Shadow of Reform

Three Weeks Earlier…

In the peaceful and quiet village of Ponyville, life was moving forward just as any other day.
And down it’s main street was a path that lead towards a large and beautiful castle. It’s structure was in the shape of a large tree, with spires and structure built into its ‘branches,’ and at the base of it’s ‘trunk,’ were a set of golden doors leading inside.

Through the foyer and up the stairs led down a hall of doors, and at the end was a set of ornate golden doors.

Walking down the hall to the doors was a unicorn mare with a pale, light-grayish heliotrope coat, moderate persian eyes, and a moderate purple mane and tail with lighter purple and pale light-grayish aquamarine streaks. Her cutie mark was a purple and white star with two glimmering streams.

Her name was Starlight Glimmer.

Starlight walked through the doors and into a large library with massive shelves, everyone of them filled with books of varying genre. From ‘Magical Theories’ to ‘Romantic Novels.’

At the foot of one of the shelves was the owner of the castle itself.

She was an alicorn mare with a pale light-grayish mulberry coat, moderate violet eyes, and a dark sapphire blue mane and tail with moderate purple and brilliant raspberry streaks. Her cutie mark was a large six-pointed purple star with six smaller white stars surrounding it.

Her name was Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight was currently observing a clipboard while jotting down notes and checkmarks as she held the board and quill in her raspberry magic aura. “And there! That completes the first section of ‘Magical Theories to the Unknown’” she said as wrote the final checkmark.

“Your still checking the organization of the library… That’s like the fifth time this morning alone” exclaimed Starlight.

“I know Starlight but we can’t be too sure. I wanted to leave everything organized before the big day” responded Twilight.

Starlight tapped a hoof to her chin in thought before saying “Is this about the upcoming Crystal Fair by any chance?”

“Of course it is! You know how important it is for us to be completely and totally prepared for such a big event” said Twilight as she flipped a new page on her clipboard.

Meanwhile, standing on a large step ladder was small baby dragon with light mulberry scales with a light spring budish gray underbelly. He had harlequin green spikes running down his back as well as light lime green ear fronds and a set of pistachio green eyes.

This was Twilight’s self-proclaimed ‘Number 1 Assistant’, Spike.

Spike was shelving the last book on the list before saying “(SIGH) There… that should be the last one on the list.” And with that Spike descended the stairs to join Twilight and Starlight.

Twilight heard Spike and checked off the last check on her clipboard “And there… that should be all of them. Each book categorized and organized” said Twilight with a prideful smile.

“I don’t know why your doing all of these preparations now. You do realize the Crystal fair isn’t for another few weeks?” asked Starlight.

“I know but it’s like I always say ‘Early is on time. On time is late. And late is plain unacceptable!’” said Twilight. Starlight just rolled her eyes while still smiling at her friend and mentor’s behavior.

“Speaking of late… if were all done here, I’ll be on my way” said Spike while hopping down from the ladder as he strolled towards the library’s exit, “I agreed to help Rarity with finding some gems for her designs and I don’t plan on missing it” said Spike while smiling at the thought of being with his crush.

But before Spike could make it to the door, he was stopped mid-step as he began to gag and sputter before belching up a plume of lime green flames. The flames dissipating to form a wrapped up paper with a red ribbon with the symbol ‘C’ on it.

Twilight wrapped it in her magical aura and unfurled the note to read it. “It’s a note from Cadence!” exclaimed twilight with a happy smile. She read aloud “‘Dear Twilight, I hate to do this on such short notice but I really need your help with a very important problem. I can’t go to Auntie Celestia or Luna for this, and I know your the only other pony who can help me. So when you can, please come to the Crystal Empire. And I ask you to keep this between us, I would prefer nopony else know about it. Sincerely, Cadence’.”

Finishing the letter, Twilight set it down before looking at the puzzled expressions of her student and her assistant. “Well that was weird… that doesn’t sound like Cadence at all” said Spike.

“I wonder what’s so important that she would call on such short notice?” asked Starlight.

“I don’t know… but if my sister-in-law needs my help, then I’m obligated to do so” said Twilight as she made her way to the door, “Besides, I could never pass up the chance to see my BBSILE.”

Both Spike and Starlight looked at eachother with raised eyebrows before turning to Twilight and asking in unison “BBSILE?”

“Yeah, my Best-Big-Sister-In-Law-Ever!” responded Twilight with an enthusiastic smile as she walked through the doors.

~~~

Ponyville Train Station

Twilight was now standing on the platform at the Ponyville Train Station, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Friendship Express to take her to the most glimmering city in all of Equestria: The Crystal Empire.

“Hey Twilight hang on” shouted Spike from behind her. Twilight turned to face Spike and Starlight Glimmer as they walked up to her. “Here. You forgot your extra-extra-extra quill set before you left” said Spike as he handed Twilight a pouch with the aforementioned quills.

Twilight thanked Spike before she was asked by Starlight “So are you sure you don’t want us to come with you? From what it said in the letter, it looks like whatever Cadence needs is pretty important.”

“I know but Cadence asked me to keep this between us, and she hasn’t told Princesses Celestia or Luna about it. So whatever it is she must want it kept very secret” responded Twilight.

“Alright… but make sure to take care of yourself” said Starlight.

“Thanks guys. But don’t worry. I’m sure whatever Cadence needs will probably be nothing serious” said Twilight.

And with that, the Friendship Express soon rolled up onto the train station and the conductor yelled “All Aboard!”

Twilight climbed up into a cart as she gazed out the window, waving a hoof to her two friends as the locomotive whistled before slowly lurching forward and onto it’s destination.

~~~

The Crystal Empire

Inside the large and glimmering Crystal Palace, Twilight was walking down the hall while accompanied by her sister-in-law Princess Mi Amore Cadenza or Cadence as she was most often called. She was a slim and regal alicorn mare. Her eyes were a light purple and her coat was a light grayish cerise and mane and tail were a moderate violet with moderate rose and pale gold streaks, and both ending in curls. She also wore golden shoes and a matching gold chest piece and finally had a small gilded golden crown adorning her head and her cutie mark was an the image of the Crystal Heart.

“Thanks for coming Twilight. I’m sorry I had to call on such short notice like this, what with the Crystal Fair coming up in a few weeks” said Cadence.

“Please, it was no problem at all. Besides it just meant I had a chance to see my sister-in-law” responded Twilight.

Cadence smiled at the remark and the princesses continued to walk further down the hall as they approached to Crystal Guards positioned on each side of a large set of doors. The two guards opened the way and the two alicorns entered the throne room of the palace. Cadence and Twilight walked further into the center of the throne room before Cadence turned to look at Twilight.

“Alright… we’re here” said Cadence.

Twilight looked at Cadence, puzzled as to why she had brought her here or as to what they were supposed to be doing, “Uhm so what is it that you need my help with?” asked Twilight.

“Twilight… do you remember when King Sombra was trying to take back the Crystal Empire, and you did some kind of spell to get you into his secret chamber?” asked Cadence.

Twilight again looked confused, but she furrowed her brow with uncertainty as to where this was going. “Of course I do. But i had to use Dark Magic to get into Sombra’s secret entrance” said Twilight.

“Yeah… which brings me as to why we’re here. Twilight…” Cadence paused for moment before continuing, “do you think you could use that same spell again?” asked Cadence.

Twilight’s eyes went wide from the question. But she quickly got ahold of herself before speaking. “Cadence… what is this all about” asked Twilight with great concern.

Cadence looked away nervously before speaking in a serious tone. “For the past few days, everypony in the Crystal Empire has been feeling like their being watched. It feels like some kind of dark shadow is looming over us again… and we think it might have something to do with Sombra.”

Twilight wore a serious expression as she held onto every word. “And you think that whatever it is could be down in his chamber?” she asked.

“Yes. Which is why me and Shining Armor have been trying to open the lock, but neither of us are good at controlling the magic required” responded Cadence. “And that’s when we thought of you Twilight.”

“Yeah I know what you mean. Dark Magic can be very hard to control, especially if you don’t have the right motivation” said Twilight.

“I’ve been trying to use Dark Magic like Celestia and Luna taught me… but I just haven’t been able to keep my focus without succumbing to the effects” said Cadence.

“Princess Celestia told me that Dark Magic draws power from the negative emotions a pony has in their heart like sadness, anger or jealousy” explained Twilight.

“And that is why your can do it better than I can since you have prior experience with it” said Cadence. “Will you help me?”

Twilight’s expression was a mixture of concern and apprehension. Twilight would have thought that this was going a little overboard but she knew better when it came to Sombra. And if past experience is anything to go by, she knew you could never be to careful when dealing with the likes of him.

Twilight made her decision and looked at Cadence, “Alright Cadence… stand back” she said as she closed her eyes and flared her wings.

Twilight’s expression became more focused as she gritted her teeth while grunting from the effort to call on the magic. Her eyes began to emanate an ominous purple smoke as her horn began to fizzle and crack with a toxic black and purple aura.

Her eyes shot open to reveal that they were glowing a lime green light before she focused and fired a beam of shadow black and purple magic at the headstone resting above the throne of the palace.

The crystal became black as it began to activate and in the center of the throne room floor opened a secret gateway with a deep set of stairs descending into the darkness.

Twilight was panting heavily from the exertion of magic as Cadence quickly trotted up beside her. “You did Twilight!” she said with an excited smile.

“(PHEW) Yeah. Now let’s get down there and see what we find” said Twilight as she wiped the sweat from her brow before she and Cadence descended the stairs.