The Dark Truth

**Tartarus**

In the royal palace, Prince Solar was sitting on his throne writing several papers that was given to him earlier, either dealing with disasters in the area, riots, or conflicts in the kingdom.

Prince Solar looked like a male version of Nightmare Moon. He had a large horn coming out of his head, he was dressed in Nightmare Moon’s attire, and he even had her eyes. However, there were a few differences between Prince Solar and Nightmare Moon. For one, Prince Solars’ skin has a crimson color to it, whereas Nightmare Moon is blue. He has a thick beard, and has a pitchfork for a cutie mark.

Just then, he heard the door slam open.

“Prince Solar! I have an important message to give you!” shouted the guard pony

“Then don’t stand there, give it to me.” Said Solar, with a gentleman like voice.

As the guard pony delivers the letter to Solar, he begins to read it.

“So…He’s escaped hasn’t he?”

“What should we do?” asked the guard pony.

Prince Solar threw the letter into a pile containing letters he had read earlier in the day, and picked up a new scroll and quill to write.

Once he finished writing, he handed the scroll to the guard pony.

“Take this letter and put it in the tube next to my throne. It’s in our best interest to inform Princess Celestia about this threat at once.” Said Prince Solar

“Yes sir!” shouted the guard pony saluting

He took the scroll and put it in the tube designed to deliver only letters to the surface world. It is only large enough to fit a single scroll or letter at a time to prevent anyone escaping.

“Very good guard, now it’s up to the surface dwellers to stop this pony.”

**Equestria**

Twilight’s friends had just arrived at Twilight’s house for breakfast. Recently, they have decided to make their breakfast and bring it over to Twilight’s so that they could discuss plans for the day, or to talk about recent events.

As Spike and Twilight came out with their breakfast, they greeted their friends in and began their discussion.

“There is something I think we should discuss first darling.” Said Rarity

“What’s that?” asked Twilight

“Well, in the last few weeks there has been some weird stuff going on, or maybe it’s just me.”

“Such as that mysterious creature we saw when we first arrived at Celestia’s old castle?” asked Twilight

“That’s an example Twilight. But there is also the incident where Fluttershy transformed into a fruit bat.”

Fluttershy then squealed in fear for a few seconds.

“Fluttershy, it’ll be okay.” Said Applejack

After hearing that, FLuttershy calmed down and began to speak.

“I remember that incident, it was so horrible.” Said Fluttershy, with a sad tone to her voice.

“Speaking of which, it was kinda odd when my family took that trek with Pinkie Pie to find out if we were cousins, only to find the page all smudged up.” Said Applejack

“That was strange Applejack.” Said Pinkie Pie

“Twilight, do you still have that chest from the Tree of Harmony?” asked Rainbow Dash

“Yes. But I still haven’t been able to solve it.” Said Twilight

“Well, since we’re all here. Maybe we can discuss ways of opening that lovely chest.” Said Rarity

“Great idea Rarity. So who should start?” asked Twilight

Rarity raised her hoof in the air.

“Maybe the key to unlocking the chest is our bond as friends?” asked Rarity

“Maybe the key is how great friends we are to each other?” asked Fluttershy

“Ooh, ooh, I know! Maybe we can blast it out of a cannon!” shouted Pinkie Pie

After Pinkie Pie said that, everyone was looking at Pinkie Pie with a confused look on their faces.

“What?”

“Rainbow Dash, do you have any ideas on how to open this?” asked Twilight

Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“Wait a second. I think I might have an idea on how to solve it.” Said Applejack

“Go on.” Said Rarity

“Does anypony remember the items we’ve received over the last few weeks?”

“Oh yes, I remember now.” Said Fluttershy

Fluttershy reached into her bag to pull out a flower given to her by the Breezies.

Rarity then pulled out her rainbow colored thread.

“I remember getting this lovely thread when we went to Manehatten.” Said Rarity

Rainbow Dash reached into her bag and pulled out a lightning bolt shaped medal.

“Yep, I remember winning this item when I went to Rainbow Falls.” Said Rainbow Dash

Pinkie Pie was tossing a rubber chicken up in the air, with everyone looking at her with weird looks on their faces.

“I remember getting this from Cheese Sandwich. I love playing with this thing.” Said Pinkie Pie

Applejack then flipped a coin and revealed it to her friends.

“I got this coin after I exposed the Flim Flam brothers a few weeks back.” Said Applejack

“I think it might be all these items we got that might be the key to unlocking the chest.”

“Applejack, there’s a teensie little problem with that theory.” Said Rainbow Dash

She flew into the air and hovered over Twilight’s head.

“Twilight, please tell me you got an item?” asked Applejack

Twilight shook her head.

“But maybe it’s my Alicorn magic that acts as the final key.” Said Twilight

“Let’s go to Celestia at once.”

But before they left, Spike burped out a letter from Celestia.

“What is it Spike?” asked Rarity

“It’s a letter from Celestia.” Said Spike

Spike opens the letter and begins to read its contents.

“Dear Twilight, this is Princess Celestia. I order you and your friends to appear at the castle at once. This is an important crisis that requires all of your assistance. Signed Celestia.”

“In that case, we should get on a train to Canterlot. If this is a major thing, then we should go at one.” Said Twilight

Everyone then left Twilight’s tree house and managed to catch a train to Canterlot.