Author's note
3 chapters left. This story is almost done so enjoy!

Chapter 6: Curse's Arrival

It was almost sunset as the kingdom is close to finish preparations for Twilight's return. But what no one knows is that the Mystic Ponies is leaving the Everfree Forest cautiously with Spike and Pinkamena trailing. Twilight is behind the group in her new dress, as well as a cloak and hood, not saying a word. She is sad over what happened especially of the truth that was kept from her for so long.

The Mystic Ponies decided that it's best to play it safe in returning Twilight home, going in through the back. They are concerned that Nightmare Moon or Sombra will be waiting tonight for the curse to happen. As long as they keep quiet, no one will ever know. The group goes into the castle through a door in the back of the castle, entering while making sure that no one saw them arriving.

The group enters a room in the castle where they will prepare Twilight for her big arrival. Rarity said, "All right, dear, in here." The princess enters, still not entering as she goes over to a table with a mirror on it. "Rainbow, lock the door."

Rainbow nods as she goes over to the door and lock it. Rarity turns to Fluttershy saying, "Fluttershy, close the curtains." The meek yellow pony nods and closes the curtains. The girls want to take extra precautions to make sure that Twilight's arrival isn't noticed just yet. "Twilight, sit down."

Twilight sat down without saying a word, removing her hood from her cloak. Pinkamena sighs sadly, "Poor Twiley."

"We got one more gift for you, Darling." Rarity said as she uses her necklace to make a crown appears on her head. "Your very own Element of Harmony. This is a symbol of royalty, a crown to wear in grace and beauty, as well as your right and royal duty. It is also the Element of Magic."

"So whatcha think?"

Twilight couldn't take any more. She broke into tears once more then put her head onto her upper forelegs onto the table. The mare can't bear living life without...him.

"Twilight, we--" Spike begins to say in concern while gentle-like.

Twilight softly spoke, "Just go away."

"Oh...okay. Come on, girls. Let's leave her alone now.:

The girls nods as they and Spike leaves the room to leave Twilight to her sadness. Pinkamena stays behind to make sure that she's okay, feeling sad and concerned for her good friend than ever.

As Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy and Spike left Twilight alone to weep; the Princess felt like her world had been turned upside down.

She had finally found the colt of her dreams, only to find out from her guardians that she was a Princess; that she was already betrothed to some Prince that she didn't even know at all, not realizing that the colt she loved was said-Prince, and now she would never see her true love again.

And she had her 'guardians' to blame for it. Twilight then glared at the door that they barely closed as she sang.

Twilight: Yes, I made the choice
For your sakes I will stay
But I don't deserve to lose
My freedom in this way

Twilight angrily yells at the door, "You ingrates!"

Rarity, hearing Twilight's words, gasp in surprise, "Ingrates?!"

Fluttershy was really hurt by those words, like it was a stinging blow to her heart. She whimpers, "What?"

"I guess that we deserved that, girls." Rainbow said to her friends gloomy.

"We all had it coming, Rainbow.” Spike remarks in agreement. Twilight ignore their words as she kept on singing.

If you think that what you've done is right
Well then
You're all fools
Think again!

Then Twilight cried as she sang.

Is this home?
Is this where I should learn to be happy?
Never dreamed that a home could be dark and cold
I was told everyday in my childhood
Even when we grow old
Home will be where the heart is
Never a word so true

My heart's far, far away
Home is, too!
Is this home?
Is this what I should learn to believe in?
Try to find something good in this tragic place
Just in case, I should stay here forever
Held in this empty space
Oh, but that won't be easy
I know the reason why
My heart's far, far away
Home's a lie!

What I'd give to return
To the life that I knew lately
And to think, I complained
Of those vast, majestic woods
Is this home?
Am I here for a day or forever?
Shut away from the world until who knows when
Ah, but then
As my life has been altered once, it can change again
Build higher walls around me
Change every lock and key

Nothing lasts, nothing holds all of me
My heart's far, far away
Home and free!

Then Twilight cried once again. Outside the room, Rainbow looks down, mumbling, "Yeah, it's because of that colt she met."

"What do we do now?" Fluttershy ask in sadness. At this point, Twilight's former guardians have no clue as to what to do for her now.

Back inside, Twilight came on crying in sadness. Unknown to her, the fire in fireplace nearby begins to go out as something appears from the shadow, becoming a small shimmer of light. Twilight looks up to saw it...then without warning, the mare got up as if in some sort of spell, causing her cloak to fell behind her, following the light which appears to be calling her.

In the other room, the girls and Spike continue their conversion, not what of them realizes what's going on right now that could changes things for the worst.

"Poor Twilight," Rarity said, shaking her head in sadness.

"It's not fair." Rainbow remarks in disgust while sitting down in her seat, upset over this whole thing. "I don't see any reason as to why Twilight should marry some….stupid Prince!"

"Rainbow, that's not for us to decide." Fluttershy explains to Rainbow calmly.

"Yes, it is, Fluttershy. We raised her, not the King and Queen! We're the ones who took care of Twilight all these years, not her parents."

"But she's still the Princess, and this betrothal is the same thing as a promise. And a promise is a promise. Not to mention that it's tradition." Rarity points out to Rainbow of royal traditions.

Back in the other room, Twilight kept on following the light as a wall opens behind the fireplace, revealing a secret passageway behind. The mare, still in a trance, continues following it silently, doing what the thing is telling her to do.

Pinkamena was lying beside Twilight's bed as her ears flick and she sees a green flash and room is revealed. She growls and slowly follows Twilight and in her mind, 'Nightmare Moon, you’re going to pay and that goes extra to the evil Sombra'. She keeps following.

"Tradition my flank," Rainbow in the other room exclaims angrily at the said word as if it's an insult.

"Rainbow," Fluttershy gasps in shock by what her friend just said. That's a terrible thing to say!

"Well, it's true. It's a stupid tradition…one that Princess Celestia and Jack actually ignored unless you've forgotten."

"That's a very good point, Rainbow. Maybe we should tell King Night Light and Queen Twilight Velvet about the young colt."

"And risk having to be hanged or beheaded? Not a chance." Rarity protests to Rainbow in concern by that.

"Rarity, we have to tell them the truth and explain why Twilight is crying." Spike said to Rarity, agreeing with the idea. The king and queen must know as to why their daughter is crying.

"Well, maybe Twilight wouldn't be crying if Spike here…had kept his big mouth shut instead of blurting out about us being hanged for treason by the King!"

"So it's my fault, huh? Well, whose idea was it to hide Twilight in the first place?! Oh wait, let me guess. It was you, Rarity!"

"What? Me?! Uh…Fluttershy was the one who suggested it. Blame her!" Rarity protests, pointing a hoof at Fluttershy while blaming her for her giving the unicorn the idea 16 years old!

"I didn't suggest anything, Rarity. I was merely speaking my mind when I said that Nightmare Moon didn't know anything about love, kindness, the joy of helping others anymore." Fluttershy said in protest. She glares at Rainbow while adding, "Rainbow should be to blame."

"What?! You're pinning the blame on me now?!" Rainbow protests in alarm by this.

"You were the one who cheered Jack Silver on when he humiliated Nightmare Moon, Rainbow." Rarity said as she scolds Rainbow for cheering Jack on 16 years ago. "Your involvement only made the situation worse and--."

A faint sound is heard, making Spike gasps, "Wait…something's wrong. I can feel it both in my gut and scales."

Rarity gasps as she looks inside the room, "You're right, Spike. It's either Nightmare Moon or Sombra!"

"Iris! Iris!" The group exclaims as they saw that Twilight is no longer in room.

"Oh dear, why did we even leave her alone???"

"There she is!" Spike exclaims as she spoke Twilight walking through the fireplace, with Pinkamena following secretly unknown to her and everyone else.

"Iris! Iris!" The group yells out as they try to go after her. Sadly, before the four could get closer, a wall appears, blocking them off.

Inside the passageway, the still entranced Twilight continues following the enchanted light, walking up a staircase. She must follow it no matter what.

The girls and Spike does their best to get through the wall in the fireplace, but to no success. Rarity quickly uses her magic to open the wall up, allowing the four into the passageway. If Nightmare Moon is involved likely, they gotta stop Twilight before she unknowingly allowed the corrupt Alicorn's curse to happen!

"Iris! Where are you?!" The four yells out frantically. Sadly, whoever is responsible has turn the passageway in four hallways. The four was forced to split up to go down the different ones, but no matter what, none of them are the right way. "Iris!"

Twilight continues following the light, unaware of her friends trying to help her. Soon, she reaches some sort of tower where the light stops, then it transforms into a black book with wire on it. The thing appears to be calling out to the unicorn who goes towards in it in curiosity. Twilight pauses then begins to reach out with a hoof.

The group finally reaches the stairs, rushing up them, calling out echoing, "Iris! Don't touch anything!"

As if the words had reached her, Twilight stops and held her hoof out, hesitating at first. But then a familiar voice spoke out eerily, "Touch the book...touch it I say!" Twilight is back under the spell as she reaches out...and touches the wire, causing a flash of light to appear.

Meanwhile, the four rush upstairs. They got to get to Twilight before it's too late. Sadly, by the time that they reached the tower, the heroines and Dragon gasps in shock as right in front of them is a chuckling Nightmare Moon who is smirking wickedly.

"Nightmare Moon," The four gasps in shock and horror. No, it can't be!

"Well, well, well...if isn't my old friends, the Mystic Ponies." Nightmare Moon said with a cruel grin, "You poor simple fools. Did you really that you could defeat me; Nightmare Moon, the Queen of all Darkness? Well...here's your precious little Princess!"

Nightmare Moon moves aside to show her former friends a shocking and horrifying sight: there's Twilight on the floor in a deep sleep, the same one that they themselves tried to stop before! The corrupt Alicorn laughs wickedly as she disappears into the shadows, her curse has been fulfilled.

"Iris!" Rainbow exclaims in sadness and despair over seeing Twilight like this.

"Twilight," Fluttershy whimpered as the group came up to Twilight. They try to wake her up, but to no prevail. She is out, maybe for good!

Suddenly familiar laughter is heard as a familiar cloud appears. To the four's horror, it's Sombra who appears in the room, laughing wickedly.

"Sombra," The Mystic Ponies and Spike exclaims in shock. Somehow, they fear that he would show up sooner or later!

Sombra laughs evilly, "Now my dark treacherous purpose to betray Luna, turn her into Nightmare Moon and have her curse that poor little filly has now been fulfilled! And both Night Light and Twilight Velvet's kingdom will be...MINE!!!!" Thunder claps as Spike, Rarity, Rainbow and Rarity tremble in fear. "And I will silent and dispose of anypony and any good Dragon who would dare oppose me who will get in my way! Even that lunatic, idiotic and jabbering oaf you, Spike, call the Alpha Dragon, Taiku will cower before me!"

Before Sombra could get to Twilight, he roars in pain as some blades cut though. The Mystics look and see Pinkamena wielding her Blades of Pinkie Pie and the sword of Pinkie Pie as she says, "Back the buck away from Twilight or I will make you into dark flavor cupcakes."

"Doesn't matter; I still won."

A song begins to play as Sombra begins to sing.

Sombra: In the Dark of the Night I was tossing and turning!

Soon some changelings appear and surround the Mystic Ponies and Spike.

And the nightmare I had was as bad as can be!
Well, Only one way to find out.

The monsters growled fiercely at Rarity and her group as Sombra continued.

It scared me out of my wits
A corpse falling to bits!
Then I opened my eyes
And the nightmare was...me!!

I was once...
the most mystical pony king in all of in the Mystic Realm!

Bert, Tom and William Mountain Troll: Oooh ahooo!

Sombra: When the royals betrayed me they made a mistake!

Bert, Tom and William Mountain Troll: Oooh ahooo!

Sombra: My curse and betrayal of Luna
Made all of them pay
But one certain Sun Goddess is still in my way!

Princess Celestia Beware
King Sombra awakes!

Soon, a vast army of orcs, trolls, evil giants, minotaurs, harpies, chamiras, manticores, dark ponies, centaurs and elves, black dwarves, goblins and even monsters made out of crystals began to sing with the Unicorn king wickedly!

Army: In the dark of the night
Evil will find her

In the dark of the night just before dawn!
Aah...

Sombra laughs as some of his minions bring forth...Luna's Wings as the villain continues singing.

Sombra: Revenge will be sweet!

Both: When My/his Plan is complete!

Army: In the dark of the night

Sombra: They'll be gone!

Soon some vampire ladies began vocalizing while Rarity and her group were nervous.

"This song is way too frightening!" Fluttershy whimpers as the song continues.

Sombra: I can feel that my powers are slowly returning!
Shine my armor and a dash of cologne for that smell!
AS the pieces fall into place
I'll see them crawl into place!
Sayonara Night Light and Velvet your graces, farewell!

Army: In the dark of the night
Terror will strike them!

Sombra: Terror's the least I can do!
In the dark of the night evil will brew.

Army: Ooh!

Sombra: Soon they will feel
That their nightmares are real
In the dark of the night
They'll be through

Army: In the Dark of the Night
Evil will smite them!

Sombra: Smite them!

Evil Creatures: In the Dark of the Night
Terror Comes True

Sombra: Doom them!
My Friends, here's a sign;
It's the end of the line!

Army: In the dark of the night
In the dark of the night

Soon the monsters then left to attack Canterlot as the wicked unicorn king jumped on the back of a Fell-Beast as the sinister song came to it's end.

Sombra: Come my warriors
Rise for your master
Let your evil shine!
In the dark of the night...

Army: In the dark of the night...

Sombra: To Canterlot now yes
Ride ever faster!

Evil Creatures: In the dark of the night...
In the dark of the night...
In the dark of the night...

Sombra: This world is now mine!

Soon the wicked unicorn king, now laughing sinisterly like the power-mad traitorous villain that he is combine with that of the devil and his forces flew off to take Canterlot by force to fore fill his treacherous purpose, leaving Rarity, the Mystic Ponies and Spike in horror at what they have just unleashed thanks to them allowing Nightmare Moon's curse to happen by spilling the truth to Twilight, allowing the villains the opportunity they have been waiting for to make their move and returning the now cursed princess back to her real home whist the villains are still around.

"Oh Spike, darlings...What have we done?!" Rarity sobs in sadness. "Oh, it's all my fault."

"We're all to blame, Rarity." Fluttershy said meekly as the Mystic Ponies cries over Twilight's emotionless Body. Spike and Pinkamena looks down in sadness. What will happen now?

Author's note
Not good. The curse is complete and Sombra is making his move. In the next chapter, in hopes to spare the pain of the truth, Rarity's group put the whole castle under the same sleeping spell. And when they find out the identify of the colt that Twilight met, they head back to the cottage. But evil awaits Ben there! Read, review and suggest!

Spike trying to speak to Twilight only to be asked to leave is a reference to 'The Little Mermaid' when Sebastian tried to do the same time after he told Triton about Ariel's love for Eric by accident.

Twilight's song is from the musical version of 'Beauty and the Beast'.

The extra song at the end is from 'Anastasia'.