In the void of dimensional space, that sinister voice behind the glowing red eyes hissed. "The time has come. Are you ready my friend?"

The shadowy image of whatever Discord was now extended his large wings and claws. "I am…" he said deeply. "The unicorns will finally be no more, as per your desire, my master. At daybreak, I attack!"

He and his master, whoever he was, shared a sinister laugh while gazing at Unicornicopia off in the distance.

…

The gang was at Grand Ruler's palace, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their guests. Princesses Celestia and Luna were on their way with Krysta. A royal red carpet was placed along the way from the portal gate and the guards were standing at the ends.

Cookie Dough had been summoned to the castle and was busy preparing a meal under The Grand Ruler's orders. The princesses were bound to be famished after being locked up for some time and after their inter-dimensional journey.

Brain requested to be present too. This was a dream come true to be able to meet creatures from another world. "I only wish the circumstances were a little more… eh… erm… pleasant, as it were."

…

The moment Krysta explained about the dangers of Equestria, after a short debate it was decide that Krysta was to go back to Equestria and bring the two princesses to Unicornicopia.

…

"Once they've arrived, we might be able to devise a way to help them." said Buddy Rose.

"I tell you…" said Artie "From what Krysta said… that Night Mare surely lives up to her name."

Rhymey was easily the most worried, he had only recently just visited Equestria and it all seemed so beautiful and tranquil. He gazed down at the butterfly clip that Fluttershy gave to him.

"Please be alright!

Just hang in tight!" he said in his mind.

Lightning came downstairs from seeing The Grand Ruler. "How is his majesty, Amigo?" asked Dyno.

"Is he really that nervous?" asked Myte.

Just the concerned look on Lightning's face answered the question. Grand Ruler was very nervous indeed about Celestia coming, and everyone was told why. "Who could blame him…?" asked Starla.

Celestia was no ordinary unicorn, she wasn't just the ruler of Equestria, but The Grand Ruler's former-fiancé as well, and he hadn't seen or heard from her in well over a-thousand years, and after all this time, what was to really be expected?

The portal began to glow, and Krysta and her followers were first to emerge, and that's when the royal musicians sounded their horns, and Krysta thought it not too impolite to announce. "Their royal highnesses…! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna! Rulers of Equestria…!"

The portal glowed again as the two sisters emerged. The gang stared in awe at the sight and mystical grace of the two princesses, especially Celestia, she was just as beautiful as Grand Ruler had described.

The two princesses gracefully walked along the carpet, and each of the guards tipped their lances as they passed as form of greeting. Celestia and Luna nodded to each and every one of them as they made their way into the main chamber where Lightning and the gang were waiting. They all bowed to the princesses and Lightning stood proud and said "On behalf of my mentor, The Grand Ruler, and all of us here, your majesties… I welcome you both to Unicornicopia in friendship and honor."

The princesses bowed. "You will pardon my asking, but where is your leader?" asked Luna.

The royal fanfare sounded again, and the throne began to slowly spin round, and there he was. Celestia gasped softly. He gazed at her and had a hard time grasping that she was really there. It was now or never. He approached the carpet on all fours, and stopped at the last ten feet. A brief silence followed as he gazed into Celestia's eyes, and she gazed into his. The cape she had made him that he was wearing softly fluttered, just like her long and beautiful mane and tail. "Um… Greetings… Celestia." he finally said.

Celestia's heart began to race for the first time in ages. Tears began to fall from her eyes. "Celesto…?" she peeped. Even though this was a royal gathering, and what she was about to do was considered rather improper. "Celesto…! Oh, Celesto!" she dashed right over to him, and he ran to her, both colliding in embrace. "I… thought you were gone forever!" she sobbed, "I thought I would never see you again."

A single tear rolled down Grand Ruler's cheek, "I have missed you so much." he whispered to her.

Lightning smiled, Starla wiped a tear from her eye, and the twins… they were blubbering and hugging each other like the brothers they were. "Ay' Ay' Ay'! It's so beautiful!" they cried. Two lost lovers reunited after being apart for so long.

As for Luna, Grand Ruler approached her, and remembered that it was she who responsible for what she did all those ages ago. He looked rather cross with her, and she bowed her head in shame, but to her surprise. "I welcome you as well, Princess Luna." he said with pride.

Luna looked up and smiled, and then they both bowed to each other.

…

Soon, they were all seated in the great hall and enjoying the meal Cookie Dough had made. They all thought it was delicious, especially the princesses. Cookie Dough was flattered, but as business continued it became clear what the plan of action was. The only hope to defeat Night Mare was joining and combine forces.

"The elements of harmony…" Luna explained "They will not be enough to thwart my evil, former self. She has become much stronger as you no doubt are aware."

"And Titan's minions have been backing her up too." Lightning said "And we'd thought we'd seen the last of them."

Even still, the elements of harmony combined with the rainbow stones was their only hope, but the elements were still buried deep within Night Mare's castle, and despite becoming stronger she still could not break the spell Celestia used to seal the elements.

However, it decided that Celestia would remain in Unicornicopia for the while. The main concern was to get the elements and free Twilight and friends, for only they could effectively unleash the power.

Luna and a volunteer party would be sent back through the portal. "I know my former self better than any of us, and I do know of the location where the elements are sealed. If you trust me, we will succeed." she said.

The unicorns didn't know what to think, but Grand Ruler sealed the deal. "Very well, Princess Luna" he said and he tasked Buddy Rose, Artie, and Rhymey to go with her, to which they were forced to agree.

They would leave at dawn, so everyone would have a chance to rest up. "I just hope they're all doing okay back there." said Arte.

…

The rest period had long since ended and the slaves were forced back to work, but one of the guards came to Night Mare. "Gone…?" she snapped when she was told the princesses were missing from their cells, "Impossible…!"

She ordered her guards to begin searching high and low, and decided that her slaves would suffer for this escape. Longer work hours, less breaks, and hardly any rations at all now. How much more punishment could Twilight and her friends take.

Still, they continued to believe what Krysta said, that soon everything would be fine. They just hoped it wouldn't be much longer. They couldn't wait anymore.

…

As night passed in Unicornicopia, Grand Ruler hadn't been able to sleep very well. He was standing out on the terrace looking over his kingdom below. His heart was all torn up and his mind was going off in many directions. It was wonderful having Celestia back in his life, but would it last? What would happen from here on out?

That's he noticed Celestia was standing on another, smaller Terrace below his own. She looked rather sad and confused. He decided to fly down and confront her. She looked up when she heard him touch down. "Something bothers you, Celestia?" he asked.

Celestia admitted she was pleased to have seen him again after all this time, but she honestly did not expect all this. He had changed a lot, and created everything that surrounded them now, but she couldn't even begin to imagine all the hardships and battles he and his subjects had gone through over the ages. These evil forces were like nothing she had ever seen or heard of before. She was, however, very impressed and touched he forgave Luna for separated them all those ages ago.

"I had to…" he said "From what I had heard, if you can forgive your sister, then so can I. After all, I can understand why she did what she did, and I never would have created this entire world if she hadn't. So in many ways, what she did was wrong and always will be, but it has shown some signs good."

Their hooves touched, and they ended up gazing into each other's eyes. "Those eyes…" he thought "They are so beautiful."

"Those eyes…" she thought "I missed the way they would look upon me like that."

Their faces slowly moved towards one another's, but they stopped before they got any closer. They didn't feel they could do it, or if it was right. Still, they just sat there gazing at the stars. "Don't worry, Celesita. We will save your friends and your world." he promised her that.

"I… believe you." she whispered.

…

The night had passed, and Grand Ruler made his flight to bring the dawn in. Celestia went with him, and she impressed that he remembered what she had taught him. Then they returned to the floating palace to find everyone was already awake.

Buddy Rose, Artie, and Rhymey stood with Luna "Are you ready…?" Grand Ruler asked his subjects. His subjects nodded and stood tall and brave. "Princess Luna…" said Celestia "You are charged with these unicorns' safety. Make sure that nothing serious happens to them."

Luna bowed and understood. "Come along." she said, and the three unicorns followed her to the portal gate. Then they jumped through and were gone, heading back to Equestria, or rather Nightmarica as it was now known.

"There they go…" Lightning said.

"Do you think they'll be alright?" asked Starla.

"I hope so…" said Krysta, only she and Celestia knew how truly dangerous it was back there. Grand Ruler felt a little frustrated of having to stay behind. He longed to have a confrontation with Night Mare and make her pay for all she had caused for so many! Just once…!

That's when realized and reminded everyone that they had a guest. "Perhaps you would like a tour of the kingdom, Celestia?" he asked. Celestia nodded, "Oh, yes! I would like that very much." She had only flown over the kingdom, but hadn't actually seen much of it yet.

Lightning, Starla, and Krysta agreed to take her on a tour. Once again, Grand Ruler had to stay behind for he had his duties to do.

…

Once in Nightmarica, Luna and her followers didn't like the looks of what had obviously gotten way worse since Luna was away. Rhymey hated the sight of the kingdom most of all…

"It's all been destroyed… it all is in ruin.

Surly, this is that Night Mare's doin'!"

"I must say…" said Artie "Until now, I never realized how many different kinds of arts I wouldn't like."

Luna reminded the team why they were there. "Follow me, and stay low!" she whispered. Doing as they were told, they follower her along the mountains of rubble, and ruins of what Equestria once was. Every so often, a row of guards would pass by, shadowy black ponies created by Night Mare to serve as her first line of defense, and the team would duck out of the way.

The closer they got to the fortress, the more the guards seemed to pop out, and it was getting harder to duck them. "This is crazy…" snapped Buddy Rose "We need some sort of cover up."

Luna agreed and decided to use a little magic. "Don't be frightened." she said, and her horn began to glow as her shadowy mane seemed to expand, enveloping around the team and herself. Then, all was quiet, but the unicorns were confused. All the land around them seemed to be cloaked in a shadowy veil of darkness. "Come along…" Luna said, and the team followed her, directly through a path where the guards would easily see them, but surprisingly they didn't even move or seem to notice them. "We are invisible to them." Luna explained, "We are cloaked under the shadows of my mane and blending in with our surroundings."

The others thought this was incredible…

"How great for us.

They can't see us." said Rhymey. He even stood in front of a guard and waved at him, but the guard didn't notice a thing.

"Look!" cried Luna. The fortress was just up ahead. "Let's go…" Artie said calmly "Nice and easy." That's what they thought, but someone was indeed aware of their intrusion!

…

Celestia had a wonderful tour of Unicornicopia, visiting all the locations, even if they were for a brief moment, and then it was off to Rainbow City. Celestia was impressed, but felt the kingdom was not whole- except for Krysta; there weren't any kinds other of creatures, not even any ground-ponies or pegasi, or even a bird in the sky… just winged unicorns all doing their jobs, or playing, and all wearing armor and identical outfits. No one had a cutie-mark either, but rather an identification number, and no one seemed to be using or relying on any magic.

"We Unicornicopians evolve as a warrior-race, your highness." Lightning explained "And while we do find time to dance and play and sometimes party, we are not as luxurious as you and the Equestrians."

Celestia could tell that a warrior's life really was difficult. Then again, even she wouldn't like it when she tried to throw a party or a gala and then some evil creature would come and ruin everything. To make matters worse, from what she had heard and witnessed, every time the enemy was defeated, a newer, more powerful evil, emerged, and unlike certain foes Celestia had faced, these demons would not be reasoned with and would only continue to destroy and cause havoc. "You will find peace one day." she said "I know you will."

"Begging your pardon…" asked Lightning "But what makes you so sure…?"

Celestia was quiet for a moment, and then explained that if there was one thing Celesto had taught her it was to never lose hope. "Sometimes… believing is all we have, and that is what I admire in him."

She spoke as if her feelings were still true and strong. It was becoming clear that she was still in love with Celesto, but was it right to still be after all this time? No one could tell.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of unicorns screaming and running in panic. The gang raced round the corner and saw them, Dementia, Rep-Stallion, and Mysterious. "Did you miss us…?" Rep-Stallion teased.

Lightning and Starla expressions hardened. "You three…!" snapped Celestia.

"Hey…!" snapped Dementia "What's she doing here? I thought she was locked up back in Nightmarica?"

"It makes no difference." hissed Mysterious "Even she has no idea of what she's up against now."

That's when they began to demonstrate what their friend Nightmare had given to them- they began to make duplicates of themselves! "They're multiplying!" cried Krysta.

First there were two of each, then four, then eight. Soon, there were enough copies to cover the entire block, but it was easy to tell who the originals were as all the copies seemed to be darker in color.

The alarms sounded and everyone ran for the nearest shelter as the shields went off.

"Take a good look at us now, Unicorns!" hissed Mysterious. "We have an entire army at our backs. You don't stand a chance this time."

Lightning stood, ready for a big fight and suggested that Starla and Krysta take the Princess somewhere safe. "Grand Ruler would never forgive us if anything happened to her." he said.

"No…!" Celestia said as she stepped forward. "I'm not going anywhere! These creatures helped Night Mare enslave my kingdom. I cannot sit by and do nothing about this." She was a princess, and she knew a thing or two about warfare and fighting, especially when honor and pride were involved. "I will fight with you. Don't try and stop me! Understand?"

The others were reluctant to agree, and the minions and their army thought this was their lucky day. "We get to destroy our enemies and Night Mare's most hated enemy too…" said Dementia "Night Mare will be very pleased."

…

In Grand Ruler's palace, one of the guards rushed in to warn him, "Sire… a battle is about to take place. It's Titan's minions, and the princess is down there too!"

Grand Ruler looked worried "Celestia?" he cried "What is she thinking?" He already knew she didn't stand a chance against Titan minions the last time. He just had to go down there. "Stand watch!" he said to all his guards. Then he was off.

As he soared through the air he kept on telling himself over and over "I will not let anything happen to her! Never…!"

…

Outside the kingdom, in Dimensional Space, Discord was now hovering directly over Unicornicopia and chuckling sinisterly. He was ready to begin his attack! "Sorry, Unicorns… your time is up!"

To Be Continued…!