The Three Seasons

by Schrodinger's Pony

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Romance, Adventure, Derpy Hooves, Princess Celestia, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Lyra
Length: 10606

What would happen if all three seasons of MLP happened at the same time?

My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle...

The lost kingdom of the Crystal Empire has returned from a long period of, well, being lost. I will have to miss this years Summer Sun celebration, as this matter has become one of an utmost urgency.

Since I am working twice as hard during a national holiday, I have decided you should have a break. I have arranged for you to be escorted to Ponyville. Hopefully, you will be able to get out of those dusty old books and make some friends. I know the concept of making friends may seem scary for you at first, but I have every confidence that you will do so with the same vigor you study magic.

I have prepared a chariot to escort you immediately. I hope you have a wonderful vacation Twilight.

Know that I love you, and that I am with you in spirit.

Your friend and mentor,
Princess Celestia.

When I first received that message from Princess Celestia, I had no way of knowing it would be the beginning of the least relaxing vacation ever. I had no way of knowing me and my friends were about to fulfill destiny. I had no way of knowing that this would be the beginning of a long year, fighting Discord, Nightmare Moon, Megalomaniacal unicorns, and other subtler dangers.

This is the story of me and my friends, the Elements of Harmony.

This is the story of a precocious group of fillies called the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

This is the story of Princess Celestia, as she fights physically and politically to keep Equestria safe.

This is the story Three Seasons in the making.

Published 2013-03-19 22:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-14 20:41:04 UTC

Portents of Doom

Celestia looked into the distance and smiled as she prepared the precious gems that would be her sister’s salvation.

Long had the Elements of Harmony gathered dust. But now, finally, her sister would be free from her thousand year imprisonment and then Twilight would be able to use the Elements of Harmony to save her.

With a flash, the teleportation spell was sent, and all was right. Go my Elements. Disconnect from me, and find new hosts. Go and save my sister.

The doors bursting open put an almost immediate dampener on her tranquil mood.

“Your majesty –” Razor Edge froze.

Celestia almost never asked for privacy. When she did, she expected her wishes to be obeyed with the same zeal that her little ponies used to carry out the orders she hadn’t even officially gave.

“What is it?” She asked, easing off of her glare.

Razor Edge gulped. “Captain Shining Armor Princess… I was told only to tell you that… ‘IT’ has returned.”

Celestia’s eyes widened.

There was only one thing in all of Equestria she’d ever given the codename of IT. Only one place important enough.

But it was too soon. Her plans were not yet laid! Luna was still on the moon, Twilight had yet to discover her bond with the Elements, there was literally no time for…

Celestia took a deep, calming breath.

“There is nothing else for it.” She said. “Cancel my appearance at the Ponyville Summer Sun Festival. Have what Wonderbolts you can and a handful of my best guards meet me at the train station.”

A steely look entered her eye. “I will deal with this matter personally.”

This… this would take some planning to pull off right.

~~oooOOOooo~~

Twilight, meanwhile, was studying a book in the Royal Canterlot Gardens.

It was a truly fascinating history of Equestria. She thought she’d read every book in the Royal Library, and she was going to move on to the scrolls, but Spike had found this one just this morning. A new book! And also very old… she could smell the ancientness radiating from the leaves.

She was just about to start a chapter entitled ‘The Legend Of The Two Sisters’ when she heard a commotion by the maze. Smiling, she put the book away – she could always read it later, but right now there was something more important to take care of.

The group of foals rounded the corner, lead by a pink earth pony with curly yellow hair. “And this is the statue of Victory.” Cheerilee explained to the group of foals who had followed her.

“That’s right!” Twilight said cheerily, trotting over to the group. “Victory here was commissioned in Equestria’s early renaissance period, commiserating the successful Fashion Revolution that took place at that time.”

Usually Twilight would be reading alone, but when she heard that a school was doing a tour of the gardens she'd volunteered to chaperone. She truly loved lecturing, and she was certain she would be able to do a lot of good if she was able to spend some time around impressionable young minds.

Cheerilee brightened, and gestured to her students. “Class, this is Twilight Sparkle. She’s Princess Celestia’s personal protégé, and she’s graciously agreed to come along with us on our tour.”

“Hello Ms. Sparkle.” The majority of the class droned.

Except for a quartet of fillies in the back.

“Oh man, how cool would it be to have that as your Cutie Mark?” Whispered a yellow Earth Pony with a red mane and a ribbon.

“Only if you’re special talent is being ‘victoryfull’ at something.” A pink pony with a tiara on her head shot back.

“Victoryfull ithn’t a word.” Hissed a filly with a red curly mane.

“What are you, a dictionary?” The pink filly laughed, as did her silver companion.

Twilight didn’t notice the ruckus at the back of the class though. She gestured at Cheerilee to follow her, and they walked through the gardens. At regular intervals, they stopped, and they talked to the foals about certain statues. It was a long journey, especially with Twilight going all out with her lectures.

When they reached the last statue of the maze, Cheerilee turned to her students, alook in her eyes suggesting she wanted to sleep as much as they did, and asked. “And can anypony guess what this statue represents?”

The statue was twisty and turny, and the body parts were mismatched.

“Evil?” Applebloom asked, as Twist shuddered.

“Chaos?” Applebloom didn’t know the name of the orange pegasus that came up with that.

“Discord?” Asked Dinky Hooves, their class’s weirdest and somehow smartest member.

“Exactly Dinky, Discord.” Cheerilee said.

“This statue of a mythical creature represents the antithesis of harmony.” Twilight Sparkle lectured the class. “It’s a… mismatched dragon of some sort. The real mysterious fact about this statue, is nopony knows who the craftspony was. Nopony, perhaps, except Princess Celestia, and she hasn’t told anypony in years.”

“Eeep!” A marshmallow white unicorn with a striped purple mane pointed beyond the statue. “It’s a ferocious dragon!”

Naturally, instead of running and screaming, the crowd of foals moved in for a closer look.

Twilight giggled. “Don’t worry children, that’s just my assistant Spike.”

The purple baby dragon skidded to a halt, parchment in his claw, as he huffed for breath. “You hear that Twilight?” He asked, as he held out the scroll proudly. “I’m ferocious!”

“Terrifying.” Twilight rolled her eyes and took the scroll.

Back in the back of the class, Diamond Tiara nudged Applebloom. “Hey, maybe that statue can be your cutie-mark.” She snickered.

“It would sure fit Twist to get a cutie-mark in being ugly.” Silver Spoon added, and the two fillies almost collapsed into hysterical giggling.

Applebloom gasped, and looked behind at her friend. The blank flanked filly had stopped smiling, and for the first time in her life, Applebloom thought Twist looked hurt.

“Alright ya varmints, that does it!”Applebloom leaped forward and tackled the pair of snooty fillies, at the same time as an orange pegasus filly jumped out.

The pair conked their head together, and cried ‘ouch!’

“Or maybe you’ll get a cutie-mark in clumsy.” Tiara snickered, as she and her friend walked away.

My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle...
The lost kingdom of the Crystal Empire has returned from a long period of, well, being lost. I will have to miss this years Summer Sun celebration, as this matter has become one of an utmost urgency.

Applebloom rounded on the pegasus newcomer. “What’d you do that for?”

“They were being bullies!” The pegasus snapped in a whisper. “I was gonna teach them a lesson!”

“Hey, they were bullying my friend!” Applebloom shot back. “I got dibs on ‘em!”

“Oh, what, so you can’t share?”

“No! I’ve been waiting a long time to give one of them a thumping, and you just got in the way!”

“You got in my way!”

“Nuh uh!”

“Uh huh!”

“Nuh uh!’

“Uh huh!”

Since I am working twice as hard during a national holiday, I have decided you should have a break. I have arranged for you to be escorted to Ponyville. Hopefully, you will be able to get out of those dusty old books and make some friends. I know the concept of making friends may seem scary for you at first, but I have every confidence that you will do so with the same vigor you study magic.

“Applebloom, Scootaloo.” Cheerilee said, striding over to the pair. “We’re in the middle of a royal tour. Can’t you please behave yourself?”

“It’s not my fault!” Scootaloo protested. “Little Miss Clumsy bonked me on the head!”

“Who are you calling clumsy?” Applebloom protested. “At least I don’t smell like I haven’t showered in a day!”

“At least I don’t smell like…” Scootaloo, whose face was at this point angrily pressed against Applebloom’s, sniffed. “… apples?”

“Ms. Cheerilee, they’re fighting!” Diamond Tiara pointed out.

“Aren’t you going to punish them?” Silver Spoon asked.

“Girls, enough!” Cheerilee said, separating the fillies.

I’ve prepared a chariot to escort you immediately. I hope you have a wonderful vacation Twilight.

Now two fillies getting into a fight, especially if they aren’t even friends at the time, would barely raise the level of chaos above a low simmer.

But it’s amazing what the presence of an upper class pony could do. Cheerilee hadn’t raised her voice at any of her students in all the time she’d been teaching. And yet with Celestia’s personal protégé nearby, and her wanting to make a good impression… well, even the best ponies make a mistake sometimes. Especially when their patience has been eroded by an hour long lecture on a variety of statues.

Know that I love you, and that I am with you in spirit.
Your friend and mentor,
Princess Celestia.

Discord’s statue cracked.

“I’m sorry Cheerilee.” Twilight said, putting the scroll away. She really didn’t want to miss out a chance on educating young minds, but Princess Celestia said so. “I have some royal business to take care of.”

And as she left the garden, with Cheerilee lecturing her students on field trip etiquette, an ominous chuckle reverberated through the world.

Friendship Is Magic Part 1

“It’s okay Twilight.” Spike said, patting her comfortingly on the back.

Twilight shook her head with frustration. “I could be in Canterlot right now helping mold the minds of the young! But no! Princess Celestia thinks I need to make friends!”

They were both flying through the air, pulled by one of the Princess’ royal chariots. The guards pulling them along remained impassive, both well trained in ignoring their Captain’s younger sibling.

Ponyville was steadily growing closer.

“At least she got me a room in a library.” Twilight said with a sigh. “Who knows? There might be some interesting books there.”

“Oh come on Twilight.” Spike moaned. “Can you try to not get wrapped up in reading?”

Twilight sighed. “Well, Princess Celestia did give me strict orders to make friends.” She admitted.

The carriage landed, and the pair of them climbed out. Ponyville was… a strange town. Twilight had never been anywhere by chariot without being mobbed by Celestia fanmares.

“Look, it’ll be easy.” Spike said. “Just walk up to a pony, and say hello.”

Twilight sighed, and shook her head. “I don’t know Spike.”

“It’ll work trust me!” Spike insisted.

With a nervous brushing of her mane, Twilight approached a pink mare with a curly pink mane. “Hi!” She said, holding her hoof out for a shake. “My name’s Twilight –”

The pink pony gasped, jumped seven feet in the air, and fled.

Twilight realized, then, that the reason none of these ponies wanted to meet whoever stepped out of a royal carriage was because they were all completely insane.

Twilight shot a sardonic look at her assistant. “We’re going to the library.” She said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

~~oooOOOooo~~

Spitfire looked out of the train, into the frozen north. There was, supposedly, a few small settlements of ponies out there, but she hadn’t been to any of them. The weather up here was pretty much a constant state of cold, where Winter Wrap-up leftovers went, and where they retrieved the materials for the new winter seasons.

Thankfully, Wonderbolt uniforms would keep her wings from freezing. The goggles would keep the ice out of her eyes. But she’d feel a little better, maybe, if she knew what was happening here that Princess Celestia felt she personally needed to handle.

Soarin’ just burped, content to chug the free hot chocolate the on-train service had provided for Celestia and her escorts.

“Can this train actually move any slower?” Spitfire muttered. It was a mark of her annoyance that she’d slipped back into her Trottingham accent.

Soarin’ shrugged.

Spitfire huffed, and took off, circling in the air above his head. “I bet whatever we’re doing down here has to be real dangerous if the Princess wants us with her. What do you think?”

Soarin’ pondered this. “I dunno, maybe we’re just here to look pretty. Like all the other times.”

Spitfire groaned and abandoned her comrade.

Soarin’ shrugged, and settled back into his book. He was quite the avid bookworm, despite the media playing him and the rest of her team as meat-headed jocks. He was in the middle of Daring Do’s latest adventure, the Kingdom of the Frozen North.

Spitfire was itching to go. She was the leader of the Wonderbolts. That meant she had responsibility. And that meant that she had to be the best, the fastest, the first into any battle they might meet.

And Soarin’… he was a good dependable stallion, but he was generally not as gung-ho as she was. And sometimes, it would get DOWNRIGHT ANNOYING!

She was just about to snatch that books right out of his hooves, when the train stopped.

“Look alive.” Spitfire ordered, as Soarin’ slipped his book away and snapped to attention.

The carriage door opened, and Princess Celestia strode in, a warm-looking scarf the only protection she had from the cold. It was probably purely decorative. “Shall we be going, Spitfire? Soarin’?”

“Right away ma’m!” The two saluted, and they stepped out into the cold with Celestia.

The tracks stopped in the middle of nowhere, unfinished. A blizzard swirled around them, and the clodus were so thick you could barely see the sun setting on the horizon.

“Your majesty!” Spitfire called. “What are we doing out here?”

Princess Celestia scanned the horizon for her Captain. “Are you familiar with the Legend of the Crystal Empire, Spitfire?”

“No your majesty!” Spitfire said, flapping her wings to circulate her blood.

Celestia took on a faraway look to her eyes, the look that she got when she recounted ancient history. “Years ago, before the founding of Equestria, when this land was still green and free of Windigos… ponies of all sorts lived here.”

She gestured to the barren wastes. “The Earth ponies tilled the land, the pegasi controlled the weather, and the unicorns cared for the animals and creatures. All was well, and fertile.”

“But then came the dragons. Strong hooves were like mere gnat bites, lightning only made them stronger, and they had a magic of their own. Only my sister and I, and a handful of the very best ponies, were able to successfully fight dragons, and then only one at a time.”

“Wait.” Soarin’ interrupted, glancing up at the Princess. “You have a sister?”

Spitfire cursed her subordinate’s casualty. She was curious too, but she knew better than to address the Princess in such a way. The only reason she could think of for not having a sister now, was if the Princess’s sister were dead. She watched as a look of pain crossed over the Princess’s face, before going back to serene.

“Yes, I have a sister.” Celestia nodded.

Spitfire stomped on Soarin’s foot before he could question the present tense.

“It was her idea really, of accepting the darkness instead of fighting it.” Celestia explained to her. “And as it turned out, several ponies were willing to be volunteers.”

“A group of Earth Ponies volunteered to become ponies of brilliant, living crystal. They lived up here, in the north, as draconic diplomats. They lived in hoards instead of herds, and the dragons took a liking to them. Some dragons even began mating with the Crystal Ponies.”

Spitfire had seen dragons. The mind boggled at any pony actually finding a dragon attractive, much less a dragon returning the sentiment.

Celestia looked very old, and very sad. “And then one day, one of the crystal ponies rebelled. His name was Sombra. He was a half-dragon crystal unicorn, and a more vicious monster I have never seen. My sister and I stopped his tyrannical reign… but at a price. The entire Crystal Empire vanished.”

A furrow appeared on the Princess’ brow. “But why would it vanish? And why reappear now?”

The two pegasi absorbed the impromptu history lesson in silence. Then Soarin’ cleared his throat. “Ah, what happened to the dragons?” He asked, apprehensively.

“A hundred years of war, and a further nine of tension.” Celestia sighed. “It was my sister who created the Crystal ponies. I never learned how. We drove off the dragons, eventually, but our current ambassadors don’t seem to be making much of an impression on the dragons.”

Celestia frowned forlornly. “Until the Empire reappeared, I feared it was only a matter of time before another war.”
Spitfire shook herself to keep the accumulating snow off. “Well, if the dragons do try anything funny, you can count on us your majesty!” She proclaimed.

“Yeah.” Soarin’ stomped his hoof determinedly. “We’re with you princess, a hundred and ten percent.”

Celestia smirked. “Thank you both. Everypony should have friends loyal enough to forget how math works in a tight corner.”

~~oooOOOooo~~

Rainbow Dash was tossing and turning on her cloud, desperately trying and failing to take a nap. The problem was, counting sheep only worked when you were actually napping in someplace where you could see sheep.

She groaned in frustration at the lack of flying farm equines, when she smelt something good.
Candy?

“Eurgh.” Concluding that she must have floated over Sugarcube Corner at some point, she flapped her wings and lazily pushed herself further through the air.

If she couldn’t nap, she was determined to mope.

The day had started out so well... she had that special feeling in her she got after she did a Sonic Rainboom. Then Princess’ visit to Ponyville had been cancelled. The Princess herself was gonna see what an awesome job she’d done with clearing the sky, and then The Wonderbolts were gonna come, and there was gonna be a show, and Rainbow Dash would have been able to show off her sweet moves and now everything was ruined!

She buried her face in her cloudy pillow, vaguely realizing that she’d probably be fired from the weather patrol for not clearing any clouds today. Then she realized that she didn’t care because the Wonderbolts weren’t coming, and this was just like the time Cloudsdale was gonna host the Equestria Games but they didn’t! And all life was over so the Almanac Co. could take their cloudy day and eat it!

And then she realized she still smelled candy.

Now, it’s not like Rainbow Dash was distracted by any old shiny thing. Far from it, sometimes she’d get so absorbed in something it had dire consequences.

But she was certain she was strong enough that she’d have drifted away from Sugarcube Corner by now.
In fact…

The smell seemed to be coming from the cloud itself.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and… realized the cloud was made of cotton candy.

“What.”

“Rainbow Daaaash!”

Rainbow spun around, and a wall-eyed Pegasus with a grey coat flew up to her.

“Derpy?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What are you doing?”

“I swear, it wasn’t me this time!” Derpy protested, gesturing around her.

Rainbow looked and saw that the whole sky full of clouds… were now made out of cotton candy. And raining chocolate.

“Okay, Derpy, are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Probably not.” Derpy said, mournfully gesturing to her eyes.

“I mean, I know Equestria is full of cutesy stuff.” Rainbow Dash went on, ignoring her. “I mean, Pinkie Pie’s house is made up of desert… but clouds literally made of candy? This… this is where I draw the line.”

She soared across the sky. Maybe the Wonderbolts weren’t coming, but she wasn’t going to leave Ponyville hanging when they were suffering from… from chocolate literally falling from the sky… okay maybe they weren’t suffering, but nopony knew there was gonna be rain today, so it was up to her to make sure there was no rain!

She kicked a cloud, zipped over and kicked another, then another and another and….

And it had absolutely no effect.

In fact, she was beginning to get candy gunk on her hooves.

She turned to Derpy, and found her munching one of the clouds.

“Derpy, you genius!” Rainbow Dash landed on one of the sticky clouds contaminating her skies. And preparing to take a bite as big as her jaw would allow. “I’m going to take my cloudy sky… AND EAT IT!!!”

~~oooOOOooo~~

Princess Celestia frowned at the cloudy skies surrounding them. She wished she didn’t have to lower the sun so soon. Still, it wasn’t like she could even see the sun, and she was plenty warm enough, emanating enough heat for her and both her companions in this snowstorm.

“Princess!”

The cry echoed through the wind, and Celestia had to brighten her mane to see the figure approaching in front of her. “Captain Shining Armor? Is that you?”

“It’s me Princess!” The unicorn emerged from the gale. “Princess Cadence is back at the Empire, protecting it.”
That caught everybody’s attention. “Protecting it from what?” Princess Celestia asked.

“We’re not sure.” Shining Armor said. “We haven’t been able to do as much research as we’d have liked. But it’s not safe after dark. Follow me Princess, quickly.”

Celestia followed, without hesitation. The Wonderbolts fell in beside her, Spitfire, looking in every direction, and Soarin’ staying close to the queen.

They walked like that for a while, through the bleak snowstorm. Until, just as they were approaching the barrier of force surrounding the city, Shining Armor gave up a cry.

“Princess! Look out!”

Spitfire was already in the air as an evil chuckle rent the arctic Twilight. A dark something, almost like a whisp of smoke, whistled through the air, and knocked her down.

“My wings!” She cried, as black crystals began to form, coating her wings with an impenetrable shell.

A dark shape loomed in the frost. Twenty feet of pure black smoke, billowing as if it had come straight from a fire. It was more than a shadow, it was absent of any light, save for one spot in the smog where a red crystal horn gleamed in front of a draconic pair of eyes.

“Run!” Shining Armor cried, placing himself in front of the group and the apparition. “Run! Now!”

“No way! Let me at ‘im! I’ll knock that smirk right off his face!” Spitfire yelled in fury, as Soarin’ dragged her away to safety.

Soarin’ looked back for a moment, hesitating as he took in Princess Celestia facing off against the towering evil smoke. “Sorry Spitfire, but Shining Armor outranks you!” He said, pulling her behind the force field.

Celestia and Shining Armor sent powerful rays of magic at the creature. Spitfire could see the Princess was winning. A look of concentration was in Sombra’s reptilian eyes. That meant he wasn’t just letting the bolts pass through his smoking form, he was actively dodging them. He could be hurt. She could stop him!

Or maybe the concentration was just him lining up his sights.

Some snakes can strike a target a foot away from a coiled position at less than thirteen percent of a second.

Dragons, the snake’s closest relative, only appear slower, but that’s because their foes are often more than a foot away.

The fact is, they have greater reach then Snakes, and can continue their speed until they run out of tail, neck, or arm.

A half-dragon who was formed of smoke, it turned out, was also pretty **** fast.

The sun, on the other hand, is mostly stationary. While it does move through space with tremendous speed, a rock would have better reflexes.

The Princess’ scream tore through the air as Sombra lashed out.

Soarin’ dropped Spitfire, and race back out of the barrier, but he was too late.

Somepony else got to him first.

A crossbow bolt whizzed through the frosty air, faster than snake or dragon, slicing right through both of Sombra’s eyes.
He hissed at his sudden blindness, and recoiled as the green mist that used to be his eyes coalesced into a solid form again.

A hunched over figure stood in the snowstorm, obscured by a blue fur-trimmed parka. A cart rested at his side, open, and from it the newcomer pulled out another bolt and slotted it into his crossbow.

Sombra hissed, and turned back to the Princess, but Soarin’ was already pulling her back to safety with Shining Armor covering their escape. With a roar of rage, Sombra lunged at the pony in the parka –

Who put away the crossbow, and took out a pouch of some kind. He threw the pouch at the tyrant, a cloud of gas covering the pair of them.

“What’s happening?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Just rest easy Princess, he hit you pretty hard.” Soarin’ said, and Spitfire helped him help her up. She winced as if she had a headache – and her long elegant horn was entirely covered with the same black crystals covering Spitfire’s wings.

“Somepony helped us out.” Shining Armor said, looking out into the snow. “I’m going to go look for –”

The mysterious pony emerged through the shield, wearing a gas mask and pulling his cart behind him. “Are ya’ll okay?” He asked.

“Yes, thank you.” Shining Armor said, nodding at the pony. “Who are you? Why did you do that?”

“Oh, I'm just a lonely wanderer passing through.” Said gas mask. “Glad I could help, but it doesn’t really matter.”

“I think it does.” Princess Celestia said, standing up. She only shook for one second, before her natural poise resumed control. “Thank you kind… wait.” Princess Celestia smirked. “Doodle? Cranky Doodle, is that you under that ridiculous gas mask?”

The pony took off his mask, revealing that he was not, in fact, a pony. He was a donkey, an old bent donkey. And he was smiling fondly at the Princess, as if revisiting an old memory. “Don’t laugh at the mask.” Cranky said. “When you’re prone to wandering through Equestria on your lonesome, a good gas mask is the only thing keeping you from rolling on the ground with the Timberwolves when you throw a stink bomb.”

“A stink…” The four of them couldn’t help but turn and look out into the snow. Outside, King Sombra was rolling around in the snow, frothing at the mouth and watering at the eyes.

“I figured if ghosts can see, ghosts can smell.” Cranky Doodle said with a shrug.

“Very astute.” Shining Armor said, with an approving nod. “I’ll have to remember that one.”

“You just knocked that thing on it’s sorry flank!” Spitfire said, with as much awe as she could put into her voice for somepony that wasn’t her. “That was bloomin’ Awesome!”

Cranky shrugged, nonplussed.

Celestia winced, and rubbed her head. “Shining Armor, I feel pinched. Can you figure out what Sombra did to me?”

Shining nodded. “Same thing that happened to Spitfire, but with your horn.” He said.

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Oh… oh no.”

“I assure you your majesty, between me and Cadence we have enough magic to go around.” Shining Armor said, rolling his eyes.

“It’s not that!” Celestia said, waving him off. “Though of course, it’s not just Sombra I’m worried about you having to face. Twilight’s on an important mission, and now I won’t be able to send her any letters. If something goes wrong… she’ll be on her own.”

~~oooOOOooo~~

Twilight was almost at the door to the sanctuary that she lovingly called Ponyville Library. Almost.

Until something crashed into her side, knocking her and Spike into a mud puddle.

No... a puddle of chocolate?

“Sorry.” Said a thick voice.

“Spike make a note;” Twilight said, trying to regain her breath. “On no account, should I ever go outside again.”

“Sorry Twilight, but I think your list of sarcastic rules got soaked.” Spike said, somewhat sorry, but partially sarcastically himself as he held up the ruined scroll. Followed by getting down on all fours and shaking himself like a dog.

Twilight’s mane was even more of a mess. She levelled a disapproving look at the Pegasus that crashed into her.

The Pegasus was grey, with a blonde mane. She shook herself mostly clean, then glance at the condition of Twilight's coat. “I just don’t know what went wrong.” She said. “Here, let me fix that for you.”

“There’s really no need –” Twilight began to protest, but the Pegasus began flying around Twilight in dizzy circles, turning the immediate area into a miniature hurricane. When she’d finished, the twister blew past, sweeping a pony with a clover shaped cutie mark up and away, while she herself crash landed into the library’s sign.

Twilight’s mane was, if anything, all the worse off for the impromptu blow-dry.

“I’m sorry.” The Pegasus apologized again, while Spike laughed just quietly enough for Twilight to only respond with one withering glare.

“Just try to watch where you’re flying next time, alright?” Twilight asked.

“I didn’t mean to crash into you.” The Pegasus said with a small shake of her head. “I just got hit with liquorice lightning.

… what.

Twilight looked up into the sky to confirm that, indeed, there were clouds made of cotton candy, and some of them did flash with liquorice strikes.

“That’s new.” Twilight said.

Spike raised an eyebrow as he climbed onto Twilight's back. “Wow, you're right! The clouds that are made of candy, and rain chocolate, are new! In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's very new. It has quite possibly never happened before ever! I can see why you're a genius.”

Twilight leveled a look at Spike, before bucking him off of her.

“Rainbow Dash and I were trying to make them go away by eating them.” The Pegasus burped loudly.

“Where did they come from?” Twilight asked, almost letting her jaw drop.

“Probably Pinkie Pie.” Derpy shrugged.

“Who?” Twilight asked.

“She’s the smartest pony in Ponyville.” The pegasus beamed. “She’s always doing crazy experiments with cakes and cookies and muffins.” Then the Pegasus looked at her like she’d just sprouted wings. “Oh hey! You’re new in Ponyville aren’t you!? I’m Derpy Hooves!”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight said, shaking Derpy’s hoof. “If you know who’s making these, can’t you just get her to turn it off?” She asked.

Derpy shook her head. “Nah, Pinkie Pie’s impossible to catch unless she wants you to catch her.”

“Derpy, come on!” A blue Pegasus with a rainbow main and a bulging stomach landed next to the pair. “You’ve got to help me get this cleaned up. The weather forecast was supposed to be cloudless, and the chocolate rain is getting everywhere!”

“Maybe I can help?” Twilight offered.

The Blue Pegasus stared at her blankly. “Uh, who are you?”

Twilight felt a bit flustered. In Canterlot, everypony seemed to know who she was.

“She’s Twilight Sparkle.” Spike said, stepping in to help her bridge this social gap. “The most powerful unicorn ever. If anybody can magic away the clouds, she can.”

The blue Pegasus raised an eyebrow. “Riiiiiight.” She said, eyeing Twilight critically. She held out a hoof. “Name’s Rainbow Dash. Fastest Pegasus in the history of ever, living legend, future Wonderbolt, Ponyville’s entire weather team, yadda yadda.”

Twilight shook her offered hoof, and Rainbow grinned. “Tell ya what then Twilight; if you can get rid of these clouds with your magic, then I’ll buy you a free lunch.”

Twilight was flustered. “What are you – are you betting? On me?” Her eyebrows shot up. “To fail?”

“No no, if this were a bet, I’d say something like like… if I clear the sky first, then I buy you lunch!” Rainbow Dash smirked smugly. “Unless of course… you’re too chicken.”

“Hey!” Spike snapped. “Twilight’s no chicken! You’re on!” Spike and Rainbow Dash spat on their claw/forehoof and preformed a complicated series of hoofshakes that Twilight couldn’t analyse if she tried because only jocks seemed to know it.

“There’s really no need.” Twilight said, embarrassed by her assistant’s behavior. “If the sky’s a problem I’d help you clear it either way.”

“But Twilight, we already spit-shook on it!” Spike protested. “Besides! It’s not like you have to worry about losing.”
“Is that a challenge?” Rainbow Dash smirked.

“Well obviously, you’re not a very good weather pony if you need help with a few clouds.” Spike scoffed.

Rainbow Dash’s face contorted with rage. “I’ll have you know, if it weren’t for these cotton candy clouds I’d be able to clear this sky in ten seconds flat!” She flew up to the sky and began angrily chomping down on the candy clouds.

“Go on Twilight!” Spike cheered.

Twilight sighed at her assistant’s enthusiastic attempts at goading the weather mare. Then she lit up her horn.

These clouds were not natural. They could, theoretically, be made by science via the transmutation of cotton candy from a solid material to a vaporous material. However, such a feat would be highly unlikely given that the clouds rained some sort of liquid chocolate and seemed to use liquorice for lightning. Far more likely, this ‘Pinkie Pie’ was a genius unicorn (‘note:’ Twilight thought to herself. ‘I am also a genius unicorn. Perhaps Pinkie Pie = potential pal?’) And she’d created this cloud via magic.

Therefore, Twilight decided, casting a simple transmutation or enchantation dispellation would do the trick. Twilight was the most powerful unicorn she (or for that matter, Celestia) had ever seen. Certainly, she could undo whatever magic kept cotton candy afloat.

Casting the spell, a wave of pink magic washed over the sky. Twilight blinked slightly, having forgotten to look away. And then her eyes widened with shock.

The clouds were still there.

“Izzat…” Rainbow Dash belched loudly, as she staggered dizzyingly on a cloud. “Izzat all you got?” She took a proud bite out of the cloud she was standing on, before groaning at the fullness of her stomach.

Twilight’s mouth flapped wordlessly for a moment. And then she breathed out in protest…

“But… that was all I got…”

~~oooOOOooo~~

“Thank you for all trying your hardest to be on your best behavior during this field trip.” Cheerilee said to her class as they waited at Canterlot train station. “I know you’ve all been very patient. Maybe you could all draw your favorite sight in Canterlot while we wait for the train.”

This last compromise managed to get the little foals and fillies excitedly taking out their arts and crafts supplies, with only a few muted moans and groans.

Cheerilee watched her class with a smile. They really had been patient, aside from a few minor bumps.

Speaking of which, she noted Applebloom had been one of the moaners.

Cheerilee was aware that Applebloom was going through a rough time. It was always hard to discover why you’ve never met your parents. Right now Applebloom needed the comfort of having a family around her, and if she hadn’t insisted Cheerilee would have recommended that she stayed at home during this field trip, to be with her family during the Apple Reunion.

Cheerilee also knew Silver and Diamond weren’t making things any easier for her. But she couldn’t ask any of her students to imagine what Applebloom was going through and sympathize with you. You just didn’t ask a foal that.

… But maybe, Cheerilee thought, she could help Applebloom some other way.

She came up behind Applebloom and whispered in her ear. “Applebloom, could I talk to you for a second?”

Applebloom’s ear pricked up, and she immediately stood to go with Cheerilee.

They walked a little ways away from where the class was sitting, where Cheerilee could keep an eye on them without being overheard.

“Applebloom, I’m sorry the train’s late.” Cheerilee said. “I know you wanted to be at your family’s reunion before dinner.”

Applebloom blushed. “Don’t worry miss Cheerilee. It’s not like the train was late onpurpose, right?”

Cheerilee smiled proudly at her student. “Still, I couldn’t help but notice you were a little… tense in the gardens.”

Applebloom frowned. “I’m sorry I messed up in front of Celestia’s pro-to-jay.”

Cheerilee shook her head. “I don’t think she even noticed Applebloom, I’m sorry for being so stern with you back there.” Cheerilee nodded toward the group. “Still… I think it might do you good to get to know Scootaloo a little bit more. You might find you have more in common than you think.”

Applebloom looked incredulously at the purple-maned Pegasus. “What, her!?” She asked, with obvious distaste.

Cheerilee sighed. “Applebloom, why not give her a chance? You might find –”

“Oh look! The train!” Applebloom rushed off to Twist’s side, as the other foals got up, eager to board the train.

Cheerilee sighed, and resolved to speak to her later. “Double file class!” She said, organizing her students. “Everybody stand still for a second so I can make sure everybody’s here!”

Once she’d finished counting her students and herding them onto the train, she felt like she oculd finally relax. The intercom system blared to life, and she hushed her students as the conductor made an announcement.

“Helloooooooo passengers!” The conductor said, in a voice that sounded childish, yet old, and suave at the same time. “We apologize for the delay, but we’ve had a little mix-up with our train ponies. For some reason, the former crew ran off the train screaming in horror. Ah well, who wants a train that’ll follow the rules anyway?”

The train lurched to a slow start. “Next stop Ponyville!”

~~oooOOOooo~~

Twilight was frustrated to the point of imminent mental collapse. “This… doesn’t follow any rule of magic I know!” She groaned.

The cotton candy cloud lay on the ground next to her portable-pocket-magikemistry-kit. Spike just finished handing her the vial she’d placed on the Bunsen burner five minutes ago, and for some reason there wasn’t a change in cotton viscosity! This was unheard of!

“Spike, I’m going to have to bring in the big guns.” Twilight said, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Take a note:”

“Dear Princess Celestia.
While on your mission to find friends in Ponyville, I’ve come across a bizarre weather phenomenom; see the attached sample for details. It has constantly defied all explanation and all attempts to dispel it. I believe it to be the work of a unicorn mage in the area, and will seek her out, hopefully determining the methods used to create such weather, and making a new friend at the same time. Your Faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight took the note from Spike and attached it to the Cotton Candy cloud. “Send it Spike.”

Spike blew the candy cloud away with a gout of green flame.

“Um…” Derpy stepped up. “You’re on a mission to find friends?” Derpy asked.

“Well… uh… yeah.” Twilight blushed. “I’ve never really had friends before, so now I have to make some. It’s not as easy as it looks.”

“It’s exactly as easy as it looks.” Spike said, hopping on Twilight’s back and rapping her head. “Twilight just doesn’t know how to look properly.”

“I know some optometrists.” Derpy volunteered.

Twilight grimaced. “Thanks, but I don’t think that’ll help me make friends.”

“Oh.” Derpy frowned. “Well then… maybe I could be your friend?”

“That’d be great!” Twilight felt relieved. She could officially call this mission from Celestia a success, even if it had happened by accident. “Um, so… what do friends do?”

Derpy frowned, and scratched her head. “Um… I dunno. I’ve never really had a friend before either.”

“Oh yeah, you two are gonna get along just fine.” Spike snickered.

“Woooooh doggy. What in tarnation is up with this weather?”

The new arrival, an orange earth pony in a wide-rimmed hat, surveyed the scene.

“Hey Applejack!” Derpy waved.

Applejack spared her a glance. “Either of you know what’s goin’ on here? Ah got all the corn in mah fields poppin’ as if they were buttered in an oven. And packs a long-legged critters ta boot.”

“So it’s not just the clouds?” Twilight asked. “This… chaos is everywhere?”

Applejack spared Twilight a glance too. And then a second one.

It would be unkind to say Applejack looked down on Derpy. Applejack had, for the moment, forgotten about the mailmare. Sweet Apple Acres didn’t usually get mail, and Applejack was a forgiving pony so she’d put the incident where Derpy totaled her barn right out of her mind. And Applejack’s mind was what some would call one-track. Derpy wasn’t, currently, a solution to the problem, so she didn’t notice her.

Applejack noticed Twilight, however. Maybe it was Twilight’s tone of voice that convinced Applejack that Twilight was a solution to her problems. Maybe it was the intensely curious look in her eyes, that made Applejack see her as a fellow searcher for the truth. Maybe, just maybe, Applejack was curious as to why, exactly, the unicorn was covered in mud and looked like her hair had been in a tornado.

Whatever the case, Applejack felt the beginnings of a bond. A bond she hadn’t felt since she’d tried and gratefully failed to run away from home.

“Nope.” She said. “All sorts a strangeness is happenin’. It’s almost ruined our family reunion.”

Twilight sighed, and rubbed her temples. “When you say long-legged critters…?”

“Ah mean a pack a rabbits with legs like lamp posts.” Applejack said.

Twilight nodded. “I have an idea. The clouds only seem to go away when somepony eats them. And if the rabbits ate them, they might get so full…”

“As to stop running around.” Applejack smirked and nodded. “There are a mite more rabbits then there are clouds, but ah reckon that’s a right good idea sugarcube.”

“If only we could get the clouds where the rabbits could get at them.” Twilight muttered.

“That ain’t no problem.” Applejack said with a tip of the hat. “Ah did mention ah was havin’ a family reunion.”

She stuck a hoof in her mouth, and whistled like there was no tomorrow.

Thunder echoed in the distance, and grew rapidly less distant as the collective might of the apple family was brought to bear.

Twilight and Spike’s eyes widened, as a veritable army of earth ponies bore down on them, herding a pack of long-legged rabbits through town. Twilight and Spike watched with eyes and apprehensions growing steadily wider.

“All right y’all, listen up!” Applejack called out as they approached. “We’re gonna git these clouds on the ground pronto, and let the critters munch ‘em up! And then we’re gonna git back to the farm and have our own little brunch!”

“Eeeeeeeyup!!!” Came the chorus from all sides, as they stampeded past. Ropes were let loose, and the earth ponies waged war with the sky.

“Say, I never caught yer name sugarcube.” Applejack said, patting a slack-jawed Twilight on the shoulder.

“I-it’s Twilight.” Twilight managed to stammer. “That’s an impressive family you have Applejack.”

“Well shoot, let me introduce you!” Applejack sprung around the field, swinging her own lasso to corral the rabbits. “We got Apple Cobbler, Apple Strudel, Apple Fritter, Caramel Apple, Apple Tart, Apple Salad, Apple Juice, Cousin Braeburn, Red Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Apple Bumpkin, Apple Brioche, Bramley, Russet Apple, Jonagold Apple, Apple Brown Betty, and mah personal favorite, mah big brother MacIntosh.” She clapped the large red stallion on the shoulder. “Alright, let’s bring ‘em down!”

With a sharp tug, all the cotton candy clouds in the sky were brought down in a lurch, all to become one big cotton cloud on the ground. Without hesitation, the rabbit hordes began to munch away.

“Ah’d introduce you to mah Granny Smith but she ain’t exactly in rodeo condition these days.” Applejack finished.

Rainbow Dash tumbled out of the already half-eaten cloud. “Alright…” She moaned at Twilight. “You… win…” She collapsed with a groan.

Aplejack chuckled. “Well, thanks a bunch fer helping us with them clouds. I don’t reckon whatever it is causin’ this is done yet, but yer welcome to have brunch with us before the next catastrophe hits.”

“I can’t.” Twilight shook her head. “I have to find out what’s going on here. My first step is to find this mysterious Pinkie Pie.”

“Yer lookin’ fer Pinkie Pie?” Applejack pondered this. “Well, Ah guess the popping corn and the candy clouds might fit her style, but the rabbits? I dunno.” She shrugged. “Well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do ah reckon.”

“Do you know where I can find her?” Twilight asked.

Applejack raised an eyebrow at her. Then she turned to Derpy. “Is she new in town?”

Derpy nodded.

“You have a place to stay?” Applejack asked.

“I’ll be staying at the library for a couple of days.” Twilight said.

“Well then.” Applejack smirked. “Ah reckon that’s where you’ll find Pinkie Pie.”

~~oooOOOooo~~

Soarin’ took to the sky as the others followed on the ground to get to the Crystal palace.

After Spitfire had lost her wings, he and Celestia were the only ones who could fly. If he had to lose his wings in the line of duty… well, he didn’t want to even think about it. He loved flying. Even though he was kind of a goof-up, flying made him feel like he could reach the heavens.

But flying managed to be a small comfort now. Looking back he could still see the ominous smokey beast trying to get through the shield. Below, his commanding officer had lost her wings, his princess has lost her horn, and an old donkey had managed contribute more than either of them in the fight. In front of him, the palace that the tyrant used to live in, now just an empty shell. Above him, the snowstorm raged. He couldn’t even see the moon.

He flew down at landed on the steps of the palace. The others were close behind him, but Cranky Doodle was slowing them down. Soarin’ waited patiently.

Celestia was distracting herself by talking to the Crankey. Soarin’ wondered who the donkey was. He gathered he knew Celestia well enough, but seemed to have disappeared for years. By the time they reached the palace gates, Cranky Doodle was reciting his visit to the dragon country. But instead of the usual arrogance most ponies who survived dragon country had, he seemed almost irritated to have to recount it to the Princess.

Celestia’s reunion was interrupted, when a flash of green fire appeared in front of her. The fire burned quickly, and when it stopped, in its place was a cloud of cotton candy, with a note pinned to its side.

“I’ve never seen that before.” Crankey Doodle muttered, looking at the candy cloud with something that might be interest.

“I have.” Celestia whispered, reading the note.

Soarin’s wings flared. As far as he could tell… Princess Celestia sounded… scared. She never sounded scared. Never.

“Your majesty?” Shining Armor asked.

“But how…” Celestia stared at the cloud, as if she were willing it to give her answers. Then inspiration lit up her face. “Of course. Or course, I should have seen it when the Crystal Empire appeared!” She winced, and rubbed her horn. “We must hurry. We’re all in very grave danger.”

They all rushed into the palace.

Except for Cranky Doodle, who walked along leisurely, pulling his cart behind him.

“Need some help with that old-timer?” Soarin’ offered.

Cranky Doodle glared at him. “If you think you can handle it.” He muttered, unloading his burden, and following the others.

Soarin’ put himself in the yokes and pulled, only to go exactly nowhere. The unexpected weight of the cart tripped him up, and he landed flat on his face. “What do you have in here, rocks?” Soarin’ asked incredulously.

Cranky Doodle, already inside and at the foot of the stairs called back; “Hurry up slowpoke, time’s a-wastin’! Unless you need some help with that? Whippersnapper?”

Soarin’ gritted his teeth, and called upon all of the Wonderbolt strength mastering exercises to pull the cart along.

~~oooOOOooo~~

Lyra and Bon-bon stared. Each had their heads tilted slightly to the left, and an expression of puzzled bewilderment painted their features.

“…huh.” Lyra commented.

She’d never seen a donut shop before.

Behind them, a herd of long-legged rabbits ran through the town square, herded by three quarters of the apple family. Neither of them noticed.

“So, what exactly is a donut?” She asked Bon-bon.

The earth pony sighed, trying to find words to explain. “A donut is a sort of pastry, not unlike a roll, except it has a hole in the middle.”

“What’s the purpose of the hole?” Lyra asked.

Bon-bon shrugged. “I dunno, it’s just a hole.” She said. “Most donuts are glazed with sugar, or filled with jelly, or… stuff.”

Lyra looked on at the building, where grubby looking ponies flocked. “I’m going for it.” She decided.

Bon-bon immediately stepped in front of her. “Lyra…” She said, urgently. “Do you know what your father would think if I let you eat a donut?”

“A little peasant food won’t hurt me.” Lyra said, forcing herself to stifle a snort. “And besides, I’m running away from daddy, remember? If he catches us, you’re fired anyway!”

Bon-bon winced. “Ah… Lyra, as your bodyguard, I must advise you that Donuts… uh… have calories.”

Lyra gasped. She didn’t know what calories were, but all of her friends had told her that they were bad things. “Well why didn’t you say so?” She asked. She spun around, looking through the town. “Now, maybe we can find a good boutique around… here…”

Her eyes went wide. Her vision turned pink as her pupils stretched to form the shape of a heart. Her own heart stopped beating, just for a second, before thumping harder than ever before. The entire world, all of it, seemed to coalesce around one, single, being.

Lyra Heartstrings stared at the baby dragon riding on the back of the purple unicorn.

“Wow…” She whispered, absolutely awestruck.

“Lyra?” Bon-bon asked, snapping Lyra out of her daze by stepping in her line of sight.

Lyra grabbed Bon-bon by the shoulders. “Bon.” She said, with a deadly serious she’d never shown in all her life. “I need you to be my wing pony.”

“But I don’t have wings!” Bon-bon protested.

“Bon, remember why I got you to help me escape from daddy?” Lyra asked. “To find my destiny. Well, destiny is right here, in all his cute, dragon-y glory, and he’s getting away!”

Bon-bon glanced at Spike and Twilight. “The dragon?” She asked. “Lyra, you can’t believe everything you read in romance novels. I don’t think dragons and ponies are compatible –”

“If you’re not going to help me, fine!” Lyra pushed Bon-bon away and raced up to Spike. “I don’t need some baby sitter!” She called over her shoulder. “Just leave me alone!”

She rushed forward, stopped just in time to duck behind a lamp post as the unicorn the dragon was riding turned around. When the coast was clear again, she made he move.

Okay Lyra. She thought. Just be chill. Be chill.

“Hi there!” Lyra said, jumping in front of Twilight.

“Uh… hi.” Twilight said, mildly annoyed and panicked.

“I was just walking by, and I noticed you, and I thought…” Lyra lifted her make-up kit out of her saddle bags. “That mare looks like she could use a makeover!”

“Oh, I really don’t have time…”

“Nonsense!” Lyra said, working her magic. “I can do this while you walk. So…” She looked at the Spike. “It’s not often you see dragons around here… I think… what’s your name?”

“I’m Spike.” Spike said, puffing up his chest in a way that almost made Lyra blush.

“How’d you end up with her Spike?” Lyra asked, gesturing to Twilight.

“Well, that’s a long story.” Spike said. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Start at the beginning.” Lyra suggested.

Spike beamed, and nodded. “Well, it all started when I was an egg…”

~~oooOOOooo~~

By the time Soarin’ reached the palace chambers, where Princess Cadence was leaning against Shining Armor, and the others were discussing the pink cloud of cotton candy. Once he’d flown in, she began to explain.

“Discord is back.” She said grimly.

“Who’s Discord?” Soarin’ asked, setting down his cart.

“Soarin’.” Spitfire hissed.

“He’s just saying what we’re all thinking.” Crankey Doodle said.

“Even I’m at a loss.” Cadence said, glancing to Shining Armor who shook his head. “Who’s Discord?”

Celestia closed her eyes. And when she opened them, they were shaking. “Discord is an old foe. Older than even me. He was there at the beginning of Equestria, and he will be there when it ends, inflicting his unique brand of torture through the eons.”

Celestia paced the throne room. “Discord is pure malevolent chaos. He would like nothing more than to see every pony turned against each other. He has no understanding of the emotions that drive most ponies, no understanding of love, or hope, or plans. He just does whatever he deems funny, whether it be turning oak trees into pine trees or spontaneously turning the air around you to mercury. He is a madpony, and he holds the very reins of the universe.”

“But you stopped him.” Soarin’ said.

“We stopped him.” Princess Celestia sighed. “My sister and I.”

“I remember something about that.” Shining Armor said. “Your sister… Luna, right? Spirit of the Moon?”

Celestia nodded. “We were the ones who eventually defeated Discord. We discovered the one force in the universe more powerful than Discord; Harmony. We created the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned him. For over a thousand years, he has become nothing more than a whisper of legend, and a statue in the royal gardens.”

“But he escaped.” Shining Armor said darkly.

Celestia nodded, saddened. “The Elements of Harmony… are a powerful weapon. They draw on the strength of its bearer’s friendship. I utilized it with Luna to devastating effect… but the Elements of Harmony can never kill.”
She shuddered, and looked at them all. Soarin’ realized she was about to share some dread secret.

“Luna was overcome.” Celestia said. “By the dread spirit Nightmare Moon.”

“You mean the Mare In The Moon?” Crankey Doodle asked. “An old wive’s tale?”

“A tale I spread.” Princess Celestia said. “Even though Luna was suppressed, she was still alive in there somewhere, and we were able to use the elements on Nightmare Moon. We weren’t able to use them fully, to banish Nightmare forever. Luna was swept away too, imprisoned alongside her as the Mare In The Moon.”

“I had a time limit.” Celestia said. “One thousand years. With that time, I established Equestria, made it a nation at peace with itself, and yet with well trained troops.” She nodded appreciatively at Shining Armor. “I made it a self-dependent nation, with many farmers, more than enough food to last if Nightmare Moon should overthrow me. And I spread the tale of the Mare In The Moon, and the Holiday of Nightmare Night, so that if I did manage to cure my sister it would be easier to convince my subjects they were two separate entities.”

“One thousand years… and then I found your sister, Shining Armor.” Shining Armor started, as Princess Celestia smiled at him. “Her Cutie-mark is not just magic… it’s very distinct. One brilliant star, and five smaller ones. The symbol for the Elements of Harmony.”

Shining Armor gasped. “You think my sister could use the Elements of Harmony to free your sister?” He asked.

Celestia nodded. “But I miscalculated. As I said, the Elements of Harmony are powered by the connections of the wearers. As soon as I cut their line to me and my sister, Sombra and Discord were both freed from the imprisonment the Elements pushed on them. Right now, they are both severely weakened, but when midnight comes, and Nightmare Moon returns, all will regain their full strength.”

“Wait.” Cadence held up a hoof to stop her aunt, and glared at her. “You think Twilight will power the Elements of Harmony?”

“Yes.” Celestia nodded.

“When, in fact, there are only three ponies Twilight has a strong connection to, and they are all in this room right now?”

Celestia lowered her head. “I sent her to Ponyville before coming here. It’s a friendly town, I’m certain she’ll meet some lovely ponies.”

“The fate of the world depends on TWILIGHT! SPARKLE! Making FRIENDS!?” Princess Cadence gasped. “I mean, no offense Shiny, you know I love your sister.”

“No no, I’m with you. Seriously Celestia, what were you thinking?”

Soarin’ took this all in with a dawning dread. “Um… I take it that your sister is…” He gestured vaguely around at Shining Armor, who snorted.

“To put it mildly.” Celestia said, shaking her head. “If I told her the world depended on making friends, she’d probably start having interviews.”

“You mean you didn’t even tell her!?” Shining Armor gasped, his jaw dropping on the floor.

“Did you even tell her about your sister?” Cadence pressed her. “Or about the Elements of Harmony?”

Celestia suddenly found one of the floor tiles very fascinating. “I… I gave her a book. She should have read it by now.”

Soarin’ was surprised when Shining Armor and Cadence both visibly relaxed. “Oh, all right then.” Cadence said, as Shining Armor wiped away the sweat that had been accumulating on his brow. “That’s a relief.”

“Am I missing something?” Spitfire asked.

“If Twily’s read a book on how to save the world, then the world’s in good hands.” Shining Armor said with a smile. “And Twilight’s never had a book she didn’t read.”

“The situation is still more complicated than just my sister though.” Celestia said with a sigh. “Discord and Sombra are not in that book… I made certain not to spread even a hint of their legends. If they did get free, I would hope to contain them before anypony notices in any case, and I have no use for legends that build up to such a point that ponies become too horrified to fight.”

Celestia tapped her hoof at the paper on the floor. "They are wily foes, and I believe Discord may be one step ahead of us. If he truly is the one behind these clouds, having disguised himself as this 'Pinkie Pie'... then Twilight may be heading right into a trap."

Cranky Doodle nodded. “Then there’s no time to waste.” He said. “We have to figure out some way to stop Sombra so we can get out of this place. And we have to do it before midnight so Nightmare Moon doesn't interfere.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow at him. "'we'?" She asked.

Cranky Doodle sighed, and knelt before her. "My oath of loyalty to you milady. The magic binding it was removed when I left my position, but I meant it when I made it, and I mean it now."

"I'm glad." Celestia said, nodding gratefully to him. She tapped her chin in thought. “If I had my horn, I might be able to improvise some sort of magic... but I don’t even have my horn, and I couldn’t defeat Sombra the first time without the Elements of Harmony.”

“We have to do something.” Shining Armor said, with fierce determination. “Once we’ve dealt with Sombra, Soarin’ can go to Ponyville. Spitfire too, if we figure out a cure for those crystals on her wings. They can warn Twilight of the other danger, and if she doesn’t have any friends by then, you two can fill that role too.”

Cadence shook her head. “Shiny, remember the last time you tried to get Twily to hang out with some of the female guards?”

“The world wasn’t at stake then.” Shining Armor said. “I know friendship can’t be forced, but in this case we’re gonna have to risk it. Discord is out there, and Celestia is shaking. Without any knowledge about him, Twilight and all of Equestria are as defenseless as a foal.”

~~oooOOOooo~~

Applebloom and Twist sat on the train. Twist was chatting away happily at something, but Applebloom wasn’t paying attention. She was just staring glumly out of the window.

“And then she threw the bone into his face and ran!” Twist finished. “Hey, Applebloom, are you all right?”

“Ah’m alright.” Applebloom muttered.

“You don’t sound alright.” Twist said, peering intently into Applebloom’s now-considerably-less-distracted eyes. “What’s bugging ya?”

“Ah don’t know.” Applebloom shrugged. “Ah guess I just miss my family. Today’s the family reunion, and Ah’m stuck here, looking at statues, and puttin’ up with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, and bein’ attacked by that Pegasus. What’s her deal anyway?”

“Oh, I dunno, I think she was just trying to help.” Twist said, looking down the bus to where the orange filly sat all on her own.

“An’ how is givin’ me a headache helping?” Applebloom whined. “Just drop the issue Twist. We’re gonna be pullin’ into Ponyville Station soon, and Ah can get back home.”

“Yeah, I suppose.” Twist said, settling down next to Applebloom.

The intercom crackled to life, and the herd of fillies looked up at the speaker expectantly. “Attention all fillies. We seem to have met a slight delay, and we won’t be able to arrive in Ponyville on schedule.”

A series of groans rang out in an adolescent symphony. “Oh come on!” Applebloom called out, even though she knew the speaker wouldn’t hear her. “Why can’t you get the train going?”

Surprisingly, the intercom came to life again and answered; “Because the tracks are jammed.”

“What?” Applebloom asked. “That makes no sense!”

“Um… guys…” Dinky pointed outside of the window. The foals crowded around the glass, staring as they realized the train was partially submerged in a sea of jam.

Twist stuck her hoof out, and suck on it. “Strawberry.” She said approvingly.

“What’s going on!?” Scootaloo yelled.

“Since we’re all stuck waiting here, perhaps we can play a game.” The conductor said through the intercom. Except… it didn’t have the grainy sound quality it should have. It sounded like it was coming not just from the intercom, but from all around them. “Ooooh, I know! Let’s play a guessing game! If you can guess my name in three tries, then I’ll start the train up!”

“You what?” Applebloom shouted, enraged and a little bit frightened. “You know what you are? You’re evil! You’re pure evil!”

“Wrong! Good guess though!”

“How are you even talking to us?” Twist asked. “You shouldn’t be able to talk to us!”

“Whoever you are, stop this chaos at once!” Cheerilee scolded. “You’re frightening the children!”

“Was chaos your guess teach? If it was it was wrong, and that means you only have one guess left.” The conductor sighed. “It only took you three tried to get it right the first time!”

Dinky’s eyes widened. “Discord!” She gasped.

There was a bright flash of light, and by the time Applebloom’s eyes adjusted, there stood the statue.

Except he wasn’t a statue.

There, Discord stood, all mismatched body parts and bulging eyes and wearing a train conductor’s uniform.

“Hello again children!” He giggled. “You left my garden without stopping by at the souvenir shop! Don’t worry though!” He winked. “I’ve come up with a few ways to make sure you’ll remember your trip!”

Author's Note

So, I'm going to be playing it a little fast and loose with canon. But only to make sure things happen at the same time. I'm not sure there is a canon explanation for Crystal Ponies anyway, so why not dragons? And Discord should have emerged at the same time as Nightmare Moon regardless if it was the element's connections with their bearers that kept him imprisoned.