AN: I'M ALIVE! Yes, I realize its been over a month. I'm so sorry! However, now that school has been started for some weeks now, I've been very very busy. I was going through a few personal things as well, so I appreciate that no one's been spamming the comments demanding the next chapter. I worked long and hard on this and I really hope you all like the chapter! I don't own the picture I used. Also, when I copied my work from a word document to Wattpad it came out a little funny so I apologize if its got a weird letter here and there or something.

Twilight Sparkle sat in her library quietly, looking over The Elements of Wilderness: a reference guide as she went over her plan one last time. Winter Frost was to be coming at any minute for a few books on cutie marks she had been eager to get her hooves on. With a good excuse for her to be in the library, Twilight knew this would be her chance to put the ice element on the right track. She just needed a little push.

The lavender alicorn then levitated a quill and began writing down notes on a piece of parchment, setting it down beside the tattered book. She had left the reference guide open to one page in particular that she was sure she would gain the best results. And the note-

Twilight's train of thought was cut off when she heard a knock reverberate throughout the castle. She snapped her head up and grinned, fluttering up from her seat and touching back down on the ground before making her way out of the library. Soon, stepping noises sounded behind her and the lavender alicorn was soon walking alongside her companion, Spike. The dragon began double checking with her in a hushed voice, ensuring her that everything should hopefully go according to plan.

A moment later, Twilight greeted Winter Frost, leading them all back into the library as they spoke.

"Thanks again for agreeing to let me borrow those books, Twilight." Winter thanked, using her magic to fuss with her dark blue saddle bags. "I've really been meaning to look into cutie marks again."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with me bringing up you and Whirlwind's cutie marks, would it?" Twilight asked, in a seemingly nonchalant tone.

"Uh..." Winter blushed, looking down. "M-maybe a little."

Twilight couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. Though Winter still had her shy moments, she seemed much more comfortable with Twilight. Smiling, Twilight's magenta aura engulfed the library's door handles once more. The two alicorns and baby dragon continued small talk while walking into the massive library. Winter's jaw dropped at the sight of such a large book collection.

Twilight trotted about the library with a confused expression on her face before returning once more to her desk. She peeled back papers and levitated the worn book on her desk before setting it back down, her expression even more pronounced. Then she let out a tiny gasp and lifted her front hoof, grinning.

"Ah ha!" Twilight exclaimed. "I believe I left them in my room. Yes, I was er, studying them myself last night before bed."

"Oh, you were?" Winter questioned.

"Yes, uh, silly me I guess." Twilight blushed, a small drop of sweat dripping down from her forehead. "I'll just go get them for you. Come on, Spike."

"But we shouldn't leave Winter alone. She's our guest-" Spike was cut off by Twilight.

"I trust Winter to be in the library alone." Twilight beamed, starting out the doors before calling out to Winter again. "Oh, and help yourself to one of my books while you wait. I'll be back in a bit!"

And with that, the pair left, leaving Winter Frost alone in the sparkling library. Winter looked around, marveling at all the books. Slowly walking past the shelves of books, she skimmed the titles across their spines. Eventually she was near the desk on which Twilight had been looking for the books. Curious, she soon found herself standing in front of the desk, looking at the materials Twilight had seemingly studied.

There was an old, worn book on the table, whose pages had clearly been leafed through many a times. Beside the leathery cover was a roll of parchment with notes scrawled on it in drying ink that still shone slightly. Leaning forward, Winter read the note in a whisper:

"The time has come. They must be used! Alert the other Princesses at once!" Winter read aloud in a quiet whisper. "They? What in Equestria?"

With a troubled look, Winter looked over to the book that the note was resting beside and began to read. Her midnight blue eyes tore across the paper as she took in the words she read.

"In every legend told about the elements they always are wielded by six ponies and represent the 'Elements of Equestria,' which includes fire, water, air, nature, earth and ice as the six elements." She read aloud in the same, nearly inaudible whisper, eyes widening in shock.

She paused, looking at the yellow pages incredulously. Wondering what exactly she was reading, Winter debated whether or not this was her place to meddle. She was reading something that not only was somepony elses business, it was also the Princesses business! She bit her lip, and eventually submitted to her wild curiosity despite her better judgement.

"With each legend told, the elements appear to be even more powerful than the last legend let on." Winter continued. "Resembling the Elements of Harmony in more ways than one, legends and rumors say that they could even serve in place of them. Even though the Elements of Wilderness are similar to the Elements of Harmony, they are not the same. With all the power that runs through whoever bears them, the possibilities-"

With startling intensity, the library doors bust open and Winter jumped slightly. Scrambling, she nervously took a few quick steps away from the desk and closer to Twilight's direction. Trying to suppress her guilt she grinned, however, her smile only made it more obvious that something was up. Biting her lip again, Winter gave up the smile and focused her attention on the dragon and Princess entering the room.

Twilight walked in with two books trailing behind her, glowing in her magic aura. Twilight then started a brief conversation about how she was reading them herself last night and forgot they were ever in her bedroom. She, Winter, and Spike continued on the matter as Winter took the books in her own magic's hold and placed them in her saddlebags. A few minutes later, the conversation came to an end and Twilight and Spike led Winter out of the castle. After saying goodbye, the light blue alicorn returned home, her head buzzing as her mind refused to keep quiet.

Completely baffled, she wondered what in Equestria she had just read.

.......

"Go on Tirek." Queen Chrysalis urged, watching the terrified pony in her magic's hold. "Take back what is yours."

The mare in Queen Chrysalis's hold squirmed, letting out a frightened squeak of protest. Her green eyes were wild, panicked, and stared at the red and black centaur before her. Her lips quivered and tears began rolling down her cheeks, leaving tear tracks on her white coat. The mare continued to cry quietly until Tirek opened his mouth, and she drew in a breath as Tirek devoured her magical, light green aura that stemmed from her horn.

Her eyes grew smaller as the vibrant green faded to a ghostly pale green and she stopped resisting the magic that made her incapable of moving. Her eyes that were puffy from crying, were now almost lifeless as they appeared glazed over. As the entire trail of magic disappeared into the centaur's waiting mouth, the mare's cutie mark of a sparkling green gem disappeared. Queen Chrysalis then released the mare from her magic's grip, and the mare fell with a thud onto the ground.

The mare looked up slowly, her strength and magic gone. With her eyes half open, she had just enough time to watch the centaur grow in size as yellow-orange glow surrounded him, before the world grew fuzzy, and her head dropped the ground. The mare was unaware of what was going on around her and she had never thought she would ever be a victim of something like what she had gone through.

"Ah yes!" Tirek cried. "I feel better already! But, I require more."

"And you will get more." King Sombra told, stepping forward and holding his head high. "But first we must decide what we are going to do with her."

They all looked down to the mare, her breathing shallow in her unconscious state. Queen Chrysalis put her hoof under the pony's chin, eyeing her with malice in her gaze, before letting her head fall back down, smacking onto the cool pavement.

"Queen Chrysalis, we can't allow her to tell others about her experience." Said King Sombra.

"No, that would be most problematic." Tirek agreed. "It would put a screeching halt to our efforts."

"And your point, King Sombra?" Chrysalis asked, turning to face the unicorn.

"Your Changeling palace is an enormous structure. Surely, you must have some place to keep this pony and more before we can find some other use for them."

"Ah, yes. My palace is the perfect place. Even if she or anypony else managed to break free of where we hold them, they would never be able to navigate the many halls and caverns!"

"I like the sound of that." Tirek chuckled.

The night stars twinkled above them as if there was nothing sinister at play. The stars sparkled and smiled as a crescent moon laughed carelessly. Lights flickered softly in the windows of nearby homes and nopony would have guessed that in a back alley of Canterlot three creatures were up to no good.