It had been attempted time and time again. An endless cycle of trial and error. A seemingly inescapable fate deteriorating into something else altogether.

Despite the determination of fate, it had never been accomplished. By our time—my time—it did not seem likely, in fact it seemed downright impossible. No pony had ever given thought to what would happen if the worst came to pass—not even a single consideration. Equestria had been a symbol of peace and harmony for longer than even the most ancient of creatures—equine or otherwise—could remember. It really felt as though fate was in our own hooves, and we, in our boundless arrogance, let ourselves believe that it always will be.

In the end, it was that unwavering arrogance that fuelled our downfall. Why would we give notice to the warning signs that the long summer was over? Equestria, we felt, was in her prime. The evils of the world had long ago been either soundly defeated or were simply too afraid to approach our splendour. We worked together in harmony—earthers, pegasi and unicorn alike. Equestria would rise higher than ever before, shine brighter than ever before; every corner of the world would see our glory.

It was just when victory was in our grasp, just when the empire was at the very apex of her glory, that she crumbled. No pony suspected it. No pony saw it coming.

Looking back, the signs were obvious. We were blind. I was blind.

Princess Luna had long been away from the Palace of Canterlot, although her absence had not gone unnoticed. It was rumoured she was negotiating a fragile treaty of peace with none other than the changelings—our natural enemies. The celestial sisters of Equestria seemed to be growing in their strength every day, and they were determined to spread good will and peace to every part of the nation. Many marvelled that even after the events of the royal wedding, Celestia was willing to forgive, and perhaps, even forget the deeds of Queen Chrysalis and her spawn. The Elements of Harmony were also being used to their full potential, as the Sun Princess bade their carriers—my friends and I—to spread the extraordinary magic they contained to every corner of the empire.

Fluttershy—to the surprise of many, including myself—was specifically picked to be the leader of the group of diplomats sent to the Northern Crystal Mountains. They were to make an offer for the mighty dragons that resided in the deepest caves. If the proposed alliance ever came to be, no matter how fragile, the dragons of the north would provide protection, as well as assistance with tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for our kind. In return, they would be generously paid with gemstones taken directly from the Canterlot Treasury. Such an audacious plan would never have been considered in times past, but the Celestial Empire was growing by the day—and even the almighty dragons were hungry for a slither of the power Equestria was holding in her golden hooves.

The smoky mountains, far to the west, were also a place of interest in the eyes of our great leader. The ever beautiful and unflappable Rarity was sent—her diplomatic talents playing second fiddle to her extraordinary ability to find precious stones—to negotiate with the diamond dogs that inhabited the area. The shrewd dogs were, for reasons never explained to other races, fascinated and even enchanted by the abundance of gems the mountain range held. They were however, with their limited means, never exactly adept at finding them. If unicorns were allowed unlimited access to their mountains, their ability to reveal the precious rocks buried deep beneath the earth would provide more than enough gems for both parties.

Applejack had, in comparison, a much more rudimentary, but no less important task: overseeing the empire's agricultural development. Equestria thrived indeed, and with more mouths to feed each day than the last, such developments could not be forgotten or disregarded. Across the great, previously untouched fields that spanned the space between the settlements of the empire, she guided the rapid expansion of orchards and farms. Although she was less than happy to be away from her family for such long periods of time, her loyalty to the princesses and love for all the things that grew from the ground helped ease her into her new role.

Pinkamena Diane Pie, as she now preferred to be called, had been asked to be an ambassador for the Princess herself, a notion that I originally was not exactly pleased with. It wasn’t a secret that Pinkie was extraordinarily unstable, but I would never question the judgement of our ruler—lest of all to her face—for clearly she had seen something in the party-loving pony that others had overlooked. And soon I did indeed begin to understand the plan Celestia had for her. Her ability to sense the future was a magic the celestial sisters had not seen since the discovery of the elusive pony who called herself the Oracle. While that mysterious mare had eluded their searching eyes for decades, Princess Celestia was determined that the baffling magical sense of Pinkamena must be sharpened—and used.

The brave Rainbow Dash had no official royal recognition of any kind, but enjoyed the personal support of the Princess in her pursuit of excellence. To most, her life was more fiction than reality, though; she was a superficial icon of the ideal Equestrian citizen. One that the foals adored and the adults idolised—almost as if she were a living action-hero, a sort of modern day Daring Do. One that the crowd looked up to and aspired one day to be like: strong of both body and mind. She was turned, over time, into a symbol of perfection among the common folk. Her only goal—and job—was to maintain that image. Behind closed doors, I found, she was becoming more distant by the day, and I wondered if the pressure that was being exerted on her was slowly becoming too much for the pegasus to handle. Rainbow Dash laughed off my concerns however, and I chose not to take the matter further.

As for me—Princess Celestia’s prize student—I was stationed in the city that was still known affectionately as Ponyville—despite the fact that the town was well on its way to being declared a metropolis. I was the link that bound every piece of the great puzzle together; anything leaving or entering Canterlot and the Princess' doors would have to come through—and be approved—by me. I oversaw the efforts of my friends, and directed them to perfectly match Princess Celestia's plans. At first, I handled my duties using my ever loyal assistant Spike's ability to near-instantaneously exchange information in the form of letters. I eventually had to find a new method of fulfilling what was asked of me, however.

For Spike had grown up; I was there when he first spread his wings, and I can still recall the first time he had troubles getting through a door. In great grief, I had to come to terms with the fact that he would no longer fit into a world of equines. I felt that it would have been a crime to have him by my side any longer. I knew I could no longer keep him like I would some dog on a leash. He deserved so much more. He was no longer my assistant; but rather, something new, something rare. Something beautiful.

I had to let him go.

I remember the drops of tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched him fly away into the great mountains on the horizon. I knew not, then, what he would turn into. I was still firmly under the illusion that no matter what came, our bond could not be undone—and I am most grateful for my ignorance. Had I known what he would become, I dread to think what I would have done.

I knew, however, that I must not let my emotions stand in the way of my duty. Before Spike and I said our final goodbyes, I spent countless days developing a new spell. I found a way to link my mind to that of my friends, for our souls were already linked through the Elements of Harmony. With gentle tugs and pulls on the magical threads that bound us, I was able to transpose thoughts directly from my mind into theirs and, if they so willed, from theirs into mine. We were thereby drawn closer than ever before; a connection deeper than any other. Thus, we could seamlessly do what we had to do. The physical distance that separated us seemed to have lost its meaning.

Equestria was on the rise.

Little did we suspect that this was the perfect set-up for the beginning of the end. With the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony scattered on the far reaches of the empire, and the Princess of the Night gone, only the Royal Guard—led by my dear brother Shining Armor and his loving wife Princess Cadence—remained by the side of the Sun Princess.

A few simple guards, for all their strength, could do little to prevent the storm that was coming. It was when we were most distracted by our own greatness. It was when we were all the most hopeful for a bright future.

It was then that Princess Celestia was murdered.

The news did not travel fast.

In fact, it was actually the distinct absence of any news whatsoever that began to concern me. While I could speak with my friends at any time, I still relied on the written word to receive information from the Palace of Canterlot. I was used to slight deviations from the weekly schedule, as I was fully aware that the Princess was already overwhelmed by responsibility, making sure the machine that is the empire runs as smoothly as possible. It was why she needed my services: it would have been impossible for her to keep track of everything that happens across Equestria. So I waited for the next letter. It never arrived. A day passed, and then another. No word from Canterlot. Not even a rumour or whisper—a complete blanket of silence seemed to have fallen over Canterlot.
The days turned into a full week. I was getting worried.

Did something happen? I pondered each day. Something has to be happening.

At the end of the second week of waiting after my scheduled letter was meant to arrive, I finally received a call from the Palace ordering my immediate return. In any other situation I would have been reluctant to leave my duties, but this time I knew that this was important. Moreso, perhaps, than anything I had ever been part of. I caught the first train to Canterlot. Even though my trip to the city took no longer than a few hours, it felt closer to an eternity and I found myself growing restlessly tense as the Palace of Canterlot grew larger and larger on the horizon. Thoughts were racing through my head every second of the way. Yet, even then, I did not—or perhaps, dared not—come close to imagining the harsh reality.

As I stepped out of the cabin after my journey, my jaw dropped as I set eyes upon my destination.

The Palace was on full alert.

Above the bright white walls surrounding the great city, pegasi-born guards were swarming like angry flies, nearly blocking the view of the sky. I was shocked to even see some of Princess Luna’s elite Nightguards flying with them, their large bat-like wings beating heavily in the air. The walls themselves were being patrolled by earther guards so numerous as to be nigh impossible to count. The orange light of the tired Sun setting behind the mountains in the distance was far outshined by the torches held high on every corner. The thought of the Equestrian capital sinking into such chaos was staggering in itself; whatever caused this was obviously no mere mess-up of paperwork. I had no time to allow my imagination to run riot or to figure anything out just yet though, as I was soon approached by two guards outside the gates. I listened to the duo blabber on and on about palace security and how they must be absolutely sure that I pose no threat before allowing me entry. My patience was quickly fading, and I was soon beginning to lose my temper. Ideas of blasting them both away began to take hold in my mind. I was—or rather, they were—saved by my brother. He dismissed his two minions before turning to me.

“Please excuse them, sister.” He said as he turned his head to face me. “I instructed them specifically to keep visitors away. This is a very delicate matter we're dealing with right now, you see.”

“What do you mean, 'keep visitors away'? What is it that you're hiding?” I asked in frustration. “Not even before your own wedding was there such a commotion.”

“You don’t have to remind me, Twilight. I remember.” He said as he looked into my eyes, saying nothing more. We stood there, eyeing each other up for a few moments before I finally burst.

“What is all this then? What is going on?!” I broke the silence. “Out with it, big brother, before I walk in and see for myself!” I stopped for a moment to calm my nerves. “Your guards were trying to stop me.”

“They were just doing their jobs, Twilight. You’ll understand soon.” He quickly shook his head, coming to his senses. “Please, follow me.”

I walked with him through the gate and into the heart of the city. Canterlot, normally thriving, was now empty. It would have been, that is, if it weren't for the piercing look of the guards meeting my eyes at every door and window by which we passed. It was clear that the citizens were not just being protected inside their homes for the night—they were not being allowed to leave. Only the patrols roamed the streets, on and on, ever so vigilant, searching every corner, looking in every dark alley.

With guards watching our every move at every step, much to my discomfort, we ascended the stairs before the palace and made our way to the central chamber. It was in there that Princess Celestia would give speeches and announce her royal plans. Seeing its door open once again awoke memories both terrible and pleasant, for it was here my friends and I first stood as we listened to Princess Celestia talk about the chaos-spirit Discord, and it was here that we bowed before an adoring crowd as we received our praise and reward for defeating the very same. And now I could see Princess Cadence—more beautiful than ever—standing on the podium in place of the Sun Princess. Behind her, a large, beautifully carved wooden case.

Cadence said no word. She was only staring at me with empty, blank eyes—much like my brother did before allowing me inside. My anger changed to worry. I turned to my brother, who closed his eyes and simply nodded toward the podium, urging me to walk up. As I began my walk through the long chamber towards the far end, Princess Cadence stepped aside, without a single look or a word in my direction. It was only when I finally had a good view of the case that I realised what was waiting for me inside. It was a coffin, and I already knew what I would find within. Inside the coffin adorned by carvings of the Sun and the Moon, I saw the Sun Princess, the great leader of Equestria, the one who would have brought about the golden age of the empire, lying in eternal sleep.

I cannot quite describe the surge of emotions that flooded me in that moment. Anger, hatred, fear, confusion—such simple terms are painfully insufficient to describe the sensation. To see your whole world crumble before your eyes. To see all your hopes and dreams crushed before you. My mind shut down and lit up at the same time. In the time it took me to blink once, I felt I had experienced more in that fragile moment of sanity than I had in my whole life prior. In the horrible eternity of that instant, I reassessed my entire life; things I have and things I have not done, things that I should have, and things I should not have done. I should have stayed by her side. I should never have left Canterlot. Her guards, they did not do their job. They should have protected her.

All of a sudden, the feeling of abhorrent disgust came over me just thinking of my own brother. It was his job. His only purpose. To guard the Princess of the Sun, and he had failed.

Then, from the darkest depths of my mind came indescribable fury. That animalism we all repress in front of our civilised societies. Once the metaphorical beast inside me escaped its self-imposed captivity, there was no stopping it from rampaging across my thoughts. My bones shook with anger and my eyes burned in consuming flames. Whoever did this, they would have to be found. They must be found and brought to justice. I imagined the ways I'd torture the murderer—oh, how I'd bathe in their blood as I look upon the sweet terror in their gaze! If only they were at my hooves! They would pay. It would pay.

And yet at the same time I was overwhelmed by remorse. My conscious felt no longer like a part of me, but like some foreign spirit latching onto my soul as it tore at my heart and taunted my inner monster. It whispered its questions in my ear, why were you not there? Why did you not foresee this? You should have. I should have.

The experience was nothing as simple as physical pain—indeed, it was something far worse. A sense of utter hopelessness and loss. Impotent anger.

Hunger for revenge.

I know not how long I stared at Princess Celestia. I was completely lost in my thoughts, directing my anger and resentment at anything that came to mind as I spiraled ever deeper, trying to find something—anything—to say. Something to do. But what hope had there been? The Princess was dead—and with her demise, much more than just her life was lost. All of Equestria, I feared, would die with her.

Still consumed by my thoughts, refusing to take my gaze off our beloved leader, I finally managed to utter a single question.

“When?”

“Two weeks ago,” Cadence replied, her pretty face a mask of stone. “She was found in her bed with her throat slit. She couldn't even call for help.”

Shining Armour came up at her side, his own features grim. “We haven’t got any suspects yet, but we will.” He paused for a moment. “Not a single pony was allowed to enter or leave Canterlot since—save you.” He added.

“We cleaned her and had this coffin prepared.” Cadence said. “And look at her. Even in her death, she is a miracle—not a sign of decay. One can barely tell she is not merely sleeping. She is truly the eternal ruler of Equestria.”

“And..” I finally turned my head towards the other two. “In over fourteen days, you were unable to find out a thing! Have you tried looking elsewhere than one another's lips?”

“Twilight,” Shining tried to soothe me, “The Princess was under constant guard, as always. Even the four protecting her door that night are gone. No pony could have predicted this.”

“Gone?” I cried out in fury. “What do you mean they’re 'gone'!? What if they did it? What if they saw the assassin?”

“We do not know, sister. But I promise we—”

I would not let him finish his sentence.

“How can you be sure that any of the so-called 'Royal' Guard can be trusted? You simply pick them off the fields!”

“We do not 'pick them,' Twilight.” Shining Armor explained. “We accept volunteers. Not to mention each and every single one of them has to pass a rigorous training process before being approved. Most do not even—”

“Don't you dare even try to save face after this!”

“Please, Twilight,” My barrage of words was interrupted by the Princess Cadence. “This is not getting us anywhere.”

As I stood there, looking into the eyes of my brother with burning rage, trying desperately to find the right words with which to further berate them, I heard a calling. It was not a physical voice, no simple sound echoing in the chamber. It was something ethereal; something not quite there, yet almost tangible. My expression immediately changed from furious to hopeful. It was clear from the surprised expressions of my peers, however, that they could not sense it. I was the only one to be beckoned. I knew this was not without reason—and I had to go alone.

I turned around once again. I told the other two that I wished to be alone at that moment; they complied and left the chamber. Without a moment’s hesitation, I locked the door behind them. I was, thus, alone with the Princess. This time—much to my relief—she was not my focus, but the ancient door behind. The door that guarded the Elements of Harmony, protected by a spell that none but the Sun Princess herself could break. And now it was calling to me. I closed my eyes and ordered the door to open in my mind—and so it did.

I had to close my eyes as the door opened. The beams of sunlight bathing the windowless hallway behind stabbed my unwary eyes as if they were knives. I stood there for a moment—eyes shut tight and my face covered—stunned not as much by the brightness but by the beauty of the inner sanctum. When I finally mustered the courage to look up, I began my walk to the Chamber of Harmony, where the Elements were kept. I had read of it in my books, but no amount of ink on paper can prepare one for truly gazing upon this room. One has to tread through what is referred to as the Crystal Hallway before emerging at the altar of the Elements themselves. Any pony would feel belittled by the statues lining the walls of this shining hallway: the greatest and brightest of forgotten Equestrian history were lined up, gigantic and awe-inspiring, looking down at the traveller below.

The word “hero” would do little to describe these mares and stallions; the greatest of heroes would receive a stained glass window dedicated to them somewhere inside the Castle for all to see, as it was the case with my friends and myself, the current bearers of the Elements. These ancient angels were not meant for the eyes of a tiny filly on her educational class excursion. Even I did not recognise a number of them, and my life was, for the most part, spent reading ancient tomes and lexicons.

To be immortalised in this hallway was to be elevated to the level of a forgotten god: to be so above the common crowd that they do not even acknowledge you as their superior, yet those who understand your being would immediately drop to their knees in awe and fear. Even merely walking past these cold, crude representations of the saints of ages past put a strain on my nerves. But I did not take a second look at any one of them. My destination was, slowly but surely, drawing closer. After what felt like an eternity, I reached the inner chamber.

The main chamber itself was enormous. The titanic walls were ornamented by the most beautiful gemstones of all colours. The great crystal pillars pressing with all their might against the glowing ceiling were so clear as to be entirely translucent. The Elements, aligned in the shape of a hexagram, were given their proper places atop golden pedestals, each adorned by images of battles of lost aeons. Despite the chamber's apparent lack of windows, I could still feel the warm embrace of sunlight, much like I did in the Crystal Hallway before it. I could sense the magic of the Elements twisting and whirling all around me. The Chamber of Harmony is truly a place akin to no other.

But something was wrong.

The Elements were not the beautiful jewels I remembered. Unlike the last time I had seen them, they were corrupted and foul. Merely looking at them made me feel sick to my stomach; it was as if some cherished foalhood memory was being desecrated before my eyes. Describing their exact condition would be impossible, for physically they remained intact, although the once vibrant colours that separated them had been drained—replaced by a monotonous dead grey. Inside my soul, I could feel them crying. I sat down, silently mourning for—and with—the Elements. I thought that this was the source of my calling. It was then that I heard her voice.

“You can sense it, can you not, Twilight Sparkle?” A voice spoke out behind me. “Can't you feel them?”

I looked up to see her. For a moment, I truly believed I had finally lost my mind.

“Princess?” I asked, mesmerised, as I looked upon the faint figure.

“Your eyes do not deceive you, my faithful student.” She calmed me down. “And neither does your memory. I am dead, Twilight Sparkle.”

“But then how can you—” I tried to ask, jabbering.

“I am nothing but an echo. A shadow of myself.” She interrupted me, “My spirit has been drawn and bound to the Elements. Just as you have been drawn here yourself.”

“Was it you, then, that called for me? What happened?”

“I know not the identity of my assailant, Twilight Sparkle.” The Princess replied.

“Then why have you called upon me, Princess?” I asked in confusion.

“Answer the question, my student. Can you hear them?” She asked in an almost commanding tone.

“The Elements? Of course I can!” I answered. “Why is this important?”

“This is not the first time. When I last heard them cry, a thousand years ago, my sister was taken over by darkness. They were mourning for her.”

“Why tell me this? There must be something I can do! Please, there has to be!”

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. There is something you can do. Make no mistake, however; you cannot restore my life. You can, and must, restore the Elements. They are weak, a shadow of their former glory. And if the Elements are weakened..”

“Who knows, what might happen.” I finished the sentence for her. “I understand. But how do I…?”

“The last time I was a coward.” Princess Celestia whispered. “I could not do what had to be done. I passed the curse on. I thought that, perhaps, by banishing my sister and passing the Elements further, to you and your friends, I might break the rules. That I could stop the corruption—and I believed, until now, that I succeeded.”

The Princess sighed deeply as she closed her eyes. She then turned her head down towards the floor.

“But I did not. It is happening again, and I am bound here until the Elements are restored. Only then may I find release.”

“What are you saying, Princess?”

“What are you willing to do, my student? How far will you go?” She asked, looking down at me, yet avoiding eye contact.

“I will do anything to save you!”

“I am terribly sorry.” She whispered.

“Tell me!”

Princess Celestia lifted her head and looked me straight in the eye. Inside hers, I could see a primal flame, the kind of which I could never have imagined before. Her gaze made me feel the weight of the entire palace pressing down on me. I could hardly bare to keep eye contact. The air froze. Time stopped. I dared not move. I dared not blink. This was the final moment before the fateful words, which still ring in my ears, were uttered. She finally took a deep breath and opened her mouth, ready to speak.

“The elements must be separated from their keepers. There is only one way that can be achieved.”

A pregnant pause.

“You must kill your friends, Twilight Sparkle.”