Celestia was staring down each bearer of the Elements of Harmony, a rather scornful look on her face.
"Princess, what is it?" Asked Twilight.
"I have received a letter from the Elements of Nature. Remember that fiery wyvern from yesterday?" Celestia asked.
"Yes, we remember. Does that mean....?" Rarity asked.
"More than the doom of Equestria, I'm afraid. This....behemoth they call 'The Shadow' has destroyed the Gryphon Kingdom, Crystal Empire, and the Changeling Hives. And from the carnage of the Gryphon Kingdom emerged the Blazing Wyvern, according to the Element of Fire." Celestia said solemnly.
"Is Shining Armor ok?!" Twilight shrieked, wings spread wide.
"Yes, he, Cadenza, Gilda, and Queen Chrysalis all made it out alive with a few stragglers. They are currently in the Palace of Nature, and according to the letter Chrysalis is behaving for once, save for her....mournful pains." Celestia answered.
"What about the Crystal Heart?!" Applejack asked.
"Thankfully, that made it out unscathed." Celestia said.
"Should we pay our old friends a visit?" Rainbow asked.
"I think that is wise. Be careful." Celestia replied.
----
"Why does the Shadow want to wreck Equestria??" Shining Armor asked.
"I am not sure, but the world is more important than feasting on love." Chrysalis replied.
"Why say that?" Cadence asked.
"Without the world, how could we feed?" Answered the Changeling queen.
"Point taken." Cadence remarked.
"So, uh, what're we gonna do?" Gilda asked.
"Another point taken." Shining chimed.
Someone started to knock on the door.
"Who is it? It's open!" Called a drone.
The door opened, and behind it was an alicorn stallion. He wore glasses, and he had a dark mane and light grey pelt. His dark-grey eyes looked at Shining Armor.
"Please, all of you, head to the throne chambers." He said.
"Why is that, mister.....uh....?" Shining stammered.
"My name is 01. The Elements of Harmony are in the chamber with the Elements of Nature, and they wish to see you." The stallion replied.
"That's an odd name. Very well, tell them we will be there in about fifteen minutes." Shining remarked. With that, he and the other stragglers stood up and began heading to the throne chamber.
----
"So, it was too late to do anything?" Twilight asked.
"Afraid so. I think the Shadow is flat-out mocking us....and in a way I am reminded of the Quartet." Nagare sighed.
"But that was over ten years ago!" Rarity exclaimed.
"We are aware of that. It's not possible for them to come back from the grave unless the dark arts were performed. Only a lunatic would even think of bringing them back." Yuuki pointed out.
"Not likely. Nopony knows the dark arts these days." Twilight remarked.
"But if they did, it would be in secrecy." Tenmei said.
"He's right. The only way they'd announce it was if they attempted world domination." Rainbow said.
"The Blazing Wyvern....it looked like it was created from dark magic. Its eyes were....almost jet-black." Rekka recalled.
"I keep having nightmares about the Quartet becoming these......monsters...... and doing awful things...." Koto stammered, "but the sheer magnitude of the misdeeds....... made King Sombra, Discord, Nightmare Moon, and Chrysalis look like foals in a sandbox!"
"Yer third eye actin' out again, or is it just me?" Asked Applejack, raising an eyebrow.
"Who became the Wyvern?" Asked Pinkie.
"Maki.....he's the Wyvern......" Koto shuddered. She suddenly fainted, with her head landing right into Rekka's lap.
"I think we found why Koto's 'third eye' tends to act out." Rekka exclaimed.
"Care to share?" Asked Rainbow.
"She only sees those dreams when something is either due to happen or has happened right when she saw it." Rekka answered. "And when she sees those dreams, they always happen at a given time. We need to use this as an advantage so Equestria can continue to prosper."
"And what of the fourth member of the Quartet? You know, the toddler who never showed up?" Fluttershy asked.
"If Discord brought him here as well, I'll be damned." Yuuki said.
"But what if he's the cause?" Asked Applejack.
"Applejack, he cannot fight. Unless he was given some sort of freak enhancements. He cannot use magic, and if he is the cause, we treat him like a misbehaving toddler." Tenmei answered.
"And if he got the freak enhancements, then we worry?" Rarity asked.
"Precisely." Nagare said.
"We're here." Called Shining Armor.
"Shiney! I thought you were hurt!" Twilight said, running to give her brother a big hug.
"I missed you too, Twiley!" Shining replied with a smile.
"Gilda!" Rainbow cried, trotting up to the gryphon.
"Hey, twerp! You were worried after all?" Gilda asked.
Chrysalis and Cadence looked at each other like everyone suddenly decided on doing....questionable lewd acts for no discernible reason whatsoever. In short, everything became awkward.
"So, how will we deal with the Shadow?" Asked Chrysalis, who was looking at the unconscious Koto.