Twilight wandered through the creaky old ruins, her horn being the only source of light. She couldn't deny that this place was creepy, something you would expect to hear about in one of Rainbow Dash's camping stories, or an old horror novel. She wished her friends were able to come with her, but they were too busy helping Pinkie set up a 'Congrats Derpy for finding an old ruin by literally falling into it' party, classic Pinkie Pie stuff. They had offered to postpone the party to come with Twilight but she had insisted they get the party organized and that she would be fine, what could possibly go wrong exploring an abandoned ancient ruin by yourself?

"Everything" Twilight muttered to herself.

However so far the ruin seemed empty, hallways with plain rock walls and long dead lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Finally Twilight came to a large door, she pushed on it with her hoof and it slid open with an almighty creek, beyond was a large ancient library. Twilight shrieked in delight at the sight,

"So... many... books, all the lost knowledge that could exist in this place, I can't wait!".

Then something caught Twilight's eye, at the centre of the room was a pedestal with a dusty old box. Twilight approached the old box wondering what was inside, there wasn't any visible way to open it, she thought perhaps it would respond to magic. Her horn gave a majestic purple glow as Twilight enveloped the box in a magical aura, and it worked, the box opened.

---

Three days had passed since Twilight had entered the ruin and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were all starting to worry, they had initially assumed she stayed longer to study something of interest, but to give no word for three whole days? That was unlike her. They stood in the castles throne room, sitting in their respective seats around the central map.

"Maybe we should contact Princess Celestia, she would want to know that Twi's gone missing" suggested Applejack,

Fluttershy seemed unsure and responded, in her usual quiet tone "What if Twilight hasn't actually gone missing, and is just really, really busy with some amazing new discovery and then we go and waste Celestia's time".

Rainbow cut in "Oh come on, one, she would never go silent for over three days as she always feels like she has to give updates on her progress, two, she missed the party! She would never deliberately disappoint Pinkie like that!".

"She Pinkie Pie promised!" shouted Pinkie, slamming her hooves onto the map table.

"I agree with Applejack, this undignified silence is simply not like her" stated Rarity.

"Its settled then" said Applejack, "Spike take a letter...".

But there was no need to send a letter, for right on que Celestia, Luna and Cadance all entered the throne room looking very sombre, with concern etched across their faces. Celestia addressed the ponies

"You are right to be worried for Twlight, she has indeed vanished, and that is not all sadly", the princesses looked at each other before turning back to the mane 5, "we received a threat from a new, unknown villain, who only introduced herself as the future queen of Equestria, and she claimed that she had Twlight, and if we ever want to see her again we would all have to travel to a newly constructed 'dark crystal castle' just south of the Crystal Empire".

The mane 5 (and spike) gasped collectively.

"Dark crystal? Like the kind ol' Sombra tried to invade the Crystal Empire with" enquired Applejack".

Luna responded "The exact same, this mysterious pony is using dark magic to further her cause. The ruins Twilight was exploring was also filled with dark artefacts, including a now empty box, I know I've seen something like that before but I can't put my hoof on it".

Rainbow flew up into the air with a sense of determination and proclaimed "well what are we waiting for? Lets break into this castle, rescue Twilight and kick this 'queens' flank back a century!"

"Pony road trip!" shouted Pinkie excitedly, setting off one of her hidden confetti cannons.

Elsewhere, in a throne room made of dark crystal, a hidden figure was using dark magic to conjure up pony minions made of shadow, she knew they would be coming for her, and she would be waiting.