The Original Elements

"We're almost there!" Tia called out, the blizzard growing around them.

"How do you know?!" Platinum followed her, along with the others.

"I see the northern lights!" Tia replied, shielding her eyes from the thick snow.

"Come on!" Lulu yelled, the blizzard circling them. Something seemed to form behind them. A dark shadow, two green eyes growing out of them. A corrupted purple mist flowed from them.

The group backed away, "Everypony run!" Amore yelled, the group running for their lives. The shadow chased, large fangs expanding towards them. They jumped through a barrier, slamming into the snow. Luckily,it cushioned their fall. Tia looked back, the shadow unable to get in. It turned around, disappearing into the distance.

"What in the name of Faust was that!?" Platinum got up, straightening her scarf. Lulu brushed off snow, looking forward.

"Oh...my..." Tia's voice trailed off. The group followed her gaze, a large castle expanding into the sky. Many buildings surrounded it, a large stadium standing behind it.

"Welcome to the Crystal Empire, girls.."

"The Crystal Heart automatically puts up a barrier if it feels threatened. That must be the barrier we went through. I read about it." Tia looked around as they trotted through the streets, towards the Crystal Heart. With every step, it felt as if the heart was weakening. They reached it quickly, its light flickering.

"So good for spreading light and love through Equestria." Annie Smith sighed, looking at her surroundings.

"There has to be a way." Amore said, looking at her reflection it the heart.

"Lets just get some rest...we need good sleep to come up with a plan. The barrier can hold." Lulu said. They agreed, trotting into the castle, and to bed.

The shadow creature flew through the air, pounding repeatedly at the shield. It wasn't long before it shattered, along with the heart itself. The group stared in shock as two alicorns rose from out of nowhere, blasting a large beam towards the creature as it took form of a pony. Tia could not hear the inaudible scream of terror, but watched as it dissolved into shadow, being banished into the ice of the Arctic North. The word umbra echoed in her head.

Graham Cracker woke up hearing the shriek of many ponies. She rushed out, tying her mane quickly into a bandana headband. A crowd of ponies stood around the shattered Crystal Heart. She looked up, as the shield shattered into bits all around them. The others were already out, grabbing Graham and running up to the balcony. The creature surrounded the empire, the blizzard rushing it. Before they realized it, the crystal ponies were all in chains, along with the 6 ponies in the dungeon.

"We failed her..." Tia was looking out the window. She sighed, hopping down.

"There's still hope-" Lulu started.

"SINCE WHEN!? We literally just got captured, Lulu!"

"Will you two be darn quiet? Fighting ain't helpin 'round here." Annie rolled her eyes, sitting on the straw bed. Platinum sat on a chair, filing her hooves. Graham looked at the ground.

"Come on. There's got to be a way." Cadenza looked at Lulu and Tia.

"Hmph." Tia folded her hooves, turning away.

Graham sighed, changing the subject, "I believe we never introduced ourselves."

They each took turns introducing their selves, smiling slightly. All except Tia. She was on the ground then, facing away. Lulu trotted up, setting a hoof on her sister's shoulder. Magic erupted from the two's horns, bright beams flying around the room. The beams headed straight into Tia and Lulu, engulfing them in light.

Lauren Faust stood before Tia, smiling warmly, "Congratulations my student. You have succeeded in your quest.

"But I thought my quest was defeating the creature.." Tia tilted her head in confusion.

"It was not just that, Tia. You have united with your sister, and created a powerful bond that will link you to your friends. You are not just a regular pony now. You are a princess."

Tia stared in shock as she turned around, two large wings unfolded out on her back.

The two sisters levitated in the air, their eyes glowing bright. They had enormous wings and horns, being alicorns now. The two blasted through the roof of the dungeon, flying up towards the tyrant creature. Their horns collided, a powerful beam blasting towards it, banishing it into the ice of the Artic North as a shadow. The others watched as they descended to the ground.

The crystal ponies and the group cheered. The creature had been defeated. But not before the empire around them began to shimmer, fading. It left the 6 ponies standing in the middle of nowhere.

"Oh sweet Faust..."