A Twilight's Shadow

Every pony stood still. All of them are frozen in disbelief from what they have just heard.

After a full minute of silence, Celestia begins to speak again.

"Now I know how all of you feel regarding this, but i'm afraid it's our best and possibly only hope."

Twilight finds her voice first. "What?! Celestia, your telling us to take back all of Equestria from...THAT?!
She points her hoof towards the window as the sky once again flashes another picture of hell in the distant horizon.
Fluttershy yelped, and vanished behind a stone pillar.

The princesses look at each other, their faces showing a hint of doubt. Celestia closes her eyes, and turns her head to the ponies. When she repones them, they are of hope and determination.

"Do you know why you six were chosen by the elements of harmony?" She asked in the most gentle and relaxed voice they have ever heard in years. This surprised all of them, including Luna.

"Because...we represented each individual element. We each held it's special power in each other, and that's why it chose us." Twilight answered.

"Yes, that is true. But what is something ALL of you have that burns deep in your hearts?"

All of them were still, waiting for her to answer.

"You had an unbreakable bond that no other pony or ponies had. You had so much faith in each other that it formed a bond unlike anything else. A piece of you lives inside each of your friends. Your strengths covered each other's weaknesses, and it gave you girls a power that could do anything. And you still do! It is inside each and every one of you." Celestia points her hoof to each of the individual ponies hearts.

"How did you girls feel each time when saving Equestria? You were fearless. You were filled with hope. Why? Because when you fought together, you knew how much power you girls had inside of you. You KNEW. And we know NOW. That will never change, so long as you girls are together, right?"

"Yeah, as long as were together, nothing will stop us!" Pinkie Pie leaps. All the ponies nodded at this. Fluttershy began to reemerge from behind her hiding spot, and nodded as well.

"But that still doesn't tell us how were going to stop that thing! How are we going to do it?" Twilight asks.

"Didn't you hear what I just said Twilight?" She said with a chuckle. "Your going to do it with all your friends together. If your asking me on how to get to the end, where it's all 'happily ever after', I don't know Twilight. But I know that your going to find out."

Twilight sighed. "I know, but I just wish I knew what to do. I was always learning because I would know how to deal with stressful situations."

"Knowledge is one thing Twilight, but experience is another. You can't always find the answer in a book, or someone else: you need to find the answer by facing the problem itself. You will have to deal with it, and learn how to conquer it."

"And what if it learns how to conquer ME?"

"That's why you have your friends, Twilight. They will cover your weaknesses, and you will cover theirs. So long as you have faith in them, and their faith in you, everything will be all right. I also have faith in you. I had it ever since you were a little filly the first time I made you my student."

Twilight smiled at this.

"Twilight, do you promise that you won't let your friends down? That you won't let all of Equestria down?"

Twilight began to think about the possibilities of what may go wrong, but she stopped her thoughts. She stood straight, looked her princess in the eyes.

"Yes."

Celestia looked at all the other girls. "And do you girls promise that you will do the same for Twilight?"

"Yeah!" "Of course we will, dear!" "No worries, sugarcube!" "We'll totally be there for you, Twilight!"

The princess nodded, satisfied with the response. "Now, we don't have much time, so you girls will have to prepare immediately. Tomorrow, we will meet here again. Chariots are waiting for you."

She dismissed the girls with a nod, and they ran out of the halls, where two golden chariots were waiting for them at the doorsteps.

"C'mon girls!" They jumped in, and the armored pegasi guards flew them off towards Ponyville.

Celestia watched them leave, and stared into the sunset outside.

I wish I knew the answer too, Twilight...

"So lemme get this straight: were going to sit here, and watch Equestria perish from that kingymabob-"

"King Sombra."

"Whatever. Have him take over, then zap him with the elements?" Rainbow Dash said.

"I guess that's one way to put it, yeah." Twilight responded

"Well, that seems simple enough. Shouldn't be too hard!"

Huh, I guess if you put it that way, it does seem a lot simpler than I thought. As long as were together, nothing too bad should happen, right?

Twilight looked down below onto the beautiful, lush landscape of what was her home. It felt so warm, so beautiful. It felt PERFECT. It was a feeling she didn't experience in years. At that moment, everything was perfect...

*Sorry the scene with Celestia was short, I suck at dialogues :P*