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Chapter 1

As I look back on my life, I have no regrets. I lived as best as I knew how and in the end, I thought it was worth it.

I liked to give help to those who were less fortunate than I. Whether it was preparing food for the homeless, helping build playgrounds for children. I did little things too, like giving someone my spare change when they needed it more than me. I even got in trouble a couple times when I put quarters in parking meters so that they wouldn’t expire.

But the greatest thing I ever did, was saving the life of a little girl, even though it cost me my own.

{oOo}

It was a normal summer day in Dallas when it happened, and just like any other day during summer in Dallas, it was hot and sticky. It also happened to be the day that my car was in the shop, so I was forced to walk that day.

I’d just gotten off work and started my trek home, which happened to be on the other side of town, thankfully Dallas has a bus service.

The bus stop I got off at was just a few blocks away from my apartment, so even though it was over a hundred that day, I wouldn’t have to suffer outside for long.

A block or so from my apartment and sweet, blessed air conditioning, I happened to pass by one of the new playgrounds I helped build recently. At the time I didn’t pay it much mind, as the only thing I was thinking about then was my air conditioned apartment and a nice cool drink.

Of course, fate had other plans for me that day. It all happened so fast. I was just about halfway to the next intersection when I happened to glance at the playground. It had just about everything a kid could ask for, swings, monkey bars, slides, you name it. However, there was one thing it didn’t have, and that was a fence.

It was at this point that I spotted a little girl on the other side of the street chasing her ball across the grass towards the street. I didn't pay her much attention as walked by. I figured she’d either catch the ball or one of her parents would intercept her before she made it to the street. So I just kept on walking, minding my own business, until I heard a woman yelling. “Lily, stop! Don’t go into the street!”

The little girl must not have heard her mother, as she kept chasing after that ball of hers trying to grab it. Each time she made to grab it, it would slip out of her grasp, and when the ball went into the street, so did she.

It was then that I noticed the truck driving wildly all over the road. The driver appearing to not care if they put anyone else in danger from their reckless driving, the driver was more than likely drunk at the time.

As the truck drew closer to the playground, I looked back at the little girl. She’d finally caught that ball of her’s and for some reason, she just stared it. Like it was going to jump out of her hands if she didn’t keep an eye on it. For a moment, I just stood there looking back and forth from the wildly out of control truck to the little girl, who still seemed unaware of her impending doom.

Time seemed to slow down as I looked on in growing horror, I knew that the little girl wouldn’t be able to get out of the way in time. In that moment I made my decision. I took off like a shot, running as fast as my legs could carry me, in the hopes of snatching her up and carrying her to the other side and safety. But like I said before, fate had another idea.

I was just a few precious feet away from the girl, the truck continuing to draw closer and closer by the second. As I took one more step, it happened. I stumbled. To this day, I still don’t know what caused me to trip up. It could have been me putting my foot down in a pot hole or tripping on a crack in the road. Whatever it was, it caused me to lose my balance and thus my forward momentum, and if I was going to try and save her, I had to make up my mind right there. My life or the little girls? Sure, my life was good, but she was still so young and had so many opportunities ahead of her in life.

Making my decision, I used what little forward momentum I had left and jumped. Barely pushing her out of the way in time and leaving me to accept my fate.

The truck hit me and I felt it, all of it. The impact of the truck as it impacted my body, throwing me to the side of the road like I was a some sort of rag doll. By that point, shock had set in and I felt numb. I didn’t feel the impact I made when I hit the pavement and came to rest. I just lay there, waiting for death to take me.

I could still see though and I watched as people crowded around me and even though I couldn't hear what they said to me or each other. Their looks of horror were confirmation enough to know that I probably wasn’t going to make it. Course, I knew that already.

I wonder what will happen when death takes me? Where will I go? Is there a Heaven or Hell? These thoughts were rushing through my mind as I waited for the Grim Reaper. I could feel my eyes growing heavy, my sight fading, the people in my vision becoming nothing more than blobs to me. I guess this was it. Oh well, as my momma always said, ‘when your time is up, it’s up, ain’t no getting around it.’ Guess mine was up. I lived well as I could while I was here, so no regrets.

The growing darkness enveloped me and I knew no more.

{oOo}

Deep in the depths of the Everfree forest, a powerful storm raged over the abandoned castle of the two royal pony sisters. Lightning and thunder boomed and flashed throughout the forest, their sounds heard as far away as Canterlot.

As the storm raged on, lightning struck closer and closer to the castle, as if drawn there by an invisible lighting rod. With one final strike, the lightning struck inside the castle, next to the monument that had once held the Elements of Harmony.

A dark sphere appeared on the exact spot that the lightning struck. As magic swirled around it the sphere grew in size and with every passing second, the sphere grew in size until most of the room was enveloped in its dark embrace. When as suddenly as it had appeared, the sphere imploded, leaving only a dark bipedal shaped outline lying unconscious next to the monument in its wake.

{oOo}

It was just another normal Thursday night for Twilight Sparkle as she sat on her balcony gazing up at the night sky. Searching for any new constellations that Princess Luna might have recently created.

As Twilight scanned the night sky with the aide of her telescope, she couldn’t help shake the feeling that something was off tonight. Leaning away from her telescope, she let her gaze roam over the sleeping town of Ponyville, where she had lived for the past several years. Seeing nothing amiss, she simply dismissed the feeling as fatigue and resumed her search of the heavens.

However, the sudden loud crack and thundering boom of lighting, startled the young mare. Her head coming up like that of a dog that had caught a scent. Looking around, Twilight didn’t see any storm clouds nearby. However, as her gaze continued to search the sky, she happened to look towards the Everfree Forest and saw the massive storm that had suddenly appeared.

It was not uncommon for storms to appear randomly over the Everfree Forest as the unique magic of the forest allowed their forming. However, it was rare to see a storm this powerful and this close to the edge of the great and mysterious Everfree.

"Wow a maelstrom, I don’t think I've ever seen one before." mused Twilight as she swiveled her telescope away from the sky and towards the storm covered Everfree.

She watched in awe as the bright flashes of lightning struck inside the forest, illuminating it in chaotic flashes of light. While thunder rumbled overhead, adding its voice to the elemental symphony playing out before her.

After what seemed like hours, the storm finally looked to be abating. Leaning back from her telescope, Twilight let go a large yawn and stretched, it was at that point, when her eyes were closed, that the final bolt of lightning struck.

As if that last lightning bolt had been a signal, the storm suddenly redoubled its fury. Thunder roared, lightning crashed, and the wind suddenly picked up in its intensity. The storm’s size quickly grew and its edge’s spilled over the border of the Everfree and over the town of Ponyville.

"W-what’s going on?" exclaimed Twilight, as the storms intensity continued to build. There was something else building too, under all of the thunder and lightning, a strange magical charge. She had felt a similar one shortly after she first came to Ponyville, on the day of the Thousandth Summer Sun Celebration.

“Spike!” she yelled fearfully. Quickly grabbing her telescope and retreating into the safety of her room.

Spike, Twilight's dragon assistant that she had hatched when she was a young filly applying to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Already partially awake from the racket produced by the storm, woke fully from his fitful sleep, startled by Twilight’s yell for him. Leaping out of his bed, he hurriedly ran to Twilight's room, wondering what in Equestria was happening as the storm rage around their home.

Bursting through her door, Spike saw Twilight clutching her telescope to her breast like it was a life preserver and she a drowning pony.

"Twilight, what’s going on? Are you ok?" he asked her worriedly as he rushed to her side.

Meanwhile the storm outside was quickly dissipating, as it spent its fury on the town and the surrounding area.

Turning to look at Spike, Twilight reluctantly let her telescope go and said, "I-I’m fine Spike, just a little shook up by that storm is all.” shaking her head, she looked outside at the damage left by the storm.

“What could have caused a storm like that to appear so suddenly?" Twilight asked no one in particular.

Spike, thinking she was speaking to him, shrugged and said, “I don’t know, wasn’t it just a normal Everfree Storm that got a little out of control?”

"No Spike. This wasn’t just any normal Everfree storm run amok. This storm was a magical tempest, I felt something, I’m not sure what it was, but I doubt it could be anything good.”

"Do you want me to send a letter to Princess Celestia, Twilight?"

"Spike, you know full well we've had telephones here in Ponyville for almost two years now." replied Twilight. Amused by her assistants apparent forgetfulness.

"But wouldn't a letter be fas-" whatever Spike was about say was interrupted, as his cheeks turned green, and his eye's crossed before he let go a small flame of green dragon fire. A scroll magically appearing in front of him.

Twilight immediately snatched the scroll from the air as it bore the royal seal, stamped on a red ribbon wrapped around it, and on the side of the scroll in big red letters read, Emergency.

Quickly removing the ribbon, she opened the scroll and read its contents,

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I hope this letter finds both you and your friends well, as there is a matter of grave importance that I need you and the Elements to look into. I am sure that you felt the magical storm and its magical energy from inside the Everfree Forest in Ponyville. I need you and the Elements to head to the old royal castle. I believe that is where you will find the source of this magical anomaly. Luna and I will be heading to the castle as soon as we can.

Please stay safe my student and be careful.

-You're mentor,

Princess Celestia

Princess Celestia wanted her friends and her to journey into the Everfree Forest. To the same castle where they had found the Elements of Harmony and defeated Nightmare Moon, in an effort to search for the source of the strange storm.

This was big, the only other times Princess Celestia had asked them for help was when Discord had escaped or when the Crystal Empire had reappeared after being gone for a thousand years.

"What’s it say Twilight?" asked Spike.

Turning to him, she said, "I need to call the girls together. Princess Celestia needs us to go into the Everfree forest and investigate something inside the old castle. I want you to go down stairs and call Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Rarity and tell them that they need to come to library right now."

Spike gave a sharp nod and headed downstairs. Twilight meanwhile, went straight to her personal telephone, which was on her nightstand next to her bed.

While Spike called Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Rarity, with the public downstairs phone, Twilight only had to make two calls with her’s, one to Applejack and one to Pinkie.

Quickly punching in Applejack’s number on the phone’s keypad, Twilight waited anxiously for her friend to pick up. After she had let it ring for a time, she was about to hang up and try Pinkie’s number when she heard somepony pick the phone up on the other end.

"Ugh! Who the hay is callin’ at this time of the night? It’s after midnight for Celestia’s sake!" complained her friend Applejack, as she brought the phone to her mouth. Twilight suppressed a winch at her friends irritated mumblings over having been awoken so late in the evening. However, she didn’t have much time to dwell on that as Applejack cleared her throat and asked, “This is Applejack, may Ah ask who’s callin’?

"I'm sorry to wake you Applejack, but this really important. I assume you heard that storm in the Everfree from earlier right?”

The sound of a barely suppressed yawn could be heard over the line, followed by Applejack’s reply, "Yer darn right Ah did, darn storm nearly woke up the whole family! Well, cept for Granny Smith, she’ll sleep through just about anything. Ah was just about to fall back asleep when ya called."

"I'm really sorry Applejack, I know you're tired from work, but I need you to come to the library as soon as you can, Princess Celestia needs our help."

Twilight could hear her friend’s tired sigh before she said, "Alright Twi, I'll be over shortly, just give me a couple of minutes to get dressed and I’ll be on my way."

"Alright, thanks Applejack. I’ll let you go now, as I still have to get hold of Pinkie Pie. Spike’s busy calling the rest of the girls right now. So I’ll see you in a few."

"Yeah, bye Twilight." said Applejack as she hung up the phone on her end.

Rolling her eyes as she set the phone back down, Twilight remarked, "Well she’s just a bucket of sunshine right now.” Letting go a tired sigh, she said, “I better call Pinkie now, the faster they get here, the faster we can get to the castle and then get back to bed."

Quickly dialing Pinkie’s number, the phone had barely run three times before Pinkie’s cheerful voice sounded over the line. "Hiya Twilight! How come you’re calling so late? Oh! Do want to plan a surprise party or maybe want to order something for tomorrow?" Twilight patiently waited for a break in Pinkie's rant so that she could get a word in.

Sensing her chance, Twilight broke in saying, "No, I’m sorry Pinkie, I don’t need to order anything or throw a party right now.” She heard a disappointed sigh emanate from the other end of the line. Quickly pressing onwards, lest Pinkie launch into another tangent, she said, “ I need you to come over to the library as soon as you can, the rest of the girls should already be on their way."

"Okie dokie lokie! I'll be right over! Bye twilight!" and with that she hung up.

"Well that was easy, I hope they get here soo-” The sound of somepony knocking on her front door interrupting her. Frowning in confusion, she called out, “Spike, would you go see who's at the door please?"

Who could be at the door this late, or is it early? She shook her head. Bah, doesn’t matter, it’s probably Rainbow Dash, she’s certainly fast enough.

"Uhh, it's Pinkie Pie, Twilight!" replied Spike from the front door.

"What!?" exclaimed Twilight as she ran quickly down the stairs and into the main room, and sure enough, there was Pinkie standing there at the front door, a large innocent smile plastered across her face.

"Wha-, bu-, Pinkie? How did you? Ugh! Never mind." Twilight said, quickly chalking up Pinkies sudden arrival at the library to Pinkie just being Pinkie Pie.

A few minutes later, the rest of Twilights friends arrived, some more agitated than others.

"What the hay Twilight! Here I was, having fun kicking some fillies flank in Haylo and then Spike calls, saying to come over cause of some sort of 'emergency'." said Rainbow, as she strode through the door, making air quotes with her hands.

"Yes darling, I myself happened to be in the middle of my much needed beauty sleep. At least I was, until Spike called, saying something similar about an emergency." quipped Twilight’s other friend, Rarity. Even now, she still had her hair up in curlers, a mug of coffee in one hand. However with a quick flick of her horn, her curlers disappeared, leaving her luxurious purple hair to flow freely over her shoulders.

Twilight sighed, knowing full well it was the middle of the night, edging towards early morning, but Princess Celestia needed them, and Twilight wasn't going to let her teacher down.

Putting her hands up in a placating gesture, she replied, "Look, I know most of you are tired and want to go back to bed or back to playing a videogame,” she said, looking pointedly at Rainbow Dash. “But Princess Celestia needs our help. I’m sure you all felt or heard that freak storm that blew through a short time ago. Well, Princess Celestia sent me a letter saying that the storm somehow created a magical anomaly at the old royal castle. And that she wanted us to go there and find this anomaly and if possible to determine what it is."

"Sh-sh-shouldn't we w-w-wait till m-morning when the s-sun is out?" asked Fluttershy timidly.

"We can't Fluttershy, the princess is worried and she needs us to do this as quickly as possible. I understand you don’t like going into the Everfree Forest at night, frankly I’m not too happy with the idea either. But Princess Celestia said that her and Luna would meet us there, and it wouldn’t be right to keep them waiting." replied Twilight as she placed a comforting hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder.

"Well what the hay are we waiting for then? Let's get in there and do this!" said Rainbow, punctuating her statement with a fist pump.

"Are you girls ready?" Twilight asked her friends as she quickly began gathering supplies for their small journey. Suddenly remembering something she turned to Spike and said, “Oh! Before I forget. Spike?”

"Yeah Twilight?" he asked, looking up at Twilight as she and her friends were preparing to leave the library.

"You go ahead and head back to bed, the girls and I should be back by morning, alright?"

"Okay Twilight, you'll stay safe right?" Spike asked, looking up at her with worried eyes.

Twilight placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course we’ll be careful Spike, with the six of us going, this’ll be a piece of cake."

"Alright, I'll see you in the morning then." he said. Twilight gave a nod in reply before she, along with the rest of the Elements, stepped out of the library. The six mares quickly making their way towards the Everfree Forest. "Please stay safe everypony." Spike said as he closed the door to the Golden Oak's library.

Author's Note

The beginning to this is similar to my other fic Who I've become - Rarity that is because it's the same person but I changed who he turned into when he was reborn in Equestria.

Next chapter - Nightmare Moon Awakens.

This chapter has been edited by timothy48. Thank you. You magnificent person.