Princess Twilight levitated a small red quill in front of her face. She also levitated a sheet of parchment paper, and walked over to her desk in the library of her castle.

She sat down at the desk, set down the parchment, and lit a candle at the corner of her desk with a small burst of magic. With the quill still levitating in her aura, she dipped the tip of it in a small bottle of ink, then began to scratch the words on the paper.

There are many mysteries when it comes to Dark Magic. Solving puzzles and facing your sins, and is more powerful than regular magic that the inhabitants of Equestria contain.

But is there something else that nopony knew before? Not even Princess Celestia?

I have a theory... What if Dark Magic can also be used as an advantage?

If one of our new friends kept rambling on about destruction and horror, and loneliness, then perhaps that means there's more we don't know about Dark Magic or these new ponies.

...

I don't know.

Looks like I've got some research to do back in the Canterlot Archives! :)

Princess Twilight couldn't help but gape her jaws in a yawn. No! I can't sleep now! I've got research to do!

She went through her checklist once more.

Saddlebag: ☑

Quills. As many quills as I can bring! : ☑

 Lots of blank scrolls: ☑ 

Perhaps one of Pinkie Pie's extra-sugary milkshakes? Just in case: ☑

Books and scrolls about Dark Magic: ⬜ (find in Canterlot Archives)

As much research as I can write down in one night: ⬜ (working on it!)

Why must Princess Twilight be up so late doing stuff like this?

That's just her.

But wait! What if I forgot something else that I need on the checklist?

No, I should be fine. I'm headed back to Canterlot now!

Princess Twilight stepped onto the balcony floors, the light of the full moon reflecting off the clear blue crystal structure she stood on. Her lilac-purple fur turned a pale amethyst color as she unfolded her graceful wings.

She took off, enjoying the cool night breeze that ruffled her mane. It gave her adrenaline, like those times when she was so caught up in researching friendship, and she didn't want to stop (which happened a lot).

She flew a bit faster, watching the sleeping town of Ponyville below. Nopony was strolling outside at this time. Princess Luna would be happy.

Looking in front of her, she could barely see the mountains, and on the face of the mountains she saw the royal city, Canterlot. My old hometown, here I come!

Twilight fluttered down, letting her hooves lightly touch the paved road. She grinned. This was once where her childhood friends had gathered to discuss places for friendship meetings. Speaking of which, how were they? Probably wasn't the right time to come and visit, though...

I have to remember what I came here for! Twilight thought. She looked around, then caught sight of the castle, where Edd and his friends had first come to Equestria. It must have been strange, being a strange creature other than a pony, then becoming a pony later on.

Princess Twilight shook her head.

It would be nice to dwell for a bit, but I have work to do!

She lifted back into the air with a boost of wingpower, then ascended up to the top of the castle. She found a window that gaped slightly. She pushed the window more open until she silently slipped through a big enough gap.

As soon as she quietly tapped her hooves on the floor, the first thing she saw,

Was book heaven.

Twilight smiled with delight.

Sweet Celestia, books, books, BOOKS!

Heart racing with adrenaline, she trotted around, admiring the giant bookshelves that touched the ceiling. She stood on her hind hooves, searching each category to look for a small bit of Equestria's classified knowledge to read.

Time travelling spells... No, I've already tried that. Creating new spells... Interesting, but not the main focus. Art and Alchemy... Interesting mix... Nope.

Twilight flew up to reach books placed higher.

Starswirl's reviews on Magic and the Environment... Might've done something similar, but no.

Well, I guess I'll take a peek through a few pages.

Using her magic, Twilight levitated the book, a large, old and torn packet, beside her with her magic, and carefully set it down on the old carpet floor.

Keep searching, keep searching... The Multiverse and Theories... I don't think that will help too much, but worth reading, maybe! If Edd and his friends came from another world, then this should come in handy!

She took that book off the shelf as well.

Advanced Alchemy... No. Before Equestria... No.

Twilight stopped to glance around this forbidden library. There had to be labels somewhere. Perhaps certain categories that showed what books and scrolls gave information about what.

But no. There was hardly any light in here. Dust and cobwebs blanketed the entire room, and most bookshelves were so tightly packed with books and parchments that some scrolls lay strewn on the floor.

This place really needs some re-organizing. And cleaning.

Dark Magic... Bingo!

After what felt like moons of searching and re-double-checking every single bookshelf, seven times, Twilight finally found her prize. She slipped it out from the bookshelf, then fluttered down to the carpet floor.

Strange how I've checked that place so many times, and I didn't even notice!

Grabbing her books and scrolls she had picked up, she walked to the center of the library, and sat down by the giant statue glued to its pedestal. She decided to read the book about Dark Magic first; she was too excited about wondering what made a book like this hold so much knowledge.

Twilight looked around in the table of contents.

So many chapters and topics! Research galore!!

She looked down each page of contents - five pages of them to be exact - until her eyes caught a section of 'Legends and Stories - Page 750.'

...THIS BOOK IS SO BIG!!

She quickly flipped each page rapidly with her magic, watching as each sheet of paper whisked from right to left, until she hit around page 800.

Aaannnd now I have to go back 50 pages!

As she made it to the 750th page, she began to read,

"Legends and Stories... Stories of King Sombra, the Crystal Empire's deepest secrets, and more."

Princess Twilight was keen on 'Stories of King Sombra.' Maybe she could read that first, and write down what she didn't know. And if there was something more she wanted to learn, she could look back some more.

Luckily, I got my papers and quills. This reminds me of all those days I learned about friendship!

Time flew by quicker than Rainbow Dash could have. Twilight felt like she had been sitting at the old statue for hours, writing down important research from each book she found.

Facts about Dark Magic:

1. Dark Magic is often used to solve puzzles, but most of the time it solves the wrong puzzles, and sends you spiraling down to your worst fears. That's happened once.

Twilight shuddered at the thought. She was saving the Crystal Empire from the malicious and wicked King Sombra. She tried to find her way to the Crystal Heart, only to find she had a vision of failing to save the beautiful city. It was Spike who had saved the Crystal Heart instead.

2. Dark Magic came from a dark red crystal. The ambitious who sought these giant crystal forms were overcome by its incredible power, and either were ultimately killed, or power-crazed. King Sombra obviously became power-crazed.

3. In one of the stories, King Sombra also used his power as an advantage. After fighting countless times, he would use dark magic to heal his fatal wounds. Might have to keep out for that if that beast comes to Ponyville.

Twilight paused from reviewing her research to yawn. She was about ready to sugar crash after gulping down a few of Pinkie Pie's milkshakes.

4. Traveling through different worlds in an insane experience, and perhaps a bit confusing at first. Opening portals to other worlds takes a lot of skill and patience. I wonder how much of a challenge it was to open that wormhole from our world to Edd's.

5. In most cases, other individuals from certain worlds end up in different dimensions accidentally. Perhaps after something dramatic happened, or something has been discovered.

6. Newcomers from other worlds are given the chance to learn new environments. And perhaps we can learn from them.

Twilight rolled up the scroll she wrote in. I guess I can write down more, later. She packed her things and exited through the same window she came in. She passed through the thick wall of the library, and embraced being back in the air again, wind ruffling her coat and moonlight polishing her feathers. She can rest up back at home, then do more research.