The Balance of Equestria

Twilight Sparkle moaned slightly as the first golden rays of sunlight poured in through her window as she sat up slowly and stretched her arms and wings before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. It was a beautiful spring day as a gentle breeze made it's way through her room making her smile as she got out of bed, waking Spike as she walked by him.

"Wake up, sleepy head." She nudged him gently as he rolled over mumbling something about it being to early to get up. Twilight giggled and rolled her eyes before continuing on her way. "Alright, five more minutes then you need to get up." As she approached the bed room doors she suddenly stopped for her cutie mark started to shimmer and her eyes lit up followed by a huge smile on her muzzle. Squeeing with glee she bounded towards the door when they suddenly flew open knocking her over.

"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie called as she stood in the open door way looking down at her friend. "Oops. I'm sorry." she added as she helped Twilight back to her hooves. "Look Twilight! Our cutie marks are glowing!"

"I see that, Pinkie. I wonder where the map is going to take us this time." Twilight agreed happily.

"And you know what?" Pinkie asked with a grin.

"What?"

"Fluttershy, Rarity, Apple Jack, AND Rainbow Dash's cutie marks are all glowing as well!" As she mentioned each one of their friends she seemed to pull them out of nowhere as they all blinked for a moment before realizing where they ended up at.

"Pinkie...how'd you do that?" Twilight asked as she looked to each one of them all a bit confused about how she did it as well.

"It's a secret!" she said in a loud whisper. Shaking her head Twilight led her friends to the map room and they each took their seats as the map activated and small icons of their cutie marks floated over it before stopping near an area not to far from the castle of the two sisters. Before Twilight could ask her friends what they thought lay over there four more cutie marks appeared next to theirs.

"Well that's new." Twilight mentioned as she took a closer look at them. "Wait, those are Celestia's, Luna's, Candence's and..." she paused for a moment before looking back up at her friends, "...my brother's?"

"What does it mean, sugar cube?" Apple Jack asked.

"I have no idea but doesn't that area look vaguely familiar?" she replied with a question.

"It looks like where the Tree of Harmony is at, dear."

"I believe you are correct, Rarity. It's almost in the exact spot on the map where the tree should be located. I'm curious as to why the map is summoning all of us there." Twilight couldn't wrap her head around it as the hallway doors open and in came the royal sisters. The girls bowed as Twilight got off her throne and made her way over to Celestia and Luna noticing that their cutie marks were also shimmering.

"Hello Twilight." Celestia said with a gentle smile as she hugged her favorite former student.

"Celestia, do you know what's happening?"

"I'm afraid I do not." she answered as they stopped next to the map and studied it.

"It is a mystery to me as well, Twilight Sparkle." Luna commented as she looked at the Princess. "My sister and I have been trying to figure out why we are being called also."

"What about Cadence and my brother?" Twilight asked Celestia.

"I have spoken to both of them and they are on their way right now and will be here within the hour. As to why they are also being called I'm afraid I can not answer that either." The ponies just looked at each other and the map each one getting lost in their thoughts and the mission that lay before them.

Turning to Rainbow Dash, Twilight asked, "Rainbow would you head over to the train station and wait for them to arrive?"

"You got it!" she saluted and took off like a bolt of lightning. As the girls asked each other questions and studied the map not a single one of them could figure out what was going on or what lay in store for them. It didn't seem like a friendship problem for what could a tree have to do with friendship. They did not have to wait very long before Rainbow Dash came back with Cadence and Shining Armor.

"Twilight!" Cadence called out as she trotted over and hugged her sister-in-law.

"Cadence! I'm so glad you guys are here."

"Hey Twily." her brother called out as he held their daughter in his hooves, the small alicorn sleeping peacefully. "Do you know why our cutie marks our glowing? It feels a bit strange." he commented as he looked back at his as it shimmered.

"I'm sorry I have no idea but from what the map is telling us is that we need to head over to where the Tree of Harmony is as find out." Twilight explained as they walked over to the map seeing their cutie marks with the others. "The map has never done this before so who knows what is waiting for us but we should not waste any more time here. Is everypony ready?" They all agreed with Twilight and headed outside the castle making their way towards the Everfree forest. They left Flurry Heart in the care of Spike as he agreed to watch over her until they returned shortly.

It was about noon when they entered the forest and they all trotted down the worn path talking and giggling to each other. It has been some time since the girls have been in the forest let alone at the castle of the two sisters. As they approached the bridge that led to the castle they turned slightly and headed down the giant staircase which lead to where the tree sat radiating it's power. The four alicorns felt a shift in magic as they reached the bottom of the stairs and stared at the cavern where the tree rests.

"What was that?" Twilight asked.

"I felt it as well, Twilight. Something is not right." Luna commented.

"I agree with my sister. Let us all be careful from here on in." Celestia added. The other ponies nodded as they slowly made their way into the cavern and shortly were standing in front of the giant tree, the Elements of Harmony glowing softly in its branches. As each pony stopped and stared at the tree a voice rang out which spoke to each of their minds.

Welcome my little ponies. Do not be afraid for it is I who has called you here.

Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind Rarity as all of them stared wide eyed up at the tree. Even Celestia and Luna were taken back as it spoke to their minds not ever having something like this happen in all their years. There were a few moments of silence before it spoke again to them explaining their purpose there.

Equestria has seen its fair share of turmoil in the past and even though we are now in a peaceful time the balance of the land has shifted and must be corrected.

"What do you mean the balance has shifted?" Twilight asked, curious as always.

There is to much power in Equestia and I'm afraid that if it is not fixed then I shall have to do what is necessary to center that balance myself.

"To much power?" Asked Luna as she looked at the tree. "What are you implying?"

There can not be five alicorns in Equestria.

"You're not talking about our little one, right?" Cadence stepped forward and asked.

I am indeed. Since the birth of the alicorn I have been trying to steady the powers of magic in Equestria but I am at my limit. There can not be a fifth.

"Whoa, that's our child you're talking about!" Shining Armor called out as he stepped forward next to Cadence.

"Stay calm big brother." Twilight told him as she gave him a soft look before turning back to the tree. "What are you suggesting we do then?"

You must give her to me so I may absorb her magic and restore balance to this land. If you refuse then I will have no choice but to take all the magic away from every pony.

The ponies gasped as they turned and looked at each other. What does that mean? No magic? It was Celestia this time who turned to the tree and spoke. "Perhaps there is another way to restore the balance without giving up the child?" It was silent for a long moment before it spoke to them again making them all worried that there might not be any other way.

There is only one other way. If the ponies summoned by the map retrieve three sacred items and bring them to me in one month's time then the balance will be restored. But if they fail this attempt and do not bring me the alicorn child then I will have no choice other than to take every bit of magic away.

Once again they turned to one another as their thoughts focused on what they were going to do. Taking a few minutes to discuss the ultimatum it was then Princess Twilight who faced the tree and spoke for all of them. "How do we know this will work as a replacement? And taking all the magic from Equestria will not do any pony good."

You have no other choice.

"There might be another way though..." Celestia stepped up and next to Twilight as she looked down at her with a nod. "What if one of us gave up our magic?"

Alicorn magic is the strongest in it's infancy. The magic of one so young can not be compared to one of such years.

Celestia just winkled her muzzle at the comment and just looked at Twilight as she tried to stifle a giggle before turning her attention back to the tree. "Are you for certain that there is no other way?"

That is correct.

"Why haven't me nor my sister have ever heard of these items before?" Luna questioned the tree suspiciously.

They are not part of your history and have been lost over the millenniums of time.

"That seems awfully convenient, wouldn't you say?" Rarity chipped in. The ponies turned to her in question as she went on, "I mean nopony has ever heard of these items and they are not in any books or scrolls?" She just shrugged as the others turned back towards the tree.

"Well please inform us on these items that you request." Twilight asked the tree still feeling a bit uneasy about this whole thing as she casts a sideways glance at her brother and sister-in-law.

Atop the highest peak in the Crystal Mountains rests a jewel called the Dragon's Tear. Laying in the sand dunes of the San Palomino desert a flower blooms in a hidden oasis. Lastly glowing in the darkness of a labyrinth is the Orb of Vision which can be found deep in the jungle.

"Got it." Twilight agreed as she turned to each of her friends and family before casting her gaze back onto the tree. "Then we will get these items within a month's time and bring them back here to restore the balance of magic in Equestria."

So be it.

With those last words a bright light filled the area blinding the ponies, making them turn away from the tree and just as suddenly as it came it was gone and they found themselves standing back in the map room their cutie marks not shimmering any more. The map was gone as well as they all looked at each other as Spike came in and blinked a few times.

"I thought you guys where going to see the tree?" he asked confused.

"We did, Spike, but now we need to figure out what we're going to do from here." Twilight seemed a bit worried as she looked over at her brother trying to comfort Cadence as best as he could. Their mission was clear enough but the pressure they were now under was already taking it's toll on everypony there.