Prologue

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At the beginning, there was nothing. It was all a complete void. In the middle of this void, there was a being whose magic nullified itself due to being the perfect harmony between light and darkness.

Tired of all the emptiness around him, the creature decided it was time to change all that. He freed all his magic, enveloping it around him, and it just exploded, filling the void at a breakneck speed, having the creature as its own center. The filling of the void was abrupt and chaotic. It was complete chaos. For that reason, the center of the universe took a shard of light and molded it to form a maker entity that tried to organize all the chaos from the creation to create order and harmony. For that reason, the maker entity became known as the Lord of Order.

Later, the Center took a piece of darkness and molded it, forming a destructive entity designed to destroy what the maker entity had built, with this one creating chaos and disharmony, so his brother could build again. For that reason, he became known as the Lord of Chaos.

The two then continued their work as creator and destroyer, with one creating, the other destroying and the first creating again. Because they were trapped in a vicious cycle, the pace of the creation didn’t follow the expansion of the universe.

One day, the Lord of Order came to a empty world and decided to harmonize it. Using his magic, he created the sky and the earth, the day and the night, the sun and the moon, the oceans and the continents, as well as the seas and the rivers and only then allowed the existence of life, animal and vegetable. When he was satisfied with his work, that world was dominated by various forms of life, and those who ruled it were the ponies, all of various types: earth ponies, unicorns and pegasus. They all lived in peace.

But as always happens, peace never lasts forever. Like a fly attracted for the fruit, the Lord of Chaos came to that luminous world and was shocked to see how the light had taken that world. Seeing it would take a lot of time to destroy all that creation, he decided that the best thing to do was making the inhabitants destroy themselves. Therefore, using his amazing powers of persuasion and manipulation, he managed to create divisions between the three tribes of ponies.

Seeing what his brother was trying to do, the Lord of Order decided not to let him destroy his latest perfect creation and managed to avoid the war, but was unable to end the mistrust between the three tribes.

Soon, the Lord of Chaos made his evil spirits, the Wendigos, to bring the eternal winter to the divided ponies to freeze their hearts. With this, the Lord of Order was losing control of his own perfect world. But he didn't give up and continued to try to restore the light that once there was there.

It was then that a nomadic group of unicorns called his attention. They were guided by a beautiful young mare named Aurora who, despite the difficult times that her folk was passing and all the evil that was in the air, was generous, compassionate and understanding.

Touched by Aurora’s pure nature, the Lord of Order visited her in dreams, saying he knew a land where she and her folk could be happy. He showed her the way and she tried to guide her folk until they reach the land the Lord of Order indicated.

They became amazed to see a land fertile and full of life. But the most impressive was that the whole earth radiated an immense light and the plants, since the most undergrowth to the highest one, had special seeds that had a shape of a bipyramidal hexagonal crystal and that radiated a pure and white light.

The Lord of Order explained that that was the epicenter of all the positive energy in that world and that he wanted Aurora and her folk to take care and treat that land with all the love and affection and that to reap all the mature seeds and put them under the night sky on the day of each harvest and that they would have their reward.

Aurora and her folk did so. They reaped each of the luminous mature seeds and, when the sun set to start the night, they put the baskets with the seeds exposed to the night sky. To their surprise, the seeds began to rise in the air and to adorn the night sky that only had the moon as adornment. It wasn't long until the sky became completely ornate and luminous with the moon and several bright spots. But then the most wonderful thing happened. All the seeds that the unicorns had planted, while reaping the luminous seeds, grew up and matured in front of their eyes.

The Lord of Order explained that was the reward because they picked the star seeds, that it was how the luminous seeds were called, and delivered them to the sky so they could become stars. He told them that if they did that procedure and they continued to plant their seeds in the soil, the harvest of their food would be extremely abundant, since they continued to demonstrate the pure light of their hearts.

The unicorns did so. They treated and taken care of that land. The normal unicorns, like those of the Princess Platinum’s kingdom, who never "lowed" to the level of the earth ponies, these nomad unicorns had spent too much time hungry and looking for a land to roost that they didn't care about that.

The weeks passed, and soon they become months. Whenever the star seeds matured, they reaped them and left them exposed to the night sky, allowing them to rise up. As soon as the last star seed rose up, the soil allowed their food became plentiful. But that was only the beginning, because something unexpected and at the same time surprising happened: all unicorns of that group began to display the same luminous that the star seeds.

In view of this situation, Aurora invoked the Lord of Order to question him about the subject. He replied saying, as she and her folk treated so well that land, they managed to form a bond with it. He also explained that each living being, every being created by his creation, contained within itself a special star seed that gave it life and existence and the bond with that special soil made the light of the star seed of each one more intense and ethereal, unlike the ephemeral light that most had.

Realizing that the group of unicorns was now one with the cradle of life of their world, the Lord of Order realized it was time to move on to the next phase of his plan to illuminate the dark that was inhabiting there. Then, he showed to Aurora a star seed. This one was different because it had a shape resembling a lotus flower and displayed a brilliant light raspberry light. The Lord of Order said that was the original star seed that gave birth to all the other star seeds of that world. He said to Aurora that he trusted her completely and that he knew she would do anything to protect it and then entrusted her the original star seed which became her own star seed, linking her to every other star seeds. But that was the beginning, as their new star seed also gave her the wings of a pegasus, making her an alicorn. The Lord of Order announced that she would now be a Princess, the Princess of the future kingdom that he wanted her to build at that very place.

Although nervous about the task the Lord of Order had proposed her, Aurora accepted. To help her in that task, the Lord of Order took six special star seeds from other worlds and brought them to the world that he was trying to save. These star seeds were differed from the others because they, like the original star seed, had a perpetual light of a different color, despite their shapes were equal to the shape of the normal ones. From these star seeds, the Lord of Order created six unicorn ponies, three stallions and three mares, each one representing a element of the Order: Peace, Knowledge, Nature, Talent, Music and Affection. They were the Generals of Order and would help Princess Aurora to build the kingdom he desired. Thus, Aurora, the Generals of Order and the other unicorns, now called light ponies, built that kingdom, including a large and beautiful castle that would be the source of its power. This kingdom was the Light Kingdom.

With the Light Kingdom’s formation, Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order spread the light of the Lord of Order throughout the world. It was this light that led the leaders of the three tribes of ponies to the same land. It was this light that opened their hearts. It was this light that made them unite and create a kingdom for both tribes: Equestria.

To strengthen the union of this new Kingdom, the Lord of Order made two alicorn princesses born, princesses who would became Princess Celestia, the one that rose the sun, and Princess Luna, the one that rose the moon. He also created the Crystal Empire in Northern Equestria for the crystal ponies could spread their love through all Equestria to help keep their union.

For many years, the Light Kingdom prospered. Many ponies visited their land, so they could feel its light and to meet its Princess and its Generals. During those years, the light dominated that world again, something that weakened the Lord of Chaos’ influence. He tried to replied, creating the Desolate Zone, the Changelings and their Queen so that they could steal all the love and peace of the ponies, but even that proved to be the height of the power of the Light Kingdom, the source of all harmony. He realized that the only way to conquer that world was dominating the heart of the Light Kingdom and turning it into a source of darkness. It was clear that that heart was the original star seed.

Using all his ingenuity, he managed to corrupt a pony and turn him into his most faithful lackey, giving him incredible powers of darkness. That pony's name was Sombra.

On behalf of his master, Sombra cornered a large number of ponies outside the Light Kingdom and, using a spell that his master taught him, he made their star seeds reveal themselves and, as their light was ephemeral, they lost the light, making their ponies become the dark versions of themselves: the dark ponies. Sombra created an army of dark ponies and he tried to attack the Light Kingdom. But the Generals, predicting his attack, created a protective barrier around the entire perimeter of the kingdom, in order to protect their Princess and all the other light ponies. However, it was only a temporary defense.

Knowing that Sombra and his army would be able to get in and knowing that her Generals would not have enough power to defeat them all, Princess Aurora took the more difficult decision just to protect her kingdom, her subjects and the original star seed. With the help of the Generals, she created a way to accomplish this. But that required a high price, something that she would have to agree.

So, with the power of her star seed, she made all star seeds, from the plants and light ponies, rise up and she stored them in a special sphere, the Jewel of Life, saving it in a secret place in the Castle. Then, she made the Generals' star seed to leave their hosts and spread throughout all Equestria, because, under Celestia and Luna’s care, she knew that no heart belonged to the Chaos couldn’t reach them. Finally, she made her own star seed disappear with its light continuing to illuminate the world, as it was the original star seed. Without the star seeds, all the Light Kingdom, since roads and buildings to plants and the light ponies, turned into hard and indestructible stone, including the Generals. Princess Aurora was the only one who disappeared without a trace. This was price: total petrification of the Light Kingdom and the disappearance of its Princess. When Sombra was able to pass through the magical barrier, there was nothing to conquer. His target had disappeared.

The centuries passed and the Light Kingdom remained silent and hidden from everypony, wrapped by its stone coat, awaiting the arrival of the original star seed to release it.

--------------------------------------

In the present day, Twilight and Blue had just defeated Dark Hole and his Changelings, reversing the King of the Changelings to his pegasus form.

After Chrisalis and her Changelings had left with the defeated foe, Celestia looked to her former student hugged to her beloved one. That made her smile, seeing how happy she was.

It was then that something called her attention. There was somepony watching from afar, hidden. Celestia observed with all her attention and then recognized the pony who was watching everything.

"No, it can’t be" she said to herself. "It's impossible."

She didn't want to believe what her eyes were seeing. It couldn't be.

"Luna" Celestia called.

"Yes, sister?" Luna asked, approaching.

"You don't know that pony over there?" Celestia asked, making a gesture to the unknown pony.

Luna looked and then she stayed with the same air of amazement as their sister’s.

"No, it can't be" she said. "It's impossible."

"That's exactly what I said" Celestia said. "It seems I'm not the only one seeing things."

On the morning after Twilight and Blue’s wedding, Celestia was in the throne room, contemplating one of the windows that contained the picture of Twilight and Blue Sword with their horns launching together a red light against Dark Hole and some Changelings.

Luna then approached her and said:

"This has to be a coincidence. It has to be."

"Therefore, we have to be sure" Celestia replied. "If our suspicions are confirmed, we must act quickly."

It was then that the door of the throne room opened and Blue entered and approached, asking:

"You wanted to see me, Princess Celestia?"

The Petrified Kingdom

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Some time has passed since Blue’s departure to fulfill a mission assigned to him by Princess Celestia.

Blue had caught the train to the South of Equestria, coming out only at the end of the line it was on the southern border. After he got off the train, he ventured in the overseas lands of Equestria. He had never been in those lands. In fact, nopony without a certain amount of courage would venture out on those lands, because the vegetation was too dense and extremely wild. It cost him too much forward, but he always arranged a way to do it. After all, he had to. He had never given up of a mission and he wasn't going to start with that, especially one as important as that.

The morning after his wedding...

Blue entered the throne room of Canterlot castle, finding Princess Celestia and Princess Luna waiting for him.

"You wanted to see me, Princess Celestia?" Blue asked, approaching and making a bow.

"Blue, you don't have to bow" Celestia said. "Now, you're a prince."

"I'm sorry, princess, but my code the Captain contradicts my new status" Blue replied. "I will take some time to get used to it. What do you want to talk with me. "

"It turns out that my sister and I discovered something truly important" Luna said. "Something with gigantic proportions."

By the way Luna spoke, it seemed to be something quite important.

"But what I have to do with that?" Blue asked.

"We need to ask you a favor" Celestia said. "I know that's asking a lot, especially now that you just got married. But, the Shining Armor returned to the Crystal Empire with Princess Cadance, and taking into account the importance of this, we have our only choice. "

There was a pause and then Celestia said:

"We have a mission for you."

That took Blue by surprise.

"A mission?" Blue asked.

"I know what you're thinking" Celestia said. "You just get married and you want to spend as much time as possible with your wife, especially after what happened with Dark Hole and his Changelings. I know you want to go on honeymoon with her. Believe me when I say that this was not what I wanted to happen, especially because it’s Twilight who we’re talking about. But I wouldn't designate this mission if it wasn't really important."

Blue felt himself really a bit outraged with Celestia for she designate him a mission as soon as he had just married with Twilight, but he knew she would never do something like if this wasn't important enough.

"It's okay, princess" Blue said. ''I understand perfectly. What is that mission?"

"We can be to rush into things, but Celestia has convinced me that this could be something quite serious" Luna said.

"We need you adventure beyond the southern border" Celestia said.

"The border that overlooks the dense forest on the other side of MacIntosh Hills?" Blue asked. "Where nobody ventures to go?"

"Precisely" replied Celestia.

"But why?" asked Blue. "What's so important?"

"It's not what there is in there we care about" Luna said. "But what is in the other side."

Blue continued advancing, but the road had become increasingly dangerous. As he progressed, his coat and mane were becoming increasingly misaligned and small scratches were appearing along his body. The fatigue was beginning to take him as he progressed.

It was then that he finally managed to reach the end of that dense forest. He sighed with relief when entering in open field. He felt himself like he just walked out of a cell after spending years inside of it. His hooves were so tired that he couldn't resist and fell to the ground. Waiting to land on soft ground, he didn't bother with his fall, but, for his astonishment, his fall was painful.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, rising a little.

It was then that he noticed that the floor where he grounded was made of hard, grey stone. Then he lifted his head and looked ahead and was stunned by what he was seeing. All that was in front of him was petrified in stone, both soil and plants. In the distance, he could see what appeared to be two great towers, also in stone. Blue smiled slightly. That should be his destination.

He started walking the stone road, contemplating all nature around him completely petrified in stone. There was even petrified animals. It was when he reached his destination, getting completely speechless. It was a huge city, such as the Crystal Empire, completely turned into stone. The ponies who were abroad were transformed into statues, all expressing an air of terror or sorrow. It was then that he came to the center of that sad kingdom where there was a castle. It was very impressive.

It was huge, even bigger than the Canterlot castle, and immensely beautiful. Its base resembled a hoofball stadium, where in the middle there were two gigantic towers and these towers joined themselves near the top by a bridge, where in the middle there was what seemed to be a sphere that should contain a special division. At each end of the back of the castle there was a medium sized tower, taking about half the height of the largest ones, and at each end of the front there was a further small tower. There were no words to describe such beauty. Even under that mantle of stone, its beauty was still impressive.

Continuing the conversation with Celestia and Luna...

"Beyond the dense forest after the southern border, there is what's left of an ancient and powerful kingdom, even older than the own Equestria" Luna said.

"A kingdom still older than Equestria?" Blue asked.

"Yes" Celestia replied. "It was a Kingdom full of love, hope, and, especially, light. The entire kingdom was full of light. It was the source of all that is good in our world, the place where the magic of the Lord of Order entered here. It was called the Light Kingdom."

"I've never heard about this Light Kingdom" Blue said.

"No wonder" Luna said. "This kingdom no longer exists. It disappeared long ago, even before the Crystal Empire disappear."

"But you want me to find it, right?" Blue asked. "A task a little impossible, don’t you think?"

"The Light Kingdom didn't disappear from existence, Blue" Celestia said. "It is still there, but completely petrified in stone, asleep. But we believe that it is trying to wake up. For this reason, we want you to find it. The power of this kingdom is greater than anything that exists today, if it falls into the hands of evil, it can cover the world in darkness."

"But how can you be so sure that this kingdom is trying to wake up?" Blue asked.

Celestia and Luna looked to each other and the oldest waved, saying afterwards:

"It turns out that we have seen a proof that this may be happening. But, Blue, if you accept this mission, you can't tell anypony, not even to Twilight. At least, nothing about the Light Kingdom. This is too important and dangerous."

Blue meditated for a few moments, but then he went on to say:

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, I accepted the mission with pleasure. And you have my word that I won’t to tell anything about the Light Kingdom to anypony, not even to Twilight, at least until I have returned."

Blue advanced to the Castle, with a determined step. He started to climb the stairs of the entrance, facing the gigantic gates, guarded by two stone guards. Before open them, he realized he wouldn't be able to do that, so he decided to use a density shifting spell and went through the door, then entering in the foyer. It was quite impressive and worked. In the middle, there were two spiral staircases that gave to the two great towers.

But what it was the most impressed to him was a figure in relief that there was in a wall, showing in its center a faceless alicorn Princess (perhaps due to some damage caused to the figure she hadn’t a face), surrounded by six ponies bowing before her. They should be the generals that Celestia and Luna told him about. He observed them with attention. What seemed to be the older and stronger, was a stallion wearing an armor, so he should be the General of Peace; the stallion that had glasses and a superior air should be the General of Knowledge; the mare that had leaves adorning her long and fluid mane should be General of Nature; the stallion with a scruffy air with a paint-brush behind the ear should be the General of Talent; the mare with a well-cared mane with a mane clip with a G-clef form should be the General of Music and, finally, the mare who was the youngest, because she was still a filly, and with a mane clip with a heart form should be the General of Affection.

After contemplating that work of art, Blue continued exploring the castle. He advanced through the main hallway, advancing up to his background, where he found a pair of gates. Lucky for him, these were surprisingly open. He passed through them and entered in the throne room. It was magnificent, decorated with lots of gemstones that once should be of various colors. At the bottom, there was an uniquely ornate throne. Carefully, he explored that division, but he didn’t find anything, so he headed to the exit. However, upon arriving outside the throne room, he felt like he was being watched. He looked around, but he didn't see anypony. Would it have been his impression? After all, it was a kingdom full of living statues.

He continued to explore the castle and then he reached the Great Hall and was surprised by what he found. It was completely empty, except for in its center where, in a circle with a six-pointed star centered, it was at each end a petrified pony. Blue approached and contemplated them. That ponies were the same in the figure. Their statue was completely different from the ordinary ones because they look more vivid and had a different color: the General of Peace, Golden Paladin, was yellow; the General of Knowledge, Mirror Coat, was light blue; the General of Nature, Leaf Mane, was green; the General of Talent, Purple Smoke, was purple; the General of Music, Melody, was orange and the General of Affection, Heartbeat, was...

But then he noticed something immensely weird. The General of Affection wasn't there. She was the only one who wasn't there. But then, where was she? She couldn't have gone that way, because she had been turned into stone, as the legend Celestia and Luna told him said.

Then, the feeling that he was being watched comes again and Blue looked around, but he didn't see anypony. But he was sure somepony was watching him. His instinct told him that and it rarely failed.

"Hello" greeted a little voice.

Blue turned and then he saw a unicorn filly right in front of him. She had a red soft coat and a mane that had the perfect combination of vivid red, dark red and bright red, with a mane clip with a heart form. Her eyes were like rubies so intense and red they were. Her Cutie Mark was a heart with a white feather wings and a black feather wings. She had a teddy bear on top of her back. The newest prince of Equestria recognized her. She was Heartbeat, the General of Affection, the youngest of all Generals of Order.

"Who are you?" Heartbeat asked to Blue.

Blue was still thrown with what he was see, and for that reason his answer wasn’t costing out easily:

"I am... Well, I..."

"Wait, I know who you are" Heartbeat said.

"You know me?"

"Yeah, I saw you marrying that beautiful princess. Are you a prince?"

"Oh... yes, I am" Blue replied.

"You're very beautiful" Heartbeat said approaching. "My name is Heartbeat. What's your name?"

"Blue, Blue Sword" Blue presented himself, feeling his curiosity about Heartbeat growing. "But what are you doing here alone?"

"I'm not alone, silly" Heartbeat said, making her horn shine with a pure red aura, levitating her teddy bear. "Mr. Teddy is with me."

"I see" said Blue, doing his loving smile. "But what I want to know is if there is any adult pony around here."

"You're an adult pony" Heartbeat replied. "But you're the first I've seen here."

"And you live here?" Blue asked. "Alone?"

Heartbeat waved, saying afterwards:

"This place is pretty nice, although it is cold and hard. But I like being here. It makes me feel safe and comfortable. Though I don't know why."

Blue watched her for a moment. She was the General of Affection, but she seemed not to remember anything, behaving like a completely innocent filly. He wondered if she had lost her memory or something? Even so, she was the only one who didn't was petrified in stone in a whole kingdom. The only solution he was seeing was taking her with him to Canterlot. Maybe Celestia and Luna knew what to do. But it was clear that he had to do it in a soft way and treating her as he would treat a foal, after all, she was a foal.

"Hey, do you want to be my friend?" Blue asked. "I want to be your friend."

"But you're a grown up" Heartbeat replied. "I'm just a filly."

"I can be a grown up, but you will see that we're going to get along very well" Blue said, extending his hoof. "What do you say?"

Heartbeat observed Blue’s hoof for a while and then she bumped hers with his, saying:

"Ok, we can be friends."

Blue smiled. It was now his chance.

"Hey, would you like to have more friends, besides me?" he asked.

"Well, yes" Heartbeat replied. "Where are they?"

"In Canterlot."

"You're talking about that very beautiful city located on a mountain?"

Blue waved.

"Can Mr. Teddy come with us?" Heartbeat asked, motioning to her teddy bear.

"Of course" Blue replied. "Why not?"

"So what are we waiting for" Heartbeat said, putting her teddy bear on her back and starting to head to the exit of the Great Hall. "Come on!"

Blue smiled. She was perky and restless. It made him remember when he was a foal. So he started following her.

The two left the castle and then the Light Kingdom. Blue noticed that Heartbeat didn’t notice the petrified ponies. Maybe she thought they should be statues or she should have been there for so long that she didn't even care about that.

It was then that they arrived at the end of the Light Kingdom and the beginning of the dense forest, much to Blue’s unhappiness.

"Oh, boy, I can't believe I'll have to go through this stupid forest again” he said, stopping.

"What has the forest?" Heartbeat asked, turning to him. "I like it a lot and even more when go through it."

"How do you do that?" Blue asked, full of curiosity.

"Dah, I just go through it" Heartbeat replied.

She then ran into the forest and, before she could put a hoof in it, the vegetation simply began walking away, opening the way for Heartbeat. Blue was amazed with what he was seeing, but then he realized that he had no reason to, because if Heartbeat had already been in Equestria, she had to go through that forest. Not wasting time, he hastened to follow her, before the vegetation came back to its place.

The Knight Returns To His Princess

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Twilight, since Blue left on his mission, has been living in the Canterlot castle, sleeping in Blue’s room in order to feel less far from him. It had spent a month and a half since Blue’s departure... and she missed him terribly and couldn't stop thinking about him. It was inevitable.

Her friends, learning the news, wanted to stay beside Twilight to comfort her and to make company to her, instead of wanting to go back to Ponyville, but she managed to convince them to leave, saying that she would be okay and they had a lot of responsibilities in Ponyville. She also ended up doing Spike return with them so he could take care of the library and Owlowiscious.

For most of her free time, Twilight was at the window watching the sky, questioning herself where Blue could be and what mission could he be doing to be so important. It should be really important for him to accept when they barely had just gotten married. She just hoped he was alright and would return safe and sound.

It was then that she hears an explosion of cobalt blue magic and a letter appeared on the bed. Seeing the letter, Twilight hastened to it, using her magic to hold it and opening it, while she sat on the bed. She became entranced by knowing the letter was from Blue.

My love,

I want you to know that it has been very difficult for me to stay away from you during this time. Despite the distance, I still love you with all my being and I hope you continue to love me the same way.

I am so sorry for not having write to you since I left, but I've been too busy with my mission to even have time to write, but I have to tell you that I have received every one of your letters and I loved reading them.

However, all this torment will end, because I have wonderful news for you. I just did what I competed in my mission and I am now free to return to Canterlot. I hope find you when I arrive.

Your loving husband that will love you forever,

Blue

When reading the fantastic news that Blue would return, Twilight couldn’t contain her joy and gave a roar of joy, leaving herself fall into bed, hugging Blue’s letter.

"Finally, Blue is coming back!" Twilight exclaimed. "I can't believe I'm finally going to see him again."

It's been a few days since Twilight had received the letter from Blue. She couldn't wait for his return to embrace him. When she was in the library reading a book, a guard came and told her, bowing:

"Your Highness, Captain Blue Sword has just arrived."

"Seriously?" Twilight asked, smiling openly and putting the book she was reading.

"Yes," the guard confirmed. "He is currently with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in the throne room."

Hearing that, Twilight didn't waste any time and left the library, addressing herself to the throne room. When she opened the door, she saw Blue talking with Celestia and Luna.

"Blue!" she called.

Blue turned up, but he didn't have time to respond, because Twilight came on the verge of him and hugged him tightly.

"Twilight, my darling" he said, hugging her too. "It's so good to see you."

"I feel the same" Twilight, ending the hug. "But I just hope that you are not a Changeling."

That made Blue drop a chuckle and he replied:

"I can assure you that I am completely me."

"Good" Twilight said. "I'd hate if that happened again. But first of all, I would like to know what mission was that for you staying almost two months away."

Blue first looked at Celestia and Luna who waved and then he replied:

"I went beyond the southern border to try to find the Light Kingdom."

"The Light Kingdom?" Twilight asked, looking confused. "I've never heard about it."

"Because this kingdom fell for over a thousand years, long before the Crystal Empire" Celestia replied. "Almost no one remembers its beauty and power."

"But why is this kingdom so important?" Twilight asked.

"This kingdom belonged to the first alicorn princess” Luna answered.

"The first alicorn princess?" Twilight asked. "Seriously?"

Celestia nodded and continued:

"Her name was Aurora and was the leader of a group of unicorn pilgrims. The Lord of Order became impressed with the purity of her heart that gave her and her ponies a land where to live, a land full of plants with luminous seeds. It was an immensely fertile land where the pilgrims could set up shop. The only thing they had to do was collect the light seeds and leave them exposed to the night sky. When doing this, the seeds ascended and became stars. This allowed everything that they had planted and which had not yet matured to grow quickly."

Upon hearing that, Twilight remembered something.

"Shining once told me about something similar when we were foals" she said. "He said, according to the stories our mother used to tell him, the stars were seeds of light that could increase the magic of any unicorn."

"In part, those stories are true" Luna said. "When I became the princess of the night, it was my role of not only rise the moon, but also guard the stars. They were too powerful to fall into the wrong hooves."

"But the story doesn’t end here" Celestia said. "Aurora and her ponies eventually develop a special connection with that land, starting themselves to issue a light. The Lord of Order said that connection led to the star seeds within them began to emit a more intense light."

"Star seeds?" Twilight repeated. "But what is that?"

"They are the source of life" Luna replied. "They contain every essence of life created by the Lord of Order. They exist in every living thing that exists in all worlds, dimensions and realities. The seeds of light are actually star seeds, different and at the same time similar to the star seeds of each individual. Most of them have an ephemeral light, but the ones of these ponies were left with an ethereal light that began to be irradiated by their bodies. They became the light ponies."

"But the Lord of Order had much bigger plans" Celestia said. "He realized that he could trust them and showed to Aurora the source of all good magic, what he used to create the life in our world: the original star seed. That seed was completely different from any other because it had a different shape, color and brightness. After he turn that seed into Aurora’s own star seed, turning her into an alicorn princess, and told her to create a kingdom in those lands and to spread its light around the world."

"To help her in this task, the Lord of Order brought six special star seeds from other worlds and formed six beings in the shape of ponies: the Generals of Order, representatives of the six powers of Order: Peace, Knowledge, Nature, Talent, Music and Affection" Luna continued. "They and Aurora built this kingdom, giving it the name of Light Kingdom. And, as the Lord of Order had ordered, they spread his light around the world. In fact, they're the ones that influenced the founders of Equestria to unite and forget their differences."

"I and Luna were born shortly after and we started to control the day and the night and then the Crystal Empire was formed" Celestia said. "For many years, the Light Kingdom prospered and was the headlamp that fended the darkness in the world, under the supervision of Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order."

"But, if that kingdom and its rulers were so powerful, how could it disappear?" Twilight asked. "It doesn't make sense."

This time, it wasn't Celestia or Luna who answered, but Blue:

"It was Sombra, Twilight. He was the reason for the fall of the Light Kingdom."

"Sombra?" Twilight repeated. "That evil unicorn king who enslaved the crystal ponies? Okay, now I'm confused."

"Sombra was just a pawn, Twilight" said Celestia. "A pawn under the orders of the most cruel and evil being of all. I think you know him, after that case with your friend Cherry Blossom and her old boyfriend."

Twilight realized who she was talking about, and she didn't like it at all.

"The Lord of Chaos?"

Celestia nodded and Luna continued:

"The Lord of Chaos came into this world when the Lord of Order had already developed immensely the life here. Before his arrival, the three tribes of ponies lived in complete harmony. But that changed when the Lord of Chaos used his power to cause divisions and put the balance established by his brother in a great instability."

"He always envied this world and did everything to achieve it" Celestia said. "And when the Light Kingdom emerged, he began to devise a plan to steal the light from the original star seed and plunge our world in the deepest darkness. As the Lord of Order put a spell to prevent his brother to obtain directly the seed, the Lord of Chaos managed to corrupt a young unicorn and turned him into Sombra.

"He gave him powers that allowed him to make an army of dark ponies and then invade the Light Kingdom" Luna said. "Despite all Princess Aurora and her Generals' efforts, they wouldn't be able to prevent such circumvention and wouldn't be able to defeat Sombra without causing an immense destruction."

"To protect her Kingdom and her subjects, Aurora freed all star seeds of everything and everypony and stored them in a sphere called Jewel of Life and hid it and then unleashed her star seed and of all the Generals of Order and sent them away" Celestia said. "This made the kingdom, the ponies and generals turn into stone, except Aurora who disappeared."

"But what a story" Twilight said. "It’s hard to believe. Wait, if the star seeds of the Generals and the original star seed were scattered, where are they now?"

"We don't know" Blue answered. "But we know they're in Equestria."

"But what does that have to do with your mission?" Twilight asked to her husband. "If the Light Kingdom and its inhabitants were all turned into stone, what were you doing there? It shouldn't exist anything that wasn't petrified."

"I went to the Light Kingdom because Princess Celestia and Princess Luna believe it is trying to awake" Blue replied. "And let's just say my visit was very fruitful."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, not understanding anything.

"You will see" Blue answered, saying after that. "Heartbeat, can you come here?"

Twilight wondered who Blue was talking about, but then she heard the sound of something approaching at high speed and then she heard a filly voice saying:

"Did you call me, Blue?"

Twilight turned and then saw Heartbeat. Celestia and Luna were surprised to see her.

"Yes, I'd like to introduce you to three new friends" Blue said to Heartbeat, making mention to Twilight, Celestia and Luna.

"Oh, three princesses, but that’s so good!" exclaimed Heartbeat thrilled. "They are beautiful!"

She approached Twilight and said:

"You must be Twilight. Blue told me a lot about you. He didn't stop to say nice things about you."

Twilight didn't even know what to say, simply saying:

"Oh, thanks… I guess."

Heartbeat approached Celestia and Luna and said:

"Blue says you two rise the sun and the moon. Is it true?"

"Ah…" Luna said.

"Yes" Celestia replied. "I rise the sun and Luna rises the moon."

"That's great!" Heartbeat exclaimed. "I really like your work."

Celestia and Luna looked at one another and then Celestia asked Heartbeat:

"Didn’t you remember us, Heartbeat?"

"Should I?" she asked.

The two older princesses looked at one another with concern.

"What?" Heartbeat asked, seeing her air. "I can feel you are worried about something."

"So you mind if we verify a thing?" Celestia asked. "Don't worry, it won't hurt, I promise."

Heartbeat looked at her for a moment and then replied:

"Okay."

Celestia so advanced and charged her horn with magic and then landed it on Heartbeat’s head and then lifted it. It was then that what looked like a closed flower appeared above Heartbeat’s head and then it opened. It seemed Celestia and Luna were waiting for something, because they were quite shocked. The flower closed again and then disappeared.

"Heatbeat, honey, have you seen the castle gardens?" Celestia asked. "They're very pretty."

"Seriously?" Heartbeat asked.

Celestia nodded and then Heartbeat said:

"I’ll see them!"

And having said this, she came out with the same speed she entered.

"But what was that?" Twilight asked, when the filly left. "What was that flower?"

"That was where supposedly Heartbeat’s star seed should be" Luna said.

"I don't understand" Celestia said. "She doesn't have her star seed. Supposedly, she's supposed to be petrified in stone."

"Is that why she doesn't remember anything?" Blue asked.

"I think so, but it's still all a big mystery" Celestia replied.

"Do you think she is a light pony and she may know something to bring the Light Kingdom back?" Twilight asked.

"No, Twilight, Heartbeat is not a light pony" Celestia said. "But, yes, we hope she knew something to restore the Light Kingdom."

"You know, Twilight, Heartbeat is… Well, she is one of the Generals" Blue said.

"What, that little filly?" Twilight asked, somewhat skeptical. "That little filly is one of the Generals of Order?"

"I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true" Blue said. "In the castle, there is a figure of Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order and Heartbeat is just like the General of Affection. Besides that I've also seen the Generals petrified and didn't find her statue."

"And we know Heartbeat" Luna said. "There is no margin for error. She is the General of Affection."

Twilight didn't say anything. Everything was going too fast. What seemed to be the reunion with Blue, became a huge complication. But she tried to separate her emotions on that subject and then asked:

"What do we do with her?"

"We watch her" Celestia answered. "She may not remember anything, but she can help us find her star seed and maybe then she can take us to the other generals’ star seeds."

"Once we have them, we can find the original star seed and restore the Light Kingdom" said Luna. "It is important we watch her religiously. If the Lord of Chaos catches her, he can use her to find the original star seed and, if he finds it and steals its light... Well, I guess I don't need to finish the sentence."

"And since Heartbeat seems to get along with Blue, I think you two can take care of her" Celestia suggested Celestia.

Twilight and Blue exchanged a look and he asked:

"What do you think? We could do it. You will see that you will like her. She's a lovely filly."

"Well, I guess so" Twilight said. "Who would I be to turn the back on a filly so dear like her? Despite her being a loyal and completely amnesic immortal servant to the Lord of Order."

"I'm glad that you accept" Celestia said. "But I want you to know something important about Heartbeat."

"What, princess?" Twilight asked.

"Heartbeat may be the youngest of the Generals of Order, but she is also the most powerful and the most unstable" Celestia said. "Her power over emotions and feelings reaches both good ones and bad ones. She can capture their power and improve them immensely. You can imagine. If she's happy and calm, Heartbeat can reflect her happiness and calm for those who surround her. But, if the anger or sadness take over her, you can't imagine what can happen. Without her star seed, it is certain that she will not be able to control her emotions. This is why I advise you to be careful."

That warn of Celestia scared Twilight and Blue, but they don't let themselves be intimidated and she replied:

"You can count on us, Princess Celestia."

"I knew we can" she said. "Now, I guess it’s better you go. You have to up for lost time. I think Heartbeat will be occupied for a long time with the gardens."

"Well, of course" Blue said, looking to Twilight and exchanging a smile with her. "I'd love to."

"Ditto" Twilight agreed. "Come on, Blue, I have so many things to tell you."

And then both left the throne room.

"I don't like this, sister" Luna said to Celestia. "The fact that Heartbeat had appeared…"

"I know, Luna, is rather odd" Celestia agreed. "But even if she was a Changeling or another shapeshifter, a star seed should have appeared, even if it was a dark one. I think we will have to hope that the answer will appear soon."

A Destructive Power

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On the next day after Blue’s return, the couple went to Ponyville, in order to pass their well-deserved time as a couple. Of course they had to bring Heartbeat with them, but none of the two raised problems. After all, she was a lovely filly.

They arrived to Ponyville and Heartbeat was amazed by the small village, not stopping to look from one side to the other.

"Oh, it's so beautiful!" Heartbeat exclaimed when looking at all sides. "I feel so excited that I can't even contain myself."

Twilight and Blue were seeing her jumping with a smile.

"She really likes Ponyville" Blue noted.

"Must be because the tranquility and the peace that there is here" Twilight. "She is sensitive to this sort of thing. But it's good that she feels that way. I was worried about what Celestia said about her unstable power."

"Yes, me too" Blue agreed. "But we can't be thinking about these things. She can understand that and become nervous."

"It must be terrible depending of the own emotions to control the own power" Twilight said. "I don't think I could do it."

"Yes, me either" said Blue. "Hey, Heartbeat, can you come here?"

Heartbeat then turned and approached Blue and Twilight, asking:

"Yes?"

"Look, we'd like to ask you a favor" Blue said. "The ponies here, when they see you with us will want to know who you are, so it's best that you pretend to be my cousin, okay?"

"But that's lying" Heartbeat said. "Lying is a very bad thing, right?"

Blue tried to find words to answer that rebuttal of Heartbeat, but Twilight was who managed to answer that:

"Don't think on this as a lie" Twilight. "Think on this as a game. You pretend you're Blue’s cousin and, if you do that until we say... you receive a prize."

"Can it be candies?" asked Heartbeat, looking hopeful.

"Of course, why not?" Twilight asked.

"Cool!" Heartbeat exclaimed. "You can count on me."

And having said that, they continued walking.

"Wow, nice move with that of the game" Blue praised.

"Don't forget that I was a filly like Heartbeat" Twilight said. "I know how fillies think."

They arrived at the library. Twilight was so happy to be in home after such a long time. She and Blue went ahead and opened the door, entering. It was then that...

"SURPRISE!"

There was a huge party with lots of Twilight’s friends. There were: Spike, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie (of course!), Cherry Blossom, Big Mac and the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"Whoa, what's this?" Twilight asked.

"When ya told us ya were goin’ back with Blue, Pinkie start’d soon tah organize a welcome-home party" Applejack said.

"But of course I made a party" Pinkie Pie said. "How could I not make a welcome home party to Twilight. Of course this is also a party to Blue, because now that he and Twilight got married, he comes to here and, as you know, I like to make a welcome party to all the ponies that come to live here, as I did with Twilight and Cherry. Do you remember?"

"How could I forget" Twilight said. "I nearly died of fright."

"And I also wasn't expecting, although I had been warned about that possibility" Cherry said.

"Wow, a party!" Heartbeat exclaimed, entering. "It's so beautiful! I love parties!"

They were all caught off guard with Heartbeat’s entrance.

"Oh, who's the girl?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Don't tell us you have already had a filly and you didn't tell us anything," Rarity joked.

"Don’t tell nonsense, Rarity" said Twilight, blushing slightly.

"This is Heartbeat" Blue introduced. "She's a cousin of mine. Her parents are on a trip, but they couldn’t take her with them and, as my parents and my sister couldn't host her, she came to stay with me and with Twilight for a while."

"Yes, besides, she doesn't have enough similarities to be Twilight and Blue’s daughter" Pinkie Pie said, looking closely for Heartbeat with a magnifier.

Heartbeat laughed and said:

"You're funny."

"Well, she is really cute" Fluttershy said, approaching and fondling her mane with the hoof.

"Ya see, gals, now ya have one more friend to play with" Applejack said to his sister, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

"Yeah, but she's a lot younger than us" Scootaloo said. "She's practically a small filly."

"I don't know if you noticed, but we're also fillies" said Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah, but grown up ones" Scootaloo said.

"We can play with her whenever we can" Apple Bloom said, approaching Heartbeat. "We're always happy to have new friends to play with."

"You are really nice" Haertbeat said, giving a quick hug to Apple Bloom, which was completely taken by surprise. "Thank you."

So Apple Bloom noticed Heartbeat Cutie Mark.

"I don't believe" he said. "You already have your Cutie Mark?"

"What?!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle asked, rushing to catch up and see the Cutie Mark.

"She's a lot younger than us and already has her Cutie Mark" Scootaloo said.

"And it's really cute" Sweetie Belle said. "I'd like to know what it means."

"Can you tell us how you got it?" Apple Bloom asked.

Twilight and Blue, seeing how Heartbeat was getting for being bombarded with questions from the other fillies, feared that she started crying and release part of her great power. Fortunately, Applejack and Cherry Blossom intervened.

"Come on, gals, that's enough" Applejack said.

"Yes, you're scaring the little one" Cherry said.

The three older fillies then left Heartbeat in peace.

"You know what?" asked Pinkie Pie. "This is..."

"Reason for a welcome party for me?" Heartbeat asked.

"That's right!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "This can be a super-duper party for you, too."

"Cool! I love super-duper party! There are games?"

"Okey-dokey-lockey."

And so the two went hooping to the games at the party. Everypony gasped at what they saw.

"Awesome, you brought a Pinkie Pie in miniature, only in red" Rainbow Dash said to Twilight and Blue.

But they just shrugged their shoulders.

"I think she’s lovely" Rarity said. "Reminds me when Sweetie was younger."

"Yeah, tha younger ones are always tha most restless" Applejack said. "Except Pinkie, of course. Don’t ya think so, Big Mac?"

“Eeyup” he answered.

At the end of the party, all left to go home and Spike stretched out and said he was going to bed, heading to his room that Twilight added to the library. But now they had the problem that was knowing where Heartbeat would sleep. It was then that she surprised them when she said she didn't sleep.

"You don't sleep?" Twilight asked, surprised.

"Not that I know" Heartbeat replied. "At least, I don't remember I had ever slept."

"So what now?" Twilight asked to Blue. "We can't leave her here alone."

"Maybe we could let her do something till tomorrow morning" he suggested, thinking. "I know!"

Using his magic, he made out of his saddlebags a Rubik's cube.

"My sister gave me this Rubik's cube and challenged me to solve it" Blue said. "I've never been able to. Still today I try to solve it when I have time. Maybe this keep her amused. I doubt that she can solve it just like that."

"Don't you think it's a little too complex to her?" Twilight asked.

"Of course not" Blue answered, approaching Heartbeat and handing her the cube that she took with her magic.

She observed the cube with attention and began trying to solve it, using magic to turn its faces.

"You see?" Blue asked to Twilight. "Problem solved."

“Done!" Heartbeat said.

They looked and then saw Heartbeat had solved the Rubik's cube. Each face had a solid color Blue stood flabbergasted about that....

"But how..." Blue started, taking the cube with magic and watching it. "I'm trying to solve this for years, but she solved it in less than ten seconds."

"What were you saying?" asked Twilight, joking. "Problem solved?"

"Ah, Ah, Ah, very funny" Blue joked.

"Don't worry, I think I have the solution" Twilight said.

And using her magic, she conjured a box of Lego bricks.

"Uh!" Heartbeat exclaimed, full of curiosity, going to see the box.

"Heartbeat, please don't leave the library, all right?" asked Twilight. "If you get bored with that, you can always read a book. Can you read?"

Heartbeat waved and then said:

"I won’t leave, I promise I won't."

"You see?" asked Twilight. "Now, problem solved. And just to make sure, I’ll cast a spell to warn me if Heartbeat gets out or something happens to her."

"Well, I really have a lot to learn from you" Blue admitted. "Well, let's go to bed. Good night, Heartbeat."

"Stay well" Twilight said.

"Thanks" said Heartbeat, picking up some bricks.

Twilight and Blue up to the room to sleep.

In the next day, when they came down, they found the library completely messed up, with the ground full of Lego bricks and dicks of books. Heartbeat was entertained reading a book.

Heartbeat then noticed them and said to Twilight:

"These books are really good. I've read them all ten times."

"You read every book ten times in a night?" Twilight asked, while Heartbeat waved. "I couldn't even read all the books in a week, much less in one night and ten times."

"And also I loved to play with the Lego bricks" Heartbeat said. "I made a lot of pictures. I only wish that there were more a few bricks and the library was a little bit bigger."

Twilight and Blue gasped.

Spike then came from his room, rubbing his eyes, and, when he saw what happened, said:

"Whoa! What happened here?"

"Apparently, Heartbeat" Twilight replied.

A few days passed since Twilight and Blue came to Ponyville with Heartbeat. During that time, they strove to no irritate Heartbeat. Until things were running well, because Heartbeat seemed not to fuss with anything. The only challenge the young couple had was to give something to Heartbeat to play at night and, of course, make her act as a normal filly and Blue’s cousin, something that was more complicated with Spike, as he began to find out that Heartbeat was quite strange.

One afternoon, Heartbeat was playing with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at Sweet Apple Acres. The four were playing tag, with Heartbeat running with her teddy bear in her back. It was then that appeared two unwanted visits.

"Look at who they are, Silver Spoon" Diamond Tiara, reaching the verge of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "Our favorite blank flanks."

"Yes, the blank flanks" Silverspoon said.

"Please, cannot ya leave us alone?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, that blank flank thing already stinks" Scootaloo said.

"Go annoy anotherpony" Sweetie Belle added.

"But you are the only blank flanks we know" Silver Spoon replied.

"And it’s fun mess with you" Diamond Tiara added.

It was then that Heartbeat came, running and saying:

"Girls, you are too quick. I cannot get...

But then Heartbeat tripped and fell to the ground, making Mr. Teddy, her teddy bear, been thrown forward and to Diamond Tiara’s side.

"But what we have here" said Diamond Tiara, taking the teddy bear. "Look, a baby toy."

"My teddy bear!" Heartbeat exclaimed, rising up. "Give it to me!"

"Oh, looks like little baby wants his teddy bear back" Diamond Tiara said cynically, while Silver Spoon were laughing.

"Don't be mean, Diamond Tiara" Scootaloo said.

"Yeah, release the teddy bear" Apple Bloom ordered.

"Whatever" Diamond Tiara said, simply releasing Mr. Teddy, with it stopping at the top of a tree, much to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Heartbeat’s shock. "You said to release it. Next time, choose well your words.

And she and Silver Spoon moved away, laughing.

"Those two are really hateful" Sweetie Belle said.

"Don't worry, Heartbeat, we'll get your teddy bear" Apple Bloom guaranteed.

But Heartbeat wasn't listening. That had saddened her in such a way that she prepared to cry. Dark clouds began to appear in the sky and spread and wind began to blow. It was then that Heartbeat started to cry and then things got worse. A torrential rain began to fall and the wind blew harder. Lightning lit the skies, while thunders rumbled. The earth began to tremble.

"But what is this?!" Scootaloo said with hooves on top of her head.

"I don't know, but it's bether we go to a shelter" Sweetie Belle said.

"But what about Heartbeat?" Apple Bloom asked. "We can't leave her here."

Twilight, Blue, Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were in Sugarcube Corner. They all noticed the sudden change of weather.

"But what tha hay..." Appejack started, noting the weather through the window. "There’s a thunderstorm outside. But there’s not one scheduled for today. But what is Rainbow Dash doing?"

"Maybe it was a last minute decision" Rarity suggested.

Then there was an earthquake that made almost all ponies to wobble.

"Uh, I love earthquakes!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, hooping. "It's like if the earth is jumping."

"Pinkie, an earthquake is not to be trifled with" Twilight scolded.

"This is weird" Blue said to Twilight. "I don’t like this. At all."

"I just hope that my animals are well" Fluttershy said. "They get scared when there's a time like this one."

It was then that the door of the bakery opened up, sweeping the interior with the wind, and Rainbow Dash came in, closing the door as soon as she entered. She was completely misaligned, even more than usual, and she didn’t stop panting from exhaustion.

"Rainbow Dash, can ya explain that?" Applejack asked, pointing to the storm. "It's goin’ tah get me in trouble with tha harvest."

"Hey, not my fault" Rainbow Dash defended herself. "That storm appeared from nowhere."

"Ah'm sorry, but a storm like that doesn't come out of nowhere" Applejack said.

"I know it sounds weird" Rainbow Dash said. "But, one minute everything was fine, then... BOOM! A tremendous storm started!"

Twilight and Blue thought about what Rainbow Dash said. They wondered if...

"Oh no" both said.

And then the two rushed out from Sugarcube Corner, because they knew what could be causing that storm. The others, wondering that attitude, decided to follow them, including Spike. Twilight and Blue braved the storm, heading in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

"But what's the matter?" Rainbow Dash asked, while flying with difficulty against the wind.

"We know what's causing this storm" Twilight said, while running. "And we have to stop it before it gets worse."

"But what is it?" Rarity asked, she I ran.

But Twilight didn't answer her.

They continued to run until they reach the place where Heartbeat was crying, while Apple Bloom and her friends were embraced against a tree.

"Applejack!" she exclaimed, seeing her sister arriving.

The three fillies run to them, with Apple Bloom going to Applejack, Sweetie Belle to Rarity and Scootaloo to Rainbow Dash.

"But what happened?" Applejack asked.

"We don't know" Apple Bloom replied. "Everything was fine until Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon appear and finish by launching Heartbeat’s teddy bear. Then she started to cry and the storm began."

"We have to calm Heartbeat!" Blue exclaimed to everypony, making his voice be heard on the wind. "Before she let things get worse!"

"Wait a minute, she's doing all this?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I've heard about quite strange things happening when unicorn foals have their magical surges, but this is ridiculous!" Rarity said.

"This is not a magical surge!" Twilight replied. "It's a lot worse! I'll try to calm her with magic! It's the only way!"

She charged her horn with magic to perform the calming spell and began approaching Heartbeat, struggling to cross the wind that was blowing against her. It was then that Heartbeat charged her horn with magic too and launched a magic ray that hit Twilight and threw her back.

"TWILIGHT!" Blue called, flipping to catch Twilight, who had fainted.

Twilight then found herself in the middle of darkness.

"Where am I?"

It was then that the darkness was replaced by a night sky full of stars. She looked down and saw Equestria, in ancient times. Then it was heard the sound of an explosion and then she saw six shooting stars falling, each one in a different color. They seemed to form a rainbow. Twilight then noticed that they emanated a strange light and noticed that the light stemmed from what appeared to be hexagonal bipyramidal crystal seeds.

"That light..." Twilight said. "They must be star seeds. And there are six of them. They must be the Generals of Order’s star seeds. This must have been when Princess Aurora petrified her kingdom and launched her own star seed along with the Generals’."

And the environment changed. Twilight was now in the Arctic.

"Wait a minute, I know this place" she said.

It was then that the star seed with a red light appeared, falling, and then slammed into the ground, releasing a wave of snow with the impact. Twilight tried to protect herself, but the snow just passed through her. She saw the star seed at the epicenter of the impact, hovering a few inches from the ground, radiating its light. When approaching, Twilight felt a very familiar feeling, a feeling extremely welcoming. She noticed after that the light was quite familiar. It was then that the light from the star seed intensified and the earth began to tremble. It was then that around her, a tree began to grow, eventually integrating into its interior. The tree grew, grew and grew until it stops. Twilight couldn't believe when she found herself in front of a colossal tree of an extreme beauty. All of it emitted the reddish and splendor light and all of it glowed. The leaves emitted an intense and bright light and had flowers with the most delicious scent. Furthermore, some of its flowers were already revealing red and round fruits with a delicious appearance.

"Twilight..." Blue’s voice called in the distance. "Twilight. Twilight!"

So Twilight opened her eyes and saw everypony around her, finding herself on Blue’s forelegs.

"But what had happened?" she asked, rising up.

"You fainted when Heartbeat hit you with one of those beams of hers" Spike replied.

Twilight looked and saw that Heartbeat were still crying. She loked around and then saw Mr. Teddy in a tree. She knew what to do to calm her down.

"Rainbow Dash, get that teddy bear" Twilight said. "I'm sure if we return it to Heartbeat, the storm will stop."

Despite surprised for those indications, Rainbow Dash waved and then, using her speed to pass through the wind, approached the tree and then managed to catch the teddy bear, and then prepared to give it to Heartbeat. But then a sudden wind made the teddy bear being released from her. Fortunately, Blue managed to catch it with his magic and, battling the wind, he approached if of Heartbeat. She then looked and saw it. A smile appeared on her face and then she exclaimed, grabbing and hugging her teddy bear:

"Mr. Teddy!"

It was then that the wind slowed down, the rain, the lightning and the thunders ceased and the dark clouds disappeared, making the sun shine once again.

"Wow, that was totally awesome!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Again, again!"

The others looked at her so hard and then she said:

"Just kidding."

"What the hay was that?" Applejack asked. "That gall cries an’ a storm starts, she smiles and all this stops?"

"Yes, I have to agree with Applejack which is rather odd" Rarity said. "I've never seen anything like this."

The others agreed.

Twilight and Blue locked to each other. It seemed that they couldn’t hide that from them anymore.

"Appear in a while in the library" Twilight said. "Now, I think some of us have to deal with some fillies."

She was referring to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scooteloo, which seemed to be a little scared because the storm.

But of course, after that matter was solved, the truth about Heartbeat would be revealed, at least to their friends.

The Heart of the Paradise, Part I

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Shortly after that incident with Heartbeat, Twilight and Blue returned to the library with Spike and Heartbeat, where she was playing in a corner with Mr. Tedy, while the others didn’t arrive. When they arrived, with Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash saying everything was fine with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Twilight and Blue began to tell them who Heartbeat really was, saying she was the General of Affection. Of course, for that, they had to tell about Blue’s mission and what they had to do. When Twilight and Blue finished, they didn’t want to believe.

"So basically, you're saying that Heartbeat, that filly in there playing with a teddy bear, is one of those Generals of Order who were the followers of a Princess Aurora who ruled a kingdom that was, or is, the source of all good magic?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You are taking something, don't you?"

"I know it's hard to believe" Blue said.

"Ah think it’s better ya say virtually impossible" Applejack said.

"But it's true, girls" Twilight said. "Celestia and Luna knew the Light Kingdom, Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order."

But it seemed that, even so, they seemed not to believe.

"Twilight, darling, I'm sorry, but this is too surreal" Rarity said. "It's too much information to profess, besides being quite complicated."

"I believe in the story" Pinkie said.

"Pinkie, you believe that Santa Ponie exists" Rainbow Dash said.

"And he doesn't exist?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I agree with Pinkie" Fluttershy said. "We've seen things pretty hard to believe, so I think we can believe in something like this."

"Yes, I believe" said Spike. "Not only because I've always found Heartbeat quite strange for a normal filly, but also because I am and I will always be beside Twilight."

"Thank you, Spike" Twilight said with a smile to her faithful dragon assistant.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity exchanged a look and then Applejack said:

"Yeah, we believe too. After all, we're friends and we help our friends always."

Twilight smiled at her friends, thanking them.

“So, what can we do?” Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, the first thing you have to do is not to tell anypony about this" Blue said. "It's too important."

"Ya have our word" Applejack said, while the others waved.

"Good, now I think it's best we try to retrieve Heartbeat’s star seed as soon as possible" Blue said. "It's the only way to control her more effectively."

"And just out of curiosity" Rainbow Dash said. "By the way, do you know where this star seed is?"

That was a good question, a question to which Blue was not able to respond. It was then that Twilight said:

"I think I know."

That made everypony look at her.

"Are you sure, Twilight?" Blue asked.

"I think so" she replied. "At least."

"What do you mean?" Spike asked.

"When I fainted after Heartbeat hit me with her magic beam, I had a kind of vision" Twilight said. "I saw the fall of the Generals of Order's star seeds, including I saw where is Heartbeat’s."

"Ah, Twilight, darling, don't you think that might have been because the blow?" Rarity asked.

"No, Rarity, what I saw was real" Twilight replied. "I'm sure of it. It seemed a kind of telepathic link with Heartbeat. I had access to her memories suppressed by the absence of her star seed. What matters is that I saw where the star seed is."

"And where is it?" Fluttershy asked.

"In the Oasis of the Heart" Twilight replied.

That answer left everypony speechless.

"In the oasis?" Rarity repeated.

"That place very beautiful where you and Blue kissed for the first time and turned into your special place for when you want to be alone and where there are trees with red leaves?" Pinkie asked, saying everything in one time, breathing deeply after saying that.

"Are you sure about that, my love?" Blue asked.

"Absolute" Twilight replied. "The star seed is there, inside the great tree. It grew up around the seed when it landed. Now, seeing in retrospect, everything fits."

"What do you mean?" Applejack asked.

"Well, according to the book that talks about the Oasis of the Heart, it was created when a shooting star fell in the arctic" Twilight replied. "This shooting star must have been the star seed. It created the great tree and then all the rest of the oasis. The light from the leaves should reflect the star seed's light and as we are talking about containing the General of Affection’s light, that must be why that oasis increases the emotions and the feelings of anypony who gets in there."

Blue thought about what Twilight had just said and agreed with her. It had all the logic as possible.

"I think you're right" Blue said. "I think worth investigating. We have to go to oasis to verify it."

"Wait, does that mean we're going to the Oasis of the Heart?" asked Rarity, starting to get excited. "Oh, I can't believe I'm going to see that wonderful place!"

"Yes, I'm also anxious" Fluttershy said gently. "Just hearing about the trees, I feel a great desire to see the Oasis of the Heart."

"Oh, it's going to be super-duper exciting!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"Well, Ah suppose we can go up there" Applejack said.

"Yeah, I suppose so" Rainbow Dash said.

"Good, I'm going to pack things" Spike said.

"Spike, I'm sorry, but I think you'd better stay here" Twilight said.

"What?" asked Spike. "Why?"

"In case we need some information from the library" Twilight replied. "And also for other reasons."

"It's amazing" Spike mumbled. "You can go and have all the fun, but I have to stay here."

Twilight and Blue then approached Heartbeat and then the first said:

"Hey, Heartbeat, you want to come with us to a place?"

"Where are we going?" Heartbeat asked.

"To a beautiful place" Blue answered. "You're going to love it."

"So yes, I’ll come with you" Heartbeat said.

"Okay, girls" Twilight said to her friends. "Get your things. Let's go to the Crystal Empire."

Her friends nodded, and then they went to prepare their saddlebags and so they could embark to the Crystal Empire.

Twilight just hoped that her hunch was right. Heartbeat's star seed had to be at the Oasis of the Heart. She was sure about that, if they could get it back, they could have the true Heartbeat back and so maybe they could deduce where the others star seeds were to then find the original star seed and thus restore the Light Kingdom.

Later, at the train station, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were waiting for Twilight, Blue and Heartbeat, both with their saddlebags ready.

"But where are they?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying from one side to the other. "They are taking so long."

"Relax, Rainbow" Applejack said. "Tha train has not arriv’d yet."

"Yes, but, knowing Twilight as we know her, she'd be here long before us" Rarity said. "We're almost at the last minute."

"Well, we must not forget that there are still Blue and Heartbeat" Fluttershy said. "Maybe they..."

"Oh, here they come!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, jumping and pointing. "Here they come!"

Twilight, Blue and Heartbeat arrived, with Twilight and Blue carrying their saddlebags and Heartbeat just bringing her teddy bear.

"I thought you wouldn’t come, guys" Rainbow Dash said. "You still complain about my delays."

"I'm sorry, girls, but I didn't feel well before we left" Twilight said.

"Twilight, you've been like that for a few days" said Blue, looking worried. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, Blue, I'm fine" Twilight replied. "You don't have to worry about."

"Are you sure?" he insisted.

"I'm fine" Twilight said. "It must be all this. The concern makes me sick."

"Well said" Rainbow Dash said. "Twilight’s reaction when she gets anxious is worse than when Rarity..."

But she didn’t finish, because the glance Rarity made her made her say:

"Never mind."

They heard a whistle and then the train that would take them to the Crystal Empire arrived. When it stopped and the doors opened, they left the ponies who were inside leave the train and then they entered, going then to North.

In the distance, watching them leaving, it was somepony in the shadows. His red eyes glowed with a strange violet mist. It was then that the pony turned into shadow and lifted in the air, following the train.

The Heart of the Paradise, Part II

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In the next day, the train from Ponyville reached the Crystal Empire and Twilight, Blue, Heartbeat and the others left. The shadow that had been following them arrived and, going to a secluded place, took shape. It was Fire Punch, with his new horn given by the Lord of Chaos.

He then felt something. He turned and saw a darkness behind him, where there was a pair of red eyes. Fire Punch knew perfectly well who those eyes belonged to.

"My master" he said, bowing before the eyes.

"How are the things?" Lord of Chaos' cold and dark voice asked.

"Princess Twilight and Blue Sword had just arrived to the Crystal Empire, along with the General of Affection and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony" Fire Punch answered.

"It looks like they're after the red star seed" the Lord of Chaos concluded. "For they bring all those reinforcements, it’s because they plan to go after the others after they get this one."

"I will take care of follow them to find the star seed and then take it to us" Fire Punch said.

"No, let them stay with this one" the Lord of Chaos said.

Fire Punch seemed surprised by that statement from his master.

"Are you sure about that?" he asked. "This is one of the star seeds of the six Generals. I remind you that we have to get all the six to reach the original star seed. If we let the General of Affection get her seed, it will be much more complicated to have it."

"I appreciate your concern and your arguments, my dear Fire Punch, but I know exactly what I'm doing" the Lord of Chaos replied. "I already have all prepare in this plan of mine. I prepared it for all eventualities and I know what we have to do. We will let them have this seed for we can move forward. But I want you to stay tuned and I want you to call me as soon as they find the star seed."

"As you wish, my master" Fire Punch answered, bowing.

And then the darkness vanished.

Twilight, Blue, Heartbeat and the others entered in the Crystal Empire, heading to the castle, where they were greeted by Shining.

"Shining!" Twilight called, advancing to his brother and hugging him. "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, sis" Shining said.

"Shining, my friend" Blue said, reaching the edge of Shining and giving him a hoof bump.

"Hey, Blue" Shining greeted. "I see you've returned from your mission. Princess Celestia didn’t add much about the mission, but it must have been really important for her to warn you on such short notice."

"You could say that" he replied.

"Where's Cadance?" Twilight asked.

"In the throne room with Gleaming" Shining replied. "I must confess that your visit was unexpected."

"Yes, but needed" Blue replied.

Shining then noticed Heartbeat.

"Who's the kid?" Shining asked.

"It's a long story" Twilight replied.

"Yes, and such a crazy story that leave anypony..." Pinkie said, doing after a gaping air to finish her sentence.

"It's so hard to believe that some of us still don’t believe completely" Rainbow Dash said.

"Well, I guess we'd better talk about it" Shining said.

"You know, Heartbeat, my brother, who is this stallion here, has a baby" Twilight said to Heartbeat. "Maybe you can play with her."

"Seriously?" Heartbeat asked. "Cool!"

They then entered in the castle, addressing to the throne room where Cadance were with Gleaming who was in her crib. After Cadance and Twilight’s song-and-dance, the visitors told their reason for being there.

"So you're here to find this star seed" Shining said.

"Yes, it's the only thing we can do now" Twilight answered.

"I must say that I'm speechless" Cadance confessed. "I've heard about the Light Kingdom and the stories about it, but I didn't think it really existed."

"Yes, I never thought that story about the seeds that increase the magic power was real" Shining said. "And more less this harmless thing is the General of Affection, the most powerful of all generals."

He did mention to Heartbeat that was bent over Gleaming’s crib, playing with her.

"Yes, it's really unbelievable, isn't it?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"But ya should have seen what that little thin’ did when she start’d cryin’" Applejack said. "She could have easily swept Ponyville from tha map."

"Yeah, she made a storm even worse than the sum of all the thunderstorms that ever haunted Ponyville" Pinkie Pie said. "And look what I remember all of them."

"Seriously?" Shining asked, surprised, as much as Cadance.

"Heartbeat has a special power that enables her to channel her power through her own emotions" Twilight explained. "If she's happy, she can expand this happiness and take it to the others. But when she's sad or angry, his power becomes destructive and hit everything around and doesn't stop until Heartbeat calms down. This is one of the reasons we are behind Heartbeat’s star seed. If she has it, not only she will return to be the old Heartbeat, but also she will be able to control her unstable power."

"Well, to me that sounds like a plan" Shining said.

"I agree" Cadance said. "Where do you think the star seed is?"

"In the Oasis of the Heart" Blue replied.

"Well, it’s not a surprise" Cadance replied. "That's probably why it can amply the emotions and feelings of the ponies."

Heartbeat was loving playing with Gleaming. She was having a great time and the baby was also loving a lot Heartbeat’s jokes that made her laugh and it was then Gleaming laughed at in such a way, that Heartbeat’s horn began to shine and freed pulsations that hit all the ponies around and these began to feel a tremendous happiness.

"Whoa, what is this?" Rarity asked.

"I feel like I wanted to make a thousand parties at once" Pinkie Pie said, unable to sit still. "I feel with so much energy."

"Tell me about it, Pinkie" Applejack said.

"Heartbeat is channeling Gleaming’s happiness and spreading it to all those who are on the edge, in other words, us" Twilight said.

"Well, that's amazing!" Shining exclaimed. "I've never felt anything like this."

"Shining, we're feeling our daughter's happiness" Cadance said. "Isn't it amazing?"

"Yes" he replied.

Although Twilight was enjoying a lot the happiness she was feeling, her body just finished with that happiness. A bad mood got Twilight, which felt like she would throw up. Blue noticed that and asked:

"Twily, are you okay?"

"Yes" Twilight replied. "I just need to go… to the bathroom."

Unable to stand it any longer, she left the room. That captured the look of all, especially Cadance’s.

"But what does Twilight have?" she asked.

"I don't know" Blue answered. "She's been like this for days."

"Did you take her to the doctor already?" Shining asked to his friend and brother-in-law, completely worried with his sister.

"Twilight thinks that's a bad mood due to what she is going to" Blue replied. "If she thinks that's no reason to go to the doctor, do you think I can convince her to go?"

"Blue's right" Applejack agreed. "Twilight is very stubborn. She could be an Apple."

"I see" Cadance said, advancing and leaving.

She went to the nearest bathroom and, when she approached it, she managed to hear Twilight throwing up. She knocked on the door and asked:

"Twilight, are you okay?"

Then she heard the sound of the toilet and then Twilight came out, already better, but recovering from the throwing up.

"Yes, I'm fine, why?" she asked.

"These nauseas aren't normal" Cadance commented.

"Cadance, don't exaggerate” Twilight said. “I'm fine. Come on, now, I have to get ready. I have a star seed to recover."

And having said this, she moved away but Cadance kept staring her sister-in-law, because she suspected what might be happening to her.

Shortly after, the group, accompanied by Shining (Cadance had stayed in the castle with Gleaming) departed to the Oasis of the Heart.

"I can't believe we're going to the Oasis of the Heart" Rarity said, immensely excited, as they walked.

"Yes, Rarity, we know" Rainbow Dash said. "You've been saying that all the way."

"That's because this is quite exciting" Rarity said. "We've heard a lot about this place through Twilight, but now let's see it personally!"

"I'm like Rarity" said Pinkie. "I can't wait to see the trees, the leaves, the flowers, the canals, the lake and the big tree! Hey, if we eat a lot of fruits of it will we radiate a red light?"

"Ah don't know, Pinkie" Applejack replied. "But Ah'm sure ya're goin’ tah find out."

"You bet" she replied.

"I also want to see the oasis" Fluttershy said. "It must be very beautiful."

"Oh, I love beautiful places!" Heartbeat exclaimed.

"So, it was that the place where it all began between you two?" Shining asked to Blue and Twilight.

"Shining, you're not going to start with your big brother curiosity, are you?" Twilight asked.

"Hey, now I can't know where the story between my sister and my best friend started?" Shining asked.

Then Blue stopped, causing the others to stop.

"What is it, Blue?" Twilight asked.

"Twilight, don't you think that, by now, we should smell the oasis’ flowers?" Blue asked.

Twilight looked to where they were. Indeed, when she and Blue were already in that place, they could smell the sweet aroma of the oasis' flowers.

"You're right" she said. "It's weird."

"Are you talking about this amazing aroma?" Heartbeat asked, seeming to be enjoying the most delicious thing.

"Can you feel a scent that is everything that you like?" Twilight asked.

"I can smell freshly make sweets and the smell of roses and the sea" Heartbeat replied.

"We'll take that as a yes" said Blue.

"Hey, Heartbeat, can you follow the scent?" Twilight asked.

"Course" she replied.

And the little filly started to move and the others began to follow her.

"It’s strange that tha little one can smell it and ya don't" Applejack said.

"Maybe the fact that they don't want to go to the oasis to be alone with each other is the reason to not feel it" Fluttershy suggested.

"But that's impossible" Rainbow Dash said. "How can that be?"

"It is also impossible to there is a whole Kingdom petrified, but, however, it exists" Blue said. "We're also talking about the Oasis of the Heart. Everything in that place is a real mystery."

"Blue’s right" Twilight said. "We shouldn’t dismiss this hypothesis of Fluttershy."

"Well, you two know this place better than us" Shining said.

Then, suddenly, the cold of the arctic was left behind and the snow was replaced by grass. A big shadow welcomed them and those that weren’t used were almost blinded by the bright light that greeted them. They were in the Oasis of the Heart. Those who were there for the first time were speechless, watching the trees, the leaves, the flowers, the channels... everything. Some crystal butterflies were also there. Rarity almost fainted before such beauty, Fluttershy became very excited, Pinkie Pie kept hooping and went to see everything that was there and Heartbeat followed his example, but preferring to run instead of hooping. Even Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Shining gasped.

"Well, what a place!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Amazing!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"Looks like something out of a dream!" Rarity sighed.

"They are right" Shining said. "I've never seen anything like this before."

Twilight and Blue exchanged a smile. They were pleased to see their admiration, but that wasn't the time to enjoy the sights.

"Very well, ponies, we have to get going" Twilight said. "The star seed is inside the great tree and it is in the center of the oasis."

They then began marching towards the center. Everypony seemed focused on the task ahead, but Heartbeat and Pinkie Pie were the ones who were often distracted more easily: Heartbeat for being a filly and Pinkie for... well, being Pinkie.

"Twilight, when we arrive to the said tree, do you know how to take the star seed?" Rainbow Dash asked, while flying.

"Rainbow made a point" Applejack said. "How are we goin’ tah get Heartbeat’s star seed?"

"I think we’ll have to figure it out when we got there" Twilight replied.

Then they began to hear Pinkie laughing.

"Pinkie, do you might to take this seriously?" Twilight asked, stopping.

"It’s not my fault" she said between laughs. "The trees are tickling me in trying to hug me."

Twilight and the others turned and saw that Pinkie Pie was being imprisoned by branches of a tree that had extended to catch her. It didn’t late until everypony be caught by the trees nearby.

"But what is this?!" Rainbow Dash asked, trying to break free. "But why the trees are attacking us?!"

"I don't know!" Twilight replied, trying to hold the grip that the branches which were holding her began to do. "This never happened!"

"Well, but it's happening now" Shining said.

"But this place has always been calm and peaceful" Blue said. "It even helped me and Twilight to stay together, because it knew how we felt about each other."

Upon hearing that, Twilight then realized the reason for that being happening.

"I know!" Twilight exclaimed. "The oasis knows what we feel. He must know that we want the star seed, that's why I and Blue didn’t felt the scent of their flowers and that's why it is attacking us."

"Of course" Shining said. "It's his heart. It must be trying to protect it from everypony."

"And it can do it because it feel the intentions of those who enter into it" Blue concluded.

"That’s very interesting and everything" Rainbow said, trying to break free at all costs. "But it doesn't help us to get out of here."

"If I were you, Rainbow, I wouldn’t resist" Fluttershy said. "This will only cause the trees to tighten even more."

"Yes, but I won’t go let them strangle me" Rainbow Dash answered.

"I like it" Pinkie Pie said, cheerfully. "It's like receiving a big hug!"

"Pinkie, this is no time for... that you're doing" Rarity replied.

"Hey, everypony, look" Applejack said. "Not all of us were caught."

They looked to where she was pointing and saw Heartbeat on the floor, smelling a flower on the floor.

"Wait a minute, she didn't get caught?" Rainbow Dash asked. "But why?"

"For the same reason she could smell the flowers’ scent and we didn't" Twilight realized. "She's a filly and her emotions and feelings are pure. She has no intention of harming the oasis."

"Of course, that makes sense" Blue said.

"In fact, this may play to our advantage" Shining said, turning down. "Hey, Heartbeat!"

She looked at all sides, looking for who had called her and then noticed them, asking:

"What are you doing up there? Are you playing with the trees?"

"Ah... Yes, we are" Shining replied. "But, listen, could you do us a favor?"

"Sure" Heartbeat replied. "Since then I can have the same fun you are having."

"Of course" Shining said. "You just have to follow this channel in that direction. You'll find an island with the largest tree of here. Approach it. There's something there that we want."

"What?" Heartbeat asked.

"A kind of very bright seed" Blue replied. "But you have to be quick."

"Ok, I'm going as fast as I can" Heartbeat said.

And then she began to run along the canal.

"Do you think she will do it?" Twilight asked.

"It’s her star seed, isn’t it?" Shining replied. "I think she will."

"Well, I just hope she’s fast before the trees crush us" Rainbow Dash answered.

Heartbeat followed the canal and then soon she reached the center of the oasis, finding the lake and later the island where the great tree was.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, getting surprised with the tree’s beauty.

She approached the edge of the lake and then the stone platforms appeared, giving her the path to the island. Heartbeat smiled and jumped on each of the platforms, heading to the island. When she got there, she advanced to the tree. The tree began to radiate a more intense light as Heartbeat approached it.

It was then that the little filly put a hoof on the trunk. The light intensified even more, making Heartbeat take the hoof out and protect her eyes. It was then she saw a seed with a hexagonal bipiramidal form and with an intense red light getting out of the tree and approaching her. The same closed flower that appeared on her forehead when Celestia proved that she had no star seed appeared and opened. The seed advanced and put itself in it. The flower back to close and disappeared. Heartbeat began to radiate an intense red light, while she closed her eyes, and when the light faded, she opened her eyes.

With the pickup of its heart, the oasis began to lose what made it unique. The great tree and all the other trees lost their red light on the leaves and on the trunk and the flowers were no longer expelling their attractive aroma. The branches dropped their prisoners who fell on the ground, with the exception of Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash who had wings and could make a smooth descent.

"It seems that she did it" Twilight noted.

"In fact, I did" a voice said.

All of them looked and saw Heartbeat approaching.

"And now that I have my star seed, I returned to my old self" she said, arriving at the edge of them. "I'm not the same innocent and ignorant filly. Although I still has the same childish behavior, because that's what characterizes me."

"You're the true Heartbeat" Twilight said.

"And you're the famous Princess Twilight" Heartbeat said, approaching her. "I know your accomplishment, especially your victory over the King of the Changelings, along with..." she turned to Blue "the pony that you love, Blue Sword."

"You know that?" Shining asked.

"Of course" Heartbeat replied. "As I know your whole story with Cadance and your victory over the Queen of the Changelings and Sombra."

Shining seemed a bit bothered by Heartbeat knowing all that.

"But how do ya know all this?" Applejack asked.

"I will explain everything" Heartbeat replied. "But before... It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful place, don't you think?"

So her horn were charged with magic and its glow intensified. Heartbeat's eyes became red and she radiated an intense light, like a red sun. It was then that the Oasis of the Heart began to recover the beauty it had before with everything getting back the red glow.

"Wow!" everypony exclaimed.

"Now, I think the grown-ups need the help of the little filly to clarify some doubts, isn't it?" Heartbeat said. "So let's go back to the Crystal Empire. There, I will give you the answers."

The Mirrored Library

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After Heartbeat had recovered her star seed, the group returned to the Crystal Empire. Near the entrance of the Empire, hidden, was Fire Punch. Then, in the distance, he saw Twilight and the others returning. He looked to Heartbeat and, using a magic the Lord of Chaos had taught him, he saw that she had her light back. She already had her star seed. As he had been commanded, he invoked his master. A darkness appeared, as well as the Lord of Chaos’ eyes.

"It is better you have good news to me, Fire Punch" the Lord of Chaos said.

"You asked me to let you know if our friends obtain the red star seed" Fire Punch said. "They are returning now to the Crystal Empire and the General of Affection has her light back."

The Lord of Chaos looked to the group that approached the Crystal Empire and then giggled, saying afterwards:

"Perfect. This is just what I needed. It's time for the next step."

It was then that he launched from his eyes a shade that, invisible and silent, advanced to the group and settled in their shadows.

"Now, the tide of their luck is about to change" the Lord of Chaos said. "I will get the others star seeds and then Heartbeat’s and then I will be able to find the original star seed and, when I'm done with its light, this world will fall on my total dominance."

And gave one of his evil and cold laughter.

The group arrived at the castle and entered in the throne room, where Cadance was with Gleaming.

"So, how'd it go?" Cadance asked.

"Apart from a couple of trees that tried to crush us, everything went fine" Shining replied, approaching Cadance and giving her a kiss.

"We were able to retrieve the star seed and the true Heartbeat" Twilight said. "Right, Heartbeat?"

Then she noticed that Heartbeat was ahead of Gleaming Shield’s crib to make her laugh again. It seemed that she hadn't heard anything.

"Heartbeat!" Twilight called.

"Yes?" she asked, turning around and seeing everypony staring at her. "I'm sorry, I can't resist a baby."

"Ya said ya'd give us answers and now ya have tah keep yer promise" Applejack said.

"Always so honest" Heartbeat said. "That’s so annoying."

But when she received rough looks from everypony, she said:

"Very well, I’ll answer to anything you want. What do you want to know?"

"Well, first of all, how didn’t you turned to stone along with the other Generals and the light ponies?" Twilight asked.

"But, I turned to stone" Heartbeat replied. "Actually, there’s no worse feeling than that. Having our star seed removed, having our own essence removed... It's something you don't want to anypony. I was in darkness for so many centuries, shrouded in cold, in solitude... Until a light appeared and freed me from my stone prison. I didn't have my star seed, but even so I was free. Well, it's free so to speak. Without my star seed, I became... intuitive. A child, as I'm always, but without my awareness. However, I had a thought. A mental order, if you want to call it so: continuing my work. But I had to do it unconsciously and, how it’s law between the Generals, discreetly."

"That’s why nopony, not even Celestia and Luna, have been suspicious of your return" Twilight noted.

"And what does that have to do with the fact that you know so much about me and Cadance?" Shining asked.

"I thought you had already reached that conclusion, silly billy" Heartbeat replied, childishly. "I might have been walking around with no conscience or anything, but I still remember everything I did. Do you really think that you meet Cadance and you two fell in love for each other by coincidence?"

"Wait..." Cadance said. "That was you?"

Heartbeat did a smile and waved, saying afterwards:

"My intuition, which was what was dominating my body, knew you guys would be perfect to each other, so I made a succession of events that allowed you to meet each other in that moment, in that place and I even gave a little push. But don't just think it was all decided on top of the knee. I mean, I wouldn't have done it if you were not perfect to each other. Also I admit that I was the one who raised Twilight’s suspicion during Shining and Cadance’s wedding. All for your sake, of course."

There was a pause and then Blue asked:

"And me and Twilight?"

"Oh, that wasn't me" Heartbeat answered. "I mean, it was me, but no me."

Seeing the confusing air of everypony, she stated:

"It was my star seed. As well the feelings that you two had and have for each other. I mean, the Oasis of the Heart just had and still has, thanks to me, the ability to reach the ponies’ heart thanks to my star seed. But that thing at your wedding… That was my person."

"What are you talking about?" Twilight asked.

"When Dark Hole stole all the love you had, I used my magic to transfer part of the love Blue had for you and so I could restore yours" Heartbeat replied. "How do you think Celestia and Luna saw me, sending Blue to the Light Kingdom?"

That revelation left Twilight and Blue atonic.

"You see, I was present in all great moments in every major couples, always using my empathy for such" Heartbeat continued. "I'm more powerful than you can process and I spent just over two decades enslaved by my unconsciousness. Thank you for helping me find my star seed."

But no one answer that grateful, even don’t believing what she had said. The first to react was Rainbow Dash that asked:

"I bet you’ll tell us where are the other star seeds, won’t you?"

"No, I don’t know where are my brothers and sisters’ star seeds" Heartbeat replied. "But we can find out in no time. There's a place that can give us this same information."

"What place?" Rarity asked.

"It’s easier and more preferable to show it to you than talk about it" Heartbeat replied.

"Great" Applejack said. "So show us the way."

"With pleasure" Heartbeat replied. "Except for Cadance, because within seconds Gleaming will need to be changed."

"What do you mean?" Cadance asked. "Gleaming..."

"Three, two, one..." Heartbeat counted.

And then a stinky smell filled the air, making everypony twist the nose.

"Oh, I know this smell of anywhere" Pinkie Pie said.

“Well, that was creepy” Rainbow Dash commented.

"It looks like our little princess really needs to be changed" Cadance said, addressing to Gleaming.

"Well, I’ll stay with you" Shining said.

"That's really sweet, but we won’t leave the castle" Heartbeat said. "You can perfectly go with us. Cadance, when you're done, come meet us at the room where that magic mirror which can make ponies go to other worlds is."

She turned to the others and asked:

"Shall we?"

And then she headed to the exit of the throne room, with the others, including Shining, following her. They went into the room where the mirror that took Twilight to another world and that allowed Cherry communicate with her family and friends in her world was.

"Okay, wait, how the mirror will help us enter this place that contains the location of the other star seeds?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Patience" Heartbeat responded, moving towards the mirror. "Patience is a virtue."

Then Heartbeat carried her horn with magic and then she entered it in the mirror surface, sanking as if it were water and then turned it off then. It was then that the mirror has become a bright portal (what fascinated Pinkie Pie).

"Here it is" said Heartbeat, invoking her teddy bear. "This portal can be invoked in any mirrors, but my siblings and I are the only ones who knows the spell. And Mr. Teddy will be our guard."

"Wait, you're going to put that thing guarding de mirror?" Rainbow Dash asked, starting to laugh. "Yes, because he scares anypony."

It was then that Mr. Teddy came alive and became a small bear, but fierce, and launched himself against Rainbow Dash and started to attack her, making her scream and moan what made the others tremble by surprise. Heartbeat smiled and called:

"Mr. Teddy!"

Mr. Teddy, who was on top of Rainbow Dash, who was lying on the floor, pulling her hindlegs back behind her, stopped and returned to Heartbeat, returning to his previous form, but keeping alive.

"Never insult Mr. Teddy" she advised Rainbow Dash. "He's very sensitive."

"Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked, very worried.

"Give me a couple of seconds" she replied, retrieving from the beating Mr. Teddy had just given to her.

"Well, we better get going" Heartbeat said, putting Mr. Teddy at the edge of the mirror. "Mr. Teddy, you stay on guard. Only Princess Cadance can enter. And if she brings the baby, it’s better."

Mr. Teddy waved, making her a salute.

"I had no idea that your bear was alive" Blue said to Heartbeat.

"All my toys are alive" she replied. "Part of the magic that I use to create them are in them. Well, anyway, let's move. Foals first."

And then she went through the portal of the mirror. The others exchanged a look, before they go through it too. When they reached the other side, they couldn't believe what they were seeing. They were in a vast library, so large that it seemed to have no end. All of it was made of bright and blue polished metal and there were several mirrors scattered everywhere. The cabinets were giants and they contained a lot of books, all of different shapes and sizes. The books were so many that weren't even shelving for a vast amount of them, what made them be placed in piles. Everyone gasped, but Twilight was who gaped more.

"I can't believe" she said, looking at all sides. "This is... There’re no words."

"Twilight, control yourself" Shining said. "Remember why we're here."

"Yes, you're right" she replied. "But this... This is amazing!"

"Ah think Twilight is ‘bout tah have a stroke" Applejack joked with Rainbow Dash making a slight chuckle.

"This is the Mirrored Library" Heartbeat said. "This is where all the information about all creation is stored. Or, at least, most of it. Anything that is created or destroyed, molded or remolded... everything is registered here. This is the library of all the Generals of Order, in addition to those that exist in your world."

"So there are more Generals?" Blue asked.

"There are a few more" Heartbeat said. "After all, we represent all the Lord of Order’s power. But I and my petrified siblings were chosen to go to your world to create the Light Kingdom."

She later went to a pile of books that was nearby and pass her hoof through the top of it, releasing a lot of dust, saying:

"It is clear that since Mirror Coat was suddenly removed from service, the library had become quite disorganized."

"Who?" Rarity asked.

"The General of Knowledge" Blue clarified. "I saw him in the castle of the Light Kingdom."

"Yes, he is the librarian of the library and is responsible for storing and organizing all information that arrives here, which is quite a lot" Heartbeat said. "And I'm talking about the one that arrives per day. That's why he's not my favorite brother. He is all work and no play."

"But it must be amazing live in the middle of all this" Twilight said, still delighted with the amount of books that the library had.

"If organizing books in all the various sections is incredible, so it must be" Heartbeat joked.

"How many sections there are here?" Twilight asked, full of curiosity.

"Well, there is Literature, obviously, where there are all the tales that were created; History, where are registered all the great events; Science and Magic, where are all the records of the functioning of nature, the spells that were created, their mode of operation, etc.; the musical record of all songs and melodies ever created; a section for all the art works… there are also genealogical records of all creatures that exist. Anyway... I don't even know the names of all the sections. But let’s go on to more important things.

"So wait for me" Cadance said, arriving.

"Cadance, we glad you're here" Shining said, going to her. "Where's Gleaming?"

"I left her with a maid" Cadance said. "Don't worry. By the way, Heartbeat, that teddy bear of yours is really cute."

"That's because you haven't seen the bad side of him" Rainbow Dash mumbled to herself, massaging her sore parts.

They then advanced through the library, with Twilight admiring each glimpse. They could see several books flying and resting in huge piles of books which, inexplicably, didn’t fall. Then appeared what seemed to be the center of the library. In the middle, there was a bowl-shaped structure attached to a stone pillar.

"This is what will help us locate the star seeds" Heartbeat said. "Watch this."

She charged her horn with magic and then she released it to the bowl which began to shine and launched a light, forming a globe of the planet where Equestria was. This globe was too large. It made everypony amazed.

"This bowl can show and locate all the Lord of Order’s creations" Heartbeat explained. "Thus, we can find all the star seeds."

"That's amazing!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Yes, it will save us the trouble of finding them" Rarity said.

"What are you waiting for?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Let's find them."

Heartbeat seemed a little uncomfortable with Rainbow’s rush because she gave her a sharp look, but she then turned to the globe making her horn shine with her aura, while saying:

"Well, the star seeds of the the General of Order of the Light Kingdom fell all in Equestria therefore we’ll limit our map."

And then the globe became a planisphere of Equestria.

"Now, the location of the Generals’ star seeds will come… now."

And then six points appeared. A red point was in the Crystal Empire. That point was certainly Heartbeat’s location. There was also an orange point near Vanhoover, a green point in the middle of Hollow Shades, a purple point in Hayseed Swamps, a light blue point in Rambling Rock Ridge and a yellow point in the great mountain of San Palomino Desert.

"Here they are" Heartbeat said.

"So the other star seeds are there" Twilight said. "Well, at least we know where they are."

"Yes, but the problem is that they are very far apart from each other" Shining said.

"Yes, and if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are right about the Evil wanting at all costs the Light Kingdom, our timing has to be the best possible" Blue said.

"Hey, take it easy, anyway only we know the star seeds’ location, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.

But what Rainbow Dash didn't know was that the Lord of Chaos was seeing precisely what they were seeing.

"You're so wrong, my dear" he said. "I also know that. And all thanks to the spell I cast to your shadows to show me everything you see. The spell has a temporary effect, but I knew Heartbeat would lead you to the Mirrored Library once you got her back her star seed. That General’s behavior is so childish that she is as predictable as a foal. Now, I know the exact location of the other star seeds."

And having said this, he gave a new laugh. Then he turned to Fire Punch and said:

"Make sure you bring me the star seeds. I don't care if you bring me all of them. But bring me at least two. If you do that, I’ll try to find a way to get the others."

"Yes, my master" Fire Punch answered, bowing.

"Go on, we have no time to lose" the Lord of Chaos ordered. "I will give you the locations telepathically. As Prince Blue Sword said, our timing has to be the best possible."

And having said this, he gave a laugh, while Fire Punch made a last bow and turned into shadow, moving away to fulfill the mission that had been assigned to him.

Divide and Conquer

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"Hey, take it easy, anyway only we know the star seeds' location, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I sincerely doubt about that" Heartbeat said. "Like roaches, the Lord of Chaos and his puppets can appear anywhere."

"Oh, wait a minute" Applejack said. "Lord of Chaos? That guy that almost destroyed my brother's relationship with my sister-in-law for sending her ex-boyfriend to Equestria? He's in on it?"

"When will you guys realize that, as the Lord of Order is responsible for all that is good, the Lord of Chaos is responsible for everything that is bad?" Heartbeat asked. "Of course he's involved. After all, he's the one who corrupted Sombra in the first attack to the Light Kingdom."

"Heartbeat is right, as well as Blue" said Twilight. "We must act quickly. That means..."

"We must separate ourselves" Heartbeat. “And I mean in number not… Well, you got it.”

"Precisely" Twilight replied, turning then to the Equestria map. "Okay, let me see. Rarity, you and Pinkie Pie can go take care of the orange star seed."

"Wait, you're leaving me with Pinkie?" Rarity asked, turning to Pinkie who smiled with the quite open smile of hers. "You're kidding, right?"

"Rarity, work with me" Twilight. "We are in a very tight situation."

Rarity then sighed and replied:

"Whatever, but I'm not responsible for any accident to happen."

"Of course not, silly billy, after all, accidents are that right: accidents" Pinkie Pie answered.

That made Rarity made a designation sigh.

"Fluttershy, you can go retrieve the green star seed with..." Twilight started.

"Actually, Twilight, if you don't mind, I'd like to go alone to the Hollow Shades" Fluttershy said.

That left everypony amazed.

"Are you sure about that, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

"Sure" she replied.

"Wait a minute, Fluttershy" Rainbow Dash said. "We're talking about a dark and scary forest full of dangerous animals. The only village there is right in the middle."

"For start, Rainbow, I think I can cope very well with animals" Fluttershy said. "And, besides, I know somepony there who can help me."

"Be careful, Fluttershy" Twilight said. "In this moment, it's good that our allies are really reliable. If the Lord of Chaos begins to act, we cannot trust anypony."

"Don't worry, Twilight" Fluttershy reassured. "This somepony is trustworthy, you can believe it."

"Well, if it's like this..." Twilight started.

"Wait, you're not going to allow this, are you?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"If Fluttershy says she can do it, so we should trust her" Twilight said. "Besides, I think it's best you and Applejack go retrieve the purple star seed. Both of you are strong and you can handle the swamps with ease."

"Ah'm ready tah get the job done, Twilight" said Applejack, promptly. "Ah love a good trip tah tha swamps."

"Well, I think it might be great" Rainbow said.

"And let me guess" Blue said to Twilight. "We're going to take care of..."

"The blue star seed" Twilight replied.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you" said Shining. "All the available help is low."

"For us it’s fine, Shining" Blue said. "Isn't that right, Twilight?"

"Sure" she replied.

Shining turned to Cadance and said:

"Cadance, I think it's better…"

"I stay here with Gleaming" she completed. "I knew you'd say that. Don't worry, I'll stay here. After all, somepony has to take care of our daughter and the Crystal Empire."

"And what about the yellow star seed?" asked Rarity. "We can't forget about it."

"I think we can leave it for now" Heartbeat Heartbeat. "She's my brother Golden Paladin’s star seed, the leader of the Generals of Order. His star seed must be very well protected, even for the followers of Chaos. I wouldn't worry about it for now. But of course I'll have to stick around to monitor things. Don't worry, I'll keep your back."

"I don't know why, but I don't feel very comfortable with that" Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack, causing her to give a slight chuckle.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, Rainbow Dash" Heartbeat answered her, leaving her quite uncomfortable for the General of Affection having heard what she had said.

"Okay, gals, let's take care of our missions" Applejack said.

They waved and Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie began heading to the exit. When Twilight, Blue and Shining began also headed to it, Cadance said:

"Twilight, can I talk to you?"

"Of course," said Twilight, turning then to her brother and to her husband. "I’ll join you in a minute."

The two waved and moved away.

"What do you want to talk to me about, Cadance?" Twilight asked.

"About your indisposition " she replied.

"Cadance, I already told you it must be from the stress. This should pass."

"You know, I've had those nauseas. And believe me, it's not from the stress."

"So what is it?" Twilight asked.

"Tell me one thing, when was your last period?" Cadance asked.

"It was almost three months ago" Twilight replied. "But then I've been nervous about the wedding and then with Blue’s departure, so I didn't give it importance. Why do you ask that?"

It looked like it had clarified Cadance definitely. Then she said:

"Twilight, you'll have to take it easy with what I'm about to say."

"What?" Twilight asked. "You're starting to scare me, Cadance."

"Twilight, I think… and this is just a guess… but I think you're pregnant" Cadance said.

That Cadance’s assertiveness made Twilight stay somewhat shocked, but then she said:

"That's ridiculous, Cadance, I can't be pregnant."

"Of course you can" Heartbeat said, approaching and joining the conversation. "And of course you are."

"And how can you be so sure?" Twilight asked.

"Because I feel it" Heartbeat answered. "Even a baby that had not yet born expresses emotions. And I can feel your baby’s emotions right now."

Twilight was stunned. She didn't even know what to say or even think.

"I’m... pregnant" she said.

"I know, it's a big shock, but believe me it's the best feeling in the world" Cadance said, putting a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. "Being a mother... Well, I don't even have words to describe it. When I was pregnant, I felt so good when I felt Gleaming. And when she was born and I took her in my forelegs I felt myself complete."

"I’m still not in me" Twilight said. "Cadance, I… I'm not ready to be a mom."

"Twilight, being a mother is something you learn" Cadance said.

"And that's a fact" Heartbeat added.

"Heartbeat, don’t you have nothing to monitor?" Cadance asked.

"It seems that the mission already is the middle" she replied.

But receiving Cadance’s stare, she said:

"Okay, I’ll go."

And walked away. Cadance continued saying to Twilight:

"Believe me, Twilight, you're going to be a great mom. And when Blue finds out, he's going to be full of joy and I'm sure he's going to help you."

"Do you really think so?" Twilight asked.

"Of course" Cadance said.

So Twilight just smiled and Cadance returned her the smile.

"When you go to tell him?" Cadance asked. "Now?"

"Cadance, I barely received the news" Twilight replied. "I still have to internalize. Only when I feel more comfortable, I'll tell Blue. Well, but I have to go now."

"Be careful" Cadance said, while Twilight was moving away.

Twilight then reached the gate and passed it, finding Blue and Shining waiting for her.

"Is everything fine?" Blue asked.

Twilight, for a moment, though tell to Blue the conversation she and Cadance had, but then the shock of know she was pregnant made her answer:

"Yes, everything is fine."

"Well, then let's go" Shining said. "We have no time to lose."

And so the three advanced to go to Rambling Rock Ridge.

--------------------------------------

In Vanhoover, an earth pony stallion was wandering around the forest that was near the village, picking up firewood. It was then that he heard sounds, what made him look at all sides. He had the strange feeling of being watched.

"Hello?" he asked. "Is anypony there?"

But he was answered with silence. Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued to collect firewood and putting it in his wagon. It was then that he heard footsteps approaching him. He turned and then faced Fire Punch, who was approaching him with a mischievous smile.

"Hello" the pony said, retreating due to being a little intimidated by Fire Punch.

"Hello" Fire Punch greeted, continuing the approach.

"What do you want?" the pony asked, continuing to retreat.

"Nothing" Fire Punch replied. "I just need a hoof with some things I have to deal with around here."

The pony backed off in such a way that he eventually collide with a tree, making it impossible for him the retreat. He then said, nervously:

"I'll be glad to help you."

"I know that" Fire Punch answered. "But it turns out I need the help from somepony with more capacity."

And it was then that he charged his horn with magic and launched a magic beam against the pony, which began to scream in agony. It was then that he was motionless, with the hind legs fallen on the floor. A closed flower appeared above his head and then it opened up, revealing a translucent star seed with a slight white light inside of it. The star seed emitted its light for a few moments until it lost it and became completely black. It was then dark lighting left the star seed and then what appeared to be black roots arose and covered the pony and his star seed and then, when they disappeared, he emerged. He was completely unrecognizable. His coat and mane were with darker tones, his ears were more pointed, his teeth are sharper and his eyes turned red, full of evil.

"Somepony with the capacity of a dark pony" Fire Punch completed.

And then he began to laugh, while the dark pony that he had just created bent before him.

The Musical Cave

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As they had been assigned, and to great Rarity’s disappointment, she and Pinkie Pie went to Vanhoover to try to get the orange star seed, General of Music’s star seed. They then disembarked on Vanhoover train station, with Pinkie Pie talking while hooping, following Rarity to the mountains near the village which was where the orange star seed’s sign was:

"Oh, this is going to be so exciting! We're searching for a star seed and is General of Music’s. How do you think it's going to be when we find it? Will there be music? Of course there will be music, after all we are talking about the General of Music. Oh, I love music!"

Rarity progressed, trying to ignore Pinkie Pie’s prate, but it was becoming a little difficult. Pinkie Pie had the talent to get into the head of anypony.

"Hey, Rarity, what kind of music you think we’ll hear when we find the star seed?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I don't know, Pinkie" Rarity replied.

"Oh, I hope it will be an animated song" Pinkie said. "I love animated songs."

Rarity was still advancing, trying to ignore Pinkie, when suddenly she noticed something.

"Pinkie, hide" she said.

The two hided in some bushes nearby and started to lurk.

"What is it?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Shut up and listen" Rarity replied.

The two looked and then saw an earth pony appear, but completely different from a normal pony. He had dark tones, fangs and red eyes. It was then that what appeared to be a pegasus, similar to the first pony, appeared and stopped in front of the first pony, remaining in the air.

"I still haven't found anything" the first pony said. "Wherever the cave is, it is very well hidden. Retrieving the orange star seed to the master can be a most difficult task to solve."

Rarity and Pinkie Pie exchanged a stunned look when they heard that. Those ponies were also looking for the orange star seed. They referred a "master". They wondered if they were talking about the Lord of Chaos. If that were the case, they would have to retrieve the star seed before them.

"That's bad news" the second pony said. "Luckily, I think our companions found the cave. It is on the other side of this mountain, on the base. It is in a fairly remote area, very hard to find."

"You could have said that when you arrived here, don't you think?" the first pony replied gruffly.

The second pony shrugged and walked away quickly. So the first pony started moving away too, starting to follow the path that would lead him to the other side of the mountain and to the base of it. Rarity and Pinkie Pie came out of their hiding and the white unicorn asked:

"Did you hear what they said?"

"Of course" Pinkie Pie replied. “That pegasus should have said first his news."

"Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed. "They are undoubtedly Lord of Chaos’ followers and they found the star seed that we're looking for."

"Oh, yeah" Pinkie Pie said. "So what do we do?"

"What do you think?" Rarity asked rhetorically. "Follow that pony. He will lead us to the star seed’s location. Then, we observe the situation. We need to know what are the star seed's defenses to try to figure out a way to get it and we can only pray that they won't be able to get it."

"Good plan" Pinkie Pie said. "It can work."

"So, come on, before we lose him" Rarity said, beginning to move down the same path that the pony. "And no singing and hooping up and down so he won't hear us."

"Okie dokie lokie" Pinkie replied, following Rarity with her lively step.

The two managed to get the pony and followed him discreetly, making sure he wouldn’t notice them. They followed him for some time, while he came down and headed to the other side of the mountain. So, they arrived to an area where there were many more ponies like him and the other pony. They hided and watched.

They saw a small cave, where the entrance was, counting with the two ponies that they had seen, about half a dozen ponies.

"The orange star seed must be in there" Rarity concluded. "For them to stand here, it’s because those should be guards, which means there's at least one more in there."

"Rarity, you know that I like to see the positive side of things and that all" Pinkie Pie said. "But how will we pass all those ponies?"

"That's a good question" Rarity agreed.

"Yeah, I mean, it's not that the answer will appear out of nowhere" Pinky Pie said.

"Hello, ladies" a voice greeted.

That made the two ponies almost give a cry of fright, but they managed to contain themselves and turned to see a magic ball floating, where there was Heartbeat.

“Okay, that was scary” Pinkie Pie said.

"Heartbeat?" Rarity asked. "But what are you doing here?"

"Technically, I'm not there" she replied. "I'm still in the Mirrored Library, but I'm monitoring your missions... And, Pinkie, stop with that!"

Pinkie Pie had been passing her hoof through the bubble that was made of light. She then stopped.

"How are the things?" Heartbeat asked.

"Bad" Rarity replied. "I think we found the star seed, but the place is guarded by ponies that seem to be Lord of Chaos’ followers."

"What ponies?" Heartbeat asked.

Rarity showed the ponies to Heartbeat and then she said, in a serious tone:

"Those are not regular ponies. They are dark ponies."

"Dark ponies?" Rarity and Pinkie Pie repeated in unison.

"They are ponies whose star seeds lost their light and were filled with darkness" Heartbeat replied. "They're like dark versions of ponies. They are cruel and ruthless, but a little stupid and naive."

"Okay, so how do we beat them?" Rarity asked.

"I repeat, they are stupid and naive" Heartbeat repeated.

Then Rarity had an idea.

"I think I know how to pass them" he said.

"So good luck" Heartbeat wished.

And, having said this, she disappeared.

"Okay, what's the plan?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"A distraction" Rarity replied.

"Oh, I love distractions!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Can I be the one to distract them? Can I? Can I? Can I?"

"I think not, Pinkie" Rarity said. "I have a better idea."

It was then that there was an explosion of orange light coming from the cave and two dark ponies were thrown out of the cave. It was then that something happened to the ponies. Dark roots involved them, but then they disappeared, showing the ponies that had returned to normal. Their star seeds turned from black to translucent with a slight white light within them, returning then to the inside of the flower which closed and disappeared.

"Whoa!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Did you see that? Did you? Did you? Did you?"

"It seems that the light from the orange star seed returned that ponies to normal" Rarity noted.

"The star seed must be protected" one of the ponies said. "And if it manages to reverse them, what are we going to do?"

"We will have to contact the master" another replied.

It was then that they heard noises coming from the woods along the cave.

"Intruders" a dark pony said. "I need you to find them and eliminate them."

The dark ponies then began heading to the forest, trying to find the alleged intruders. Then Rarity and Pinkie came out of their hiding place.

"Wow, they have really moved away from here" Pinkie Pie said.

"As Heartbeat said, they are stupid and naive" Rarity said. "Well, let's go."

The two headed to the cave, passing by the unconscious ponies. They entered and were amazed with what they found. The walls of the cave were all made of translucent orange crystal, and there were some coming out form the floor. Pinkie Pie was pretty curious with those crystals, starting to observe them. Finally, they reached the bottom of the cave and there they found a great pillar of the same color as the crystals and, within it, there was the orange star seed.

"There it is" Rarity said, approaching. "Though, is a bit too easy."

"Maybe, if we try to remove the star seed, we can face the orange light that can throws us out of the cave" Pinkie Pie said, continuing to look for the crystals, concentrating on who were in line near the pillar.

"I think you're right, Pinkie" said Rarity. "We should try to find a way to get it out of there."

Rarity observed and mulled a way to get the star seed out of there without activating its traps. Pinkie Pie, in turn, continued to observe the crystals with a lot of curiosity, something which irritated Rarity.

"Pinkie, can you stop playing with the crystals and help me with the star seed?" she asked.

The pink pony snorted and then prepared to head for Rarity when stumbled on one of the crystals. This glowed for a moment with an orange light and a sound was heard, what did the pillar where it was moved slightly down, returning to normal after that.

"Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed, turning to Pinkie.

"I haven't done anything wrong!" Pinkie hastened saying, rising up. "I just tripped."

"Don't apologize, Pinkie" Rarity said, advancing and giving a hug to Pinkie. "You just solve our problem. These crystals are like piano keys. Each should produce a different musical note that must move the pillar differently. If we play the right melody..."

"We can get free the star seed so we can caught it and so we would be one step closer to free the Light Kingdom?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Precisely" Rarity replied. "First, we need to know what notes is that each crystal makes and then we can build the right melody that will make the pillar free star seed long enough to catch it."

The two then began to investigate each crystal and, after determining the sound of each crystal, they began to create the right melody. They played each of the crystals, starting to fill the cave with all the sounds they made, that echoed and resonated. The pillar that contained the star seed moved upward and downward with the rhythm of the melody. Pinkie and Rarity were waiting for the right moment, while they were continuing to touch the crystals. It was then that the pillar freed the star seed.

"Now, Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed.

Pinkie then went quickly to the pillar while Rarity was trying to hold the note as she could. At the last moment, Pinkie Pie managed to grab the orange star seed before the pillar to hold it again.

"You did it, Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed, going to Pinkie Pie.

"Yes, I did" she said. "If I couldn't, I wouldn't have the star seed on my hoof."

She handed the star seed to Rarity that put it in her saddlebag and then said:

"Well, let's go. We have to get back to the Crystal Empire as soon as possible."

They started heading to the exit, but when they got there, they ran into the dark ponies who they had cheated before.

"Well, well, well" one of them said. "Our invaders."

"You managed to deceive us, but you are now completely trapped" another said.

"Oh, no" Pinkie Pie said. "We are so busted."

The dark ponies began to approach them. Rarity said nervously:

"We cannot settle this civilly. I mean, we're all ponies, dark or not."

"Sure" one of the black ponies replied. "Just give us the orange star seed."

Rarity and Pinkie Pie began to retreat, fearing what those ponies could do. It was then that an orange light started coming out from Rarity’s saddlebag. Noting the light, Rarity took the star seed out of the saddlebag. Seeing it, the dark ponies became a little intimidated.

"Be careful" one of them said.

The star seed issued an orange light so strong that blinded everypony. It was then that Rarity and Pinkie Pie heard screams and moans. The light dissipated and they opened their eyes. They then saw all dark ponies on the ground, regaining their original form and with their respective star seeds regaining their lights and returning to the inside of their respective owners.

"Wow, that was... amazing!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"I'm glad the star seed helped us" Rarity said, looking for the star seed.

Heartbeat appeared in her bubble and asked:

"So, girls, how are the things?"

"See for yourself" Rarity replied, showing her the star seed.

"Perfect, we have Melody’s star seed" Heartbeat said.

"And we defeated some bad guys" Pinkie Pie said, pointing to the released ponies.

"I think it’s better you get back as soon as possible, before there's more followers of the Lord of Chaos trying to retrieve the star seed" Heartbeat advised.

"Don't worry, we will deal with it" Rarity said.

Heartbeat waved and disappeared.

"Well, I think our partnership is over, right?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"We're friends, Pinkie" Rarity reminded her. "But it wasn't bad to have you as a partner. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't retrieve the orange star seed."

The two exchanged a smile, until they started hearing the unconscious ponies regaining their senses. After helping them to return home, the two boarded the first train to the Crystal Empire, taking with them the star seed, hoping that their friends were having the same luck as them.

The Dark Side of the Forest

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Fluttershy, in order to fulfill the mission she volunteered herself to do without the help of her friends (much to the amazement of all of them), she arrived to Hallow Shades forest from the train she boarded.

She was now on the edge of the dark and scary forest, seeming to be waiting for somepony, as the sun was setting. While waiting, Fluttershy couldn't stop thinking about that her friends thought she wouldn't be able to accomplish the task of recovering the green star seed alone, mainly Rainbow Dash. It was true that the two were friends before they knew the others, but she should have confidence in her, although Fluttershy be shy and often jumpy. But she was going to prove that she could be more than what she seemed.

"Did you miss me?" a voice asked in her ear.

Fluttershy startled and turned. She faced a stallion with a dark gray coat, but he was not a pony, but a thestral, a kind of equine similar to pony, but with some different traits, such as the bat wings, tufted ears, very dark blue and dark moderate violet leather tail and mane and yellow eyes with slit pupils like cats’. The thestral were usually part of Princess Luna’s Royal Guard, being viewed normally with their armor and almost never seen due being nocturnal. This thestral, however, didn’t have his armor, showing their coatless hooves with a darker shade of grey and with two bat wings as Cutie Mark.

"Thunder Night!" Fluttershy exclaimed, hugging the thestral, who returned the hug, and then the two nuzzled each other. "Of course I missed you."

They finished the hug and Fluttershy asked:

"I’m glad you could join us."

"Hey, you're my marefriend, of course I came" he replied. "Princess Luna gave me the day off as soon as you ask me to come and I fly as fast as I could to Hollow Shades."

"Thunder Night, you were again flying during the day?" Fluttershy asked, worried. "You know that the sun weakens you."

"Don't worry about that" Thunder Night replied, passing the hoof through her face. "I can handle it. But that's enough for me to be a little bit in the shadows of the forest to regain my strength. Even if I couldn’t hold it, I would come just to help you with your mission. What is it, anyway?"

While they entered and began to roam the forest, Fluttershy told Thunder Night what she had to do and why. She knew it wasn’t supposed to talk with anypony about this subject, but he was her coltfriend and she knew she could completely trust him.

"So you are looking for a star seed, right?" Thunder Night said. "I've heard that all of us had one, but I never thought that the stories were true."

"Yes, but this star seed what I'm looking for is special" Fluttershy said. "It belonged to the General of Nature and we need it to recover the Light Kingdom."

"And you say that seed is here?"

"Yes, absolutely. You wouldn't happen to know anything, do you, as you live here?"

"I don't know anything about this green star seed, but I hope that we can find something, if it is really here" Thunder Night said.

"Yes, and I know I can count with your help" Fluttershy said.

The two exchanged a quick nuzzle and continued walking.

"Hey, have you talked to your friends about us?" Thunder Night asked.

"Well... not yet” Fluttershy answered, blushing slightly. "I still don't feel ready. I think my shyness come off better on me."

"Don't worry about it" Thunder Night said. "You’ll tell them when you're ready."

Fluttershy smiled. Although, at the beginning when they met, she and Thunder Night are always coming down due to their conflicting personalities, both managed to find the perfect harmony and understand each other perfectly.

The two continued to advance until they reach a clearing. In this clearing, it was the village that stood on Hallow Shades. It was a nice village where there were ponies and some thestrals. Fluttershy knew some of the ponies that village were from Applejack’s family, but she could tell who they were, as she was walking around the village, noticed that the population number was reduced, taking into account the existing houses, and all displayed a tense air. She couldn’t see also any foal playing in the roads.

It was then that they arrived at a house, the largest in the village, where there was a thestral mare with more or less Granny Smith’s age, while sitting in a rocking chair on the porch of the house.

"Elder, is a pleasure to see you again" Thunder Night said, bowing his head slightly in a sign of respect.

"Thunder Night, my boy, it's a pleasure to see you again" the elder said. "How's your job in Princess Luna’s Royal Guard."

"Quite well" he replied. "I always give my best and the Princess is very pleased with my work."

"I'm glad for you" the elder answered. "It’s a blessing for your generation to be guards of the own princess of the night."

"I know" Thunder Night replied. "And I will endeavor to deserve this blessing."

Then the elder noticed Fluttershy.

"And who is this beautiful mare you bring with you?" she asked.

"Oh, I apologize for not having presented myself" Fluttershy said, gently. "I'm Fluttershy."

"She's my marefriend, elder" Thunder Night said.

The elder got up from her chair and approached Fluttershy, watching her intently.

"You have a pretty quiet and calm aura" the elder said. "Very bright and fascinating."

"Oh... thank you" Fluttershy thanked, blushing slightly.

"The elder is the oldest equine and the wisest creature in the forest, in addition to having a broader view" Thunder Night featured to Fluttershy. "If there's anypony who can help us it’s her."

"Are you sure?" Fluttershy asked.

Thunder Night nodded. Fluttershy took a deep breath and then said to the elder:

"I would like to know if you don't know a thing about the green star seed. It belongs to the General of Nature of the Light Kingdom. It must have fallen around here somewhere."

The elder didn’t answered immediately, simply looking at Fluttershy, and then replied:

"My people, just like the ponies, is quite old and we have formulated our own legends. From generation to generation, it has been told the story of this Light Kingdom you mentioned, but we call it Paradise of Life, because it was the brightest place which was full of life and peace. Then, the light that place simply went out and six shooting stars fell after this event for all Equestria."

"Yes, that's the Light Kingdom’s story" said Fluttershy, with more confidence. "Do you know anything about the green star seed?"

The elder paused and then continued, turning back and approaching her rocking chair:

"Before this event, this land was a plain with undergrowth. So a green shooting star fall from the sky and, suddenly, a dense forest grew up in seconds, a wild and untamed forest, whose only inhabitants were the animals that came to live here and its dense shadows."

"So, it was the green star seed that created this forest" Fluttershy concluded. "Just like the red star seed that created the Oasis of the Heart."

Then an idea popped into Fluttershy’s mind. If that was just like Heartbeat’s star seed, so…

"Is there a very old tree, perhaps millennia, that could be the oldest one of this forest?" Fluttershy asked.

That made the elder keep a pensive air, but it was Thunder Night who replied:

"Actually, there is. It is right in the hearth of the forest. But how did you know?"

"Well, let's just say I had found one already" Fluttershy replied.

"Elder, do you mind if I take Fluttershy to see the tree?" Thunder Night asked.

"Of course, I think we can trust in this young mare" the elder answered. "But you have to have extreme caution. The tree is quite well protected. And also with the own forest. It has been acting strangely."

"What do you mean?" Thunder Night asked.

"Some ponies of the town have mysteriously disappeared without a trace" the elder replied. "They simply faded into thin air."

That worried Fluttershy. Could it be the Lord of Chaos?

Thunder Night began conducting Fluttershy to the tree.

"Do you know anything about these disappearances?" Thunder Night asked.

"I don't know" Fluttershy replied. "I honestly don't know what can be. I just hope it's not anything bad."

"Don't worry about it" Thunder Night replied. "I'll be here to protect you."

"Thank you, Thundy" Fluttershy thanked.

"You know I hate diminutives" Thunder Night said. "But, how it’s you..."

The two exchanged a nuzzle and continued.

They then arrived at their destination.

"Here we are" Thunder Night said, while they stopped. "This is the oldest tree in the forest."

Fluttershy watched aghast. It was the greatest tree in the forest. However, it didn't have the same beauty that great tree of the Oasis of the Heart, but it was more robust and firm and, even though old, it looked healthier than any other tree that Fluttershy had ever seen.

"It's really beautiful" Fluttershy said.

She intended to approach, but Thunder Night prevented her.

"Don't get too close" he warned her.

"Why?" Fluttershy asked.

Thunder Night grabbed a nearby stone and threw it to the tree. It was then that a branch, surrounded by a dark grayish green aura came out of nowhere and struck the stone with such force and precision that blew it.

"The tree commands all living beings of the forest, plants or animals" Thunder Night replied. "It doesn't let anypony near and, who does it, is attacked by nature itself."

Fluttershy, upon hearing that, became very intimidated, but also became more convinced that the green star seed was there, in that tree, because it could command the nature around them.

"Sorry, Thunder Night but I have to do it" Fluttershy said. "There is no doubt that the green star seed is there. I have to do it."

"But, Fluttershy..."

"I know you're worried, but don't worry. Please, you have to trust me."

The two exchanged a look and then Thunder Night, sighed and said:

"Okay, but be careful, okay? I'll be here to help you."

Fluttershy nodded him and then turned to the ancient tree. She took a deep breath and then began to advance towards the tree. When she was at a certain distance from the tree, two branches of two trees nearby, involved by the same aura of a moment ago, came against Fluttershy at high speed.

"Watch out, Fluttershy!" Thunder Night warned.

Fluttershy, upon seeing the branches coming in her direction, she reacted downing and protecting her head. The branches failed and retreated, making Thunder Night and Fluttershy sighs of relief. Fluttershy stood up and continued to advance and then a bunch of ravens with the eyes shining with the color of the aura appeared and advanced to her who was in shock for animals being attacking her when usually they were her friends.

"Fluttershy!" Thunder Night called, starting to move towards his marefriend for help her.

It was then that he was attacked by branches, along with roots. This joint attack hit Thunder Night that was thrown back. He got up to try again, but he saw that his way was completely blocked by plants that had risen from the earth. But the thestral didn’t quit and began trying to fight with the plants to pass through them.

"Hang on, my love!" he exclaimed. "I'm coming!"

Fluttershy was protecting herself as she was being pecked by the ravens, but it was impossible to resist. She felt movement behind her and saw out of the corner of her eye roots arising out, supposedly to whip her. How would she be able to go through all that? She couldn’t harm animals and plants, because she had too much respect for them.

Then an idea came to her. Maybe it was that what she had to do: show respect. Show respect to the thing that controlled the nature itself.

Therefore, the turned to the great tree and, before the ravens could attack, made it a bow. As soon as she did this, she couldn’t hear movements. She dared to look and saw that the ravens and the roots had stopped. Then, the ravens went back to moving and were released from the tree charm, flying away after that. The roots went back to the soil and the same happened with the barrier of plants Thunder Night had been fighting. He then looked to Fluttershy who smiled him and Thunder Night returned her the smile. Fluttershy then advanced to the tree and she lifted the hoof, touching it, showing it her pure intention for taking the star seed it hid. So, from inside of the tree, a green star seed came out. Fluttershy smiled, while taking it with her hoof. She could feel her connection to the nature increasing only to be in contact with it. She returned to the edge of Thunder Night who asked:

"So this is the green star seed?" Thunder Night asked.

"Yes, it's beautiful, isn't it?" Fluttershy asked.

It was then that a magical bubble appeared with Heartbeat there:

"Hello, Fluttershy, I just appeared to see if everything is..." Heartbeat started then noticed the star seed in Fluttershy’s hoof. "Well, I guess it is everything fine."

"It wasn't easy, but I got it" Fluttershy said.

"Impressive" Heartbeat congratulated. "Very impressive. I didn't even have to give assistance or information. However, I need to give you a warning."

"What?" Fluttershy asked.

"I just contact Rarity and Pinkie Pie and they are having problems with dark ponies, so beware" Heartbeat warned.

"Dark ponies?" Fluttershy repeated.

"Yes, it's kinda hard to explain, but, to short, they are normal ponies corrupted by the Lord of Chaos for having lost the light of their star seeds and gained the darkness in them" Heartbeat replied. "They can be pretty hurtful. Maybe they are already there."

Then Thunder Night remembered something.

"The missing ponies!"

Then Fluttershy realized what he meant. Then they heard screams coming from the village.

"Well, looks like you have some concerns to deal with" Heartbeat said. "I'm leaving. If you need my help, yell my name."

And she disappeared.

Fluttershy and Thunder Night rushed to the village and gasped to find ponies with dark tones, red eyes and fangs shattering the village and terrorizing the ponies and the thestrals. The bravest stallions were facing them, but they ended up being defeated.

"Elder!" Thunder Night called, seeing the old thestral nearby.

He and Fluttershy went to her.

"Looks like we found our missing ponies" Thunder Night said.

"And their auras are completely different" the elder said. "They are no longer the same as before."

"You're right" Fluttershy said. “They are dark ponies, ponies who had lost the light of their star seeds. They are at the service of the Lord of Chaos."

Seeing her thestral comrades fighting against the dark ponies and losing, Thunder Night succumbed and said:

"I can't be seeing this. I'll go help my friends."

He then started heading to the fight.

"Thunder Night, wait!" Fluttershy called.

But he didn't hear her, continuing to advance. She couldn't talk to him, when Thunder Night was in that way. The elder then noticed the green star seed.

"Is this…" the elder began, pointing to the star seed.

"Yes, the green star seed" Fluttershy said.

"Yes, it is" the elder said. "You know, my dear, that seed has pure energy inside of it. It must be able to purify anything... or anypony."

Upon hearing that, Fluttershy realized what I had to do. She then progressed to the struggle, at a time when Thunder Night was pinned on the ground by a dark pony.

"Hey!" called Fluttershy, showing then the star seed to the dark ponies. "Is this what you want?"

"Fluttershy, don’t..." Thunder Night said, can't saying much more due to being stuck with such force.

"It’s yours" Fluttershy said. "Since you leave the village in peace."

"The star seed!" the dark pony that was grabbing Thunder Night said, heading then to one of his companions. "Some of you guys go take it!"

A dark pegasus began to fly quickly to Fluttershy. It seemed that he would give a push to Fluttershy to get the green star seed, but then Fluttershy extended the seed, closing her eyes and concentrating on her desire to purify that pony. It was then that the star seed released a green light that hit the dark pegasus who moaned in pain and then fell to the ground.

Fluttershy looked at what she had just done and then saw dark roots involving him, but then they disappeared, showing the pegasus that had returned to normal. His star seed turned from black to translucent with a slight white light within it, returning then to the inside of the flower which closed and disappeared. She was able to cure him.

It was then that the light intensified and reached some of the others dark ponies who also returned to normal. Seeing that, the remained dark ponies seemed to be afraid and began to retreat. The one who was pinning Thunder Night freed him, also retreating.

"Let's go" he said.

And then the dark pegasus flew away, while the others ran into the woods. Thunder Night got up and sent some thestrals behind them, before heading to Fluttershy, while the others went to see if the released ponies were all right.

"My love, are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes" she replied.

"That was pretty stupid" Thunder Night said. "How could you face the dark ponies like that?"

"Well, I confess that I don't know how I did that" Fluttershy said. "But I couldn't let those ponies hurt you and the others, and I also wanted to heal those who were corrupted. The green star seed replied to my desire."

Thunder Night smiled. That's what he loved in his marefriend: her kindness.

Then came the time of Fluttershy leave to return to the Crystal Empire with the green star seed. On the edge of the forest, she, having the green star seed well-guarded in her saddlebags, was saying goodbye to Thunder Night, before flying to the nearest station to take the train to North. The two nuzzled each other, before Thunder Night ask:

"When will I see you again?"

"Very soon, I hope” Fluttershy answered.

"I hope so too" Thunder Night agreed.

The two exchanged a good-bye kiss and then Fluttershy took flight, giving one last look to Thunder Night waving to him. She waved him back, before focusing on her flight, heading to the nearest station to take the train to the Crystal Empire to put the star seed that she had in safety.

The Murky Swamp

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Rainbow Dash and Applejack had just entered in the Hayseed Swamps, looking for the purple star seed, the General of Talent’s star seed. Rainbow Dash was flying, while Applejack was trying to walk through the flooded ground of the swamp.

"Can you move faster?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning to Applejack. "We have to find the purple star seed as soon as possible."

"Ah’m sorry fer not havin’ wings tah fly instead of walkin’ like ya, Rainbow Dash" Applejack replied sarcastically.

"But you're a earth pony" the blue pegasus said. "Besides you buck trees. I thought you had the strongest hoof of all and you can’t even walking through a simple swamp?"

"Fer starters, Ah buck trees on solid ground with tha right amount of clamminess. And then, Ah don't know if ya notic’d, but we are in tha Hayseed Swamps, which is not a simple swamp."

"Details, details."

"Ya know, Rainbow Dash, Ah would like tah see ya here on tha ground, without yer wings, tah see how well ya do as an earth pony" Applejack said, continuing trying to advance through the swampy soil.

"Hey, do you think that flying is so easy?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying backward while facing Applejack. "It takes a lot of practice, and even more practice."

Then it was heard a grunt, while they continued walking.

"Did ya hear that?" Applejack asked, stopping suddenly.

"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning.

"Tha grunt" Applejack replied, looking from one side to the other.

"Please, AJ" Rainbow Dash said, landing in front of Applejack. "Don't tell me you're going to say that now you're afraid to find a swamp monster."

It was then that a high figure covered in mud appeared behind Rainbow Dash.

"Ah, Rainbow..." Applejack started, looking scared, staying with the rest of the words stuck in her throat.

"I mean, we're not any fillies for believing in the swamp monster" Rainbow Dash continued.

"But, Rainbow..."

"There is not such dumbest thing than the idea of the existence of such a thing."

It was then that the grunt was heard again, but loud and clear, from the big figure. Rainbow Dash has made a serious look and then asked:

"It's right behind me, isn't it?"

Applejack nodded. Rainbow Dash then turned and faced with the figure, while retreating to Applejack’s edge. The figure then roared and Applejack and Rainbow Dash began screaming, while embracing themselves.

It was then that figure traded the roar for laughs what made Applejack and Rainbow Dash stop screaming, exchanging glances with each other. They knew that laughter.

"I can't believe you dropped this" the figure said, with a voice that they would recognize anywhere.

"Discord!" the two exclaimed.

There was a snap of fingers and the figure has been replaced by the old draconequus.

"Surprise, my dears!" he said. "As we haven't seen since Twilight's wedding with that blue captain with limited memory, I decided to make a great entrance."

"You might as well not even have done that entrance" Rainbow Dash replied coldly, returning to take flight.

"Oh, but I love making great entrance" Discord said, invoking a hand fan and starting posing with it. "Is what characterizes my character and transmit everything that's good in me."

"So ya're really bad at doin’ this kind of entries because Ah don't see what good ya may have" Applejack answered.

With this, Discord made a more serious air, closed the hand fan, saying while he threw it:

"Yes, I think you're right. Anyway, let's get to more important issues, such as the reason for you being here in this wonderful swamp. What can make you, two dear and lovely ponies with dear and lovely horsey cheeks to a place so exquisite and magnificent as Hayseed Swamps?"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack did not answered.

"Don't get me wrong, I personally love this place" Discord said, starting to take pictures with a photograph camera of the swamp, causing it to disappear, while he continued. "It's where I can do my whole the chaos I want without ruining the lives of other ponies. I mean, except in the middle of it, because of that stupid purple star seed."

Those last words captured Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s attention.

"That glow makes my eyes burn like a leaf in the fire. The last time that happened, I had to cover them with mud for days just to get them back."

"What did ya say?" Applejack asked.

"That's right you heard, days without being able to see anything" Discord said.

"Bafor that," said Applejack.

"About the fact that my eyes burned like a leaf in the fire?" Discord asked. "Applejack, I didn't know you were such a sadist with others’ suffering."

"About the star seed, your dumbass" Rainbow said.

"Oh!" Discord exclaimed. "It just happened a few days ago, when I was exploring this fantastic swamp."

To emphasize this (something that he constantly does), Discord made a camper uniform and a bag appear in himself, marching while saying:

"I was watching as the muck flowed in a way so elegant when I came across with that floating and exhibitionist seed of the General of Talent that is equally or more exhibitionist than his own seed."

"Wait, ya mean that tha seed is expos’d?" Applejack asked.

"Okie dokie lokie, how our dear friend Pinkie Pie would say" Discord said, making his uniform disappear.

"And you expect us to believe in you?" asked Rainbow. "How we went to believe that the purple star seed is so exposed."

"He's right" a voice said.

And then Heartbeat appeared in her bubble, next to Discord, saying later:

"The star seed is out in the open, but, as you can imagine, immensely protected."

"Exactly what Heartbeat said" Discord said, nodding with their eyes closed and the arms crossed.

It was then that he noticed who he was talking to and gave a cry of horror and jumped up and grabbed Applejack’s neck, exclaiming:

"Heartbeat?! I didn't know you two were with her!"

"Do ya know Heartbeat?" Applejack asked.

"We are old friends" Heartbeat said, putting her childish air. "We used to play a lot. It is not so, Discord?"

"Yes, except for the last time we play, you almost got me turned into chocolate pudding" Discord said.

"But of course I did that!" Heartbeat exclaimed. "That's what I do with all the followers of chaos."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at Discord and saw that he was shaking like a leaf. He was really afraid of her.

"But for your luck, I just read in one of my brother's books that you gave up from evil" she said. "For that reason, I am compelled to leave you alone. But watch out, just a small relapse and we go back to the old days."

Discord almost choked Applejack so scared he was. It was then that it was heard a noise of a timer and Heartbeat exclaimed:

"Uh, my cookies are ready! I can't wait to see Mirror Coat’s face when he see that I brought an oven to his library. By the way, girls, I'm going to send to your mind the exact location of the star seed."

And then she disappeared, but Discord remained attached to Applejack and shaking.

"She's gone, Discord" she said. "You can let me."

"It never know" he said, looking terrified for all sides. "She can still be here... waiting like a pack of hyenas."

"You're really afraid of Heartbeat, don't you?" Rainbow Dash asked, in the air, in a mock tone. "That’s really good!"

Discord disappeared and reappeared standing at some distance, saying in a calm tone:

"I'm not afraid of her."

And then he turned to them, looking completely terrified, saying:

"I'M TERRIFIED OF HER!"

That made the two ponies exchange a look. Discord continued:

"You don't know her. She pretends to be innocent and harmless just to gain your trust and to get closer and then attack like a pack of buffaloes in fury! I still have nightmares about all the horrible things she did to me."

"Wow, that's really painful" Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.

"I'm telling the truth" Discord said. "That filly make Sombra looks like a lovely colt."

"If that’s truth, don’t you think she would have kicked his ass when he attacked the Light Kingdom" Rainbow said.

"Ah, Rainbow, Ah think ya're forgettin’ that her destructive power is capable of dividin’ all Equestria and surroundin’s in half" Applejack said.

"Even so, when you have someone with a spear and a conical hat protecting your back, not even the explosive power of the General of Affection is able to do something" Discord said, making a hat and a spear just like Lord of Chaos’ appear in him for a few seconds.

"Yes, you can say that, given that you were one of the Lord of Chaos' puppies" Rainbow Dash said.

"We can sit here and talk ‘bout this subject... or we can go to pick up the purple star seed" Applejack said.

And so she and Rainbow Dash began to advance. Discord said them:

"You better watch out. Knowing my former master as I know him, he can always find a way to get what he wants."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued to walk. Like Heartbeat had said, she sent them the star seed’s exact location. While walking, Applejack said:

"You know, Ah think Discord is right."

"About what?" Rainbow asked. "About the fact Heartbeat being nutty in a slightly smaller scale in relation to Pinkie Pie? I think we already know that, don't you think?"

"No, ‘bout tha Lord of Chaos" Applejack said. "He must be doin’ his move right now."

"Don't worry about that" Rainbow Dash answered her. "I bet we can do this even before this lord of the pompous show up."

"Ah don't know, Rainbow. Ah think we should be very careful."

"You worry too much."

"Well, if Ah didn't, Ah would have the double or the triple of the problems I already have."

They continued to walk until, at last, they reached the middle of the swamp.

"There it is!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Right in the middle of the opening of the trees, there was the purple star seed, floating a few inches off the muck that was underneath and turning on itself. When they saw it, Rainbow Dash went right to it.

"Rainbow, wait!" Applejack asked. "There may be..."

It was then that the star seed shone lightly and muck rose from the floor and hit Rainbow Dash, throwing her to the ground and covering her.

"Rainbow Dash, are ya okay?!" Applejack asked, worried.

"Yes" she replied, rising up and being completely covered with muck. "Go get the seed, AJ!"

Despite being more concerned with Rainbow Dash, Applejack began directing to the star seed. It shone again and then Applejack was surrounded by a purple aura and was erected in the air, getting to a certain altitude.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed. "This is… quite weird.”

"Don't worry, AJ, I got that seed" Rainbow Dash said, trying to advance to the purple star seed.

But it shone in a more intense brightness and then more muck rose up to hold Rainbow Dash. She tried to free herself, but the muck only held harder. Applejack was also moving up in the air, but it wasn't easy. She tried to swim and to kick, but she couldn't move more than a few inches at a time.

"I think we're in serious trouble" Rainbow Dash said.

"Now do ya think we should worry, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked.

"I guess so" she replied, continuing to try to break free.

The bubble with Heartbeat appeared. She was eating a cookie. Seeing Rainbow Dash and Applejack in their respective traps, Heartbeat almost choked before she start laughing.

"What's so funny?" asked Rainbow Dash harshly.

"I'm sorry" Heartbeat said, recovering her breath after she had stopped laughing. "But I can't be different when I see Purple Smoke’s sense of humor in action: use your own talents against you."

"What do ya mean?" asked Applejack.

"Well, you, Applejack, you're very strong on the ground, so you have the disadvantage of being in the air, where you don't have the firmness of the ground to make your bucks" Heartbeat replied. "And you, Rainbow... Well, I think you've got it."

"Yes, I think I understand" Rainbow Dash said, continuing to try to break free of the muck that was holding her.

"How do we get out of this?" Applejack asked.

"I think you just have to trust in your talents" Heartbeat replied. "Well, I gotta go. You know, there are other missions that require my supervision."

And having said this, she disappeared.

"What a great help she was" Rainbow Dash joked.

Applejack thought in Heartbeat’s words and then realized everything.

"Wait, I think I know."

She put his forelegs over her body and then she bucked into the air and then Applejack moved like a torpedo. She realized if she couldn't use her force to buck as she used to do, then she just have to use that in order to boost her mobility. It was then that she reached the purple star seed and then managed to grab it. It shone again and then Applejack land back on the ground and the muck that was holding Rainbow Dash freed her. She had an air of displeasure, while trying to clean up the muck that was still in her coat and approached Applejack.

"Well done, Applejack" she said.

"Ah just follow’d Heartbeat’s advice" Applejack said. "She can be weird, but she know something or another."

"Now, we just have to take the star seed and wait for the others..." Rainbow Dash started.

It was then that something passed over them quickly and took the purple star seed.

"But what tha hay..." Applejack started.

It was then that something or somepony jumped on them and held them in the swampy ground. They could see that they were imprisoned for ponies. They heard a laugh and then saw a unicorn pony with dark tones and red eyes. There were more ponies with him, all with the same dark tones and red eyes.

"Thank you, my dears" he said, receiving the purple star seed from the pegasus. "It was a great help of yours in disabling the star seed’s defenses."

"Who tha hay are ya?" Applejack asked.

"We are loyal servants of the great master of evil, and we are here to fulfill his will" the unicorn replied.

"In other words, ya’re all Lord of Chaos’ followers" Applejack said.

The unicorn smiled.

"Well, I must say that you're too late" Rainbow Dash said. "At this time, we should have every other star seeds."

All dark ponies started laughing and then the unicorn holding the star seed said:

"You will know that you won't have the same ease in retrieve the star seeds as they have. At this point, our colleagues should be taking care of your little friends and retrieve the star seeds that they so generously released."

"Wait till I get out of here!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, trying to free herself but in vain.

"Sorry, but I don't think you have that chance" the unicorn replied. "Now, it's time we blow you up. It's nothing personal, but it turns out that fewer enemies interfere, the better."

The star seed began to shone with purple glow and the same happened with the unicorn’s horn, albeit with more intensity than would be expected. Applejack and Rainbow Dash thought the end had come, but then they disappeared suddenly.

"But what the hell..." the unicorn started, ceasing his magic.

"We have to find them" a pegasus said, preparing to go to search Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"No, we've got what we wanted" the unicorn said. "It would be stupid to lose what our masters want just to destroy those insignificant ponies."

The others seemed to agree with him, waving.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash reappeared outside of Hayseed Swamps, falling on the solid ground.

"Hey, how did we get here?" Rainbow Dash asked, while she and Applejack rose up.

"I think you should ask who brought you here" a terribly familiar voice replied.

They turned and saw Discord.

"You have not to thank" he said, making a bow.

"Your dumbass!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, approaching Discord in the air. "If you could save us, why don't you also take the star seed?! We need it!"

"Oh, take it easy, speedy" Discord said, moving her away from himself with a hand. "I don't know if you noticed, but you were dealing with dark ponies. Dark ponies plus purple star seed doesn’t make a very good combination. They could cancel my talent to make chaos."

"Dark ponies?" Applejack asked.

"They are ponies without any light on their star seeds" Discord replied. "Very entertaining, in my opinion, although a bit stupid. But don't be fooled, because they are very good at following orders."

"Ok, what do you want in return?" Rainbow Dash asked. "For you helping us is because you want something."

"Cannot I help two friends by the simple act of wanting to help?" Discord asked.

But a stare from Applejack and Rainbow Dash made him give a sigh and say:

"Okay, I want protection."

"Protection?" asked Applejack. "Against who?"

"Is it obvious" Discord replied. "Against the Lord of Chaos. I switched sides and there is nothing he despises more than treason against his own person. Probably I should not even care, because he's too busy right now trying to dominate the world and everything and you, good ponies, tend to win all wars, even when everything is against you. But, even so, I want to have the protection of the Lord of Order."

"We'll see what we can get" Applejack said.

"Or not" Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack.

"I heard that, you know" Discord said. "Okay, girls, I’ll wait for the end of this cute little war against the Lord of Chaos."

And having said this, he turned and disappeared.

"What do we do now?" Rainbow Dash asked to Applejack. "We lost the purple star seed and we need it to awaken the Light Kingdom."

"Don't worry, the more likely it is we get a contingency plan to recover it" Applejack reassured. "The best we can do now is return to the Crystal Empire."

And, therefore, the two started heading north, heading to Baltimare, the nearest city, to catch the train.

Searching the Seed of Knowledge, Part I

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Heading to the Rambling Rock Ridge, were Twilight, Blue and Shining. The three had the task to recover the blue star seed, the star seed of Mirror Coat, the General of Knowledge. They caught the train to Dodge Junction and then took the path to Rambling Rock Ridge.

Blue and Shining went ahead, talking, while Twilight was a little further behind, buried in her own thoughts. She couldn't stop thinking about the big revelation that Heartbeat and Cadance had done to her. She was pregnant. Twilight couldn't believe such a thing. It was something surreal. If somepony had said before that she would have a life growing inside of her, Twilight would think that pony was making fun of her, but now... She didn't even know what to think. There was also Blue. She knew he would be thrilled with the news, but she didn't know if that was the right moment with this race for the star seeds and the restoration of the Light Kingdom.

Shining and Blue then noticed Twilight’s thoughtful air. They stopped and Blue asked her:

"Is something wrong, Twilight?"

"What?" she asked, returning to reality. "No, no, everything's fine."

"It’s just you're too quiet and in the middle of your own thoughts" Blue said.

"Yes, and you just stay like that when something's going on" Shining agreed.

"Nothing's wrong" Twilight said. "It's not like I'm that predictable. That's what pisses me off in both of you: you think you know me."

And having said this, she continued to advance. Shining and Blue gasped with that Twilight’s attitude.

"Ok, that was weird" Shining said.

"Yes, tell me about it" Blue answered. "I've never seen Twilight in this way."

"Ditto, and I've known her for longer than you" Shining said.

"You coming or what?" Twilight asked, turning back, continuing walking.

Shining and Blue exchanged a look and then shrugged, continuing walking after that.

They didn’t late until they reach their destination: Rambling Rock Ridge. This place contained a cave where very few ventured to enter as said even less were those who went out of there in one piece and with the mind safe.

"I always wanted to come to this place" Blue said, while they were in the cave. "The mysterious cave of Rambling Rock Ridge."

"Yeah, me too" Shining said. "Did you remember when we pretended that we were exploring this cave?"

"Yes, we had a lot of fun" Blue replied.

"You really are a couple of little foals" Twilight said, passing through them in a cold way.

"But what's wrong with your sister?" Blue asked. "She's been acting so strangely."

"I don't know, it looks like she's in those days" Shining replied.

"Well, what a great" Blue commented sarcastically.

They continued walking. Finally, they found a stone door adorned with sapphires.

"What strange place for a door" Blue commented.

"It must be the way to where the blue star seed is" Twilight opined.

"It's good that you're prepared" Shining warned. "We don’t know what might be on the other side."

"Very good advice" a voice said.

They turned and saw Heartbeat.

"Heartbeat, it's you" Twilight said.

"On the other side of that door, you will find what protects the star seed" Heartbeat said. "You have to have extreme caution. Mirror Coat is very good with traps, mainly with those who mess with everypony’s mind."

"That's why many of those who came out alive this cave went crazy?" Shining asked.

"Precisely" Heartbeat said. "I won't be able to contact you while you're in there, so use extreme caution."

And then disappeared. The three turned to the door. They exchanged glances with each other and then they waved at the same time. Twilight lifted a hoof to the doorknob and rode her, opening the door. They entered. When they entered, the door closed and torches lit up, revealing what was in front of them.

The three became very impressed with what they were seeing. They were facing with an endless labyrinth made of mirrors. It seemed to be greater than the one in the gardens of Canterlot castle, but the walls were made of polished metal mirrors of light blue color, the same type of mirrors that was in the Mirrored Library.

"Wow!" Blue exclaimed. "It seems that we have entered in a funhouse. And I hate funhouses."

"I love it!" Twilight exclaimed. "It's like a normal labyrinth, but more confusing."

"Yes, and creepy too" Blue said.

"Come on, we have to reach the blue star seed and for that we have to go through this labyrinth" Shining Armor said. "Come on, let's go."

They started walking and Shining said:

"Stay alert. I suspect that this is not just a normal mirror labyrinth."

"What makes you think that?" Blue asked, rhetorically, looking around. "It won't be the creepy aspect on this thing?"

"I love this" said Twilight, stopping to contemplate her image in a mirror, touching its surface with the hoof. "It's like a good mental exercise to train the logic and attention."

"Twily, come on, try not to be left behind" Shining said.

"Yes, we don't want you to get lost" Blue added.

"Okay, I'm coming" Twilight said.

She looked one last time to her image before following her brother and her husband. What she didn't know was that her image remained in the mirror, following Twilight with its eyes.

They continued to move forward together, but the maze was so confusing, creating so many optical illusions in such way that the three ponies take different paths and eventually they got lost.

"Gosh, I’m lost" said Blue, while walking around, trying to find Shining and Twilight.

Twilight was standing in a bifurcation, trying to decide what path she would take. Then she heard a sound, just like if somepony was blowing.

"Blue?" she called. "Shining? Are you there?"

But nopony answered.

Shining was walking down a path until he found a dead end.

"Another dead end" he said. "This is really weird. I have to agree with the Blue. This maze is really creepy."

What he didn't know was that his reflection in a mirror behind him was just looking to him.

Twilight continued walking until a voice called:

"Twilight!"

That made Twilight stop and look from one side to the other.

"Who's there?" Twilight asked.

"I'm here" the voice said again.

Twilight then turned to a mirror that was right by her side and then her own reflection replied with a smile:

"I'm you."

That made Twilight startle and pull back. Her reflection giggled and said:

"Don't be afraid. I am really you.

"You're me?" Twilight asked.

"Yes" the Twilight in the mirror answered. "I really am. Your self."

Twilight was expecting anything but being confronted with her own reflection. That should be some labyrinth’s magic.

"I wonder what I am doing here" the Twilight in the mirror said. "Or why I have these damn wings. I just want to be a normal pony. A unicorn just like everypony else. Who cares about all these princess duties if I can't be with my friends just like I used to be? I would love so much to go back to my old life."

Upon hearing those words coming from her reflection, Twilight began to relive the days when she was with her friends when she was a simple unicorn. The fun she had when she was in their company, without worrying about any royal duty or with other ponies making her bows and treating her as she were more than the others.

"Being like everypony else, having the same rights and privileges, that's what I like" the Twilight in the mirror continued.

Twilight looked back to her reflection and noticed she was with her crown placed in her head. The reflection took the crown and said:

"Look what this did to me. I reduced myself to something that I honestly didn’t wish. And these wings? Only their existence shows how different I am. Only the wings make the other ponies start bowing to me and put me on a pedestal just like a valuable of a museum."

And so, either the crown as the wings disappeared, showing then Twilight as she was before becoming a Princess, the image that she got used throughout her all life, the image that she missed seeing.

"I am not better just like this?" the Twilight in the mirror asked. "Don't you think we should stop?"

"Stop what?" Twilight asked.

"Stop the search for the star seeds, of course" the Twilight in the mirror replied, smiling. "Before all this can change even more what I am, what I've always been."

She extended her the hoof and invited Twilight, in a seductive way:

"Come with me, Twilight. Let's enjoy our wishes."

Elsewhere in the labyrinth, Shining was petrified, looking into a mirror, also charmed by his own self in the mirror that was behind Shining’s true reflection, with his hooves over his shoulders.

"Have you forgotten all those wonderful times where it was just you, Twilight and Cadance?" the Shining in the mirror asked. "Those times where you just had to worry about playing with your little sister, being with your marefriend and trying to reach your dreams?"

"I loved those times" he said. "I felt absolutely happy."

"But now, look at you, you became prince, father and now brother-in-law" the Shining in the mirror said. "Everything in your life is changing. Where were those simple and relaxed moments? Those times where everything was easier? Those times where there weren’t all these responsibilities, complications and contingencies? I can guarantee you a new life. A life where you can go back to be the Shining of the old days. You just have to come with me."

Blue was surrounded by mirrors with his reflection that were saying in unison:

"You always tried to help others, you always sacrificed yourself for others, but have they ever thanked you properly? Wouldn't you like to leave it all behind? In that way you could do everything you've always wanted to do."

"Everything… I've always wanted to do" Blue said.

"Travel across Equestria, feel your freedom, with the only company of the mare you love" the Blues in the mirrors kept to say. "Aren't these the things you love most? Being free, love and be loved? You can have all that. You just have to let it all go."

Twilight was still being confronted by her self in the mirror’s request to go with her. Twilight retreated to collide with another mirror and then her mirror self appeared on it.

"I know it's very difficult" the Twilight in the mirror said. "Giving up everything you've got. But believe me, it'll worth it."

"Will it worth?" Twilight asked, without turning.

"But of course" the Twilight in the mirror replied. "Just imagine. You, without your duties as princess, only with your friends, Blue and the foal that you’re carry in your venter. Everything would be perfect. You just have to accept and live the dream."

And then the Twilight in the mirror approached her hoof of Twilight and it began to come out of the mirror, being turned into light blue metal, driving it to Twilight’s shoulder.

It was then that Twilight remembered everything she had done, every time she'd saved or helped save Equestria. All away what led her to be a princess. It was true, being a princess was a hard task, but she couldn't help feeling that this could help even more all the ponies, including those she loved. She could ensure their safety. Besides, she was on mission to find the star seeds of the Generals of Order to save the Light Kingdom and all those who were petrified. When she thought in those poor ponies, she felt a slight tightness in her heart that took her away slightly from the mirror. The Twilight in the mirror collected her hoof into the mirror.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Are you hurt?"

Twilight turned to the mirror and asked her:

"Don't you feel it? If you're me, can't you feel this tightness in my chess? All those poor ponies petrified... They need the blue star seed and all the others to be released. I cannot turn my back on them when they need me more than anything."

"But you loved your old life" the Twilight in the mirror insisted.

"Yes, but I also love this life" Twilight answered. "The good and the bad, together. I’m Twilight, a princess of Equestria, and you're not me!"

That assertion seemed to irritate the Twilight in the mirror. Her words seemed to achieve Shining and Blue, as they also awoke from the mirrors’ charms.

"You're not me and you’ll never be, not even in your dreams!" Twilight exclaimed.

She then carried her horn with magic and launched a magic beam against the mirror, hitting it and leaving it in a thousand pieces. Shining and Blue charged also their horns with magic and broke also the mirrors in the surroundings. Each mirror broke and the pieces disappeared. Twilight, Shining and Blue met each other and noticed that they were in a chamber of the cave, big, but not as big as the labyrinth they was.

"It seems like we've not been so far one from each other" Blue said, while he gathered with Shining and Twilight.

"It was an illusion" Shining concluded. "All those mirrors were trying to divert us from our true mission, luring us with our deepest and darkest dreams and desires."

"I think that's why almost all of those who left this cave went mad" Twilight said. "They let themselves be taken by the mirrors’ charm."

"You still think a mirror labyrinth is so good now, my dear?" Blue asked, advancing to Twilight’s edge and putting his foreleg around Twilight’s shoulders.

"Now, not really" she replied.

The two nuzzled each other.

Shining looked around and then he found another door equal to the same door that lead them to the labyrinth.

"I think we have to go in that way" Shining said.

"Do you think that door will lead us to the blue star seed?" asked Blue.

"I don't think so" Twilight replied. "Remember what Heartbeat said. This must be one of more well-kept star seeds. We must not forget to whom it belongs."

"There's only one way to know" Shining said.

And the three advanced to the door with Shining in the front. He extended his hoof to the doorknob and rode it, opening the door and the three went through it.

Searching the Seed of Knowledge, Part II

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Twilight, Blue and Shining got out of the chamber with the mirror labyrinth and entered in a room where the only thing that was there was a table with seven bottles of different shapes aligned: a balloon-shaped one; another with a more elongated body; a tiny one; another with the same shape as the second, but longer; a pyramidal one; a great and paralelepipedal one and finally a round one. On the other side of the room, there was a dark corridor.

"Seriously, just this?" Blue asked, while he, Twilight and Shining advanced to the table with the bottles. "What are we supposed to do, drink all this?"

It was then that a light blue fire appeared in the doorway where they entered. It wasn't a normal fire, because it seemed to be alive. At that same moment, a blue fire in a much darker tone appeared in front of the corridor which was on the other side. They were completely trapped.

"Okay, now I don't think this is that easy" Blue said.

"What do we do now?" Twilight asked.

Shining looked at the table and then said:

"Look!"

Twilight and Blue looked and then saw a roll of parchment lying next to the bottles. Shining used his magic to hold it, unwind it and read it to others:

"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onwards neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight."

Twilight let out a gasp, while smiling, something Shining and Blue less expected.

"Brilliant!" she exclaimed. "Don't you understand? This is a riddle. Mirror Coat must be definitely a logic lover. We should have expected that his seed would put an obstacle like this."

"And what does that mean?" Blue asked.

"Don't look at me" said Shining. "Twilight has always been better at this than I am."

Twilight then used her magic to get the scroll, saying:

"The blue star seed should expect nopony, excepting its owner, could decipher these riddles. After the invaders had managed making through that mental trick, it must want them to be stuck here forever or be roasted by the fire for using shortcuts."

"And we're going to stay here?" Blue asked.

"Of course not" Twilight replied, starting to read the parchment. "Everything we need is in this scroll. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will lead us safely through the dark blue fire will and one will take us back through the light blue fire."

"But how do we know which one we should drink?" Shining asked.

"Give me a minute" Twilight asked.

Twilight read the scroll many times, passing then to analyze each bottle, muttering to herself and pointing to them. Finally, she exclaimed:

"I got it! The tiny bottle will take us through the dark blue fire... to the blue star seed."

"Are you sure?" Shining asked.

"Absolute" Twilight replied. "Well... ninety-seven percent sure."

"Wow, that's… reassuring" Blue commented. "At least, we have almost 100 percent sure."

"I trust blindly in my little sister" replied Shining. "However, we just have enough in this bottle for one of us."

"So one of us have move forward while the other two have to stay?" Twilight asked. "So, who will go forward?"

Shining and Blue exchanged a look and then waved.

"The answer is obvious" Shining said.

"You're the one who will have to move on, Twilight" Blue said.

"Me?" she asked, surprised.

"Of course" Blue said. "If it wasn't for you, I think me and Shining would never get free from the charm of that mirrors."

"And it was you who solve the riddle with the bottles" Shining added. "If anypony can recover the blue star seed, that's you."

"But what about you?"

"I and Shining will drink the one which will take us back and wait for you. Probably, when you get the blue star seed you can get out of here."

Twilight looked to Shining and Blue. They seemed to be sure that she would get the star seed. By the faith they were depositing in her, she was not able to deny them. She waved and then indicated them the bottle that would allow them to go back: the round bottle.

After that, Twilight saw Shining and Blue taking some of the contents of the round bottle, responding to its taste and then passing through the light blue fire. Then, Twilight took the small bottle with magic and drank its content, feeling its effect: a cold sensation through her body. Wasting no time, she advanced to the flames and began to cross them. She couldn't feel them, but, for a moment, she saw nothing but dark blue flames. It was then that she arrived at the other side of the flames. There was no going back. She had to continue. For that reason, she advanced.

She walked through the corridor and it led her to a new camera. This was smaller than all the others, but there was something about it that attracted a lot of attention. There was a statue of a sphinx, a great legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head of a pony with a crown of pharaoh of the Ancient Coltypt against the opposite wall to that wall that contained the door. It almost reached the ceiling.

Twilight dared to approach and then the sphinx's eyes shone with a light blue light and the statue came to life, freeing itself from the stone layer that was holding it and becoming a real sphinx, something that surprised Twilight.

"Congratulations" the Sphinx congratulated Twilight. "It's the first time somepony can get so close to the greatest treasure of the General of Knowledge: his star seed."

"Thank you" Twilight thanked. "It's really nice of you too... Sphinx."

"You know what I am" the Sphinx noted. "So you must know what you have to do to win the blue star seed."

"I have to answer to one of your riddles" she replied.

"Precisely" the Sphinx confirmed. "You will have only one try. If you give the right answer, you’ll win the blue star seed. If you don't want to answer, you can go back and leave the cave safely. But, if you give the wrong answer, I’ll attack you. Did you accepted the challenge?"

"Without doubt."

"The choice is yours."

"What is the riddle?" Twilight asked.

"I will only ask you one simple question in which you have to give a single and objective answer" the Sphinx said. "The question is this: the Mirrored Library contains a lot of books that are as immense as the knowledge they contain. How many letters are there in those books?"

Twilight had been petrified when the Sphinx enunciated his riddle. How would she calculate the number of letters in the books of the Mirrored Library? She didn't even know the number of words that exist in any book, much less the letters, moreover all the letters in all books of a gigantic library like the Mirrored Library. Then she remembered what Heartbeat had said about the Mirrored Library, about the fact that it update itself constantly, accompanying the course of Creation. Thus, there wasn’t a right number of words and, consequently, of letters. The Sphinx’s riddle had a reply quite impossible to answer.

"Will you answer or not?" the Sphinx asked.

The Sphinx was put at Twilight a lot of pressure. She didn't know if the creature was doing it on purpose or not. Twilight resorted to all her logic ability to interpret that riddle. Then, she remembered what the legends about the Sphinx told about that malicious and treacherous being, something he carried in his riddles. She wondered if there was some trap in the riddle he had proposed. It was then that Twilight understood. The part about the Mirrored Library’s books was just a distraction. She should focus on the question. She interpreted it and then realized.

"My time is not unlimited, you know?" the Sphinx said.

"Ten letters" Twilight answered. "The answer is ten letters. You asked how many letters there are in those books and I answer ten letters.

The Sphinx was staring at her and then replied:

"Correct."

Twilight smiled, seeing she had answered correctly.

"I'm really impressed” the Sphinx said. “You could see beyond my distraction. You really deserve the blue star seed."

And having said that, his eyes began to shine with more intensity and so the blue star seed appeared and headed to Twilight that took it.

"Take good care of it" the Sphinx said.

"Don't worry" says Twilight. "I will. What's going to happen to you now, Sphinx?”

"I was created by the blue star seed to protect it" he replied. "But now that it has been taken, I'm free to do whatever I want. Thank you for my freedom, Princess Twilight."

And then he made a bow to Twilight.

"You're welcome" she replied, a little embarrassed.

The Sphinx stopped the bow and then said:

"I think you'd better going, Princess."

"Thank you" Twilight thanked, putting the star seed in her saddlebag.

So Twilight came out of the Sphinx’s room and began making her way to the exit. When she reached the room with the table with the bottles, the two fires had vanished. Twilight entered and went through the chamber with the mirror labyrinth until she reaches the cave. It was then that she arrived at the entrance, hoping to find Shining and Blue, but she was shocked by what she found.

There were a lot of ponies with dark tones and red eyes and two of them, the strongest, were holding Blue and Shining against the floor and they were trying to free themselves but in vain.

"Blue!" Twilight called. "Shining!"

She advanced to go help them, but then two unicorns appeared in front of her, threatening her with their horns full of magic, which made her stop.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked.

But the dark ponies didn’t answered . So they heard a chuckle and a familiar voice answering:

"They are my new subordinates."

"Oh no" Blue said. "Is that who I think it is?"

"It can't be" Shining said.

"Oh, but it can" the voice said again.

And then the dark ponies paved the way and Fire Punch appeared, advancing to his old enemies.

"Fire Punch?" Twilight, Blue and Shining asked in unison.

"In the flesh" he replied.

"You're alive?" Shining asked. "I thought Chrisalis had handled with you."

"But more important" Blue said, noting in Fire Punch’s horn and the absence of his wings. "What happened to you?"

"That horn" Twilight said. "Is very similar to..."

"Sombra’s?" Fire Punch asked. "That's because it is Sombra’s horn."

Twilight, Blue and Shining gasped with that statement.

"But how..."

"It’s quite simple, actually" Fire Punch replied. "The Lord of Chaos gave me an opportunity to redeem myself. The only think I have to do was to give my master the star seed, so he could conquer this world."

"And to do that you had to sell yourself once again and give up your wings only to attach the Sombra’s horn?" Shining asked.

"Why not?" Fire Punch asked. "Just by the horn’s power already worth it. And then there's this."

He motioned to the dark ponies.

"Dark ponies" he continued. "Unconditional and loyal servants. Steal the light from their star seeds is quite satisfied. It gives me so much pleasure."

There was a break in which he looked at his enemies with a proud look and then said:

"But we have much more important affairs. Princess Twilight, I believe you have something that I want."

"I have nothing to give you" Twilight replied vehemently.

"Of course you have" Fire Punch said, smiling and closing. "Maybe a small, bright, light blue seed."

Twilight was not affected by him. Fire Punch noticed that and said, while he simply walked away a little:

"At this point, a few of my servants are trying to retrieve the other star seeds. If everything goes as I hope, we will be much closer to the original star seed."

"You will never win" Twilight replied. "Not you, not your master."

Fire Punch turned to Twilight and then replied:

"That's what we'll see. For starters, here's a choice for you: the star seed or the two stallions you love the most."

Twilight contorted her face. He had her against the wall. Or she gives the star seed up or Fire Punch would destroy Blue and Shining. Twilight had no other choice. She took the blue star seed of his saddlebags with her magic and then said:

"It's yours."

"Twilight, don't!" Shining exclaimed.

"Don't do that!" Blue asked.

"I have to!" Twilight answered them. "I can't let anything happen to you. You are too important to me."

Neither Shining nor Blue said anything. Twilight turned to Fire Punch and said to him, extending to him the blue star seed:

"You can take it."

"So sweet" Fire Punch replied, using his magic to take the star seed. "You made the right decision."

He turned them back and started walking away, saying to the dark ponies:

"Get rid of them."

"Wait, you said..." Twilight started.

"I changed my mind" Fire Punch answered, while moving away. "You should have seen this coming. It's not that I don't have any other choice."

He gave a laugh and then turned into a shadow and moved away.

The black ponies that were holding Shining and Blue launched them to Twilight’s edge and they and the others prepared to attack the three.

"I'm sorry" Twilight said to Shining and Blue. "I shouldn't have given the blue star seed to Fire Punch."

"You just did what any of us would have done, Twily" Shining said.

"Yes, I would have given my life for you, my love, not only the star seed" Blue said.

"It is a pity that all this has been in vain" Twilight said.

The dark ponies prepared to attack when they heard a loud roar coming from the cave that made them stop. It was then that something jumped over Twilight, Shining and Blue and landed between them and the dark ponies.

"Sphinx!" Twilight exclaimed, smiling.

"Whoa, who is this?" Blue asked, rising up along with Shining.

"I can't believe" Shining said. "It's a sphinx!"

"Yes, and he was the last obstacle" Twilight said, turning to the enigmatic creature. "I can't believe you are helping us."

"As I've said, I am now free to do what I want" he answered. "And what I want to do now is to help you."

The Sphinx roared and rushed to the dark ponies, starting to give them kicks with their huge paws. They were shot down as they were nothing. Horrified with such ferocious creature, all dark ponies fled from there as fast as they could.

"Thank you, Sphinx" Twilight thanked.

"It's was a pleasure, Princess" he replied, bowing his head.

"That was amazing!" Blue exclaimed. "You really terrified those guys. Of course I also had fled after being attacked by a being so great and so intimidating."

"I never thought I'd live to see a sphinx" Shining said. "I've heard about your race, but I never thought it was real."

"We are really scarce and we prefer to stand guard for our greatest treasures" Sphinx replied. "Of course I was just created to guard the blue star seed."

Heartbeat then appeared on her magical bubble and noted on the Sphinx.

"Wow, a sphinx!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, we know it's very impressive" Blue said. "What you've got, Heartbeat?"

"Well, I just came to tell you that Rarity and Pinkie Pie returned with the orange star seed and Fluttershy is bringing the green star seed" Heartbeat said.

"That's fantastic!" Twilight exclaimed, pleased to know that not everything had gone so badly.

"Yes, but Applejack and Rainbow Dash lost the purple star seed" Heartbeat said.

"Great!" Blue mocked. "Why must always be bad news along with the good ones?"

"This is bad" Shining said. "Now the Lord of Chaos has two star seeds."

"Two?" Heartbeat repeated. "Wait, you..."

"Yes, we lost the blue star seed" Twilight said. "Fire Punch took it from us."

"Fire Punch?" Heartbeat repeated. "The former King of the Changelings?"

"That same" Shining confirmed. "I thought we were rid of him."

"But, hey, guys, I don't know if you've noticed, but we can still get around the situation" Blue said. "We can still recover the star seeds we lost. In addition, there’s also a star seed missing."

"Blue’s right" Heartbeat said. "And since you are unoccupied and the others are in the Crystal Empire or are coming to here, you can get the yellow star seed."

"Yes, it's the best we can do" Twilight agreed. "We have to recover it as soon as possible. Heartbeat, can you give us the star seed’s exact location?"

"That will be a little difficult" Heartbeat replied. "We're talking about Golden Paladin’s star seed. I can't determine with accuracy its location. I just know that it’s in the big mountain of San Palomino Desert."

"I can help with that" the Sphinx said. "I spent centuries guarding the blue star seed. During that time, I created a bond that allowed me to contact the other star seeds. I can lead you to where the yellow star seed is."

"Seriously?" Twilight asked.

"It will be an honor" the Sphinx answered.

"Well, I see you already have a ride" Heartbeat said. "I’ll wait for you there."

And then she disappeared.

The Sphinx then cuddled up, allowing Twilight, Shining and Blue climbed to his back and then he stood up and started running towards the place where the yellow star seed was.

--------------------------------------

In his dark throne room, the Lord of Chaos was sitting on his throne. He was watching the purple star seed that was on his hand. It was then that a shadow appeared, coming from one of the mirrors, and took the form of Fire Punch. He approached of Lord of Chaos and then he told him while making a bow and stretching the blue star seed:

"Your prize, master."

The Lord of Chaos made a gesture and the blue star seed went to him and was placed beside the purple star seed. The proximity of the two, made them start to shine so brightly.

"This light hurts me" the Lord of Chaos said. "However, I need these star seeds with their light to be able to find the original star seed of that world. It’s a pity that your dark ponies couldn’t have brought me the orange and the green star seeds."

"We always have the yellow star seed" Fire Punch said. "If you want, I can..."

"It won’t be necessary" the Lord of Chaos replied. "We already have two and that's enough."

"Are you sure?" Fire Punch asked.

"We will retrieve the other star seeds, that's a fact" the Lord of Chaos replied. "Who cares if they can or not get the last one? We just had to ensure they couldn’t find the original star seed before us and revive the Light Kingdom."

"If you say so" Fire Punch said.

"Of course I say" the Lord of Chaos said. "Believe me, they won't know what hit them."

Where the Peace is Hidden, Part I

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After the unfortunate loss of the blue star seed, it was just one star seed leaving, the yellow star seed that belonged to the General of Peace, Golden Paladin, the leader of the Generals of Order of the Light Kingdom. Having regard to who it belonged to, it was crucial that they recovered it.

At that time, Twilight, Blue and Shining caught a ride of the Sphinx that had volunteered to take them to the yellow star seed’s location: San Palomino Desert. The Sphinx was running at a lot of speed. It was amazing how he burned so much ground in such a short time. He even ran more than a train and neither showed tiredness. The Sphinx also knew how to be discreet, opting to go through inhabitable paths, going through Everfree Forest and Ghastly Gorge.

It didn’t late until yellow sand appear underneath the Sphinx’s paws. On that sandy soil, the legendary creature didn’t slow down the speed. They then reached the existing mountain at its center. It was big, though not quite as big as the others Twilight, Blue and Shining had already seen. The Sphinx began going around the mountain, starting to climb it at some point. He looked like a cat climbing a tree and with his claws holding to the rock of the mountain with immense ease. The three ponies that were on his back held on well to not fall. It was then that he stopped when he reached a cave. He cuddled up for Twilight, Blue and Shining get out of him.

"It's here" the Sphinx said. "Such as was the case with the blue star seed, the yellow star seed is in a cave, protected by several defenses."

"Well, it's nice to know" Blue said. "But you could enlighten us a little longer, just like, for example, how to pass through the yellow star seed's defenses."

"Elucidating the least possible is my work" the Sphinx answered.

"Come on, Sphinx, we are in a race against time in recovering the star seeds" Shining said.

But the Sphinx merely looked coldly to Shining that left him uncomfortable.

"Look, Sphinx, maybe you could just... give us some lights" Twilight suggested. "You don't have to tell us everything."

The Sphinx turned his gaze to Twilight and then said, sitting:

"Very well, then so be it. The star seeds are protected by defenses created by themselves based on the characteristics of the generals they belong: the red star seed created a defense that reacts according to the intentions of those who are close of it; the orange star seed created a musical puzzle; the green star seed uses the nature around it; the purple star seed uses the talents of their invaders against them and the blue star seed uses mental and logic traps. What do you think the defenses used by the yellow star seed would be, taking into account what you know about the General of Peace?"

"We even don't know Golden Paladin" Shining said.

"Not quite" Blue said. "Golden Paladin is the General of Peace and, when I went to the Light Kingdom and I saw his statue and he was wearing armor. He was a soldier, like us, Shining."

Shining meditated for a while and then said:

"So that must mean that the defenses must be connected to his soldier code."

"Precisely" Blue said.

"Well, looks like it's time for you two lead this" Twilight said. "You're in your comfort zone. Sphinx, please, can you tell us how many defenses are?"

The Sphinx didn't answer her right away, saying shortly after:

"Three."

"And each one harder than the last, knowing my older brother as I know" a voice replied.

And Heartbeat appeared in her bubble.

"I see you've found the place" Blue noted.

"With the Sphinx’s help it was very easy" Heartbeat replied. "Later, I came here to wish you good luck... And also to see you one last time, if you..."

"Wait, do you think we're not going to achieve the yellow star seed?" Shining asked.

"I didn't say that!" Heartbeat exclaimed, turning then to the Sphinx. "Did I say that?"

The Sphinx shook his head slightly and Heartbeat continued:

"I'm just saying that my brother's defenses can be quite... unbeatable. He doesn't fool around."

"Don't worry, Heartbeat" Twilight said. "Believe that we also don't play in service."

"Yes, that’s why I wanted to wish you good luck" Heartbeat said. "I hope you make it."

And having said that, she disappeared.

"Honestly, I don't know if she looks better with or without the star seed" Twilight commented. "Or she's innocent and unstable or she has a twisted sense of humor."

"She's not that bad" Blue said. "And she gave us a big help in locating the star seeds."

"She may not look it, but the General of Affection is quite good at what she does" the Sphinx guaranteed. "I know that through her star seed."

"I think we should stop this conversation and stay with what got us here and go get the yellow star seed" Shining said.

"You're absolutely right, Prince Shining Armor" Sphinx said. "I'm staying here at the entrance to the store in case of appearing enemies."

"You really gonna do that, Sphinx?" Twilight asked.

"It will be an honor" he replied. "During the long centuries I was protecting the blue star seed, I stay with a few fragments of its light, which included the sense of duty to the Light Kingdom. Be assured that I will do my best to make sure that nopony get in the cave."

"Thank you, Sphinx" Twilight thanked, bowing her head slightly, something the Sphinx returned.

So she, Blue and Shining entered in the cave and started hitting it.

"The Sphinx is really weird" Blue commented. "And quite mysterious."

"That’s normal" Shining replied. "His race is one of the most enigmatic of all. In addition to that, his role is to make puzzles to stop people from obtaining the treasures they guard. They’re guardian creatures."

"He still gives me the creeps" Blue said. "Only his voice gives me chills."

"Blue, don't worry" Twilight reassured. "The Sphinx is not bad, if that's what you're afraid of. He used to protect the blue star seed and it stands to reason that he wants to help us to get the yellow star seed."

"Yes, you're right" Blue answered.

"Hey, look" Shining said to Blue and Twilight, while stopping, causing the other two to do the same.

He pointed and they saw so that the path that they were walking, which was now in slope down, ended at some distance in front for what looked like a room, which contained two torches right at the entrance.

"There should begin the star seed’s first defense" Shining said. "Stay alert."

They advanced and entered in the said room. It seemed to be more like a corridor, done in hard stone. At the bottom there was a door, guarded by a statue of a soldier holding a spear, standing on guard position. The sides contained torches which were illuminating the division and a row of full plate armors, the ones that covered the entire body, holding several weapons.

They began to move along the corridor, watching everything. Shining and Blue seemed enthusiastic about the whole thing.

"It's unbelievable!" Blue exclaimed, watching the armors. "Shining, are you seeing what I’m seeing?"

"Yes, true millennial armors!" Shining said. "This type of armor is almost nonexistent. I had never seen one of this armor."

"Me either" Blue said. "It's something that I never dreamed to see. Do you realize that we can be the only ones to set the eyes on this type of armor for a lot of years?"

"But of course! Isn't it fabulous?"

"Of course!"

Twilight couldn't stop smiling. Her brother and her husband seemed to two little foals in a candy store. It was amazing that those two got along so well since they were kids and everything had begun, according to Shining, with a ball that made them to meet each other, but of course that it had been their mutual dream of becoming royal guards that had made their friendship to bloom. Thanks to this, Shining and Blue became best friends and Twilight met the one that would become the stallion of her dreams, her husband and future father of her unborn foal (although he was unaware of this last fact). It was amazing that this friendship which had been created by this mutual dream remained strong, despite the mishaps that happened when Shining found out about his little sister's courtship with his best friend.

It was then that Twilight had the feeling that something wasn't right.

"Guys, we should be attentive" Twilight said. "I don't like it at all."

"Relax, Twily, it will all be..." Shining started.

It was then that all the armors’ weapons became involved with a pure yellow aura and get out of their respective places and began to circle Twilight, Shining and Blue who group together.

"Ok, I guess I spoke too soon" Shining said.

"You were right, Twilight" Blue said. "We should have been aware. They must be Golden Paladin’s guards’ armors. His guards were the most well-trained soldiers of all, so their armors must be like their owners."

"The yellow star seed must have channeled their sense of their duty through the petrified soldiers’ stored star seeds to protect their general’s." Twilight said.

It was then that the weapons began to attack them, with a sword even ready to make a blow. Shining reacted quickly to create his protective barrier, but when it barely touched the sword, the barrier disappeared. It came a spear and a mace and Shining created once more his barrier, but it disappeared as soon as the weapons hit on it.

"My defensive spells are being cancelled by the weapons" Shining said, while joining Blue and Twilight to launch magic rays against weapons.

"They must be enchanted with an annulment spell to annul any defensive spell" Twilight said.

"Yes, but we can't… keep fighting... against this… eternally" Blue said, while casting more rays against the insistent weapons.

"Now I understand why Heartbeat came here to say goodbye to us" Shining said, using his barrier to protect himself from a bludgeon which undid it, attacking it then with his magic. "This is going to get us out if we don't find a way to stop these weapons of slicing us."

"I'll try a counter spell to animation spell" Twilight said.

She launched a kind of magic against two lances, but that only made them attack with more speed and strength.

"You just made worse" Blue said, starting trying to swerve from the faster weapons.

A staff went to Shining and struck him, throwing him against the floor, but he soon got up. Twilight, in turn, was literally between the sword and the wall.

"Well, the situation is really complicated" she said.

The sword then attacked and Twilight reacted using her teleportation spell, but the spell was made somewhat clumsily, making Twilight appear in the air in front of an armor, tapping against it while landing, causing it to shiver. That made a sword loses the aura that was surrounding them and fell on the ground, returning to rise shortly after. Shining noticed that and said:

"Regroup!"

The other two did so and they kept their backs to each other. The weapons returned to surround them.

"Nothing is working" Twilight said. "Any ideas?"

"I have one" Shining said, using his abilities to pass for the weapons and then kick in the helmet of one of the armors, making it fall to the ground.

This made a mace drop inert on the floor.

"Hit the knights, not the weapons" Shining said.

"The yellow star seed’s magic must be channeled through the armors" Twilight realized. "So…"

She released a counter spell against one of the armors, causing it to fall on the ground and dismantle. A sword dropped inert.

"It's working" Blue said. "Keep going, Twily."

Twilight continued to launch counter spells against armors, making them fall and crumble. Shining gave a hoof to his sister and many more weapons fell on the ground, inert. It didn’t late until all armors were on the ground, crumbled, and thus all the weapons fell on the floor, inert.

"All right!" Blue exclaimed, going up to his wife and hugged her. "You did it, my love."

"Yes, I did, didn’t it?" Twilight said, panting slightly. "But I got too tired. Throwing a lot of counter spells at once let anypony exhausted."

"So it's better you slow down the pace, sis" Shining said approaching. "Now, let everything to me and Blue."

Twilight nodded.

They began moving towards the door to move on, but it was then that the statue was surrounded by the yellow aura and then came to life and leaped from its pedestal and started moving towards Twilight, Shining and Blue.

"What were you saying, Shining?" Blue asked.

"Twilight, don't worry" Shining said to your sister. "We’ll deal with this thing."

"But you'll go to need my help" Twilight said. "I can try to take care of him with a spell."

"I don't think it would work" Blue said. "The most likely is that statue doesn’t have the same weaknesses that the armors."

"Blue’s right" Shining said to Twilight. "Stay back and try to recover. We will take care of the statue."

Although she doesn't feel right to leave Shining and Blue dealing with the living statue, she knew she didn't have a choice. She was exhausted and her magic certainly wouldn't be very useful. Therefore, she retreated to let her older brother and her husband to deal with the magically animated statue.

Shining and Blue launched to fight the statue. The first attack was from the statue which raised his spear to hit the two stallions, but Shining tried to use his barrier to protect him and Blue, but the barrier, despite having protected them, shattered when spear blade barely touched it, similar to what had happened earlier with the weapons of the armors. But Blue used the time after which the barrier was disbanded to tackle the statue, which made it retreat. But it only retreated a few steps, seeming to be apparently without a scratch, starting to advance to Blue and Shining again.

"This is one of the tough ones" Shining commented.

"Well, I guess, for this, we will have to use the heavy artillery" Blue said. "As the horn sword spell."

"You know that this is not one of my favorite spells" Shining said. "And the reason for this is that I never managed to do that spell."

"Yes, it's your big failure, but you've not to worry about" Blue said. "We can do the same strategy we used at the academy. I take care of the attack and you with the defense."

Shining smiled and waved.

Thus, the two returned to the attack against the statue. When it attack, Shining used the barrier to block the statue’s attacks, while Blue counterattacked with the horn sword spell, the strongest offensive spell among the unicorn guards’ spells that made the unicorns’ horn turn into a large light blade, similar to a sword blade. Even with the great teamwork between Shining and Blue, it seemed that they were far from defeating the statue.

Twilight watched the fight, not glad to stay behind, while Shining and Blue fought. She had to help somehow, but how? It looked like that statue was increasingly strong and tough as they were attacking it. But the worst was that it wasn't getting tired and, of course, the same couldn’t be said about Shining and Blue. The statue had to have a weakness, such as the armor, but what could it be?

The young princess thought with all its forces, thought about all the possibilities and used all her ingenuity, but nothing emerged in her mind. Heartbeat was right, the General of Peace’s star seed would not be as easy to get as the others.

It was then that an idea come up. It was a bit farfetched and crazy, but it seemed to be the only one who could result. That statue had no weakness, but she knew how to stop it and that was...

"Guys, stop fighting!" Twilight asked.

"What?" the two stallions asked, thinking that they had misheard.

"Don't fight!" Twilight exclaimed. "This statue reacts to violence. If you stop fighting, it will also stop."

"Uh, are you sure about this, Twily?" Shining asked, while he and Blue retreated before the statue’s advance.

"I'm not sure" she replied. "But we're talking about the General of Peace. Beyond that we have no other choice."

Shining and Blue looked at each other, thinking the same thing. However, they decided to take her advice. Blue stopped the horn sword spell and he and Shining were still in their place. The statue came to them and raised its spear to attack. They scrambled not to react, hoping sincerely that Twilight was right. A few seconds passed with all in complete silence, waiting to see what the statue would do.

It was then that it lowered the spear and turned back to Shining and Blue and starting to head to its pedestal. When it reached it, it jumped to it and put itself in its original position and the door simply opened up.

"I can't believe" Blue said, while Twilight reached their edge. "You did it, Twilight!"

He kissed Twilight who said then:

"When I saw how that statue was getting stronger, I realized that it fed from the violence generated in the fight and, when I remembered that we were in search of the General of Peace’s star seed, I realized that if the fight ended, the statue would not have the energy to fight and would go back."

"Very thoughtful, sis" Shining said. "Now, we can proceed."

They then advanced to the door and passed through it.

Where the Peace is Hidden, Part II

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After they had passed through the door of the room where they faced independent weapons and a living statue, they entered in a corridor lit by torches and eventually they reach a large wrought iron gate. Shining and Blue opened the gates and they and Twilight entered in the next chamber.

It was a dark chamber and, as they walked through the room, they could see shards of red rock and white rock, something that was truly gloomy.

"I don't like this" Twilight said, standing right next to her husband. "I don't like this at all.

"Where are we?" Blue asked, looking around, while stopping. "In a graveyard?"

Shining, however, realized exactly what that was.

"This is not a graveyard" he said, moving and passing by what appeared to be statues and entering in a polished red and white checkered floor, stopping after a few steps. "It's a chessboard."

Torches lit around what turned out to be a gigantic board with sixty-four squares, half white and half red, all alternated. In each the first two rows on each side there were giant pieces made in stone, having the triple the size of ponies, and the closest were red and the others were white. The second line of each side had in each square the smallest pieces that were slightly bigger than a pony, taking the form of armor earth ponies with a sword sheath on each side and a shield. In the first row of each side there were the bigger pieces, all arranged in a precise position: each end had a tower with a pony on the top with a shield and a sword in attack position; then, next to the towers, there were armored pegasi with spears; next to the pegasi, there were unicorns holding a staff; next to the unicorn on the left side of each side, there was an alicorn queen holding a rapier sword and next to the unicorn on the right side of each side, there was a unicorn king holding a sword.

Twilight and Blue went to his side, noting also the pieces.

"You're right, Shining" Twilight said. "It's really a chessboard. It even has the pieces: the pawns, the rooks, the pegasi, the unicorns, the queen and the king."

"Ok, can you explain to me what is this?" Blue asked.

"Yeh, right, chess is not a very popular game" Twilight said. "But it was a long time ago. It was played mostly by unicorns."

"The goal is to capture the king" Shining commented. "Each piece has its own movements. It's a strategy game and resembles a fight between two kingdoms."

"So do we have to play to pass?" Twilight asked.

"There's only one way to find out" Blue said.

He began to move around the board toward the gate which was on the other side, but when he approached of the pawns, they came to life and took their swords and exposed them, blocking the way. Blue retreated and they picked up the swords, returning to the same position. The blue unicorn returned to the edge of the others and said:

"Well, we'll have to play. How do we do this?"

"Shining was always the best at chess" Twilight said.

"It was my father who taught me and it was my grandfather who taught him, before..." Shining said, pausing slightly before continuing. "Well, before he leaves to the Desolate Zone."

There was a pause and then Shining recomposed himself and said:

"But it's better to concentrate on the game. To get through that gate, we have to play. But don't just play, we have to be the pieces and win. Well, Blue, you’ll be the king-side unicorn. Twilight, will be the queen-side rook. And for me, I'll be the king-side pegasus."

After he said this, the pony on top of the queen-side rook came out of it and left the board, along with the unicorn and the pegasus that Shining had named. Shining even won wings and a spear of red stone and his horn disappeared (although it was expected that it would return as soon as the game ended), while Twilight won a sword and Blue won a staff, both made of red stone. Then, they occupied their respective places, with Twilight rising up to the rook.

"So what now?" Blue asked to Shining.

"Well, whites move first" said Shining. "And then... we play."

It was then that the pawn in front of the king advanced two squares in front.

"Shining, I was thinking" Twilight said to his brother. "Do you think this is going to be like the unicorn chess?"

Shining also had thought that and then turned to the pawn in front of his queen and said:

"You there, D5."

Then the pawn has advanced two squares in front, getting in the diagonal front of the other pawn. The white pawn then came to life, drew its swords and struck the red pawn, cracking it into many pieces and throwing it off the board, then taking over its place. Both gasped with what had happened.

"Yes, Twily, I think this is going to be... exactly like the unicorn chess."

Thus began a battle between the red pieces and the white pieces. Shining was who gave the orders to the red pieces, while the white pieces were moving on their own, probably commanded by the yellow star seed. The white pieces began to take many red pieces, but Shining could recover while taking as many whites as possible, while at the same time ensured that he, Blue and Twilight were safe. The longer the game wore on, the harder they became. The most dangerous white piece was undoubtedly the queen, who was also the most powerful one.

It was then that they reached the pivotal moment of the game, a moment that could decide everything, since everything happens when the white queen ousted the other red rook. Shining seemed to know exactly what he had to do and Twilight, who also knew the game, soon made the same conclusion that his brother, after observing the disposition of the pieces.

"Wait a minute" she said.

"You understand, don't you, sis?" Shining said. "When I make my move, the queen will take me and then Blue will be free to check the white king and finish the game."

"No" said Twilight. "Shining, NO!"

"But what is it?" Blue asked Twilight.

"He's going to sacrifice himself" Twilight answered him.

"Shining, you can't!" exclaimed Blue. "There has to be another way!"

"You want to get the yellow star seed or not?" he asked. "It is imperative that we take it and if sacrifice myself in the game will allow us to move forward, then so be it."

"But, Shining..." Twilight started.

Shining ignored her and turned to Blue, saying:

"Blue, you know I'm right. It’s our duty as royal guards. When the queen takes me, the only thing you need to do is moving until you reach the king and the game is won. Please, in the name of our friendship and our mission, promise me you’ll do it."

Blue didn’t respond immediately, thinking about everything. Shining was his friend and would cost him to see him to sacrifice himself, but he knew they had to retrieve the yellow star seed. Apart from that, he knew Shining and he knew that nothing would make Shining forget that idea. He waved. Twilight, despite not agreeing, had no choice but to accept that crazy idea. Shining then took a deep breath and said:

"Here I go."

Shining advanced two squares in front and then moved one to the left.

"Check" he said.

Almost immediately, the white queen turned in his direction and began to move horizontally towards him. Twilight couldn't look when she saw the queen two squares away, knowing what would happen when it came on Shining’s edge. It was then that the queen has arrived to the square where Shining was and stopped right in front of him. It was then that it came to life, took its rapier sword and gave a blow in Shining, throwing him off the board, where he fell unconscious, with the stone wings and the stone spear breaking and his horn reappearing. Twilight had to contain herself to not leave her rook to go to his brother and Blue too, but both knew that they couldn't do that. Blue then took a deep breath and began to move on the diagonal until he reach the edge of the white king and, when he was in the place Shining had indicated, stopped and said:

"Checkmate."

It was then that the white king dropped his sword fell to the ground. None of the other white pieces moved. This can only mean one thing, they had won the game.

Now that they were free, Blue and Twilight (who had left the rook) went to Shining to see how he was. He seemed to be fine, just passed out.

"And now, what do we do?" Blue asked. "We can't leave him here alone."

"So you go" Twilight replied.

Seeing Blue’s face, Twilight said:

"Blue, I'm sure you're the only one who can retrieve the yellow star seed, now that Shining is unconscious."

"But I don't know if I can" Blue said. "You saw how were the yellow star seed’s defenses so far. I may not be able to get past the last one."

But then Twilight turned Blue to her and told him with a lot of assertiveness:

"You will do it. You have to believe that."

"I don't know, Twilight" Blue said. "Honestly, I don't know."

Twilight started thinking in something that could encourage Blue to continue, then she realized it was time to tell Blue the truth about her pregnancy.

"Blue, I have something to tell you" Twilight said, making her stallion turn to her. "Did you remember my nauseas and my mood swings?"

Blue nodded.

"I discovered what they were" Twilight continued. "Cadance and Heartbeat told me. Blue... I'm pregnant."

That revelation left Blue in shock, as if he had bumped with something right in the face.

"You're what?" he asked.

"Pregnant" Twilight repeated. "Blue, we're going to have a foal. A son."

Blue was unimpressive for a few moments. Twilight was worried about his reaction, but it was then that a smile appeared on his face and he said:

"I'm going to be a father. I'm going to be a father!"

And he gave a roar of joy, something that gladdened Twilight a lot. Blue gave her a big kiss and said:

"My love, despite the situation we're in, you just gave me the most wonderful news of all. But, why didn't you say anything?"

"First, because of everything that's happening" Twiligt replied. "Then because I didn't know how you'd react."

"Twily, I always wanted to be a father" Blue said. "You just made me the happiest stallion in the world. And you just gave me the energy to move forward with this."

Twilight smiled and said:

"I'm so glad for you."

Blue then kissed Twilight, passing then his hoof by her stomach, and said:

"I will be back with the star seed, you can to be sure of that."

"Good luck" Tiwlight wished.

Blue then stood up and began moving towards the gate that would send him to the last defense. He opened it and then passed it. He walked through a long corridor until he reach a door. Before opening it, he took a deep breath and opened it.

He found himself in a room, a fantastic one. It was lit by a yellow light and the walls were covered with gilt, making the room look shinier. There was a necklace Blue acknowledged as being the alicorn amulet in a pedestal, a table full of gold coins, another table full of food, a pillar where there was a pony tied up with his head covered by a bag with two crossed swords in front of him and in the back of the room there was a pedestal where upon there was a bell jar where there was the yellow star seed, where at its side was what seemed to be a mare with an old dress and with a long veil covering her face and with a crown on her head. She must be an illusion of a queen or a princess. Blue smiled when he saw the star seed. It was then that he noticed a pedestral at his edge with a sign with a warning:

"If my treasure you want to take,
Some choice you have to make,
If you want my precious powerfull light,
Or what can fulfill your most delight. "

Blue mused seriously on that warning. Apparently, he had to choose what he wanted: the star seed or any of the other things. That was obviously a trap. He sincerely doubted that anypony would be so foolish to choose only one among all the things that were in front of him, and he spoke only for gold, food, the alicorn amulet and the yellow star seed. It was then that he noticed in some circular grooves on top of the room, on each side. They should fire some missiles, if Blue didn't do everything properly. He then moved through the room.

He reached the edge of the alicorn amulet, wondering how could it be if it had been destroyed when he and Twilight had defeated Dark Hole. Then, suddenly, he felt incredibly drawn to the amulet. The temptation to pick it up and put it was huge. He could feel its power calling him. With that power, he could do anything, including defeating Fire Punch and the Lord of Chaos, recover the star seeds and the Light Kingdom. Blue raised the hoof to pick it up, but then he stopped. No, he couldn't do that. Despite the power that the alicorn amulet would give him, he knew it would corrupt him and makes him do what he didn't want to do. He removed the hoof of the alicorn amulet and said:

"Power corrupts. I am not corrupt."

And then the pedestal with the alicorn amulet disappeared.

Blue advance and reached the table where there was lots of gold coins. For a moment, the willingness to take in all that money came to his mind, but then he wondered what he would do with all that money, plus he didn't want to depend on gold coins and, besides, he had everything he wanted: freedom, love, friends and family.

"The money binds. I like my freedom. In addition, I have things more valuable."

And the table with the money disappeared.

Blue advanced and arrived at the table with plenty of food. The blue unicorn had a very sweet tooth, but he would never have the stomach for a lot of food. Besides, he could eat anytime.

"My gluttony is big, but not that big."

The table with the food disappeared.

He arrived at the pillar where there was the pony with the covered face tied with the crossed swords right in front of the pillar. Curious, Blue extended the hoof and took the bag which was covering his face and he was amazed to find Fire Punch. Seeing him and having the swords there by hoof, Blue felt an enormous anger, remembering everything that bastard had done: stealing Shining’s girlfriend; cheating on the test to know who will be the Captain of the Royal Guard, endangering Blue and Shining’s lives; mistreating Cadance; ruin Blue and Twilight’s wedding, absorbing all her love only to become the most powerful being of Equestria and now trying to steal the Generals of Order’s star seeds to find the original star seed to deliver the Lord of Chaos. All this gave Blue the will to end him once and for all. Then he remembered that wouldn't fix everything he had done, because now everything was fine. In addition, Blue would never attack a helpless enemy, despite knowing that Fire Punch wouldn't do the same. And he wouldn’t ruin his life because of him. He moved away from the pillar, saying:

"Revenge erodes us inside. I'm not coming down to the same level as my enemies’."

And the pillar with Fire Punch disappeared.

So there was only one thing: the pedestal with the jelly jar which contained within itself the yellow star seed. He approached it, but he noticed that he didn't know how to take the star seed. Then he noticed the queen or the princess with the dress and her face covered. Maybe Blue should do more to get the star seed, in addition to resist and reject all those offers. He tried to think just like Golden Paladin, but it was difficult, considering that he just had to base on what he had heard about him. Therefore, he only had one choice: build on the defenses established by his star seed.

The first defense was the weapons and the statue, something that tested their skill and control. Then it was the chessboard that tested the reasoning and the self-sacrifice. Then, following the code of honor of a true soldier, that defense should test the dignity. A soldier would be only fully worthy after resist any temptation to divert him from his real mission to protect and serve those who cannot defend themselves, being loyal to everypony and especially to whom he had given his word of serfdom.

He looked to the queen or princess who was in there and Blue realize that she should represent Princess Aurora, Golden Paladin’s sovereign. Then he advanced to Princess Aurora’s representation, knelt and kissed her hoof, as proof of his chivalry and respect. She then gestured to the bell jar and it disappeared, freeing the yellow star seed, disappearing then. Blue rose up and then took the star seed. He had succeeded.

Twilight was in the chessboard chamber, caring his older brother. It was then that he began to wake up.

"But what has happened?" he asked, after waking. "Where am I?"

He tried to move, but he felt immensely sore.

"Take it easy, Shining" Twilight said. "The blow the white queen gave you was pretty bad."

"Where's Blue?" Shining asked.

"He moved on" Twilight replied.

"He went to get the star seed?" asked Shining, rising up a little, trying to ignore the pain.

"Don't worry" Twilight said. "I'm sure he will make it."

Then they hear hoofsteps and they looked towards the door where Blue had gone. So they saw him appear and that he was holding the yellow star seed.

"You did it, Blue!" Twilight exclaimed, embracing him as soon as he reached her reach.

"How could I not get it?" Blue asked. "After that news you gave me, how could I fail?"

"News?" Shining asked, feeling that he was missing something. "Ok, I demand to know what happened after I've passed out."

Twilight and Blue gave a chuckle, exchanging a smile and a passionate look. She then said:

"We’ll tell you, but as long as we get out of here. We have no time to lose. Blue, help me with Shining."

Twilight and Blue then helped Shining getting up and started to proceed towards the exit, with them telling him what had happened.

Author's Notes:

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, where Twilight, Blue and Shining managed to get the last of the star seeds: the yellow star seed. How you can see I took the chess part from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, trying to follow more the movie than the book. I changed some pieces to better fit the game in the MLP universe. I represented the pawn by the earth pony due to pawn represent the infantry, more particularly armed peasants or pikemen. I represented the knight by the pegasus due to pegasus be warriors of origin. I represented the bishop by the unicorn due to the fact that most of the high class ponies are unicorns and the bishop was one of the most important persons of society. The queen was represented by an alicorn due to being the most powerful piece on the board and the king was represented by a unicorn because alicorns are mainly females. To make the yellow star seed's last defense, I inspired myself in the episode 18 of the first season of Huntik.

The Fall of the Light Kingdom

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Twilight, Blue and Shining were approaching the exit of the cave, with Blue carrying the yellow star seed. Twilight and Blue had finished telling Shining about the foal that was to come, something that left him very excited.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing" Shining said, while they were walking. "My little sister is pregnant. It is… spectacular news!"

"Yeah, I couldn't believe it when Cadance and Heartbeat told me" Twilight said. "I mean, it was Cadance who was suspected, but Heartbeat was the one that confirmed it, because of her empathy."

"And I can't believe I'm going to be a dad" Blue said. "I always wanted to be a father."

"Since when?" Shining asked.

"Hey, we can get to know each other for many years, but you don't know everything about me, Shining” Blue replied.

Twilight laughed.

They arrived at the exit of the cave, where the Sphinx awaited them. Seeing them getting out, he stood up and bowed his head slightly to Twilight, Shining and Blue.

"Any problem, Sphinx?" Twilight asked.

"No, princess" he replied. "No sign of Fire Punch, dark ponies or any one of the followers of the Lord of Chaos."

"Well, that’s strange" Shining said. "Taking into account that it was the yellow star seed."

"Hey, we just have to give thanks for having achieved the yellow star seed without having to face Fire Punch and their dark ponies" Blue said.

"Maybe" Twilight said, thoughtfully, thinking that the behaviour of their enemies had been premeditated.

"Prince Shining Armor, what happened to you?" the Sphinx asked, repairing in Shining.

"I had a little accident with the second defense" he replied.

"Oh, I see" the Sphinx said. "It's no wonder. The General Golden Paladin has always been a big fan of chess. I think we better go to the Crystal Empire."

"Does that mean you’ll take us to there?" Twilight asked to the legendary creature.

"Just to the surroundings" he replied. "After that, we will say goodbye."

Twilight waved and then the Sphinx cuddled up so she, Shining and Blue could climb to his back. Blue kept the yellow star seed yellow his saddlebags and then the Sphinx took off, heading north.

Following through isolated paths, the Sphinx was running more than he could. The golden sand was replaced by solid ground and, after a few hours, the white snow appeared under the Sphinx’s paws. When they were some distance from the Crystal Empire, when the night was already falling, the Sphinx stopped and allowed Twilight, Shining and Blue to get out of his back.

"Thanks for everything, Sphinx" Twilight thanked. "You were a great help."

"You're welcome, Princess" the Sphinx answered, bowing his head slightly. "It's been a pleasure."

"What are you going to do now?" Blue asked.

The Sphinx didn't answer right away, but then he said:

"I don't know, just the fate will tell me."

And, having said this, he distanced himself in running.

"Well, that sphinx really likes talking in riddles" Blue commented.

"It's better to stop this" Shining said. "Let's go back to the castle to get the yellow star seed safely."

They then advanced to the Crystal Empire. They entered in the castle and shortly they advanced to the room where the magic mirror containing the portal to the Mirrored Library was. It was still being watched by Mr. Teddy. They went through the portal, seeing then the splendid Mirrored Library. They advanced throught it until they reach the center of the library, where everypony was waiting.

"I thought you'd never get here!" Rainbow exclaimed, while she and the others went to join them. "The Sphinx must be very slow."

"Rainbow, the Sphinx has no wings" Twilight replied. "The only thing he could do was run and he runs much faster than a train. We got here as fast as we could. "

"Shining!" Cadance exclaimed, going up to her husband. "But what happened to you?"

"Well, let's just say getting the yellow star seed wasn't very easy." he replied, turning then to Heartbeat. "You were right in saying we could not escape alive from there, Heartbeat."

"Please, it was more than obvious" she said. "But I assume that, how you three are here almost completely unharmed, you completed the mission successfully. Where's the yellow star seed?"

Blue went to his saddlebag and pulled out the yellow star seed. Heartbeat used her magic to bring the star seed to herself and then invoked a small chest that she opened, revealing the other two star seeds collected by them, and kept it there, closing the chest.

"Here, it and the others will be safe" Heartbeat said. "No one on Chaos’ side will be able to open it, not even the Lord of Chaos. This chest is soaked with the most powerful protection magic of the Order. It’s too bad that, along with mine, we only have four star seeds."

"Hey, we don't have any fault that those dark ponies have attacked us" Rainbow Dash protested.

"Rainbow is right" Applejack said. "We had just fac’d tha purple star seed’s defense and they were too many."

"Hey, I don't blame you" Heartbeat said. "I'm just stating a fact."

"Yeah, yeah, but Discord could have helped us" Rainbow Dash said. "But no, he had to be a coward."

"Come on, Rainbow, he said he couldn't show up to Lord of Chaos’ minions, due to having betrayed him when he became our friend" Fluttershy said.

"I think it's better you put quotes in that word, dear Fluttershy" Rarity said, combing her mane. "We both know that Discord likes to leave his clover hoofprints in almost everything that is treacherous."

"And his footprints and clawprints" Pinkie added.

That made everypony look at her.

"What is it?" Pinkie asked. "He only has one hoof. Moreover, he just have paws and a claw."

The others ignored her. Twilight then said:

"We also haven't been successful in bringing the blue star seed. If Fire Punch hadn't shown up with huge dark ponies… If the Sphinx hadn't shown up, he would have gotten rid of us."

"Ah still can't believe that scoundrel is still around here" Applejack said.

"Yeah, I thought Chrisalis had finished him" Rainbow Dash added.

"Chrisalis serves the Lord of Chaos" Heartbeat said. "If he didn't want her to destroy Fire Punch, so she couldn't do it. But that doesn't change the fact we still do not have what it takes to bring the Light Kingdom back to life... at least for now."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

Heartbeat was momentarily silent, saying later:

"I think I've said too much."

But upon receiving the glares of all, she then said:

"Ok, I’ll say it. I know... where the original star seed original... may be."

"WHAT?!" everypony asked.

"You made us walk through whole Equestria in search of your brothers and sisters’ star seeds and you already knew where the original star seed was?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Hey, I don't know if you had listened right, but I said that I could know where it was" Heartbeat replied.

"That doesn't matter, Heartbeat, ya should have told us" Applejack said.

"Yes, we risked our lives to get all the star seeds that we have until now!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Yeah, you lied to us!" Pinkie Pie accused.

"Ok, ok, ok, it's better if we all relax" Heartbeat said. "I didn't lie. I just omitted some facts that could influence your motivations in getting the star seeds. Look, the star seeds can really locate the original star seed. Have you ever wondered if the Lord of Chaos could get his hands in them and managed to get mine?"

"It would be catastrophic" Twilight concluded.

"Precisely" Heartbeat said. "So, I had to make sure that doesn't happen. With four star seeds in our possession, the dark side will not be able to trace the original star seed, which gives us more leeway to act. "

"Except for the fact that I almost died in a dammed magic chess of that older brother of yours" Shining said.

"Yeah, and there was still Mirror Coat’s mirror labyrinth and the potions riddle" Blue said.

"Not to mention that I and Applejack were almost drowned by sludge!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"Oh, you guys are exaggerating" Heartbeat replied. "You're here, aren't you?"

But she got some rough and cold stares that made her shrink.

"Please don't be mad at me" she asked, starting to squirm the face muscles as who was going to cry.

"Guys, it’s better stop before she starts to cry" Twilight warned.

“Twilight is right" Cadance said. "We'd better stop."

"It seems that Discord was right ‘bout Heartbeat" Applejack said.

"That's better" said Heartbeat, already calmer. "Now, more important issues."

"Yes, as for example, where is the original star seed?" Blue asked.

"All in good time" Heartbeat replied. "After all, what is the point of having the original star seed, if we don't have the Jewel of Life?"

"The Jewel of Life?" everypony repeated.

"Of course!" Twilight exclaimed. "It was in that jewel Princess Aurora kept all Light Kingdom’s star seeds."

"Precisely" Heartbeat replied. "And, without it and the original star seed, we cannot restore the Light Kingdom."

"And where is that jewel?" Rainbow asked. "On the way back, you don't know where it is."

"Of course I don't know" Heartbeat replied. "I've had turned to stone when Princess Aurora hid the Jewel of Life. But is there a way of knowing it."

"And that's..." Applejack said.

"Hey, you haven't realized where are we, huh?" Heartbeat asked. "We're in the Mirrored Library, where there is the information about everything and everyone. We can see where is the Jewel of Life, if we see the scene when the Light Kingdom is petrified."

"Well, show us that scene" Twilight said.

"Yeah, about that" Heartbeat said. "I can only and I just want to show that to you, Princess Twilight."

"Just me?" Twilight asked.

Heartbeat nodded.

"No way!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Taking into account you fooled us once, we're not going to let you show anything to Twilight without us."

The other Twilight's friends agreed.

"Sorry, Heartbeat, but Rainbow has a point" Blue said. "At least, you can't let me out of it."

"Of course I can" Heartbeat replied. "And you know that."

"Let it be, guys" Twilight said. "I’ll go alone."

"Are you sure?" Blue asked. "I can go with you."

"Heartbeat won't do anything" Twilight said. "And we both know that."

"I don't know, Twilight" Rainbow Dash said. "I think..."

"If Twilight wants to go alone, so let's accept her request" Cadance said. "It's not true, Shining?"

"Yes" Shining replied. "But who are we to refuse to Heartbeat."

That made Twilight's friends exchange a few glances and then Applejack said:

"Yeah, ya're right."

"Great!" Heartbeat exclaimed, with a smile. "Twilight Princess, please follow me."

And they began walking away through the queues of cabinets filled with books with Twilight following her.

"Where are we going, Heartbeat?" Twilight asked.

"You'll see soon" she replied.

Then they arrived to a section full of books, not only on the shelves, but also in piles. Then Heartbeat stopped and said:

"This is the History section. Every book that is found here, talks about major events of your world and others."

"This is incredible" Twilight commented, watching the books. "That means all these piles of books contain the full story of all worlds since a thousand of years ago, right?"

Heartbeat nodded.

"But what does that have to do with the Jewel of Life?" Twilight asked.

Heartbeat used her magic to get a book from a column of books without to disrupt it. Then she extended it to Twilight. She picked it up and read its title: Twilight and her friends defeat Nightmare Moon.

"This book..." she started.

"Yes, shows how you met your friends and together you defeated Nightmare Moon and returned her to her form as Princess Luna” Heartbeat replied. "There is still more. How you and your friends defeated Discord, how you helped to defeat Chrisalis and Sombra... and still one of the latest on the story of Equestria who talks how you and Blue defeated Dark Hole."

"Wait, does that mean..." Twilight said.

And so Heartbeat made book appear and extended it to Twilight. She picked it up and read the title: The Fall of the Light Kingdom.

"In this book, it’s described what happened in that day where Sombra and his dark ponies invaded the Light Kingdom, forcing Princess Aurora to petrify whole kingdom and expel its own star seed and her Generals of Order’s, me included."

"But, if so, why you insisted to be me to read what is here?" asked Twilight.

"Because it not only says where is the Jewel of Life, but also says the original star seed’s location" Heartbeat replied. "Something that should only be known by just a few individuals.”

"My friends are reliable."

"I know that. But if Fire Punch or any entity of Chaos knows that they know where the original star seed is..."

Twilight knew what Heartbeat meant. If her friends knew about that, they would be in danger.

"Why me?" asked Twilight. "Why are you going to trust in me?"

But Heartbeat not answered, doing it by signaling the book in Twilight’s hooves. She sighed and then turned to the book and, after a deep breath, she opened it and looked to its pages. Then she found herself in the foyer of the great castle of the Light Kingdom. She was so fascinated with what she was seeing. Every corner of that place was irradiating a slight but bright light that would change smoothly the tone every moment. The ponies running around were guards who were radiating the same type of light, but uniform. The light didn't prevent to see their colors, but, in the guards’ case, it was stepped up due to their armor. They passed through Twilight as if he didn’t noticed her. It was then that Twilight noticed that Heartbeat was at her side.

"This is what I think it is?" Twilight asked to Heartbeat.

"Yes, we're in the castle of the Light Kingdom" Heartbeat replied. "At a time when Sombra attacked us."

Then they saw a guard with a different armor appearing and giving orders to the others. He had an old gold coat and a golden and mustard mane and eyes like topaz. All he emitted a bright yellow light.

"That’s..." Twilight started.

"Yes" Heartbeat confirmed. "It’s my older brother, Golden Paladin."

He then started to move hastily to the main hallway.

"I think it's better follow him" Heartbeat said to Twilight.

They did so and then they saw him in some large gates and then they heard him saying:

"Your Highness, King Sombra and the dark ponies are currently attacking the Light Kingdom. Our shield is hanging in there, but I doubt that will hold them eternally. He is quite powerful, especially with the Lord of Chaos supplying him with more dark energy. What are we going to do?"

"The situation is quite serious, Golden Paladin" a female voice said that should be Princess Aurora’s. "I'm running out of options. If we can't keep Sombra of getting in, I'm going to have to take the most drastic decision."

Twilight was terrified when she heard that voice and then approached and entered in the room. She was in the throne room that was decorated with lots of gemstones of various colors. But her look was fixed on the figure sitting in an uniquely ornate throne. It was Princess Aurora and the fact that transfixed Twilight was that she was just like her. The same coat, the same mane color and the same voice, despite Aurora being slightly bigger and with a more imposing air and a bigger horn. In her head, there was a beautiful golden crown adorned with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts and topazes, making her shine even more behind the light that she was radiating.

"Your Highness, are you talking about..." Golden Paladin started.

"Go call all the other Generals of Order" Princess Aurora ordered. "I want all of you in the Great Hall."

"Yes, ma'am" Golden Paladin answered.

He made a bow and then he headed to the exit, leaving. Twilight and Heartbeat were in the throne room, with the young alicorn watching the Princess of the Light Kingdom, stunned.

"She's just like me" Twilight said.

"Precisely" Heartbeat said, approaching her. "It was because of this that I've always had a huge fascination for you."

"You never told me about the detail of I being just like Princess Aurora!" Twilight exclaimed.

"To spoil the surprise?" Heartbeat asked. "Twilight, just keep read to understand."

She gestured in front and Twilight then continued watching.

She saw Princess Aurora standing up from her throne and down the platform stairs. After doing so, she advanced a few steps forward and then she turned to the throne. She closed her eyes and then her horn was loaded with magic. Even her magical aura was equal to Twilight’s. Aurora then launched a beam that struck the central jewel of her throne, and it began to glow and cast a beam of light to the center of the room and it was then that a circular hole appeared and a pillar appeared with a bell jar, where it was a translucent sphere of the size of a hoofball ball with a rippling golden glow inside of it.

"That’s the Jewel of Life" Heartbeat said. "The ultimate defence of the Light Kingdom."

Aurora approached the pillar and used her magic to remove the dome and then grabbed the Jewel of Life with the hooves. She observed it for a few seconds and then said:

"I have no other option. I'm going to need your power, Jewel of Life."

And, having said this, she drove up to the gates and left. The environment shimmered and then Twilight and Heartbeat had changed of environment.

They were now in what should be the Great Hall. In the center, Aurora was in the circle with a six-pointed star centered, and the Jewel of Life was floating by her side through her magic. It was then that the doors were opened and then Golden Paladin entered along with five more ponies. Twilight recognized Heartbeat among them, emitting a red light. They should be all the other Generals of Order. Mirror Coat had a dodger blue coat and maya blue and majorelle blue mane with eyes like blue sapphires, with his body emitting a light blue light. Leaf Mane had olive coat and an apple green mane, bedecked with fresh leaves, her eyes were as bright emeralds and her body emitted a grayish green light. Purple Smock had an orchid coat and a fandango and red-violet mane, with eyes like purple amethysts and emitting a purple light. Melody had a pumpkin coat and an orange-red mane, with eyes remembering orange tourmalines and emitting an orange light.

"Am I that small?" Heartbeat asked. "It can't be."

Twilight couldn't resist giving a chuckle, then continuing to watch the scene.

"Princess, Golden Paladin told us what you want" Mirror Coat said. "Don't you think it's a little hasty?"

"Mirror Coat is right" Melody said. "Use the Jewel of Life is too radical."

"Unfortunately, Melody, the radicalism is all we have left" Aurora replied. "Sombra and the Lord of Chaos managed to win this war. But we cannot let them win this world. The Lord of Order gave the best of him to create it."

"Princess Aurora, I don’t to disrespect you, but I think we could fight" Purple Smoke said. "I'm sure we could win. We are much stronger. I personally could take a good portion of the fark ponies thanks to my shapeshifting capacities and my toxic gas form."

"Yes, as a cocky like you could do it" said Melody.

"I'm not the only cocky pony in this room, sis" Purple Smoke replied coldly.

"Don't start you both" Golden Paladin ordered. "We are in a very serious situation. Sombra is in this possible moment trying to overthrow our barrier and will not last long he manage to do it. Princess Aurora decided to use the Jewel of Life because in that way we can save the kingdom and the light ponies. If we fight, we could lose one or both."

"Thank you so much for your support, Golden Paladin" Aurora thanked, smiling. "Your support is very important."

"I trust you blindly, Your Highness" Golden Paladin replied, doing a bow.

"And I'm with Golden" Leaf Mane said. "Not only because I don't like to fight, but also because I know that we have to think in the Light Kingdom and in all those living on it first."

"But we all know what happens if we activate the Jewel of Life" Mirror Coat said. "All the star seeds of the Light Kingdom will be absorbed by the jewel and we all will turn into stone."

"Everypony but me" Aurora corrected. "As you know, the Jewel of Life will require all the energies of my body. My star seed will survive, but I won't."

All were silent before that revelation. Princess Aurora filled her lungs with air and continued:

"When the time comes and my star seed finding a new host, its light will release one of you so that our Kingdom can have a hope to resurface."

"And which one of us will be?" the past Heartbeat asked.

"The original star seed will know who it will release" Aurora replied. "But now, we must continue with our ritual, before Sombra can break our barrier."

The six Generals of Order waved and then they placed themselves in their respective place in each one of the points of the star. Aurora put the Jewel of Life ahead of her and closed her eyes, beginning to focus magic on her horn. The Generals did the same. It was then that her aura intensified and she opened her eyes, revealing them completely white. The Jewel of Life began to glow with intensity and then it broke free from Aurora’s magic, rising up of Aurora. The gem then freed six energy beams that hit in the Generals’s heads and made the flowers containing the star seeds appear and open up to reveal them. The General’s star seeds began to shine and the beams of the spheres have adopted, one by one, the color of their respective star seed. Then, the Jewel of Life launched a beam to Aurora, which made her flower show up and reveal her star seed, the original star seed, which had the form of a lotus flower, whose color was equal to the aura of its possessor, with a brightness so intense that it blinded. The beam connecting the star seed to the Jewel of life gained its color and then the jewel freed several waves of energy that spread everywhere.

It was then that a big show happened. Star seeds of white light appeared as a sea of light, coming from all sides: walls, pillars, on anything on the castle and also from overseas, starting then entering in the Jewel of Life. They should be all the star seeds that existed in the Light Kingdom, which gave light to the buildings, the streets, the plants, the animals and the ponies.

When the last star seed entered in the jewel, the lights began to fade. Twilight went to one of the windows of the Great Hall, along with Heartbeat, and she saw the whole kingdom being turned to stone, from the outside to the inside. It was distressing seeing the beautiful plants and the gentle animals to be covered by a layer of cold, hard stone, but worse was seeing the ponies petrify, some in panic and others sad.

"I know" Heartbeat said, approaching Twilight. "It hurts to see something like this."

It was then that the castle itself began to petrify. Soon the interior of the Main Hall where they were began being turned into stone and it was then that also the two big towers also petrified. The entire Light Kingdom was turned into stone, with the exception of its Princess and the six Generals.

"Listen to me" Aurora said. "When our star seeds were gone, the Jewel of Life will hide in this castle, and only you, my generals, could set it free in the presence of the original star seed. Search it, please, and protect it from the Lord of Chaos. Despite the Jewel of Life being inviolable, it is the only thing capable of bringing the Light Kingdom back to life, aside from my star seed, you hear? These two things are the most sacred things that can exist."

The generals waved and then the Princess Aurora closed her eyes and her magic intensified and so the Generals’ star seeds were released by the jewel and they left through the windows, rising in the sky and then walking away as shooting stars to north, probably in the direction of Equestria. Without their seeds, all the Generals of Order turned into stone. It was then that the Jewel of Life went down and then introduced in the center of the star which was also the center of the circle. Aurora opened her eyes, turned to her star seed and said:

"Come on, my star seed, seeks a new place for you. As soon as your light came to shine again, our kingdom will know the right time to wake up."

And it was then that Princess Aurora disappeared and the original star seed issued a strong glow and also disappeared.

When the last trace of light disappeared, they heard the sound of something breaking and Twilight and Heartbeat went to a window, founding themselves then on the streets near the border of the kingdom, and they saw the barrier that was involving the entire Kingdom cracking and then breaking as soon and, as soon that happened, Sombra entered, along with their dark ponies.

"Finally, we..." Sombra began.

But then he noticed the petrified kingdom.

"No…" he said. "No, it can't be! The Light Kingdom is... petrified! That means..."

The scene changed, returning again to the Great Hall and Twilight and Heartbeat saw Sombra coming in with a pair of dark ponies. He saw the Generals of Order petrified and shouted:

"Those bloody petrified bastards! And I bet that damn princess expel the original star seed!"

"Calm down, master" one of the dark ponies said.

"Yes, we found this original star seed" the other said.

"Idiots!" Sombra exclaimed, turning to them. "Don’t you realize that the original star seed will not appear until it finds a worthy bearer? It can take centuries!"

"Centuries of waiting, something that I despise, when it comes to conquer a world" a voice said.

Sombra shivered and turned, facing the Lord of Chaos, who appeared.

"Master."

"I think I told you to bring me the original star seed of that my brother's princess" the Lord of Chaos said.

"I know, my Lord, and I am so sorry" Sombra apologized, making a bow, along with the dark ponies. "But Princess Aurora should have used the Jewel of Life."

"And now we have to wait an indefinite time until the original star seed appears" the Lord of Chaos scolded.

He then became pensive and then said:

"Looks like I'm going to have to improvise during that time. I'm going to have to spread my darkness as much as I can, while the original star seed doesn’t appear. Sombra, I'll give you one last chance."

"I’ll do whatever you want, master" Sombra said. "Anything."

"Invade and conquer the Crystal Empire" the Lord of Chaos ordered. "Make the crystal ponies your slaves. Without love and light, their crystalline coat will fade and the crystal heart will weaken, which will give me more easily to invade Equestria with my darkness."

"As you wish, master" Shadow said, preparing to leave.

"And, Sombra, don't fail me again" the Lord of Chaos said. "I don't want to have another incompetent on my team. For that, I have Discord."

And having said that, he disappeared.

In the foyer, they saw Sombra heading to the exit with his dark ponies, saying:

"I can't believe what happened! That idiot alicorn ruined my plans and my reputation before the Lord of Chaos! On top of that, he compared me to Discord. I mean, at least I made the Light Kingdom turn into stone, while Discord turned into stone for those Equestrian princesses."

He then stopped and noticed the figure in relief of Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order. Seeing Princess Aurora’s smiling face, a growing anger appeared in Sombra and he loaded his horn with magic and cast a magic beam so powerful that it was able to break the indestructible stone and destroy Princess Aurora’s face. And after that, he left.

Twilight and Heartbeat were taken out of the book, with the first aghast.

"I can't believe..." she said. "I am…"

"Princess Aurora’s reincarnation" Heartbeat replied. "So, I presume you understand where the original star seed can be."

So Twilight realized what Heartbeat was saying.

"No, it can't be... The star seed original is... "

"The original star seed is your star seed" Heartbeat said, although Twilight be in denial about it. "Think, Twilight. You are Princess Aurora’s reincarnation and you're very much like her, in addition to the physical characteristics: both are intelligent, sensitive, you two love books and you are both unicorns from birth. And also… it was you who freed me."

"Me?"

"When I was turned into stone, I saw nothing but darkness. I slept a long sleep. Until a light came in and woke me up. It was the original star seed’s light. Of course, without my star seed, I've been lost for more than two decades, until you, Blue and your friends have helped me. But, do you know when I awoke?"

Twilight shook her head and then Heartbeat replied:

"When you were born, it was your crying, your light, what woke me up."

Twilight still didn’t want to believe what was happening.

"So… during all this time, the original star seed was... with us?" Twilight asked. "But, why didn't you say anything?"

"I told you, the security of the star seed is a priority to all the Generals” Heartbeat answered. "But now, Twilight, we have other matters to worry about. We know where the Jewel of Life is. Now that we know, we have to go there. I know we can't get it without my siblings, but we can ensure the jewel’s protection and still trying to recover the star seeds that we don't have, although our chances are not very good."

But Twilight was still dazed.

"Twilight, this is your destiny. You have to accept it. Still more, you have a seed growing inside of you. It will help you to defeat the Lord of Chaos and Fire Punch, I'm sure. Use everything you feel good and save the Light Kingdom."

Twilight looked into Heartbeat’s ruby eyes. She relayed her optimism and hope, something that made Twilight feel the same.

"You really are the General of Affection" Twilight said, smiling gently. "I'm feeling more confidence."

"That's because I have faith in you" Heartbeat said. "After all, you're Princess Aurora. And I know that we will win. Even if I fall and the Lord of Chaos get all the star seeds and find out everything about the original star seed, I know that you will defeat him and return the light to our kingdom."

So Twilight smiled. Although she was still stunned by what she had just discovered, she could feel herself somewhat relieved for having discovered what was her destiny and that Heartbeat trusted her to return the Light Kingdom to its former splendor.

The Light Kingdom's Last Stand, Part I - Searching the Jewel of Life

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After her conversation with Heartbeat and finding out she was Princess Aurora’s reincarnation and her star seed was the original star seed, one of the essential elements for the recovery of the Light Kingdom, and after discovering the Jewel of Life’s location, Twilight and Heartbeat returned to the edge of the others.

"Twilight!" Blue called, going to her, along with the others. "So, are you all right?"

"Yes" Twilight replied. "Heartbeat clarified many doubts."

"Wow, what a great novelty" Rainbow Dash joked.

"And I've got good news and bad news" Twilight said.

"What's the good news?" Rarity asked.

"We found where the Jewel of Life is" Twilight said. "It is at the center of the large circle of the Great Hall of the Light Kingdom castle."

"But that’s amazing" Fluttershy said. "Ah, isn't it?"

"Yes, but..." Twilight started.

"Ah see this has tah do with tha bad news" Applejack noted.

Twilight waved and then said:

"The Jewel of Life can only be revealed by the six Generals of Order. And when I say the six, I do mean the six. They must be freed."

"Nice, there's always a but that makes us to do any near-impossible task" Pinkie Pie said, pouting. "In this case, we have to have all the star seeds so we can release the other Generals of Order and then get the Jewel of Life and so un-petrify the Light Kingdom."

"Wow, you said all that without deluding yourself" Heartbeat commented.

"Oh, I knew something was going to happen" Pinkie Pie said. "Earlier, I had a combo that told me that a but would make us to do any near-impossible task to do another task for then completing the main task at hand."

"Wait, you have a combo for that?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie Pie was going to answer, when Twilight asked:

“Don't answer that. Well, I think it’s better we go to the Light Kingdom."

"Yes, before we go, don’t you think we should take precautions?" Heartbeat asked.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"Well, given that it is possible that we will face the great battle for the future of the Light Kingdom, I think we better get our best weapons" Heartbeat advised. "In your case, I think it is the Elements of Harmony."

"I think you're right, Heartbeat" Twilight agreed. "I think it is better we get all the help we can get and the Elements of Harmony are our best defense. What do you think, girls?"

The other bearers of the Elements of Harmony waved their head, agreeing with that idea.

"And you can also count with my help" Blue said, advancing to Twilight and holding her hoof. "I know I won’t give you a help as good as the Elements of Harmony, but will endeavour to help you as best I can."

"Thank you, Blue" Twilight thanked, tenderly.

"It is a pity that Golden Paladin’s chess has weakened me a lot" Shining said. "So I could go and help you."

"Don't worry, Shining" Twilight said. "The best thing you can do now is rest and regain your strength."

"And I will make sure that happens" Cadance replied, placing herself next to her husband. "I will be always by your side until you get through."

Shining returned his wife’s smile.

"Okay, now we have to go back to Golden Oak Library to fetch the Elements of Harmony" Twilight said.

"And I can help you with that" Heartbeat said.

She carried her horn with magic and then brought to them a mirror and turned its mirrored surface into a portal.

"Voila, a portal directly to there" Heartbeat said. "Now you can get what you want, Twilight."

"Well, thanks, Heartbeat" Twilight thanked.

She then passed through the gate and drove it, and then she was in her library. When he saw her, Spike startled. It seemed that he was watching the mirror before her passing.

"Twilight?" he asked, getting up off the floor. "But what are you doing here? How did you get through the mirror? Shouldn't you be getting the star seeds?"

"Spike, take it easy" Twilight said.

"Sorry, Twilight, but I didn't expect to see you here" Spike said.

"That's because I just came to get the Elements of Harmony" Twilight said, going to the place where each Elements of Harmony were and taking them out of there. "We may need them."

"But where are you going?" Spike asked.

"To the Light Kingdom" Twilight replied, putting her crown. "It's a long story. But we have no time to lose."

She prepared to pass again through the mirror with the Elements of Harmony when she noticed Spike’s forlornly air. So far, he has not helped in absolutely nothing and she could see the eagerness that her dragon friend had to help.

"Hey, Spike, you want to join us?" she asked.

"Seriously?" he asked, getting over excited. "Can I go?"

"Of course" Twilight replied, while Spike climbed to her back. "After all, we can come to grips with Fire Punch and the dark ponies, or even the Lord of Chaos."

"What?" he asked, confused.

"It's another long story" Twilight said, laughing. "I’ll tell it by the way."

And then they went through the gate in the mirror.

Having all what they needed, Twilight and her friends, along with Blue and Heartbeat, departed to the Light Kingdom. Thanks to the General of Affection, they arrived at the southern border of Equestria very quickly. It wasn't long before they reach the beginning of the dense forest between Equestria and the Light Kingdom.

"Good, just what we needed" Blue said. "I forgot about this forest."

"Is it that bad?" Applejack asked.

"When I walked in there to seek the Light Kingdom, it took me several days to guide me through it" Blue replied. "Most of the time I was gone it was due to this. Not to mention that I was full of scratches and with my mane disheveled."

"Oh, my Celestia!" Rarity exclaimed. "If it's to keep the mane in that way, so I won't get in that forest."

"You don't have to worry about it, Rarity" Blue said. “Heartbeat managed to fend off the vegetation, when we had to go back."

"Yes, but I don't think that's going to work this time" Heartbeat answered. "We are too many. But I think I have a solution."

With her magic, she invoked the chest containing the star seeds that they had so far and she opened it. From there, she take the green star seed and then activated its power. It released a light and the forest opened them a way.

"Wow!" everypony exclaimed.

Heartbeat returned the green star seed to the chest and then said:

"Let’s continue."

They advanced along the way created by the green star seed and were quick to pass the forest and reach the Light Kingdom. Twilight’s friends gasped when they saw the petrified animals and plants, but were even gasper when they arrived to the Light Kingdom.

"Oh, my goodness, this is so horrible!" Fluttershy exclaimed, observing the petrified ponies. "Poor light ponies, all turned into stone. Not to mention the plants and the animals."

"And it's also a little sinister" Rainbow Dash commented, passing a hoof in front of the eyes of a petrified pony. "We don’t know if they are watching us or not."

"You don't have to worry about that, Rainbow" Heartbeat said. "They're sleeping a long sleep. As soon as they recover their star seeds, it will be like if they wake up after a thousand years."

"I know we're in the middle of a somewhat complicated situation, but I have to say" Rarity said. "Except the fact that now everything and everypony are turned into stone, this place was really fabulous. I've never seen an architecture like this."

"Ah have tah admit that Rarity is right" Applejack said. "Neither the Crystal Empire compares to this."

"Thanks for the compliment, girls, but I think it's better we do what we came from" Heartbeat said.

"Heartbeat is right" Blue said. "We can enjoy the view after saving the Light Kingdom."

They then advanced and reached the castle, what dropped a lot of gasps, even from Applejack and Rainbow.

Using a density shifting spell at the gates, Heartbeat allowed the others to enter. Upon entering in the foyer, everypony started to observe the division.

"Wow!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "This is really amazing."

"That's just an understatement, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed. "This... This is… Well, there are no words!"

"Hey, check this out" Pinkie said. "It’s reeeeally pretty."

All approached the Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order’s figure in relief.

"This figure is older than this castle" Heartbeat said. "It was done when my siblings and I came into this world to help Princess Aurora to build this kingdom."

"It's wonderful!" Rarity exclaimed. "I mean, look at the details and the softness to the touch. Only the best artists could do something like this."

"Yes, it's really impressive" Spike agreed. "Except that."

He pointed to Princess Aurora’s broken face.

"It was Sombra who did it" Twilight said.

"And how do you know that?" Blue asked.

"Well ... it's most likely” Twilight answered Twilight clumsily. "I mean, after all, he entered in the Light Kingdom after it has been petrified. He must have been so furious that he blew Princess Aurora’s figure’s face."

Blue was thinking in Twilight’s answered and she sincerely hoped that he had believed in it.

"Yes, that makes sense" he agreed.

"Hey, what if we went to the Great Hall now?" Heartbeat asked.

Everypony agreed and they followed her to the Great Hall. Upon entering there, they found the other Generals of Order petrified.

"So these are the other Generals" Rainbow Dash said. "They're not very impressive petrified in stone."

But seeing Heartbeat doing her a gruff look, she hastened to say:

"Not that they're not impressive in the flesh."

Pinkie Pie then put himself ahead of Purple Smoke and started making him grimaces.

"Pinkie Pie, please behave yourself!" Rarity exclaimed. "Making grimaces to one of the Generals of Order... Frankly."

"Don't worry, Rarity" Heartbeat said. "After me, Purple Smoke is the one who has the best sense of humor among the Generals of Order. He would probably laugh with what Pinkie Pie is doing."

"Well, it's best we pass tah more serious matters" Applejack said. "Ya say that the Jewel of Life is in tha center, right? So, how do we get it?"

"We need all the Generals of Order for that, but I think I can try to free it by myself" Heartbeat replied.

"Yes, do that" Fluttershy said. "It may be that we can take it to a safe place, where the Lord of Chaos can't get it."

Heartbeat advanced to where was her place in the circle and concentrated magic on her horn, starting trying to concentrate herself. Everypony were observing her carefully, but Twilight didn't have much patience for that, besides her curiosity about the castle made her heading to the exit secretly and getting out. Blue, however, saw her leaving and wondering where Twilight was going, decided to follow her.

Twilight advanced down the hallway and then arrived at the entrance of the throne room, going in there. Her eyes were placed on the throne in the back of the room. She approached it and climbed the stairs of the platforms, reaching the edge of the throne and passing her hoof by one of its arms. Until cost believing that, in another life, she used to sit on that throne and rule an entire Kingdom. It was an idea really dreamlike.

"What are you doing here?" Blue’s voice asked.

Twilight startled when she heard her husband's voice and turned, seeing Blue coming and going up the stairs.

"Well, I… I was curious to see the throne room. When I thought that Princess Aurora used to sit here... "

But then she stumbled upon Blue right in front of her, looking at her carefully with his blue eyes, something that made her stop talking. Then, he said:

"Twilight, I know you very well and I can tell when something is wrong with you. You know you can trust me."

Twilight didn't know whether or not to tell Blue what Heartbeat had told her, not only because of the danger it would pursue him if she did, but also due to the complexity of the subject. But the truth is that she couldn't lie to Blue, so she turned and said:

"Heartbeat did more than show me where the Jewel of Life was. She showed me the fall of the Light Kingdom. I mean, I saw the moment when Princess Aurora used the Jewel of Life to petrify the whole kingdom and that was how Heartbeat and I found out where the jewel was and that was Sombra who broke Princess Aurora’s figure’s face.

"Wow, that must have been hard, seeing the entire Light Kingdom turning into stone" Blue commented.

"But that's not what bothers me" Twilight said. "Blue, I discovered much more than the Jewel of Life’s location. I also found where is the original star seed.

That assertion surprised Blue. He then said:

"Well, I wasn't expecting that."

"If you are very surprised by this, then you'll be more surprised when you know where it is and why" Twilight replied.

Seeing his wife’s concern air, Blue took her hoof and told her:

"Twilight, if you don't want to tell..."

"But I want" she replied. "You're my husband and I trust blindly in you. The truth is... The original star seed is…”

"Well, well, well, but what most romantic scene" a voice said in a cynical, icy and malicious tone.

Twilight and Blue turned to the entrance of the throne room and were terrified when they saw the Lord of Chaos, accompanied by Fire Punch, who was displaying his arrogant smile.

"Please continue with that corny scene of giving nauseas of yours" the Lord of Chaos said. "I'm just here to take over the world."

And, having said this, he began to laugh.

The Light Kingdom's Last Stand, Part II - When the Light Goes Out

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Before the supreme lord of all evil’s presence, Blue only managed to think in its duty to protect the mare he loved, something which made him acting in such impulsive way. He started running towards the Lord of Chaos, carrying his horn with magic. But the Lord of Chaos merely pointed his hand and released an energy that hit Blue and threw him, causing him to fall in front of the stairs to the throne.

"Blue!" Twilight called, downing the stairs and going up to him.

"I must to say that this was a pathetic attempt of attack" the Lord of Chaos said to Blue, advancing a little floating a few inches off the floor, followed by Fire Punch, and then turning to Twilight. "My dear Twilight. It had been a long time we haven't seen each other. I think since you ruined my plan with that prince of nothing."

"You mean when I released Sky from your twisted lies" Twilight corrected, while helping Blue getting up.

"That's your perspective" the Lord of Chaos replied. "But continue what you were saying when I arrived. Where's the original star seed?"

"Did you really think I'm going to say anything to you?" Twilight asked.

"You're right, I don't expect you go to tell me where it is" the Lord of Chaos agreed. "But also I don't need you to tell me, because I already have everything I need to know it."

He then snapped his fingers and, in front of him, the star purple seed appeared, followed by the blue star seed. But Twilight and Blue gasped when they saw the orange star seed appearing, followed by the green one and then by the yellow one. But the worst it was when the red star seed also appeared. All six star seeds of all the Generals of Order were there, placed in a circle.

"You're confused, right?" the Lord of Chaos asked. '' I understand. After all, until a few moments ago, you had four of these beauties while I had only two."

"How did you..." Twilight started.

"How did I managed to do this?" the Lord of Chaos, giving a laugh. "Believe me, it was easier than you think."

A few moments before ...

Blue had just come out of the Great Hall, when Heartbeat stopped with its magic and said:

"It's no use. The Jewel of Life will not appeart unless with the Generals of Order’s combined magic."

"So we just have to put the star seeds we have in their respective General" Rainbow Dash suggested. "With their help, I'm sure we can recover the other two and still kick Fire Punch’s ass."

"First, I doubt that Fire Punch have the star seeds" Heartbeat replied. "He must have given them to the Lord of Chaos and I doubt that we can get them from him. And second, the star seeds can only go back to the other generals when they are all together."

"But you're here" Rainbow Dash protested.

"Yes, because I was released by the original star seed’s light to help to recover the other star seeds" Heartbeat replied. "I just could get mine because I wasn't petrified."

"So this is a dead end?" Rainbow asked.

"Not exactly, Rainbow" Applejack said. "We know where it is tha Jewel of Life and we can protect it."

"Yes, not to mention that, without the star seeds that we have, the Lord of Chaos cannot locate the original star seed" Rarity added.

"And the chest where our star seeds are is also protected with the greatest protection spell of Order" Fluttershy said.

"Plus we have the Elements of Harmony to protect us from Fire Punch and his dark ponies" Spike said.

"And also..." Pinkie Pie started, which then said. "Wait, it's all been said."

"Yes, I know all this, but we are stagnant here" Rainbow Dash said. "We should act more, rather than sit here and do nothing."

"I agree with the little flying" a voice said.

They turned and saw, with great shock, the Lord of Chaos, accompanied by Fire Punch.

"Oh, boy…" Heartbeat said, retreating to stay ahead of the others. "The Evil in the flesh."

"Heartbeat" the Lord of Chaos said. "Always with the best compliments. I've never met Princess Aurora personally, but I'm sure you were her favorite. "

"The second most preferred” Heartbeat corrected.

"Well, at least I was on the side" the Lord of Chaos replied.

"It's good you get out of here, or I…" Rainbow Dash started, lifting flight.

"You what?" the Lord of Chaos asked, making a hand gesture that made Rainbow Dash dropped suddenly on the ground. "You can't do anything against me, your sample of protozoa. None of you can do anything against me. Nothing in this decadent kingdom that is within your grasp can do something against me."

Those words and the tone that the Lord of Chaos used managed to intimidate everypony, especially Spike, who couldn't stop shaking behind Rarity. The Lord of Chaos looked around and then asked:

"Where are the new princess and her husband that thinks he is funny?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Heartbeat asked, cynically.

"Heartbeat, Heartbeat, Heartbeat, don’t exhaust my patience" the Lord of Chaos said. "Just because you have what I want, doesn't mean I won't make you suffer before I get your star seed."

"You can't do that" Heartbeat replied.

"You're right" the Lord of Chaos agreed. "I can't because of that little spell my hateful brother put in his favorite toys to keep me from stealing them. But my minions can do it."

And he made a signal to Fire Punch.

"And if you think of running away, you can take that idea of your little heads hollow, because the place is surrounded by dark ponies" the Lord of Chaos continued. "Even your friend Twilight and that sample of captain will have nowhere to escape. But now, let's move on to more important issues. Hand over the star seeds. All of them."

"You wish!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"You talk too much for a bacteria with wings" the Lord of Chaos replied. "You fell to the ground, don't want to make remove your mouth."

That threat made Rainbow Dash keep quiet.

"Now the conversation is between grown-up" the Lord of Chaos. "And I say grown-up in quotation marks. Heartbeat, I advise you to give me all the star seeds that you have, including yours."

"Or...?" Heartbeat asked.

"Or I will destroy your dear brothers and sisters’ bodies" the Lord of Chaos replied, pointing his hand to the petrified generals.

"You can't do that" Heartbeat said. "The rock is unbreakable."

"If that were the case, that your princess’ figure would be intact" the Lord of Chaos replied. "If Sombra was able to do that, what do you think I can do?"

That left Heartbeat completely serious. The Lord of Chaos had placed her between a rock and a hard place.

"Heartbeat, ya can't accept somethin’ like this!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Yes, if you do that, you will condemn us all!" Rarity added.

"Shut up!" the Lord of Chaos ordered, imposing the silence. "So, what's your decision, my dear?"

All eyes were placed on the young General of Affection. She then said:

"If I give you the star seeds, there is a high probability of giving you this world on a silver platter. But, if you destroy my brothers and sisters’ bodies, the Light Kingdom will never wake up."

She made a silent and then said:

"I'm terribly sorry... Golden Paladin, Mirror Coat, Leaf Mane, Purple Smoke, Melody… And especially you, Princess Aurora, my Lord..."

And then she invoked the chest with the star seeds, breaking its protection and opening it. The three star seeds there appeared, shining.

"No, Heartbeat!" they all said.

The three star seeds in the chest headed to the Lord of Chaos and went to his hands. He gave a chuckle and then said:

"Now, yours, Heartbeat."

Heartbeat so advanced. She then looked at the other, who had an unimpressive look, and then she told them with a smile:

"Don't be like that. As long as there's light, there's hope."

"Beautiful words, but useless" the Lord of Chaos replied.

He then turned to Fire Punch and nodded him. His subordinate waved and then turned to Heartbeat with a wicked smile and then carried his horn with his dark aura and he launched the magic beam against Heartbeat, which began to scream in agony. It was then that she became motionless, with the hind legs fallen on the floor. The closed flower appeared above her head and then it opened up, revealing her red star seed.

"The last star seed I need" the Lord of Chaos said, making a gesture with his hand.

The red star seed left its flower and went to join the other star seeds. The flower disappeared and then Heartbeat began to rise slowly, while beginning to turn into red rock. She then said:

"You may have my star seed and my sibling’s, but that doesn't mean you will get the original star seed."

"That's what we're going to see" the Lord of Chaos replied. "I mean, you're not going to see a lot, because you will be too… trapped."

He then laughed, while Heartbeat became completely in stone. The Lord of Chaos turned to Twilight’s friends, which shrank when the Evil’s red eyes began to observe them.

"Now, what am I going to do with you?" the Lord of Chaos asked. "After all your interference, I just should rip your star seeds and crush them with my bare hands."

That made them very nervous, mainly Fluttershy and Spike, who were who were more impressed with the Lord of Chaos.

"But I won't do that" the Lord of Chaos. "I have other plans for you."

"What have you done to my friends?" Twilight asked.

But the Lord of Chaos didn't answer her, he simply laugh.

"You're going to pay for this!" Twilight exclaimed, with tears coming to her eyes.

"Or what?" the Lord of Chaos asked. "What will you do? Use that magic of friendship of yours? Or maybe use these toys that you and your friends use to defeat villains? Yes, I don't think that's going to help."

He snapped his fingers and then, much to Twilight and Blue’s shock, Twilight’s friends appeared. They had been transformed in their dark versions, including Spike that now was a dark dragon.

"My friends..." Twilight started, not wanting to believe in what her eyes were seeing.

"I must say, between breaking their star seeds or turn them into my minions, I think the second is thousand times better and mean" the Lord of Chaos commented. "Because you won't be able to attack me or to try something else. Unless, of course, you like to see your friends suffering."

Twilight contorted his face. The Lord of Chaos had managed to turn every game in his favor. She wouldn’t ever be able to allow something bad to happen to her friends, even though now they were followers of Chaos.

"Now, let’s go forward to more important things, like find the original star seed" the Lord of Chaos said.

He then made the star seeds rise up in the air, placing them in a circle. Then he said:

"Oh, great and powerful star seeds of the six Generals of Order of the Light Kingdom, you which represent Peace, Knowledge, Nature, Talent, Music and Affection, listen my request. Tell me where the original star seed is."

It was then that the six star seeds began to shine with more intensity, something that Twilight saw when they were expelled from their bearers. Then, a magic chain started linking the star seeds. Seeing that happening, Twilight prepared for what would surely happen. The star seeds then released each a beam of their color and those beams found themselves at the center, gaining then the original star seed’s light’s color. This focus then launched a beam that rose in the air and then undid a curve and drove up to Twilight, reaching her. It didn't hurt, because it was more as an indicator than anything else. All were confused when they saw that the star seeds were indicating Twilight, including Blue.

"Master, I think the star seeds must have some problem" Fire Punch said. "They're pointing to that mini-princess."

It was then that the Lord of Chaos begun to realize.

"No" he said. "The star seeds couldn’t be more correct. The original star seed, after all, is a star seed and, as all star seeds, it must reside in a living being. And there is no better host for such seed than an alicorn princess."

He giggled and then ordered Fire Punch:

"Fire Punch, makes the original star seed manifest itself!"

Fire Punch begun loading his horn. It was then that Blue put himself in front of Twilight and said:

"Just over me."

"A situation easily remedied" the Lord of Chaos answered.

He gestured to the blue unicorn and he was simply launched away from Twilight.

"Blue!" Twilight exclaimed, wanting to go to him.

"Don't even think about it!" the Lord of Chaos exclaimed, making a new gesture, this time to Twilight, causing her to stay where she was. "Stay where you are."

There was a pause and then the Lord of Chaos said:

"Fire Punch, proceed."

"As you wish, my Lord" Fire Punch replied, making a brief bow to his master.

He then turned to Twilight with her naughty smile and began again to charge his horn. When it was fully loaded, Fire Punch shot at Twilight. She closed her eyes, waiting to be hit. But it didn't happen.

She dared to open her eyes and then she saw, much to her shock, that Blue was in front of her, having just been hit.

"Blue!" she called, while Blue fell on his hind legs. "Blue, my love!"

The flower containing Blue’s star seed appeared and opened up, revealing it.

"Why did you do this?" Twilight asked Blue with her eyes soaked in tears.

"To protect you" he replied with a weak smile. "This is what somepony does for the pony he loves."

"You mean a fool" the Lord of Chaos replied, while Blue’s star seed lost its light and was filled with darkness.

Twilight then retreated, while the dark lighting left the star seed and dark roots arose and covered Blue and his star seed. A great pain reached her heart, while she saw the roots disappear and saw her husband, the pony she loved, turned into a dark pony. He roared her with ferocity.

"You stay away from her" the Lord of Order commanded Blue. "The bearer of something as special as the original star seed must be treated in an equally special way."

Blue did so and walked away from Twilight. There was no longer anything or anypony that could protect her from what was going to happen.

"The time has come" the Lord of Chaos said. "And now there won't be any more interruptions. Fire Punch, finish this."

"With pleasure” he answered to his master, carrying his horn a third time.

Then he fired. Twilight saw the magic beam coming towards her and then felt the pain caused by the impact. That pain crossed all his body, causing her a lot of pain. It was then that she felt his flower appearing above her head. It then opened up and a blast of hot and intense light came out. It was so intense that even the Lord of Chaos had to protect himself. The dark ponies and the dark dragon that were there retreated as they could, trying to shelter in the shadows that there was there.

When the light calmed down, they could see Twilight’s star seed. With the shape of a lotus flower and with her magic aura color, the original star seed had just revealed itself.

The balance between good and evil, light and darkness, was about to change, as the Lord of Chaos was about to make the original star seed's light disappear and filling it with darkness.

"Finally, I will achieve what I always wanted: this almost-perfect world of my brother" the Lord of Chaos said, approaching Twilight while looking to the original star seed.

Upon reaching its edge, he stretched out his hand and said:

"Let the fun begin!" the Lord of Chaos exclamed.

And he cast dark electricity from his hand that hit Twilight's star seed. She started screaming for an even more agonizing as when Fire Punch removed her star seed. The Lord of Chaos laughed with pleasure. It was then that the original star seed's light started flashing, appearing to be dying.

The Light Kingdom's Last Stand, Part III - The Two Musical Towers

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The mere fact the original star seed were losing its light began to affect the world. In Canterlot, dark clouds filled the skies, thundering clouds with dark electricity scrolling through them. In the throne room of the castle, Celestia and Luna were watching that dark sky.

"I don't like this, sister" Luna said to Celestia. "Those clouds are full of dark power."

"I know" Celestia said. "I just hope this is not what I'm thinking."

It was then from the clouds came out lightning which managed to enter in the throne room and hit the two princesses who groaned in pain. Then the flowers containing their star seeds appeared and opened. The two sisters’ star seeds appeared, being that Celestia’s was golden and Luna’s was moderate cobalt blue. The two began to blink and lose their respective light in the same way as the original star seed. While this was happening, whether the Sun and the Moon were losing their light as well, due to their connection to the two sisters’ star seeds, wherever they were, starting to plunge the world in a vast darkness.

But that wasn't all. In the Crystal Empire, another lightning hit Cadance, before Shining’s concerned look that tried to help her, but in vain. Her star seed also revealed itself, displaying its pale blue light and, like Celestia’s and Luna’s, it also started losing its light. At the same time, the crystal heart started slowing its rotation and lost its luster that made it unique, making the crystal ponies began to lose their crystalline coat.

The Lord of Chaos seemed immensely amused, while stealing the light from Twilight’s star seed.

"When the last vestige of this damned seed goes out, the same thing will happen with all the good magic of this world" he said. "The darkness will rule. I will rule this world!"

And gave a lot of laughs.

Noting that, Fire Punch also smile. So the Lord of Chaos had conquered the world, he was sure he would be rewarded with everything he dreamed. In addition to that, he felt so good seeing Twilight suffering. After all, besides the fact that she was his worst enemy's sister and his second worst enemy’s wife, she was one of the largest obstacles in their rise to power, because of what had happened at her wedding with Blue.

Twilight, in turn, tried to handle the immense pain she was feeling. She was trying to stay awake as long as possible, however, she didn't know how long she would resist. It seemed that the Lord of Chaos would get what he wanted.

No! her inner voice yelled. You can't give up. Think of all those who depend on you. Think about your friends. Think about your family. Think about Blue ... Your baby.

Those words gave Twilight forces to resist. Thinking about those she loved most, she focused within her all the energies she had. The Element of Magic crusted in her crown began to shine. Seeing that happening, the Lord of Chaos increased the intensity of his power, trying to absorb the light from the original star seed as fast as he could. But then the Element of Magic started carrying the star seed with the energy that it was accumulating, something that seemed to prevent star seed’s light from going out.

"Master, what's wrong?" Fire Punch asked, seeing the difficulty that his superior was having.

"I don't know" the Lord of Chaos said, continuing to try to increase his attack’s power. "She is offering resistance. It's impossible!"

It was then that the original star seed, thanks to the Element of Magic’s power, has increased the intensity of its light in such a way that it freed itself from the Lord of Chaos’ magic and struck him strongly.

"No, that's impossible!" he shouted. "Nobody can beat my power! No! No! Noooo!!"

And then the Lord of Chaos disappeared into the light. It happened an explosion of light that has spread everywhere. It hit Fire Punch and the dark beings that were there, which screamed with pain. The same happened with the dark ponies who were on guard duty in the Light Kingdom. The light released spread through the rest of the world, moving away the dark clouds. Celestia, Luna and Cadance’s star seeds recovered their lights and got back into their respective ponies, making the Sun and the Moon regain their light and the crystal heart started rotate at the same speed and the crystal pony recovered their crystalline coat. Everything was backing to normal.

The Generals of Order’s star seeds, once freed from the Lord of Chaos domain and driven by the light explosion, went to the Great Hall, where were their hosts. Each one went to their respective General and placed themselves on top of their heads and unleashed their light. That made the stone begin to crack and then it simply disappeared, being then replaced by coat. Their flower appeared, opening up, and the star seeds placed themselves there, disappearing then. The six Generals then regained consciousness and then looked around, then for themselves and only then to each other, showing an immense happiness.

In the throne room of the castle of the Light Kingdom, Twilight’s star seed came back to her and she let herself fall to the ground, sitting, rebounding breathtaking. She had succeeded. She had defeated the Lord of Chaos. She looked at her friends and saw the dark roots appear and involve them, disappearing shortly. The ponies and the dragon had returned to normal. Their star seeds turned from black to their normal light, returning then to the inside of the flower which closed and disappeared. They started waking up and then Blue noticed in Twilight.

"Twilight!" he called, advancing to her, followed by the other. "Honey, are you okay?"

"Yes" Twilight said. "I just need to rest."

"And the baby?" Blue asked. "Is he okay?"

"He's okay, Blue" Twilight reassured. "You don't have to worry about him."

"Wait a minute" Applejack said. "But did we hear well? Blue jest said baby?"

The others were equally curious. Before those glares, Blue and Twilight exchanged a smile and the alicorn replied:

"The truth is we didn’t tell you anything before because of everything that was going on. Only me, Blue, Cadance, Shining and Heartbeat knew about this, but... I'm pregnant."

Her pony friends were immensely enthusiastic when they heard the news, beginning to congratulate Twilight. Spike went to Twilight and embraced her, saying:

"I am very happy for you."

"Thank you, Spike" Twilight thanked, returning his hug.

"No…" Fire Punch’s said, coming from across the room. "No! It can't be!"

They turned all to him and saw him pass the hooves through his head. They could see that his horn had disappeared.

"My horn!" he exclaimed. "Without it and my wings sacrificed, I'm just... a simple earth pony."

But, when he saw the other's stares on him, he hastened to get up and escape from there. It was then that he bumped with something solid and fell to the ground. When he looked at where he bumped with, he was immensely scared. Golden Paladin got in imposing in the throne room, looking coldly to Fire Punch.

"Oh crap..." he said.

"Going somewhere?" Golden Paladin asked.

"I…" Fire Punch stammered. "I was going to..."

And then Golden Paladin carried his horn with magic, sending a huge yellow light that blinded everypony. When the light was gone, Fire Punch had disappeared.

"Where did you send him?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Golden Paladin looked at her and replied:

"To a place where he can't do any more harm."

He then turned to Twilight and approached to get close to her, made a bow and said:

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"You know who I am?" Twilight asked.

"Now I know" he replied. "Heartbeat explained everything. You are the bearer of the original star seed, the star seed that once belonged to you… when you were Princess Aurora."

"What?!" Twilight’s friends asked.

"Yes, well..." Twilight said to her friends. "Apparently, I'm Princess Aurora’s reincarnation and that's why I have the original star seed. I’m sorry if I didn’t say anything."

"You didn't have to say anything if you don't want, my love" Blue said. "I know this should have been hard for you when you found out."

"Thank you, Blue" Twilight replied, nuzzling him.

Golden Paladin then gave some cough to get attention by making all turn to him, and said:

"I apologize for interrupting, but I think we have more important issues to attend to."

"Of course, the Light Kingdom" Twilight said. "We have to wake it up, now that the Lord of Chaos is now no longer a threat and the Generals of Order were brought back."

They followed then Golden Paladin to the Great Hall. When they entered, they found Heartbeat there with the other Generals of Order. When they saw Twilight, they were pretty flabbergasted.

"Amazing" Leaf Mane said. "She is really just like..."

"It’s clear that they have some differences, but..." Melody said.

"But the similarities are striking" Purple Smoke completed.

"I have to agree" Mirror Coat said.

"You see?" Heartbeat asked. "I told you. I think you owe me some sweets."

"But I think it's better to leave it for later" Golden Paladin said. "We have more important issues. Now that we're all released, it's time to release the Jewel of Life."

The others waved and then the Generals took their respective place in the circle. They then concentrated the magic in their horns which began to shine. Then, one after another, casted a beam to the center and, at the point where the beam culminate, a circular hole appeared and a pillar appeared with the Jewel of Life. Golden Paladin took the jewel with his magic and then approached Twilight, extending it to her. She picked the Jewel with her magic and then the General of Peace told her:

"Follow me, Princess."

And he then left the Great Hall. Twilight followed him and Blue went after her. Twilight’s friend wished to follow them, but then Heartbeat asked:

"Didn’t you want to come with us? We'll send the ponies transformed by Fire Punch back home and thus you will be able to see the show."

"The show?" Rainbow Dash repeated.

"Oh, I love shows!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"I'm glad of hearing that" Melody said, approaching. “Because this is one of the best you will ever see."

"Yes, and have my personal touch" Purple Smoke said in a somewhat proud tone.

"Don't forget that we all collaborate" Melody fixed. "I've done the music."

"Yes, but I made the architecture" Purple Smoke replied. "Something that is much more important than those little songs of yours."

"Your..." Melody started.

"And if we were going" Leaf Mane suggested. "Come on."

She then made Melody and Purple Smoke coming out with her of the Great Hall, both avoiding the gaze of each other. Twilight’s friends went behind them, curious about the show that the Generals were talking about.

"When will those two get along well?" Mirror Coat asked. "Seriously, even after a thousand years of sleeping they don't stop fighting."

"Do you know when they going to start getting along well?" Heartbeat asked to Mirror Coat. "When they respect each other's work, which will be... Let me think... Never."

And then she headed to the exit and Mirror Coat followed her.

Twilight and Blue followed Golden Paladin to the foyer, where Gold Paladin there began to climb the stairs that led to one of the great towers. They climbed the spiral stairs, with the Jewel of Life accompanying them in the air involved by Twilight’s magic. While they climbed, Twilight and Blue noticed that there was a huge cylinder in the middle of spiral staircases, at the top of the tower they were climbing, containing aligned strings of various sizes, each one containing a hammer in position, like a piano.

When they were near the top, they entered in the bridge that linked the two towers. Through the windows, Twilight could see the Generals of Order, accompanied by her friends, teleporting the ponies corrupted by Fire Punch back to their homes. It was then that Twilight, Blue and Golden Paladin arrived to the spherical division in the middle of the bridge.

It was a division mainly occupied by a large round platform with stairs where there was a machine with sprockets on the edge with a spherical base in the vertical, where there was a round groove in the center and four around it. The grooves that were around had spheres, as petrified as rest. Besides that, the machine had a large lever.

"The great towers of the castle of the Light Kingdom are perhaps the most important things" Golden Paladin exclaimed. "All the Generals of Order contributed to their construction. Purple Smoke was the architect and Melody has made them in a musical instrument, by placing striking strings at the top of each tower, so they could produce songs according to the sphere that was placed into the groove in the center. Heartbeat conceived energy, while I, Mirror Coat and Leaf Mane gave our touch the the ultimate defense of our kingdom."

Hearing him telling that, Twilight then realized the true purpose of the Jewel of Life.

"So, the Jewel of Life..." Twilight started.

"It's a music sphere" Golden Paladin concluded. "A very special one. It was the first one to be played by the great towers of the castle. Being the bearer of the original star seed, it's up to you, Princess Twilight, insert the Jewel of Life and make it play."

Twilight looked at the Jewel of Life and then to the machine. Then, she felt a hoof touch on her shoulder and saw that it was Blue, which was smiling affectively. She returned the smile and then advanced. Using the magic, she put the Jewel of Life in the central groove. As soon as she did this, the Jewel of Life began to shine and the same happened with the whole division and then with the whole castle. Those who were downstairs noticed that and then saw the stone involving the castle to crack and then disappear, becoming so in very beautiful golden polished stone. All were impressed with it.

"The show is about to begin" Mirror Coat said.

In the circular room, Golden Paladin made a nod to Twilight. She then addressed the lever and pulled it. But it didn't happen.

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked. "It's not working."

"It’s missing the energy" Golden Paladin said. "We've got to load the machine."

"How do we do that?" Blue asked.

"Taking into account that it was Heartbeat who took care of it, I think the answer is obvious" Golden Paladin replied.

Twilight thought. Heartbeat was the General of Affection, so the power should have to do with it. Then, she realized. The energy should come from their emotions and feelings, more precisely love, her stronger feeling. Twilight looked Blue and then she grabbed his hoof. Feeling the great love of her life, the young alicorn began to concentrate. Her star seed’s flower appeared and opened, revealing the original star seed. She then launched a beam to the Jewel of Life which began to shine with more intensity. The star seed came back into their flower and disappeared.

It was then that the sprockets began to rotate, progressively increasing their speed. The hammers began to play the strings and a song began to soar. It was immensely beautiful and harmonious and could be heard throughout the kingdom. All turned to the castle and saw it beginning to radiate a golden light, giving it a much more stunning aspect.

"What's happening?" Applejack asked.

"The show began" Heartbeat replied.

The music continued.

"This music is very beautiful" Fluttershy said.

"Thank you" Melody said. "I'm the one who created it."

Inside the division, Twilight, Blue and Golden Paladin saw the division becoming illuminated. It was then that Golden Paladin regained his luminous coat and Twilight also began to radiate light, the same light as Princess Aurora’s. The other Generals of Order also began to radiate their respective light.

Then, on each side of the four smaller towers and on the outside of each of the great towers, came from their insides structures, which gave the impression the towers have wings, and on the outside of the top of each of the great towers appeared three big pointers. On each tips of the structures appeared branches that stretched and made appear flowers that opened and released lights that began to accumulate in the structures of the great towers until they take the form of two huge wings made of light that opened, spreading the light, something that made a lot of sighs.

Those wings made of light began to leave a lot of white star seeds that began to insert themselves in the streets, buildings and plants, making the rock covering them to crack and disappear. Other star seeds went to the animals and to the light ponies, getting back into their flowers and disappearing, freeing them from their stone prison. After regaining consciousness, their attention turned to the castle and, seeing the wings of light of the castle with the music created by the strings and their hammers playing, they made a bow. The five Generals of Order that were there also made a bow and their lights intensified, as well as in whole kingdom. It was then that the wings of light disbanded and the music began to stop.

As it stopped, the flowers closed and disappeared, while the branches collected themselves, followed by the structures. When they were gone, the music was playing their last notes. The music then stopped. Once that happened, Golden Paladin turned to Twilight and told her, making her a bow:

"Thank you, Princess Twilight. Thanks to you, our kingdom came out with all their light."

"Well, it could not have been otherwise" Twilight replied. "But I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends... and Blue."

She and Blue nuzzled each other.

"Princess, I have to tell you something" Golden Paladin said. "Now that the Light Kingdom woke up, it will need the original star seed... and the pony that has it. We need a leader and neither I nor my brothers and sisters can occupy that place. We wouldn’t dare. What I mean is, we need you, Princess Twilight. Please, accept being our princess as Princess Aurora was. I'm sure that you will do a job as good as hers."

Twilight had been caught unawares with that request.

"I… I don't know what to say."

She didn't know if she wouldn’t accept. It was her duty as princess and the bearer of the original star seed, but she thought maybe she wouldn’t be able to do it. It was then that she looked at Blue, whose eyes and smile conveyed her security. She then turned to Golden Paladin and answered him:

"Golden Paladin, I accept with pleasure."

"And I will be here by your side to help you, my love" Blue said to his wife.

"I know that" Twilight replied, hugging Blue.

"Perfect" Golden Paladin said.

He then progressed to the existing balcony in the division and then spoke to all the ponies, which were raised:

"Dear light ponies, today is a glorious day to the Light Kingdom. Finally, after a thousand of years, we wake up from our stone sleep. A lot has changed during those thousand years, including the loss of our dear and beloved… Princess Aurora."

That made all the light ponies remain silent and, for a few seconds, no sound was heard. Golden Paladin continued:

"But, despite Princess Aurora's great sacrifice, her star seed, the great original star seed, chose a new regent to the Light Kingdom, a pony who is her reincarnation. Fillies and gentlecolts, allow me to introduce the new leaders of the Light Kingdom, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her husband, Prince Blue Sword!"

Golden Paladin pulled away, leaving Twilight and Blue to appear. The light ponies hailed their new regents with a lot of enthusiasm. Twilight’s friends and the Generals of Order joined them, wooing more enthusiastically. Twilight and Blue waved them, returning their worship.

From that moment on, the Light Kingdom came back to share its light with the rest of the world.

--------------------------------------

In the throne room of the Lord of Chaos, he left one of the mirrors, looking completely weakened. He was leaning on his spear and gasping. The Lord of Chaos advanced to his throne, walking up the stairs one at a time. When he reached the top, he sat on the throne, relieving his tiredness.

"They'll pay for this" he said. "No one hurts me this way. Nobody!"

And, full of anger, he released a black lightning from his spear, hitting on one of the walls, causing some damage that was repaired.

"They will feel my revenge and I'll cause them so much suffering that will last for all eternity."

Epilogue - The Birth of a New Seed

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Months have passed since Twilight had defeated the Lord of Chaos and Fire Punch and had awakened the Light Kingdom and had become its princess. It didn’t take long until the Light Kingdom be, just like the Crystal Empire, a tourist spot for the other ponies that now could marvel at its beauty. A way had been opened in the dense forest to the Light Kingdom that was now connected to Equestria.

Twilight moved to the Light Kingdom and thus rules it. She was still a little nervous before her new role as a princess and she still wasn’t used completely to her new bright coat. But, luckily for her, Blue was by her side, as well as her number one assistant, Spike. The two had moved to the Light Kingdom and began to help her with the affairs of the kingdom. However, after months inhabiting the Light Kingdom, they began to feel as if they were at home and this made them also won a luminous body.

The Generals of Order helped Twilight whenever they could. Twilight also managed to get used to the different personalities that each had: Golden Paladin was the calmest and the most reasonable and was the only one who could control the problems that arose with his siblings; Mirror Coat was the most intelligent due to his rank as General of Knowledge and the Mirrored Library librarian, but was quite serious and somewhat arrogant, although he show a lot of respect to his superiors; Leaf Mane was very kind and sympathetic, just like Fluttershy, except the General wasn’t as shy as the little pegasus was; Purple Smoke was very self-confident, due to his ability to copy every talent, and he really liked to praise himself, besides being pretty sloppy, something that irritated Melody, which was his opposite, because, although quite zealous with her appearance, she was quite humble and sincere. Twilight had already been advised by the other Generals to never come between the General of Talent and the General of Music, because no one had been able to cease this conflict between them. Heartbeat, that was the General Twilight knew better, traded her most serious and cynical facet she had shown during the search for her brothers and sisters’ star seeds for a most joyous and cheerful one.

Twilight's friends came to visit as much as they could and the young princess tried to get always time for them, something that almost always could do. The six joined and talked about what was going on in Ponyville or about other things.

Twilight's pregnancy also progressed. Her belly was getting bigger and the excitement of the arrival of a new foal was evident. The entire kingdom was waiting with great enthusiasm the birth of its Princess’ foal. Of all the ponies, Blue was the one who was more excited.

Then, when they arrived in the middle of the tenth month, the Twilight’s water broke, which meant the baby would come out. She was now in the hospital of the Light Kingdom, ready to give birth. She was trying to deal with the pain, although it was very difficult. The contractions were now constant. The only thing that gave her comfort was Blue who was at her side holding her hoof.

"Take it easy, Twily" he said. "Everything will be fine."

"I don't want… everything will be fine!" Twilight exclaimed between moans. "I just want it to end quickly."

"Calm down, Princess, we are almost there" Leaf Mane said, who was the midwife. "Come on, three, two, one... push!"

Twilight did so while screaming.

"I see the head already" Leaf Mane said. "Come on, Princess, the baby is almost out."

"Come on, Twily, you can do it" Blue encouraged.

"One last time" Leaf Mane said. "Three, two, one... push!"

Twilight made a last ditch effort and then she heard the sound of a cry. The baby was born.

Sometime after birth of the foal, Twilight was in her room with Blue beside her. The two were looking to the baby that was in Twilight’s forelegs, wrapped in a blue blanket. It was a very cute alicorn colt. He had a golden coat with coatless hooves in a lighter tone and the mane seemed to be a mixture of his parents’. He also emitted a soft pale yellow light. The baby looked to his parents with eyes that were an exact replica of Blue’s. Twilight and Blue had decided to call him Star Knight.

"Our baby is really beautiful" Twilight said.

"But of course" Blue agreed, proudly. "He is my son, after all."

Twilight giggled and then said:

"It's hard to believe that now we're parents. I never thought this would happen. I still can't believe that we're together."

"What can I say?" Blue replied. "It was our destiny. It joined us and made sure we had Star Knight. Now, we can be a complete and happy family."

"Yes, you're absolutely right" Twilight agreed, smiling.

The two exchanged a kiss and then began to contemplate their son, the fruit of all their love.

The End