"A long time ago, in the Magical land of equestria. before the rule of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, when the three tribes of Ponies first formed Equestria the First Alicorn, Queen Ryugu once ruled the land as Celestia and Luna do now, with kindness and love. but one day, the Queen discovered the power to manipulate and even feed on the life force of the land, animals, and even other ponies. eventually she was corrupted, warped, and consumed by the desire to feed on the life force of Equestria itself!

"The three tribes of the land felt betrayed and heartbroken that their benevolent ruler was transformed into an evil vampiric demon. thus six ponies where chosen to represent the virtues the six ponies who first founded Equestria. they were called the Knights of Harmony. these ponies faced the Life devouring Queen, but none could defeat her on their own, and not even together could they quell the evil they sought to end.

"And so a seventh pony was chosen, one who they called upon to lead the Knights of Harmony, one who while did not necessarily represent all six virtues, could call upon them to strengthen them in times of extraordinary crisis. thus the Crusader of Harmony was born! adorn in Armor of Ebony with silver and gold. each piece was enchanted but not by any magic, but the very piece of life force, or soul from all six knights of Harmony. The Helmet, Boots, Gauntlets, and Cuirass each enchanted with a virtue, Honesty, Mercy, Honor, Joy, Loyalty, and Generosity. however the sword was enchanted with the most powerful of the other five virtues. for any who held it, no matter what pony they were, Unicorn, Pegasus, or even Earth Pony. those who welded the sword could harness the most powerful of virtues, Wisdom

"And thus the Crusader did do battle with the Queen Ryugu. the Battle was as amazing as it was Deadly. though he fought Valiantly, The Crusader of harmony had no hopes to win, thus using the sword of magic, struck the final blow to the queen, cutting her through the chest----

"Oh Nyx, this story is so violent at the end!" Twilight said, The purple unicorn had just gotten the book from Princess Celestia from the royal archives upon request. though she hadn't intended it to be the bedtime story of her Alicorn daughter who lay snuggly in bed.

"And don't get me started on the Illustrations." she muttered, looking at the though beautifully stylish, yet violent depiction of an armored pony thrusting a sword through an all black alicorn with glowing green eyes with a maw of sharp teeth before closing it.

Nyx whimpered with her ears wilting a bit. "but Tw--- Mom. wasn't it you who said to never stop telling a story when it finally gets near the ending. isn't that rude to the author?" Nyx was still trying to get used to calling Twilight mom. although she tries, she always tends to slip and call Twilight by her name.

Twilight sighed, it's true, it would be wrong to end a story right when it was near to ending, and to do so would be a crime against good story telling, and despite how violent the story was, she had to admit she wanted to read the rest. even if it meant reading it herself to find out the ending, although thinking about it more. it was rather unfair to deny her daughter the ending together.

Twilight sighed and opened the book back up. "Oh, I guess your right. Ahem!" Twilight cleared her throat as she began reading once more.

"using the sword of magic, The Crusader struck the final blow to the queen, cutting her through the chest, and thus all the life energies the queen has eaten escaped her wound, returning Equestria to it's bright colors, Plant's grew again, Animals played and sing, and the ponies who fell to Queen Ryugu breathed life once more." Twilight continued reading.

"But the queen was not defeated yet!" she declared in a mock laugh. "For Queen Ryugu struck the crusader just as he struck her, and as she advanced on him, the evil queen wanted to take back the life force he stole from her. opening her maw with green energy emanating from her horn she blasted the knight with Green mist that all but slain the valiant Knight. Weakened and wounded, the Knight could think of only one way to defeat the old queen."

"H-How!? did he trap her in the moon? or the sun? or in the ocean?" Nyx gasped, thinking at first how she trapped Celestia and Luna in their respective celestial bodies, it does seem the only way to deal with an Alicorn as they are immortal, and killing them is nearly impossible. "how did he defeat her?"

Twilight Giggled. "well let's find out?" she said as she turned the page and clearing her throat once more.

"The Crusader used his very own life force to feed the magic in the sword to cast a spell, he sent the queen to a far away dimension, a pocket realm devoid of life to feed upon, to satiate her hunger and grow powerful once again." Twilight's smile then evaporated as she read the rest, the illustrations showing six knights kneeling to a casket.

"but the spell had taken the young Crusader's life, the knights of Harmony took his body to rest at the temple of Saddle's Tor. and have sworn to guard the Armor and await the coming of a new crusader, to take up the mantle, and to defend equestria from the queen's return. for it is that day when the skies will turn dark from the eternal Eclipse of the sun that the evil queen will escape her purgatory and unleash her hunger upon an unsuspecting Equestria once more." Twilight closed the book, the ending wasn't quite what she had hoped.

Nyx on the other hoof was running the gears in her head. "But a solar eclipse doesn't last that long."

Twilight smiled. "that was your subject at school today wasn't it?"

"Yep!" nyx nodded though only to give out a yawn. "it was our final subject before Hearth's Warming Eve. A Solar Eclipse is when the moon blocks out the sun over equestria. but it only lasts a few moments. I always wondered though, why does Celestia and Luna do that?"

"the eclipse?" Twilight pondered. "I'm not sure I never asked Celestia about it, but what I hear it's something the two like to do so both the sun and moon can be observed. Celestia did it after Nightmare Moon's Defeat but I think to her it may have been more of a personal thing then tradition."

Nyx yawned again she tried to stay awake but her small filly matablism conspired and betrayed her, as she finally fell asleep. Twilight gave the black coated alicorn filly a kiss on the horn before tucking her in bed before getting up. taking light steps to blow out the candle and trot down stairs. she set down the book she read to Nyx, the cover reading "the Knights of Harmony, Battle of the Crusader".

Twilight began to the kitchen, feeling the mood for a nice cup of tea, trotting past a book case her magic took hold of a book she picked out from a glance. she recognized the book by it's binding markings and colors. it was another book from the Canterlot Royal Archives. though this one was a copy.

After brewing and pouring her tea, Twilight returned to the main room, setting the book down on a reading table before opening it. but before she could lay eyes on the first word, a gust of wind blew open the window, blowing the book she was going to read closed, at the same time the Knights of Harmony book was blown open.

"BAH! what in the world!? Spike, Did you leave the window open?" Twilight however only received a snore upstairs in response. "Ugh, never mind." She looked at the window and with her magic closed it. she looked around the room and groaned. everything was blown on the floor. the letter she was going to send to Luna and Celestia, a box of Candies she received from pinkie Pie as a Hearth's Warming Gift, which was now dirty. and the book she was about to read lay with it's pages folded under it's own weight like an unfortunate victim of fate.

Before she could trot up and retrieve the book however, twilight saw the moon light shining down on a page from the Knight's of harmony. on the page was an illustration of Equestria, at least a now out of date map, as ponyville, Canterlot, and the major cities weren't illustrated. but one thing was recognizable.

"Hollow Shades?" Twilight read from the map, her own horn glowed as she brought out a current map of Equestria, sure enough, North East of Canterlot lay the small town, Hollow Shades. "the town is still there too."

Twilight looked at the old map illustration closer and saw a map marker. above the town what would be in the mountains six miles from the town was labeled Saddle Tor.

"the tomb of the Crusader of harmony! but... this story can't possibly be true!" Twilight muttered to herself. "but, many ponies said the same thing about Nightmare Moon as well." she looked over at the locked display case of the Elements of harmony. "aside from Joy, Each Knight had virtues that coincided with the Elements of Harmony."

However as she mulled it through her brain, Twilight closed the book. "oh Silly Twilight, just because the story of the Mare in the Moon was true doesn't mean an old tome from before Celestia's Rule would be true as well."

Twilight went to pick up the book from the floor and upon inspecting her tea which has gone a tad cold from the gust of wind, Closed the book on Knights of Harmony and set it aside on a shelf. she opened the other book and began to read.

"A long time ago, in the Magical land of equestria. before the rule of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, when the three tribes of---" Twilight stopped and looked at the book again, she closed the book and saw that somehow she mixed the two books up. "What in Celestia's mane is going on here!?"

Twilight huffed in annoyance and slammed the book shut, which would go against her respect and love for the tomes of knowledge and fiction. however the few minutes she's been in the library has quickly turned to frustration. she took the book she wanted to read from the bookshelf and carefully placed Knights of Harmony in it's spot. then double checked the title to ensure, Yes she was putting the correct book in it's place.

"Alright. let's try this again." She opened the book, it's title was the little dragon maid. a bit sultry for her tastes but it was a rare book and Princess Luna had asked her opinion of it.

As Twilight began to read the book on the Shelf began to slowly shift, as though invisible hooves where going to take the book and read it. the movement however did not go unnoticed as Twilight forcefully slammed her hoof on it forcing it back in it's proper place. with a snorting huff the now annoyed Twilight returned to reading. smiling as she finally got into the story.

but as she finally got to the second chapter, another gust of wind blew open the other window across the room blowing books and paper everywhere. one book in particular flew from it's place on the Shelf hitting twilight over the head with such force, Twilight yelped before slamming her head on the reading desk, she gave out a moan before loosing consciousness.

The next morning Twilight rose from the floor, her head throbbing. "Uuughh. what happened?"

"Good Morning, Twilight!" Called Spike from the next room. "I woke up earlier but you looked so peaceful sleeping I didn't have the heart to wake you. I'm making Pancakes, Blueberry!" Spike Licked his lips as his own pancake was glittered with gems and rubies. "And a little something for me."

Twilight groaned rubbing her head, she looked around expecting to find a mess but to her amazement she saw the room as it was before the mysterious gust of wind.

"Hey Spike, did you clean the library this morning?"

"No, the Library wasn't messy, looked the same when I went to bed." Spike replied, flipping a Pancake and setting the finished one on the plate "Not unless you finally found a spell that magically places every book, paper, and quill back in their proper spots."

Twilight's brows furrowed, not by the sudden cleanliness of the library room, but at the book sitting opened in front of her, laying on top of the book she was reading before being knocked out.

"Knights of Harmony...." Twilight muttered to herself.

"What was that?" Spike asked from the kitchen.

Twilight glared at the book, she never encounter a haunted book before, which in itself was silly. books couldn't be haunted, and while she could entertain a story about her library being haunted by an angry spirit, she didn't consider Haunted Books to be entertaining.

However before she could continue to allow her thoughts to continue her stomach growled with authority. it demanded today's contribution of pancakes and would not allow Failure on her part.

------

After breakfast, Nyx put on her Cutie Mark Crusader Cape, she also put on a new Headband, while she didn't like Disguises, this wasn't an enchanted headband. in fact it was a normal one Rarity bought for her. it was the same color as the original and the one she wore at Canterlot. Rarity simply felt Nyx should keep the hairstyle she made for her when Nyx was still trying to Disguise herself as Twilight's Cousin. however when she ran outside she found herself slipping and falling on a Ice covered path.

"Ow." Nyx whimpered, her eyes tearing up as she sobbed, at least for a moment. she wasn't the same 'Cry at the drop of the Hat' Nyx anymore. but when she slipped the fall hurt, REALLY bad. so much so she saw her leg was bruised.

Twilight galloped outside and also slipped, but while she wasn't an ice skater, she immediately gained control using magic to grab a hold of a branch from the tree library.

"WHAOH!" Twilight yelped, her hooves slipping, desperate to gain traction. "Nnngh, Gwah!" But like Nyx before her she too fell flat on her face.

"Twilight, are you okay?" Nyx whimpered as she tried to move towards her. "What's going on? We weren't supposed to get snow until next week. and this is ice. this makes no since.

at that point Spike came running out. "Twilight, Nyx what happened? What are you doing on the ground?" he hadn't yet stepped outside yet, but after a moment he saw what had happened.

Throughout ponyville the whole town was covered in ice, the roads, houses, even the clouds had ice on them. a block away from them a cross-eyed, grey coated, blond haired pegasus pony had her tongue stuck to one of the street poles, not an uncommon sight to see during winter or Hearth's Warming season. however what was noticeable was the pony herself was frozen in Ice. though one could still hear the poor pony whimper and cry, pleading for help.

"Twilight, what's going on?" Spike said as he used his fire to make a solid path and went to help them to their hooves.

"I don't know spike. the whole town is frozen solid." Twilight replied,

Spike then went up and upon reassuring her he'll be careful began to melt the ice off the Ice Frozen pegasus even helping to free her tongue. the cross-eyed mare smiled with a squee and waved thank yous to spike before flying back to her home.

"But I do know we should send a note to Princess Celestia And---"

"uhm... Twilight...." Nyx interrupted pointing her wing over to the capitol in the mountains.

Twilight's jaw dropped. Canterlot, the entire city was encased in ice, as though Shining Armor used his shielding spell and at the same time somepony's young unicorn daughter accidentally used an ice spell. the whole mountain then began to loose it's color. something that was way too familiar to a certain alicorn filly.

"T-Twilight...." Nyx stuttered. "in the story. didn't Equestria loose it's color when the evil Alicorn Queen ate the life force from the land?"

Twilight felt a chill run down her back.... though with how cold it was it was probably the wind as well. she then made another realization.

"Mom.... Dad..." Twilight shook.

Nyx gasped connecting the dots all too fast. "We Have to do something!"

Twilight shook her head, snapping back to reality. "Your right, Spike Send a letter, if Princess Celestia where able to make it out of the city then we have to make contact with her."

Spike pulled out a quill and parchment. "Ready!"

Twilight cleared her throat only for the ground under her to turn grey. "GYAH!"

"'Gyah.' uhm. twilight that's an odd way to start a letter to the princess." Spike said as he looked to her. "ugh. I feel... kinda... tired...."

At that point Nyx and Spike where grabbed by Twilight's telekinesis spell and pulled off the ground and back in the library. she stepped back as the edge of the door went cold and grey, only to stop at the welcome mat.

"Twilight, what's happening?" Spike asked, looking outside as the ground went grey, buildings and other artificial structures were thankfully safe as the ponies inside them looked outside in horror.

"It's hard to believe but I think this book may have been based on real events!" she said holding up Knights of harmony.

Spike looked at the book and raised a brow. "How is that even possible? this story took place before Celestia and Luna were even born..... uh.... created.... uh.... speaking of how did they come around? where they born? wheres their parents---"

"Focus Spike!" Twilight barked as she opened the book to the map. "I don't know how it's possible. but last night an odd wind kept blowing the book open to this map. the marker on it shows where Saddle Tor is supposed to be."

Nyx looked at the map illustration reading the map carefully. "Hollow Shades..... you don't think the book wants us to go there do you?"

"Yes!" Twilight replied quickly though smiled at Nyx. "Us as in My friends and I. your too young to go to Hollow Shades with me. It's a long journey and---"

Nyx furrowed her brows and snorted. "I may be a filly but I've been getting much better with my magic!" Nyx proceeded to demonstrate by lifting spike in the air, for a pony of her age it was quite a feat, though considering she was an alicorn it kinda made since. "And I been learning to defend myself thanks to uncle Shining Armor's help."

Twilight's ears perked. "He has?" she sighed. "I am going to need to have a few words with my brother then. he should have asked me if he could train you."

Nyx pouted. "he said you would have said no."

Twilight frowned. "he wasn't wrong." Twilight then began to gather the elements of Harmony and placed them in a saddle bag. she then took out her winter coat, boots, and scarf. "Alright I'm going to go get Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. Spike keep the library safe and...." she looks at Nyx and sighs. "and Nyx, stay here and guard the library."

Spike was still being levitated by Nyx and salutes. though it was kinda silly as he was upside down.

"Yes Sir, Ma'am Sir!" Spike barked.

With that Twilight opened the door and set out for her friends, using a heating spell on her boots to melt the ice to let her pass beyond the path spike melted with his fire.

"uhm.... can you put me down now, Nyx?"

"OH!" Nyx looked at her dragon Brother, and set him down gently, rotating him so he lands on his feet. "sorry."

"It's okay. though I do agree your way better then you were with your magic."

"Aww thank's spike!"

"So.... you want to eat Twilight's Pancake for leaving you at the library?"

Nyx grew a mischievous grin. one way or another she will have her revenge for missing out on an adventure, and soon all of twilight's pancakes will belong to her.