It has been five years since the fall of Midnight Flame, by Screwball the Mad. The Dark Alicorn had been scheduled to marry his brides on Hearts and Hooves Day, only to be struck down by a curse that had turned him to stone. Before he fell however, he took down Screwball the Mad, along with the help of an elemental pony of fire called, Kindle Ro, by becoming a magical set of armor on her so that together, they would bring Screwball down and remove her from this world.

Upon turning to stone however, one of Midnights brides would not stand to see him remain in this state, and vowed to travel throughout the world to find a cure for his curse. Twilight Sparkle, the student of Princess Celestia, the Goddess of the Sun, and Ruler of Equestria. She would travel the lands across the globe in search for a magical item, artifact, or spell that would release Midnight and Kindle from their bonds so that they could carry on through life as normally as possible.

The time though, that it had taken Twilight to find the necessary items in order to break the spell, had also taken its toll on the brides as well. Celestia had not given up hope, as she was accustomed to time passing her by without notice. Rarity would be one to take things the hardest, as she was the first to fall for the human turned Alicorn, and in essence, has spent the most time with him. After the first month of having locked herself away, she finally returned into the folds, and began to work with her materials once again. She once again, getting her life back on track so that she may continue to support herself and Sweetie Belle.

After a year, one could barely tell that she had even changed in the slightest. It would have seemed that she had gotten over Midnight without much change. That, was of course, until one would catch her sleeping and see the tears rolling down her face onto the pillow. She would cry herself to sleep almost nightly. Remembering all the good times she once had with her stallion.

The next in line would be Applejack. The strong, young earth pony that ran Sweet Apple Acres, had taken the hit fairly hard. She was still young and vibrant, able to take care of her family, along with dealing with the loss of her loving stallion as well. She would remain vigilant, and hopeful that, in time, she would be able to be with her stallion once again. As time pressed on though, it would continue to wear on Twilight to the breaking point on several occasions. She would be traveling across the land, far and wide. Finding fights that she did not want to be a part of but would endure, only to start to run low on her magic. This would be when she would use the Hearth's Warming present that Midnight had spent an entire day to make. The magical gem battery that could regenerate magic for its user within minutes. Twilight had run into many different foes during her trip across the world. Manticores, Hydras, magical beasts of all shapes and sizes. Many of which, almost ended her life on several occasions but failed, meeting their demise in the end.

Five years it took, almost to the day, before Twilight had finally run across a magical item that could remove a curse of stone. It was in the griffon nation, in a small shop down a dark alley, on the bad side of town, near the capital. We go to this point in time to witness Twilight's reaction.

Twilight had just entered into a dusty, old antique shop, coming in from the rain outside so as to avoid catching a cold. She was cold, and semi-damp as she pressed the hood back from her rain cloak.

"I hate the weather this time of year. It’s always so tiring to move through the cold rain. It feels like........ like........" She trailed off as she heard the ticking of claws against the cold, wooden floor.

"Like it is pulling all of your strength from your very being?" An elder looking griffon stated as he pressed through a beaded curtain from a back room. One of his taloned paws trailing up to his beak as a single claw pressed his glasses further up his beak toward his eyes. "Ah, it looks as if I have a new customer in my midst. What, pray tell, brings a young unicorn to this old buzzard’s antique store hmm?" He asked, giving a curtful nod.

"Well, I don't want to seem rude, but I was just trying to get out of the rain for a short time. I've been traveling for a long time now and I am at my wits’ end with my search." Twilight said as she came over to the counter and lay her chin onto it, giving a sigh.

"Now don't fib, you saw this old shop and thought to yourself, 'I wonder if there is anything interesting in there?' Am I right?" He chuckled, seeing Twilight's sheepish grin.

"Well, I have been searching for something, anything that could help me save a loved one for many years now. So, unless you have a spell book or an item that can turn a cursed, stone pony back into flesh and blood again, I doubt you could help me." She sighed.

"An item that can turn stone back into flesh and blood, eh? That sounds like a cockatrice got a hold of your friend." The griffon chuckled softly but stopped as he saw Twilight's sad expression. "I am sorry, please forgive this old buzzard. It is not often that a being finds this old store." He stated as he turned around behind the counter and began to peruse his shelves. "Let me see here.......... Ah, here we are." He smiled as he pulled a small item from the dusty shelves. Gently brushing away the dust that had gathered onto it over the many years it had rested silently on that particular shelf. He turned back to Twilight as he placed the item onto the counter in front of her, she lifting her head and giving it a skeptical look.

"What is that?" She asked as she gave it a peculiar glance.

"This, my dear, is a magically preserved cockatrice eye, set inside a diamond with a mirrored back so that it cannot set its user in stone. This item is extremely rare as it was used for many evil purposes in the far past. The third king of Griffonia had plundered this item during the war against the worg nation. After it was stolen and used against the king, turning him to stone, it was thought to be lost forever. Until a lone griffon came to me one day with a small chest of valuables. Amongst the many items within the chest, was this item. The Cockatrice Stone. It can turn those who oppose you, to stone, and then back again, when or if you choose to do so." He chuckled as Twilight reached for the item but stopped as he pulled it back to himself.

"This item is very dangerous, and not meant for those who would use it to do harm. So I am sorry to say that I cannot sell it to you." He stated but stopped as he looked to the lavender unicorn before him, her eyes watering and quickly running down her cheeks.

"I......... I've searched for something like this for five years.......... I........ I only want to turn my stallion back into flesh and bone. I would bring it right back............ Please......... If you can find it in your heart to help me............ I'll give you everything I own............. just to have him back in my arms............" She trailed off as she had finally met her breaking point. Falling to the floor in a heap as her eyes flowed like rivers, each little tear drop that fell from her cheeks and hit the floor, quickly soaking up the dust that it hit and turning it to a mucky gray.

The griffon gave a saddened smile to see this young mare so willing to give up everything just to have the love of her life back. He looked her over, seeing a few scars from previous battles, matted fur from not having bathed in some time, along with her mane and tail that was badly disheveled, making her look more crazed than sane.

"My dear?" He began as he looked over the counter to her as she looked up to him with saddened eyes. He reached over the counter and held out the necklace with the pendant attached to it from his talons, lowering it to her. She looked to it as she wiped a tear away from her face, then looked up to him with pleading eyes. "I can tell that you were being honest with me and have no plans to use this item for any evil deeds. Take it, and free him from his slumber." He smiled as he dropped it from his grasp, quickly being caught by Twilight's magic as she gazed at it before standing up and jumping over the counter to pull the old griffon into a loving hug.

"HAAAAhahahaa. Go on now youngin. Give your stallion my best once he is free. And tell that old mare Celestia, Grizzle said ‘hello’." He chuckled as Twilight smiled, letting him go and then quickly making her way out of the shop. She gave a happy sigh as she placed the item around her neck, holding it close to her chest before turning around once the door closed, only to see an empty storefront. She pressed on the door for a moment, seeing it was now locked and gave a questioning glance as she peered through the windows to see an empty store inside.

"Grizzle huh? I owe you one my friend." She stated as she turned back around, her horn glowing brightly as she used every bit of her magic to teleport to Canterlot.

Author's Notes:

Big thanks to ReFro for editing!