The Midnight Dance 6

Sleeping Curse

Once upon a time, there was a crystalline kingdom, it was renowned for its beauty and the love it radiated across Equestria, at the center of the Crystal Empire was the Crystal Heart, a powerful item that protected the kingdom and all who lived in it from harm, one day, a dragon stole the Crystal Heart and the shadow demons moved in to attack the Empire, the shadow demons were driven back by Star Swirl the Bearded and banished to the Arctic Wastes of the Frozen North, when the Crystal Heart was returned, the Crystal ponies thought they were safe and secure, until she came, the shadow demons were once again renewed thanks to their self-proclaimed princess, Belladonna, her origins were shrouded in mystery, but her evil was far greater than that of any villain in Equestria, she overthrew the two princesses ruling the Empire and twisted the kingdom in her own image, when they received word that Belladonna had taken over the Empire, Luna and Sombra raced to stop her, using the power of their love for each other, they managed to defeat the dark pony and banish her to the far reaches of the icy tundra, for years, the Arctic Wastes that served as a prison for the worst of the worst remained quiet and foreboding, but then, during a solar eclipse, the crystal that encased a formidable foe had broken, she was finally free 

familiar voice: WAAA-CHOOO 

The Everfree Castle rocked at the sound of the sneeze, when the shaking died down, Fluttershy emerged from the bedroom 

Screwball: How's Dad doing 

Fluttershy sighed: He'll be fine, he just caught a bad bug 

Discord's voice from the bedroom: Well, how was I supposed to know the darn Tatzlwurm was sick 

There was another sneeze and a large suction dart came flying through the doorway, Fluttershy and Screwy ducked when the projectile hit and stuck to the wall 

Screwball: Does that mean Dad will have to miss the Crystal Faire 

Fluttershy nodded sadly: I'm afraid so, honey 

Screwball: Can I see him 

Twilight came up to them: Hang on a minute 

Twilight Sparkle was the youngest of Luna and Sombra's daughters before Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo were adopted, Twilight had just recently become queen, but she made time to visit her older sisters at the Everfree Castle before heading off to the Crystal Faire with them, she casted a quarantine spell over the doorway so that anypony who visited Discord would be protected until the draconequus got better, Discord crossed his arms 

Discord angerly: Oh, great, I can't even touch my own daughter now, that makes me really comfortable, Sparkle 

Twilight: That's Queen Twilight Sparkle to you 

Discord: Oh, so you're Miss High-and-Mighty now, are you, almost a year ago, you hated the idea of becoming queen, achoo 

A lemon meringue pie flew through the doorway and landed cream-first into Twilight's face 

Discord smiled: Hee-hee, there's a bit of payback for you 

Screwball giggled: I think the spell keeps you from getting sick, but not Daddy's magic 

Just then, Rarity came along and gasped 

Rarity: Twilight, whatever happened to you, dearest 

Twilight angerly: Don't ask 

Rarity was the second-born of the daughters while Fluttershy was the eldest, their sisters, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, followed them suit in birth order, the unicorn used a handkerchief to wipe the cream from her sister's face