Sparkle's mind flooded with memories from her previous life, after her rule over the Diamond Ponies ended somepony had hidden the Diamond Crown (Crown of Power) somewhere in the palace, she just didn't know where. Skies had awoken from the sleep gas the doctors had given to her, she hugged Sparkle for saving her from more pain that would've been given to her if Sparkle hadn't stepped in. She also hugged Solara and Dawn for helping Sparkle save her.

"Skies do you know where the Crown of Power was placed after my banishment?" Sparkle asked hoping that Skies had the answers she needed.

"Believe it or not, yes. The Dark King made me place it where no pony would found it, he even  thought of whipping my memory of  placing the Crown where he had commanded. But he didn't... he thought, that you, Princess..." Skies threw a bow in before continuing, "...Would never return nor live through the battle he won against you."

"That's nice to know Skies, But where did you put the Crown?"

"In one of the palace's three spires, and there's only that sits above the throne room. The middle spire, the main spire."

There was a loud thud, somepony must've fallen Skies saw Sparkle on the floor her right up, her breathing was ragged. The shield had almost fallen, if not for her. Sparkle was the one the shield was feeding off of for energy, and they never even knew it. Solara held her lady's hoof as she lowered her head to hear what her lady was trying to say.

"Solara take Skies and Dawn to the throne room, and find the Crown before I'm powerless because of the shield protecting us all." Sparkle's voice was weak, tried, and she wouldn't last much longer without the Crown that had been hidden by the filly who was with the three adults.

"We will, my lady." Solara spoke softly, she let go of the Princess's hoof and turning to the two ponies behind her.

"Skies we have to find the Crown before our princess loses all of her power."

"Lady Sparkle won't be able to..." Skies started before she realized what that meant, she ran for the doors if the Archives, and shouting to the slacking ponies beside the princess. "Come on! We don't have much time to work with!"

Dawn commanded the two guards posted at the doors to get their princess the main balcony of the palace. Dawn soon caught up the two females at the throne room doors, they entered the room everything looked like nothing had be tampered with. Skies however, she closed her eyes, tilting her head.  She tried to recall anything from the Princess' last words that could help.  "This isn't Sombra's castle.  But he did rule from here.  If he's anything like the slaves he'd want to keep things close, to keep an eye on it.  Especially if the Crown of Power is the focus... he'd want to ensure he was corrupting it."  She opened her eyes, glancing at the throne.  "It's in here."

Dawn glanced over.  "Where?"

Skies pointed to a diamond behind the throne.  "Our Princess gave me a clue!  Something like that!"

Her horn began to glow, but not with its normal ice blue-tinted light.

"Skies!"  Solara stepped back in shock.

Skies opened her eyes and hit the diamond with the dark spell.  It began to glow in turn, casting a terrible black shadow that stretched across the throne room's floor.  As it moved, its darkness revealed a hidden stairwell right in front of the throne.

Skies eased off the spell, and smiled.  "Jackpot."

"Skies..."

"I'm okay."  She set her jaw.  "Just something Crystal showed me.  Let's go."  She led the way down the stairs.

"When we get done with this..." Dawn started, following the girls down the stairs to find her staring at at closed door. "I'm going to insist on no more adventures.  We got our Princess to worry about, after all."

"I'm with you on that one, Dawn.  This must be it."  She opened the door-

.....

"NO!"

"Skies!"  Solara grabbed her, shaking her.  "Skies!  Are you okay?!"

The filly in question jerked in her arms, looking around, panting heavily.  "Wha-what?"  Seeing her kinsman, she latched onto them, holding to them tightly. "Solara!"

"Skies!  What happened?"  Dawn  held her, gently rocking her as tears began to stain Solara's fur.

"I'm... I'm okay.  I think..."  She still remained her arms.  "It was like my nightmare... but real."

Dawn glanced at the door, his horn glowing to push it the rest of the way closed.  "It must've been trapped."

"It was.  Dark magic... it was..."  Skies shook her head, burying her face in her chest.  "A doorway that leads to your worst fears, your nightmares."

"Shhh... you're okay now.  I'm here."  Solara held her for a minute longer before she pushed away.

Skies glared daggers at the doorway.  "There must be a way to disable it."  She spotted a diamond above its top.

"Huh." Solara and Dawn followed her gaze, spotting it as well.  "I'm seeing a pattern here."

"Dark Magic... so, let's try this!"  Skies grinned, her horn sparking its normal color then brightening.  A bolt of white struck the diamond, shifting its color. Dawn and Solara looked the door over, exchanged looks with Skies, then opened it.

Beyond were stairs, in a rather brighter-colored room, wrapping around a pillar stretching what could only be the height of the palace spire.

"Woah."  Dawn followed Skies inside as the two unicorns and a one pugsus looked around.

"Well, this is promising."

"We'll never climb to the top in time, Sky."

"Come on, Dawny  This entire thing is about faith."  Skies started up the stairs.  "We have to have faith in ourself, in our friends, in our family."  The three ponies continued to climb up the spiraling ramp.  "Without that faith... darkness can consume us.  Its what happened to the guards..."  She frowned.  "... what nearly happened to me."

"That thing still haunts you, doesn't it, Skies?"  Dawn quickly trotted up to her side.

"And not you two?"

Solara set her jaw.  "Yeah.  Yeah, it does."

"We have to keep going."  Skies took a deeb breath and concentrated on the climb for another full minute.  "I think its one of the reasons Crystal insisted we find the Crown."

"Something like 'group therapy' on the battlefield?"

"Something like that, maybe..."  Skies smiled.  "But it won't stop any of us from having some rather harsh words when our princess kicked the Dark King's flank."

"I'm with you there, Sky."  Dawn smiled.  

Skies slowed and glanced up. She walked to the edge and tilted her head to glance up the side.

"You think this may be a third trap?  They do come in three's, you know."

"Hmm?"  Skies was busy studying the spire. "A doorway hidden unless you knew about magic, a boobytrapped door that leads you to your worst fears, why not a set of stairs to infinity?"

"One way to find out."  Skies grinned.

Solara lifted a forehoof to her.  "You have that look again.  The one that has an insane plan."

"Hold onto me."

"Well..."  She blushed.

Skies let out a huff of frustration before they grabbed her and lighting her horn.  "If Sun Rise's antics are any indication... this is going to be fun!"

"Huh?"  

Dawn and Solara had just enough time to get a look of absolute confusion on their faces before gravity reversed itself.  Skies twisted her body in midair, landing on all four hooves, facing down a long, spiraling slide.  It took a moment before she found the right list to lean into the curves to avoid flying off the edge, with the two adults holding onto her as if they we're.

"This filly is absolutely insane!"  Solara yelled in surprise.

"I know.  Sun Rise's got her certificate framed on the mantle!"  Skies smirked.

I'm not done yet.  I'm not going to fail. I'm going to get this Diamond Crown, heal my home, and perhaps myself, then go hug my lady!

No more nightmares...

.....

"WOOOHOOO!"  Skies fired her horn was the three popped out of the entrance to the top of the stairs, landing on all fours before smirking at the two adults who landed in a lump at her side.  "You okay?"

"Oh, I'm perfectly normal.  My pride, however, has been killed-in-action, please send me the condolences..."  They sat upright, shaking themselves off before standing.  "Skies!"  He pointed in surprise.

The Diamond Crown, just as they remembered, hovered before them in the center of the tallest part of the palace spire.

"... I think we found it, Dawn, Solara..."  Skies stepped forward, eyes shining with a twinkle of diamond magenta as she stared at a crown carved out of brilliant colored diamonds, the shade of which was remiscant of Skies' eyes.

"Wait!"  Dawn latched onto her tail with his magic.  "Remember what I said about traps and threes?"

Skies paused, glancing at him, then at the Diamond Crown.  She noticed the pattern on the floor that seemed to be pointing toward it.  "... you're right.  Like everything else, this is just too obvious."

The three ponies circled from opposite sides of the room, looking over it.  Skies paused after making one circuit, and glancing out the alcoves over the Diamond Kingdom.  

The shield was flicking again, and the black clouds were surrounding it, waiting for their moment to pounce.

"Dawn! Solara! We're running out of time!"

Dawn scowled out at Sombra, Solara scowled at the heart.  "Then I guess we just have to go for broke."  Dawn took a running leap, as Solara flew for the Crown.

"Dawn! Solara!"

With the sound of glass shattering, the room was suddenly filled with blackness.  Spikes shoved upward, growing from the floor itself in a ring around the Diamond Crown.  Knocked to one side by the sudden triggering of the trap spell, Skies shook the dizziness and spots from her vision to sit up.  "Solara! Dawn!"

"We're okay!" Dawn voice came from the other side.  "We're sort of pinned in here, but we're  all right!  Do you see the Diamond  Crown?"

Skies looked around in concern, finding it laying at her feet.  "Its here! I got it!"

"Good... you know what to do."

She looked up at the line of black crystals.  "What about you?"

"I'll be fine, Sky.  You can get Solara and I out of here once that Sombra jerk is dealt with."

Skies nodded sadly.  Dawn had a point.  "Okay.  I'll be coming back for you both."

"Good.  Give that sucker a punch in the nose for us, will ya?" Solara asked.

Skies grinned.  "I will."  She levitated up the Crown and turned toward the nearest alcove.  Getting up was a pain, but getting down?