Where There's Light, There's Darkness

CHAPTER 1

WHERE THERE'S LIGHT, THERE'S DARKNESS

=Equestria Prime=

3 AM in Canterlot was always quiet. In all the streets, the only ponies to be seen were the watch and the occasional street sweeper. Even in Canterlot Castle, home to the Royal Pony Sisters and the very heart of Equestria, only guards and the nocturnal denizens of the royal gardens were out and about at this hour. That was why he chose this particular time to make his move.

Moving from one shadow to the other, never venturing into the open for more than a moment at a time, a dark form made its way across the Castle's outer grounds towards the main gate. He moved without sound or presence, simply bending his form around any obstacles in his way be it a rock, bush, or even a tuft of grass. Upon reaching the moat, he slipped under the drawbridge, clinging to its underside as he slunk his way across and into the shadows of the courtyard. While his diminished form was greatly lacking in the magnificent power he once wielded, it was most useful in situations where stealth was required. And with his strength greatly reduced, it would enable him to do something even Celestia herself was unable to do.

It had been six weeks since the disturbance. Six long weeks since the shattering of the sky had called to him from his exile in the Frozen North. What had caused such a thing? And why had he sensed a power not to dissimilar from his own within it? He left in search of answers and while no physical clue remained after the rift had healed; Celestia's little apprentice and her five friends had been most generous with their information. In the first few weeks it was all they could talk about with each other. Spying on them however was not without its risks. He had almost been discovered twice. First by that runt of a dragon. Then again by those three brats while stalking the farmmare. Luckily his biggest concern, Celestia's apprentice, remained oblivious to his presence; completely overwhelmed by what had occurred and her upcoming role in Equestria's much vaulted Summer Sun Celebration. Thanks to their gossiping with each other, he now had everything he needed to obtain his goal.

And he had to do so tonight. In the midst of preparing for the festival, the castle was in a state of complete disarray. He would never get another opportunity like this again and he had to move fast. Though the castle grounds were brightly lit, making covert movement difficult, there were still shadows to provide him with enough hiding places to avoid the guards. Wherever there was light, darkness of some form was inevitable. It was the great truth of the universe which Celestia, in her arrogance, had either forgotten or ignored. But she would learn soon enough. Oh yes, she most definitely would.

At last, after what seemed like an eternity of moving at a pace that tried even his patience, he arrived at the castle keep. But before he could climb it there was one last obstacle to be cleared. Peering around the keep's edge, he focussed on a tower at the far edge of the castle. At that tower's top was a balcony upon which stood Luna, Princess of the Night and younger sister of Celestia. As he had hoped, Luna was monitoring the edges of Equestria through a telescope, so intent on watching for oncoming threats in the distance that she failed to notice the real danger moving right under her snout. Nor would she until it was too late.

Now that he knew the way was clear, he retreated to the dark side of the keep and began to ascend its wall until he finally reached the top. Peering in through a window; he saw a sumptuous bedroom with lush purple carpets, silken tapestries adorning the walls, mahogany furniture, and a porcelain pond in the floor's center. And on the pond's far side was a great rounded bed upon which lay Celestia, Princess of the Sun and sovereign of Equestria, who seemed to be having anything but pleasant dreams at the moment. She shifted and whimpered on the mattress, occasionally letting a whispered sob break free of her lips. Beside her bed was placed a bird stand upon which perched a sleeping phoenix and the shadow cursed to himself. He hadn't anticipated this. He'd have to find someway to lure it away before he could make his move. He considered his options and decided that a glamor was the only choice. It was a dangerous risk for sure. He knew that if Celestia sensed his magic and awakened that he would be no match for her in his current state. But the prize he sought was more than worth it. With a hissing breath, a purple trail of smoke blew out of his mouth and seeped through an opening in the window, gliding across the room to attach itself to the bird's closed eyes, waking it instantly. The enchantment he had placed upon it was one that made its victim see the one thing it desired most in the world. And whatever that was for a phoenix, it quickly spread its wings and flew out the balcony door into the distance, leaving him alone with its master. Flowing like oily water through the same gap in the window that he had sent his spell through, he took a quick look around and finally saw what he had come for. Before that however, there was something about Celestia that had caught his interest and he moved forward for a closer look.

Indeed, few could say that they were able to get this close to Celestia, the beautiful and elegant ruler of Equestria, in such a vulnerable state. But it wasn't her appearance that had drawn him in, but the aura of her magic. No longer was it bright, blazing, and glorious like the sun. Instead it was cracked and dim. No wonder she was unable to sense him even when he was this close. He was impressed that she could even still use her magic in such a state. And lying just beneath the surface, something had begun to take shape. It was small, still developing, but very potent. A mixture of shame, guilt, regret, self-resentment, a small measure of envy, and overwhelming despair. And not just any despair, but that born of losing something infinitely precious. Something that even if she could recover it, she wouldn't dare for the consequences it would bring to so many. Celestia was in pain, and knowing that brought him great joy.

"You think you are suffering now?" he whispered as he lowered his face to within a hairs breadth of hers. "You have no idea." From his lips, another enchantment came forth and was quickly inhaled by the sleeping princess, making her whimper in dismay. "Enjoy your gift," he added as he went for his real target. "I'm sure your subjects will." In a nearby corner stood a small tree from whose branches dangled two objects. The first item, a paper tag with the word "Always" written on it, had little value to him. Just a piece of sentimental rubbish. But the other item, a piece of reflective shattered glass...THAT held great importance. To think that such an item existed. A portal to another world where the power he sought was waiting to be claimed. And one that only he could pass through. Extending a shadowy tendril from his body, he grasped the shard and tilted it to meet his gaze.

"Open," he commanded. Almost instantly, the mirror's surface ignited with an otherworldly light and he plunged laughing through the door into the world on the other side.

"Sombra! Sombra where are you!"

The darkness around Celestia was so thick that she almost choked on it. And no matter how hard or fast she ran, it went on without end. But she shad to keep going. He was here somewhere. She could feel it. She couldn't lose him again.

"Sombra please don't go!" she begged. "It doesn't have to be like this. I can save you. Sombra please answer me!"

Suddenly, there was a light in the darkness. And in that light stood a stallion, tall and grey coated, with rich blue-black hair and a purple cloak draped over his muscular frame.

"Sombra?" she asked. He turned to face her and to her amazement, the corruption was gone. No longer was his handsome face tarnished by the dark magic he had taken onto himself to save her, the foolish princess who had betrayed her closest friend and endangered both their worlds just to be near him. "Sombra...is it really you?"

He opened his eyes and Celestia's breath froze in her throat. Instead of the warm emerald-green she had fallen in love with so long ago they were now a cold crimson that radiated with dark magic. His lips parted, bearing a fanged grin as his horn curved and flattened from a spiral into a crimson blade.

"Sombra! Sombra please no!" But her beloved only laughed as his body exploded into a cloud of shadow that loomed over her before it plunged downward, its gaping mouth closing around her...

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Hurling herself upright, Celestia's breath heaved in terror as her body shook in a cold sweat despite the warmth of Spring's end. A dream, she told herself. That's all it was. But it was more than that. It was a reminder of what she had done, of all she had endangered, and how her selfishness had hurt so many she claimed to care about. Luna, Star Swirl, Twilight, and worst of all him. Sombra why? she asked as the tears once again stung her eyes and threatened to spill over. Why did you do that? I was the one who caused the paradox. Why did you have to be punished for my mistake? Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings alerted her to the approach of Luna landing on the bedroom balcony. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Celestia swallowed the lump in her throat and wiped her eyes with her hoof just before her younger sister rushed into the royal bedchambers.

"Sister!" Luna cried out as she ran to her side. "Sister what's wrong?" On her back rode the possum Luna had recently adopted as a pet which leaped down to the floor so she could sit next to her sister. Behind her, Philomena flew in as well and alighted on the perch next to the bed.

"It's alright Luna," Celestia said. "I just had a bad dream that's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't worry it was most likely something I ate." Meanwhile, Luna's possum began snuffling around the floor. The scent of whatever had caught his attention took him away from the bed and across the room to the tree in the corner where he began to bristle and growl.

"Tiberius stop that!" Luna scolded. "Are you sure that you're alright Sister?" Celestia looked away, knowing that if she looked at Luna in her current state then her resolve would crack and everything would come spilling out.

"I told you it's nothing."

"Celestia..."

"Luna please! I'm tired and I just want to go back to sleep!" The younger Alicorn jolted back in alarm. "I'm sorry Luna. I didn't mean to snap. It's late and I'm very tired." Luna nodded in acceptance and rose to her hooves.

"It's alright. I'll let you get back to bed." Levitating her possum off the floor, Luna returned to balcony so she could resume her observation duties. "Tibbles, don't be naughty!" As Luna flew off the balcony and vanished off into the night, Celestia lowered herself back onto her bed but already knew that sleep wouldn't bring any real rest for her.

I have to be strong, she told herself. My subjects need me to be strong. I have to accept there's nothing I can do. The doorway is gone and so is the Sombra I knew. I don't even deserve to grieve after all I caused to happen. But none of that changed how she felt as though one single misplaced step or word would cause everything to come crashing down around her.

As Celestia closed her eyes, the final vision of her lost love continued to haunt her, a noble king turned into a being of darkness, and a single tear slipped past her control. Sombra. I didn't even get a chance to tell you goodbye.

Far from the light and warmth of Canterlot, in the Crystal Mountains to the North that divided Equestria Proper from the Frozen North, snow and ice dominated all but one valley. Here, seasons changed on the minute rather than the time of year; randomly shifting from one to the other, sometimes coexisting all at once, or mixing together to create snow in searing summer heat. And in the center of this valley stood a house that had no shape, or at least not one anypony could agree upon. Seen from one side it looked like a cube, from another side a sphere, and if viewed from above it resembled a pyramid. If that wasn't strange enough; the front door was in the back, the back door was on the roof, and the delivery door was on the ground in the yard. But it was the interior that really boggled the visitor's mind, or at least it would if anyone came to visit. For inside this house, the fact that the cellar was on the top floor was the least of the oddities. Twisted hallways, upside down stairs, moving furniture, shifting rooms, and of course indoor weather created a housemare's worst nightmare but to a Draconequuss was home sweet home.

And so it was that Discord lounged about the rolling checkerboard hills that was his living room, reclining on a couch that spun around in midair, sipping a hot cup of tea, and being bored out of his mind. As part of his release from being a lawn ornament, Celestia had granted Discord residence on the very edge of Equestria. Here, in this valley, he was free to make as much chaos as he wanted provided he kept it from spilling out into the rest of the world. Though he begrudgingly accepted her terms, he soon fond that the exact wording of the deal was a lot less confining than it actually appeared. A stretch of the fabric of space here, a pocket dimension there, and the interior of his house was now nearly as large as Ponyville; with all the twists, turns, gravitational fluxes, and pie storms a Draconequus could want. It was a fun distraction at first. But after settling in and getting everything out of its proper place, he soon began to feel that he had simply traded one prison for another. The worst part was that he knew that if really wanted to he could run wild and start spreading glorious chaos once again. But of course that would make Fluttershy miserable and that was one thing he did not want to do. Who could have guessed that the great Discord would be reigned in by one little Pegasus who still slept with a nightlight?

With a dejected sigh, Discord clicked his fingers and the mail materialized into his lion paw. Bill. Bill. Bill. If your name is Discord you may have won a million bits. Bill. Bill. A letter from Fluttershy? Well speak of Grogar, he thought as he opened the envelope.

Dear Discord;

I hope I'm not disturbing you. But the Summer Sun Celebration is coming up soon and I was wondering if it would be all right if I invited you to join me and the others in attending it. Of course if you don't want to that's okay too. I really hope you do though (if you don't mind me saying so).

Your Friend;

Fluttershy

Summer Sun Celebration eh? Well it wasn't something he especially had any interest in. But then how could he turn down an invitation from such an adorable pegasus. Especially since he was bound to get some amusement out of how annoyed her friends would get once he showed up. Still, that was at least a few weeks away. And in the meantime, nothing else fun was going on. No monsters, no disasters, no villains, not even anything like that rift business a while back. Just boring everyday life. Why can't something like that happen more often? he wondered, just before his entire body began to tingle and shake.

"Ooooohoooo! Well, ask and you shall receive." As the spirit of Chaos, Discord had a knack for sensing disruptions in the natural rhythm of Equestria's magic, which he affectionately referred to as his "Something Interesting Is Happening Sense." That in itself was the main reason Celestia had set him free, intending to use him as an early warning detection system. In this case, it almost felt as if the flow of magic had been twisted into a whirlpool, followed by something passing through that vortex and vanishing from the world entirely. He had felt two similar incidents before. The first was when Twilight chased Celestia's old pupil into that other world full of those weird bipeds. The second was that incident a few weeks back involving Celestia's ex-coltfriend and the dimensional rift. But this time was different. Unlike Twilight and her friends, whatever had just passed out of their world felt dark. Not exactly powerful, but very dark and very nasty indeed. Teleporting to his front porch (which was mounted on the chimney) Discord looked to the south and confirmed his suspicion. Just like the last time, the disturbance had come straight from Canterlot.

"You sly old horse," Discord chuckled. "Have you arranged another show for me? I almost feel bad for not getting you anything!" But just who or what was it that his old friend had allowed to pass through? And what exactly was going to happen as a result. Finishing his tea, Discord scrunched up the porcelain cup and tossed it into a nearby recycling bin. "Oh well. Guess there's only one way to find out. And this time, I'm getting a front row seat!"

(The design for Celestia's bedroom was inspired by Nimaru's art piece "Princess's Bedroom" which can be viewed on Deviantart.com)

The Search

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CHAPTER 2

THE SEARCH

=Mirror Equestria=

"Dear! Dear wake up!"

Awakening with a grunt, Farmer Orange winced as he rolled over. With the war over, he and his family had finally been able to return to their orchard in Appleloosa. But even though the land was fertile once again, the property itself was still wrecked. And while Discord had issued a proclomation that he'd get around to fixing everyone's house eventually, Orange was not the kind of Earth Pony to just sit around and wait while there was work to be done. He fully intended to have the homestead up and running before Discord got to Appleoosa, no matter how sore he got in the proce;ss.

"Ungh! What is it?"

"I heard something," his wife whispered. "I think it's down in the fruit cellar!"

"It's just yer imagination," he mumbled. He had almost gotten back to sleep when the sound of breaking glass snapped him back to reality

"What in tarnation?"

"See?"

"Wait 'ere," he told her. Grabbing a lantern in his mouth, Orange crept downstairs and out the door as glass after glass continued to break. From around the shelter of the back porch, he saw the door to the fruit cellar standing wide open while on the ground, the lock the he had used to secure it lay snapped in two. Though he knew the smart thing was to go get help, Orange didn't dare leave his wife and daughter alone with whatever was strong enough to do that. Besides, they had been chased off their homestead once before. He'd start growing apples before that happened again.

Steeling his nerves, Orange crept around the side of the house and down into the cellar. In addition to the breaking glass he could also hear slurping and smacking. Whoever was down there was eating the first batch of orange preserves, the very thing he and his family depended on for their livelihood. As he reached the bottom stair, he saw that the floor was covered in pieces of broken glass and bits of orange preserve. And over by the furnace, a dark figure was busy stuffing its face with another jar.

"Hey!" he yelled. "What do ya think yer doin' down..."but before he could finish, the intruder turned and lunged, knocking Orange back against the spare wood pile and sending the lantern flying from his grasp. Then it was looming over him, its eyes shining red with hate and radiating with a purple light as it opened its mouth to snarl though clenched fangs.

"No please!" he begged. "You can have it all! Just don't hurt me and my family!" The creature stepped into the moonlight and when he saw its face, Orange's eyes widened in shock. "Who...wha?" Now it was just inches from him, it's mouth opening as if threatening to swallow him whole. Orange closed his eyes and helplessly waited for the inevitable when the cellar suddenly went silent. Cautiously, he opened his eyes and saw that he was alone. From upstairs, the sound of galloping hooves alerted him to his wife racing down the stairs toward him.

"Dear!" she yelled as she kneeled beside him. "What happened? What was it?" But Orange was still too shocked to answer.

The creature, whatever it was, had looked just like King Sombra.

In the blue stone halls of Canterlot Castle, the provisional council had gathered in its chamber for their biweekly meeting. Arranged around a horsehoe shaped table, three of Equestria's most powerful guardians, along with what had been two of its greatest enemies, had come together under the pretense of ruling and rebuilding the kingdom until King Sombra fully recovered from the battle that had finally ended the war. At the table's head sat Princess Trixie, former apprentice to King Sombra and acting head of state. To her right sat Discord, defender of the realm and hero of Equestria. On the seat next to him was Chrysalis, the beautiful and gentle queen of the changelings, a race of insectoid creatures whom Sombra had permitted to settle in Equestria. To Trixie's left, along the tables's second wing, sat the reformed Princesses Luna and Celestia. Granting them a seat on the council had not been met with widespread approval among the citizenry, considering all the suffering Celestia had brought upon the kingdom and Luna's betrayal of the king. However, Trixie had argued that in rebuilding, Equestria would need all the help it could get regardless of where it came from and assuaged the public's fears by placing them under house arrest. Last but not least, at a podium placed between the table's two wings, stood Prime Minister Derpy Hooves. As one of King Sombra's closest councilors, Derpy was greatly respected for her wisdom. Though she too had been offered a seat, Derpy had pointed out that having an even number of members created the potential for beauracratic deadlock in the event of a tie vote, accepting an advisory and secretarial position instead. At the moment, Discord was giving his report regarding his work repairing the houses that had been wrecked in the fighting.

"Now that Cleveland Bay is up and running," Discord explained. "I'll be heading down to Brandenburg next and then Appleloosa. From what I've heard though I won't need to do much. The Earth Ponies of Appleloosa have a long standing friendship with the Buffalo Tribes which has helped them both recover quicker than some others."

"Very good Discord," Trixie said. "Celestia, you have an update regarding Equestria's infrastructure?"

"I do," her former enemy admitted. "As I'm sure you're aware, very few train tracks survived the war in working order. The Diamond Dogs have been working nonstop to repair them, and in the meantime have allowed us to use their tunnels to transport food and other supplies to some of the more isolated areas, but they can only spare so many guides to help us through. On a more positive note, the repairs to Manehatten Bridge were completed yesterday so that should take some of the preassure off of the ferry traffic in and out of the city."

"You've done excellent work," Trixie admitted. "And we are appreciative of that."

"I could do more however if my sister and I were permitted to handle our assignments in person," Celestia pointed out. "Or at the very least be allowed to do so without supervision."

"You know we can't do that," Derpy reminded her. "The ponies aren't ready to accept you and your sister after everything that's occurred. I'm afraid for the foreseeable future this is how things will have to be."

"Well not necessarily," Discord commented as he teleported to Celestia's side. "Celestia may not be able to leave the castle, but Mare Do Well can!" As he spoke, a dark purple costume materialized into Discord's lion paw. "Picture it. Mysterious Mare Do Well, loyal sidekick to Captain Goodguy. Together, we shall reign a costumed crusade against all villainy! What do you say?" In response, Celestia fired a ray of light from her horn that reduced the costume to ash.

"I'd rather not." With a sulk, Discord teleported back to his seat.

"You know, a little fun would do wonders for that mood of yours."

"If you two are finished," Trixie interrupted, "we still have the issue regarding the captured fugitives." Adjusting her glasses, Chrysalis read off from her report.

"As of the current date, 18 fomer associates of Celestia and Luna have been tracked down and captured, most recently Clutterstep the Merciless."

"The one Earth Pony with the scar right?" Trixie asked. "I'm sure a lot of ponies will be glad to hear that."

"He wasn't one of my fiercest and most cunning warriors for nothing you know," Celestia reminded them as Chrysalis continued.

"We also have a lead on the whereabouts of the Mane 6-"

"-Seven," Discord corrected.

"-Seven Gang along with their benefactor Mad Granny Smith, head of the Apple Family Mob. Three of the Shadowbolts have also been captured although their most recent member, Flash Sentry, is still unaccounted for. There was also apparently a bit of an incident yesterday in court."

"What kind of incident?" Trixie asked.

"Excuse me," Derpy said, "but I know exactly what went wrong. It was during the trial of Zecora, Celestia's former potion master. She made an obscene rhyme that caused such an uproar that Judges Flim and Flam had no choice but to adjourn for the day. I won't repeat it. Let's just say it involved babies and a stew pot."

"Unggggghhh!" Chrysalis shivered.

"I see," Trixie grimmaced. "Well congratulations on rounding them up. It seems as if we've found almost everyone."

"Not all of them," Luna said. Immediately, a cloud fell over the entire council. It seemed that no matter what the agenda, this one issue dominated every meeting. Though she could already guess the answer, Trixie finally broke the silence.

"Does anyone have any new leads on the whereabouts of King Sombra?"

"I'm sorry but no," Chrysalis admitted. "I've had my changelings searching day and night but all they've been able to find were his cape and armor which he discarded on the edge of the Everfree Forest."

"And until he uses any of the dark magic he absorbed from the princesses," Discord added, "there's no way I can track him either. I thought I felt something in the Castle Gardens late last night, but it was gone by the time I got there."

"Is it possible that he could have fled Equestria?" Trixie asked

"I doubt it. With the kind of power he has, I'd feel him the moment he crossed the border. To be safe though I've taken the liberty of calling in outside help."

"Outside help?" Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Please tell me you aren't talking about...."

"Not to worry," Discord assured her. "I explained the situation to him and he promised to be discreet about it."

"Wonderful," Celestia groaned. "Knowing him that probably means he'll be kicking down every door in the land rather than shouting it from the mountain tops."

"In any case," Discord continued, "he offered to send his Gargoyle Brigade to scout through his land and all the other areas bordering Equestria. If Sombra's out there, they'll pick up his trail sooner or later."

"Princess Trixie," Derpy said, "forgive me for interrupting but I'm afraid we can't keep everyone in the dark for much longer. Rumors are beginning to spread. None of them are close to the truth fortunately, and my agents are doing their best to circumvent them, but if we don't find his majesty soon we may have no choice but to admit the truth." Trixie pursed her lips in thought. It had been her idea to deceive the citizenry about the fate of their missing king, rather than the tragedy of what had really happened.

"We may have to consider the possibility that Sombra doesn't want to be found," Celestia added. "Or even that he's been entirely...

"No!" Luna suddenly shouted. "I refuse to believe that! Even with all the dark magic he absorbed from us, King Sombra's heart is far too pure and noble to let it take him. He wants to be found! He wants us to rescue him! He...." as she realized that all eyes in the room had been locked onto her, Luna hung her shoulders in embarrasment. "Forgive me for my outburst. That was unbecoming of a member of this council."

"It's alright Luna," Trixie assured her. "I think we've covered everything we need to. If no one has any further business then we'll reconvene in three days time. Meeting adjourned." As the council rose and departed en mass, Trixie remained behind in order to gather her thoughts.

"Is everything alright Trixie," Derpy asked. Like herself, Derpy had also been born a commoner. But through dedication and hardwork, along with a little support from King Sombra, they had both risen to two of the highest posts in the land. That was why she and Trixie had become fast friends, remaining so even after Trixie became a princess.

"Not really," she admitted. "Derpy am I doing the right thing?"

"I realize lying to your subjects is far from ideal. But we all agreed that it was better than risking a possible panic."

"I mean everything. When you all came to me and asked me to serve as council head, I agreed because I thought as King Sombra's apprentice that it was my duty to do so. Ever since he took me under his wing, I've always struggled to live up to his example. Even now, every choice I make is based on me asking myself 'What would he do?'. And I've been able to carry things on so far but I don't know if I can do so for much longer." Removing her glasses, Derpy walked up to her friend and laid a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

"Well then," she told her, "maybe you should stop relying on what Sombra would do and think more about what you would do." Trixie looked up at the wise pegasus and smiled as she felt her doubts disappear.

"You're right Derpy. Thank you." Derpy nodded and departed as Trixie leaned back in her seat. It was the same advice Sombra had given her as a filly...

...With water dripping off of her, Trixie hung her head in shame. The dancing water spell was supposed to create living puppets from the pond in front of her, but all she had managed to accomplish was getting her and her teacher completely soaked.

"Well," King Sombra laughed as he wrung out his cape, "I guess I've had my bath for the day. Why don't we dry off and break for a snack."

"Okay," she sighed. "King Sombra? Am I bad student?"

"Whatever are you talking about? Of course you're not."

"But the only spells I get right are simple sideshow tricks. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a great wizard."

"Don't say that," he assured her. "You have immense talent in you. Much more than I have."

"But you're the king!" she cried. "You've contained a raging dragon, fought the goblins, and even repelled Celestia. There's no way I could do anything like that." Laying a hoof on her shoulder, King Sombra smiled warmly at her.

"My magic may be strong," he told her. "But my overall skills are poor. Aside from basic spells, the only real power I have are my barriers." Alighting his horn with a golden light, Sombra created multiple energy spheres around them which he sent floating into a nearby fountain. "Take your fireworks trick for example. It may seem like a mere party spell but it's something I'll never be able to do. But maybe I don't have to." As Trixie watched, the tiny force bubbles rose dripping out of the fountain and burst overhead, scattering the water coating their surface into a vapor that broke the daylight into a rainbow. "You see it's not about being unable to do what others can. It's about doing the things that only you can. All it takes is an open mind and a little imagination." Eyes wide with wonder, Trixie looked up at her mentor as the rainbow seemed to bend around him like a halo.

King Sombra, she thought, you're so cool...

..."You never gave up on me," she said aloud. "And I won't give up on you either."

Now that the meeting was over, Discord teleported himself to the royal gardens. Though he had gone over the area with a fine toothed comb, he couldn't find any real evidence that King Sombra had been there. But if he hadn't then what had triggered Discord's senses last night? Just forget it, he told himself. If that really was Sombra then all that dark power would have left a residual imprint still lying around.

Leaning back to lie down on the air, Discord looked up at the statue of him in his Captain Goodguy costume. It had started as a joke. Just a little something to get a rise out of Celestia during their battles. In time however, it had become a symbol among the Equestrians for defiance against fear and tyranny. Back then I never thought I'd amount to something like that, he thought. We've come a long way haven't we Sombra?...

...Floating about the grotto, Discord clicked his fingers and the trees around him began to dance like ballerinas. He clicked a second time and fish began to swim through the air. He clicked a third time, and a living pie materialized into existence that promptly began to eat itself. Discord sighed as he clicked his fingers a fourth time and everything was back to how it was. What was the point? It didn't even amuse him anymore. And the fact that he now had to deal with uninvited company didn't improve his mood much.

"I know you're there," he called. "What do you want?" From behind a tree, a tall grey unicorn wearing a purple cloak accompanied by two guard ponies in slate armor stepped into view.

"So you're the one called Discord?" the leader asked. "To be honest the tales I've heard of you were so incredible that I considered you a myth."

"Well as you can see, I'm not. Now who are you anyway?"

"Ah yes. Forgive my rudeness. I am Sombra, King of Equestria."

"Kings are a dime a dozen in this world," Discord remarked. "You're going to have to do a lot better than that if you want to impress me." Lowering their spears, Sombra's two guards advanced toward him. But Discord snapped his fingers and their spears turned into ropes that came to life and bound them head to hoof . "You really should teach your subordinates better manners. Especially when they're outmatched." And now out would come the righteous indignation common to every royal. But instead, Sombra simply bowed in apology.

"You are right. Please forgive them for their over-zealousness." Unbelieving what he had just seen, Discord snapped his fingers and the guards were released as a tea table appeared in the grotto's center.

"Well, I suppose it would be equally rude to be the ungracious host. Why don't we start over and discuss matters like civilized beings?"

"I would like that very much." As they both took their seats, Discord summoned miniature storm clouds that rained tea into their cups.

"Sugar?"

"Please." In the middle of the table, the sugar bowl sprouted legs and galloped to Sombra's cup where its lid opened and three cubes leaped out into the tea.

"So what does the King of Equestria want with me?"

"To be honest, I came here hoping to obtain your allegiance."

"Ah yes," Discord said. "I do seem to be the popular one these days."

"Then Celestia has already tried to recruit you to her side?"

"Tried and failed. Her attitude left a lot to be desired so I sent her home with a little parting gift."

"What sort of gift?"

"Well you know what they say about visiting the forest in the middle of skunk mating season." And Sombra laughed so hard that he nearly chocked on his tea.

"I wish I could have seen that."

"But I'll tell you the same thing. I have no interest in serving anyone or getting involved in your little squabbles. I only wish to be left alone."

"Is that really want you want though?"

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Sombra raised his hoof.

"I mean no offense. Just hear me out. It seems to me that despite all your power you aren't particularly happy with it."

"Whatever I do with my power is entirely my business!"

"So what exactly is it that you do with it then?" Discord found himself unable to answer. "I thought so. You could do so much with your powers but you're just wasting them if all you use them for is self-gratification. You should find a purpose for them. Something that really makes a difference." Taking his saucer, Discord dipped it in his tea before taking a bite out of it.

"And what purpose for them would you suggest?" he asked through his mouthful.

"Why don't you try being a hero?" Sombra asked.

"A hero?"

"Why not? You've obviously not evil. If you were you would have accepted Celestia's offer. Or at the very least let your power go to your head and run around abusing it and others. But if you were to join me, it would go a long way to ending the threat Celestia and her followers pose to the kingdom. My subjects need your help Discord. I need your help. Not as a servant, but as a comrade and friend. So what do you say?" A hero huh? To be honest the thought had never occurred to him.

"I don't know," Discord said. "Seems like it would be more trouble than it's worth."

"It's true," Sombra admitted. "The journey I'm asking you to accompany me on is not an easy one. But if you have the strength to see it through, I'm sure you'll find the rewards to be well worth it." Discord thought it over and finally shrugged in resignation.

"Oh very well. It's not like I have anything better to do at the moment. But I'm only staying until I get bored. After that, I'm gone"...

...But it didn't get boring. Adventuring with Sombra, fighting evil, being a hero. It was because of Sombra that Discord finally found the missing meaning in his life. I won't let the journey end like this, he vowed. We've still got too many adventures ahead of us.

With all of Equestria spread beneath her, Chrysalis flew towards the changelings' hive in the Foal Mountains. It did her good to see the kingdom restored to its former glory. And with Celestia no longer a threat, the hearts of the kingdom were already starting to swell with the joy and love that had first drawn her kind to this land.

Suddenly she felt a disturbance in the emotional harmony beneath her. Flying low to investigate, Chrysalis saw a little Earth Pony filly wandering the woods.

"Patches," the child called. "Patches where are you? Please come home!" Expanding her senses, Chrysalis searched for any other disturbances and felt one in the near distance. She followed the feeling to its source and came across a hollowed out log where a frightened kitten crouched inside of it.

"Here now," she gently whispered. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." Timidly, the kitten emerged from the log and sniffed at her extended hoof. Once it was certain she wasn't a threat, Chrysalis allowed the kitten to nuzzle against her leg before she picked it up and flew back with it to its owner. "Here you are little one."

"Patches!" the filly cried. "Thank you your highness!"

"You're quite welcome." As she watched the filly head home with her kitten safely mounted on her back, Chrysalis was grateful she and the other changelings had a place where they could live openly with others. She could still remember a time when that was little more than a dream for them...

...With the two ponies following after her, Chrysalis led them down the rocky trail that ran deep within the mountains. Occasionally, she would cast a hesitant glance back at her companions. What she was doing didn't make any sense. As the Queen, the safety of the Changelings rested entirely on her shoulders. But at the same time, nor could she claim that she sensed any malice from them towards her. Even when she had revealed her true form and tried to drive them off, the one called Sombra had merely sealed her in a barrier; releasing her after he explained that he and the mare called Luna were only investigating why the white alicorn they called Celestia had attacked the mountains. Once introductions were completed, Sombra had asked if there were any others and Chrysalis agreed to show them the hive.

"Is it much further?" he asked.

"We're already here actually." Passing through a fissure in the rock, she led them into the cavern where the hive had established it's temporary home. All around them, wingless workers blasted at the rock to carve new abodes which they then lined with silk produced from their own bodies while overhead, winged soldiers clung to the ceiling, ready to take flight if the white alicorn launched another attack.

"Your majesty this is amazing," Luna marveled. "Their culture is similar to that of social insects with clearly designated caste levels. But their physiology suggests none of the reproductive restrictions one usually finds in such creatures." Upon realizing that non-changelings had entered the colony, the workers grabbed the larvae and fled into the safety of their burrows as the soldiers dropped to the ground, their horns glowing and ready to fire.

"It's alright everyone," Chrysalis assured them. "They're not with the one that attacked us. Apparently she's their enemy as well." With their queen's assurance, the soldiers stood down as the other changelings emerged from their silk lined lairs. As they gathered around them, Chrysalis couldn't help but notice how those closest to King Sombra underwent a change as their eyes and carapaces went from dull and listless to bright and shining.

"Why are they reacting like that?" Luna asked.

"My kind draw sustenance from love and other positive emotions," Chrysalis explained. "But because of our appearance, many deem us as monsters and drive us away. That's why we evolved the power to change our form." As she spoke, Chyrsalis' body glowed with a green light and shifted her appearance to match that of Luna. "This way we can gather the energy we need without being detected."

"So you just take the place of whoever you turn into?" Luna asked.

"No of course not!" Chrysalis cried out as she changed back. "We don't mean any harm to anyone. We just use our transformations to blend in and absorb whatever ambient love is around us. Once we have enough, we move on without anyone knowing we were there."

"It must be difficult living a nomadic lifestyle," Sombra said.

"It is," she admitted. "But it's our fate. That's why we came here to Equestria. The ponies here are so happy and loving to each other. And after meeting you, I can see why. Please, we don't mean to cause any trouble. Just let us stay long enough to regain our strength and we'll leave." King Sombra looked at the poor weakened creatures around him and shook his head.

"I'm sorry. But I'm afraid I can't allow that."

"Your majesty!" Luna cried out, but Chrysalis raised a hoof to stop her

"It's alright. As king, he has a responsibility to his subjects first."

"You didn't let me finish," Sombra interrupted. "What I meant was that I can't allow you and your kind to wander anymore without a home."

"Wha...what?" Chrysalis asked

"You said yourself you don't mean any harm. If you need to be surrounded by positive emotions then why not settle here in Equestria and help me protect those feelings. With an enemy like Celestia, I could use as many allies I can get."

"But...what about your subjects?" she reminded him.

"The ponies of Equestria aren't like the beings you've encountered before," he assured her. "Give them a chance. I'll introduce you. I promise no harm will come to you or your subjects." And so the next day, escorted by King Sombra and Princess Luna and accompanied by a handful of her soldiers, Chrysalis stood in the town square of Canterlot where a mob of curious onlookers quickly gathered around them.

"Ponies of Equestria," Sombra's voice called over the crowd. "These are the changelings. Like us, they are enemies of Princess Celestia. As such, I have invited them to dwell in our kingdom so that they might join the fight against our shared enemy." Hiding her face behind a lock of her hair, Chrysalis fidgeted under the stares of Canterlot's citizenry. Never before had so many looked upon her true form at once. Her escort took position around her to allow her room to flee if the ponies attacked when a little Pegasus filly suddenly came up to her.

"Oh...hello little one," Chrysalis nervously said. Though she loved children, they did not seem to share the same affection for her. She waited for the inevitable scream or frightened tears, but instead the filly just smiled up at her.

"I wish my wings were as pretty as yours," she said. No sooner had she done so, the ponies of Equestria came forward en mass to greet them...

...You were the first to not treat us as monsters, Chrysalis thought. No matter what's happened, I know you're not a monster either Sombra. And when we find you, I'll do everything I can to help you realize that as well.

From the veranda of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia lowered the sun to bring the day to an end. Although it had been over a month since Sombra had drained the darkness in her heart, it still felt strange for her to use the sun to bring harmony and peace instead of suffering and terror. I suppose Derpy is right, she thought. The creatures of Equestria really don't have any reason to trust me and my sister. It would take a long time, but Celestia was ready to accept responsibility for her actions whatever it took. Short of being Discord's sidekick of course. The amount of time she already spent with him was irritating enough.

As the sun began to vanish beneath the horizon, Celestia looked around but saw no sign of her sister coming to raise the moon. That had to mean she was back there again. Spreading her wings, Celestia took to the sky as two nearby guards on patrol lowered their spears. Really, she thought. Even if I wasn't trapped in this castle it's not like you could do anything to stop me. As part of the condition for keeping her and Luna under the council's control, Discord had fastened a new pair of collars for both of them which only he could take off. With his magic infused into them, Luna and Celestia were unable to go any further than the castle grounds unless in his company, regardless of whatever means they used.

Over the castle she flew to the main keep where she entered into what had once been Sombra's throne room. As she expected, Luna was there, staring up at the now vacant seat of power.

"Luna," Celestia called out. With a start, Luna turned around and Celestia saw streams of tears falling down her younger sister's cheeks.

"Oh, Celestia! I'm sorry. I was just thinking and I lost track of time."

"Luna you can't keep doing this to yourself." Turning back to the throne, Luna hung her head as her voice broke with barely contained sobs.

"What else am I supposed to do?" she asked. "Everything was my fault. If I hadn't given in to my jealousy none of this would have happened. The balance of our world wouldn't have been thrown into disarray, the rift wouldn't have become aggravated, and Sombra wouldn't have sacrificed himself like that." You're wrong Luna, Celestia thought as she approached her. Regardless of your own actions, I was the one who set everything in motion. Just as it was my betrayal of you that caused the barrier to come crashing down in order to force the other Celestia to our world. And while Luna had not born any resentment towards her, as long as she lived she could never forgive herself for hurting her. Laying her wing across her sister's back, Celestia pulled her into an embrace. Caring about others and their welfare was another aspect of her new existence that she had yet to adjust to....

...Flying above Canterlot Castle, Celestia watched and waited. Normally, she wouldn't be able to get this close to the Castle without being detected by that fool Discord. But with the Draconequus investigating that disturbance her Shadowbolts had caused in Vanhoover, she could finally put her plan into fruition. Long had she been watching the denizens of Canterlot and one in particular had caught her attention. If Celestia could turn her to her side then the balance of power between her and Sombra would shift greatly in her favor.

Finally, she saw the one she ws looking for. From out of the castle, her younger sister ran out onto the verandah, her face was flushed with anger and trembling with barely contained frustration, exactly as she had hoped.

"Hello dear sister." Luna whirled around as the Evil Princess of the Sun dropped to the ground behind her.

"Celestia," Luna bristled. "You've got some nerve coming here!"

"No need to be so hostile Luna," she laughed. "I just came to talk."

"You really expect me to believe that?"

"My poor Luna," Celestia replied "Has Sombra's betrayal of you really hardened your heart to the point that you would reject your own sister when she's trying to help?"

"What are you talking about? His Majesty would never betray anyone close to him."

"Are you sure about that?" Igniting her horn, Celestia conjured a glowing sphere that shifted into a scene from the previous year's Grand Galloping Gala. In the image, King Sombra was dancing with a white alicorn wearing a golden dress who was nearly a perfect copy of herself, the Celestia from the other world.

"I fail to see what your intention is," Luna said as she looked away.

"They make such a beautiful couple don't they," Celestia remarked. "A heroic king and his beautiful princess. I even understand that he changed the Gala's date so she could attend without being absent from the one in her world." Luna didn't answer. "But I wonder. Is it right for them to go on this way? After all, she isn't even from this world. Neither of them can surrender their thrones to be with the other. And there are so many deserving mares in our world that would be much more suitable for him." Luna looked up at her sister and glared in defiance.

"I know what you're trying to do," she said. "And it won't work Celestia."

"Oh but I'm not trying to do anything," Celestia grinned. "I'm merely stating the truth. It just doesn't seem fair to me. You've served King Sombra loyally for so long. Done whatever he's asked of you. And how does he repay you? By ignoring your feelings and treating you as just another servant."

"You...you're wrong. The king isn't like that."

"Oh?" Celestia asked. "If not then why do you seem so upset?" Luna lowered her gaze in shame.

"He wanted me to try deciphering the notes we recovered from Star Swirl's hidden lab again. He's convinced that he had been conducting the same research as the one from the other world into transdimensional travel." Celestia smirked at that. Star Swirl the Goateed had been a brilliant sorceror, but had overstepped his bounds when he attempted to usurp Celestia's throne for himself. As for his notes, trying to garner anything from them was a fool's errand. Even she could not decipher the code he had written them in. Luckily, an alternative plan had already been formed and would begin with Luna's defection. Taking her sister's chin in her hoof, Celestia lifted the younger alicorn's gaze back to her own.

"He's so captivated by something he can't have that he can't even see the precious jewel standing right before him. And she's just as much at fault as he is. I can see that you consider her a friend; that she's exactly the kind of elder sister you've always wanted. But a true friend would see that she was hurting you. She would see the feelings you carry and work to alleviate them instead of ignoring them for her own benefit. But I would never do that to you Luna. I may not be the sister you want but unlike them I am here for you. It's time for you to stop wishing for what you can't have and be satisfied with what you can."

"Celestia...I..." but before Luna could finish, a golden beam flew past her head and blasted her sister back.

"Celestia!" King Sombra yelled. "What are you doing here! Luna are you alright! Did she hurt you?"

"Your majesty," Luna gasped. From down on the ground, Celestia moaned in pain. Sombra may have lacked talent but his strength was every bit a match for hers. That blast would have broken a normal pony.

"Luna, go get the guards! I'll hold her down. If we can keep her restrained until Discord gets back, he can seal her magic and then it'll finally be over."

"And then what?" Celestia asked. "What need will he have for you without me?"

"Luna what are you waiting for?" he ordered. "Go now!"

"Decision time Luna," Celestia stated. "Will you continue to suffer and yearn for what you can never have? Or will you accept and take what you can?" For what seemed like an eternity, Luna stood still as a statue before she finally stepped forward to place herself between her sister and her king.

"Luna what are you doing?" Sombra asked. But Luna didn't answer. Instead, she turned her back to the king she had served for so long and helped her sister to her feet.

"Let's go!" she said. Celestia smiled as she spread her wings and with her younger sister by her side, flew off into the night. With their combined power, all of Equestria would soon be theirs. And quite possibly the other as well.

"Luna!" Sombra yelled. "Luna don't do this! Come back!" As Canterlot Castle faded into the distance, Celestia looked at her newest ally and smiled.

"Don't worry dear little sister," Celestia laughed. "Those tears will dry very shortly..."

...."We both share the blame for what happened," she told her. "Now we have to make amends for it. Sombra's alive Luna. He's out there. And when we find him he's going to need all the help you can give him so you need to be strong." Luna buried her face in her sister's neck as Celestia cast the spell that raised the moon on Luna's behalf. It was ironic. Celestia had spent centuries battling Sombra, dreaming of the day when she would finally cast him down and reign over all of Equestria. Now she was, albeit in a limited fashion, and she would give it all up just to have him back. Sombra, she wondered. Where are you?

In the Macintosh Hills that separated southern Equestria from the Badlands, a complex series of cave systems and abandoned mines crisscrossed the entire region, creating a maze that a pony could get lost in if they weren't careful. Or a hiding place for somepony who didn't want to be found.

Stumbling as he walked, his hooves chipped and cracked, Sombra, exiled King of Equestria, wandered deep into the mine tunnel. Once he felt certain that he was hidden from sight, he sank to the ground to rest where he pulled a golden crown from within his ratted cloak.

"Celestia," he whispered as he cradled the headpiece. When he had taken the dark power of the Evil Pony Sisters into himself, his mind had been clouded by rage and a burning hunger to destroy everything, until the sight of her face pulled him back from the abyss. Her expression at what he had become, so full of horror and grief, was so great that he couldn't bear to have her look at him. So he had fled like a coward. And now that the mirror linking their worlds was shattered, the crown was the only remnant of the Alicorn whom he had loved so deeply. So deeply that he was willing to become a monster to keep her from sacrificing herself to heal the rift that had threatened both their worlds. The crown and the memories attached to it was the only thing that keep the darkness from taking him over completely.

Ever since he had continued to flee, discarding his armor and cape for a beggar's cloak, resisting any urge to use his magic to avoid being detected by Discord. He knew that Discord, that all of them, would be looking for him. But he couldn't go back. He was no longer their king. It took all of his will just to maintain control over the darkness that constantly threatened to overtake him. Even now he could hear it calling to him, demanding that it be set free. He had almost done so when he had broken into that farmer's fruit cellar outside of Appleloosa. He hadn't eaten for three days and the smell of the preserves was too much to resist. And when the farmer discovered him, the desire to unleash his fury was overwhelming. He could practically smell the farmer's fear for himself and his family. It was such an wonderful scent that Sombra almost felt as if he could devour it whole. But at the last second, he had regained control and forced himself to flee into the night.

And once he crossed into the lawless Badlands, far from civilization, he could finally rest. There, he could keep the darkness contained where it would never threaten his kingdom again. He would never see Canterlot or the comrades he had shared so much with. Just as he would never see his beloved Celestia again.

"It's cold," he murmured. His eyes heavy with exhaustion, Sombra slumped against the hard stone floor. But even in sleep peace didn't find him. The darkness continued to gnaw and claw at him, attempting to drag him into a void from which he would never return.

But then it all stopped. Adrift in silence, Sombra felt something caress and tickle his face as a warm sensation suddenly spread through him. Who's there? he wondered. This feeling, why is it so familiar? He opened his eyes and instead of the mine he found himsef in a sunlit spring field. And above him, a pair of warm magenta eyes gazed down at him as their owner cradled his head in the lap of her forelegs, her shimmering mane cascading over them both.

"Celestia," Sombra whispered. "How are you here?" But his love didn't answer. She simply lowered her face and gently nuzzled it against his. "It was all a dream," he sighed in relief. "Just a dream." A feeling of peace he had feared he would never feel again began to overtake him as all the rage and fear he had taken onto himself faded into memory.

"Sombra," Celestia softly cooed into his ear. "Tell me about your world."

Floating above Sombra's sleeping form, the shadow looked upon the former king with overwhelming disgust. It hadn't been hard to track him down. The scent of dark magic was well known to him but he hadn't expected to find this. Was this broken wretch truly this world's version of...the shadow couldn't even stomach the thought. Such a waste that this marvelous power should find itself in the hands of a coward that skulked and hid like a rat in a hay loft when he could be enslaving the entire world. But at least his struggle against its influence had weakened his will enough to be ensorcelled. The dream glamour placed upon him would keep his spirit calm and placid so the shadow could obtain what he sought.

"Sombra," he whispered as he laid a shadowy limb on the sleeping king's forehead. "Tell me about your world." Their minds connected and the information flowed from the other Sombra into him. Sorting through his puppet's memories, he harvested any information that could be useful such as all potential enemies and the history of the war with this world's Celestia. One item of particular interest regarded how long ago, she had employed a sorceror by the name of Star Swirl whom she had banished following a failed coup. If these two worlds are true mirror reflections of each other, he mused, then the Star Swirl of this world must have been performing the same research as the one from mine. So why had the Celestia of this world lured the other one here in order to take that secret from her? He delved deeper and saw that the notes Sombra and his allies had recovered were written in a code that not even Discord's magic could decipher. And if that was the case then that could only mean one thing.

And then, he uncovered what he sought above all others. Incredible, he realized. This exceeds all of my expectations. Even if the secrets of this world's Star Swirl were unobtainable, he had still gained enough to take at least this world for himself.

Satisfied that he had everything he needed, he broke the connection and flew off into the night. He would wait a few days before taking any further steps. The curse he had placed on his world's Celestia would take at least that long to fully take hold. He just wished he could be there to see it for himself. In the meantime however, he had to make sure his pawn didn't perish.

(Special thanks to MLP-Silver-Quill for allowing me to make a reference to his OC Clutterstep, comics of which can be viewed on DeviantArt)

Cold

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CHAPTER 3

COLD

=Equestria Prime (4 days later)=

"Was it really necessary to make them bump us up to first class?" Twilight asked. "I mean, they didn't even charge us extra."

"Now Twilight dear," Rarity lectured. "You're a princess now. And with that title comes certain responsibilities. Among those is meeting your subject's expectations for how you travel."

"Just let it go Twilight," Applejack said from under her hat. "Ya know how Rarity gets once she gets an idea in 'er head." Twilight nodded and gazed out the window as the scenery continued to race by. She, Spike, and all her friends had left Ponyville early that morning on the train to Canterlot. Spring was coming to an end and the Summer Sun Celebration was less than a month away. Unlike the previous years, Princess Celestia had issued a proclamation that from now on, the festival would no longer celebrate her victory over Nightmare Moon but instead the return of Princess Luna. And according to her latest correspondance with the Princess, she was to aid Celestia and Luna during the opening ceremony for the Canterlot festivities. If somepony had told me a year ago that I'd be a princess, she thought, I'd have called them crazy. Never mind all the stuff that led up to it.

"You okay Twilight?" Spike asked.

"Yeah I'm just thinking. I can't believe that an entire year has already gone by. So much has happened."

"I know," Spike agreed. "I don't think I can even remember it all."

"Oooh I can," Pinkie Pie said as she bounced up in her seat. "Let's see there was Nightmare Moon, meeting Zecora, the parasprite swam, the Grand Galloping Gala, Discord, the Smarty Pants Incident..."

"I was hoping you'd forget that one," Twilight sheepishly mumbled.

"...Nightmare Night with Princess Luna, The Big Wedding in Canterlot, my clones, Rarity turning into Nightmare Rarity, the Crystal Empire, Trixie becoming a great big mean grumpy dictator-pants, reforming Discord, and...," reaching behind her, Pinkie Pie pulled out a crystal flugelhorn and unleashed a trumpeting blast that echoed around the entire car "...Twilight becoming a PRINCESS!"

"I thought we took that thing away from her," Rarity grimaced.

"We did," Applejack replied.

"And the six other ones she had as well," Rainbow added.

"Well in any case," Twilight said as the ringing in her ears quieted. "I wouldn't have been able to accomplish any of it without all of you. I really don't say it enough but I'm glad that you all became my friends."

"Aw heck sugarcube," Applejack said as she put her hoof around Twilight's shoulder. "We know that 'n we feel the same way. Without you, our lives'd be a lot less interestin'."

"Hey barkeep," Rainbow called out. "Seven colas stat!"

"Sparkling water for me please," Rarity added.

"Coming right up," the unicorn behind the bar said. From out of the cabinets, seven glasses floated onto a tray which were then filled with ice cubes and drinks before the entire tray was levitated to the table where they sat.

"Here's to another year of friendship and crazy adventures," Pinkie said as she raised her glass. "I can't wait to reminisce about all the ones we're about to have at next year's Summer Sun Celebration!"

"Cheers!" they all said as they clinked their glasses. As she drank, Twilight looked down and noticed that Spike was staring into his glass.

"What's wrong Spike?"

"Is it really such a good idea for Princess Celestia to go through with the Summer Sun Celebration?" he asked. "Especially after everything that happened." Immediately, the jubilant mood of the six ponies faded. Their adventure in that alternate Equestria was still fresh in their memory, as was their concern for Princess Celestia's well being.

"I can't imagine what that must be like," Fluttershy said. "Being in love with somepony for so long but not being able to be with him except for a few moments at a time. And then watching him get turned into something evil just to save you before being separated forever."

"So much for love conquering all," Twilight said. For a while, the only sound in the car was the clackety-clack of the train tracks before Rainbow finally spoke up.

"Hey don't worry about the Princess. She's tough. Almost as tough as me. She's faced Nightmare Moon, Discord, and more bad guys than we can count. She's not gonna let something like this get her down. You'll see. When we get to Canterlot she's gonna be back to her old self."

"I hope you're right Rainbow," Twilight sighed. Of course I know that the Princess is strong, she thought. But that whole incident in the other world made me realize that underneath it all she's a pony like everyone else. That was the real reason they had all decided to go to Canterlot together. Twilight was planning to collect some more books from Star Swirl's library, Rarity was going to pick up materials for her new dress line, Applejack was going to negotiate a business deal between Sweet Apple Acres and the Fruit Vendor's guild at the Town Bazaar, and Rainbow was eager to catch the Wonderbolts train at the new stadium. But first thing in all their minds was to check on Princess Celestia and see if she was okay.

Upon arriving at Canterlot Station, the six ponies and dragon assistant went straight to the castle where they were greeted with a flurry of activity. All around them, groundskeepers rushed to scrub the walkways of any dirt and trim any stray branches from the hedges while mason ponies on hoof cranked platforms worked to repair any cracks in the castle walls.

"Oh my," Fluttershy observed as they walked through the courtyard. "They're certainly busy today aren't they?"

"They certainly are," Rarity agreed. "I hear that this year's main event for the festivities in Canterlot is a masquerade ball here at the castle. Royalty as far away as Saddle Arabia, Vanneighheim, and even Nipony are going to be attending. Oh! If the princess invites us maybe I'll finally get to meet my prince!"

"But didn't you already meet Prince Blueblood already?" Pinkie asked.

"We do not speak his name," Rarity grumbled.

"Hey Twilight doesn't this seem strange?" Applejack suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked back. "Everything looks in perfect order to me. There's not a single pony slacking at their work."

"But that's what what Ah'm talkin' about," Applejack explained. "Look at everypony. They're actin' jumpier than a rabbit durin' Timber Wolf seaon. They're tense, they're always lookin' over their shoulder. It doesn't seem like they're enjoyin' their work much."

"Hmm," Rarity said. "Now that you mention it things do seem a bit high-strung around here."

"Twilight?" a voice suddenly called out. From the behind a bush, a pink alicorn with a striped mane stepped into view.

"Cadance!" Twilight cried as she ran to meet her sister in law. Meeting each other halfway, the two princesses broke out into the pattyhoof bit Cadance had taught her when she had been Twilight's foalsiter.

"Sunshine, Sunshine
Ladybugs Awake!
Clap your hooves and
Do a little shake!"

With their customary greeting finished, the two princesses broke into a fit of giggling and embraced each other, oblivious to the perplexed stares of the castle gardeners.

"Cadance what are you doing here?" Twilight asked. "Are you going to partake in the celebration as well?" No sooner had she asked did Twilight notice the grim expression on Cadance's face. "Cadance what's wrong?"

"Actually Twilight I came for another reason. Would you all come with me? And whatever you do be quiet." In an instant, all eyes fell on Pinkie.

"What?" Pinkie asked. "I can be very quiet when I need to be. Rarity, remember that time when we were at the spa, and I kept myself from laughing when..."

"Okay!" Rarity nervously laughed. "Nobody wants to hear such a trivial story Pinkie. Cadance, lead the way." Looking around as if expecting trouble, Cadance gestured them to follow once she seemed confident it was safe to do so.

"Twilight?" Spike whispered. "What do you think's going on?"

"I don't know. Let's just go along with it for now and hopefully we'll get an answer." Around the Castle they went, through the royal gardens and into the hedge maze. Once they had reached the center, Twilight and her friends found themselves greeted by another alicorn whose dark blue coat and starlight mane made her instantly recognizable to all who saw her. "Princess Luna?" Twilight asked as the Princess of the Night came toward them

"Twilight I am glad to see you. And your brought all of your friends as well? Excellent! Cadance, did she see you?"

"Don't worry," Cadance answered. "She was still inside so we were able to move without getting noticed."

"Ooh!" Pinkie interruted. "Are we throwing someone a surprise party? We'll need streamers, balloons, ice cream, a DJ. Oh can we get Vinyl Scratch to..." but Pinkie was cut off as Applejack placed her hoof over her mouth.

"Thank you," Luna said. "Everyone, I am most hesitant to involve you in my personal matters, but I do not know what other action to take."

"Princess what's going on?" Twilight asked. Luna sighed and looked to the castle.

"It's Celestia," she answered. "Something is wrong and I think it has something to do with the incident."

"Incident?" Fluttershy asked. "Um, excuse me Princess, but are you sure we should be discussing this in front of..."

"It's alright Fluttershy," Cadance interrupted. "When Luna learned you all were coming she called for me as well. She told me all about what had happened when I arrived."

"I know that Celestia had us promise not to reveal to anyone the truth of what happened," Luna said. "But Cadance is much more versed in these matters than I am and I felt she could provide an invaluable council."

"Well actually," Pinkie remarked as she hoofed through a rule book, "she only asked us not to tell her subjects. According to this since Cadance is also a princess she's technically not one of those so you're in the clear."

"Wherever did she get..."Luna started to ask before Rainbow cut her off.

"Just let it go and save yourself the headache."

"So what exactly is wrong with the princess?" Spike asked.

"I'll start at the beginning," Luna explained. "For the first few weeks after the incident in the other world, Celestia went about affairs as if nothing had happened. She threw herself into her duties, putting on a cheerful exterior in the presence of the public and castle servants. But in private her demeanor changed completely. She would rarely eat more than a few bites unless I pressured her. And when not occupied, she would sit in her chambers and stare at that shard she kept from the original mirror. What's more, I don't think she's had a truly restful night's sleep since. Many times I would look in on her and she'd be either tossing about her bed or silently weeping. And it's only gotten worse with her preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration. "

"You can't really blame her," Rarity said. "Especially after losing a stallion like that other Sombra. She may be the princess but she's still a lady. And a lady's heart is like fine crystal."

"Love is a powerful and complex force," Cadance added. "When it's lost it can feel as though the entire world has ended. I know that's how I felt when Chrysalis took my place before my wedding. It sounds to me like Celestia's suffering from a broken heart. I'm sorry Luna, but there is no quick fix for that. I'm afraid all we can do is let it run its course and let Celestia know that we're there for her."

"I can kinda relate," Applejack added. "When my ma and pa died back when I was a little filly, I cried myself to sleep every night for almost a month. I don't know what I would 'a done if I didn't have Granny and Big Mac to help me through. Plus, with Apple Bloom still in diapers, someone had to step up to help Granny take care of 'er."

"Have you talked to her about any of this?" Fluttershy asked. Instead of answering, Luna hung her head in shame.

"Excuse me Princess," Rarity asked. "But you're not still mad at her for her relationship with the Luna from the other world are you?"

"No...yes...I mean...yes at first I did avoid talking over the subject. I just wanted to forget it ever happened and move on. But now...the truth is I'm frightened."

"Frightened?" Twilight asked. "Of Princess Celestia?"

"The night before you sent notice that you were coming, she woke screaming from a nightmare that awakened half the castle. And that's when things changed."

"Changed as in how?" Spike asked.

"It was gradual at first," Luna explained. "She would randomly become short with the castle servants. Nothing serious, and she always apologized afterwards. But as they became more frequent she stopped making amends. She's cold to everyone and the entire castle is on edge. It's gotten to the point that preparations for the Celebration here in Canterlot have begun to be negatively affected. It's almost as if..."

"As if what?" Twilight asked. Luna looked to each of them, lingering especially on Rarity, before she answered.

"The way Celestia has been acting is exactly the way I did before I was corrupted by Nightmare Moon."

"N-N-N-N-Nightmare Moon!" Fluttershy gasped.

"Oh no!" Rarity whimpered. "Not again!"

"Having a nightmare, changes in personality," Spike gulped. "Yeah, that sounds like Nightmare Moon's M.O. alright!"

"This is a disaster!" Pinkie yelled. "Princess Celestia's going to turn into Nightmare Sun! The sunshine...will last...FOREVER! Hey that actually sounds like it might be pretty fun."

"Everyone calm down!" Twilight ordered. "It's not Nightmare Moon. And even if it was, do you really think that the Princess would be weak enough to let herself be taken over?" Realizing too late what she had said, Twilight turned nervously to Rarity and Luna. "No offense."

"None taken," they sighed.

"Don't worry Rarity," Spike said. "If Nightmare Moon comes anywhere near you again she's going to have to go through me first!" Rarity looked down at the little dragon and smiled as she cupped her his chin in her hoof.

"Oh Spikey-wikey," Rarity purred. "How can I be scared when I have big strong dragon like you to protect me?"

"Ehba, heba, numa, guma," Spike slured as he began to levitate into the air.

"Alrighty then!" Pinkie announced. "Desperate times call for desperate measures! Operation Sunny Side up will now commence!"

"Operation what?" Rainbow asked.

"Mr. Cake told me that he has a cousin who also owns a special gourmet bakery here in Canterlot. If there's one thing I know, it's that there's no grumpiness a box of super fancy cupcakes won't cure."

"Pinkie I really don't think that cupcakes are the answer," Twilight commented.

"Oh Twilight Twilight Twilight," Pinkie said as she patted her friend's head. "Never underestimate the power of cake! Keep it a secret 'till I get back okay." Before anyone could say anything else, Pinkie had already bounded out of the maze and off into town.

"Twilight," Luna said. "I'm not exactly sure if your pink friend is a genius or a madmare."

"Well that's our Pinkie," Applejack shrugged. "In the meantime, what do we do now?"

"Let's not do anything until after we have all the facts," Twilight decided. "According to the All Pony's Guidebook I read about grief and loss, a pony will go through five distinct stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It sounds like Celestia was in the denial stage and now she's entering anger. I'll go and talk to her and see if I can't get some further insight."

"Thank you Twilight," Luna said. "She should be meeting with the planning committee in the throne room."

"Ungh! Boring!" Rainbow groaned. "You go sit in a meeting if you want. Me? I'm gonna go watch the Wonderbolts train." Before anyone could stop her, Rainbow had already vanished into the sky with nothing but a rainbow jet stream left in her wake.

"Rainbow!" Twilight yelled.

"Don't worry Twilight," Applejack assured her. "You and the others go talk with the Princess and see if you can't get to the bottom of this. Me 'n Rarity will go bring Rainbow 'n Pinkie back after we get all our errands done."

"Good idea Applejack. We'll meet back here in three hours."

"Right," everyone agreed as they all went their separate ways, except for Spike who continued to babble in mid air.

"Ehba, heba, numa, guma!"

"Come on Spike!" Twilight ordered as she grabbed at his tail and tugged him after her.

The throne room was bright. Far too bright. Sunlight flowed through the stained glass windows and created swirling patterns of color on the marble floor that made Celestia's head spin. Between that and the incessant droning of the Celebration's planning committee over matters that nopony with an ounce of sense would care about, it took all of her willpower not to burst out screaming.

"Princess?" one of them asked. The way they looked at her, so full of discomfort. Was it really so disconcerting for them to be around her? Wasn't it enough that she was going through with the Summer Sun Celebration despite the fact that she didn't even want to? But that didn't surprise her. What did they care about what she had lost? What she had been denied? And all for their sake! Stop it, Celestia told herself. Keep it under control. They don't know what happened. And you never should have taken it as far as you did anyway.

"Yes I'm listening."

"Um yes," the committee chairman said. "As I was saying, following the morning events, the afternoon will host a drama performed by students from the Manehatten Institute for Performing Arts concerning Princess Luna's corruption by Nightmare Moon and her redemption. The director sends his assurances that the matter will be treated with utmost respect and that your sister will be depicted as a sympathetic character."

"I see," Celestia said. Luna could easily be forgiven. After all, she wasn't the one who everyone looked up to and depended upon. She didn't have to constantly worry about failing their expectations about being perfect in every word and action.

"Finally," he continued, "we have some permits regarding..."

"Just send them to my chambers at day's end," Celestia interrupted. The meeting had gone on long enough and her patience was running thin. "I'll have them signed by tomorrow."

"Yes of course," the chairman answered with a bow. "Well I think that's everything. If you'll excuse us, we have a meeting with the caterers regarding hors d'oeuvres to be served during the masquerade." As the planning committee turned and half fled from the throne room, Celestia took a deep breath to steady herself but felt only a minor release of tension.

"Kibitz," she called. From off to the side, an elder unicorn with a finely groomed mustache came before the throne.

"I'm here your highness."

"Are we finished yet?"

"Um, no your highness," Kibitz answered as he read off the scheduling scroll. "Next you have a meeting with the parade committee regarding the route and then with the vendor's committee regarding assignment spots for the concession stands." It never ended. They always wanted something from her. They couldn't even give her a moment of peace.

"Very well," she said. "I will be there shortly."

"Of course," Kibitz added, "If you're not feeling well we could always re..." but one glare from Celestia was all it took to convey her thoughts on that idea.

"I'm fine."

"Of course your highness," Kibitz replied as he rushed from the throne room. Now that she was finally alone, Celestia allowed herself to slump in her throne as she rubbed her forehead with her hoof. Her temple and heart were both pounding like a drum. But through the anger and frustration, one thought kept running through her mind.

What is wrong with me? she wondered. Why am I acting like this?

As she watched the whole scene from outside the throne room's door, Twilight could scarcely believe what she had seen. She had anticipated that the Princess would't be her usual self, but what she had just seen was so out of character that she almost seemed a different pony.

"Hey Twilight," Spike suggested. "Maybe we should wait until after Pinkie gets back with those cupcakes before we talk to her."

"I don't think I want to go to the Summer Sun Celebration any more," Fluttershy whimpered as she cowered behind Luna.

"Look," Twilight tried to assure them. "She might be a little tense but that's understandable given the circumstances. Having to deal with preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration after all that's happened has got be a little trying even for her nerves."

"Do you want me to go out with you?" Cadance asked.

"Let's keep it simple for now," Twilight decided. "The last thing we want to do is to make the Princess feel that we're ganging up on her. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea for her to know that you know just yet."

"You're probably right," Cadance agreed. "I'll meet you and the others back in the garden. I hope everything goes well Twilight."

"And while you're tallking with Celestia," Luna said, "Fluttershy would you mind accompanying me to my chambers? I have another problem that I feel you would be most helpful with."

"Oh um okay," Fluttershy answered. "I don't know how much help I can be but I'll do my very best."

"Any chance your problem could use a little extra help?" Spike asked as Twilight's magic tugged at the scruff of his neck.

"Move it Spike. Just pretend you're protecting Rarity from Nightmare Moon." With Spike reluctantly keeping pace alongside her, Twilight straightened herself up and marched into the throne room. "Princess Celestia?"

"Twilight?" the Princess cried out as they approached the throne. "Why are...oh yes. That's right. You wrote that you are and your friends were coming to Canterlot for business of some kind. Where are they by the way?"

"They came along. They're just running errands in town."

"So Pinkie Pie is not here at the moment?" Celestia asked. "Good." Without a word, Twlight and Spike exchanged mutual glances of shock and confusion. Never in all the time either of them had known the Princess had they ever heard her speak that way about anyone. "And why are you not with them?"

"Well, I wanted to pick up some more books from Star Swirl's library for Ponyville. I hope that's alright."

"What you do with them is no concern of mine," Celestia said as she spread her wings and flew down from the throne to the floor. "If you want to remove any books from Star Swirl's libraray then go ahead. However there is considerable work being done in the castle so while you're here be sure not to get in anypony's way."

"Well we also wanted to check on how you were doing. You know, considering all that happened. Are you sure you're okay to perform the Summer Sun Celebration? I could help if you feel overwhelmed or just need a break." No sooner had Twilight asked then the Princess looked at her with the same icy glare that she had given Mr. Kibitz.

"I thought I instructed you that that matter was never to be brought up again."

"I'm not," Twilight stammered. "I'm just worried that..."

"Twilight I am perfectly capable of handling my responsibilities. I did so for 1000 years by myself and I am more than capable of doing so for another millenia if need be. I suggest you remember that and concern yourself more with your own duties." Shocked by the cold anger in her former teacher's eyes, Twilight stepped back, almost tripping over Spike as he hid behind her.

"I didn't mean any disrespect Princess."

"Then next time think before you speak. Now If you'll excuse me." Moving aside, Twilight kept her eye on Celestia as she passed by her. What is going on here? Twilight wondered. This isn't anything at all like the Princess I know. Could losing Sombra really have affected her to such an extreme degree? There was one way Twilight could think of to be certain.

"There is one other thing Princess." Stopping in her tracks, Celestia bristled as if ready to explode.

"Twilight what are you doing?" Spike whispered, but Celestia took another deep breath and calmed herself down.

"What is it?" she finally asked.

"Well, your last letter said that you wanted me to partake in the opening ceremony with you and Luna. I'd be honored but I'm still having a little trouble getting used to flying. Rainbow Dash has been giving me lessons but they all end with me getting a face full of dirt. If you have a free moment while I'm in Canterlot maybe you could give me some pointers. You know for old time's sake?"

"Twilight, I am very busy. And I don't have time to deal with trivial matters. If your friend is already teaching you then that is more than sufficient."

"I understand. Just forget that I asked." That proved it. Back when she was Celestia's apprentice and Twilight needed help with something, the Princess would always find the time to help her no matter how busy she was.

"While we're discussing it," Celestia continued, "if you really are going to Star Swirl's Library there is something I want you to do."

"Of course what is it?"

"If you find any notes or manuscripts related to certain matters, you are to destroy them. I trust you know what I mean."

"Destroy them?" The Princess couldn't be serious. How could she ask her to destroy books of all things?

"I don't want anything like that happening ever again. Star Swirl's research must not be followed by anyone."

"But Princess I can't just..."

"Twilight!" Celestia snapped as she glared over her shoulder. "You will do as you have been instructed. Is that clear?"

"Y...yes princess." Celestia turned away and Twilight could only watch in stunned silence as the wise and gentle alicorn she had idolized since her foalhood walked out of the throne room, the castle servants giving her a wide berth as she passed.

"Next time," Spike asked, "how about we just go with Pinkie Pie to get cupcakes?"

Walking down the hall with Luna, Fluttershy would occasionally cast a nervous glance at her. Though she wasn't scared anymore of the pony who had once been Nightmare Moon, she still felt a little intimidated by being in her presence. Luna always carried herself in a manner that was regal, composed, and confident. But now, with all that was going on and despite her standing as Princess, she looked like any other young mare straining under the weight of her problems.

"Don't worry Princess," Fluttershy told her. "I'm certain that Twilight will be able to figure out whatever's wrong with Celestia." At least I hope she will, she thought as Luna smiled gratefully at her.

"Thank you for your assurance."

"So, if you don't mind my asking, what is this other problem that you have?"

"Well," Luna explained as they finally reached her private chambers, "in addition to Celestia I seem to be having difficulties lately with Tiberius as well."

"Who's Tiberius?"

"My pet."

"Pet?" Fluttershy squeed as she launched herself into the Princess's face. "Pet? You have a pet? Is he a magical creature like Philomena? A cute little kitty? Or is he a nocturnal creature like a bat or a wolf?"

"Well," Luna said," yes actually. He's a possum."

"Oh possums are so adorable," Fluttershy gushed. "A lot of ponies don't like them because they look like rats. Which is just silly because possums aren't even rodents."

"Yes well as I was sayng I've been having difficulties with him as well. It started the same night as Celestia's nightmare. He began acting up and I was forced to scold him rather harshly. Ever since then, we haven't been on speaking terms."

"Oh that's terrible. Not to fear your highness. I haven't met an animal problem yet that I couldn't solve. Just leave everything to me."

"I am most appreciative of that," Luna said she opened the door. Peeking inside, Fluttershy saw a drawing room adorned with white carpets and drapes, dark blue furniture, and whose walls and ceilings had been painted to resemble a starry night sky while overhead, a lamp shaped like the full moon hung from the ceiling that cast everything in a soft glow. Across the room, next to a stairway that spiraled upstairs, a dead hollowed out tree had been mounted into the floor where a possum hung from its tail eating a strawberry. As soon as he saw them enter, the possum scowled and spun around so that its back was turned to them.

"Tiberius that is enough!" Luna scolded. "You are in the presence of company and I want you to stop this behavior this instant!" But Tiberius merely crossed his arms and snorted in indignation. "As you can see I am at my wits end over what to do."

"Let me try," Fluttershy advised as she flew up next to him. "Um excuse me, Mr. Tiberius. I'm Fluttershy. Princess Luna tells me that you and her haven't been getting along lately. If you don't mind me asking, I was wondering if maybe you could tell me why you're mad at her?" Tiberius grumbled over his shoulder.

"What did he say?"

"He says that you didn't want to listen when he first tried to tell you so why should he tell you now?"

"Because I didn't...what?" A look of shame came over Luna's face as she gestured Fluttershy to move aside.

"Tiberius I'm sorry," she said. "I've been so preoccupied with Celestia and preparation for the festival that I neglected my duties as your owner. I promise that from now on I'll listen when you try to tell me something. So will you forgive me? Pwease, ikkle-diddy-widdle-Tibble-kins?" Luna stuck out her bottom lip in a pout as Tiberius looked over his shoulder and sighed before finally twisting around to give her face a hug. "That's a good Tibbles," Luna said as she cuddled him. "Now what is it you wanted to tell me?" Climbing down from the tree, Tiberius lay on his back and began to squirm and thrash about the carpet.

"Um, you had a bad itch?" Fluttershy asked. "Is that it?" Tiberius shook his head no.

"A nightmare?" Luna asked to which Tiberius emphatically nodded. "You had a nightmare." Another no. "Are you talking about Celestia's nightmare? Is that it?" Tiberius nodded again as he got on all fours and began sniffing around the carpet. "You sensed something," Luna guessed as Tiberius ran across the room and pointed up at a mirror that had been hung up on the wall. "Something about a mirror? Wait, are you referring to the piece from the mirror that led to the other world? Quickly Tibbles, tell me what it was." Rising up on his rear legs, Tiberius bared his teeth and raised his front paws in a threatening manner. "You sensed something bad."

"Bad?" Fluttershy started. "As in dangerous?" Rubbing her chin, Luna hummed in thought and levitated Tiberius up onto her back.

"That mirror," she said. "It all started that night. If what Tibbles says is true, then whatever has afflicted Celestia with this ill temperament has some association with that mirror shard. Come Fluttershy! We must gather Twilight and Cadence so that we may investigate at once!"

"Um I'd really rather not if that's okay with you!" But Luna seized her tail with her magic and dragged Fluttershy after her.

"Do not fear Fluttershy. Whatever foul evil has worked its mischief through that shard we shall face it together!"

"That's what I'm afraid of!"

Mr. Dustmop

View Online

CHAPTER 4

MR. DUSTMOP

=Equestria Prime=

As Spike and Twilight made their way through the winding caverns deep inside Canterlot mountain, the little dragon would occasionally glance up at the pony whom he had been the loyal assistant and companion to since she had hatched him from his egg. She had barely spoken since her meeting with Princess Celestia. And between the Princess's less than warm reception and what she had been ordered to do, Spike could only guess how torn up Twilight really was inside.

"Twilight?" Spike asked. "You're not really going to destroy Star Swirl's notes are you?"

"What other choice do I have Spike? I can't ignore a command from the Princess. And she does have a point. Transdimensional travel is dangerous."

"But the Princess isn't thinking straight! Come on Twilight. We both saw how she was acting. She knows how much you love books. You really think that she would ask you to do something like that if she was thinking clearly?" Twilight sighed and stared off into the distance.

"Making decisions you don't want to make is part of being a ruler. That's what Princess Celestia told me when she and the other Celestia were being imprisoned in crystal. If she was prepared to make a sacrifice like that for the good of our world and Sombra's, I can burn a few books to do the same. Especially if it helps alleviate whatever is wrong with her." Passing the skeleton of the giant hydra that once guarded the way, they turned a corner and the hidden library of Star Swirl the Bearded finally came into view.

"You know," Spike suggested, "she only told us to destroy any notes we found about Star Swirl's research about crossing into other dimensions. She never said anything about actually looking for them. Can't really destroy something if we can't find it." Twilight thought about that for a moment before giving him a half smile.

"I guess you're right. Hmm. That's strange."

"What is?"

"These doors look different from before. In fact they almost look brand new." Twilight pushed them open and Spike whistled in amazement as they walked inside. He had been expecting a cramped hole lined with bookshelves. But the caverns he now found himself in was almost big enough to fit half of Canterlot Castle inside of it. Countless bookshelves lay scattered around the main chamber; forming a maze rimmed by numerous smaller chambers that held laboratories, specialized wings, and display areas while at the cave's far end, an underground waterfall from the yearlong snowfall at the mountain's peak drained into a pool where blind cave fish swam about feeding on algea and cave krill.

"Wow. For something that's been down here for so long this place is in pretty good shape."

"But it wasn't," Twight said as they descended the stair to the central depository. "When the girls and I first came down here, this place was a total mess. The dust was an inch thick, the bookshelves were warped and cracked, and cobwebs were everywhere. Look, someone even put in new plants and furniture."

"Maybe the Princess hired workers to come down here and get it cleaned up. "

"I guess that makes sense," Twilight agreed. "Okay Spike. We've still got two hours before we meet back up with the others so lets get as much done as we can. I'm going to see if I can't find any exhibits to take back to Ponyville. And while I do that you..."

"I what?"

"Do you hear something?" Spike cocked his ear and listened.

Swishtch-swishtch-swishtch.

"Yeah I think I do. What is that?"

"Let's go find out." With Twilight leading the way, the two of them crept through the pathways that winded through the bookcases, following the noise until they were right on top of it. From behind the cover of a statue of Princess Platinum, one of the original founders of Equestria, they saw a shadow moving across the floor in front of them.

"Do you think it's a burgler?" Spike whispered.

"If it is they broke into the wrong library!" Lighting up her horn, Twilight tensed her hindquarters before leaping around the corner. "Freeze!" she yelled as she fired a warning shot into the air. From the other side of the statue, Spike heard a yelp and a thud as somepony fell onto their back.

"Did you get him?" he asked as he peered around. "Uh oh! Twilight what did you do?" Lying on the floor beside a broom and dustpan was an old unicorn stallion. Dirt stained his yellow coat and grey coveralls while his head was topped with a shock of white hair. Equally bushy were his mustache and eyebrows. To Spike, it almost looked as if Rarity's cat Opal had climbed on top and shed her entire winter coat onto his head.

"Oh no!" Twilight said as she ran over to help him up. "Sir I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine," he wheezed. "Gave me quite a start there. Hold on. Are you Princess Twilight?" Immediately he dropped into a bow. "'Scuse me for disturbing you your highness. If I had known you were coming I would have finished earlier."

"Um that's okay," Twilight said. "But who are you and what are you doing down here?"

"Oh right," the old stallion answered. "The name's Dustmop. A long time ago I used to work here in the castle. After Star Swirl's Library was uncovered, I was called out of retirement to get this place back into shape for its new owner. I was just doing a little spit shining when you jumped me."

"Yeah sorry again about that," Twilight nervously laughed. "So you're a maintenance pony?"

"Something like that. Actually I used to work directly for the Princess. If something needed fixed or she had a mess that needed cleaning up, I was the one she called on to get it done."

"I've never heard of a unicorn working as a janitor before," Spike said as Twilight shot him a disapproving look. "What?"

"Eh, what can I say?" Dustmop shrugged. "I never really had much talent for magic so that limited my career choices. But that's alright. I take a great deal of pride in what I do. It may not be glamorous but somepony has to do it or nopony else could get their work done."

"And you did all this by yourself?" Twilight asked as she looked around. "I'm impressed."

"I may be old but I'm still spry," he bragged. "Trust me, this is far from the worst mess I've ever had to clean up."

"Well if you worked for the Princess I guess you would have to be the best," Twilight agreed. "Come on Spike, we'll let Mr. Dustmop get back to work. Sorry again about surprising you. Are you sure you don't need help?"

"Yeah I'm fine," Dustmop said as he levitated his cleaning tools and marched off. "You've probably got big important princess matters to attend to so don't worry about me."

"Okay if you insist." Returning to the Library's entrance, Twilight found a storage closet under the main stairs from which she retrieved two push carts and a stepladder. "Alright Spike," she instructed as she pushed the cart with the ladder towards him. "As I was saying, while I look for any exhibits to take back home, you look through the main depository and see if you can find any books for the Library. Look for anything obscure, ancient, or about pre-Celestian Equestria. I'll come get you when it's time to meet the girls."

"Can do," Spike said as Twilight marched off on her own expedition. With his mission clear, Spike set about exploring the countless book shelves. But even after an hour of searching, Spike had found only four books that he was certain met Twilight's criteria. He had just pulled a copy of The History of Royal Unicorn Genealogy when old Mr. Dustmop came by with a serving tray on which three mugs had been placed.

"Say little fella," the old unicorn called out. "Care for something warm. Even in Spring it can get pretty chill in these caves."

"Sure thanks," Spike called out as he climbed down the ladder.

"Where's the Princess?" he asked as he set down a mug of hot cocoa on the cart.

"She's on a treasure hunt. I Think she went down that way"

"Then I'll take her something as well. Mind if I ask what you're looking for?"

"Just some books for the Library back in Ponyville. You'd think that down here there'd at least be some that Twilight hasn't already read."

"Well now that you mention it," Dustmop said. "When I was clearing out the cobwebs, I found a bookcase about rive rows back that had a lot of big thick books that seemed to have been published by this Star Swirl fella himself."

"Yeah that sounds like something Twilight would want. Thanks for the heads up." Dustmop nodded as he left and Spike took a sip from the hot cocoa the old janitor had made him. Wow, Spike thought. This is good. He even mixed in ruby and emerald flakes. I'll have to remember that for later. Mounting the stepladder on the end of the cart and carrying the cocoa in his free hand, Spike followed Dustmop's directions and found himself at a lone bookshelf positioned at at the very back of the depository. Jackpot, he thought as he set up the ladder and climbed up to the top shelf. Let's see. Star Swirl's Complete History of the Evolution of Prehistoric Equestrian Animals. Yeah that sounds like something Twilight would want. Star Swirl's Guide to Caring For Your Magical Pet. Star Swirl's Guide to Cooking with Coffee. Star Swirl's Complete Guide to Dragons and Dragon-Kin? Oh Yeah I'm definitely keeping that one for myself. Hey what's this? Wedged between the Dragon Guide and Star Swirl's Beginner's Guide to Alchemy and Automail was a book that was considerably thinner and shorter than any of the other books on the shelf. His curiosity piqued, Spike pulled it out and when he opened it, saw that it was full of handwritten notes.

Uh oh, he thought. Please don't be something Twilight will have to destroy. To his relief however, the journal didn't seem to have anything about transdimensional travel. It actually didn't seem to have much of anything besides random lists, crude doodles, and various ramblings. Did Pinkie write this? he wondered as he closed it. What is this even doing over here? But nothing could prepare him for what he found when looked at the front cover.

"Oh wow," he shuddered. "Twilight!"

Packing up Star Swirl's robe and hat, Twilight set it on the cart where she had also placed the fragment of the Secretariat Comet and the jade kirin figurine. Though Star Swirl's Library certainly had no shortage of interesting exhibits, her heart just wasn't into it. The only reason she had still decided to come down was because it would be easier than staying in Celestia's presence while waiting for the others. I don't know what to do, she thought. I have no real idea what the Princess is feeling or even how to help her. And after meeing with her, I don't think she even wants my help. Maybe it would be best if we just headed home.

As she walked further down the main depository, Twilight came across a chamber filled with rows of display cases and whose entrance was labelled by a sign that read SOUVENIR ROOM. Were these the things Star Swirl and the Princess collected on their journeys through the mirror? she thought. For a moment Twilight hesitated. If she went in there, she'd be seeing things that Star Swirl and the Princess had taken from other worlds which meant she might have to act on the Princess's orders. But then again the Princess only said to destroy any manuscripts and notes about transdimensional travel. She didn't say anything about items that could have come from some obscure corner of Equestria for all anypony knew. In the end, Twilight's curiosity got the better of her and she went in, losing herself among the wonders from beyond her world's boundaries.

"So many artifacts," she wondered aloud. "Just how many worlds did they visit?" One case held a stone tablet displaying a map with three points of interest marked by a ruby, an emerald, and a piece of amber. Another held a diploma, a clock shaped like a heart, a medal for bravery, and a pair of ruby slippers. Better not let Rarity see those, she thought. Further down was another case that displayed an ivory turtle, a paper boat, a wooden key, a worn down rock hammer, a revolver with a sandalwood grip, and a foal's book about a train named Charlie. Yeah, Twilight thought as she looked at the face of the train on the cover, definitely not letting any foals read that one.

At the chamber's end, Twilight looked up and froze at what she saw next. Mounted on the cavern's wall was a large portrait of the Princess and Star Swirl. She looks so happy, she thought. I wonder if this was made after she met King Sombra. Was she thinking of him when this was done? I wonder if she'd still be smiling if she knew how it would all end? And what about her? Was she any different? After all, there was the one she had met in the world Sunset Shimmer had fled to. And while Twilight couldn't honestly say that she was in love with him, she certainly wouldn't mind seeing him again. But what if she did develop further feelings for him? How could it even work? After all, they were from different worlds. Literally. And what if it caused another paradox or even another tragedy like Sombra? Was she doomed to suffer the same pain as her teacher and turn away from everyone she cared about?

"I wish none of it happened," she said aloud. "I wish that the Princess and Sombra had never met." From behind, the clop of hoofsteps pulled Twilight out of her thoughts and she turned around just as Mr. Dustmop appeared with a serving tray levitated in front of him.

" 'Scuse me your highness," he said as he lowered the tray onto a nearby stand. "But I was making coffee in the kitchenette and thought you might like a cup to help you work."

"Oh, yes thank you." Adding two creams and sugar to one cup, Twilight took a sip and her eyes bulged in surprise "This...this is incredible!"

"Glad you like it," he beamed as he lifted his own mug. "It's my own special blend. I'll give you the recipe if you want."

"That sounds great." So this place has a kitchenette as well? Twilight thought. If it had a pastry shop I bet even Pinkie would come down here on a regular basis.

"Bit for your thoughts?" the old unicorn suddenly asked.

"What?"

"I don't mean to pry but it looks like you've got something on you mind."

"You have no idea," she sighed.

"Well if you don't mind me saying so," Dustmop suggested, "if you need an ear I'm always available. One thing that gets better as you get older is your ability to really listen. Even if the ears don't always work so well." Twilight looked him up and down. At first glance nothing seemed really remarkable about Dustmop. Just another blue-collar working stallion. But there was something about him that made her want to open up to him. It wasn't quite a grandfatherly feeling, but actually reminded her a lot of Princess Celestia. He probably could give some insight but how could she do so without betraying her promise to the Princess?

"I wouldn't even know where to start," she said.

"Which is my cue to say, 'try at the beginning.' " Twilight thought about it for a moment and decided that maybe there was a way to keep her promise after all.

"Well," Twilight said. "You see I just finished reading this very interesting story."

"Oh yeah? What was it about?"

"It was about this mare. She's beautiful, gentle, and wise and she meets a stallion who's handsome, kind, and noble. They end up falling in love with each other."

"Sounds like a wonderful story."

"It starts off that way," Twilight continued. "But then it takes a turn. You see, the two of them are from different paths. And them being together sets off a chain of events that put a lot of ponies in danger. In the end, he sacrifices himself to save her and put everything right."

"I can't imagine she took it well."

"She didn't," Twilight said as she turned away to keep Dustmop from seeing the tears that were already welling up in her eyes. "She changed, becoming cold to everypony. Even the ones that cared about her. It was almost as if what she had gone through had turned her into a different pony." As she stared at her reflection in the coffee, a single tear trickled off Twilight's cheek and splashed into the cup.

"It must have been quite a story to affect you like this. It's almost as though you lived it yourself."

"It was enough to make me wonder if love is really worth it at all," she admitted.

"Don't you think you're a little young to be thinking that?" Dustmop asked. "I mean, just because it didn't work out for the mare in the story doesn't mean you'll wind up the same way."

"But why did it end up like that at all?" Twilight asked. "She and the stallion, they weren't bad ponies. They may have made some mistakes but they didn't deserve to suffer like that. What was the point of it all? Why did they even meet if it was going to end like that? It just doesn't make any sense." Dustmop hummed and took a slurp of his coffee before answering.

"I've been around. And I know that life isn't always easy. Sometimes it can be hard, painful, and sad. And sometimes, things don't always end happily. But even if we don't see the reason for it, we should never wish they had turned out differently."

"I wonder if the mare would agree with you," Twilight mumbled.

"Everypony feels that way in hard times," Dustmop agreed. "I know I've felt that way before. But a very wise pony I once met taught me that our experiences, the good and the bad, are what make us who we are. That's why we should appreciate everything we go through rather than wishing to undo the past."

"Even if it changes us into something we shouldn't be?"

"Well," Dustmop answered, "it's times like that when we need to take a look at what we still have. The mare in your story. You said that she has ponies that care about her right? Would they do so even if she wasn't as remarkable as you've described her?" Twilight took a moment to think. It was true that the Princess was important to everyone. But even if she was just a normal pony, she and the others would still have come to help her. Because she's more than just the Princess to us, she realized. She's our friend as well.

"Yeah," Twilight said with a smile. "She does."

"That's good. She's going to need them if she's going to get through whatever rough patch she's in."

"You're right. Thank you for listening." The old unicorn nodded and turned away.

"Well I guess you're tired of listening to an old pony's rambling. I'll let you get back to your work. But let me know if I can help with anything else your highness."

"Actually, Mr. Dustmop, there is one thing."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"Don't call me your highness anymore."

"Why not?"

"I'm not comfortable with my friends calling me that."

"Friends?" he asked as he blinked in surprise. "Well, I'm honored but that still seems a bit..."

"How about Ms. Twilight then?" she suggested.

"Ms. Twilight," he mused. "I think I can work with that. Oh and Ms. Twilight, one last question."

"What?"

"Did you finish that story?"

"Of course I did." Even if it was a metaphor for what she really meant, who ever heard of someone not finishing a story?

"Are you sure?" he asked

"What are you getting at?"

"It's just something another friend once told me," he explained. "Every end leads to a new beginning. And sometimes, when you think you've finished one story you find that it's actually part of a much larger tale." Twilight stared at him in confusion but Dustmop just smiled as he turned away. "Never mind. Just more rambling." As he walked away, Twilight stared up at the portrait of Celestia. The princess may not think she needs me, she thought. but she does. She needs all of us. And I'm not leaving Canterlot until she can smile like that again. It was then that the pitter patter of feet running towards her caught her attention.

"Twilight!" Spike yelled as he rushed around the corner with a book tucked under his arm.

"I'm right here Spike. What's wrong?"

"Oh man," he gasped as he ran up to her. "This place is huge. I ran all over the place before I finally got the layout. Anyway, you've got to see this." Taking the book he held out to her, Twilight opened it up and flipped through its pages. "I think it's one of Star Swirl's journals. I found it in the middle of a bunch of books that he wrote himself."

"He must have left it there by accident. Wow, Princess Luna was right. He was a lot like Pinkie. But I don't get why this would get you so excited."

"Look at the front." Turning it over, Twilight's eyes widened at what she saw. On the front cover was a symbol of a six-pointed star surrounded by five smaller ones. Exactly the same as her cutie mark.

"Spike," she whispered. "Please tell me this is a prank."

"You think I'd be this freaked out if it was?"

"But this is impossible," Twilight said as she marched back and forth. "Why would Star Swirl have a book that has my cutie mark on it? And why a journal? Unless...Spike, you don't think that maybe he foresaw that Luna would give me the key to his library do you? Did he leave this just for me? And what about everything else? Did he see that too? What kind of spell could enable him to see the future like that?"

"Don't ask me I just..." but before he could finish, Spike's cheeks bulged as he let loose a belch of green fire that materialized into a scroll. "I really hope that's good news for a change," he said as Twilight opened the scroll.

"It's from Princess Luna," Twilight read. "She says she's discovered a vital clue about Princess Celestia and wants us back at the castle immediately."

"What kind of clue?"

"It doesn't say," Twilight said as she carried the journal to a nearby cabinet. "We'll worry about this later." Opening the bottom drawer, Twilight buried the journal beneath a pile of blank scrolls before levitating Spike onto her back. "Come on let's go."

"Can we take the secret passage that you and the others used to get back the last time?"

"Absolutely not," Twilight answered as she galloped towards the exit.

"Aw come on it looked like fun."

"Well if you want to take the chance of plopping on top of Princess Celestia while she's still in a bad mood then go ahead."

"Then again," Spike said, "the long route does have some very nice scenery."

From within the shadows of the cave, the old Unicorn watched as Twilight and her little assistant rushed out of the library and back to the castle. Things had finally come full circle and he had no choice but to leave things in her hooves. But while the future remained uncertain, just being able to see her again strengthened his hope that he wouldn't have to resort to his original plan.

"And so it begins," he sighed. "Good luck young princess. You're going to need it."

In The Grasp of Darkness

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CHAPTER 5

IN THE GRASP OF DARKNESS

(Author's Note: Get ready everyone. Because HERE is where it starts to get dark!)

=Equestria Prime=

In a secluded corner of the castle library, Twilight and Spike listened as Luna explained to them and Cadance what she and Fluttershy had learned from Tiberius.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked.

"Tibbles feels most strongly about what he sensed," Luna insisted as the possum nodded in agreement. "And you can't argue that the timing for it is far from coincidental."

"But I still don't understand," Cadance said. "The mirror was broken so shouldn't the shard be powerless now?"

"Not necessarily," Twilight mused. "According to Star Swirl's Law of Magical Infusion, an enchanted item will remain enchanted unless intentionally disenchanted. So even if the mirror itself was broken, that remaining shard could still retain a portion of the original magic."

"But that still doesn't explain how," Spike pointed out. "The mirror only had the power to open a doorway to other worlds right? So how could somepony use it to cast a spell on the Princess?"

"A better question would be who," Luna said. "In order to do so they'd have to have known everything about what had happened. So who else knew about the mirror besides us?"

"No one," Twilight answered. "Except the ponies in the other world. And if the shard still has some magic then the portal could still be partially open."

"Enough for somepony to cast a spell through it into ours," Cadance realized. "Luna, you told me that the Celestia and Luna of the other world were evil. Could they be behind this?"

"But that's impossible," Fluttershy said. "Remember? King Sombra used the Elements to drain them of their evil."

"Except he drained it all into himself," Spike reminded them. "So what if...you know." The four mares exchanged worried glances; none of them wanting to say what they all were thinking.

"It can't be," Fluttershy finally said. "He loved her."

"But that may not matter anymore," Cadance pointed out. "From what Luna told me, he's become just like the Sombra of our world."

"It's all just theory though," Twilight said. "We can't know for sure unless we examine the shard and see if a link between worlds still exists."

"Then we've no other choice," Luna decided. "The time for subtlety is over. We are going to confront Celestia now."

=Mirror Equestria=

With a cloud of dust trailing behind them, Braeburn and the rest of the Apple Mob's Rustler Gang galloped headlong through the sun baked Badlands. Ahead, the sand suddenly gleamed blue and Braeburn strained his eyes for a better look. Out here, a pony could run himself ragged chasing one mirage after another. But the sight of desert grass growing at the sheen's edge assured him that he was indeed looking at actual water. He steered the others towards its direction and they found themselves at a shallow river flowing up from the south where the Badlands were said to gave way to unsettled woodland.

"We'll make camp here," he announced. "Fill the canteens and get some grub goin'." Saddlebags were dropped and a pile of kindling was set ablaze as a tin of beans was opened and dumped into a beat up kettle that had been set over the fire.

"So what do we do now boss?" Bramley asked. Braeburn glowered as he pulled his hat over his eyes. When word had reached him that Celestia and Luna had turned themselves over to Sombra, he knew that it was only a matter of time before Discord or another of the king's lawmen was bound to come gunning for them. So he and his gang had pulled out of Appleloosa where they had had the run of the entire town and rode south for the Macintosh Hills. By keeping a low profile, he had hoped that they'd eventually join up with other members of Celestia's forces who had escaped capture. Like maybe his Aunt Granny or even one of the bigwigs like Cadance. But during a supply run at a nearby mining camp, one of the boys had heard that Discord would be in Appleloosa the next day so the entire gang had picked up and fled into the Badlands. Here, the sun cooked the land dry and all kinds of dangerous varmints could be found hiding behind every rock and cactus.

"What else? We keep ridin' south and hope nopony bothers to look that far for us. We'll follow the river so at least we won't get dried out."

"Hey Braeburn?" Arkansas Black asked.

"What?"

"Why are we making camp here anyway?" Braeburn opened his mouth but realized that he didn't have an answer. Why DID he decide to make camp here? There was no cover to hide them from sight and no shade to protect them from the sun. And speaking of the sun, it was still mid afternoon and they were losing daylight.

"Grab your gear!" he ordered. Something wasn't right. They had to get out of here now.

"Boss look!" Braeburn looked to where Smokehouse was pointing and saw a figure in a ratted cloak shambling towards them across the desert. "Think it's another one of Celestia's gang?"

"Let's find out! You and Arkansas are with me. The rest of you get ready in case it's a trap." With his two right hand stallions behind him, Braeburn trotted out to meet the stranger. The closer he got the more he realized something was off about this pony. It didn't look as if he had any supplies of his own on him. Not only that, but he was half limping across the sand on hooves that looked as if he had walked all the way from Manehatten.

"Say partner," he finally called out. "You're a long way from respectable places. Care to explain what you're doin' out here?"

"Food," the stranger whispered. "Give...me...food!" So that was it. Just some fool who had wandered into the desert for whatever reason and gotten himself lost. Well, it was a blessing for them. Braeburn nodded to Smokehouse who gestured for the others to come join them. Tensions had been running high among among the rustlers since everything had fallen apart and roughing somepony up was just what they needed to let off some steam.

"Mister," Braeburn said. "I think you could use a lesson in manners." Around them, the rest of the rustlers formed a ring around the stranger, cutting off any potential escape route and giving each one an angle to get their hits in.

"Get...away!" he growled. Braeburn looked to his men and they all snickered.

"Now here's your first lesson," Braeburn lectured as he stepped closer. "When you talk to somepony, you be sure to look them in the eye." With a flick of his hoof, Braeburn knocked the stranger's hood back, exposing the curved red horn jutting from his forehead and eyes glowing with a sickly purple light in a face that was shockingly familiar to them.

"What the hay!" he yelled, just before the stranger charged Braeburn and sent him flying into the river.

From within the the desert scrub growing along the river bank, the Shadow watched as the outlaws moved in on his pawn. It was fortunate that he had found them in time to draw them into Sombra's path. For two days he had managed to keep Sombra contained in the Macintosh Hills by means of the dream glamour, all the while mesmerizing any ponies passing on the road to bring whatever food they had to his hiding place. Eventually though, Sombra had begun to fear that someone had found him and had fled into the wastes of the Badlands where the most the Shadow could do was lure him to shelter from the searing sun and freezing night winds.

Be thankful I need you alive, the Shadow thought. Otherwise I would have left you to your fate as you deserve.

Now the outlaws were surrounding him and despite Sombra's warning, the leader flipped up his hood and was subsequently knocked back into the river. Before the rest of the gang could recover from their initial shock, Sombra had already thrown himself into them with the fury of a wild boar, his hooves and horn lashing out with a strength forged from 1000 years of battling Celestia and fueled by the raging conflict within him. Impressive, the Shadow thought as Sombra rampaged among his opponents. I suppose there was some justification for how he was able to reign for so long in this world. Such a waste that he squandered that strength in the service of weaklings. In less than a minute, the outlaws lay strewn around the desert sand but to the Shadow's disappointment, Sombra lacked the resolve to finish them off as he would have done. And THAT is why you lost your throne. But at least Sombra still had enough control not to use his magic and draw attention to himself. The time for that would come soon enough.

"Run!" Sombra warned as his opponents painfully struggled to their hooves. "NOW!" The outlaws stared at him, unbelieving that such a haggard pony could have beaten them so easily as Sombra lowered his horn and prepared to charge them again.

"Forget it!" one finally yelled. "I'll take my chances with Discord!" As if in mutual agreement, the entire gang turned and fled back towards the Macintosh Hills in the distance.

"You yellow bellied chickens!" Braeburn sputtered as he splashed out of the river after them. "You can't just leave me behind!" As the outlaws vanished into the distance, the Shadow watched Sombra loot what he could from their camp; downing almost the entire pot of beans and then stumbling to the river where he drank his fill before collapsing onto the bank. Once he was certain Sombra was asleep, the shadow crept out of the scrub toward him. He had waited long enough. By now Celestia was fully in the thrall of the curse he had placed upon her. She was the only pony in his world that posed any real threat to his goals. But now that she had been dealt with, he could finally put his plan into motion. And he would start by eliminating the one being in THIS world that could stop him. Approaching Sombra's side, the Shadow spread himself around the sleeping king and began to envelop him in his darkness.

"And now," he announced, "I reclaim everything that is rightfully mine."

=Equestria Pime=

"I still don't see why we had to leave so early," Rainbow griped. "Especially If Twilight said not to meet back for another half hour. We could have watched the Wonderbolts do another Aerial Relay and still make it back in time." Applejack rolled her eyes as she strolled into the castle with Rainbow flapping behind her. After securing the sale arrangement with the Fruit Vendor's Guild, she had gone to the WonderBolt's Stadium to collect Rainbow Dash while Rarity tracked down the Gourmet Bakery where Pinkie Pie had hopped off to.

"Because we need to see what Twilight found out about the Princess," Applejack reminded her as they walked down the hallway. "Furthermore, with the Equestria Games comin' up, you should be thinkin' more about the training for Ponyville's team."

"Hey," Rainbow countered, "knowing your opponents is the key to victory. That's why I was checking them out so intently." Seemed like you were more interested in checkin' out Soarin's flank in that coattight jumpsuit of his, Applejack thought. "Besides, Twilight and Spike are probably still down in Star Swirl's Library. You know how she gets when books are involved. Especially old and dusty ones."

"Yeah well I don't like sittin' around doin' nothing if I can avoid it," Applejack said as a maid hurried down the hall toward them. "Here comes somepony now. We'll ask her if she's seen Twilight so we don't waste time lookin' for 'er. 'Scuse me ma'am? Have you seen Princess..."but the maid ignored Applejack's question as she rushed past them without so much as an excuse me.

"Well that was weird," Rainbow remarked.

"She must have somethin' on the stove," Applejack guessed as the sudden rumble of approaching hooves caught her attention. The two of them turned around and their mouths dropped open as an entire mob of castle servants rushed towards them. Throwing herself against the wall, Applejack pressed herself flat to avoid getting stampeded while Rainbow took to the air.

"Hey what's going on?" Rainbow yelled out as the servants gallloped past them. "Where's everypony going?" But all of them were too busy running for the hills to bother answering. "What the hay was that about?"

"I dunno," Applejack answered. "But I got a feelin' it's trouble. Come on!" Backtracking the mob's route, Applejack and Rainbow hurried down the hall until they come across Spike who was cautiously peeking through the the partially closed doorway of the castle's ballroom. On the door's other side, Fluttershy cringed against the wall where she cradled a possum in her hooves. What in tarnation is that critter doin' in the castle? Applejack wondered. Though she knew city folk weren't as used to wild varmints as she was, somehow Applejack doubted that one possum would be enough to cause that kind of a panic. "Hey y'all!" she called out. "What's goin' on?"

"Guys keep it down," Spike whispered. "This is kind of a delicate situation."

"What is?" Rainbow asked as they heard the voices coming from within the ballroom.

"Princess please," Twlight's voice begged. "We're just trying to help."

"I do not need help," another voice said. "What I need is for you all to stop wasting my time with baseless accusations." Lining up behind Spike, Applejack and Rainbow peered through the crack and saw Princess Celestia being confronted by Twilight along with Luna and Cadance. "You really think I would not know if I had been placed under a spell?" The Princess asked. "As I told you earlier I am perfectly fine!"

"No you are not!" Luna said. "Sister, something is wrong with you. I don't fully know what the cause is but you have never acted this way before. And until we find out why you should excuse yourself from your royal duties. I'm even beginning to think that the Summer Sun Celebration should be postponed until..."

'No!" Celestia yelled. "I most certainly will not! And the Celebration will procede as scheduled! I will not be seen as incapable before my subjects!"

"Celestia nopony's thinking that," Cadance tried to assure her. "But we're all worried about you. You've always been there when we needed you so please; let us be here for you now!"

"Is that so?' Celestia asked. "And why are you here Cadance?"

"Um, well..."

"As I thought," Celestia grimmaced. "Who was it that told you? Luna? Twilight? Or was it one of her friends? How many others know? I swore you all to secrecy but it seems that I can't trust any of you! And if you all have a problem with how I conduct myself then maybe Twilight and her friends should have followed my original orders when we battled my counterpart! Maybe then Sombra wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself and you could have Luna for your ruler instead!"

"Oh that tears it," Applejack said.

"Applejack no!" Fluttershy warned but was too late to keep Applejack from throwing the doors open.

"Alright that's enough!" she yelled as Twilight and the others spun around to face her.

"Applejack?" Twilight gasped.

"Whoa easy there cowgirl!" Rainbow yelled as she and Spike tried to pull her back. But the farmmare shook them off as she marched into the ballroom and up the the Princess.

"Now look," she told Celestia. "I dunno just what the Sam Hill is goin' on here, but there's no reason to act like this. Now I know you've had a rough time lately and...

"You?" Celestia asked. "You dare assume to know what I feel?" Celestia stepped forward and Applejack backed away as the Princess loomed over her. "What do you know about loss? What do you know about sacrifice? What do YOU know about obligation and..." but Celestia was cut off as Luna stepped between her and Applejack with her wings spread.

"Sister," she warned. "That is enough." Celestia glared at them all but didn't say anything more. Instead, she alighted her horn and vanished in a flash of golden light.

"Wow," Rainbow said. "So this is how Fluttershy feels all the time."

"Applejack?" Twilight asked. "Are you okay?"

"Applejack," Luna said, "I am so sorry about that."

"Just forget it," Applejack said. "Wasn't your fault." Lowering her hat over her eyes so nopony could see the shock and anger that she could feel spreading over her face, Applejack turned and walked away. "If y'all would excuse me, I'm gonna go outside and wait for Rarity 'n Pinkie to get back."

Teleporting to her personal chambers, Celestia's breath heaved as she paced back and forth. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so angry. She had been inspecting the refurbishing of the ballroom when Twilight, Luna, and Cadance barged in and demanded that the servants cease their work and leave. And when Celestia demanded an explanation, Twilight had concocted a ridiculous story about sensing a possible magical disturbance in her quarters, even going so far as to insinuate that she was being mentally affected by it. But even worse was when Twilight's friend had the nerve to claim she understood what Celestia was feeling; as if she knew how it felt to have your one chance for happiness dangled in front of your snout, always out of reach before it was finally snatched away forever.

But what if they're right, a tiny voice in her heart asked. Impossible, Celestia retorted I would have sensed it. But nothing in my quarters has changed. The only thing that's different is...

The rage Celestia felt turned to dread and she rushed from the drawing room into her bedchambers. To her relief, the mirror shard was still hanging from the tree in the corner next to the tag on which Sombra had written his wish. That had to be it. They couldn't stand that she was still thinking of him. Why? Why couldn't they leave her be? It was all she had left of Sombra and they wanted to take it from her. Just like Star Swirl had tried to do when he sealed the mirror. They're all trying to betray me, Celestia raved as she stepped towards it. They don't care if I suffer so long as they get what they want. But I won't let them take it. The shard is mine. And if anyone tries I'll make them pay! As she leaned forward, the mirror shard cast back her reflection and Celestia was taken aback by what she saw. Her eyes were so cold and her face so twisted in rage that she didn't even recognize herself. And the shock of it numbed every emotion she felt.

Is that how they see me? she wondered. Have I really become such a horrible pony? The look she had seen in her eyes...it was almost the same look as the one in his..

...The freezing northern winds blew with such force that even Celestia had difficulty flying through them. Snow clouded her vision and the cold stung her through her thin coat but she pressed on through the icy storm. When the light of the Crystal Empire had suddenly faded, she had sent Star Swirl to investigate. Now he had vanished as well, his last message a frail cry for help.

"Star Swirl!" she yelled over the howling winds. "Star Swirl where are you?"

"Princess," a voice in her head called. "I'm down here." Celestia looked to her left and saw a light flicker among a rocky outcrop carved out of the ground by the yearly glaciers. She dove towards it and found a rift in the crag's face that led into a small cave. Celestia squeezed through and against the rear stone wall, huddling battered and bruised, was her old friend and former teacher.

"Star Swirl," she cried as she rushed to his side. "Are you alright?" The old unicorn shook from the cold but didn't answer. Alighting her horn, Celestia conjured a miniature sun that filled the cave with light and warmth as Star Swirl quickly came to.

"Princess," he whispered as he looked up. "You came."

"Of course I did. Now who did this to you? And where are the Pegasus guards that I ordered to escort you?" Star Swirl hung his head in shame.

"I'm sorry your highness. I failed in my mission."

"Never mind that," Celestia assured him. "Just tell me what happened." Star Swirl took a deep breath and looked back up to her.

"Your highness...it's Sombra."

"Sombra?" she gasped. "Here? How? When? Is he alright?"

"No you don't understand!" Star Swirl cried. "It's not the Sombra we met in our travels. It's OUR world's Sombra! I theorized that an evil version of him could exist in our world but I had no idea the kind of malice he was capable of!" Celestia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Had they really found the Sombra of their world? But even more shocking was the state her old friend was in. Never before had she seen Star Swirl so shaken, not even when he had fought Tirek alongside her and Luna. Kneeling before him, she placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder.

"Tell me what happened." Star Swirl took a deep breath and looked up her.

"My chariot had just arrived at the border of the Crystal Empire. Suddenly, something attacked us. It was like a cloud of living darkness. Those poor Pegasus guards pulling the chariot...they took the full force of its attack. Only I survived the crash. And no sooner had I pulled myself together then the shadow came down to earth and transformed into him. He was practically a mirror image of the Sombra we met. But his eyes...I didn't think it was possible for a pony of all creatures to have such malice in them. I tried to fight him but his magic...it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. So I was forced to retreat. Princess, you have to summon Luna. Tell her to bring the Elements of Harmony. They stopped Discord so they should be able to stop him as well."

I don't believe it, Celestia thought. Star Swirl must have made a mistake. Or maybe somepony knew about the mirror and had created an illusion to lure them into a trap. Rising to her hooves, Celestia turned and exited the cave.

"Your highness what are you doing?"

"Wait here where it's safe," she answered as she stepped outside and spread her wings. "I will handle this myself." With a single flap, Celestia launched herself into the sky and towards the direction of the Crystal Empire.

"Princess wait come back!" Star Swirl yelled behind her. "Don't face him alone! You have no idea what he's capable of!" As his voice faded into the howling wind, Celestia pressed on through the storm, the storm buffeting her from all sides and threatening to knock her off course. But she grit her teeth and forced herself on until finally, the edge of the Crystal Empire came into view as the wind and snow ahead of Celestia began to shift and bend around the barrier generated by the Crystal Tower that shut out the frigid northern weather and kept the Empire in a state of perpetual spring. With a final burst of speed, Celestia shot herself forward and plunged through the barrier. She shook the snow from her eyes and what she saw froze her in a shock far colder than the weather she had just escaped from.

Where once the fields of the Crystal Empire were lush and beautiful, now they were barren and dead; punctuated with jagged shards of black crystal. No longer was the sky the pure blue of spring but had been stained a sickly brown, almost as if it had been burned by whatever evil infested the Empire. But worse was the Crystal Tower. No longer a dazzling crystalline spire reflecting beauty and elegance, it was now an ugly and twisted mass of black shards and spikes. And on the ground beneath her, the Crystal Ponies marched in stocks and chains, their eyes broken and their coats dull and tarnished as great hulking bipedal monsters of the same black crystal drove them forward. As Celestia watched, a mare stumbled and one of the Crystal Brutes loomed over her, his arm raised to crack down the whip it held. But it was only able to raise its instrument of torture halfway before Celestia fired an energy beam that shattered the monster to pieces.

"ENOUGH!" she roared. Every eye, pony and monster, fell onto her as she dropped to the ground, her wings spread and her horn charged with power Two of the Crystal Brutes charged toward her, their arms shifting into blades and spiked clubs. But like the first one, Celestia struck them both down with one blast. Another brute extended the spikes growing along its skin before flinging out its arm and launching the spikes towards her. Celestia raised a shield and the spikes shattered on her defenses as the other brutes joined in, pinning her down with a hail of razor sharp daggers. I don't have time for this, she decided and teleported back into the sky. Now that she had some breathing room, Celestia's power surged through her, igniting her body with the flames of the sun as she dove back towards the ground and smashed through all the monsters in one attack. With her enemies dealt with, Celestia lowered her flames and flew back to where the Crystal Ponies still cowered and trembled.

"Where is he?" she asked as she broke their chains. "Where is the one who did this to you?" But even after being freed, the Crystal Ponies still hesitated to speak before finally, the mare she had first saved timidly pointed towards the balcony above the Tower's archway. "Don't worry," she told them. "Your nightmare is going to be over very soon." In a flash of golden light, Celestia teleported herself onto the balcony but nothing appeared to challenge her.

"Where are you?" she yelled "Show yourself you coward!" Nothing answered so she cautiously entered the vacant throne room, which was now as dark and twisted as the rest of the tower. But though she couldn't see her enemy, she could feel him in the overwhelming presence of dark magic that was smothering in its intensity. Suddenly, the throne room echoed all around her with a laugh that sent an icy chill racing up Celestia's spine

"It seems I have a guest. Though I was expecting two this is much more agreeable to me."

That voice, she thought. It couldn't be. Before Celestia could react, a wall of black crystal suddenly rose over the entrance to the balcony. Similar barriers were erected over the windows, trapping her inside and shutting out the light as the braziers lining the walls were lit with flames born of the same dark magic that filled the air. Something moved in the darkness and as the throne room lit up, Celestia's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the armored and red-caped stallion that had appeared on the Crystal throne.

"Sombra?" Superficially, the unicorn on the crystal throne resembled the stallion she had met in the other world. But while his face had been kind and handsome, the face of the one before her was hard and cruel. His red eyes burned with cold malevolence and his black hair writhed about his spiked crown and the curved crimson horn that jutted from his forehead. His lips parted, revealing a smile lined with fangs and Celestia suddenly felt as if she were a rabbit being stared down by a wolf.

"First the famous Star Swirl and now you," he said. "I was unaware that my glory had already reached as far as Canterlot. I bid you welcome Princess Celestia. I was hoping to gain an audience with you and am honored that you chose to seek me out first." His condescending tone pulled Celestia out of her shock and she straightened herself up. She had already made the mistake of trotting right into a trap. She wouldn't allow him to have control of the situation as well.

"Where is Princess Amore?" she demanded. "What have you done with her?" With a smirk, Sombra levitated a battered crown from beside the throne and tossed it at Celestia's hooves.

"Gone," he said. No, Celestia thought. This can't be.

"Why? Why have you done all this?" Sombra laughed again as he dissipated into a cloud of shadows before reconstituting himself on the throne room's floor.

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked as he walked along the room's edge. "The Crystal Ponies were weak and foolish. They welcomed me with open hooves, granted me access to their libraries, and even allowed me to work my way into the service of their princess." Celestia kept her eyes on him as he casually wandered by her and noted that not only was this Sombra cruel, he was arrogant as well. He kept his back to her, his eyes sweeping the once beautiful walls of the Crystal Tower's throne room as if she were beneath his notice. If she were quick, she could end this now with one attack. But every time she tried to gather her energy, the memory of his counterpart in that other world flashed in her mind and she hesitated.

"Not once did they ask why I had come or why I sought the knowledge they held," he continued. "And now, like all weaklings, they have been put in their proper place. To be used as I see fit. But that is not what we need to discuss."

"And what would that be?" Celestia asked before Sombra dissipated once more into darkness. She frantically searched around her for any sign of where his attack would come from when he suddenly materialized directly in front of her, eliciting a startled cry from Celestia as she stepped back. Around her he walked, sporting the same wolfish grin and looking her up and down in a way that made Celestia sick with revulsion.

"Lovely," he stated. "And so powerful. But you have yet to embrace your true potential."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh I mean no insult. It's just odd that such a magnificent mare as yourself would settle for being a mere princess when you could be so much more."

"What are you insinuating?"

"I have been watching you for a very long time," Sombra told her. "Your magic controls the sun, source of all light. My magic on the other hand controls the darkness, the source of all corruption. We are two sides of the same coin Celestia. Perfect equals of each other."

"We are nothing alike!"

"Are we now?" Sombra laughed. "You claim that you and your sister rule together, but who is it that the ponies of Equestria venerate? Who makes the final decision in matters of rule? Whose power is the land dependent upon for its life and sustenance?" As he spoke, Sombra's voice seemed to take on an almost a musical warble and Celestia suddenly found it difficult to concentrate. "You can claim that you rule solely to bring peace and harmony. But in your heart, you relish the power you have over others and the veneration they give you. So why put on such a hollow pretense with your sister? She is weak. She is inferior. She is not your equal. And she knows it. That's why she hates you. That's why she longs to overthrow you and take what she cannot have. If she were a little stronger she would not hesitate to strike you down."

"That's a lie," Celestia gasped, the throne room spinning around her. "You know nothing about my sister. Luna would never betray me."

"Perhaps," Sombra smirked. "But that doesn't change what you are. You are the high princess of Equestria. Star Swirl offered to help you claim it and you accepted without hesitation. And you did so because it is the right of the strong to reign over those who are weaker. Do you really think that the three tribes would have accepted you and your sister's reign if you weren't Alicorns? You're only fooling yourself if you do. But Equestria is only one part of the world. There are countless other kingdoms and lands, all of them ripe for harvest. And who better to seize them than the two most powerful ponies who ever lived." Raising his hoof, Sombra materialized a crown of black metal studded with red gems which he held out to her. "Join with me Celestia and become my queen. Together, we will grind the entire world beneath our hooves."

Celestia stared at the crown and suddenly felt as though it were calling out to her, compelling her to take it and accept Sombra's offer. Sombra, she thought. I could be Sombra's queen. It was then that his image flashed across her mind, not the Sombra that stood before her, but the kind and noble one from a world that was so alike and yet so different from her own. It snapped her out of her trance and thrust her back to her senses as she took one look at the creature who had dared to try and ensorcell her before blasting the crown he offered to her out of his hoof.

"I will never join with something like you! The very sight of you disgusts me! You don't even deserve to call yourself a pony! You're just a monster wearing a unicorn's mask!" For a brief moment, Sombra's composure broke and he almost seemed disappointed.

"I see," he sighed. "So that's your answer is it?" But the moment passed and Sombra's face twisted once more into a fanged grin as his eyes and horn crackled with dark energy. "As you wish!" Lowering her horn, Celestia spread her wings and ignited her flames, scouring the walls of the throne room with golden light. Sombra cautiously stepped back and she knew that she could fight him now. This THING was not the Sombra she had met in that other world. As far as she was concerned, he was nothing but a grotesque mockery unworthy of that name.

"You may have bested Amore and Star Swirl," Celestia threatened. "But I am not like them."

"Indeed," Sombra agreed. "Amore I had no use for. And your pet wizard was smart enough to flee while he had the chance." Before Celestia could react, Sombra stomped his hoof and lashes of black magic rose out of the floor from the same circle he had walked around her. They latched around her, binding her hoof and wing as her flames were suddenly extinguished before they slammed her to the floor with enough force that Celestia nearly passed out. When her efforts to physically break them failed, she attempted to teleport out of their grasp but found to her horror that her magic was no longer working.

"Don't bother," he told her. "That spell is one of my personal creation. It binds not only the body but the spirit as well, sealing whatever magic you have. I don't know why you hesitated to strike when I first offered you the chance. But you will live to regret it. As will your subjects."

"They will never bow to you!" she hissed.

"Oh but they will," he laughed. "Remember, I've been watching you and your so called reign. Your subjects care for you deeply. They would do nothing to endanger their beloved Princess of the Sun because without you they are lost. And once they know you are in my grasp, they will surrender without raising so much as a hoof against me." Sombra leaned over her and Celestia cringed as his breath rolled over her, choking her in its rancid malice. "But until then," he whispered in her ear, "how shall we keep ourselves amused?"

Help me! Celestia begged. Somepony anypony please help me!

Suddenly, an incredible force tore through the throne room and Celestia felt Sombra blasted away from her. She opened her eyes and saw that the crystal wall Sombra had raised over the balcony entrance had been shattered. And in the resulting hole was Luna, her horn still glowing from the energy blast she had just unleashed. At the other end of the room, a pile of rubble from which an armored hoof protruded lay before what had once been the crystal throne.

"Luna!" Celestia cried as her younger sister flew to her side, snapping Celestia's binds with a flick of her horn.

"What were you thinking?" Luna yelled. "Why didn't you wait for me? You're just lucky Star Swirl had enough strength to summon me himself!"

"Luna...I..."but the words stuck in Celestia's throat. Even if she told her sister how could Luna possibly believe her?

"Never mind!" Luna snapped as the pile of rubble began to tremble and shake. "Just get ready! He's coming!" Opening her saddle bag, Luna summoned the Elements of Harmony to emerge and surround them as the rubble exploded into a cloud of darkness. Up to the ceiling it rose, and from out of the cloud, a cruel and twisted face materialized into form.

"You will regret that little princess," Sombra snarled as all around them, the walls and floor of the throne room burst into an impassible barrier of twisted and spiked crystal shards. "Know that you both will face your end screaming!"

"Sister?" Luna asked. Suppressing her fear and shame, Celestia forced herself to stand. The Crystal Empire and its ponies needed to be freed. And this monster that should not exist in either world needed to be dealt with.

"This ends now," she vowed. Joining their magic together, the two Royal Pony Sisters activated the Elements, their light illuminating the throne room as the Shadow lunged toward them...

...But it hadn't ended. Through the evil Sombra had been banished to the Frozen North, he had managed one final act of cruelty as the curse he had placed on the Crystal Empire and all of its ponies banished them into nonexistence, along with nearly every memory and record of them, almost as if they had never existed. Not long afterward, Celestia had crossed over into the other world by herself for the first time. She had to see the other Sombra. She had to know that he was there and was still the kind and noble stallion she had met.

What am I supposed to do? she thought as she buried her face in her hoof. Sombra was the only one I could let myself go with. He was her shoulder to cry on, the safe port she could run to when her crown grew too heavy. But even if the mirror hadn't been broken, she could no longer run to him. The stallion she loved was gone. And it was all her fault.

"Princess?" a mare's voice called from the outer door. "Are you in there?" It was Raven, her personal assistant. Celestia took ten deep breaths and forced herself to calm down.

"Yes," she finally answered. "What is it?"

"I'm just checking to see if everything's alright. I heard there was some kind of a situation in the ballroom."

"Everything's fine," Celestia answered. "Raven, tell Kibitz I want to see him in the throne room immediately."

"Right away your highness."

"One other thing," Celestia added. "Tell the guards that I want a full post at both the doorway to my quarters and on my balcony at all times. Tell them that anyone who enters without my consent is to be arrested."

"Y...yes your highness." Celestia waited until she heard Raven's hoofsteps retreating from the door before moving to her washroom. Filling up the sink, she splashed cold water onto her face and stared at her reflection.

"I will not be weak," she vowed. "I will not cry, I will not make further mistakes, and I will not show any weakness before my subjects. I am Princess Celestia of Equestria. And I will be strong."

From outside on the balcony, Philomena watched as her master swayed on the brink only to pull herself back when Raven knocked at the door. Nothing had been the same since that night when the call of a male phoenix woke her from her sleep. From the balcony railing outside of Celestia's bedroon he had called to her, his golden feathers blazing like the sun against the night. And when he spread his magnificent wings that spanned almost the entire balcony to take flight, she could not resist his invitation to join her. After him she had flown, out of the castle and off into the sky. She had almost caught up to him when Celestia's scream broke the night's quiet and snapped her out of the chase. She looked around but the male had vanished and her master was in possible danger so she flew back to the castle as fast as she could. To her relief, Luna and Tiberius had already arrived and Celestia was safe. But ever since then, Philomena had sensed a change in the kindly master she had loved for so many centuries. She hadn't talked to Philomena in days or even acknowledged her when she entered. And whenever Philomena tried to approach her, Celestia reacted so coldly to her presence that the phoenix couldn't bear to be close to her for long.

After Celestia had fixed herself up in the washroom and left, Philomena glided across the room to land in front of the tree. The mirror shard that hung from its branch. The night the male had lead her off, Tiberius had picked up on something about it. Something that he didn't like. And the way Celestia was staring at it just now. It was the first time that Philomena had actually been frightened of her.

"Well this is an unexpected development," a voice behind her said. "So, what are you going to do now?"

(My depiction of Celestia's first encounter with Prime Sombra was inspired by Omny87's comic "A Somber Meeting" which can be viewed at DeviantArt.com)

An Uninvited Pest

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CHAPTER 6

AN UNINVITED PEST

=Equestria Prime=

"Applejack really!" Rarity cried. "Couldn't you have exercised just a tiny bit of tact and sensitivity?"

“Hey!” Applejack yelled. “I’m not the one at fault here! If you'd seen how the Princess was actin' you'd 'a done the same thing!"

"You did pick kind of a bad time to butt in," Rainbow pointed out which earned her a nasty look from Applejack.

"Guys enough!" Twilight said. "This isn't helping." Following their disastrous attempt to reason with Celestia, Twilight and the others had gone out to the royal gardens to check on Applejack who was understandably upset at how she had been treated and had made it quite clear she didn't want to discuss it until Pinkie and Rarity got back.

"Indeed," Luna agreed. "Rather than argue, our efforts would be best spent on ways to gain access to that mirror shard."

"I'm afraid that there's little chance of that happening," Cadance said. "I talked to one of the guards before we came out. And from what he's heard, Celestia's ordered increased security around her quarters with instructions to arrest anyone who tries to enter without her consent."

"So then what do we do now?" Spike asked as Applejack stood up.

“I say we head home.”

“Applejack!” Twilight cried. “You can’t really mean that!”

"If the Princess wants to sit around and sulk like a spoiled little filly then that's her business. Until she changes her attitude, I don't want nothin' to do with her."

"But Applejack she didn't mean it," Fluttershy said. "Especially if she's under a spell like Tibbles told us."

“Besides,” Rarity added, “didn't you mention earlier that you knew how the Princess felt? How could you even think of leaving in her time of need?”

“First of all,” Applejack said, “you're gonna have to do a whole lot better than the word of a possum to convince me that somepony actually managed to put a spell on Celestia. No offense Princess Luna, but around Sweet Apple Acres, the only thing possums are good for is raidin' the chicken coop." From his seat on Luna's back, Tiberius leaned out and hissed at her. "Ah hiss yourself! Second, I do know how the Princess is feeling. But that don't give a pony the right to take it out on others. I never once did that after my folks died. Especially not to the ones who were tryin' to help me.”

“Okay everypony settle down!” Pinkie Pie interrupted, a bakery carton balanced on her back. "Luckily, Operation Sunny Side up is still proceeding as planned. I told Mr. Cake’s cousin that it was a special emergency order for the Princess and he agreed on short notice to make this custom six-pack of red velvet cupcakes with rainbow frosting!”

"That’s an interesting combination,” Spike said. "Even by my standards."

“Why do I suddenly have the chills?” Rainbow shuddered.

“Just leave everything to me,” Pinkie assured them. “Once Princess Celestia gets a mouthful of these babies, she’ll be back to her old self in no time.” Pinkie started to hop away but Cadance stretched out her wing and cut her off.

"Pinkie," she said, " I know you mean well but right now pushing Celestia any further is possibly the worst thing you could do."

“But these are extra fancy gourmet cupcakes! They don’t have any preservatives. If they don’t get eaten soon they’ll spoil.”

"Oh well that would be a shame," said a voice from inside the box. "These really are quite delicious."

"What the hay?" Rainbow wondered.

"Wow you guys heard that too?" Pinkie asked. "And here I thought I was the only one who spoke baked goods."

"Oh no," Twilight groaned as her hoof covered her face. "No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no! Not him! Not now!" As the others moved in for a closer look, the box began to tremble and shake on Pinkie's back before the lid snapped open and a long sinuous figure that looked as though it had been assembled from spare parts leaped out before them.

"Surprise!" he yelled as confetti showered everywhere.

"Discord!" everyone yelled.

"Hello everyone," the Draconequus said as he darted among them. "Long time no see. Twilight, love the new wings. Though I am rather hurt you didn't invite me to your coronation. Why I could have put on a musical number complete with singing fish, dancing candles, and a hyena parade."

"Wow," Spike said, "That actually sounds kind of..."

"Don't encourage him," Twilight grumbled.

"Hey!" Pinkie yelled as she looked in the box. "He ate all the cupcakes! Discord you jerk! Those were for Princess Celestia! They were expensive!"

"And they were worth every bit." Pinkie growled but Applejack held her back.

“Don’t give him the satisfaction,” she advised as Luna stepped forward.

"Discord, what is the meaning of this? As part of your release, Celestia made it clear that you were not to venture into Canterlot Castle unless specifically summoned."

"Well you're in a fine mood today aren't you Luna? And here I thought after your little display at the Summer Wrap Up Festival that you were the fun sister. What's the matter? Big Mac turn you down for a date?"

"Excuse me?" Rarity asked.

"Watch it buster!" Pinkie Pie warned. "We've got enough continuity issues without you starting a shipping war."

"Fine have it your way," Discord sighed as he teleported beside Fluttershy. "I was just in the neighborhood when I heard my dear friend Fluttershy was visiting the Princess. Now I ask you what sort of friend would I be if I didn't drop by to say hello? Oh by the way Fluttershy. I got your letter and I'd love to join you and your friends in celebrating all things sunny and summery."

"What was that?" Rainbow asked.

“Um, well he did miss out on it for 1000 years,” Fluttershy stammered. "It would have been mean not to at least tell him about it.“

"Exactly," Discord said as he stuck his tongue out at Rainbow. "Oh it'll such fun. We'll ride the Ferris Wheel, stuff ourselves with chili carrot dogs, play ring toss...fill the petting zoo with velociraptors."

"I heard that!" Twilight yelled.

"I really am happy to see you you Discord," Fluttershy said. "And I'm also glad you decided to come to the Summer Sun Celebration with us. But I'm afraid there may not be one this year.”

“Aw but I was looking forward to it,” Discord whined. “What a shame. And all because Celestia’s feeling cranky over a bad breakup.”

“It was not a ‘bad breakup!’” Cadance snapped. “You’d know that if you understood anything about how she....wait...how do YOU know about it?” Immediately, all eyes fell on Fluttershy who shrank under their gaze.

“Now now,” Discord assured them. “No need to get mad at poor sweet Fluttershy. I already knew what had happened. Although I did go to her for some of the more juicy details. That is what friends do right? Drop in and gossip with each other?”

“It’s true,” Fluttershy said. “He showed up at my house the night after we all got back. And he knew about everything. The mirror, the evil Princesses, even about Celestia and King Sombra."

“And just how DID you find out about it?” Rarity demanded.

“Well let’s just say I have my sources. I must say, I was certainly surprised to hear that Borelestia of all ponies was capable of such impulsive and reckless behavior. Why, in some parts of Equestria they're still talking about the disturbance her little fling caused. I can only imagine how her subjects might react if they ever GAAAKH!” From Luna's horn, a beam of magic had lassoed around Discord's neck and yanked him down to her eye level.

“If you say one word of this to ANYPONY,"she threatened, "I swear that I will personally banish you to the sun!”

“Hmmm, I guess lacking a sense of humor runs in your family." Morphing his finger into a key, Discord unlocked Luna's magic beam which dropped to the ground with a clang. "But no need to worry about that. I'm reformed remember? Sworn to use my powers for good rather than to reap chaos. Why I'd never do ANYTHING to dirty the Princess's good name. Why that would break my promise to Fluttershy."

“That's right,” Fluttershy agreed. “Before I told him anything, he swore that he'd keep it secret. He even made a Pinkie Promise.”

“Yes yes,” Discord said. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” From behind his back, Discord pulled out a cupcake which he promptly stuck in his eye before his eyelid stretched open, closed around the cupcake, and ate it. “Mm, delicious!”

“That’s disgusting!” Rarity grimaced.

“Wait a minute!” Rainbow cried. “Just how long have you been hanging around here?”

“Why Rainbow Dash whatever do you mean?”

“Don’t play innocent with us! This whole thing reeks of you! You hypnotized the Princess into acting this way just like you did with us didn't you!”

“What? Oh Rainbow how could you think that of me? And I thought we were friends now! Fluttershy!” he whimpered as his bottom lip stuck out. “Rainbow’s being mean to me again!”

"There there," Fluttershy said as she patted his paw. "Rainbow you really shouldn't accuse somepony without evidence."

"Makes more sense than somepony from the other world castin' a spell on the Princess," Applejack commented.

"There is some truth to that," Rarity added as Discord snorted in indignation.

“Fine then,” he huffed. “I can tell when I’m not wanted. If you aren't going to be civil I'll go back home then. But I guess that means you wouldn't be interested in THIS either.” Covering his eagle claw with a handkerchief, Discord yanked it away and the eyes of everypony present widened at the item he displayed to them.

"The mirror shard?" Twilight cried. "What are you doing with that?"

"Why I took it of course."

"Discord what have you done?" Cadance yelled.

"Yeah are you crazy?" Spike asked

“I can’t even believe you would be that low!” Rarity scolded. “Burglarizing a lady’s boudoir! Have you no sense of shame?” Rolling his eyes, Discord conjured a glass dome which he lowered over Rarity, sealing her and her voice inside as she raged and pounded against the interior.

“Ooh?” Pinkie asked. “Are we playing charades now?”

“Well that’s a fine way to thank me," Discord said as Applejack and Rainbow lifted the dome off of Rarity. "I go out of my way to help you and this is the appreciation I get."

"We were only going to study it!" Twilight yelled. "We weren't going to steal it! Now give that back!" She lunged for the shard but Discord casually tossed it from one hand to the other. Twilight then tried to fly over him to snatch it from above. But Discord casually stretched the arm holding the shard up into the air until her wings gave out and she collapsed to the ground.

"Still haven't gotten the hang of flying I see," he teased as Twilight fumed up at him.

“Discord,” Fluttershy warned, “You need to take that back right now. If the Princess finds out you took it she’s going to be REALLY mad!”

“Fluttershy please,” Discord said as he rolled the shard across his shoulders and onto his lion paw where he spun it on one finger. “First of all, I can certainly handle anything Celestia can dish out. Second, she won't find out because I created a double to leave in its place. Third, the whole thing was entirely her idea." Twilight and the others looked up to where he gestured and saw a flame feathered bird flying down to them from a nearby tree.

"Philomena?" Fluttershy asked. "What's going on?" Philomena chirped and gestured with her wings as Fluttershy nodded along. “Uh-huh. Oh I see.” Once she finished with her tale, Philomena leaned her head against Fluttershy’s breast and sadly cawed into her coat. “There there Philomena,” Fluttershy assured her as she put a hoof around her. “It’s not your fault. Somepony tricked you.”

“Fluttershy?” Luna asked. “What did she say?”

“She says that when Celestia had her nightmare, Philomena was led off by a male phoenix that disappeared after she heard Celestia scream.”

“A glamour spell,” Twilight said. “Whoever cast the spell on Celestia through the mirror must have wanted to lure Philomena out of the room before they did.”

“Excuse me,” Rarity interrupted. “But I’m confused. How could someone in the other world have known that Philomena was even in the same room as Celestia? Much less the type of spell to use on her.” As the ponies talked, Discord amused himself by balancing the mirror shard on his nose.

“What was that?” he asked, jerking his head so sharply that the shard slipped and fell. Twilight shrieked and Spike dove for the shard before it could shatter on the ground but Discord flicked out his tail and snatched it away. “You think that someone...oh no no no! You have it all wrong. Nothing CAME through the mirror. Rather...something WENT through. From our side."

"Wait what?" Twilight cried. "That's impossible!"

"Yeah," Pinkie agreed. "You'd have to be itsy bitsy teencie weencie size to even get through that piece."

"And even if one was as Pinkie describes," Luna added, "it's impossible to open the pathway without knowing the spell."

"Oh it's quite true my little ponies," Discord corrected. "You see, as part of my release, Celestia tasked me with monitoring and investigating any abnormalities in the rhythm of Equestria's magic. And some days ago I sensed an abnormality occur right here in Canterlot. Almost as if a hole had been punched through the flow of magic followed by something passing through it. Just like the last few times someone crossed out of our world."

"And you're only telling us this now?" Cadance asked.

"Well nopony asked did they? Besides, if I gave you all the answers you'd never learn to do things on your own. The point is, something, or somepony, was somehow able to open the mirror and then squeeze through into the other world where they are currently doing who knows what. And from what I've gathered so far, they also managed to cast a spell on Celestia, poor heartbroken thing. You know it's sad really. She's so caught up in putting on a brave face for everyone else that she can't even see what's going on in her own head. In any case, this shard is your only clue as to who is behind it all. It really doesn't matter to me of course. If breaking a few rules is so abhorrent to your sensibilities then I'll gladly put it back. That way, you can keep your conscious clear while the situation snowballs even further. The decision is entirely yours 'Princess'. So whatever will you do now?" Discord held the shard out to her and Twilight's reflection stared back at her from the polished surface.

"You aren't really buying this are you Twilight?" Spike asked. "This is Discord we're talking about."

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed. "Even if he's not behind it, he's probably just sending us off on a wild goose chase for a cheap laugh."

"I certainly wouldn't put it past him," Rarity said.

"And I'm still not entirely sold on this whole bit about Celestia bein' under a spell," Applejack added.

"But what he says does confirm what Tibbles told me and Princess Luna," Fluttershy argued.

"And who knows what kind of evil magic a wild goose could be capable of," Pinkie pointed out. To Twilight, her friends' arguments were little more than background noise. She wasn't sure if she trusted Discord or not. After all, just because he had promised not to cause chaos himself didn't mean that he had to intervene against it. But none of that changed the fact that they had no other leads to go on. And if Discord was right about someone crossing through into the other world then that meant the situation was far more dire than she originally feared.

"Give it to me Discord," she sighed. Discord smiled and released the shard as Twilight's magic levitated it to her side. "Everyone, I don't fully understand what is going on. But I do know this. The Princess I've seen today is not the same mare that took me under her wing and guided me my entire life. But it's not just because of losing Sombra. Something has deliberately twisted her into this. And while I don't like going behind her back, I will if it's the only way to help her. That's why I'm going to take the shard down to Star Swirl's library where it was first created. If there are any answers then that's where I'll find them. I won't blame you if this time, none of you want to get involved considering what might happen if Celestia catches us. But if you do, then don't do it because she's the Princess. Do it because you want to help her as you would anypony else." Twilight looked to her friends and awaited their answer; hoping for the best but prepared and willing to accept their refusal considering what she was asking of them.

"Let's do it," Spike finally said. "If the Princess needs help then I’m there, whether she wants it or not."

“You can count on me!” Pinkie cheered. "I can't stand seeing anyone being unable to smile. Especially if some big bully meanie pants is behind it."

“Here here,” Rainbow agreed. "Anyone who messes with the Princess or any of my friends has to answer to me. So let's find who's behind this so they can get what's coming!"

“Need you ask?" Rarity inquired. "A true lady always aides another when they are in distress."

“I don’t know if I’ll be of much use,” Fluttershy said. “But I’ll do whatever I can to help as well.”

“I’ll come along too,” Cadance said. “It's probably for the best if I stayed out of Celestia’s way for a while. Besides, I'd like to have a look at this library myself.” With the group united in their goal, all eyes turned to the one remaining pony.

“Applejack,” Twilight said as she approached her, "I know you’re upset. But we could really use your help with this.” Applejack looked to her friends and sighed in resignation.

“Alright sugarcube. I’m in. But let’s get one thing clear. I’m doin' this for you. Not the Princess. And you can bet that I’ll be expecting one huge heapin’ apology from her when this is over.” Twilight smiled in gratitude and embraced the farmmare.

“Thanks Applejack."

“And while you all do that,” Luna said. “I’ll stay here with Tiberius and Philomena to keep an eye on Celestia. That way, if anything goes wrong, I can send word to you through Spike.”

"Good idea Princess," Twilight agreed. "Okay everyone. We need to get down to Star Swirl’s library. The problem is how we’re going to do so without Celestia seeing us. Especially now that we have the mirror shard."

“Oh I believe I can help with that,” Discord suggested.

"Hey now wait a minute!" Rainbow cried as Discord snapped his fingers. In an instant, the world vanished in a flash of light and then seemed to move around them before the light faded and the ground dropped out beneath them. Twilight heard the others scream as they fell; save for Rainbow, Fluttershy, Discord, and Cadance who took their wings in time. Twilight attempted to do so as well but could only manage a few harried flaps before her wings failed her and she fell screaming into the same water the others had landed in. As she bobbed sputtering to the surface, Twilight saw that Discord had indeed teleported them into Star Swirl's library but had placed them mid-air above the pool in the main chamber.

"Oh dear!" Fluttershy cried out. "Are you all okay?"

"Whoopsie," Discord chortled. "Sorry. My aim must have been off."

"Yeah I bet it was," Applejack growled as she helped Rarity out.

"My mane!" the white unicorn wailed. Beside them, Pinkie Pie climbed on the bank and shook herself off before sticking her hoof in her mouth and blowing into her cheeks to puff out her mane and tail back to their usual fluffy appearance.

"You okay Spike?" Twilight asked as she pulled him up onto her back.

"Yeah I'm fine," he answered as she swam towards the shore. "For the record, this counts as my bath for the day. Wait a minute. Twilight? Where's the shard?"

"Oh no!" she cried as her head whipped in every direction. "Girls the shard! I lost the shard!"

"You mean this?" Discord asked as he waved it in front of her. "Luckily for you I was here to catch it. Whatever would you do without my help?" Twilight was about to tell Discord exactly what he could do with his help when Mr. Dustmop came running out from behind the bookcases.

"What in Celestia's name is going on over here!" he yelled. "Ms Twilight? Where did you come from? What's going on?"

"It's a long story," Twilight answered as she climbed onto shore.

"Um excuse me sir?" Fluttershy asked. "If you don't mind my asking, who are you and why are you down here?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Discord said as he stared the old unicorn up and down.

"Oh right," Twilight said. "Everyone, this is Mr. Dustmop. He used to work for Princess Celestia but she called him out of retirement to get Star Swirl's library cleaned up."

"I thought it looked less run-down in here," Rarity said as she did her best to re-curl her hair using magic alone.

"You worked for Celestia?" Cadance asked

"Yeah that's right," Dustmop nodded.

"That's strange. I don't really remember ever seeing you around the castle."

"I don't remember ever seeing you around the castle either."

"Fair enough," Cadance shrugged.

"Oh so you're a janitor?" Discord smirked. "Guess that explains the smell of cheap cleaner and minimum wage."

"You know I've been wondering where I recognize you from," Dustmop said. "Now I remember. You're that statue that used to be out in the gardens right?"

"Indeed I was," Discord gloated. "But Celestia in her wisdom and mercy saw fit to release me from my prison."

"That's good," Dustmop said. "That ugly thing ruined the whole garden." Applejack and Rainbow snickered but Discord glowered at the old unicorn.

"Clever," he said as he stretched out his tail and knocked over a nearby trash can, its contents spilling out onto the floor. "Oops! Clumsy me!"

"Hey!" Dustmop yelled.

"Discord!" Fluttershy cried. "That wasn't very nice!"

"Whatever do you mean? As a janitor, he wouldn't have a job without any messes to clean up. So out of the charity of my own heart I decided to ensure his continued employment!" With a snap of his fingers, Discord conjured a heavily stacked sub which he messily began to eat. "After all, whatever would we do without the working stallion?" he asked as he walked around Dustmop, bits of lettuce falling out of his mouth and from between the bread. "Why without them, Equestria would grind to a halt. I for one salute the working stallion and his selfless dedication to cleaning up after the rest of us. Making sure there's always plenty of work for them is the least I can do."

"I never thought unemployment could sound so good," Dustmop muttered. Discord opened his mouth to give another retort, but fell silent as his body suddenly jerked itself straight.

"Oh my!" he mumbled as a twitch crawled up his back. "That doesn't seem right."

"What doesn't?" Applejack asked as the Draconequus loosened up.

"I'm sorry everyone," he said. "But it looks like I'm back on the clock. We'll have to continue this later." Tossing the shard to Spike, Discord snapped his fingers and vanished without any further explanation.

"He's not coming back is he?" Dustmop asked.

"Let's hope not," Rarity answered.

"Um, I'm really sorry about Discord Mr. Dustmop," Fluttershy said. "I'm still trying to teach him the difference between joking around and being rude."

"It's fine," he told her as he swept up the mess. "What I can't figure out is where all this trash came from. I'm positive this can was empty."

"You get used to stuff like that around Discord," Twilight explained.

"I'd rather not if it's all the same. Well in any case, looks like you five had quite a bath. Why don't you all wait here and I'll get some blankets and some hot coffee so you don't catch your deaths of cold."

"That would be great," Twilight shivered.

"None for me thanks," Pinkie said. "That stuff puts me to sleep."

"You should try his hot cocoa then," Spike suggested. "Trust me. Mr Dustmop knows his stuff."

"I'll take a non-caffeine mocha latte cappaspresso if you don't mind," Rarity requested.

"Rarity," Twilight said, "I highly doubt Mr. Dustmop can make something like..."

"With steamed vanilla-flavored almond milk right?"

"Mr. Dustmop," Rarity smiled, oblivious to Twilight's perplexed stare, "I do believe you and I are going to get along just fine." A short while later, with blankets draped over them, the seven mares and dragon assistant warmed themselves up with the hot drinks that Dustmop had prepared for them.

"Woowie!" Applejack hollered. "Now that's a good cup 'a joe!"

"Sure is," Rainbow agreed. "Thanks a lot Pops!"

"Rainbow really!" Rarity scolded. "Have a little respect for your elders."

"Oh that's alright," Dustmop said. "At my age, it's a compliment if Pops is all they call you."

"Yeah about that," Spike interrupted. "Just how old are you?"

"Spike!" Twilight scolded.

"Well," Dustmop mused, "You could say that I've been cleaning up messes since long before any of you kids were born."

"Before Fluttershy AND Cadance?" Pinkie gasped, a goatee of hot cocoa around her muzzle. "Wow that IS a long time?"

"Excuse me?" Cadance asked as Dustmop guffawed.

"Ms. Pinkie, you're alright! Now if you don't mind my asking, why did you all teleport down here instead of using the door?"

"Well," Fluttershy said, "it's kind of complicated."

"You mean it has something to do with what's wrong with Princess Celestia?" he suddenly asked, causing Twilight to almost choke on her coffee.

"How much do you know exactly?" Rarity asked.

"I don't know the particulars," he answered, "but I'm not blind. For the last few days, to say that the Princess hasn't been herself would be an understatement. But even before then, it's pretty clear to anyone with an ounce of common sense that she was putting on an act to hide something was wrong. She and I parted ways a long time ago so I figured I didn't have any right to stick my snout into it. But even so, if she's in trouble and if there's anything I can do to help than I'd like to."

"Well that's the problem," Twilight explained as she wiped her chin with her blanket. "There is something wrong. We don't know what but we came down here to find out. I wish we could tell you more but we made a promise to Celestia that we wouldn't say a word of it to anypony. I'm sorry Mr. Dustmop but I'm afraid that we can't involve you in this. I think you may already know too much already."

"It's alright," he sighed. "I just thought for once I'd be able to do more than just sweep up afterwards. But I guess an old pony should remember his place." Dustmop hung his head and started to walk off when Cadance suddenly stepped forward.

"Hold on a second Twilight. Mr Dustmop, maybe there is a way you can help."

"Oh yeah?"

"I've got a feeling we're going to be down here for a while. And we can't risk going back up to the castle without garnering attention so we need someone who can run errands but won't attract suspicion."

"I get you. They see me running to and fro they'll just think that I'm working late down here. Alright. I'll stay out of your way so I don't learn anything I shouldn't. And if you need me to run for anything, just holler."

"Great," Applejack said. "You can start by getting us some grub. With all that's happened today I don't think any of us have had a square meal since breakfast. Can't work on an empty stomach ya' know."

"Can do," he beamed. "I know a place that has the best hayburgers in all of Canterlot. I'll be back as soon as I can." With his head held high, Dustmop trotted away on his mission.

"Nice work Cadance," Twilight said. "Okay everypony. Our first stop is the laboratory. We need to examine the shard and see if it's still capable of creating a doorway to the other world."

"Yippee," Rainbow groaned. "Boring sciency stuff. Oh well. You think this place might have some Daring Do books somewhere?"

Far to the south, in the arid wastes of the Badlands, Discord was in the middle of his own investigation. The icy chill up his spine had led him to a riverbank in the middle of nowhere. Something like that could only mean somepony was dabbling in some pretty dark magic; the kind he had last sensed back when the Crystal Empire reopened for business. Hopefully he could take care of this quick and get back before he missed anything. All my Princesses was getting good and he didn't want to miss a moment of his favorite new soap opera.

"Now what do we have here?" he wondered aloud. Whatever had happened it certainly left an impact. Nearby rocks had been charred black, the sand melted into pools of glass, and the river boiled like a tea kettle. But one thing was missing. Any explosion of power intense enough to do all this would have left traces of residual heat. But everything around him didn't feel nearly hot enough to sustain that level of damage. Even the river, despite it's bubbling, was cool to the touch.

"I don't like this," he said. "Not one bit." While confusing and surprising others was one of Discord's favorite hobbies, he himself did not relish the sensation. But even worse was that someone was infringing on his trademark. Random chaos was supposed to be HIS gimmick. The very idea that someone would dare try to move in on his act just because he had switched teams incensed Discord in a way that very few things could. And somehow, Discord couldn't shake the feeling that it was tied to that mirror shard.

"I think it's time the old stallion and I had a talk," he decided. At least that was what he planned to do before a chilling sensation rolled over him. "What on earth!" It felt as though he had been blasted with an arctic snow flurry but no wind was blowing. The sensation passed but now Discord noticed something else out of place. The hot arid smell of the desert had been overlaid with the scent of finely cut grass and spring flowers. It was the very same smell that had itched Discord's sinuses for 1000 years he had been trapped in stone.

"Well that's certainly peculiar," he said before an invisible force slammed into him and sent him flying backwards to crash into an invisible wall.

Fear

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CHAPTER 7
FEAR

(Author's note: If you've read the story prior to 6/5/15, a small rewrite was done to the end of chapter 6 so go back and read it to get properly caught up.)

=Equestria Prime=

As Spike and the others gathered around her, Twilight slid a crystalscope in front of the mirror shard which she had placed in an upright support on the lab table. Resembling a miniature telescope, instead of a lens the crystalscope was equipped with six differently colored crystal shards in a rotating aperture. By twisting the crystals into different positions, a pony was able to visually examine magical energies along different wavelengths in order to determine their nature. It only took one adjustment for her to find what she was looking for.

"Ah ha! Everyone take a look!" One by one, the others stepped up to the crystalscope to see the whirlpool of iridescent energies swirling around and through the mirror.

"Okay," Spike said as he looked through the eyepiece. "So the mirror still has magic. But we already knew that Twilight!"

"It's not just that. See how the energy is spiraling? Unless it's designed to constantly be in effect, magical energies in an enchanted item should be inert. But these are active."

"Yeah it's real pretty Twilight," Applejack said. "But what does it mean?"

"Remember how the dimensional barrier came crashing down after the mirror was broken? Well, when Sombra restored the balance to his world, it restored the barrier as well. Or rather, it seems to have compressed the paradox to a single point within its origination. Specifically within this shard."

"But why this piece?" Fluttershy asked.

"Probably because as the largest remaining shard it had the greatest amount of the original magic," Twilight theorized. "But that's beside the point. Because of the compression, it's caused the magic within to form a permanent connection with the parallel Equestria. Watch." Pulling the shard toward her, Twilight lit up her horn and leaned forward so that it nearly touched the glass. "Open." Almost immediately, a spot of light appeared on the the reflective surface and quickly grew over the face of the shard, filling the lab with an otherworldly glow. "See what I mean? No password spell, no astrological trigger, you'd just have to connect your own magic to it and the portal automatically opens."

"So then Discord was telling the truth about somepony going through the mirror," Rarity said. "Will wonders ever cease."

"Do you suppose Celestia knew?" Cadance asked. "Is that why she kept it?"

"I doubt it," Twilight said. "Unless somepony examined the shard, they wouldn't even know that a connection still existed. That being said, it's a good thing that she did keep this shard. If she had chosen another and we destroyed this piece along with the others, we might have caused another breakdown in the dimensional barrier."

"Yeah well that doesn't explain how they managed to fit through," Rainbow pointed out.

"Hmmm," Pinkie said as she sniffed the shard's edge. "Nope, I don't smell any butter."

"Maybe they used a shrinking spell," Spike suggested.

"I don't think so," Twilight answered as she raised her hoof towards the shard. Contact was made but instead of vanishing into the mirror, Twilight's hoof just pressed against the surface. "See how its resisting me? Now Fluttershy, you try to put your hoof through."

"Me? Oh um, okay." Cautiously, Fluttershy extended her hoof towards the mirror. But unlike Twilight, when Fluttershy pressed against the glass her hoof penetrated through the portal.

"See that?" Twilight asked as Fluttershy quickly retracted her hoof. "It's not just your physical body that's passing through, but your energy and magic as well. Even if a pony had the magic necessary to perform a shrinking spell, it would still be too much for the shard to handle. Hence why an Alicorn such as myself can't pass through but a normal pony can."

"So a normal pony's too big to go through n' any unicorn with enough magic to scruntch themselves down is too powerful," Applejack said. " Ah'm sorry Twilight, but I think we've hit a dead end."

"That's not exactly true Applejack. Even if we don't know how, the possibility that somepony was able to pass through the mirror is a major clue. In order to do so, they'd need to have either the same knowledge Star Swirl had regarding transdimensional travel or be able to determine everything simply from observing the paradox. Either way, it shows that whoever crossed through was both highly intelligent and extremely knowledgeable regarding magical studies. Besides, the mirror isn't our only lead." Twilight levitated the shard off the table as her friends exchanged confused glances. "Spike, our next stop is the study. Do you remember where we hid the notebook?"

"You bet I do," he said as he ran off. "You bring the others up to speed while I go get it."

=Mirror Equestria=

With a hundred thoughts racing through her mind at once, Princess Trixie turned the hall corner but failed to notice the obstruction in her path until her collision with it knocked her to the floor.

"I'm terribly sorry your highness! Are you alright?" Trixie's heart skipped a beat and she looked up at the white unicorn standing over her, losing herself in the depths of his sky blue eyes.

"Oh, Captain Blueblood," she said. "Yes I'm fine. The fault was mine really. I really should have been watching where I was going." The captain of the castle guard extended a hoof to help her up and Trixie hoped that her blush wasn't too noticeable. "Have you seen the other members of the council? I was just on my way to meet with them in the parlor."

"I just saw Queen Chrysalis and Princess Luna heading there," he said as he walked alongside her. "Prior to that I was approached by Princess Celestia and Prime Minister Derpy who said they were going to retrieve a few items from the castle archives. I haven't seen Sir Discord anywhere though." As they arrived at the door to the castle parlor, Captain Blueblood looked around and leaned towards her once he was certain nopony was around. "Your highness, forgive me for being so forward but has he been found?" Aside from Chysalis's guard, Captain Blueblood was the only non-council member who knew the truth regarding King Sombra's absence.

"Possibly," she admitted. "We recieved a message from Discord about half an hour ago from Appleloosa. He said that he had found a lead and that he'd contact us once he had investigated further. Did Celestia and Derpy tell you anything else?"

"Only that the castle guard needed to be placed on standby until further notice. My men were...less than pleased to know that Celestia had issued an order to them, especially since I couldn't elaborate on some of the finer details. I'm ashamed to say I had to practically stronghoof them into doing their duty."

"I see. Well, if Discord is successful we'll need to act quickly. For now just do as Celestia said. I'll alert you as to what action to take once we know for sure."

"Of course your highness." He walked away and Trixie kept watching him for perhaps longer than she really needed to before she opened the parlor door. Inside, Chrysalis lounged on the couch with a cup of tea while Luna was frantically pacing back and forth in front of the window. Chrysalis gave Trixie a knowing smile as she walked in and the acting Regent straightened herself up to look as dignified as possible, though she knew trying to hide her feelings from a Changeling was futile to say the least.

"Something's wrong," Luna said. "Discord should have contacted us by now."

"Luna please try to remain calm," Trixie advised. "I can understand your feelings but Discord's letter only said that he had found a clue. And that clue was a week old at least."

"It'll be alright," Chrysalis assured her. "If it really was Sombra then it's for the best that Discord was the one to find him. We still don't know for sure how taking all that dark magic into himself has affected Sombra. Letting Discord handle it is really the only option we have." Before Luna could further her argument, Celestia and Derpy strolled into the parlor accompanied by two guardponies and a hoofman pushing a cart stacked with books.

"Set it by the table," Celestia instructed. The hoofman complied, but kept a wary eye on Celestia as if expecting her to attack him at a moment's notice. "Thank you that will be all. Guards, stand outside the door and see to it that nopony eavesdrops." The hoofman curtly bowed and hurried off but the guards remained until Derpy gave them a nod of confirmation.

"It was like that the entire way," Derpy said as she locked the door. "If I hadn't come along I doubt even the hoofman would have complied."

"It's to be expected," Celestia said as she began unloading the contents of the cart onto the table. "But more importantly, have we received any word from Discord?"

"None so far," Trixie answered. "We can only assume that he's still investigating. I suppose that in itself is a good thing. It gives credence to the possibility that it really is Sombra."

"Then why are we here?" Luna demanded. "If Sombra's been found then we should be helping Discord search. We'd cover more ground and reduce the chance of his Majesty slipping away."

"And just how do you propose we do that?" Celestia asked. "Remember sister, without Discord neither one of us can leave the castle. Neither can any of the the others without arousing suspicion. So instead of wasting your energy on fruitless worrying, why don't you come help us with a little research."

"Indeed," Derpy added as she pushed up her glasses. "We've talked extensively about how to find Sombra but neglected to make any plans about what to do with him afterwards. Since our hooves are tied for the moment, why don't we use this opportunity to make preparations in case Discord does manage to locate him." From across the parlor, Chrysalis flew over to the table to examine what Celestia had brought from the archives.

"The Reign of King Bullion," she read aloud. "Ancient Equestrian Myths, Grogar's Complete Legendarium. Celestia what is all this?"

"Hopefully, the answer to our problem." As they all took their seats at the table, Luna cast a final glance out the window but finally accepted that her sister was right and joined them. "Now then," Celestia explained, "containing Sombra should be easy enough but restoring him is another matter entirely. We need to purify him of the dark magic he absorbed from myself and Luna and then neutralize it so it doesn't pose any further threat."

"Do you have any ideas as to how?" Trixie asked.

"I might," Celestia answered as she turned to her sister. "Luna, out of all of us, your relationship with my counterpart was the most intimate. Tell us everything she might have told you about the Elements of Harmony. If they existed in her world then they have to exist in ours as well."

The last thing Sombra remembered before succumbing to his exhaustion was the babbling of the desert creek he had collapsed beside. The sound helped drown out the dark impulses that constantly ground at his will and he found himself able to sleep for the first time since he had left the Macintosh Hills. Another day, maybe two, and he'd be far enough away from Equestria that he could finally stop fighting. The last bit of who he was would fade away forever, but his kingdom would be safe and that was enough. He only had two regrets. That he'd never be able to tell his comrades how sorry he was, and that the memory of the mare he had loved would fade away completely.

"Celestia," he whispered, "I...wish I could see you...one last time."

Suddenly, the sound of running water faded into the rustle of leaves and laughing voices, coupled with the dizzying scent of spring flowers. Sombra wearily opened his eyes and to his surprise found himself in the wishing garden of Canterlot Castle. He lay along the far edge, chained to the ground by a collar around his neck. On every tree and bush, tags fluttered in the breeze amidst blossoms of every color. And throughout the garden, seemingly oblivious to his presence, ponies young and old laughed and walked side by side as they searched for a place to hang tags on which they had written their hopes and dreams . It was a beautiful sight. So beautiful that it hurt to watch.

I don't belong, Sombra thought. I have to get out of here. Digging his hooves into the ground, he tried to rip the chain free but the links held firm. In desperation, Sombra attempted to summon his magic but to his shock it wouldn't answer. As the reality of his captivity became clear, Sombra sank to his haunches and watched as the garden patrons indulged themselves without so much as a glance in his direction. Each smile was a piercing sting. Every laugh a mockery. And a cold feeling of resentment began to grow in the fallen king's heart.

"Why?" he whispered through grit teeth. "What makes them different? Why are they allowed to pursue their hearts' desire while I lost everything? Why are their wishes granted while mine was denied?"

"Because the garden is a lie." Sombra looked up in surprise. He was almost certain that somepony had spoken to him just now.

"Just my imagination."

"No, it's not," a voice said as Sombra leaped to his hooves, nearly chocking himself with the restraint around his neck.

"Who's there?" he demanded as his head whipped in every direction. "Where are you?"

"Calm yourself," the voice answered. "We have much to discuss and very little time with which to do it in."

"What do you want with me? Are you the one who brought me here?"

"What you see is merely an illusion I created. But you need not worry. Know only that I am a friend. One who understands your pain as no other."

"A friend?" Sombra growled. "You lock me in chains, torture me by reminding me of all I lost, and you dare to call yourself a friend!"

"Oh but I am not the one who has imprisoned you," the voice laughed. "Look at them. See how they laugh and revel without fear while you suffer alone and abandoned. And yet they are only able to do so because of all that you have sacrificed. But it was always that way wasn't it? You sat alone on your throne while your subjects were free to indulge themselves without any regard for what you wanted. Ironic isn't it? You were their king and yet you lived as their slave. You said so yourself. What gives them the right to happiness while you were denied?" Sombra looked back to his former subjects and realized that he had allowed his selfishness to once again blind him.

"You're wrong. My ponies had nothing to do with what happened to me. It was the sole consequence of my actions and nopony else's."

"It doesn't change the fact that you now suffer because of them. It hurts doesn't it? Their laughter and joy. You gave up everything for their sake but would THEY do the same for you? Yet I fear your suffering hasn't even begun. Not if HE has anything to say about it." Sombra looked up and in the center of the garden, a long sinuous figure appeared before him.

"Discord? What does he have to do with any of this?"

"Do you not sense him? He is close. Very close. You were careless. When you fled from the farm in Appleloosa, you left a trail of magic in your wake. And now, Discord is following it to your location. It's only a matter of time before he catches up to you and then..." the voiced paused as the garden suddenly vanished in a flood of darkness. Something latched onto Sombra's limbs and yanked him to the ground as the shadows pulled away to reveal a circular stone room where Sombra lay atop a pile of straw, his legs chained so firmly to the floor that he couldn't even stand.

"This is the fate that awaits you. Locked away from the world. Stripped of even your freedom. Discord and the others, they seek you out because without you, THEY have been forced to take up leadership in your stead. They want to return you to the way you were not to save you, but so they can be free of their new responsibility. And they will do so regardless of how much it hurts you in the process. Whether locked in a tower or seated on a throne, you will still be a prisoner. And in the meantime, your very existence will be torture at the hands of the very subjects you gave up so much for." As the voice spoke, Sombra noticed a slight buzzing in his ears which rose in volume as it changed into a thousand laughing voices that made his head feel like it was about to explode. And in his chest, the sensation of an icy claw seized his heart as the darkness within him raged against the joy and love that radiated from very pony in Equestria.

"Stop it!" he begged. "Stop it please! It hurts! I can't take it! Please don't let me be taken back there!" As quickly as they rose, the voices faded and Sombra lay panting in a cold sweat.

"Then allow me to help you."

"Help me! How? If Discord is closing in on me like you say, then what chance do I have? I'm as good as caught."

"But you're wrong," the voice assured him. "I know what Discord is capable of. And he knows what YOU are capable of. But he is unaware of what I am capable of."

"What do you mean?"

"When you absorbed the darkness from Celestia and Luna, it changed the nature of your magic. It is now capable of doing so much more than create barriers. And I know how to harness that magic to its fullest capacity. Offer me your trust and I shall help you escape Discord's grasp."

"How?" Sombra asked as his shackles vanished.

"Let me in." From behind the solid oak door of his cell, a dark vapor began to seep in through the cracks in the wood. Sombra weakly struggled to his hooves and stared at the door. Something about that smoke alarmed him. As if he were about to open a cage containing a dangerous predator. "Why do you hesitate? It's true that what you see now is just a vision. But it will become reality if you do not let me in now."

He's right, Sombra thought. I can't go back. There's no longer any place for me there. Slowly, Sombra stepped off the straw and towards the door.

"Sombra no!" Sombra stopped and looked down to where Celestia's crown rested within his cloak. For a second, it had almost seemed as if he had heard her voice calling from it.

"Hurry," the voice urged. "Even as we speak Discord is getting closer." Sombra hardened his his heart and forced himself to continue.

It's just my imagination, he told himself. Celestia has gone back to her world. I'll never see her again. Standing before the cell door, Sombra tried once again to summon his magic and to his relief it obeyed his command, grasping onto the handle as he flung the door open.

Outside of the cell was a great void, vast in its emptiness yet so thick it almost seemed a solid wall. Sombra moved closer and a pair of crimson eyes materialized in the darkness before him, startling him so greatly that he reared back and nearly fell over backwards.

"Excellent," the voice said as a fanged grin appeared beneath the eyes and Sombra realized too late the mistake he had made. He tried to scream but the darkness rushed into the room before his lips could even part, the shock of it washing over Sombra as his restraints were torn away and his power erupted in one massive surge.

When Discord arrived in Appleloosa, he had expected it to be just another routine repair job. Fix some houses, sign a few autographs for the kids, maybe get a bowl of their famous Appleloosan chili. The last thing he expected was to stumble onto Sombra's trail but during his meeting with Sheriff Longhorn, Discord had overheard two of the deputies talking about how a local farmer had claimed to have been attacked by a monster in his fruit cellar. Something about the story piqued his interest so he decided to get the facts straight from the horse's mouth. The farmer's description of the creature was a perfect match to Celestia and Luna's account of Sombra's transformation so Discord had claimed that it was just another weapon of Celestia's that had escaped her castle following the final battle, bought the farmer's silence with an instant bumper crop of oranges, and sent word back to Trixie of what he had found before sniffing around the farm some more. A quick search of the orchard revealed a residual trail of dark magic which Discord had followed south until he found himself overlooking the Macintosh Hills.

"You certainly picked a good hiding place didn't you Sombra?" From his vantage point alone, Discord counted at least five abandoned mines and a dozen valleys. Even if he split himself into a hundred copies; it would take him days to search every gorge, canyon, and mine in the area. And in that time, if Sombra was even still in the hills, he could slip past Discord and the Draconequus wouldn't even know it.
Maybe I should swing back to the castle and pick up Chrysalis, he thought. Her empathy would help me zero in on Sombra's location if he's still nearby.

At least that was what he planned to do before an icy chill stung his tail and raced up his spine.

"Ungg! What in the world?' Beyond the hills, the horizon suddenly drained of color as a column of dark magic exploded into view, searing the blue desert sky into an ashy grey. "Never mind then." Teleporting up to the clouds, Discord extended his eye for a better look and twisted it into focus. A cloud of dust out in the desert caught his attention but when he zoomed in he saw that it was just a gang of outlaws. Something about the way they were running intrigued him, almost as if they were fleeing from something, so he traced their paths south until he came across a scene of total devastation. Fires burned amid sand that had been melted into pits of glass alongside a river that boiled and steamed like a tea kettle. And in the center of it all stood a lone figure in a tattered cloak. "Bingo!"

"Luna are you SURE about this?" Celestia asked.

"Without a doubt," the younger Alicorn said as she tapped at the map her sister had spread over the table. "Celestia told me that when her Discord plunged Equestria into chaos, the Star Swirl of her world sent her and Luna to retrieve the elements. They found them in an underground cave at this spot." All around the table, the others leaned in around the point Luna indicated.

"Is it really possible?" Chrysalis asked. "Could such a powerful force of good really exist underneath that place?"

"If it is," Celestia answered, "then it has to be masking its presence somehow. Otherwise I would have sensed it and destroyed it long ago."

"I don't suppose she also told you how Star Swirl knew about them," Trixie hoped.

"Only that she first met him when he and his apprentice Clover were searching for the Elements as a means to fully unite the three tribes. According to Celestia, he was following a 'beam' of some sort to their location but gave up the quest after meeting her and Luna as he felt that placing Equestria under the rule of Alicorns was the quickest way to inspire the three tribes to coexist."

"It's possible our world's Star Swirl knew of their existence as well," Derpy theorized. "But considering we have yet to crack the code he wrote his journals in I wouldn't recommend wasting our time."

"Precisely why I retrieved these books from the archives," Celestia explained. "Hopefully, one of them can give us a clue as to how to track down the Elements in..." but Celestia was cut off when a piercing shriek filled the parlor as Chrysalis fell from her chair onto the floor, her hooves clutching her temples in pain. Miles away in the Foal Mountains, the entire Changeling Hive erupted in similar outbursts, their cries travelling down the mountain into the pony villages around its base.

"Chrysalis!" Luna cried as she dove to her friend's side. "What is it? What's wrong?" As the others clustered around her, the Changeling Queen opened eyes that were wide with fear and shock.

"So...cold!" she whispered. "So...much...hate! Discord! Discord's in terrible danger!"

The eruption of dark magic cast a shadow across the sky that spread out for miles in every direction. In Appleloosa, ponies and their families cowered in their houses, fearful that the war had returned while at the nearby Buffalo camp; the tribe rallied their warriors to defend their ancestral stampeding grounds. Even in the Badlands, creatures that would attack at the slightest provocation ran for their lives or dug beneath the sands rather than risk facing the force that had just been awakened.

But not everypony that saw the pillar of dark magic fled from it. In the eastern mountains that ran along the edge of the Badlands, three ponies emerged from the cave they had taken up residence in following Celestia's surrender and followed the explosion to its source. From behind the cover of a sandstone outcrop, they stared unbelieving at the lone figure who stood in the the blast's origin.

"Is that Sombra?" the orange pegasus asked. "I thought the rumor was that he was still recovering. What's he doing all the way out here?"

"Who knows," the white unicorn whispered. "Still, I must say his new look is quite impressive." Beside her, a massive white pegasus growled and scraped the ground with his hoof. "Hush!" she scolded. "Flash, do you really think he was the one that caused that explosion?"

"Do you see anypony else over there? You said it yourself Fleur. He's got a new look and new magic to go with it." As they watched, a light flashed behind Sombra and transformed into a shape that was well known to all of Celestia's followers. "It's Discord! Get down before he see us!"

Although he hoped that he could use reason to convince Sombra into returning, Discord limbered up both his hands just in case he had to get rough before teleporting down to his location. But even as Discord materialized behind him, Sombra kept his back to him. Almost as if he was expecting him.

"Hello Discord," he finally said. "I see you noticed my little display."

"Rather hard for me not too," Discord said as he looked around him. "Have to admit I'm impressed. I don't think even Celestia was capable of this kind of devastation." Sombra lowered his head and chuckled. It was such a bitter, jagged laugh that Discord found himself cringing.

"Of course she wasn't. I'm insulted that you would even think to compare me to trash like her." Something here isn't right, Discord thought. Was this the effect of taking Celestia and Luna's evil into himself? He had expected that Sombra wouldn't be his usual self but the way he acted and spoke was so unlike the friend he had known for so long that it almost seemed as though it were someone else. Stay focused, Discord told himself. Remember you've got a job to do.

"Well what do you say we head home," he suggested "Everyone's waiting for us at back at the castle. And I'm sure Canterlot is bound to be more comfortable than here." Sombra fell silent as he turned to face Discord. Although Luna and Celestia had described his transformation in great detail, Discord was still taken aback by how much Sombra had changed. It wasn't just his horn or the dark magic flowing out of his eyes. The way he glared at Discord was so cold and hard that for the first time in his very long life, Discord actually felt intimidated.

"And if I say no?"

"I know you don't really mean that Sombra. You've had a rough couple of weeks and you're not thinking straight. And I admit, I bear some of the blame for that. Rather than letting it go on for as long as I did, I should have blocked off the doorway between worlds back when I first sensed the rift. But I want to make this right. We all do. You don't have to deal with this on your own. Just come back to Canterlot with me and we'll find a way to help you." Sombra's scowl twisted into a fanged grin as his horn began to seethe with dark magic.

"You're wrong Discord," he said as his crouched into a fighting stance. "For the first time in a very long time. I am EXACTLY as I am supposed to be. And I'm not about to let a fool like you take that from me." Well so much for reason, Discord grimmaced.

"Are we really going to do this Sombra?" Discord asked. "We both know how this is going to end."

"Do we now?" A bolt of black magic shot out from Sombra's horn. But Discord''s head split in two, allowing the attack to harmlessly pass through before rejoining.

"You really thought that would work against..." but Discord didn't even have time to finish his sentence before Sombra exploded into a cloud of darkness that washed over him in a flood of icy shadows.

Outside the parlor, the guards heard the shriek and hurried to unlock the doors when they suddenly burst open with enough force to nearly throw them against the opposing wall. Though she would usually beg their pardon, Chrysalis sped down the hall with the others racing after her, nearly stampeding several servants in the process.

"Chrysalis wait!" Derpy called. "We need to think this through."

"We don't have time!" Chrysalis answered. "I know what I felt and and I'm positive it came from the far south! Discord has no idea what he's facing!" She turned a corner and the tall wide doors that led to the royal gardens loomed before her. Her magic threw them open and she ran out onto the veranda where she prepared to take flight.

"Then let me go with you!" Trixie protested. "If you're right then it's too dangerous to go alone."

"I've already communicated with my Changelings," Chrysalis assured them. "A squad of soldiers have already left the hive and are on en route to rendezvous with me. You need to stay here with the others to keep watch over the castle."

"But Chrysalis..." Trixie said as Celestia laid a hoof on her shoulder.

"Go then," she said. "I don't know what Discord has uncovered, but I sense danger in the wind. Sombra will just have to wait until this new threat is dealt with." Chrysalis nodded as Luna stepped forward to embrace her.

"Please just be careful," Luna begged. "I don't want to lose another friend."

"I will," Chrysalis promised. As Luna stepped back, Chrysalis spread her wings and shot off into the sky. In the distance, the green lights of her Changeling soldiers signaled their approach. Hold on Discord, she thought. We'll be there as quick as we can.

Discord grit his teeth and braced himself against the whirlwind of shadows that raged around him. Okay, that's new, he thought as the storm finally passed. Discord opened his eyes and to his surprise saw that he was no longer in the badlands but the royal gardens of Canterlot Castle.

"Sombra?" he called. "Sombra what's going on here? How did you do this?" No answer but Discord could hear somepony weeping not to far away. He teleported to its source and came across Luna, who sat before a monument Discord had never seen before. "Luna? What's wrong? What happened?"

"How?" Luna whispered. "How could you have let his happen Discord?"

"How could I let what happen?" He peered over her shoulder and a cold shock pierced Discord's heart. What he had assumed was a monument was actually a tombstone. And on its surface was carved Sombra's image. "No! No that's impossible! I just saw Sombra! He was alive!"

"I trusted you!" Luna snarled. "You said you'd find him and bring him back. But you decieved me!" Luna snapped her head around and Discord was too taken aback by the hatred in her eyes to defend himself when she fired her magic and sent him flying back to crash into his Captain Goodguy statue.

"Luna," he winced. "Just wait a moment! I swear Sombra was standing right in front of me not more than a minute ago." As a dark mist began to swirl around her, Luna took to the air as the moon suddenly appeared in the sky to block out the sun.

"Enough of your lies! You will pay Discord! Just as this entire kingdom will pay!" The mist swirled faster and faster around Luna until it condensed around her in a blinding flash of light. And when the light faded, Discord stared in horror at Luna's transformation. No longer the beautiful and elegant Alicorn he had known for so long; now she was as tall as Celestia and dressed in dark blue armor. "Hear me and despair Discord," she roared as storm clouds gathered around her. "The desolation Celestia and I unleashed before is nothing compared to the nightmare I now bring. For the night...shall reign...FOREVER!!" From the clouds surrounding her, bolts of dark lightning streaked down towards Discord who threw up his hands to divert the lightning away from him.

"Luna! Don't make me do this!" But as Luna continued her attack him Discord realized he had no choice. With both of his hands occupied with keeping himself from being barbecued, Discord flexed his tail and snapped its tip. Immediately, the transformed Luna's coat began to harden and change color as she changed into a statue. She fell from the sky, but Discord summoned a giant catcher's mitt onto his lion paw and caught her before she could crash onto the hard ground. "There we go!" he said as he set her up. "Now you just sit there and relax a bit while I go find the others and try to figure out just what is going on. First things first though." With a click of his fingers, the moon swung away from the sun and daylight returned to the kingdom as a sudden crack caught Discord's attention. He turned around and to his horror saw that Luna was beginning to crack and crumble before she shattered into a pile of dust.

"Oh no!" he gasped. "Oh no oh no oh no oh no what have I done! Don't worry Luna. I can get you fixed up! Just give me a moment!" Summoning a broom and dustpan, Discord hurried to sweep Luna up before she could get blown away when a sudden whirlwind rose up and began swirling the dust around him.

==Equestria Prime==

As he recovered from the initial shock, Discord picked himself up and looked around. There was no doubt in his mind that something had just attacked him. But what confused him was that he hadn't sensed any magic prior. And just what had he crashed into? Discord felt around him in search of a barrier of some kind but all he found was empty air.

"This...doesn't make any sense," he whispered as the ground next to his foot exploded. Discord yelped and leaped back in surprise as another patch of sand burst behind him. Then another and another until he was surrounded by a ring of exploding rocks and sand that pelted him from all sides.

"What's going on!" he yelled as he curled into a ball for protection. When it finally stopped, Discord stuck out his head but just like before he couldn't locate the source of the attack. "Alright!" he yelled. "Joke's over! Who's doing this? You think you can just rip off my act, use it to humiliate me and not even pay me my due royalties? Just who do you think you are!" But the only answer he received was was the howl of the arid desert wind. "Well enjoy it while you can," he warned. "Because when I find out who you are, you're going to wish I was still working garden detail in Canterlot." Discord prepared to teleport out when it suddenly felt as though a sandstorm was swirling around him. His eyes stung and his skin itched, yet when he squinted open the air was as clear as crystal. "Now you're just being irritating!" But it would take more than that to keep him there. Discord raised his eagle claw and prepared to snap himself out of there only to find that his hand wouldn't move. Then his arm froze as similar patches across his body began to freeze and spread over him until it felt as though he was being encased in an invisible shell.

"Oh no!" he panicked. "Not again! Anything but that!"

==Mirror Equestria==

The tornado of Luna's dust overwhelmed Discord as it swirled around him, scraping him all over his body and blinding his senses. Too late, Discord noticed that it was adhering to his body; saturating him in a coat of powder that hardened and spread across him in a shell of solid stone. In desperation, he attempted to teleport away but found that something was interfering with his magic. As the powder began to encase his head, Discord had time to utter a half scream of defiance before the shell covered him completely and turned him into just another one of the garden's statues. What is all of this? he wondered as a mare's voice laughed behind him. I know that laugh. The sound of hoofsteps approached him from behind and a tall white Alicorn wearing a horned crown stepped into view

"Hello Discord!" Celestia smirked. "It seems I finally found a way to shut your mouth for good." Celestia, he demanded, what's going on here?

"Are you confused Discord?" she mocked. "Is it really so hard for a fool like you to understand? I suppose I'll tell you then. All this time you've been chasing a ghost. Sombra perished in the final battle and ever since, I've been playing all of you for fools." No! Discord thought. That can't be true! Sombra's alive. I was just talking to him!

"Does that hurt you Discord? Knowing how foolish you all were? As you can see Luna took the news especially bad but then she was always easy to manipulate. But at least this way she was finally able to be of some real use to me. To be honest my original plan was to have you destroy each other but you gave me a much better idea. Even as a statue, she still retained her Alicorn magic within her. Of course she never would have shattered if your cancelation of her spell hadn't caused a rebound effect. So I thank you for that."

Celestia! Discord snarled. When I get out of this you're going to wish you were never born! As if she could hear him, Celestia smirked and tossed a pair of broken spectacles at Discord's feet. Those are Chrysalis', he realized.

"Oh and I wouldn't expect anyone to come to your rescue. Without either you or Sombra to aid them, Trixie and the others weren't even a challenge. It was actually quite anticlimatic." Discord's mind reeled from the shock as the sky began to fill with swirling green clouds. Oh no, Discord thought. Not this again!

"Well what do you know," Celestia marvelled. "I expected Luna's tantrum would be enough to irritate the dimensional barrier but I never thought it would react so quickly. Well, I suppose this is goodbye Discord. Though you make a charming conversationalist, I've got two worlds to subjugate. Why don't you relax here and enjoy the show." Spreading her wings, Celestia took to the air as the clouds began to swirl faster and dimensional cracks once more began to tear open the sky. From beyond the castle wall, Discord could hear the citizenry of Canterlot begin to panic as they wailed for him to come save them but all he could do was listen.

"You did this," a voice whispered in his ear. "You allowed all this to happen. You failed all of them."

I...I caused all this, Discord thought. I failed everyone.

From their vantage point atop the rocky cliff, the three ponies watched and waited. When Discord materialized behind Sombra, though they had been too far away to hear exactly what they were saying, Fleur could tell by their posturing that a fight was about to break out. But what none of them expected was for Sombra to suddenly transform into a cloud of shadows that blanketed the entire area. It was too dark for her to make out what was happening inside, but an occasional flash of light from within indicated a brief but intense battle was taking place. And when the cloud finally dispelled and reformed into Sombra, Discord stood frozen in a shell of black crystal.

"Flash," she whispered. "What just happened down there?"

"He defeated Discord," he answered. "That's what just happened."

Once he was certain Discord's will had been broken, the Shadow reverted Sombra's body to its physical form. Though a living glamour was indistinguishable from reality, it was still just an illusion. If Discord had sensed even the slightest bit that it wasn't real then the Shadow would have been faced with an opponent that he had no chance of beating in a direct fight. That was why he had taken the extra precaution of sealing him in a crystal prison in case the glamour failed. I suppose it's fortunate that I wasn't facing the Discord of my world, he thought. He never would have allowed sentiment to blind him like that.

Now that the fight was over, the Shadow took a moment to enjoy his new body. It had been so long since he had known the pleasures of physical sensation. He inhaled deeply the dry air of the desert, crunched the sand beneath his hooves, and flexed the stiffness from his limbs. He could feel the strength in Sombra's body and the raw power of his magic. Was I really once this powerful? he wondered. When he first escaped from his prison in the frozen north, the Shadow hadn't even time to revel in his regained freedom before Celestia's pawns had robbed him of all that was rightfully his. But now they were an entire world away. And with this world's Discord dealt with, there was nopony left to stand against him.

"Yes! I've missed this so much! But most of all," he said as he turned towards Discord, "I missed the joy of crushing garbage like you beneath my hoof!" The Shadow stepped towards the crystal encased Discord, his eyes glazed over with the glamour that had been cast over him. Normally, the Shadow would take his time torturing a fallen foe. But he had other matters to attend to and had no further time for self-indulgence. He'd finish Discord off quickly then move on to the next stage of his plan. The Shadow channeled his power into Sombra's horn which seethed and pulsed with dark magic as he prepared to fire.

"Now perish!" he snarled as the magic suddenly faded. "What?" The Shadow attempted to recharge his magic but nothing happened. It was then he noticed that the world around him was starting to spin. "What...is this?" he groaned as a wave of nausea ran through him. "What's.. happening...to me?"

Stop it! a voice suddenly cried from within. Leave him alone!

It couldn't be. Sombra should have been entirely consumed. How could he possibly maintain any sense of self after being possessed? The Shadow felt his control slipping and realized that if he didn't pacify Sombra immediately then he would be expelled.

"Don't be a fool!" he argued. "You want to be free don't you? Unless you want him to keep pursuing you then this is the only way!"

I never agreed to this! Sombra yelled. Discord and the others have already suffered enough because of me. I won't stand by and allow you to hurt them as well. Now the nausea escalated into a searing pain that burned the Shadow from the inside out, pushing him further and further to the edge until it felt as if he was about to explode.

"Alright!" he relented. "I'll spare him!" Almost instantly, the pain faded as the world stabilized around him. The Shadow felt himself rise to his hooves but something was different. The power felt diminished while Sombra's body now moved beyond his control.

"Discord," he heard himself whisper. "I'm so sorry." So that was it. Not only had Sombra retained his self but he had even regained control of his body. The Shadow hadn't expected this but now was not the time to engage in a battle of wills.

We need to leave now, the Shadow warned. The others are bound to have noticed our presence by now.

"Let them come," Sombra answered. "I can't run from this anymore. I'll accept whatever fate is handed to me."

Are you insane? Do you remember the pain I showed you? Is that really how you intend to spend your existence?

"Well at least I won't be suffering alone will I?" The Shadow cursed to himself, knowing that if Sombra was captured then sooner or later he would discovered as well. But if Sombra no longer feared for himself then perhaps he could still fear for another.

And what about the suffering of your beloved Celestia? The Shadow felt Sombra's head pick up and knew his trap had worked.

"Celestia? What do you know about her?"

More than you realize, the Shadow answered. At this moment, she is in terrible pain. She grieves for you, and that grief is destroying her from the inside out. But it's not too late to save her. Come with me and I can reunite you with her.

"How?" Sombra asked. "The Mirror is gone. And even if I could cross over I..." Sombra's voice broke as a hoof wiped his eyes, "I can't let her see me like this."

But you're wrong. I can not only reopen a pathway to her world, I can even free you from the darkness that torments you. But this is neither the time nor the place to explain. We have to escape before we are caught. But first, Discord must be dealt with.

"I already told you I won't allow you to harm him!"

And I won't. But we have to make sure he can neither track nor follow us. To do so however, you must turn control over to me.
"How do you expect me to trust you?" Sombra demanded.

Because you don't have any other choice. If you don't, Celestia will continue to suffer until she becomes the same as the one from your world. If you wish to save her, if you truly value the promise you made her, then choose now or else your former allies may decide for you. A lone desert wind howled across the desert and Sombra lowered his head.

"Do it," he said. "Before I change my mind."

"Now what's happening?" Flash wondered. After defeating Discord, Sombra had approached him with horn ready to fire when suddenly he kneeled in the sand where he began to growl and convulse. He eventually calmed down but rather than the fierce and merciless figure that had overpowered the great Discord, he now seemed almost broken. It also looked as if he were arguing with himself. "Fleur can you make out what he's saying?"

"Not from this distance," she answered. "Hold on! I think something's about to happen." Again, Sombra started to convulse and when the fit ended, he once more carried himself with his previous aura of intimidation. The three ponies grew silent as Sombra's horn once more began to seethe with dark magic before he blasted Discord with a spell that shattered the crystal that encased him and sent the Draconeequs flying back where he lay motionless. "Did he finish him?" she asked.

"No," Flash said. "It looks like he just knocked him out." As they continued to watch, Sombra once more began to argue with himself before he morphed back into his shadow form and sank into the ground where he raced past them to the north. "Come on! Let's go!"

"Go where?" Fleur asked.

"Where else? After him."

"Are you insane? Did you see what just happened down there?"

"You bet I did! I don't know if that really is Sombra but he defeated Discord. That's something not even Celestia could do. I'm tired of squatting in a hole and hoping Discord or some other goody four hooves doesn't come along and capture us. That guy's our ticket to the big leagues and I'm not about to let the opportunity slip away. So get moving before we lose him." Before Fleur could say anything else, Flash flew off in pursuit of Sombra's trail. Bulk nudged her shoulder and Fleur sighed in resignation.

"Fine," she relented as she climbed up onto his back. Though Bulk wasn't much in the brains department, at least he allowed her to keep up with Flash. "Who knows?" she smirked as he buzzed his wings and took off after their companion. "I might just get the opportunity I've been waiting for as well."

=Equestria Prime=

Once he was certain the fight was over, the Old Unicorn stepped out from his cover. Judging from Discord's reaction, his counterpart in the mirror world must have been through a harrowing experience. He himself knew just what their enemy was capable of from personal experience and it was something he wouldn't wish on anyone.

"Sorry about that old friend," he sighed. While his Discord could be insufferable to say the least, his counterpart was actually quite a decent fellow. But if the scenario was to play out as needed then some suffering was regrettably unavoidable. It was just fortunate that the enemy had failed to consider two things: the side effects of possessing Sombra, and the potential friendship had to change someone like the Discord of their world. But then I suppose I wasn't that much different back then was I? he thought as his magic levitated Discord into the air.

"Well let's head back. Like it or not, you still have a role to play in all this."

With the journal in claw, Spike ran into Star Swirl's study where the others were waiting for him.

"Got it Twilight!"

"Excellent," she said. "Just put it up here." Spike plopped the journal onto a nearby desk as everypony moved in for a closer look.

"So you this is the journal you and Spike found when you came down earlier?" Cadance asked.

"And you really think Star Swirl left this specifically for you Twilight?" Rarity asked. "You really believe its possible that he somehow knew everything that was going to happen?"

"That's my theory," Twilight answered. "As you can see, the journal has my cutie mark on its front cover. Cutie marks are unique to each pony, a representation of their unique and personal talents. The odds of anypony having the same one as mine, even one that existed a thousand years ago, are 1 in a billion."

"Actually," Pinkie corrected, "It's more like 12 in 58,363, 918."

"I'm not even gonna ask how you were able to figure that out," Rainbow said.

"Well if he really knew about everythin' that was gonna happen then why didn't he stop it?" Applejack pointed out. "Especially if he knew Celestia was still sneakin' away to the other world to see Sombra. It he was really as smart as you always say he was Twilight then it seems to me he could 'a saved everypony in both worlds a whole lotta trouble and heartache by just breakin the darned mirror."

"I don't know," Twilight sighed. "But I trust that he had his reasons. All I know is that if there are answers then we'll find them in this journal. Unfortunately there's a problem." Opening the book, Twilight displayed its contents for them all to see.

"Um Twilight," Fluttershy said as he scanned the scribbles, limericks, and random "I hate to say it but I don't think this journal makes much sense."

"I think that's the point," Twilight said as the book was passed around. "My guess is that in order to keep the information in this journal safe, Star Swirl wrote it down in a code. That way he could keep any potentially dangerous secrets from falling into the wrong hooves."

"Wow some of these doodles of Princess Celestia fighting villains are pretty good," Pinkie said as she flipped through.

"Anyway," Twilight continued. "if Star Swirl really did leave this for me then there has to be a way to decipher it somewhere in the library. Specifically within this study. We need to pour over all of his journals and notes and see if we can't find the key within one of them."

"All of them!" Rainbow cried as she looked at the rows of books that ran all the way around the study. "But there's hundreds of them. It'll take forever."

"I'm sorry but if we're going to help Celestia than I'm afraid there's no other way."

"Well no sense putting off the inevitable," Rarity sighed. "Applejack, Cadance, and I will start on the far end. Twilight, you and Spike check the middle while the others take the near end."

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie beamed. "Come on Dashie. It'll be just like Daring Do and the Haunted Mansion."

"Sure why not," Rainbow sighed as across the cavern, the main doors suddenly opened and closed.

"Ms. Twilight," a voice called. "I'm back with the hayburgers.

"Hey it's Pops!" Rainbow cheered as she flew upward. "How about we break for lunch before we do anything else. All this studying has made me hungry!"

"Except you haven't done any studying at all," Applejack pointed out

"Details details."

"Well actually," Fluttershy said, "I'm getting kind of hungry too."

"And while it is just hayburgers," Rarity added, "it would be rude after Mr. Dustmop went to all that trouble just for our sake."

"It's been non-stop for everyone all day Twilight," Cadance pointed out. "We can't help Celestia if we burn ourselves out."

"Yeah I guess you're right," she agreed.

"Besides," Spike added, "you can't tell me your aren't curious to see if Mr. Dustmop's place really makes better hayburgers than Flapjack's diner back in Ponyville."

"Better than Flapjack's?" Pinkie gasped. "I'll be the judge of that!"

"Okay," Twilight laughed. "Half hour meal break and then everyone back here." With Twilight's consent, the group moved down into the depository where Dustmop was unloading saddlebags overflowing with food onto one of the larger tables.

"Hey everypony," the old janitor said. "As promised, a meal fit for a king!"

"Thanks pops," Rainbow said as she dug into the bags. "I'm starving."

"Me too," Applejack added. "I'm hungrier than a hog at Sunday Dinner."

"Well before you all dig in," Mr. Dustmop said, "I think I should mention that your obnoxious friend is back."

"You mean Discord?" Cadance asked. "Are you sure? After all it's awfully quiet."

"Indeed," Rarity added. "Nothing's exploded, come to life, or turned into ice cream."

"Well," Dustmop shrugged, "I think there's a very good reason for that." The six mares looked to each other in confusion but followed after Dustmop as he led them outside the library doors where the Draconequus lay in a crumpled heap.

"Oh no Discord!" Fluttershy cried as he flew to his side.

"What in tarnation happened to him?" Applejack wondered. "He looks like he went five rounds with pack a' soakin' wet bobcats."

"No idea," Dustmop explained. "I found him lying out here when I got back. I guess this time he picked the wrong pony to joke around with."

"Twilight," Spike asked, "what do you think could have done this to Discord?"

"I don't know. Let's get him inside and hopefully he'll be able to tell us." Pulling him up onto their shoulders, Applejack and Fluttershy dragged him into the Library as Mr. Dustmop fetched a first-aid kit from which Twilight retrieved a bottle of smelling salts to bring him around.

"Unngh!" Discord groaned. "What happened?"

"Discord are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.

"Fluttershy?" he mumbled. "Where did...how did I get back here?"

"We were hoping perhaps you could shed some light on that matter," Rarity answered. Slowly, Discord pulled himself to his feet.

"Give me a minute," he winced as he rubbed his head. "Let's see I sensed some dark magic out in the badlands so I teleported there to investigate. And then...then I was attacked."

"Attacked by who?" Rainbow asked as Discord began to bristle.

"I don't know. But whoever it was they stole my act! The very nerve!"

"Hold on a minute," Twilight interrupted. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about chaos!" Discord cried. "They used chaos to attack me! Can you believe it? Me? Discord! The very master of chaos made the victim of it! Well when I find out who's responsible..." Discord paused to snap his fingers but nothing happened. "What the...?" he wondered. He snapped again but still nothing happened. "No!" he panicked as he tried snapping his other hand, then both at once. "No no no this can't be happening?"

"What can't be happening?" Applejack asked.

"My magic!" Discord cried. "I can't use my magic!"

The Promise

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CHAPTER 8
THE PROMISE

==Mirror Equestria==

The last thing Discord remembered was Equestria falling to pieces all around him while he stood powerless to stop it, trapped in a stone prison by a mare he had been foolish enough to think an ally. I caused this, he thought. This is all my fault. And then, the world vanished in a flash of dark magic.

"Discord!" a voice called. "Discord wake up!"

That voice, he thought. The darkness began to fade and a familiar silhoute manifested through the fog. "Chrysalis?"

"Oh thank goodness," the Changeling Queen sighed. "I was.." but Chrysalis could barely finish her sentence before Discord threw his arms around her neck.

"You're alright," he whimpered. "You're okay!"

"Of...of course I am," she said. "Discord what happened? Was it Sombra? Did he do all this?" Discord looked around him and saw that Equestria was still in one piece as well. And if Chrysalis was alright that meant everypony else had to be as well. But how could Sombra have conjured such a realistic glamour?

"I'm not sure. I thought it was Sombra...but he wasn't anything like the pony we once knew. And his magic...ow my head!" Discord's paw went to his forehead and felt something that shouldn't be there. "Chrysalis? What's wrong with my horns?" Chrysalis extended a hoof and helped him stand.

"I think maybe you should see for yourself." Leaning on her back for balance, Discord staggered to a nearby glass pit where two Changelings searched the ground for any clues as to what had happened. He stared at his reflection and saw that both of his horns were now covered in shards of black crystal. "Discord, why did he do that to you?"

"I think I can guess." He snapped his fingers but nothing happened. "I thought so. Those crystals are blocking my magic. I'm powerless." Something buzzed overhead and Discord looked up to see two more of Chrysalis's guards flying over them.

"We searched the surrounding area but found nothing your highness," one reported. "Whatever attacked Sir Discord it looks like it escaped before we could arrive."

"I see. You two stay here and keep searching to the south. If it really was Sombra then that's where he was heading. I doubt he's gotten very far. " The two Changelings flew off and Chrysalis turned back to Discord. "Let's head back to Canterlot. I'm sure Trixie and the others will be able to undo whatever those crystals are."

"By others," Discord asked, "do you mean Celestia and Luna?"

"Of course why wouldn't I?" Discord looked around him one last time and shook the last remnants of the vision from of his mind.

"Nothing. Forget it. Any chance you can give me a ride?"

"Of course," she smiled and gestured to the two remaining soldiers who siezed Discord by his arms before lifting him into the air. As Chrysalis led the way back to Canterlot, Discord cast a final glance at the blighted riverbank that was quickly receding from view. Is this really who you are now Sombra? he wondered. Is this really how our journey is going to end?

==Equestria Prime==

"Wait a minute," Twilight said. "What do you mean you can't use your magic?"

"I mean it's not working!" Discord cried. "Look!" Discord repeatedly snapped his claw but nothing happened. "You see? The floor should have turned into ranch dressing. The books into tap dancing tarantulas. And that table behind you should have turned into a dragon eating watermelon!"

"Hey!" Spike yelled as he jumped away. Twilight put a comforting hoof around him and shot an angry glare at Discord.

"But nothing!" Discord wailed as he sank bawling to the floor. "I'm...UNCHAOTIC!"

"Uh huh," Applejack said.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Discord demanded.

"Just how dumb to you think we are?" Rainbow asked. "You really expect us to believe that somepony beat you up and then stole your magic? Only the Elements of Harmony have the power to do that."

"First of all," Discord corrected, "I didn't say that my magic was stolen, just that I can't get it to work. Second, do you really want me to answer that?" In a rainbow blur, the blue Pegasus flew up to Discord and tapped him on the chest.

"You'd better watch it buddy," she warned. "Because without your powers you're pretty much helpless."

"Quite true," Rarity agreed. "If you really expect us to help you then you'd better mind your manners if you don't want to be tossed out to fend for yourself." Discord scowled and crossed his arms in indignation.

"Nice to know I can count on my friends."

"Aw don't feel bad Discord," Pinkie said. "It could be worse."

"Worse? How could it possibly be any worse?"

"Well you could have a headache as well," Pinkie explained as her tail began to twitch and a flower pot dropped onto Discord's head from above. "See? Just like that."

"Please stop trying to cheer me up."

"It'll be alright," Fluttershy assured him as she applied a bandage onto the bump that sprouted up between his horns. "If you can't get home you can always stay with me until your powers are working again."

"Thank you Fluttershy!" Discord sniffled as he cast an indignant look at the rest of them. "At least SOMEPONY here is sympathetic to my plight!"

"Alright everyone settle down," Twilight said. "Mr. Dustmop, thank you for the food but we need a moment alone with Discord."

"I got you," the old janitor nodded as he walked off. "Just holler if you need anything." Once they were certain Dustmop was out of earshot, Twilight and the others clustered around Discord.

"Okay Discord," Twilight instructed, "tell us everything that happened. Don't leave anything out."

"Well, I sensed a spike of dark magic down in the badlands. I went to investigate. And then I was attacked."

"Attacked by what?" Applejack asked.

"I don't know!" Discord groaned. "First I was blasted with an icy wind, except there was no wind. Then something slammed into me and I bounced off of something that wasn't there. Then the ground started exploding around me and there was an invisible sandstorm before it felt like I was being imprisoned in stone again, except I wasn't, and then whatever it was knocked me out and I woke up here."

"And this thing that attacked you," Rarity interrupted, "you didn't see what it was?"

"No I didn't because there was nothing there!" Discord repeated. "No magic, no nothing! Nothing attacked me and I was still getting hurt!" Twilight rubbed her chin as she thought over what Discord had described.

"Hey Twilight," Spike whispered. "This sounds kind of familiar."

"It's another paradox," she agreed. "Whoever crossed over must have done something to the Discord of the other world. That's why our Discord was being affected."

"Excuse me," Cadance interruped. "I admit I don't have the experience with this sort of thing that you all do, but isn't a paradox supposed to only affect the one who caused it? From what Luna told me that was why none of you could directly attack the princesses in the other world since the one in ours would be harmed as well."

"See!" Rainbow cried as she pointed at Discord. "I knew he had something to do with this!"

"Ah yes brilliant deduction Rainbow Dash," he sneered. "Yes I was behind everything. All this was part of my evil plan to get my flank kicked by somepony who isn't even in the same universe as me just so I could lose my powers and be reduced to a COMPLETE INVALID!"

"Easy!" Fluttershy said as she held him back.

"I hate to admit it," Applejack said, "but Ah think Discord is telling the truth. What do you think Twilight?"

"First things first," she answered, "Spike take a message. Write to Princess Luna and tell her what happened."

"No, don't do that!" Discord wailed. "You think I want to everypony in Canterlot to know about this? I'll become the laughing stock of the whole kingdom!" Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Tell her that maintaining the secret of Discord's condition is a matter of great importance," she relented. "Then ask her to keep a lookout for unusual weather or any other anomalies."

"I'm on it!" Spike said as he ran off to find a quill and scroll.

"Everypony else, until anything else happens, let's proceed as originally planned. Eat your fill, and then back to Star Swirl's journals. If another paradox really has formed, then we need to fix it before it gets out of hand."

"Ahem!" Discord interrupted. "What about me?"

"Well since you're here," Rarity answered. "You might as well make yourself useful and help us search Star Swirl's journals."

"Are you serious?" Discord asked. "This whole thing is Celestia's mess so why should I get any further involved than I already am?"

"Look Discord," Twilight explained, "whoever's behind all this is the same one responsible for your magic being sealed. So if you want to get your powers back then you're going to have to help us save her. Understand?" Discord snorted and snatched a hayburger from one of the bags on the table.

"Fine," he grumbled as he took a bite. "But I'm not putting them back alphabetically!"

==Mirror Equestria==

With Flash guiding them from overhead, Fleur followed the path Bulk bulldozed for her through the underbrush of Everfree Forest. Supposedly Flash had tracked Sombra or whoever it was they had seen in the Badlands back into Equestria Proper. It wasn't an easy trail to follow. As their quarry traveled through the ground the only sign of his passing was a discoloration in the soil that faded shortly afterwards. They had almost lost it while crossing the Macintosh Hills when they were forced to take cover from Queen Chrysalis and four of her Changelings, no doubt on their way to rescue Discord. They had just barely caught it in time to lead them to Everfree where the shadows concealed the trail entirely from them.

Luckily, there was only one place in the entire forest their quarry could possibly have gone though finding their way through the chaotic wilderness presented its own challenges. While it was barely dusk, the thick growth cut off all light, drenching them in shadows through which the bizarre denizens of the forest roamed and screetched. Something squelched beneath her and Fleur looked down in disgust as her slender white hoof sank into a patch of mud.

"Are you sure this is the way?" she grimmaced as she shook off the grime. To avoid any further risk of detection, Flash had led them off the path and deep into the scrub where for all Fleur knew they could be going in circles.

"For the hundredth time yes!" he snapped. "So quit griping and move your flank!" Bulk growled up at him but Fleur lay a restraining hoof on his back.

"There there," she whispered. "Once we're in with our new ally, we won't have to put up with Flash and his disrespect any longer." Bulk relaxed and happily purred beneath her touch. Fleur had always been good at getting stallions to do whatever she wanted. It was why Celestia had recruited her to be her eyes and ears in Canterlot where Fleur's beauty and charm had allowed her to work her way into the grace of Canterlot's wealthiest and most influential stallions. But even as she used her connections to provide Celestia with a wealth of information, her ultimate goal was to obtain the favor of the king himself and become queen of all Equestria. To her chagrin, Sombra rejected her advances for a mare who was the spitting image of her master, something which Celestia seemed most interested in when Fleur reported it. Suddenly, Flash halted in mid-air and dropped to the ground.

"See!" he smirked. "Told you I could find it." Bulk stepped aside as Fleur moved forward for a closer look. Through a gap in the trees, the former castle of Celestia stood on the edge of a cliff. And in the window of the throne room, something was moving.

==Equestria Prime==

Luna frowned as she read the update that Twilight had just sent regarding what Discord had experienced and the utmost necessity of keeping his disempowerment a secret. No doubt put in at Discord's insistence, she realized. The news was troubling to say the least. That another paradox had possibly formed was serious enough but the fact that whoever had crossed over had actually defeated Discord, or rather "a" Discord, meant that they were dealing with a very dangerous opponent indeed. In the middle of her thoughts, Luna's ears pricked up at the sound of approaching hoofsteps and quickly thrust the note behind a nearby potted plant just before Celestia and Kibitz appeared from behind a bend in the hall. As soon as she saw her younger sister, Celestia glared at her in a way that stung Luna in a way that she had never experienced before.

"Sister..." she tried to say but Celestia turned away from her.

"If you'll excuse me Luna, I have important matters to attend to. Kibitz, come." Luna stood aside and Celestia and Kibitz passed her by without another word. Is this how she felt when my bitterness and jealousy caused me to shut her out? she wondered as she watched Celestia walk away. So helpless and alone? If so it was no wonder why Celestia sought comfort with the Sombra and Luna of the other world. Especially when the only other pony Celestia was close to in those days was Star Swirl, who for all his knowledge was never the most insightful when it came to the feelings of others. Whatever hurt feelings Luna felt upon learning the truth, she couldn't deny the role she had played in creating the situation. Something pressed against her leg and Luna looked down to see Tiberius pawing at her hoof.

"Did you deliver the message?" Tiberius pointed back down the hall and Luna looked up to see Celestia's assistant Raven give a quick nod before retreating back around the bend. "Good job Tibbles." Because of his small size and natural dexterity, Luna had sent him to deliver a note to Kibitz and Raven, knowing that Celestia wouldn't notice him so long as he kept out of the open. The note had explained that Celestia's behavior was the result of some form of enchantment and that Twilight and the others were working on a way to undo it. Until then, Raven was to send word to the various committees meeting with Celestia that her ill temperament the result of an ailment while Kibitz was to make sure that all appointments went quickly and smoothly. Hopefully, so long as they kept any aggravation to a minimum, the spell's hold on Celestia wouldn't get any stronger. Levitating Tibbles up onto her back, Luna whistled out the window and Philomena flew in to perch on the windowsill.

"Keep an eye on her Philomena. But make sure she doesn't see you. If anything happens, come and get me immediately." The Phoenix chirped an affirmative and flew off in pursuit. It's nothing at all like back then, Luna thought. Unlike Celestia, I'm not facing this alone. I have Tibbles and Philomena, Raven and Kibitz, and most importantly, Twilight and all of her friends. I won't allow the past to repeat itself. We will save Celestia. And when this is over, there will be changes around here.

"To the Archives Tibbles," she announced. "We'll need to be prepared should the worst happen."

Discord scowled as he gingerly turned the pages of the journal he had just pulled off of the shelf. Twice, Twilight had gotten on his case about how slow he was going. However, Discord wasn't taking any chances. Bad enough that he had lost his magic and been reduced to manual labor in a single day. He wasn't about to get a paper cut as well.

"Really," he grumbled. "If I had my magic I could dive into these books and find what we were looking for in less than a minute."

"Yeah well yah don't," Applejack reminded him. "So quit your gripin' and keep readin'!"

"Applejack please try to be a little more understanding," Fluttershy asked.

"Yes of course," Rarity smirked. "After all, it must be very frustrating for the poor dear. I imagine he feels like a unicorn who's lost her horn."

"You know," Discord said, "spitefullness is not a ladylike trait. It also causes wrinkles."

"What? No it doesn't. Right? He's joking isn't he Twilight? Of course he is. Somthing like that can't be true. Oh my. What's that I feel on my face? Could someone get me a mirror? I need a mirror right now please!"

"Rarity he's just messing with you!" Rainbow told her as Discord smirked in triumph. Don't try to engage me in a battle of sass, he thought. You are sorely outmatched.

"Ms. Twilight," a voice called. "Is everything safe?"

"Oh yes it's fine Mr Dustmop," Twilight answered. "Come on over." From the corner of his eye, Discord watched the old janitor emerge from behind a bookcase pushing a cart on which two cylindrical kettles had been placed. And then there's this guy, he grumbled as he buried his snout in the journal.

"I made some coffee as well as some hot cocoa for Ms. Pinkie and Spike. Thought it might help you all focus."

"Oh sure thanks," Twilight said. "Just roll it up to the desk." Discored silently fumed as he realized the worst part of the whole situation was how the answer was staring them right in the snout and he couldn't say a thing about it. Sensing a presence, Discord looked up from the book and saw Dustmop standing before him.

"Can I help you?" he asked

"Just wanted to say it's good to see your making yourself useful. Why don't you look at this as a learning experience. Who knows? You might just find that not being magical isn't so bad after all."

"Isn't there some latrine you need to be scrubbing out?" Dustmop shrugged and walked away without another word.

"Discord!" Fluttershy cried. "Why are you so mean to Mr. Dustmop?" Discord snorted as he closed the journal and reached for another.

"Let's just say he reminds me of someone I know..."

...From his hiding place beneath the grassbed, Discord spied on his target via a daffodil periscope. He couldn't believe the old coot was still around. If it wasn't for his ability to sense unusual magic Discord wouldn't even have recognized him. Rather than a frail old unicorn, he had somehow assumed the form of a robustly built earth pony elder with a cleanly shaven muzzle and bald crown. But what really surprised Discord was the vocation he had taken up. Rather than a court wizard or even a travelling magician, instead he was selling fruit from a roadside stand.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen," Discord chuckled to himself as the old stallion filled an order for a mother and daughter. He had a feeling that the old stallion and Celestia had experienced a falling out from the last time he overheard them interact, but he never imagined that she would exhile him from Canterlot. As he watched, the old stallion placed the mare's order into her cart before slipping a hooffull of sesame treats to her daughter with a mischevous wink. Once they left, he wrapped a hoof around a nearby coffee cup and took a long sip before peering over his shoulder.

"You going to hide there all day," he suddenly said, "or are you going to buy something?" Discord was taken aback. Well no sense hiding if he had already been found. Unzipping the grass, Discord popped his head out of the turf.

"Not bad old horse," Discord said as he climbed out. "1000 years ago, you wouldn't have been able to sense me even if I was perched atop your head. Still, you don't seem the least bit surprised to see me up and about." The old stallion sighed and poured another cup of coffee.

"I had a feeling you'd show up sooner or later. Besides, after a thousand years not much can surprise me anymore."

"Well that makes one of us," Discord remarked as he picked a banana off the cart and began to peel it. "I must say, you really must have gotten on Celestia's bad side if you'd go to such lengths to conceal yourself from her. And I thought she was mad after my bit with the Guinea Pigs. So, tell me. What exactly happened between you two?" Removing the rind, Discord ate it and tossed the fruit into the air where a passing Pegasus brushed against it and was sent spiraling in a loop.

"I have my reasons for keeping a low profile," he replied. "But I have a feeling you won't leave me be until you find out why."

"It's your choice," Discord shrugged. "But sooner or later Celestia is going to wonder why I keep hanging around this particular corner of Equestria." The old stallion sighed in resignation.

"It's a long story." Discord snapped his fingers and plopped into the reclining chair that had materialized behind him.

"Well like you, time is something I have plenty of. So spill." And the old stallion told him everything. It was such a fantastic tale that even Discord, a being that lived for the impossible, found incredible. Not to mention hilarious.

"Priceless!" Discord cackled as he fell out of his chair and rolled about the ground. "She knew what would happen and and still she went ahead with it! Oh I can just imagine how the pink Alicorn would react if she knew her aunt was dating her empire's worst enemy!" A ring of magic energy looped around Discord's lips, sealing them shut as he looked up and saw that the old pony's eyes were glowing with a prismatic light.

"You will do nothing of the sort," he warned. "My senses aren't the only things that have improved in the last thousand years. Do not give me cause to demonstrate for you." Discord summoned a napkin into his claw and casually wiped the magic from his mouth.

"Oh relax," Discord assured him. "In case you haven't heard, I've turned over a new leaf and would never dare bring shame onto Celestia's name. Especially since she's done a fine enough job of that on her own. Besides, now that her sister's back and with Twilight and her friends always hanging around, it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. And it'll be much more fun watching her try to explain herself. I have to admit though. It does explain quite a bit." The light faded from the old stallion's eyes and his eyebrow rose in interest.

"What do you mean?"

"Well for one there was all those disturbances I sensed in the flow of Equestria's magic occuring deep beneath the castle. And there there's the distortion in the fabric of Equestria's reality. Almost as if it's being stretched and twisted with something else. It started around the same time Luna came back from her extended vacation and it's only gotten stronger since. "

"I see," the old stallion nodded. "Then the time is almost upon us."

"Beg your pardon." But the old stallion ignored Discord as he walked across the road to gaze out over the rolling hills of western Equestria and the lone spire of Canterlot Mountain that rose up in the distance.

"I have walked the hidden highways, have seen entire universes in a blade of grass, and witnessed the light of creation in a single rose. And now, at journey's end, I find myself back at the beginning."

"You lost me there," Discord said as the old stallion shook his head.

"Nothing, just the ramblings of an old pony."

"Really? Because it sounds to me as if something quite interesting is about to happen. Care to elaborate."

"You'll know it when you see it. Everypony in Equestria will. Since you now know I'm here I suppose you might as well join me when it occurs." Discord smirked as he plucked a pineapple from the cart and popped the top off like a soda lid.

"I might just take you up on that offer..."

...He knew, Discord fumed. I don't know how, but he knew this was going to happen.

==Mirror Equestria==

In all his life, Sombra never imagined that someday, the castle of his worst enemy would become his sanctuary. But he supposed the voice had good reason for bringing him here. Even without Celestia, nopony would enter the Everfree forest unless absolutely necessary. Furthermore, her castle was protected by powerful enchantments that were able to block even Discord's magic, though after what had happened in the badlands Sombra knew that Discord couldn't track him here even if he wanted to. Hopefully, the others would continue following Sombra's original trail to the south. With luck, it would keep them busy until he gained the answers he sought.

Before Sombra, the hallway ended in a pair of heavy double doors which he pushed open to reveal the throne room. It's so quiet, he thought, his hoofsteps echoing off the stone walls. Neither was the silence limited to his surroundings. Ever since the badlands, when the voice had taken over, the darkness's hold on him seemed different. Sombra could still feel the cold rage and hunger within him, but instead of burning it now merely smoldered. Even the voice had fallen silent, having surrendered control to Sombra immediately upon their arrival. Apparently, not only did it require his consent to take over, but doing so for too long left it exhausted. Well, at least he wouldn't have to worry about it causing any trouble.

As he stood before Celestia's now vacant throne, Sombra looked up at the massive portrait of her that gazed down on him from behind it. There were many of them just like it in her castle, at least one in every room, and all of them with the same conceited smirk on her face. It was strange. How could she have turned out so different from her counterpart in the other world, the kind and beautiful mare who had stolen his heart. My dear sweet Celestia, he thought as he touched the crown in his cloak. I want to see you again...to hold you in my hooves...just like that first night...

...Beneath the light of a full moon, Sombra made his way through the royal gardens of Canterlot Castle. Not more than five minutes ago, a plume of smoke had whisped into his study where it materialized into a scroll. And when he had seen who it was from, he had dropped everything and hurried down to the castle grounds. He had slowed only briefly so as to not arouse suspicion by the guards, informing them that he was going for a nighttime walk and asking them to close off access to the gardens so he could have some privacy.

"Hello!" he called. "Celestia? Star Swirl? Where are you?"

"Sombra?" Sombra turned at the voice and smiled as a tall shapely figure appeared from behind a tree.

"Celestia! I wasn't expecting you to visit again so soon." He looked around him but didn't see anypony else. "Where's Star Swirl? I'm eager to see if his beard has grown back yet." He moved towards her but to his surpise she backed away from him. "Celestia?" he asked as he continued to approach her.

"Stay back!" she suddenly cried. "Please...just stay in the light. Don't come into the shadows." Though confused by her behavior, Sombra did as he requested and retreated to the side of a nearby lampost.

"Is this better?' Slowly, Celestia stepped into the open and Sombra realized something was very wrong. She trembled as she approached him and her eyes were wide with apprehension. It was almost as if she was afraid of him. "Celestia?" She reached for him with a shaking hoof and timidly caressed his face and the length of his horn. "Celestia what's wrong?" he asked as tears began to stream down her lovely face.

"Sombra!!" Before he could say anything else, Celestia had hurled herself against him, her hooves wrapping around him as she frantically sobbed into his shoulder.

"Celestia what's going on? Tell me what happened." She didn't answer so Sombra wrapped his cloak over her shoulders and held her. Eventually, Celestia calmed down enough to tell him about the encounter with the Sombra of her world, the torture he had tried to inflict upon her, and the banishment of the entire Crystal Empire. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his heart sick with horror. "I'm so sorry. I swear I would never do that to you." If he could he would go to her world and completely obliterate the other Sombra. But he knew that wasn't what Celestia needed right now. "Is there no hope to restore the Crystal Empire? Can't your Elements do something?"

"Not without releasing Sombra as well. Star Swirl...he says that the risk is too great. With all records of the Empire gone as well, there's no way of knowing the kind of magic he uses or how to defeat it." Celestia sniffled as she clung to him like a child. "The Crystal Ponies...they're lost and forgotten. But all I can think about is how I don't have to face the other Sombra again. I'm a terrible pony."

"No no you're not!" Sombra told her. "You are the kindest most selfless pony I've ever met. Anypony would feel the same if they experienced what you had. There's no shame in it."

"But I'm not anypony! I'm the princess. I promised the Crystal Ponies that I'd save them and I failed. They trusted me...just like my own subjects trust me. How can I rule if I can't even guarantee their safety? What will I do if I ever fail again?" Sombra hummed in thought and stroked her mane.

"Come with me," he told her. "There's somepony I want you to meet." Taking her hoof in his, Sombra led her through the garden until he stopped before the statue of a rearing pegasus in full armor. "Do you know who that is?" Celestia looked up and her eyes widened in surprise.

"It's Silverbolt. In my world he was a ruthless criminal."

"Well in my world, he was the first captain of my guard." Sombra rested his hoof around Celestia's shoulders and pulled her close. "Many years ago, before we met, Equestria was attacked by a great evil. I had just recently ascended to the throne and my accomplishments up to that point had made me proud. I imagined it would be foal's play to defeat the invaders and so I rode out with Silverbolt and my guard to drive them back."

"What happened?" Sombra sighed and hung his head.

"Though my forces were superior in number, the enemy possessed a terrible power that allowed them to overwhelm us. We suffered huge losses and were ultimately forced to retreat. Much like you're feeling now, I was overcome with shame and despair. I questioned how I could be fit to rule if I couldn't even repel an invading force."

"How did you overcome it?" Sombra smiled and rubbed his snout.

"In the middle of my lamentations, Silverbolt trotted up and socked me right in the muzzle."

"He did what?"

"I didn't believe it at first either. But as I lay stunned on the ground, Silverbolt stood over me and gave me a royal earful. He asked me if I really thought being King would be easy or that I was above failure. He told me that there was more at stake than my pride and that I had better rid myself of it if I really expected to protect my kingdom since my subjects were still counting on me to protect them." Sombra chuckled softly and rubbed the back of his head. "It takes a true friend to knock some sense into you. And back then, I desperately needed it."

"I see. So what did you do?"

"Well, rather than raising another host, I decided to assemble a party of my strongest warriors and launched a surprise raid on their castle. Silverbolt was included of course, along with Celestia and Luna."

"You actually sought help from her?"

"Celestia back then had yet to fully master her magic so she was no threat. Still, she realized that if Equestria fell to the invaders then she wouldn't be able to conquer it so she and Luna agreed to join forces with me. Together, we travelled to the castle of the invaders, penetrated their defenses, and fought our way into the center of their stronghold where we seized the source of their power. With their advantage gone, the invaders had no choice but to admit defeat. Our victory however, was not without cost." Celestia looked up to Silverbolt's statue and bowed her head in respect.

"Afterwards," he continued. "despite my offer of peace, Celestia dissolved our alliance and returned to Everfree. Luna however, decided to remain with me where she has been my closest comrade ever since." With his tale finished, Sombra took a moment for Celestia to absorb everything.

"The invaders," she finally asked, "who were they?" Sombra frowned and shook his head.

"Just a nightmare that's best left forgotten. My point is, despite being king, despite all my strength, I realized that at my core I was still a pony. No more perfect or above failure than anyone else. And I realized that I could never protect Equestria by myself because there was only so much I could do by myself. So In the years since I've seen to it that I don't have to. I sought out as many allies as I could and established the School for Heroic Ponies. I wish I could tell you that you'll never fail again. I wish I could even tell you it hursts a little less each time. But I can tell you that you don't have to face it alone."

"But who can I turn to?" she asked. "Luna, every day she pushes me further and further away. And Star Swirl won't bother with anything he doesn't consider intellectually stimulating."

"That's not true," he said. "Your Luna, I know your relationship with her has been strained ever since you two came to power in your world, but she obviously cares for you enough to come to your aide. And Star Swirl is devoted to you. Why else do you think he's stood by you for so long? Then there's your subjects who I'm sure love you just as much as you love them. Also...you have me." Celestia looked up to him in surprise. "I can't journey to your world so I can't protect you the same way I do for my comrades and subjects. I can do this however. Lend me your horn." Celestia raised an eyebrow but she did as he instructed and lowered her head. Sombra did the same, and his horn glowed with magic as he touched its tip to hers, eliciting a startled gasp from Celestia as his magic flowed into her. "It's a portion of my power," he explained. "Use it to protect yourself and those you care about." Caressing her cheek with his hoof, Sombra gently turned her gaze back up to his. "And if you ever need a release from your burdens or a shoulder to cry on, don't hesitate to come see me. I promise, as long as I'm with you, I won't let anything hurt you."

"Sombra..."Celestia sighed as she leaned into his hoof "...I." Around them, tree frogs and insects serenaded the two ponies and the moon gazed down upon them as Sombra leaned forward and met her lips with his...

...In the years since then, Sombra's love for Celestia had only grown. When he was with her, it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. But it was also the most painful as he knew that they could only be allowed a few moments together before they were once again seperated for who knew how long. And now, if the voice was right, the mare he loved was in danger of being lost forever to her own pain. Pain that he had caused her. I can't let that happen, he vowed. I can't hurt her like the Sombra of her world. I have to find a way to get back to her no matter what it takes.

"Hello?" he called. "Can you hear me?" Nothing answered and Sombra briefly feared that the voice was just another hallucination of the darkness within him.

"Yes," it finally responded. "I am here."

"Celestia...how do you know about her?"

"Well," the voice laughed, "I think that should be obvious." Sombra thought it over and his eyes widened in realization.

"You're from her world," he said. "Then, does that mean the doorway is still open?"

"Indeed it is but unfortunately it would be impossible for you to pas through it now. Therefore, we must make another one."

"Another?" Sombra asked. "But how?"

"Through the research of the Star Swirl of your world. We both know that what happens in one world is reflected in the other. Therefore, it's highly possible that he was experimenting with trans-dimensional travel as well."

"Except we can't decipher any of his notes."

"Yes I'm aware of that," the voice remarked. "And I have a theory as to why. As soon as we find the right one, I'll be able to create a doorway through which you can travel to the other world."

"But his journals were sealed in the archives of Canterlot Castle. How are you even going to get them, much less even find the right journal?"

"No need to concern yourself," the voice assured him. "Just return control to me and I will handle everything." Sombra wasn't so sure about that. He could feel that the voice wasn't telling him everything. There was something else it was after and he needed to know what.

"Before I do," he said, "you said you could remove the darkness from within me? How? And what do you intend to do with it afterwards."

"Why I'll take it into myself of course." So that was it. Sombra scowled as he realized that he was just being used by somepony with aspirations to take over the vacancy left by his world's Celestia.

"I won't allow that."

"Are you sure?" the voice continued. "You know as well as I that in time, it will take you over. Isn't that why you fled your throne? To protect your precious kingdom from yourself? You've already suffered so much. Pass it on to me and in exchange, I will reunite you with your beloved Celestia."

"You really expect me to trust you?" Sombra demanded "After what you tried to do to Discord?"

"You mean what WE did to Discord," the voice corrected. "I was only able to do so because you gave consent. If I hadn't, you would have been dragged back to Canterlot where you would have spent the rest of your existence in suffering and isolation. And then who would ease Celestia's pain? Besides, have I not already earned your trust? After all, you would have perished by now if not for me."

"Then...does that mean you were the one who brought me food in the Macintosh Hills?"

"And guided you through the desert. Would I really have gone to all that trouble if my intentions were not sincere?" Sombra didn't believe a word. It was all just a little too convenient.

"Who are you?" He finally demanded. "Even if you seek to benefit, why would you go to all this trouble just to offer me aide?"

==Equestria Prime==

Twilight sighed as she laid the final journal back on the shelf. Around the study, the others lay scattered in various states of fugue amidst piles of Star Swirl's notes. Time had slipped away from her but she imagined it had to be close to sunset up above.

"Well that's it," Spike said as he lay on top of a pile of books. "We've been though every journal in the study and we still couldn't find anything."

"I feel like my head's about to explode," Fluttershy said as she rubbed her temples.

"I don't think I'll read anything ever again," Cadence groaned.

"Girls we can't give up," Twilight said. "So let's put our heads together and think. There's got to be something we're not seeing here."

"We've been through all of them with a fine tooth comb," Rainbow remarked. "I don't think there's anything else we could do."

"Well we could always ask Star Swirl," Discord mumbled.

"Will you can it with the smart remarks!" Applejack snapped. "We got enough problems without havin' to deal with your attitude as well!"

"Hold on a second!" Twilight said. "Maybe Discord is on to something."

"He is?" Spike asked.

"I am?"

"Twilight dear you're not considering using a time travel spell are you?" Rarity asked. "Remember what happened last time."

"Not quite," Twilight answered. "We can't ask Star Swirl for help but maybe we can ask somepony just like him. Pinkie, come here a moment."

"Okey dokey!" Pinkie beamed as she leapt to her hooves and bounded towards Twilight. "What's up?"

"I need you to play a little game with me?"

"What kind of game?" Twilight's horn lit up and a fluffy pink beard sprouted from Pinkie's chin. "Oooh! Sagey!"

"Now Pinkie," Twilight explained, "pretend that you're Star Swirl the Bearded. You want to leave a message for us. But you're afraid that the wrong pony might use it for some evil plan so you need to write it in code to keep it safe. Now, what sort of code would you write the message in?" Setting the journal on Star Swirl's desk, Twilight moved aside so Pinkie could examine it more closely.

"Hmmm," Pinkie hummed as she stroked her beard. "This is a toughie."

"Are you really sure this is going to work?" Cadance asked.

"If there's one thing I've learned from living in Ponyville," Twilight answered. "It's to never underestimate Pinkie Pie."

"Especially when it comes to the impossible," Rainbow added.

"Or things falling from the sky," Spike added.

"I don't believe it," Discord said. "If she actually manages to pull this off, I'll parade through Equstria in a frilly pink dress." Meanwhile, oblivious to the other's comments, Pinkie continued to flip through the pages of Star Swirl's mystery journal. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she slammed the book closed.

"I've figured it out Twilight."

" 'Atta girl Pinkie!" Applejack cheered. "So what's the code?"

"None whatsoever!"

For several seconds, the only sound was the chirp of cave crickets.

"Told you," Discord smirked.

"Wait a minute," Twilight gasped. "Could it be?" Snatching the journal back from Pinkie, Twilight stared at it with widening eyes. "Of course!" she laughed. "It's so obvious! Pinkie you're a genius!"

"Is that what I'm role playing as next?" Pinkie asked as she peeled off the beard.

"Twilight are you okay?" Spike asked

"I'm better than okay! Don't you get it? There is no code. All these drawings and ramblings, they're just a distraction."

"Um, I don't understand," Fluttershy said. "What are they a distraction for?"

"Yeah," Rainbow added. "If all this is meaningless than what the hay is this thing for anyway?"

"Just watch." Twilight dipped her horn towards the book and activated her magic. The light flowed into the paper and as the others watched in amazement, the pages lit up with glowing text.

"Uh, Sugarcube," Applejack asked. "What's going on here?"

"Phantom ink," Cadance gasped. "It's a type of invisible ink. It remains blank until you channel magic into it and then it lights up."

"Not only that," Twilight added, "the recipe is so simple you don't even need to be a unicorn to make it. And because it remains inert until charged with magic, it can't be detected."

"Ah get it," Applejack said. "Because it's a foal's trick, Star Swirl knew it'd be the last thing anypony'd expect him to do."

"So," Rarity asked, "shall I schedule your fitting for next tuesay?"

"Can this day get any worse?" Discord wondered as Twilight scanned the journal's contents.

"Everyone listen to this," Twiligh said as she began to read aloud. "If you're reading this then you've unlocked the secret of the journal. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I had to ensure that the information in these notes remained hidden until the time was right. I'm well aware that despite the mirror being shattered, somepony managed to cross over into the other Equestria."

"Okay," Applejack said, "this is gettin' spooky."

"But before you can face your opponent," Twilight continued, "there are a few things you must do. Now as you're probably aware, the mirror works by twisting space and time into a whirlpool which forms a tunnel through which one can safely travel through the todash, the empty space between worlds. In the years since I first created it, my experiments with the mirror revealed that through it's basic workings, it has the ability to manipulate time within it's structure, allowing one to actually 'see' past reflections. Written below are the spells I've created that allows one to utilize this ability. Use it to study your enemy. Spike, bring me the mirror."

"On it," Spike said as he rushed to the desk. "Here you go."

"Okay then," she announced as Spike laid it on the gound before her. "Let's see who we're dealing with." Twilight's horn lit up as she leaned forward and cast Star Swirl's spell onto the shard. The others moved in for a closer look and to their amazement, images of themselves from earlier in the day played in reverse across the surface.

"It's working Twilight," Fluttershy said as the images began to run faster. "But how long do you plan to go back?"

"Well, according to Luna," Twilight answered, "Celestia's nightmare occured about four nights ago. She usually goes to bed around 10 PM if no urgent business requires her attention so we'll start from there and work our way forward in fifteen minute increments." After around five minutes, the images started to slow and finally stopped to reveal the darkened bedroom of Celestia. From the angle of the reflection, they could just barely make out the edge of the Princess's bed along the shard's left edge. "Allright, let's move forward." Twilight cast the fast forward spell again and the images in the glass sped ahead until it reached 10:15. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary so Twilight moved on to 10:30 and then on to 10:45. Bit by bit they advanced through the night but saw nothing that could explain who their opponent was or what they had done to Celestia.

"Okay then," Twilight sighed, "let's move on to 3:45."

"Wait a minute," Discord suddenly said. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Rainbow asked.

"Something was moving by Celestia's bed. Go back a little bit." Twilight cast the rewind spell and the reflection moved back a few seconds. "There. Right there." Twilight bent down to where Discord was pointing and saw a dark mass floating up from the floor onto the foot of Celestia's bed.

"Yeah I see it," Applejack said. "What is that a shadow?"

"No," Rarity said. "It's too thick. It looks more like smoke to me."

"No!" Twilight heard Cadance whimper as she backed away. "No it can't be!" Twilight looked to Cadance and saw that the pink Alicorn's face had grown an expression of complete terror.

"Cadance what's wrong?"

"Um Twilight," Spike stammered, "I really think you should take a look at this!" Twilight turned around and saw that her friends were sporting the same look of shock and and fear that Cadance had.

"Spike? Girls? What's the matter?" Rainbow Dash pointed back towards the shard and Twilight saw that the angle of the mirror's reflection had shifted. She watched as whatever had siezed the shard maneuvered it to catch the image of a dark form that reered up from the floor. And in the shadow's center, a pair of crimson eyes overflowing with dark magic stared back at her. "Oh....no!"

==Mirror Equestria==

"Why?" the voiced asked "Well why wouldn't I?" All around Sombra, the throne room began to shimmer and fade as a wall of darkness enveloped him. Hoofsteps echoed behind him and Sombra turned around as a Unicorn that was his mirror image stepped out of the shadows. "After all...we're practically brothers."

All I Ever Wanted

View Online

All I Ever Wanted

=Equestria Prime (some years prior)=

In the dark of the night, a full moon shone down on the forest as a lone owl glided through the treetops on noiseless wings. In the shadows of the underbrush, crickets played their song and fell silent as a hungry Timberwolf sniffed the litter in search of potential prey. Behind him, a twig crunched beneath a hoof and the Timberwolf turned to snarl at the old Unicorn who emerged from behind a tree.

"Go on now," he ordered. "I've no time to play tonight." The Timberwolf whined as he flattened his ears but ultimately turned and vanished into the scrub without protest. Continuing on his way, the Old Unicorn's magic shoved a low hanging branch aside and at last saw his destination. Before him was a clearing, the center of which was dominated by a giant oak known as the Grandfather of the Woods. According to legends told in the nearby Earth Pony village, the Grandfather was the ancestor of every tree in the forest and was nearly as old as the Royal Pony Sisters. They also said that the Grandfather would grant the wish of anypony that planted one of its acorns. If so, then the ancient oak possessed incredibly powerful magic. The kind that could restore a life that been shattered long ago.

At the Grandfather's base, the old unicorn used his magic to pluck the greenest and softest leaves from the tree's branches and pile them at its base before removing his saddlebag and gently pouring the pink crystals within onto the makeshift bed. A thousand years of searching, he thought, and these were the only shards I could find. Still, at least now he knew how a descendant could suddenly appear from out of nowhere. Still, the Old Unicorn hesitated. If his spell worked then she would be reborn. And that meant in time her empire would be restored, along with Sombra as well. There was nothing he could do about Celestia's paradox but everything else could be avoided if he just left things as they were.

But if I did what else would change? he wondered. The young princess would never know her. Neither would her brother or Celestia. Her absence would change so much in their lives and who knew how many others. The Old Unicorn looked up at the Grandfather. Without it, the entire forest would never have come to be. All the years of its life had brought it to this moment and the Old Unicorn smiled as he realized the choice had already been made.

"Whatever will be will be," he decided. "Let us begin." The Old Unicorn began the spell and the Grandfather's leaves began to shine with lines of golden light. The light flowed out the leaves into the branches, trickled down the trunk and onto the ground where it began to pool around the crystals. The Old Unicorn grit his teeth as he increased his effort and a sudden wind rose to circle the clearing. Now the light was flowing up onto the leaf bed to be absorbed by the crystals which began to pulse with a pink light. The light's rhythm intensified in both speed and intensity as the crystals started to melt and fuse into a single form while the breeze circling the clearing rose to a tempest that howled with the fury of the ages. Cords bulged in the wizard's neck as the strain rose to unbearable levels until finally, a blast like thunder tore through the clearing and all was silent. With sweat dripping off his beard, the Old Unicorn heaved in exhaustion as he looked down and his eyes widened in shock.

On the leaf pile where the crystals had lain was a newborn foal. But while she had inherited the pink coat of her previous form, her once rose mane was now stripped with purple and gold. But most surprising was the wings on her back despite the absence of a horn. I don't understand, he thought. She was a unicorn in her past life and the power of the Grandfather combined with my own should have been enough to turn her into an Alicorn. So why was she reborn as a Pegasus? The foal started to cry and he decided answers could wait until later. Removing a blanket from his saddlebag, the Old Unicorn swaddled the foal and suddenly heard voices approaching through the wood.

"Are you sure it's coming from over here?" a stallion asked.

"You saw that light same as me," a mare answered. "And I'm telling you I hear a baby crying." The Old Unicorn's gaze shifted between the foal and the approaching voices before retreating into the shadows where a camouflage spell concealed his presence just before a pair of Earth Ponies stepped into the clearing.

"Dear look!" the mare cried as she rushed over to the foal. "You poor little dear! Don't worry you're safe now."

"But where did she come from?" the stallion asked. "I don't think anypony would leave a newborn all alone in the middle of the woods."

"It had to be the Grandfather," the mare said. "We've been wishing for a child of our own and it gave us one." From his hiding place, the Old Unicorn heard the foal coo happily in the mare's hooves and decided this was meant to be as well. After all, the young princess had to earn her wings so it was only fair that the little foal should earn her horn as well. "Are you hungry little one? Dear, let's take her home and get her something to eat."

"Well," the stallion mused, "we can't just leave her here. I suppose we could look after her until we find her parents."

"We already have." Slipping the foal into her saddlebag, the mare went on ahead while the stallion lingered for a moment. When nopony else appeared, he gazed up at the Grandfather and shrugged before following after his wife. Once he was certain they were out of earshot, the Old Unicorn emerged from his hiding place and stood before the ancient oak.

"Thank you old Grandfather." As if in reply, an acorn fell from a branch and bounced off something left behind in the leaf bed. The Old Unicorn bent down and pushed aside a leaf to reveal a single crystal shard. So that was why the spell had failed. But why had this particular shard not merged with the others? He levitated it in front of his snout and a small light shone from within. Could her consciousness have survived the fracturing of her body? But if so why did she resist?

"Amore," he wondered, "what is it you want me to do?"

=Equestria Prime (Present Day)=

"AAAAHH!" Pinkie and Spike screamed as they ran in circles. "What are we gonna do what are we gonna to do what are we gonna do!?"

"This is bad!" Rainbow fretted overhead. "This is bad this is bad this is very very bad!"

"Everyone," Twilight yelled over the panic,"just stop a minute!"

"Of all the worst things that could possibly happen," Rarity wailed as she and Applejack shivered in each other's hooves, "this is the worst possible thing!"

"For once I agree with you!" Applejack gulped.

"Oh my," Discord tittered while Fluttershy cowered behind him, "this actually makes me feel a little better." Reaching down, Discord seized Pinkie by the tail as she ran by and lifted her up. "Excuse me Pinkie?"

"AAAAAAH!" Pinkie screamed. "Yes Discord?"

"Do you have any popcorn I could borrow?"

"Of course," Pinkie answered as she pulled out a cartoon. "I always carry some in case of emergency." Taking the carton, Discord set her back on the ground.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. AAAAAH!" Twilight rubbed her temple in frustration and felt someone's hoof rest upon her shoulder.

"Let me try," Cadance suggested. Twilight stepped aside as the pink Alicorn took a deep breath. "QUIET!!" Immediately, everpony fell silent. "Thank you."

"Party pooper," Discord muttered.

"How?" Twilight asked.

"Luna gave me lessons in the Royal Canterlot Voice," Cadance explained. "She said it would help keep your brother in line."

"Oh. Okay then. Now everyone, I know this looks bad but this is no time to panic."

"Twight dear," Rarity interrupted, "forgive me but...ARE YOU CRAZY!?"

"Sombra's back," Rainbow counted off, "he's running loose in the other world, he's started another paradox, Celestia's been put under his spell. This is a PERFECT time to panic!"

"Which is exactly why we can't afford to. This isn't just a matter of saving Celestia anymore. I don't know how Sombra found out about the mirror, but possibly both our worlds are in real danger if we don't find a way to stop him."

"Okay but how?" Spike asked. "Sombra's in the other world where we can't even touch him. He's totally got the advantage."

"But we have an advantage of our own," Twilight reminded them as she levitated Star Swirl's journal before them. "Somehow Star Swirl knew this was going to happen and that's why he left us this notebook. Sombra doesn't know about it and that gives us an edge. I say we trust Star Swirl's judgment and follow whatever plan he set out for us."

"Well," Applejack shrugged, "Ah reckon it'll take a wizard to beat a wizard. Let's do it."

"Actually Sombra's a sorcerer," Twilight corrected. "Real wizards don't use black magic. Now let's rewind the mirror and see if we can't figure out what he did to Celestia."

"Sneaking into a lady's boudoir while she's sleeping,"Rarity shuddered. "How dreadful!"

"And this was inspired by a kid's comic?" Pinkie wondered. "What is up with our fanbase?"

"I find it's best not to think about it," Discord advised. "Now can we move this along so I can get my powers back!"

"Couldn't we just let the Royal Guard handle this one while we find a bed to hide under?" Fluttershy suggested.

"What do you think?" Rainbow answered. Fluttershy whimpered and reluctantly joined the others.

=Mirror Equestria=

Though the darkness around Sombra was devoid of any warmth, it was nothing compared to the cold shock at the pony who now stood before him. "You're the other Sombra," he finally whispered. "The one from Celestia's world. But she said you were destroyed."

"Not destroyed. Just...diminished. Now, as I was..." but the Other was cut off by Sombra's scream of rage as a ray of black magic burst from his horn to shatter him into fragments of shadow.

"Where are you!" Sombra yelled. "Show yourself!" The darkness pulsed as if alive and Sombra felt the Other's presence all around him.

"That was very rude! Is this really how you show your gratitude to your allies?"

"Silence! Face me you coward!" The ground suddenly heaved beneath him and before Sombra could evade, a great claw of darkness seized him in its grasp, raising him into the air as a giant head manifested from the shadows.

"Enough! I did not come here to fight so why do you act as if I was your enemy!"

"You dare!" Sombra snarled. "After what you did to Celestia...you show yourself to me and claim to be an ally!"

"What I did to Celestia?" the other asked. "Oh that. Come now. That matter has no bearing between us. You would really reject my help over such a trivial matter?" Sombra bared his teeth and struggled against the Shadow's grip as the Other lowered his face towards him. "I think perhaps you need to be reminded of your situation." The claw whipped itself back and Sombra was tossed away, the darkness shattering like glass to be replaced with a blinding light. Sombra slammed into the ground and painfully climbed to his hooves as his eyes adjusted and saw that he was standing in the middle of a growth of trees. What is this? he wondered. And why does this place look familiar? Sombra tripped over an exposed root and nearly fell face first into a puddle before he caught himself. And when he noticed his reflection, he froze.

"My face!" No longer was his appearance tainted by the darkness he had absorbed from the princesses of his world. His horn had returned to its original form, his eyes no longer burned with black magic, even his crown and robe had been returned. As he continued to stare at his restored visage, something rustled in a nearby bush and Sombra looked up as a beautiful little unicorn filly leapt out in pursuit of a butterfly. Her coat was pure white and her mane striped with black, yellow, and indigo. And once she saw him, her face lit up in joy as she raced forward to throw her hooves around his.

"Poppa!" Poppa? he thought. "Momma said you'd be late but I knew you'd make it." The filly released him and Sombra watched as she ran back to the bush she had appeared out of. "Come on Poppa, Mama's over here." Sombra followed after her and peered out upon the Wishing Garden of Canterlot Castle where Celestia, her hair glinting in the sunlight, lay on a blanket with the filly he had just met nestled by her side. "See Momma. I told you he would come."

"Yes you were right," Celestia laughed as she winked at him. A cold chill raced up Sombra's spine and he looked behind him to see the Other floating over his shoulder.

"Why do you hesitate?" he asked. "You don't want to keep them waiting do you?" Sombra scowled and looked away.

"How much of a fool do you take me for? This is just another of your illusions isn't it."

"Not an illusion," the Other corrected, "but a vision. This is the life that awaits you. The life you always wanted. The life I can give you."

"And let me guess, after taking my darkness you also plan to take my place in this world so I can go to Celestia's." It was the same deal the Celestia of his world had tried to force upon him.

"It's well we understand one another. But then we are very much alike aren't we?"

"We are nothing alike!" Sombra snapped. Overhead, the clear blue sky began to darken with clouds as a wind began to sway the surrounding trees back and forth. "You're a monster who spreads suffering for his own amusement. You abuse and trample the weak for your own selfish ambitions and still have the gall to call yourself a king." Now the sky overhead was completely black as bolts of lightning erupted from the clouds as the wind rose to such intensity that entire tree limbs began to crack and break. "And you hurt Celestia! With my face! Because of you she was afraid to even approach me!" A searing pain struck his temple and Sombra fell to his knees. His eyes began to burn and Sombra reached up to feel that his horn had once more reverted to a curved blade. The Other chuckled and the world began to shimmer and melt around them.

"I don't deny your final argument. But as for everything else, isn't that exactly what you did?" Sombra looked up as the world stabilized and saw that they were now in the Castle's Monument Garden. Before them was Discord's Captain Goodguy statue. And standing beneath it was Discord and himself. I remember this night, Sombra thought. It was the night he had taken Celestia to the Wishing Garden. The same night Discord had discovered the cause of the dimensional disturbance he had sensed in their world...

..."What were you thinking?" Discord demanded.

"Discord please," Sombra begged, "just let me explain."

"And I can't wait to hear it," Discord said with a roll of his eyes. "I should have known. That other Star Swirl, he told us what could happen if someone from the other world crosses over too much. Why would you two do something so reckless?" Sombra turned away to stare at the base of the statue where Celestia had vanished back into her world.

"Discord...I love her. And she loves me. How could that possibly cause harm to either of our worlds?" Discord rubbed his eyes and shook his head.

"Sombra, think about this for a minute. Just how long do you think you can keep this up? Even if you and her weren't aggravating the paradox, how could this possibly work? You can't be with her except for a few minutes at a time unless one of you gives up your throne. And I don't think either of you are prepared to do that. One way or another this is going to end in heartbreak or worse." Sombra lowered his head but didn't reply.

"Discord," he finally asked, "you can sense the rift can you not?"

"Yes that's right."

"Is there any way you can heal it as well?"

"Sombra that's not..."

"Can you or can you not?" Sombra repeated.

"No I can't," Discord answered. "At least not entirely. Parts of Celestia's world and ours have permanently fused and my magic only affects our world. At best, all I can do is pull back the parts which are only tangled together."

"Then do it. And don't tell any of the others about this."

"Sombra..."

"Discord!" Sombra snapped. "I gave you an order." The garden fell silent as Discord's face went blank with shock before twisting into cold anger.

"As you wish...Your Majesty."..."

...As Sombra and the Other watched, the image of Discord passed by them and Sombra was taken aback by the hurt and anger on the face of the his longtime friend. "You say I'm selfish?" the Other asked as the world began to shift once more. "But who was it that endangered two entire worlds for the sake of his infatuation? Who was it that forced one he called friend into covering up his mistake? But I don't blame you. After all what sort of friend would forbid you to seek happiness?"

"You're wrong," Sombra argued. "Discord was just looking out for me. I apologized and Discord...he said he understood. He said he would keep the rift from getting any worse so long as Celestia and I kept our reunion to once a year. And as hard as it was I kept my promise. "

"And yet it wasn't enough was it? Especially on those nights when you lay alone in bed, longing to feel Celestia beside you. That's why you sought to harness the rift for yourself, to create an interstice between her world and yours. That way you could be with each other without crossing between worlds. The dimensional balance would no longer be aggravated and neither of you would have to abandon your subjects. If only you could have deciphered the notes seized from the Star Swirl of this world. Unfortunately, your so called friends failed you once again." The world stabilized once more and now they were in Sombra's study. His past self sat behind the desk with his head bowed and his hooves pressed together while Luna stood on the other side....

..."And you still haven't been able to decode Star Swirl's journals?" Luna shook her head and Sombra grimaced behind his hooves. "Very well then. Return them to the archives. We'll try again later."

"Sombra I fear it won't make any difference no matter what we try. Star Swirl the Goateed's notes don't match any language or magical style that I'm familiar with. Nor does there seem to be any pattern or rhythm to them that could indicate a key."

"We'll solve it somehow," he told her. "He wouldn't have gone to such trouble unless he discovered something worth protecting."

"And then what?" Luna asked. "This is all based on chance. There's nothing to prove that the Star Swirl of our world was performing the same research as the one from Celestia's. And even if he was, how do you expect to use it? The other Star Swirl, he told us that crossing over between our worlds had the potential to destroy them both if not used carefully. How do you know that creating an interstice won't cause the same effect?"

"Luna!" Sombra snapped. Luna fell silent and retreated backward, but Sombra didn't seem to either notice or care. "Leave now."

"Yes your Majesty," Luna said as she half fled from the study. Once he was alone, Sombra growled in frustration and knocked the clutter on his desk to the floor. Why did it have to be this way? Why did he have to fall in love with a mare he couldn't even be with? Rising from his desk, Sombra stepped out onto the balcony to clear his head. If only the other Star Swirl hadn't disappeared. Perhaps he could have unlocked the secrets of the journals. But considering how he had tried to close off the mirror after discovering Celestia was crossing over on her own, Sombra knew that he would most likely refuse.

If we weren't meant to be then why did we even meet? he thought. I won't accept it. I will find a way. Celestia and I will be together somehow. Overhead , a shooting star streaked across the sky and Sombra wondered if she was gazing up at one just like it in her world.

"Celestia."...

..."You see?" the Other asked as the world began to shimmer once more. "In the end we aren't so different. When we want something, we both pursue it regardless of who we have to trample in the process." The shimmer faded and Sombra found himself back in Celestia's throne room. It's not true, he thought as his body began to shake and his horn crackled with dark magic. I'm not like him. I just...

"All my life," he whispered, I've served others. First as a knight in the court of King Bullion, then as King of Equestria. I never once wished for anything for myself. I simply decided that it was my fate to ensure the happiness of others. And I took consolation in knowing that doing so allowed my subjects to live their lives free of suffering and fear." Sombra grit his teeth as his emotions began to churn inside of him. "But then I met Celestia. For the first time in my life, I had found someone who understood the burdens I had to carry, the sacrifices I made. And I wanted to live my life with her. To share in her joy and sorrow, to raise a family with her, just any other stallion." The rage and frustration finally boiled over within him as bolts of black magic exploded from Sombra's horn and seared the walls of the throne room. "I just wanted to know the same happiness as everypony else! Why was that so wrong!" It was then that Celestia's face suddenly flashed in his mind and shocked Sombra back to his senses. Realizing how close he was to losing all control, Sombra pushed the darkness down and collapsed gasping onto the floor.

"It's not." Sombra looked up and in a nearby window, the reflection of the Other gazed back at him. "Despite what you believe, I understand your suffering. Like you I was born in the reign of King Bullion. But while you were raised in the royal court, I spent my childhood in a peasants village. Because I had no rank, no wizard would accept me as an apprentice even though my talent surpassed that of the nobles. So I was forced to seek my destiny elsewhere. And now look at me. Stripped of my strength, my body shattered, a shadow of all I once was. I know exactly how it feels to be denied what is rightfully yours. " Slowly, his body half numb from the strain of his outburst, Sombra picked himself up and stumbled towards the window. "You may detest what I am," the Other continued, "and to be frank, there are things about you I find equally repulsive. But that doesn't change the fact that we need each other. Without you, I cannot regain my true power and form. And without me, the secrets of passing between dimensions shall forever be lost. Like it or not I am the only friend you have left. After all, it's not as if Luna and the others would ever take you back after you abused and used them." Sombra's eyes met those of the Other and the world began to spin around him.

"Even so," he warned. "They're still my friends. I won't allow you to harm them."

"And what threat could I possibly pose to them? Even with Discord neutralized, the Celestia and Luna of your world no longer serve the will of darkness. Then there's the Changeling Queen and your little apprentice. Wasn't this the reason you sponsored her education and ascension to princess? So Equestria would have a leader in the event something happened to you? Against all their power, what chance could I possibly have?" As the Other spoke, Sombra's vision began to cloud until all he could see was a pair of glowing eyes in a sea of darkness. "You need not concern yourself with them any longer. Not when all you've longed for is finally within reach. Now tell me...what is it that YOU want?"

"Celestia," he murmured. "I want to be with Celestia." The Other grinned and all was darkness.

"As you wish...your Majesty".....

..."Your Majesty?" Sombra jerked awake and saw that he was in his drawing room at Canterlot Castle. What happened? he wondered. He was certain he had been someplace else. And there had been someone else with him. But try as he might he couldn't remember where or who. "Your Majesty is everything alright?" Sombra looked up and was greeted by a pale lavender unicorn standing above him.

"Dr. Glimmer? When? How?" The royal physician smiled as she helped him stand.

"You're still tired. But that's understandable. It was a long night but they're both fine. You can go in now." Sombra's gaze turned towards the door that led to his bedchamber and felt as though it were calling to him. As if under another's control, Sombra walked towards it and caught a glimpse of his reflection in a nearby mirror. He looked normal, but for some reason felt like a different face should be staring back at him. He stood before the door and as he opened it, he heard a familiar voice humming a lullaby.

Inside, Celestia lay back on his bed. Her eyes were underlined with bags and her mane was a disheveled mess but she shone with a radiance like never before. And in her hooves, a newborn foal slept peacefuly. "Sombra," she whispered as she saw him, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy. "Lumina, your daddy is here. Don't you want to meet him?" Sombra approached the bed and stared down at the sleeping foal. Her white coat and three striped mane seemed familiar to him but he couldn't understand why. Is this real? he wondered. Am I really gazing upon mine and Celestia's foal? "Do you want to hold her?" she asked. Sombra hesitated at first, but cautiously reached out to accept her. The little filly whimpered as she felt herself passed from her mother's hooves but seemed to instinctively recognize the one holding her as her father and began to coo happily. I can feel her weight, he thought as his vision began to blur. And she's so warm. This can't be a dream. It has to be real.

"She's perfect," he said. Shifting his daughter to one hoof, Sombra wrapped his other around his wife's shoulder and kissed her forehead. "This is all I ever wanted."

In the library of Canterlot Castle, Chrysalis and Luna watched intently as Trixie and Celestia examined the crystals that covered Discord's horns. "So what's the diagnosis?" he asked. Pushing up her magnifying goggles, Trixie shook her head.

"I'm afraid it's not good. It seems the crystals automatically drain off your magic whenever you try to use it. And they don't seem to have a limit as to how much they can absorb either."

"Can't you just remove them?" Chrysalis asked.

"It's not that simple," Celestia explained. "The shards aren't just penetrating Discord's horns. They're deeply rooted in his spirit. If we try to force them, we could permanently damage Discord's very being. Our best hope is to find Sombra and analyze his magic in order to figure out a counterspell."

"But Sombra couldn't have done this," Luna said. "He's no sorcerer so how could he use magic outside his ability?"

"You're more right than you realize," Celestia added. "This type of magic is a lost style that hasn't been seen for nearly a thousand years."

"So maybe it wasn't Sombra after all," Chrysalis hoped. Discord groaned as he sat up.

"Chrysalis, I've tried to convince myself that ever since you found me. But it was him. He looked different, he even acted different. But it was definitely Sombra." A cloud of gloom fell over Equestria's ruling council as the reality of the situation began to sink in.

"If it was then at least we know he's alive," Trixie reminded them. "And Discord, from what you told us, he could have destroyed you. But instead he disempowered you. That proves he still has some goodness in him and that means we still have a chance to save him."

"You could be right Trixie," Celestia agreed. "Luna and I will continue our research into locating the Elements of Harmony while you and Chrysalis see if you can't pick up Sombra's trail. Discord, you should get some rest." Celestia gestured to her sister and the two Alicorns turned to leave.

"Luna," Discord called. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring him back." Looking over her shoulder, Luna shook her head and managed a smile.

"It's alright. I'm just glad you and Chrysalis made it back safely." Trixie left as well but Chrysalis stayed behind. Even without her Changeling empathy, she could tell Discord needed a friend.

"Are you alright?" The draconequus looked up and smiled bitterly.

"Oh sure I'm fine. Sombra's turned into a monster, I'm powerless to do anything about it, and I've noone to blame but myself."

"Discord what are you saying?"

"I knew about everything," he admitted. "I sensed the rift when it first started to form and then I found out what was causing it. But when I confronted Sombra about it, he ordered me to try and undo the paradox. We didn't speak for almost a month after that."

"I see," Chrysalis said.

"Sombra later came to me and he apologized," Discord continued. "He pleaded with me to go along with it, that he had to see Celestia because he needed her as much as she needed him, that he could open up to her in ways that he couldn't with us. I'd never see him look so desperate and pathetic so I agreed so long as they kept her visits to once a year. Since then, I managed to keep the paradox under control." Discord frowned and shook his head. "But then Luna switched sides and with everything that happened, I couldn't keep up. And now look where we are. I should have sealed the gate off when I had the chance. Sombra might have hated me for it, but at least he'd still be himself." Chrysalis smiled gently and laid her hoof across his eagle claw.

"It's probably a good thing you didn't. If you had Sombra might have done something truly reckless. From what Luna told me, he was convinced that deciphering Star Swirl's notes would somehow enable him to be with the other Celestia completely."

"The other Celestia," Discord asked, "did you ever meet her?"

"A few times," Chrysalis answered. "She had a beautiful heart, so warm and loving. But there was a sadness to her as well, a loneliness that I sometimes felt from Sombra as well. I suppose that was why they were so drawn to each other. They bore the same burdens so they understood each other in ways we couldn't."

"It's too bad we can't contact her. She could help us reach him."

"Perhaps," Chrysalis agreed. "But we can't so we'll just have to do the best we can on our own."

Once he was certain his counterpart had lost himself in the dream glamour, Sombra rose up through the layers of consciousness until he found himself back in the physical plane. Hopefully, the illusion would keep him occupied until Sombra could find a way to be rid of him. This wasn't part of my scenario], he glowered. Between the strain of holding the darkness within him in check and the shock of Sombra's possession, his counterpart should have been destroyed. His very essence ground into dust and absorbed into Sombra's own. But somehow, not only had his counterpart retained his sense of self, but was even able to hold him in check. But how? Sombra wondered. What is keeping him intact? As if in reply, Sombra felt something prod his side from within the cloak his counterpart had draped over their shoulders. He reached in and pulled out a golden crown which he immediately recognized from his own world.

Of course, he realized. His counterpart's love for Celestia and the hope however small that somehow he would see her again. Just as it kept the darkness within him at bay, it had also shielded his heart from Sombra's possession. And with it full control of his body and magic. With a snarl of disgust, Sombra shoved the crown back into the ratted cloak and stormed out of the throne room. If I am to gain complete control, he decided, I must break him. I must destroy his hope. For while his counterpart's emotions were an effective way to keep him under control, they were also a threat. So long as he carried even the slightest trace of love or hope, Sombra's hold on him remained tenuous at best. But that was merely the first obstacle that had risen before him. Emerging onto the parapet that overlooked the courtyard, Sombra looked toward the lone spire of Canterlot mountain that rose up from the landscape. By his original plan, after eliminating Discord, Sombra would have then moved on to Canterlot Castle where he would obtain the two items that would enable him to take both Equestrias. But due to the unexpected interference of his counterpart, Sombra was only able to neutralize Discord's magic. By now, the others were bound to have found Discord and were aware of his presence. If he made his move now, Sombra would only have time to obtain one of the items. But if he delayed for too long they would eventually track him here. Either way, if he were to confront any of them, his counterpart would most likely interfere and Sombra doubted he could resist being expelled a second time.

As he weighed what limited options were available to him, movement in the courtyard below caught Sombra's attention and he looked down to see three ponies passing through the main gate; an yellow Pegasus in a black jumpsuit, a slender white Unicorn, and a second larger Pegasus whose body rippled with muscle. I don't recognize them as being his allies, Sombra thought. I suppose that means I can dispose of them without risk.

Flash gazed up at Celestia's old castle and couldn't believe he was actually back here. When had first enlisted as her follower, Flash had his career planned to the last detail. Step 1: usurp control of the Shadowbolts from Soarin. Step 2: work his way into Celestia's confidence and become her right hand stallion. Step 3: overthrow Celestia and take over her operation. Step 4: conquer Equestrian and steal every mare for himself. But after hearing that Celestia and Luna had surrendered to Sombra, Flash had feared that his entire future was gone forever. Now though, thanks to Sombra or whoever it was they had followed here, it looked as if he might just get a second chance to fulfill his rightful destiny.

"What do you suppose was all that commotion in the throne room?" Fleur asked.

"Who knows? Probably just our friend kicking out some squatters. No telling what kind of riff raff would try to set up camp around here. Now come on." With Fleur and Bulk trailing behind him, Flash led them through the main gate and across the courtyard towards the castle's front door. He knocked but nopony answered so he pushed it open. "Hello?"

"I don't like this," Fleur said as she followed him inside. "It's too quiet." Bulk grunted in agreement and looked in every direction as if expecting an attack.

"Don't be stupid," Flash ordered. "Or course it's quiet. We're the only ones..."

BOOOM!

The sudden slam of the door closing if its own accord made all three ponies jump back in fright. A sudden breeze began to rustle a nearby row of curtains and Flash shrugged it off. "Forget it," he said. "It's just the wind."

"No," said a voice. "It's not." Before any of them could react, a wall of black crystal had suddenly sprouted over the door and sealed it shut. Bulk snorted in alarm and prepared to bulldoze his way out when a mass of shadowy vines emerged from the floor and wrapped him in their embrace, pulling the massive Pegasus down to pin him against the ground.

"That's it!" Fleur cried. "I'm leaving!" As she ran for a nearby window, a row of jagged crystal shards burst up to cut her off. Barely stopping in time to keep herself from getting impaled, Fleur attempted to turn around when more shards emerged and surrounded her in a wall of razor sharp spikes. Rather than be trapped himself, Flash took to the air as another batch of shadow tendrils appeared to grab him. They shot at him from every direction but with the speed and agility that had earned him a place in the Shadowbolts, Flash easily dodged and weaved his way through every effort to capture him.

"That the best you can do?" he mocked. As if in response, the tendrils massed into a ball that launched itself towards him. Expecting another easy dodge, Flash shot upwards when the ball suddenly stretched open into a net. Caught off guard by the surprise maneuver, Flash was unable to escape before the net seized him, suspending him in midair like a fly stuck in a web. Once that they were all trapped, a black fog rolled in from the halls and manifested into a towering form topped with the face of the Unicorn they had seen in the Badlands.

"I don't know how you were able to find me," the Shadow growled. "But know that it will be the last mistake you will ever make." From the curved red horn atop its head, dark magic began to crackle and seethe as the Shadow took aim at Fleur first.

"Hey now hold on a minute!" Flash yelled. "Are you really Sombra?" The Shadow halted its spell and turned towards him.

"And what if I am?"

"Well either way you're not with Trixie and the others. And if so, then have we got a deal for you."

"Is that so?"

"It's the truth," Fleur agreed, doing her best to keep her throat a safe distance from the crystalline thorns that circled it . "We witnessed your battle with Discord in the Badlands. It was such an incredible feat that we had to seek an audience with you." The Shadow surveyed the three ponies at its mercy until finally, with an amused smirk, it released them.

"Very well. You have my attention." Shaking off the chill from the shadow web, Flash dropped down to join his sidekicks.

"Let me do the talking," he whispered before turning to the Shadow. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. I'm Flash Sentry, formerly of Celestia's Shadowbolts. This is Fleur-De-Liss, one of her former spies, and that's Bulk Biceps, who was one of the guards here. We were on the fast track to the big time under Celestia until she sold out and...

"And none of which is my concern," the Shadow interrupted. "My patience is running thin."

"Uh...yeah right," Flash gulped. "Long story short, we're looking for somepony to serve. Somepony who can take us to the top and won't sell us out like Celestia."

"So you wish to become my vassals then? I must admit I am not accustomed to those seeking to serve me of their own free will."

"Well," Fleur said, "that's clearly because they couldn't appreciate your magnificence. But we can. Compared to your power and greatness, even Celestia pales in comparison. It would be a great honor to serve your commands."

"Is that so?"

"Exactly!" Flash interrupted. Fleur had another thing coming if she thought she was going to steal the spotlight from him "Me, I can fly clear across Equestria and back in less than a day."

"I used to work the circles of Canterlot's elite," Fleur cut in. "And they never once suspected my true motives. As for Bulk...if you need something smashed you couldn't ask for a better stallion." As if in agreement, Bulk whinnied and pawed the ground with his hoof.

"And unlike the rest of Celestia's followers," Flash added, "we've managed to avoid getting captured. That alone proves that we're a cut above the rest. And why wouldn't you want anything less than the best?" The Shadow surveyed them a moment longer before it's mouth parted into a fanged grin.

"And the answer presents itself," it chuckled as its form began to shrink and solidify into the form of a pony. "I think I just might have a use for you three. Now come. We have little time to waste and there is much you need to know first."

==Equestria Prime==

"A little more to the left Spike," Twilight instructed. Spike turned the mirror shard accordingly as the others gathered around for a closer look.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yeah I guess it'll have to do," she sighed. Twilight cast the rewind spell as Spike leaned over the top of the shard. "Spike don't do that."

"But I can't see."

"Here," Pinkie said as she held up a wall mirror. "Now you can." In the reflection of Pinkie's mirror, Spike saw Celestia's darkened bedchambers displayed in the face of the shard. In the upper corner, a flash of red and orange darted in and out of view as a shadow raced towards the balcony.

"That must have been when Sombra cast the glamour on Philomena," Cadance said. A few seconds later, a black cloud seeped through a window and began to cross the floor towards Celestia's bed.

"And here comes Sombra," Rarity said with noticeable distain.

"Well that explains how he was able to fit through the mirror shard," Spike noted.

"Come ta think of it," Applejack noticed, "he also looks a might punier than last time."

"Well, what do you expect?" Rainbow reminded them. "We totally kicked his flank back then." Suddenly, Discord shoved his way through to press his snout against the shard.

"Give me back my magic you overrated piece of air pollution!" Fluttershy pulled him back and in Pinkie's mirror, Spike saw that Sombra had vanished from the reflection.

"Spike quick. Angle it up and to your left." Spike did and saw in Pinkie's mirror that Sombra was now floating over the sleeping princess.

"Wha-what is he doing to her?" Fluttershy stammered. Spike squinted and saw what looked like a plume of purple smoke pass out of Sombra's mouth which Celestia unknowingly inhaled.

"So that's it," Twilight said as she cancelled the spell. "Sombra infected her with some of his dark magic. It must be feeding on and aggravating her regret over losing the other Sombra."

"And that's why she's been actin' the way she has?" Applejack bristled. "Why that slimy, low down, good fer nothin'...". Leaving the group, Applejack stormed over to the cave wall and kicked it hard enough to make a crack. "When Ah get my hooves on that varmint I'll buck him clear into next week!"

"Well then what are we waiting for then?" Rainbow said as she took to the air. "I'll fly back to Ponyville, get the Elements of Harmony, and we'll blast Celestia back to normal." Rainbow zipped towards the Library's main entrance, but Twilight caught her tail with her magic and halted her in mid-air.

"Not so fast Rainbow," Twilight warned. "It's never that easy with Sombra. Remember all those traps he left to guard the Crystal Heart?"

"I agree," Cadance said. "We can't afford to underestimate him. For all we know, Sombra might have anticipated that we'd try something like that."

"Which is why instead of playing into Sombra's hooves," Twilight continued, "we'll use the Elements only when Star Swirl says we should. Otherwise we might risk harming Celesia even further."

"Well they victory always has a price," Discord remarked, earning him a dirty look from Fluttershy. "What? They're the ones who say it." Spike ducked for cover, but thankfully Twilight was too absorbed in Star Swirl's journal to have heard the conversation.

"So Twilight," Rainbow said, "if we can't use the elements then what the hey does he expect us to do?"

"I'm not sure," Twilight answered as she flipped through the pages. "There aren't any written instructions. Just drawings."

"Drawings of what?" Rarity asked.

"They look like part of a spell circle. A big one too. Hold on. This looks like something." Twilight turned the book towards them and displayed a page on which a full spell circle had been drawn in the phantom ink. "I think we're supposed to cast the spell stored on this page." The others moved in for a closer look, including Cadance who shook her head in doubt.

"Twilight I'm not so sure that's a good idea. This spell formula doesn't match any I've ever seen before. There's no telling what kind of effect it could have." Discord opened his mouth to speak, but this time Fluttershy was quick enough to cover his mouth first.

"Maybe Cadance is right Twilight," Applejack agreed. "It's too dangerous."

"We don't have a choice," Twilight pointed out as she laid the journal on the floor. "But we'll take the necessary precautions." With the journal left open to the spell Star Swirl had left for them, Twilight pushed the others back a safe distance. "Now, everypony keep behind me." Turning back to the journal, Twiight's horn lit up and she cast the spell. The beam hit the journal and a light began to shine from the page that increased in radiance when it suddenly began to shrink until only a pinpoint of light remained

"Did it work?" Spike asked.

"Stay here," Twilight ordered. Slowly, carefully, Twilight approached the book. "I don't understand, it should have...". It was then that a beam of light burst from the page and struck Twilight's horn, filling the library with a blinding flash. Once his eyes adjusted, Spike blinked them clear as he looked up and saw Twilight sitting motionless before them.

"Twilight!" he yelled as the entire group ran to her side. Her eyes were glazed over with a white light and her mouth hung open, but she didn't answer. "Twilight!"

(Special thanks to FountainStrainger for allowing me to use her OC Princess Lumina)

Full Circle

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==Equestria Prime (A little over 1000 years ago)==

Wind screamed through the rocky hills and the snow filled valley. For the last few years, winters in the Unicorn Kingdom had steadily become colder and longer. Some said it was the work of evil spirits. Others blamed the Pegasi. Whatever the reason, it mattered little to the lone colt who fought his way through the blizzard. Snow clung to his grey coat and black mane until he nearly blended in with the snow drifts while each breath stabbed his lungs with a thousand frozen needles.

With teeth clenched against the cold, Sombra dragged himself up a snowbank when a cave suddenly came into view. The sight restored his fading strength and he stumbled forward into the safety of the fissure. The interior was cramped, even smaller than the hovel where he had lived with his parents. But it sheltered him from the wind and that was enough for now. From his saddlebag, Sombra levitated some kindling and set it ablaze before setting down at the cave's far end to eat what little he could afford to ration himself. If only they hadn't discovered his hoard. But Sombra had no one to blame but himself. He had allowed sentiment to overcome his sense of self preservation and shared some of what he had hidden away with Ruby Glint. And how did the filly he had through was his friend repay him? By telling the entire village who then had barged into his house to drag him before the Head Stallion .

"Why Sombra?" the Head Stallion had asked. "The only way our village can survive the winter is if everypony shares with each other. Did your parents' sacrifice not teach you anything?" What a joke. As if any of them knew what it was like to watch your family starve because they had given their rations to him. Or what it was like to lose everypony they loved and be powerless to do anything about it. But then it was all their fault to begin with. After the nobles in their marble castles took their tribute and left the crumbs for the peasants, were they allowed to keep what little of what they had grown? No, they had to share it with the others so it could be rationed equally. Sombra's family had perished not because of the winter, but because the rest of the village had leeched off of their hard work. And had not been shy in sharing his views with his former neighbors. "If that is what you believe then you have no place here," the Head Stallion said. "Take the food you've hoarded and go. Until you see the error of your ways Sombra...you are not welcome in this village."

And so they had exiled him. But they would be sorely disappointed if they expected him to come crawling back begging for forgiveness. It had always been Sombra's plan to leave the village once he had enough food for the journey. And while what little he had was nowhere near what he had hoped to amass, it would have to do. Far to the north. That was where he was heading. If the stories his mother told him were true, there he would find a kingdom with a legacy greater than that of the Unicorns'. A kingdom where there was no hunger, no want, and where a pony could learn magic regardless of whether he was a noble or a peasant.

"I will find the Crystal Empire," he vowed, "and become a great magician. And then, I will never be powerless or subservient to anyone ever again."

==Equestria Prime (present day)==

On the balcony of Celestia's quarters, two guards stood watch for any Pegasus foolish enough to trespass into the princess's chambers. Neither of them could understand why Celestia had adopted such a paranoid demeanor but neither of them were willing to question it. For the last few days, Celestia's behavior had become more and more extreme and rumors were beginning to spread between the castle servants. And her outburst when confronted by Luna and the other princesses' earlier that day had only increased the tension among them. Still, the guards would follow their orders as instructed. As long as they were on duty, nopony within their sight would come within spitting distance of Celestia's balcony

And so with the guards' attention focused on what was before them, a puff of pale blue smoke floated up the wall behind them and through the balcony entrance. Being careful not to alert either the guards on the balcony or those outside in the hall, the face of an elder Unicorn manifested on the surface of the plume. The irony that he was using one of Sombra's spells was not lost on him. By his estimate, the young princess should have awakened the first of the book's incantations. But before she could awaken the second one, he would have to speed things along. Especially since Sombra was most likely near to obtaining his own goal within the other Eqestria. Across the room, hanging from the tree was the duplicate mirror shard created by Discord.

"I'm sorry Celestia," he said as he approached it, " I'm afraid I'm going to have to hurt you again."

The last thing Twilight remembered after casting the spell in Star Swirl's journal was the world vanishing with a blinding flash. Then the air vanished as well, leaving her unable to scream as she felt herself hurled through space at breakneck speeds until with a second flash, she slammed to a halt.

'Ungh what happened? Girls? Spike? Discord?" Nobody answered. Twilight shook her head and looked around to find herself back out in the catacombs. Across the waterway stood the entrance to Star Swirl's library but something was different. It was something she couldn't put her hoof on but something was definitely missing. Well, she could figure that out later. Right now she had to get back to the others. Twilight ran across the bridge spanning the waterway when something caught her eye and she braked to a halt. "What in the world?" In the water's surface, Twilight's reflection stared back at her except it wasn't the same. Her body shone with a slight luminesce and had adopted a slight translucency. "What happened to me? It looks like I cast Astral Projection on myself. Wait, could that spell in Star Swirl's book have done this? But why would he leave such useless spell." In the middle of her musing, Twilight cast a glance back down the hall and it finally dawned on her what was missing.

"Hey, what happened to the Hydra skeleton?" As if in reply, Twilight heard something rise out of the water behind her. She turned around, and looked up at the five headed Hydra that loomed over her. "What the..." and the monster lunged at her. Twilight shrieked and leapt out of the way, barely avoiding becoming monster kibble. "WHAT'S GOING ON!!" Another head dove down towards her and Twilight dodged and weaved in and out between each pair of snapping jaws. One lashed out in front of her, cutting her off as she broke to a halt and attempted to go the other way when a second head blocked the other way. Trapped on both sides, Twilight shrank back against the wall as the remaining three heads poised to strike when somepony called out.

"Alright what's going on out here?" Immediately, the Hydra ceased its attack though it still kept itself in a strike position. One of the heads lifted up from the path and Twilight saw a figure emerge from the library .

"Mr. Dustmop?" she asked. "Is that you?"

"I'll be asking the questions young lady! Now how did you get down here?" The figure approached her but still remained in the shadows. "An..an Alicorn spirit? How could this be?"

"Excuse me?" Twilight repeated. "But who are you?"

"That's precisely what I was wondering." The figure stepped out of the dark and Twilight's eyes widened in shock. Before her was a grey unicorn stallion dressed in a cloak and hat embroidered with stars and moons. A ring of bells surrounded the hat's rim and a long white beard draped from his chin almost to the floor.

"You're Star Swirl!" she gasped. "You're Star Swirl! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! You're Star Swirl the bearded! EEEEEEE! I don't believe it! It's really you!"

"Uh...yes yes I am," the old Unicorn answered. "And you're an Alicorn. Or an alicorn spirit at least. I thought Celestia and Luna were the only Alicorns. Tell me, are you from the kingdom of Equilonia? Are all the legends of King Coltnan actually true?" But Twilight was too engrossed in her excitement to notice.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! I have to tell everyone! I have to introduce you everyone! Girls! Spike! Discord! You have to see this!" Twilight rushed past the old wizard and ran straight for the Library when a barrier rose around her and trapped her inside.

"Now hold on a minute," Star Swirl said. "First of all, how do you know Discord?"

"Oh," Twilight said. "He's...well I guess you could say he's my friend. Even if he is kind of a pest. He's in the library along with everyone else."

"Young lady I assure you there was no one in my library except me. And especially not Discord. I'll have you know he's still safely trapped in stone up in the castle gardens."

"Trapped in stone?" Twilight asked. Wait a minute. Discord trapped in stone. Star Swirl here and now. And the Hydra. Was it really possible? In the middle of her thoughts, Star Swirl lowered the barrier and approached her.

"Now," he continued, "would you please tell me who you are and what you're doing here."

"Well," she said. "My name is Twilight Sparkle and...I think I'm from the future."

"The future?"

"Yeah that's right. 1000 years from now, I was in your library with some of my friends, and I found one of your journals. The journal had a spell sealed in it and when I activated it, my spirit was apparently cast back into the past." Star Swirl didn't respond. He just stared at her with a bemused expression. Oh no, she realized. He doesn't believe me. Not that I blame him. After all it's not scientifically possible. I'm not scientifically possible!

"Alright then."

"Huh? What?"

"I can't think of any other explanation so that must be it. Especially since I was just working on a spell exactly like the one you described. Although, I can't quite imagine why I would project one's spirit to this particular point in time. Well I suppose I'll find out eventually. And since you're here and a fellow scholar, why don't we continue this conversation in the library. I just happen to have some tea and tiny cakes at the ready."

"Really?" she asked. Did Star Swirl the Bearded really just invite her in for tea? "I'd be honored but I don't think I can eat anything in this form."

"Excellent," the old wizard beamed. "That leaves more for me. By the way, they still enjoy tea and tiny cakes a thousand years in the future don't they?"

"Of course," Twilight said.

"Well that's a relief. For a moment I was afraid that they had gone out of style."

"But...aren't you worried that someone might see me? How would you explain me?" Star Swirl slumped his shoulders.

"I don't think we have to worry about that," he told her. "I...don't get as many visitors as I used to." This must be after he and Celestia had their falling out over the mirror, she realized as the Hydra began to growl above her. "Now Sprinkles you stop that! This is a guest and I want you to behave yourself!"

"Sprinkles?" Twilight asked as a bucket full of biscuits appeared by Star Swirl's side.

"Here, just toss one to each head."

"Oh okay." Twilight levitated five biscuits out of the bucket and tossed them to the Hydra. Sprinkles caught one in each head before his center one thrust down and licked her.

"Aww he likes you!" Star Swirl laughed a Twilight shook the slobber from her mane. "Well now shall we move on to the Library?"

"Oh um sure." Is it really okay to do this? she wondered. I mean, between Celestia and the Sombra from our world do I really have time to take a tea break? But then when am I ever going to get a chance like this again? And if I really have somehow projected myself through time maybe he can send me back to the exact same moment. He is Star Swirl after all. GHEEEEEEE! I can't believe I'm really going to have tea with Star Swirl the Bearded. And so not more than five minutes later, in the kitchenette of the Library, Twilight sat across from Star Swirl with a pot of tea and a tray piled high with tea cakes placed between them.

"You see," he explained. "Actual time travel is extremely difficult. One's own individual time clashes with the ambient time of both the past and future, causing a rebound effect that results in the individual being sent back to their own time. But through the Temporal Projection Spell, a wizard can project their own spirit through time instead of their physical body. Since spirit exists outside of time, it can't cause a rebound effect and therefore, allows the caster to remain indefinitely outside of their natural time."

"Of course," Twilight agreed. "It's so obvious. I can't believe nopony else has ever thought of it before."

"Now it's your turn," he said. "You mentioned Discord as one of your friends. But how is that even possible? He's never been the social type."

"Well," Twilight said, "It's kind of a long story."

"Which usually means it's a good one." And Twilight told him all about the adventures she and her friends had; redeeming Princess Luna, saving Equestria from Discord and the Changelings, her coronation as princess, and the return of the Crystal Empire. Star Swirl was especially interested in Cadance and her claim to being a distant relation of Princess Amore. "Strange," he commented. "I've done extensive research into several royal genealogies and Amore had no close relatives. At least none that survived the banishment of the Empire. Well in any case, I'm glad to hear that the Crystal Ponies have returned. Her inability to save them wore deeply on Celestia's heart. I'm also amazed that your friend Fluttershy was able to redeem Discord without any magic. Even more so that Celestia willingly released him. I suppose she finally decided to let it go."

"Let what go?" Twilight asked. Hiding his mouth behind his hoof, Star Swirl chuckled softly.

"Ask her about the Guinea Pig incident when you return to the future?" Remembering her mission, Twilight cast her eyes down. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure now is the best time to ask her that."

"Why not? Is Celestia alright? Did something happen to her?" Twilight looked at the old wizard and wasn't sure what to do. From what the Princess had told her and the others, her and Star Swirl's relationship was never the same after he learned the truth of her and Sombra. "Princess please tell me."

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "Please don't be mad at her." Star Swirl frowned as he folded his hooves and leaned back in his chair.

"So she is still going to the other world."

"You already knew?"

"I've had my suspicians," he explained. "But I didn't want to say anything until I had definite proof. Or perhaps I just didn't want to know. Alright, tell me everything that's happened. Don't leave anything out." And Twilight told him the whole story of what had happened in the Mirror World, how Celestia had nearly been encased in crystal, the sacrifice made by the other Sombra, and how the Sombra of their world had cursed Celestia before invading the other Equestria. As she finished, Star Swirl rubbed the bridge of his snout and shook his head.

"On for goodness' sake," he groaned as he stood up. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Sombra was never a foe to be taken lightly. Well not to fear Twilight. I've already readied a plan." Star Swirl walked out of the kitchenette and Twilight followed after him to a nearby laboratory

"What do you mean exactly?" she asked. Levitating a stick of chalk, Star Swirl began writing a series of calculations on a blackboard.

"I've had the idea to test Temporal Projection for quite a while but I hesitated to do so for fear of any unforeseen side effects. After all, changing the flow of history can have any number of unseen consequences."

"Changing the flow of history?" she repeated as Star Swirl summoned a spell book to his side.

"From what you've told me," he continued as he flipped through it. "All of this happened because Celestia met the Sombra of the other world. I realize now that it was a mistake to bring her along with me on my expeditions. Therefore, I will project myself back in time and warn myself not to involve her at all."

"She won't be involved? But that means..."

"Yes, she and the other Sombra will never meet. None of this will happen. And the Sombra of our world will stay here were we can deal with him."

"But...but you can't!" Twilight cried. "What if something goes wrong?"

"I'll make sure to keep my interference to a minimum," he answered. "Now I just need to find the right temporal formula and... ah here we are."

"No! I won't let you!" Seizing the book with her magic, Twilight snatched it away and ran off through the main depository.

"Princess!" she heard him yell. "Get back here right now!" Twilight ignored him as she sped and weaved her way between the book shelves. What am I doing? she asked her self. I can't possibly outrun him. But I can't let him cast the spell either. In the middle of her monologue, a light flashed before her and Star Swirl teleported into her path. Twilight screeched to a halt and tried to run back the other way when another barrier suddenly formed around her, trapping her inside as Star Swirl took back the journal she had stolen.

"That is enough!" he roared. "I don't have time for this foolishness! If you aren't going to be reasonable then you can stay in there until I'm finished." Twilight watched him walk away and couldn't believe the wizard she had idolized for so long could do something so cold hearted.

"Why?" she asked. "Why do you hate her so much?" Star Swirl spun around and stared at her in shock.

"Hate her? I'm trying to help her. I'm trying to save all of you. Don't you understand that?"

"But you won't save her!" Twilight argued. "If you do this you'll change her! She won't be the same!"

"That's exactly the point!" he told her. "Celestia and Sombra were never meant to meet, much less fall in love. If you really are a princess then you should know that the greater good always outweighs that of the individual. And once I use Temporal Projection, I can correct it and Celestia will become exactly as she was supposed to be!"

"But she already is," Twilight cried. "I used to wish that she and Sombra had never met too, but...the things we go through, the good and the bad, they make us who we are. If you change this about her you could change everything. Who she is, the path of her life. And what about everypony she knows? Their lives will change too. If it wasn't for Celestia, I never would have met my friends. And everything we went through together would never have happened. I don't want to lose that. I want my life. I want my friends. And I want Celestia. The one I know." Twilight paused to take a breath and wiped tear from her eye. "Please, don't take that away from her. Don't take her away from us." Star Swirl looked at her and sighed.

"What would you have me do then?" He looked past her and Twilight followed his gaze to a tapestry that hung from a nearby wall. Upon it, three different creatures were depicted; a goat whose curved horns crackled with magic, a great bull centaur, and three beings that resembled sea ponies but not nearly as approachable. "I've fought more monsters and villains then I care to remember. Regardless of their methods, they all had understandable reasons for what they did. Power, control, wealth, but Sombra...he's nothing at all like them. For him, evil is not a means. It's an end unto itself. Whatever wealth or power he obtains is secondary to the suffering he spreads. And from what you told me, that evil has now infected Celestia. How can you possibly hope to stand against that kind of hatred?" Twilight was unable to say, until she realized the answer was right in front of her.

"There is a way," she told him. "It's the same way we saved Princess Luna, reformed Discord, and stopped Sombra the first time."

"How?" Star Swirl asked.

"Let me out and I'll show you." Star Swirl stared at her doubtfully. "I swear it's not a trick." Star Swirl tensed but finally lowered the barrier he had encased her in.

"Very well," he told her. "Show me." Twilight approached him and her horn lit up with her magic.

"Give me your horn," she instructed. Star Swirl did and Twilight concentrated on all of the memories she had made with her friends. The joy and the sadness, the laughter and the arguments, the happiness and the sorrow. The tip of her horn touched his and the magic flowed into the old wizard, and with it all her memories. Star Swirl cried out from the shock and stumbled back, his hand clutching his chest.

"What...what was that?" he gasped.

"It's the magic of friendship," Twilight answered. "It's what I Iearned from the others. And it's what Celestia learned from the other Sombra." Slowly Star Swirl regained himself as tears began to well up in his eyes

"That is friendship?" he asked. "I had no idea. It...it's so beautiful." Twilight approached him and extended her hoof to him.

"Do you believe me now? Will you give me a chance to save Celestia?" Star Swirl looked down at the hoof and sighed.

"Alright," he consented. "I won't use the spell. And I'll trust in you to save her."

"Thank you!" Twilight said.

"But that still doesn't solve the current problem," he added. "Specifically the Sombra from our world, just how exactly he is causing another paradox, or even how to stop him."

"Well then," Twilight suggested, "let's put our heads together and see if we can't figure something out."

"Oh?" Star Swirl asked. "So tell me. Are you good at making charts? How is your advanced magical theories studies? And do you prefer to take notes on academic or wide ruled?" Twilight glared and walked up to him.

"I live for charts. My second thesis was on advanced magical theories. And wide ruled paper is for FOALS! Let's do this." Star Swirl smirked and chuckled.

"Twilight, you are MY kind of princess."

=Mirror Equestria (present)=

On the parapet of Canterlot Castle's outer wall, Captain Blueblood sipped his evening coffee as he read the last of the daily reports. All three of the guard brigades had completed their daily regimen without issue and it looked as if it were going to be a quiet evening. Of course, ever since King Sombra had redeemed Celestia and Luna, all evenings were quiet.

I wonder if his majesty is alright, he wondered. From what he understood, Sir Discord had finally located the king in the southern badlands. Unfortunately, something had gone wrong and his Majesty had not only defeated Discord, but had actually managed to seal away his magic. Chrysalis' changelings had set off in pursuit but had lost the trail and now, Sombra was once more in the wind. Some captain of the guard I turned out to be. He never should have allowed the king to go off on his own. When the His Majesty had departed the castle for Everfree with those six mares who bore such a striking resemblance to the infamous Mane 6 gang, Blueblood had insisted that Sombra allow him and a squad of guards to accompany them. But the king had instead ordered Blueblood to stay behind and protect the Canterlot citizens in case Celestia launched another attack. Then the sky had cracked open only to heal in a flash of light and everything was suddenly restored to its prewar condition. The Guardians of Equestria had returned to Canterlot shortly afterward, followed by Celestia and Luna. Blueblood had nearly arrested them both before Chrysalis bid him to halt, claiming that something in them had changed. And once the princesses had told them of what had happened, Blueblood knew Equestria was on the verge of an even greater tragedy.

"Hey Captain!" Blueblood looked up as Lieutenant Gilda, his second in command, flapped down to the walkway from overhead. "Just got the word in from the town watch. Nothing too serious. Just a few disputes in the marketplace over vending prices that got a little too heated."

"I see. Thank you." The griffin walked up beside him and followed his view out into the distance.

"Nice sunset huh?"

"Very nice," he agreed.

"I still can't believe it's really over," the mused. "Or even that Celestia and Luna are now on our side. So, any word yet on how the King is doing?"

"Not yet," Blueblood sighed. Not knowing his majesty's condition was hard enough on the captain, but even worse was the fact that he was lying to his men. "But Princess Trixie has informed me that she should have an update on his condition very soon."

"Let's hope so," Gilda said as her beak twisted into a playful smirk. "Speaking of the princess, you get the nerve to ask her out yet?"

"Oh um well...I just don't think now's the best time. After all, we still have a lot of work in repairing all the damage done to Equestria."

"If you say so," she answered. "It's just that I saw Prince Shining Armor trying to chat her up and I could have sworn she seemed interested."

"What!" Blueblood yelled. "Princess Trixie would never fall for that spoiled, pompous..."

"But then she shot him down," Gilda laughed. "Oh wow! You should see the look on your face!" Blueblood fumed as Gilda spread her wings and took to the sky. "Seriously though Captain, you'd better make your move before someone else comes along and swoops her up." Off she flew and Blueblood turned back to the sunset. It was true, he had harbored a crush on King Sombra's apprentice for a long time. She was so unlike the majority of the mares in the Canterlot elite. Modest, intelligent, compassionate, and of course beautiful with a coat the same blue as the sky and hair like spun silver. But how could he think about romance when his own duties weighed so heavily on his mind? Besides, he wasn't so sure that she felt the same way about him.

Far in the distance, the fading sunlight danced and refracted in crimson waves across the clouds. It was a beautiful sight but it made Blueblood uneasy. It almost looked like the sky itself was on fire and was spreading towards Canterlot. Something bad is about to happen, he thought. I think I'd better stay on shift a little longer tonight.

=Equestria Prime (the past)=

After compiling their data and formulating a plan, it was time for Twilight to return to her own time. She stood in the center of the lab while Star Swirl readied the calculations to return her. "Alright I'm done," he announced. "This spell should send you back to your original time right after you originally projected yourself."

"Great," she said. "Remember, you need to hide the journal among a row of books you wrote yourself."

"Understood," he confirmed. "Well, I suppose this is goodbye. It was an honor to meet you Princess Twilight. And I'm sorry if it failed to live up to your expectations." Twilight smiled and shook her head.

"Actually I'm glad. If this whole experience has taught me anything, it's that ponies you admire are the same as everypony else. They can make mistakes and bad decisions as well. It doesn't mean they aren't worthy of admiration. In fact, it makes them more admirable because it shows you don't have to be perfect. You just have to do your best." Star Swirl smiled and lit up his horn.

"You are indeed worthy of your title." And with that, the spell was cast and Twilight vanished in a flash of light. "What a remarkable day this has been." Well, time to get to work. First, he would have to calculate the Temporal Projection formula that would enable Twilight to sent her spirit back to this particular point in time. Standing before the chalkboard, Star Swirl attempted to write down the equation but for some reason found his mind a blank. He had memorized the formula by heart just as he had with every spell. But every time attempt he made felt as if an invisible chain was holding the chalk back.

Why can't I concentrate? he wondered as he set down the chalk. Normally he wouldn't hesitate to get to work on a project of this magnitude. But for some reason he couldn't Perhaps he could leave a message for Twilight in the future to come back and ask her input. Plus it would be nice to talk with her again. And it was then he realized the problem. Stepping out of the laboratory, Star Swirl looked out over the rows of bookshelves that filled the depository. Was his library always this quiet? Had it always been this empty? He had chosen to build his library here specifically so he could work and study in isolation, free from being bothered by others. It was his refuge where he could pursue his interests and passions without interruption. But now, the quiet was stifling to the point that he felt as if he were suffocating.

As if in a dream, Star Swirl felt his legs carry him through the library and out the door. Down the winding catacombs he went until finally, he emerged out of a fissure in the mountain's side. His eyes adjusted to the sudden increase in brightness and took a deep breath of the early evening air. Down the slope of Canterlot Mountain, a short distance across the low hills surrounding its base, an Earth Pony village lay nestled in one of the valleys. Though he had never looked down on Earth Ponies the way some other Unicorns did, Star Swirl realized that he had never really made the effort to know them either. It wasn't that he hated them, he had just assumed that he and them were too different to casually associate. But after meeting Twilight and learning of the deep bond she had forged with so many different ponies and even Discord, Star Swirl was beginning to realize just how narrow his view of the world actually was.

"All this time," he wondered aloud. "What have I actually been doing?"

Equestria Prime (present)

Though the rest of the day had gone off without much issue, Celestia's mood had yet to improve. While the meetings with the celebration committees were thankfully brief and to the point; the confrontation with Twilight, Luna, and Cadance continued to linger on the Princess's mind. Well, at least the day was coming to an end. She could go back to her quarters, lock herself away, and just be alone. Through the front gate she stepped with Kibitz right behind her, the guards giving her a wide berth as she passed them but Celestia no longer cared. They could fall to their knees begging her forgiveness and she still wouldn't grant it. She had given everything for Equestria and not once had her subjects ever shown the slightest concern for her well being over their own. Ahead, a lone Unicorn mare in glasses stood waiting before the entrance to the main keep.

"Welcome back Princess," Raven said. "Did everything go smoothly?"

"Well enough," she frowned. "Did you follow my instructions?"

"Of course your highness. You needn't worry. Nopony tried to enter your quarters while you were out."

"Good. I'll take dinner in my room. Where's Luna?"

"She's been down in the archives since early afternoon," Raven answered. "As for why I'm afraid that I don't have an answer."

"No matter," Celestia muttered. "Just go to her and tell her that I need her to raise the moon immediately. Kibitz, that will be all for the day."

"Yes your highness." Celestia stepped past her and from the corner of her eye, watched as Raven whispered something to Kibitz. Something's going on, she realized. They're planning something behind my back. Whatever it was, so long as they kept her out of it she could care less. Through the castle she walked, barely noticing the discomfort in any of the servants she passed until she finally reached her private quarters.

"You may leave," she told the guards out in the hall, who promptly bowed and half fled from her sight. Once the guards outside on the balcony had left as well, Celestia stepped out and lowered the sun. On the railing, Philomena flew up to take a perch but Celestia didn't even acknowledge her presence even when she chirped at her. "Philomena be quiet," she warned through clenched teeth. Philomena fell silent and watched Celestia return to her room when suddenly, she squawked loudly in alarm and fled from the balcony in a blur of feathers. The princess stared for a second but dismissed it as unimportant. Finally alone in the quiet of her chambers, Celestia sighed and sank to the floor. She wanted to scream, to sob, but all she could feel was an emptiness. What did it matter anymore? She was trapped and alone. Noone to help carry her burdens, nopony for her lean on. But that was how it always was. From the beginning, when Star Swirl had first sought her out and convinced her and Luna to reign over Equestria, they were supposed to share the burden of rule together. But instead, Luna had surrendered to her jealousy and attempted to seize power for herself. And Star Swirl, he had been too wrapped up in his own private world to think of anything else. Why do I even bother? she wondered. I should just leave this kingdom to its own fate. Why should I sacrifice my happiness for them any longer? Perhaps she should. She could leave and find someplace where she could be alone forever and never have to cater to anyone's whims ever again. There was only one thing she would take with her. Rising to her hooves, Celestia crossed the floor to the potted tree and felt a cold shock pierce through her. The mirror shard, the sole memento of her lost love, had vanished from the tree branch, leaving only the string from which it had hung.

"Where is it?" she gasped. "Where is it!" Around the base of the tree's pot, Celestia frantically searched for the shard but found not trace. It couldn't have just vanished. Someone had to have taken it but who? In the middle of her panic, Celestia noticed a thread that had snagged on the rim of the pot. Closer examination however revealed it was actually a strand of hair and Celestia held it up for a closer look. It was long, straight, dark purple in color, but with a slight pink shade to its tip.

"Twilight!" she hissed. "TWILIGHT!"

"Twilight!" Spike yelled. "Twilight snap out of it!" It hadn't been more than a few seconds since Twilight had activated the spell in Star Swirl's journal but even that seemed like an eternity as she remained unresponsive even when he shook her. Around them, the others gathered in a circle of worried faces, including Discord.

"Oh no oh no oh no!" Fluttershy whimpered. "What are we going to do?"

"Cadance isn't there anythin' you can do?" Applejack cried.

"I'm sorry but no!" Cadance answered. "The spell vanished from the page the second Twilight cast it."

"Let me try," Pinkie said as she took a deep breath. "TWILIGHT!" No response. "Well, I'm out of ideas." Just then, a groan passed from Twilight's mouth as the light shining from her eyes faded and Twilight snapped back to normal with a shake of her head.

"Ungh!" she groaned. "My head." With an overwhelming sense of relief, Spike threw his arms around her neck. "Spike?"

"Don't ever do that again!" he told her.

"Darling thank goodness you're okay!" Rarity sighed

"So what the hey happened anyway?" Rainbow asked.

"What did that spell do to you?" Cadance added.

"And did it tell you how to restore my magic?" Discord interrupted as the others gave him dirty looks. "What?" Twilight didn't answer. Instead she looked around the library as if she didn't recognize it.

"Would you all excuse me for a second?" In a flash of light Twilight teleported away as Spike and the others exchanged confused glances. Another flash and Twilight reappeared in front of them.

"I don't believe it! The skeleton is still out there! I'm really back!"

"Whoa there sugar cube!" Applejack said. "What do ya man you're back? Ya never left."

"Oh right!" Twilight laughed. "It's just like when I went back in time to tell myself not to worry. Only this time it was my spirit."

"Your spirit?" Rarity repeated.

"That's right," Twilight nodded. "The spell caused my spirit to project itself back in time. And you'll never believe it. But I met Star Swirl the Bearded. We talked about Princess Celestia and Sombra, and we worked together on a way to help her."

"And that's how he knew about what Sombra was planning," Rarity deduced.

"So tell me," Discord muttered, "what kind of plan did the great Star Swirl come up with?"

"Just a second," Twilight said. Levitating the journal off the floor, Twilight flipped through the pages. "Aha! Found it!" Twilight flipped the book over and showed another spell circle to the others. "Star Swirl said he'd leave another spell that could be used to help release Celestia from Sombra's curse. We just have to bring it to her." At that moment, Discord suddenly tensed as a twitch raced all the way up his back.

"Discord?" Fluttershy asked. "What's wrong?"

"Um Twilight?" he whimpered. "You might want to cast that spell right now!" No sooner had he spoken, the doors to the library were blasted open in an explosion of golden flame. The group ducked for cover as bits of shrapnel rained down on the main chamber, shredding books and shelves in a cloud of paper and wood. The air cleared, and Spike looked up in shock as a tall figure stepped through the ruined doorway.

"Celestia," Spike heard Twilight whisper. With a flap of her wings, the princess launched herself across the cavern to land before her. And the rage in her eyes burned brighter than anything he had ever seen in his life.

"Twilight!" she screamed.

=Mirror Equestria=

In the deepest recesses of Celestia's castle, Fleur and the others watched as Sombra, or rather the Sombra from the other world, sculpted a form from black crystal. Even after hearing the truth, it still was hard to believe. Another Equestria where Celestia ruled and Sombra was the enemy? And now the other Sombra had come to their world to fill the void left by the defection of their world's Celestia.

"Are your assignments clear to you?" he asked.

"Just leave it to us boss!" Flash said, earning him a nasty look from Sombra. "Uh, I mean, your majesty. " Fleur rolled her eyes and glanced up at the ring of black crystal around the base of her horn. Fashioned by Sombra for her own mission, it was specifically designed to lead her to the specific item he had ordered her to find. According to the plan, Sombra would create a distraction, then she would retrieve her item while Flash and Bulk retrieved theirs. If all went well, then they would move on to the next and final stage of their new ruler's plan.

"One thing troubles me you majesty," she said. "You said that the Celestia of your world, the one I saw associating with the Sombra of ours, was in love with him. What if she somehow senses your plan and tries to stop you?"

"I anticipated that," Sombra answered. "And before I crossed over. I took an extra precaution. You see, long ago, when I first seized the throne of the Crystal Empire, I desired to rule over all lands. To do so, I needed an army and my pitiful crystal slaves were woefully not up to the task. So I began to experiment on ways to make them into a fighting force worthy of serving me. One such attempt involved infecting them with my own magic. Enhancing the fear, sorrow, and rage within them until they were consumed by it."

"And it worked?" Flash asked.

"Too well," Sombra explained. "The ponies I infected turned savage and cruel but also unstable and mad. Little more than mindless berserkers."

"And that's what you did to Celestia?" Fleur realized. "But will it work on someone as powerful as her."

"Not usually," he admitted. "But following her separation from the Sombra of this world, Celestia was afflicted with intense sorrow and pain. But instead of facing it, she suppressed it, allowing it to fester and grow. As a result, her spirit was weakened and my magic was able to infect her. I imagine by now it has taken full effect. It's just a shame that I can't be there to enjoy watching her as she destroys her kingdom and everypony she cares about."

"But bo...er your majesty?" Flash interrupted. "What if something happens to break the spell?" Fleur hated to admit it but Flash had a point. Sombra however merely chuckled as he glanced at them over his shoulder.

"That's the beautiful thing about this particular spell. The only one who can break it is the one upon who it is cast. And by now it's far too late."

Shattered Glass

by Eric Michael Kline

prologue

Where There's Light, There's Darkness

The Search

Cold

Mr. Dustmop

In The Grasp of Darkness

An Uninvited Pest

Fear

The Promise

All I Ever Wanted

Full Circle