Sparkler found herself in an astral plane not unlike that which she found in the dreamscape, she looked around. “Hello?” She asked. Initially finding nopony around. Sparkler was confused as all heck. One moment she was standing in front of the Tree of Harmony, the next she was in this environment, presumably pulled here by the Tree itself.
“Greetings my child. At last we meet.” Said the voice from before.
Sparkler looked behind her to where the voice came from, and saw an Alicorn with white fur and a rainbow mane and tail. She pieced together this was a sort of construct. “Are you the Tree of Harmony?” She asked.
“I prefer to go by just Harmony, but indeed.” Harmony said. “Welcome Sparkling Medley. I have longed to meet you.” She said.
“You have?” Sparkler asked.
“Yes.” Harmony said. “I have waited for you to visit the Castle of the Two Sisters. I knew that you eventually would.” She said.
“Why?” Sparkler asked.
“Because I must warn you. There is a grave danger coming. The world as we know is in danger.” Harmony said.
Sparkler’s eyes widened. A grave danger? “What? What do you mean a grave danger?” She asked. “And…why warn ME versus the element bearers?” She asked. Curious as to why Harmony would warn just her when she wasn’t an element bearer.
“Because they cannot stop this danger. They have tried before, but ultimately, only one pony can hope to stop this threat. You.” Harmony informed Sparkler.
Sparkler’s jaw dropped. HER?! “…What?” She asked, her mind racing.
“Yes.” Harmony responded. “You alone have the power to defeat this threat once and for all.” She said.
“…If the Elements of Harmony can’t ultimately defeat this threat, then we’re doomed.” Sparkler said after a few moments of shock.
Harmony chuckled. “You doubt yourself.” She said.
“Of COURSE I doubt myself. My magical power is only a small FRACTION of the Elements of Harmony. Not even a single Element’s worth.” Sparkler responded. “If they couldn’t do it what hope do I have?”
“Do not worry Sparkling Medley. You will not be alone. You have others that will guide you and help you towards your destiny.” Harmony said.
In the outside world, Twilight glanced nervously between the Tree of Harmony and Sparkler. Trying to figure out what was going on.
Eventually, the Element of Magic ceased glowing and retracted its beam. Sparkler stopped glowing, decrystalized, and stood there, frozen, her mouth agape.
Twilight saw Sparkler return to normal and smiled. “Sparkler. Are you ok? What happened?” She asked.
Sparkler heard her, and wanted to respond. But she couldn’t. Her mind was racing too much trying to process what just happened, it tried to not shut down, but it ended in futility as it completely crashed, and she fainted.
Twilight saw her fainting and quickly caught her. Fear and panic quickly overtaking her expression. “Sparkler?! What happened?” She asked as she quickly made sure Sparkler didn’t just DIE. Fortunately, there was still a pulse. After failing to rouse her fiancé, Twilight decided she needed to get Sparkler home.
Clear-Cut watched her carry Sparkler out of the cave, and the second they were gone, he whirled his head back around and approached the tree. “Ok Harmony.” He said. “You and I need to have a talk. Because CLEARLY you did SOMETHING.” He told the Tree.
Later that day, Ron peered into the window of the Castle of Friendship, looking at the slumbering Sparkler. “I wonder what happened for her to be sleeping this time of day.” He commented.
“Funny. I was going to ask you the same question.” Said a voice from within the bush.
Ron peered into the bush, and was pulled into it by none other than Melody Frost. He yelped as Frost glared at him. “Ok you little runt. What did you do.” She said.
“ME?!” Ron asked surprised. “I didn’t do anything!”
“You didn’t do anything?” Frost asked. “There’s an extra dot displayed on the table, Sparkler is called by the Tree of Harmony and is knocked out. You did something.” She told Ron.
“You really think I have the power to mess with the Tree of Harmony? If Ultra Monsters had that power don’t you think You-Know-Who would have used that the LAST time he was around?” Ron asked. “Cross my heart and hope to fly stick an cupcake in my eye I have NOTHING to do with this.” He Pinkie Promised.
Frost groaned. “I don’t like this. Something’s up. Something not accounted for in the grand plan.” She said.
“I’m sure it’s nothing bad.” Ron said.
“But we don’t KNOW. And that’s the problem.” Frost responded.
“We?” Ron asked. “You mean you and Clear-Cut?”
“And you.” Frost responded. “Congrats Ron. You’re being drafted.” She said with a smirk. She and Clear-Cut talked the other day, and they agreed that so long as Ron was around, they would make use of him.
“Whoa whoa whoa.” Ron said. “I didn’t sign up to come to this planet and I did not sign up for this little war of yours. I just want a peaceful life with Fluttershy. Or better yet, to GO HOME.” He insisted, irritated.
“Remember that little bit about being on parole?” Frost asked. “You are in a position none of us are in. You can safely interact with Sparkler without arousing her suspicion. That makes you perfectly suited to keep an eye on her when we cannot.” She said. “So you bet your tail you’re getting drafted into this war.” She said.
Ron wanted to strangle Frost in that moment, but he restrained himself. He took a deep breath, deciding to just go with it. “You know what? FINE. I’ll play this little game. But I want all of you to stop watching me. I have no malicious intentions, I have no quarrels with Sparkler or ANYPONY in her family. I just want to live a peaceful life. WITHOUT anypony looking over my shoulder.” He said.
“I suppose you’ve earned that trust.” Frost said. “But if we get wind–”
“You won’t.” Ron cut Frost off.
“Fine.” Frost said. “Come to the Castle of Two Sisters tonight. There’s a mandatory meeting for our little team.” She said.
“Whatever.” Ron responded as he hopped off.
Frost rolled her eyes. “Oh he’s gonna be there. Whether he likes it or not.” She said. She took one last look through the window at Sparkler, before she snuck off back into the Everfree Forest. Unaware of the true extent that the Tree of Harmony summoned Sparkler for.
To be Continued…