I am Mythos, ancient guardian of the kingdom of dragons. We dragons have seen much of the world, much more than creatures such as ponies, gryphons and the likes. Only a handful of us were actually around to bare witness to the day the sun fell from the skies, never to return. That day was a thousand years ago, I feel I was much younger back then. I always knew the day would come when an unlikely bunch would seek to restore order to this world, but I never thought it'd come at the hooves of some young ponies. We dragons are powerful, but this is not a fight we can seek to participate in ourselves. Within our borders, something sinister lurks, but that is a story, better left untold. These ponies wish to change the very foundation of the world they were born in, now that, is a story worth mentioning.

Nightmare Moon was once again staring off her balcony, off into her distant kingdom, some would say she seemed calm, reflective. As she did this, the cowled mare would frantically burst into the throne room, Nightmare Moon would ignore her presence, realizing she'd explain the situation anyway. The cowled pony trotted over to Nightmare Moon, bowing before speaking, it was only common courtesy.

"Your Highness,...I.....I've lost them...both of them, I'm nothing but a fail-"

Nightmare Moon raised a hoof, interrupting the mysterious mare. She sighed, as if tired.

She simply looked ahead, off into the distant sky.

"I know, what has transpired, my student. That Shining Armor, and his little sister Twilight, truly seek to go against me it seems. I admit, it is truly, a regrettable situation.

"It also seems my Shadowbolts have fallen in battle to them as well."

The cowled pony just looked at Nightmare Moon, her head lowered. It had been awhile since she'd seen the princess like this, it pained her, annoyed her. She cherished the princess deeply, and her own failure fueling her disappointment only made her that much angrier. She looked up curiously as she soon heard the rising sound of pellets of raindrops gathering outside. It was beginning to rain, Nightmare Moon just continued to stare off into the distance, she then looked up at the sky. The expression on her face was cold yet, remorseful. It appeared just as quick as it'd gone, but, if anypony might have seen that look she'd just had, they could believe, a shred of regret flashed from within, but now, it'd disappeared, once more into her dark heart.

The cowled pony just stared at her mentor for a few moments longer before asking curiously "y-your highness? What do you plan to do?..I will make preparations at once for-"

Nightmare Moon interrupted her once again, shaking her head. "Nothing is required, all I require you to do, is inform the earth ponies of the other kingdoms I require their assistance at once. Inform the pegasi of the same, I require many battalions down in Canterlot. We shall face this problem, vanquish it, as a empire, together."

The cowled pony looked puzzled "but your highness, why don't you just go!? We can search the lands, everywhere, they must have gone somewhere, if we only continue to double our search we can!"

Nightmare Moon hushed the mysterious mare, "now that!....Is something, I absolutely cannot do my student. Not at this point in time, I lost my chance the moment Twilight sparkle had escaped from Cloudsdale."

This irked the cowled pony, painfully she looked as if a dagger were plunged in her heart. Those words, those definite words made her failure that much more obvious. "I shall leave you your highness..." Nightmare Moon nodded "that you shall." As the cowled mare left the throne room, Nightmare Moon continued to stare off into the distant, pouring night.

You've sent them beyond my reach, somewhere I am uncertain of. It is quite poetic actually, dear sister, I almost feel sorry I must do this. They will come, their hearts will be in it, then they will fall, crushed by my absolute power. Just like you dear sister, their foolish hopes, dreams, will crumble before them, then they will realize, it was all for nothing. I will be waiting, little ponies, for whatever you seek to use-

"it will never be enough."

-

Twilight and the others were actually beginning to relax themselves. It had been some time before any of them had felt positively safe somewhere. As the other ponies were just discussing things amongst one another catching up, Twilight looked to Mythos, she beckoned to know.

"The heart of fear? What is such a place guardian Mythos?"

Mythos was reluctant to speak at first, he simply turned his head away for a moment. "It is a kingdom of legend, one that had been long forgotten since. Due to it's horrid past, I'm sure you know of what I speak."

Shining raised a brow, confused by the dragon's words as Twilight's eyes widened in realization.

Twilight stomped a hoof in protest "w-what?! What requires us to go there!?"

Shining looked a little irritated by their knowledge of things he was unaware of. He looked to Mythos "go where, where is he telling us we need to go!?"

Applejack noticed the two ponies somewhat in a panic, she couldn't help but raise a hoof in defiance with a sarcastic expression. "Well shucks yall, I don't believe anywhere we go should be surprising after all we been through."

Eden laughed softly beside her, nudging her some "totally right?"

Rarity sighed, rolling her eyes as she listened to them "well I don't know about you ponies, but i've simply had enough of dangerous adventure and perilous doom. I say we chalk this whole thing up and head back to ponyville!"

The others just stared at her with a really? expression as Rarity just gave a cheesy smile to them, a bit embarrassed.

As Shining was still anxious to know what exactly the Heart of Fear was, he looked to Mythos. "Please, inform us who don't already know about it Mythos, I'd like to know what were getting ourselves into."

Twilight suddenly spoke "The Crystal Empire....."

This caused everypony to gasp, Applejack stomped a hoof "what?! Now that's just some old ghost story used to prevent little fillies from playing out in the dark too long. Don't you dare tell me that legend is real to!"

Pinkie Pie laughed as she bounced "Hah! Wouldn't be surprising! But hey, what the heck, plotkai right?" she shrugged.

Mythos sighed "the young pony is correct, according to all of you younglings, this would certainly just be an old forgotten tale. A dark one indeed, only some more informed ponies will come to realize, just like myself, this is indeed true."

Twilight looked down, as if she knew where this conversation was leading.

Mythos continued "the crystal ponies were consumed by infinite darkness, being reborn as dreaded monstrosities that now roam the ruins of their once great empire."

Rarity fainted once more as Eden rolled his eyes. As they'd listened, they felt their hearts racing, that feeling of dread slowly creeping its way over to them.

Mythos dimmed the room, as if the wave of his mighty claw controlled the very lights. He sighed "they were once a prosperous kingdom, until-"

Twilight muttered in a hushed tone "King Sombra...."

Mythos nodded "that,...is regrettably correct, King Sombra was unlike other ponies, his lust for power and pure mastery over the ways of dark magic earned him his frightening reputation. Some would even claim his skill in the ways of dark magic even surpassed those of the ruling Princess Luna."

Twilight shook her head as if confused "but wait, this is all just not adding up! King Sombra was defeated long ago, obviously not like how history today claims it, so it must of been Princess Celestia AND Princess Luna who defeated him in the past! He is no longer around so why worry about him?"

Mythos spoke in a hushed tone "you are correct, young pony, but the tendrils of darkness, make habit of working in mysterious ways. King Sombra may be gone, but, I could never shake the feeling that something dreaded still remains in that vast broken place, left to be forgotten, undisturbed, yet, I am telling you younglings this is where you must go. If only there were some other way, but, no, you cannot falter, this is what you must do."

Shining protested in anger once more stomping a hoof "whats so important in some abandoned kingdom we need to risk our lives for it anyway?!"

Mythos nodded to Shining, realizing his frustration and providing an answer "it is an object of immense power, forever left to stand upon the peak of the black castle, a beacon of hope that one day the kingdom may return to its former glory. It is an object known as The Crystal Heart."

Shining raised a brow as did the others, Mythos continued his explanation. "In order to fight back the darkness, you first require the key to the light. More answers will be provided to you when you retrieve the Crystal Heart, it is not my place to say. After you've succeeded in this feat, you will be directed to go to the lands northeast of the Crystal Empire, into the the Rift Canyons."

Rainbow Dash gasped "the Rift Canyons? AAAh this just keeps getting better and better doesn't it!?"

Mythos smiled "luckily these canyons are not as dangerous as they're portrayed to be. I will not say but what's awaiting you within, I will let your hearts guide you to the solution."

Twilight nodded firmly, as she'd already accepted what they must do. Shining was a bit reluctant to put his sister and friends in the middle of a dangerous situation but knew he couldn't talk them out of it. Rainbow seemed a little more anxious and excited to get this started, as Fluttershy hid behind her. Applejack and Eden simply sighed, but nodded to one another, they'd been through much already, just a little extra icing on the cake in their terms. Pinkie bounced happily as Rarity looked down, tears in her eyes "oooooh this is absolutely dreadful...."

Suddenly Mythos looked at them curiously "young ponies, is any among you a tailor of sorts?"

Suddenly they all looked at Rarity, who laughed some as she raised a hoof. Mythos smiled at her "good, I will require you then young pony, to stay here with me, your role will be very important in the days to come."

Rarity gasped in delight, jumping to her hooves, she pranced happily as the others just rolled their eyes at her. Mythos chuckled some, actually a bit delighted he could keep at least one of them here under his watchful eye. Mythos then spoke again once more "you will work alongside my assistant, he will help you with what you must do and follow you wholeheartedly. Spike, come, meet our friends, I know you've been watching."

Twilight chuckled a bit whispering in Rainbow's ear "who names a dragon Spike? Hehe."

Rainbow chuckled some herself "totally, what a random name."

Suddenly appearing from the shelves of one of the many, a small purple and green dragon would appear. He'd be standing, somewhat smug as he looked at the ponies "hah! Sorry, coudn't help but eavesdrop, these ponies seem a little soft for such an adventurous task!" Spike then hopped down the shelves masterfully, approaching the ponies with a smile.

Rainbow raised a brow at the tiny dragon "what a cocky little dude."

Fluttershy suddenly dashed to Spike, hugging him softly "oh oh! A baby dragon! I always wanted one, it's so very cute, and-" Spike pushed her off of him "hey, hands of the merchandise lady." Suddenly Spike's jaw dropped at the sight, of the most beautiful creature he'd laid eyes on. Rarity just stared at him, puzzled by his expression as Spike was basically drooling at a loss for words. Mythos laughed "spike is quite straightforward, but he will assist you to the best of his abilities, and he has many." Spike practically gliding to Rarity, just staring up at her with hearts in his eyes. Rarity was a bit skeptical at first, but then scoffed in delight, delighted by his fascination. Twilight looked at Spike, as if interested in who he was for a few moments but then she shook her head, this wasn't what was important.

Mythos looked down, regrettably at the other ponies once again. He sighed heavily "and you, our young brave ponies, will be attempting something, that nopony has attempted in the many decades i've been alive. I can only wish you the best, and give you warning, that the road you must travel, must be through the cavern of the twin lions. This will lead you through a secret passage into the heart of the empire, you must not travel on land, too many dark remnants roam the area, you will not make it far. The hidden passage is indeed dangerous, but far less than roaming to the castle through the empire itself."

Twilight nodded "then, we will make our way there right away."

Shining smiled rubbing the top of his sisters head "hah, and i'll keep you all safe."

Rainbow smirked dashing around them "and i'll stick by you guys until the end!"

Fluttershy trembled as she'd muttered "I-I...t-think I will be going home now..."

Mythos laughed "ahahaha, Lady Fluttershy."

Rainbow then shook her head in defiance "NUH UH! I don't think so! I'm not losing track of you again! Nope!" Fluttershy did a light "eep!" as Rainbow grabbed her.

Pinkie chuckled as she bounced "and I'll be the life of the party YEP YEP!"

Applejack laughed some "Aw shucks, well I ain't gonna let yall get yourselves into any trouble without me there to back ya up."

Eden laughed a little, just smiling at them softly "I'll do what my best to help."

Rarity approached the group, a saddened and ashamed expression on her face. "I'm, I'm sorry darlings, I truly would have gone, it's just that I-"

Twilight raised a hoof interrupting her "it's fine Rarity, you proved to me a long time ago how generous you are. I wouldn't have had the courage to pursue this without you, and once again, here you are, helping me. Thank you Rarity, I'll never forget your kindness." Twilight wrapped a hoof around the the mare softly, then giving her a tight affectionate hug, Twilight looked almost pained to have to leave Rarity alone. Rarity blinked a bit, wide eyed as she eased up, smiling softly and returning the hug, squeezing Twilight and muttering "oh, how they were so wrong about you, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike laughed some, looking at Rarity, "heh and gives me plenty of time to get to know my long lost love."

Rarity gasped then looked down at the baby dragon "now darling! You are far too young for me, hmph!"

Applejack laughed some "ah shucks, Rarity you take care of yourself now ya hear? We'll be back for you in a jiffy."

Pinkie bounced in joy "YEP! IN A JIFFY, LIKE IN A FLASH!"

Mythos sighed, he looked at the ponies, pained by the fact they had to pursue such a journey yet joyed by their live unique personalities. He spoke "you all will rest here for now, then in a few hours embark on this last little hoorah. A storm is coming you ponies, and you all will be in the center of it."

Twilight smirked "the eye of the storm." Rainbow chuckled "heck yea!"

-

The group of friends would spend a few last hours relaxing, eating, conversing and enjoying themselves before they embarked to the crystal empire. It was a touching moment between them, as many had found friendship in what happened to be the darkest time of their lives. They were now closer than siblings after such experiences, although some were still forming into the feeling of being with the small group, they all couldn't help but feel connected to each other in some strange way. They laughed, they played, they talked of the future they would achieve.

These were moments they would cherish forever, whether they knew it or not.

-

As the hours drew closer in, Twilight and the others smiled as they had healed their injuries from previous escapades. Rainbow's wings were now healed as well as Twilights bruises and cuts although she was still bandaged a bit. Even the scars and whatnot on Eden, Pinkie, Shining, and Applejack, everypony was ready to go. As they looked ahead the path, exiting the kingdom of dragons that would take them north, they smiled. It was as if they were anxious to finish this, these two last tasks would complete the cycle. They were ready, Twilight took the first step as the others followed close behind.

"We'll do this, together."