Lucent wandered Ponyville, wondering what the group in the library could be discussing. He knew there was a connection between him and the royals, and now he knew that they held the answer to all the questions he had. There was a reason he was asked to leave though, and he was sure of it, and so he obeyed. He decided to speak to Celestia personally later on, hoping to find his answers.
Ponyville was dark on this day, and it seemed to grow darker still. It was as if the night had come early for this city, but Luna obviously hadn't raised the moon yet as she was still at the library. Lucent could feel a chill in the air, he could feel it trying to creep under his skin. But the darkness also gave him a strange sense of nostalgia. Something about the darkness reminded him of his long gone memories.
He then realized the darkness wasn't causing memories, it was reaching for them, trying to bring his memories to the surface. The seal pushed it out, just as it did Twilight though. He felt the shock go through his body as the seal pushed back against whatever tried to break it. He gritted his teeth, and tried to bare the pain though. The force didn't stop clawing though, didn't stop when it felt the opposition. It continued to claw and scratch, and push. Lucent tried to bare it, but he ended up letting out a scream in pain.
~
Celestia heard a scream that she didn't want to acknowledge was true, as this only confirmed the worst. After exchanging worried glances with Luna, the two exited the library with the other ponies hot on their trail. The group followed the screams to Lucent who had his head reared back, eyes shut tight, and was screaming in pain.
"Lucent! What is wrong!?" Celestia asked.
"Something...Something is trying to break the seal!"
"Celestia, what do we do!?" Twilight asked worriedly.
Celestia had no time to think, this force wasn't going to stop until that seal either broke, or completely destroyed Lucent's mind. In a moment of hast and worry, she broke the seal.
Lucent's entire body began to shine. Wings of light grew from his body. His eyes opened wide and revealed a lack of pupils; a great light shone from his eyes. He began lifting up into the air as the screaming died down, becoming gasps of confusion. In one blinding flash of light though, the unicorns eyes returned to normal, his wings turned to white feathers, and he fell to the ground.
"Lucent, can you hear me?" Celestia approached the body.
"Lucent, please let me know you're OK. Let me know I wasn't too late." Celestia laid beside the body, examining the unicorn for any signs of life.
The unicorn didn't move.
A tear began to form in Celestia's, and Luna's eyes.
"Please don't make me say goodbye again..." Celestia pleaded.
The unicorn shifted slightly, "Why...?" He asked quietly
"Lucent?"
"Why am I awake?" He asked.
"Lucent I-"
"Celestia, you know what this means."
"I know Lucent. But we stand stronger this time. The spirits of the elements are strong in these five ponies."
Lucent raised to his hooves, a little wobbly.
"Lucent, we're stronger now." Luna said, also approaching the unicorn.
Lucent looked over at Luna and Celestia for the first time since he had awoken, "Celestia...Luna... The years have been kind to you." He said with a warm smile. "Look at me, still as young as the day I 'fell asleep'." He let out a warm chuckle.
Celestia let her tears flow freely, "I'm sorry Lucent, I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough then."
Lucent nuzzled against the princess, "Celestia, do not worry. It was by my own want that I ended up where I did. Do not blame yourself dear princess."
Luna approached the two as well. She was shocked, this was Lucent from all those years ago. He was whole again.
"Ah, princess Luna. You've grown quite a lot since last we met."
"I wish I could say the same for you." She said with a weak chuckle, unsure of how to act to her old friend.
He only flashed another warm smile, "You say 'we' are stronger now. That the elements are strong in 'them'. Pardon my asking, but may I have a better description of the situation?"
~
The group retreated to the library, and the rest of the Mane 6 were gathered as well.
The hours went on, and many stories were told. The rest of the Mane 6 were brought up to speed on the situation with Lucent, as well as Lucent being brought up to speed with the Elements of Harmony that resided within the six ponies.
"I thought there were only five elements, princess Celestia?" Lucent was puzzled. In his time there were only five.
"As bonds formed between ponies, Lucent, we discovered a new power; friendship. We learned that through friendship, we could overcome any obstacle. The power that friendship bestows upon is, we refer to as magic."
"So, friendship is magic then?" Lucent asked.
"To put it simply."
"Lucent, Celestia told us of a black alicorn, can you tell us more about him?"
Lucent let out a breath, "Yes, Twilight, that I can." He stood and moved to a candle, and stuck a hoof up in front of it, "Do you see my shadow?" He asked.
The ponies nodded.
Lucent moved his hoof closer, and his shadow grew in size, "The closer one is to the light, the greater ones shadow becomes. But what if you ARE the light?" Lucent asked as he dropped his hoof and looked down, "What if you ARE that from which shadows spawn? Does that not make your shadow the greatest of all?"
"So, this alicorn is your shadow then?" Twilight asked.
"He is more then just my shadow. Just as I was meant to be the embodiment of good, light, and harmony; he is the embodiment of evil, darkness, and discord."
"We defeated that evil once, and we can defeat it again." Twilight said, sounding triumphant.
"Ah, yes. 'Nightmare Moon,' was what you called her, yes? That was but only one element though; jealousy. There are five more sides to the darkness."
"Then we stand against it together. The three alicorns of old, and the elements of harmony."
"Twilight, you are indeed an amazing unicorn. I can feel potential pouring from you, it's no wonder Celestia chose you to be her pupil."
Twilight blushed at the compliment and smiled.
"I can't let that potential be destroyed. I already hurt one of Celestia's friends," Lucent looked into Luna's eyes, "I won't let him hurt another."
"Lucent, I think she's right." Celestia spoke up.
All eyes fell on Celestia.
"Do you mean that?" Lucent asked.
Celestia simply nodded her head, "I do, Lucent. I think together we may stand a chance against this evil."
Lucent looked hard into Celestia's eyes, "Then, we do this by your orders, princess."
"We will strike first then against the beast."
"Celestia, have the years hindered your sight? These clouds are not natural. He already knows where we are, and is planning to take this whole town with us."
"Then we move."
"Where?"
"To where this ended last time. History repeats itself, and this evil will end at that castle once more. For good."
Lucent stared at Celestia, testing her resolve. A warm smile met his face, "Then we go."
"You heard him girls, these three alicorns need the Elements of Harmony. Can we do this?" Twilight turned to her friends.
Several cheers, agreements, and applauds were heard.
"We're behind you all the way, Celestia." Twilight said with a confident look.
"Then we set out for Castle Ultim."
~
The team set out into the darkness that had overshadowed Ponyville. They did not run from the darkness though. Instead they plunged into the heart of the darkness with the brightest of lights leading the way.