Nurse Redheart tutted fretfully as she examined Ruby's injuries. "Brawling fillies! At school, too! Dear me, what would your parents say?"

Mum would feel guilty, thought Ruby.

Daddy would sue this stupid school, thought Diamond Tiara.

Redheart looked at both fillies expectantly. When they didn't give any answer, she sighed and began bandaging up Ruby's injuries. "Brawling fillies... nothing like when I was at school... by Celestia's mane..."

Dinky and Peachy were sitting outside. The Crusaders looked at the other fillies. Apparently, they and Ruby were the Elements of Laughter, Kindness and Magic. They engaged in a group-huddle.

"Should we talk to them?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Their friend's just beaten up Diamond Tiara! Buck yeah!" grinned Scootaloo.

"Scoot!" scolded Applebloom. "Their friend has jes' been beaten up, too! Ya can't jes' waltz up to 'em an' ask if 'dey know they're gunna be the next Elements o' Harmony!"

"Yeah, but the Element of Magic is supposed to be the strongest one there is, right?" countered Sweetie. "Shouldn't Ruby know that she has the most unpre... un... most strong Element?"

"Watcha talkin' 'bout?" came Dinky's voice.

The Crusaders jumped apart. Applebloom grinned widely. "Ah, we were jes' talkin' 'bout... er..."

"Homework!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle.

"Y-yeah, homework!" said Applebloom, catching on.

"Mm-hmm, gotta hate that pesky homework!" grinned Scootaloo.

Dinky giggled. "We don't have homework, silly fillies!"

The Crusaders froze. Peachy then started talking, quietly, shyly.

"Um... I don't want to intrude, but... is this about the Elements of Harmony?"

---

Deep in the Everfree Forest, where the sun never shines and the animals never venture, lurks evil.

The Everfree Alicorn, for one. However, there is a stronger, more deadly evil. An evil rivaled only by the Elements of Harmony themselves. Not cowed by the Changeling Queen or even Discord, much less Nightmare Moon, or the Princesses of Equestria.

This evil was almost invincible.

The evil snaked towards the centre of the Everfree Forest, where the shattered shells of the Elements of Harmony's previous prison still lay. They had acquired moss, the Element of Magic most of all. The evil went to these prisons and snaked its way around them, hugging them, repairing them.

And in a flash of light they were no longer the Elements of Harmony, but something far worse. The complete opposite of them. They were repaired, but with evil magic. And now, now they would take over Equestria.

They would overthrow the Princesses.

They would release Discord.

Welcome back Queen Chrysalis.

Return Nightmare Moon.

And this, all this, would be accomplished with the help of the once-good Elements of Harmony.

---

It was after school. Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity were leading the Cutie Mark Crusaders to Twilight Sparkle's library. When they asked why, the older mares just shushed them and walked on.

The sun was setting. The sky was just like how it had been a few days ago, when the CMC still didn't have their Cutie Marks and the first letter from Princess Celestia had been sent. The same time. The same fillies. A different place.

Twilight's library was a neat place. Books, an owl, a dragon, a pony. Fairly equal. Organised. Always in the right spots.

"Howdy, Twi," greeted Applejack. "We got 'em fillies."

"Perfect," said the lavender unicorn. "Everypony else is here, too."

Applebloom nudged Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and together they looked around at everypony else. Twilight was there, with Spike. Dinky Doo, Peachy Pie and Ruby were there as well. Dinky was playing with her mother, Ditzy Doo, and Berry Punch was determinedly avoiding looking at the punch bowl. Ruby looked at her mother proudly. Pinkie Pie was bouncing around serving cupcakes, and Fluttershy was chatting to a pony who appeared to be Peachy's mother, Fuzzy Peach.

"Alright everypony, settle down!" Twilight called over the hub-bub. The said hub-bub died down, and Twilight cleared her throat before continuing.

"My little ponies, we are gathered here today to discuss the future of the Elements of Harmony. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic were all used to defeat Nightmare Moon and Discord a few years ago. But, now, we have done our part. Applejack and Applebloom! May you please step forward?"

The two siblings did so, Applejack giving her sister an encouraging smile. Applebloom returned it.

"Applejack," said Twilight, "do you, older sister of Applebloom and younger sister of Big Macintosh, agree to hand over your Element of Harmony to your sister, Applebloom? Knowing, of course, that once the act is done, the full responsibility of said Element falls upon her?"

"Ah agree," said Applejack.

"And you, Applebloom," said Twilight, "do you agree to accept all rights and responsibility over this Element, knowing that once accepted, there will be no turning back?"

"Ah agree," replied Applebloom determinedly.

"Then, Applejack, you may hand over your Element: the Element of Honesty."

Applejack reached beneath her hat and withdrew the Element of Honesty. Its orange jewel glinted spectacularly in the library light. She smiled at her sister, who motioned forwards, and fastened the Element around her neck.

Immediately, the Element glowed a deep, bright orange. Everypony yelled in surprise, but as soon as it began, the light died down.

Now, the Element was changed. It fitted snugly around Applebloom's neck, and its jewel had completely changed. Now, a crimson apple punctured with two pearly-grey nails replaced the apple. The ruby flashed, dazzling. Rarity gasped in astonishment. Everypony else exclaimed in wonder.

"Fluttershy and Peachy Pie!"

They both stepped forward shyly. Twilight made the same speech, replacing Applejack's and Applebloom's names with their own. Then, Fluttershy handed over her Element. And, once again, the soft pink butterfly had morphed into the same jewel as Applejack's, but in the form of a perfect, pristine peach.

"Pinkie Pie and Dinky Doo!"

The two jolly ponies bounded forwards, and listened on tenterhooks to Twilight's speech. When the time came to hand over the Element, Pinkie squealed in delight and practically threw the Element of Laughter. It clasped on to Dinky's neck, and in a flash was in the shape of a rounded bubble wand, formed by a bright sunny-yellow crystal.

"Rarity and Sweetie Belle!"

The two sisters couldn't stop smiling at each other all throughout the speech. Rarity handed over her Element, swathed in magic, with utmost care, and fasted it snugly around Sweetie Belle's neck. In a flash, a lavender bell cut neatly and shining had replaced the diamond. Rarity sniffed with happiness and hugged her younger sister close.

"Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo!"

Neither pony listened to the speech much. Scootaloo was just itching to get her Element already, and Rainbow Dash was, frankly, bored. But when the time did finally come, the ruby-red flash of light was the most intense yet. The light died down to reveal a slightly-smaller thunderbolt, but this time on fire, and the colour of bright purple.

"And now," finished Twilight, "Twilight Sparkle and - "

KABOOM!