The Ballad of Xyclone

Ponyville, Equestria, midday

"Wow, Lyra, I didn't know you were such a good cook!" I said at lunch. I'm not one for salads, but this one is amazing!"

Lyra blushed. "Well, I learned everything from that pony over there!" She pointed at Bon-Bon, who smiled. "She taught me everything I know! We've been best friends since we were fillies, you know!"

Bon-Bon blushed. "Lyra, stop it, you're embarrassing me!"

I smiled at both of them. I tried picking up the fork to get another bite, but I kept dropping it. "ARGH!" I yelled frustratingly. "HOW THE HAY ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PICK THINGS UP WITH THESE DAMNED HOOVES?!"

Lyra snickered.

"Use your magic," said Bon-Bon unaffectedly. "You are a unicorn, you know...or are you 'humans' too stupid to notice something like that?"

Lyra gasped. "BON-BON!" she scolded.

"Hey!" I yelled back at Bon-Bon. "Hey, you know, you're right," I said, looking up at my horn. "I am a unicorn. But there was no reason to be a jerk about it, though, Bon-Bon!" I shot back at her.

"Well, there was no reason for you to come barging into our lives, expecting everything to be fine and dandy!" Bon-Bon yelled at me.

"Uh, guys?" Lyra said, trying to stop my and Bon-Bon's bickering.

"You know, you've been on my flank ever since I got here. What is your problem?!"

"My problem is you!"

"Um, guys...?"

"What do you mean, 'your problem is me'?! I've done nothing to you! Or anyone here, for that matter!"

"Oh, don't give me that!" Bon-Bon continued. "I know what you're planning! Twilight knows it, too!"

"PLANNING?! PLANNING WHAT?!"

"GUYS!!!!!" Lyra screamed at the top of her lungs. Bon-Bon and I both shut up. "Enough arguing, please! Now apologize to each other, both of you!"

"...Sorry, Bon-Bon," I muttered.

"Sorry, Xyclone," Bon-Bon mumbled.

"Good," Lyra said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go to the little filly's room." Lyra trotted down the hallway to the bathroom. Both Bon-Bon and I waited until she was out of sight, then we began quarreling again.

"This isn't over!" she whispered to me.

"Oh-ho-ho, not by a long shot!" I retorted. We both snarled angrily, shooting evil looks at each other until Lyra returned. Just as she did, Vinyl Scratch suddenly burst through the front door.

"Yo! Celestia wants to see you!" she shouted. "All of you!"

We all looked at each other worriedly. "Well, that was fast!" I said.

"Come on, let's go!" Vinyl continued.

Following Vinyl Scratch, Lyra, Bon-Bon, and I galloped to Twilight's library. When we got there, everypony else had already arrived, watching Princess Celestia pace back and forth with a concerned look on her face. Doctor Whooves was still asleep.

Princess Luna was there also. She attempted to calm her panicked sister down. "Sister, please calm down. I don't like seeing you this way..." Celestia ignored her.

"What's going on?" I asked as the four of us entered.

"Oh, Xyclone," called Princess Celestia. "Thank goodness you're here." She then turned to Twilight and sighed. "I can't hide it any longer. Twilight, I must reveal to you a secret I've been keeping from you and your friends for about the past week."

"What is it, Princess?" Twilight asked her, worried.

"An old enemy has returned; an enemy that you have already defeated numerous times."

"Who? If we've already defeated them, we can do it once more! Right, girls?" Twilight looked at her friends, who all nodded in agreement. "With the Elements of Harmony, we can—"

"It's Chrysalis," Celestia interrupted, her voice trembling. "She has once again returned for vengeance."

I could have sworn I saw a tear stream down Twilight's face. "W-We can defeat h-her again, c-can't we...girls?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Celestia went on. "See, I've gotten word from my representatives in other cities...and there have been reports of changeling raids everywhere from Vanhoover to Appleloosa."

"A-Appleloosa?" Applejack spoke up, taking off her hat and holding it over her face. "Braeburn..." she said, her voice trailing.

"I put off telling you because I thought it was nothing; you all have defeated her twice already. But I then started hearing reports of changelings being able to use magic."

"Magic?!" Twilight exclaimed.

And not just any old magic; they're using dark magic. The same type of magic that King Sombra used."

Rarity fainted. Applejack spotted her and caught her before she hit the floor, blushing as she did.

Twilight sat down, in disbelief. "D-Dark magic? B-But how is that even possible?!"

"I'm afraid I have no idea," replied Celestia, gazing out the window up at Canterlot above.

"Well, then why'd you call us here?" asked Vinyl Scratch.

Celestia turned back around to face Vinyl. "Queen Chrysalis' army is extremely powerful," she replied. "Twilight and her friends will need all the help that they can possibly get; Especially Xyclone here." She then spoke to me directly. "Xyclone, with your unbelievable knowledge of this world, I think you could give Princess Twilight and her friends the upper hand."

"I...I'm honored," I told her, bowing down. "I'm honored that you would let me help you. This is an all-time dream of mine, to go on adventure with you ponies." I looked at the mane six. All of them smiled. I could have sworn I saw Twilight reveal a smile as well.

Princess Celestia put a hoof on my shoulder, gesturing me to stand back up. "Just be careful," she said, concerned. I nodded in agreement.

I saw Twilight walk up to Spike. "This could be too dangerous for a baby dragon, Spike," she told him.

"Aw, come on, Twilight, I wanna help!" Spike begged. "I won't get in anypony's way, I promise!"

"No means no, Spike!" Twilight told him firmly.

"You will need to approach Chrysalis' kingdom," Celestia interjected. "You will need to report to me your findings. I'm sorry, Twilight, but Spike is coming this time."

"Yes! Aw yeah!" exclaimed Spike.

Celestia then stood up majestically and spoke to all of us collectively. "I wish you all luck. Now go!"

In a mere matter of seconds, the library was clear of ponies, except for Celestia and Luna. I looked back to see that Celestia laid down and tears had begun to stream down her royal face.

"Please, have faith, my sister," I heard Luna say, comforting her frightened sister. "We can always hope."

I heard Celestia say something, but I was now so far away that I could barely hear it. "I hope..." Her voice trailed. "I hope you are right, Luna." Celestia sniffled. I turned back around to see that I had lost track of the group and had fallen behind.

"Hey! Wait for me!" I called to them.