Twilight and her friends stared at the three ponies that appeared in the middle of the throne room. Two were ponies that she knew while the third looked very similar to King Sombra. Flash Sentry was the first one to awake, the ponies rushed over to check on him. He didn’t have any major injuries, one on his head that looked like he was rendered unconscious. Her violet eyes moved over to the strange Sombra look alike. ‘This is impossible, the Crystal Heart…’ Twilight paused in her train of thought as she pondered on the presence of this pony. He didn’t look like Sombra in every way, his horn matched his coat, there was no purple mist coming from his eyes, and the cape was strangely missing. ‘This could still be a trick.’ she told herself before looking around for Aqua Star. Flash caught her searching and decided to speak up. “She… isn’t here anymore.”

“What do you mean?” the princess asked a feeling of dread settling in. “What happened?”

“She… she sacrificed herself to save her friends.” admitting this to the one pony that gave him that task left a bitter taste in his mouth. “I don’t know what happened. One moment I was surrounded by darkness and the next I was in the snow. She vanished in her hooves of her friend… Midnight I think she called him.”

“Midnight Sun.” the Princess of Friendship whispered as she remembered the journals. It was now making sense on why he looked like Sombra.

"You know him?” asked Rainbow circling around the dark grey stallion as Twilight began to piece the information together.

“Midnight Sun was an apprentice of Star Swirl the Bearded and friend of Aqua Star from what I can tell. The only time I heard the name was in journals written by Aqua Star and a journal entry from Sombra.” Twilight revealed looking at her friends. “From the entry I can deduce that he became Sombra after some sort of event, how he was able to be separated from him I don’t know. Sombra was destroyed by the Crystal Heart.”

“Not entirely Princess.” a voice called out causing the friends to turn around seeing a red fox standing there. “Hi there, my name is Maple. I am the representative of the Crystal Heart.”

“What do you want?” the rainbow maned pony was on the defensive at the appearance of the new creature.

“We are here to congratulate you on passing your test.” a new voice, one that Rarity recognized, spoke up as a red elk came into view. “Hiya Rarity!”

“Lethoras!” the white unicorn was surprised to see the elf boy. “How in Equestria did you survive?”

“My mom.” was the only response he could give as he was interrupted by a doe speaking up. “My name is Guardian, I am the Representative of the Tree of Harmony.”

“You’re the one from the Eternal Forest?” Spike inquired earning a look of shock from the doe. “Aurora told me the story… wait she’s still out there!”

The purple dragon ran off to check on the large crystal dragon in the middle of the town.

“What do you mean by test?” Applejack spoke up turning the attention back to the conversation.

“Right, well you see the Tree of Harmony had given you each a test. To see if you could stay true to your Elements of Harmony without them present.” explained Maple as she thought about a way to make it easier to swallow.

“Each of the Spirits have or will give you two tests, one to see if you are ready to receive their gift and the other to see how it will grow without the presence of your friends.” Guardian continued and noticed the way Rainbow’s eyes narrowed.

“A test?” she snapped moving forward her eyes filled with anger. “The places you sent us, the things we had to go through were all just a test to the Tree of Harmony?”

“You could have a had a little more tact there Niamh.” Lethoras spoke up looking over at the doe who just shook her head. “The Tree of Harmony doesn’t seem to get emotions like it should so yes, to it all you went through was just a test.”

“I knew that much at first.” Fluttershy sighed as R.D. glared at the doe saying. “Did we pass or fail?”

“You wouldn’t have gotten the castle if you failed, you probably would have been corrupted in the first test and died in the second one.” Maple spoke up stepping in the line of sight. “Let’s all just calm down, we’re here to tell you that there is a reason for these tests.”

"Against the wishes of the Tree of Harmony.” Guardian pointed out and Lethoras just placed a hoof over her mouth saying. “Sombra’s back, trying to take over Equestria, there is an evil growing that the Spirits don’t know how to stop, you might be the key to stopping it, and so they’re putting their faith in you.”

“That’s a run on sentence.” the fox told the red elk who just grinned at her. “I hate you.”

“No you don’t!” laughed the golden eyed creature pulling her in close. Twilight decided to take over this conversation before there was a fight.

“What should we do?” she asked and all eyes turned to her. “I mean we can’t take down Sombra on our own.”

“Right now the only thing you can do is just prepare. He does not know that we told you so he thinks you are oblivious to his return.” Niamh replied looking at her. “Aqua Star knew and did not tell you as it would have caused a panic. She later left a message to you Princess explaining everything.”

“The journal entry.” realization dawned on the alicorn as she groaned. She left the journal at the Castle of the Two sisters.

“Don’t worry, I put the journal in your library in case you are in need of it.” the fox told her and the Princess of Friendship looked startled. “With a new cover and everything, the old one fell off.”

“But that was practically new!” Rarity pointed out and the fox gave her a sheepish grin. “Oh… well apologies for handling the book roughly.”

“It’s alright, I was only the cover for a short period of time. I had to tell myself to never make a bet with Discord again.” said Maple before looking around. “We should be going, the Spirits are requesting our presence.”

Lethoras was already gone and the two representatives headed out. Twilight frowned as she thought about everything told to her before looking at the unconscious Midnight Sun and Comet. She knew where she could put them, yet… ‘Wouldn’t that be a reminder to them about Aqua Star?’ she thought not even noticing a shadowy figure behind them. There was a snap and the six ponies vanished just as Spike came into the room carrying the stone from before.

“Rarity? I need to talk to you about this… where did they go?” asked Spike looking around, Flash Sentry was dumbfounded as he said. “I don’t know.”

All the girls let out a scream as they fell towards the ground. Twilight flapped her wings, glad to see that they were still there. She grabbed onto Rarity as the other two pegasus did the same with the Earth Ponies. They all stared down at the vast forest they were above.

“That was close.” Rarity panted as they were flown down, when her feet touched the ground. “Where do you think we are?”

“I don’t know.” Twilight replied as she looked around seeing a large stone nearby them with a strange marking upon the surface. It was radiating with magic, the sound of hooves caught her attention and she pulled her friends into the surrounding foliage as a group of humans rode by. They were escorting a large cage behind him as the mares stayed quiet. One caught Twilight’s attention, he was riding upfront and wearing a green cloak with a hood. He was a powerful magician from what she could tell and she worried that he was able to sense their presence. It was one of the things she learned from her time in Ferelden. Mages or anyone sensitive to magic could tell that her own powers were different.

The princess signaled her friends to move away slowly as the horses slowed down. Something wasn’t right and the alicorn wished that Spike was here. Suddenly the humans were attacked by large hulking creatures and the ponies turned to run. Twilight noticed that they were coming from all directions. The princess let out a groan before flying up into the air as Rarity teleported into the trees.

“Twilight be careful, these creatures, there is something wrong with their minds!” warned the purple haired fashionista.

“Get the injured to safety.” the alicorn instructed before flying down towards the battle. “I will do what I can.”

“Stay safe.” Rarity told her vanishing into her bright blue aura. The Princess of Friendship was hoping she could think up a plan to convince the humans that her and her friends were on their side. ‘I just hope they don’t attack me first.’ she thought noticing the two magic users were preparing something. ‘I’m still going to help.’

Spike was worried, he was going to ask Rarity for her help and now they were gone. The stone in his hands was cracking heavily. Looking towards Flash he opened his mouth to ask him where they went when the stone exploded in a pale silver light. A tiny figure was in the middle of the beam, from what the two stallions could tell it was Equestrian by nature.

Khadgar blinked in surprise as he looked around at the aftermath of the battle. There was heavy casualties on their side and they managed to capture to of the beasts. He knew they had some help but he didn’t know from what. Something had shielded the injured and had blasted away some of the creatures yet vanished the moment Medivh finished his spell. His brown eyes scanned the area taking not of some bushes were clumped together oddly. The young mage wandered over touching a hand against the surface taking note of the way it didn’t give.

“Mage are you coming?” Lothar asked and the dark haired human swore he heard a slight yet quiet screech of disdain come from the bush.

“Coming.” he mumbled before moving to get onto his horse. He glanced back at the bushes before turning his attention to more important matters. Though it wasn’t going to stop him from telling Lothar where the beings from before were hiding.

Twilight let out a sigh before removing her hand from Rarity’s mouth. Fluttershy waved her arm as the branches parted revealing the six ponies behind a barrier. The princess stood up and brushed off her robe before looking around.

“Twilight, are you alright?” Applejack asked looking at her friend who had begun to breath heavily. “You seemed awfully quick to protect us from that spell.”

“We don’t know what it might have done to us.” the mulberry alicorn explained looking towards her friends. “Be on your guard, it’s not just the humans we have to worry about now. This world is full of danger.”

“I think we should check the situation out on both sides.” Rainbow Dash spoke up earning an eyebrow raise from the Princess of Friendship. “We have no idea what is going on here, we need more information about both sides if we are going to have a plan. We’ll stay to the shadows and make sure that we don’t get caught. If we do then we find ways to escape. Three to a group, how does that sound?”

“That’s… a good idea.” Twilight didn’t like to admit that out loud. “Alright, Rainbow Dash and Applejack you’re with me. I’m going to check on the humans. Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie check on the larger creatures. Also…”

Twilight’s raspberry aura surrounded them for a moment.

“A translation spell so you can understand them. Don’t speak back if you do get caught.” the tri colored maned mare instructed before looking towards the direction that the humans went. “Let’s go, we don’t want to lose them.”

"Don’t get caught.” Rainbow spoke up looking at the other group before following Twilight. “We’ll meet up at the big stone from earlier in a week. Maximum two, understood?”

The ponies agreed before saying their goodbyes before heading off. The princess scanned the area with her violet eyes trying to figure out where the mage went off to. ‘His spell, what the creatures have… it’s similar to the way the Wardens fought the Blight.’ she thought looking at her friends. ‘Yet the thing inside of them is worse than the Blight. More sickening. We can only hope that we don’t bring that back to our world.’

Spike watched as the light faded and the tiny pony dropped towards the ground. He rushed towards it and managed to catch it. He panted looking down at the filly who just rolled over in his arms. She was a unicorn with a periwinkle coat and a dark blue mane that reminded him of a certain mare. He shook his head before looking around wondering where Twilight went. She was gone when he got there and he was starting to get worried. Flash Sentry didn’t even know where they went or even who took them. The small purple dragon heard a small whimper and realized, he didn’t know how to take care of a filly this young. There was a groan behind him causing the young dragon to turn around as the dark grey stallion awoke.

“Where am I?” he asked struggling to his hooves and starring Spike straight in the eyes. The purple dragon shrank back holding the foal close to him. The stallion moved forward backing the youngling into a wall before Flash got in front of him.

“He’s a friend of Twilight Sparkle, the one I told you about.” the orange pegasus said quickly looking at the divided unicorn. “She will return soon.”

Midnight Sun looked at the former Changeling on the ground before a small whimper caught his attention. He looked at the small child in the arms of Spike. His eyes widened before looking away his mind trying to wrap around what he had just seen. ‘There is no way she would have been able copy herself. But why does that child look so much like her?’

“She does look like Aqua Star doesn’t she?” asked Spike looking down at the foal earning a look of surprise from the unusual stallion. “I was thinking to take her to Aurora, see if she knows anything.”

“Aurora…” Midnight mused quietly trying to figure out where he heard that name before. “Are you talking about UntryrUryte?”

“Uhhhhh. Yes?” replied Spike not even sure he was giving the right answer. “She’s just outside and seems to know magic well enough. Then I’m going to write a letter to the princesses about you.”

“Why?” questioned the black maned stallion his red eyes boring into the green reptile eyes of the dragon.

“They should know that there is another like Aqua Star out there and that Sombra has returned.” this time it was Flash Sentry who spoke. “They deserve to know that he is back, they were the ones who sealed him last time.”

Guilt washed over the face of the unicorn as he looked back at Comet saying. “I do not have full knowledge of recent events… who was he to her?”

“A son.” the baby dragon answered honestly and Midnight Sun sighed whispering. “No wonder you wanted me to watch over him.”

“What are you going to do now?” Flash knew that he had to keep him there a little while longer so he could explain what happened to Twilight’s acquaintance. A burst of white light flashed through the throne room as Twilight stepped out looking very haggard. Behind her were her five friends all with varying expressions.

“Princess Twilight.” the orange stallion spoke bowing his head causing the alicorn to start. “Midnight Sun is awake.”

“That’s… good.” Twilight said absently looking around. “Spike, can you show him to a room. I will speak to him tomorrow. Also, is the situation with Aurora dealt with?”

“Yeah, Discord made her a cave under the castle.” Spike replied getting a little worried before looking at the dark grey unicorn. “Uh, this way. You should probably bring Comet along.”

The stallion looked at the former changeling before levitating him onto his back. He was going to keep the promise Aqua Star wanted him to make. He was going to protect her son. He followed behind the baby dragon taking in the lack of decor. There was something wrong with that princess, he just had to find out what.

“Will you be able to take care of that child by yourself?” inquired Midnight and Spike gave him a sly smile replying. “Would you?”

“I guess we will both find out.” was the only answer from the older stallion before they both realized that they were lost. “Well sh….”

“LANGUAGE!” Pinkie’s voice rang from down the halls.

Author's Notes:

I do not own MLP. Part two of the 1000 years series up and running!