Smolder flew faster through the trees, looking for her friends.

“Come on, come on,” she said, “Where the heck are they?”

She looked over her shoulder for the umpteenth time and swore she saw several orcs breaking through the brush.

Dark clouds built overhead, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.

I wish I thought of something else instead of diverting them towards me! she thought.

Her wings pounded in pain, the dragoness had never flown so far, this fast before. She swore she could feel the eyes of Ghadra right on her back as if he were a guided missile.

Smolder gazed at her surroundings again, looking for the river they were supposed to meet at to the southwest. But had seen no such river.

She began to feel hopeless. The nearly constant arguing with her friends barely mattered at this point. Her eyes squeezed shut, clenching her teeth, the racial differences seemed to had been put to rest rather than being fully resolved, she felt.

“Guys!” she began call, only to clamp her claws over her mouth. Slag! Why did I almost screw up?!

She heard growls and grunts pushing through the forest.

Then, somecreature jumped up and pounced on her, knocking her right out of the sky. As they rolled along the ground, she was unable to scream. When they stopped rolling, somecreature placed a talon over her mouth.

She paused.

A talon?

Startled, she looked up to see Gallus, his eyes wide. He shushed her, helped her up, and dragged her off.

Part of her was thankful that Gallus found her but another part wanted to scream and slap him across the face for scaring her. She couldn’t speak as Gallus flew down a naturally carved path through the forest.

Soon, Smolder could the sound of rushing water. Her heart leaped for joy when she saw her other friends.

“Glad I caught you just in time,” Gallus said.

Smolder could practically imagine the smirk. “Yeah, just don’t ever grab me out of the air. I could’ve breathed fire on you.”

“And I thank you for not doing it,” said Gallus as he flew over the river. Smolder realized that she hadn’t been flying, so she composed herself as Gallus placed her at the edge of the riverbank.

“There you are!” cried Sandbar.

“Shhh!” Smolder hissed. “They’re right behind me!”

“The Changeling Kingdom isn’t too far away now,” said Ocellus. “We need to move!”

Smolder nodded and decided to give her wings a rest as she ran alongside her friends.

“Dang, the forest’s gotten a lot thicker,” said Gallus.

“Changelings love plant life,” said Ocellus.

“It feels as if we’ve been running forever!” Sandbar cried.

“I told you to keep that mouth shut, dude!” Gallus scolded.

“I have!”

“For the past hour, you’ve been yelling every five seconds!”

“Please stop!” Silverstream cried.

The griffon and pony quit arguing. Smolder focused ahead, the trees and brush getting thinner.

“We’ve gotta be close,” said Ocellus, “Shouldn’t have the changelings have spotted us by now.”

“Well, I’m getting tired of running!” said Smolder, pushing a branch aside. “I want to fight those monsters!”

“Yeah, Yona want to be like professors,” the yak added.

“I’m pretty sure our professors didn’t just run and hide every time!” Smolder complained.

“We won’t be like our professors!” Ocellus squealed, “We’re just kids!”

“So what?” Gallus demanded, “We can do it!”

A roar pierced the air. Smolder felt like her scales were standing on end.

She turned and saw that a couple of hellhounds were almost upon them.

“Run!” she cried. Smolder stopped, turned around, and let out a stream of fire onto the beasts. They yiped in pain and began running to put it out, but the fire went out as soon as it was lit.

“Shoot!” Smolder muttered.

Despite her aching wings, Smolder took to the air again, and went in the direction her friends went in. Her eyes lit up when she saw the unmistakable structure of the Changeling Kingdom.

Another roar emerged from the forest. She gasped when a blast of dark magic sailed just under her belly.

“Guys!” she cried. “He’s here!”

She dove towards whatever trees were left, weaving and flying around several of them and ducking behind some thick brush.

She huddled into the bushes, heart pounding and sweat pouring down her face.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” she heard the mocking voice of Ghadra.

Then, Sandbar appeared in front of her, shushing her. He outstretched a hoof to her, she took it and both stayed low as they scampered away from their powerful pursuers.

She followed Sandbar, her worried about what could happen to them went through the roof. She didn’t know if her teachers would ever find out about Equestria and if they’re its last hope. The thought terrified her, being the last ones around. But she shook her head, knowing she had to put on the brave face.

“They’re over here,” said Sandbar, looking over his shoulder.

“Where the heck are the changelings?” Smolder asked, wanting to yell.

“I don’t know.”

Smolder saw her friends. They were huddled next to a large tree. The trees and brushes now few and far between with luscious grass in between them all.

When Smolder joined her friends, she noticed one of them wasn’t with them.

“Where’s Ocellus?” she asked.

“She flew towards the Hive,” said Gallus, holding a trembling Silverstream.

“There you are!” a voice boomed.

Smolder’s blood turned into ice.

At the edge of the tree line, she saw the towering behemoth of Ghadra surrounded by hellhounds, orcs, and skrees.

“Kill the kids! And then kill all of the changelings!” Ghadra ordered his minions.

“Oh noooooo!” Silverstream wailed.

The minions advanced upon the kids, Smolder held her friends close, not taking her eyes off them.

“Get away from them!” a deep, guttural voice cried.

Suddenly, a monstrous insect monster swooped down from the right, swiping its pincers and knocking a bunch of them into the trees.

Smolder gasped.

“Is that Thorax’s brother?” Sandbar asked.

A burst of turquoise flames later, and it was indeed Pharynx. He turned to them with a grave expression. “Get to the army! Now!” With another burst of flames, he turned into a Maulwurf and dug into the earth.

Smolder turned to see the army of hundreds of changelings diving towards Ghadra and his minions. The dragoness helped Silverstream up and all took off in the direction of the Hive.

A loud roar pierced the air again.

“This will not end like this!” Ghadra shouted.

Suddenly, Smolder felt herself knocked to the ground, tumbling along the ground and landed hard up against a jagged rock.

Dazed, she looked up to see that a lot of the changelings had been knocked back.

“More hostiles in the area!” a changeling cried.

Smolder looked towards Ghadra and saw that his army had hundreds of skrees, a lot of orcs, and hellhounds.

“Oh my, gosh...” Smolder breathed.

They charged, advancing upon the students and the army. Smolder felt herself pulled up and being dragged towards the Hive. The changelings began transforming into various forms as both opposing sides collided into an all-out war between one another.

“This way!” Ocellus cried.

Smolder looked to where she was, and the Hive wasn’t as close as she’d hoped. She spotted more changelings hovering near the structure, all looking ready to battle.

“What’re we going to do about the army?” Gallus asked.

“There’s nothing we can do!” said Ocellus. “They have to protect us!”

Smolder huffed, smoke coming out of her nostrils. “I hate being unable to do anything.” She looked over her shoulder and spotted the changelings and the minions were about evenly matched. Suddenly, she paused.

“Wait, where’s Ghadra?” she asked.

“Let’s just get to the Hive,” Silverstream squealed.

“And who knows how powerful the threat back home is?” Sandbar said.

Then, Smolder caught something out of the corner of her eye. It was large and brown. She gasped.

“Duck!” she shouted.

The dragoness tackled Gallus and Silverstream, a surge of dark magic sailed just over their heads.

“You’re not going to get away so easily!” came Ghadra’s voice.

Smolder scampered to stand up but ended up falling onto her rear. Her friends hobbled over to her and hugged one another close.

The giant werebear towered over them as several hellhounds and orcs stood at his side.

“I just needed to get all of you alone,” he said.

“There’re other changelings here!” said Ocellus.

“Are there?” Ghadra pointed up.

Smolder followed his claw and saw that the changelings were occupied with fighting off skrees. Trembling, and eyes wide, she looked back at Ghadra holding a massive ball of darkness in his claws.

“What a pity,” he said with a sneer. “You ran all this way to get help only to exterminate the changelings.” He chuckled. “A fitting end to your almost non-existent story.”

“No matter what,” Smolder said, trying to sound brave. “We all face it together!” Her friends huddled closer. Then, Ghadra lifted his ball and shot it right at the Young Six.

Smolder squeezed her eyes shut.

...

“What happened?” Sandbar asked.

“Can I open my eyes?” Ocellus asked.

Smolder opened her eyes and she gasped.

She saw that a yellow light surrounded her and her friends. Her jaw dropped. She could hear her friends marveling at the sight as it grew brighter.

“What is this?” Smolder asked, taken aback.

She saw that Ghadra had very wide eyes of disbelief and his minions began backing off.

A swirl of the colors of the rainbow began to blend right into the yellowish light as the very edges turned white.

“What sorcery is this?!” Ghadra cried.

The Young Six looked at each other.

“I don’t know what is going on,” said Ocellus.

“Attack them!” Ghadra ordered.

The hellhounds leaped first.

SCHOOM!

A pulse of the magic surrounding the students went out. It hit the hellhounds and they disintegrated.

“What?! No!” Ghadra bellowed.

The Young Six looked at each other in amazement.

“Could this be the Elements of Harmony?” Sandbar asked.

“Again!” Ghadra ordered.

“We should huddle closer!” Silverstream cried.

Smolder did so, and she held the creatures she cared so deeply about the closest she’d ever done.

Streams of light shot out in different directions, disintegrating some more of Ghadra’s minions.

“Kill them! Somecreature kill them!” Ghadra roared.

Smolder snapped her head to her left and more minions were coming. She didn’t know exactly what was going on, but all she could think about were her friends. She barely could register the beams of light going out like snakes, hitting the minions approaching.

“Oh, yeah!” she heard Gallus boast.

“This is amazing!” Ocellus squeed.

The beams of light struck every minion that had attempted to approach the Young Six, Smolder had to laugh.

The light around the Young Six glowed even brighter. It was so luminous that they had to shield their eyes. Ghadra’s minions swarmed upon them.

“We’re just like our professors!” Silverstream laughed.

Smolder felt the great power within her. Then, a huge shockwave emerged from her and her friends.

A flash of white, yellow, and rainbow shot out throughout the Badlands. Smolder watched as all of the minions from the ground to the sky were destroyed. The changeling army and Pharynx looked back at them with amazement in their eyes.

Not taking another second, Smolder looked down to see Ghadra who’s still standing and looking up at them with a look of terror and amazement.

“What are all of you?” he cried.

Thinking of her friends again, the positive feelings of love, loyalty, kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, and how the magic of friendship is the most powerful of all, she focused on him.

“We’re best friends. And we’re all protectors of Equestria,” she said.

Ghadra blinked several times. He let out a roar and shout a huge wave of dark aura at the creatures. However, Smolder felt the power around her grow and she saw her scales glow brighter.

The dark aura couldn’t penetrate through her or her friends’ magic. Smolder let out a shout and let out the magic.

It was like an explosion.

She and her friends’ magic shot out at Ghadra in an explosion of color and struck him. Before they knew it, the werebear was careening through the sky and he went flying, colors trailing behind him. Smolder watched as he screamed and vanished over the horizon.

Smolder couldn’t help but smile victoriously as her friends cheered. Pride arose within her chest. They were like their professors. Whatever this power was, they’d done it. Smolder glanced at the surprised changelings and gave them the thumbs up.

Then, she snapped out of her thoughts as she felt herself lowered to the ground.

“That was incredible!” Gallus laughed.

“It was an amazing light show!” Silverstream chirped.

Smolder turned to her friends and all of them cheered and high fived one another. But it was cut short when Smolder saw Pharynx approaching them with a surprised look.

“What in the world was that?” he asked.

“I-I...” Smolder tried to say.

“We don’t know!” Silverstream cried.

“But yak loved beating bad bear!” Yona nodded curtly.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Pharynx asked.

Smolder shrugged. All I could think of was my friends.

“Oh, Pharynx!” said Ocellus, hovering above her friends’ heads. “We need to tell you something now. It’s very urgent.”

“How could I not tell?” Pharynx asked.

“So, you mean to tell us that a new enemy has taken Canterlot and all of the kingdoms’ leaders?” Pharynx asked with wide, angry eyes.

“That sums it up, yeah,” said Sandbar.

“And we came all this way to get you to help us to rally up everycreature else. We can’t do it on our own,” Ocellus explained.

Pharynx nodded. “They have done so much for us. And...” He growled. “They’ll regret hurting my brother!” He turned to the changelings behind him. “Get everychangeling out to send a message to the other kingdoms at once!”

“We can help!” Yona raised her hoof.

“Huh?” Pharynx backtracked.

“We all need to speak to our leaders,” said Sandbar, “It’d help all of us rally them up faster.”

Pharynx sighed. “Fine. But you do what we say on the way there. Got it?”

“Got it,” all the students said in unison.

The purple changeling turned back again to the others. “Find the safest routes at once.”

“Yes sir!” they saluted.

Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends entered the gates of the impala village. When Twilight opened it, they were met with an image that warmed the alicorn’s heart.

The impalas cheered for the ponies and their allies. All of them leaped, danced, and hugged. Twilight could hear her friends congratulating one another as she looked at Mystic. The young unicorn had a smile on her face, which Twilight loved to see.

Then, Faraji approached Twilight and shook her hoof vigorously.

“My stars above!” he cried, grinning ear to ear, “You’ve done it! We’re finally free!”

“Gl-Gl-Glad we cou-could help,” Twilight said as he shook her hoof.

“You just made history today for all of us!” Faraji laughed. “You and your beloved friends are truly a spectacle!”

“Thank you, chief,” Twilight blushed, pulling her hoof away.

“Please, call me Faraji!”

The impala chief looked behind her. Twilight followed his gaze and noticed he was looking at Accalia and Gunnolf. The alicorn briefly froze, she hadn’t thought about the impalas’ nervousness and their reaction to the wolves.

However, Faraji walked over to them and began speaking with the wolves. Twilight’s eyes widened in amazement but a proud smile overtook her features.

Whatever Faraji was saying had the wolves smiling and Accalia giving a bow of respect.

When he was done speaking, he came back and faced his tribe.

“This day will change Oogundaa forever!” Faraji announced to his tribe. “Let’s all celebrate this day as a day we’ll begin to change it for the better!”

Everypala loudly cheered. Twilight felt her cheeks slightly hurting but she didn’t care.

About ten minutes later while everycreature was chatting among each other and Jia and her soldiers were discussing what they would do next, Mystic thought she’d go back to Chief Faraji’s hut to look into more scrolls

I just wonder if there’s more to that scroll that spoke of that black lion, Mystic thought.

Just when she reached the hut in question, Faraji stepped out and Mystic forced herself to stop as her gaze met Faraji’s eyes.

“Is your curiosity peaked again?” Faraji asked with a warm grin.

“Heck yes,” Mystic nodded with a hint of a smile. “Do you mind?”

“By all means, go ahead, just be careful,” Faraji replied, leaving his hut.

Mystic didn’t waste a second by entering the hut and when she did, she saw the scrolls on the many shelves. Mystic pulled out the worn-down scroll with the black rim she’d retrieved with the black lion, unrolled it, and placed it on a nearby desk. Lighting up her horn, Mystic turned to the many scrolls and began pulling several scrolls from the top, levitating them down to her to see if any of them had anything of interest that spoke of this one scroll she’d found.

...

After about half an hour of looking, Mystic found two more that seemed to contain something interesting but decided to keep looking through all of them. She pulled down some from the middle of the shelves and then a pile of dust flew out into her face.

She coughed a couple of times, stumbled back, and sneezed as she impulsively used her magic to send the dust flying away. When the dust was gone, Mystic looked to where she’d pulled the scrolls out and her eyes widened when she saw another one, this one had golden trimmings on top of it.

Not wasting any time, she pulled it out with her magic, and unrolled it and her eyes widened when she saw what looked like teardrop-looking crystals painted onto the ancient fabric. The material of the scroll, and the style of the pictures and language beneath looked just like another scroll she’d found earlier with golden trimmings on the top and bottom of it.

When she moved over to the table and began to unroll it, it looked to be a pictorial manuscript, and Mystic gasped at the panorama that seemed to spill across the parchment as she unrolled it across the table.

Mystic’s eyes lit up, “This seems to match up with another one of them!”

“What’re you looking at?”

At Twilight’s voice, Mystic jumped, and her right hind hoof landed on the floor a little awkwardly. She slipped, fell, and hit her head on the side of a small table.

“Can’t you knock next time?” Mystic asked, rubbing her sore head.

“Knock on what? The wall?” Twilight asked with an apologetic look.

“Yes!” Mystic grumbled, getting to her hooves. She turned to the scrolls again, “I was researching a previous scroll I found before we defeated Clawdius.”

“Ooh, that sounds interesting! What did you find with this one?” Twilight asked, now next to Mystic.

“This one and another one seem to be telling a story,” Mystic said, “Like you’d find in pyramids or other ancient ruins.”

“Like Somnambula the village,” Twilight added. “It has a pyramid.”

“Never heard of it but okay.”

Mystic looked at the painted teardrop-looking crystals scattering at the beginning of the scroll she’d just pulled out but moved over to look at it and saw there was an ancient language in Oogundaan at the bottom of the scroll.

Using her translation skills, Mystic began reading the scroll’s language.

“A massive city,” Mystic said, placing her hoof gently on the other side of the scroll and looking at it. “One that was secure, stable, prosperous and peaceful to protect harmony for all.” She looked over to the right a bit and saw it.

On the ancient fabric with old paints and oils, was a metropolis that shimmering with gold, white, and silver hues. And within it there looked to be bipedal animals glittering with gold, all were smiling, and some were flying in the sky with rainbows trailing behind them, but looking over to the right to read more of the old Oogundaan language.

“These are beings of pure harmony and light that streaked the sky with their colors as they fought the darkness outside the city walls and the battles shook the earth and the heavens,” Mystic translated and Twilight lightly gasped as Mystic’s mind reeled from what she just read.

She paused when she saw Twilight’s wide eyes and slightly agape jaw.

“You can read that with no problem?” Twilight asked, looking amazed.

“Traveling across the world has its perks and requirements,” Mystic gave a little smile before turning to the scroll again. “Such as understanding ancient languages.”

“I’ve never heard of this language before, but to see you translating this! Eee!” Twilight clapped her hooves excitedly.

“Parts of it are faded due to age, which is unfortunate,” Mystic stated with a frown.

Moving on, Mystic saw there was an illustration of a large multifaced crystal with colors of the rainbow illuminating very brightly.

“A giant crystal in the middle of the city,” Mystic said, looking at the part of the image in question. “There’s more here.” She began translating again, “The citizens and guardians of this metropolis came up with plans throughout countless years to counter the darkness outside of the city and the realms beyond, but one day, the city fell and the symbol of hope along with it.”

“That must be what this is,” said Twilight.

“Probably, it’s a little vague,” said Mystic, “More of what’s written is faded.”

Mystic saw there were some of the bipedal animals fighting against black forces that looked otherworldly compared to the people of the city, and there was darkness seeping from the sky. She kept looking, hoping for more answers, but the scroll stopped there.

She paused for a moment.

Curious on how it ends with this, Mystic thought, the scroll in question ending with some kind of dark entity beginning to seep into the paradise.

This is about these beings cleansing the world from darkness, but I’ve seen how easily the light can flicker out, Mystic thought, her mind racing.

“Wait a second,” said Mystic, glancing at Twilight and turning to another scroll she’d found, it having golden trimmings on the top and bottom like the first. “I already looked at both of these scrolls,” Mystic said, unrolling it onto the table.

“Oooh,” Twilight admired the artwork of what the scrolls were showing.

“These two seem to go together the best,” Mystic added, “Look.”

“It’s showing dark forces ravaging the city,” Twilight said with a disdained look.

“And the center of it destroyed,” Mystic said, there were all kinds of dark creatures drawn and it looked as if the scroll was illustrating, they radiated dark magic.

“What in the world happened?”

Mystic looked over to her left, holding up the scroll with the legendary city and black forces outside of it, and the second one Mystic had just shown Twilight showed the black lion and other dark forces that looked as powerful or even stronger than the black lion ravaging the land and city.

It was as if they were part of a puzzle of the past long forgotten, but the two scrolls looked to be part of a grander story, and that intrigued Mystic even more. She turned her attention to the second scroll, putting the first aside for now.

“When the shadows rise, the light must gather,” Mystic translated, recalling the chilling image of the black lion. “What cost must be paid to make way for the dawn?”

Both ponies paused when a light tremor shook the hut a little, knocking a few scrolls off the shelf.

Mystic tensed, her eyes darting around the hut as if expecting an attack. Twilight’s ears swiveled to the door. They both glanced at each other, uncertainty passing through them.

Mystic turned back to the scroll, continuing to look at it. It revealed the bipedal animals, illuminated in light and rainbows in some kind of hallway.

“All of us with whoever we can must help us either by training other creatures, even those that don’t know our magic, to counter the evil shadows,” Mystic translated, “It’s our only hope now after our Crystal and symbol of hope was destroyed.”

Mystic saw more of the text was faded, but she found some not too much later.

“And after the catastrophic event and our current struggles with no known way out of it, one of us must lead the charge against the shadows to restore our symbol of hope, gather the strongest form of magic, and destroy the shadows for good.”

She looked at the last little bit that was attached to the scroll and saw that there was a big mass of land drawn with a big white and gold mansion with two islands nearby.

Probably forgot to put the water in, Mystic speculated, Or that was an artistic choice.

“My goodness, this is so mysterious,” Twilight stated, her eyes filled with wonder, curiosity, and a little bit of excitement.

“I know,” Mystic said simply, yet her heart was racing over the last bit she’d read.

“These animals in both of these scrolls certainly look weird,” said Twilight.

“Yeah, some of them look almost bi-pedal like that Nightfall monster,” Mystic commented, taking in a breath to calm herself.

“Or humans,” Twilight said.

“What?” Mystic looked at Twilight incredulously.

“I mean that’s a humungous coincidence,” Twilight said with a sheepish grin.

Mystic raised an eyebrow and looked back at the scroll, “Or not... what are these things?”

“But they don’t look like beings of darkness like Nightfall,” said Twilight.

Good point, Mystic thought.

She looked back over at the legendary city on the scroll she first revealed to Twilight and the peaceful happy animals within it and flying in the sky.

If these beings are supposedly representing hope, what does that make me? Mystic thought.

Looking away from the two scrolls that appeared to go together, Mystic turned her attention to the original scroll she found before they defeated Clawdius and saw the black lion looming over the luscious Oogundaa.

Citizens were running scared, some dead, and some vainly trying to fight back. Mystic looked up towards the sky to see the drawing of a black-looking lion with ominous red eyes.

Ignoring her shudder, Mystic remembered that she’d found another scroll, one that was different from the two scrolls with the golden trimmings, but similar to the one she’d found first.

Moving onto the other scroll, Mystic unrolled it, revealing a painting of a luscious-looking Oogundaa, with zebras, kudus, impalas, buffalo, rhinos, and other citizens all happy and enjoying the landscape and each other.

The scroll also had a beautiful white temple on it, illuminated from light within it and above it.

“This doesn’t have any of the darkness in it,” said Twilight.

“Exactly,” said Mystic as she and Twilight examined it closely. “This looks to be done by the same creature who did the one with the black lion that I found first.”

“My gosh! Really?” Twilight’s wings flared in excitement and surprise.

“Yes, this looks to be happening before Oogundaa was overwhelmed by the darkness” Mystic said, taking note of what looked like a pale illuminated tree. “Huh?”

“One of those trees looks like the Tree of Harmony,” Twilight pointed at what Mystic saw and on closer inspection, did look like a crystallized tree.

“The Tree of Harmony...” Mystic said, a little taken aback by what she was seeing, “I remember reading of that in your friendship lessons.”

“Yes, it houses the Elements of Harmony and the Pillars of Equestria created it,” Twilight nodded.

“Did Oogundaa have a Tree of Harmony?” Twilight’s eyes widened.

“Don’t know, I’m confused as you are,” replied Mystic, examining the scroll closer. “I’m curious about this massive city.” Mystic’s brows knitted again. “I’ve never seen scrolls this cryptic before.”

“If there were multiple Trees of Harmony, what could that not only mean for Equestria but also for the other lands?” Twilight asked with a bright smile, eyes sparkling, “Could that mean there are multiple Elements of Harmony? Are they similar trees and the same Elements are in a different crystallized form? What if Harmony’s universal and every land has its own guardians like the Pillars?”

“Twilight, not everything’s a hopeful revelation,” Mystic muttered, her voice strained.

“Sorry,” Twilight apologized with a sheepish grin, “I just can’t help but imagine the good that would come from that.”

“I’ve traveled across the world,” said Mystic, “I’ve not heard of anything like that, but--” she turned back to the scroll, “It seems to me all of these scrolls are alluding to something bigger than the Tree and the Elements. These beings seem to be taking out the darkness that spread across lands worldwide.”

Mystic felt a shiver run up her spine at the thought of that and the magic in her horn lightly fizzled before returning. What kind of forces could do that? When she looked at the scroll with the city and crystal in the middle, she shivered even harder.

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked, Mystic almost paused.

“I’m fine, just puzzled,” replied Mystic, playing off her uneasiness.

“Hold on,” said Twilight, she narrowed her eyes and trotted over to the two scrolls with the golden trimmings.

Without warning, Twilight gasped and her eyes flew wide.

“What?!” Mystic asked, surprised.

“These scrolls are not ancient!”

“Huh?!”

Twilight stepped up to the table and held up the two scrolls with shimmering golden tops and bottoms and held them up with her magic.

“Mystic, these aren’t ancient scrolls from thousands of years ago, they must be only a couple of decades old!”

“What?!” Mystic stepped up, and noticed, to her complete shock that the scrolls looked to be worn down to look like they were thousands of years old, but Mystic and Twilight noticed that there was some water damage, along with some unnatural marks on part of the scroll.

“Did magic do this?” Mystic asked.

“I think so,” said Twilight, “Nothing else could explain this.” She narrowed her eyes, “But why would someone use magic against these scrolls and not the ones you found that are Oogundaan scrolls?”

Mystic shook her head, “I think we might’ve opened some kind of box, Twilight...”

Or I did... Mystic thought.

“But how could there be old Oogundaan language on more recent scrolls?” Mystic asked, her body slightly tensing.

“I...” Twilight tried to speak but she faltered and frowned in thought. “That’s... a good question.”

Just then, Faraji entered his hut, a smile flashed across his lips.

“I take you’ve found something of more interest,” he said.

“Yes,” said Mystic, stepping aside, shaking off her uneasiness, “These scrolls are bizarre.”

Faraji nodded.

“Yes, I’m a very passionate historian and so were my parents,” said Faraji. “They and my grandparents found these a long time ago.” He smiled.

“I hadn’t been able to make heads or tails of those particular scrolls,” said Faraji, looking down at them as he stopped next to Mystic and Twilight, “Sure they might have connections but I haven’t been able to discover what.”

Faraji pointed to the two scrolls Twilight was holding.

“I just know that this one speaks of a mythological city with a massive crystal in it and the blackness of evil ones ever-present outside of its borders,” said Faraji, “And as for the Tree, I have never been able to find one like the one in this scroll,” he pointed to the second scroll. “It’s like they’re an incomplete puzzle.”

“Yet one mentions these beings of darkness, is it connected to the black lion in this other scroll?” Mystic asked.

“I believe so,” Faraji said.

“Could we take them with us?” Mystic asked, and Faraji turned to her with a raised eyebrow.

“For research?” Twilight asked, “Maybe we’ll discover something else.”

“Back in Equestria?” Faraji tilted his head.

“A long shot but it couldn’t hurt,” Mystic added, stepping next to Twilight.

Faraji shrugged, “Sure why not. Just be careful with them. And,” he smiled, “If you find anything and crack those scrolls, you’d not only be helping yourselves but also honoring my family’s work by solving them.”

“We’ll bring them back once we solve them,” Mystic promised and Twilight nodded. The young unicorn took the scrolls from the alicorn and looked over them again.

“When the shadows rise, the light must gather,” Mystic read again, recalling the chilling image of the black lion. “What cost must be paid to make way for the dawn?”

“I’ll see you outside, we need to head back soon,” said Twilight, she smiled, “You’ve got to teach me how to translate that language!”

“It takes months to learn!” Mystic cried as she put the scrolls with golden trimmings in her satchel.

“The more time together, the merrier!” Twilight laughed before she departed with Chief Faraji.

Mystic finished putting the scrolls in her satchel, making sure they were secure and were not going to be damaged.

But before she closed the bag, her mind was racing.

What city? What are these creatures? What shadows? And what kind of magic made the scrolls look thousands of years old? How had she not noticed it right away?

The questions bounced through Mystic’s head like ping-pong balls as she continued looking at the scroll trying to absorb every detail about it.

And why did it make her feel uneasy while looking at the scrolls?

Later that day, Starlight sat in a chair with a deep frown on her face. She looked outside to see the mud huts compiled with straw roofs and several impala calves kicking the ball to one another. She sighed heavily.

Way to screw up again, Starlight! She thought. You just had to go outside the village and get captured!

She thought back to when Clawdius was defeated. It was dumb luck that he happened to destroy the pillars that caused the palace to collapse.

The unicorn squeezed her eyes shut. Even though she was credited with his defeat, she didn’t deserve it. All she did was run like she is doing with withholding the reason why she came out here.

Mom would be so disappointed in me... she thought. Tears began rolling down her face. How could she have been so stupid in hoping that she could bring somepony back to life?

Of course, I’m always the selfish Starlight Glimmer, she thought.

Though incidents concerning her magic have been low, this one really took the cake. Whenever she said she wanted to help or hoped to help it turned out she only ever cared about herself.

From leading the Maulwurf to the Hive, she berated herself. Wanting to pass friendship lessons and brainwashing Twilight’s friends? All to meet her approval?

She looked at herself in the cracked mirror. A glare formed on her features.

Now this incident? she thought. Her horn lit up. A snarl formed on her lips. This... magic... I always land in trouble with it...

“Troubled, aren’t you?” came Nightfall’s voice.

Starlight gasped. “No! Not you!”

“Yes, little pony,” Nightfall chuckled.

“Go away! I don’t need this!”

“Oh, don’t you? Those friends of yours won’t be able to help you.”

“I’ll try and...”

“Everypony will know what you did in the Crystal Empire, Starlight!” Nightfall cut in. “All will know what you tried to do here in this land!”

Starlight whimpered and shivered. She held her head.

“Leave me alone...” she muttered.

“Oh, I’ll be here soon.”

Starlight blood ran cold as she sat up, stiff as a board.

Just at the village’s gate, Twilight is examining the surrounding plateaus. Shrubs and grass lead up to them and the local wildlife feasted on them.

“We’re about ready to regroup,” said a voice. Twilight turned to see it was their guide. “Everypony will be expecting you soon.”

Twilight nodded but turned back to a particular plateau.

“Hey Mystic,” said the alicorn.

“Yeah?” replied Mystic.

“Come here for a minute.”

Mystic walked over. “What is it?”

“I’ve noticed natural carvings through the landscape of Oogundaa throughout our time being here,” Twilight explained. “But look.” She pointed to a fairly close plateau that looked to have a worn-down circle on its right side. Mystic took a step forward and inclined her head.

“It’s not the first I’ve seen,” Twilight continued. “I was wondering if you knew anything about that.”

“Huh,” Mystic said. “I’ve probably only seen a couple of these in past explorations but I wasn’t too sure.” She turned to Twilight. “I can’t say I have any idea what the deal is there.”

“Any theories?”

“Crap if I know,” Mystic shrugged. “Oogundaa has, as we’ve heard, a few millennia of history.”

Twilight looked back at the unnatural feature in the rock formation. “Well, whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll keep historians guessing of what could’ve happened.”

Mystic nodded. “Well, keep guessing. We need to get back to your homeland and stop that monster.”

Twilight looked at her and nodded. “Let’s get back to the others.” Both ponies walked off and the alicorn took one last glance at what she’d observed.

As she walked to meet the others, for almost the hundredth time, Mystic couldn’t help but process the events that happened.

Those ponies... risked their own lives to save Oogundaa... she thought. While their nation is on the line.

A glance at the wolves gave her another reminder.

She couldn’t help it, but the unicorn knew that what went down have greatly shaken her worldview.

She focused back on the path ahead of her. Then, by several huts, she spotted Jia and the Imperial soldiers.

Her heart hardened when she saw them. A burning sensation arose within her chest when she saw what appeared to be a communication device on Jia’s wrist.

With a snarl, she took a quick detour and stopped a few feet away from them.

“What’re you fools up to?” Mystic asked with a venomous tone.

“Giving our general an update,” replied Jia, forming a small glare.

Mystic spat on the ground in front of the soldiers.

“Hey!” Twilight cried.

The unicorn shot Twilight a brief glare and turned back to the Imperial soldiers.

“Keep to yourselves,” she snarled. “And tell your General to kiss my flank.”

Mystic turned around, ignored the shell-shocked Twilight, flicked Jia’s face with her tail, and stomped off.

Hot air escaped her nostrils, unable to get Hong out of her mind or her life. She tried to focus on what she was thinking about before but her brain wouldn’t let her.

She tried to shake it away and then saw Twilight’s friends next to the village’s gate.

“Is everypony ready to go?” Twilight asked.

All of them turned to her.

“Yep,” replied Sunset. “And Faraji wants to speak with us about a means of transport back home.”

“Oh?”

“How’re they going to do that?” Mystic asked.

“Not sure,” said Sunset, “But he wants us to see him right away.”

“Well, let’s not keep him waiting,” Twilight smiled.

Her friends joined their side as they began to make their way towards the chief’s hut.

“Twilight! Twilight!” Mystic and the others immediately turned to see a frantic Starlight.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

“Well, isn’t this quite a sight to see,” said an ominous voice.

Twilight gasped. Mystic tensed. Starlight winced and cowered on the ground.

Screams echoed throughout the villages. Impalas flew into their huts, protecting their young and elderly.

“It’s him!” Faraji’s voice echoed.

The wolves and Imperial soldiers came to the ponies’ side, all weapons at the ready. Mystic slowly turned to see Nightfall standing at the village’s gate, a smirk on his face. She began to tremble as a hard glare formed on her face.

“You!” Twilight snapped.

“Any other comments, Princess Twilight?” Nightfall taunted, “Who is that handsome werehyena? Or what the hay is he up to now?”

“Come on, cut the act!” Sunset stepped forward, her horn alit.

“No need for too much panic,” Nightfall smiled. “Yet.” He pointed behind them. “You don’t want to cause the village to be destroyed, now would you?”

Mystic looked back at the cowering impalas diving into their huts. He was right. He could destroy them without a second thought. Mystic faced him, still at the ready.

“What do you want?” Twilight growled.

“Just wanted a little chat is all,” Nightfall sneered. “I must say, after knowing that your little Equestria is hanging in the balance, you decided to turn around and help a dying land? How noble.”

“It’s what we do best,” replied Twilight.

“But how can you truly be certain if you were only helping these poor creatures for their sake, or your own, Twilight?” Nightfall grinned, showing his teeth.

“I help anycreature that I can!” Twilight snapped, “I’m the Princess of Friendship and I won’t let anypony down!”

“So committed I see. But...” Nightfall leaned forward, “Then why didn’t you bother contacting Oogundaa sooner and knowing of their problems?”

“Because we didn’t know much about this area and...”

“Oh, too much for the Princess of Friendship to find out and solve problems?” Nightfall chuckled.

“Oh, but you shouldn’t be questioning her!” Rarity declared. “She knows what to do in a crisis!”

Nightfall looked at her, causing the white unicorn to wince under his gaze.

“Is that all you do? Just rely mostly on her to solve the problems?” Nightfall looked back at Twilight. “Did you come to help Oogundaa for their sake? Or are you just thinking that this is all about you? And that you want power over true friendship?” He chuckled, “All creatures are the same,” Nightfall smirked, “All hide behind their own rules and fantasies of a better world. But when it comes down to it, those who are at risk of losing everything, become more of preserving themselves rather than practicing what they preach.”

“Silence!” Twilight cried. Mystic couldn’t help but look at her curiously.

“You can deny me all you wish, Twilight. You have to be the problem solver. You have to be the answer to everycreature’s issues.” He took a glance at Mystic. “You and your friends might be unaware of a deep flaw in your group.” He looked back at Twilight.

“My friends helped me with where I am today,” said Twilight.

“Or just stepping stones as a result of an assignment?” Nightfall countered, causing the alicorn to freeze again.

Nightfall grinned and threw something on the ground. Twilight gasped. Mystic saw it was a dark blue wizard’s hat with starry patterns on it. She examined Twilight, noticing her horrified expression.

“St-Starswirl’s hat...” Twilight whispered, the alicorn was trembling and Mystic knew rage was building up within her.

“Yes, yes,” Nightfall chuckled. “And it was a real honor to meet him.”

“What did you do to him?!” Twilight bellowed.

“He attempted to escape and was taught an extremely painful lesson,” replied Nightfall.

Suddenly, a bunch of magic appeared around Twilight, sending a burst of wind blowing past Mystic and almost knocking her down. She saw the alicorn was glowing a bright white color and her horn alit with fierce magic.

“How dare you!” Twilight screeched.

Before Mystic could blink, Twilight lunged for Nightfall, magic streaking behind her. The werehyena held up his claws and grasped Twilight’s forelegs.

His eyes had widened and were filled with surprise.

“I’ll defeat you for what you did!” Twilight roared.

The werehyena composed himself, his body now covered in his dark aura.

“You’re bold, but you’re being foolish!” Nightfall shouted. “Why stand up for an idiotic bearded pony?”

“Starswirl is a great hero!”

“That wizard was a swine!”

Twilight let out another roar, sending out another burst of wind. Mystic could practically feel the power radiating from the alicorn.

Her jaw was practically on the ground as Nightfall held the powerful alicorn back. He looked to be straining as he clenched his jaw. Then, he shifted a bit and his sleeves were blown back, revealing bracelets on his wrists.

A small bit of curiosity came over Mystic. She looked and saw the bracelets giving the same dark aura he’s been using. Her eyes widened.

Is that the source of his power? she thought.

Nightfall let out a loud grunt, trying to push Twilight back. Then, she caught a glimpse of the same looking bracelets on his heels.

Before she could think about it, Twilight was thrown back with a dark surge of magic. The alicorn flew back into a hut, partially destroying it.

Starlight ran over to where she’d fallen. The wolves and army began to move forward but Nightfall created a sword from his aura.

“Not one step closer!” he shouted, pointing a claw covered with the same aura at the village. “Or, their blood will be on your paws and hooves.”

Mystic watched them stand down. The unicorn hated being unable to do anything. Her heartstrings tugged as she watched Starlight pull Twilight out of the rubble.

“We will defeat you,” came Sunset’s voice.

Mystic turned and looked at him, baring her teeth.

“And we’ll never let you harm anycreature else,” said Mystic.

“Are you sure about that?” Nightfall asked. Then, he pulled out and opened a container, releasing some kind of purple vapor. It went past Mystic and the surrounding creatures. Confused, Mystic looked around at it but it was gone as soon as it appeared.

Then, everypony around her began to waver. She nearly gasped when she suddenly felt drained of energy. It was almost as if it were sucked out with a vacuum. Close by, the wolves began to fall over, soon followed by the army and the Mane Six.

She tried to stay on her hooves, but her energy completely depleted and fell flat on her stomach.

Oh no! she thought, beginning to panic.

“What... happened?” Rainbow asked weakly.

“Don’t worry, you’ll survive,” came Nightfall’s voice.

Mystic’s head felt as if it weighed one hundred pounds, but she managed to look up at the werehyena.

“Because all of you chose one little pony without considering the possibility of an unknown threat,” Nightfall began. “And because you, especially you, Twilight, chose to save a dying land over your current one, you have chosen that you just want as much as possible. Power. Domination.”

“That’s not...”

“I am talking!” Nightfall snapped. “Some leaders and well-known heroines to go after one measly little pony to ensure they stay where they are, huh? All creatures are just self-centered and use whatever they can to fulfill their greedy desires,” he said. “So, all need correction.” He smiled. “And you’ll be witnesses to the rebuilding of your precious world.”

Nightfall pointed a claw right behind him and Mystic saw a portal opening. Her eyes widened when she saw it gave everypony a clear view of Canterlot. Only, surrounding the mountain were four tall black pillars at its corners. Above it was a cloud of red, purple, and black. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed over the great city.

“This is ground zero,” Nightfall went on. “And all of you can’t stop me. There’s no power or backup friends that can get you back into shape to fight.”

The werehyena stood up with a sinister grin. “Just wait. All of you. The world is going to be reborn and it’ll only fester.”

Mystic snarled and tried to pull herself up, but her hooves felt as if they were weighed down by lead.

Another portal opened behind Nightfall and he took a step back.

“Monster!” Rarity wheezed.

“I’ve been called worse,” replied Nightfall. “I’ve got a show to get going. So, I will be sure not to disappoint.”

Mystic managed to sit up but the werehyena had already stepped into the second portal and it disappeared.

The unicorn held back a gulp. She saw the Mane Six, Sunset, and Starlight’s eyes were glued to the portal giving them a view of the conquered Canterlot.

She looked at it herself and couldn’t believe the sight. Sounds of the others murmuring entered her eardrum but paid them no mind.

Still feeling sapped of energy, Mystic couldn’t help but let her head down onto the dirt again.

Then somecreature’s legs stepped in front of the portal.

“I will not allow some mythical creature torment our village’s valuable heroes!” said Faraji.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw more impalas surrounding her.

“Get every one of our new allies to a bed at once and tend to their every need!” she heard Faraji order. “We’ll not rest until they’re back on their hooves and paws!”

Mystic felt herself being lifted by light green magic as her eyelids drooped.

For the next couple of hours, the impalas cared for their heroines and heroes. Twilight laid on a bed one of them brought out for her. The sky above was filled with twinkling stars. She’d never seen so many of them before. But they were barely on her mind. She looked around at her friends, just lying there when they should be getting to Equestria. But her energy was so depleted, that even looking around was too much effort.

Then, Faraji’s face came into view.

“Are you doing okay?” he asked.

Twilight groaned. “N-No... I’m still too weak...”

Faraji frowned. “Do you want some water?”

Twilight couldn’t nod. “Y-Yes.”

She felt herself gently pushed up and a small cup pressed up to her lips. Thankfully, she could drink, but it took some effort. Several gulps later, the water traveled down her throat and into her stomach. When she was finished, Faraji laid her back down.

“We’re doing all we can,” said Faraji. “I and the doctor have been researching on how to cure this.”

“It’s not your fault...” said Twilight. “You’re doing more than enough for us. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome... I just wish we could get all of you back on your hooves to fight him.”

Twilight listened to his hoofsteps retreat. The alicorn slightly moved her head to see her friends lying there hopeless and tired. Rainbow had stopped complaining a few minutes ago and she hoped it’d stay that way.

Twilight laid there in defeat. Tears rolled down her face, thinking of her home, her beloved friends and family, and how all of its citizens would now suffer. Part of her did wonder why they did take a small detour to help Oogundaa.

“Did you come to help Oogundaa for their sake?” Nightfall’s voice echoed. “Or are you just thinking that this is all about you? And that you want power over true friendship?”

Power isn’t why we make friends, Twilight thought.

“You can deny my questions all you wish, Twilight. You have to be the problem solver. You have to be the answer to everycreature’s issues.”

That’s not true, Twilight thought, trying to assure herself. But for whatever reason, Nightfall’s words to her just wouldn’t leave her head.

And whatever and how he got Starlight to be in Oogundaa... I don’t want to think about it... she thought, wanting to fall asleep but couldn’t.

“Heroine...” said a whispering voice.

“What?” Twilight breathed. Not moving her head, she gazed around but saw nothing but the village and the starry sky above.

“You and the others must not fail,” the voice came again.

“Who’s there?” Twilight asked, slightly nervous.

“The ways of evil shall not prevail,” it continued. Twilight immediately deterred it was feminine. “The sins of darkness must be washed away before it consumes and eats everything it touches.”

“Who are you?” Twilight asked.

“All of you must rise,” said the voice. “The time is almost upon us for everycreature to stand up. United as one for all kinds of life to survive.” Twilight realized it sounded like an older voice and filled with wisdom.

“I shall bestow upon you the strength you need,” said the voice. “I only have so much power to give. Good luck, heroes, and may the Light shine down upon you all.”

Suddenly, out of the sky, came a yellowish light with white streaks within it. Twilight wanted to gasp but being so weak, she couldn’t do any more than gawk.

Is that... from the afterlife? she thought, amazed, never considering the possibility of one. The light descended upon the village.

It seemed to hover around Twilight. Then, the alicorn felt strength returning to her. She gasped.

Moving her limbs, she saw that they were moving without issue.

Her horn felt strong surges of magic within it and it coursed throughout her body. Almost as if she were automated, she stood up and marveled at the mysterious light whisking and pulsing throughout the streets of the village.

“Princess?” came Mystic’s voice.

Twilight turned to see the unicorn gawking at the sight around her. She saw that her friends have begun to stand up.

“Yaaaayyy!” Pinkie cheered from a distance. The alicorn saw her pink friend hopping along, cheering and throwing confetti around.

Impalas emerged from their huts.

“What is this?” one asked.

“This is beautiful!” said another.

“What’s happening?” a third marveled.

“Twilight!” came Rainbow’s voice. The alicorn turned to see her doing a loop-de-loop in the sky.

“Oh, my stars!” Rarity trotted up. “I’ve never felt so energized before!”

The light around the village faded and was gone as quickly as it had come.

“Yeeeehawwww!” Twilight heard Applejack.

The alicorn turned to see Mystic’s jaw was almost touching the ground. She was unmoving. Awestruck.

She heard somecreature approaching.

“You’re all standing up!” cried Faraji.

“And more energized than ever!” Pinkie appeared alongside him.

Before Twilight could say anything, Mystic approached him.

“F-Faraji...” she said, “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

The impala chief shook his head. “No, I haven’t. It’s not ever been recorded in Oogundaan history either.”

Twilight saw that the wolves were standing back up and the Imperial army was too.

What had happened? Twilight began thinking about a possibility.

“I’m still trying to figure out why the hay some mysterious light just decided to come and make us well!” said Mystic.

“You know what I think?” Twilight smiled. “I think the magic of friendship is among us stronger than ever.”

“If that is the case, it’s totally amazin’!” Applejack laughed. “Our friendship is awfully strong!”

Twilight inwardly agreed. As her friends turned back to one another, the alicorn’s mind went back to the voice she had heard.

If it is the magic of friendship, she thought, furrowing her brows. Then who did I just hear speaking to me?

She looked at the others and nopony else seemed confused anymore. Was she the only one who had heard it?

Author's Note

Wow, a lot happened in this chapter didn't it?

And Ghadra's line "A fitting end to your almost non-existent" story was a throwback to Tirek's line in The Ending of the End - Part 2, and because there could've been a lot more done with the Young Six in the official show, so it was also a shot at that point, too.

Any of you have any ideas of what you'd love to have seen done with those adorable characters?

Updated - 11/21/24 - A new scene added with Mystic and Twilight discussing two scrolls and an extra Oogundaan scroll Mystic found. The only thing I'll say about them is stay tuned!