Luna was pulled out of sleep by the sound of hooves slamming frantically against her bedroom door. Rubbing her eyes, she rolled off the mattress and landed on her hooves, trotting to the door.

“What is it!?” she snapped at the guard outside, making no attempt to mask her annoyance. “It better be important!”

“Uh, sorry, Princess Luna,” the guard remarked, cautiously opening Luna’s door, and looking up at a rather cranky night princess. “We, uh, received a rather distressing report from Ponyville…”

Luna felt her anger ebbing away at those words. A distressing report from Ponyville? Could it be the Dark Signers? “If sister felt the need to have you wake, then it must be bad. What’s the report detail?”

The guard looked down awkwardly, clearing his throat. “Um, about Princess Celestia… The report… according to the report, during her investigation into an incident in Ponyville… She, and the platoon of guards accompanying her… were all killed.”

Luna blinked in surprise, her legs starting to feel weak. “A-are you positive this report is accurate. Because as far as jokes go, this is the least funny thing I’ve heard in my life.”

The guard nodded. “I’m sorry, Princess Luna, but it’s true. After a small earthquake was detected, purple flames that seemed to take the appearance of a spider broke out. Princess Celestia went out with guards to investigate, and…”

Luna sat back on the floor in shock. “S-so my sister is… dead?”

The guard nodded. “I’m sorry, Princess-”

“You’re lying,” Luna interrupted, standing up, and trotting angrily out of the room.

“-Luna?” the guard finished in surprise, turning to watch her storm off down the hall.

Luna barged into the throne room, and looked around. “Sister! Get out here! You should know that this isn’t the time to pull pranks like this!”

Upon getting no response, Luna flew out the window, circling over the palace gardens, her eyes scanning every potential hiding place. “Celestia! Where are you!?”

“Princess Luna!” the guards called after her.

Luna ignored them, and soared out into the city itself. She scanned the streets, starting to panic. Just before she could call out for Celestia again, she was startled by the chiming of the Canterlot Clock Tower. She turned in surprise to see it was already 6 pm.

“Princess!” a pegasus guard called, gasping for breath from chasing her.

“The sun shouldn’t be where it is,” said Luna in a complete monotone. “It should be setting.”

“Princess Luna,” the guard said, as the other guards caught up.

“Sister wouldn’t leave the sun up,” said Luna, drooping slightly as they flew back to the castle. “She really is gone, isn’t she?”

Luna continued by herself, not noticing the guards stopped, one of them pointing out over Equestria. “Do the rest of you see that?”

“It almost looks like smoke,” one of them said.

“It’s hanging too low to be smoke,” said another. “It’s low hanging like fog.”

Ponies stopped in their tracks, curiously glancing towards the approaching black fog. It was only once the fog enveloped a pony completely and said pony dissolved into dust that the panic began.

All across Equestria, panicking ponies and animals scattered, in a desperate attempt to escape the fog. Their efforts were in vain, as in a few short hours the fog cleared away, having taken most citizens with it. A dreary cloud cover now spread out over the empty Equestria.

Gilda’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe that fog worked.”

“It’s all thanks to Uru absorbing Celestia’s soul,” smiled the leader. “Now we have a collection of souls for the Earthbound Gods so we can face the Signers anywhere!”

The buffalo nodded, before looking at one of the newer Dark Signers. “Miss, how is your research into Equestria’s ley lines coming?”

“With all the magic in Equestria,” the earth pony mare responded, “ley lines are everywhere. However, not all go where we want them to. I tracked down a few that do, however.”

“And destiny shows its irony again,” commented one of the fillies, as they all looked at the map.

“I can easily set up rune circles on these lines,” the leader said. “Where do you all wish to face your Signer?”

“Is it possible to still channel energy to the ley lines if the circle was in Cloudsdale?” one of the fillies asked.

“Still holdin’ on to that dream, huh?” the third filly asked, a small smile crossing her face.

“Of course.”

The leader looked at the filly, before nodding. “I can place it anywhere you want.”

“Then lets make our decisions, and quickly,” said Gilda. “I’m itching to finally kill her.”

“Patience,” said the buffalo. “The Signers will fall soon enough. Let them savor their last moments.”

“Or suffer through them,” the leader laughed.

The Signers had returned to Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity was silent, sitting at Applejack’s kitchen table and staring blankly at the tabletop. Applejack sat across from her, staring just as blankly out the window at the orchard.

Twilight was on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Spike was beside her, trying to get her to properly explain what happened, but she seemed too stunned to speak.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were up on the roof, looking out over the farm. After a lengthy silence, Fluttershy spoke softly.

“How are you holding up?”

Rainbow paused in thought, before answering. “I’m fine, I guess. It’s starting to really sink in what just happened. What Gilda has done. But… as much as I liked Scoots, she was just a friend and fan. Knowing what Applejack and Rarity are going through… I guess that’s what’s letting me keep it together. How about you?”

“I’ve lost friends before. They weren’t ponies, but they still meant the world to me. What happened to the Cutie Mark Crusaders…” Her eyes started tearing up. “I can handle it… Like you, I…” She broke down, leaning against Rainbow and crying. “I can’t be strong! I can’t do this!”

“Fluttershy,” Rainbow mumbled, extending a wing around her. “I can’t say things will be okay. But, until this is all over, don’t cry, okay? You’re a Signer, and you need to be strong. Don’t embarrass the god that chose you.”

Fluttershy wiped her eyes, whimpering a bit. “For you, I… I’ll try to be strong.”

“You will be strong,” said Rainbow. “It annoys me how much you belittle yourself. You are strong, Fluttershy. Why else would a god choose you? You can take down these Dark Signers. Okay?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash.”

“Don’t apologize,” said Rainbow. “You’ve done nothing wrong. Only Gilda did.”

“Why, though?” asked Fluttershy.

“I hope to find out when we duel,” said Rainbow. “I assume she’s destined to be my opponent, anyway.”

Before the conversation could continue, the two pegasi noticed Pinkie galloping as fast as she could towards the farmhouse. Exchanging a nervous glance, the two flew down from the roof, and followed her inside.

“Girls!” Pinkie gasped. “Big trouble!”

“What sort of trouble?” asked Twilight.

“I went to Sugarcube Corner to get some cupcakes,” said Pinkie, “hoping it would help lift the mood a little, but there wasn’t anypony there!”

“Is that all?” an annoyed Applejack asked. “Who cares? So the Cakes took a break. Ah’m taking a break from farming after what happened.”

“Did the entire town take a break, too?” asked Pinkie. “Because everypony is gone!”

“What do you mean?” asked Rarity.

“The entire town is deserted!” said Pinkie.

“What!?” gasped Rainbow.

“What happened?” asked Fluttershy.

“What do you think happened?” a voice called from outside.

“That voice…” muttered Rainbow. “Gilda!”

“Gilda?” asked Spike. “That griffon from how long ago? Twilight, what’s going on?”

“Spike, stay here,” said Twilight, as everypony else darted outside. “Write to Princess Cel- I mean, Luna. Princess Luna.

“Luna?” asked Spike. “Why her?”

“Just do it!” snapped Twilight. “Tell her to come to Sweet Apple Acres as soon as she can!” Before Spike could speak again, Twilight ran outside after the others.

The six ponies chased the griffon into the orchard. Rainbow Dash beat her wings furiously, gaining on Gilda. Just before she could catch her, however, she crashed into a magical barrier, sliding down to the ground.

“Rainbow!” gasped Fluttershy, flying over to comfort her.

Applejack turned around, using the momentum from running to kick into the shield. It shook, but didn’t break. Gilda flew up to the hill inside the shield, landing beside six cloaked figures.

Twilight arrived, gasping for air, when she noticed the shield. “A barrier? Who set this up?”

“Who do you think?” asked Applejack, pointing up the hill.

“Sup, Signers?” Gilda asked. “How’s the grieving process going?”

“Gilda!” spat Rainbow. “Get out here and fight us!”

“I’m guessing you all are the Dark Signers?” Twilight asked.

“Good guess,” said Gilda.

“Wait,” said Rarity, her voice cracking. “Three of them… Are fillies…”

“No,” said Applejack, her eyes widening. “It can’t be…”

“Sorry, sis,” said Apple Bloom, lowering her hood. “But it can be.” Her sclera had turned from white to black, like Gilda’s.

Applejack was stunned silent, falling back onto her haunches. Rarity spoke, struggling to hold back tears. “T-then that means… S-Sweetie Belle?”

“Rarity,” Sweetie Belle replied, lowering her hood. Her eyes were black, too.

“What’s going on?” asked Pinkie. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are Dark Signers?”

“That’s right,” said Scootaloo, lowering her hood as well.

“Scootaloo?” Rainbow asked. “W-why? Why are you a Dark Signer?”

“This can’t be happening,” said Twilight, taking a step back from the shield. “None of this can be happening!”

“And why can’t it?” asked Gilda.

“B-because, it…”

“It’s just a legend, right?” said one of the cloaked figures. “Twilight, didn’t you know something like this was coming? Signers and Dark Signers being linked by fate? Your pursuit of the legend didn’t stop from just asking me, did it?”

“C-Cheerilee?” Twilight stuttered.

Cheerilee lowered her hood, and nodded.

“But you didn’t die!” Fluttershy gasped. “I mean, I asked you to leave to be safe, so you should still be alive, right?”

“I should be, yes,” said Cheerilee. “If only you didn’t drive me to my end.”

“You killed yourself?” asked Rainbow.

“But, why?” asked Rarity.

“I could tell you blamed me for the deaths of your sisters,” Cheerilee replied. “I blamed myself, too. The Earthbound Gods helped me realize otherwise, though. It’s the fault of you, Signers!”

“What!?” gasped Pinkie. “How could you possibly think its our fault!?”

“The same way you caused the deaths of my tribe,” the buffalo said, lowering his hood.

“Wait, I know that voice,” said Pinkie. “And that buffalo!”

“Chief Thunderhooves, right?” Applejack asked weakly, finally finding her voice.

“What do you mean we killed your tribe?” Rainbow asked. “Last time we saw you, everything was cool at the end, right?”

“There’s no need to go in depth to our motivations now,” said the last cloaked figure. “Especially considering the time limit.”

“Time limit?” repeated Fluttershy.

“What do you mean?” asked Rainbow.

“And who are you?” asked Pinkie.

“You’ve forgotten?” asked the figure, lowering her hood. “How could you forget the Great and Powerful Trixie!?”

Luna sat alone in the throne room, staring up at the ceiling. “It had to have been the Dark Signers that took you from me, right? I hate that. I hate knowing I can’t do anything to help in stopping your killer. I hate-”

A knock on the door interrupted her. Without getting up or even looking, she magically opened the door to the throne room. “What do you want?”

“Luna?” asked a frazzled looking unicorn.

“Adviser?” Luna asked, looking away from the ceiling at the white unicorn. “Is something the matter? Aside from my sister’s death, I mean?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Adviser replied, trotting over to join Luna. “But first, how are you holding up after this?”

“I’m screaming inside,” said Luna. “Of course, Celestia suffered before during the Nightmare Moon incident, and I’m certain many things following that during my absence. She did tell me that when she needed it, you comforted her. I trust you’ll comfort me the same way?”

“If we survive long enough, yes,” said Adviser. “Though, given what I need to report, that’s unlikely.”

“What do you mean?” asked Luna.

“A black fog has spread over Equestria,” said Adviser. “And it seems to be erasing ponies or something.”

“Erasing ponies?” repeated Luna. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” said Adviser, “in places the fog hit, the ponies in the area vanished. An estimated 75% of the population is gone ranging from the southwest coast to the entire east coast. Only the northeast still has a full population, but its likely this fog will spread there as well.”

Luna remained silent as her mind processed the information. Before she could speak, a scroll appeared in front of her. She picked it up with her magic and quickly skimmed it.

“Dear Princess Luna, Twilight requests you come to Sweet Apple Acres on the outskirts of Ponyville as soon as you’re able. Pinkie Pie says everypony in town is gone, and Twilight and her friends have been really depressed. Please help. Sincerely, Spike.”

“Ponyville, huh?” said Adviser. “I’m surprised Twilight Sparkle and her friends survived the fog and that burning geoglyph.”

“Adviser,” said Luna, “in my study are all the notes Celestia and I have taken on the Signers and Dark Signers, as well as every textbook we could find mentioning the legend of the Crimson Dragon. I believe this will give us insight into this matter.”

“I see,” said Adviser. “I take it you want me to look it over for you?”

Luna nodded. “And track the source of the fog, as well. I’ll be heading out to Ponyville myself. Follow when you’re able to.”

“As you wish,” said Adviser, as Luna trotted out of the throne room.

“T-Trixie?” stuttered Twilight.

“Soon to be the Great Goddess Trixie,” she laughed. “Not that you Signers will live long enough to see that day, of course.”

“What did you mean by time limit!?” Rainbow snapped.

“Ah, that,” smiled Trixie. “You see, there are six rune circles scattered across Equestria! I placed them there to gather magical energy and send them down the ley lines to Tartarus. By midnight tomorrow, the King of the Underworld will revive, and escape! All life will end on this world, and the Dark Signers will reign supreme over an empire of the dead.”

“What!?” everypony gasped.

“There is a way to stop it,” said Cheerilee.

“You have to beat all of us and destroy the rune circles with your Signer Dragons,” said Thunderhooves.

“But make it quick,” said Sweetie Belle.

“If a single Dark Signer survives,” said Scootaloo, “then the plan will succeed.”

“We’ll be waitin’ for you,” said Apple Bloom.

“Wait!” said Pinkie. “Where will we find you? Where are the rune circles?”

“You should be able to figure that much out yourselves,” said Trixie. “I look forward to this. The battle ordained by the gods themselves! The destined war of Signers and Dark Signers!” Trixie’s horn lit up, enveloping the Dark Signers in her aura.

“Applejack,” said Apple Bloom. “Ah’ll be waiting for ya.” In a flash of light, Apple Bloom was teleported away by Trixie.

“Rarity,” said Sweetie Belle. “You’ve probably realized we’ll be dueling.”

“Sweetie Belle…” Rarity whispered, tears running down her face as Sweetie Belle was teleported away.

“I’ll be waiting for you, Rainbow Dash!” smirked Scootaloo, before being teleported away as well.

“Pinkie Pie,” said Thunderhooves. “Though you have no Signer Mark, I feel destiny has chosen you to be my opponent.” Thunderhooves vanished in a flash of light.

“That leaves you to me, Fluttershy,” smirked Gilda, baring her talons, before being teleported away.

“So, Cheerilee,” said Twilight, “you and I will…”

“Be dueling, yes,” finished Cheerilee. “Don’t keep me waiting.” Cheerilee vanished in another burst of light.

“As unlikely as it is,” said Trixie, “if you get past my six subordinates and take down my six rune circles, then I’ll gladly wipe out the lucky Signers that survived. Assuming any of you do, of course. Farewell, Signers!” In a final flash of light, Trixie teleported away, and her magical shield faded away.

The six ponies had sullenly returned to the farmhouse. Once inside, Applejack flipped over her kitchen table. “Damn it!”

“C-calm down, Applejack,” Fluttershy stuttered.

“Calm down!?” snapped Applejack. “I have to kill my own sister, and you want me to calm down!?”

Fluttershy recoiled behind Rainbow Dash, trembling. Rainbow spread her wings as if to shield her from Applejack’s anger. “Yeah, AJ, chill out!”

“How can you be so cold, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked. “Isn’t this painful for you?”

“Of course it is,” said Rainbow. “My old friend from school wants to kill Fluttershy, my number one fan and personal protégé is trying to kill me, and your own sisters want to kill you too! How do you think I feel!?”

Applejack paused, before sighing in defeat. “You’re right, Rainbow. Ah’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” mumbled Rainbow. “Why do you all apologize over nothing?”

“I don’t know if I can do this,” said Rarity. “But if we fail, the world will end.”

“I don’t even know why they challenged Pinkie,” said Rainbow. “She doesn’t have a Dragon-Type at all!”

“I have a dragon!” said Pinkie. “See? And look! It’s like that one from Twilight’s book, right?”

“It sort of looks similar,” said Rarity.

“It’s kind of like the one from my dream,” added Fluttershy. “But…”

“Power Tool Dragon is a Machine-Type,” finished Twilight.

“Oh, right,” said Pinkie, with a frown. “Still. If I can do anything to help, I won’t hesitate. Even if it means fighting a Dark Signer!”

“That’s great,” sighed Twilight. “A shame we don’t know where any of them are!”

“I think you’ll find that you do,” said a voice. “It’s a place of significance to both of you.”

“Zecora?” asked Spike. The dragon and six ponies trotted outside, to find the zebra waiting for them. And with her was-

“Princess Luna!” gasped Twilight.

“Surprised to see me?” Luna asked. “You did call me here. What’s happened since this morning?”

“Mine and Rarity’s sister and their friend… died,” said Applejack.

“And became Dark Signers,” added Rarity.

“What’s more,” said Twilight, “they issued a challenge to us.”

“Either we kill all of them by midnight tomorrow,” said Rainbow, “or everything dies.”

Luna blinked in surprise. “My, that’s… Quite a lot, huh?”

“Yeah,” said Pinkie. “A lot of misery.”

“Only problem,” said Fluttershy, before shaking her head, “or, one of many problems, we don’t know where they are.”

“Wait, hold on,” said Spike, eyes wide. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders died? And are Dark Signers? …What even is a Dark Signer?”

“It’ll take too long to fill you in now,” said Twilight. “I’ll tell you later.”

“As I said, you can find your foes,” said Zecora. “They’ll be in a place the two of you knows.”

“What do you mean?” asked Pinkie.

“Think of a place that would mean something to the Dark Signer,” said Luna. “Someplace they’d expect you to know about. If Miss Zecora’s theory is right, the Dark Signer will be there.”

“Someplace significant?” asked Applejack.

“It’s obvious for me,” said Pinkie. “The only place we’ve met Thunderhooves before was Appleloosa.”

“My guess is Gilda will be waiting for you in Cloudsdale,” said Rainbow.

“Actually,” said Fluttershy, “I’d say she’s in Ponyville. Scootaloo’s likely gone to Cloudsdale.”

“What makes you think that?” asked Pinkie.

“Scootaloo idolized Rainbow,” said Fluttershy. “And she always wanted to fly with her.”

“So going to my old home makes sense,” agreed Rainbow. “But where’s your logic for Gilda?”

“Her friendship with you ended here,” said Fluttershy. “That’s why she’d stay here.”

“That would make sense if she was after Rainbow,” said Rarity. “But she’s after you, remember?”

Fluttershy gulped, before nodding. “I remember. I just think she’d pick here based on that, though.”

“If you’re sure,” said Twilight.

“Apple Bloom, where did you go?” Applejack asked herself. She paused in thought. “Of course, Manehatten!”

“Manehatten?” asked Rarity.

“Yeah,” said Applejack. “Mah Aunt and Uncle Orange live there. They’re related, but a bit different from the rest of the Apple Family. And, well, Dark Signers are different than Signers, right? They’re certainly different than how she used to act. So I figure that’s where she’d be.”

“That’s almost too clever sounding,” said Rainbow.

“Trust me,” said Applejack, “I know AB.”

“And I know Sweetie Belle,” said Rarity. “I love my darling sister. Which is why I know she’s gone to the city of sisterly love: Fillydelphia.”

“And that leaves me and Cheerilee,” said Twilight. “If I had to guess, I’d say Cheerilee has gone to where I was educated. She’ll likely be in Canterlot.”

“Canterlot!?” gasped Luna. “I just missed encountering a Dark Signer, then?”

“You missed them setting up their rune circle, too,” added Pinkie.

“Well, we figured out where they might be,” said Rarity. “But we still have the issue of time being against us.”

“With a time limit, on you all sticking together the Dark Signers’ hopes may ride,” said Zecora. “To defeat all of them on time, you’ll have to divide.”

“We’ll need to split up?” asked Fluttershy, shaking.

“It’s okay,” said Rainbow. “I’m sure we’ll all win.”

Twilight nodded. “Even separated, we are all still friends.”

“And these marks connect us even more,” said Rarity.

Pinkie frowned slightly, looking at the Signer Marks with envy.

“We still have an issue,” said Applejack. “Fluttershy’s got it easy with Gilda still in Ponyville-”

“I wouldn’t say Gilda’s easy,” muttered Rarity.

“-but we all have a whole country to cross! How can we manage that?”

“If Twilight is willing,” said Luna, “I can give her a ride to Canterlot.”

“Wouldn’t you be in danger, though?” asked Twilight.

“I don’t care,” said Luna. “My sister gave her life trying to help, it’s only fitting that I’d be willing to do the same. Besides, if I stay clear, I should be safe, yes?”

“Just stay out of the geoglyph,” cautioned Twilight.

Luna nodded. “I shall.”

“Um,” said Spike, “I’m still not sure what’s going on, but I know the train goes to Appleloosa, Fillydelphia, and Manehatten.” He breathed out a small spurt of fire. “Maybe I could conduct the train?”

“Ah’d prefer a licensed conductor,” said Applejack. "No offense."

“And we don’t want to put you in danger,” added Pinkie.

“Please?” asked Spike. “I want to help you save the world!”

“I’ll gladly accept your help, Spike!” smiled Rarity. “In times like this, we can’t be picky, girls.”

“Ah suppose ya have a point,” said Applejack.

“I can fly to Cloudsdale just fine,” said Rainbow. “I’ll be there in a flash.”

“Well,” said Zecora, “it’s time for the final fight. I wish you luck in ending this plight.”

“Thank you, Zecora,” smiled Twilight, as Luna lifted her onto her back.

“Good luck, girls,” said Fluttershy, forcing an encouraging smile.

Rainbow Dash gave everypony a quick hug, before flying off into the sky. Luna followed suit, lifting off and flying Twilight to Canterlot. Fluttershy and the others went to the train station. The pegasus waved them off, as the train set off at a shaky speed down the track.

Zecora stood nearby, watching the Signers depart, before quietly trotting back into the Everfree Forest.