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// Prologue: Crystal Oasis 
// Story: Something Bad is Coming Down 
// by Toodle Flip 
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For the ponies of Equestria, it was a bright day once the Crystal Empire was liberated from the hooves of Sombra. With a flash of light, the demon king was blasted unto oblivion, banishing his spirit from the Equestrian realm for the rest of eternity. The ponies celebrated and laughed speaking with their ancestors from long ago. To the young fillies, the parents told again a story of a great monster who lived long ago. Its hatred unmatched, which it expressed through song. Much was forgotten about it, like what it did, but what was remembered was that it was great threat, and was vanquished. 

With a large flash of light, King Sombra is vanquished. His physical form blown to pieces, and his power almost utterly annihilated. The last bits of his physical form scatter across the Frozen North, to be forgotten through all of time. After the demise of the dubbed 'Demon King' a large celebration is held in honor of the saviors of the Crystal Empire.

Twilight Sparkle and her comrades leave the city, returning to the humdrum of Ponyville and their regular lives after a few hours of the celebration. The train was relatively comfortable, although wasn’t extravagant. The six ponies and Spike were laying about the train, with Twilight looking out the window, into the permanent blizzard of the Frozen North. 

Twilight had a look of worry, for fear of failing her task from Princess Celestia. The train chugged silently along, any noise made drowned out by the shrieking winds. Twilight though for a moment, “What other mysteries lie in here? It seems that the Crystal Empire can survive in the bitter cold, so what else could be hidden here? I should bring it up with the Princess in my next letter.”

Applejack looks towards Twilight, “Wha’ was that Twi? Somethin bout the Princess?” Applejack almost immediately falls back asleep, snoring softly on her chair.

Twilight smiles, “Well, that crystal spell sure had an effect on the group. I should probably write a report to the Princess though…”

Twilight pulls out a small scroll and a quill, dipping it into the nearby inkpot she keeps ready for such an occasion.

After finishing her letter, she places it in front of Spike, whom, in his sleep sneezes and sends the scroll. A few minutes later, he belches, returning the scroll. Spike mumbles about donuts, and turns over, still asleep. Twilight takes a moment to giggle softly at Spike. ‘Well the letter is here.’

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Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I thank you for your advice, and I know you may be curious about what lies in the Frozen North, but it’s secrets are not for all. I would advise against exploring it, for some things are sent there to be forgotten. I will send a team to find anything that might be friendly, but no promises can be made. Please, do not explore the North. It is more dangerous than you know. Even I know little about what is left there after Discord’s reign.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

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Twilight looks at the letter with a bit of dismay, her curiosity unable to be sated. However, she readied herself mentally for another threat against Equestria. She thinks, ‘Considering most of them aren’t that dangerous, I don’t think we have much to worry about. Discord was ‘dangerous’ according to most standards, but in the end was more annoying than anything. Nightmare Moon was defeated pretty easily too…’

Time passes and in Canterlot, Celestia organizes a research team, “Your mission is to go to the Frozen North, and to uncover it’s hidden secrets. Be wary of the dangers lurking there, for the greatest evils the world has ever known can be found there. I have faith in you all.” The three volunteers gulp at the mention of evil, but their confidence is bolstered by Celestia’s placement of faith in them. After their brifing with the princess, they move towards the hotel, where their supplies are gathered. All of the volunteers are excited about being the first to explore the Frozen North in hundreds of years and this can bee seen through their lively expressions, and pleasant smiles. Their worries of great evils forgotten as they reach the hotel, each speaking of the fame they will get for exploring. They eventually reach a bar, and after a few ciders, their vision fades from black, to white. They wake up having slept with their supplies, looking out the window to the Frozen North.

Deeper into the thick blanket that was the blizzard, a large mountain of crystals sat.  They had been sitting there for millennia, long forgotten to the past. It was an oddity of the Frozen North, it was warm, similar to the contrast between a pool of water in the desert.. Rather, a dark aura formed around these crystals. One of pure hatred. Its malice had long been forgotten, except for the occasional tale, but in the eyes of the innocent equestrians, it was changed into a comic anger. The monstrosity that nearly brought about the destruction of the world wasn’t anywhere near free. Despite its prison being weakened by Sombra’s destruction, the monster was not free. All it needed was something to break the prison, and it would be free.

A presence made itself apparent in the blizzard near the oasis in the North. A small expeditionary team had set up camp. A scientist began to talk with the others, “I am going out now, to see if anything is out there! I will be back soon!” His shouting barely made it above the blizzard, but a nod confirmed to the scientist that he had permission to explore. He grabbed a pre-prepared saddlebag, and moved out into the blizzard, with his location spell ready.

“What is that?” The scientist moves closer, and sees large spires of crystals. All of them come in assorted colors. The snow seemed to stop, and the deeper the scientist went, the warmer it got. He took off the saddlebags, at which point felt like bricks, and he continued to stare at the spires, which grew brighter and brighter, almost luring him in. Eventually, he came across a large spire in the middle with a small plaque. The spire was grand, spiraling up at least 60 feet, and was a light purple in color. 

A plaque was at the base of the spire, reading “Here lies the greatest monster in all of Equestrian history. Ye who would unleash it, hope your end is swift, and that the magic to bind it still exists within the hearts and minds of the chosen few.”

The scientist’s curiosity was peaked by the sign. He moves closer to inspect the large spire, avoiding touching it feeling cautious from reading the plaque. He notices a crack, and follows it with his eye, until he notices a horn stabbed into the crystal tower.

Thinking for a moment, Well, it is only a horn… an oddly familiar one at that… It won’t hurt. This seems to be a solid crystal, and well… I think I should take the horn.

Using his telekinesis, he takes the horn, which slides out with ease, and the crystal reforms, and the crack disappears. Oh good, it is a self-repairing prison… He inspects the horn more closely, seeing it is smooth and curved, very unlike any unicorn’s horn. It appears to be corrupted… but what from? Wait… this is the Demon King’s horn! He drops the horn on the ground, which lies there. ‘I’m being silly, the Demon King is dead, slain by the Crystal Heart…’ He looks at the horn again, and then at the spire.

Collecting himself, he decides to report back to the group. He decides to put the horn back on top of the spire, hoping the nopony would notice, They'll have my head if I start without them... Hopefully I didn't break something by pulling it out.

The horn falls onto the spire, seemingly growing heavier with the second as it falls off the spire, sounding like a metal fork clinking against a crystal glass. The intensity of this sound increases as it falls, and near the bottom sounding like a large gong with no reverberations. Eventually, it hits the ground and shatters, spreading dark glitter everywhere. The scientists gazes as the large cloud of dark energy and particles. The scientist, distracted by the falling horn of Sombra, looks back at where the large spire had been, "Where is it? Something is definitely wrong here... I should probably leave! I knew I shouldn't have touched anything!" The scientist attempts to move, but finds he is frozen in place.

A large ripple undulates from the area where the spire was, and small crystals, as the scientist observes, begin to meld into the floor, making it extremely smooth. The scientist thinks still standing there, "Definitely a good idea to leave now, I won't get any purchase on a smooth floor." Breaking free from his fear induced paralysis, he begins to move.

He turns and runs for the camp. More and more spires appear to be missing as he goes back towards the camp. Eventually, he reaches the edge, and is stopped. His hoof is stuck in the crystal floor. He looks in shock thinking, But... But... how is this possible? Out of everything I have seen... what could this be? What have I done? I'm sorry Celestia... I have failed you. The scientist hangs his head as he is dragged deeper into the crystal oasis, struggling to break free but to no avail. Eventually, as a last ditch effort, he screams, and is pulled under. Silence reigns again as the oasis gathers its strength.