'm sorry, Starlight, but we can't stop to talk. The stakes are too high, and we have to keep finding answers,” Twilight said. “Besides, this is too important.”
“But... Auntie Twilight? I just don’t understand something? Why did the Pillars banish Stygian to limbo if he was really sorry?” Thomas asked, until Starswirl paused about what he heard. “Uh, who?” Sunburst asked. “Stygian, the pony they casted out when he was trying to apologize for stealing the artifacts, which was wrong to do,” Thomas said. “Stygian was the name the Pony of Shadows gave up when he turned to darkness. Now’s not the time for stories on him,” Starswirl said. “He’s just trying to figure out why,” Starlight said. “Envy. He wanted more power than he had, and that desire led him down a path from which there is no return!” Starswirl said. “But... But I was just...” Thomas said, until Starswirl cut him off. “Stygian wants to destroy all that is good in this world. There's no way to befriend a pony like that. Now enough.”
“But why...?” Thomas asked. “I SAID ENOUGH!” Starswirl replied with a yelling tone, causing Thomas to whimper and sob. “Well then... if I wouldn’t have opened the chest by accident or on purpose, which I never meant to do, I might've been banished to limbo, too!” Thomas said, until he began to cry.
“ENOUGH!!” Starswirl said, until Thomas then broke down in fear. “Hey! What was that for?! He’s only a child!” Rainbow Dash said, until Applejack brought him over for a hug on the leg. “How true,” she said. “My apologies. It’s just not the time for explanations,” Starswirl said. “Well, you should’ve thought of that before hurting my darling little nephew’s feelings,” Rarity said, stroking his hair with her hoof. “Thomas? Sweetheart, are you okay?” Twilight asked. Thomas nodded nervously, and then she placed her hoof on his cheek. “If you want, you can help us search for something useful.” Thomas nodded, and then went over to the bookshelves to look for a book on anti-Pony of Shadows type of spells.
“I know from experience that's not always true. When the map called you six to my village, it was for a friendship problem. Are you sure this is different?” Starlight asked. “I don’t know,” Twilight said. “We better keep looking,” Sunset said.
When they all kept looking for answers, Starswirl felt guilty for yelling at the child. “Fluttershy? I’m sorry for yelling at your son,” he said. “I know. You were just trying to avoid scaring him, but he also doesn’t like being yelled at, because he has a big sensitive heart,” Fluttershy said. Starswirl nodded understandingly, and then he continued to work. “Look, Momma! Look! I found a book that has a weak spot for the Pony of Shadows!” Thomas called out, holding a brown book open in his hands. The others walked over to look at it, until they smiled warmly at him feeling proud of his discovery.
“Thomas! Way to go!” Rainbow Dash said. Thomas giggled and blushed. “That’s my little boy,” Fluttershy said, stroking her son’s hair with her hoof, and then Twilight took the book and had a look at the page with Starswirl, Sunburst and Starlight. “I’m quite impressed with your son, Fluttershy,” Mage Meadowbrook said proudly, placing her hoof on Fluttershy’s chest. “You’ve raised him really well.”
“Thank you. I only did what a mother would do,” Fluttershy said. “He is really clever,” Rockhoof said. “He is! I mean, you should see how well he does at school!” Rainbow Dash said. “He gets very good grades,” Fluttershy said, until she saw her son hugging her against her chest. Starswirl suddenly saw the page about the weak spot for the Pony of Shadows.
“Young man? Are you absolutely sure that this might work, once we get the portal open?” he asked. “Yes. I think... it might be a way to save Stygian from the shadows,” Thomas said. “Are you sure?” Flash Magnus asked. “I’m sure,” Thomas said.
“I’m afraid it’s not possible, so I’m sorry. But... we shall bring it along with, if it makes you happy because I’m not sure a conversation would save Equestria. Now, we must find the Tree of Harmony if we are to stop this threat,” Starswirl said, leaving Thomas in disappointment. “Allow us to show the way,” Twilight said. “Momma, can we go with? We promise to stay out of trouble,” Thomas asked, until the fillies made puppy eyes for permission. “Yes. You can come,” Fluttershy replied. “Just stick by our side, and try not to wander off or get into any trouble, okay?” Rainbow Dash said. “Yes, darlings. It’s only so that you’ll be safe,” Rarity said. Thomas and his big sisters giggled excitedly and then went to go pack their camping bags.
Later on, they walked over to the Everfree Forest and found the cave where the Tree of Harmony lies, and Thomas rode on Fluttershy’s back. “I am glad we have the chance to see what has grown from our efforts so long ago,” Somnambula said. “It seems a shame to harm it,” Mistmane said.
“Is this really the Tree of Harmony, Momma?” Thomas asked. “Yes, sweetheart. It is,” Fluttershy said. “A necessary sacrifice. With the Elements' power, we will bind the Pony of Shadows in limbo. And thanks to Twilight efforts to save us, we will remain to watch over the realm ourselves,” Starswirl said, until he carefully extracted the Elements of Harmony from the tree and then they formed amulet necklaces that had the Mane 6’s cutie marks, but Twilight’s was a crown.
“Um... how do we use them?” Rockhoof asked. “Well, you... Oh. I'm not sure. They simply work for us,” Rarity said. “The Elements are attuned to you. We must use their magic in pairs,” Starswirl said. “No problem. We're used to banishing evil before breakfast,” Rainbow Dash said, hoof-bumping Flash Magnus. “And it'll be an honor to save Equestria with y'all,” Applejack said. The group then started to make their journey to the Hollow Shades.
