The next day was like other days. I suspected Midnight Shadow did something truly evil. But I managed somehow to hide my suspicions from her. That night, I decided to teleport to Canterlot, in hope I will get some useful informations on how to reverse the spells. But the answer was only one. The Elements of Harmony. But I didn’t even know where they could be. I grabbed another book, this one was used by Celestia to contact Twilight Sparkle…
I grabbed a quill and started writing.
Listen, this is true. Midnight Shadow, my so-called mistress, is plotting something evil. She kidnapped the two royal sisters and drained their powers, that’s why there’s night all the time. Elements of Harmony are presumably missing. They can be used to reverse the jinxes she used a long time ago.
I need your help. I can’t fight alone because… I’m so afraid.
Then I put the quill on its original place, same with the book. I just hope somebody will come to help me…
Everfree Forest Castle
Then I fell asleep.
The next day… without the sun, just filled with darkness. I felt something deep into my heart. Then I saw an astonishing sight.
Midnight Shadow… she used her magic to open a box containing all six Elements of Harmony. She wasn’t alone. Next to her, there was a pony who used to be imprisoned.
It was Nightmare Moon.
She used her magic to transfer their power into a dark crystal, glowing in a very dark purple. I guess it had to be the answer. But for now, I decided to stay where I was.
Twilight’s castle
Twilight woke up after she felt a little hungry. A little moment later, she noticed her book glow.
“Who is it writing right now…” she wondered.
She opened her book and read it aloud.
Listen, this is true. Midnight Shadow, my so-called mistress, is plotting something evil. She kidnapped the two royal sisters and drained their powers, that’s why there’s night all the time. Elements of Harmony are presumably missing. They can be used to reverse the jinxes she used a long time ago.
I need your help. I can’t fight alone because… I’m so afraid.
“Ah. He must be lying.” She sighed in disbelief, then going to kitchen to eat some cheese.
Everfree Forest Castle
Now I was in a dark corridor. I felt really terrible. What I’m doing? Yes, I have to understand the power contained within the mysterious crystal… but what if something will go wrong?
I was sad. I was scared. And finally, I was alone. Deep in my heart I figured out what Midnight Shadow has done. She has made my friends… my first friends ever… think I’m a traitor. And now she must be getting ready to take over Equestria…
Soon, I slowly opened a door. It was where the crystal was.
“The crystal that contains the entire power of friendship… powers of the Princesses…” I said in a worried tone. “There we go to a point where we choose to die. But what if my mission… will fail? I’m sorry Midnight Shadow, you force me to do this.”
I felt angry. I slowly took the crystal in my hooves and threw it with such force powerful to smash it.
Soon, a powerful magic emerged from it. It filled the room with so bright light.
Twilight’s castle
“Don’t worry Spike. He won’t do anything bad. You’ll see, he isn’t that much powerful.” Rainbow Dash said in a firm tone. “I just know Alex must be involved in making this magic. He helped the liar…”
“Right… I believe you, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight Sparkle replied. “But… I think our enemy has stolen the Elements of Harmony, so we can’t fight back. We’re now weak.”
“And yes you are.” Somebody said.
The sight was unbelievable. Everybody had their jaws dropped by what they saw. A thing that never should happen.
“How… how did you escape? You were long lost!” Twilight said.
“True… I appreciate your knowledge, Princess of Friendship!” Nightmare Moon told in an evil tone. “Oh yes… I always wanted this to happen. Soon, I will be the Princess, and Midnight Shadow, will be the queen of all Equestria!”
Nightmare Moon laughed. However, Twilight felt somewhat enlighted.
“Nightmare Moon…” she said. “I think so. But tonight this… is going to have an end.”
Everybody was astonished on what Twilight just said.
“I can see it. You and your servant… battling to death…”
“What are you talking about?” Applejack asked with surprise.
“He figured out what you were doing. He figured out how to… He did it. He broke your dark crystal.”
“WHAT?!” Nightmare Moon shouted in anger.
Everfree Forest Castle
The crystal was broken. Now on the floor there were Elements of Harmony. Not six, but… seven.
“What is that Element?” I asked in surprise.
Soon, Midnight Shadow appeared in front of me, she looked really angry.
“You… how did you dare steal my powers!” she yelled.
“Now I know who you were… what you did to the poor Princesses… but I still don’t know why there are seven Elements!”
“Seven… oh, how pathetic of you. But… you’re gonna pay for it, traitor! You will still be hated by many… not to mention your old friends… soon their friendships… will turn into eternal hate.”
“Mistress… but there’s a problem. It’s not one vs. one.”
“What do you… how did you dare say it!”
“HOW DID YOU DARE STEAL OUR PRECIOUS FRIEND!!!” somebody screamed in anger.
“TWILIGHT!” I replied with a bright smile on my face.
The Mane Six came so close to me and started hugging me so tight.
“Listen, there’s not much time, girls!” I said. “If we don’t do anything, we’ll die.”
“Of course you are going to die. You will die even tonight!” Nightmare Moon shouted. “How pathetic from you… how did you escape my beautiful spell? Answer!”
“I’m sorry to tell you that. If you smashed the crystal, you would bring eternal chaos to a peaceful world. I couldn’t do anything but smash it before you did. I observed you all. I read the forbidden books. I made my way to Canterlot, when they all were under effects of your curse! Deep in my heart my love for Equestria did not die. I would still love them even if you… tried to kill Celestia… soon we’ll know the truth.”
I felt tears started to flow against my cheeks.
“And no matter what you will do, we’ll all stand for our precious friend!” Applejack replied.
“He understood the power of love. Without him, we’re all dead.” Fluttershy yelled.
“In the end, he remained loyal to the magic of friendship.” Rainbow Dash said.
“There would be no fun anymore if you took over our beloved Equestria!” Pinkie Pie cried.
“Beauty would lose its taste and understanding. What if we were greedy for power?” Rarity shouted.
“We’re going to save our world from darkness you created!” Twilight Sparkle screamed.
“And I understood the power of friendship. You did everything to destroy our hopes. But I felt it deep in my heart. I had to do it. I wanted to do it. I would do everything to save my friends.” I told in a serious tone.
Nightmare Moon then shot a bolt of magic into us. However, we were fast enough to dodge it before it hit the pole meant for the crystal.
“Friends… you have to take your Elements. I’m going to fight.” I said.
“But… if you die?” Twilight Sparkle asked me, still crying.
“Don’t worry about me. Do you believe me?” I asked then.
“I believe you… but if you die, we’ll die too.” Fluttershy replied.
I went away, looking for any sign of Midnight Shadow. However, all I could feel was fear. I couldn’t stop thinking about the new Element. It’s unbelievable. I thought there were only six Elements. Where did the seventh come from, and who did it choose?
“Ah, there you are… you little coward.” Nightmare Moon said to me with an evil grin on her face. “Daring to die, huh? Already… giving up?”
She then laughed, as I had a worried look. Soon, I felt a strange force wrap my body.
“What is that?!” Nightmare Moon asked in her astonishment.
“You see… but I’m not willing to give up!” I yelled, shooting a bolt of magic into her. She tried to fight back, but my spell was more powerful as it hit Nightmare Moon with great ease. Soon, she yelled in deep fright and flew away.
“How… how this is possible?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But I know this force came from you.” Twilight Sparkle mumbled. She was already close to me. “If it has to do with our Elements… they must be protecting you. But she was still brave enough to try and fight back. She couldn’t. She… oh, Alex!”
Twilight started again to cry.
“Twilight… listen, my dear. We’re all here. Soon it’s gonna finish. They’re never gonna win. Trust me, Twilight. They were preparing to do it centuries before I even was born.”
“Ah… you’re so childish. Soon, I’m going to wipe you out of existence.” Midnight Shadow yelled. “Look at these two… so inseparable… I’m afraid this is your last stand, traitor.”
She then shot a bolt of magic towards us. However, I didn’t want to dodge right now. The magic that wrapped me caused the spell to fire back, hitting Midnight Shadow.
She fell to the ground.
“What was that?” Applejack asked.
“That force… I didn’t think it was so strong to cause the spell to backfire… she’s… dead.”
Everybody let out a sigh of relief.
“Listen. You take care of the Princesses. You have to do this. Twilight… please, try to restore the powers of the Princesses.”
Outside the castle
Moon still shined on a cloudy sky, rain poured down onto hard ground, and I was wondering where Nightmare Moon and Midnight Shadow could be…
But instead of walking, I stopped. And it was the moment I realized what I have done before breaking the crystal was wrong. I felt an immense pain inside my all body. I laid down on cold and wet ground.
“Oh, God…” I whimpered, trying to hold my tears. “What monster I have become… I am such a coward… how could I do this to you, girls? Now I know what could happen…”
“Alex… is that you?” someone called. It was Twilight Sparkle.
“Go… I know what I did was wrong… the day I met Midnight Shadow… I joined her… what a prick I am… leave me alone, I didn’t deserve your friendship…”
“It’s okay, boy… you helped us discover the truth…” she replied to me.
“It’s not okay, girl! When I saw these books… hypnosis spell, and one, very dark… mind changing spell…”
“Boy… Alex, you discovered the spell that made us think you couldn’t be trusted! And now…”
“I can’t be trusted anymore… If you want to say this, then… I get it…” I said, still crying.
“Then the crystal… I think it kept these jinxes alive. When you broke it, I felt deep in my heart that was YOU. How could I keep myself in Ponyville? And my friends? It was when Nightmare Moon came to us, announcing her return… at first I couldn’t believe, but I thought she did something evil. And now I see you here… but you feel distraught, right?”
“I only want to give up, this fight has no point… I feel that when I came, it only started the disaster. I brought an apocalypse to all of Equestria. I am the problem.”
Soon, the rest came over to me, but I didn’t even dare to look at them.
“Oh, poor thing…” Fluttershy sighed, then she let out a groan.
“He told me he wanted to give up…” Twilight explained. “He sees no point to fight… he thinks he brought disaster. What can we do?”
“I have no idea, my faithful student.” Celestia told with a weak voice. “It’s not about the fight… I fear more that he could harm himself… and die.”
“Then… let me die in peace. Leave me alone.” I growled.
“We can’t.” Rainbow Dash whispered.
“Can’t you see that I am really a worthless guy? I regret the day I was born… every day of my life… the world would be better without me, I brought disaster upon all of you and Equestria!” I shouted. “My parents were right… everyone I saw was right… until I met you… I understand that you wield the Elements, but they cannot help me. All I experienced was hate and other negative… things.”
Applejack sighed.
“How the hay can he say such things about himself?” she said, slightly worried.
“Now I get it… he didn’t have any friends before. His parents didn’t show him enough love… or maybe didn’t show at all?” Rarity asked.
“And honestly… people used to take advantage at my cost… And I myself was so stupid to do anything… whatever I did, was wrong. I know it can’t be any better for me… each day goes worse. And…”
I suddenly felt my sight was becoming more blurry, until I collapsed. It didn’t last too long until I woke up… but this wasn’t reality, it was like a dream…
My dream
I slowly stood on my front hooves and opened my eyes. The girls, Celestia and Luna were gone. I was in Ponyville… nah, that cannot be real Ponyville… too clean to be true.
“H-Hello?” I called. “Anypony there?”
Suddenly, I saw some fillies running through the streets, they all were happy…
“No, that can’t be real…” I said hard. “I brought total chaos to Equestria, how is this possible?”
“I heard your wishes… I know what you’ve really wanted all the time.” Somepony called.
“L-Luna? B-but…” I said, trying to hold my tears. “It can’t be… why are the ponies so happy? I know what I want to do, it goes opposite.”
Luna laughed, but then calmed down. “See, I knew you just wanted to be good.” Another voice emerged.
“Celestia? How… how long have you known about this, Princess?”
“Uh, hate to admit it, but it was someone I used to know a long time ago, even before you and my faithful student were born.”
“What did he do?”
“He told me he saw all of you in his dreams… he predicted the banishment of Nightmare Moon and her return… at first I did not believe him. He even predicted your arrival to Equestria.”
“Is he… a fortune teller?” I asked quietly.
“Fortune teller? Oh no, my boy. He was the mightiest magician Equestria could ever know. And… I suppose I know who are so-called fortune tellers in your world.”
“Yes… they mostly give sort of things that they claim to be lucky…”
Celestia then nodded. “Yes. Star Swirl the Bearded wasn’t such a freak. I can tell you one thing now… do you see all these fillies being happy…”
“Rather fake happiness… they’re hypnotized.”
“Now boy, this is NOT what you think. This is what your future holds. You might be a very sad pony, you might have been hated for too long, but… ponies here love you. They want to be your friends. They see you as a powerful yet very gentle pony. I knew you are the one who read my letter. I could kill myself if it wasn’t you…”
I then exploded in tears. I walked closer to Celestia.
“Princess… please…” I said, still crying. “Don’t say things like this… I am here. To save you. And remember, no matter what could happen, I will forever love you.”
“Like we will forever love you, our dear boy…” Luna whispered gently, she also started to cry.
The Princesses now hugged me tightly. What a coward I was to give up so easily…
Then I whispered them some words.
I am, who my enemies don’t know who I am
The last words of a true warrior I could say
Harmony will be restored, nightmares will vanish
In a night of fate that was sealed inside me
Hopes will return, friendship conquer our hearts
The words of a sad warrior whose life will
Remain in hearts ours from yesterday,
To the present, for the eternity
Something started to happen. I was wrapped in a strange magic power.
“W-What is this?!” I cried.
“Your Element is now connected to the rest of them! The magic is working!” Celestia explained.
Soon I felt my eyes closing.
Reality
I was asleep for a little long time before I regained control over my body.
“Oh… what was it?” Rarity asked.
“I was… wrapped with a kind of magic, I wonder what it could be.” I told. “And I’m worried about Sky Tear… where is she gone?”
“Sky Tear? What are you talking about, Alex?” Celestia asked me with great surprise.
“Listen, Princess… this book… The Unsolved Myths and Legends of Equestria. Midnight Shadow had this book with her…
“The Unsolved Myths and Legends of Equestria?” Twilight Sparkle questioned herself.
“Weird…” Applejack said. “I can just see blank pages.”
“But I can…” I said, fearing something bad will happen. “Do you, Princess? The book says… page 33. It says…”
“Interesting, but how…” Celestia told, before she widened her eyes in total shock.
“What is it… why is the Princess so… surprised?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“Alex…” Celestia yelled. I jumped in fright. “Do you know you brought back a long lost Sky Tear?”
“Yes… but how the hay I could know by then she was… your youngest sister?”
Everyone widened their eyes and froze in complete shock, like a thunder just hit them.
Then, someone else emerged from the mist. It was Sky Tear, the third and youngest sister of both Celestia and Luna, filled with both sadness and joy.
“My dear… thank you for saving me from cruel fate…” she told me, hugging me tightly. I hugged her back and let out a sigh.
“It’s okay, my dear…” I told her, still crying. “Don’t worry Sky Tear, it’s okay… please, look at your sisters, they certainly missed you so much…”