The sound of birds was heard chirping, and the sun was brightly shining into Twilight's eyes while she was sleeping in the Canterlot bed. Next to her was her prince, Smarty. He was sleeping quite soundly and without a single snore. By what Twilight was hearing, it sounded like it was going to be a wonderful morning as it usually was.

Twilight began to slowly open her eyes with a smile upon her face. It was quite delightful for the morning to sound as peaceful like this. When they usually woke up, most ponies in the streets of Canterlot or Ponyville would sound quite busy. But this was unusually rare to happen.

This was a different kind of good morning to the sky though. When her eyes were still blurred to catch the blue sky, the other half of her eye had caught something that didn't seem quite right to her. Her eyes opened up all the way in shock and she gasped upon the discovery that she saw.

"Smarty!" She whispered, gently shaking him awake.

"Five more minutes, Twi… I'm still at the beach." Smarty groaned tiredly, not aware Twilight was trying to wake him up.

"No, really. Wake up!" She whispered yet again for his complete attention to wake up from his slumberland.

Smarty opened his eyes and sat up upon the bed next to Twilight. "What is it Twilight?" He asked, sounding both concerned and rather annoyed to be waking up from his slumber. "I was dreaming that I was at the beach with you sharing an ice cream cone for the both of us. It's the middle of the night."

"Not really Smarty." Twilight said, placing her warm hoof onto his. "It could be day or night, but I can't even tell."

Smarty thought about this for a few moments and then finally started to move the sheets off of him. "Alright then, let us see what this problem is that has wakened you up. I can assure you that it is still the middle of the night." He tells her, trying to assure her everything is fine.

He got up out of the bed they both shared and began to trot towards the large window. He took a look out of the window and he seemed to look rather surprised.

"Whoa…" He could only saw when he saw what he could not unsee from the way the sky looked. You could swear that it was almost the same reaction when he witnessed the floating sky castle of Black Darkness when he had ahold of The Key.

The sky looked completely separate by each of the different part of the day. One side of the sky was day and the other was night. The sun and moon weren't even moving whatsoever.

"Come on Smarty, I have a feeling that this is something that Star Shine might know about. Being an alicorn more than a million years old, he has to know a little more about this event." Twilight said while the both of them looked and observed the strange sky.

Everypony in the Canterlot Square were observing the sky in a confused sort of panic. They had no idea what was going on and were trying not to confuse it with the entire "Nightmare Moon returning" kind of scheme. That event was already dealt with when there were only six elements.

"What do you think it means?" Prince Blueblood shouted, in a panic that this was going to ruin his reputation as the next prince of Equestria. Everypony just ignores him and continues to observe what is happening in the skies.

Twilight, Spike and Smarty were both trotting outside with ease trying not to be spotted by the public eye. But seeing how everypony was outside, it was impossible for this to happen.

"Princess Twilight and Prince Smarty might know!" A random citizen of Canterlot exclaims loudly, pointing to the both of them.

Both the prince and princess are surrounded by concerned and worried ponies, who were asking many questions. Prince Smarty just did his job to ensure everypony that everything was going to be a-okay without a hitch. Princess Twilight just wondered why the sky was even like this. This wasn't even a part in the books she read on what would happen.

"Your highnesses, you must come with us at once." A guard said lowly to both the prince and princess.

Twilight, Spike and Smarty looked at the guard and nodded in immediate attention. By the guard's tone, he seemed rather concerned. They follow him towards the castle doors, left open for them.

Once they trotted into the main hall of the castle, one of the guards behind them shut the door to not get the attention of the worried ponies. Twilight was only determined to know what was going on.

"What is happening?" Twilight asked the guards, trying not to set off their worries.

"It's Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They've simply vanished into thin air!" The guards said at the same time. All Twilight, Spike and Smarty could do was gasp loudly upon hearing the news.

"Indeed they have." A voice says behind the royals. They both turn around to see the silver alicorn standing there. "And I worry for Celestia." It was Star Shine.

Twilight was in a mild panic, with the princesses disappeared, what would happen now? "But now what?" She asks.

"It means that you, Smarty and I are in charge. Princess Cadence is already too busy overseeing as the Princess of the Crystal Empire." Star Shine said.

"That doesn't really explain the odd form of the sky. Why isn't the sun or moon moving?" Smarty asked him, worried.

"In the matter of a fact, I do not know what the sky pattern means. But I have a feeling that you both will have to take charge alongside me until the princesses are found." Star Shine says, seeming to be rather calm. He finally turns his attention to some guards and looks them straight in the eye. "Guards, I want you both to continue the search for Princesses Celestia and Luna without raising any suspicion or panic from the civilians."

"Yes, your majesty." The guards say, and go galloping off outside of the castle to begin their continued search.

"I do not even have the power to move the sun or moon. The only time that I would be able to do that is if I was still Black Darkness. But thankfully I'm not, the last thing that would happen would mean killing the both of you." Star Shine said, not really having an idea to fix this.

Smarty approached the tall prince and placed his small hoof on his shoulder. "We did what we had to do to stop Black Darkness. If Maleficia had won, you would have ended up even destroying yourself."

Star Shine opened his mouth to say something, but another royal guard came bursting into the room. "YOUR HIGHNESS!" He announced, referring to Twilight. "There seems to be trouble down in Ponyville. The Everfree Forest… it seems to be, well… invading!"

Twilight and Smarty both gasped, because their friends were down in Ponyville, this could mean trouble for them. Real BIG trouble.

---

Every animal in Fluttershy's small cottage looked rather distressed and frightened. They were all gathered into the house, filling up each space in the cottage with not much room to move about. Fluttershy just trotted around, curious about why her critters were scared.

"Oh my, what is causing you all so much distress?" Fluttershy asks the both of them, and the large bear.

The large bear covers his eyes and groans with a sad quiet roar, pointing towards her door with one of his own paws.

"Well, I can assure all of you that there is nothing to be afraid of." Fluttershy says, trying not to worry any of the animals, and opens her front door to see what was going on outside. She just screams at the scene happening outside.

Giant black vines were scattering openly throughout the trees and ground, ready to grab at anything. Fluttershy just closes her door and looks back at her animals. "I think it's a good time to be afraid!"

---

At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was busy pulling out the large vines out of the ground with the rest of her family. Applebloom, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were helping her take out the vines.

"Come on everypony! Put your backs into it!" Applejack calls out and continues to pull out the large vines.

Applebloom proceeds to pull out a black vine, the length of the vine seems to go on for like ages. How long were those vines anyway?

"Dang nabbit, where are all these plants coming from? In fact, I don't think I've seen these before." Applejack says, and looks into the Everfree Forest, worried about the humans living in there at the village they had made.

---

The four human leaders, Reina, Rita, Sara and Rose seemed rather worried by the large vines that had come into the village. Most of the villagers seemed to be either panicking by the giant vines attempting to grab them, or they were trying to fight back against the vines by pulling them as if they were ordinary garden weeds.

"What are these things?" Reina said. "I don't remember a single thing about this mentioned in Equestria's history."

Rose gulped worryingly and said "I don't think that these were even written into the history of Equestria."

Rita was really annoyed by this. "Come on!" She says agitated. "First we have Maleficia trying to take over, and now these… plants are trying to cover everything here!"

"Relax Rita." Sara said, calming down her sister. "I've never seen or heard of those plants before either, but something tells me that this is going to be dangerous."

Reina took out a bit of a sigh, and said "Alright girls, looks like we'll have to use our bending powers."

"Ahh, been waiting to do this." Rita said, charging up the power in her.

Sara cheered and said "Let's do this!"

Reina closed her eyes and began to focus on her element to bend, Air. Rita's element was Earth, Rose's was Water and Sara's was fire. While they focused on building up the magic inside, the powers began to spark out large amounts of those elements. Most of the village folk took a few steps, hoping this will repel the plants.

Once they had built up the power of bending to a maximum, they moved their hands forward toward the plants and began to spread their powers towards them. The vines re-coiled a bit, staying still for a couple of moments before falling back into the forest. Fire, water, air and earth powers had caused them to retreat.

The four girls began to relax their powers, and began un-focusing on the powers they had, bringing it to a complete stop. They took a look at the forest, the black vines and plants began to spread out once again, with no effect done by their bending powers.

"I don't get it!" Rita angrily proclaimed. "Our bending powers usually work on enemies, but why not these guys?!"

"I'm not sure, but it didn't hold back them long enough." Reina said, thinking about the effect that their bending powers should have done already.

The sound of galloping and flying got their attention, and the four sisters turned around to see Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie approach the both of them. The four girls allowed the rest of their friends to catch their breath.

"There you are. Any luck in trying to repel them?" Applejack asked the both of them.

"Sadly, our powers of bending did not work as we expected for these plants." Sara said, sounding concerned about these plants. "Any of you?"

Rarity had a disappointed sigh, and said "Alas, their magic has simply put my magic on the fritz. I won't be able to use mine."

Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves and said "And there are storm clouds atop in the sky thundering away. I can't seem to get rid of them."

"Oh my, even I don't know how much longer I can take from these things." Fluttershy said, almost getting grabbed by a black vine. Luckily Rainbow came to the rescue and cut the vine off of her back right hoof.

"Well, let's face it ya'll." Applejack said, sounding worried and taking off her hat. "Within a matter of days, these plants will probably cover all of Equestria."

The nine of them just stand there and wonder what to do while more of the black plants and vines continue to grow throughout all of the Everfree and the rest of Equestria.

---

Twilight and Smarty were galloping down the stairs from the Canterlot Castle, Spike was riding on top of Smarty's back. They knew how their friends were in great, possibly grave danger and they were determined to save them at all costs.

"Where are you guys going?" Spike asked, wondering what was happening because of the "Everfree" attacking.

"We can't just leave our friends behind, we've got to get to Ponyville to help them out!" Twilight said to Spike. "But I just hope that we can make the train on time!"

"I don't think you realized Twilight, but don't the both of you have something." Spike asks, halting both Smarty and Twilight to a slow stop in the gardens. "You can both fly."

"Oh." Smarty said, blushing a bit in embarrassment for not realizing this. He opens up his wings and flaps them, lifting himself off the ground. Luckily, Spike was able to get off of Smarty.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Two small voices called out. Twilight turns to her left and sees Starlight and Dream Charmer, her children. "Where are you going? We want to come!" Starlight said.

"No." Twilight told them in a calm, firm tone. "We're going to Ponyville, but it is in danger right now. Stay here at the castle until we get back."

"Don't worry, you guys. You'll have Uncle Star Shine to talk to while your parents are absent." Spike assured the both of them.

Twilight flapped her wings and began to lift up into the air. She and Smarty finally took off into the sky, trying to avoid all the black spikey clouds that came before them, trying to shoot lightning at the both of them.

"Even the clouds are starting to act funny!" Smarty said, pointing at the ones they've passed.

Twilight thought for a few moments. "It must be one of the problems to why it's acting strange."

The both of them continue their flight towards Ponyville. They flew together, dropping to ascend towards the Golden Oaks Library. Sure she hasn't used it in a while, but she was sure that her friends were helping to make sure the books were dusted.

But of course, Twilight still continued to have trouble with her flight skills, and began to struggle to land while falling straight for the trunk of the large tree. Smarty of course, ignited the aura magic on his horn and used it to teleport the both of them into the tree.

Both of them made impact into two piles of books. These books they had considered a cushion from falling onto the ground. Both of them dug out of the piles of books. What a strange coincidence, their friends and the human leaders were in the same room. Twilight was annoyed for the fact that she needed to work on her flying.

"There ya both are!" Applejack said, helping Smarty out of the bookpile. "A lot's been happenin' since ya'll been in Canterlot."

Pinkie's tail began to twitch and she managed to jump out of the way before a large vine struck into the room. Rarity trots over to the window and uses the panel to sever the vine in half. "That doesn't really explain why all these plants are attacking." Twilight said.

Reina said "You were probably informed, but the Everfree Forest is spreading these plants everywhere and it's out of control. We tried to contain it with our bending, but to no avail."

Twilight trotted over to the case that had the elements of harmony. "Well in that case, whatever is spreading it, we'll need the elements of harmony to defeat whatever is doing this." She used her magic to place the elements onto each of her friend's necks. Smarty brought his Element of Love to his neck and tied it around him. They were ready, just like old times.

Twilight approached the window and observed the strange things around them. "Half-day, half-night, strange weather patterns and out-of-control plants."

A thought finally struck her! There was only one being that could have caused this at all times. "I think I know who we're up against." She proclaims, and everypony else nods in agreement.

All of the seven elements gathered together in a circle, ready to power their elements. Reina, Rita, Rose and Sara stood there, watching what they were going to do.

The elements ignited and each of the powerful gems unleashed a small rainbow beam that connected the seven of them, unleashing them into the center of the circle. The rainbow swirled around like a tornado briefly, bringing in the unusual draconequus himself. Discord.

"Winter Wrap-Up, winter wrap-up…" He was singing, while bathing in the shower, and then stopped in a happy surprise to the seven friends he knew.

"Ohh!" He said, laughing jokingly. He then swirled over to Twilight, letting his bathtub disappear. "Now Twilight, you have to make sure Celestia gives me a heads up before you summon me with your trinkets. I was in the middle of my shower."

"ENOUGH!" Twilight said, giving him a push after he had waved his butt in front of her to humiliate her. "Release Princess Celestia and Princess Luna at once and fix everything around Equestria right now!"

"Celestia and Luna were captured by Discord?" Sara wondered, worried.

Discord was rather taken back by this. This was not the greeting he had expected. "Whatever are you talking about Twilight?" He asks, not sure what is going on.

"We know that you captured them!" Smarty said, angrily and irritated by his draconequus friend.

"Please you two, why would you think that I would do anything like that? I'm reformed, remember?" Discord said, placing a halo onto his head.

Rainbow Dash yelled "Yeah right! This has your hoofprints all over the place!" Rita nods in agreement.

Discord teleports over between both Rita and Rainbow Dash, saying "Just so you both know, I never did any of this." He finally used his legs to kick both Rita and Rainbow in the butt before teleporting back into the circle. "Such accusations. And here I thought we were friends." He began to use the good ol' puppy dog eyes.

"Drop the act buster! We're onto you!" Pinkie Pie shouted, very suspicious of Discord's activities.

"Please girls and Smarty, would innocent me do this?" Discord said, pointing to the weird stuff outside.

"YES!" Everyone even the four humans says.

"I say we blast him back to stone!" Rarity shouts. Rainbow and Pinkie nod in agreement and begin to charge up their elements.

"Wait!" Fluttershy says, stopping them. "What if Discord is telling the truth?"

Discord takes a sigh of relief and says "Finally, somepony who sees that I never did a single thing wrong. With good Fluttershy here to defend me."

"Then if you didn't do it, then do you know who?" Twilight asked, still annoyed.

"Me give out who did this plants and clouds business? I surely do not know! But after all the hoof and finger-pointing and the insulting of my good name, I don't think I'll help the both of you." Discord said and began to knit the vine that Rarity severed. Twilight groans in annoyance, she had just about had enough.

"Why don't you go and ask your zebra friend Zecora? Surely she might know what is going on." Discord said, pointing to the zebra carrying her equipment from the Everfree Forest outside of the Golden Oaks Library.

All eleven of them left the Golden Oaks Library and joined Zecora outside as fast as they could. By the way that Zecora looked, it seemed pretty bad.

Zecora looked up at Twilight who wondered what had happened to her. "From my home I had to flee, the Everfree has grown too wild, even for me."

Smarty approached her, helping her get her equipment off of her. "But do you know what is going on? Where are all these black plants and vines coming from?"

"Hmmm…" Zecora thought for a moment and then reached into the satchel on her small wagon, which was a purple potion. "I'm afraid it's a mystery to me as well. But this potion if combined with a spell, could help. I dare not use it myself, the results would be tragic, it only responds to alicorn magic. Princess Twilight, you can turn the potion from purple to white, and then you might see why the sky is day and night."

Zecora placed down the potion onto the ground. Twilight bent down on one leg and began to focus her magic. She began to use the dark magic that King Sombra used at the time and fired it to the potion, changing the potion magically from purple to white.

"Say Zecora…" Smarty asked, wondering about something. "Is it possible to have more others find out what is happening at the same time?"

Zecora clears her throat and says "If a few others take a sip of it together combined, you might just find out on time."

"So after she takes a sip, then it's me?" Smarty said. Zecora nodded in agreement.

"If you two are going in, I'm going in with you." Reina said, standing brave.

"Alright, your loss." Rainbow Dash said, worried of what would happen next.

Twilight picked up the potion and began to gulp down a few sips, then passed it onto Smarty, after passing it onto Reina. They both took a taste of it, with it tasting like an ordinary dull potion not perfected yet.

"Doesn't seem to working-" Twilight managed to get out before a flash of white came before her eyes. Reina's and Smarty's eyes were also covered with white.

---

Twilight, Smarty and Reina wiped the white from their eyes and looked around them. The potion must have teleported them somewhere different. It seemed to look like an old castle back in the day.

"Where are we?" Twilight said, wondering where we were.

"I'm not sure, but it all seems to look different." Smarty said in agreement. Was the potion all this time just teleportation?

"NOT ANOTHER STEP!" A voice boomed out, grabbing Twilight, Smarty and Reina's attention. They turned to the two thrones and could see that certain mare standing there. It was Princess Luna herself and she was alright.

"Princess Luna, we've been looking for you. Why did you and her disappear?" Reina said, approaching her from the bottom of the royal hall. "Surely there has to be some explaination."

All Princess Luna could do was stare at all three of them with a rather angry and sullen glare. "Princess Luna, are you alright?" Smarty asked.

Luna stared for a few more moments, then angrily said "Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?!"

"Precious light? What are you talking about?" Twilight asked, worried and knowing something bad was going to happen.

Princess Luna trotted over to the middle of the thrones, overviewing the three of them. "There can only be one princess in Equestria, and that princess… WILL BE ME!" She yelled angrily, with her voice echoing throughout the room.

The power of her stomping broke open the window behind her and she ignited her horn, using her powers to move the moon. Twilight finally realized what was going on and silently gasped. The moon blocked the sun all together, bringing in dark rays of evil.

The rays created a dark mist that began to slowly swirl around Princess Luna. All Princess Luna could do was gasp when the mist of darkness surrounded her and placed her into a bright glowing orb. Reina, Twilight and Smarty watched in complete awe at the sullen transformation moving within the glowing orb. Finally, the orb had broken free and Princess Luna had turned into a giant Celestia-sized mare. Her eyes opened, revealing the cat-like eyes. What they saw was no longer Princess Luna, it was none other than Nightmare Moon.

The evil mare began to cackle loudly and laugh with her sharp teeth baring out while the moonlight shone all throughout Equestria, blocking out the sun's light. Reina, Twilight and Smarty realized now what was happening. Nightmare was fulfilling to succeed in her role of bring everlasting night. All they could do was watch in horror.

This couldn't be good. In fact, it was a situation turned out worse for the three of them.