Twilight lay on her bed, trying to organize her thoughts, what happened back there was crazy.

Spike came into her room and poured her some tea.

“Thank you, Spike,” Twilight said.

“No problem,” Spike said “So what happened?” Spike asked now that Twilight seemed calmer.

“I… saw visions… of a cave… in the cave of harmony… like a hidden cave, and… there were other ponies there, something bad was happening… I can’t remember the rest,” Twilight said.

“He must have been trying to mug you, I’m worried about you,” Spike said.

“I don’t know Spike, didn’t you feel something about him… something oddly… familiar,” Twilight said.

“I don’t… know, to be honest, he just seemed like a crazy old stallion,” Spike said.

“...I’m sensing a correlation here,” Twilight said resolutely.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked.

“Everyone in my friend group has had strange dreams… I’m thinking we need to investigate this,” Twilight said.

“I think you're just making a mountain out of a molehill here Twilight,” Spike said.

“No, I’m betting something’s up, Spike can you send some messages?” Twilight asked.

“Sure, who to?” Spike asked.

“The others, we need to get to the bottom of this,” Twilight said.

“Alright, but don’t forget Celestia’s coming early to see us,” Spike said.

“I won’t,” Twilight said.

An hour later Twilight had set up the living room, she had prepared the once messy room and waited alongside Spike for the others to arrive.

“So, I don’t have to talk about my dream… right?” Spike asked.

“I suppose I can’t force you to, why?” Twilight asked.

“I-I can’t say…” Spike said blushing.

“I understand,” Twilight honestly did, but he was a growing boy, it’s bound to happen at some point.

She heard a knock on the door and she turned to the door.

“Spike, can you get that?” Twilight asked.

“Sure,” Spike ran to the door and opened it “Hi guys,” Spike said.

“Hello Spike,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Hello,” Fluttershy said politely, everypony else nodded in acknowledgment.

“This way,” Spike said and he led them to the library, as they entered they saw Twilight pouring over some books.

“Hey! Egghead,” Rainbow called and Twilight turned to see them.

“Hello guys, take a seat,” Twilight said.

“This better be important, ah’m missing out on baking, Mac isn’t as good at baking fritters as he thinks,” Applejack said.

“This will be quick,” Twilight said as they sat down.

“Is it a secret party for Celestia?” Pinkie asked.

“No,” Twilight said “We need to talk about these strange dreams we’ve all had,” Twilight said.

“Huh?” They all said.

“We’ve all experienced a lack of sleep and mentions of strange dreams, even Spike,” Twilight said.

“Twi!” Spike complained.

“I didn’t say what it was,” Twilight said before resuming “I had a strange encounter and it reminded me of them, i’m starting to see a strange correlation, and I want to find it out,” Twilight said.

“Ya dragged me away from work ta talk about dreams and theories? Twilight!” Applejack snapped.

“Look, I know that this isn’t as serious-sounding as you expected, but I need to know,” Twilight said.

“This hardly seems as important as the Summer Sun Celebration,” Rarity said.

“Just humor me guys,” Twilight said.

“If it’ll get me back home sooner, ah dreamed of the cave of Harmony,” Applejack said.

“...What?” Twilight said, sounding surprised.

“...Wait… you did too?” Rainbow asked

“Yeah… your sayin ya had the same dream last night?” Applejack said confusedly.

“Yeah, I’m at the cave and then another cave opens,” RD said.

“And a door is there…” Rarity murmured.

“And I opened it,” Fluttershy said.

“And suddenly these scary monsters came out and restrained me,” Pinkie added.

“And I was saved by… a pony, I don’t know who she is,” Twilight finished.

“Whoa….” Spike said a little shocked by the way they connected the dots.

“....Ooook, that was creepy…” Rainbow said.

“I agree,” Rarity said looking between them.

“What are the odds we’d all have the same dream,” Fluttershy asked.

“What other dreams have you all had?” Twilight wanted to get to the bottom of this.

“I remember one where I was helping donate to a medical building using my own money,” Rarity said thoughtfully.

“Ah was tellin a group of arguing ponies who was really at fault,” AJ said.

“I was leading a march during some kind of troop practice but went back to help a soldier who was struggling in the heat,” Rainbow said.

“I was helping nurse a baby deer back to health… in Canterlot oddly enough,” Fluttershy said.

“I was throwing a big party for a retiring soldier,” Pinkie added.

“...These dreams are correlating in some way,” Twilight said thoughtfully.

“Coincidence?” Rainbow asked.

“I don’t think there is,” Twilight said.

“Huh?” The others said.

“Tell me, in the cave of harmony dream, you seemed to be there alone, but felt the presence of other beings there…” Twilight said.

They all nodded and glanced amongst eachother.

“What’s happening… Are we being warned of something?” Rainbow asked.

“I think that’s a good guess, but of what?” Twilight asked.

“And what does this have to do with the old guy Twilight and I ran into?” Spike added.

“I don’t know…” Twilight said before standing tall “Girls, this can’t be a coincidence, and I’ll bet that stallion who assaulted me knows something,” Twilight said.

“You were assaulted?” Fluttershy said with shock.

“Not really assaulted per sey but he did lay hooves on me without my permission, but when he did I experienced visions, and these visions seemed similar to the dreams… I think we need to find him, he could be up to no good,” Twilight said.

“Alright,” RD said with determination.

“Ah don’t get what’s goin on, but if somethin is plannin to crash the party again then we gotta do something,” Applejack said.

“I’m with you girls,” Fluttershy said.

And with that, the six left the castle with Spike in tow.

“Wait for me!” Spike called.

Celestia and Luna arrived in Ponyville by the secret entrance only they know of so that Celestia can remain hidden until the celebration.

“Another day another celebration,” Celestia said.

“Shall we take the stage together this year Celly?” Luna offered.

“You know we should, the ponies need to stop fearing you,” Celestia said.

“Just hope I do not upstage you,” Luna threatened playfully.

“You are on,” Celestia chuckled as they took on their disguises and trotted out into Ponyville.

As they trotted around seeing the sights they had to admit, they went all out this year, banners, large balloons and even statues.

“Quite similar,” Celestia said feeling flattered.

“The flank is clearly too big,” Luna said.

“It’s not that big,” Celestia said.

“I wasn’t talking about the statue,” Luna chuckled.

“...Oh you!” Celestia blushed and headed off towards the castle.

“So shall we see how your protege is doing?” Luna asked.

“On it,” Celestia said and they made it to the castle, they knocked on the castle doors but nopony answered.

“Odd, she’s usually waiting for me here,” Celestia said.

“Let us enter than,” Luna said.

“Luna we can’t just break in,” Celestia said.

“She won’t mind,” Luna said as she opened the door and went in.

“My brash little sister,” Celestia said.

As the two entered the living room they looked around but saw no signs of the princess of magic.

“Odd, Twilight!” Celestia said shedding her disguise.

“Perhaps she is out, let’s make ourselves at home until then,” Luna said before sitting on a couch… before noticing she was sitting on something, she pulled the book out from under her and saw it was a book on dream based spells “Strange… why would they need dream magic?” Luna asked.

“I do not know,” Celestia said.

“Hmm… Celly?” Luna said.

“Yes?” Celestia said.

“I need to admit something,” Luna said.

“What? Did you steal the cake in the fridge, curse it Luna I labled it,” Celestia sighed.

“No! Listen, dream magic, and the events of last night lead me to suspect something is amiss,” Luna said.

‘Events of last night? Explain,” Celestia said.

“Well… it went like this-” Luna said

Last night

“Another night another nightmare…” Luna sighed boredly as she flew from one dream to another correcting nightmares… and when she approached the sectioned-off dreams of Twilight and her friends she noticed something odd.

“Huh?” Luna noticed that these dreams were surrounded in a barrier, these barriers were surrounded with a magic unlike a normal pony's magic and the dreams were blank to her eyes.

But she can sense activity… and an outside interference that was somehow… familiar…

“Odd…” Luna tried to zap the barriers away but the barriers suddenly exploded outward and sent Luna flying.

“AAAAH!” Luna cried as she woke up and she looked around her room in surprise “What?...” Luna said.

“And that’s it,” Luna said.

“Luna… why didn’t you mention this sooner?” Celestia said.

“I was planning to discuss it with Twilight first, seeing as it was her dream, not that I didn’t trust you, I just wished to confirm with Twilight to see if anything was wrong,” Luna said.

“...This is troubling,” Celestia said before sending out a cursory magic sense “I need to track her, now,” Celestia said.

“I’m sure it’s not as serious as you think,” Luna said.

“I can’t take any chances…” Celestia said gaining a new expression and trotting off, putting her disguise on.

Twilight and the others searched the town, Rainbow, her and Fluttershy took to the air to get a better view.

“You said he’s a tan and white stallion in a grey robe?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes,” Twilight said.

As they flew through the town they saw no sign of the old stallion.

“Was he a unicorn?” Rainbow asked.

“No he was an earth pony, which made the fact that he could use a memory spell more odd,” Twilight said.

“Ok, so not that guy,” Rainbow said pointing to an elderly stallion watering the daisy’s on someponies lawn.

“No,” Twilight sighed, she didn’t know what was driving her but she needed to find him!

Their search ultimately landed them on the outskirts of town.

“I think he fled town, he’s nowhere we can see,” RD said.

“I can't say for certain, he has to be here somewhere,” Twilight said.

“Twilight, maybe we should consider that and go back to work,” Applejack said.

“I can’t, I don't know what it is, but something about that stallion is screaming-”

“You all need to come with me,” A voice said behind them and they spun to see the grey hooded stallion hiding in the bushes.

“YOU!” Twilight said getting defensive.

“That’s him?” Rainbow asked.

“Listen, she is near, there’s no time, you must all follow me to The Cave of Harmony!” He said.

“Why should we go anywhere with you? You assaulted our friend,” Rarity said.

“Yeah, meanie!” Pinkie said.

“You don’t understand, I was helping her!” He said before he saw something and fled.

“Hey! Come back here!” Twilight was planning to chase him but she heard a cough behind her and she turned to see Celestia and Luna in disguise.

“Who are you?” Pinkie asked.

“Huh? Celestia? Luna? What are you doing here so soon?” Spike asked and the others looked at Twilight in surprise.

“We came to see you,” Celestia said before looking into the brush, she was sure she saw movement.

“Wait wait wait, their Celestia and Luna?” Rainbow asked.

“Shh! Nopony can know yet,” Celestia said approaching Rainbow.

‘Oh… sorry,” Rainbow nodded.

“What are you doing here on the edge of town?” Luna asked.

“We were-” AJ began but unexpectedly Twilight cut in.

“We were just about to head to Zecora’s to see if she’s coming… she didn’t come last year,” Twilight said.

Celestia seemed oddly unsure but she decided to trust her student.

“Very well, I just came to spend time with my student before the celebration,” Celestia said before noticing the tired air between the six and Spike.

“You all didn’t get much sleep lately didn’t you?” Luna asked as the group trotted back to the Castle of Friendship.

“Not much,” Rainbow chuckled.

“We’ve all been tireless for the events,” Rarity said.

As they chatted Applejack leaned into Twilight.

“Why’d ya lie?” Applejack said.

“I don’t want to trouble Celestia on the day of the Celebration,” Twilight said.

Back in the brush however the stallion watched…

“We both know that wasn’t the reason…” He said before looking at Celestia and running away.

The ponies everywhere lined up for The Summer Sun Celebration, including Twilight and her friends.

“Well, we didn’t find the stallion we were lookin for, but at least we got to see the main event,” Applejack said.

“Yeah, I guess,” Twilight said before standing next to her friends.

“Hey, next time we see him, I’ll pin him down so he can’t run,” RD said.

“Let’s not talk about assaulting old ponies, it’s starting,” Pinkie said.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” Mayor Mare began her scripted speech for the celebration.

“Here we go!” Pinkie cheered jumping up and down.

“Calm yourself Pinkie, I can hardly see with you jumping in my view,” Rarity said.

“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria...Princess Celestia!” Mayor Mare said and unlike last year Celestia burst out from the curtains.

Ponies everywhere stamped their hooves in applause.

“Hello, my little ponies! I have come to perform mine and my beloved only sister's duty to you all, and that is raising the sun, and this year, we have a new guest,” Celestia said and everypony gasped as Luna trotted on stage.

“Hey Luna’s here, I didn’t know she was-... huh?” Twilight’s head began to throb as she saw them standing there… and the words she said reached her ears.

“Hey… Twilight you ok?” Rainbow asked.

“I… I don’t know… my head hurts…” Twilight said before wincing as it got worse.

“Har-....how could……return….” Twilight heard voices in her head and she began to get very dizzy, and her friends began to feel it too…

“Ugh… my head…” Rainbow said.

‘I feel odd…” Rarity said.

Spike had already passed out.

“Ugh… did I eat the spoiled butter croissants again?...” Pinkie asked swaying.

“I-I….” Fluttershy collapsed.

“Somethin is… wrong…” AJ said.

“Girls… we need…. To…” Twilight collapsed and so did the others.

“Oh my gosh!” A pony cried.

“Is she okay?” Another asked.

“Give them space,” A stallion said.

And then they faded away….

“Twi…Twili…Twilight!” Celestia’s voice called and Twilight woke with a jump.

“AH!” Twilight gasped and she looked around, looking out the window it was nighttime.

“Twilight!” Celestia said approaching her student.

“I don’t… what happened…?” Twilight asked.

“I would like to know as well, you suddenly collapsed in the middle of the ceremony, I can be thankful I noticed, however many ponies are displeased that the ceremony was interrupted,” Celestia said.

“I’m so sorry… I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened,” Twilight said apologetically.

Celestia sighed “I cannot blame you for passing out, you must have been very tired.” Celestia said.

“I… don’t think that was it, I think something happened… but I don’t know what,” Twilight said.

“Well whatever the reason, we’re redoing the ceremony, stay here and get some rest, my dear student,” Celestia said.

“I… yeah, I should,” Twilight said.

“Your friends are in separate rooms, and don’t worry, I have guards posted.

“Guards? Why?” Twilight asked.

“Just in case something happens, we cannot afford something bad happening,” Celestia said.

“I guess that makes sense,” Twilight nodded.

“Get some rest,” Celestia said.

“Ok,” Twilight said, Celestia then turned and left the room and Twilight laid down and stared out the window, watching the resetting of the celebration.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with us, but we need to find out soon,” Twilight said before closing her eyes.

Harmony…

She heard noises and opened her eyes… She was in a burlap sack!?

“Huh?!” Twilight frantically kicked and struggled.

“Shh! Shh! Stop!” The voice said.

“Who are you?! What’s going on? Release me!” Twilight screamed.

“I said silence,” The voice said and Twilight suddenly found her lips stuck together.

“Hmm?!” Twilight said.

“It’s thanks to the fireworks we havn’t been spotted yet, and knocking out the guard was easy, thankfully guards these days aren’t very strong,” The voice chuckled.

“MMMH! MMMH!” Twilight tried to use her magic but her horn fizzled.

“This cloth is made of rainbow walnut moth silk, durable and magic resistant,” he said.

“Mhh!” Twilight grunted, unable to talk.

“I had no choice, you don’t remember me and neither does Emerald or the others! You wouldn’t have come if I asked politely,” He said.

“Empheral?” Twilight managed to squeeze some words out, that name was unknown to her… but it strangely filled her with warmth to hear it… odd.

“All will be explained,” He said.

Suddenly Twilight had an epiphany of who this could be, but his words rang out in her mind, and she realized something… he knows something… if she’s going to get answers about the dreams… she needs to play along…

Hopefully, nothing bad will happen in the process…

Author's Note

The plot gets thicker.

Who is this pony, and what is happening?