Chapter 1: External Monologues

As Winter Wrap Up came to a close a strange darkness began to come over the Everfree forest, surprising even it's sole inhabitant. Zecora stepped out of her hut and looked around, feeling a chill go down her spine and a sense of worry in her heart. The darkness that was currently covering the forest wasn't a natural darkness, it was something brought on by pure evil. Knowing better than to interfere with what goes on in the forest Zecora returned to her hut, where she had a cup of tea waiting for her. However, further into the forest lies another inhabitant, one who has not seen the sun in over a thousand years, and was one who had since been planning the downfall of Equestria...

"Finally!" Hysteria cackled as she felt the magic holding her weaken, "I have waited a thousand years, and now my plan will come to fruition!" Hysteria looked around, seeing no sign of light around her. While slightly disappointed, she knew that light was only a thing she could hope to have. Using what little magic that she could Hysteria lit up the room, allowing her to view the cold stone walls that surrounded her, as well as her own teal hooves and her shadowy black mane. When she tried to move her hooves she saw them jerk slightly, another sign that the magic was weakening.

"Yes, I was right!" Hysteria cheered, "As my prison weakens I will be able to direct my magic outside of this despicable dungeon, and from there I will get rid of the Elements of Harmony! Then nothing will stand in my way!" Hysteria followed her speech up with a loud cheer, which bounced off the walls of her cell over and over until the only sound were the echos of her original laugh. Once the cackling died down Hysteria attempted to move again, this time seeing her hoof move out farther than it had before.

"Yes! I can feel it's hold on me weakening by the minute!" Hysteria cheered out of pure happiness, and emotion she has not felt during her entire stay in prison. As the happiness worn off Hysteria attempted to direct more magic through her horn, effectively lighting up the entire room as if it was open to the surface. Knowing that she was slowly gaining her magic back she attempted to see outside the room, looking for the carries of the Elements of Harmony.

"Six mares of age?" Hysteria asked rhetorically, "Oh this is just too easy!" After a few seconds Hysteria's horn began to glow a faint pink, differing from it's normal shadowy grey aura. When her horn's glow returned back to normal a diabolical smile grew across her face, another evil cackle beginning to grow inside the room...

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Twilight and her friends ran about happily as Pinkie's party to celebrate a successful wrap up went on. Many ponies planned to stay long into the night, but as time drew on that number quickly diminished, leaving only Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy, as well as a few other ponies, behind.

"Oh dear, this party was the best yet!" Rarity said, slightly intoxicated from the amount of wine she had to drink that night.

"For once I agree with you Rarity" Rainbow said as she slung her hoof around her intoxicated friend, "This party was pretty awesome"

"Of course it was awesome!" Pinkie cheered as she popped up between the two of them, happier than she had even been before. After a largely successful wrap up the party she had thrown was top notch, beating out many of her previous parties by a long shot. A few feet away Fluttershy was stumbling around, having been with Rarity most of the night, managing to drink even more wine than her thanks to the number of stallions buying her a glass.

"Hey, Fluttershy!" Pinkie shouted, getting her drunken friend's attention, but only for a moment. Fluttershy shot Pinkie a stare that said, "Be quiet over there, I don't want to talk right now", so Pinkie stayed quiet, knowing far better than to bother Fluttershy when she didn't want to talk while drunk.

"Hey girls" Twilight said as she came trotting up to the trio with Applejack beside her. Applejack was stumbling a tiny bit, but other than that she was okay, even managing to keep her head up as she walked.

"How're you guys holding up?" Applejack asked, not even a hint that she had been drinking in her voice.

"Fairly good" Rainbow said, shooting a glance over at Rarity, who was just about out of her mind, "Can't say the same for her though"

"I'm fine, what are you *hic* talking about?!" Rarity chimed in, attempting to defend herself, but instead managed to make a bigger fool out of herself. The girls all laughed together with their eyes closed, none of them noticing a pinkish mist around their bodies. When they finally opened their eyes the mist was gone, but it's purpose was fulfilled by that time. On that note they each bid farewell. They all began to head their own way, but Rainbow was stopped by Big Mac for a short time, the two talking quickly, much to Applejack's confusion. Dismissing it due to her drunkenness Applejack continued on her way, tipping a hat towards Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity before she looked around for Applebloom, who was somewhere nearby playing with her friends.

"Okay, well, time to find Spike and head home" Twilight said, just as she felt a strange tingling sensation from her stomach. Passing it off as a side effect from the aged cider and wine that she had that night she continued on her way, finding Spike already back at the library, sound asleep.

"I guess I should head for bed too" Twilight whispered as she looked at Spike, quickly making her way towards her own bed once she made sure he was tucked in and that her schedule for tomorrow was finished. Climbing into her bed Twilight felt the tingle again, but this time it was smaller, so she again placed it as a side effect from the drinks. Little did she know, her and her friends were all experiencing the exact same feeling, and all of them were oblivious to it's true nature.