Longness of Semper, Still I Remember

Now, she would be the first to admit that such extraordinary turn of events has put her on the spot. Or second rather, after Fluttershy. And she has always striven to maintain her composure in the most dire of situations. What, with all the vines encroaching upon their quaint settlement, the sky distorted so dreadfully yet elegantly, as well the magic in her horn and sister's behaving erratically. Then to be rounded together by those familiar in town, alongside complete strangers as though they were tasked with such an errand was a tad unsettling. But after everything that has unfolded this past year or so, Rarity could not resist languishing over the next, worst, possible thing to occur.

Rescinded. Before Twilight could properly reunite with her foalhood friend from Canterlot, Pinkie Pie ducked at the last possible moment. Then a massive stalk of black thorns launched in through the shattered window and struck the white Unicorn to the floor. After clearing her head from the daze, she saw Comet and Moondancer using their horns to hold it in place. Seeing how they managed to overcome the fritz caused by the vines, they were able to keep it still for Applejack and that Hunt fellow to chop it with a pair of axes that were brought in also.

"Guess you was missin' somethin' here in Ponyville after all, Twi," her orange friend mused with a grunt.

"Perhaps it'd be best to solve this calamity directly with the Elements," she mused, turning to Twilight, "Wouldn't you agree, darling?"

"Only if we know to whom and what to direct that energy," the new Alicorn replied, "But you're right in that we need to get them out and ready for immediate use. But we still need to find the source, which might be in the Everfree."

"Oh, yeah," pumped Rainbow Dash, "Just like old times!"

As she levitated the case containing the necklaces and crown she brought with her, Hunt, Bon Bon and Moondancer came up to Twilight after conversing.

"Which is why we need to take that potion, Princess," he said, "After you activate it, we'll divvy it up and take a sip each. We should be able to look back and see what happened that led to all this."

"Look, Homestead right?" She had just placed the Elements upon her friends' necks and her head. "I appreciate you and your team helping us during this whole event, and I'm sure Princess Celestia had a good reason to entrust you with whatever assignment you have without letting us know about it. But I'm not sure this is something that relates to your work."

"Nonetheless," he stated, "we're going to have to collaborate in order to handle this thoroughly. Plus, our work is in the Everfree also, which means we need to work together."

"But remember," said Zecora, "that only three more ponies can share in viewing past catastrophies."

"Hunt and I will be two to help watch," said Bon Bon, "while you can decide another of your friends to join us. Tail and Dancer will help Rarity with her magic while also helping the rest keep those plants from getting inside."

"Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me! I'll do it! Me-me-me-me!" Seeing as how the rest of her friends showed slight unease to volunteer, Rarity watched Twilight decide on the singular choice.

She sighed, "Okay, Pinkie. Just remember we need to learn what's going on behind this whole thing. We can't afford to foal around, like with Caboose, Grif or Donut."

"Or the Cake twins! Or the Crusaders! You bet, Twilight! Thanks!"

As the rosy Earth Pony bounced to join the three standing in a circle, Rarity watched the lavender mare use her glow to shake and swirl the concoction. It eventually yielded the results Zecora had mentioned. But it was not her usual magenta. Instead, it was some purple, boiling substance that steamed a sickly green from Twilight's horn. Something she must have picked up after facing Sombra in the Empire, Rarity imagined. During all that, Spike rushed into the kitchen for some cups as instructed, then came directly back with four glasses. Floating them in front of her, Twilight poured equally small amounts inside, then dispersed them amongst the others.

"So," she asked the Zebra, "what now?"

"To find the proper events you must peek, focus strongly on the answers that you seek."

"Then let's focus on where these plants came from," said Hunt, "and where in the Everfree they started to fester. The root of all these problems should be pulled out from there."

"Like how those things went after the Princesses too," asked Pinkie.

"Exactly," Bon Bon nodded. "We find the source, we can track down what happened to them also."

"Alright," said Twilight, "then let's do this on the count of three. Ready?" Receiving a nod from each, she started. "One..."

"Two..." Pinkie chirped with eager excitement. That did not settle Rarity's nerves in the slightest.

"Three." After Hunt's level statement, all four emptied their cups. The others watched as they put the glasses down, waiting for something to unfold at any moment, before...

Twilight hummed curiously, "Nothing seems to be hap-" Suddenly, four pairs of eyes illuminated into white.

Pinkamena Diane Pie was super-duper excited to be going on a time-searching adventure in the past with Twilight, and Sweetie Drops, and Homestead David Hunt! Even though she was kind of bummed that he shaved his sort-of-itchy beard, the mare was really excited to see him back in town again after spending all that time in the Everfree with his new best friends. Maybe she could ask him to try growing a goatee! That would be even better-looking and frame-up his new-pony jawline with his short-cut mane! Rarity would like that probably!

But once the blinding light faded for her to regain her sight, she went straight to focusing on what was happening around her and the other three. Pinkie found them all inside a massive, glittery, sparkly cave that made her think of her big sister. "Ooh! Shiny!"

"Hush, Pinkie," Twilight hissed, "Look."

Just then, she saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stepping up towards a giant rock tree that held colorful, glowing, familiar gems in the branches and stem, with the sun and moon shaped at the base.

"The Tree of Harmony," Luna remarked, "Art thou certain, mine sister?"

"Hey, look," she gleamed, pointing at the center below the limbs, "There's your Cutie Mark, Twilight!"

"Pinkie, shh!" Twilight wanted to hear what Celestia was saying.

"Why! They can't hear us, right? We're just watching the show!"

"Pinkie's got a point," said Sweetie, "They're not even twitching their ears toward us."

"Zecora said we only see the flow of magic during major events," said Davey, "But we still need to listen."

"Even without these Elements," Celestia spoke on, "this shoot shall possess a great magic. Such that if it remains, shall the Tree press forth tending and warding this Forest's untamed growth."

The four viewed the millennial regents with intrigue and diligence, as the pair levitated said gems from the branches and stem. Placing them neatly into their strapped pouches, the Sisters of Night and Day departed with firm haste. That was when the bright flashy light thing came up again.

"Whee! What happens next?"

"Look," Twilight pointed, "This must be when the Princesses turned Discord to stone before us."

"Oh, this is so much fun!" Sure enough, Discord sat in his chaotic, disorderly glory of a throne on top of something resembling a hill, while Luna and Celestia made their approach. Pinkie then followed her gaze on the school of fish swimming midair past her and a bewildered Davey.

"Right."

"How about a game of 'Pin the Tail on the Pony'!" At that, Celestia and her sister turned agape to find her tail missing from behind, and looked back to see Discord swinging it playfully like a whip.

"Foalish sport and jests end this day for thee, Discord," she proclaimed with venom, "Thou shalt now pay the price of such calamitous reign on this earth!"

"Oh, I highly doubt that. And why must you speak so antiquarian. Why not speak like my friends from the aquarium instead? Even they sound less fishy. Or better yet, those ponies enjoying the spectacle behind you!"

"Wait," Sweetie said, now alert, "he sees us?"

But the Princesses never turned their heads again, thinking it was another prank from the Master of Chaos. "Very well, let them check your tail-free flanks."

"Thou hast ruled these lands with terror and unease," Luna spoke with equal spite, "But no longer! Behold, thine own downfall in the Elements of Harmony!"

With that, the gems lifted from their satchels and spun rapidly around Luna and her sister. Discord, however, was not paying attention. Or, that seemed to be the case. He was chewing loudly and obnoxiously over a pawful of black seeds from a paper bag, when he tossed some onto the Princesses' snouts. "Hungry? Oh, well. Suit yourselves."

They did not falter in their efforts, as they chose then to concentrate their focus channeling their power from the Elements. Once the blinding pillar of iridescent light engulfed the entire region, the Draconequus seemed to be entertained by it. "So intense, and so sure of yourselves! Remind you of anybody, David? Certain ladies with red hair and black armor! Hilarious!"

While he was mockingly petrified, Pinkie Pie looked to see Davey with a funny-looking face. It was almost like it turned to rock also. But Twilight was not looking at the stallion, nor did Sweetie Drops, and instead watched the event continue.

"Hark, mine blood kin," Luna sharply remarked, "this task be now complete. Should we not press on with these our newfound instruments and seek these ponies naming themselves Disciples who allowed such malice for their own secret gain?"

"Neigh, sister," Celestia answered lowly, "By now they be all but vanished from sight and mind of the Everfree after we seized what they sought also. But we must protect the Elements, alongside such relics from ancient forebears long-since perished afore Poninity."

"Dost thou mean...?"

"Yea, Luna. The guide towards the gateway of that foul beast called only Mantle must never be found nor used by any creature."

"And what of mine efforts in constructing a novel entity of intellect? Mayhaps that be of service to our cause after Starswirl’s intent."

"Thine theory on magical intelligence can continue with due diligence as well. But be wary, mine sweet little sister. I fear something as original and untested may yield unpredicting fruits greater than Discord, himself."

Pinkie Pie then looked at Twilight, who got anxious and was mumbling to herself about Ancora and Nightmare Moon. They stood there no longer, as the Regents of Equestria left into a restored horizon. But then Sweetie pointed out something. "Look, the ground!"

Sure enough, the black seeds Discord had tossed sank into the soil like pebbles in a river. Without even using a spell, Twilight and the others saw them take root and begin to sprout up to the revered Tree. But before reaching the surface, a blue field of light glowed in the dirt and kept the seeds from growing further. That is, until the power weakened from the Tree after so long, and after living without the Elements used to protect Equestria and the planet the past millennium or so.

But that was not the only thing that caught their attention. Davey looked up from the glowy-blue-flickery light show in the ground to see a group of ponies gathering in the cave and ruins on top.

"The Disciples," he muttered, "they must've somehow known about those black vines coming up. Now they're looking for what they want in the abandoned castle."

"But the only way they could've known that," said Sweetie, "was if they were told about it."

Celestia’s faithful student nodded with grim intensity. "Discord."