The elements of harmony bearers have been replaced by a new younger of ponies who represent both harmony and chaos working together.
Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Chrysalis have all returned, but the elements of harmony cannot defeat any of them. However, six young ponies rise to the challenge and bring forth a new set of elements. The elements of order.
Twilight Sparkle awoke abruptly to Spike yelling, "Twilight! Wake up! Urgent letter from the princess!" She groggily rose out of her bed and slowly dragged herself down the stairs into the main room of the library. "What is it Spike?"
"You'd better read this," Spike said as he held out the letter in question.
Twilight took the letter in her telekinesis and skimmed through its contents quickly. When she had finished reading she said, "Spike, I need you to find Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy and bring them here as fast as you can. Celestia needs all of us in Canterlot as soon as possible."
"On it," Spike yelled over his shoulder as he rushed out the library door.
While she waited for her friends to arrive Twilight brought the Elements of Harmony out of their locked chest and packed a few books in her saddlebags for research on the train ride to Canterlot. It wasn't long before Spike burst in, her five friends trailing behind him. "Listen up girls, Princess Celestia needs us all in Canterlot immediately, so if you need anything from your houses speak now."None of her friends said a word so Twilight dashed out the door and headed to the train station, her friends following as fast as they could.
Half an hour later they were all on the train and Applejack spoke up, "So, Twilight, would you mind telling us why we were all pulled out of our beds this early in the morning with no explanation?"
"Yes, darling, do tell why we were so unceremoniously awoken without even a chance to make ourselves presentable," Rarity said a touch of annoyance in her tone.
Twilight sighed, "All the Princess's letter said was to gather the elements of harmony and get to Canterlot as soon as we could. Here read it for yourselves." She pulled the letter out of her saddlebags and levitated it in front of her friends so they could all read it.
Dear Twilight,
I need you and all the other elements of harmony to come to Canterlot as soon as you can. This is an emergency. Equestria must not fall into the hands of tyranny, chaos, and deceit once again.
Princess Celestia /i]
The train car was silent for a few moments before Rainbow Dash asked, "Whoa, what do you think that meant?"
"Ah've got no idea, but ah'm sure it ain't good," Applejack said matter of factly.
"No idea darling," Rarity tossed her mane dramatically.
"I don't know what it meant, but I hope it'll be fun!," PInkie Pie shouted.
Fluttershy merely whimpered.
Twilight said, "All I can tell is that the Princess has a really important for us and that all we can do is wait for her to tell us."
All five of her friends nodded in agreement just as the train pulled into Canterlot. They all disembarked the train and began to walk toward Canterlot Castle. Everypony was silent during the fairly long walk. At the castle gates, one of the guards said, "Here you are ladies. I have orders to take you to the Princess. Follow me please." All six of the element bearers followed the guard to the throne room whereupon the guard announced their arrival, "The Elements of Harmony, Your Highness." With that he bowed, backed out of the throne room, and shut the doors behind him.
The six bearers of the Elements of Harmony approached the throne and knelt before the Princess of the Day. Princess Celestia rose from her throne and said, "Rise, I need all of you to follow me to a more private room before I explain why I have called you here."
All six ponies diligently got to their feet and walked behind the Princess. Upon their arrival in a small side chamber of the throne room Princess Celestia said, "Please sit and make yourselves comfortable."
After they were all comfortable Twilight Sparkle asked, "If I may ask Princess, why were all summoned here so early in the day."
Celestia said gravely, "Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis have all returned."
All six ponies jaws dropped and Twilight Sparkle said incredulously, "How is that even possible?"
Princess Celestia said, "Before this morning I did not think that such a thing could happen, but it has and I need you ponies to use the Elements of Harmony to save Equestria from becoming a ruin."
Rainbow Dash flew in front of Celestia and asked, "Why won't you tell us how they all returned? Do you even know yourself?"
Celestia sighed, "All right, I'll tell you, but you have to promise that you won't interrupt no matter what you think. Ok?"
The six ponies all nodded their heads in agreement.
Celestia walked over to the window and stood facing the sun as she began to tell her story. "Over the past few weeks I have sensed that Luna was becoming resentful towards me again, but I could not do anything to help because the only free time I have is when she has her own royal duties during the night. Last night when she raised the moon she became Nightmare Moon once again. I was asleep at the time, so I only know what I could find out while waiting for you ponies to arrive. From what I gather she then proceeded as Nightmare Moon to free Discord from his stone prison and together they brought Chrysalis back. I have no knowledge of what they will do nor of what power all three of them combined possess. As they have not done anything yet, I can only hope that the Elements of Harmony can imprison all three of them before Equestria is enveloped by chaos and darkness."
Twilight said, "I promise that we will find them and do what we can to imprison all three of them."
"Thank you, Twilight, but please, if you can, don't send Luna to the moon again. If possible bring her to me, so I can decide an appropriate punishment," the Princess replied a note of worry in her voice.
Twilight nodded, and led the other five Element bearers out of the castle leaving Celestia to her thoughts.
Once they were outside the castle Twilight stopped and pulled out the Elements of Harmony. She magically put the corresponding necklace around each of her friends' necks and the crown on her head. Generosity for Rarity, Honesty for Applejack, Loyalty for Rainbow Dash, Laughter for Pinkie Pie, Kindness for Fluttershy, and Magic for herself. "Where do you think they're hiding, girls?" Twilight asked.
"Ah've got no idea," Applejack said. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy all shrugged, but Pinkie Pie said, "How about right above us."
All six ponies turned their heads skyward and right above them were indeed Discord, Chrysalis, and Nightmare Moon. Discord laughed maniacally and said, "Oh look, the Elements of Harmony are here to take us down again. Isn't that hilarious?"
Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis chuckled as they replied, "Sure looks like it. Oh well, guess we'd all better be prepared for a thousand years of some horrible fate hadn't we?"
"Why are you all laughing like that? Of course the Elements of Harmony are going to defeat you. I don't know why you seem to think otherwise." Twilight shouted.
"Oh, wait, you mean Celestia didn't tell you?" Discord chortled.
"Tell us what?" Fluttershy whimpered.
Chrysalis said, "Wait, she seriously lied to you? I had no idea she had fallen that low."
"This is just too rich." Discord said as he doubled over hysterically laughing.
"What do ya mean Celestia lied to us? She would never do that!" Applejack shouted up at Chrysalis.
"Oh Applejack, you are so naive," Nightmare Moon chuckled, "Of course Celestia lied to you. She would rather keep you in the dark and make you do her bidding rather than ask politely and let you make your own decisions. Here's the true story. Last night, while I was still Luna, I sat on the throne thinking. I was thinking about what Celestia was really like. When I realized how much of a phony she was, I transformed into Nightmare Moon, and went to the library to find out how to bring back Queen Chrysalis. Once I found that information, I teleported to the castle gardens and released Discord from his stone prison. Then together we combined out powers to bring Chrysalis back to Equestria; all three of us went to the Everfree forest where we stayed for the rest of the night up until now. While we were there we plotted what we were going to do to take over Equestria and destroy Celestia once and for all. We also cast a spell that makes us immune to the Elements of Harmony. So, you see, Celestia lied to you, and you cannot hope to defeat us."
The six Elements of Harmony were dumbfounded. Now they did not know who to believe. "Oh girls, what are we going to do?" Twilight asked.