"Discor-oh." Twilight said, staring at the tiny Draconequus sitting between Fluttershy's wings.
"Uh...what happened to Discord?" Spike asked.
Discord glared at Twilight and Spike and leapt off Fluttershy's back, tiny wings fluttering in order to slow his descent. The small Draconequus stood tall, or as tall as he could stand, at least. He clearly was not eager to let Twilight and Spike baby him, Fluttershy doing so was fine since A) Discord had been still dazed from what had happened last night and hadn't thought of acting like he had simply shape shifted and B) it was Fluttershy, Discord trusted Fluttershy. But letting other ponies baby him did not sound fun at all.
"I don't know." Fluttershy replied, watching Discord. "I found him like this in the woods."
"Whoever did this was clearly skilled with magic to be able to use an age spell." Twilight mused, more to herself than to Spike or Fluttershy.
"Do you have any idea of who or what could have that kind of magic?" Spike asked.
"No. The only pony I can think of besides the Princesses would have to be Trixie. But she loves making a show of things, if it was her, we'd know of it."
"Do you know any counterspell?" Fluttershy asked.
"Unfortunately I do not. Age spells are advanced and difficult to learn. They also take up a lot of a unicorn's, or an Alicorn's, magic." Twilight replied, looking at Discord. "But I promise I will try my best to find a counterspell or learn to use an Age spell."
"Okay, then. thank you, Princess." Fluttershy said. "Come on, Discord."
Discord looked at Fluttershy, then to Twilight and Spike. He didn't appear very eager to ride on Fluttershy's back or anything of the sort as long as they were around.
"You don't have to call me princess, Fluttershy, we're still friends." Twilight said as Fluttershy and Discord were leaving, Fluttershy having decided to let Discord walk if he wanted to.
Twilight shut the door of the library and began searching through the books.
"Spike, where is that book Celestia gave me as a coronation gift?" Twilight asked.
"Right here, Twi." The dragon replied, holding a large leather bound book.
"Thank you, Spike." Twilight said, picking the book up with her magic.
Twilight began flipping through the pages, muttering to herself about age spells and other things Spike couldn't make out. Suddenly, Twilight stopped flipping through the pages.
"Spike, do you feel something?" Twilight asked.
"Like what?" Spike replied.
"I'm not sure, but it feels like a powerful source of magic is nearby. And I don't think it's friendly." Twilight said. "It feels like...Dark Magic."
"Like the kind we discovered in the Crystal Palace when you opened that door?" Spike asked, shuddering when he thought about what he'd seen through the door.
"Exactly, only this feels more powerful." Twilight's wings twitched nervously, as if Twilight wanted to fly away.
Suddenly, a powerful burst of magic shot through the window. Twilight knew the dark purple and green tinged colour. it was Dark Magic. Twilight spread her wings, a powerful bolt of violet magic shooting from her horn to form a shield around herself and Spike.
"Princess twilight Sparkle." A voice rumbled.
Twilight looked around, the voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. Spike noticed something laying on the floor. It was a page from the book Twilight had been looking through. How it had survived, Spike had no idea, but he grabbed the page.
"Uh...Twilight?" Spike said, handing the page to Twilight.
Twilight looked at the page.
King Sombra was not alone when he took over the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Ponies would have been too strong for a single unicorn. Sombra had the help of his brother, Obscuro Noctis,more commonly known as Noctis, a powerful unicorn who had discovered a way to make himself an Alicorn using Dark Magic. Noctis was skilled in Dark Magic and was the one who taught Sombra to control shadow, which Sombra had quickly showed a talent for.
Twillight looked at Spike. "Sombra had a brother? Why didn't Princess Celestia tell me?"
"Maybe she didn't know." Spike suggested
"Could Noctis have something to do with Discord being deaged? But why would he attack Discord? Why not the princesses, Equestria's rulers? Or the Elements of Harmony, Equestria's defenders?" Twilight mused, speaking more to herself than to Spike.
"Spike, send a letter to Princess Celestia, tell her about Noctis. I need to tell the girls." Twilight said, looking around to make sure Dark Night was gone.
"Yes, ma'am!" Spike said, grabbing some parchment and writing the letter.