A low, soft growl rumbled beneath the surface of Frigus. The shadows veiled the form of its origin, and a mysterious form it was. Its stomach rose again, and again it fell, and then...It moved...
Dark energy surged through Celestia's horn, shocking her from slumber.
"It can't be...! Not that, that...Thing!"
There was no mistaking it. The monster...It was back...
"I must warn Luna!"
Morning came. Twilight groaned and climbed out of her bed. She soaked in the warm rays of the sun that shined through her chamber window. The Alicorn yawned.
"I slept like a foal. Hmhm!"
Twilight exited the room. She crossed the halls of the castle to Spike's place of rest. She knocked on his door.
"Spike, are you awake?"
"Five more minutes..." he groaned.
Twilight rolled her eyes, but the smile never left her face.
"He'll come out when breakfast's ready."
The princess of friendship strolled through the main hall of her home. She opened the front doors to let the fresh air in.
"Princess Celestia?"
Luna emerged from the nearby trees.
"Hello, Twilight. It's good to see you again."
"Is something wrong?"
"I'm afraid so."
"We have much to discuss." Luna stated.
"Perhaps we could speak over a cup of tea?" her sister suggested.
Twilight nodded. She led them to the kitchen.
"So...What's going on, exactly?"
Celestia sipped her beverage.
"Tell me, how much do you know about planetology?"
"The study of other planets, right? I have them all memorized."
"It would be accurate to presume you know Frigus then?"
"Of course. It's the ninth planet of the solar system and the furthest from the sun."
"Yes. It was named after the goddess of winter many eons ago when ponykind was still in our infancy."
"It's strange to be talking about something so much older than you."
"There is a reason," Luna interjected, "When the universe was still young, a monster of terrible power ruled among the stars, destroying everything in its wake."
"A monster?"
Celestia nodded.
"Yes. It was known by our ancestors as Praedo, the destroyer of worlds."
"How was it stopped?"
"With the combined powers of the equine race. Using all their might, they forced him from Equestria and sealed him in Frigus's core."
"Judging by your tone, it's made a recent appearance."
"Nothing is permanent. Even the strongest seals weaken with time."
"Do you have any idea what it looks like?"
"We only know what we've heard from stories. By our ancestors' accounts, its form resembled a skeleton hundreds of feet tall. Its muscular system was inverted, barely shielded by the bone."
"That explains the containment method."
"I'm sure you've guessed by now why we're here."
"You need us to neutralize it."
"If only it were as simple as you make it sound."
"What do you mean?"
"In order to defeat it the first time, many sacrificed their souls for power. Only a force of great darkness can match such an evil entity."
"My soul...?"
"To combat this threat, you must steep yourself in hatred and pain. Only by giving up everything you hold dear will you obtain the strength necessary for victory."
"I don't understand. Why?"
"Praedo is a ruthless killer incapable of mercy or remorse. Its sole purpose is to end life as we know it. Without killing intent, we'll all be done for. I believe you possess the power to destroy it once and for all."
"I see..."
"I know what we're asking is a great burden to bear. We won't fault you should you choose to decline."
"I need time to think. I know it's selfish, but..."
"We understand. Should you choose to accept this great task, please come to the castle this evening. I will teach you about the arcane arts of the ancient equestrian civilization."
Celestia greeted Twilight in the throne room of Canterlot castle.
"I see you've brought your friends."
"Tell me, what happened to the ponies who sacrificed their souls to defeat Praedo?"
"Those who did not die were overcome by various ailments. Some went mute. Others went mad."
"And given my temperament, madness is a very real possibility, isn't it?"
"Perhaps."
Pinkie's expression was downhearted. Celestia noticed. She approached the earth pony and placed a hoof under her chin.
"I'm sorry for everything, my dear little pony. I myself aged hoping this beast was nothing more than a fairytale. To your misfortune, I was mistaken."
"I'm scared," Pinkie admitted, "I'll be like I was as a filly."
"You've done enough for Equestria to warrant a last request. Speak it and it shall be so."
Pinkie dried her tears.
"Help the ponies on the rock farms. Their lives should be easier than mine was."
"Of course. And the rest of you?"
"Take care of Scoots for me." Rainbow said.
"Same for my family on the farm." Applejack added.
"Do look after my animals for me." Fluttershy pleaded.
"Sell the boutique and and give the profits to charity." Rarity solicited.
"What about you, Twilight," Celestia inquired, "What is your wish?"
Twilight considered this for a moment. She was effectively planning for an end-of-life scenario. Her own mortality wasn't something she liked reflecting on. At last, she came to a decision.
"Pass on my title to a worthy successor."
"Intriguing. I wasn't expecting that from you."
"You need the elements to protect Equestria from less severe threats. It only makes sense a new princess of friendship would have to be chosen."
"Your foresight has greatly improved since you first left Canterlot. Even I failed to consider the importance of the elements in this situation."
"What will our training entail, exactly?"
"The first step is both the most crucial and the most painful. You must sever your bonds with each other."
"I suspected as much. It was my job to know how relationships worked. That included knowing how easily they were broken. All we have to do is dwell on the things we hate most about each other."
"Now I understand why you brought them along."
"This is the worst day of my life..."
The others stood silent in somber agreement.
One by one, Celestia led Twilight and her friends to the royal armory. They each selected a weapon that suited their personalities. Twilight chose a cruciform sword with a gold handle. Applejack retrieved a pair of gauntlets and a set of greaves to match. Rainbow found a set of attachable blades for the tips of her wings. Pinkie picked out a box of powdered explosives capable of encompassing a large radius. Unlike Twilight's sword, Rarity preferred something more elegant for a lady of her stature. A rapier did the trick. Fluttershy's weapon was the most unique. She set her sights on a heavy shield. While slow, it provided protection and tremendous blunt force for parry attacks.
"Now that you're equipped, the next step is to discover your natural affinities," Celestia told them, "Each of you has an elemental type you're naturally skilled in. Unfortunately, I do not know which belongs to who. That is for you to find out on your own."
"When you say elemental type, you mean we each have magical abilities related to nature in some way, don't you?" Twilight questioned.
"Precisely. Furthermore, you must each optimize your bodies for performance on the battlefield. Your strength, speed, and endurance will determine your odds of survival."
"I wish we could at least train together..."
"As do I."
"Here's to the beginning of the end, I suppose."