~-~ Arc 1: A New Generation ~-~

Somewhere, in the middle of Equestria, was a small town, filled with earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi! Just outside of it, was a giant crystal castle. The doors to the castle opened, and a purple alicorn walked outside of it, a purple and green dragon following behind her.

"Day 1 of my vacation in Ponyville! What's on the agenda today, Spike?" The alicorn asked, turning to her dragon companion. The dragon - Spike - took out a scroll and a quill pen from his loose scales before frowning. "Spike? What's wrong?"

"Um, there's nothing wrong, Twilight! It's just really weird that we have nothing to do for the day, our schedules are always packed." Spike said. His eyes lit up as he took out another scroll, "Oh, never mind! I forgot about the itinerary! So first, we'll be meeting up with Rainbow Dash and Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres. Then we'll head over to Carousel Boutique to help Rarity with her upcoming fashion show. After that, we'll be helping Fluttershy with her animals. And lastly, we'll all meet up as we spy on Pinkie Pie on her date with Cheese Sandwich!"

"...well! Spying should be fun, right?" Twilight joked, "Wait, where's Starlight? I'm sure she's in Ponyville, I thought you'd schedule something with her?"

Spike's eyes darted around, which Twilight quicky took notice of. "Oh, um, well, you see-" Spike stammered before Twilight put a hoof on Spike's mouth, smiling warmly.

"Spike, don't worry, it's probably because she's busy with the School of Friendship, right?" Twilight said, "I know how hard it is to get away from your duties, remember? We've been trying to get a vacation in for a month now!"

"Oh, yeah, right! The School of Friendship, duh! I mean, it's not like we're planning a secret party that's happening at midnight!" Spike said, clearly trying to lie. Twilight rolled her eyes before she and Spike started walking towards Sweet Apple Acres.

But just then, the sky started to flicker. The light blue sky turned a dark red, a bunch of gray clouds slowly covering it. Twilight turned around worriedly, and didn't see Spike there. "No... no! This... this isn't supposed to happen yet!" She screamed, tears slowly falling from her face.

Her horn lit up in a magenta aura as she teleported away, before reappearing in Sweet Apple Acres. "Applejack! Rainbow Dash!" She called out. No response. "Please! Aj, Rainbow! I... I need you!" She called out again, her voice cracking. Her horn lit up again, she disappeared.

She reappeared in front of the Carousel Boutique before she rushed inside to find the place completely in ruins. Dresses were on the floor, ripped. Each mirror, broken. But worse of all, no sign of Rarity anywhere. "R... Rarity! Rarity! It's me, Twilight Sparkle! Your good friend?" She laughed out, her tears slowly falling on the dresses below her as she tried to escape reality.

She walked up stairs, towards Rarity's room. Maybe she was sleeping? Maybe she rose the sun too early, maybe everyone was still sleeping! Yeah, that was it. She opened the door and saw... that it was in perfect condition, but no Rarity. In the center of the room was the first dress she wore to the Grand Galloping Gala, when she was just a unicorn! It was still in perfect condition, thankfully.

Her eyes widened when she saw the sticky note, pasted on the dress. She wiped her tears before running to the dress and taking the note.

Darling, you must move on. For us. We may not be here any more, but you know we're there, with you. Well, you get it, right? Oh, this is my first time writing a note from beyond the grave, I'm getting sidetracked! Just... please, move on. Equestria needs your help more than anything.

Signed, Rarity Belle.

She crumpled the paper as she threw it in the trashcan. "I'm sorry, Rarity, but I can't." Slowly, the dress started to deteriorate, before it was reduced to a pile of magenta ashes. Her horn lit up as she teleported out of the room, and towards Fluttershy's cottage.

She appeared inside, startling the animals. "Oh, who... who's there!?" She heard a soft voice yell out. Twilight turned around and saw...

"Fluttershy!" Twilight rushed in and hugged the yellow pegasus, who looked startled. "Please! Please..." She cried out, tears once again falling from her face. "Don't... don't leave, not yet." She said, her voice nothing more than a whisper.

Fluttershy returned the hug as she started stroking Twilight's hair, "Twilight, you know I- we can't stay long. It hurts us to see you suffer like this, me, Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, Starlight..." Fluttershy sighed, "You have to move on, this isn't healthy. You knew the consequences that came with becoming a Princess,"

"I know!" Twilight said, her voice a bit higher. "I just... I just wish I could see you all one last time. I don't know what to do, Equestria is... is in shambles! Everypony is seperated, and we have no magic! I just... I just feel so lost, I don't know what to do without all of you!"

"I know, we wish we could help you, but this is the only way we know how! Twilight, you have to move on and fix Equestria, the world needs you." Fluttershy said.

"But I need you!" Twilight retorted. "Fluttershy, please."

Fluttershy closed her eyes as the scene began to change. Twilight mentally gasped when she saw this happening. Even though she was, frankly, depressed, it was a sight to behold. "Where... where are we going?" Twilight asked, but Fluttershy didn't respond.

A few seconds later, they were in the caves where the Tree of Harmony once was. But now, it was there! "I... don't understand?" Twilight said. She turned around to find Fluttershy, but she was no longer there. "Woah!" Suddenly, vines started to sprout from the crystal tree, turning the crystals a moldy green.

Twilight gasped when she saw this, because she knew when this was! She had just came back from the Crystal Empire after the whole "crown got stolen, must get it back in another universe" fiasco. "I... remember this!" Twilight said.

"I know how we can save the Tree. We have to give it the Elements of Harmony."

Twilight turned around and saw a past version of herself and her friends. This is the moment when they gave the Elements to the Tree of Harmony!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. How are we supposed to protect Equestria?"

"How are we meant to rein Discord in if we can’t use the Elements to turn him back to stone?"

"We need the elements, Twilight! If we give it back, and some other threat comes into play, what will we do?"

Twilight blinked, she didn't remember Fluttershy talking here. Maybe she was remembering it wrong, that could be it.

"Twilight... the Elements of Harmony. They’re what keep us connected, no matter what."

"You’re right about one thing, Applejack. The Elements of Harmony did bring us together. But it isn't the Elements that will keep us connected."

"It’s our friendship, and it’s more important and more powerful than any magic. My new role in Equestria may mean I have to take on new responsibilities, and our friendships may be tested. But it will never, ever be broken. There’s no time to lose. Everypony ready?"

Twilight's eyes started watering, before she realized what she had to do. She turned to the Tree of Harmony, before she turned back to the version of herself and her friends. "I know what I have to do." She said firmly. The other her put the Elements back into the tree as it sent a rainbow wave through out Equestria, removing all the vines. Twilight disappeared as she woke up in the physical realm.

The other Fluttershy started manically laughing as her form started twisting into a new one. She turned into a twisted version of Twilight, who resembled Nightmare Moon.

Twilight woke up in a cave, which looked quite nice for a cave. She walked over to a chest and pulled out a key and inserted it. She twisted the key as the chest opened. Inside was a book, a familiar book, her friendship journal. "Don't worry, girls. I've got this."

Author's Note

Hello! So, first of all, this story will be a rewrite of Gen 5. Most things will stay the same, but some things, like plot, will change. This is the first part of the "Ancient Relics" series, as I've called it, so stay tuned! Also, just for some clarification, this chapter is a flashback.

If there's any problems, spelling errors, or anything, please comment it or private message me so I can change it! Hate comments will be deleted, so don't even try and hate!