Once again Twilight found herself in front of the Tree of Harmony. Something had drawn her back for some reason. Maybe it had been her talk with Starlight earlier that week that had started it.

As she had expected, Starlight too had felt what had gone on at the Tree. What had Twilight worried though had been Starlight's reaction to it all.

It had scared her beyond reason. Not even the threats from Queen Chrysalis had scared her this much.

***

Starlight gave her old teacher a pleading look. "Twilight, I know how much you love a good mystery, but take it from me. Leave this alone. One is enough. Don't follow this one."

Twilight was lost. "Why not?"

Starlight shook her head. "I did a little digging myself. That power left behind a trail any unicorn worth their horn could follow, so I did."

Twilight's brows rose. "So what was it? Did you see it?"

Starlight nodded. "I saw enough. Enough to know that this is a power we don't want to be here if we can help it. It knew I was following it. It let me see what I did."

Twilight was shocked. Starlight had never been like this as long as they had known each other. She wasn't just scared. She was afraid for her life.

Twilight put on a comforting smile. "Starlight, we've faced some pretty bad things before. I think we can handle this."

Starlight just shook her head. "Twilight. The Tree of Harmony threw everything it had, plus the kitchen sink, at this thing to make it leave, and it didn't do a thing to it. Not even phased it."

Starlight paused a moment. "Wait, scratch that. It knew what the Tree was trying to do, and brushed it off like nothing."

***

All of that had worried. If something like that could do that to the Tree of Harmony, what did that say about their chances? So now here she was, hoping to get some answers to what exactly was going on.

How was another story, but she'd cross that bridge when she got there.

Walking into the grotto, she was happy to see that the Tree looked no different than it had the last time she had been here. The ozone scent was gone and that helped calm her nerves somewhat.

Trotting up to the Tree's trunk, Twilight couldn't help but admire the Elements of Harmony that lay embedded in it. It still felt weird after so long that they had given them up.

Placing a hoof on the base, she sighed. "I wish you could talk. We need to know. What happened here? What did we feel?"

"A power I hope you never face Twilight." Came a new voice that made Twilight jump out of her feathers as she took a step back. As she did, the Tree began to glow brightly. So much so Twilight was forced to close her eyes.

When she could see again, her mouth dropped in shock. Floating before her was, herself? But this version of her was more ethereal, more translucent. Twilight was confused. "Who are you? What are you?"

The figure smiled. "I am a projection of the Tree of Harmony. The bond you and your friends share has allowed me to assume this form for a time."

Twilight wished she'd thought to bring quill and paper to write this down, it was fascinating. She made a mental note to write it all down later. "So, what happened here? I need to know if we ever meet it and worse comes to worst."

The projection shook her head. "You cannot face her Twilight. Even if you, all your friends, the princesses, even every foe you have faced, combined your powers, you would not stand a chance against her. What you felt was just a tenth of one percent of her power." The figure smiled. "But she came with good intentions in the end."

That got Twilight's attention. "What did she do?"

Her smile grew. "She gave another chance at life to one who, in the end, deserved it more than her companions did. I even know where she's gone too."

Twilight leaned forward. "You do? Where? Who is she?"

The figure smirked. "Where's the fun in that? You'll never have fun if I tell you everything."

Twilight couldn't help but giggle, the tension flowing out of her. "Oh my gosh. You're as bad as Princess Celestia."

The projection clapped her hooves. "Thank you!" Her face turned serious a moment. "There is one more thing. But you will have to ask Cozy Glow about that."

With that the projection faded from view and back into the Tree, leaving Twilight with some answers, but still with many questions with no answers.

At the top of the list though, was who was this pony the Tree had mentioned, and why it felt like she had a connection Twilight?

Author's Note

Fun fact. What Cozy Glow will talk about has changed everything that happened from this point forward in season 8 that involves her.

Well, her and the Young Six. But they don't count since I hate those six characters.