Time is Forever

by MysteryMelt

Ponyville's Shadow (Pilot Part 1 - 2)

She stood alone.

She was a unicorn shadowed even in the light amidst the Canterlot Labyrinth. Made from shadow, she lurked in the shade and haunted the blackest wells of midnight. Her green mane ruffled in the cold wind as her emerald eyes opened; she threw a glance upward. There stood the statue of Discord — the spirit of chaos — placed on a cylindrical plinth. After several failed attempts at villainy and redemption, Discord returned to stone after been unable to control his urge for chaos.

Mentally prepared and with frown she tapped on the statue with her grey hoof. The events of the past were certain to bring about Discord's final resurrection. The time was now. This was the fruition to all her efforts. The stone vessel shifted, cracked and divided down the centre.

"The time has come; the prophecy must be fulfilled.”

In the throne of Canterlot sat a tyrant to some, but a beacon of trust to most. Princess Celestia had a desire to be a good and meaningful pony. She wanted to wave a ray of light upon an otherwise foreboding world, a desire she felt yet to have fulfilled.

What have I ever done to justify my life? Celestia thought. One would think being a princess would be filled with shining gowns and gala’s. Unfortunately, her royal duties prevented her from actually bonding with others. She had to remain... distant.

The empty halls of her royal chambers laid before her all gently lit by stained-glass windows. Furnished stone halls filled with history and red royal carpets fabricated from linen of harmony stretched across the centre aisle.

A clash, and then a flash of lightning from outside illuminated the castle. The white light flickered through the windows and caused twisted black shadows to creep across the floor. They were storm clouds over Canterlot.

“Sister,” a comforting voice interrupted Celestia's thoughts.

Hooves echoed as Luna entered. Upon arrival she locked the royal doors with a magical padlock. She extinguished all the candles with a wisp of air from her horn.

Luna brought that feeling of completeness to Celestia, she was the fruition of all of Celestia's work and teachings that friendship is magic; insofar her sister was a beacon of hope or a memory which made one smile. Celestia greeted her sister in the middle of the royal chambers, it would be improper for her to sit on the throne when both sisters were present.

Luna trotted past over the twisted shadows and greeted Celestia with a regal curtsy. Luna held a book which she levitated through the air with her magic.

"It fell from the sky," Luna said as they both peered at the title of the book:

"I believe it is from another time entirely. It speaks of events which have yet to happen: great danger and perilous pastures. Its named 'time is forever' and written by somepony with the initials ‘PC'. Betwixt two pages there was a single spell." Luna passed the book to Celestia who flicked through the book's pages with her magic.

Celestia cleared her throat before she said, “I know not the purpose of this text or what this spell does; it is not what I can understand." As she scanned through the pages, something in the book caught Celestia's eye.

Her magic slammed the book with such power dust exploded out of the pages.

"We must lock it away, conceal it and tell nopony where we have hidden it. An enchantment will be placed upon it, so neither of us will remember the bane written upon those accursed pages.” The sight of the spell tarnished her voice which now croaked with a sprinkle of fear. Without a doubt the spell was sinful in purpose, the pale black aura that surrounded it proved as much.

Even Luna's eyes filled with fear now. A book so powerful in its text that Celestia herself dare not remember the contents. It was incredibly old and the parchment had decayed and torn on all sides.

Luna said, "The details of this spell shall remain preserved then. ‘Tis the earliest spell written since the epoch of Equestria, too powerful for even us to use, my sister."

Luna's voice was usually commanding, much like a rulers should be, but today she spoke softly. Her gentle words comforted her sister and reminded her that they were better than fear. Luna placed the book into a cylindrical glass container. It sealed tightly and gleamed with dark arcane energies.

"What else concerns you?" Celestia asked. She saw her sister's twitching and uneasiness.

“I'm afraid I have even darker news, sister. The Elements of Harmony have lost their power.” Luna returned with regret.

“I feared as much. A dark day is coming. Something evil is on the horizon," Celestia said as she gazed out of the window at the storm. "It has been seven years since the Elements of Harmony were last used, perhaps they have gone into a type of hibernation. As I suspect, it is if something is draining them from within. We can no longer be around them when they are used lest they drain our strength, leaving Equestria defenceless,” Celestia said with a final deep sigh. She undoubtedly kept the Elements of Harmony safely locked away inside a vault only the horn of an alicorn can unlock.

“Our enemies know the Elements of Harmony have darkened. We're already defenceless. If we're not prepared Canterlot will be in full-scale war,” Luna said and swallowed nervously. Celestia held her hoof up and commanded silence without words, the darkness of the chamber made her look more malevolent.

“I am well aware sister, I have made the necessary preparations.”

On the corridor outside the royal chambers stood Twilight Sparkle, who trembled like a leaf against the wind. Her erect ears pressed against the stone wall. She had overheard everything. It wasn’t the only time she had overheard them in conference, she had done it once before during the Crystal Empire fiasco.

Once an alicorn, it was Twilight's duty to go to conferences such as these, Celestia had given Twilight her wings seven years ago. Although Twilight gracefully rejected the wings after they alienated her from her friends. Princess Celestia had called her to the conference some time ago, Twilight had arrived early and unexpectedly found a magical lock on the royal door. Something was going on. Something they weren't telling her. Her curiosity peaked when she overheard the princesses voices.

Twilight’s eyebrows lowered into a scowl and her mind raced. It was rude to eavesdrop, but greater concerns filled her mind now. A book from the future, Canterlot in full-scale war, the Elements of Harmony darkened, the earliest spell in Equestria? What is going on?

She cycled through all the spells she had ever become accustom to, cataloging through her memories to recall the most powerful. Logical thinking lead to two conclusions: The Elements of Harmony, the most powerful magic known to ponydom or the time spells. If the time spells were to be misused they could rewrite the entire history of Equestria, or utterly ruin it without so much of the flick of a horn. Surely, no pony would be so abhorrent to do such a thing... Would they? Perhaps this 'spell' was why the urgent conference was arranged?

Twilight reminded herself that she wasn't meant to be heard, lest she be seen and caught she could be hanged for eavesdropping. Celestia wouldn’t do that though... would she? Such thoughts sent a shiver down her spine.

Her eyes shot open, startled by yet another roar of thunder that followed the lightning.

They spoke again. Twilight could faintly hear the fear in their voices and now she felt the fear in her own heart. She again placed her skull anxiously against the wall and heard every unusual word spoken...

“This spell is too unpredictable to be destroyed. Rue the day when it will be used. I will hide it as you instructed,” Luna said. The contents of the spell were known only to them.

“I bid you farewell my sister,” said Luna with a regal curtsy. With their royal duties completed, she turned to take her leave with a grievous grin. She inserted her horn in the magical lock and with a twist it smashed from the door. She levitated the glass jar with the spell inside and commanded it to move forward. A final flash lightning briefly illuminated the royal palace as she took her leave. Thankfully Luna had departed in the opposite direction. She had missed Twilight.

Twilight had overheard enough; she needed to know the truth. She entered the eerie royal chamber and headed to the throne. She had overheard every word but she kept the information hidden within.

“Princess Celestia, I came as soon as you called!” Twilight said. She tried not to appear flustered. She had met with Celestia a dozen times, but none were as disquieting as this. Twilight wondered to herself, what was so urgent it required a lonesome visit?

Princess Celestia smiled, not an honest smile but a smile to cover up the fear underneath. She was signing papers and filled her lungs and exhaled with a drained sigh. She placed the quill down with her magic.

“Twilight, my most faithful student. I’m afraid because of coming events, your time in Ponyville is nearing an end...” Princess Celestia spoke with regret because she felt like a fiend for saying such callous words.

“W-what?” Twilight stammered and she stepped backward, aghast by the information. Such unspoken words caused Twilight’s thoughts to wash around in her head. What did I do wrong?, she thought. “I can’t stay in Ponyville anymore?”

Celestia placed down her paper with her magic and said, “Only for a short while longer, you have learnt more than enough. But now the time has come for you to return home—”

“But Ponyville is my home now. I've been there now for ten years, it's a big part of my life now! You’re going to let me go, just like that?” Twilight said sternly. She had to defend her place in Ponyville. Why was Celestia doing this? What was going to happen?

Her confused eyes glanced at all the gleaming stained glass windows. Many of the windows depicted herself and her best friends saving Luna from the screaming psyche Nightmare Moon. There was a window dedicated to Cadance and Shining Armors magical feat that banished the changelings to the Badlands and even one of Spike and the Crystal Heart. Each escapade represented on those windows brought back such meaningful memories: some good, some bad. Are all these memories soon to cease? Celestia gave a look of complete seriousness, possibly the most serious look Twilight had ever seen.

“Please understand, everything I do is to protect you. I exist in case you or any part of Equestria needs to be protected,” Celestia said, she rose from out of her throne to join Twilight in the palace proper. Her student's progress was another reason that gave her justification to live. But the princess had to remain distant because of this very eventuality. She could read the confusion on Twilight's face without a second glance from the way her eyes flickered.

“Something is coming," she said. Celestia never dreamt it would come to this, she had to tell her student. "I suppose now is the right time to tell you the truth..."

Afloat above a silent sunlit moor, Fluttershy hummed a familiar and cheerful tune to herself. She flew through the air with a basket weaved from straw in her mouth inside of which were an assortment of bright and juicy ruby-coloured berries with short pedicels. She settled atop a beautiful grassy hill and landed gracefully. It was among her favourite spots, not to mention it was utterly peaceful and far from the hustling and bustling life of Ponyville. Peaceful enough even for Fluttershy’s standards. Dotted among the many hills were numerous burrows which peaceful bunnies reside in. She bowed her head and happily gave a small set of likeable bunnies the hamper of berries to eat.

“There you go, some for you as well... um... make sure you share,” she said quietly with a smile. Fluttershy was always there for the little animals of Equestria, her kind heart made sure there was plenty for all. The bunnies darted forward, munching into the juicy fruit as if having been starved, sucking the juice off the remaining skins. Fluttershy studied the sky from atop the hillside. Menacing clouds were brewing on the horizon from the direction of Canterlot and there was certainly a chilly breeze becoming. The storm wasn’t scheduled, but the weather team must have decided to let it pass over.

Fluttershy turned with a gasp. A single bush rustled. She quivered in new-found fright and slowly backed away, away from it.

“W-who’s there?” she said with a quiet whimper. She froze on the spot. Anything could be in the bush — a poisonous snake, or a bloodsucking moth-spider?! It could attack and bite repeatedly, It would be a slow and steady pain, not a quick one. The bunnie rabbits hopped away from the danger with quiet squeaks.

"No... please come back, d-dont leave me alone," Fluttershy melwed and slowly backed away. "Maybe if I close my eye it'll go away," she said and squeezed her eyes shut.

What emerged however was a creature from Fluttershy’s worst nightmares, the small foliage couldn’t contain the ominous threatening shadow which lurked inside. Emerging from foliage a shadow portentously and magically rose up into the air. Fluttershy opened one of her eyes to take take, the shadow pulsated and rumbled in Fluttershy's hazy vision, then it jolted forward, horn ablaze with magic.

Fluttershy's screams came across the moss-covered hills...

Twilight’s ears flopped down. Her hoof to stabbed at the marble floor. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. A lightning strike caused the royal palace to flicker with light.

Celestia wrapped her wing around Twilight and they both gazed at the stained glass window of Nightmare Moon's defeat.

“When my sister Luna twisted into the maladroit Nightmare Moon, it was because of her foreboding jealousy which gripped her and mercilessly consumed her into a beast beyond all control. But there is a similar kind of darkness, a worse kind of darkness, worse than even Nightmare Moon,” Celestia said.

“What are you saying?” Twilight said and swallowed nervously, she couldn’t quite understand, she had a thousand questions, but this was the first.

“I’m saying there is a vast well of darkness trapped underneath Ponyville. I believe the enemies of Canterlot will try and release the darkness — in whatever form it take — while the Elements of Harmony have no power,” Celestia said as she broke the hug with Twilight, giving her distance to think.

Celestia saw her students eyes narrow; Twilight gazed at her like some monster, it hurt. Never had she wanted to hurt the feelings of others, especially her own student. Perhaps the princess should’ve kept more distant over the years to have avoided further complications. She had become attached to Twilight but she still had utmost faith in her, they will have to face the strain on their relationship together.

“Well...” Twilight paused and breathed deeply to try and slow her heart to a steady calm. There was no reason to get angry or malcontent. Celestia gave her a home and lead her to her five best friends, she gave her a purpose other than to study.

“What is this 'darkness' and how come I’ve never heard of it?” Twilight said, she could only obliged to return Celestia's kindness after all these years.

“Just as the opposite of harmony is chaos. The opposite of light is the darkness. Its sheer unfathomed depth of power is enough to put everypony in danger, including you. Which is why you are to be relocated,” Celestia said with a pause.

Twilight paced up and down the royal palace. My time Ponyville was only permanent after we stopped Nightmare Moon. Now I have to leave Ponyville to protect it from a 'vast well of darkness?'. What about everypony else in Ponyville? Twilight thought. There was much more to it than just that, Celestia wasn't telling her the whole truth and she knew it.

“How can we stop the darkness?” Twilight said.

Celestia addressed her more personally by using her horn to create six magical images of the Elements of Harmony, the images were darker than usual and slowly rotated around Twilight.

“It is of utmost importance that you rekindle the Elements of Harmony and stop those seeking to release the darkness, lest it descend upon us," Celestia said.

Twilight watches the six holograms of the Elements lit up with a bright and powerful light before fading away. Equestria was vulnerable and their enemies would surely take this opportunity to extract revenge against their many times of defeat.

“I’ll try my best to help, but what can I do?” Twilight said. If only Celestia didn't talk in such riddles and gave direct instructions...

“The only way to rekindle the Elements of Harmony is through the magic of friendship. Return to where you first found the Elements, to the ruined castle deep within the Everfree Forest. Only there will you find the answers you seek.”

Far across lands unnamed and kingdoms lost the Diamond Dog leaders had perturbed in an old mine shaft. The mine was dug by their own honed claws and connected by raised tunnels held with wooden beams. The cavern had within it mining equipment and carts purposely designed to run on track, but in this case, with no track available, they had to be pushed through the tunnels atop the dirt. Dimly lit lanterns covered the walls; the light flicked the shadows of the Diamond Dogs upon the cavern walls.

The Diamond Dogs chuckled amongst themselves in the hollowed cavern. They dug amongst the covered cavern walls, they sought only gemstones, to eat, to keep, to admire. Each of the three leaders, Rover, Spot and Fido dug their sharp claws into the dirt, their tongues hanging out of their mouths, eager to see what riches were inside the walls.

“We wants it,” Rover said with a snigger. He dug desperately with his claws. Rover the dog wore a red jacket upon his study shoulders; his jagged grin wasn't matched by cunning, only stupidity. However he didn’t care much for getting his claws dirty. Inside the cavern was also Spot, the smallest in the group who can outrun most others. Then there was Fido who the strongest with his steadfast arms that can shatter boulders. They watched in awe as beneath the rock laid shiny silver and dazzling aquamarine gems.

“They stole it from us, but we found more,” Rover chuckled. His tail wagged from his rump, the dogs were unintelligent and easily outwitted, whether it be for a horde of gems or for their own services.

Rover lifted up the gemstone, they'd hit the mother lode, riches they had previously unseen. In the reflection of the gleaming gemstone, Rover noticed a shadowy figure lurked behind them. The Diamond Dogs turned around unthreatened by the silent appearance of this assailant. It was a grey unicorn with a grin affixed upon her lips. The unnamed unicorn brushed her shoulders off from the dirt and mud.

“It has been many years since I had to smell that vile stench upon your breath,” she said. “The war ended several years ago, yet you dogs never changed. Nevertheless, we can still help each other.” She spoke. She knew these creatures were far too feral to put up any decent disapproval of her plan.

The lanterns that flickered etched the shadow of this unicorn upon the cavern wall. The shadow on the wall got ominous larger as the unicorn drew closer.

“Come with me...” her voice said as it beckoned the Diamond Dogs.

The storm arrived in Ponyville that evening. The rain fell in torrents except at occasional intervals, when it was blown by a violent gust of wind that rattled along the cottages roof-tops. The measly flames of the lanterns struggled against the dark and the bitter biting cold. The ghastly wind bashed loudly against the rooftop of the library, it whistled mercilessly. Inside bright candles lit the main hall. The Library—an entanglement of a tree and a building—had become a temporary and robust shelter against the storm.

“What do you mean, 'she just fainted'?!” Rarity exclaimed sat inside the main library hall. With the combined rescue efforts of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie, she had just being brought Fluttershy. They had carried her all the way here through the storm and committed her to a bedroll in the main hall.

“I dunno, she was all lightsy outsy,” Pinkie Pie said still smiling. Pinkie Pie was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad. Rarity rolled her eyes knowing that’s the most satisfying answer she’ll get from Pinkie, she inspected her injured friend.

Fluttershy was exhausted, her hooves shook and sweat dropped from her brow even though a cold breeze blew in from outside. Their eyebrows lowered with worry, thankfully, despite their worst fears, Fluttershy only sustained a minor sprain accompanied by an irritating red rash upon her hoof.

“Oh, Fluttershy, you've taken quite the fall. Fortunately my dear, I believe you’re going to be just fine." With a flick of her horn Rarity carefully levitated and wrapped a waxen bandage around her friends hoof with faultless care. Fluttershy resisted only slightly and groaned as the bandage was tightly wrapped around the small graze. “It must have been quite the traumatic ordeal. Can you remember what happened?”

Fluttershy shivered in the bedroll. “There was... a shadow,” Fluttershy said and mewled.

“You mean to say you got scared of your own shadow again?” Rainbow Dash returned.

“Um... no, this one was scarier and... mean," Fluttershy said to defend herself. She couldn't have described it any better. “It entered the Everfree Forest. That's the last thing I saw before everything went dark," she said timidly with a squeal and pulled the blanket over her head. But the bed provided little comfort from the harrowing experience. Fluttershy's hair stood up on end, afraid that the mental image would scar her if she dared to remember.

“‘Scarier and mean?’” Pinkie Pie repeated confused.

“I knew it! Something's going on,” Rainbow Dash said and stridently interrupted and twirled up into the air. “First Applejack disappears, then Twilight's called to see Princess Celestia and now this. I hate being in the dark. We have to do something you guys, we have to act, for all we know Applejack could be anywhere,” Rainbow Dash said. She'd suspected something for awhile.

“We should go find them,” Fluttershy replied. This was the first time she was hearing about Applejack’s disappearance. It was something which only added to the catalogue of concerns. Fluttershy got up ready to aid her friends, but after her first step—and putting pressure on her hoof—she immediately tumbled back to the floor.

“No, no, goodness no! You’re too unwell to go anywhere dear, you must rest. Besides, the storm is simply too vicious to go out in.” Rarity helped her friend back up, she supported her friends weight and lifted her up in tow. Fluttershy wobbled on her hooves, she felt foolish along with the powerlessness. She wanted to act. Still clearly shaken by the experience everypony guided back into bed.

Unmoved by the ordeal, Rainbow Dash flew away just a huge rumble of thunder shook the entire library with unease.

“Where do you think you’re going?” said Rarity, while she continued to tend to Fluttershy.

“I have to know what’s going on,” Rainbow Dash said and flew up to balcony door, she peered through the pane of glass to see the rain that pattered against the window. She nudged it open to gain access to the balcony. The rain storm raged outside, its power could be felt even inside the library. When the window swung open a turbulent of wind gushed into the hall, and brushed up any loose papers or books. The cold was felt immediately upon her coat.

“Going out there is lunacy!” Rarity shouted up to her friend, she couldn’t bear to see another friend injured.

"She’s right Dashie. You can’t go out there in the storm, it's crazy and dangerous,” Pinkie Pie said and then gasped. "It's crazygerous!"

"That's not a real word. Besides you guys, pegasi deal with storms on a regular basis, outfling lightning is all part of the job descrption. Not to mention we're talking about the fastest pony in Equestria here. I can look after myself,” Rainbow Dash said with a daring pose and dismissed her friend’s concerns. She placed some goggles upon her head by stretching the elastic around her face. With a look of determination, the goggles snapped upon her eyes. When she stared out across the balcony at the storm outside, she hesitated only slightly. Could she really do it? Could she really take the plunge into an uncontrollable storm? She flapped her wings and took flight from the balcony. The unyielding wind immediately weaved her around slightly but she gained the wind under her wing. She flew into the sinister storm, without any sort of suit for protection from the lightning. Rainbow Dash disappeared in the murk of the rain, just as a sudden flurry of wind slammed the balcony doors shut...

In the proximity of Ponyville, perched high along a cliffside rested a wooden cabin. As the raindrops pattered they bashed against the wooden exterior of a silent wooden cabin, a wagon designed to allow the occupants to travel. But in the current condition of the rain and the mud and landslides from the overbearing cliff; the cabin remained stationary.

Inside the cabin, a once great and powerful pony sat at her oaken vanity table. She placed down a midnight wizard hat, decorated with golden and silver twinkling stars, upright upon the desk. Her cloak still remained upon her body, but half loose, as if this pony had lost care for self-appearance. She picked up a hairbrush with the magic from her unicorn horn and used it to comb her unwashed white mane. At her own reflection, she saw a face of a broken pony. Humiliation was a popular metaphor for her life, at least, that was what she thought. She still faced the shattered bane of her defeat, and the losses in her life, even after all those many years.

Abruptly the wooden door to the cabin swung open violently. It crashed against the side of the cabin with a nasty clatter. With a heavy flash of lightning a grey unicorn entered without enticement.

“Well, well, well, the great and powerful Trixie. Not so great after all are you?” The arrogance in this ponies ominous tone of voice was almost enough to match Trixie’s own boasting abilities.

“And who, pray tell, are you? Are you a changeling?” Trixie’s thoughts changed to one of more pressing matters. She didn’t turn; instead, she spoke to the pony through the fragmented reflection in the arched mirror. Dozens of distorted reflections and dazzling green eyes stared back at her.

“I’m not quite a changeling,” she said and held up her hoof, it was intact without the holes in it. “But If you're willing to work for it, I am somepony that can offer you... revenge.” The shadow pony then proceeded to use her green magic to levitate a nearby book and fiddle through the pages.

“Magic... I learned all my magic from Twilight Sparkle.”

Trixie parted with a muted gasp.

“Revenge on her and the entire town that humiliated you several times over,” she said and grinned, her voice echoed the hatred of many more than just herself. This unicorn knew much about Trixie’s past, too much. She slammed the book shut with her magic, tiny particles of dust blew out.

“Surely you jest? What a preposterous plan,” Trixie said with distaste.

“Yet it is one which seems to be working... unlike your many attempts to impress others. How's that alicorn amulet?" the unnamed unicorn taunted with a nasty grin.

"You think you can best me with that?!" Trixie parted with a disgusted grunt. She stared at the herself through the mirror image and she hoped her reflection would have answers. Thoughts of her past returned to her, thoughts of her humiliation from the inhabitants of Ponyville. She gave it much thought, but the opportunity to get her revenge had already passed. She had tried to show them that she was the most powerful mare in Equestria, with none greater than herself, but she never wanted to hurt others. She glanced down at her own two blue hooves, never again did she want incredible magical power.

Trixie smiled before she gave her answer and said, "The great and powerful Trixie will not accept such an offer," she replied and continued to brush her white mane.

“Why ever not?” The dark unicorn bashed her hoof down on the stilted cabin floor.

“Because Trixie is not a bad pony... not anymore," she replied arrogantly, refusing to be recruited. She wasn’t going to help a strange pony she'd never even met. Trixie had more sense than that and revenge did not entice her as much as she first believed, especially if it involved physically hurting other ponies. That was something she never intended to do. She still had common sense beyond her many flaws.

“We'll see about that,” the unicorn said and suddenly marched nearer a snarl upon her face, as both her sparkling magic and scowling green eyes glowed brightly. The sound of a struggle ensued. They were thuds against the interior of the cabin wall, broken items thrown against the floor, the sound of Trixie's hair brush that dropped to the floor. Then the mirror shattered into a thousand pieces.

Rainbow Dash flew through the storm clouds. The rain pattered against her coat like tiny pins against the skin. It was painful, but not unbearable. The descending storm continued to rumble with loud clashes and thunder which roared louder than even a Manticore. Cold and alone with only the goggles to protect her eyes from the torrent of the rain, she tried her best to fight against the wind, her wings flapped hard. Perhaps this wasn’t the best of ideas after all, infact it was downright idiotic. Rainbow Dash's foolhardiness showed once more, but only through idiocy do heroes shine. As Rainbow Dash flew through the grey clouds her eyebrows scowled. She twisted and turned through the clouds almost like a ballet with the lightning. The rain hit against the goggles making it near impossible to see, but the darkness was the most pressing ordeal, keeping out any source of light futility waning against it.

Through the flashes of the sheet lightning which struck from cloud to cloud. Rainbow Dash paused mid-air and saw the silhouette of a creature flying through the storm alongside her. With each flash of lightning the figure drew closer. Rainbow thought it to be the shadow that attack Fluttershy... until she heard a whisper in the distance.

“Rainbow Dassssh...” it said. A devious but equally playful chuckling emitted from within the storm clouds. Rainbow Dash continued to hover as rain mercilessly patters upon her mane, at first the pegasus believed it to be the whistling of the wind, but her eyes did not lie. She was not alone... something was in the clouds with her. If only the rain would slow to a drizzle she would be able to see through the goggles better.

“Who’s there?! Show yourself!” she shouted into the thunderstorm perplexed as another faint hysterical chuckle emitted from all directions. The clouds around her suddenly become increasingly claustrophobic. Dashie then suddenly recognised the superciliousness of the chuckling.

“No... not you!”

A blinding jolt of lightning consumed her eyesight; her ears rang and burst beyond their limit with the sound of the lightning. Then her fur burnt, the lightning had electrocuted her. It used her body as a conductor, and shot off from her light blue body to dance with the black clouds. The electricity made her limbs lifeless and she fell in midair. Her eyes closed, she free-fell backward through the sky leaving a trail of smoke behind her.

She tumbled unconscious through the air, twisting and turning, there was no chance she could catch the wind on her wings now, she was too low. Her limbs shook violently through the torrent of wind, her eyelids simply would not open and even if they could she would be temporarily blinded by the flash. Even her ears rung from the deep clap of thunder, all she heard now was an annoying high-pitched buzzing it both ears. Her fur singed. She remained unresponsive; her body felt like it was burning even in the cold.

Before nearly reaching the ground she opened her eyes, if only slightly. The spark of life was still inside of her somewhere. Below all she could see was the ground getting closer. Was this it?, she thought. The fall would kill her and deep inside she knew it. Trapped inside her own unresponsive body there was no way to stop her fate now.

Her limp body suddenly landed on something soft. Her body sank within the soft surface. She figured this was the soft bed of death beckoning to her...

Then her eyes opened and realisation kicked in. She was still alive. She shakily got up on a soft pink surface. Raindrops fell upon the bouncy almost latex surface, it was the hot air balloon! Her friends had caught her on top of it, just in time.

“Y-you, you saved me... you c-caught me,” she said with a stammer, shaken from her fall with death. Inside the basket of the balloon below, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and even Fluttershy — who had regained some of her vigour — flew the hot air balloon low to the ground. Rainbow Dash got up relieved to still be alive, renewed with a new sense for life.

The torrents of wind made it hard to even control the balloon. It grabbed the balloon and ragged it around violently; even more so when the rain gained power along the wind. The humidity almost blew out the pilot-light. Everypony knew if the light went out they would crash, not the mention the thunder could strike the airborne vehicle at any moment. Was it an act of madness that they were flying through in a hot air balloon, in a thunderstorm, or an act of kindness to attempt to save their friend on a suicide mission?

“We couldn’t leave you out here in the cold alone now could we?” Rarity shouted over the sound of the storm to her friend, brave words from a pony whom feared the rain and muddy puddles.

“Arr!” Pinkie Pie suddenly popped up out of the basket with a wooden sword. “It's like we're pirates... sky pirates!” she said with woundless glee and waved the wooden sword around. “Where are we headed anyway?”

“To the ruins in the Everfree Forest; it's the only place the shadow could've gone,” Fluttershy said using the pilot-light fire to warm her hooves.

“Quickly then... to the ruins!” Rarity shouted and pulled the chain tautly to release more gas which heated the pilot-light, and pointed a hoof outward as they headed into the abyss.

In a small secluded valley where little light shone and flowers never bloomed. There stood a single lonely and lifeless tree without any leaves to call its own. Only a sturdy chain connected to a branch of the tree rattled in the valley. The chain held in place a red punching bag which from dangled from the mangled and twisted branch. A flair of golden fists smashed against the leather bag and caused it to swing making the chain rattle against the bark of the tree. Another round of relentless golden fists crunched into the bag with more clout each hit. They smashed the heavy bag without mercy until it snapped clean off the branch and crashed upon the grass.

“Oh yeah, I've still got it!” a hoarse voice said, and pierced the silence in the valley, the sound of a heavily breathing followed. There stood a unique, violent and unpredictable creature that squawked proudly.

“Gilda... Gilda the Griffon, I presume?” A new more malevolent voice called out. It emanated from behind her. As Gilda admired her muscles she turned her head, cracking the bones in her neck as she does. Sweat dropped from her brow as her amber eyes scowled at the figure. There stood a seemingly harmless brownish-grey pony stood before her with a scowl more strident than her own. The grey unicorn approached this impulsive creature with a slight tremble in her hoof.

“Yeah! That’s me. What does a loser like you want anyway?” Gilda snidely commented.

“Flying is amazing, don’t you think?” the figure said, she spoke with a somewhat regal voice. “I was taught to fly by a pony I heard you have a score to settle with; the one named Rainbow Dash. Care to join me in partaking in some revenge?” she said and awaited the griffons reply.

Gilda remembered Rainbow Dash with a burning hatred. Gilda and Rainbow Dash were the sort of friends that when they were younger got into pranks, pranks Dash always got the blame for. Gilda would never listen in Junior Speedsters flight camp, she always placed her hind paws up on the desk. She was too busy looking cool to have cared about learning.

Gilda never even remembered a time Rainbow Dah gave flying lessons, let alone she knows nopony willing to learn from her either. So just who was this pony? How did she know Rainbow Dash?

Memories hidden in the back of her mind flood through the griffon. Her selfish and arrogant thoughts rotated around her mind: Gilda had graced Rainbow Dash with a visit to Ponyville for old times’ sake. But she had the audacity to humiliate her infront of everypony in Ponyville. Her friend had claimed she was leading her down a bad path and even now Rainbow Dash proceeded to reject her. She even had that annoying friend; Gilda couldn’t care to remember her name, the one with the cotton-candy mane. She was the fruition to Rainbow’s betrayal. Gilda had grown so much more in so many ways. In her mind, Rainbow was now just another discarded loser like all the rest.

Upon much thought she grinned in conclusion and then clenched her golden fist so tightly her bones crunched.

“You’re on!” she roared.

The Everfree Forest, where trees hung like dainty fingers ready to grab the unwary and drag them into a dark abyss, every season the forest was the same, it never changed for the bitter of winter or the warmth of the summer sun. Accept for the occasional creak of the wood all the tree’s remained lifeless, and it always remained in silence, no chirping came from the hallowed trees. No life. This was the forest Twilight always dreaded walking through. Before she entered, she turned around to see Ponyville with a violent storm which hung over the town. Covered in the haze of the distant falling rain, the storm hadn’t quite reached the Everfree Forest yet, but there was no time to lose. She had to be brave now.

The only entrance and exit of the Everfree Forest was a small outcrop. Two trees with branches like maladroit fingers form a outlining gate structure. She entered into the dark Everfree Forest, alone. As she entered she could only hear the thumping of her own heart and the quiet groans of her own nervous breathing.

She surveyed over shoulder in fear that a monster may jump out of the bushes and attack. Only the creaking of the trees kept her company. She casted a spark of magic that made her horn give a faint gentle light. She felt trepidation with every hoofstep, the canopy of trees shunned the light from above and the farther she trotted, the darker it was. She treaded carefully as to not trip in the mangled undergrowth of tree roots. She was alone in the forest, without any saddlebags or source of food or water. She had only her thoughts as company, perhaps some gentle thinking would take her mind away from the fear?

Deep inside she knew what the princess had told her, an unknown darkness is coming to threaten Ponyville. What is this darkness? Why now?, Twilight thought rubbing her head with her hoof. Whatever it was... it loomed ever closer, she had to hurry. But she reassures herself that she had to help her friends, even if it’s the last thing she ever does to help Ponyville.

Everything will be fine, everything will be fine, Twilight repeatedly reassured herself lest she go mad. It was a long trek through the darkness, made easier by knowing exactly where to go per Princess Celestia’s instructions. Across the bridge above the gorge, Twilight headed for the old castle ruins where they first stopped Nightmare Moon.

She arrived at the ruined castle. Wind whistled through the empty halls, the ruined castle has broken and haphazard walls with bricks which disintegrate and decay, how once proudly it stood as a castle dedicated to the night and the tyranny of Nightmare Moon. Such powerful darkness was once held in these walls, now there was only utter silence. Twilight brushed her way past some hanging moss as she entered the upper chamber. She remained silent until she comes across the figure of a pony in the main chamber.

“Applejack?” Twilight said, her mouth gaped open. What was Applejack doing here?, she thought and galloped toward her friend and noticed the problem, Applejack she had a magical chains around her hooves forged from congregated iron. It had a chain upon it which bound Applejack to the floor of the temple and forced Applejack to look downward, as if she was bowing. The brim of her hat covered her eyes.

“Are... you okay?” Twilight said, she carefully used her hoof to lift up Applejack’s head gently. Twilight noticed her friends eyes were swirling around, like she had been enchanted.

“Bluhn yur” Applejack tried to speak but instead a jumbled mess spurted out.

“I... uh, didn’t quite catch that," Twilight said and smiled awkwardly.

With a flick of magic from her horn she broke the iron chains clean off her friend’s hooves. As she cautiously removed the magical brace of iron, Twilight noticed the brace that had marked her friends hooves.

“Behind ya'!” Applejack managed to pronounce, the enchantment had worn off. Twilight’s eyes widened. She swiftly swivelled around and saw a grey unicorn which marched menacingly toward her.

“You shouldn’t be here.” The unicorn spoke with a malevolent and echoic voice. “Leave, now!”

“Be careful Twi’... this pony here's bein’ holdin’ me captive for some reason.” Applejack looked up at her best friend worried. She attempted to stand, her hooves wobbled slightly, but she managed to stand strong.

“You did this to Applejack, didn’t you?” Twilight said, her eyebrows came down and scowled.

The grey unicorn just laughed pettily.

“So the legends are true about you. I have heard much. The great Twilight Sparkle. What a shame you’re just another pony in the night here to try and assume control over the situation,” the greyish-brown pony replied with definitive arrogance.

"I h-how do you know my name? Who or what are you?” Twilight said. It scared her to know that this pony knew her name and profession. This shadow pony even knew that Twilight preferred to organize things. She eyed up the pony... the ponies fur was the deepest grey possible. She couldn't be a changeling, could she? Was she related to them?

“An' you wanna tell us why ya’ don’t have a cutie mark," Applejack said. At first she thought the cutie mark was covered up, but when she looked again the unicorn didn’t have any cutie mark.

The strange pony encircled around them both, she tried to demean them...

“Questions, question... Allow me to explain. In this very castle years ago, you fought the mare in the moon; Nightmare Moon to be exact. I am like her, for I am from shadow, an elemental shade with no purpose other than that to serve the ones who created me.”

“That must be very sad,” Twilight said.

“I... I...” she said, startled by the sudden sympathy. She shook her head. “Do not pity me!” her voice suddenly hissed from across the temple. “You ran here alone. Indeed, it is you who is alone.”

"I never said anything about being alone," Twilight replied with wit. She remembered a time she did not have friends. She just always used to sit with a good book and studied. Twilight didn’t have that magic inside until she met her friends, could this be something the grey unicorn could relate to?

The grey unicorn snarled, she stomped her hoof like a raging bull and her horn sparked green with magical arcane energies. She was going to attack!

“S'far as I can tell, Twi's not alone,” Applejack interrupted and stood firmly on her hooves now, she had finally come to her senses and stood bravely next to her best friend ready to defend her at any cost.

“Yeah, she’s not alone!” Pinkie Pie’s voice suddenly echoed around the castle, it made everypony look around the upper hall. Then the ground rumbled under hoof, with an almighty crash the hot air balloon smashed through the roof.

The balloon crashed through the roof of the ruins, breaking through the stone with such ferocity. Parts of the roof collapsed and buckled under the weight. The crash sent rubble, debris and dust in all directions. A deep black haze billowed from the temple.

Both Twilight and Applejack used their hooves to shield their eyes from all the dust. The pink balloon blew a raspberry as it came to a deflated rest on the tiled temple floor. Out of the basket jumped Rarity, Pinkie Pie, the limping and bandaged Fluttershy and even Rainbow Dash. All bruised but not broken; not yet.

As the haze of dust cleared. The grey unicorn was now surrounded. She looked both ways as Twilight and Applejack stood on one side, and Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy stood on the other. Everypony wondered, the grey unicorn could just attack or subdue them all with one swing of her horn... so why won’t she?

“It’s h-her. She’s the shadow that attacked me,” Fluttershy's voice squeaked. She hid behind Rainbow Dash for protection. All the ponies threw a glance to look at the villainous attacker with renewed hate. She could easily be described as a shadow.

“You all played your parts exactly as planned,” the grey unicorn said and wafted a hoof through the air. Her composure and regal sense of style matched that of Rarity, however everypony knew was only stalling in the face of certain defeat. “You see, whilst you’re all here, Ponyville is being decimated by the enemies of harmony as we speak.”

“Are you serious?!” Pinkie Pie shouted. Without further enticement the grey unicorn flicked her horn. In the centre of the ruined temple a magical mirror image was revealed. Through the image everypony saw reflected what was happening live in Ponyville, right now.

The town was under siege before their very eyes. As lightning raged down from the powerful storm and the rain poured in gallons. Smoke was curling up into the air and houses burned brightly with crimson fire. Ponies all of kinds were fleeing in all directions.

“No...” Twilight grumbled in disbelieve, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife as her best friends watched in devastation. They had all come here but in doing so had left the town utterly defenceless.

“See now how easy it is to manipulate you all. Applejack was only the bait, and Fluttershy, I made sure you knew where I was going, all to lead you to these very ruins. But all this is yet to work a much greater plan,” the unnamed unicorn said, she spoke as if this was her playground and the ponies were merely her playthings, but yet she was clearing stalled while Ponyville was being destroyed in front of their very eyes.

The situation had become much more perilous.

The grey unicorn casted her bright green magic and she created a huge emerald twister around herself in the centre of the temple.

Everypony stood on guard.

The magical tornado churned wind across the entire temple, it absorbed and gaining power with each successful spin, it damaged the temple walls and made Twilight and friends back off as dust was flung across the hall. However the twister didn’t harm them, it wouldn’t even touch them. Instead it spun faster and faster until it came to a stop, and materialized into nothing. The dark unicorn had gone. She had made a quick getaway and had stepped into the mirror image of Ponyville, the mirror had teleported her to the town. Why won’t the shadow pony just attack? What's stopping her?, Twilight thought.

The friends galloped to gather together in the centre of the hall.

“This is hopeless... hopeless I tell you! The worst... possible... thing!” Rarity held her hooves over her head dramatically.

“It’s not hopeless, we’re all still together. We’re just going to need the Elements of Harmony!” Pinkie Pie danced around her friends encouraging them. “Right? Right? Right?”

“Together we can do anything, but the Elements of Harmony are in Canterlot. That... unicorn must have planned all this but with the Elements, we can still stop her.” Twilight Sparkle focused her mind.

“Twilight dearest... I thought the Elements had lost their power,” Rarity said.

“I thought so too, but Princess Celestia told me to come right here, to this castle. She said I can only find out here how and where we can recharge the Elements.” Twilight was quick to inform her friends of past events. Could they recharge the most powerful magic known to ponydom? Was that even possible? Twilight doubted herself, but they had to continue for the sake of Ponyville.

“Alrighty t’en, I reckon we can all still stop her,” Applejack said as she stomped a hoof in determination.

“Welcome back Applejack, miss us?” Rainbow Dash half-heartedly joked, she hovered upturned in the air near her friends head.

“Of course I did... and I reckon if I weren’t chained up an’ all, I would’a saved us from this whole mess already. That darn unicorn sneaked behind me an’ enchanted me without so much as a hoot nor a holler.”

"Girls! Concentrate!” Twilight interrupted, all her friends noticed when her mood shifted. When she was like this; there was no stopping her. Then it suddenly hit Twilight like a wave of inspiration. She looked at her five friends and her smile got increasingly wider.

“Of course... the only way we can recharge the Elements is through our friendship. Remember when we first came here, we changed Nightmare Moon back into Luna because we all had the right qualities to wield the Elements. We charge the Elements of Harmony! We can still do this! Rainbow Dash, you’re the fastest. Go to Canterlot, get the Elements of Harmony then meet us back in Ponyville,” Twilight said and stabbed through the air with her hoof. “The rest of us will stall the attack on Ponyville in any way that we can.”

“Wait... there’s something else,” Rainbow Dash said. Everypony turned to look at her. “I... well, in the clouds. I thought I heard him but I’m not sure. I heard Discord.”

“Gee, didn’t we fasten him back into stone after he betrayed us all again?” Applejack said and remembered Discord well, especially when he fooled them all by reversing their elements into the complete opposite.

"He's just a big meany," Fluttershy said in regret.

“Do you think maybe he got out? He is a crafty dragon... uh... goat... uh... thing,” Pinkie Pie commented.

“No, it can’t be. Discord can only be released when the Elements of Harmony are no longer connected to their users—” Twilight said with thought. If everypony was still connected to the Elements, how did Discord escape? Was this to do with the Elements darkening? She held her hoof held against her chin in... but then she lost her train of thought and concentrated on the more important details.

“Nevermind. We’ll worry about it later. Right now, Ponyville needs us. You all have your jobs to do and we have to act, now!” Twilight said. In times like this they would need an organizer.

“Alright!” Rainbow Dash said as she agreed to everything. She took flight through the enormous gap in the roof they made as they crashed inside the temple. A trailing rainbow left in her wake as she took off. She had to get the Elements of Harmony from Canterlot, they were imperative to stopping all this.

The rest of the ponies ran toward the blurry mirror image. They hoped to use it to teleport back to Ponyville as well. Somehow Twilight wondered if that greyish-brown unicorn wanted them to follow her, perhaps it was another trap. No faster option was available, she decided to take the risk.

Twilight jumped straight into the mirror image and disappeared through it.

“It’s safe, c’mon!” Twilight said, she used her hoof to beckon her friends in the mirror image. It had teleported her to Ponyville. One at a time they prepared themselves and enter the cloudy mirror portal. They each jumped inside to teleport across the kingdom.

Fluttershy was the last to enter the portal, she approched it slowly as a quiet squeak parted from her lips. All the others had gone and the temple was vacant. But something stopped Fluttershy, a presence, something in the air... that cold feeling when you know somepony is stood behind you.

Fluttershy gently swivelled around.

Stood there, at the other end of the ruined castle was a brightly coloured yellow pony with a pink tail and mane. Memories and precious images washed over Fluttershy; she felt a tinge of fear at the memories. Paralyzed by the encounter, her body turned frigid.

This yellow pony was transparent like the echo or a ghost of a pony once lost; utterly gone. The yellow ponies’ wings looked more like resplendent fairy wings. The yellow pony had a glow to them. She also had a distinct feather inside her mane that decorated it.

Fluttershy looked at the ghost pony, and felt precious. Somehow, strangely, from the times that were most fun, she knew the truth about this pony...

“M-m-m... Mm... Mm...” Fluttershy quietly squealed but no words came out, she only murmured. When she looked at this pony, it was like she looked at her own reflection, and with that she was hopelessly overcome with silent grief when she couldn’t find her words.

‘Sometimes when you are sad enough your soul becomes a ghost for you.’

“C’mon Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted, abruptly her cheerful head popped out of the mirror. Pinkie’s loud cheery voice had snapped Fluttershy out of it, when the pegasus glanced back, the ghost pony was gone. She shook her head and dismissed the encounter as near nervous energy. It has been a long day. Fluttershy composed herself and dived through the portal.

They arrived upon a dimly lit cliffside that overlooked Ponyville in its entirety.

Down below see the scene was chaotic.

Somepony released the fabled Timberwolves from exile inside the Everfree Forest. They had been starved for far too long, seven long years of living in exile in the Everfree Forest had developed them into cannibals, they live only to eat now and to quench their hunger... for pony flesh. Earth ponies ran in all directions from them, the wolves snarled and sneered with yellow eyes which gleam with hunger and skin which was like tree bark that glistened in the night. The Timberwolves had broken through into the town square from the Everfree Forest. They howled loudly, spit dripped from their hungry mouths. Their bodies, rather than filled with blood coursed with yellow glowing amber, the silk of a tree which could be seen flowing in their arteries. Small chasms in the Timberwolves bark-like skin served to mark the limbs for the beats. More howled some had evil grins an affixed upon their maws.

The pegasi fled from the Gilda the Griffon who refused to allow them to clear black clouds of the thunderstorm. The griffon proudly owned the skies and claimed it as her own domain.

“C’mon! Let’s get these losers,” Gilda said as she led the others and taunted them onwards. She roared profoundly as she swooped down and smashed through the roof of a house. The rain splashed down inside the house and on the terrified family inside. Gilda swished her soaked fringe out her eyes she roared at the occupants inside their own home. She slashed her golden claw at them as the occupants fled their own home. Gilda laid waste to the house much like she has already laid waste to the entire town. Undoubtedly, she was an evil fiend indeed.

Streams of dirt could be see being dug near the town square. The Diamond Dogs leaders Fido, Rover, and Spot were digging a makeshift tunnel underground. Rover used his claws to easily plough through the dirt. Fido supported the tunnels by placing wooden scaffolding along the way. Rover, the most muscular of the Diamond Dogs, helped by moving the big boulders which barred their way. He simply picked up the rock with ease and threw it out into the open with little care if it hit some pony. They were also the Diamond Dog guards — with their sharp spears — which chased ponies out of their otherwise carefree lives.

Even the Flim Flam brothers were there with the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. The brothers were the first ones recruited. Word got out after Applejack beat and chased them out of Ponyville that their cider was weak and unrefined. The Flim Flam brothers’ sales reduced dramatically. Now the twins leisurely rode upon the side of their red vehicle as it rolled down the streets of Ponyville. Ponies cowered in fear as the vehicle rolled down their streets to stalk its prey. Their machine had been vastly modified; funnels have been added to the side of the machine which shoot liquid bombs of unpleasant cider at rapid and dangerous speeds. While the bombs themselves were soft and wrapped in cling film plastic. They were shot at such rapid and dangerous speeds that they blasted through anything. The vehicle automatically worked to create the cider bombs while still moving. Several shots of their cider bombs were enough to explode through an entire cottage like it was simple frail tissue.

The grey unicorn and instigator to all this destruction stood on the edge of a cliffside. She was there to greet Twilight and her friends, to taunt them some more.

“I’ve had some fun while you were away. You see for a while now I have been gathering all the enemies of Ponyville and bringing them here. Some of them came willingly out of revenge, others had to be... persuaded,” the unicorn said with quiet laughter. Her's was the laughter of a pony who had realised she’d outsmarted them all. “You’ll find the results, quite, astonishing. You’ve made so many enemies on your adventures, and now those enemies want revenge. Quite simple really.”

Why were they doing this? Why was she doing this? Twilight thought. Enraged and mystified by this mysterious unicorn, she demanded to know more.

“Tell us who are you are!” Twilight shouted and heavily stomped her hoof down. Her hoof left a circular dent in the ground. Twilight felt a new-found hatred, she needed to end this unicorn's madness even if it’s the last thing she ever does. All her friends were stood at arms behind her with stern looks upon their faces.

“Fine,” the grey unicorn said, she gritted her words through her teeth. “I am the six of you, specifically, I am all of your bad sides merged into one: The lies of Applejack, the insanity of Pinkie Pie, the sense of selfishness from Rarity, the disloyalty of Rainbow Dash and a mean streak from Fluttershy. The power of magic I learnt from you, Twilight Sparkle," she explained and then looked down to the ground as if she reflected on her life past: "At some point somepony magically gathered all your badness and merged it together to create me, perhaps that's why you're all so 'good'. You just waltzed into the ruined castle and took the Elements of Harmony, and somehow the six of you just happened to have all the right qualities to wield them?! You thought you were all 'special'. The Elements don't link with just anypony, they only link with those with the right qualities," she said and spat on the grass.

"The Elements were in stone when we first found them, our friendship for eachother is what lets us use them. We ignited them through friendship and we will do so again," Twilight said remembered back to their first adventure together.

"Yuck. Nopony should have that much power... especially not you," she said and magically levitated herself into the air. Her green mane swirled in a squall of wind. With a flick of her horn a showmanship display of green lightning struck all around her. She held her forehooves into the air.

"My name is Dark Plague and now... Ponyville has fallen!”

To be continued...

My Little Pony: Time is Forever™ will return...

'The enemies of harmony have gathered together...'

Notes:
Each chapter will start with a related quote from Star Swirl the Bearded.
Each chapter will end with a single line of italics which will foreshadow and relate to the next chapter.
There will be a title picture at the top of the page for every chapter that will foreshadow what happens in it, but you won't fully understand the pictures until you've read to the end of the chapter.
I'm more comfortable and sometimes prefer to call each chapter an 'episode'.
I'm from the UK, it’s standard for me to spell honor as honour or gray as grey etc.