Sunset walked out of the mirror, and took a deep breath. She looked around, but didn’t see anyone.

“Twilight!” She called, and walked out of the library, and into the hallway. “

“Twilight!” She called again. There was no reply. She stepped out of the castle, and decided to ask Twilight’s friends about the princess’s whereabouts.

She walked towards Rarity’s boutique and knocked on the door.

Sunset never lived in ponyville, so she always got confused when she came to visit Twilight. So far she had only figured out where Twilight’s friends lived, but she couldn’t figure anything else out.

Rarity was at the door in a flash, and she opened it right away.

“Oh, hello Sunset.” Rarity smiled. “What brings you here?” She asked.

“Well, I came through the mirror, and Twilight wasn’t in the castle.” She said, looking up at Rarity.

“Oh, she’s in canterlot. Not sure why. I suppose she forgot that you were coming today.” Rarity informed her.

“Oh, alright. Thanks, Rarity.” Sunset smiled.

Rarity returned the smile.

“Are you going to wait for her?” Rarity inquired.

“Yea. I’ll just read some books until she gets back.” Sunset waved at Rarity as she started walking away.

“Alright.” Rarity waved back “See you later.”

***

Discord sat outside the door, listening to the princesses conversation. It was muffled, so he couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“If only Fluttershy had came. It’s just so lame listening to those ponies.” He summoned a cotton candy cloud, and lied in it.

Twilight opened the door, which had startled discord to his feet.

“Come in.” She said, beckoning the draconequus into the room.

“it’s about time. It feels as if I were waiting centuries.” He teased, and Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Hello, Discord.” Celestia greeted him. “We need to for certain if what you dreamt was really beyond your control.” Celestia informed him.

“Tia, you know that I see into dreams. I know for a fact that Discord is a lucid dreamer.” She glared at Discord. “One that-"

“I apologized for that.” He rolled his eyes.

“Then it’s true… the dark cloud has returned.” Celestia looked down and sighed.

Twilight walked up to the older princess, and put her hoof on her shoulder.

“King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia were your parents. Can’t you and Luna just vanquish it as they did before you?” Twilight asked, knowing what Celestia would say.

“It isn’t that simple…” Celestia looked down. “Twilight, you’re more powerful than Luna and I.”

“That… can’t be true.” Twilight shook her head. “You…. you and Luna raise the sun and moon…”

“Though only my sister and I posses that kind of magic, we don’t exactly excel in other types of magic.” She explained.

“Ahem.” DIscord groaned.

Celestia turned away from Twilight, and faced Discord.

“This voice you’ve described… what did it say to you?” She questioned him.

“Took you long enough.” He rolled his eyes, and received a glare from Luna. “I didn’t pick up much. Just a few words here and there like darkness, come, and follow.”

“I believe it might be trying to corrupt you, so that you would go back to being your old self.” She confessed.

“Me!?” Discord pointed at himself. “I’ve reformed, and I-“

“We understand that, but this… if it truly is what we think it may be… then it could control you.” Luna cut him off.

“How will we-“ Twilight started, but was interrupted by two guards opening the door.

“Your highness,” one rushed to Celestia, panting.

“We’ve just received an urgent letter from the Crystal Empire.” The other presented a scroll, and Celestia took it.

Celestia’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.

“Sombra… he’s back.” She dropped the letter.

“What?!” Twilight was as taken aback as she was. “He… Spike.. We defeated him!” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was impossible, to her knowledge.

“Sister, we must send help, and immediately!” Luna exclaimed.

“This is only the beginning, isn’t it?” Celestia ignored her sister, and her body trembled.

“The beginning of what?” Discord inquired, raising his eyebrows.

Celestia’s knees locked, and she said nothing.

She shook her head, and came to her senses.

“Twilight, you must follow me, and quickly.” Celestia instructed.

Twilight nodded in response, and Celestia lifted up the rug with her magic.

“Sister?” Luna tilted her head.

“What is down there?” Twilight pointed at the staircase.

“Everything that had belonged to our parents, including spells all the spells they’ve ever created.” Celestia informed her.

“Sister….” Luna looked up at her, and looked down at the staircase.

Celestia turned to Luna.

“The only way… it’s here.” Celestia told Luna, and her sister nodded in reply.

“Can I go now or am I still of use?” Discord crossed his arms.

Twilight rolled her eyes, and beckoned for the draconequus.

The two followed Celestia and Luna down the staircase, and came upon a door.

Celestia summoned a key, and opened unlocked the door, before Luna opened it.

Twilight looked around, and became fascinated.

“Your parents were so amazing!” She grinned.

Celestia smiled, but it quickly faded.

“Tia, I think I found it.” Luna levitated a dusty old scroll, and gave it to her sister.

“Yes. This is it. Thank you, Luna.” Celestia hugged her, and turned to Twilight. “This is the spell that the Queen and King used all those years ago. I believe it may work if you use it on the cutie map, but you need help with this spell.” She explained, and gave it to her.

Twilight nodded, and took the scroll.

“Discord,” Celestia turned to him. “Teleport both you and Twilight back to Ponyville.”

Discord collected Twilight in a bubble, and they both disappeared in a Flash.

“Do you really think it will work?” Luna asked.

“I don’t believe it will do what it did so long ago, but I do believe that it is the only chance we have of vanquishing it.” Celestia sighed. “For now, we must go to the Crystal Empire.”

***

Starlight laid on her bed, reading a novel that Twilight had suggested. She found it difficult to focus on the book, and was thinking about what Twilight had been talking to Discord earlier.

She had a nightmare similar to the Draconequus’s that same night, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it meant.

She conjured up a bookmark, and laid it in her book. She looked around her room, which had look fairly similar to her teacher’s. Crystal-like walls, and a bed.

What did I do to deserve this much? Am I really allowed to be happy?

The unicorn shook her head, and got out of her bed. She walked out her room, and headed towards the library.

***

“Sunset?” The purple unicorn question as she walked into the room.

“Oh, hi Starlight.” The other replied.

“Twilight’s in Canterlot right now.”

Sunset nodded. “I know. Rarity told me.”

“Oh.” She looked up at the ceiling.

It was always awkward between the two. They were both aware about what the both of them had done, and how they had become friends with Twilight. Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer got along well, but at times Starlight felt a little jealous of how close Sunset and Twilight were, and Sunset could always feel it.

“Here we are, home sweet home.” Discord appeared, and a bubble of Twilight by his side.

Twilight popped the bubble, and glared at the draconequus. “Was that really necessary?”

“Maybe not, but it was quite hilarious.” He grinned.

“This isn’t the time to be-“ Twilight noticed Sunset.

“Hey Twilight.” Sunset smiled.

“Oh, Sunset!” She smiled and trotted to the unicorn, and hugged her. “How are you? Sorry I wasn’t here when you came. Something came up.”

Sunset nodded. “I understand.”

Discord coughed, thought it was obvious that it was forced. “Hypocrite.” He muttered under his breath.

Twilight rolled her eyes at him, and remembered what she came to do.

She turned to her student. “Starlight, I need your help with something.” She then turned to Sunset. “I could use your help as well."

The two unicorns nodded, and followed Twilight to the cutie map, and Discord followed behind them.

***

“Wait, are you telling me that… thing is back?” Sunset looked at Twilight in disbelief. “Celestia said her parents had defeated it… That’s…”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, unfortunately.”

“But… the tree of harmony is gone.” Starlight said, rubbing her arm.

“That’s why we’re here.” Twilight pointed at the cutie map.

“What would that do?” Sunset raised her eyebrows in confusion.

Twilight took a deep breath. “It-“

“Long story short, you’re going to cast the spell on that map.” Discord grinned, floating midair.

The alicorn glared at him. “Discord.” She gritted her teeth.

Sunset ignored it. “Do you know for sure… if this’ll work?” She asked, unsure if she should do this.

Twilight looked down. “I can only hope.”

Starlight walked up to her teacher. “Let’s just try. It couldn’t do any harm.” She said, trying to assure the princess.

Twilight looked up and nodded. She conjured up the spell, and showed it to the two unicorns. “Ready?”

The two unicorns responded with a nod, and Discord teleported out of the room.

They stood on opposite sides of the map, and started casting their spell. It proved to be difficult for all three of them, but they managed, and started floating up in the air. A purple strip of light emitted from Twilight, Sunset a red one, and Starlight a green. They all opened there eyes, and their pupils had disappeared. The light extended to the map, and a full blast of magic came from the castle.

The three fell to the ground, weakened by the powerful spell.

Discord had seen the blast, and teleported back into the castle to see what happened.

“Are you three-“

As the three struggled to get back to their feet, their pupils were restored.

Twilight had finally managed to get back to her feet. “D-did it work?” she started falling, but Sunset had caught her in time.

Starlight had eventually been able to stand, but Twilight was stuck in Sunset’s arms.

Discord groaned, and fell to the ground.

Starlight rushed to the draconequus. “What’s wrong?”

He ignored her, and started holding his ears, literally pulling them off his head.

Starlight then also fell, and started screaming.

Sunset was then caught in her mind just a few seconds later.

Twilight stood to her feet, and looked around the room. She looked at Discord, who was whispering things under his breath. The princess then turned to Starlight, who was still screaming, now incoherent words. Lastly, she looked at Sunset.

Sunset’s eyes were shut, and tears streamed down her face. Her lips were mouthing no, and Twilight couldn’t help but to pity all three of them.

A realization popped into her head.

It didn’t work.

Author's Note

Actually finished this chapter a few days ago. Pfft. If you see any grammatical errors, please let me know.