"A shattered world that's like an endless nightmare. An endless nightmare that's like a shattered world. But with hope we can end the nightmare. We can mend the pieces, and make the world anew.''

The sun shone brightly on the town known as Ponyville. In the quiet town, ponies wandered the streets merrily as they got on with their day. Some sat in cafes and enjoyed meals. Others chatted happily with one another.

Fillies and colts ran and played with each other to their hearts content. High on a passing cloud, Rainbow Dash was taking her usual mid-day naps after a shift of clearing the skies for a nice day. Fluttershy was in a park of some sort, happily conducting a chorus of birds that gave off a wonderful song.

Applejack went about Sweet Apple Acres doing the various chores she usually do, which included apple bucking while her older brother Big Macintosh worked hard on the fields plowing through the soil, and their younger sister and grandmother Apple Bloom and Granny Smith worked in the barn house making their famous apple pies and apple cider.

Rarity was in her dressmaking shop The Carousel Boutique her orange work glasses on coming up with new designs while her cat Opal played with a ball of yarn. Pinkie Pie was at work at Mr. and Mrs. Cake's bakery Sugarcube Corner, which looked like a giant gingerbread house with frosting and sprinkles. Inside, she happily and energetically helped costumers at a fast pace only she could pull off.

Twilight was on the third floor, surrounded by piles of books, being studious as ever.

With her magic, she levitated a book to her face and was immersed in it, gathering all the knowledge it possessed.

"Wow, there's a spell that can actually restore someone's youth?! I had no idea about that!'' Twilight said with surprise, but with glee.

She loved learning new things every day. The door in the room suddenly burst open as a tower of books walked in. But the books weren't the ones that were walking. They were being carried by a purple and green baby dragon. It was Spike, Twilight's assistant and best friend.

"Here...ugh...here you go Twilight!'' Spike said, trying with all his might to not let the books topple.

Twilight looked away from her book and smiled. "Thanks Spike, just sit them over there.''

That was all Spike needed to hear. He immediately dropped the books down and fell back onto the floor, exhausted.

"Gee, Twilight, do you read enough books?!'' Spike questioned, panting.

"Oh Spike, you can never read enough books,'' Twilight giggled.

Spike clicked his tongue. "Yeah I bet. I swear Twilight sometimes, you can be a real bookworm,'' Spike mocked, sitting up.

Twilight rolled her eyes and returned to her book.

"Well, is there anything else you want me to slave in here?'' Spike asked sarcastically.

Twilight light softly. She COULD have put him on another errand, but seeing how sweaty Spike was, she figured she had worked him enough for the day.

"No Spike, you can take the rest of the day off.''

Spike's eyes lit up. "Really...do you mean it?!''

"Yes Spike, I've slaved you enough today,'' Twilight giggled.

. Out of nowhere, Spike flung himself onto Twilight and hugged her tightly.

"Oh thank you, thank you Twilight. You may be the biggest bookworm in the world, but you're the nicest bookworm in the world!''

Twilight rolled her eyes playfully and laughed. "Alright, alright I get it!''

Spike let go, apologized sheepishly and sped off out the door and closed it behind him. Twilight smiled and shook her head and was about to return to her book when something came her head. With her magic, she sat the book down, got up, and trotted out of the room. She climbed the stairs to the fourth floor to where she and Spike slept and went over to a blue brown desk by her bed.

Her horn glowed violet and so did the dresser knob as she used her magic to pull open the drawer to reveal lack box. Twilight levitated the box to the top of the dresser and lifted the top, to reveal a stunning purple gem. It was polished in the shape of an oval, unlike other gems one might find in the land.

It was defiantly a sight to behold. Twilight smiled at the gem as it stayed levitated in the air. Twilight's mom had given it to her before she left Canterlot to come to Ponyville. It was the only thing she had to remember her parents.

"After all this time I've had this, it's still a mystery to me,'' Twilight said softly as she continued to gaze at the gem.

"I don't know, it just feels like...there's something more to this gem like...it holds some sort of secr-''

Twilight gasped as the gem suddenly started to give off a mystic violet glow. The shock had cancelled the magic and the gem fell to the floor with a thud, still glowing mysteriously.

"What the hay?!'' Twilight exclaimed, scrunching up her face.

She carefully approached the gem and levitated it into the air in front of her, the magic aura it usually gave of blended into the gem's glow.

"The gem never glowed like this before,'' Twilight pondered, drawing her horn closer to the gem.

"I wonder what it could-'' but before Twilight could finish, the tip of her horn touched the gem.

Immediately, a vision flash before her eyes. A glowing red gem...a strike of red lightning...a wicked cackle of glee...destruction...glowing red eyes. The vision only lasted for a brief second. Twilight screamed and dropped the gem again. She retreated a few steps backward. Twilight breathed heavily, staring at the gem with still maintained its glow.

"What just...happened?!'' Twilight asked, staring at the gem.

"A red gem...and...Laughing?'' Twilight shuddered at that laugh.

She knew no good could come from that laugh. She knew that the laugh had evil behind it, yet it seemed so familiar to her.

"That vision...what could it mean?!'' Twilight stared at the gem for a few moments before finally using her magic to levitate it, put it back into the box, and back into the dresser.

"I've got to send Princess Celestia a letter...at once!''

Twilight galloped to another desk on the other side of the room and with her magic, lifted up a quill pen and began to quickly write on the yellow parchment before her.

In the royal castle in Canterlot, Celestia and Luna paced in the enormous hall, ill at ease. The hall was lined with giant windows, some were brilliant stained glass. Each stained glass windows seems to interpret a different legends of some kind as light shone through the regular windows. Celestia stopped at a particular glass stained window, which depicted Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie using the Elements of Harmony to defeat Discord. She looked up at the glass wearily, the vision from the previous night still haunting her.

Celestia heard approaching hooves and she looked over her shoulder to see her sister, walking towards her.

"Sister, what are we to do about this?'' Luna asked, concerned.

Celestia was silent for a moment, then she turned to her sister with a somber expression. "I...I don't know Luna. I can't even begin to make out what this vision means,'' Celestia said solemnly.

Luna just stared at Celestia with dour eyes as the older sister continued, shaking her head, her flowing, multicolored mane waving. "It's strange to be honest. A gem, lightning...and a laugh, a laugh with all the evil in the world behind it.''

Luna merely gave a slight nod as she replied.

"Like a thief in the night, a nightmare comes and vanishes quickly. I should know.'' Luna responded but then gave a slight gasp as she came to a realization. "Celestia, you don't think that...he's trying to communicate with us is he?''

Celestia thought deeply for a moment, considering the possibility before nodded firmly, but in discontent. "Yes, sister I believe-'' but before she could finish, she and Luna were both struck by a flash of vision, the same vision that Twilight had experienced.

Celestia and Luna gasped as they both jumped back. There was silence between them until finally Luna spoke.

"Celestia...did...did you-'' Lune asked, stammering.

"Yes...I saw it too Luna!'' Celestia responded quickly, looking distraught.

"A gem...lightning...the same exact vision as before.'' Luna began.

"And a malevolent laughter,'' Celestia finished, frowning.

Luna just looked at her sister puzzled and alarmed. "But sister, what does it mean? And this...unsettling feeling that I can't shake?''

Celestia walked to her sister and looked sadly. "Luna, I sense that something terrible might be unleashed on Equestria.''

Luna nodded slowly, looking down. "Yes, I was afraid you would say that.''

Celestia nodded. "Yes, we must get to the solution of these visions before it's too late,'' Celestia said firmly and Luna agreed.

They both galloped to Celestia's chambers to prepare for their journey.

"Luna, I need you to write a letter to Princess Cadence and Shining Armor to come at once. Tell them that they will need to rule in our absence.'' Celestia commanded, using her magic to prepare her own quill and scroll.

"Yes sister I understand, but who are you writing too?'' Luna asked.

"To Twilight Sparkle and her friends,'' Celestia answered, as she quickly started to write out her letter. "I must tell her to prepare to use the Elements of Harmony in case something unfortunate befalls on us all.''

Celestia closed her eyes and hung her head wearily. "Chiron help us,'' Celestia muttered