Last time on My Little Pony:

Friendship is Magic…

A series of clips play from different episodes.
S2E25:
-Applejack goes to congratulation Twilight Sparkle upon hearing her read the royal wedding invitation: “Your brother is get’n married Twilight? That’s great news”
S2E26:
-Princess Celestia to Queen Chrysalis: “Now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self,” The two clash horns. “I can protect my subjects…” Princess Celestia flies back, and charges her magick. “from you!” The two match magicks, until Celestia’s is over taken and Princess Celestia is defeated.
-Battering against Shining Armor’s protective spell, the Changelings break through its weaken state and swarm Canterlot.
-Queen Chrysalis to the captured ponies: Laughing “Its funny really, Twilight here was suspicious of my behavior all along, too bad the rest of you were too caught up in your wedding planning to realize those suspicions were correct” Laughs again.
-Princess Cadence is able to break Queen Chrysalis spell over Shining Armor
-Shining Armor and Princess Cadence come together with their love and together their magick is able to defeat the Changelings, and scatter them to the far corners of Equestria.
S3E1:
-Princess Celestia: “The Crystal Empire has returned”
Twilight Sparkle to Princess Celestia: “You want me to find a way to protect an entire empire?”
-Princess Celestia to Twilight Sparkle: “It is, as I said, a different kind of test, but one I am certain you will pass”
-Twilight Sparkle travels to the Crystal Empire
-King Sombra Returns
S3E2:
-Spike to Twilight Sparkle, as she struggles with King Sombra’s trap. “You have to get out of their Twilight, you have to be the one to bring the crystal heart to Princess Cadence; if you don’t you fail Princess Celestia’s test”
Twilight Sparkle to Spike: “You have to be the one to bring the Crystal Heart to the Fair”
Spike to Twilight Sparkle: “Me? But?” Twilight interrupting: “Go” Spike continuing to question her “But?” Twilight again interrupting with more force. “GOOOO!!!”
-Spike falls as he attempts to bring the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadence. Thrown by Shining Armor, she catches Spike and the Heart, and together they save the Crystal Empire, banishing King Sombra once more.

And now, the continuation.

Track 08: Through Sombra’s Door

Twilight Sparkle was in the Golden Oaks Library, her home in Ponyville, surrounded at every angle by large stacks of books that towered high, and precariously. Though many of her shelves now sat bare, there was a vast majority of collections here from those of Canterlot at Twilight’s request. Princess Celestia had sent over large shipments, hoping that they could aid her student’s mission. Ever since Discord’s victory over what had remained of the Mares of the Elements of Harmony, the unicorn had gone over every book she believed held even the slightest, vaguest hope of besting the lord of Chaos. Since that dreadful day, she was unsure of Fluttershy’s fate. Unfortunately, she was also unable to do much to search for her friend either, no more then she could to stop Sweet Apple Acres and the Apple Family destruction, or even heal her friend’s broken wing. The mare was feeling the weight of each of these failings, blaming herself for the fact that Discord was still roaming free. Besides him, the Queen of changelings was also out there after the miracle defeat by Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Along with these two troubles, King Sombra had returned with the Crystal Empire, and though, again no real thanks to her, he was defeated by Cadence and Spike, he was not any less a risk. She felt the only victory she could even claim, was showing up Trixie, by putting a baby Ursa Minor to sleep. This was a great feat, but by no means a real aid to the greater problems of the land.

Sending Spike off to help Pinkie Pie in spreading some hope and happiness, as they kept the peace in Ponyville the best they could; she felt a bit lonely without him. His service was better to fight against all the threats lurking around the shadows, than here shelving books as the mare frantically tore them from their homes as she reread them finding nothing more than the first, second, fourth, sixth reading. Logic did not always help, when she missed her number one assistant, and oldest friend.

As she consumed page by page, section by section, volume by volume, Twilight felt ever less sure in her abilities to end the threat. Then one of the books flung open, pages flapping noisily to catch her attention with success as she looked over to the disruption. She was confused by the sudden animation, then a few words were highlighted.
Destructive
Insanity
Sensual
Chaotic
Omnipotent
Random
Demented
Peeling away from the pages, the first letters of each word floated above the book. From his own name, the Lord of Chaos formed, not being much bigger than the original font. “Twilight Sparkle, we meet again” He grinned like one who had just reunited with a long lost friend, then made a contemplative expression. “You seem different. Mane? A little mess, but no. Did you put on weight?”

With a low growl, due more to his very existence than anything he said, she snapped “What do you want, to torment me even more?” Although she felt she had no power to really stop him, she would not just sit and take his abuse.

“Me?” A warped and bent halo appeared above his head. “Why would I do anything of the sort?” The halo burst into flames that drifted into bubbles to none existence. “I’ve simply come to check up on you, and see how you are doing, especially with everything going on” He held up his pawed hand, becoming a cheap looking puppet of Queen Chrysalis, and then his other claw hand becoming similarly King Sombra. “A certain movie company sure nailed it, Queens and Kings can’t be trusted. Good thing Hasbro made sure to demote the rulers of all Equestria to princesses, or the little ones would have viewed them as evil too” He made the two dance about, detaching from the wrists “hands” and all. “They sure have you busy”

“Yeah, thanks to you!” She snapped, causing his to simply laugh. “Enjoy it now, but I will find a way to stop you and all this trouble you’ve caused us!”

With a “tsk-tsk” Discord shook his head slowly. “Mon petite pone, I have only played a small role in the troubles in this world. These times are the result of many centuries of troubles all coming to a head. Chrysalis, Sombra, not even Trixie or that Ursa were any of my doing”

Twilight rolled her eyes, and continued to accuse the draconequus.”And I’m to believe you, why?”

“Oh there is not much fun in letting others cause trouble, and the bug and shadow are rivals of sorts” Remaining small, he transformed himself into a portly, shorter version of himself. Now he was sitting in an armchair and dressed in an open suit, looking like some character that Twilight did not know. He added to his parody a voice that was a bit whinny, and changing from high to a deeper tone as he shifted in his seat. “Now, now, Twilight! Why would I bring in rivals, when I want Equestria to myself? Why, now, would I do that?” Despite his strange way of saying it, he did have a point, not lost in the childish, and obnoxious character he was depicting.

Remaining small, Discord returned to “normal” before going on to say. “I will admit to capturing Fluttershy, and agitating those Timber Wolves, but I did also get Rainbow Dash to think about something besides her broken body, so there is that”

Twilight tried to take the opportunity to stomp his small self in a uncontrolled fit of rage. “You stole my friend, and killed two members of another friend’s family?!” Discord poofed under the hoof, becoming smoke and avoiding any damage. “I can only imagine what you did to Rainbow Dash!”

Appearing now in full size, and much higher up in the library he defended himself. “Hey, I only said to the wolves that it seemed unfair that the Apples hoard all the Zap Apples. They never bothered to learn why the Timber Wolves and the Zap Apples were connected, plus, it wasn’t the only time the two groups butted heads. As far as Rainbow goes, I gave her a book. It seemed to bring her some joy, and motivation. She needed it, seeing how no pony seemed to have any way to help her, or even went to see her in awhile”

She wanted to be mad at him, but she was madder at the fact he made another point. “I… I’m trying to save Equestria…” Even though it was true, it did not soothe her guilt.

“You forgot all about Fluttershy, until you and your friends tried to stand against me. Since then, you’ve done nothing to even get her back. She is doing well, I keep her comfortable. All part of our deal”

“Deal? What are you talking about?” She looked up at him, both inquisitively, and with sternness.

Discord pulled out a contract, and began to read from it. “I, Discord, Lord of Chaos, shale not directly harm those of whom Fluttershy deems her friends at the time of the sign of this contract. So Long as Fluttershy remains with Discord, as his in whatever capacity he chooses upon the signing of this contract. I left out some of the fancy, and legal (because the author didn’t want to go that far)” He let the document poof away, and he looked down at Twilight. “She named a good number of you, and I chose her to be my companion”

“Why would she agree to that, with a deceiver like you?!”

“Hey!” He came down, and was eye to eye with her now. “I am a thing of my word” He floated back away, now formed out of the words he used to spell his name before. “Now that doesn’t mean I can’t play with those words a little” Another Discord appeared, and scooped up the word formed draconequus, depositing them into a Scrabble box and started to shake them up. “See, I still can do one of two things here” A book appeared on a stack near Twilight, sending the already precarious tower into a topple. It did not land on the mare, much to her surprise.

“I think you missed there, Lord of Chaos” She mocked him, feeling some small victory in his mistake, not seeing how the books ricochet and struck other towers that did come crashing down on her. She climbed out of the pile, and gave him a dirty look.

“Wasn’t me” He grinned. “I put that book there, but I did not make it fall, or bring down all those other poorly stacked collections. You could have cleaned up in here, but instead you chose to mock me” Twilight was growing sick of how his logic was actually making sense. “My other option is to have her renounce her friendships, and choose how to attack those she renounces. It’s all in the find print”

“Fine” Twilight corrected absentmindedly, while she was getting completely out of the mess.

Discord snickered at this. “’Fine’, ‘find’, it won’t be ‘found’, and that is all that matter here”

Ignoring his wordplay, she said her opinion. “Maybe you can indirectly mess with us, however you will not turn her against us” She laughed at the idea of it. “Fluttershy is the kindest and most pure pony I have ever known, and she would sooner sacrifice herself before turning on any of her friends”

“Amusing that you seem to miss that she already did that, and now that I have her to myself, it is only a matter of time before she realizes that she gave up everything for ponies who will never save her. She has an annoying resilience to my corruption, but I feel a few years together, and even she will break. I’ve been in stone for a thousand years, what’s about 10 or thirteen years? Give or take. Besides all that, you must face it, see it. You have failed them all, you have failed being a friend. Failed to save Fluttershy, failed to help Applejack or Rainbow Dash, you have Rarity working so hard that she can’t rest, Pinkie Pie will also succumb to depression in no time when she realizes that nothing she can do will ever help. You’ve all failed, and you are like the princess of failure” As he said that, a crown the drooped down like a wilting flower appeared on her head, as well as a pair of cheap looking wings.

Twilight shook it off, and shot back. “We will stop you, and every villain that is out there. Princess Celestia and Luna are still powerful without the Elements of Harmony, My brother and sister-in-law rule over the Crystal Empire, successfully stopping King Sombra from retaking it, and maybe our numbers are low, those of us who wield the Elements are still strong enough to join together and beat you back!”

He held up the Scrabble box with the letters from before, but now they were all in a runic style. “Sorry Twilie, but I read a lot in these, and I just don’t see success here. Your royal leaders are all jokes, especially Princess Celestia” He dodged a blast of magick, from Twilight’s horn. “Oh dear, have I struck a nerve? I’m so sorry that the truth hurts, but you dear teacher couldn’t stop me, Sombra, Nightmare Moon or Chrysalis, and the only reason she seemed to, was because of the Elements of Harmony or some other outside intervention. That Cadenza has a better record at this point. Now, Celestia has no Elements, and all those allies she has are too caught up in other, more pressing problems. You six, or rather three, are here only champions left, and you can’t stand against me either.” He laughed hard at her, with a complete contempt for her and her friends. “Such fools all!”

“I’ll stop you right now!” She challenged, blasting at him again, but he disappeared. “Afraid? Why not stand still!”

Only his grin reappeared. “I am standing still, just I’m teleporting, silly pony” He laughed again, and each time it was driving her ever more crazy.

“If you are so great, let me hit you. Let’s see just how mighty you really are” She had seen through his attempts to goad her into frustration, which was working more than she cared to admit, and now was attempting to use the tactic upon him.

“That’s not very much fun, but this is” A claw appeared and tapped Twilight on the shoulder. “Tag, you’re it” Then all of him was gone again.

Screaming in frustration, Twilight shouted at him. “How can I catch what I can’t see?!”

“Come now, surely your pathetic master showed you how to track magick, or am I giving her far too much credit to know such a simple skill? Prove to me, just how good of a teacher she is, and find me”

Now that the reputation of Princess Celestia was on her, Twilight was pushed far enough and would not have his insults anymore. She closed her eyes and focused on the magickal world around her, finding Discord’s particular aura stand out against the more natural and harmonious ones. He was not far away, obviously trying out her ability, and she was quick to show him. When it was clear she was able to keep up, he moved farther and more sporadic, all the while Twilight keeping pace as his grand game traversed the realm of Equestria.

They appeared and disappeared, and surprised those nearby each time. The journey went from Everfree Forest, to Canterlot, Manehatten, the Horseshoe Bay, Baltimare, Cloudsdale, Hallow Shade and a number more locations until they were within the Crystal Empire, in King Sombra’s secrete sanctum before his dreaded door.

Twilight starred at the door, forgetting to look for Discord, focusing solely upon yet another failure that had near broke her; and yet, it had proven that she was not a failure in how she was able to seek aid from others. She had learned much of this door’s power, and how it worked. “This showed my worst nightmares before,” She thought, getting an idea. “I wonder if I can use it to work out ideas to end all of this suffering and strife? A staging environment in which I may engage with different virtual reality environments”

“I wouldn’t” Discord said, casually standing beside her dressed in a purple velvet coat and top hat, drinking from a flower. “I’ve seen the holo- I mean such things produce some pretty weird stuff. Dark magick, plus your magick, and of course the fact that you just not that good”

“I am so!” Twilight argued, seeming to be loosing herself to the moment. “I figured out a lot about this kind of magick since that day” Discord scoffed at her deceleration, prompting her to feel the need to prove herself again. Taking the challenge, she cast a spell upon the crystal above the door and it turned from dark to clear. “Ha, told you”

“Oh, you sure proved me wrong” He fanned defeat and surprise. “You are so great and powerful, and gullible” He quickly pushed her through the doorway and closed it after. “Have fun” Discord laughed and snapped his fingers, the crystal returning to its blacken colour. Satisfied and amused by his trickery, he left Twilight to her fate in the room, but he did not see the crystal shifting into a prism of colours, leaving this for Twilight to learn the meaning of.

******

Inside the existence behind Sombra’s Door, Twilight stood in Ponyville, looking around in expecting confusion. She knew she was in a false world, only not what may come of it. The scene shifted and she found herself at night and surrounded by all her closest friends, inside Golden Oaks Library. By some power of the room, she was aware of her recent victory in solving an ancient spell that not even her idol Starswirl had been able too; reawakening what each of her friends destinies and what the Elements meant to them. Then, those Elements they were all wearing shot out at her, surprising all six mares and sending her into another realm of existence.

Princess Celestia was with her again, not condemning her for failure as before, but praising her for all she had achieved in her time since leaving Canterlot. She had explained the journey to her, and all that a new chapter to her story was starting. When Celestia finished, Twilight was again in Ponyville, and again with her friends, who all looked upon her with shock. Twilight Sparkle was now an Alicorn.

Before she could even take this new form in, she was gone to Everfree Forest, with new memories. The princesses Celestia and Luna were missing, and the forest had begun to creep into Ponyville. She stood with her friends before a great, and strange tree, and they knew it needed their Elements to end the current troubles gripping this alternate world.

Launching into another time and place, events seemed to rush past her as her friends were now captured by a villain she had never seen before. As before, the knowledge filled her, and she knew him a Tirek, and he was consuming all of the magick in Equestria. Though she had put up a great fight, she was forced to give up her power to free them. Shifting again in these events, the six ponies gathered around a box, and six keys opened it. With this, the six mares were given new, greater powers, that were able to defeat Tirek and return him to Tartarus.

All went black, but in the void was a soundless voice that filled Twilight’s mind. “Learn from these events of another reality, seek me out… seek the place from which much of this calamity owes its beginnings…”

Twilight awoke, not clear to just how long after all she had experienced inside the room, but now she was outside the door again. Everything she had seen was like dreams in the way that they were so fresh, and quickly faded and lost meaning or form, but of all the things she had seen one remained just as strong as when she was in the room. “Tree of Harmony”

Twilight had not wasted any time in sending a message to Princess Celestia about what she remembered of the special chamber, and upon hearing this Twilight was told where to find it. The princess was explicit in her urgency that Twilight go to this location in all haste, fearing that any delay would give time to their foes. Twilight was never one to refuse her teacher’s commands, so she used her teleportation spell to cut the distance back to Everfree. It took great effort to do so, despite that she was very drained, she was there in very little time.

Outside the ruins of the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters, Twilight was in awe of the sight, a little lost in a moment when she and her friends first came together to defeat Nightmare Moon. Shaking off the nostalgia, she went to the deep cut in the ground near the castle where the tree would be found below. In her experience, the Tree was impressive and colourful, but now it was looking sickly and faded. All around the cave and the tree itself were plants Twilight had not seen before, but she could tell from faded memories that they were of the Plunderseeds Vines. They were feeding off the tree like ivy did any other plant, but by they fed differently, it was magick they drained.

Making quick work of a few of the vines, the rest retreated from the assault, leaving the tree free of their vampiric molestation. Taking in the unhindered view, Twilight could see the trunk, near the base, had the cutie marks of Princess Celestia and Luna, and a star like her own where five branches sprung out with places for some missing gems.

“The Elements of Harmony” Twilight concluded, remembering more of her time in the chamber beyond Sombra’s door. “That must be why the tree is so… sick” She pondered on this, wondering it this was the reason why the tree had summoned her. “I hope it doesn’t need them back…” She continued to think, knowing that right now there was only four gems in reach. She took note of each of the placeholders, and some seemed afflicted by something different than the vines could have caused. One had a green oozing liquid dripping from it, another had black spots, and a third was withered and shriveled. The holders were not alone, as around the moon mark was a blackness that was creeping. “If this is what I think it is,” She spoke out loud. “Three of us are in immediate danger, and Princess Luna, I fear, is being corrupted again”

Attempting to heal the tree, or hoping that in some way it would reach those marked by the sicknesses, Twilight cast a spell on the tree. The magick connected, and immediately something shot back at her. Twilight fought it at first, fearing something dangerous was now trying to consume her, but the soundless voice spoke to her again as the tree reached out to her.

“Twilight Sparkle” It began. “You are the best hope for Equestria. I have attempted to protect Equestia long before the ponies came, as one of the long forgotten ancients, I battled against the Umbra and was of the last to survive that ancient war.

“When ponies came, bickering over their minor differences I was worried another trouble was now upon me, but when they came together and beat back the Wendigo I believed they would protect this land with their love and understanding.

“For a time, your kind had done just as I hoped, and with the Crystal Empire being a beacon of that hope as it defeated the Umbra. Princess Amora had sealed away the remaining Umbra, and all in the land was pleasant and peaceful. Then doubt grew, as the young Sombra and Radiant Hope nearly destroyed the empire and unleashed the Umbra. Then came Discord, and the powers of the ponies again proceeded to fall short of need”

In an attempt to defend her kind, Twilight stepped in. “Princess Celestia and Luna stopped both Sombra and Discord”

“As I made it” The tree shot back, with the two cutie marks flashing in emphasis. “Those young Unicorn sisters had shown a great potential, and so I tied our fates and summoned them after their defeat against Discord. Granting them my power, they bested those two villains. They kept those powers, and I allowed this as they resided now above me and peace was again back in the world. I knew that danger was always but moments away, as shadow always skirts the light, and so they would be my champions.

“Ponies again brought about their own trouble, and this time it was my youngest champion who paid the price. As she was being consumed by sadness in her neglect, I spent more of myself to craft her a companion, a colt who would be devoted to her and keep her from feeling alone. I do not know how it would go so wrong, but my power was now greatly divided and drained as darkness pushed back the light”

“Nightmare Moon?” Twilight questioned, though she was sure that was where the story was going. “With the Elements of Harmony gone, did you at least take back the colt you created?”

“Perhaps I was too vague in that detail. The colt, Luna’s student, destroyed himself in summoning things he could not control. He sole away my powers, and set into motion the turning of Luna in Nightmare Moon. Everfree was being consumed by darkness and is took all I had to slow its spread, but against the lingering darkness, and Discord’s Plunderseeds, my battle was a loosing one that now is coming to its inevitable end”

Twilight took off her tiara, and offered it up to the tree. “We recharged the Elements, and thought I can’t get them all back just now, maybe mine can at least turn the tides for your battle?”

Giving her a feeling that seemed to be laughter, the Tree of Harmony was amused by her. “Your Element? Child of Equestria, they are all mine. This is besides the point, the reason I summoned you here was not to reclaim what is mine. The darkness has gathered again. The wicked of the past and ones of new grow in power and numbers, and there are not the Elements of Harmony or those reborn with their power to face them. There is simply me, and a few ponies who are not able to fully utilize what they have. You, Twilight Sparkle, you must face this darkness, as my final champion. To become this, you must be greater than you are now, and I will again spend myself to reshape you to protect this land I have come to cherish, and the lesser beings I have vowed to protect. I will give all that I am to you, and give Equestria one last chance to survive this storm that is shattering all that I have struggled to keep for these countless millennia”

Twilight was not so sure in this plan, and questioned it openly. “If you give me all your power, what will stop the Plunderseeds from coming back, or all the dangers of Everfree from spreading past the forest?”

A new sense was filling her mind, and it was of annoyance, but also weakness. “Child of Equestria, you are so wise and ignorant. I hoped by recounting events, it would enlighten you. Each moment spent in debating this leaves me weaker, so I will now be direct. Fate preceded you long before you were even born, and my power is now fleeting. If I do not give you what I have now, the chance of survival diminished just as much. Between darkness, and these vines, my power will no longer be mine to give. I choose to spend it upon you, as my end is neigh”

Lowering her head, seeing no other way, and not wanting to risk this chance to change the course of this disaster, Twilight yielded. “I am humble to be chosen for this, and accept your power to save Equestria in your absence”

“Good, for you waste so much on words and ceremony. Open yourself to me, and receive what I have, and we will be together in unity” Although Twilight was not sure just how to do this, the tree was not at any convenience to wait for her to figure it out. Without any further delay, the Tree of Harmony sent out a wave of magick that enveloped the mare.

Warmth, is what Twilight first felt, surprised by the sudden burst, she was not sure if she needed to do anything more than just stand there. The warmth soon became a blazing sensation, one she could not fight or resist. Twilight struggled to stand, with her mind racing to wonder if she had just made a huge mistake in trusting the tree. The heat around her was starting to fade, or be replaced by new pain, the kind one felt during their growing phase of life. Her entire body felt like it was rushing through a childhood worth of growing pains in moments. The stretching did not limit to her legs, but her body, neck and alicorn all felt like they were being pulled from her in different directions. She cried out, believing that her skin would tear from her.

The agony seemed done, at least long enough for her to gasp and pant, tears streaming from her as she endured what she thought was the worse pain she would ever feel; then it started again. Now her back alone was the source of torment. From withers to loins, it felt like things were growing and being formed under her flesh. When they started to push out, she lost all control of herself and voided her body. Blood trailed from protrusions out of her back, adding to the tears and urine pooling around her. Her joints had locked like in standing sleep, and this was the only reason she stood at all. Twilight was nearly into a trance, knowing only suffering as the internal mystery now stood out from her. Bones, muscle, flesh, and the connection to make her new limbs that functional. Any damage to her body was healed instantly as the appendages finished, now sprouting full feathers to finish her agonizing change. Just as she nearly passed out but vomited up instead, adding to the list of involuntary fluids and byproducts she had expelled during the process that neared its end. She was coming around into focus again, as the horror passed.

Weak, tired, and feeling empty, Twilight was also feeling suddenly more in-tune with the magick around and in her. She had a power that she could recall knowing in her trip inside Sombra’s door, and looking to where the height of her pain had been, it was confirmed to her that she had gone through a similar transformation. Though apart of her expected there to be spears jutting from her back, they were instead a full pair of wings. They were impressive, the envy of even the greatest of Pegasus. She used a spell to look at herself from another view, and found that she had grown lengthier, along with the wings. She also noted the tears and bile that covered her face, and the mess around her. She stepped from it, and cleaned herself up, taking a fresher look at what she was.

“I… I’m an… Alicorn?” She did not need to ask, but it felt necessary somehow. “The Tree of Harmony made me into…” She looked at the tree, and saw it was already withering, with the vines quickly going on the attack. “It was the worst thing I have ever been through, physically, but I will not waste this gift. I will fulfil your last request, ancient one, and rescue Equestria from all the gathering darkness. For you, Equestria, and all my friends!”

Before leaving, she cast a spell that destroyed the Plunderseeds in the area, and stop any more from disgracing the memories of this place.

To Be Continued

Ending Credits Music

Author's Note

Episodes clips from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Copyright Hasbro.
Scrabble, also copyright Hasbro.
Computer voice over from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Copyright Paramount Pictures.