my little pony · friendship is magic · mane six · epic battle · crystal empire · elements of harmony · fantasy · ensemble cast · magic system · heroic
The air in the Castle of Friendship is thick with the scent of ozone and fear. Through the crystal windows, the sky is an unnatural bruise—purple and black, streaked with veins of sickly green. On the polished floor, the Mane Six stand in a loose semicircle, their reflections fractured by the dim light. Twilight Sparkle paces before the throne, her horn flickering with residual energy. Rainbow Dash hovers near the ceiling, wings twitching. Pinkie Pie is silent, which is the most terrifying thing of all. Every few seconds, a tremor runs through the castle foundations, and somewhere in the distance, a bell tolls from Canterlot. The stained-glass windows that once showed Equestria’s triumphs now depict only shadows. Princess Celestia and Luna are trapped—Discord too—and their absence…