Prologue:
In Ponyville, it was a night for celebration. The Elements of Harmony had been restored, a new power had been found in the form of Tyro's Element of Balance, and disaster had been averted once again. The heroes of the story, however, were less than excited. The experience they had all been through had tested them all, and the trek back to Ponyville hadn't helped much either. Twilight just wanted to go to bed, and get the first good night's sleep she'd had in days. Most of her friends seemed to share that sentiment. Even Pinkie Pie was too tired to really enjoy the party, Twilight could tell. However, she knew that each of her friends were satisfied by the recent success, and she went to sleep with happy thoughts.
A week or two passed, with little particular excitement, but it couldn't last. A day soon came when the peace that had settles over Ponyville was abruptly and completely shattered.
Chapter 1: No Rest for the Weary
Twilight's eyes snapped open as she abruptly woke up. Tyro was standing over her, something she didn't mind one bit. The expression he bore, however, she did. It didn't tell her he wanted to cuddle up next to her, or anything remotely romantic like that. No, this was a look of concern, and maybe even a little fear.
"Twilight," he began. "I'm sorry to wake you, but I just received a letter and a sealed scroll from Princess Celestia, with instructions to read the scroll in front of the collected Elements of Harmony, and not before. I think we should hurry."
Twilight caught his hoof as he turned, stopping him. "About the letter—not the one to you, but the scroll. What color is that seal?"
Tyro had known before he even woke her up that she would ask that very question. Silently, he held the scroll up for her examination. The seal it bore was of not of the usual red wax, but black.
Without a word, Twilight jumped up and dashed out the door, Tyro following her close behind. Her very close behind. Unfortunately, there was work to do. Black seals carried black news, and required rapid action.
It was only when all six of the orginal elements stood before him in the library that Tyro broke the seal. Without a moment wasted, he began to read.
To the Elements of Harmony,
Something terrible has happened, and I will never forgive you.
Hearing his words, Twilight looked both shocked and horrified at once. "But... we didn't release anything..."
"Wait, everypony, there's more here that just now appeared on the scroll." Tyro once again commanded the group's attention as he began to read this added message.
When Tyro retrieved the Element of Balance, he broke a seal on that chamber, one that had existed for thousands of years. According to legend, the previous bearer of that element had engaged a terrible force in battle, buying time for his friends bearing the Elements of Harmony to create a magical cage around them both. And so the two were sealed away together, and disaster was averted, though at terrible cost. However, when Tyro entered the chamber and claimed the Element, the cage was severely damaged. The force it held, once called Primus, was able to fully break through the cage early this morning.
You must find a way to deal with Primus' reappearance before he begins to wreak havok among our people. Do not fail, or Equestria as we know it may perish.
Princess Celestia
Princess Luna
There was an awkward silence while everypony stared at Tyro. It lasted only a moment, but it felt like a lifetime. He could feel their eyes boring into his soul, judging him for what he had unwittingly done. He was to blame for this, those eyes told him. Unconsciously, he took a step backward, away from those disapproving eyes. The eyes followed him, still staring, as he took another step back.
Tyro couldn't take it any longer. He turned heel and fled the obvious disappointment of the ponies before him. He wasn't sure he could call them his friends anymore, not now that he had failed them and his Element so completely. Tyro closed and locked the door into his room, then broke down and wept.
Tyro just stepped backwards, then suddenly dropped the scroll and ran away from his friends. Nopony had an explanation for his abrupt flight, until Pinkie Pie finally stepped forward. "I know why he ran," she told them. "He thinks this is all his fault. His action was what let Primus get free, and so he blames himself for all that has happened now. He forgot that he had no choice, and that he risked his own life by activating that spell in hopes of making the Elements pure again."
Rainbow Dash stepped in. "No, Pinkie Pie, it's worse than that. What is his Element?"
Applejack quickly responded, "It's Balance, you know that."
"Exactly, Applejack," Rainbow Dash continued. "And what would letting this thing free do to the balance of Equestria?" She paused for a moment to let the implication sink in. "Not only does Tyro feel he betrayed us, he feels that he betrayed his Element as well, and Equestria as a whole, for that matter."
Fluttershy, normally quiet, made herself heard. "He probably thinks we must hate him now. Us, and the princesses, too. Everyone he looked up to. He must feel so alone." A tear rolled down her cheek, at the thought of her friend's sorrow.
The room went quiet. Twilight quietly excused herself, ascending the stair to stop before the door to Tyro's bedroom, where he always went when he was in pain. Reaching out with her magic, she tried to open the door. When the door still refused to open, she remembered the latch on the inside, and was quickly inside the room. Such things were of little use against a unicorn.
A red and black heap lying on the floor began to rise as she entered, closing the door behind her. "I know why you're here," Tyro choked. He knelt before her, his head down. "I accept the consequences of my mistake."
Twilight stood before her friend, confused at his behavior. Why did he say that?
"Do it now, Twilight. Please. I can't bear this any longer."
Twilight's face went white as she realized what her friend was asking her to do.