Equestria in Ruins

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Cutie Mark Trinity
Chapter 2: Prophecies
Chapter 3: Revelations
Chapter 4: Dream State
Chapter 5: Constellations
Chapter 6: Everfree
Chapter 7: The Decay of Harmony
Chapter 8: Timber!
Chapter 9: The Eye of the Storm
Chapter 10: Divinity in an Era of Malice
Chapter 11: Tainted Crystal
Chapter 12: Long Road to Ruin
Chapter 13: Enter Tragedy
Chapter 14: Bailing out Demons
Chapter 15: A Dance with Denial
Author Note
Intro: The Wake of Destruction
Epilogue: Serenity

Chapter 1: The Cutie Mark Trinity

My yellow and black mane glimmered in the dim sunlight as my silver coat brushed against a zapapple tree; they have been in bloom ever since Equestria turned upside down. My wings were still quite small making it difficult to fly but I had no purpose for them anyways. Awaiting me under the shady tree was my teacher, Apple Bloom. She never got her cutie mark…Not many ponies were able to get theirs since their optimism was drained away and nopony could find a talent they could stick to. I’m still a filly and although I have yet to get my cutie mark, I’m rather optimistic towards earning one soon. Hopefully…

Apple Bloom was not a qualified teacher but she was the only thing I had. She sat on a tree stump and told stories about her friends: Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Babs Seed. Babs helps Apple Bloom to operate the farm but little business had sprung since everypony is getting tired of the once highly appraised zapapples. Now they have everything from zapapple jam, pie and even cider but sales have been difficult making it so we end up eating half our stock since we can’t afford to buy any other type of food. Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom’s older brother could no longer do labour work on the farm and spends his day making various types of food using the zapapples. Babs is caring and as good as a mother to me since I got separated from my family long ago. Apple Bloom and Babs would tell me that they perished but I don’t believe them! They would tell me stories about how much my parents loved me and would do anything to be here with me. Since I have no immediate family, Babs and Apple Bloom would take care of me, they have since they first heard that I was without siblings.

Sweetie Belle had died long ago when the chaos was first unleashed upon Equestria. Nopony was ever specific about how she died because even they had no clue. Scootaloo had to join the royal guard since very few stallions were capable of keeping Canterlot safe. The guard no longer operated under royal orders since Shining Armor never truly got over Cadence’s passing and is no longer capable of giving orders to them. The Royal Guard now served as peacekeepers and they had their hands full. I’ve only seen Scootaloo once but if the circumstances would have been different, I know we could have been great friends since unlike the other members of the guard; she had confidence in her ability even without a cutie mark.

Apple Bloom glanced at me as I trotted towards our usual learning spot. For once I saw a bit of a glimmer in her eyes; it could be happiness or just a reflection from the dazzling Sun. The Sun and Moon maintained their cycles even after catastrophe had pierced Equestria since Celestia, with the little will she had left, had cast a spell preventing either eternal day or night. As I sat down, Apple Bloom offered me cider; without hesitation, I drank it to quench my thirst, indulging in its familiar taste.

“Today is a very important day”, she started, “Shining Armor is heading down to Ponyville to view the solar eclipse. I want you to be on your best behavior…” She stopped for a second, “Aw. You brought your friends!”

Unity, a green-eyed unicorn with a purple/pink streaked mane and a mint green coat followed by Starshard trotted up from the shadows of the zapapple trees. Starshard had a lunar-like white mane and a black coat with a hint of orange in it; her eyes were orange and reflected the dazzling sunlight. She was the most majestic earth pony in Ponyville since she resembled the night itself.

“Oh I didn’t invite…” Apple Bloom stopped me and smirked, barely holding back her content at my attempt of justifying their appearance.

“It’s fine”, she declared with a grin on her face, “I always love company”.

“While we’re here, why don’t we go see the eclipse together?” Unity spoke with innocence.

“We can’t look at the eclipse directly, we’ll go blind!” Starshard uttered with arrogance.

“Yes but that’s why Shining Armor is here”, Apple Bloom whispered, drawing the ponies near. “With the little magic he has left, he will attempt to raise a barrier for us to observe the eclipse without losing our sight as the Moon drifts away from the Sun”

Once we arrived at the spot where we could observe the eclipse in security, we each picked a spot where we would be seated while we waited for the celestial event. The rocks which we sat on resembled petrified tree stumps, long forgotten like the marvelous olden days of Equestria. The meeting place was a high peek of one of the various mountains that overlooked Equestria. Apple Bloom said it would be worth the wait but all I could think about was a bed of hay as I recalled the warmth of the barn I call home.

The sun was scorching our coats and everypony was drenched in sweat from the long journey. Shining Armor awaited us at the top of the mountain.

Although I knew that this eclipse business was just a publicity stunt for an electoral campaign I paid little attention to, promising a better Equestria, I couldn't help but anticipate this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Shining Armor!” Apple Bloom screeched in delight as we all bowed before him.

“There’s no need for that.”, he whispered to Apple Bloom, signaling us to get back up.

“How have you been doing?” Apple Bloom was quick with this question although she knew what the answer would be. She was met with a look of shame from Shining Armor.

“It’s not like that…” Shining Armor quickly followed

“I know”, Apple Bloom seemed to understand the position Shining Armor was in.

The mountain quickly gathered with ponies greeting each other with short-lived joy. Even though I knew this atmosphere wouldn't last long, I embraced the warmth it brought to the small community of chattering, half-lively ponies of every shape and size.

Hours had passed from our meeting at the tree and Shining Armor was ready to raise a force field to shield us from the harmful rays of sunlight that would ultimately burst from the darkness of the moon.

As Shining Armor got up from his resting place, the Moon was slowly creeping towards the Sun. With a majestic veil of light emitted from Shining Armor’s horn, the world bellow was shadowed as the Moon drifted across the Sun. The sight was beautiful to the point that everypony was speechless, glancing at the celestial phenomenon.

The joy died and with its death came the wake of catastrophe.

Shining Armor’s efforts proved unsuccessful as the Sun exploded, its rays blinding everypony in its path. My eyes were starring right at it, captivated by its destructive beauty.
“Unity, use your magic!” I came to my senses as the words exploded from my mouth.

Unity used all of her power to raise a temporary barrier that prevented further damage as the ponies started to realize what had happened.

As the terror subsided, I noticed something on Unity’s flank.

She got her cutie mark!

A pink heart housed the universal sign of peace and shone in the glimmering rays of sunlight.

“Unity!” I screeched, “You got your cutie mark!”

“So did you!” Unity jumped pointing in the direction of my flank. It was the image of a solar eclipse.

What could this mean?!

We ran up to Starshard, gasping as she glanced at our cutie marks. We stopped beside her, panting from excitement.

“Um…Starshard, look at your flank” Unity declared barely holding in her excitement.

On Starshard’s flank, the rays of sunlight exposed her cutie mark. Four orange shards resembling a compass’ coordinates seemed to emit a light of their own, illuminating Starshard’s coat.

At this point, everypony had their eyes focused on us in defiance.

Chapter 2: Prophecies

At the sight of everypony glaring at us, I could feel my heart burst out of my chest. I didn't know if my friends felt the same way but one thing was for certain, I could sense the hostility of the crowd as I stood with my legs anchored into the rocky soil.

Why are they staring at us like that?

Worry grew to fear as I saw Shining Armor approach the three of us and Apple Bloom. It was as if every step he took lasted an eternity. He met us face to face, staring at us as if we were some sort of alien life-form. I could feel Unity brush my coat and slowly move behind me almost as if she was mimicking Shining Armor's advancement. Out of the three of us, she was probably the most delicate pony. She wasn't shy or anti-social but she wasn't emotionally strong when it came to these types of situations. She hated getting looked down upon.

“Everypony, go back to your homes.” He projected these words with a tone of uncertainty but there was something more hidden behind it, something not as obvious. The ponies slowly started evacuating the mountain, speculating to one another.

Little did we know, Equestria would never be the same after this unexpected event.

Shining Armor, although he was no longer in charge of the royal guard, was still considered royalty and was under surveillance at events since there was always the possible danger of assassination or even public execution. Before long, a carriage of guards arrived to lead us all to Canterlot where we would be able to see the true power of the darkness that not only manifested itself physically upon the lost heroic souls but also on a larger scale: turning society against itself.

The streets of Canterlot were desolate and no longer served their initial purpose of basking the bourgeoisie society with mystical light only to be matched by the Crystal Empire itself. Now it’s only purpose was to embrace the evil that swept in like a vulture; eating away at the already decaying fundamental laws of society. This was anarchy, or at least the closest possible thing to it.

As we arrived in Canterlot, I could feel an evil presence lurking in the darkness as night was closing in on us. Shivers ran through me as I started to notice graffiti portraying the princesses and Shining Armor hanging by nooses with a large “A” written, circled by red paint; resembling the blood that poured out of the severed limbs of the royal family.

Once we arrived at the castle, we could see similar images portrayed throughout the lot.

I don’t know how anypony can live this way…

Then I recalled the fact that the Crystal Empire had crumbled with the wake of King Sombra long ago. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor had to seek refuge in Canterlot shortly after. Now, Shining Armor couldn’t bring himself to move on from his tragic past.

The doors creaked open as they revealed the majestic interior of the seemingly abandoned castle that looked like it wasn’t cleaned properly since catastrophe first struck. It wasn’t dark, yet it was not bright either. It resembled nor day or night. It was something in between that let the dim light shine upon the castle. The street lanterns shone through the stained glass windows, revealing the fulfilled prophecies of the princesses along with the mane six. Everything from Nightmare being sent to the moon to Discord being turned to stone, it all shone don to illuminate our way. Everything was now revealed in the obscure light. Twilight has illuminated the path towards the throne.

Shining Armor led us to a candle-lit chamber where books were displayed that I had never set my eyes upon. Ancient books locked away to prevent any further damage tainted the shelves with various colours. In the right hooves, these books could prove to be useful; in the wrong ones, disaster was certain.

In his study, Shining Armor had scrolls upon scrolls laid out on top of a gorgeous oak desk. The one at the top of these mysterious scrolls revealed a solar eclipse from far but as I trotted closer, I could notice something strange about it. The contents had now been revealed to me in a shock that jolted me like a bolt of lightning.

“It…it can’t be…” I uttered as Unity and Starshard now stood by my side. “How could this be possible?!” I continued in disbelief, gasping at the thought of the authenticity of this ancient document. I started to read the words that the script held written my head.

When darkness will fall over Equestria, the fading light will give birth to a new dawn.

Beneath these very words was what appeared to be three ponies hovering in front of the image of an eclipse that much resembled my cutie mark. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, this sudden revelation took me by such surprise that I found it difficult to breathe.

I continued to read.

An eclipse will shine upon the horizon, revealing that even in dusk, there’s a glimmer of hope.

It then became clear to me. I was that light in the darkness. I was the good in the evil. I was the truth in the countless lies. I was the dawn that overwhelmed the dusk.

Chapter 3: Revelations

Shining Armor trotted up, already aware of the significance of the words written upon the scroll as if they were carefully stitched together forming the very image that shook me to the core.

“You’re a smart filly”, Shining Armor spoke in a humble fashion. “You’re already starting to understand what these scrolls have been shouting for centuries!” He projected these last words that vibrated through everypony’s ears.

“But…I don’t understand…how?” I was still a bit skeptical even after it dawned on me; it’s understandable, even the easiest filly to influence could see an issue with this puzzle that was just starting to piece itself together.

“I don’t understand much either, the scrolls origins are as mysterious as the tree of harmony, they seemed to be around since the dawn of ponykind. I could…we could never trace them back to their origins even after countless years of searching.” Shining Armor started, “You see, these scrolls have no origin.”

“What do you mean, you didn't work alone? How can the scrolls not have an origin?” Starshard asked still not grasping what Shining Armor was preaching upon the young fillies. Shining Armor’s answers would ultimately lead to more questions.

“Royalty is more than an image to us that were fortunate, it was a path that was already carved in stone; it was destiny.” Shining Armor explained. “We have a duty to keep Equestria safe from the terror that was once hidden in the shadows-waiting to feast upon society. Understanding these scrolls was the only way to prevent catastrophe up until the point that the dark forces unleashed their true potential after gaining enough power. I have yet to give up on these prophecies since they were never wrong in the past. They were our only hope of guidance; it is now your task to restore peace in Equestria. Before it’s too late.”

These words came to be a shock to Unity and Starshard. I admit that they had caught me off guard as well, revealing things that I could not have guesses in a million years.

“How do you know that it’s truly us? Did anypony else get their cutie marks during the eclipse?” It was normal for Unity to question logic before committing to anything she was uncertain about. At that point that uncertainty was revolving around the fact that she wasn’t sure if Shining Armor had the right ponies. She respected him but thought he was odd at times, obsessing over the scrolls. She was never really the pony to jump to a conclusion without looking at the whole picture; but this time the picture wasn’t complete.

“Nopony else, just the three of you.” He replied patiently, understanding the doubt that the ponies had. After all he spent all these years examining these mysterious scrolls, he must know something about them that we don’t.

Upon further examination of the scroll, it became evident that the three ponies portrayed in the image highly resembled us.

Apple Bloom was in the study the entire time but had yet to utter a word. It was as if she camouflaged herself with the bookshelves and their eerie setting. She then spoke with uncertainty.

“Are sure these ponies are fit to do what you ask of them, they are just fillies after all?”

“They aren’t ready yet, I wouldn’t let them out on a treacherous journey without going through every aspect of their training. Equestria depends on them AFTER ALL.” Shining Armor put emphasis on these last two words revealing that he was in fact serious about this entire speech.

~
Apple Bloom had prepared beds for each of us in a secure room further in the castle. Surely somepony with a few screws loose could jeopardize this entire plan if they had the will too. The news of the event that took place earlier today would spread like wildfire upon the already scorched ruins of Equestria. The royal guard would once more serve its purpose.

At the corner of my eye I could see a silhouette slowly approaching then galloping towards Apple Bloom. It was Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom jumped into Scootaloo’s hooves as they hugged each other for close to a minute, tears rolling down their eyes, damping their coats. It wasn’t long before the two ponies made small talk and kept themselves updated on the events that happened in the years that had pasted. At this moment, both mares were acting as if they were fillies again, a joy that is rarely seen in Equestria these days; illustrating that it is important to take pleasure in the small things even if the world around you isn’t the way that you’ve always wanted it to be. Beyond these walls, Equestria was cruel showing no remorse towards the lives lost and destroyed during its rampage on society but within these walls friendship prevailed over everything else. Harmony was within these walls, if only the rest of Equestria could see…

Shining Armor also showed a nit of happiness towards the reunion of the long separated friends but his expression was far from gleeful. Trotting up to us out of the corner of my eye, hidden in the shadows; he spoke.

“I will give you a couple of days to settle in but we will need to get moving quickly. Our first expedition will involve going to the Everfree forest. Now, I’m sure that some of you have heard of the tree of Harmony so I won’t bother going into much detail before we arrive to its resting place. I have no idea what terror we may encounter but know that I will be there with you along the way. This battle is not yours to fight alone.”

“I will go with you as well”, Scootaloo spoke. “It is important that you feel a sense of security and I will do my best to provide that for you. I vowed to put my life on the line when I joined the guard. This is my duty and my way to repay you for what you’re doing.”

“I will go as well”, Apple Bloom declared.

“No”, Scootaloo interrupted her before she could continue with an explanation. “The farm needs you; Ponyville needs you.”

Although taken back from this sudden disagreement between her and her best friend, Apple Bloom nodded. She understood that Ponyville needed her more than she could be of use for the heroes that stood before her.

Shining Armor handed a few spell books to Unity that would prove useful during their journey. It wasn't long before Unity got lost in one of them, studying every word and occasionally emitting light from her horn to test the minor spells out.

Shining Armor had a look of sorrow in his captivating sapphire blue eyes. He once had a sister much like Unity but she had unfortunately perished along with her friends at the hooves of King Sombra. Her face would remain carved into his memory along with his faithful wife, Cadence.

“It is time to sleep everypony; there is a lot to do in the following days. Shining Armor has weapons you could practice with, Starshard and he will help train you along with Eclipse Shine.” Apple Bloom had started to explain the various tasks we would have to accomplish in order to be prepared for Everfree.

Blowing out the candle light surrounding the circular room where everypony slept but Shining Armor, Apple Bloom laid in a bed next Scootaloo.

Sleep came easy to some but in my dream state, I never knew what to expect. Blankets embracing my small body, my head cushioned by a luxurious pillow; I finally drifted away into a world that one could only ever dream about.

Chapter 4: Dream State

They say you can learn new things simply from dreaming. Our minds still function even if we aren’t fully aware of it, basking in untold knowledge and deepest secrets. For me dreaming was another way of being awake; exploring make-believe realms that had formed in my imagination, a wild phenomenon that only Luna herself could possibly understand. In my dreams I was alive.

Darkness. Everything was shadowed as if somepony put a blindfold over my eyes, thick enough to not let a single minuscule trace of light in. Light. I could see it now as if a dim candle lit up revealing the world around me. Advancing towards me, the light grew stronger and stronger up until the point that it revealed its torch carrier. It was Luna.

Although Nightmare Moon was vanquished and sent to the Moon long ago, I knew it was her. Nightmare Moon…No Luna.

Her eyes pierced me with wisdom. Her sight jabbed me with curiosity. Her expression shot me with understanding. I don’t know how to explain it but this dream was different…It was real.

Although dreams had a tendency to feel real to me, there was something obscure about this one. I was truly awake even in my state of slumber.

Her eyes were now face-to-face with mine, reflecting my own image, drowning me within my own complexion. So full of knowledge yet so empty of life.

The room lit up, blinding me with its celestial lights.

After a few seconds of adjusting my eyes to the unfamiliar brightness, I could see clearly. I was in the very circular room that I was resting in before my awakening but it was now illuminated in a way that let know shadow escape its grandeur. Another pony stood beside Luna, her head down as if shame had stricken her, never letting her recover. It was her sister, Princess Celestia.

They were both alive!

“Luna?” I started catching my breath after the shocking event. “Celestia?”

Both pony nodded their heads together as if they were one.

It was the confirmation I needed to reassure myself that this event was in fact reality. This wasn’t an illusion or something my mind had conjured up in its slumber. The ruler of the sun and of the moon awaited me. By the expressions that they both shared, I could tell that this meeting was urgent.

“Eclipse Shine, the light in the darkness, the dawn in the dusk.” Celestia spoke first with a tone of superiority. “It is time to fulfill your destiny for the sake of Equestria and Ponykind.”

“The darkness isn’t hiding in the shadows; it is preparing itself to feast once more and feast it will.” Luna continued, her voice vibrating the very foundation of the room yet nopony rose from their slumber but me. “You must vanquish it. Time is fading quickly.”

“How are you here with me? Celestia, you were locked up and Luna; you were sent to the Moon. How is your presence even possible?” My breath was now fully relieved making it so that I could finally speak with ease.

“Dream state.” Luna was the one to answer. “You see, we are still controlled by the wicked but we can communicate through the sharing of dreams. It takes time to get used to, not everypony has the ability to communicate during sleep. Out of the three chosen ponies, you were the one to receive this gift. We do not give this ability; that is the job of something greater than us.”

“So you’re telling me that you’re here consciously but not physically?” Once again more questions would be asked than answered.

“Exactly,” Celestia paused. “You wouldn’t want us to be here physically since we are still tainted with evil. The dream state is the only part of the mind that evil can’t trespass, therefore we are still in control of are actions.”

“To explain dream state would be impossible. It’s not a concept that you are fully capable of grasping but you can control it if you wish.” Luna proceeded to further explain the fundamentals of what her sister was trying to explain. Luna was an expert in this field. “We may meet again in dream state therefore there are things that you need to know. Firstly, it is highly dangerous to stay in dream state for a prolonged period of time; most encounters last a few minutes even if they may seem like hours. Secondly, never get lost in dream state; it may seem real but it is still the work of your imagination. Anything could happen so be very cautious.” Luna proceeded to clap her hooves together, making the room around them disappear, revealing the Everfree Forest. “Thirdly, never attempt to kill somepony while they are in dream state unless it is absolutely necessary. Killing a pony while they are asleep will result in the death of their conscience, stopping all the functions in their body, making it impossible for them to ever wake up again.”

“You will get used to it once you’ve experienced it a few times. You can also use dream state alone to access parts of your distant memories so that you can relive parts of your life. This could prove to be useful since this function is not affected by your emotions at the time of an incident; so you can see things for what they truly were, not the way you remember them.” Celestia was explaining as she led us into a rockier part of the Everfree forest. Here we would find the tree of Harmony.

Something was different about the tree of Harmony. It was almost as if something had poisoned it, making it so that the tree could no longer stand on its own, awkwardly leaning on the rocky walls that surrounded it. Roots of the tree were barely visible since they had turned a pitch black, almost as if they were made of coal. The tree was slowly dying.

“This is in the near future.” Celestia broke the sound of silence that was growing within the walls of the ominous cavern. “You can prevent this from happening if you act quickly”

“This event isn’t carved in stone unlike your destiny; it has the opportunity to be avoided but you must act quickly!” Luna spoke with urgency giving off the true nature of the task. “This could be your only opportunity to start vanquishing the darkness that flooded our world.”

“There will be more to come but focus on saving the tree of Harmony first. If the darkness spreads throughout the tree like you can see here, it could ultimately gain the power it needs to escape its shackles. Remember, darkness isn’t hiding, it’s waiting for the right moment to charge.” Celestia faced me eye-to-eye the same way Luna did but instead of being pierced by wisdom as I was before; it was sorrow that I felt surge through my body. She still blamed herself for what had happened in the past.

I awoke, my sheets were drenched with swear while everypony, as I suspected, were still in deep slumber. I couldn’t find sleep after my divine experience and it served no use to wander around the ill lit castle.

I spent the rest of the night thinking about certain things that still remained unclear.

What are these dark forces? Where did they come from? Why are they rotting the foundation of Equestria?

It was useless to ask the darkness to reveal its motives. Its evil was as certain as sunrise and moonrise. Darkness has no reasoning; it has no morals or sense of remorse. Darkness doesn’t wait for its unwilling victim to be prepared. Darkness doesn’t send us a warning before its arrival. Darkness is as swift as a hawk and as merciless as a dragon. Darkness consumes the light in its wake leaving only destruction its path. Darkness is unpredictable like a bull; leading to the demise of those who aren’t brave enough to face it.

And Darkness is within us all.

Chapter 5: Constellations

Dawn shone its vivid lights once more; this time it was sunlight that illuminated the throne, not the artificial God that we had worshiped the night of our entrance into the majestic castle. Promise of better days to come or the Sun teasing us once again with its stinging rays; it mattered not. One thing was certain, the next few days were crucial if Equestria…if the planet was to stand a chance against its predator that lurked in the shadows. Like silence, the darkness would keep spreading across the crevices of our planet; poisoning its veins until the blood gushed out as black as tar. Darkness always leaves a path of destruction in its wake.

The dream was fresh in my memory but I told nopony about it since we had already made plans to visit Everfree the night before. The Princesses were vague on their explanation but a sense of urgency overwhelmed me. Regardless, it would serve no use exploring the Everfree forest unprepared. It was not certain what would await us upon arrival. Surely the darkness had commenced its cleansing upon the already cursed forest.

All I could do was train; then and only then would I be prepared to come face to face with the darkness itself. It awaited me.

Starshard and I were picking out weapons from the castle’s vast collection. Shining Armor would train us based on our strengths and weaknesses so that we could be prepared for what was to come.

To commence our vigorous training, we each picked out a sword to meet up with our teacher, Shining Armor. He met us with a quick glance and made preparations that revolved around our training.

Facing us were three figures, the royal guards finest, which would serve to us as practice partners throughout the days to come. They were each suited in traditional uniform and stood still; awaiting the commands that Shining Armor would bark. Scootaloo was no exception. She stood before me with a military stature as if the instructions that were to follow meant life or death. I knew that façade was only something Scootaloo had made up to intimidate me; her true duty was to protect us, not slaughter us.

Maintaining their military stature for what seemed like days, they awaited orders like toy soldiers on an artificial battlefield.

This training is going to be some serious stuff.

Sword firmly in my grasp, I found myself as stiff as the ponies that stood before me, almost as if I were their reflection. It was time.

“I have gathered you here today to not only teach you to fight but also prepare you for the road ahead.” Shining Armor commenced his session. “I haven’t fought in ages so I may be a bit rusty but the concept is still the same. I will proceed by giving you a few basic rules.”

Not rules again!

Shining Armor advanced as if he was a dictator to those that surrounded him; it was evident that he took pride in being the leader of such a fine group of ponies. I sometimes wonder if such a title could get to somepony’s head.

“First off, always face your opponent in the eyes, unless they have their backs turned towards you.” Shining Armor started going through safety measures for the next few minutes, although I was trapped in my own little bubble. He cautioned us about keeping our guard at all times and to never let go of the blade that we were grasping so firmly in our hooves.

Unity had been instructed to study spells with Apple Bloom. Even if Apple Bloom wasn’t a unicorn, she could still do her best in helping Unity out while Shining Armor had his hooves full with me and Starshard. They bonded together quite a bit during their intense days of training; ultimately they would become great friends. With each enchanting spell, whether it was success of utter failure, they grew more attached to each other.

Like Starshard and I, Unity had no real family that would miss her. She talked very little about life with her siblings since it only brought her sadness. Her mother passed away when she was just a little foal; her father only provided shelter and nourishment to her. Like me, she lost everything before she even had the chance to start.

Over the next couple of days, training continued. Everypony had experience in their field; whether it was fighting or spell casting. Unity had started to grasp the basics of magic, casting minor spells with ease; at each successful attempt, she would be greeted by a round of applause from her audience.

Starshard and I had practice fighting using bamboo sticks that were sturdy enough to withstand the wrath of every crushing blow. Each swing of our faux blades came with the satisfactory sound of them clashing into one another. Our fights started at a slow pace in the beginning but accelerated as time passed by.

We were ready!

Nightfall came and it brought hope for a new dawn.

Shining Armor had given us an opportunity to exit the castle as long as we were assisted by Scootaloo. The threat of jeopardy was still in the air so it was better to be safe than sorry.

Once outside, the stars and Moon painted the night skies as if somepony splattered a bucket of white paint on its black canvas. It was if Luna and Celestia were trapped in the constellations overhead, looking down at the world, hoping for a chance at retribution.

The night brought a breeze of fresh air in the summer heat, refreshing yet chilling at the same time.

Twilight had long since faded, leaving no trace behind of its existence; so will the night when the dawn reveals itself. At this moment it was the night’s spectacle and all of Equestria was watching as if it was its stage. The Moon was longing for an audience as the stars danced around its divinity but the moon had far less watchful eyes than the Sun. The Moon was lonely and somewhere up there, so was Luna.

Dark. Once again the dark overwhelmed my subconscious as the night brought its promise of rest. Light. Light had once again pierced the veil of darkness that sheltered me from the world.

Luna stood before me, it looked as if she had cried that day; revealing how she truly felt on the inside.

She spoke. “Tomorrow you will be lead to the forest of Everfree. It is important that you take action immediately; the darkness has already begun to spread. The forest will be hostile towards you and your companions, don’t let it intimidate you, don’t lose yourself in its thorns of malice.” She paused. “A spell must be cast in order to set the tree of Harmony free from the grasp of evil. A light will shine upon the darkness, casting the ancient evil away. That light will vanquish the feasting shadows and reverse the curse that commenced the decay.”

With those words, Luna had drifted off and the only dream that would come my way was pure blackness; undisturbed by this revelation that could have drove me to madness if I was awake.

What was I to do with this riddle? What purpose will it serve if any at all?

Yet I slept like a foal, unfazed by my experience; perhaps because I had yet to realize the true depth of the words that rang in my ears.

A light will shine upon the darkness, casting the ancient evil away.

That light will vanquish the feasting shadows and reverse the curse that commenced the decay.

Chapter 6: Everfree

Dawn promised a new day once again. The constant feeling of anticipation was bursting through my chest as I rose out of my unmade bed after a night of mostly uninterrupted slumber.

The dream was still present in my head, Luna’s words still rung in my years, yet I did no try to make sense of them at this moment.

We were far from Everfree but today we would commence our path towards retribution. Today, everything was on the line and our intervention in the poisoning of the tree of Harmony would mark an important victory for Equestria…For the world.

We were gathered in a large room to eat breakfast; the table before us contained a vast variety of food, both exotic and familiar. Each of us took a serving that would surely provide us with the energy we needed throughout the day.

Everypony seemed awake for once, equally as prepared as me. Stuffing ourselves with waffles and various types of fruits; we engaged in conversation to make final preparations for the day to come.

“As you know, today is crucial in the reanimation of Equestria.” Shining Armor greeted us with these words; confidence was evident in his voice. We needed confidence more than anything else today. “We need to move quickly if we are to get to the Everfree forest before nightfall. The meal provided for you will bring you the nourishment necessary for the day ahead. It is essential that you eat as much as you possibly can; we have no room in our bags to back food.”

A voyage to Ponyville meant saying goodbye to my best friend and mentor, Apple Bloom. I would have really wanted her to come along for the journey but I knew that she was better off in Ponyville with her family. She had promised us to provide food for Ponyville so that everypony would be kept from starvation. After all, the infection was bound to strike Ponyville again as unpredictable and swift as a thief in the night; turning the blessed land into a wasteland like Canterlot. Knowing Apple Bloom, she wouldn’t let that happen.

I wouldn’t let that happen as well, as long as I’m still alive. I would never let anything happen to Apple Bloom and Babs Seed; the ones that had cared for me for so long. Not as long as I could do anything to prevent the inevitable.

We were ready to leave for Ponyville, the guards guiding us once again with their carriage. They would lead us to the Everfree forest and wait for us to come back. As far as Shining Armor knew, this was only a routine check up on the forest, making sure that nothing was disturbed.

He was about to get the surprise of his life.

Nopony knew about my nightly visitations by the celestial entities that fed me with knowledge of the coming days. Danger awaited us as we trotted through hell’s gates.

Upon arrival, we said our final goodbyes to Apple Bloom as she trotted off into the mid-day sun. Everypony, without exception would miss her; I would most likely miss her the most.

“I sure will miss that wonderful mare.” Unity sighed at the thought of Apple Bloom’s help during her difficult training. She hated to see her teacher leave so abruptly; it shattered her heart but it didn’t dare affect her spirit. She will need it.

“Me too…” Surprisingly, Starshard spoke these nest words. She never showed much interest in Apple Bloom but here she was, mourning her as if she was lost.

It had been a long few days; I guess everypony had grown attached to the kind mare.

“Wait!” Scootaloo screeched, trotting through the fields as fast as she possibly could to catch up with her old friend.
They spoke for a couple of minutes and I could see them hug in the distance. In that instance I felt awful for them, it must have been depressing to spend their fillyhood trying to earn their cutie marks and never receiving the gift of destiny. It was hard to believe that at one point, everypony had a cutie mark…

She trotted back to the back of ponies that patiently awaited her arrival, tears running down her gorgeous purple eyes like waterfalls of misery. I walked up to her and hugged her as tight as I possibly could, holding back tears of my own as her torrent flooded my coat, damping it until it was completely drenched. It could have lasted seconds or minutes but time was irrelevant as long as Scootaloo was comfortable.

I couldn’t bear to see anypony depressed. I had been that way throughout most of my fillyhood, I knew that only agony came from this sentiment. It was more important to me that everypony else was happy than my own wellbeing. I didn’t care what would happen to me, I would do anything for my friends.

Disharmony had taken its toll on the already ominous forest that fit its title; letting wild beasts roam in its exotic garden of discord.

Everfree was a sight to behold, trees rocketed towards the mid-day sky as the blazing sun began its descent; the moon threatening its pursuit.

We had wandered in the forest for had seemed like weeks, examining our surroundings to try and spot any sign of evil that lurked in its depths. Like the abyss, what we would encounter was unknown to us; we had to be on the lookout for the very wild beasts that threatened us with our lives.

The Sun was no longer in our sight, camouflaging itself behind the overgrown, towering trees. Nightfall was unavoidable at this point; we would have to quicken our pace.

Although it was mid-summer, the breeze warned us of an early fall. Leaves were segregated from the trees like we were from society in a forest that felt like it was a portal to the underworld.

Shivering from the sudden, unexpected breeze, we seek shelter in a rockier part of the Everfree forest.

This place looks familiar…

We trotted closer and closer to the promise of warmth.

I know this place!

We had now arrived, heading down a set of rocky stairs that seemed particularly unsafe for ponies; especially fillies like us.

Taking each step cautiously, we arrived to the cavern below where we would spend the night. Dusk was filtering out the day. The Moon had begun its reign. Once again, Luna had the stage to herself.

Lanterns grasped firmly in our mouths, we entered the strange cavern to see if we could turn it into a resting place. We found more than a place to sleep. There it was; standing still before us as it reigned over its throne.

The Tree of Harmony.

Chapter 7: The Decay of Harmony

The petrified tree stood tall before us as its luminescence deemed our lanterns useless. It was difficult to believe that even in Equestria’s state; such a beautiful sight was still possible.

Its Barks had been engraved with the cutie marks of Luna, Celestia and what I assumed was Twilight’s. With two Princesses dead and the other two overwhelmed by the power of madness; the sight provided a sentiment of mutual sadness that was shared among those that were able to see its magnificence. Corrupted royalty was the least of our worries if darkness were to spread across the tree that stood solidly on its own footing for an eternity.

The decay of Harmony has commenced, the roots of the tree no longer maintained their glow that had once enchanted this cavern with hope. We needed to act quickly in order to reverse the curse that had already taken its toll on the unsuspecting presence before us. We were clueless as to what to do next, everypony scratching their mane in deep thought.

Suddenly, the words echoed within the very confinement of my mind as if they were preaching hope to me.

A light will shine upon the darkness, casting the ancient evil away.
That light will vanquish the feasting shadows and reverse the curse that commenced the decay.

What could it possibly mean? Surely Luna had reason to teach me this rhyme?

I repeated it once more.

“A light will shine upon the darkness, casting the ancient evil away.
That light will vanquish the feasting shadows and reverse the curse that commenced the decay.”

This time the words, instead of staying within my mind, echoed throughout the cavern; making it so that everypony had heard them as well.

“Where did you hear those words?” Shining Armor interrogated me, defiance in his tone as if the very words that sounded in the cave ran towards him.

“I recognize it as well, it was written inside one of the spell books I had studied.” This time it was Unity that had the privilege to speak. “They were part of a reversal spell aimed towards decay on plants.”

“That makes perfect sense!” Starshard gasped at the very thought of those words coming from my mouth as if I was a prophet from the olden days.

“We better get started on that spell!” Shining Armor exclaimed, trying to hold back the adrenaline that was pumping through his stallion veins. “Unity, I’m going to need your help if this spell’s effects were to be permanent.”

Both ponies concentrated their magic while chanting the words together in harmony while the cavern roared with the sudden disturbance in the atmosphere.

“A light will shine upon the darkness, casting the ancient evil away.
That light will vanquish the feasting shadows and reverse the curse that commenced the decay.”

At these words, a flash of light erupted from the sleeping giant, vanquishing all the dark forces that had made this subtle cave their home. Soft yet bright, it soothed us as it died out, leaving the tree to shine upon the geological ruins. The faint light was exposing our complexions once more.

On the floor of the cave laid a circular stone that emitted a light of its own. Holding it up in my hoof, I could feel its coolness chilling me to the bone although it resembled the burning Sun itself. Upon further examination, it revealed its true identity; an eclipsed Sun was making its presence known upon my worn out hooves.

“The seventh element…” Shining Armor trotted up to me, holding out his hoof as he examined the divine stone himself.

Its light was slowly fading to a diamond-like sparkle; the light of the tree projecting its image as it collided with the celestial object.

Unity and Starshard kept silent, mesmerized by the sudden discovery of the foreign object.

“But I thought that all the elements had been destroyed…Obliterated?” Scootaloo was a bit skeptical about the authenticity of what looked like a tree ornament to her.

“This is an element in its rawest form,” Shining Armor started, “it wasn’t tampered with or modified in any way by the hands of Ponykind. It is best if nopony knows about its existence; it would cause certain chaos in Equestria. Although Eclipse is the only pony capable of using it, we couldn’t let anything happen to this delicate gem. It’s an exquisite gift from Mare Nature herself.”

Shining Armor’s emotion in the process of his speech came as a shock to everypony that had the opportunity to witness it. He truly took pride in his contribution towards this leap forward into a new era of harmony.

Everypony took turns to examine the element for themselves, mesmerized by its true beauty.

“If Spike was around, he wouldn’t have been able to give it back to you, Eclipse!” Scootaloo started laughing at the thought of the dragon running around with the element as we chased him through the night. “I sure miss that cute little guy”

Spike had been separated from the mane six during their battle with King Sombra. The search team was unable to find proof that he was alive of dead so they dismissed him completely. Everypony had assumed that he had perished along with the mane six at the wrath of the crazed king.

They say that sleep comes easily to the guiltless but I find that statement awfully hard to believe. I’ve done nothing to deserve my constant nights of insomnia that haunted me with delusions; I’m surprise that I haven’t gone mad yet. Most nights, it would take me hours to find rest; tonight was no exception.

I stayed up observing the luminescent light emitted from the tree which served as good to me as the moon. Most ponies were already asleep but its hypnotic effect had yet to tamper with my instincts. I always feared that something would happen to me as I slept; as if something was waiting for the right opportunity to strike. The crucial hours of slumber needed for tomorrows return to Canterlot hadn’t come to me when they were most necessary. Once in Canterlot, we would make plans as to where we should head next.

I hadn’t had anything to eat since the morning and my stomach kept growling like an active volcano as the acids in my stomach found no more substances to dissolve.

Sleep came at last.

It was early in the morning when I got something shook me awake from my deep slumber. Unity was rustling me, waiting for me to get up from my resting place.

We headed out of the cavern, dawn’s lights blinding us as the Sun commenced its ascent into the heavens above. Hoof covering our eyes, we observed our surroundings, careful to not trot into some unexpected visitor.

We trotted for what seemed like an hour; it could have been more or less but it was impossible to tell time as it seemed to stand still.

CRACK

We turned around, astonished by the sudden sound of trees snapping in the distance.

CRACK!

Leaping out of the trees were four huge beasts that rushed towards us with fury in their eyes.

Timberwolves!

Chapter 8: Timber!

The snapping of fresh bark and clamoring of heavy steps behind us sparked our senses as we jolted ahead in defiance at the beasts that had made their way to our shelter. They followed us closely behind as we struggled to maintain an even pace. With no nourishment in us, our energy level was quickly dissolving as we started to slow down.

Closer and closer, the clamoring rang through my ears as the huge tree barks snapped like twigs. The timberwolves seemed to be unfazed by their seemingly helpless obstacle. The only thing standing between us and certain death was shattering all around, crashing like bombs on the unsuspecting wasteland of a ground.

We weren’t ready to face defeat, not after coming this far in our journey. There was too much left to accomplish; to free Equestria once and for all. I wasn’t doing this for self-gain. I was doing it for my friends, my family and everypony that had to sacrifice everything for their country. I was doing this for the world; for Ponykind.

Regardless of my will and the adrenaline that found itself pumping through my veins, I knew that I couldn’t last much longer or go on while my friends fell back. It was useless to run; we would lead them to Ponywville if we kept this up. No, this needed to end now!

I stopped in my tracks as my friends grinded through the dirt to a halt.

“What are you doing, do you want to get us killed?!” Starshard screeched as she gasped for air in her lungs after her outburst.

“It has to…It has to end here…” I found myself longing for oxygen as well as I spoke these words.

“Are you insane?!” This time it was Unity’s turn to question my sanity.

“Sadly not.” I replied without a drop of sarcasm in my voice. I would have to be insane to enjoy this madness!

“She’s right.” Shining Armor halted the argument as the timberwolves came closer. “It has to end now.”

Shining Armor’s horn lit up as he teleported us atop of a tree near the savage beasts, it would only be a few seconds before the timberwolves spotted the nervous ponies on the tree. We knew that the next few seconds were crucial. They would snap this tree with ease, using it as a toothpick for the fresh game they caught.

Atop the tree, we could spot the heavens above as they clouded with disapproval at our cowardice. It wasn’t out of fear though that Shining Armor teleported us here; it was to formulate a proper strategy.

“We need to jump.” Shining Armor declared.

“Oh Celestia, it isn’t only Eclipse anymore…” Starshard sighed in disbelief at what she thought to be another cruel joke.

Ignoring her arrogance, he continued with his instructions.

“If we sink our swords into the back of their necks, it would give us a chance to escape before they regenerate. Timberwolves are known to fuse in order to become a larger version of themselves so we must be as swift as possible in our execution.”

“What do we do after that?” Scootaloo asked him, awaiting orders from her leader.

“After that, we proceed by leading the lone wolf to Ponyville; there we would be able to stop it in its tracks.” Shining Armor paused, expecting a counter to his proposal but none came. “Timberwolves are particularly sensitive to sound; if we are able to clash our swords on a metallic object, we could make it run back into the forest from which it came.

We nodded as we awaited a signal from the stallion.

“Now.” He spoke dryly as if he has a sudden surge of confidence rush through his body.
I suppose we all felt the same since we leaped at these words, swords aimed towards the necks of the unsuspecting piles of lumber.

Sinking my sword deep within its neck, I felt my predator fall at the hooves of its prey; dissolving as it collapsed to the ground.

Par two of the plan.

RUN

We raced towards the entrance of the Everfree forest, passing by familiar landmarks that we had identified upon our arrival into this treacherous jungle of madness.

In the distance, the timberwolves regenerated creating one enormous Alpha wolf that proceeded its hunt for revenge.

The entrance was near, I saw light in the distance; freedom and security awaited us on the other side of hell’s gates.

The timberwolf was much larger and quicker than each individual entity. Its Jaws were wide open as it gained ground racing towards us; sending dozens of tree flying in its wake.

At last we made it to the entrance, almost colliding into one another upon arrival as we each tried to catch a quick glance of the approaching terror. The freedom wouldn’t last long as the wolf launched itself out of Everfree a few seconds after; its prey in sight.

The carriage was in the distance, its beautiful metallic body could serve us perfectly as a speaker; magnifying the sound of steel clashing into steel. The guards raised their weapons in anticipation of a battle.

The idea was absurd but it was our only hope at survival. It was no longer survival of the fittest, our savage days had long since passed; the intellectuals strived in this unjust world.

It wasn’t time to sympathize with the creature; it certainly had none for us. We wouldn’t let anything get in our way, we couldn’t afford it.

Reaching the carriage, we pounded our swords against the metallic surface which proceeded by projecting an outburst of loud noise that echoed through our ears.

The wolf stopped right in its tracks, projecting a howl of its own as it sped back off into the overgrown bundle of trees once more.

Holding in our own howls of victory, we collapsed in exhaustion; panting as we tried to fill our lungs with much needed oxygen once again. We had stayed stretched on the grassy ground for several minutes, looking up at the now mid-day sky. It had been a day since our journey into the Everfree forest; we were all tired and starving.

The members of the guard awaited us during these long few minutes of rest, glancing at us as if they had seen a ghost. The timberwolf was more than anything they had faced in Canterlot before and their reactions were understandable giving the circumstances.

We climbed into the magnificent golden carriage as we headed back for Canterlot. I found myself longing for a good meal, a shower and a comfortable place to rest.

The wolves were to be kept at bay for today.

Chapter 9: The Eye of the Storm

Author Note: Part of this chapter revisits events that happened in the past. To avoid confusion I will italicize the text that refers to them, making it easier to distinguish from the present time.

We had no time to visit Apple Bloom after our encounter with the timberwolves since it was crucial to get back to Canterlot before nightfall.

It was depressing to think of the possibility of never seeing Apple Bloom again. If anything were to happen to me during the journey, I don’t think Apple Bloom and Babs Seed would be able to live with themselves. Death didn’t scare me; I had come face-to-face with it many times in the past and most recently with the enormous timberwolf that could have easily ripped us to shreds. Death was always present although it manifested itself in different ways; danger was hunting me throughout my life, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Canterlot at night was a frightening sight to behold, gang ponies swarmed the streets, waiting for a weaker pony to fall into their traps. Ponies went missing on the daily bases in this once prospering kingdom, Celestia and Luna would be in awe at the devastation to come across Canterlot; surely they wouldn’t let their home dismantle so quickly. Death always lingered in the darkness, it was evident that Canterlot more than any place else in Equestria since it was still habited by ponies, unlike the shattered Crystal Empire.

It would have been more practical to travel back using a train but they had stopped running long ago, loosing meaning as the years passed. Nopony wanted to take a train to Canterlot either way; it had lost its appeal long ago. There weren’t any sites to see, only graffiti and shattered bottles of liquor; one would have to search for meaning between the lines in order to enjoy the lawless, unforgiving empire. Banners promoting Equestrian elections were burnt to the ground almost immediately after they were hung; the ponies here preferred anarchy to democracy.

Our way back to Canterlot would be long and I knew that the journey was far from being over as we charged into the eye of the storm; bracing ourselves for the peril to come. It wouldn’t be long before we were back on our hooves once again, fighting off shadows as they raid the night.

“That was close.” Unity broke the silence as we traveled back to the ruins of Canterlot.

“Too close for me.” Starshard agreed with Unity’s statement as she kept a watchful eye on her surroundings.

Out of the three of us, Starshard was the filly that resembled a colt the most; not physically but the way she acted was strange to say the least to anypony that didn’t know her background. She used to hang out with colts all the time until we met that fateful night years ago.

~
Rain was washing her coat that had been drenched in blood as she laid on the streets of Ponyville; her eyes lost their colour as she stared into mine.

I wasn’t meant to go out on that night but I needed to gather certain supplies for Apple Bloom and Babs as well as getting some much needed fresh air.

If I hadn’t showed up…I don’t even want to think about the outcome.

I had seen the filly around before, hanging out with a few colts that were known for causing trouble throughout Ponyville. She always seemed as if she didn’t fit into the group; the black sheep of the heard.

Tonight everything had changed as the filly found herself gasping for air, holding her chest in unspeakable pain.

“Help me…” Her voice was low and started to fade; I could hardly hear her over the sound of the pounding rain that was striking the ground like shards of glass as Starshard’s life shattered before her eyes.

“Help!” I screeched at the top of my lungs, sending out a petrifying high-pitched squeal, tears rolling down my eyes.

Nopony answered my calls.

At this point, I had no choice. I dropped my supplies as I carried the filly towards a nearby shop that had a sign indicating it was closed. Hopefully the owners were still in the bakery, preparing fresh breads and sweets for the morrow. I pounded on the door but no answer came. I kept pounding and pounding as time froze; my heart racing with new-found adrenaline.

Finally a pony answered my desperate calls. A young filly with a mint-green coat stood before us, surprisingly dry in spite of the unfortunate weather.

“I heard a loud noise coming from here while I was heading for bed. Is everything okay?” The young filly spoke with concern while stealing a quick glance at the pony that was lying on the cold, muddy ground.

“She won’t stop bleeding!” I spoke with panic as Starshard started to close her eyes and drift away.

“Help me carry her to Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed will know what to do.” I started to calm down as I realized that help had come in the form of an angelic unicorn.

“I’m new around here…I don’t know where Sweet Apple Acres is.” The green filly spoke, starting to panic at the thought of the lunar-manned pony’s death.

Each of us would take turns while carrying Starshard back to Sweet Apple Acres where the farm house awaited us at around one mile away from the bakery.

None of us uttered a word until we got to the farm house; only speaking to Apple Bloom to give her details about the incident and its urgency upon arrival.

Starshard had passed out at this point, Babs and Apple Bloom tending to her needs as she drifted into a deep slumber. They had managed to stop the bleeding and but a blanket over the Starshard to prevent hypothermia from setting in.

“She’s very lucky,” Apple Bloom started. “She’ll live but I don’t know if she’ll ever be the same again…By the way, what’s your name?” Apple Bloom was referring to the mysterious green filly that had helped me out during the terrifying experience.
“Unity…” She replied, her voice drifting from tiredness.

“Well then Unity, you should get some rest, there isn’t more you could possibly do” Babs spoke for the first time that night. “Eclipse has a room that you can sleep in; that is if you don’t mind sleeping with anypony else?”

“That’s no problem…Thank you.” Unity spoke with gratitude, trying not to yawn as she got up and stretched her limbs.

“No problem sweetie. You’ll be able to return home in the morning; I just didn’t want you to wander around the streets so late, especially when the rain has yet to subside.” Babs directed Unity to my room as she trotted past me. “Eclipse, you should get some sleep as well.”

At these words, I got up and trotted towards my room, lying in bed beside Unity. I felt strangely comfortable to have somepony else with me; sleep for once came easily.

Starshard had woken up during the night, screeching in pain, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed at her side; comforting the uneasy filly that grinded her teeth in agony.

Disinfecting the wound, Apple Bloom promised her that the pain would soon be over and that things would go back to normal despite her statement the previous night.

But things would never be normal for the street pony that had been wronged in the dead of night as Nightmare Moon watched in delight.

Thank Celestia that I had found her when I did, I couldn’t live with myself if I had arrived at the scene a few minutes later.

The image of Starshard’s body lying on the dirt ground of Ponyville haunted my thoughts since that night.

Starshard later recounted her story which was as tragic as the outcome that almost led to her demise.

She had met the colts when her parents decided to move somewhere else; leaving her stranded on the streets to fend for herself. The young ponies had promised her a sense of belonging, something that meant the world to her; who could blame the poor little filly? Everypony wants to belong in this world of uncertainty, regardless of what they say or think. We do everything in life in order to get noticed by somepony, since without the attention that we need, we find ourselves in a deep sadness. Conformity at a certain degree is necessary in a society, this doesn’t mean that everypony needs to be the same but it means that we make compromises in order to please others and there’s no way around it. Like everypony else, Starshard only wanted to fit in but fate had never been kind to her in the past; why should it start to treat her well now?

The night of the stabbing, she had gotten into a tense argument with one of the colts that proceeded by sinking a knife within her abdomen. She had told us that she could see her life flashing before her eyes as the colt retrieved the blood stained knife, promising her death. They skipped town afterwards but not before spitting in her face; tears forming in her eyes as she realized that she had truly lost it all.

Sympathizing with Starshard, Apple Bloom offered shelter to the pony which has taken the wrong path when the fork had been set in the.

“There’s always room for change.” Apple Bloom continued her speech while tending to the wound that had started to heal.

“I’ll be fine.” Starshard replied, despair flowing through her as she spoke this lie.

“You can’t live like this!” It was Babs’ turn to try and persuade the filly that seemed to be unfazed by last night’s events.

“And I won’t. The colts that attacked me left Ponyville afterwards.” Starshard responded flatly.

“How do you know?” I felt her eyes pierce mine as she spoke.

“Because they know what kinda trouble they would be in if I managed to live”

Starshard lived by a simple rule of honour that was almost as ancient as Equestria itself; it was passed down to her by those who had crossed her.

She left a couple of days later but only because she was forced to stay a while longer than she intended in order for the wound to heal.

During that time, Unity had visited us daily to play and share thoughts. It wasn’t long before we became good friends.

Fate had always been tracking us.

Chapter 10: Divinity in an Era of Malice

Twilight left a dim light on the once renowned kingdom of Canterlot, filling the streets with its fading light as dusk threatened to take back its throne. Every minute that passed, Equestria got darker and darker until the light that had once shone upon its beauty was no more. Shadows blended in with their environment, invisible to us but still making their presence known. Tonight, the sky seemed blacker, the air seemed thicker and the darkness was furious. Tonight, it vowed revenge on the ones that tore down the walls that it built.

We had arrived in Canterlot before dusk, indulging in the much needed meal that tasted even better after our first victory. Although this victory was bitter-sweet, we rested for the moment, barely speaking to one another as we ate our delicious dishes decorated was a variety of different foods; weariness promising us early slumber.

“We will discuss about further plans tomorrow.” Shining Armor declared as he took a bite out of a freshly baked loaf of bread. “You can all sleep comfortably tonight; it wouldn’t be long before we need to start up again so enjoy your rest while you still can”

I gulped down a glass of cider which had a hint of alcohol that barely made its presence known on my taste buds. Shining Armor told us that since we fought like warriors, we could drink like warriors. I’ve never been a big fan of the bottle, I really couldn’t tell what the big deal was; in the end it’s just something to quench my thirst. I drank grape juice for the rest of the night, the sugar not helping my battle with insomnia.

The stars did not shine tonight; our victory wouldn’t be met by applause or loud cheering from a crowd of foals. We weren’t heroes yet, there was still much to be done. It would be long until we got our recognition and even at that point, how long would it last? How long before our efforts would become meaningless; a simple history lesson in a class that no foal wanted to be in?

Today recognized, tomorrow forgotten.

These thoughts were running through my mind, chasing the promise of sleep away. I couldn’t help but feel that this was all for nothing. Darkness never dies; it has always been around since the dawn of Ponykind. All that we were doing was setting it back, mocking it until it finally had enough and erupted within each and everypony; taking us down with it. The harshness part was the fact that there was nothing we could possibly do to stop it completely.

Stop thinking that way! It’s not all for nothing, think of all the lives that you’ll save! Remember your destiny!

I was right, it served no use to overthink, regardless of what I thought; there was still a task that has to be completed. It was my duty, my fate, my destiny. It was everything I was and everything I would ever become. Fame wasn’t relevant in the end. What mattered is knowing that I did all I could in my power to save Equestria from certain doom; whether I make it out alive or not.

Dark. The Dark concealed all that hid in its shadow. Light. Light dismissed the darkness as a figure emerged from its depths and advanced towards me. Celestia had her head down, sorrow draining her life as she drifted towards me, almost as if she was floating.
She stood directly in front of me, her eyes met mine but like the rest of her expression, they were also absent of any indication of life.

“You did a great job saving the tree of Harmony but don’t presume victory just yet, there is too much left to do. Even after you stop the darkness, Equestria will be far from being stable. Too much damage has been done to be completely reversed; the darkness will leave a scar in the foundation of Equestria that will never fade.”

Celestia paused for a few seconds to catch her breath that had suddenly been taken from her as a tear streamed down her eye.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned about the princess’ state. “We can do this some other time if you want?”

“No, it can’t wait much longer. The sooner it ends, the sooner Equestria will start to recover.” She responded uncertainty present in her voice. “The seventh element of Harmony that you received is temporary; it will lose its power over time.”

“I see…So tell me what I have to do next.”

She looked at me with regret as she started explaining the next task.

“The Crystal Empire. You must travel to the Crystal Empire. I’ve been locked away for far too long, gazing as my empire crumbles all around with nothing I can do to reverse it. That, Eclipse Shine, is why the tree of Harmony chose you; that’s why destiny chose you.”

“But aren’t you still under the effect of the dark forces?I mean setting you free would be nice and all but is it safe?” I replied, skeptical about what she was asking me to do.

“The elements of Harmony have set Luna free from Nightmare Night in the past; I don’t know why they wouldn’t do the same for me.” She began. “The sole purpose of the elements of Harmony was to avoid catastrophe, they only failed once…and look what happened. You must have faith in your abilities since your element can only be activated by the friendship you share with your companions.”

“But do Unity and Starshard feel the same way about me? Do they really love me enough to make this work?” I’ve questioned my friendship with the too filly’s before, I’ve always had a tendency to do so which is why I’ve lost so many in the past; I let them fade away with time.

“More than you could possibly imagine. Starshard is the one that brought the three of you together and Unity is the one that kept it that way. The three of you have showed on many separate occasions that it doesn’t matter how dark the world outside may seem; friendship will always prevail over everything else.” Pride was in her voice as this sudden revelation came as a shock to me; everything made sense to me now.

“I…I never looked at it that way.” I was a bit embarrassed at my misinterpretation of the true friendship that happened between the three of us.

“When ponies are young, they tend to look at things from the surface, only exploiting some of its realities. It isn’t a bad thing since it helps us hold on to our ideologies, however childish they may seem to somepony else. It’s still important to try to look at things from a different perspective, that way you can understand them for what they truly are.” Celestia spoke with thousands of years of wisdom, thousands of years from learning from her mistakes and thousands of years to make up for them.

“What should I tell Shining Armor?” I hadn’t told anypony else about my dreams since it would have them question my sanity even more.

“He knows.” She smiled as she started to fade into the darkness. “Remember what you are fighting for.”

“Wait!”

It was too late, she was gone.

I woke up the next morning in shock at Shining Armor sitting beside me; it was impossible to tell how long he had been there since
I slept like a log during the entire duration of the night after my other-worldly encounter with the Goddess of the Sun.

“Are you ready?” Shining Armor awaited my response while I rubbed my hooves onto my tired eyes.

“Ready...Ready for what exactly?” I asked in confusion, not catching on to what he was suggesting.

“The Crystal Empire”

My heart skipped a beat at these words.

How could he have known?!

Chapter 11: Tainted Crystal

The Crystal Empire once stood strong, a prime example to every other city in Equestria, prospering in even the most unfavorable conditions. Located in the Arctic, it would have been hard to believe that anypony would have chosen to live in such a place but the Crystal Empire still strived after having vanished for a thousand years.

The ponies that inhabited this land were always in glee, as long as they had the Crystal Heart to keep them together in harmony. The Crystal Heart meant everything to them. It had helped them to vanquish the one that was the catalyst to their eventual downfall, King Sombra.

After the mane six had brought peace to the Crystal Empire the first time around, Shining Armor and Cadence lived with the Crystal ponies as they hailed their savior as the Crystal Princess. This was when the Crystal Empire was at its highest, nothing could threaten it with destruction again as long as harmony was maintained within its community; at least that’s what they thought.
When you push on glass, or in this case crystal, it’s bound to break and that’s what ultimately happened. Progressively, the Crystal ponies became comfortable in their home; it wasn’t long before they forgot completely about King Sombra. But he hadn’t forgotten about them.

Shining Armor, Cadence and just about everypony else were convinced that the corrupted king had perished when Shining Armor launched his wife into Sombra at full force. They were wrong, King Sombra like the darkness itself, was waiting for the perfect moment to strike and he found it.

In the dead of night, King Sombra vowed revenge, using his magic to brew up an incredible snowstorm that headed directly for the empire which was oblivious to the terror that was approaching. Thousands of Crystal ponies had perished in the vicious storm in an effort to find food and shelter. This was the day that the Crystal Empire froze over.

Devastated by what had happened, Shining Armor called upon the Royal Guard and the mane six to help him restore peace in the crumbling empire of crystals. He knew that something more sinister was approaching and he needed all the hoof power he could possibly procure to prepare for any further devastation. The mane six and the Elements of Harmony were their only hope.

Little by little, the colour of the Crystal ponies’ coats faded, no longer glimmering in the Arctic sunlight. The atmosphere become more and more tense, crime starting to become a trend in the once holly empire.

Shining Armor and Cadence did everything in their power to encourage change; organizing festivals and concerts but nothing changed the attitude of the Crystal ponies. It was only going to get worse as the darkness began manifesting itself.

Desperate for change, Shining Armor and his wife searched for the Crystal Heart that had seemingly disappeared with the wake of the storm. They sent search parties consisting of members of the Royal Guard to locate the life source of the Crystal Empire.

A group of elite Royal Guard members came back with the Crystal heart in hooves. Shining Armor, glad to have finally located the source of the crystal ponies’ happiness, placed the Crystal Heart on its platform waiting for the ponies to come back to their crystallized form. As he placed the heart on its platform, it turned pitch black; tainted by the darkness that had been the source of King Sombra’s power.

The Crystal Empire was now submerged in darkness; all the light had been drained as King Sombra appeared from the shadows with a wicked smirk on his face. All that Shining Armor and Cadence could do was watch in horror as their beloved Crystal Empire shattered to the ground.

The mane six stood beside them in dismay at what has become of the empire they helped save. Elements of Harmony in hoof, they started to levitate into the heavens, casting a brilliant light that struck the king; leaving him to die on the ground of the empire that he attempted to corrupt.

His demise wouldn’t be accepted without vengeance. With all the magic he had left in his power, King Sombra casted his final spell on the unsuspecting mane six. They all collapsed onto the cold crystal surface that resembled black ice, Elements of Harmony shattering as they fell with their Gods like angels from the heavens. As they shattered, the Elements of Harmony released the darkness that they have accumulated over the thousands of years of service to Equestria.

That day, chaos flooded Equestria like a raging tsunami wave; leaving it vulnerable for the darkness to infest its very foundations.

King Sombra had perished moments after he casted his final spell of vengeance upon Equestria. Today they would all know his name.

It wasn’t long before the Royal Guard appeared; watching as their leader mourned over his sister’s passing with Cadence at his side. All they could do was watch as tears streamed through his eyes like a torrent of raindrops, flooding the surface below. They could do nothing but watch as their leader commenced his inevitable downfall.

Shining Armor got up from his sister’s side, with sword in hoof; threatening to slice up every limb from the waste of life that laid before him and feed it to the a pack of stray diamond dogs. Cadence stopped him as his madness started to unfold before her. Dropping the sword to the ground, Shining Armor collapsed, cursing at the one who took his sister’s life; tears flooding the Crystal Empire as he worked up a storm of his own.

After that day, Cadence’s knight in shining armor was never the same again. He vowed revenge on the dead king even though he couldn’t reverse the past.

That day he saw the world through different eyes. The Sun was no longer the bringer of life; it was a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode. The Moon was no longer the lantern that shed light upon the Crystal Empire during the freezing nights; it was a cold rocky surface as desolate as the Arctic itself. The Stars were no longer his guiding lights; they mocked him as he wept through his sleepless nights.

It was a cruel world where everything revolved around discord and he finally saw it for what it truly was.

Chapter 12: Long Road to Ruin

Shining Armor made preparations for our departure. The road to the ruins of the Crystal Empire would be long and treacherous since the kingdom is located in the Arctic North. It would take a couple of days to traverse the Arctic but we must leave now, ready or not. It was always better to leave at dawn since we would be able to seek shelter before the eventual nightfall.

Like every other usual day in the castle that was much too large for those whom inhabited it, we ate breakfast with the Celestial Gods themselves. The light shone through the marvelous stained glass windows onto the long table fit for knights; shedding new light upon the days to come.

We knew what awaited us on the other side and we were prepared to face it with all our might. Whatever it takes, Equestria must have its salvation.

We had packed all the necessities in large saddle bags, making sure they weren’t too heavy for travel. We wouldn’t be able to take the carriage along for the ride since we would be practically dragging it through miles up deep snow. We would have to be alone this time, just the five us and whatever courage we could build up to face what comes our way.

Coats and saddle bags equipped, we trotted towards the north where we would seek to find the corrupted Princess of the Sun to change her back to her normal form.

The Sun shone its last rays upon the frozen land, blinding us as it reflected off of the snow which was a white as the celestial object itself. The only reason we see the Sun as being yellow/orange ball of fire is because of our atmosphere; when in reality our sun is as white as the stars and Moon that light the sky at nightfall. It’s fascinating how things are never quite what they seem to be. Celestia was right when she approached me last night, it’s not always sufficient to look at things from the surface.

As nightfall approached, we would need to seek shelter from the Arctic’s plummeting temperatures. Even in mid-summer, this land of snow and sorrow was still cursed with its nearly uninhabitable coolness that threatened us with taking our lives. Death can manifest itself in many different ways; whether it’s a corrupted King, Tymberwolves, a gang of street colts or hypothermia in our case. Death is unpredictable as life; you never know when the reaper pony will come beating at your door.

I was shivering from the temperature that had already started to plummet even after putting on several layers of thermal clothing. I could see a cabin in the distance, a light shone from it as it guided me like a star towards my destination.

We had all seen the cabin and were all heading in its direction as it lured us towards a promise of warmth. The closer we got; the warmer we felt until we finally made it to the steps of the welcoming building.

Knocking on the door, we saw yet another light illuminate the doorway as somepony opened the door. A grey pony greeted us, instantly recognizing Shining Armor. Her coat turning back to its original purple colour, she smiled, letting us into her home.

The mysterious pony explained that she had in fact been a citizen of the Crystal Empire but left when the crime got too intense in the homeland she grew up in. Even though the shack she currently lived in wasn’t anything to take pride in, it was better to her than living in the anarchic empire that had just commenced its descent into havoc.

She was glad to have guests, a rare opportunity for somepony that lived in the middle of nowhere. She seemed to be even more enthusiastic that one of her guests was an old leader that had tried so hard to rebuild his fallen empire. She respected his decision to leave and put no blame on him for the final outcome that was inevitable.

We spent the night explaining to her our journey and what it meant for Equestria; in return she offered us any help we could possibly need along the way.

“You know, I think what you’re trying to accomplish is sweet.” She started. “Equestria needs hope right now when the hour is at its darkest. It’s ‘bout time somepony stepped up to take the lead. I sure as hay hope to see Equestria rise once again in my lifetime.”

Accidentally giving off her age, she smirked. “Ah am sorry, I haven’t told you ma name yet; I’m Silver Lilac”

“It’s great to meet you Silver Lilac, as you know, I’m Shining Armor. This here is Scootaloo, Unity, Starshard and Eclipse Shine.” Shining Armor proceeded to introduce us all individually by pointing with his hoof. “We’re very thankful for letting us stay the night, Miss Lilac; we promise to be out of your mane by morning.”

“It’s no problem, y’all can stay as long as you like, although I do know you have an important task at hoof that needs to be accomplished as soon as possible. Ah did say I wanted to see change in ma lifetime!” Silver Lilac chuckled and proceeded to drink her tea.

We all went to bed early that night, to my surprise, sleep came easily to me. The cabin only had three rooms to sleep in; one for Silver Lilac, one for Shining Armor and Scootaloo and one for me along with Starshard and Unity.

No dreams came to me that night, only the comfort of darkness embracing me in my sleep. Unity had the tendency of making everypony she slept beside feel at ease which was a wonderful thing since we desperately needed our rest.

Morning was quick with its arrival, blinding us as we rose from our beds. Eyes squinted and hair tangled, we each awaited our turn to take a much needed shower.

After eating breakfast and getting prepared for the cold day ahead, we had no idea what to expect but we were prepared to face whatever would cross our path. Dawn promised hope but that hope was evenly matched by danger; it wouldn’t be long before we reached our final destination.

We marched for several hours in the snow covered land, searching for the empire that once stood tall; reaching for the heavens above.

There it was before us, the shattered remains of the empire that once housed the liveliest of ponies. It was now a ghost town covered by layers upon layers of accumulated snowfall that barely masked the dark crystals that threatened the heavens themselves; a promise to drag down whatever God from its throne and feast upon its divinity. It wasn’t hard to believe that this wasteland had been abandoned; it was almost as if it was wiped off the face of the planet once again by the very forces that corrupted it the first time around. Yet there it stood before us, whatever was left of it, slowly dying in its own sorrow.

The Crystal Empire stood frozen in time, trapped within its own artificial snow globe.

Chapter 13: Enter Tragedy

It was mid-day when the Sun hit the gemstones that were infesting the once divine kingdom of crystals. Our figure reflected on them like complexions upon a pool of oil; we had changed a lot since we first started our journey even if it had only been around a week since the eclipse struck the mountaintops of Equestria. Something inside us was different although the change was far less evident in Shining Armor and Scootaloo but was still present.

We trotted for around half an hour until we were in front of the remnants of the Crystal Castle where Shining Armor and Princess Cadence once lived in happiness.

What happened to this place?

Very few parts of the castle were still intact, pierced by the dark crystals that King Sombra casted upon this frozen empire. Sorrow shadowed Shining Armor’s face as we met him.

“She’s locked inside of a chamber hidden deep within the castle. It’s time for me to clean out my closet. Sometimes forgetting about the past brings even more pain. I can’t think about the good times I had with Cadence without the awful ones eclipsing my thoughts.” Regret clouded Shining Armor’s eyes as tears froze in the merciless Arctic. Only this time they weren’t liquid pride; they were solid shame.

“You did what you had to do.” Scootaloo tried to console the hurt stallion.

“But I didn’t do what was right.” He replied, Scootaloo’s barely making him feel better. “Let’s pay her a little visit.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? I mean we could always turn back and come another day?” Unity spoke with a hint of concern.

“What better time than now?” He started to trot into the castle that was barely held together. The skyscraper leaned on itself and the crystals it was trapped within.

Stumbling through the desolate castle, we went down several sets of stairs leading to the lower chamber where Celestia remained captive. The temperature of the building started to warm up drastically.

“Why is it so damn hot in here?” Starshard was panting along with the rest of us as we reached yet another flight of stairs.

“I honestly don’t know…It’s quite unusual to say the least.” Shining Armor continued to lead us deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness.

It was dark, really dark, sort of like one of my dreams. A flash of light appeared as Unity and Shining Armor lit up their horns. I could hear heavy breathing coming from down below as we kept trotting; we finally hit the bottom of the treacherous castle. The breathing continued but it wasn’t any of us; it was something much more ominous. Kicking up some kind of object underneath my hoof, I felt something wake within the huge room. Heavy breathing intensified as mountains of dark crystals were exposed by the light emitted from the horns of the two unicorns that stood beside me. The devil himself greeted us.

An avalanche of crystals crashed as the dark mountains started to tremble as if tectonic plates were shaking them at a very high magnitude. I saw a flash of purple and then a flash of green followed by a loud cry.

Running for cover, we watched in horror as the beast woke within the depths of the heart of darkness. A full grown dragon growled, sending waves of crystal crashing about the room. Like a fish out of water, it struggled to mobilize itself after hibernating for decades.

“Spike!” Scootaloo screeched in dismay as she covered her mouth with her hoof.

“Quiet.” I whispered to her but it was too late; the dragon was heading directly for us at a quickening pace.

Emerging from the shadows, Scootaloo shouted. “It’s me Spike, Scootaloo! Don’t you remember me?!”

She was met by a loud growl from the very depths of the dragon’s body. It advanced towards her, oblivious to her desperate cries.

“Please Spike remember…Remember Ponyville, remember the Cutie Mark Crusaders…Remember Twilight.” Scootaloo tried to plea with the dragon but was only met with more fury. “Please don’t hurt them Spike, we’re only here to help…Celestia damn it! Come to your senses!”

She growled these last words as the dragon lashed at her; barely missing the orange mare.

“Scootaloo get away from him!” Shining Armor yelled, almost leaping at these words as adrenaline raced through his veins.

“No…I can’t. I can’t just leave you to face him alone. You need to run now clever colt. I’ll take care of Spike as long as you promise to take care of Equestria.”

“No!” Shining Armor galloped towards the hellfire beast but it was too late; Spike was already in hot pursuit of Scootaloo, completely ignoring his surroundings.

“RUN!” Scootaloo screeched as she flew across the room into a wall, Spike’s tail swatting the air as if she was merely a weak fly.

She now laid dying on the crystalized ground and there was nothing I could possibly do to help her; so I ran. I ran as fast as fast as I possibly could along with Shining Armor, Unity and Starshard. I ran from the world as it started to crumble all around. I ran into a hall, not thinking as I let my limbs carry me through the insidious castle. Tears streaming through my eyes made my vision even worse as I ran through the abyss.

Finally reaching an ill lit room, I opened my eyes that were still drowned by the torrent of tears that flooded them seconds earlier. Collapsing to the ground, I wept for what seemed like centuries.

“I…I could…I could have saved her!” My voice was constantly getting cut off as my lungs ached when I breathed; racing with my heart.

“No you couldn’t.” Shining Armor had wept enough that day; he met me with a sorrowful expression. “Spike would have killed us all if it wasn’t for her. She joined the Royal Guard to help keep society in its place, she promised to serve with her life; knowing that the day may come when she would have to put it on the line. She had made her decision. An unimaginable decision. She gave her life so that we could save Equestria. She gave us a second chance.”

“I just wish it was me instead…” I was cut off by a blood curling laugh in the distance.

“What was that?!” Starshard screeched in dismay as she leapt backwards, almost falling over in the process.

“How sweet, four little ponies learning a life lesson together!” The strange voice chuckled as we started to simultaneously trot towards its origins.

“A knight in shining armor and three little fillies lost their way…Oh you must be here to rescue me!” The voice continued to chuckle, pausing for a second or two. “By the way, Shining Armor how’s your wife?”

“You bucking bitch!” Shining Armor galloped towards the voice, nearly crashing into the bars that trapped it within its lonely little cage.

“Don’t act so surprised my darling, what did you expect?” Her face finally revealed itself as Shining Armor lit his horn for all to see.

Princess Celestia!

Chapter 14: Bailing out Demons

Celestia let out a hysterical laugh that resonated through the room; sending shivers down my spine.

“Remember everypony, this isn’t her true nature, she is still corrupted by the dark forces. It’s necessary that you have faith in your abilities.” Shining Armor reassured us, trotting away from his friend and rival.

“How are we to save her?” Unity brushed her hoof through her mane in uncertainty.

“Eclipse Shine’s element holds the power to separate her from the darkness and curse that took her over decades ago.” Shining Armor replied.

“How do we activate that piece of rock anyways?” Starshard trotted up to my side, brushing against me in anxiousness.

“Through the magic of friendship. You all need to have faith in Eclipse in order for her to be able to activate her element.” Shining Armor trotted towards my side as well.

“When you’re ready, I will cast a spell to open Celestia’s cell. Only my magic would have an effect on it since I sealed her away in the first place.”

I felt a bit uneasy as Starshard and Unity glanced at me expectantly. Wiping my eyes from the tears I shed earlier, I walked up to Shining Armor.

“Now.”

Shining Armor simply nodded as he lit up his horn; the light was much stronger than the first time, almost blinding me as I tried to focus on the cage which seemed to disappear before my eyes.

There she stood, stretching her limbs as she trotted up to us. “You really shouldn’t have done that.” Her voice resonated throughout the room as it changed from maniacal to cold.

“I had no choice, even Eclipse Shine’s element can’t pierce through that barrier; you know that Celestia.”

“You’re foolish in thinking it would be that easy!” She giggled in delight.

“Eclipse, do it!” Shining Armor shot these last words at me as I focused on my element that began to shine slightly in the shadows of the room.

“Concentrate on everything we’ve done together to get this far. Through the best of times and through the worst of times, our friendship strived in the abyss; leading us towards a promise of hope…” Shining Armor’s words were cut short as the room lit completely once more; this time it was much stronger than anything I have ever witnessed. Like the eclipse that bonded us together, it shone from the heavens; casting its light upon the demons that guarded this chamber.

I found myself hovering in the air, almost as if I was in one of my dreams; immune to the world around me. My eyes were completely blind so I didn’t foresee the imminent danger that shot me as the element performed its magic. Both rays hit their target simultaneously, sending me and Celestia flying across the room into separate extremities.

“Eclipse!” Starshard and Unity screeched in unison as I crashed to the ground like a swan singing its last song.

My element shattered like fine glass upon the concrete ground. Ceasing to glow it laid there, stone cold.

The pain was like nothing I’ve ever felt, almost as if toxic venom was coursing within my veins, leaving me to struggle as I attempted to make the slightest movement.

“Don’t move Eclipse, it’ll only bring you more pain!” Shining Armor shouted at my attempts of regaining my stability.

“What was that?!” Starshard screeched, tears flooding her eyes and dampening my coat as she collapsed beside me.

“A very powerful spell, Celestia’s magic combined with the very dark forces that corrupter her. I’m sorry…”

“Do something!” Starshard was now sobbing at my side, clenching my coat.

“I’m okay…” I lied to reassure my friends as I attempted to get up once again but it only brought me more pain.

“Wha…What happened?” A voice in the distance uttered, clearly oblivious to the damage she has done.

“What did you do to her?!” Starshard bolted towards Celestia, nearly colliding with the Princess but Shining Armor stopped her dead in her tracks, preventing further catastrophe.

“It wasn’t her fault Starshard! It was the darkness’ last attempt at fighting off the light.” Shining Armor trotted up to Celestia. “We must leave now; Eclipse must be brought back to Ponyville immediately.”

“I…I will get you there.” Celestia poke with weakness and grief as she staggered up on her four hooves.

The Princess was weakened by the blow the celestial element casted on her but she managed to bring me temporary relief by casting a spell of her own. Shining Armor carried me out, every step he took; I felt agony as my body continued its spasms. Nightfall awaited us. Luna was putting a spotlight upon the devastated ruins of Equestria as Celestia observed her fallen world in dismay.

“How did it get this bad?” Her eyes filled with tears of her own but she brushed them away immediately.

We managed to avoid running into Spike once again by taking another roué out of the castle; leaving Scootaloo behind as the dragon’s wake forewarned further catastrophe.

What will I tell Apple Bloom?

The yellow mare would be devastated upon hearing the news of her fallen friend. She already lost Sweetie Belle; it was impossible to foresee her reaction at the loss of Scootaloo.

What will she say when she sees the state I’m in?

With no element, I felt powerless against the reaper that was getting closer and closer to my crippled body.

Celestia had lost most of her power due to exhaustion but managed to teleport us to Ponyville. It took several attempts to finally reach our destination since she couldn’t make a full trip without recharging.

Shining Armor carried me the entire way without complaining once. Even though it was hard to see given the circumstances, today was a victory for Equestria. A victory that will change the world along with the direction it was heading in; avoiding further destruction. There were still a lot of things left to do before celebrating but I know that they can go on without me. I have faith in them.

Apple Bloom answered the door as Starshard pounded on the wooden structure. As she opened the gateway to her home, she smiled in relief that we had made it back. But upon further examination, that happiness was drained and replaced by panic.
Scootaloo hadn’t made it back and I was barely hanging on to my own life.

Apple Bloom and Babs Seed rushed me to my room as I grew weaker and weaker with every moment that passed.

Chapter 15: A Dance with Denial

The once jovial hostess now stood in horror at the base of my bed as I grew weaker with every moment that pasted. Breathing slowed as heart raced, the venom in my flesh stung me as my blood ran black like the darkness that cursed it. I had not cut nor severely bruised during the incident but that did not conclude that the curse brought no pain to my once energetic body; slowly draining me like a freshly squeezed orange. But unlike an orange, death brought no sweet taste with it.

“Isn’t there anything you can do?!” Apple Bloom barked at Celestia, thoughts racing in her mind, leading her to drastic measures.

She shook me vigorously with fury and anguish in her eyes. “Stop pretending to be injured, you’re fine!” The pain aggravated as I tried to buck her off of me but no success came from my efforts.

“No she’s not and there’s nothing I can do to help her; this isn’t my doing. “ Celestia bowed her head in shame to the God of death; seeking nothing in return for her resentment.

“Please do something…” Apple Bloom sat down, almost collapsing as she did so. Her front hooves against her brilliant orange eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to cry. No tears would welcome her in her desperation as sorrow held her against her will.

“It’s okay Apple Bloom.” Each word came with a price as I cringed in agony.

I couldn’t stand to see them like this, even in these times, I tried my best to make them feel better; to reassure them that everything would be fine when I know it wouldn’t. Things will never be the same.

Babs Seed escorted Apple Bloom out of the room, the pain becoming too much to bear for the yellow mare. Returning to the room,
Babs brought me some cider, which despite my best efforts; I couldn’t bring myself to drink. I wasn’t thirsty, nor was I hungry; my body had more important things to sort out than basic necessities.

Rain pounded on the window, leaking through the ill-maintained windowsill that carried a breeze with the evening storm. The Gods above were morning the loss of innocence of the three fillies that lay beside each other, shedding tears that Apple Bloom couldn’t bring herself to let out.

It was over, the trial had ceased just like I would eventually. I overheard Celestia telling Apple Bloom. Babs Seed and Shining Armor that it wasn’t certain if I would make through the night. I wasn’t sure if Starshard and Unity spoke the same concern as they tried to rest; but no sleep came to them. Perhaps the next time I shut my eyes to relax, it would be the last.

Death haunted me through my life but it was about time that he caught me in a moment of vulnerability. Regardless of what happens, I know that I lived a better life than most ponies twice my age. I’ve experienced more than all of Ponyville combined and I was ready to face Death and look him dead in the eyes.

The rain kept pounding in an awfully familiar pattern, almost as if I revisited the night that Starshard had been attacked but I was in her place this time. Death become more and more imminent as the hourglass was running dry for me. The pain was growing more and more agonizing as I struggled in my pursuit of comfort. I kept getting weaker and weaker as the hours passed; it wouldn’t be long before the reaper manifested himself before me. It wouldn’t be long before I closed my eyes once and for all.

“Goodbye.”

“Eclipse, don’t say that!” Starshard hissed at me.

“I’m scared that I won’t be able to say it when the time comes…I…I love you all so much. Thank you for staying by my side…” Each word ached in my throat as I barely held back tears of my own.

“You believed in me when you rescued me…I believe in you Eclipse. Please don’t go…” Starshard met my eyes with grief as she glided her hoof across my mane.

“Starshard, didn’t you hear Celestia, there isn’t anything we can do to save her…”

“Shut up!” Starshard become furious as she interrupted Unity’s efforts to preach the truth.

“But Celestia said…”

Whoosh!

Starshard’s hoof cut the air as it met Unity’s jaw, sending the filly flying off the bed; hitting the floor with a violent bang.

“I…I’m so, so sorry…” Starshard was seeking redemption after her actions. Regret brought waterfalls to the filly’s eyes as she buried her head in a coffee-brown pillow that stood beside me. “I…I didn’t mean to…” Her words were barely audible at this point, cut off by the sound barrier beneath her.

“I’m sorry as well…I should have stayed silent…” Unity seeped regret from her eyes as well, trotting up to Starshard.

Dusk approached and the rain slowly died to a soothing drizzles as hooves clamored down the hallway towards my room. Babs Seed, Apple Bloom and Shining Armor joined us without the presence of Celestia.

“Where’s Princess Celestia?” Unity asked, concerned about the whereabouts of the celestial being.

“She’s outside, taking a walk by the zapapple trees.” Babs replied, trotting closer to my bed.

“In the middle of a rainstorm?!” Unity’s concern grew as she got up from her resting place.

“It isn’t that bad anymore; she just needed some fresh air.” Shining Armor helped Babs with her explanation.

“Is she okay?” Starshard asked with the same concern as Unity, eyes wide open.

“She’s fine; she just needed some time alone.” Babs placed another glass of cider beside me which I tried to down. As I expected, my body couldn’t handle the fluid and I ended up spilling some of it accidently on my sheet.

“Eclipse is getting worse.” Unity had her head down in defeat, emotionally drained from today’s unfortunate events.

“I know.” Shining Armor met Unity and brushed his hoof across her delicate mane.

“Will she make it through the night?” Starshard trotted up to Shining Armor, equally defeated as her eyes threatened further tears.

“No.” Out of the shadows, Celestia emerged, her mane and coat soaked from the droplets of rain. She must have been wandering across Sweet Apple Acres for a while.

No words came from any of us, we just stood still without the breath required to argue.

The clock struck 24:00, a 25th hour approaching and threatening even more pain to my weakened body. But no pain came, just a soothing relief that it will soon be over.

Starshard and Unity had long fallen asleep beside me, their pelts warming my cooling blood.

Tick-Tock

The clock ticked on as the night reached its darkest hour.

Tick-Tock

My eyes grew tired, threatening to close at any second, it was beyond my power.

Tick-Tock

The reaper drew closer, rapping his hoof at my door.

Tick-Tock

His trotting met the old hard-wood floor.

Tick-Tock

He looked me dead in the eyes, starring directly into my soul.

Tick-Tock

The night reached its 25th hour as my body embraced the cold.

My time was up; all I could do was watch in acceptance as he guided me through the abyss. I was the light in the darkness guiding Equestria towards serenity but this time I was the one that needed help to find my way.

The storm ceased as I drifted off, my mind was blank, embracing Death as he showed me the way to my own serenity.

It then became clear to me. I was that light in the darkness. I was the good in the evil. I was the truth in the countless lies. I was the dawn that overwhelmed the dusk. And I was the one that had to fall in order for Equestria to rise up from the ashes of its destruction.

FIN

Author Note

First off, I'd like to thank everypony that read this story, it is my first fan fiction of many. I may be only 16 years of age but I try my best to make it the best possible story so that everypony can enjoy it. Which is why, if you see any errors in my story or don't understand something, please contact me rather than leaving a dislike on my story; I would really appreciate it. Once again, thank you so much for all the kind words and if you enjoyed "Equestria in Ruins" than you should expect more later. :)

Intro: The Wake of Destruction

Before I tell you my story let’s go back in time a little, back when the damage was first dealt.

The mane six had perished in an effort to save Equestria from King Sombra who had come back from the abyss from which he had fallen. They were successful in defeating the corrupted King but they perished as well. Their deaths were the catalyst to the Elements of Harmony unleashing all the dark forces which they held since they were first forged by the elusive tree of Harmony. That’s when the real trouble began.

The forces that the Elements of Harmony held were so wicked that they corrupted Princess Luna turning her into Nightmare Moon. Celestia had to send Nightmare Moon back to the Moon before eternal night had come. It wasn’t long before the forces started to corrupt Princess Celestia, eating away at her conscience and eventually taking over every action.

A team of elite royal guard, including Shining Armor had set out to lock up Celestia and succeeded; but not without losing a few souls in the process. Princess Celestia concentrated her wicked magic against Shining Armor while Princess Cadence had swept in from above to push Celestia into a cell. Cadence succeeded but not before Princess Celestia had unleashed her magic on her. The wound proved fatal.

The cell was sealed off with magic and Shining Armor never married again; he spent the rest of his days alone. With no one in charge of Equestria and Shining Armor too torn to take the lead, anarchy had set in. Many have tried to restore peace but have failed. And those that succeeded were short lived and later died from unknown causes.

That’s where I come in. I’m part of a group of ponies attempting to bring back peace to Equestria. We don’t know what we will face but we know that together we can succeed!

Epilogue: Serenity

A lonesome Princess stood on the balcony of her desolate palace, looking down upon the world she helped destroy.

The stars shone on her once beautiful coat, revealing the toll that those countless years of imprisonment took on her. Yet she did not seek revenge on those that betrayed her or the very forces that corrupted her; she just wanted peace for her once magnificent kingdom. Was that too much to ask?

She met the Moon with her captivating stare, mourning her only sister that still lived on the cold rocky surface as desolate as her castle. She stood there silent, wondering if things would ever be the same again; wondering if those days would ever come back. She stood, waiting for a sign, a sign of hope; a sign of redemption.

She gazed upon the Moon for several hours every night, wondering where she should begin. The fall was approaching and wildlife must seek shelter or suffer the consequences of the unforgiving equestrian winter. The blanket of leaves would eventually morph into a veil of snow. Oh how winter was so brilliant yet so devastating at the same time.

But still she stood, waiting for hope; hoping for peace. She watched as the Moon struck its highest peak, concentrated on its movement as her Sun shone onto it; giving off a mystical spotlight to the crumbling world before her.

Out of the corner of her eye, something caught her off guard. A minuscule body was approaching the Moon before her gaze. She tried to wrap her mind around what it meant when it hit her; this could be the sign she desperately needed.

As the Moon was at its highest peak, a firefly traversed its chilling rays of light. The Princess stood amazed as it danced around the celestial object. Suddenly, a face appeared upon the Moon; that of her sister. The sign she searched for now gazed down upon her.
Silence fell as the insect ceased its fiery spectacle and landed on the Princess’ nose; starring directly into her eyes. The firefly flew away before the Princess could search for meaning from its gaze but she did not bother following it since Equestria finally got what it was longing for after years of devastation.

Serenity.