My Little Pony: Shadows of the Two Kingdoms

“Well girls what did you think of the Rubia Legend.” Twilight said with a smile. All five mares turn their heads back and forth looking at each other repeatedly. Naturally it was Pinkie Pie who spoke up first unable to control her excitement any longer “It was GREAT! WASN’T IT THE MOST WONDERFULLY WONDERFUL LEGEND EVER!” The pink mare shouted out loud as she bounced around the room, her hair bobbing up and down in sync with her body. Rainbow Dash the colorful cocky mare stood up second. “It was pretty awesome not as awesome as me, but still cool though.” Rainbow says as her powerful wings pick her up off the ground and back into the air. “I’m just glad to get off that floor and be back in the air again.” Twilight glances around the room hoping to see any more happy faces.

“What did you think Rarity?”

“ It was a lovely story darling.”

“Were you even listening?”

“Darling of course I was, it was a wondrous tale.” Rarity said adjusting her hair and pressing on her portable pillow before lying back down.

“Ok then, Fluttershy, how about you?” Twilight asked with a hopeful grin. “Um well, it was great Twilight. It was very nice of you to share it with us, that is if every pony else is in agreement, but if not that’s ok too.” Fluttershy said in her usual quiet, kind voice. Twilight, scanning the room one final time, sees only one mare that hasn’t yet commented on the legend she read. “Applejack, what did you think of the legend?”

“Um well, it was fine.”

“AJ you’ve never been a good liar. What did you think of it and only give me the honest truth.”

“Oh, alright then, ah didn’t much care for it.”

“What, why not?”

“Twi, you know ah don’t believe in old legends. The story was nice and all, but ah just don’t believe in legends all that much.”

Just as the other ponies were about to leave the library a large multi-colored flash of light began to encircle the room and with a small burst of magic, a scroll appearing with a golden seal attached to it keeping the delicate scroll from becoming unrolled. The six ponies formed a circled around it. “What is it?” Rarity asked with slight concern. The other ponies merely shook their heads, except for Pinkie Pie. “Hmmmmm looks like a piece of PAPER!” Pinkie hollered with excitement. Twilight merely rolled her eyes before a violet aura surrounded her horn, as she used her magic to lift the scroll up. With a small burst of light from her horn the golden seal was broken. Twilight unrolled the scroll slowly, scanning each and every word carefully. “It’s a letter from Princess Celestia.” Twilight says excited, yet puzzled. “Strange, it’s not like any other letter she has ever sent me, it just appeared.” Rainbow, eager to hear the news, quickly spoke up after a few minutes of silence.

“Well what does it say?”

“Yeah don’t keep us in suspense, sugar cube.” Applejack says politely, joining Rainbow’s side.

“All right I’ll read it.” Twilight says holding the letter up.

Dearest Twilight Sparkle,

I’m sure you have many questions regarding the state of this message and the way it was sent to you. More will be explained once you arrive in Canterlot. There is a dire situation that needs immediate attention and it may be bigger than us all.

Sincerely, Princess Celestia

“Strange for the princess not to send her letter through Spike.” Twilight thought to herself. Just then, Twilight noticed a mysterious symbol on the bottom right hand corner of the scroll “Girls, look at this.” Twilight said urgently causing her friends to gather around. “What is that?” Fluttershy asked in a hushed tone. As the six ponies began to look closer at the symbol it began to change colors, first violet, then orange, then pink, then red, then blue, and lastly purple. The symbol began to split into individual smaller symbols and divide into all the previous colors. Soon the symbols, spinning wildly, spread outward slammed into each pony causing them to vanish one by one.

When each pony finally regained her senses, they realized exactly where they were. “We’re in CANTERLOT!” Rarity cheered with excitement. “I don’t understand! How did we get here?” Twilight looked around in confusion. “Hm Hm that was the easy part,” giggled a powerful voice they knew too well. “Princess Celestia,” said each pony, bowing before the beautiful princess of the Sun.

“Oh princess I have a ton of questions.” She started to fire off her questions, eagerly hoping for an explanation, but before Twilight could ask one question Princess Celestia spoke up in a powerful yet calm voice, “I’m sure you’re wondering why you are here, and how you all got here so quickly. The six of you are here because Equestria needs your help in a kingdom far to the south. A kingdom named Rubia.” Rainbow, with a smirk on her face, bumped Applejack in the shoulder with her hoof.

“You see, my little ponies, Rubia is being threatened by an ancient evil that threatened it many a year ago. The princess and her mate are doing everything within their power to keep this evil out of the city. I need the six of you to travel to Rubia immediately and assist in any way you can at driving this darkness back.”

“But princess that’s just an old pony tale! I mean, it’s not real is it?” Twilight asks in a worried tone.

“It’s very real my student. This evil, if its power grows too strong, could envelop and destroy all the light in Equestria, bringing everything to eternal ruin and shrouding the land in evil and darkness. My sister Princess Luna is in Rubia now to offer her support and keep the darkness at bay for as long as possible. You six know what you must do. I’ve organized a private train for you all. It leaves in 1 hour, so collect what you need. Equestria is counting on you six once again.” As the six ponies go to leave. Twilight turns back one last time “Princess how did you bring us to Canterlot so quickly?” the princess looks at Twilight and smiles “A powerful warp spell mixed with a sign that could only be activated by the six who could wield the elements of harmony.” Twilight turns away satisfied and her resolve set.

“All right girls run home, grab what you need, and meet at the train in 50 minutes. And Rarity?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t bring more than two bags this time.” Twilight says with a firm look as Princess Celestia uses her powerful magic to send them all back to Ponyville in a quick burst of light.

50 minutes passed all too quickly and soon enough the train was about to leave. “Is everypony ready?” Twilight asks hastily. “Oh yeah, let’s go!” everypony shouts in sync. They all boarded the train, and after only what seemed like a few seconds, the train left Ponyville station heading south towards the kingdom of Rubia.

The train ride seemed to take forever. Twilight couldn’t find any time for peace and quiet to think about everything the princess said, mostly because her friends thought were super excited about getting to go to a kingdom. Till now she had thought that all of it was just an old legend; the ancient evil the possible destruction of Equestria, and a kingdom’s safety possibly resting in their hoofs.

Twilight felt a little uneasy at the thought of it all. Sure they defeated Nightmare Moon, reformed Discord, and saved the Crystal Empire from the return of King Sombra, but this was something completely different and it worried her. Princess Celestia sounded truly afraid, making Twilight only wonder what they were going to be up against. Twilight continued to let her mind explore what dangers and possibilities were ahead of them, while her friends, seemingly without a care in the world, merely talked about what the kingdom would look like, what its inhabitants wore, and whether or not the kingdom had a wonderful princess.

After what seemed like an eternity, the train whistle blew, indicating they were nearing their long awaited destination. Everypony except for Twilight went racing to the windows to get a peek of the kingdom. All that was visible were enormous ornate marble buildings laced with what seemed to be silver and decorated with hints of different colored jewels. The train sped on, growing ever closer to the kingdom. The train soon screeched to a halt, and everypony slowly began making their way to the front of the train ,except for Pinkie who seemed ready to burst out of pure excitement.

“All right girls, are we all ready?” Twilight said passing each pony her saddlebags.

“Oh I’m so excited! This is just amazing amazing AMAZING!” Pinkie said finally letting out all of her pent up excitement and bouncing up and down uncontrollably. “I think we’re all set Twi.” Applejack said with a slight smile.

“Ok girls let’s go!” Twilight said flaring her wings as the train door opened up slowly revealing the wonders of the city before them.