Following Their Hoofsteps

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Prologue

Inside the chambers of Equestria’s wise Council of Friendship, four young mares sat in their respective chairs with bored expressions on their faces. Rarity sighed and turned away from filing her hooves to Fluttershy who was looking over some paperwork. “Fluttershy, dear. Did Discord say anything about why he wanted us here? We’ve been waiting for at least half an hour now. I want to get back to the store and try out these new designs I made. And you have the perfect figure to do it.”

“Sorry, Rarity,” apologized Fluttershy. “But I don’t know anything else. Twilight?”

Twilight turned away from a scroll she had been reading before looking up and shaking her head. “Nope. All I know is that Discord has been busy with a project of his own again.”

“You don’t think it’s like that last project of his? The one where he tried to create a hivemind for ponies based on the changelings, right?” asked Rarity, nervously.

Everypony shivered at the thought of that day and the chaos it created. Discord got a laugh out of it, even if it was unintentional. The former Lord of Chaos, had changed a lot the past five years since the Tirek incident. He had worked very hard to improve Equestrian society and repent for his actions, slowly earning Equestria’s trust. A problem that both Twilight and Celestia realized originally was that Discord needed to do chaos, but in a way that didn’t harm Equestria. So they asked him to become their official “Unorthodox Researcher” who was dedicated to researching uncommon ways to help Equestria society.

Sometimes it was good, like the invention of the TV and pink chocolate cloud generator. Those were popular with the little ones, and Pinkie Pie. Other times it wasn’t so good, such as the hivemind idea. Twilight slowly turned to Pinkie who cheerfully waved hello. Never again... I love you and all, Pinkie, but I will never want to get inside your mind... again... nor will all of Equestria I think...

“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. Rainbow Dash and Applejack are late, again...” muttered Rarity, rolling her eyes. “I swear, they only got married two months ago. Do they really have to spend, every moment bucking each other’s brains out.”

“Silly Rarity! You don’t buck with your brains! You buck with your—”

“I think we know what we’re suppose to do, Pinkie!” shouted Twilight, blushing. She then smiled and leaned over, kissing her wife on the cheek. “After all, we’ve done it ourselves a few times, my naughty little Pinkie.” She leaned forward. “And if you behave well enough I’ll let you bring out the whip cream tonight.”

Pinkie began to drool at the thought her, Twilight, and whipped cream. The servants would be annoyed in the morning, but that was their job.

Rarity looked away with a blush on her face. Although she couldn’t hear what Twilight was whispering, the look on Pinkie’s face was evident enough, especially when her tail started to wag like a dog.

Rarity turned to Fluttershy and whispered, “I swear, we are the only married couple with any amount of decency and privacy when it comes to our love lives. We’ve never done something so crude and animalistic.”

Fluttershy gently began to tap her hooves together. “B-but Rarity? What about our honeymoon? When we were in our suite and you took out that leathered costume, chains, whip and huge—” Fluttershy yipped as Rarity’s hoof pressed against her wife’s mouth. She slowly turned to face Twilight and Pinkie who were staring at them with raised eyebrows. Rarity gave a nervous smile before Pinkie got bored and grabbed Twilight for another make out session.

Rarity quickly turned to a shaking Fluttershy and hissed. “I thought we agreed never to speak about that again.”

When the hoof was removed. Fluttershy whimpered. “You... you mean you didn’t like it? I... I wasn’t good... enough.”

Her earlier embarrassment quickly turned to regret before Rarity gave a comforting smile and hugged Fluttershy close to her heart. She rubbed her back and nuzzled her while whispering, “No, darling. That was an amazing night. You are the perfect lover and never think otherwise.”

Fluttershy quickly pressed forward and gently pressed her lips against Rarity’s. Unlike Pinkie Pie and Twilight, where Pinkie always dominated and Twilight allowed herself to be explored in her mouth with every crook and cranny while her hooves focused on Pinkie’s pink backside, Rarity and Fluttershy preferred grace. It was even with them, neither side letting the other dominate. Whenever they kissed it was as on, tongues gently touching each other as both grew closer and closer until they could feel the other’s fur against them.

“Hey, if you guys wanted to have a make out party we could have arrived a bit earlier!”

Both couples quickly separated and got up as an amused Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked in before taking their respective seats. Applejack leaned on hers and glanced at Rarity with a smirk. “So, what did we miss? Beside y’all trying to suck the life out of each other.”

“Waiting for you,” answered Twilight, reshaping her hair from all the wild curls and tangles. “Discord summoned us here, remember?”

“Yeah, but I don’t see the big guy. Guess that means he’s late himself, huh?” said Rainbow Dash, leaning back against her chair with her wings spread open.

“Actually, I’ve been watching the entire time waiting for all of you to arrive,” said a familiar voice that made all the girls jump out of their seats. They looked up and glared seeing the familiar draconequus above the ceiling with a hammock in place and binoculars in one hand while a bowl of popcorn in another. “And I must say you were all touchy feely on your own before you got married. Now that you're all in the old ball and chain it’s like you can’t stop.” He chuckled to himself before a third arm tossed popcorn into his mouth.

“Did you call us here for a reason, Discord? Or just to annoy us?” asked Twilight, huffing.

With a snap of his fingers, Discord blinked out and reappeared before the six mares with a proud smile. “Indeed, I have oh Princess of mine. You see, I have just finished my latest unorthodox idea ever!”

“It’s not like the last one is it? I don’t want to go to therapy again for looking into Pinkie’s mind,” warned Dash, rubbing her head.

“No, this time it’s very unique. Actually, I’m only half done. I can get it to work with mares, but stallions are proving to be a bit more difficult,” said Discord. The girls raised their eyebrows at each other before Discord continued. He turned around, back turned and stared into one of the glass painted windows that showed the six mares defeating Tirek with their new Rainbow powers. “As you all know, five years ago I made the mistake of betraying you all and siding with Tirek. A mistake that I still regret to this day.”

The others tone quickly changed to that of sympathy. Even after all these years, the betrayal was still a hard thing for Discord to deal with. He had earned their forgiveness instantly upon his helping in stopping the mad magic eating demon. The rest of Equestria, not so much. Many had demanded he be turned to stone or exiled for his mistakes, with even Cadance and Shining Armor supporting them. Discord never felt worse in his life, and spent many nights in Fluttershy’s house, sulking. It took all of them to help him gain confidence back to win their approval once more and he worked hard to do it. He tried to improve Equestria life, save towns from danger, even make dreams come true with his powers.

“But you’ve changed, Discord,” said Fluttershy, flying over and hugging him. He looked down at his best friend as the two shared a smile. “You proved that two years ago when you saved us from war.”

It wasn’t until the changelings invaded again that Discord saw his chance to be forgiven. Queen Chrysalis arrived with an army that outnumbered Equestria three to one. Her people were starving and she was determined to capture Equestria to feed her subjects or die trying. It looked like war was about to happen. That’s when Discord used his reality shaping powers to transform the entire changeling race into something else. Creatures that were not disfigured but pony like with butterfly wings and antenna. Ones that did not steal love, but instead could release it. A race that wasn’t always hungry or starving to survive, but could eat, drink, and be merry like everypony else. They were now Flutter Ponies. Named by Discord out the honor of his best friend.

It had been one of the most amazing things seen in history. With the flutter ponies no longer needing love to survive, they were finally free to peacefully interact with other races. Queen Chrysalis, thankful for Equestria help, established an alliance and sought to repair all the trouble her kind had caused over the millennia. Discord become a worldwide hero that day, but he owed it all to his friends for making him who he was now.

Nuzzling Fluttershy on the nose, he turned around and smiled at his best friends. “And I have you all to thank for it. I always used to think causing chaos was the only way I could ever be happy, but you proved to me that I can be happy doing good as well.” Discord snapped his fingers and medals of Discord’s face with the words “best friends” appeared on their chests. “So to thank you girls, I’ve decided to give you a gift.”

“The medals are nice, Discord, but you didn’t need to do that,” said Twilight.

“Speak for yourself, another trophy for the Wall of Awesome Achievements,” replied Rainbow Dash, proudly showing her’s off.

“That’s not the gift. This is,” said Discord as he snapped his fingers again, but this time he did it three times in a row.

In an instant, a warm yellow glow enveloped each of them. It lasted for a few seconds, and then it was gone. Pinkie looked around to see if her or any of her friends had changed, but nothing. “That’s it? I was expecting more,” pouted Pinkie, crossing her forelegs.

Discord pretend to be insulted and raised his chin. “Well, sorry for making it so you can all have foals.”

The girls blinked before Twilight chuckled, “Um, Discord. we can all technically have foals. We just can’t because... well,” she turned to Pinkie and held her hoof. “We’re all married to a mare. We can adopt, but that’s it.”

Discord grinned. “Maybe I wasn’t clear. I made it so you can all have foals. Together.”

A split second later every mare’s mouth was open and their eyes in shock. Discord quickly took out a camera and snapped shot and saved it in a photobook he had right behind his left ear. Rarity was the first to awaken from her stunned reaction. “Do you mean... we can have foals... together? Without a stallion?!”

“Yup! No need to thank-OOF!” Before Discord was finished he was tackled by Fluttershy who was hugging him with tears in her eyes. Needless to say, the other girls were also either crying tears of joy or were so shocked at the fact they and their wives could actually have children they had fallen off their seats.

Fluttershy immediately began to kiss Discord multiple times on the face while saying “thank you” each time. She finally stopped and flew over to Rarity with the biggest smile anypony had ever seen from her. “Did you hear that, Rarity! We can be parents! We can have a foal! We can bring a cute little filly or colt into the world and raise them and love them and eeeeee!” Fluttershy had spread her wings out and lifted a equally smiling Rarity into the air. “This is the best day ever!”

“Oh, Fluttershy,” whispered Rarity, softly as she was gently placed down and kissed her wife. “I never thought... I mean I wanted us to become parents and we were planning on adopting, but... oh this is a dream come true! Think of the outfits, the memories, the moments we can look forward too! I don’t care if I’m even going to be fat in the future, it’s worth it to bring a child of our love together into this world!”

She turned to Discord and bowed before him. “Thank you, darling! Thank you, there are no other words to describe how much this means to us.”

Applejack took off her hat and smiled at the spirit of chaos with a hint of a tear in her eye. “Same here. Ah only told a few ponies this, but Ah’ve always wanted to be a mother. In fact,” she turned Rainbow Dash and walked towards her. Dash was still frozen in place until she was lightly knocked on the head. At first, she glared at AJ for the hit, but was soon smooched which made her angry gaze completely melt into comfort. “Now Ah get a chance to have mah own filly or colt with the love of mah life. Havin’ all that, plus mah farm’s business doin’ great? Ah’m as happy as a clown in a rodeo.”

“And with my genes mixed with your genes? It’s gonna be the most awesome pony ever!” shouted Dash, punching the air.

“I don’t even understand how it’s possible,” asked Twilight, scratching her head. “How did you even manage to do this?”

Discord snapped his figures and turned into a scientist with a whiteboard behind him that had numerous equations that were mind boggling even to Twilight. Discord cleared his voice and spoke with a heavy Trottingham accent. “Well, my dear, Twilight. It is quite easily explained in simple terms.”

He snapped his fingers again and the equations disappeared on the board to change into: “I’m Discord. I can do anything!”

Twilight frowned at the answer, but was soon taken into a deep hug by Pinkie Pie who looked at her with a sultry look in her eyes. “You. Me. Bedroom. We’re gonna make some muffins in our ovens.”

Before Twilight had a chance to respond, Pinkie hoisted her up bridal style and they were already out of the room before anypony knew it. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at each other and grinned. “Yer spare room in the castle or mine?”

“Mine’s closer. Race ya!”

“Yer on sugarcube!”

The two raced out as well, leaving Fluttershy, Rarity, and Discord alone in the room. The two looked at Discord before he realized that they wanted some privacy and snapped his fingers to disappear.

Fluttershy grinned at Rarity with a rare dominating look and asked, “Here and now?”

“Oh, yes, Darling,” answered Rarity, before she was tackled onto the center crystal table and tongue wrestling with Fluttershy.

Needless to say, the servants would be very busy when they got back.

Author's Note

This fic is a gift to a friend of mine. Hope he enjoys it.

Chapter 1

Most ponies would say that when it came to preparing for special events or holidays there were always two mares you could count on. The first was Pinkie Pie, Ponyville's party maker expert. You could ask her for a party tomorrow and you’d have it in five hours after you asked. She knew what everypony wanted in a celebration, and how to make it so fun it would be the talk of the town until the next big party. The second pony was Princess Twilight Sparkle, who could organize anything in a split second, and have a checklist ready with proper steps to be taken. After proving herself at one Winter Wrap Up, most of the important events that required organization were handled by her. The mayors of Ponyville over the years had come to heavily depend on her for help, and she was all the more happy to do so. It even became more impressive when she balanced both her princess duties along with her previous ones.

Naturally, when the two got married, ponies wondered if there was going to be an event when the two would work together for a specific event. Most of the time, they let each other take care of the event by reasoning who would be best suited for what task. Pinkie Pie handled their wedding while Twilight handled their Honeymoon while splitting anniversaries. When it came to the birth of their child, Princess Aura Nova, Twilight had planned the hospital, and her room, while Pinkie took care of her birthdays.

There was only one event that the two ever combined their talents for: The Anniversary of Elements. While the date had once been to celebrate the return of Princess Luna, the night ruler had declared that it should also be a day for the return of the Elements of Harmony.

It had been held in Ponyville for the last three years, and now it was looking to be better than ever. The once small town of Ponyville had grown at least three times it’s borders and population in the last ten years. Most of which was thanks to Twilight and her friends, attracting others to seek a new life in the small kingdom that welcomed all into it’s borders. Such a big town now required a lot of work to be done for the celebration to go forth, and so Pinkie and Twilight worked overtime to make sure this year was memorable. The reason being was that it was the first time that the children of the Elements would be attending in the front, instead of waiting in the back. The six parents decided their fillies were mature enough to handle the public now.

Not that they weren’t already well known before, Discord’s spell that allowed same sex couples to have children gave birth to a new generation: “The Baby Boomers”. Now when you walked across the street, chances were you saw a filly, or a colt, that was born from parents of the same gender. There was some resistance for the spell at first by panicked or ignorant ponies who felt the spell was an abomination, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the amount of support it was given by both Royal Sisters. The spell for the first few years allowed only mares to give birth to fillies, but later on Discord managed to make it a way for stallions to give birth to colts. It saw an increase in marriages and population that other nations grew envious about. Soon, every race wanted the spell. Thus Discord had started traveling to each nation to help modify his spell for the other races, soon becoming known as the Spirit of Birth much to his dismay.

The others had a good laugh at it though.

Still, everypony was excited to see the three, especially the new princess. However, that said princess was taking a page out of her mother's book and focusing on a tome in the Friendship Palace’s huge library. Princess Aura Nova shared the same hair style as her mother did but more dark pink, courtesy of her other mother, with a purple stripe going down the middle. While she kept the coat color of Pinkie Pie, along with her eyes, she was a unicorn study bug like her mother. The difference was she was more into fantasy, rather than non-fiction, having been fascinated by the tales her mothers used to tell her when she was little. She always imagined she was a powerful mage, banishing whatever great evil had been attacking Equestria.

If only I could do magic just as good as that, thought Aura as she turned the page of “The Adventures of Danger Do, Son of Daring Do” while also glancing at a spell known to shoot fireworks out of one’s horn. Written by one of the most well known stage ponies in Equestria, The Great and Powerful Trixie.

While her mother, Twilight, was her hero, Aura also admired the Great and Powerful Trixie. Ever since Trixie was freed from the Alicorn Amulet, she had traveled around the world, learning magic, and doing heroic deeds to make up for her bad past. Her stories were told all over the world, just as much as Daring Do and her son, Danger Do. Aura wanted to be like her, traveling around the world, performing and doing magic, while also having amazing adventures.

Narrowing her eyes, Aura stood up and closed her eyes, trying to focus her magic into her horn. It glowed with a light pinkish color as she grit her teeth and put more and more magic into it. The book said to hold on to the magic as it began to build up. Right when you felt it getting hot were you suppose to release it forward like a crossbow with an arrow. “Come on! Come on!” Finally, she felt something ready to burst inside of her and she released.

What she didn’t expect was a loud bang from her horn that shot her back across the room and into a pile of books. Moaning, she pushed the literature away and rubbed her scorched horn, doing her best not to cry at the pain nor of the many scratches on her body. “Okay, that didn’t work out... like I had hoped.”

The doors to the library slammed open and she turned around to see two Twilight Guards, dressed in purple and gold, enter the room while being followed by one of the maids of the castle. She saw Aura Nova and gasped, “Little Princess! Are you okay?! What happened?!”

“It’s nothing, I just failed a spell.... again,” said Aura Nova, bitterly.

“You know you're not allowed to do magic unsupervised!” scolded the maid. “We must take you to see the healer at once.”

“I can take care of it, look.” Nova closed her eyes and concentrated on spreading her magic around her, focusing on the scratches and burned marks on her horn. She felt a sense of calm and coolness as she pushed the magic into her injuries with ease. Unlike with the previous spell, she didn’t have any problems holding this in as a green aura shined around her. In an instant, her wounds were healed. “I’m at least good with healing spells so I can take care of myself.”

“Be as it may, your mothers specifically stated that you are not to do magic without Princess Twilight with you,” repeated the maid. “I suggest you head to your room and clean up while I clean this mess. I’ll alert one of the guards to tell one of your mothers.”

Aura Nova winced. “Do you have too? They’re busy planning the celebration today after all.”

“I think they would put everything on hold to make sure their daughter is safe,” said the maid as she levitated the books, placing them on the shelves.

Aura sighed before dragging herself out of the room. While she didn’t expect Mother Pinkie to be harsh on her, Mother Twilight was another matter. Ever since she was young, Aura Nova had tried her best to be just like her mother in terms of magic, mostly to live up to her legacy. She rubbed her horn in frustration. I’m the daughter of the Element of Magic! So why is that, except for Telekinesis and Healing Spells, I can’t do a single other spell right?!

***

“Wake up, Mama! It’s Anniversary of Elements Day!” shouted a leaping yellow furred filly with a rainbow colored mane tied up in a ponytail. She grinned at the thought of finally outracing her mother in something, but that dream was dashed when the pony in the covers zoomed out of the bed in the blink of an eye, leading the filly to landing on an empty pillow.

The sound of familiar laughter echoed in her ears as she turned around and glared at her mother who was leaning against the wall. “Sorry, squirt. That’s twenty-five to zero in my favor, right?” asked Rainbow Dash with a smirk.

“Twenty-four,” muttered the filly as she got off the bed. Her scowl was quick replaced with excitement when she remembered what it was she came up here for. “Oh yeah! Mama Applejack said to get yer butt in gear since we don’t want to be late like last year.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up. “Jeez, you try to do a double sonic rainboom one time, end up passing out of exhaustion, wake up three hours late once , and nopony lets you forget it. The least she could do is let me take a wizz and shower first.”

“Why don’t ya do both at the same time?” asked Apple Streak.

Dash snickered. “I did one time, but I didn’t clean the stains well enough. Applejack had me using the bushes as a bathroom for a week. Seriously, Apple Streak. Never get married. Takes most of the fun out of life.”

“Ain’t got no plans too! Love is gross,” said Apple Streak, sticking out her tongue.

“Yeah, but remember it was that love that made ya, squirt,” commented Rainbow Dash before she closed the door.

Apple Streak shrugged before she exited her parents room and made for the stairs, passing by the photos of family members both old and new. She skipped a few with some jumps, and made her way towards the kitchen where Uncle Macintosh was cooking apple and caramel flavored pancakes. The aroma alone was enough to make Streak’s mouth drool as she sat on her chair and panted like a dog. Big Macintosh gave a small smile before flipping the last of the pancakes onto a huge stack. “Somepony’s hungry.”

“Can’t help it,” answered Apple Streak, licking her chops as the stack was placed on the table. “Everypony knows ya make the best pancakes in the world, Uncle Mac!”

She was ready to dig in when a hoof swatted her own away. Rubbing it, she looked at Mac who shook his head. “Remember the rules, Apple Streak. No eatin’ until everypony’s at the table.”

“Aww, but Uncle Mac, everypony’s too slow! Ah wanna eat now and get to the festival!”

“Let her eat, Pop. Celestia knows she ain’t listen to rules and she ain’t gonna do it now.”

Apple Streak turned around and glared at the newcomer to the table. An older colt who looked like a perfect teenage version of her uncle only his mane was longer like a rock star and his cutie mark was that of a guitar strumming out notes. “Mornin’ Streaky, did ya finally sprout wings when ya smelled breakfast, or are they invisible?”

“Oh, put a sock in it, Jonathan,” grumbled Apple Streak while crossing her hooves. “Some day Ah’ll be the first earth pony to fly! Y’all see!”

“Yeah, maybe when Ah’m finally old enough to drink hard cider,” chuckled Jonathan Apple who got a pancake in the face for his comment.

Apple Streak was about to throw more when two ponies shouted out her name in a scolding tone that made her freeze up. With an awkward smile, she turned around and saw the two ponies in her life she never liked to anger in anyway. The first was a very pregnant Cheerilee who was both her aunt at home and her teacher at school. Apple Streak would admit she wasn’t a... model student, but she did love her aunt very much. And she especially had to now that she was pregnant with emotions going wild. And the second was her other mother, the more serious one.

“Apple Streak, how many time have Ah told ya not to throw food at yer cousin?” asked Applejack, eyes narrowed.

Streak gulped and pointed at Jonathan who was leaning back on his chair while eating the pancake thrown at him. Another thing that annoyed her since she wanted the first bite. “B-but he was makin’ fun of me!”

“Speaking of,” said Cheerilee, walking over and glaring at her son who was now sweating bullets. “Jonathan Apple, I’ve told you to stop mocking your younger cousin. I’m guessing it as about her dream again, right?”

Jonathan shrugged. “Come on, Ma. It was just a joke. But ya have to admit it’s a bit silly for an earth pony to want to fly.”

“It’s not silly! I’m gonna get wings someday, somehow, and I’m gonna join the Wonderbolts like Mama Dash!” shouted Apple Streak, before pointing at his cutie mark. “At least Ah don’t sit in mah room all the time and write lame music for a girl that doesn’t look at ya.”

“Least Ah ain’t a blank flank who sleeps with a night light!”

“Enough, both of ya!” shouted Applejack. “If neither of ya are gonna be actin’ mature maybe ya both should stay here instead of goin’ to the festival,” said Applejack.

“B-but Mama! Please! Me and the other Crusaders were gonna have fun! We planned to do games and eat food from Sugacube Corner and everythin’!” begged Apple Steak, hooves clasped in prayer. “Ah’ll be good! Ah promise!”

“Apologize to yer cousin first,” said Applejack.

Sighing, Apple Streak turned to her cousin and held out her hoof. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, me too,” said Jonathan, taking it and bumping hooves.

Rainbow Dash found herself the right time to fly right in and kiss her wife good morning. “Hey, gang, what’s up?”

“Our daughter decided to be mischievous early today and throw a pancake at yer nephew,” answered Applejack.

Rainbow Dash giggled. “Really? Was it right in the face? Ow!” She rubbed the back of her head. “What was that for, AJ?”

“For givin’ our daugher more of yer genes than mine, now let’s eat. We got a big day ahead of us.”

They sat down and started passing the pancakes around, Cheerilee taking a few extra’s while putting endless amounts of syrup, bananas, nuts, and even had her husband get whipped cream. Before she digged into her own plate, Apple Streak turned to Applejack and asked, “Mama? Are ya still angry at me?”

Applejack smiled and ruffled her daughter’s mane. “Nah, ya know Ah love ya, darlin’. Hey, betcha Ah can eat more than ya.”

“Yer on!”

***

Glitterfly had the most enchanting evening of her life. Here she was, daughter of the Elements of Generosity and Kindness, raised in the palace of Princess Twilight, and now on a date with that said princess’s nephew, Prince Leon de Sparkle. Walking through the blue rose garden of Canterlot, she continued to daze as his magenta and blue mane that was like looking into the sea. His white groomed coat was as clear as the moon above with his black tux with gold edges giving him the regal look one would expect from a prince. And then there were his eyes, sweet Celestia his violet eyes. She was barely able to keep herself from swooning and summoning her mother’s fainting couch. And naturally, like any young adolescent filly, she admired his flank. That tone military trained flank with a blue heart centered around a shield. Although she was a bit envious that he had his cutie mark already, it didn’t stop her from admiring this moment.

Oh stop it, Glitterfly! Both Mama Fluttershy and Mother Rarity would scold you for thinking so uncouth.

Speaking of her mothers, she had to thank both of them for getting her dressed up for a night like this. The dark purple and pink dress her mother had made for her with a sapphire heart in the middle of her breast was the envy of all Canterlot. Her silver earrings and ruby slippers were old trinkets her other mother had when she was a model a long time ago. Truth be told, she thought she was a born natural beauty having come from the most beautiful ponies in Equestria short of the princesses themselves. She had Rarity’s snow white coat that made her look like the child of peaceful winter, while her mane was like Fluttershy’s; smooth and long.

The two of them arrived at a small pond in the middle of the garden where a few nightjar birds flew around them and gave out a tune. Giggling, Glitterfly let out a few “ah ah ahhh”’s that earned her a few happy tweets. Prince Leon gave a few claps before he reached out and nuzzled Glittershy, making freeze up and blush. He leaned in closer as she felt her heart beating faster with each inch forward. The two closed their eyes as their lips were inches apart...

“WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD!”

“Gah!” cried out Glitterfly as she jumped out of her bed and landed on her pillow, rump high in the air. A smack against it made her yipe before she got out of her covers and glared at the grinning little colt who had a white coat like her but his mane was dark brown and curly. Plus, he had his father’s old beanie on his head. Flaring her wings out, Glitterfly dived for her cousin who laughed while heading for the door. “Get back here, Trigger Button! I’ll give you such a spanking that you’ll have to stand for the rest of your life!”

“Can’t catch me, cousin!” shouted the little colt before he ran out the door, Glitterfly was about to follow when she smacked into something hard and green. She landed flat on her back, eyes dizzy, while a large dragon looked down on her with an amused expression. “I see Trigger managed to wake you up?”

He held out a claw and helped Glitterfly up while she patted herself with her wings to get rid of the dirt. She then glared upward at the dragon and frowned. “Tell me that it wasn’t you who sent my annoying cousin to wake me up, Spike?”

“No, that would be your mother, Rarity,” answered Spike, leaning against the doorway. “She would have come herself, but she was busy working on the finishing touches to the dresses she and the other Elements will be wearing at the festival.”

Glitterfly gasped. “Oh, dear! I forgot about that! Quick, help me brush my mane while I powder my face!” She rushed over to her crystal mirror and handed Spike her comb while she took the powder and began to apply it. “I’m surprised you're here so early. Didn’t you have a meeting with the Zebra delegates, Mr. Ambassador of Equestria?”

“Normally, the talks would be about three hours long, but since one of those delegate happened to be an old town friend who lived in the forest some years back, it was pretty quick,” answered Spike, coming the long mane. “I’m surprised that you weren’t up already. Didn’t you hear that blast from the library?”

Alarmed, Glitterfly turned around and stared at Spike with worried eyes. “Please don’t tell me Aura was trying to do magic without Princess Twilight again?”

Spike sighed and nodded. “Yeah, good thing she’s great at healing spells. Still, Twilight’s gonna give her an earful in a few minutes.”

“I know she want’s to be good at magic, and get her cutie mark in it, but she doesn’t have to always risk herself like that,” said Glitterfly, which made Spike snort. “What?”

“Sorry, just never thought I heard a Cutie Mark Crusader not want to take a risk when getting a cutie mark,” snorted Spike which made Glitterfly roll her eyes. While both her and Apple Streak’s aunts inspired them to recreate the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she at least was reasonable not to try any of the insane things they did. Not that it didn’t stop Apple Streak a few times.

Like that time we got covered in tree sap, thought Glittershy with a shiver. She, Apple, and Aura all had to get their manes shaved off that day. “I’m well aware of the reputation that comes with the name, Spike. But we are going to find our Cutie Marks in well manned ways.”

“I just want to make sure you girls are holding out okay. Most get their cutie marks at eight years old and you’re going on ten while Aura Nova and Apple Streak are both nine,” said Spike, a bit of a nervous approach in his tone. “Some ponies... might just seek to use that as an advantage.”

Glitterfly stopped pondering her nose and closed her eyes. “This is about Flower Crown and Pennywhistle isn’t it?”

She looked up from her mirror to see Spike rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, Fluttershy was worried. Cheerilee just said you let them always boss you around and make fun of you for being blank flanks. Hay, you tell Apple Streak not to attack them and just let them continue to walk all over you without saying anything. Why?”

“Because there is no point in fighting, that’s why,” answered Glittershy, huffing. “I don’t want to cause a conflict with them because it will only lead to more problems.” I already learned that the hard way. “Besides, I’m sure they’ll change. Diamond Tiara used to bully Apple Bloom, and now they’re a couple.”

Spike shrugged. “I guess, just don’t be afraid to defend or stick up for yourself.”

A knock on the door, alerted the two of them of a new presence and turned around to see Fluttershy walking in. “Oh, I’m not interrupting am I?”

“No, mother, I was just finished,” said Glittershy, getting off her seat. “And if you wanted to talk you should have come yourself rather then send somepony else.”

Fluttershy gave a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, Glitter, but, you don’t want to talk about it. I’ve had my fair share of bullying when I was your age. I later learned it was alright to be assertive and stand up for yourself. We can always talk about what you’re building up inside you.”

“Mom, you don’t have worry,” said Glittershy, hugging her mom. “I can handle it. You don’t need to worry about me all the time.”

Fluttershy sighed and held onto her daughter as tight as she could. “I know. But I love you so much, my little miracle. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Like... that one day...”

Little miracle. It was the name her birth mother had always given her because it was a miracle. She had been born stillborn for two minutes before she breathed her first gasp of air and cried. It took the doctors five hours to separate her from her parent’s hooves so she could be taken care of. Since then, Fluttershy had always been a worry wort when it came to her.

Kissing her mother on the cheek, she said, “I’m going to go talk to Aura Nova. See you soon.”

Fluttershy watched her little miracle fly out the window before giving off a sad smile. Spike walked over and place his claw on her shoulder. “She still blames herself for that day, huh?”

“Yes...”

***

Aura Nova could see the festival already starting to kick off from her window in the castle. Balloons were everywhere along with banners of her parents and their cutie marks as well as the rest of the Elements. The total count of ponies was impossible to say since it was like looking at a multicolored sea of heads and manes both on the ground and in the air. The sound of bands playing their tunes as the smell of food could be whiffed even from her. Aura could see the families and strangers passing the crystal palace while taking pictures of it. She made sure to shy away just so she didn’t get caught in any of the photos.

She was used to getting her photo taken because of her mothers, but she hated being the focus if she was ever brought up. Most of the time it was the same topic: her magic. Reporters and dignitaries would always ask how her magical studies were doing, and what was she learning.

A knock on her bedroom door made her sigh. Might as well get this over with.

She unlocked her door with her magic and turned around, only she was surprised by who she saw. “Mommie Pinkie? I thought you were busy with the festival?”

Pinkie Pie walked up and nuzzled her daughter before messing with her mane. “A festival like this is worth nothing if my favorite cupcake was feeling blue.” She leaned down with a gentle and understanding smile. “So you tried to do magic again without Twilight around, huh?”

Aura Nova closed her eyes and slowly nodded. “I didn’t mean to break the rule, I just...”

“Yes?” encouraged Pinkie.

“What if ponies wanted to see me do magic? I’m the daughter of you and one of the most famous magic users in the land! What if they expect something really amazing from me? On front stage? And all I can do is telekinesis and healing spells!” She turned around and dived onto her pillow on her bed, face first. “I just don’t want to embarrass myself.”

Pinkie Pie walked over and placed her hoof on her daughter. “You don’t have to worry about that, Aura. All we’re gonna do is have you by our sides this year while Twilight does her big long and boring speeches thing. Nopony expects you to do something like move the sun or whatnot. You don’t have to be silly. Just leave that to me.”

Looking up from her pillow, Nova Aura whispered, “Really?”

“Yup! If anything, they’ll be asking for your special Aura Cookies that you made with me for the festival.” Pinkie rubbed her stomach while her mouth drooled. “You really got my baking skills, because those cookies are goooood.”

A smile found its way onto Nova Aura’s face as she got up and hugged her mother who hugged her back. The two continued their embrace until a new voice interrupted them. “Well, I guess I wasn’t needed for a talk now, huh?”

Both of them turned around and saw Twilight Sparkle, smiling from the doorway. Aura got off her bed and nervously walked towards her mother. “Mommie, I’m sorry... I just...” She was silenced when Twilight put a hoof on her mouth, but the alicorn’s smile never changed.

“I heard everything. I was going to be angry at you, but I think Pinkie did a better job this time,” said Twilight as she leaned down and was at eye level with her daughter. “I know you want to learn magic, but its too dangerous for you to do it without me. I don’t want to see my baby filly get hurt.”

“I know, but why can’t I perform magic like the other unicorns my age?” asked Aura.

“I honestly don’t know, Aura,” answered Twilight as she brought her daughter closer and hugged her. “But I promise we’ll find a way.”

“Yay! Family hug time!” shouted Pinkie Pie as she hopped over and joined in the hug giving both her wife and daughter a kiss on the cheek.

Aura Nova felt her smile return as she could feel the love both her mothers had for her. She was still a bit down, but the words of parents still ringed in her ears and made her feel that nothing was going to go wrong.

“Hey, Aura, I heard,” said Glitterfly as she entered the room, only to pause in mid-step. “Oh, sorry for intruding your Majesties. I’m not interrupting anything am I?”

“It’s okay, Glittershy, we were just finished,” answered Twilight as the three broke their hug.

“Well, I’m glad everything worked out. Now if only Apple Streak and her parents could get here so we can go to the festival already,” muttered Glittershy. “She’s probably still devouring those pancakes Big Macintosh always makes on Friday mornings like a hungry lion on a fresh kill. The little piglet.”

“I’m not the one who's gained a bit of weight in her flank, princess,” said Apple Streak, walking over to a glaring Glitterfly. “What’s up, everypony?”

“I-I-I have not gained any weight in my backside, Streak! And you should greet yourself properly next time, especially when in front of Princess Twilight.”

Apple Streak rolled her eyes before turning to Aura Nova. “So ya blew up the library again, huh? Think you can do that in class so we can get out early next week?”

“Why would I do that?! School is so much fun!” gasped Aura Nova, placing her hooves over her mouth while Apple Streak facehoofed.

“And this is why I wonder everyday why I hang out with you two?”

“Excuse me!” Everypony turned to see Rarity, holding a measuring tape in her magic and her glasses on, rush on over. Panting, she said, “Twilight... need... to correct... your measurements... come with me! Now!”

“Rarity, I’m sure a few centimeters off isn’t going too-Hey!” shouted Twilight before she was picked up by a panicking Rarity who ran off with the princess in toe.

Pinkie laughed a bit before striking a heroic pose. “Don’t worry, Twilight! I’ll save you!” and then proceed to hop out of the room while going “la la la la la”.

Apple Streak snickered while both Glittershy and Aura went red from their parents actions. “Anyway, you girls ready for the festival!”

“Yeah, it’s gonna be so much fun!” shouted Aura Nova, rearing back and kicking her legs in the air. “I hear the Great and Powerful Trixie is performing, and I want to see her so badly!”

“And we get to be at the big ceremony this year with all the biggest and most famous names looking at us!” squealed Glitterfly.

“But the best will be the Wonderbolts performing afterwards, with yours truly's own mother taking part in it!” yelled Apple Streak, pumping her hoof in the air.

“But let’s not forget the main goal of this festival...” reminded Glittershy as the other two grinned. “Were gonna finally find our cutie marks!”

The three held up their hooves against each other in the air in a triple hoof slap and shouted, “Cutie Mark Crusader Festival Enjoyers! Yay!”

***

They were really having a fun time, at least that’s what he could see from his spot in the Everfree Forest. He could hear the laughter, the joys of happiness, and cries of surprise from what had to be thousands of ponies. Oh, how he couldn’t wait to replace those smiles with fearful gasps when he finally struck.

So many years of planning. So many years of gaining back the power he once had. A sinister grin decorated his shadowy face as green and red eyes looked at the village of Ponyville with amusement. It was hard to believe that the ones who defeated him so long ago lived in such a pathetic place. He would be sure to burn it once he had finished his plans.

His eyes gazed upward as he saw the Crystal Empire’s chariot arrive along with one from Canterlot. Yes, all the pieces would be in place.

Just a bit longer.

Author's Note

Hope you like the daughters

Chapter 2

The first thing that Apple Streak said when they finally made it to the festival was that Aura’s parents had outdone themselves this year, and Aura had to agree. Not a single spot of Ponyville was left untouched by the festival and its participants. There was so much to do that none of the three girls could figure out what they wanted to do first. In the end, they decided to just walk around and enjoy whatever they could.

Their first trip was to get some lunch where Sugarcube Corner had merged with famous griffin chef, Gustave le Grand. Together, they had combined their dishes into a strange combination of both lunch and dessert. Such as string beans and fried rutabaga with a spoonful of tasty Mrs. Cake’s famous strawberry cream. Caesar salad with crushed cookies and chocolate chips. And even smoked salmon for the non-herbivores with baked potato and whipped cream on top.

The girls ate their fill and more, saying hello to some of their classmates and their families. That was until a food fight started courtesy of the Cake Twins. Pies and broccoli were thrown everywhere as ponies quickly took sides to join in on the fun. Even Glitterfly, who tried to stop it, ended up throwing a cupcake or two after getting her mane ruined by a stray bowl of ice cream. Eventually, some guards came to restore order, but many agreed it had been fun. Well, not for the parents of the Cake Twins who quickly told their children they were grounded after the festival, but they said it had been worth it.

After a cleaning up spell by a nearby Dinky Doo, who was hanging out with her mother and sister, the three sent out for their next activity. They made their way to the performance center where there were quite a few attractions each of the three fillies was drawn too. Glitterfly had been drawn to the latest fashion models of world famous designer Hoity Toity and his new star Coco Pommel. Glitterfly naturally greeted the two since they were associates of her mother, Rarity, and they talked about fashion, much to the annoyance of Apple Streak who asked Aura Nova to end her misery with a choking spell.

To make up for it, Apple Streak chose their next destination and it turned out to be Iron Will, now a martial arts teacher. Having learned from his past, he decided to teach ponies to defend themselves from bullies rather than become one themselves. Apple Streak, along with a few others, went up and learned a few moves although some ponies were surprised to see Apple Streak knock down one of the instructors with a technique her pegasus mother taught her. The real surprise, however, came when Iron Will asked Aura’s aunt, Maud Pie, to come up on stage for a demonstration.

Naturally, Iron Will had been thrown halfway across Ponyville with his assistants declaring an intermission. After allowing Aura to say hello to her Aunt, the three made their way to their final performer and Aura’s favorite: The Great and Powerful Trixie. Aura Nova, for once, wasn’t afraid to use her princess authority to grant her front row seats with her friends. The three had heard of Trixie many times from their mothers, specifically when she was an archenemy of theirs. While she was still a bit braggy, and loud, Trixie was definitely more noble than their parent’s stories made her out to be. Instead of outright challenging others to do better than her, she instead politely asked if anypony would like to see if Trixie could match their talents.

One by one ponies came up and Trixie matched them all from juggling to tap dancing. She eventually stopped to perform magic tricks that had the crowd dazzled with amazement. Aura had been on the edge of her seat with every stunt: the sawing in half, the sword in the box, the magic rings, every card trick possible, and the stories of Trixie vanquishing problem after problem in other towns. It was a dream come true for her, especially when Trixie shot small sparks of fireworks around the audience, but it turned out to be an illusions. Aura giggled at the sight of the fireworks dancing in front of her and tickling her nose, even though they weren’t real.

After the show, the gang realized they only had a little time left before they were needed for the ceremony so they decided to spend some time with some games. Nice friendly games...

***

“That’s a bunch of horseapples dipped in caramel sauce! That throw should have knocked them all down!” cried out Apple Streak, stomping her hooves down in a fury.

“Sorry, but you missed one,” the game dealer, a yellow flutter pony, said while pointing to the last remaining can on the pedestal. “You can try again for another three bits.”

“I already paid fifty to win this! Cut me some slack!” cried out Apple Streak. She turned to Aura who was cradling her yellow ducky plush with disbelief. “How did you get this on the first try?”

“Well, I just judge the weight of the ball, took into account the air resistance that comes with throwing, and analyzed the perfect weak spot by the structure of the stacked cans,” explained Aura with a pleased smirk. “Then I just used that information to come up with the right amount of power to throw it and I won.”

Apple Streak just stared at Aura for a bit before tilting her head. “Eh?”

“I used my brain, not my muscles,” replied Aura, rolling her eyes.

“Oh.”

Glitterfly walked over from her bean bag game, along with the rainbow colored hairclip she won, and shook her head, “We wasted enough bits to last a full month's allowance. We should be heading back for the ceremony.”

“Aw, but I wanted to try one more game! We said we were gonna try for cutie marks in game playing! You two got prizes already and I want to get something!” complained Apple Streak.

“I know the perfect reward for a blank flank!” cried out a voice. Apple Streak turned around only to get a pie thrown into her face. “Banana custard!”

Two sets of laughter echoed in Apple Streak’s ears as she shook off the pie and cream before growling at the two fillies she didn’t want to see today. The first, red furred earth pony, had three flowers for her cutie mark as well as those same flowers in her long blond mane. Her friend, right beside her, was also an earth pony, but brown furred with a black short mane that flared out and she had whistle as a cutie mark. Unlike the first one, who looked to be quite beautiful and elegant, the second had muscles and a cocky grin. “Flower Crown and Pennywhistle. I thought I tasted something rotten with that pie.”

“What do you two want? Can’t you just leave us alone today of all days?” asked Aura, who hid behind her plushie when they stared at her. “Please?”

“Why? Everypony else is greeting you three blanks flanks like you’re the queens of Equestria when its really your parents day. What did you three twerps do? Oh right! Nothing!” laughed Flower Crown while bumping hooves with Pennywhistle. “Seriously, what any great traits do you have?”

“Yeah, especially since,” Pennywhistle raised her hoof and pointed at Glitterfly, “one of them is a spineless doormat.”

“I’m not a doormat!” shouted Glitterfly, growling, but she soon shook her head and composed herself. “I just think its a waste of time to deal with you two rude mares.”

“Oh, and let’s not forget the moronic earth pony who wants to be a Wonderbolt,” said Flower Crown, flapping her forelegs while making a funny face. “Duh, I’m gonna use my hooves to fly ‘cause I got no brains to hold me down.”

“That’s it! I’m gonna buck your head off!” shouted Apple Streak, ready to rush forward, but Glitterfly caught her first. “Let me go!”

“No! No fighting! We’re not gonna let them get the best of us! We don’t need to solve this with violence and make things worse!” shouted Glitterfly. “Besides! We need to be on our best for our parents! Do you want to embarrass them like this?!” She nudged her head over to a crowd of ponies who were eying the commotion.”

“My moms would understand! Especially, when dealing with these jerks!”

“See, Penny? One’s a hothead and the other is spineless,” said Flower, smirking.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders? More like Cutie Mark Losers,” laughed Pennywhistle. “Don’t know what’s special about you besides being the children of your famous mothers. I happen to be one of the best athletes in Ponyville.”

“And I have won many beauty pageants,” said Flower, flicking her mane and tail.

“So what! We’re gonna find who we are together and we’re gonna be just like our parents!” said Aura, stepping forward in front of her friends. “So leave my friends alone!”

“Or what? You’re gonna turn us into toads? Oh, wait, you can’t. Because your magic sucks!” shouted Pennywhistle, pointing at a gulping Aura. “For somepony who happens to be the daughter of one of the most magical ponies in all of Equestria, you might as well have been born an earth pony. I can’t image how embarrassing it is that you are such a disappointment!”

Aura closed her eyes and winced at the accusations. A tear dripped from her eye before Glitterfly put her hoof on her shoulder. She looked up and saw a smile on her older friend’s face. “Don’t listen to them. You’re a smart filly and you were the one to come up with the idea of us being Crusaders like our aunts. You’re no disappointment to us.”

“Yeah, what princess said,” seconded Apple Streak, grinning and lightly punching Aura on the shoulder. “Don’t listen to these jerks. By the time you’re grown up, you’re gonna be known all over the world for your magic.”

“Ugh, this is so cheesy I could throw up,” complained Flower Crown, faking a gag. “Are you three done yet?”

“No, but you two are.”

The two bullies froze up when they heard that voice. Others who had been watching gasped at the new arrival and bowed. Aura Nova’s expression instantly changed to glee upon seeing who it was, as was Apple Streak’s who was finding the frightened faces of their tormentors an enjoyment. Glitterfly, however, turned red in the face as her eyes began to sparkle. “Prince Leon de Armor,” she whispered with admiration.

“Cousin Leon!” shouted Aura with joy upon seeing her favorite older cousin.

The first male alicorn in the history of Equestria glared at the two squirming ponies with his white wings flared out. “I suggest you two leave and enjoy the festivals somewhere else. Far away from my little cousins and her friends.”

“Y-yes your majesty!” they both said and quickly fled with their tails between their legs.

Sighing, Prince Leon smiled as his cousin rushed over to him and hugged his legs. “You okay, Aura?”

“Yup! Now that you’re here!” shouted Aura, giggling as she broke the hug and squatted down.

The prince grinned upon seeing this and squatted down too before shouting, “Sunshine! Sunshine! Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves! And do a little shake!” They both went through the dance style their mothers had both invented before laughing and hugging each other once more.

“That is still the most cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” sighed a dreamy eyed Glitterfly.

“You only watch it for when Leon does the ‘do a little shake part’, right?” asked a grinning Apple Streak, earning her a smack on the head from Glitterfly.

Prince Leon turned to the others and smiled. “How are you ladies doing?”

“G-good, Prince L-L-Leon,” stuttered a blushing Glitterfly.

“Glitter, how many times do I have to tell you. Call me Leon, we’re friends after all,” he said with a shining smile.

“Right, sorry.”

“Anyway, I was asked to collect you three. It’s time for the ceremony to start and Mrs. Rarity was really freaking out about the costume designs,” said Leon, levitating Aura onto his back. “Follow me.” He started trotting forward while ponies bowed to him and Aura who waved back.

Glitterfly followed with hearts in her eyes while Apple Streak rolled hers at the sight. “You know he’s gay, right?”

“He’s not gay!” hissed Glitterfly, with a look that screamed “pain” for even suggesting such a thing. “He’s just a bit more feminine than most stallions.”

“The guy shampoos that mane of his six times, gets pedicures, loves fashion, and enjoys chick flicks. Either he’s gay, or his testosterone levels are lower then my Uncle Braeburn. And he’s gayer than any gay I know,” pointed Apple Streak. It didn’t help the fact he was bowing his head towards the guys more than the girls.

“It just shows that he’s sensitive and all! I will not hear anymore of this,” demanded Glitterfly, putting her nose in the air and walking further away from Apple Streak.

“And they say denial is the first stage...” whispered Apple Streak.

***

Naturally, the ceremony would be taking place at Town Hall which had grown twice as big since its founding years ago. A big stage had been set up with the banners of all the Elements and the National Flag of Equestria flying high in the wind. Flowers and banners of all colors were placed around the stage and over the purple curtains where the Elements and their daughters would be presented. Across the stage were hundreds of chairs and benches placed for family members and friends they had made throughout all their adventures. That didn’t mean that others weren’t allow to watch as thousands had gathered around the chairs to the point where goggles were being sold for others to see.

A special section was made for the other Princesses and Princes of both Equestria and the Crystal Empire to sit in. Normally, the children of the Elements would also be there, but their seats were empty this year. Princess Celestia rose from her seat and made for a microphone nearby. The place went completely quiet as a smiling Celestia spoke, “Greetings, one and all to this year’s Anniversary of the Elements. Where we gather to celebrate the achievements of Equestria’s greatest heroines for their bravery and dedication of the years to protect us and the harmony that which we believe in. I shall now introduce them by family.” Celestia smirked as she motioned towards a small orchestra that began to play. “First up, The Elements of Loyalty and Honesty. Captain of the Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash, and Co-Owner of Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack Dash. And their daughter, Apple Streak Dash!”

The crowd cheered as the curtains revealed the first Element family, the loudest being Applejack’s many relatives and fans of the Wonderbolts. Rainbow Dash’s outfit looked white at first, but to the awe of the crowd it started to change colors while mixing into a perfect reflective rainbow light. She spread her wings and lifted herself up for a quick pose, showing off her golden lightning bolt earrings, shoes, and necklace. The golden item that shined the most was her winner’s crown from her first Youngest Fliers Competition where she performed and mastered the Sonic Rainboom.

Applejack, wearing her signature hat with a red velvet ribbon around the top, quickly pulled her praise hungry wife down back to earth. Her dress was green like the grass and decorated with red, green, and yellow apples of all kinds. To any normal pony, they looked the same, but each one was the type of apple for all the family members that were close to her both past and present. Like Rainbow Dash, she had a golden necklace with an apple.

Apple Streak’s dress was more like Dash’s, having the blue color scheme with red and orange glittering diamonds to represent her mother, but she had a similar hat like that of her mother’s only red in color. Her hooves were protected by her mother’s old boots from the only Grand Galloping Gala she ever went too, but had lightning bolts stitched in on it. Rarity and Apple Streak had argued for days about the clash of designs, but the stubborn filly refused to change it for the sake of honoring her mothers. Although, in truth, she and her parents would rather not wear a dress at all, but it was proper to do so.

“Next, our Elements of Generosity and Kindness. Famous fashion designer, Rarity Belle, and reformer of Discord, Fluttershy Belle. Along with their daughter, Glitterfly Belle.”

This time most of the high class nobility and animals who had attended cheered for the next two as the curtains rolled back. All three of them bowed and politely waved to their fans. Fluttershy, being who she was, allowed herself to fall back a bit to let her wife and daughter take more of the attention. Her dress had been the simplest of them all, a request Rarity couldn’t ignore from Fluttershy since one look of her begging eyes and the unicorn was easily turned. Her dress was green, naturally her favorite color, but decorated with flowers and light yellow ribbons. A crown of flowers decorated her head, and her golden necklace with a butterfly was around her neck.

Rarity had gone all out for her dress. Her blue and white dress was decorated with sapphires and amethysts along each seamline, as well as her cutie mark designed by diamonds. She had requested the finest crystals from the Empire to design her own clear crystal shoes, earrings, and tiara that she wore proudly on her head. She had based this design on Princess Platinum’s that she wore when her secret lover, Commander Hurricane, asked for her hoof in marriage. It had all fitted perfectly well with her golden necklace with the shape of a diamond.

While Glitterfly’s dress was mostly made by her mother, some of the sewing was done by Fluttershy who wanted to help make her daughter’s dress perfect. It was purple, to represent her mother’s mane, with pink at the helm line and decorated with various jewels. Stitched around those jewels were butterflies and birds. Glitterfly also had a necklace with a silver crystal in the middle that was a gift from Prince Leon on her last birthday, one he personally choose himself. Naturally, Glitterfly had channeled her shy mother that moment and ran into her room to hide under the covers, holding the necklace close to her heart.

“And finally, the Elements of Magic and Laughter. Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess Pinkie Pie, and Princess Aura Nova!”

A blast of confetti went off from various hidden party cannons as the curtains opened up, revealing the newest royal family, earning the biggest and loudest cheer. To this day, many ponies still found it hard to say the word “Princess” with Pinkie Pie. Even though, by law, she was royalty through marriage, the party pony didn’t really use the title that much and seemed to think of it as an afterthought. She even went so far as to refuse a crown made for her, unless it was a birthday crown with candles on it. The only time she ever got involved in politics was when she had to plan parties and balls, or if Twilight needed her help with masoning projects. Living in a rock farm does have its advantages.

Naturally, Pinkie Pie’s dress had been pink and frilly with as many ribbons and buttons as could be put on it. She also had a pink sun hat with a violet flower and a small pink parasol placed on it for decoration. Mixed with her pink dress were yellow sunflowers from her hooves to her tail and the golden necklace with a balloon symbol.

The only ones dress that had stayed mostly the same was Twilight’s princess dress that she had worn to her coronation. She had insisted that she loved the dress and wanted to wear it, but eventually was convinced by Rarity to add a few changes. There was a lot more glitter in her dress and she had extended sleeves for her wings. Her golden shoes now held giant ruby’s in the center and her crown had an added set of wings by the star. Finally, she had a golden necklace along with a star on it.

Aura Nova had requested her dress to be like that of a mage’s, similar to her hero the Great and Powerful Trixie, but with enough representation for her parents. She wore a purple mage’s coat with magical runes that only the most advance of magic users would know about. Most of them were for protection, but also spoke of luck, love, and power. She had pink ribbons on her black shoes and wore a purple magician's hat that had the cutie marks of her mothers mixed together in the center.

With all six Elements, and their daughters, finally on stage the crowd roared and whistled in cheer before Celestia stepped back to allow Twilight to come forth. “Thank you, one and all for coming this year. As you know my friends and I... I... I...”

Everypony looked at the wide eyed Twilight in confusion as her voice trailed off, but upon seeing in the direction she was looking in above, they began to gasp. All the attention on the stage quickly turned to the sky as an army of dark clouds, crackling with thunder and swirling with green mist, slowly began to cover the town. Foals huddled up to their parents as a dark and cold chill began to make its way through the crowd.

Applejack turned to her wife and asked, “Dash! Did the weather patrol miss this?!”

“Hay no! Those aren’t even normal clouds! Even the Everfree Forest doesn’t have this. Something is off!”

“Rainbow Dash is right,” answered Twilight, glaring at the clouds. “Those clouds seem to be powered by dark magic. We need to-”

Before she could finish, the sound of explosions echoed in the air as dark fireballs rained down from the clouds. Ponies screamed as they fled in fear, the fireballs crashing into Ponyville and starting to set it ablaze one by one. The princesses and Shining Armor quickly summoned shields to protect the stage and nearby civilians from the death from above, but that wasn’t the only danger.

From the flames, tall figures holding weapons began to slowly walk out of flames. Everypony, including the Crystal Ponies, gasped upon seeing what they were. It was like looking at a minotaur with the head of a soulless pony with no eyes. There was no fur or skin, its entire body was made out of black crystal .

There was only one known figure in history who could do such dark magic. One figure who had long been declared dead. A gravestone even held his name that ponies often went to spit at and curse his evil soul.

And that figure was The Dark Tyrant.

Sombra.

Author's Note

DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!

Chapter 3

Aura Nova had heard about Dark magic before, both from stories and her mother’s lessons on it. It was one of the most powerful forms of magic, but it was the deadliest both to those on its receiving end and those who wielded it. Dark magic was created in, unsurprisingly, the Dark Ages where war and death was everywhere. An era, many say, was even worse than the Discorded Era; if only for the fact Discord never killed. Dark Magic focused on all the negative emotions in the world such as hate, fear, and pain and turned it into a weapon. The magic was addictive, and tainted the soul to the point where one needed to use it daily just to survive. While there had been many dark magic users in the past, the one most commonly known, and recognized, was the Tyrant of the Crystal Empire: King Sombra.

The stallion who, single handedly slew, the original Royal Crystal Family save for a bastard that survived and escaped to Equestria for sanctuary. The one who managed to wipe out entire legions with hellfire and demon summoning. Even more scary was the fact that he had mastered dark magic to the point where its corruption and addictive nature no longer affected him.

He was pure evil, nothing more.

“How the hay is he still alive?!” shouted Rainbow Dash as she dive kicked a dark crystal abomination into the ground before Applejack, leaping into the air, came down and smashed its head. “Didn’t he get blown to smithereens thanks to the Crystal Heart?!”

“Some part of him must have survived somehow!” shouted Cadence, firing her horn while her husband and son used shield spells to cover the fleeing civilians. “Sombra can’t be destroyed unless every bit of him is annihilated. Even if a small fraction of him was to stay intact he would still live!”

Upon the start of battle, the princesses immediately ordered half their guards to protect the town while the other half was ordered to forum up battle squads and attack the dark crystal invaders. Aura and her friends were huddled close to Spike who was watching over them while their mothers fought alongside the princesses and guards.

Nova nearly found herself losing her lunch upon seeing the bleeding corpses of both guard and civilian lying around. Some of them she knew from seeing them around town or at the castle. She closed her eyes and cover her head with her hooves. “Please be a dream. Please be a dream.”

“Yeah! Kick their flanks, Moms!” shouted Apple Streak, who seemed to into the fight to notice the danger they were all in. Unlike Aura and Glitterfly, who were cowering under Spike’s protective large body.

Opening her eyes, Aura saw her mother, side by side with her fellow princesses, blasting spells she had only heard about. Beams of ice and lightning, swords of light, and claws of earth swallowing the dark crystal creatures like there were nothing. The princesses themselves were just as amazing with Celestia shining as bright as a star and sending out a beam of light that went through an entire line of dark crystal enemies, shattering them into dust. Luna, raised high above with her eyes glowing, summoned the magic of the night and made bat light creatures made out of blue ethereal energy. The bats scattered and attached themselves to the dark crystal minotaur like beasts. After a single screech they blew up, taking their prey with them. Even her other mother, Pinkie Pie, had her party cannon locked and loaded, firing everything out of it from cannonballs to pies to even a kitchen sink. All while giggling of course. Such as was the way of her mother.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack had taken to the front lines, working together to deal physical harsh blows that only they could do. Rainbow would come in, distract and sneak attack with her speed and agility, while Applejack would be right behind her with her powerhouse kicks to finish them off. Meanwhile, Rarity and Fluttershy were busy helping civilians make their way out, doing their best to tend to the wounded, and making sure none of the dark crystal ponies got close.

Aura felt her fear slowly recede as she saw all of this in awe. Even her fellow CMC’s had their eyes widen with amazement. It was one thing to hear their mother’s heroic deeds, but it was another thing to witness it. The way they moved, obeyed Twilight’s orders, worked like a single unit despite having no military training except for Rainbow Dash. So... cool...

Before they knew it, the dark crystal ponies were no more, at least in this area. They could still hear the sounds of battle and cries of panic all over Ponyville. As the wounded were tended by medics, Twilight and everypony else gathered back at the stage.

“I can’t believe this is happening. How did Sombra survive?! What does he want?!” asked Luna, growling.

“What else? Revenge against all of us,” said Shining Armor, glaring at the floor. “We need a plan. We need to get Ponyville evacuated and find Sombra.”

“Oh, and I spent so much time on these clothes! Ugh, I’m going to tear his horn off for this!” shouted Rarity, glaring at the dirt clods on her dress.

“I can get the Wonderbolts and any reserves in the area for aerial assistance,” said Rainbow Dash, puffing out her chest.

“The farm has enough room, and it is far enough to set up a base for townsfolk and wounded. Plus, it can be pretty well defended. Ah got enough family members in the area to hold it down,” said Applejack.

“I wish Discord was here, he could help us,” whispered Fluttershy, looking over all the carnage as a tear dropped from her eye.

Twilight stepped forward and everypony went silent. “Okay, here is the plan. Princess Celestia and I will try to form up a counter attack with the guards in the west area while my brother and Cadence do the same in the east. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, you’ll gather the Wonderbolts and give us aerial support while also saving refugees. Applejack and Pinkie Pie will spread the word that we’re gonna use Sweet Apple Acres as a haven and gather as much support as you can to make it defendable. Fluttershy? You stay here to travel with the wounded we already have. And Princess Luna? We’re gonna need reinforcements so we need you to travel back to Canterlot and bring a whole army with you.”

“I will leave now. Fight on and be safe my friends,” said Luna before flying off as fast as she could.

“What about me, Twilight?” asked Rarity.

“You still remember that scrying spell I taught you?” asked Twilight to which Rarity nodded. “See if you can sense where Sombra is located. If we can find him, we can attack together and stop him before any more lives are lost.”

“Wait, what about me?” asked Spike, raising his claw. “I can help too you know? Dragon and all.”

Twilight sighed before looking at her adopted brother with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Spike, but I need you to sit this one out and take the girls to the farm and look after them.”

“What?! But I can help! I’m the one who defeated him all those years ago after all!”

“Exactly!” shouted Twilight, stomping her hoof. “You’re the one who stopped him from ruling the Crystal Empire so you’re the one he’ll be gunning for the most! You’re life is in danger and I won’t risk it. Besides, I need you to protect my daughter.”

“Ours too!” said the rest of the mane girls.

Spike sighed, but gave a small smile and nodded. “Okay, but if you need me, come get me.”

“But wait!” shouted Apple Streak, stepping forward. “I wanna help!”

“Apple Streak, no,” said Applejack, sternly. “Ya gonna get out of here and leave this to the grownups!”

“But I want to help!” begged Apple Streak.

Glitterfly turned her friend around and glared at her. “Are you crazy?! We’re up against one of the most powerful dark magic users in history here! Are you that much of a hurry to dig your own grave?!”

“But this is my town! My friends he’s attacking and killing! I can’t just sit here and take it!” shouted Apple Streak.

Rainbow Dash got in front of Apple Streak and lowered herself to eye level. “Listen, squirt, I know you want to help. Believe me, I’d be pissed too. But ya gotta trust us to deal with this, okay?” Apple Streak muttered to herself. “Okay?”

“Yeah...”

Glitterfly rushed to her mothers and hugged them. “Please be safe.”

‘“Just be safe as well,” said Fluttershy, doing the same thing.

Pinkie and Twilight went over to Aura and nuzzled her. “Now, you be good with Uncle Spike, okay? Me and Twily are gonna be back licky split! In fact, when we win, let’s have some banana splits when this is all over,” said Pinkie Pie.

Aura only nodded before she joined the rest her friends. Her heart praying for their safe return.

“Leon, go with them. You’ll be safer with them,” said Cadence, pointing to the group.

“I will. You be safe as well, Mother. You too, Father,” said Leon, walking over right next to Glitterfly who was blushing.

With everypony ready, Spike lead the girls before everypony split up to do their respective tasks. Flying through the air, Celestia turned to Twilight with a smile. “Twilight, I’m proud of you.”

“For what?” asked Twilight.

“For being calm in the face of all this chaos and planning a way to stop it. You have come far my former apprentice,” said Celestia, bowing her head in respect.

Twilight gave a small blush before focusing her attention back on the ground. “Come on! Let’s do this!”

***

A part of Glitterfly wished she could fly away from all this, but she wasn’t going to abandon her non-pegasi friends when they were all in danger from a supposed madpony. Spike lead them down Mane Street with Prince Leon keeping his horn ready incase any danger showed up. The other girls were right beside her, looking just as worried as she was about her parents. It had been years since they faced any sort of danger like this and they weren’t as young as they used to be. No! Stop thinking such things Glitterfly! You have to have faith!

They passed by various stores and shops that were once decorated for celebration, but were now in ruins thanks to the flames. It seemed like the entire town was on fire and nothing was being done to stop it. Even worse was the amount of bodies they found, mostly those hurt or scared as they cried out for help. And, of course, there were some corpses. Most of them were ponies she barely recognized, but a few she did such as the dentist Colgate, the donkey couple Cranky and Matilda who were held in each others embrace one last time, and Twist, an old friend of their predecessor CMC.

“Can’t we do something to help them?! I know healing magic!” shouted Aura, gazing at a crying mare who had a horrible gash on her left hind leg.

“I know you want to, Aura. Trust me, I do too. But we have to get you girls to safety first. Once we are at the farm we can help ponies, I promise,” answered Spike, to which Aura nodded in dismay.

“This is a disaster,” muttered Leon, his sympathetic eyes shedding a tear.

Tears formed in Glitterfly’s eyes as she wondered how could such an evil and violent pony exist? What could he gain by murdering and hurting all these innocent ponies? This is why violence never solves anything.

But besides that sorrow there was also another emotion buried inside her that she did her best to contain.

Rage.

She wanted to take her hooves and shove them down Sombra’s throat. Let him beg for mercy as she watched as his life was taken away just like his victims. Glitterfly slapped herself with her wing to banish such thoughts. No! I can't get angry! Not now! I swore never to be angry again!

Before she could push herself to forget, Glitterfly stopped and realized why they did so. Some of the dark crystal ponies were waiting for them with sharp axes and greatswords that already had blood splattered on them. Ponies who could still walk did their best to get away from the monsters, helping each other out as the crystal abominations slowly made their way towards the group.

“Oh great,” muttered Spike as he turned to the others. “Leon, protect the girls. I’ll take care of these bastards!”

Spike gave out a roar before charging. He tackled the first two and crushed their heads with his great strength. One of the creatures tried to take his head off with one blow, but Spike ducked and uppercutted its head off. Jumping into the air, he spread his wings and inhaled deeply before unleashing his green fire. The blazes scorched straight on the creatures who were reduced to ashes in seconds. Spike grinned as he dived down to deal with the remaining monsters.

While Spike dealt with the creatures, the others tried to hide behind a broken carriage on its side. The flames of Spikes fire continued to spread as more and more legions of the the crystal ponies began to surround him. Suddenly, they stopped. They slowly began to back away much to Spike’s confusion, still he kept his guard up for anything.

“Look! Up there!” shouted a nearby citizen as everypony turned around and looked up.

Glitterfly felt her eyes widen and her wings flop as she saw the biggest fireball she had ever seen. It was of pure black fire with green embers and it looked like falling comet of death heading straight for them.

“Everypony duck!” shouted Leon as they all hit the dirt and covered their heads with their hooves. The black fireball landed near Spike and exploded, sending him and anypony else nearby off their feet and into the air. The girls and Leon were almost knocked away too, but the carriage managed to protect them from the blast. Glitterfly was sure she heard Aura scream and Glitterfly felt something leave her voice as well. Was it a scream or a cry for help? Was she saying something?

She didn’t know, all she could hear was ringing in her ears that was slowly fading away. Soon she began to hear crying, screaming, and moans as Glitterfly opened her eyes. Her friends were right beside, opening their eyes as well while Leon stood above them with his wings spread out. he felt a drop of blood hit her face and looked up only to gasp.

“You girls okay?” asked Leon with a smile as the cut on the top of his forehead continued to bleed.

“Leon, you're hurt!” shouted Aura as she began to heal it with her magic.”Wait, where’s Uncle Spike?!”

The four of them turned to the left where the found the dragon, near some rubble, holding on to his side where a very nasty looking burn was. This made Glitterfly’s jaw drop, and she was sure others did as well, since dragon scales were said to be flame proof. What kind of magic can make fire that even burn dragons?!

“L-l-l-look!” shouted Aura as they turned around where a large wall of black fire could be seen where Spike once was. Anything nearby was already ash and it seemed to be as if hell itself has opened its gates, but what caught their attention was the fact that something was slowly walking out of the flames.

It was about the size of Princess Luna’s height, and carried a dark aura like she did only more meaning to the point where you could feel the unpleasantness coming from him. His dark green and red pupiled eyes emitted dark smoke out of them, the sign of a pure dark magic user. HIs horn was blood red, his armor silver and cold. His red robe blowing in the wind as he gazed upon them with a sinister smirk.

“Ah, and there you are...” said Sombra before letting out a cruel laugh

***

Rarity tried to ignore the sounds of battle all around her as she stood as still as can be on the top of Town Hall. Her horn was glowing with one of the gems from her dress levitating and spinning around in different directions. She had mastered this spell over the years ever since she asked Twilight to help her with her magic after the Tirek incident. Rarity realizes that if she was going to be putting herself in danger for the sake of those she was duty bound to protect she needed to be a better mage. Despite lacking the raw strength and overall magic pool that Twilight had, Rarity found herself gifted with perfect accuracy on how much magic was required as well as the focus needed to use it.

The scrying spell was designed to find items or people based on their magical aura. Rarity, who had a good memory, easily remember the disgusting and hideous aura that brute Sombra had years ago. The problem was his aura was nearly everywhere in this chaos so she focused on finding the biggest energy spike she could find. Speaking of Spike, she hoped that her dragon friend and the children were safe. Rarity momentarily lost her concentration upon thinking about Glitterfly.

Her miracle child.

When Fluttershy gave birth and the foal hadn’t been breathing, Rarity felt her entire world shatter. To this day, there was no worse feeling in the world she had felt then those two minutes before Glitterfly took a breath and cried. It was a miracle, and she swore never to lose her daughter again.

She would rather go face first into the bowels of Tartarus before letting that happen. Speaking of Tartarus it sure is getting hot aroun-

“Rarity! Look out!”

Eyes snapping open, Rarity felt her heart stop upon seeing a giant black fireball heading straight towards her. As her life began to flash before her eyes, she was suddenly tackled down just as the fireball passed right over them. After realizing she wasn’t dead, Rarity got up just as Rainbow Dash smacked her on the head. “Idiot! Watch your front next time. If I wasn’t flying in the area and saw that you would be ashes.”

“Well excuse me for trying to find... wait....” Rarity got up noticing that the gem was pointing the direction of the fireball. Her eyes widened and her knees began to shake at the feeling of what, or who, was with that fireball. “It’s him... Rainbow, Sombra was in that fireball!”

“What?!” shouted Rainbow Dash before an explosion forced them to get down again. When it cleared up, they saw the dark flames rising above.

Rarity used her spell again to make sure the twisted fiend was there, but a gasp escaped her lips when she sensed five familiar magic signatures along with him. She quickly turned to Rainbow Dash and shouted, “The children are there! He’s right in front of them!”

Rainbow Dash didn’t waste a second and was already flying at the direction of the crash site at top speed. It proved to be futile as a dark energy shield surrounded the area in a two mile radius and Rainbow Dash bounced off it like it was rubber. She continued to bash at the shield over and over again, but it was no use. Rarity quickly sent out distress fireworks from her horn and hoped the others would arrive to help at once.

Hang on, Glitteffly! Mama’s coming!

***

Apple Streak always thought of herself as a brave filly for her age. She was the daughter of the two bravest ponies in the world after all. Yet, despite her bravado, even she was tempted to run away screaming upon seeing Sombra for the first time in her life. What nerved her so much was the eyes, and the evil that was pouring out from them. The dark flames coming out of them didn’t help much either. It was only comforting that she wasn’t the only one who was scared out of her wits, as the others huddled together with her and took a step back for every time he stepped forward.

Leon, stepping forward, had his horn ready to defend them if need be. Sombra just snorted. “I see you get your bravery, and stupidity, from your father.”

“Shut up, don’t you dare come closer,” warned Leon, teeth grinding.

Sombra gave out a laugh that sent shivers down their spines. I think a part of me just died, thought Apple Streak.

“You? Stop me? I’d love to see you try.”

“How about watching me try instead?!” shouted Spike as he got up and charged at Sombra. Apple Stream was about to cheer him on when Sombra teleported and vanished much to Spike’s shock. “Where did... Augh!” he cried out as a magic blast from behind knocked him into a building.

Sombra snorted as he walked forward. “I will not make the same mistake as to underestimate you again, little dragon.”

Spike grumbled to himself before turning towards the others. “Get out of here! I’ll hold him off!”

“But we can’t leave without you!” shouted Aura.

“I’ll be fine! Go!” Spike growled and got up, rushing towards Sombra with his flame bursting out of his jaws. Sombra’s eyes merely glowed before he shot out his own dark flames from his mouth that matched Spike’s power dead even.

“What is this guy?! Part dragon?!” shouted Glitterfly in disbelief.

“We have to get out of here!” shouted Aura Nova, and nopony was disagreeing with her. However, just as they were about to turn around and leave, they gasped upon seeing two of the dark crystal ponies appear before them from opposite corners with their weapons held high.

“Scatter!” shouted Leon as he pushed the girls out of the way with his telekinesis. He managed to then summon his energy shield spell up just in time as the weapons clashed against his magic. He then leaned back and bucked one of the crystal ponies away while the other managed to slice at his head.

Leon ducked, but yelled as a part of his left ear was nicked off. The dark crystal pony tried for a second swing, but Glitterfly managed to fly over and grab him out of the way. She froze, however, as it raised its weapon for a third time, but Apple Streak had seen enough and charged. Leaping as high as she could, Apple Streak held onto the dark crystal pony by the neck and began swinging around as it tried to grab her off. “Yeehaw! Now this is a rodeo!”

“Apple Streak! Get down!” cried out Glitterfly with worry.

“Relax! I got this! Now take him down, Glitter!” shouted Apple Streak, whooping all the way. Glitterfly leaned back to attack when she suddenly froze, fear planted on her face. “What’s wrong with you?! Attack!”

“I... I can’t!” shouted Glitterfly, closing her eyes with shame. “I just can’t!”

“Are you insane?! Woah!” cried out Apple Streak as the monster grabbed her off his neck and held her up with his minotaur hands. He wrapped his large fingers around her neck as she began to struggle to breath.

Fortunately, Leon had decided to act and blasted a giant hole straight through it’s chest, causing it to shatter and Apple Streak to land on her rear. Hissing and rubbing her backside, she glared at Glitterfly who was looking at the ground with shame. “Okay, I know Fluttershy is one of your mom’s and all, but you could have done something!”

Glitterfly didn’t answer, she just turned away.

Sighing, Leon, holding his bleeding left ear with one hoof, walked in between them. “What matters is that we’re all safe. Fighting isn’t gonna help anyone.”

“Is your ear okay, Prince Leon?” asked Glitterfly.

“Yeah, nothing too bad. I’ve always wanted to have this ear pierced anyway,” he joked.

Apple Streak raised an eyebrow. “Wait, doesn’t getting left ear pierced mean you're ga-”

Suddenly a scream interrupted her that made the others gasp. “Aura!”

They turned around just as they saw the second dark crystal pony that Leon had kicked earlier was advancing on Aura who was backing herself up against a crumbling building. The unicorn filly was shaking with fear as she gazed upon the sharp battle axe raised above her, whimpering. Apple Streak was the first to shout. “Get out of there!”

Just as the axe was about to come down upon her, Aura closed her eyes and lit up her horn before slamming her hooves on the ground. In an instant, a smoke cloud appears just as the blade fell. Glitterfly shrieked as she turned away, unable to look at the possible site of their friend split in half. Apple Streak held her breath as the smoke cleared away, revealing the axe lodge in the ground as it’s handler tried freeing it. Aura was safely behind it, catching her breath.

Seeing her chance, she then glowed her horn again as the house right next to the axe wielding monster began to glow and shake. With a loud cry, Aura was able to bring down the roof of the house, and more, down upon the creature. It tried to escape, but the rubble smashed it into pieces as Aura fell to her haunches in exhaustion.

Apple Streak could hear Glitterfly and Leon’s jaw drop alongside her. Rushing up to her, the three stunned ponies held the nauseated looking unicorn who was starting to look green. “Holy horsefeathers, Aura! That was awesome!”

“T-thanks... but I think... it took a l-l-lot out of m-m-me...” whispered Aura as she struggled to stand.

“Where did you learn that spell with the smoke?” asked Leon.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie used it in her opening show. I can remember feeling the smoke and the taste of the magic in it. I just thought of that spell that could help me disappear and I used it,” answered Aura, shaking her head. “I’m just surprised that it worked.”

“Man, who cares! We kicked their evil crystal flanks! Nothing can beat us!” shouted Apple Streak with a grin.

A scream of pain erupted and the four turned around to see a sight that made them gasp in horror. Spike, in a pool of his blood, was lying on the ground with what looked to be a broken arm, leg, and wing along with dozens of bleeding wounds. The only sign that he was still alive was by the slight raising of his chest.

Sombra, who stood tall, was uninjured. Not even a dent in his armor. Lighting coursed through his red and black horn as he shot bolt after bolt at Spike who only screamed in further pain. He then slammed his front right hoof on Spike’s face and smirked. “This is where you belong, little dragon. Right under my hoof as I crush you slowly, watching every breath you take be your last.” He then, surprisingly, took it off and continued, “As much as I would love to kill you, I think I should have you suffer for the humiliation you put me through all those years ago. It’s only fair.”

His horn glowed a sickly green and blackish color as it began to form a onyx colored crystal with a skull designed on it. With a smirk, Sombra pushed the crystal right against Spike’s chest as it seemed to vanish inside him. Spike gave one last gasp before his eyes rolled against the back of his head and he went motionless.

“Spike!” shouted the group as Sombra turned to face the four. “What did you do to him?!” shouted Aura.

“I planted a small curse in his body. It won’t kill him―not yet anyway―but he will go through unimaginable pain to the point where he will beg for the sweet feeling of oblivion to end his pain,” answered Sombra with a satisfied smile. “Now to deal with you four.” He looked ready to step forward until he frowned and looked above. “Hmm, seems I won’t have time to play with you today. No matter. I will take what I came for now.”

His horn glowed again as the surrounding area started to get colder. The four of them huddled together as a dark cloud began to form around the area, cutting of light from all directions. The gang tried looking for an escape route, but the darkness was doming over them, even above.

“Everypony stick together!” shouted Glitterfly, but soon it started coming for them. Glitterfly try to shout out again but it surrounded her and the smoke consumed her.

“Glitterfly!” shouted Aura before she too was swallowed by it.

“Wait! This spell is...” Before Prince Leon could finish Apple Streak saw him taken away by the smoke as well.

Every hair on Apple Streak’s fur shivered as she looked around for any of her friends, but there was nothing. Nothing but darkness. “No. No. No. It’s too dark! It’s too dark!” shouted Apple Streak as she fell to her stomach, putting her hooves over her head as she closed her eyes. “It’s too dark. It’s too dark. It’s too dark.”

She hated it. Hated the dark. It reminded her of that time long ago. All alone. In the dark. No light.No warmth. Just the cold shadows of the night.

“Mommy!” screamed Apple Streak, openly crying and screaming as if she was four years old again. Four years old and all alone in the darkness. “Mommy!”

And then she heard it. A boom. A specific boom. A boom she had seen, heard, and memorized ever since she could remember first seeing it. The same boom that inspired her to be a flyer despite being an earth pony. She opened her eyes and lo and behold she saw a rainboom wave throughout the darkness, dispelling it. It started spreading across the town like a wave of light and hope, blowing away all of the fire and smoke, allowing the sun to even shine in through some parts of the dark clouds above.

Apple Streak felt her tears dry away instantly as she saw her mother, Rainbow Dash, land in front of her and embrace her. “It’s okay, Streak. I gotcha.”

Apple Streak buried her muzzle into her mother’s chest. Soon enough she felt a second embrace and knew it was her other mother. The darkness was fading away as her thoughts turned back to that time when she was lost in the darkness again. And they had found her in her weakest moment. “Mommies...”

“Spike!”

Apple Streak looked up and saw Twilight rushing over to her half-dead brother, her horn blazing with magic as she tried to cure his wounds. Pinkie Pie was already holding a crying Aura while Rarity and Fluttershy were by a pale looking Glitterfly. Wait... where is Leon?

“Where’s our son!” shouted Shining Armor as he and Cadence looked around. “Where is Leon!”

“Hear me, Equestrians!”

Everypony looked up and gasped at the sight of a giant Sombra head looking down upon them. On instinct, Twilight, Shining, Rarity and Cadence all fired magic at the head only for it to phase through like it was nothing.

“It’s a projection!” shouted Cadence, only to gasp as something else was shown. It was Leon, unconscious, and held in a green bubble. “Oh no...”

“Here me! I, King Sombra, have taken Prince Leon hostage. If you wish to see your precious son again, Cadence and Shining Armor, you will deliver the Crystal Heart to me at the ruins of the Castle in the Everfree Forest in five days. Should you fail to do this, your son will die!”

The projection gave one last laugh before it vanished. Leaving an entire town silent.

Author's Note

The prince has been kidnapped. What will the Mane Six and their children do? Find out next chapter!