My Little Mage: The Play of Shadows

by Foxhelm

Rating: teen
Tags: Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Adventure, Alternate Universe, Human, Main 6, Drama, The Pillars, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 23441

An old journal, an enthusiastic Twilight, a millennia old riddle, what could possibly go wrong... A My Little Mages AU retelling of Shadow Play

After Sunburst found the only uncounted for grinorum of Star Swirl the Great in a blind-buy barrel and finding out the fate of Star Swirl and the other five other legendaries, Twilight seeks to save her ideal and in turn rescue the other legendaries.

What could possibly go wrong?

A My Little Mages AU retelling of Shadow Play

Published 2018-10-09 09:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-10-31 15:53:37 UTC

Lost in the text

Prologue: The Last Entry

A glittering tome with images of stars and swirling galaxies emblazoned on it’ cover sat opened on his desk, as its reader looked over its pages in thoughtful recollection. “The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know the people who represent them all."

The reader turned the next page as a picture of a blank stained glass window came into view. “--strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery.” The reader read aloud, almost as if narrating his findings to an invisible crowd. His eyes glanced over the renderings on the stained glass portrait. He could see Rockfoot, Flash Magnus, Mage Meadowbrook, Mistmane, Somnambula, and finally himself, Starswirl the Bearded, as they appeared on the page.

He turned another page, unsurprised to see the six he had seen before, but now with another man standing beside them. He was younger in his appearance than even Flash Magnus, and sported a bowl-cut and was dressed in the brown simple robes of a scribe. “Myself and theses Pillars of Mystica were gathered together by another to maintain and share these powerful ideals"

Another page turn, and again Starswirl’s voice was stopped as he noticed another image of the young man. This time he was shown taking Rockfoot’s shovel, Mistmane’s flower, Somnambula’s blindfold, Flash Magnus’ shield, Meadowbrook’s mask, and his grimorium. “But we soon came to believe the man who brought us together only wanted that power for himself.”

He found another image, the group was scolding the man, before collecting their items and slamming a big wooden door in his face. “Cast out and alone, this power-mad man turned to darkness to satisfy his thirst. Transformed into a being of shadows, a walker of the Night, he returned for revenge – to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope.”

The image led directly to another, this one of a being of shadows towering over ten feet tall. The page turned to show this Nightstalker charge Star Swirl and his allies. “To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice.” The pages turned to show the six each take hold of what looked to be a crystal, then each transferring some part of themselves into it and burying it. “But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time.” The pages of the book turned a final time, as the Pillars were seen charging the Shadow of their once trusted ally. “We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have…”

The location and voice changed as Sunburst finished reading the entry from Starswirl’s journal. The three princesses, the rest of the Bearers of Harmony, Starlight Glimmer and Spike all hung off every word as he spoke. “...I only hope it will be enough." He closed the grimorium before turning his attention toward his audience. “That's the last entry, and the final words of Star Swirl before he vanished.”

Chapter 1: Lost in the text

Celestia and Luna were standing as they listened to everything Sunburst had read, but almost immediately felt the need to sit down in their respective thrones, as both were taken aback at what they heard. As they let it all sink in, Celestia was the first to speak, “I've always wondered what happened to our old teacher. This is quite a discovery, Sunburst.” She said as she held her hand out, to which Sunburst started to levitated the tome to her. As she looked through it while showing it to Luna, “Where did you find this missing grimorium?”

Before Sunburst could answer, Starlight gave a chuckle. “It was in that blind buy at the antique store in Magiville.” Everyone sans Twilight and Sunburst turned towards her. “Long story short, Sunburst visited me, turned out he has more in common with Twilight, Trixie, and Maud then me. But despite how much we’ve changed we still love to play Dragon Pit.” Everyone still looked at her, “Another long story for another time.” Starlight gave a nervous laugh. Everyone was about to question Starlight but then they saw Twilight was pacing in place giddier than a child on Hearth’s Warming Day just before the giving of gifts.

After a second Twilight, out excitement, teleported right next to the princesses with a big grin and massively dilated pupils as she stared at the tome, “So it's genuine? You can verify that this grimorium really belonged to Star Swirl the Great?!” She asked in fanatic disbelief. Luna and Celestia looked at each other before taking one more quick glance at the tome’s pages to verify. They nodded when they knew it was indeed true. “From the looks of it, this grimorium was the last one he wrote before facing the... Nightstalker… I never heard of such of being.” Luna turned towards Celestia. “Tia, have you heard of this creature.”

Celestia place her chin in the space between her thumb and index finger, “I have heard folk tales, but there are so many out there. It’s more of a boogie-man like being than anything else.”

“But it was real? Right?” Rainbow asked as she called attention to herself and the fact that the Nightstalker has been pretty much written off as a myth.

Celestia could only shrug her shoulders. “It is an extraordinary claim and we don’t have any extraordinary evidence to support it, beyond the sheer number of region folk tales, much like the stories of Nightmare Moon.”

“So Star Swirl never told you about it or gave you something to back up the claim?” Spike asked as he munched on some rubies he had on hand.

Both princesses shook their heads. “Mother deemed that we were too young to be involved with the dangers they faced at the time, and with our various other lessons under the tutelage of Chancellor Puddinghead, Commander Hurricane and Princess Platinum, we had few chances to meet them. On top of that Star Swirl didn’t even introduce us to the other Pillars.” Luna answered.

“Now hold on one cotton-picking moment!” Applejack declared, bring everyone’s attention to the paladin. She brought her left hand up and seemed to press the air down like she was trying to pull a lever used as the braking system for a train. “Let’s see if Ah got this,” She took a breath and looked squarely at Celestia and Luna. “Rockfoot and Flash Magnus were real? They were friends with each other and with Mage Meadowbrook, Mistmane and Somnabula? And they went off with Star Swirl to face the Nightstalker, and then none of them were ever heard from again?”

Pinkie turned to look squarely at the reader and walked up to the 4th wall, and blocking the right side of her face with her left hand, “Yes, we just covered all that, I know it might come off as insulting to you, but it’s meant to convey that to us this is an outlandish notion.” Pinkie paused, “You all got it?” Pinkie smiled, “Great. You all are awesome.” As Pinkie was speaking to the readers, everyone looked in the direction she was facing and saw only a blank wall. They all then turned to each other and shrugged. Pinkie turned back towards her friends. “Okay, we’re good.”

Everyone blinked about three times before they all shook their heads and muttered, “It’s Pinkie Pie don’t question it.”

Starlight then spoke as she held her chin in thought, “So what happened to them?” She noticed Rarity start to move her mouth. “We all know they managed to defeat the Nightstalker, we all have eyes and we can see the light.” Rarity then shut her mouth with a huff. Starlight continued “But how did they beat the Nightstalker and what actually happened to them after the battle?”

Celestia and Luna both took turns reading the last few pages of the book and both seemed to have a hard time understanding the text. After a few more seconds, the two sighed in defeat. “My Bullion is rather rusty,” Celestia confessed. Luna gave her own weak smile as if she too was having a hard time trying to translate the old language. Celestia shut the book and looked at the cover, “But if my memories of Star Swirl serves me right, I am certain that there are answers somewhere within the pages of this book.”

Twilight cleared her throat and everyone turned to her, as she looked to the ceiling in an attempt to feigned modesty. “Well, I just happened to be an expert in Bullion.” She then dropped the act as she looked towards Celestia and Luna, or rather Star Swirl’s lost book, with a pleading glimmer in her eyes, “I mean, I've practically memorized every text about Star Swirl there is!” She all but shouted very much like a child in a toy store.

Spike groaned as he facepalmed himself. “Seriously. All of them.” He stated bluntly.

Celestia and Luna both shared a laugh. Luna took the book and rubbed it fondly as she closed her eyes. “We have fond memories of our old teacher.” She then turned to Twilight and began to levitate the book towards the much younger demigod. “If you could discover what happened to him, we would be most grateful.” Twilight accepted the book and hugged it close to her chest as a young child would a security blanket or teddy bear. This caused Spike to groan as everyone else had a slight laugh.

Sunburst, however, was not laughing as he too was smiling much like Twilight, “Can you think of it?” He asked Starlight as he grabbed her by her upper arms and looked straight into her eyes, giddy as a schoolboy. “Deciphering the last written words of Star Swirl, solving a mystery that’s millennia old,” He said looking to each of the others, his enthusiasm ever increasing. “Think of the research! The re-reading! The re-re-reading!” He finished squarely looking into Spike's eyes as he held out his left hand in a fist as if he asking for Spike to bump it with his own. The dragon signed and compiled before Sunburst stepped to stand next to Twilight as they both started to read the spell book with massive grins on their faces.

Celestia had another giggle before she spoke to Twilight and Sunburst, “I do believe you might need some assistance in your quest.”

Applejack then took off her hat and placed it on Twilight’s head, “Luckily, these two bookworms got a whole bushel o' helpers right here.” Everyone cheered in agreement. “Alright Y'all,” Applejack then cleared her throat as she looked towards the rest of her group. “To the library!” she declared as she pointed towards the doors of the throne room.

The scene changed sometime later, Twilight’s personal library/The Crystal Tree Library. Every book was off the shelves in various piles and states of open, and everyone was in some state of falling asleep or asleep. Spike replacing a fizzled out candle. He had black circles under his eyes. He yawned as he walked towards Twilight who was the only other person awake as she looked at the tome, a pencil in her left hand. “So did you figure it out yet, Twilight?” he asked. Twilight only shook her head as threw her pencil away in frustration.

Unintentionally the pencil hit Sunburst as he snored. This resulted in him slipping and thudding his head against the table he was at, as he woke with a yelp, there was some paper that he rustled before he righted himself. Once he adjusted his glasses, everyone else started to wake up. “What did you figure out?” he asked, clearly still in his resting state, he didn’t hear the question Spike had asked, or rather Twilight’s answer.

Everyone got up from where they were and walked towards Twilight each with questioning looks. Twilight sighed as she covered her face, she then shook her head, “Star Swirl was a genius, obviously.”

“Given what I’ve read in Clover the Clever’s own notes, and King Bullion’s memoirs,” Rarity retorted as she looked at the books that were closest to her. “I must question that assumption, Darling.” Twilight frowned at Rarity, however, the enchantress continued, “Star Swirl was clearly well verse and intellectual, but given his age, if King Bullion is to be believed, it’s hard not for him to know as much as he did.” Twilight gave the enchantress a scowl of disapproval. Rarity showed no signs of being phased by it. “But carry on.”

“Anyway, just by going through this tome, you can forget translating Bullion into our language. There are parts where his handwriting is like another alphabet system entirely!” She groaned as she covered her face, shaking in frustration.

Applejack walked up to the demigod and placed her hand on her shoulder. “Listen Sugarcube, we've been readin’, studyin', referencin' and cross-referencin' for three days straight now. That’s longer than Rainbow has ever sat down and read, even when the last Daring Do book came out.” Rainbow gave a weak laugh as everyone turned to her. “Heck, that’s two days more than she put into her written exams for the Wonderbolts before she realized how… well bucked she was if she didn’t pass.” Applejack than had a soft laugh which got her a growl from the elementalist, not that Rainbow could deny it.

Then, Rarity walked up to Twilight and placed her hand on Twilight’s other shoulder. “Perhaps it is time to take a break. A good night’s sleep and some de-stressing away from these books are in order.” Rarity and Applejack both lifted Twilight from her the books and headed to the doors, “This mystery is over two thousand years old, after all. Another day or two won't make a difference.” Rarity added with her eyes closed and smile on her face.

“Two days?!” Twilight shouted as she jumped out of the chair and flew to a chalkboard with notes on it. As Twilight flew, Applejack turned to Rarity and gave the enchantress a frown. Rarity gave a weak laugh before they all turned to Twilight as she stared at the chalkboard, “I don't want to waste two seconds!” Twilight declared as everyone but Sunburst facepalmed themselves. “I'm close to an answer. I can feel it.”

Rarity sighed as she looked at a calendar and noticed the date that was circled. Rarity then cleared her throat, “That might be the case, but don’t you have as you say a” Rarity then began to make air quotes as she said the next word, “‘hangout’ with Flash Sentry in about half an hour.” A bell rang, and everyone turned to check the clock on the wall, “Make that five minutes.” Rarity corrected. Twilight began to hyperventilate as she realized she was going to be late. Rarity cleared her throat, “Applejack, Dashie, you both try to keep Flash occupied and explain the delay. Fluttershy, Pinkie, you’re with me, we got to get Twilight ready asap. Starlight, Sunburst, Spike get this place cleared up. Chop chop everyone.”

As everyone was about to do what Rarity ordered, Starlight looked at the page in Star Swirl’s tome that Twilight was looking at. "Hearg sylfum se Grandehenge". She read out loud. “Well it’s a good thing Bullion has the same alphabet we do. But what exactly does that term mean?”
Twilight’s jaw dropped before she bolted over and looked at the text then to Starlight in utter confusion, “You can… how… I’ve tried.” the demigod stuttered in confusion.

Starlight gave a weak smile, “Well when you have handwriting as bad as mine,” She then looked at her hands and looked at the cling, “Well there are few things that aren’t legible.” She then gave a weak laugh as everyone’s jaw hang opened. “Um, so what exactly did I read translated into words what we all understand?”

“The temple of Grandehenge,” Twilight answered as she flew to a pile of books, specifically one which was closest to Rarity before Sunburst woke himself up. She swiftly found the memoirs of King Bullion. “According to Bullion’s own words, he constructed it as a stone circle-like henge at the southernmost part of what would become his realm, the domain where the founding tribes came from, right on a place where the very magic of the world and elements can be used. A place of power.” Twilight began to read through the memoir as she spoke, “But he trusted the knowledge of its location during his life to a handful of people, namely his daughter, Princess Platinum.” Twilight stopped as she found the part she was looking for, “Princess Platinum’s addendums.” She was silent as she read through the text rapidly, “And so Father showed me the great henge, tucked away, near the base of Mt. Philistine.” Twilight shut the book, “That’s our next stop, Mt. Philistine.” Twilight then turned back to Starlight, “Does Starswirl’s spell book say anything else?”

“Toward dol grimlic of folu firgenbeorg, user endemest scield". Starlight read before she turned the page and stopped reading. She looked up as if to say that those were the last words Star Swirl wrote. Twilight and Sunburst both gasped, “Can I get a translation?” she asked.

“Literally, ‘at the base of the foul mountain, our last stand’.” Everyone was surprised when they heard a male voice that wasn’t either Sunburst’s or Spike. “A more accurate translation of the concept that phrase conveyed is ‘for the final battle, at Mt. Philistine.’” Everyone turned to see Flash Sentry dressed in a black tuxedo enter the library. He chuckled as he walked towards the group. He looked squarely at Rainbow, “Seriously Blunderbolt, you should know that.” He then had another chuckle as Rainbow groaned in response. He then turned his attention Twilight who had fainted with black spirals replacing her eyes. “I was told I was a lady killer, but I never thought it was meant literally.” He tried to laugh at his pun but got glares from all the women in the room cut it short. Sunburst was stroking his beard as if he was trying to figure out the joke. Spike had a snorty laugh but that too was short-lived. “I guess the date’s off.”

“It’s a long story,” Starlight told Flash as the girls went to help Twilight back to her feet.

Flash looked at the clock then back to Starlight, “I got until twenty hundred hours five days from now before I’m considered AWOL.” Flash then took a seat on a stack of books as he loosened his tie, took off his jacket and undid the top button of the shirt. “Try me.”

The following day, in the mid-morning hours, Twilight et al arrived at the base of Mt. Philistine, after about an hour of searching, they came across a circle of monolithic stones. Each stone was etched with many runes and various other alphabets and symbols. “This is it. Grandehenge.” Twilight stated as they all looked over the stones. “I can't believe it is real.”

Flash lifted his hand and started to count as he listed off, “The Elements of Harmony, The Crystal Heart, The Alicorn Amulet...I am starting to see a pattern.” He said, saturated with sarcasm. This was apparently unheard by Twilight and Sunburst, as they seemed to be engrossed in the stones. Everyone else seemed to want to say something but couldn’t retort as they turned their attention to the stones.

Sunburst was lost in the writings on one of the stones, like a child looking at a wide away of candies through a window, “I've never seen magical runes like these before!” He then turned to Twilight and asked, “Have you?”

“Uh-uh,” Twilight replied as she looked from the spell-book to the markings on one of the stones and then another.

Rainbow looked over all the overgrowth in the area, “I don't think anyone has seen any of this for a long time.” She tried to pull off one of the vines from one of the pillars.

As Rainbow was trying to remove a vine, Rarity’s eyes and focus gems started to grow and then all the markings engraved into the stone flashed. About a second later, Rarity’s eyes and focus gem stopped glowing, “Seen them in all in Clover the Clever’s personal notes,” the enchantress stated. After Rarity finished, the vine that Rainbow tried to remove flung the elementalist back. There was a yelp as she crashed into a bush.

Applejack then helped Rainbow back to her feet. After helping the elementalist brush off, “It'd take a whole battalion of the ESM’s corp of engineers to clear away all this brush.”

Flash took another look of the site, “Actually a battalion would have too many people waiting on their hands, a platoon would be more appropriate size.”

Fluttershy was standing next to another pillar and touched it, however, a piece of the rock fell off. In a panic, she picked it up and tried to put it back. “Even then,” she said, nervous about what might happen if Twilight and Sunburst saw what happened, “I'm not sure we'd find out what happened here over two thousand years ago.”

Twilight had to sigh as she looked at stones, then the tome and then to everyone, “You're right. I suppose it was a long shot."

Flash flew up to Twilight and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Cheer up, Twilight, you found Grandehedge. That’s a pretty impressive feat. You could write a doctoral thesis about it.”

Twilight gave a slight sigh, “I guess.” Twilight then placed the tome down next to the base of one of the pillars. “I hoped we'd get here and the mystery would just magically be explained, or maybe a clue as to what happened.”

Pinkie then turned to the readers and shrugged her shoulders, “I got nothing, folks. She is supposed to be Miss Research and fact-finding.”

Unbeknownst to everyone, the tome started to glow. Spike was the first to notice and pulled on Twilight’s hand, “Uh... Twilight?”

Everyone turned to see the tome glow and vibrate as it opened by itself. Twilight gasped as from the pages of the tome a semi-transparent projection of Star Swirl the Great stood with a copy of his spellbook in his left hand. Twilight walked to the image, “Star Swirl!? I... I've wanted to meet you my whole life! I can't believe you're here!” she exclaimed in excitement as she reached out her hand for it to pass through the projection. She took a step back in utter surprise.

Sunburst then walked up to the projection, placed his hand into the projection and waved it through the image. He turned back to Twilight, “I don't think he’s here.” He then turned his gaze from Twilight and everyone else to the other stone pillars, “I don't think any of them are.”

As Sunburst spoke everyone turned their attention to see the similar images to Star Swirl appear of the five other Pillars, each standing at one of the bases of the other five pillars of the stone circle. A light then came from each of their artifacts as they seemed to summon one another. Once the light cleared a towering being of at least 4 meters of what could best be described as tangible shadows appeared. Its eyes, fields of white and on its forehead an obsidian horn like focus gem. The being looked at the six that had used the magic of the area to summon him to it. He then gave a deep and bellowing laugh, “You summon me at your peril, Star Swirl!” he said as he looked Star Swirl. “Once I’ve defeated all of you, this realm will embrace the darkness as I did!” As he spoke, the Nightstalker looked at each of the Pillars for a second before he returned his gaze to Star Swirl. The Nightstalker then roared as it called lighting down on the site. Not a single bolt hit any of the Pillars but it was way to close for comfort. The Nightstalker vanished his conjured storm revealing the night’s sky, all the while it seemed to grow in all ways until it was over five meters in height and its form that of a mountain and bat-like wings large enough to lift it off the ground grew from it’s back. The Nightstalker looked over his form and laughed as he felt his power increase ten-fold, “Drawing me here has only made me stronger. You will never defeat me!”

Star Swirl took a deep breath as the bells on his hat and clock started to ring, “We did not come here to defeat you, Nightstalker,” Star Swirl raised his right hand and a beam went from it to Flash Magnus’ shield, then to Mistmane’s flower, to Somnabula’s blindfold, to Mage Meadborrow’s mask, to Rockfoot’s shovel and then back to Star Swirl’s tome, “but ... to contain you.”

Nightstalker looked around him and laughed, “Even if you throw me into that mirror of yours, It’s only a matter of time before I come back.”

“Who said anything about a mirror?” Star Swirl asked with a smirk on his face as the lights went above the Nightstalker and stopped.

“What?” Nightstalker asked in confusion and then looked above to see a portal opening, “No!” He sent out his body six tendrils, each one to grab one of the Pillars, “If I go down, I am taking you with me. ALL OF YOU!” He looked around and saw each of the six grimaced. “Of course.” He then started to laugh as if he was not the one bested, but the victor as he and the Pillars were pulled into the portal. Then the projection continued to show Mistmane’s flower, Rockfoot’s shovel, Flash Magnus’ shield, Somnambula’s blindfold, Mage Meadowbrook’s mask, and Star Swirl’s spell book all fall to the ground, all the while the Nightstalker’s laughter still echoed. After a couple more seconds, all that remained was Star Swirl’s spell book resting were Twilight placed it.

Everyone had their mouths agape as they tried to process everything that they just witnessed, save for Pinkie. She turns to face the readers, “Well, she did ask for a magical explanation and this is a world full of magic.”

Rescuing the Pillars

Everyone looked at each other and at the pillars, “Uh... what just happened?” Rainbow asked the question on everyone’s mind.

Flash flew up and flew around the stone circle. After he finished his flight, he landed in the center of the circle.“I am going to go out on a limb and say that we witnessed Star Swirl casting a spell that banished the Nightstalker in order to save Mystica from whatever that abomination had planned, sacrificing himself and the other Pillars in order to do so.”

Starlight looked over the pillar where the image of Star Swirl was projected. “But how did we see it? I am mean it’s been over two thousand years since that spell was cast.”

Twilight and Rarity shrugged their shoulders, neither having an idea of how the projection was cast. Sunburst was holding his chin in thought. His eyes suddenly shot wide open as he snapped his fingers, “Of course!” Everyone turned their attention to the wizard. “The Grandehedge is a place of power. Whenever the powerful magic that resides here is used the stones themselves record it.” Sunburst said as he walked over to the pillar that Twilight placed the tome on. He then back to everyone “Not only that, the spell itself would leave an impression on this place. Bringing the book back here must have the trigger for here let us see what happened.”

“So what’s next?” Applejack asked. “Ah for one say we should head home and get some real rest Ah got a date with the Sandman.” Applejack then yawned and stretched her arms and back.

Shortly after dawn the next day back in the Castle of Friendship, both Starlight and Sunburst were walking in one of the halls. “It's amazing to think one of the greatest mysteries of Mystica was solved with a musty old book from an antique shop.” the binder commented as the two were heading towards the library.

Sunburst shook his head and took off his glasses, “I wouldn't say the mystery's solved. We still have no idea where the Pillars took the Nightstalker.”

“The Pillars?” Starlight asked in confusion with a raised eyebrow.

Sunburst looked at Starlight in utter bewilderment, “Um… Mistmane, Meadowbrook, Rockfoot, Flash Magnus, Somnambula and Star Swirl, they are collectively known as the Pillars of Legend, or the Pillars for short.” Sunburst explained. Starlight just stared at him, like he was talking about something he stumbled upon in an antique shop. Sunburst took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose and gave a sigh. “You really need to read up on history.” He then put his glasses back on. “That being said, the spell Star Swirl cast that night was one of the most powerful feats of magic in all of history.” He stopped and started to rub his chin in thought, “It'll take years of study before we fully understand it.”

Just then Twilight flung open the doors to the library with a massive grin on her face. She leaped out. “I think I understand Star Swirl's spell!”

Sunburst and Starlight looked at each other and sighed together, “Of course she would.”

An hour or so later that day, Twilight, her friends, Starlight and Sunburst, were seated at the Aura Map with many books around it. “I know I've finished one of Star Swirl's spells before, but this one was on a whole different level!” Twilight started as she got out of her throne and flew around the table, levitating in her wake several books in her excitement. “Was it an explosion of magical feedback? An evocation? A kind of incantation? It's Star Swirl, so the possibilities are endless!” Twilight then flew to be right in front of Starlight, “And once Starlight set me on the right track with his crazy handwriting –” Twilight then started to laugh with a noticeable snort in her laughter. “I mean, he was a genius, so I guess we can forgive a little messiness –” Twilight then flew to be in front of Applejack and summoned Star Swirl’s book to her and brought it to right in Applejack’s face. “I went through the journal again, and it's amazing!” In her excitement, she bopped Applejack in the face before she flew to be in the center of the room and was looking at the pages of the tome giddier than a schoolgirl.

“Twilight, darling. We understand you're excited,” Rarity spoke as Applejack rubbed her nose, and everyone was at a loss of what Twilight was so excited. “but that's all we understand.” the enchantress stated bluntly.

Rainbow then got out of her throne and stretched her back, “Yeah, what exactly is so amazing?”

Twilight then flew to have her face right in Rainbow’s “Only how Star Swirl and the other Pillars sent the Nightstalker to Limbo!” the demigod declared as she was almost nose to nose with Rainbow.

“Um, Sugarcube, you really need to work on your personal space.” Applejack said which got Twilight to nervously ‘tehe’ as she flew back into her throne. “But what did they do again?”

Twilight levitated to herself a diorama of Grandehendge. She then pulled her hands together above the diorama and pulled them apart. In the space between her hands what seemed to be a ball of darkness appeared, but it was more a darkness of an absence of everything then the lack of a reflection of light. “They used their magic to open a portal between worlds – to Limbo – and pulled the Nightstalker inside.” As Twilight spoke the hole seemed to get bigger and bigger until it poofed shut taking the diorama to some void.

“Darling, your diorama!” Rarity all but gasped as they all witnessed the disappearance of the diramona.

“I made more!” Twilight brushed Rarity’s concern off with her expression of sheer joke and excitement as she pointed to a pile of replicas of the diorama, a couple fell to the floor with a clatter. After everyone turned their attention back to Twilight, the demigod opened the tome, “Star Swirl thought the only way to stop the Nightstalker was to trap it in Limbo and for the Pillars to take him there, in order to do so taking themselves to Limbo as well.”

“The Nightstalker must have been really awful for them to do that.” Fluttershy shivered at the thought of what would convince six people to send themselves to another realm to contain another being.

As Twilight was hovering over the table, Pinkie stepped on it and began to walk on it, “I suppose being trapped for all time with a super-duper bad guy in Limbo might be okay if you were doing the limbo,” She said as did the limbo as she walked under Twilight, “but that's still pushing it.” she finished with a shoulder shrug.

“The thing is, I think I can get them out,” Twilight said as flew back to her throne.

Sunburst’s jaw dropped before he closed it with his hand, “Twilight, are you serious?” he asked in utter amazement. “You can save the most legendary people of all time?”

Starlight shook her head facing the floor in doubt. “I don't know. Opening portals between worlds didn't work out well for me. Are you sure it's safe?

Twilight flew to be above the table, holding the spell book in her left arm. She then pointed her right hand at Starlight, “First of all, you opened portals through time, not space. And second of all, Star Swirl wrote the spell you used to do it.” As Twilight spoke, Starlight lowered her head in shame not unlike she was about to cry. Twilight was oblivious or ambivalent to her friend’s state as she focused on the tome and continued, “If he'd been here, he could have stopped it. Mystica would be safer with him in it. We have to save him.”

“But you'd be savin' all the Pillars, right?” Applejack asked getting Twilight’s attention back to everyone else in the room. “And they disappeared millennia ago.” Applejack pointed out and shivered at the thought that this might be a fruitless endeavor as the Pillars might be dead.

Twilight sat down and opened another book after she found the page she was looking for she levitated the book to the paladin. “That's the thing about Limbo. It exists outside of the four dimensions that make of our Space-Time continuum, in fact, it exists outside of all ten dimensions that we can fathom. If we can pull them out, or more accurately pull them back into this space-time continuum, for them it'll be like they never left.” Twilight informed as the paladin read the bookmarked pages. “I actually built another model to demonstrate—” Before Twilight could continue, Rainbow groaned and slammed her head on the table with a thud.

As Twilight was about to say something to Rainbow, Spike placed his claw on her arm, “What can we do to help?” he asked defusing a potential situation.

Twilight nodded and opened Star Swirl’s spell book, “If I'm right, we need to find items that are connected to the Pillars in some way. Namely the items that were used along with this spell book for the spell. Luckily, we already have a lead on Netitus's location, as well as Mage Meadowbrook’s mask."

Starlight raised a hand, “Netitus?” the binder questioned.

“That’s the name of Flash Magnus’ shield.” Rainbow informed as she raised her head in slight frustration, “Seriously, you claimed a stick was one of Mage Meadowbrook’s artifacts, one would think you’d know a lot more about the other artifacts of our world.”

Twilight then coughed with an ‘ahem’ and got everyone’s focus back to her. “In addition to that Star Swirl took a lot of notes.” Twilight paused before she started to read from the tome, "My compatriots are as varied as the realm itself and hail from every corner of our land, bringing with them artifacts and talismans of great power." As Twilight spoke she seemed to be oblivious to the shimmering of the map.

Everyone else was shocked as they saw five golden orbs appear, “Um, Twilight? What are you doing?” Starlight asked for everyone as they watched on.

Twilight looked up from the tome with a confused look, “I'm not doing anything,” She stated before she gasped as she as witnessed what everyone else saw.

Just then the five orbs revealed an image in them, a shovel, a mask, a shield, a potted flower, and a blindfold. Applejack followed the orb with the shovel as it hovered above the northeastern fjords south of Gryphonstone, “Rockfoot's shovel!”

Rainbow followed the image of the shield as it hovered over the eastern peninsula, “Flash Magnus' shield!”

Rarity’s eyes followed the potted flower as it went over to the southwestern coast, “Mistmane's flower!”

Fluttershy eyes followed the mask to the southwestern bayou, “Meadowbrook's mask!”

Finally, Pinkie watched as the blindfold hovered over the pyramids of the southern desert just to the northeast of Alfheim. “And the blindfold Somnambula wore when she faced that nasty sphinx!”

Twilight was utterly perplexed that Netitus was in the Dragonlands, she could have sworn she saw the shield much closer to home. Before she could speak, “Twilight, here is the shield you asked for…” came Flash Sentry’s voice as he walked in with what looked like Netitus on his left arm. Flash trailed off as he saw what was projected on the map. “Um...okay, what did I miss?”

Twilight turned from the map to Flash, “Wait if Netitus is in the middle of the Dragon Lands, then what is this?" she asked as she pointed to the shield Flash had on.

Flash was dumbfounded at first, after a second of thought, “Wait you thought,” he started before everything seemed to sink in. “Oh, no. This is just a replica,” he said as he nodded to the shield. He then rubbed the back of his head with his right hand, “You see there’s this old family story on my mom’s side that not only do I descend from Flash Magnus, but after Netitus was lost, this replica was forged.” Flash then gave a nervous chuckle, “Of course, until today, I thought that all that were just stories.”

Twilight’s eyes shot open and flew towards Flash, "Why didn't you say so earlier?" she asked as she looked at the replica than to the projection on the map and back a bit of annoyance in her tone.

Flash tilted his head slightly to the right in slight bewilderment, "It never really came up until now.” he answered as he raised his head back up. He then narrowed his eyes in question, “And how should’ve I told you?” he asked before he rolled his eyes as if he knew he wasn’t going to get an answer. “ ‘Hey check out my shield, it’s a based off of Netitus, the shield of Flash Magnus,’ ‘No it’s not Netitus, it’s a...well, a knockoff based on a legend.’” he commented his tone was clearly sarcastic boarding on sardonic. “And when would I have told you?”

“When you first took me antiquing?” Twilight countered with a raised voice.

“As entertaining as the sweet nothings of this lovers’ spat are, I have a question.” Everyone stopped as they saw Discord appear floating above the table as he called out to Twilight, in a more draconic version of his natural form. “Is there a plan to get to the general area of each of these knick-knacks and back here, because if you had to go on foot, fly, take a train, it would take days.” the Erisedies pointed out.

Rarity smirked, “Well since you still owe five favors, I’ll cash in mine.” the enchantress started.

“Actually you already did, remember the whole Punk Rock thing because we each got the wrong soap from Zecora. You asked him to restore your hair after the photoshoot.” Pinkie pointed out.

“Well, that still leaves, mine, Twilight’s, Rainbow’s and yours, Pinkie.” Applejack pointed out and sighed. “Ah don’t really want to do this. But Discord, Ahm cashing in my favor. Ah wanna tah cast a spell that will teleport each of us to our destination and teleport back here with the artifacts a couple of seconds after we each acquire the one we are looking for.” As Discord was about to snap his talon. “Now before you do that, give us a few minutes to come up with a plan.” Discord huffed in disapproval. Applejack dismissed it as she continued. “We might want to send some sort of note to someone in the places we’re headin’,” Applejack said as she gestured to the map. “that might help?” Applejack pointed out. She looked at the projection of Rockfoot’s shovel and started to scratch her head, “I think there’s a girl with that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo helped that has a real knack for archaeology and Ah think there’s a dig going on at the fjords.”

“You mean Petunia Paleo?” Twilight and Rainbow asked. “She’s there under the tutelage of Professor Fossil.” The two continued to speak together. The two then stopped as Twilight turned to the elementalist. “How do you know about Professor Fossil?” Twilight asked Rainbow. “I know about her because she was a guest lecture

Rainbow rolled her eyes as she flew over to the collection of book and pulled out “She’s in the person A.K. Yearling dedicated the second Daring Do book.”

“Speaking about A.K. Yearling, isn’t Daring Do still in Somnambula?” Pinkie asked as she looked over the projection of the blindfold and the pyramids. Rainbow nodded a ‘yes’.

“I sure Cattail wouldn’t mind another visit,” Fluttershy commented as she looked over the bayous.

“I’m on it,” Spike said as he was composing letters.

Twilight took a moment to look at the map, focusing on the peninsula known as the Dragon Lands. “Spike, also write a message to Ember, let her know Rainbow, Flash and you will be going.”

“What?” Rainbow and Flash asked together and continued to speak in unison, “Seriously, you think I/she needs him/me? Do you not know what I/she has done? I am/She is a Wonderbolt. I/She doesn’t need him/me to help me/her.” The two then turned to face each other.

“You think that I don’t need you?” Rainbow asked taken aback, not sure if she was being complimented.

“Yeah, I do Blunderbolt,” Flash said with a nod.

Twilight nodded, “I know you can handle things on your own Rainbow, but Spike is the emissary to the Dragon Lands and even if Ember does let you through, there are still dragons that don’t like us and Flash’s boons might be helpful.” Twilight pointed out, her focus on Flash’s sword as she spoke the last part.

“Well, if when you’re ready, the sooner your done with this project, the sooner Fluttershy and I can have our Tuesday Tea.” Discord said as he seemed to just appear on Flash’s head in the shape of a rabbit walking on two legs dressed in a red tailcoat as he pulled out a pocket watch. “We have a very important date.”

“But it’s Sunday.” Twilight pointed out.

Discord vanished and reappeared in his human form, “Do you want my help or not?” he asked bluntly.

Before Twilight could reply, “Let it go Sugarcube, we’ve got heroes to save.” Applejack pointed out.

About an hour and a half later at the excavation site indicated on the Aura Map indicated by the projection of Rockfoot’s shovel, a young Earthborn girl, no older than 12 had finished brushing of dirt revealing a helmet with what seemed to be wings on the side. The girl squealed in delight as she knew what she found, a signature headpiece of the Mighty Helm. “Professor!” she called as an older woman in her late fifties early sixties approached. “It's a Mighty headpiece!” the girl declared as the professor, Professor Fossil looked at the helm more closely. “Maybe it belonged to an einherjar or maybe a skjaldmær!” the girl surmised as she seemed to just explode in joy. She gasped, “Maybe even to Rockfoot himself!” she shouted as she tugged at the professor’s arm child-like.

Professor Fossil shock her head with a small closed-eyed smile, marveling at her youngest student’s excitement, “Legends don't wear helmets.” She said as she readjusted her glasses and pat the girl on the head, “This belonged to a real person.”

“Oh, I can guarantee Rockfoot was as real as you and me.” Applejack said as she walked over to the two. “But Ah can tell ya right off the cuff this isn’t Rockfoot, he never wore a helm.” Applejack said with just a glance at the helm. Before the girl could pout, “But ya know what Sugarcube, this did belong to someone and the fact you found it means he or she is not forgotten.” The girl smiled and hugged Applejack. “Ah take it you got the letter from Princess Twilight.”

“I have, however, if I may say that if you believe that Rockfoot, I suppose you believe that ravine” Fossil said as she pointed towards the large break in the land that almost separated the village from the rest of the small peninsula that the fjord surrounded. “was dug with his trusty shovel to save the village from an erupting volcano.” Fossil then chuckled. Applejack nodded. Fossil chuckled again and then took a breath. “Now I love an old legend as much as anyone. But a man strong enough to save a village from rushing lava with a shovel is…” she paused as she readjusted her glasses, “preposterous.” At that moment there was a small shake in the earth. “Everyone stay calm.” Elsewhere at the dig as the quake ended a large boulder was loosened and began to roll towards a group of the diggers. They yielded in fear. Applejack gasped and ran to intercept the boulder. She got in front of it and pushed against the boulder straining and grunting as she was able to bring it to a stop. Applejack then lifted the boulder, clearly pushing herself farther than she probably should, and threw it into the waters of the fjord. Everyone was absolutely flabbergasted as the paladin wiped the sweat off of her brow and rubbed her muscles. “I can't believe you just did that.” Fossil said as she was the first to find her words. “Y-You saved us!” Applejack smirked in return, “I suppose a retort of ‘If I told anyone else the story, it might sound preposterous’.” Applejack nodded with her smirk. Just then one of the other diggers at the site pointed what was behind the boulder. Everyone went to see and saw that it was a tomb, but inside it, there wasn't a body or other remains but instead a shovel, with a longer than average shaft. “I suppose some stories might be true…” Professor Fossil commented as she started to read the runes, near the entrance as Applejack went for the shovel itself.

Applejack looked at the shovel in awe and then took a moment to look at the tomb and everything in it, namely the engraved image of Rockfoot. It wasn’t until now she actually accepted the stories her mother told her and her brother. “And Rockfoot’s is one of them.” she muttered as a tear rolled down her check. “You were right, Ma.” Applejack whispered. Before she could do anything else the shovel began to levitate on its own and placed itself in her hands.

At about the same time as Applejack was in the tomb of Rockfoot, Rarity was opening a large wooden after she shut the gate behind her, she gasped. The place was overgrown, and the wooden buildings seemed to be in disrepair. “This place has clearly seen better days,” the enchantress said as she then spotted in the potted flower that had been Mistmane’s artifact, despite being over two thousand years old was still very much as it was when Mistmane cased the spell that stripped her of beauty and youth as the legend indicated. Rarity walked up to the flower and reached her hand out to the flower. Just before she could touch it, a hand spade smacked her hand. “Ow!”

“You keep those hooves to yourself, dearie!” an older woman in her late seventies dressed in dark grey kimono stepped to be between Rarity and the flower. “This place has been in my family for generations,” she declared as she pointed to the overall place, the Far Eastern Gardens, “and I'm not about to let some whippersnapper take the last good piece of it!” she said as she pointed the shade into Rarity’s face. The old gardener then signed as she saw that Rarity had taken a step back, “Time was, people came from far and wide to see these gardens. But that flower's the only worthwhile thing left!” Rarity looked around and then smiled as she had an idea.

Her focus gem then started to glow as gardening and building repair equipment began to levitate. Rarity guided the equipment to clear out the garden and repair the buildings restoring it all to their cleared-up state. Rarity whipped her forehead of the sweat that formed due to her spells. As the last piece of equipment was returned to where Rarity summoned it. “Perhaps it just seemed like your gardens were worthless. But a little pruning can work wonders.” As the gardener recovered from the sight of the restored garden, she shed a tear. The two then looked at the flower, “Of course you will have to look after more than just one flower now.”

The gardener nodded and with a smile picked up the potted flower, “You've given me back so much of my family's legacy.” She then handed the flower to Rarity. “I suppose Mistmane’s Flower seems like a fair trade for that. It would be in the hands of someone that seems to understand her more than one of her great-nieces.” Rarity accepted the flower. Once it her hands it started to glow golden.

Just as Rarity was accepting the flower, among the tall grass near an actual bayou shore a man with a long beard and tied blonde beard and hair in his mid-forties, dressed to fit the swamp-like environment, the most noticeable thing he wore was green vest, a golden necklace and worn plague mask shaded not unlike a parrot’s but colored yellow and blue. Not far above him was a beehive, but the bees that lived in it weren’t normal bees as they were yellow and blue and seemed to glow, flash bees. As the bees noticed him they flew towards him and hovered in front of him as if they were entranced. From the grass, Fluttershy slowly flew towards the tree the hive hang from. “Just remember not to turn away from them, Cattail.” the druid told the man. “Flash bees can get pretty aggressive. I guess that's why none of the other bayou animals can get to the water,” she said as she looked back to the animals, snakes, frogs, waterfowl, alligators, etc, all of which were hiding from the bees.

As the recently identified Cattail waved his arms and tried to dance around like a bee while keeping his face forward towards the flash bees. “Wouldn't it make more sense for you to wear the mask that calms the bees?” he asked, the nervousness in his voice was unmistakable.

Fluttershy nodded, “It would…” she trailed off as she took the hive and began to fly to a higher branch which the hive could attach to and would be so that the bees wouldn’t feel threatened by the other animals. “if I didn't have to fly up here to move their hive. There!” the druid informed as she secured the hive and flew back into the grass. Cattail then joined her, hiding in the brush. The flash bees then flew away back to their hive, not seeming to notice that the hive was much higher than it was before. “Now the other bayou creatures can get to the water without the bees feeling threatened,” Fluttershy said as the animals all seemed to get back to their bayou. Their mutual peace still in play.

Cattail took off the mask and handed it to Fluttershy, “You know, you didn't have to help with this. I would've given you the mask anyway, I’m sure Meadowbrook wouldn’t mind you having it.”

Fluttershy nodded with a smile on her face, “I know. But I couldn't leave without helping you out with this first.” the druid pointed out as she accepted the mask and hugged Cattail. Just then the mask started to glow with a golden light.

As Cattail was handing Mage Meadowbrook’s healer’s mask to Fluttershy, inside one of the pyramids of the city of Somnambula a group of the residents of the town were watching from the ledge as Daring Do was pumping air into a long tube that went into the pool of what would be best described as green slime. “I don't think anybody can find anything in there.”One of the villagers commented.

“If my little girl is right about her friend, I wouldn't give up hope.” the archaeologist/writer said as she continued to pump air. Just then there was a sudden pop, like an air bubble in a sink just burst and the slime started to drain almost taking the pump that Daring Do was using with it and would have if Daring had not made sure her foot was down.

As the last of the slime drained an old-fashioned diving suit claimed out, noted by the large brazen head. In the left hand was a slime covered blindfold. “I found it, Daring!” came the voice of Pinkie from the suit as she opened the front of the diving mask. “Someone let it get stuck in the drain.”

“Told ya,” Daring said as she turned to the villager that express doubt of Pinkie’s success as they helped the jester out of the emptied pooled. Just as Pinkie was back on the level everyone was on the blindfold start to glow, like the other three artifacts.

As all the events Flash and Rainbow flew with Spike on Flash’s back as the sentinel had the replica of Netitus on his left arm. In addition to his shield, Flash has his sword and a hand-crossbow on his belt. “So that’s a fake?” Rainbow asked as she looked over the shield, “It’s spot on to the legend.”

Flash nodded, “I’ve always thought that the legend of Netitus was made up after this shield was made.” Flash took a look at his shield and then to the area they were flying over. A frown then formed on his face. “But if the legend of Flash Magnus is true then it’s true that one of my mother’s so many great uncles had the shield when he disappeared here, likely to his death.” All three were silent for a moment as they continued to fly and look around.

“You sure that Ember is okay with this?” Rainbow asked Spike point blank.

Spike closed his eyes and nodded, “Of course, given that Netitus is technically Flash’s and dragons have a big thing on property rights.”

Rainbow smiled at that not looking forward, “LOOK OUT!” shouted Flash as suddenly Rainbow was pulled into a roll and the two crashed on the ground. Flash underneath Rainbow and his right leg looked like it was not bending the way it should. As Rainbow looked at the leg she saw burns.

“Well, well, well, look who I found, the purple puny phony and two useless humans.” Spike and Rainbow turned to see a red dragon walking on all for legs look down at them from a jettison of rocks.

“Garble,” both Rainbow and Spike hissed.

“You know that Dragon Lord Ember gave us the go-ahead to be here,” Spike added as Rainbow hovered her left hand over her bow ready to draw it from her waist quiver.

Garble then reached to his back with his right talon, “She sent me to give you a warm welcome.” the red dragon chuckled at his own joke. He then showed what he was reaching for. “Also said I should give you this.” Then he revealed the item…

“Netitus!” Rainbow shouted as she stepped forward, her right hand reached out to accept it. Unbeknownst to her Garble was inhaling as he was about to exhale flame.

“SKYBOOM SHIELD!!!” Flash shouted as he managed to just barely get in front from Rainbow and shield her from the dragon’s fiery breath. “Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!” Flash shouted as the heat of the flame radiated and conducted through the shield itself and his arm. Once Garble’s breath died down, Flash’s shield was all but melted as the sentinel rapidly discarded it as he fell down and grabbed his broken leg.

“So much for the knight in shining armor.” Garble laughed at the sight as Rainbow as she went to tend to the Flash.

“You know this not being very friendly.” Spike’s voice was barely heard by Rainbow as she looked at Flash and then to her hands seeing that there was nothing she could do. “Dragon Lord Ember will not like this.” Spike continued to talk back to Garble. All the while Rainbow couldn’t fathom what to do.

Rainbow then saw Flash reach out and touch her bow and her right hand, as the star on his sword’s pummel flashed, “requiem blaster.” Flash whispered. Rainbow eyelids then shot open as her eyes started to glow the colors of the rainbow as did her fingernails as the air around her started to give off a charge as if the gas was being converted into plasma.

She took her bow and aimed it straight to at Garble’s mouth as he laughed at Spike, not taking the younger dragon seriously. “HEY, WORM!” Rainbow shouted as drew the ‘string’ of her bow and seven arrows, each one a color of the rainbow, and they grew intensity. “TASTE THE RAINBOW, MOTHER FUCKER!!!” she shouted as let loose her arrows. The arrows struck Garble knocking the dragon back. As the dragon fell he lost his grip on the shield as he fell backward into a ravine. The surge that Rainbow felt then subsided, “What just happened?”

“I think Flash transferred one of his boons to you.” Spike surmised as he went over to the shield as Rainbow then turned to Flash.

“Specifically ‘Requiem Blaster’, I actually just earned it,” Flash said as he was gritting through the pain. “Glad it paid off,” he smirked.

“I owe you...,” Rainbow said as she tried to lift Flash up to be a sort of human crutch.

“Crash” Flash cut her off and before Rainbow could ask for clarity or accuse him of calling her by her Wonderbolt nickname, “Crash Sentry, I got that when on my first day of boot camp. I was so excited I crashed into my drill instructor, needless to say, my ass was grass for my entire time there.” Flash then tried to chuckle through the pain he was in.

“Rainbow Crash,” Rainbow confessed, “On the first day as an actual Wonderbolt, I was so excited about being one finally that I forgot to look both ways before crossing the runway. After an approach was called to my attention, I jumped out of the way, but I ended up crashing into a trash can.” she explained before Spike arrived with the shield. “You earned this,” Rainbow said as she was about to take move Flash’s arm to take the shield, but Flash took it back.

“No, it’s yours now, Crash,” Flash said somewhat dismissively as Spike handed the shield to Rainbow.

“Let’s get you to a medic, Crash,” Rainbow said as accepted the shield as it took on a golden glow.

At the site of Grandehedge, about an hour later, Starlight, Sunburst and Twilight had cleared out all of the brush and growth returning the stone circle to just short of its state before it was overgrown, “I can't believe I'm gonna meet Star Swirl the Great!” Twilight said as she flew to Sunburst as he was looking at the center stone pool. “You know, outside of my dreams,” she said as she batted her eyes in a bedroom eye like manner. Sunburst nervously laughed as he took a step back.

Starlight then tabbed on Twilight’s shoulder sparing Sunburst from the situation, “I can't believe you're actually going through with it.” Starlight said as she then leaned against one of the pillars. Before Twilight could ask what the binder meant, “Now I’m all for pushing the envelope, obviously,” she clarified as she knew her past, “but this is pretty out there for you, Twilight.” She continued as she pointed out how different this was from Twilight’s own.

Sunburst took off and readjusted his glasses, “What's "out there" about saving the most legendary people of all time from a thousands-year-old prison?” The wizard asked as he pointed out the intended goal.

Starlight was taken aback at that retort, “Well... nothing when you say it like that.” She had to confess, “Unless quote "the most legendary people of all time" unquote knew what they were doing, and we shouldn't mess with it.” Starlight pointed out, recalling everything they saw the night before.

Sunburst leaned against the ring in the center of the hedge, “I'm sure Star Swirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then,” the wizard acknowledged his oldest friends point, “but magic has come a long way over the last two thousand years. Mostly because of the work they did.” he countered

“That's true.” Starlight acknowledged with a nod, “And you did get your wings from finishing one of Star Swirl's spells.” she said as she pointed out Twilight’s ascension in part because she finished a spell that had Star Swirl stumped. Before Twilight or Sunburst could reply, “But then I messed with one and nearly destroyed the universe, so…” she trailed off hoping that Sunburst and Twilight would connect the dots.

Twilight shook her head in disagreement, “Starlight, Star Swirl’s the greatest wizard who ever lived. The chance to have him back in Mystica is worth the risk.” she said as she placed the spellbook at the base of the pillar Star Swirl stood in front of.

“That's good news.” Came Spike’s voice as he and Rainbow flew into the area.

“Otherwise, we'd have brought this shield for nothing.” the elementalist said as she placed Netitus on at the base of the pillar Flash Magnus stood in front of.

Twilight looked around and noticed the absence of Flash Sentry, “Where’s Flash?” she asked.

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head with her right hand, “About that,” she then gave a nervous laugh before she continued, “he kind of got his leg broken saving my rear from dragon fire…” she said as she looked to the ground in slight shame.

“Literally.” Spike continued where Rainbow left off, “So he’s at Magiville General getting a cast on.”

Pinkie then popped out from Sunburst’s cape causing the wizard to almost screamed as he stumbled and landed on his rear at a complete loss of words, seems to do what everyone has always said not to do. Pinkie, however, kept her focus on Rainbow and Twilight, “You know what’s odd? Whenever Flash takes a part of a story, he’s often taken out, or he’s conveniently occupied with something else.” the trickster asked as she skipped to the pillar that Somnaumbla’s image appeared. “Good thing Daring Do was still in Somnamubla to help me get this. Oh and Dashie, your mom said ‘hi, I love you and congrats on becoming a Wonderbolt, your biological father would be so proud of you, so how is that debate with Quibble going?” She then pulled out of her hair the blindfold. Pinkie then turned to face you, the reader, “Just to be clear I was talking about the city. It would totally weird if I was talking about the person.” She then held her chin in thought, “Although it’s going to be very confusing once we successfully rescue the person from Limbo,” She then shrugged her shoulders and placed the blindfold at the base of the pillar. “oh well.”

“Well, Ah’m glad yah both got yahr artifacts.” Applejack said as she arrived at the site and placed Rockfoot’s shovel at the pillar that the giant of a man stood when he and the others banished the Nightstalker. “So that’s four down.” the paladin pointed out as she counted everyone at the site, namely those with artifacts. “So we’re waiting for Fluttershy and Rarity.”

“I’m here.” came the typically timid druid said as she almost silently floating down to the site wearing the mask of Meadowbrook. She then took off the mask and placed it at the pillar that Meadowbrook stood in front of the night the Nightstalker was banished.

“That’s five and ever late,” Applejack said as she pointed to pillar that Mistmane stood in front of.

“Honestly, Applejack,” the enchantress said with a laugh, “if one must be late, then one must be fashionable,” Rarity said as she brushed her hair back before placing the flower at the base of the pillar. “We’re six for six, Twilight.”

“Good work, everyone,” Twilight said as she looked at each of her friends and smiled. She turned to face the pillar that Star Swirl stood. She was then joined by Rarity, Sunburst, and Starlight. “Let's do this!” Twilight, Rarity, and Sunburst then sent their magic into the tome, Starlight groaned as she added her magic. After about thirty seconds of the magic striking the tome, a golden light then shot from the tome in the reverse order the light that was part of the spell to banish the Nightstalker did.

In less than ten seconds, about five feet above the top of their respective pillars, Star Swirl, Flash Magnus, Somnambula, Rockfoot, Meadowbrook and Mistmane appear. Quickly each other bearers of the Elements of Harmony caught either physically or through use of magic the Pillar whose artifact they recovered and got them safely to the ground.

As the six Pillars started to wake, “What... What has happened?” Star Swirl asked, clearly still in some sort of stupor.

“It worked!” Twilight cheered before she rushed over and hugged Star Swirl, not unlike a child that thought they did a really good thing and wanted an affectionate pat on the head, “We brought you back!” she declared as she ended the hug and gave a big closed eye, closed mouth smile to Star Swirl.

The old wizard was utterly baffled at what just happened and started to look around in confusion, “To where?” he asked.

Twilight, with the grin on her face and eyes still closed, “Well it was rather straightforward once you account for all eleven dimensions.” She started.

“Dimensions? What is a dimension?” the old wizard asked bewildered by the term.

“While really important, but right now, as Applejack said, I’ll K.I.S.S…”

“K.I.S.S.?” Rainbow asked Applejack.

“Keep it short and simple, you’re the one in the military here, and yet you have the hardest time with acronyms.” The paladin pointed out. Rainbow raised her hand and opened her mouth, but quickly shut it as she had no reply that would save face.

“Anyway, you and the others have been trapped in Limbo for over two thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho—” Twilight continued as if uninterrupted as Star Swirl finally recognized where he was.

“What?!” the old man shouted as he broke the demigoddess from her lecture. “No, no, no, no!” he started to panic as he looked around and his vision finally recognized the other five pillars. He turned back to Twilight, “You must undo what you've done!

“What? Why? I mean, I don't think I can.” Twilight started as she took a step back not unlike a child afraid of a scolding from an irate parent.

“You cannot bring us back!” Star Swirl shouted as he pulled at his hair clearly irritated.

“But I did.” Twilight counted as she pointed out each of the other five Pillars. “I brought all the Pillars back.”

Star Swirl shook his head before he looked squarely at Twilight, a just anger in his eyes, “You cannot bring only the Pillars back!” he declared just as clouds began to form and lightning stroke.

Everyone turned to see a black sphere appear in the center of the stone circle as the triumphant laughter of the Nightstalker was heard before the sphere morphed into the Nightstalker as he was when he was banished. “Oh, no!” Twilight gasped in horror as she just realized what she did.

Battle with the Shadow

Applejack was the first after Spike to walk up to the projection of Aura marks over the rendering of the area the map was indicating, “The Hollow Shades.” the paladin said as she looked at the area. “That’s where the Apples are from.” She then looked away from the map and held her chin in thought, “I think there’s still a branch of the family that lives there.”

Sunburst shook his head as he walked up to the projection, “I doubt it, there hasn’t been a census conducted there in two hundred years and the last know resident left about ten years after that census.” Sunburst informed. Everyone turned to him, “As the Crystallier for Princess Flurry Heart and possible future instructor it’s my duty to be versed in political matters, and census, long u, is one such topic, didn’t Princess Celestia tell you about them Twilight?” Twilight gave Sunburst a slight scowl causing the young wizard to give a nervous laugh as he stepped to the side.

As Sunburst stepped to the side both Rarity and Fluttershy looked at the map and took a second to think. “Hmm, that's odd.” Rarity commented as she thought back to the last time all six were summoned to the same place, “The only time the map's called all of us to one place was Starlight's village.” the enchantress pointed out and received a silent nod of agreement from Fluttershy.

Rainbow flew up to the project as the two were thinking and then turned to face everyone with her own observation, “So it's like a super-villain tracker!” she exclaimed. She then gave a nervous laugh as she turned to face Starlight. “No offense.” Silently Starlight had her eyelids partially open and then raised her right eyebrow having clearly taken offense at the comment.

Twilight thought for a second, and then turned to Star Swirl, “Do you think the map could be trying to tell us where the Nightstalker is?”

Star Swirl took a moment to think as he stroke his beard in thought, “Hmm... The Tree of Harmony acting to protect the light of the realm…” the wizard said as he spoke his thought out loud. After a pause, “Yes.” He turned to Twilight and patted her on the head, “An excellent thought, Twilight.” Twilight’s eyes dilated with a massive open-mouth grin as she squealed in pure joy that her ideal complimented her. Star Swirl turned his attention to the scroll with the spell she worked on. As he looked it over, “I do believe this might need another set of eyes to look over it. I will make my notes on this spell.” As he turned to head to the library, “Ready yourselves for battle.” he declared ready to confront the Nightstalker.

Before he could leave, Starlight cast a locking spell stopping him and everyone from leaving. Star Swirl turned to face Starlight, “Uh, I know I'm not as experienced as all of you, but is banishment really the only option?” She asked as she walked up to Star Swirl, “I mean, it's been a long time. Maybe the Nightstalker is ready to talk?” she asked in an attempt to get Star Swirl to think.

Star Swirl waved his hand over the door’s lock and dispelled the spell before he turned to confront Starlight “I doubt we can save the world with a conversation.” his voice slightly risen.

Starlight cast her spell on the door locking it again, “But we could try.” she countered the old wizard her voice raising to match Star Swirl’s.

Twilight then stepped between the to and tried to defuse the situation, “Starlight, I'm sure Star Swirl and the others did try.”

Turned from the two and waved his hands over the lock and dispelled Starlight’s spell, “The Nightstalker was not interested in reconciliation. Once a villain, always a villain.” As Star Swirl opened the door, “Twilight, Sunburst, would you accompany me? I wish to refine this spell for our use.” Twilight and Sunburst then followed the older wizard. Twilight someone reluctantly as she turned to see Starlight look down in sorrow and anger and disappointment.

“Come.” Rockfoot said as he started for the door and held it open for everyone else, “We must prepare for the struggle ahead.” he added as everyone passed him into the hallway.

Starlight sighed as she and Spike were the only two left in the throne room. She turned to Spike, “I know Star Swirl is a great wizard, but this whole plan seems…” she paused as she tried to find the right word, “wrong” she surmised. Spike gave a silent nod in agreement. Both then looked at the map, “The map's only ever sent us to solve friendship problems, you and I included.” she added the last part almost hastily as she didn’t want Spike to think she wrote off the dragon’s mission or hers.

Spike nodded in agreement, “Maybe so, but the Nightstalker…” Spike then paused in some thought, “seriously we need to come up with a better name for the guy.” Starlight only rolled her eyes in response. Spike got the hint, “Anyway, he doesn't really seem like the "friendship" type.” Spike pointed out.

Starlight turned to the map and shook her head, “Honestly? We don't know anything about him.” she pointed out.

Spike shrugged his shoulders, “Well, nobody does.” he pointed out.

Starlight was silent for a moment as she looked at the projection of Twilight et al’s Aura Marks. She smiled as she recalled when Pinkie listed of the Elements of Harmony and then Somnabula listed off the Virtues that the Pillars stood by, “That's not entirely true.” Starlight said as she turned to leave, Spike then followed. Once in the hallway the two saw Applejack and Rockfoot fixing his shovel, Rainbow and Magnus were shining his shield, and the rest were cleaning up and repairing the artifacts. Starlight cleared her throat and got everyone’s attention, “You all knew the Nightstalker before he became what he is now. You must've been friends. So what happened?” she asked making the connection that the Pillars and the Nightstalker.

All the Pillars each looked to the ground with clear sorrow. Rockfoot took a breath, “The tale of our rift is a sad one.” He started.

“Hold on a second.” Rarity said as she took a gem from one of her pockets, “Memory projection gem, very useful, kept with me since the Nightmare Rarity incident, proved useful a few times.” Rarity took a breath and her focus gems glowed and the did the eyes of Pillars and the memory gem. “Now do go on.”

The projection from the memory gem was of an old village near a coastline. Hovering over the shoreline were Adagio, Sonata, and Aria in their monstrous forms. The trio was singing and their spell was causing almost everyone to fight. One man, however, seemed to be unaffected. It was the man that took the artifacts and became the Nightstalker from the entries in Star Swirl’s spell book. Rockfoot started the narration, “Stygian was a man like the rest of us, though more scholar than a hero.” The recently identified Stygian then turned from the scene and rushed to be over the hill and on the other side were the Pillars, Star Swirl included, had gathered. “He recognized our emerging worlds would need champions to defend it.”

The Pillars then charged the sirens, well more so Star Swirl, Rockfoot, and Flash. Meadowbrook and Mistmane seemed to be focused more on negating the siren’s spell. After short battle as Somnabula lead the sirens to crash into the ground before Star Swirl banished the two into the mirror. After the sirens were bested and the spells negated, the people the village began to recover and cheered as they lifted the pillars in admiration, however, Stygian was not one of them praised. Flash Magnus then took over the narration, “He may have gathered us together, but he himself was just an ordinary Magicborn who soon grew jealous of our abilities.” As Magnus spoke the scene changed to show Stygian dejected over the lack of acknowledgment and then again to the night at Grandehenge.

Mistmane then took over as Stygian was placing the Pillars’ artifacts at the base of the pillars of the henge. “He stole our artifacts to use in a spell.” As she spoke the image showed the Pillars arriving on the scene before Stygian could cast his spell.

As the image showed Stygian try to speak up, Meadowbrook took over the narration, Star Swirl levitated the artifacts to the respective owner and then pointed away towards the wilderness with a scowl on his face, “And we cast him out for it.”

The projection changed to a castle which seemed to be the base of operations for the Pillars. It was dark and stormy night as Stygian returned to the castle with eyes that pools of black. Somnambula took over the narration, “We always thought he'd return and seek forgiveness. But when we saw him again, his heart was bent on revenge. He dashed even my hope of saving him.” and in front of them, all Stygian morphed into the Nightstalker.

And with that, the projection ended and the eyes of the Pillars returned to normal, as Rarity collected the gem. Starlight was the first to speak, “I know it must have been hard to re-live.” She said as the pain of the memory was acknowledge, “But why did he steal the artifacts from you?” she asked.

Meadowbrook looked her mask, “We don’t know, but no doubt it was an enchantment to take our powers for himself.” she replied. That seemed to be the consensus with the other Pillars.

However, Starlight thought something was off. She then left to the library where she found, Sunburst, Twilight, and Star Swirl fine-tuning the spell Twilight developed to banish the Nightstalker. “That looks like a lot of work.” Starlight pointed out as she noticed the mess of books and the chalkboard few of calculations and notes.

“It is what must be done, and it would be best if we were not disturbed.” Star Swirl said as he turned from the chalkboard to Starlight and turned back to the board.

Twilight turned from her work area and turned to Starlight, “I'm sorry, Starlight, but we can't stop to talk.” she said as she turned back to what she was working on, “The stakes are too high, and we have to—”

“Banish Stygian to limbo. I get it.” Starlight cut Twilight short as she knew who the Nightstalker was and thought that maybe giving Twilight a name would give her pause, very much hoping that it would get Twilight to stop.

“Uh, who?” Sunburst asked as he turned from the books he was reading and taking notes from to compare and contrast the spell.

Star Swirl broke the piece of chalk he was using and turned to answer the question that Sunburst asked, “Stygian was the name the Nightstalker gave up when he turned to darkness.” Star Swirl then opened the copy of his tome and started to look at the word intently.

“And I'm just trying to figure out why.” Starlight addressed her concern and the lack of information about why and how Stygian fell.

“Envy.” Star Swirl declared as he shut his book in ire, “He wanted more power than he had, and that desire led him down a path from which there is no return!” Star Swirl continued as he walked up to Starlight, like a father who was done with a conversation and had tried to end it politely but was getting past the point of civility.

Starlight continued to challenge Star Swirl, “I know from experience that's not always true.” She then turned to Twilight, “When the map called you six to my village, it was for a friendship problem. Are you sure this is different? You do remember that the map sent you to free the Pillars? Maybe it was not the Pillars that needed to freed from Limbo, but Stygian?” Starlight asked as addressed the last time Twilight and her five closest friends were on one mission at a time.

“I…”, Twilight stuttered as she was taking in what Starlight said.

“Stygian wants to destroy all that is good in this world out of spite.” Star Swirl said cutting Twilight short as he and Sunburst, placed his notes on the table with the scroll Twilight made. “There's no way to befriend a man like that.” He added as he began to make the edits based on his and Sunburst’s notes.

Twilight turned to face Starlight who had started to leave, as tears started to form in her own eyes. “I guess I'm lucky your idol wasn't around when you decided to be my friend. I might've been banished to Limbo, too.” Starlight shouted as she ran out of the room and slammed the doors behind her, leaving Twilight in her own Limbo.

About half an hour later, in the still early hours of the night, everyone was in front of the Tree of Harmony, with Twilight’s recommissioned skyboat a few meters back from the cave. The Pillars were in awe of the real tree, sans Star Swirl, as he was focused. Somnambula was the first to speak, “ I’m glad we have the chance to see what has grown from our efforts so long ago.”

Mistmane shed one tear before she wiped it, “It’s a shame to harm it.” she added, which resonated with everyone as they looked to the ground with slight sorrow, with the exception of Star Swirl.

“A necessary sacrifice.” the old wizard said as he walked up to the tree and placed his hand on the trunk. He turned to face the rest, “With the Elements' power, we will bind the Nightstalker in Limbo.” His focus then went to Twilight, “And thanks to Twilight, we will remain to watch over the realm ourselves.” He then tried to touch the Element of Magic which zapped him forcing him to step back. “I suppose I am not in tune with them.”

Twilight then stepped up and placed her hand on the Element of Magic. The Elements then left their respective branch and appeared on the golden necklaces around the necks of their respective bearers and The Element of Magic became the tiara that Twilight wore and was once again on her head. Rockfoot looked at Element of Honesty on Applejack, “Um... how do we use them?” the joutanbrood asked.

“Well, you…” Rarity started to answer but stopped as she realized that she really didn’t have one, “Oh. I'm not sure. They simply work for us.” she confused her own ignorance on the matter.

“The Elements are attuned to you.” Star Swirl said, mostly referring to the Bearers as he stepped to be next to Twilight, “Thus we must use their magic in pairs. Flash Magnus, you are with Rainbow Dash, Rockfoot with Applejack, Mistmane with Rarity, Somnamubla with Pinkie Pie, Meadowbrook with Fluttershy, myself with Twilight.” Star Swirl listed off the pairing of the Pillars with the Elements they spawned. Star Swirl then turned to focus more on Starlight and Sunburst, “Starlight, Sunburst, we will need your magic to help force the Nightstalker through the actual portal once it’s opened.”

“No problem.” Rainbow declared as she turned to face Flash Magnus, “We're used to banishing evil before breakfast.” She then raised her hand up in a fist. Magnus was utterly befuddled by the gesture.“It’s called a fist-bump. You make a fist and we bump our fists together.” Magnus then nodded and did what Rainbow said and the two bumped their fist together.

Applejack took off her hat and placed it over her heart with a slight bow to Rockfoot, “And it'll be an honor to save Mystica with Y'all.” Everyone cheered as they headed to the skyboat.

Starlight and Spike were the last to go, Starlight turned to Spike and whispered, “I really hope Twilight knows what she's doing…”

About an hour and a half later as Twilight’s skyboat landed on the outskirts of the Hollow Shades. As everyone looked around and saw how desolate the place was “I don't remember reading anything that said the Hollow Shades was like this.” Sunburst commented as he adjusted his glasses and everyone disembarked from the skyboat.

“Ohhh,” Mistamane said with a shiver as she thought about what might have befallen this place. “The Nightstalker must have twisted it to his purposes.” Everyone else then began to shiver at that thought. All of them unaware of the echoing chuckle that came from the area of the town’s long forgotten well.

“Prepare yourselves. He is here.” Star Swirl advised as everyone almost unconsciously formed a circle around the well, facing away from it. “Stygian! Show yourself and face us!” Star Swirl shouted as he was prepared to face the Nightstalker. The other Pillars were shocked that Star Swirl referred to the Nightstalker by his original name.

“All you had to do was knock.” the voice of the Nightstalker echoed with a laugh from the well. The ground then rumbled and cracked before causing everyone to fall into the well, screaming all the way until about six meters down they all landed with a thud.

As everyone started to recover with groans, Sunburst readjusted his glasses. Around seeing gray pillars like a long-abandoned temple. On the back wall was a fresco of looked like the Nightstalker as the group saw him when he was pulled into Limbo but also much larger, like a colossus and also seemed to be partly like a huge serpent or worm. “I definitely would've remembered reading about this.” Sunburst said as they all got to their feet.”

“I doubt that, whelp. You couldn’t even find the spell Star Swirl to banish me and you clearly read his tome.” the Nightstalker’s voice was heard with a inner laughter to it. “But where are my manners?” he mocked as the Nightstalker manifested but he wasn’t like before, but his form was like that of a colossal worm. “Welcome to the Well of Shade!” He said as the worm’s head began to shift to be more like a humanoid torsal, “When you turned your backs on me, I discovered this place.” He continued to speak as his worm-like lower body crawled and encircled them as Star Swirl had placed a bubble shield around himself and the rest, “The darkness spoke to me of a power beyond any I could imagine, and I listened.” The Nightstalker leaned in close to the bubble looking squarely at Star Swirl. He smiled and chuckled before he pulled back as he started to grow even more. “The shadow and I became one.” He then looked towards the opening in the ceiling and the world beyond. “Soon, all of the realms will be the same.” He then turned his focus back to Star Swirl. “Then all will feel the despair I did when you cast me out!”

“We did what we had to do.” As Star Swirl spoke, the Nightstalker turned away from the lot. “You tried to steal our powers for yourself, you envious brat.” Star Swirl countered as he seemed to be ready to fight, with only the shield stopping him from diving at the Nightstalker.

“No!” The Nightstalker roared as he turned to face Star Swirl and growled at the wizard. “It was you who were selfish, you jealous quack! And now you will pay!” The Nightstalker then blasted the shield making it crack.

Starlight turned to Twilight, “Are you still sure this isn't a friendship problem?” she asked, giving the demigod some pause.

“Ready?” Star Swirl asked as he turned to face the others. Applejack, Rockfoot, et al nodded. “Open the portal…” Star Swirl ordered just as his shield spell shattered. “ ...Now!” As he finished the Elements of Harmony started to glow and each of the bearers took the hand of their respective Pillar of Virtue, sans Twilight and Star Swirl. The Pillar’s artifacts then started to glow white before they sent a series of five beams to just behind the Nightstalker and a portal opened behind him. A portal to beyond all dimensions, to Limbo.

As the portal opened a vacuum formed and pulled most of the Nightstalker’s body, but he caught himself by grabbing the two pillars closest to the portal, “No! You will not trap me again!” he roared as he tried to pull himself free and was actually successful.

Star Swirl then sent a beam of his magic at the Nightstalker, “Twilight! Push him in!” the old wizard ordered as Sunburst started to help.

Just before Twilight was about to join she saw something in the mass of the Nightstalker. “Huh?” She then saw Stygian’s face emerge and then was pulled back into the mass. “There's... a man in there,” Twilight said and took a breath and after forming a bubble around her as she dove into the Nightstalker’s body making it roar in pain.

Twilight had her focus gem glow causing a light to form and hum. As she looked around in what looked more like a plan then the body of a being. Like when her mind was pulled into Nightmare Moon’s mind. And like with Nightmare Moon, there was another being there, the man that stole the artifacts, “Are you... Stygian?” she asked.

Stygian turned from his moping stupor to look at Twilight, “I was, once. Until my friends betrayed me.” he answered and turned away.

“But Star Swirl says you betrayed them. You wanted their magic…” Twilight informed Stygian of what she knew.

“No!” Stygian said as he got up and walked to Twilight, “Oh you foolish child, no.” he shook his head, “I wanted their respect.” As Stygian was speaking not only Twilight, but everyone heard him. “I brought them together. I planned the strategies, and I read all I could about the various beasts we faced; the Sirens being the first and foremost.” Stygian informed Twilight. He then turned away and shook his head in shame, “But I didn't have much in the way of magic or any in the way strength, so nobody ever noticed me.” a tear formed in the corner of his eye. “I went to Grandehegde to make my own copies of their artifacts. With them, I thought I could be a Pillar, too, and stand by their side in battle.” Stygian informed, telling the long unheard another side of the story. “I never wanted to steal their power. But instead of letting me help, my friends threw me out.” As he spoke Stygian wiped the tear away and his sorrow was replaced with anger. His voice started to deepen and there was a growl to it, much like the voice of the Nightstalker itself. “So I turned to the Shadows, I became stronger than all of them! The darkness welcomed me when no one would, and I will do what I must to protect it!” As he spoke his focus gem started to glow and he sent a blast at Twilight.

The demigod barely dodged it, “This is all a misunderstanding! If the Pillars knew how you felt, I'm sure they wouldn't have turned their backs on you.” This seemed to give Stygian pause. “The shadow isn't who you really are. Let me help you be Stygian again.” Twilight continued as she walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. This worked with Luna concerning Nightmare Moon, maybe it will work again she reasoned.

Stygian smiled but then stepped away and turned his back to Twilight, “Even if my friends did still care, what makes you think you have the power to help me?” he asked rhetorically, having long ago abandoned any hope in his own strength, his own bravery, detached from any healing or the beauty of his own being.

“Because it's what she does.” Starlight’s voice was heard as the binder joined Twilight and Stygian in the mass of the Nightstalker. “I wasn't so different from you, Stygian.” Starlight said as she dispelled the series of spells that she bond together to make the shielding bubble and walked towards Stygian, “and Twilight helped me change.” Starlight said as she took Twilight’s hand and then turned to look at Twilight. “If there's one person in Mystica that can save a friendship, it's her.”

Stygian turned to face Starlight a sad smile on his face,“ I... I want to believe you…” he stuttered before he started to growl and once again sound like the Nightstalker, “But the darkness will not be stopped!”

Twilight cast a magical rope spell from her right hand that wrapped around Stygian and grunted as she flew out of the Nightstalker. Starlight then followed suit. As the two exited the Nightstalker, the monster of a tangible shade groaned in pain. As Twilight and Starlight pulled Stygian out of the Nightstalker, it refused to let Stygian go and Stygian didn’t seem to fight the Nightstalker’s hold. “Fight the darkness, Stygian!” Twilight ordered. “You don't need it anymore! Revenge isn't what you want! Friendship is!” she compounded and bit by bit Stygian began to fight back but the Nightstalker only intensified its hold on Stygian.

“FOOLISH GIRL, STYGIAN IS LOST TO YOU! ONLY THE SHADOW REMAINS!!” the Nightstalker growled as he refused to let go of Stygian.

Back and forth Twilight and Starlight tried to pull Stygian out of the mass of the Nightstalker, the two straining, while the Nightstalker’s hold on the pillars was slipping as it focused more and more on keeping in. As it lost it's on one of the pillars. “NO!!!” it roared as it kept Stygian in itself while it was forced to reach around the opening of the portal itself.

“Ugh!” Twilight groaned as saw that Starlight was brought to her knees unable to stay on both her feet. “The shadow won't let go of him. He wants to stop, but he can't do it alone.” Twilight said as she looked to the others.

Faster than anyone thought, Star Swirl sent his own magical rope to grab Stygian and help them pull him it out of the Nightstalker. “Then we must help him!” the old wizard said as the Elements of Harmony began to glow, as did the artifacts of the Pillars, and from them, a rainbow formed and wrapped itself around Stygian, joined by the magical ropes cast by Rarity, Mistmane, and Sunburst. After three seconds of pulling, Stygian was exorcized from the Nightstalker. As the fiend finally lost its grip, “I’LL BE BACK TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!! I’LL BE BACK!!!” it roared and screamed as it was sucked into Limbo. The portal closed with an explosion of a rainbow forcing everyone out of the Well of the Shades to the surface and the ruins of the Hallowed Shades.

After about five seconds everyone was back on their feet. “Yeah! Oh, it felt sooooo good to do that again!” Rainbow declared as she cheered hovering over everyone else.

“Friendship power rush! Whoo!” Pinkie cheered as she tackled Rainbow in a massive bout of excitement over the victory.

Rarity and Fluttershy looked down and saw that their Elements were still there, “The Elements! They didn't disappear!” The enchantress exclaimed as she turned to Mistmane with a smile.

“Maybe because we used them for healing magic instead of banishing?” Fluttershy asked as she turned to look at Meadowbrook and received a nod of agreement.

“Look!” Applejack said as she pointed the area closest to the fallen well.

There Star Swirl looked down at Stygian, only to reach out his hand and pulled the younger scholar back to his feet. “Long ago, you needed our help, Stygian. But instead of listening to you. I let my anger overpower my senses and encouraged the others to do what I did.” Star Swirl acknowledged that in the end, he was the one the prompted the Pillars to cast Stygian out “We turned our backs on you. Pride clouded my judgment. I owe you an apology. I am sorry, my friend.” Star Swirl said, his voice almost choking with guilt and remorse.

Rockfoot and the other Pillars then joined Star Swirl and Stygian, “I was once frailer than you, I should know better than to judge based on physical strength. I’m sorry, lad.”

“You were brave enough to search for all six of us in the first place, I was cowardly to jump to conclusion. I am sorry.” Magnus added.

“You had faith that we could work together, something I never thought could be hoped for. I was wrong to ever lose that faith. I am sorry, Stygian.” Somnabula said next as she hugged Stygian.

Mistmane then placed her hand on Stygian’s shoulder, “I lost sight of the beauty of your soul out of foolish anger when you saw how we could preserve and encourage the growth of the beauty of the world. I am sorry, Stygian-san.”

“You saw how my healing could help beyond my boyau, and yet I ignored the one person who needed it most. I am sorry, dear.” Meadowbrook said as she placed her hand on Stygian’s other shoulder.

“I should have spoken up instead of letting my envy fester. I forgive you, can you forgive me?” They all nodded in agreement.
Star Swirl then turned to look at Twilight, “Thank you for helping us see the errors of our ways, Twilight.” All the other Pillars coughed, “Well me more so than other.” Star Swirl acknowledged. “It seems I never accounted for the Magic of Friendship.”

“Thank you, Swirlstar!” Twilight said as she hugged Star Swirl. After a second she realized that misidentified Star Swirl. “ Uh, Star Swirl!” she corrected. Just then Twilight’s, Rarity’s, Applejack’s, Rainbow’s, Pinkie’s and Fluttershy’s Aura marks all started to shimmer.

As the Pillars were awed at the sight, Starlight cleared her throat and with smug grin turned to Star Swirl, “Soooo... apparently a conversation can save the world?” she asked rhetorically.

Star Swirl gave a nervous chuckle as he was just proven wrong, “Something tells me I will be making a lot of apologies today.”

“That can wait until morning. I don’t know about you all, but I could use a good night’s sleep.” Rockfoot said with a stretch of his body.

The following morning, everyone was in the throne room of the capital's castle, “I simply cannot believe how tall you've both gotten!” Star Swirl commented on the Amazonian stature of his last two pupils, shocked to see the two were taller than most men, even in the new era that Star Swirl and the Pillars found themselves in.

Celestia and Luna looked at other and giggled a little as if they were in on a joke that Star Swirl didn’t even know the half of it. Once the stopped, “Well, it has been over two thousand ye…Wait is that a line on your robe?” Celestia gasped in horror.

“What?!” Star Swirl exclaimed as he tried took over his robe only to stop halfway as he heard Luna fall to the ground and was rolling on the floor laughing, holding her sides as if to prevent herself from exploding.

Star Swirl looked from Luna to Celestia, who was having a hearty laugh herself. “Two thousand years and you still fell for it, and I thought you couldn’t recreate the past.” Celestia laughed a little longer. Star Swirl raised his hand to scold the two but stopped when he realized that it wasn’t going to do anything and so he waited for the two to finish their laughs. After a second or two longer, the princesses were recomposed. “Will you stay here and teach magic once again? My sister and I have such fond memories of your lessons.” Celestia explained as they looked at their old teacher hoping that he would teach once again.

“As long as you don't ask for those essays we owed you before you disappeared,” Luna added weakly with a nervous laugh.

The old wizard chuckled before he could answer Celestia’s question. “I'm not certain here is where I belong. At least just not yet.” He then turned to face his fellow Pillars, “The realm has grown in our absence, and I believe we all have things to do before we can settle in any one place now,” He turned his focus to Meadowbrook, Mistmane, Somnambula and Rockfoot, “Such as see what has become of homes.” He then turned to focus more on Flash Magnus and Stygian, “maybe look around, search for where we can best fit in the new world.” The other Pillars and Stygian nodded in agreement.

“Then I hope you will return here on occasion and share the wisdom of your great experience with the next generation.” Celestia requested as she and Luna nodded in acknowledgment of what their teacher and his compatriots desired.

“I think I speak for us all when I say that we would be honored.” Star Swirl said and received various affirmations from the other Pillars. Star Swirl then turned from the princesses and walked to be next to Twilight, “But if it is wisdom you seek, you will find no more from this old fool then you had from me before I left.” He then placed his right hand on Twilight’s shoulder “Instead look no further than your own pupil.” Star Swirl then turned to look Twilight squarely, “She showed me that the power of friendship is a magical force indeed.” He then turned his attention to Stygian and held out the right hand to the younger scholar, “And that in turning away from others, you hurt yourself as well.” Stygian didn’t simply accept the hand, but went in for a hug, like a son who was finally accepted by his father, and Star Swirl returned the hug, like a father finally able to accept his son.

“GROUP HUG!!!” Pinkie shouted as she pulled everyone, sans Twilight and Starlight into a big hug.

As Twilight and Starlight looked on, the two had a laugh before Twilight turned to Starlight, “It's funny. I thought meeting my idol would give me all the answers I ever wanted. But instead, I forgot what I already knew.” Twilight acknowledge with some shame on her actions. But she smiled as she placed her right hand on Starlight’s shoulder, “Good thing I had a student of my own to remind me.” The two smiled and shared their own hug.

Crashes’ Chaotic Chase

Author's Note

Happy Nightmare Night Everypony, here's a treat from me.

Crashes’ Chaotic Chase

Flash Sentry had gotten back to his barracks quarters, after hearing all about the Nightstalker and meeting his namesake. He looked down at his leg, surprised that it was healed so fast, “Never underestimate Dr. Red Heart.” he said to himself. He then got a knock on the door.

“Mail call, sir.” a soldier said as he handed Flash a letter. On the return address was Rainbow Dash’s PO Box for her cloud house. Flash took the letter and opened. The note was short but far from sweet.

‘Dear Crash,
You are a boot.
Sincerely,
Crash”

At the same time, Rainbow has found a similar letter from Flash Sentry in her PO Box.

At the same time, both squeezed and crumbled the note in their left hands and shouted, “CRASH!” in ire. Within minutes the two were standing opposites of each other on Magiville’s main street, each ‘s hand looking as if it was to draw their weapon. The two stepped towards each over and everyone and everything was silent, save Vinyl Scratch who put on a vinyl record that played a tune that made the scene scream an Appelsossian or Dodge Junction set spaghetti western. The two walked to be about an arms’ length from each other. “HOW COULD YOU?! I thought we were starting to respect each other!” the two shouted at each other, there was a pause. “What did I do?!” the asked each other simultaneously. “Stop that!” There was a minute of silence. “You called me a boot!” they accused each other. They paused as they were confused about what the other was accusing them of. “What?” they asked. “Stop that!” the both said tired of the echo.

Flash raised his hand which was him asking Rainbow to let him go first, Rainbow reluctantly agreed with a frowning pouting nod. “Why would I call you a boot? And didn't you write this note?” he asked as he showed Rainbow the note that he received.

Rainbow took the note and read it to herself, “No, I didn’t write this. Didn't YOU write THIS note?” as she showed the note she received.

Flash took the note and read it to himself, “No.” he answered as Vinyl stopped playing the record avoiding scratching it. As everything was just silent and slowly about to go about their normal business. “But if you didn't write my note and I didn't write yours, then who…” Flash asked, his question trailing off.

Rainbow’s eyes then widen as she made the realization, “DISCORD!” she shouted as she drew her bow.

If the lord of the Chaos was more orderly his laughter would not have betrayed his hiding spot in the bushes to Rainbow’s ears. Rainbow turned and saw the avatar’s tail and silently pointed it out to Flash. Flash then drew his sword with a nod. “We are SO wasting him, aren't we?” he whispered.

“10 for the stomach. 50 for the head.” Rainbow whispered in turn as she made an arrow a prepared to fire.

At that second Discord emerged from the bush and saw blood in the eyes of the two Crashes. “Well look at the moon, I’m late for tea with Fluttershy.” the chaos master said before he bolted, only for Flash and Rainbow to be in pursuit, the ‘Yakety-Sax’ being heard, as Pinkie was following the group playing the song on her new yovidaphone.

This went on for about thirty seconds, as they were all just in front of Fluttershy’s cottage before Flash turned and saw Pinkie following him and Rainbow, playing the ‘Yakety-Sax’ on her yovisaphone. “HOLD IT!” he shouted. Everyone then froze in place and Pinkie stopped playing the ‘Yakety-Sax’. Flash turned his focus to Pinkie and Rainbow, “Why is Pinkie following us with a yovidaphone?” he asked not beating around the bush.

“Why wouldn't I be following you with a yovidaphone?” Pinkie countered utterly confused as to why someone wouldn’t do what she was doing.

“It's Pinkie Pie. Don't question it.” Rainbow informed Flash after she facepalmed herself.

“Shall we continue with our chase scene?” Discord asked only for Pinkie to start to play the Yakety-Sax again as evil grins formed on Rainbow’s and Flash’s faces. As the situation dawn on him, “I just had to remind them?” he asked no before he ran to the cottage door only for it to be locked, “FLUTTERSHY! HELP ME!” he cried as he pounded on the door.

Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack looked out from the cottage window.“Sorry Discord, but you need to learn to let sleeping dogs lie, especially the dogs of war.” the three then left the window, “One lump of sugar or two, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked.

“No lumps today, a girl has to keep an eye on her figure.”

“Applejack?”

“Sorry, but Ah need something with a little more kick, yah got any coffee?”

Outside Discord gave a nervous chuckle before he bolted renewing the chase. As Discord continued to run from Flash and Rainbow narrowly dodge Flash’s Requiem Blaster bolts and Rainbow’s arrow, it was observed in front of the Castle of Friendship by Twilight, Starlight, Sunburst, and Spike. Pinkie playing ‘Yakety-Sax’ on her yovidaphone all the while. Starlight, Twilight, and Spike shrugged their shoulders as Sunburst was stupefied and horrified. “Shouldn't we be concerned?” the wizard asked.

Spike opened up his comic book, “Nah, Discord does something like this every other week or so. You should have seen that time he rearranged all the books in the castle library.” The dragon chuckled at that fallout.

Twilight glared at Spike for a second but then returned her attention to the chase scene played in front of them, “The yovidaphone is new though.”

The Shadow Released

As everyone stepped away from the recently manifested Nightstalker, the fiend continued to laugh at the sight and the termination of his incarceration. He stopped as he focused his gaze solely at Star Swirl, “Your pitiful attempt to imprison me has failed, Star Swirl!” the monster said as stomped the ground, in a show of his dominance.

Star Swirl brought his hands together and tried to cast a spell, but his magic fizzled out. He then turned to Twilight in a panic, “You must return us to Limbo. It's the only way to stop him.”

“I only figured out how to bring you back,” Twilight replied as it dawned on her how bad the situation was and her lack of foresight.

Meanwhile, Sunburst was scouring through Star Swirl’s spell book. “Working on it!” he shouted in a panic. “There's no table of contents!” he added as his panic seemed to grow.

The Nightstalker smirked at the sight of Sunburst at a lost. “Allow me to assist.” He said before he took a breath and sent out six tendrils from his body as he stretched his arms and wings out, each one impaling a pillar of the stone circle. One however impaled not only a pillar but also Star Swirl’s tome, narrowly not impaling Sunburst in the process. The Nightstalker then pulled his arms and wings and in the process pulled back the tendrils destroying the pillars and the tome in the process. The Nightstalker then chuckled as he watched everyone’s jaw dropped in horror and terror. “There!” The Nightstalker declared. “Without the pillars, you can’t tap into the power of Grandehenge,” he then turned his focus squarely at Star Swirl, “and without your grimorum, you lack the six artifacts with which you can tether me into the void you tried to contain me in.” The Nightstalker began to laugh before he stomped the ground causing a small quake knocking everyone else to the ground. “In short, your banishing spell is useless!”

Star Swirl turned back to Twilight, “You clearly studied my writings. Surely you have some other plan.” he pleaded in fear and desperation.

“No. I just wanted to save you. I didn't think—” the demigod replied in panic as she tried to explain everything.

“Don't fret, my dear child.” The Nightstalker cut Twilight short as he laughed again, “When I extinguish the light and hope of this miserable world,” he spoke as he gestured to the sky, with the implication being the world, “you won't remember any of this.” He said as he pulled his magic into an orb in front of his chest and sent it to Star Swirl.

Twilight jumped in front of the beam and sent her own magical beam into the one the Nightstalker sent. “No!” she screamed.

The beam that Twilight overpowered the beam that the Nightstalker sent and struck the fiend. “Argh!” The Nightstalker cried as he took a step back shocked that his attack was overpowered. “This one... Wait… metallic wings…” As the Nightstalker tried to form a response but then notice Twilight’s wing denoting her status as a demigod. Once he collected himself, “Girl, which of Star Swirl’s current pupils are you? Celestia?” He asked, but then he examined the wings and saw that they weren’t not based on suns but more typical stars, “No, that’s a star not a sun as your aura mark…” he mused as he concluded that he wasn’t looking at Celestia, “But then you can’t be Luna either.” he added as he noticed the lack of a moon on Twilight. However, before Twilight could answer, “Matters not, for even though you are at least quintuple Star Swirl in power, even in my weakened state, thanks to my millennia exile, you cannot stop the might of my shadows!” As the Nightstalker spoke he began to pool his magic in front of him again and then sent another beam of magic, this time much more powerful and sent it at Twilight. As he was pooling his magic, his body shrank in size to just slightly taller than Rockfoot and his wings vanished.

Twilight gritted and strained as she tried to hold back the beam the Nightstalker sent, she was shocked at how powerful the Nightstalker was. However, before she was forced to kneel another beam of magic joined her’s. It was Starlight. Starlight smirked as she stepped to stand beside Twilight, “Lucky for her, she's not alone!” Starlight declared as the beams that she and Twilight sent overpowered the one that the Nightstalker sent.

After the beams overpowered his and struck him, “Arrrrggghhhh!” he cried in pain as if he hurt by that attack, “What...How…” The Nightstalker asked before he looked over Starlight, “Of course, a binder.” he chuckled, “No matter, I might have been bested in that exchange, but I am far from beaten.” he spoke as he started to pool his magic into another ball and send another beam at them but was blasted by Star Swirl and knocked the Nightstalker to the ground.

“Know this, fiend!” Star Swirl shouted as the Nightstalker began to get back on his feet. “We will not rest until we find a way to return you to Limbo!” he continued as everyone else started to stand up to him

The Nightstalker growled in defiance, “Never!” he shouted as he stood up, “Your days of glory are through, Star Swirl.” he continued as he pointed at Star Swirl. He then looked the sky and then back to Star Swirl, “Now that I am free from that prison, my power will return and soon will reign, and you, The Great, will bow to me!” He then morphed into a human-size batlike being and dove into the sky and vanished, a sonic boom in the wake.

As the sky cleared from the presence of the Nightstalker and the area was once again in the light of day, Rainbow and Flash flew up to where the Nightstalker vanished, “ Um... where'd he go?” Rainbow asked.

“That is a riddle we must unravel. And quickly.” Somnabula pointed as she looked around.

“Before we still need to know a few things, I know we’re back into our world, how long have we been gone?” Meadowbrook asked as she turned to Fluttershy.

“Over two thousand years,” Fluttershy answered bluntly. Meadowbrook’s mouth then dropped open, as did Flash Magnus’, Rockfoot’s, Somnabula’s and Mistmane’s mouths as the statement of the time that passed struck them.

Star Swirl smiled as she stroke his beard, “Then my spell worked –” Star Swirl then looked at Twilight with a scowl, “before it was meddled with –” Twilight lowed her head and ducked away in shame. Star Swirl continued with a closed-eyed smile, “and the realm has been at peace for millennia!”

Pinkie then stepped up the wizard, “Weeeeell…” she started as she reached into her hair, “we did have to save everybody from Nightmare Moon, reforming her back into Luna,” she said as she pulled Nightmare Moon and then Luna out of her hair, both utterly bewildered, “and Discord” she said as she returned the two and pulled Discord from nowhere and then pushed him off scream, “and Chrysalis and Nightmare Rarity and King Sombra and Demon Shimmer, Lord Tirek,” As Pinkie listed the other off she pulled them from out of nowhere and then banished them back to where she pulled them from, “and, with the help of Sunset Shimmer, who was the Demon Shimmer from before, defeated the Dazzlings, calmed Midnight Sparkle and Gaea Everfree,” and just as Pinkie listed them off she pulled the individuals again and sent them back to where she pulled them from, “and there was that one time when Starlight Glimmer traveled through time using a spell you made and almost destroyed life as we know it!” she said as she pulled Starlight to be right next to her. Starlight gave a massive nervous smile and waved her left hand. “But that's all in the past as she helped Twilight fix the Crystal Heart which finally destroying the Wendigos and even saved everyone from Chrysalis a second time.” Pinkie finished as she pushed Starlight to the side, pulled the Crystal Heart and returned it and once again pulled an utterly bewildered Chrysalis before she was sent back to where Pinkie pulled her from.

As everyone, namely Star Swirl tried to fathom what just happened, Flash Magnus was the first to collect himself as shook his head and turned to Rainbow, “If you are a third as accomplished as you claim, we will stop the Nightstalker thrice as fast then we could have before.”

“We shall see.” Star Swirl said as he collected himself and tried to dismiss what Pinkie had declared, “It is an easy thing to say you have saved the world. It is quite another to do it.” he pointed out with the implication that he was one who had saved the world and knew what it took to do so and the difference between that and a claim.

Rainbow flew up to the old wizard, “Oh, we've saved the world, Beardo.” she said as she brushed up his beard mocking him. “And we can do it again.” she continued with a smug grin on her face.

As Star Swirl brushed his beard back down and straighten it, “Be that as it may, the problem of locating the Nightstalker remains,” he pointed out, not letting anyone forget that fact, “and this land is vast.” he said as he turned his attention away from the ruins of the stone circle.

“It sounds like you need a map. Luckily, we have just the thing.” Rarity responded as she headed towards the path that led them from the site. “Well come along, darlings, there isn’t a second to waste.”

A couple hours later, after taking Twilight’s skyboat, everyone entered the throne room. There as the Pillars were in awe about everything they saw, Starlight left and returned with a book. “I know it’s not the book was destroyed by the Nightstalker, but it does have everything you wrote down in it,” she said as she handed the tome to Star Swirl.

Reluctantly Star Swirl accepted the book before he walked to the table that projects the Aura Map. He stroke his beard in thought, “Something about this magic seems familiar…” he then raised his hand and sent a small beam of magic into the tap, triggering the map to appear with the Tree of Harmony being projected above everything. Everyone else gasped at the sight.

Rarity pulled Twilight to the side, “Did you know he can do that?” she asked excitedly not unlike a child seeing an amazing feat.

“He's Star Swirl! He can do anything!” Twilight pointed out, still just as amazed as Rarity at what they had witnessed.

Star Swirl cleared his throat and turned to the two, “Clearly with the facts that the Nightstalker is now able to gallivant freely, that I needed the aid of my fellow Pillars and that we too were in Limbo with the fiend, I can’t.” He all but scolded the two for their misplaced hero worship. He then turned back to the map and table, “But this map grew from the seed we planted over two thousand years ago.”

“Then it did work!” Rockfoot declared as he slammed the table in joy, the resulting shake almost caused everyone to almost lose their balance.

As everyone collected themselves together, “What worked?” Sunburst asked the question that was his and everyone but the pillar’s minds.

Somnabula covered her mouth for a polite chuckle, “Each of us infused a crystal seed with some of our spirit, our magic, in hopes that it would grow into a force for good.” she explained, which brought back to the younger mages minds what Star Swirl wrote that Sunburst read to them and the princesses.

Mistmane continued as she took a seat in Rarity’s throne, “We wanted to leave something to protect the realm in our absence,” Mistmane then looked squarely at the projected tree, “but we never dreamed our gift would become so powerful.” she said as she took a small breath and felt the power that the tree itself gave off.

“Y'all mean the Elements of Harmony came from you?” Applejack asked as she tried to connect the dots. She wasn’t the only one confused at this, namely the Pillars were baffled at the idea of the Elements of Harmony.

Pinkie stepped to answer the question on the older mages minds. She stepped on the table and point to the tree and pointed to the gems on the tree, “You know, the sparkly crystal things that grow from the Tree of Harmony and represent each of us?” Pinkie asked. Before anyone could answer, Pinkie pointed to her heart and to the branch that had the Element of Laughter on it. “Laughter,” she then teleported to be next to Applejack and point to her pauldron and the branch with the Element of Honesty, “honesty,” She then teleported to be next to Rarity and point to the branch that housed the Element of Generosity, “generosity,” she then returned to the project Tree and pulled Rainbow to be next to her and pointed to both the elementalist and the branch with the Element of Loyalty, “loyalty,” she then pointed to both the branch with the Element of Kindness and Fluttershy, “kindness,” Pinkie then pointed to the trunk of the tree and to Twilight, “and magic!” she said the last part waving her hands for dramatic flair before she stood next to Somnabula.

Somnabula laughed a little, “I like her.” she said as patted Pinkie on the head. She then cleared her throat, “But you see, your Elements of Harmony are reflections of our own virtues of hope, strength, beauty, bravery, healing, and sorcery.” as she listed the virtues she pointed to each of the Pillars from herself to Star Swirl. While there seemed to an acknowledgment of how their virtues were reflected by the Elements, Star Swirl seemed to be nowhere near as receptive to the notion as the rest. “But I do see how they connect,” Somnabula added.

Flash Magnus took his chin in thought, “Laughter begets and is begotten by hope, the strongest people are honest, generosity reveals a beautiful soul, it takes a great amount of bravery to be loyal, healing requires kindness to be effective and … well, magic and sorcery are synonyms… I guess.” the soldier listed off as he stated the connection.

Meadowbrook smiled as she turned to face Fluttershy, “We had no idea our small seed would bloom into the living spirit of the land. I am glad our mantles have passed to such capable people.” This brought a blush and smile to the typically tumid druid.

Star Swirl took another second to look over and let everything that was said sink in, “More importantly, we no longer need Grandehenge to send our foe back to Limbo. We can use the stored magic in this Tree of Harmony.”

Twilight then stepped to be in front of Star Swirl and between him and the projected tree, as if she was a mother protecting her child. “But a banishing spell takes a lot of power.” the demigod pointed out. “If we cannot tap into the very magic of the world itself, we'd have to sacrifice the Elements for a spell like that.” Twilight informed as her eye looked to the crystalline fruit of the Tree of Harmony. Star Swirl simply nodded in response. “But if we were to do that the Tree will die without the Elements,” Twilight said as she thought back to the plundervines. Sure the better part of the plundervines were destroyed, but what if some survived and it hasn’t been two years since the Elements were returned to it. “The Tree cannot survive without the Elements. If it dies, Mystica will suffer.” Twilight said as she turned her focus back to Star Swirl.

Star Swirl frowned and stepped to the map and placed his left hand on it, “If the Nightstalker has his way, this entire world will not exist. So unless you have a better idea…” Twilight back away without a response and left the room. Star Swirl then took a breath and cast spell on the map which had the map end the projection of the Tree and showed several areas under a massive black cloud. “Our foe will seek dark places from which to draw power.” Star Swirl turned from the map, “I need to prepare my spell so that we may strike as soon as you find him. Is there a place I can formulate my spell.”

“Go back to the hallway we entered, take the first flight of stairs down on the left, third door on the right is a laboratory you can use,” Spike informed the old wizard before the dragon left to tend to Twilight. Star Swirl silently nodded in gratitude.

As the wizard left, Rainbow spoke up, “Well, what are we waiting for?” the elementalist asked as she was ready and eager for the fight.

“I like your spirit!” Magnus said as he joined Rainbow in flight before everyone cheered say Starlight who looked at the map and sighed before she left to see how Twilight was fairing.

Starlight waited about an hour before she went into the library as everyone else had left and she wanted to give Twilight some time. As she opened the door she saw Spike delivering books to Twilight. The dragon then took the top one and handed it to her as he asked, having not read the cover, “What about this one?”

“Merfolk etiquette isn't going to help right now, Spike,” Twilight answered as she looked at the book and put it aside knowing it was not what she was looking for and started to look at the rest of the books Spike brought her.

As Twilight scanned through each book, “Uh, Twilight? Are you okay?” Starlight asked as looked at the discarded books and placed them on a pile of other books on the table that Twilight was working at.

“I just unleashed ultimate evil and doomed Mystica because I was obsessed with meeting my idol!” Twilight exclaimed as she turned to Starlight as she threw her arms into the air. “Why wouldn't I be okay?!” she asked rhetorically as she turned back to the table and let her head hit the table with a thud.

Starlight gave a scoff to dismiss the degree of concern that Twilight had and placed her hand on Twilight’s shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, “You didn't know that was gonna happen.” she informed Twilight. This was true because Starlight herself didn’t know this was going to happen, albeit she clearly had a better idea, but she didn’t know.

Twilight looked at Starlight and then sigh as she reached for another book, “But I should have listened to you and left things alone. Now the Elements of Harmony will be lost to fix my mistake!” Twilight shouted as she looked through the rest of the books in the stack that Spike gave her at an almost impossible rate of speed reading.

Starlight looked at books and took the one that Twilight was reading out of her hands to get the demigod to stop and think, “Maybe there's another way.”

Spike then arrived with another stack of books, “If there is, Twilight will find it.” Spike said as he placed the books on the table next to Twilight.

Twilight then took the top three books, “Portal gate... Portal keys... Portal spells... Yes!” Twilight exclaimed in joy as she hugged the book and flew into the air. She then opened the book and started to read it. After a couple of seconds she found something, “If the Pillars can hold open the gateway to Limbo, a powerful being can do the banishing spell himself or herself!” Twilight declared as she landed and showed the page to Starlight, “Do you know what this means?” she asked wanting to have someone join in on the answer.

“I can stop carrying books?” Spike asked bluntly as he stretched his back and arms.

Twilight shook her head, “It means the Pillars don't have to leave Mystica!” Twilight declared as looked over the entry. She gave a slight sigh, “Even though we'll lose the Elements, we'll have the people that created them. And the Nightstalker will be banished for good!” Twilight continued as she elected to look at the silver lining of the cloud.

“That's great.” Starlight commented with a slight laugh glad to see that Twilight had made some progress in her search.“ But I was thinking of another way that maybe doesn't involve banishing at all.” Starlight continued noting that Twilight’s solution had not resolved her own concern about the loss of the Elements of Harmony.

Twilight, however, was with quill, ink & paper, and was working on a variant of the spell Star Swirl used to take the Nightstalker to Limbo, “Star Swirl knew what he was doing when he cast that spell. If I can make it even better, maybe he'll see that I take magic as seriously as he does.”

Starlight sighed as she took a moment to think what Twilight said, but then recalled something, “Wait, didn’t the map conjure up the images of the five other artifacts and send you all to find them on its own?” she asked.

Spike took a second to think about what Starlight just said, “Yeah, totally weird that it would do that.” The dragon then started to return the books back to the bookshelf, “Now sending me on a ‘Friendship Quest’ rooted in my own lack of thought about Thorax and Ember, a bit extreme but given that I do have a throne here, it makes some sense and sending you on a mission concerning the princesses, well you did use your magic on the map so it might have used that to identify you.” Spike commented as he pointed out the two abnormal quests the map sent people on. He then took a second to think and turned to face Starlight and Twilight. “You know back when you guys were with Ember and she couldn’t tell you apart, you could have told her that Twilight has wings, Starlight doesn’t.” the dragon pointed out.

Starlight gave a slight scowl, “Thanks, Spike.” Starlight retorted to the dragon, her tone was only 50% sarcastic. Starlight then turned her focus to Twilight, “back to my point, maybe the Tree of Harmony and the Map believed that the unleashing of the Nightstalker was a risk worth taking to bring back the Pillars.” she pointed out.

“Star Swirl doesn’t seem to think so,” Twilight replied as she took a second from the scroll then went back to it, but seemed to be in doubt.

“So who’s right: Star Swirl or the Map?” Spike asked before he was clonked with a book that he didn’t put back properly.

As the sun was setting that day, Rockfoot, Applejack, Flash Magnus, Rainbow Dash, and the other Pillars and Bearers all stood at a corner in Manahatten as they watched automobile after automobile drive past them, while there was not much light from the sun left, the city was still bathed in light, “And that’s the last place Star Swirl’s spell indicated. Clearly, this world has changed. There aren’t as many dark places as there were.” the giant of a man said as he marked off the city as shown on their copy of the map. He sighed as he sat down on a nearby bench.

Applejack placed her right hand on his left shoulder, “So the places Star Swirl taught the Nightstalker would be turned out to be duds, why don’t we just call up Starlight and have cast a few spells she can bind together to find places that right now have the darkness that the Nightstalker needs.” Applejack then reached into Pinkie’s hair and pulled out a phone, “Hello, operator, could you put me through to the Castle of Friendship extension 3.” There was a response, that none of the others got.

In Starlight’s room, the binder sat on her bed, she didn’t know what to do. Twilight was bent on trying to formulate a spell that would use the Elements of Harmony to make a portal to banish the Nightstalker and wouldn’t listen. Just then the scrying crystal started to vibrate and glow with Applejack’s aura mark in the center, “Hey AJ, how’s the search?”

Back in Manahatten, “Well GlimGlam, we’re in a bit of pickle, none of the places Star Swirl taught the Nightstalker would go to recharge are dark enough for it, could yah…”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Starlight answered, “Call me back in an hour.”

“Well do Sugarcube.” Applejack answered as she put the phone back into Pinkie’s hair.

“I just don’t get, Star Swirl has rarely been wrong, but it seems the dark places Star Swirl indicated on the map have changed,” Rockfoot commented as he looked over the map and handed it off to the others.

“I know the Nightstalker would've loved the Ghastly Caverns before two thousand years of wind and water erosion turned it into the Ghastly Gorge.” Applejack pointed out. “And sure the Appeloosian Wastes sounded dark and desolate.” The paladin continued.

“But with the finding of the town of Appeloosa by some of Applejack’s cousins there about a score ago among other things for over the last few hundred years, it has become quite the square dancing destination.” Rarity pointed out as she readjusted her stylized and bejeweled stetan. “What? It’s absolutely gorgeous and it was practically a steal.”

A ring was heard from within Pinkie’s hair. “I got it.” Pinkie said as she reached in a pulled out a phone, “Pinkie Pie’s Party Planning, how can I direct your call.” Pinkie said into the phone.

Back in Castle of Friendship Throne room, “Oh hey Pinkie, I was hoping to reach AJ, but nevermind. I have good news and bad news.” Starlight informed as she held her scrying crystal.

“Let me guess, the good news is that you replicated the spell, the bad news is that once you factor in the two thousand years of change, there aren’t any places like what Star Swirl thought.” Pinkie surmised as she looked at Applejack and the rest.

“Pretty much. So you guys will be heading back and we’ll try something else.” Starlight replied.

“Thanks, Star.” Pinkie said as she hung up on Starlight. “Well back to the castle folks and for a new plan.”

About a couple hours later, in the early hours of the night, all the Pillars, the Elements Bearers, Spike, Starlight and Sunburst, basically everyone sans Twilight were in the throne room as Star Swirl looked at the map those that looked for the Nightstalker used. “It seems there are fewer dark corners in the realm these days.” Star Swirl commented as he seemed to be taken aback about what was discovered.

Everyone was seated, with a few chairs brought in for the Pillars, “Isn't that a good thing?” Rainbow asked as she was seated next to Flash Magnus, the two had mugs of cider and were drinking.

“True.” Magnus pointed out with a nod. “The Nightstalker will have a hard time regaining power.” He said after giving some thought, “When he rears his head, we'll be ready!” he said as he brought his mug to Rainbow’s and the two mugs clung with a thunk.

Fluttershy gave a sigh as she turned to Meadowbrook, “Isn't there some way to banish him without losing all of you? Cattail, your descendant, would love to get to know you.”

“Oh, I wish there were,” Meadowbrook said as she took Fluttershy’s hand to confront the druid. “I would love to met my surviving family, but to save our home, our family,” Meadowbrook turned to each as they all nodded in agreement as she finished her statement, “we are willin' to leave it and them.”

“I don't think you'll have to!” Twilight shouted as she came in and presented her scroll with the spell that she was working on, “My spell isn't finished yet,” She confessed, “but I think we can send the Nightstalker to Limbo without all of you having to go as well!” she exclaimed in excitement of her works.

Star Swirl looked and the scroll and brushed it the side, “While I appreciate your enthusiasm, Twilight, this is hardly the time to take risks on half-baked spells.” he said as he dismissed the work that Twilight did.

Twilight sighed with a slight whimper as tears started to form in the corners in her eyes as her work was discarded by her ideal.

This didn’t go unnoticed by her friends. As Star Swirl was looking at the map trying to figure out the next plan, he was turned to face Twilight and her friends by Applejack, “Now listen here yah old buzzard, but Twilight doesn't do anythin' halfway!” the paladin pointed out ready to smack some sense into the old wizard.

“Especially not magic!” Pinkie said as she joined the paladin.

Rainbow flew back to be right next to Twilight’s wings, “Seriously! She got these wings” Rainbow said as she held one of the wings making it something that Star Swirl could not fail to notice. Rainbow then pointed at Star Swirl, “by finishing the spell you gave up on!”

Rarity then levitated the scroll and basically rubbed into Star Swirl’s place, “I think you'll find her work is worth reading before you dismiss it out of hand!”

“Mm-hmm!” Fluttershy agreed with nodded as she seemed to silently scold the old man, giving him the stare.

Meadowbrook took the scroll and began to read it silently, she wasn’t the wizard Star Swirl was or Arcane mast Twilight was, but she was well versed in the magic the two would use.“While it is an unconventional approach, I believe it could work.”

Mistmane took a glance at the scroll, “I have to concur with Meadowbrook.”

Star Swirl then took the scroll and actually looked it over. “Hmm,” he muttered as he rubbed his beard. “I suppose there is a chance.” he ultimately conceded.

“But we still have no idea where to find the villain,” Sunburst commented as he pointed out that they still have no idea where the Nightstalker was regaining his power.

At that moment the Aura Map activated and projected the Aura Marks of Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, Fluttershy and Pinkie as each of their Aura Marks on their person started to glow and shimmer. The map’s projected aura mark hovered from the Castle of Friendship to a small area surrounded by dense trees. “Maybe we should try there?” Spike said as she pointed to the spot.