A Tale of Strife

by Ink Well

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Dark
Length: 6121

Princess Twilight Sparkle needs to uncover what dark forces are unfolding in the land of Equestria.

Twilight Sparkle has just taken up the title of Princess, but still doubts her abilities as a ruler. It is only when an unknown evil arises that our heroine is tested. However, what seems like a simple conflict, turns out to be a long struggle dating back to ancient times. Will Twilight Sparkle realize her destiny as a great leader? Or will this ancient evil be victorious?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-06 03:59:30 UTC

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It all started with a rumble. Everypony could hear it approaching, yet none did anything to prevent it. How could they? They weren’t entirely sure what it was, that is, not until the earth beneath them began to quake. The shaking was loud and violent, so much so that no pony could stand tall without falling flat on their flanks. Never before had they encountered this. Never before had they witnessed a cataclysm.

The massive earthquake lasted for what felt like days, but was only a few minutes. Yet in those minutes were changes that would last a life time as houses began to crumble and paths began to crack. All around the poor helpless creatures, their world was breaking before their very eyes. Everywhere they turned, a little more of their town disintegrated in front of them, which did not only include the houses and paths.

The screams of mares and foals echoed through the collapsing settlement as homes became tombs and the roads became graves. The cataclysm claimed the lives of those too unfortunate to not escape the deathtraps they called cottages. Those who were lucky escaped with injured wings and broken legs. Those who were blessed escaped the sundering with cuts and bruises.

The earthquake lasted for a few minutes with no aftershocks and no mercy. For the little town of Ponyville, they were the lucky ones, as later reports would tell of the floods in Manehatten and the destruction in Appleoosa due to the tremors. However, those are stories for another time. The stage was set, the players took their roles, and the six most famous of ponies in the town took it upon themselves to assist in the retrieval of survivors beneath the rubble of the once bustling settlement.

“Over here, Rainbow Dash!” cried out Pinkie Pie as she pointed out a mother and her foal beneath a collapsed beam. The cyan pegasus responded with great speed as she swooped in and pulled the fallen debris off them. Pinkie looked at the two, checking for any injury, as well as a pulse. Normally the pink mare would be laughing and joking, she even had several parties planned for the day. However, after finding a few corpses beneath the rubble, her cheery self was masked by a veil of sorrows. Her mane wasn’t its usual puffy self, and her smile was nowhere to be seen.

The mother began to groan as Pinkie looked her over. She cracks open her eyes and lifts her head up to Pinkie, cringing in pain. “W… W-Wha’ happened?” asked the broken mother. Pinkie, despite her deep sadness, knew the survivors needed support and cheer, and put on a façade for the injured mother.

“There was just a little accident, Miss. Don’t worry. You and your foal are going to be just fine.” She forces herself to smile. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but this time her smile was actually so difficult to pull off, it hurt her cheeks. Still, she stayed strong, for the mare’s sake. The results were enough to put a real smile on Pinkies face as the mother sighed with relief and smiled back.

“Oh. That’s good. Thank Celestia… we’ll be… just…” She passed out before she could finish her sentence. It was like a dagger being shoved into Pinkie’s heart. She was ready to cry as she panned her surroundings for a few seconds to grasp how much damage there was, how many homes she had to check, how many lives she had to count that were taken by such a tragic event. Finally, Pinkie collected herself and sighed before turning her attention towards a lavender alicorn behind her.

“I have two here, Twilight. A mother who’s passed out, and her child who…” She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t say how the foal was crushed by the mother and the weight of the beam. Twilight understood Pinkie’s pain and didn’t pry more information. She simply lifted up her clipboard and quill, marking down the identity of the mare and the colt in her arms.

“I’m sorry, Pinkie. I know how painful this must be.” Pinkie Pie didn’t respond. She just nodded her head softly as tears streamed down her cheek. “Apple Jack!” she cried out. “Get the wagon! We have one injured here!” Pinkie winced at the fact that the mother and foal were no longer two. After all, no sense in taking a dead infant to a hospital, or what was left of it.

“Ah’m on it!” shouted Apple Jack as she galloped towards the two pulling a wagon with two other mares, both equally, if not more, damaged than the mother. Twilight put the clipboard and quill down and carefully lifted the injured pony onto the hay wagon to be transported. There were no words, just tears.

The six did this for hours, finding survivors and deceased and transporting the lucky souls to the hospital while paying respect to the dead and wrapping their bodies up for proper burial. All the while, no jokes were cracked, no smiles were made, and no conversations. Just silence until asked for a service. No one dared argue, or asked for a different job. How could they?

Each of the six had a job. Pinkie’s was to find any survivors beneath the rubble. Her Pinkie Sense, after all, was powerful enough to predict anything in times of emergencies. As much as Twilight thought Pinkie Sense was ridiculous, she still found it very useful. Rainbow Dash would help Pinkie remove any debris that buried the ponies, Twilight would mark who was alive and who was dead, and Apple Jack would transport the injured to the nearest ward where Fluttershy and Rarity would help tend to the wounded, along with any of the surviving physicians. They all had a job, and they were all in misery.

The rest of the town had jobs, too. The Apple Family provided food provisions, free of charge, the pegasi filled the reservoir for water provisions, and The Cutie Mark Crusaders delivered the supplies to all the survivors, for once not expecting a cutie mark for their deeds. Practically every pony had a job. Even Spike sent letters to Princess Celestia to report the damage in Ponyville.

Hours had passed, and everypony was exhausted. They had finished with their search a few hours earlier, but they double checked to make sure no pony was missing. After a little clean up as well, the citizens of Ponyville retired to their shelters. All, except the six. They arrived at Twilight’s tree, still intact due to the roots keeping it stationary and the material allowing the tree to sway back and forth, minimizing the damage. There, the six took a load off and rested, that is, all but Twilight Sparkle who was pacing in the study.

“What do you think caused this?” Twilight asked her friends, hoping they would have the answer.

“Now how the hay should we know, sugar cube?” They clearly didn’t have the answers. Her friends were just as confused, if not more confused, as Twilight was.

“It doesn’t make any sense. How could an earthquake of such magnitude happen? Ponyville wasn’t build on a fault line, and-.”

“A what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“A fault line. It’s where tectonic plates meet.”

“Um… tec-what?” she asked, scratching her head in total confusion. Twilight sighed, frustrated.

“Tectonic Plates. They’re giant pieces of earth that land is formed on, and when they collide or rub against each other they create earthquakes.”

“Oh… Twilight, why are you such-?”

“If you call me an egg head I swear…!” Twilight snapped back. She was in no mood to deal with name calling, no pony was. Rainbow Dash's ears drooped as she hung her head.

“Uh… sorry,” she said, truthfully. Twilight rolled her eyes and continued.

“Anyway… Ponyville isn’t on one of these fault lines. And there have been no reports of volcanic activities so we can rule out eruptions. Not only that, but earthquakes usually have aftershocks, which this one didn’t. So then how in Equestria did we get hit by such a tremor?”

“Maybe this is Discord’s doing,” Rarity suggested, referring to the recently freed draconequus.

“It can’t be. I reformed him, myself,” Fluttershy said, trying to refute Rarity.

“Besides, I’ve gotten to know him around the castle. He seems to have actually changed for the better, though I still suggest not going into his room. You’ll be lost forever.” There was finally laughter in the room. It wasn’t much, a few snickers and giggles, but it was more than nothing. The tension was being lessened in the tree house, slowly but surely.

“Well if it’s not him, then who? Who could be doing this?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“How do ya know it’s a ‘who’? It could be a what. Or it could just be another funky thing that happens here.” Despite her vocabulary, Apple Jack had a good point. There were indeed natural phenomena that happened all over Equestria, like zap apples and parasprite infestations.

“Well what else could it be? I mean, there aren’t any creatures I know of that can cause such destruction, and last I checked most of the natural phenomena around here follow trends. This was a random occurrence without any real explanation.” The five nodded their heads, waiting to see where Twilight was going with her point. “I think there’s more to it than just natural phenomena.”

“But what else could it be?” Spike asked as he emerged from the bedroom.

“I don’t know. By the way, did you send those reports to Princess Celestia?”

“The damage and head counts have been sent. I’m just glad none of you are on those lists. If anything happened to any of you…” Twilight lifted her hoof in a royal manner, as if to quiet Spike.

“I know, Spike. We’re happy we’re all okay, too. I just wish more could have been saved.”

“I’m just glad you’re all safe, especially Ra-.” Spike belched green fire, magically producing a scroll from Princess Celestia, tied by a red ribbon and closed with the royal seal. Twilight instinctively took the scroll and opened it, reading it allowed for all to hear.

~~~~~

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I am so happy you and your friends are safe, and that the death toll is much less than I feared. My condolences go out to those who have lost their loved ones. Still, we must look into the matter at hoof. Twilight, we have reason to believe the cause of this cataclysmic event was by some dark force. We don’t know what it is or where it came from, but we do need your help here in Canterlot. I know the train station has been utterly obliterated by the sundering, so I am ordering my chariot drivers to pick you and your friends up from Ponyville to meet me here. Please be safe, and be sure to bring the Elements of Harmony with you. There is no telling what you’ll find on your trip.

Be safe.

Signed,

Princess Celestia.

~~~~~

“The Princess needs us?”

“I guess so,” Twilight responded, slowly placing the parchment on the table. She sat down for a moment and sighed. “Do you all have your elements, girls?” They all nodded. “Good. Then let’s get ready.”

A few moments later, the seven of them were gathered outside Twilight’s tree house, donning their elements and standing at attention. Moments later, not one, not two, but three different chariots descended from the skies and landed in front of them.

“Princess Sparkle, we have come for you and your friends,” one of the guards announced, formally.

“Thank you all. We would have walked but-.”

“Nonsense, Princess. It is our duty, after all.” The guard was very formal indeed. He didn’t take his eyes off of Twilight, and didn’t pay any heed to the devastated village around him. Twilight nodded once and turned to her friends.

“Since there are three chariots, I guess that means two per. Spike, you go with Rarity and Pinkie Pie. They’re the lightest. I’ll go with Apple Jack, and Rainbow and Fluttershy can go with each other. Understand?” All of them nodded. It was strange for Twilight to see, since she wasn’t use to other ponies taking her orders so seriously. She was still getting use to her title, after all.

The seven of them all climbed onto their assigned chariots and waved at each other. “See you at the castle, girls.” The chariots were off. Twilight lost sight of the other two as they ascended into the clouds. It was a misty night. The only other pony she could see was Apple Jack.

“Why the long face, sugar cube?” she asked jokingly, trying to get a smile from her friend.

“I… I just…” She couldn’t say what was on her mind. So many things were clouding her thoughts. In a way, she blamed herself for all that transpired during the day. She felt helpless, unable to do anything to save her ponies. She felt that, if she were a better ruler, she could have somehow prevented the destruction. “I… I-I…” Apple Jack placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, only to bring her in for a hug.

“It’s okay if ya don’t wana talk about it, sugar cube. Ah understand. Somethin’ like what we saw today can shake anypony up somethin’ fierce. Just know Ah’m here fer you, sugar cube.” She tightened her hug, trying to bring peace to her friend.

“I know, AJ. I just… I feel like it was my fault.”

“Now what the hay are ya talkin’ about? How is any of this yer fault?”

“I’m a Princess, Apple Jack. I should have the power to save my ponies, not pick up the pieces. I feel… I feel useless!” She buried her head into Apple Jack, crying softly. All Apple Jack could do was pat her friend lightly on the back, trying to comfort her.

“Yer not useless, Twi. Ah should know, you’ve helped me out more times than I can count. Don’t sell yerself short, sugar cube.” She patted her back more before releasing her and looking straight into her eyes. “There was no stoppin’ this. Not even Celestia could stop it. Please don’t be goin’ around blamin' yerself. It ain’t yer fault.” She gave Twilight an honest smile, which in turn made her smile back. She rubbed her eyes dry with her foreleg.

“Thanks, AJ. I needed that.” She looked in front of the chariot and smiled with confidence. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. I know it,” she said as their eyes were set on what still stood of Canterlot. Their day was just getting started.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Canterlot was in ruins. Everywhere Twilight looked, there was debris. The once majestic towers of the illustrious castle were in pieces scattered across the city. Homes were burning, streets caved in, walls crumbled into dust, and gaping holes with debris and gems from the Canterlot Caves were present in every corner of the broken capital. The orange glow from the fires was the only source of light, save Princess Luna’s moon, which was heavily shrouded by what appeared to be storm clouds. The smell of ash and rubble filled the skies as Twilight and her friends flew over Canterlot. As for the sound, Twilight had never heard such agony as the cries of homeless ponies and the mourning of loved ones echoed throughout the kingdom. Much like the rest of the country, Canterlot Castle was shattered.

As Twilight and her friends descended back down to the ground, familiar sights came to their eyes, such as the Castle Labyrinth, Gardens and Court Yard, as well as the Royal Guards. Among the various pegasi and unicorn soldiers stood a tall stallion adorned with several medals, donning the armor of a captain. As Twilight stepped down from the chariot, she came face to face with her brother, Shinning Armor.

“Twi-ly!” shouted the captain as he rushed to his sister and wrapped his fore-hoof around her neck, tightly. Twilight wasn’t expecting such an embrace, and felt her neck getting crushed by her brother’s massive arm. She coughed a few times, making Shinning Armor quickly collect himself and release his sister. “Erm, sorry Twi-ly. I’m just so glad you’re okay. So many others have been injured and-.” Shinning Armor was interrupted by her sister hugging him around the neck, tightly. He held on to her sister for a moment before releasing her and smiling.

“I’m glad you’re okay, too.” It was a touching moment indeed. Even some of the guards were getting teary eyed, which only made Rainbow Dash snicker at their display of emotions. “How is everypony, BBBFF? Are mom and dad okay? What about Cadence or Luna? How are-?” Twilight was interrupted by her brother lifting his hoof for silence.

“Everyone’s okay. Mom’s a little beaten up from some shattered glass, but she’s alive.” He turned away from them to face the castle entrance. “Follow me. Princess Celestia asked for you, right?” The six and Spike all nodded. “Then let me take you to her.” He walked forward, not waiting for the others to start walking. The seven of them looked at one another before taking off in a gallop to catch up.

Despite the outside of the castle, Canterlot looked exactly the same, as if it wasn’t touched by the cataclysm. Of course there were broken windows and giant cracks every so often, but beyond that the castle looked intact. Twilight looked around the halls, taking in the damage, observing everything in silence, until they came across a rather peculiar door. It was pink and fluffy with fur. Twilight blinked a few times at the strange door, and looked back at her friends to realize that they too were entranced by its fluffy nature. Shinning Armor turned around and stopped for the seven.

“That’s Discord’s room. He changes his door everyday to something very obscure. You should have seen what it was yesterday, it was upside down and so small a mouse could barely fit in it.” Shinning Armor slowly approached the door and sighed with discontent. “And as much as I hate his room, I should probably tell him to come out. This earthquake concerns him, too.” He swallowed hard and walked over to his door. He first tried to knock on the fluffy surface. The door grew teeth and roared at Shinning Armor, as if he had just hurt it. “Okay… that didn’t work.”

“Ooo. Let me try!” shouted Pinkie Pie as she bounded towards the door. Once in front of it, she gently placed her hoof on the fluffy surface and began to pet the door like a cat, which in turn made the door purr like one, too, and open up. “Oh wow! Look at this place!” The others poked their heads through the door in awe.

Discord’s room was anything but a room. What they saw was a meadow behind a door. The skies had pink cotton candy clouds and chocolate rain, one half of the room was night while the other was day, the fields were polka dot and striped, and the birds were flying backwards. However, Discord was nowhere in sight.

“How are we going to find him in here?” Twilight asked. Immediately everyone looked down at Pinkie Pie, who was happily observing the chaotic scene before her. She looked up at her friends for a moment before realizing why they were staring at her.

“Ooooh… You want me to…?” she asked, pointing a hoof into the room. All seven of them nodded their heads, collectively. Her reaction was not what they were expecting.

Pinkie Pie bolted into the room and immediately began to experience the wonders of chaos. She bounded on the meadow, discovering that the polka dots were actually trampolines, she drank the chocolate rain that fell from the cotton candy clouds, and she jumped back and forth between the day side and night side of the room. She eventually deviated towards two trees that were side-by-side with feathers as leaves. Between the trees was a hammock made of clouds. On the hammock was none other than Discord, snoozing with a book laying open on his face, upside-down no less.

“I found him! I found him!” Pinkie shouted as she jumped onto the Spirit of Chaos, waking him up and giggling in the process. Discord flailed for a moment as he awoke from his nap, looking around and wondering what was going on.

“Huh wha’? What’s going on?” Discord looked down at Pinkie Pie and groaned. “Can’t you see I’m sleeping?” Before he could ask any more, Shinning Armor and the others approached Discord’s hammock.

“Get up, Discord. Twilight’s here and Celestia has asked for you to come along.” Discord looked behind Shinning Armor at Twilight and rolled his eyes.

“Bah, you woke me up for that?” he asked as he rolled over and tried to fall back asleep. Before he could get the chance, however, Pinkie Pie began to jump up and down on the cranky spirit.

“Wakey wakey, sleepy head!” she cried while jumping on Discord. The Spirit of Chaos was not amused. He groaned louder and tried to shove Pinkie off him, but she wouldn’t budge. Eventually, he snapped his fingers and teleported away from the hammock while Pinkie was in mid jump. She fell through the cloud material and landed hard on her plot before Discord snickered at her misfortune from the tree above.

“Enough, Discord. Get down from there.”

“Or what, Captain? Are you going to love me to death like the changelings?” Discord let out a playful cackle, which was shortly interrupted by him falling through the feathers on the tree and landing on his butt, hard. He rubbed his sore behind and looked at Shinning Armor.

“Now,” Shinning growled. What Twilight saw next shocked her. Within Discord’s eyes, she saw fear. She had no idea why Discord would ever fear anypony, being the Spirit of Chaos after all. Not only that, but he feared Shinning Armor. What did he possibly do to strike such fear into his heart?

Discord slowly stood up and bowed his head respectfully. “Yes, Captain,” Discord said with a hint of defeat in his voice. Shinning Armor turned his head away from the spirit and back at Twilight, winking at her before trotting off to the door.

“Come on, everypony. We’re late for the Princess.” Twilight kept her distance for a while. The nine of them traversed the broken halls of Canterlot. Discord and Fluttershy were catching up, Pinkie was eating a cotton candy cloud she snagged from Discord’s room, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash were talking about what they were planning on doing to help out around Canterlot, since they were going to be there a while, and Spike was gawking at Rarity, as usual. Everypony was talking, except Twilight and Shinning. She stayed in the back of the group while her brother led them in front. Never before had Twilight felt more awkward around her brother than that moment. She was still processing what she had witnessed in Discord’s room, and what her brother could have possibly done to cause such panic in him. Perhaps it was his tone, or maybe Discord was afraid of being turned back into stone if he didn’t cooperate. Eventually, she shrugged the suspicion off when they all reached the throne room, and at the end of the hall stood the majestic regal, Princess Celestia.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight shouted as she glided towards Celestia on her new wings and nuzzled her head against her before she could react. Celestia smiled and hugged her faithful student with her wing.

“I’m so glad you and your friends are well, Twilight. Much has happened in the last few hours.” Everyone frowned, even Discord.

“What’s happened, Princess? Why was there an earthquake? Who caused it? What caused it? Is everypony alright? How’s Canter-?” Twilight was cut off by Celestia raising her hoof for silence, her face showing a hint of annoyance. Usually the regal was calm and collected, but after the events that transpired, she could barely keep herself from snapping.

“I’m not sure what caused such a tragedy, Twilight. None of us are. Even Discord seems to be stumped on what has happened, and he commands reality.” Everyone looked to Discord for a response.

“I was able to trace where the tremor came from, but that’s about it. I don’t know how or why it happened.”

“Where was the epicenter?” Twilight asked.

“Epi-what?” Rainbow Dash asked, confused by such a big word.

“Epicenter. It’s where the earthquake originated,” Twilight replied, sounding as if she was losing her patience.

“The epicenter is somewhere close to the old castle where Celestia, Luna and I use to live. I believe you remember it, Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight did indeed. It was the ruins where she and her friends found the Elements of Harmony, the ruins where they faced Nightmare Moon, the ruins where she realized that Apple Jack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were her friends.

“Woah woah, time out. You lived with Celestia and Luna at the old castle?” Rainbow Dash asked, suspicious to Discord’s story.

“We knew each other as fillies, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia replied. “It was a long time ago before-.”

“Please, Celestia,” Discord interjected before she could continue. Both Twilight and Celestia could see it, the pain in Discord’s eyes. Realizing what pain it caused for Discord to remember the past, Celestia did not continue the story. “Anyway, that’s not the only thing that’s strange.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“You see, the epicenter is near the ruins. However, the ruins appear completely untouched, as if there was no earthquake at all.”

“Now how in the hay is that possible?” Apple Jack asked. “Now Ay know tremors, we’ve had some in the past, and their startin’ points are always destroyed. So how in Equestria could an already weakened castle still stand?”

“That’s the mystery, isn’t it?” Celestia replied. “It’s why I believe this had to be done by somepony. Or something.” Twilight and her friends grew worried. They looked at one another for a response. None of them could think of anything. Twilight turned back to her teacher.

“What does this mean, Princess?” Celestia sighed and released Twilight from her wing’s embrace.

“Follow me.” Without hesitation, everyone, even Discord, followed Princess Celestia through a corridor. They eventually came across a gate which Twilight was all too familiar with. Celestia remained quiet as she opened the iron-gate and lit the braziers in the massive room with bookshelves filled with tomes and scrolls, and a large hourglass in the center of the room. Twilight and her friends stood in the Star Swirl the Bearded section of the castle.

“I believe you’re familiar with this room?” Celestia said, extending her hoof out to present the archive of spells and incantations to the nine of them. Twilight’s eyes lit up.

“We’re in Star Swirl’s corridor!” Twilight squealed like a fan mare.

“Yes, and it is here that Star Swirl recorded much of his research, as well as his discoveries.” Celestia walked over to one of the bookshelves and pulled an old leather-bound tome with the words, “Journal, Volume Four,” written on the cover out with her magic. “It is here that I found something interesting. An entry pertaining to some dark power that Star Swirl mentioned to me a thousand years ago.” She took the journal to Star Swirl’s old desk and opened it to where the book mark was placed, most likely by her. Twilight and her friends leaned over and began to read.

~~~~~

Entry 14,

Much has happened since Discord was turned to stone. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but he left us no other alternative. He had such potential to be the greatest sorcerer this world has ever seen. If only he didn’t deviate from the right path.

And yet, I still question how one who had such promise would turn against his friends and family so suddenly. What possessed Discord to turn?

That’s when it hit me. Possessed. We use the term so loosely. Yet this time, I can honestly say that there may be some meaning to that word. Perhaps, just maybe, something actually did possess him.

My suspicion is only confirmed from the sudden change of heart from my old friend, King Sombra. I always knew he had some interest in the dark arts, but he knew the dangers of it, and he didn’t want to risk the safety of his ponies, especially his daughter. Yet, as I write this, he’s off enslaving his own kind with an iron hoof, consumed by the dark arts.

I knew Sombra. How could such a good King have turned so bad? On top of that, how could such a good King with very limited magic have become so powerful, even with the dark arts?

I have a theory. Perhaps, just maybe, there is something causing this sudden change within everypony. I just hope I can find a way to figure out this puzzle, before somepony like Clover or Tia or Luna get corrupted.

I’m running out of time…

Star Swirl

~~~~~

Twilight and her friends finished reading the entry. They were stunned from all that they read, all the history and relationships, but most important the theory that Star Swirl had. What was this darkness he had mentioned? How did it affect Discord or Sombra? Was this the same entity? Twilight was the first to break the silence.

“What could this mean, Princess?”

“You tell me, Twilight.” The lavender regal took a moment to think it through. It must have been the same power otherwise Celestia wouldn’t have shown them the journal. What’s more, since Celestia didn’t show them any other entries, she had to assume there was virtually no other information on the subject.

“This was Star Swirl’s only mention of his theory. The rest of the entries tell of his preparations for his departure, and of what happened to Luna before he left.” Celestia closed the book with her hoof. “We can’t take this information lightly. If Star Swirl was on to something, then maybe he has the answers we’re looking for.”

“But Princess, isn’t Star Swirl… you know?”

“It’s been a thousand years, Twilight! Of course he is!” Celestia snapped back, upset by the fact that there was no way to ask the most brilliant stallion more about the subject. She took a deep breath and brought Twilight close with her wing for a hug. “I’m sorry. It’s just… With all that’s-.” Twilight nuzzled against Celestia to silence her.

“You don’t need to explain, Princess. Just tell us, what should we do?” Celestia smiled. She didn’t want to upset her faithful student. After the day she had, she wanted whatever comfort she could receive.

“We need to find out what this dark entity is. With any luck, we can find it before it causes any more harm to the citizens of Equestria, and use the Elements of Harmony against it. We must stop this evil at all costs.” Twilight looked back at her friends for a response. All five of them nodded their heads in agreement before Twilight turned back to her mentor.

“You can count on us, Princess!” Twilight said with confidence. Celestia smiled and sighed with relief before turning her attention to Shinning Armor.

“Captain, I need you to send out the guards. Have them search the kingdom for this evil.” Shinning nodded his head and saluted with his fore-hoof before Celestia turned to the Spirit of Chaos. “Discord, I need you with Shinning Armor. See if you can’t sense any disturbances with your magic. Maybe you’ll find it quicker that way.” Discord didn’t bow. He created a tutu around his waist and curtsied. Celestia couldn’t help but laugh. She needed that.

“What about us, Princess?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“You six will stay here in Canterlot. I need you all by my side, ready to use the Elements when they’re needed.” They all nodded in agreement. “This is a dark time in our history, girls. The fate of Equestria is in our hooves.”

On that note, Twilight and her friends were escorted to a hallway with six rooms, three doors on each side facing each other. Despite each of them getting a room of their own, they shared rooms out of fear of being alone. Twilight and Spike’s usual room in Canterlot was destroyed during the cataclysm, so they took up one of the spare rooms as well. It felt familiar to Twilight, as the bed was simple, like her old one in Ponyville, and there was a basket next to it for Spike to sleep in. In a way, it felt like home. However, that only made Twilight’s heart sink.

“What’s wrong, Twilight?” Spike asked as he climbed into his basket, getting ready for bed.

“Oh um, n-nothing, Spike. I’m just… thinking.”

“About what Celestia said?” Spike asked, totally oblivious to Twilight’s true feelings.

“Well that…. But…” She silenced herself and sighed. “I’m just nervous is all.” That was more or less true.

“You have nothing to be worried about, Twi,” Spike yawned. “You’re the most powerful alicorn in Equestria.”

“Well I don’t know about that, Spike,” Twilight refuted as her cheeks turned bright pink from the praise.

“You are, Twi. Stop worrying so much.” He yawned again before rolling over in his basket. “Tomorrow morning will… be…” Before he could finish, he dozed off. Twilight’s ears drooped as she felt a wave of doubt overwhelm her. Despite that, she still rolled over in her bed and closed her eyes, drifting off to a peaceful sleep. Or, so she wished.

~~~~~

Twilight stood in front of Ponyville, or what was left of it. The sky was black and the ground was grey, covered in ash. The quaint little town was burned to the ground, and Twilight stood in the wreckage, alone. She walked around the burned down village, calling out to no one.

“Hello? Anypony home? Is… Is anypony here?” In an instant, Twilight heard groans of pain and agony. She turned around and saw a filly. She was transparent and ghost white with empty black eyes and silvery stains all on her pale coat. Around the silvery stains were gashes and cuts. What she was staring at, was the spirit of a dead filly, covered in blood.

“Why didn’t you save us?” she asked, her voice sounding in pain.

“Where were you, Princess?” another voice asked behind her. She turned around to see a mare who looked just like the filly, her mother. “Why didn’t you save my baby? Why?”

“Why didn’t you help us?” another voice chimed in, this one was a stallion. All around her, more and more spirits were slowly approaching her, crying in pain and agony, wondering where Twilight Sparkle was, and why she didn’t save them all. Then, she saw something that made her heart stop. She turned around, and saw her friends, as ghosts.

“It’s all your fault, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said.

“You did this,” Fluttershy added.

“I didn’t even get a party for my funeral,” Pinkie growled. Her friends were turning on her. Tears welled in her eyes as they moved closer and closer.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” Twilight cried as she collapsed to the ground. Her head was gently tilted up by a familiar hoof with jewel encrusted shoes. It was Princess Celestia. Twilight looked up with a smile of relief. “Thank goodness you’re-.” Twilight screamed at the sight of Celestia’s ghost. Her horn was shattered and her wings were broken. She looked like she came back from war, especially with the hole in her chest with silver stains all over from a spear wound.

“You are not Princess material, Twilight. You have failed us all.” Twilight’s heart broke. She began to cry as her body shook and turned cold. Then, a new voice was heard. Twilight perked her ears at the sound of laughter, and looked up at the sky. What she saw made her heart skip a beat. The black clouds had two giant demonic red eyes, staring straight at her. The laughter grew into a loud, maddening cackle that rang in Twilight’s ears. She screamed in terror and felt herself falling. She fell further and further until finally, she bolted up from her bed in a gasp, breathing heavily and sweating.

“It was only a nightmare,” she told herself before rolling back into bed, trying to forget her night terror.