"Spike, take a note to my journal, please." The light purple mare said as she turned toward her most trusted dragon companion. It was just past the crack of dawn and she was pacing her room back and forth anxiously. How could I have let myself sleep in like that? Oh there's just so much work to do! So much to think about! She thought as her hooves clapped along the wood floor of her library.

The green dragon finally emerged from his bed. As he rubbed his eyes sleepily he said, "Alright Twilight," he reached for a quill and some parchment, "Go on." He seemed a little less than happy that his beauty sleep was once again disturbed by Twilight's concerns.

Twilight looked the dragon in the eyes for a second, making sure that he truly was ready to take down all of her complex thoughts. Then, she began. "It has been a week since we saved the Crystal Empire from the impending doom that King Sombra posed. I wonder how Cadence is doing as the new Crystal Princess… I have no doubts that she will make a great princess, she was the best babysitter a foal could ask for, after all! There is something that concerns me…" Twilight paused and looked over at Spike. Spike was rushing to get down all of the notes. When he reached the last line, he looked up in curiosity.

She continued. "It has also been a week since I used that dark magic… Princess Celestia taught it to me, but…" Her voice trailed off. She didn't want to finish that sentence. She moved on, "I just felt so… powerful… while using it. Yet at the same time there was that fear… that dark power… What was it? If only there was some other way… I hope I made the right choice." Twilight raised her brow to her companion to see if he needed her to repeat anything. After a series of hasty scribbling Spike looked up at her and shook his head "no", and Twilight dismissed him.

Spike went back to sleep and Twilight continued to pace around the library. She knew that something was wrong but she just couldn't quite place it. Every day she seemed more and more anxious, like she could feel the ebbing of some kind of strange power. Maybe it was just the re-emergence of the Crystal Empire messing with her. Or maybe… But she didn't want to think about that possibility. She started to make breakfast to get her mind off of… whatever it was that seemed to be bothering her.

Spike appeared out of nowhere behind Twilight. "Is that… pancakes?" He asked excitedly.

"Why, yes, Spike! Mine are plain and yours have jewels in them! Don't they look good?"

"They look amazing! Let's eat!" Spike ravaged through his meal like it was the first meal he'd had in weeks. Twilight did her best to put a dent in the three pancakes she'd made for herself, but she just couldn't find the appetite.

In between bites Spike asked, "Hey… Twi, if you're not gonna eat those… Can I…?" His pleadings eyes were wide with anticipation.

"Of course, Spike, dig in!" Twilight smiled as she watched her baby dragon eat with such gusto.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Twilight answered it and a little red filly was standing before her. "Applebloom! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Applebloom struggled to catch her breath, she ran all the way to Twilight's house. "Ze…Cora… You… Urgent!"

Twilight tilted her head in confusion. "Are you trying to say that Zecora wants to see me… and it's urgent?"

Applebloom nodded yes as she fell to the floor from exhaustion. What could Zecora want at this time of day? And urgent… I don't like the sound of that… What if it's… Sombra? Oh no! I've got to get to Everfree Forest right now! Twilight thought as she tried to keep herself from having a panic attack.

"Applebloom, why don't you go inside, I think there's still some pancakes left from breakfast. Have some water, too. I'll see you later, Spike!" Twilight said as she grabbed her pack and ran out the door.

She passed Rainbow Dash on the way who was, as always, practicing her stunts for the Wonderbolts. "Hey Twilight! Where ya off to?" She yelled, to which Twilight quickly replied without stopping, "Zecora's! Can't talk now, Rainbow!"

"Ha! Your loss, Twi! I'm working on my best stunt, yet!" The rainbow-colored mare retorted.

Twilight felt a little disappointed, she would have loved to see Rainbow's new trick, but she just couldn't relax until she saw Zecora. She sped on into the creepy forest despite her own fears. The very fate of Equestria could be at stake!