The Midnight Zone

Twilight walked across the bridge, and arrived at the altar. The book was still there.

“Think it’s booby trapped?” asked Pinkie.

“I don’t think so,” said Twilight. “Or Celestia probably would have told us.”

She reached in, and grabbed the book.

Nothing bad happened. The ground didn’t give way. A massive boulder didn’t roll down a hill. A huge Ursa Major didn’t come out and eat them.

“Phew,” said Fluttershy.

Twilight attempted to open the book, but it was locked. On the book’s spine was an alphabet combination lock.

“What could it possibly be?” asked Rarity.

“Ooh, ooh, guessing games!” exclaimed Pinkie, “Harmony, Elements! Or maybe Magic.”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s not any of those.”

“Maybe Celestia?” suggested Applejack.

“Hidden?” asked Rainbow.

“They didn’t work,” said Twilight.

“It, it, might be friendship,” suggested Fluttershy.

Twilight entered the code, and the book popped open.

“Yes!” said Rainbow, “it worked!”

Inside the book were five amulets.

“This can’t be right!” said Rarity. “Celestia put runes in the book!”

“She must’ve changed it,” said Twilight. “So that anypony could use them, not just unicorns.”

“I want that one,” said Rainbow, pointing to the one that had a rainbow colored lightning bolt. “It matches my cutie mark.”

“Didn’t Celestia say something about cutie marks?” asked Pinkie.

“‘And your cutie marks match up’, remember?” said Rarity. “That’s what Celesta said!”

“That one matches mine,” said Applejack, pointing to one that had an apple on it.

“I–I, think, that, that one, looks, looks like, like mine,” said Fluttershy, pointing to one with a butterfly.

“That one’s definitely mine,” said Pinkie, motioning to the one that had a balloon on it.

“Which leaves that one for me,” said Rarity, pointing to the last one left, a diamond. “And it matches too!”

“So mine’s the secret one,” said Twilight. “That will be revealed after the others are united.”

Pinkie scratched her head. “But–the Elements are already united!”

“Maybe you have to put them on?” suggested Rainbow, slipping hers on.

“I guess not,” said Rainbow after that failed.

“I wish Celesta was clearer about how to get the amulet…” sighed Twilight.

There was a sudden crashing sound from in the forest, as if several ponies were coming towards them.

“Um, Rainbow?” asked Rarity. “Are you sure that you dealt with those ponies in the ravine?”

“You did not!” scowled Lightning Dust, coming out from the trees.

“Where are your little henchmen?” asked Rainbow tauntingly.

“None of your business!” yelled Lightning

Rainbow noticed that Lightning’s eyes were unfocused. Could that have been as a result of her fight with her? Or had her eyes been like that all along. Rainbow couldn’t be sure…

“The only thing that concerns me,” said Lightning, “are those amulets. Now hand them over!”

Rainbow and Twilight caught a glimpse of Midnight Moon’s face through Lightning's eyes.

“She’s possessed!” yelled Twilight, as Lightning lunged at Rainbow.

Rainbow threw herself backwards, and Lightning slammed into the stone altar. One of the pillars cracked, and fell back on Lightning.

Twilight and Rarity sent a spell at Lighting at the same exact time, and bounced off each other. Twilight’s knocked Applejack’s hat off, while Rarity’s split the altar in two.

Lighting jumped backwards, but the altar fell back, and clocked her in the head. A second later, Twilight sent some sort of anti-mind control spell at her. It was a direct hit.

There was a rushing noise, and then a cloud of darkness left Lightning’s body and flew away into the night.

Lightning staggered back, throwing the stone altar off of her. “What in the world just happened?”

“You were… possessed,” Fluttershy explained.

Lighting saw Rainbow. “Hey,” she said. “Long time no see.”

“Actually,” said Rainbow through gritted teeth. “I just saw you five minutes ago, when you tried to hurt me!”

“Really?” asked Lighting sarcastically. “I doubt that thought’s ever run through my mind.”

“Actually she’s right,” said Twilight quickly, before Rainbow could say anything. “Lightning didn’t try to hurt you, Midnight Moon did. She just used Lightning’s body.”

“That’s nice,” said Rainbow sarcastically. “Your enemy didn’t hurt you, a supervillain did, she just used Lightning’s body.”

“Hey,” said Lightning. “I think I saw Midnight–”

Twilight cut her off. “Let’s get back to Ponyville quickly. If we move fast, we may be able to beat Midnight there!”

Everypony started trekking away, leaving a very befuddled Lighting Dust behind.