//------------------------------// // Act 1 - Crystal's Fate // Story: The Lords of Harmony // by Whinifree //------------------------------// With eyes tingling and sweat streaming down her brow, Twilight followed her friends as they hurried down the palace corridors. Her thoughts raced about her mind at a pace that was matched only by the winds that hammered against the windows, and all along the way, they were passed by palace guards galloping in a panicked clamor. After several minutes, the ponies passed through the large archway at the end of the hall and stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the palace's main entrance. As thunder rolled through the air, the gales slammed against the ponies and made their manes fly in the gusts. They covered their eyes against the brightness that flashed all around them, and turning their attention to the sky, the ponies watched in dread as thick, ghostly-white clouds swirled above the entirety of the Crystal Empire. At the center of the maelstrom was a large, dark orb. Waves of energy skittered across the orb's surface like snakes, and bolts of lightning erupted from its depths with every passing second. Twilight's heart sunk. She lowered her gaze, and through the flashes and the sting of the wind, she spotted a massive, dark, rocky-looking creature looming before her. It stood with its side turned to the palace, and was seemingly staring down at the masses of ponies huddled together in the streets. From her vantage point, Twilight noticed that the balcony sat at the same height as the behemoth's waist. She glanced down at its large, sinister claws, then slowly scanned up along its full stature which rose several meters above them, pausing when she beheld two cloaked, horned figures rested atop the creature's thick shoulder. Before any of the ponies could speak, Twilight ushered them back through the archway and around the corner into the palace corridor. She immediately turned to Cadance and peered deep into her eyes. “Get the Crystal Heart out of here. Now!” Cadance gazed back at her in shock. “What?” “That orb in the sky is the same anomaly that appeared out by the Everfree Forest,” said Twilight. “And that giant creature is the same one that arrived there after the orb emerged. It's all in that letter Princess Celestia wrote to me.” “I can't just leave you all here to fight that thing on your own. It's my duty to defend this city.” “Sis, please listen to me.” Twilight gave Cadance a firm stare. “We know that thing answers to Nightmare Moon just as the shadow ponies do. We know Nightmare Moon's after the Elements of Harmony but failed to get them last time. If the Animus are coming here, we must assume that she's after the Crystal Heart as well.” “The Crystal Heart's never left the city. Without it, the Crystal Empire will lose the thing that makes it itself.” Cadance paused briefly and glanced down with a look of sadness forming in her eyes. “Just like not too long ago when Sombra reappeared on our very doorstep...” Twilight frowned and put a hoof gently upon Cadance's shoulder. “Nothing's been the same ever since Nightmare Night. I think the time for being conservative has long since passed.” Cadance kept her head down, but after a moment, she glanced sidelong back at Twilight. “How do we know this isn't another trap by Nightmare Moon to capture you or me or any of us like she did Luna?” “Well...” said Twilight with a sigh, “I guess we don't... Regardless, keeping the Crystal Heart here now is a risk we simply cannot afford. Take it and Spike and get them to you-know-where.” “Wait, what?" Spikes eyes widened, and giving Twilight a pleading gaze, he tightly gripped her foreleg in his little claws. “No! I want to stay with you guys!” “This is far too dangerous, Spike.” “But...” “I'd never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you.” She wrapped her forelegs around the young dragon and rubbed the back of his head. “You'll be much safer if you go with Cadance, and we'll come back for you the first chance we get. I promise.” Cadance nodded and levitated Spike off the ground. She gently set him down on her back then smiled at Twilight. “Don't you worry, I'll make sure they're safe.” “I know. Now go, hurry!” With a last glance toward Twilight and the others, Cadance gave Shining Armor a tender nuzzle then looked back at Spike. “All right, little guy, hold on tight!” The ponies watched quietly as Cadance galloped down the hall with Spike clinging to her neck, but a moment later, Twilight motioned with her hoof for the others to follow her and they proceeded down the winding stairs nearby. They stepped out of the palace and joined the ponies who were huddled together at the foot of the dark behemoth. Twilight looked up, briefly staring into the beast's ghostly eyes before glancing down at the cloaked figures on its shoulder. A red glow formed around one figure's hood and it pulled back, slowly revealing Nightmare Moon. The winds subsided, the flashes coming from the dark orb in the sky ceased, and there was utter quiet across the city. Silently, Twilight watched the two of them as they sat high atop their perch. As the minutes dragged on, the mild chill in the air became nothing compared to the icy tickles that descended her spine, and every breath she took wracked her lungs as the image of Nightmare Moon, her amulet, the dark titan, and Princess Luna burned into her psyche. "Greetings, ponies," said Nightmare Moon. "Lovely night we're having, isn't it?" Every word that the dark mare spoke sent another shiver down Twilight's spine. Nightmare Moon allowed the sound of her voice to fade away into the night. Watching the ponies tremble, she chuckled quietly. "I'm short on time so I'll get straight to the point. My subjects need a place to call home, and this city will be perfect for us. I only wish I could stay and watch, but I have some very important business to attend to elsewhere." With a sneer, she glanced down at Twilight and her friends before nodding to Luna and Entropus. A brief moment later, her horn flared a deep red and she vanished in a burst of dark mist. Twilight stared at the spot on the rocky giant's shoulder that Nightmare Moon had been occupying only moments prior. She turned her gaze to Luna, and time seemed to stand still. “Princess Luna!” Her voice echoed throughout the area, slowly fading away until the devouring silence had returned. Luna gave no reply. From behind the darkness of the hood of her cloak, she peered down at Twilight through the magic, nightmarish red aura that hung over her eyes. Twilight stepped back as Luna's dark stare seemed to pierce into her very soul. She swallowed hard, but as the uneasiness within her deepened, a memory of Luna's bright smile during Nightmare Night flashed in her mind and a warmth broke through the heartache that had plagued her being since the festival. “Luna...” Her voice was soft and serene as a dove. Twilight smiled at Luna and stepped closer as tears began to form in her eyes. “It's me... your friend Twilight Sparkle. You remember me, and Applejack and Pinkie Pie and everypony else, don't you? After Nightmare Night, we promised your sister that we'd find you. She misses you terribly, as do I, my friends, everypony in this city and in all of Equestria. We know the real you is in there somewhere, and we will find a way to save you from whatever dark spell Nightmare Moon has put on you. Please, say something. Anything.” Again, Luna did not respond. She continued to gaze down at the unicorn standing before her. “I don't think she's listening,” said Pinkie. “Princess!” cried Rarity. “You've got to fight it! I know you can!” Twilight's heart quickened but she remained steadfast as she stood there with her legs trembling with fatigue. She prepared to speak again, pausing as she saw Luna's horn glow begin to glow a deep red. Luna pointed at the ponies, then brought her hoof back to it's previous rested position and her horn stopped glowing. “Uh, Twi...” said Applejack, “I got a real bad feelin' about this. Maybe y'all should get back here with us.” Without warning, a large black cloud burst down from the dark orb in the sky which began to extend along the street between the ponies and the rocky giant. Twilight's heart and breaths quickened. Little beads of sweat rolled down her brow as she retreated and rejoined her friends. She groaned, rubbing her eyes and horn as a sharp tingle shot through them. The townsponies shivered, muttering as the dark cloud spread through the city as far as their eyes could see. As the cloud began to surround them, they screamed and galloped through the openings that were quickly disappearing. Shortly after the last of the ponies had escaped and their screams and hoof steps had faded, the cloud closed around Twilight, her friends, and the city guards. Huddling up closer to the others, Twilight watched in horror as countless pairs of small, solid white, ghostly orbs rose up from the ground inside the cloud. The cloud dissipated, leaving a legion of shadow ponies gazing at her and the others. Looking up at the dark behemoth again, she let let out a startled gasp upon seeing that Luna had disappeared and tears began to form in her eyes once more. “Princess...” The fierce winds picked back up, the flashes from the orb in the sky resumed, and the ghostly clouds continued to swirl above the Crystal Empire. Entropus let out a deep growl and the horde of shadow ponies reared themselves. They seemed to glare at the trapped crystal ponies, digging at the road with their dark hooves and they made ghastly wails with each passing second. “We're not gettin' out of this without a fight,” said Applejack. “So we'll give them one they'll never forget,” Rainbow declared with a small snort. “Then after that we'll get tough!” Fluttershy trembled and whimpered uncontrollably. Pinkie patted Fluttershy's shoulder then looked over at Twilight. “C-couldn't the unicorns just zap us all out of here? There's not too many of us.” “Remember what Cadance said, Pinkie,” stated Rarity. “Twilight should avoid using magic until she's recovered.” “Jeez, Rarity, tell the neighborhood!” Rainbow grunted as one of the shadow ponies lunged at her. She whipped around and kicked the creature in its chest, sending it rolling back. The memory of the sharp pain she felt the last time she tried to use magic ran through Twilight's mind. It was quickly followed by another wave of weakness in her legs and she ran her hoof across the scars over her eyes. Reaching up, she gasped and frantically searched all along the top of her mane, but felt nothing there. My Element... I must have left it in my room! And Luna's gone... Rainbow puffed out her chest and stepped forward. She spread her hooves and crouched down, mimicking the stance of the shadow ponies before looking back at her friends and beaming. “Come on, everypony, let's show these beasts what we're made—” "Rainbow, look out!" shouted Pinkie. Shining Armor rushed forward with his horn lit. Startled by Pinkie's cry and Shining Armor's sudden move, Rainbow shot her gaze back to her front just in time to see a magic barrier appear in front of her. Before she could react, the right hoof of a shadow pony slammed against the barrier, aimed at Rainbow's left cheek. "Whoa!" she cried as she leaped back and up off the ground, flapping her wings vigorously against the gales. Shining Armor's horn flashed brightly and the assaulting shadow pony was blasted back to the others. "Guards, defensive circle!" At Shining Armor's command, half of the unicorns fanned out and quickly conjured magical barriers that encircled the whole group of Equestrians but left small openings between them. The remaining unicorns stuck their horns through the openings, while the earth ponies and the pegasi tightened their grip on their spears. Entropus pointed at the trapped Equestrians and let out a roar that overpowered the winds. Standing up on their back hooves, the shadow ponies kicked at the air and charged forward. Loud cracks began to whip through the air as the guard ponies fired magic bolts through the small openings between the barriers in a never ending stream. Several shadow ponies were knocked back at each spot, causing the ones behind them to stumble into a pile, but the ones to the sides weaved around and threw themselves against the guards' magic walls like a flood. With each impact, they pulled back and rushed again. The ones struck by the guards' attacks got back to their hooves and rejoined the assault, seemingly unfazed by any bruises that their dark coats hid from view. Remaining huddled together with her friends in the center of the space, Twilight wiped the sweat from her brow as she glanced all around. "What are we going to do?" whimpered Fluttershy. "We can't hold them off forever." "I... I don't know, darling," said Rarity with a frown. "There's so many of them." Rainbow grumbled and let out a snort. "My kingdom for a weapon..." "Twilight," said Applejack, giving Twilight a hopeful stare, "there's got to be some way to use the Elements without all of them present. Please tell me there's a way." Twilight felt the top of her head once more. Her ears drooped and she sniffled. "If there is, I am unaware of it." "What's wrong with the ground?" cried Pinkie. Twilight glanced at Pinkie before looking at the ground and her eyes widened. The ground beneath the ponies within the barrier had turned a ghostly white, and little puffs of pitch black smoke shot up from the glow like miniature geysers. Before anypony could move, a powerful magic force exploded beneath them and they screamed as they were launched into the air in every direction along with a number of the shadow ponies immediately around them. The crash of the explosion mixed with the rush of the winds and screams of the ponies, bombarding Twilight's ears and they began to ring. She flailed her limbs as she sailed, but as quickly as she had been blasted away, she felt herself hit the ground and roll several yards. Coming to a stop, she remained motionless as she lay on her side and a soreness abounded all through her. Her horn tingled once more and all sound suddenly became muffled. She opened her eyes, but everything was solid white except for a dark, cloaked figure that loomed over her, and blinking a few times, the face of Princess Luna slowly came into view. A nightmarish red aura hung over Luna's horn that matched the one that overlay her eyes. The glow around her horn faded, and she stared down at Twilight darkly. "Princess?" mumbled Twilight. After a moment, Luna's image and the white space disappeared. Briefly, she clenched her eyes shut and her vision returned to clarity. She saw no sign of her friends or any of the city guards, only shadow ponies on all sides glaring down at her, neighing and stamping their hooves. After a moment, she rose to her hooves, but her legs trembled the entire way. One of the shadow ponies charged. Twilight yelped as the shadow pony's head crashed into her and she fell back down to the ground. A throbbing pain and a deep heaviness manifested in her chest on the spot where the shadow pony's attack connected. A bit of sweat ran down her brow, and she took several labored breaths. After a moment, a familiar voice reached her ears through the chaos. “Get out of my city, you vile fiends!” Twilight opened her eyes in time to see a large turquoise beam shoot down and strike the ground before her, sending the whole group of Animus around her rolling back in the resulting explosion. With the soreness and fatigue in her legs too great to allow her to stand, Twilight turned her head to the sky. She spotted Princess Cadance flying overhead and a wave of relief ran through her. Seeing Twilight down as well as an opening to get to her, all of her friends rushed over and formed a protective circle around her. Entropus roared and dark crystals erupted from its rocky knuckles, launching them at high-speed at Cadance. Battling against the wind, she narrowly avoided them and shot several magic blasts at the dark titan. It knocked the bolts away with one claw, then brought its other claw down over her. Cadance dodged the swipe, but backed away from the behemoth and flew down, landing in front Twilight and her friends. Without hesitation, Shining Armor conjured a magical barrier that quickly grew to envelop the ponies. Within the safety of Shining Armor's shield, Twilight smiled at Cadance as she and Fluttershy helped her rise to her hooves. “You've got great timing.” “Sorry I'm late!” said Cadance. “I was afraid that...” Twilight's ears drooped as the aftermath of the Animus attack on Ponyville during Nightmare Night replayed in her mind. “It's such a relief you're safe. And Spike, and the Heart?” Cadance nodded comfortingly. “Both safe. I put a cloaking spell over the place as an extra measure.” Keeping his horn aglow, Shining Armor wrapped his forelegs around his wife as if he never wanted to let go. Cadance beamed and returned the tender embrace, rubbing the stallion's mane. “Uh, guys," Rainbow said, panting lightly. "I get that this is a big family moment and all, but..." The shadow ponies screeched all around as they threw themselves against the barrier in a never-ending fury. “Where did Nightmare Moon go?” asked Cadance. “She left,” said Twilight. She winced as the pain in the bruise on her chest caught up with her again, and she leaned against Pinkie for support while more sweat ran down her brow. She took several breaths and kept her hoof held against the bruise. “Same with Luna, and just as Princess Celestia described, Luna's under a powerful dark spell. I tried to talk to her, but I don't know if she could hear me.” Cadance gave Twilight an inquisitive look. “Well, that doesn't make any sense. Why would she be absent when her minions are attack—” She suddenly went quiet and held a hoof to her chin as she looked down at the ground. Twilight furrowed her brow. “Cadance? What is it?” She peered at Twilight. “I just had the strangest hunch... We need to get back to the palace immediately.” “The palace?” inquired Applejack, panting heavily. “Why there?" “No time to explain.” Cadance's horn glowed bright. “I'm going to mass teleport us. Careful, the landing may be a little bumpy.” Suddenly, Fluttershy screamed and clung to Applejack, pointing up and out. Applejack let out a grunt. "Fluttershy, what are—" She immediately went quiet and her mouth hung open. "Uh, ponies, we're in big trouble. Emphasis on big..." Everypony turned their attention in the direction Fluttershy was pointing and Twilight froze. Through the magic, translucent wall that separated them from the shadow ponies, she spotted Entropus aiming its balled up fist at them. Four large, dark crystals were protruding from its knuckles. "Go..." muttered Twilight, glancing at Cadance. "Go!" The ponies became engulfed in a bright turquoise light as the crystals shot from the titan's fist and flew toward them with lightning speed. The world around them turned to darkness and they felt their hooves leaving the ground. A split second later, there was a loud boom. A wave of magical energy washed over Twilight, and her heart plummeted when a pained cry from Shining Armor reached her ears as Cadance's teleportation spell sent them flying through the abyss. The ponies yelped as the force of the mass teleportation sent them tumbling across a smooth, hard surface. Twilight groaned as she struggled to find the strength to raise her hoof to rub her throbbing head. Opening her eyes, she saw that Cadance's spell had relocated them to the halls of the palace's upper floor. She could hear the faint cries of the battle that raged on out in the city, but other than herself and her friends, the corridor was deserted. “It's been a while since I had a landing like that after teleporting.” Cadance rose to her hooves and shook herself off before helping Twilight up and nuzzling her. “Sorry. It gets more difficult when moving whole groups at once, plus I did it in haste.” She glanced around at the others, all of whom were still collapsed on the floor. “Everypony okay?” “Still in one piece over here,” said Applejack. “Feelin' kind of dizzy though.” Pinkie wobbled back and forth and leaned against the wall for support. “My head feels like it's been through a blender!” “Teleportation takes some getting used to,” stated Twilight. “First time I did it... Well, that's a story for a more appropriate time.” Twilight shook her head gently and the dizziness lessened. After a moment, she gasped as she spotted the collapsed form of Shining Armor nearby, and the excitement just moments prior came flooding back to her. She stumbled over to him and began to examine him. "Shiny? BBBFF?" Cadence soon joined Twilight's side, her face stricken with the same fearful guise as Twilight. She knelt down, put her hoof to Shining Armor's shoulder, and rubbed her cheek against his. "Honey?" The stallion's eyes remained closed and he was quiet. Suddenly, he gasped and took a deep breath which turned into labored panting. His horn flickered on and off, and little jolts of magical static danced around it. "My love..." muttered Cadance. "Can you feel anything? Can you talk? Please, say something!" Twilight watched the flickering of static around her brother's horn then glanced at Cadance. "He seems fine, but it looks like those crystals knocked out his barrier just before we were relocated here." "And since he was still channeling it when it was broken, it was like a blow to his gut..." Cadence kept her hoof on Shining Armor's shoulder and slid her other foreleg underneath his head, lifting him up gently into her protective embrace. Shining Armor's labored breaths slowed to a softer pace and his eyes opened part way. Everypony watched with bright smiles as the stallion turned his head and gazed straight up into the loving eyes of his wife and sister. "What happened?" Twilight rubbed Shining Armor's head. "Those crystals the giant beast threw at us hit your barrier so hard that it broke." "I've never felt anything so strong before," said Shining Armor as he rose to his hooves with the help of the others, briefly running his hoof over his tingling horn. "It does take a pretty powerful punch to break a magical barrier," stated Twilight, giving her big brother a hug. "Are you strong enough to stand on your own?" Shining Armor nodded and returned the embrace. "I'm okay. Don't you worry, little sis." The ponies all turned to face Cadance, each of them giving her a questioning stare. “So,” Rainbow said, “you didn't answer Applejack's question. What makes you think Nightmare Moon would be in here? What's so special about this place?” Rarity nodded in equal curiosity. “Yes. What else besides the Crystal Heart could draw Nightmare Moon to the palace?” Twilight stared sidelong at Cadance and she furrowed her brow. Hold on... Could she mean...? “It'll be easier if I showed you...” Cadance's tone was flat and she kept her gaze down. “We must hurry.” “Hold up!” said Twilight. “I think I know what you're talking about, but there's something I need to check first. In my panic over the appearance of the Animus, I left my Element of Harmony in my room. I need to make sure it's still there.” “Then let's get this cattle-drive a-movin'!” cried Applejack. With Cadance and Shining Armor helping her stand, Twilight began to move down the empty hallway as fast as she could while the others followed behind. Before long, they came to Twilight's room. She hobbled over to her bed, reached down, and pulled her saddlebag out from under the nightstand. Taking a deep breath, she opened the bag and beheld the ornate crown. She let out a deep sigh and picked up the Element. “Thank Celestia! Okay, now let's get back to our other business!” Keeping the Element of Magic firmly grasped in one foreleg, she took Cadance's hoof and made her way back to the others. The ponies exited the room and headed through the corridor, turning the corner that led into the palace's inner reaches. They could no longer hear the commotion outside, but the sound had been replaced with the echoes of their hoof steps. The passage was shrouded in shadow but for the soft glimmer from the gem lanterns affixed to the wall. As they moved further, Twilight turned her attention to Cadance and she frowned slightly. There's only one thing in this palace beside the Crystal Heart she could be thinking of. It has to be a certain door, and if that's so, then this is even bigger than we first thought... After several minutes, the ponies came to a small archway, through which was a winding staircase. There were no lanterns in the stairwell, and the stairs went down further than the ponies could see. “Follow close,” said Cadance as she stepped through the arch and lit her horn to guide the way through the darkness. “You mean... go down the dark-stairs-of-ultimate-terror?” Fluttershy began to quiver and backed up until she hit the wall behind her. “Couldn't I wait here?” Rarity walked up alongside Fluttershy and put her foreleg over her in a gentle embrace. “I know you're scared, darling, but we need you with us. We're all in this together, just like Princess Celestia said.” “Yeah,” Rainbow said. “Besides, if you want to stay up here, then you'll be all alone in this cold, dark, back hall while the rest of us are down there, and there's no telling how long we'll be down there for." Rainbow batted Fluttershy's shoulder and gave her a questioning grin. Fluttershy gulped, but after several moments, she stepped back into the group and everypony beamed brightly. “You see, Fluttershy,” Rainbow stated. “You're pretty tough... when you want to be...” The ponies chuckled and followed Cadance through the arch. They went utterly silent as they finally reached the bottom of the stairwell, coming to a small circular room. The air seemed to close in around them. The only things that could be seen were the crystals that decorated the wall and the spaces that were illuminated by Cadance's magic light. Fluttershy stood in the center of the group, ears drooped and shivering worse than before. The fur on the back of Twilight's neck stood while dark memories pushed themselves to the forefront of her mind, overpowering every other thought that attempted to surface. “There's nothing here,” said Rarity. “Yes there is...” Twilight raised her hoof, aiming it at a spot on the wall opposite the stairs. Everypony turned to look at the spot that Twilight and Cadance were pointing at. They beheld a small door with a singular gem adorning the very top of it. “What's through there?” Rarity took a few steps toward the door. Shining Armor's horn lit up and he stopped Rarity where she stood with his magic. “Hold up there. That's no ordinary door. That's King Sombra's door...” Silence came crashing down upon the room. “Um...” stuttered Fluttershy, “did you just say—” “Yes.” Shining Armor's horn stopped glowing. Released from the binding magic, Rarity looked back at the door and slowly retreated. Cadance took a deep breath. “During his cruel reign, King Sombra put this door here. There are dark enchantments on it. If anypony tries to pass through, their worst fears are shown to them. In addition, the pony becomes lost in the vision, making them think all of their worst fears have come true. This makes it the perfect place to hide things.” “It's where the Crystal Heart was hidden during Sombra’s recent attempted return,” said Twilight. “If Spike hadn't been there to help pull me out the vision that Cadance described, I never would have been able to get past the door.” Cadance nodded at Twilight then returned her attention to the others. “I was afraid that Nightmare Moon would be down here attempting to reconfigure the magic on the door for her own purposes, or simply to draw the magic out of the door and into herself.” The ponies all nodded in understanding. “Well, she's not here,” stated Applejack. “But if she ain't here then where could she be?” Twilight's gaze had not left the door for the entire time her friends were talking, staring at it with an intense uneasiness that grew deeper with each passing second. “I wouldn't say that just yet, Applejack...” Everypony gave Twilight a questioning stare, and several tense moments ticked by before any of them were able to overcome their reservation. “Come again?” asked Applejack. “I was just thinking about something Nightmare Moon said on Nightmare Night, when I encountered her in the Old Ruins.” Pinkie hopped over and peered into Twilight's eyes. “Didn't you say she said several really freaky things?” “She did.” Twilight pulled her attention away from the door, rubbing her foreleg slowly as she glanced between them. “What I'm referring to here... 'I walk this path now. Down the dark corridor, to the place where things go to disappear.'” She looked over at the spiraling staircase and then at the door. “We just went 'down a dark corridor.' And, Cadance, you just said that Sombra's magic door is a great place to hide things. If you ask me, that sounds like one way of saying it's a 'place where things go to disappear...'" “What are you gettin' at there, Twi?” asked Applejack. “I'm getting the strangest feeling that this door leads to more places than a secret staircase to the top of the palace...” Twilight paused for a moment. "What kind of places?" mumbled Fluttershy. "Wait, don't answer that. I don't want to know. It can't be any place good." “So is Nightmare Moon beyond this door or not?” asked Applejack. “She could be, but there's one problem with that theory: if she was wanting to sneak in here to get to this door, she could have done so without all the smoke and mirrors going on outside.” Rainbow let out a sigh. “So then where is she?” “Outside, she made it pretty clear that she intends to take the city. She's here in the palace, in the place where things go to exert their power. Specifically, waiting for us in the throne room.” “You're kind of scaring me in your own way, Twilight,” Rainbow said. “For about a half-second there you sounded a little bit like her.” Twilight blushed and put her hoof over her mouth. “Oh, sorry.” “So I guess our next stop is the grand hall,” declared Applejack, rubbing the Element of Honesty around her neck. The ponies retreated to the stairs and began their ascent while Rainbow hovered slightly above them. Silence abounded as the floor disappeared underneath the darkness below. Before long, the ponies passed through the arch back into the palace hall. “Twilight...” said Applejack in a low voice and watching her. “I'm right positive that Nightmare Moon is fixin' to fight us just like the first time. Do you think y'all are well enough to use your Element?” Twilight stared down as she led the ponies through the barely lit hall, and her heart hastened as the stairs leading down to the bottom floor came into view. She slid the Element of Magic onto her head and breathed deeply. “Even if I'm not, I have to try. For Equestria's sake and Luna's.” The ponies proceeded down the stairs and turned a corner, inching their way toward the grand hall. As it came into view, they paused. The large ornate doors stood wide open for them like an invitation, and slowly, they glanced between each other. As they entered the chamber, the serene light from the crystals on the walls greeted them but it was drowned out by the bright light that rapidly flashed through the windows. A red carpet ran along the shimmering floor to a raised platform at the back of the hall. At the top of the dais sat a solitary throne amidst several large crystalline obelisks. Scanning the length of the hall, its emptiness bore into Twilight, but her heart hastened as her horn and eyes began to tingle. “Okay, this is getting stupid,” Rainbow said with a loud huff. “She's not here either. She's totally messing with us!” “That I am...” Everypony jumped as the sinister voice echoed throughout the grand hall. Twilight groaned and sat down, rubbing her eyes and horn as the tingling became worse. She peeked her eyes open and beheld a cloud of dark mist come down from the shadows in the ceiling, watching as it glided around and between her and her friends like a snake. After several moments, it slithered over to the throne and gathered upon itself. Nightmare Moon emerged from the cloud, standing tall atop the dais with the Alicorn Amulet around her neck, and with a large dark cloak covering her large frame from the base of her neck down over her flanks. Her blue helmet and the armor plates covering her hooves glistened in the dim light of the chamber's lanterns. Her misty, star-laden mane and tail flowed behind her, a fiendish red glow shone within her eyes, and she peered down at the ponies with a dark grin upon her face. “Do you know how long I've been waiting?” she asked. “I was beginning to think you wouldn't think to look for me here. It should have been obvious.” Rainbow glared at Nightmare Moon and spread her legs apart into a combative stance. “How about we forget the small talk and skip to the part where we kick your backside into oblivion where you belong! We did it once, and we'll do it again!” “That sounds just dandy to me!” cried Applejack, mimicking Rainbow's pose. Nightmare Moon stared at the two of them through half-open eyes. “What's the point of getting my long-coming revenge if I can't mess with my victims?” She chuckled then sneered. “So, yeah. I was bored and it was fun.” Every memory of Nightmare Moon and the encounter with her several years prior assaulted Twilight all at once. The dark alicorn's twisted laughter echoed across the valleys of Twilight's mind as she gazed upon her, and sweat poured down her brow at a speed matched by the pounding in her chest. After several moments, she turned her focus down to the Alicorn Amulet. “So here we are again,” said Nightmare Moon, her tone darkening. “The little ponies who foiled my carefully-laid plans before. You got lucky in our last encounter, but this time...” She closed her eyes and placed her hoof on the Alicorn Amulet. “With this gift I have a new ally.” Twilight raised an eye ridge. 'Gift?' 'Ally?' That doesn't sound like the Nightmare Moon I remember... “At long last I have the power I need to forge a new beginning for my subjects,” Nightmare Moon continued. “The magic of this land will sustain us, and I will finally be worthy of their love and admiration.” Rainbow huffed and spread her wings, rising into the air while rubbing her Element of Loyalty. “Bla bla bla! Maybe I didn't make myself clear the first time. Nopony here gives a flying feather what you have to say! Come on, ponies, let's give it everything we've got, and this time she's going to stay gone!” Twilight glanced to the left and then to the right as the others formed up on either side of her with herself in the center of the line. Even in Fluttershy, Twilight could see it: the fire in her friends' eyes, the unfaltering strength of their stance. The longer she observed, the brighter a glimmer of hope shone through the darkness that surrounded her spirit. Without tilting her head, she cast her gaze upward in the direction of her aching horn as she felt the Element of Magic gently digging into her mane. I have to try... For Luna's sake and Equestria's... She took a deep breath and summoned the same determined look that her friends wore, peering into Nightmare Moon's dark and fearsome eyes. “Rainbow's right. We've wasted enough time talking. There's a time for action and it's now! You're going to pay for what you've done to Princess Luna, to Equestria, and this time you will be locked away for good, never to hurt anypony else ever again!” The warmth returned to Twilight as the familiar tide of magical energy began to flow through her, mingling with the resonant energies of the Element of Magic. Cadance and Shining Armor's horns lit up. The other five Elements turned aglow, and an aura of light formed around each of Twilight's friends that corresponded with the color of their Element. The glow around the ponies merged into a single field that gave off a brilliant white light with rainbow-colored undertones and also grew to envelop Cadance and Shining Armor. Nightmare Moon stood still at her spot near the crystal throne, grinning as she watched. She crouched down into a combative pose and waved her hoof at the ponies tauntingly. The warmth within Twilight deepened, but after several moments, her horn began to sting, and she winced as little bolts of lightning shot from the tip. Something's wrong... The energy won't expand any further. My scars from the Crystal Heart zapping me must still be interfering with my magic. The Elements won't be at full strength. She groaned. I can't push any harder... It hurts! A large stream of translucent, rainbow-colored energy burst from the field of light and blitzed toward Nightmare Moon. As she stared at the beam, the same nightmarish red aura that shown about her eyes formed around the Alicorn Amulet and then her horn. There was a loud explosion followed by a blinding flash and a rush of wind. Closing her eyes and turning her head to the side, Twilight held the Element of Magic against her head and pushed against the floor with her free legs as the wind collided with her. A second later, her body went numb save for the stinging pain in her horn and in the scars over her eyes. “Ha ha, take that!” Rainbow cried. “That's what happens when you mess with Equestria!” “How do you like them apples?” Applejack let out a cheer and smirked as she and Rainbow knocked hooves together. Pinkie bounced up and down before pulling Rarity and Fluttershy into a hug. “Who's bad? Uh huh! We're bad!” Cadance and Shining Armor chuckled and gave each other a tender nuzzle. Twilight continued to stare forward, sweating hard and breathing deeply as her friends celebratory enthusiasm passed over her without taking root. The light from the Elements of Harmony faded, and the ponies froze with their mouths hanging open. Nightmare Moon lie at the bottom of the stairs. She appeared to be bruised, but giving the ponies a dark grin, she rose to her hooves and dusted herself off. “You can't do that!” cried Pinkie as she grabbed hold of Fluttershy and clung to her. “That's not fair!” Applejack shivered and gulped. “It-it just ain't possible!” Twilight's heart sunk. “No...” she muttered under her breath. She fell to her stomach as the muscles in her legs gave out. and staring at her reflection in the crystalline floor, tears formed in her eyes. If only I hadn't had that mishap with the Crystal Heart I would have been strong enough to save Luna. I used every last ounce of strength I had, but it still wasn't enough... I've failed... I've really failed! Nightmare Moon let out a loud cackle. “Fools! Did you honestly think it would be so easy? Did we forget that I have the Alicorn Amulet on my side?” The ponies trembled and moved closer together. "I was merely using you to test my new trinket,” Nightmare Moon continued, her voice getting firmer with each passing moment. “And it turns out that not even the legendary Elements of Harmony can stand up to it. I really shouldn't be so surprised. I possess the power of the very heart of malice itself!” Nightmare Moon's horn lit up and the floor beneath each of the ponies became covered in a pitch-dark mist. Before anypony could move, the mist burst up from underneath them, growing until it towered over them. Each of the eight clouds took the shape of a four-pronged claw and quickly closed its talons around one of the eight ponies, wrapping around them like snakes. Twilight cried out as the mist grabbed hold of her. Although it looked like a cloud, it felt extraordinarily solid. Twilight squirmed and fidgeted, but the mist didn't relent. It expanded further, covering her mouth and drowning out her whimpering before lifting her into the air. The screams of her friends also faded as the clouds mimicked this power over each of them as well. Twilight inhaled deeply as the mist pressed its talons against her flesh more, tightening its grip and making it difficult for her to breathe. All fell silent for the unicorn, but a moment later, one of the cloud's talons poked the top of Twilight's head and a ghostly voice whispered inside her mind. “So many new faces... and one familiar...” Twilight's heart raced as the voice echoed. She continued to struggle in the mist's clutches, but lacking any form of strength, she was resolved to her captivity. The voice spoke again. “Come, little one. Give in to your fear as I feast upon it...” Nightmare Moon's dark grin grew as she watched the scene unfold. She approached the ponies, moving her attention from one to the next and chuckling at the terror upon their faces. “Come, my little ponies. Fly with me.” The clouds pulled the ponies forward, following Nightmare Moon through the main doors and onto the balcony outside. Nightmare Moon flew high up into the air and the clouds followed suit, coming to a hovering position above the palace's main entrance. Through the cracks in the mist, Twilight briefly observed the swirling ghostly white clouds in the sky. Unable to turn her head against the gripping force of the magic mist claw holding her, she shifted her gaze first to the dark titan Entropus, then to the claws holding Cadance, Shining Armor, Fluttershy, and Applejack. Down on the city streets, she beheld the guard ponies completely buried underneath the hordes of Animus. From her place in the air, she saw that the ranks of the shadowy creatures extended beyond the city limits, and her thoughts returned to Luna then to Celestia. Forgive me... I've failed... Nightmare Moon took one quick look around before looking down at the trapped palace guards. “Ponies!” The call rang in Twilight's ears and burned into her mind as it echoed across the city. “Your champions have fallen! The power of the Alicorn Amulet reigns supreme!” Twilight winced as Nightmare Moon laughed aloud and the sea of shadow ponies wailed in unison. She closed her eyes and tears flowed from them at a steady pace. But suddenly, she heard Nightmare Moon grunt, and she opened her eyes in time to see her roll to the side as a large, golden bolt of magic streaked past her. Straining to see through the mist and her own tears, Twilight saw a winged figure quickly approaching that revealed itself to be Princess Celestia and her heart lifted a little. Flapping her wings furiously and glaring, Celestia aimed her horn at Nightmare Moon and shot another large, golden beam. Nightmare Moon dodged the second bolt and returned to her original spot in front of Twilight and her other captives. The expression on her face darkened, but kept a hint of the triumphant glee she wore earlier. “You're too late, Princess. This city belongs to me and my subjects now!” “Release my ponies at once!” shouted Celestia. “You are hardly in a spot to be making threats, but since you asked nicely... Catch!” Twilight let out a muffled yelp as the deep red aura around Nightmare Moon's horn flared brightly. The mist claw pulled her back then threw her forward with great force. Screaming, she flailed her legs as she hurtled through the air at high speed. A split second later, she was enveloped in a golden light. There was a loud pop, and everything went dark. Twilight grunted under her breath as she landed on a soft, grassy surface. She felt no ounce of strength whatsoever all throughout her body. “It's them!” called a nearby voice. A clamoring of hooves reached Twilight's ears that was immediately followed by excited but fearful chattering. Opening her eyes, everything was all blurry, and blinking several times did nothing to fix her vision. “They look pretty hurt,” the voice continued. “Quick, get them to the emergency tents!” Twilight felt herself being lifted off the ground. After a moment, her vision cleared up and revealed the golden armors of Canterlot city guards all around her, carrying her down a crowded moonlit street. Aided by the gentle glow of the streetlamps, she saw other groups of guards carting her friends, all of whom appeared to be as beaten and battered as herself. She winced as a hard pounding assaulted her head and her legs all tingled. As the guards carried her and the others into the city's western district, a gathering of ponies in the middle of numerous large tents came into Twilight's view. The normally glistening colors of the crystal ponies' manes, tails, and eyes were darkened and pale. Many of them were huddled together; sniffling, murmuring, and trembling greatly. Their ears, manes, and tails were drooped. Small groups of Canterlot ponies sat among them, frowning and patting the refugees' shoulders. Scanning the area, Twilight's eyes swelled with tears and she looked away. The guards carried the ponies into one of the empty tents and proceeded to gently lay them down on the beds within. Once they were all set, they placed the Element of Magic on a small table and retreated from the tent. Other than the shaken mutterings from the ponies outside, there was silence throughout the room. “I still can't believe it...” said Applejack dejectedly after several moments of silence. “We actually lost.” Rainbow scoffed. “Nightmare Moon caught us off guard. She got lucky... That's all... End of story...” “Those poor ponies,” stated Pinkie. “Normally I'd do something wild and wacky to try and lighten the mood, but...” Rarity let out a weak cough. “I hear you, darling. They've lost their home. There is literally nothing for them to feel happy about right now. Same for us...” “I can hardly feel let alone move anything,” said Shining Armor. “Whatever that magic mist was it must have been a powerful draining spell.” “I think we all figured as much.” Applejack sighed. “I can't really feel or move anything either.” The sound of more ponies arriving breached the tent and the chattering outside grew louder but remained grim. The door flaps to the tent opened and Princess Celestia strode in, followed by two unicorn mares who both wore a white hat with a white cross inside a red circle. Slowly, the nurses moved around the room and stopped at each bed. They pulled the blankets over the ponies, wiped their forehead with a damp towel, fluffed their pillow, and gave them a drink of water. When they reached Rainbow's bed, the pegasus let out a snort but the nurse ponies proceeded with their tasks despite Rainbow's protests. Rainbow grumbled as one of the nurses put a wet towel to her forehead. “Really... I'm fine...” With a deep frown upon her countenance, Celestia followed behind the nurses and nuzzled Twilight and the others. “We'll be back in an hour to check up on you poor dears again,” said one of the nurse ponies. They bowed to Celestia, placed the towels and cups on their pushcart, and exited the tent. “Celestia,” said Cadance in a weak voice. “My ponies, are they...” “Yes,” Celestia replied. “They're outside, every single one I saw. That's why it took me so long to get there. I encountered them on my way there and brought them back here. I'm afraid I didn't have time to look for more of them. I can only assume that some fled to other parts or went into hiding. I'm sure they're okay.” Cadance nodded in understanding as a couple of tears ran down her cheeks and she beckoned Celestia closer with a weak motion of her head. “Spike and the Crystal Heart are still up there. We had to hide them for their own safety.” At the mention of Spike, Twilight's heart plummeted again and she clenched her tear-filled eyes shut even tighter. Celestia walked up to Cadance and gazed down at her intently. “Where are they? I will retrieve them.” Before Cadance could respond, one of the Canterlot unicorn guard ponies poked his head into the tent and dipped it before Celestia. “A thousand pardons for the interruption, Princess, but there's a mare here asking to see you as well as Miss Twilight Sparkle and her friends.” Celestia turned her attention to the guard and stared at him quizzically. “See me?” “She says she has information vital to the war effort. Information about Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna, and the Alicorn Amulet.” Rarity gasped. “Could it be?” Twilight's eyes flew open and the flow of tears lessened to a slow trickle before stopping completely. “Let her in!” she cried as loud as she could, “Princess Celestia, help me turn around so I can see the door!” Celestia watched as Twilight weakly fidgeted under the bed sheets. After a brief moment, her horn lit up and she gently rolled Twilight and the others over in their beds so that they were all facing the door. She returned her attention to the guard and nodded. Twilight locked her gaze upon the tent's entrance. The guard pulled back behind the door, holding the flaps open and a blue unicorn with a white and light-blue striped mane and tail entered. Her ears were drooped, and she wore a deep frown upon her countenance. Twilight beamed. “Trixie.” "Wait," said Celestia. "Before you say anything, I must ensure that Spike and the Crystal Heart are safe. I'll be back soon." Celestia's horn lit and she disappeared in a bright flash. Nopony said anything during Celestia’s absence, leaving an awkwardness hanging in the air as Trixie just stared fearfully at Twilight and the others. A little while later, Celestia reappeared carrying Spike on her back. "Twilight!" cried Spike. With tears in his eyes, the young dragon leaped onto Twilight's bed, set the Crystal Heart aside, and threw his arms around her. "You guys! I was so scared! What happened? Are you all okay?" "Except for the fact that you and the Crystal Heart are safe," stated Twilight, pausing briefly, "it was a total disaster. The Crystal Empire is lost." Rainbow grumbled. "Then we'll just have to take it back." "I was among the ponies that Princess Celestia rescued," said Trixie. Twilight turned her attention back to Trixie, smiling at her. "Yes. You've come to help, just like I knew you would." Trixie beamed, but her smile quickly faded as all eyes fell upon her. Keeping her ears drooped, she stared at the ground. “Twilight, I have been thinking about what you said to me at the stadium yesterday. I did initially want to help, I really did, but I was overwhelmed by horrible memories of when I myself carried the amulet, memories that I wanted to forget..." She swallowed hard, she shook her head, and then lifted her gaze to meet Twilight's. “I was too frightened to do anything, but not anymore. I want to help. I will tell you everything I know.”