The Adventures of Might Targe: Sky Blue

The Ponyville morning is as pleasant as ever. Celsestia has raised the sun, the light orange orb lightly glowing in the distance over the lush green hills. However, whenever I look out my window and see those hills I can’t help but think of home; Cloudsdale.

I don my armor and, performing my first duty as Twilight’s royal guard, patrol the castle. Afterwards I escort the princess from her bedroom to the dining room. Spike puts a complete breakfast on the table for the three of us; hay, oats, apples, and juice presented with decorative flowers. The dragon sure does know how to cook.

Twilight sighs in satisfaction and smiles. “Thanks, Spike,” she says, “that was delicious.”

“Your welcome,” he replies with his usual pep, “I feel really, really fu-ful- buuuurp!” A sealed scroll twirls in the green flame spurting from Spike’s mouth. It lands on the table and Twilight brings it closer with her magic. Edged in a purple hue, the scroll unfurls in the air. Twilight gasps.

“What is it, Princess?” I ask.

“Celestia is coming to Ponyville right now!”

“Breath, Twilight, breathe,” Spike says, “In and out, in and out.”

“She says she’s coming to speak to me about something really important. Quick, we have to be prepared for anything!”

“Right!” Spike salutes.

Twilight trots on the spot, sweat beading just below her horn and around her eyes, and she bites her bottom lip. “Spike,” I say, “keep an eye out for Celestia.” Spike nods and opens the castle doors.

“Aah!” he cries, and falls onto his back. Standing in the doorway behind a wall of morning light is Princess Celestia. She offers her hoof to Spike and helps him back to his feet. Twilight and I bow as she enters the castle.

“I apologize for intruding; I left Canterlot as soon as I sent my last letter.” Radiant, elegant, regal, Celestia puts a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder and looks deeply into her eyes. Twilight suddenly becomes calm as if put under a spell. I guess that’s the power of trust.

“Whatever it is I'm ready to help,” Twilight says with renewed strength, her moment of panic already a thing of the past.

“I know I can always count on you, Twilight. But I also ask for your help, Mighty.” I look to Twilight and she nods.

“By your order, Princess.”

“Thank you both. Come, let’s sit for a moment.”

Celestia, Twilight, Spike, and I sit at a small table in the castle library. Princess Celestia sighs before she speaks. “Some farm ponies found a strange gemstone in the desert past Appleloosa,” Celestia’s voice is grave. “It’s described as a dark sphere with a ring of emerald green inside it.”

“I don’t know of any gemstone like that,” says Twilight.

“There were only two of its like. Luna and I destroyed one many years ago. The other was hidden and became lost.”

“Why did you need to destroy it?” Spike asks.

“These gemstones were forged for the single purpose of spreading chaos throughout Equestria, and they worked.”

“What’s the plan?” I ask.

“I need you travel to Appleloosa and recover the gemstone,” Celestia replies, “Twilight and I will stay here and prepare for the worst case scenario.” Spike gulps.

“Worst case?” he says through chattering teeth, “What’s that?” Celestia closes her eyes and softly shakes her head.

“Hopefully you won’t find out.” Celestia looks at me with eyes I've seen many times. They tell me more than words ever could, that Equestria will suffer if I fail. They ask me to help her, to help everypony.

Spike puts my saddlebags over my back and opens the door for me. Outside, standing next to Celestia’s royal guards, are two familiar faces. A light orange Pegasus with a grey mane laughs with his sister, a light pink unicorn with a red mane. Celestia smiles at me. “I didn't want you going alone, so I arranged to have your old friends join you on your mission.”

“Thank you, Princess,” I reply, but I would never admit how gad, and how surprised, I am to see them again.

“Mighty Targe!” exclaims the Pegasus and he holds out his hoof.

“Sketchy Sword!” I shake his hoof.

“Long time no see, Mighty,” says the unicorn as she hugs me.

“And Sally Shield, it’s good to see you both.”

“The three of us back together again. Should be interesting,” smiles Sketchy. I turn back to Twilight’s castle and see her standing in the doorway next to Celestia and Spike. She smiles and waves but I can see discomfort in her eyes. Or is it something else?

“Better get to the train station and head to Appleloosa before, you know, whatever,” Sally drones, already trotting towards the train station. Sketchy shrugs and chuckles before following his sister. I have to fly to catch up to them.

The three of us, Celestia’s chosen ponies, ride the train for Appleloosa. Despite not seeing each other for so long, we ride mostly in silence. Just like old times. Sketchy sits across from me and stares out the window, smiling his muzzle off. Sally sits on her own on the opposite side of the car, also staring out the window. Her horn glows pink with a reddish tint and her saddlebag is lifted onto the seat next to her. She ruffles through it but doesn't take anything out.

Sketchy Sword stretches out his wings and yawns. “So, which princess is better? Celestia or Twilight?” Sketchy always was blunt with his questions. He smirks slyly.

“That depends on what you mean by ‘better’,” I reply, “but in any case I respect them both.”

“And? Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Be that way. But tell me something,” Sketchy suddenly becomes serious, the way he does when on an important mission, and he leans in close to me, “When Celestia assembled our team years ago, the four of us always worked together. Then one day she pulled you out. Why? What have you been doing all this time?”

“Celestia needed me for slightly different work. Maybe we can all talk about it when we get back.” Sketchy smiles his strange smile again and relaxes in his seat.

“Yeah. Sure.” He looks over to his sister. She doesn't show any emotion in her blank expression, a skill she’s learned from being in our line of work. They both go back to looking out the windows.

At first I thought it was just the light, but now I'm certain that Sketchy’s light orange coat is turning grey. He’s my age, yet something has begun taking the color away. His mane is losing color too. Sally seems to be as bright as ever, though.

We continue to sit silently as the train heads for Appleloosa, Celestia’s sun slowly falling to make way for Luna’s moon. “So nothing’s changed with you two? You still work for Celestia?” I ask. They look at each other first before Sally answers.

“Our little team became smaller when you left, but we kept up the good work.”

“And then the earth pony of our group left as well,” Sketchy adds.

“Really? What happened?”

“Well,” says Sally, getting up from her seat and pacing the train car, “after you left we had a few more jobs from Celestia. Then the earth pony suddenly left, don’t know why, and we stopped getting missions from either princess.”

“The earth pony has a name,” I say slowly and firmly, remembering the fourth member of our team fondly.

“Yes, yes,” Sally waves her hoof in dismissal.

“It’ll be night soon,” says Sketchy, “Let’s all get to bed.” With that we all climb into our bunks and sleep.

I dream. It’s a dream so real I feel like I'm really there, living these memories as if they’re happening for the first time. All four of us; me, Sketchy, Sally, and… We’re in Canterlot. Princess Celestia had summoned us personally to form a special team. The four of us would serve Equestria and protect everypony from whatever may threaten the land. And we did so. We traveled together throughout Equestria in Celestia’s name. Our missions required us to investigate things most ponies don’t know about, things that ponies shouldn't know about. And then…

Crash! Something hits the train hard enough to make it sway on its rails and knock me from my bunk. Ponies cry out and try to find out what’s going on, however in a panic. My wings flex with anticipation as I open the window. Floating beside the train is a shadowy form silhouetted by moonlight, its dark center burning with two red eyes. It sees me and, though without a mouth, roars and darts through the air. The train rocks on the rails as the creature passes over the top of it, and the passengers yelp. I fly out the window and scan the area but looking for a creature of darkness in the night is near impossible, and not advised.

I fly back through the open window and look around. Sally and Sketchy’s bunks are empty. “Mighty!” I turn around and see my two companions returning from the next car. Sally’s usually perfect mane is wild and frizzled.

“Where were you two?” I ask.

“We were in the next car investigating some strange noises,” Sally answers.

“Turns out this thing was following the train. We saw it bash right into the side of it and nearly knock the whole train over!”

“Why didn't you wake me?” They look at me as if I’d done something strange, and then scoff.

“We didn't think it would be anything really,” says Sally, “We were both already up and thought it was just our investigative spirits getting the better of us.”

“We were wrong. Sorry, Mighty,” Sketchy shrugs and wears his idiotic smirk before diving into his bunk. Sally climbs into her bunk as well.

“Goodnight, Mighty,” she sing-songs.

“What’s to stop the creature from coming back?” I ask. Once again the pair looks at me like I've done something wrong, like they know something I don’t.

“I fired some magic at it and then saw it fly away.”

“Did you see how fast it went?” Sketchy doesn't try to hide his enthusiasm, “There’s no way it’s coming back.” They both curl up in their blankets.

“If you say so.” I climb back into my bunk and lay there with my eyes open. Sally and Sketchy are smart but they weren't ever the brains of our investigations. They don’t know what the creature will do, that’s why I won’t sleep tonight. Besides, I don’t want to have that dream again.

After what seemed to be to longest train ride, we finally arrive at Appleloosa. The shadowy creature must've fled for good, at least I hope. Sally leads the way into the heart of Appleloosa where we look for Sheriff Silverstar.

The country town is hot and rocky, and orange dust blows in the wind like miniature sandstorms. But despite the seemingly harsh environment, the townsponies look happy. Many of the mares wear bonnets over their manes, and many of the stallions wear tall and wide cowpony hats. They trot and canter through the quaint little town and smile and wave at a group of buffalo making their way through town.

Sketchy flaps his wings and lifts off the ground, but his sister grabs his tail and pulls him back down to earth. “We have to find the sheriff first, so don’t go flying off somewhere,” she scalds. Sketchy shakes his head mockingly, but Sally just frowns and continues her way.

We shortly arrive at the sheriff’s office and I can’t help but admire the old-fashioned town hall next door. The clock tower overlooks the entire town and adds to Appleloosa’s frontier chic. “Ah, you must be the archaeologists from Canterlot,” says Sheriff Silverstar as he steps out of his office onto the front porch.

“We are. I'm Fine Smarts,” Sally replies with rehearsed lines, “and these are my associates Digs Well and Marsh Finds.”

“Howdy,” says Sketchy, codenamed Digs Well. I nod politely to the sheriff and his deputy.

“Princess Celestia thanks you for promptly notifying her about the discovery, but might I ask who found it?” Sally asks almost too nicely, at least for her.

“Cherry Shine found it a little ways out of town. I can guide you to her.”

“That’s quite all right, Sheriff. Though, I’d very much appreciate it if you could point us in the right direction. Don’t want to trouble you too much now,” Sally smiles and winks at the sheriff. He takes his hat to his chest and bares all his teeth in a huge grin.

“If you keep heading straight down that way you’ll find Cherry Shine’s place to be the last house in town.”

“Thank you, Sheriff. I’ll make sure the museum, and the princess, knows which pony to thank once I've recovered the item.”

“You’re too kind, Ms. Smarts,” he says and watches as the three of us step down off the porch and back into the main thoroughfare.

As we get closer to Cherry Shines’s house, so do the Macintosh Hills. Despite having traveled around much of Equestria, seeing sights such as the Macintosh Hills reminds me that the world really is big. If you want it to be.

The last building of any sort in Appleloosa is a tiny white house facing the town. An empty rocking chair sways lightly in the breeze on the porch next to a set of broken, silent wind chimes. Sketchy flaps his wings and floats up the three steps. He pounds the yellow door with his hoof impatiently. He lifts his hoof to bang on the door again when it slowly opens a little bit. In the tiny gap, two big, pale eyes peek out. “Y-yes?” the eyes ask quietly.

“We’re looking for Cherry Shine,” says the always impatient Sketchy, “that you?”

“Um, ah…yes,” Cherry’s voice is quiet and soft. It reminds me of Fluttershy. It also makes me think that she would treat Cherry with kindness instead of annoyance. I put my hoof on Sketchy’s shoulder and pull him back.

“Sorry to bother you, Ms. Shines. My name is Mighty. We were just wondering if you could tell us about the gemstone you found in the desert.”

“Oh! I knew you were here about that. Please, I told the sheriff all about it, but he doesn't believe me. Nopony believes me.”

“I’ll believe you,” I say without thinking, but then an image of Applejack pops into my mind, “What you tell me will be the truth the way you saw it. Please, we’re here to help.” Cherry’s pale eyes dart to and fro, and suddenly the door closes. A chain rattles inside and the door opens.

“Come in,” says Cherry.

The tiny house is a true reflection of its owner. It, like Cherry, is simple yet pretty. Baubles are placed on shelves sparingly as if they have real wealth. One item stands out among the others; an elegant, gilded music box rests on the mantle above the fireplace. Everything is stored away or stacked neatly, like the folded blanket on the sofa or the tea set by the kettle. A lot of Cherry’s things look home-made, hoof-knitted. It’s obvious she lives alone, a way of life I now find sad.

Cherry herself is a pale white earth pony with a salmon-pink mane and tail. She wears a simply detailed pin in her mane and a knitted shawl. She’s younger than me but has an air of wisdom about her.

We all stand in the living room. No pony sits in the only seat in the room. “I can bring in the chair from the kitchen if you’d like to sit down,” Cherry offers.

“No, that’s all right, thank you. Do you live alone?” I ask her.

“Yes.”

“Why’s that?” Sally interjects, “Don’t like company?”

“I like company.” But Sally persists.

“Then why is your house on the edge of town?”

“I just like this spot. It’s close to the hills and close to town. The wind just rolls down the hills through my wind chimes. It’s very peaceful here.”

“I noticed,” I say, “your wind chimes are broken. How did that happen?” Cherry looks at me with fear in her eyes.

“That happened when I found the gemstone.”

“Where is it?” Sally asks quickly, “It’s very important that we see it.”

“It’s still out in the desert. Nopony can get it out. I’ll draw it on a map.” Cherry Shine goes into the other room and returns shortly with a map marked in red pen. She hands it to Sally.

“What happened when you found the gemstone, why won’t you show us the way?” she asks, and Cherry drops her head and sighs. She looks back up and wipes a tear from her eye.

“It was so scary,” she says in her little voice, “I was just out for a walk at the base of the Macintosh Hills when the wind blew my hat off. I ran after it and picked it up off what I thought was a ball covered in dirt.

I looked closer and brushed my hoof over its surface. It wasn't a half-buried ball; it was a perfect stone sphere. I tried to pick it up but it wouldn't budge. Then I tapped on it a few times and it opened! The stone opened like blooming flower.

Inside was the gemstone. It was black with a green circle inside it, and it glowed in a pale green light. I've never seen anything like it. I touched it and that’s when…” The young pony turns quiet and looks at me, a fresh tear forming in her eye.

“It’s all right, Cherry,” I tell her, “You can tell us.”

“That’s when I saw the monster. It came out of nowhere, roaring like a lion, like a beast. It dived down from the sky and chased me. I made it back here and closed the door but it crashed into the house and broke my wind chimes.”

“What did it look like?” I ask gently.

“Like a shadow, like a black ball of mist. But it had red eyes. I was so scared!” Cherry wipes away that tear that finally falls. Sketchy puts his hoof on her shoulder and pulls her into his chest. She wraps his forelegs around his neck and sobs.

“You’re okay, now. That monster won’t come back. We’ll make sure you’re safe,” he says. This is the side of him that not only makes him a good investigator but a good pony, and one I'm proud to know. Shame is never lasts long. But at least he cares.

The three of us wave Cherry Shine goodbye before heading off toward the Macintosh Hills. “I'm going to get an aerial view, see how far we've got to go” says Sketchy, and then he springs into the sky.

“I’ll make sure he doesn't fly too far,” I tell Sally. The unicorn never liked it when we took to the sky, but sometimes the job calls for it.

Sketchy, contrary to his character, flies slowly. His wings beat steadily so it’s no issue catching up to him. I fly beside him and notice the sad look on his face. I also notice he isn't scanning the area. “What’s wrong, Sketchy?”

“Huh? Oh. Nothing.” Sketchy’s overconfidence and cockiness is sometimes too much to handle, but it takes a lot to get him upset. Something really is wrong.

“I'm sure a lot has happened since we last saw each other, but I hope we’re still friends.” I add, and his face shoots up and he looks at me open-mouthed. I'm actually taken aback by his expression. There’s a weakness in it that I never would have expected from a pony like Sketchy Sword.

“It’s hard to make friends with a job like ours, isn't it?” His voice is low and gloomy.

“And harder to keep them,” I reply, and can’t help but think of Rarity for some reason, “Here,” I take a black feather from my saddlebag and put it in his hoof. “Do you remember this?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s a feather from the first bad guy we had to take down, a griffon named Gretel.”

“I remember you saved my life from her. I also remember telling myself that if you ever needed help I would be there.” I look into Sketchy’s eyes for a moment. He suddenly turns his head away. The prideful pony no doubt wants to keep his cool reputation.

“I want you to know, Mighty, that no matter what we have to do in the future, know that I wish we were living the old days again. The four of us protecting Equestria, having fun. I wish we could go back.”

“What can I do?” I ask. His head picks up and he points his hoof down.

“That’s the spot. I’ll land and keep watch. Can you go back for Sally?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

I land on the rocky desert earth beside Sally Shield. She trots beside me with her muzzle in the air. “Where’s that no good brother of mine?” she asks all in huff.

“He’s found the gemstone and is waiting for us.” Sally stops in her tracks and her eyes widen with delight.

“Lead the way, then!” We canter onwards, and Sally moves so fast she almost overtakes me, even though she doesn't know which way to go. I can’t help but feel like my companions know something I don’t. Maybe not.

It isn't long before Sally and I spot Sketchy standing beside a small mound of dirt. In the middle of this mound is a sphere, roughly the size of a large grapefruit, coated in a thick layer of crusted earth. It’s like Cherry described; a perfectly round object camouflaged amongst its rocky surroundings. After hearing Cherry’s story, I look down at this sphere and feel fear swirl in my stomach. A chill runs through me. “Did you touch it?” Sally barks at her brother.

“No,” Sketchy’s defiant attitude is gone, perhaps still thinking about the conversation we had in the air. Sally lunges towards the sphere in the ground, effectively knocking her brother to the side, and puts her hooves on either side of it. She caresses its crusty surface and breathes heavily.

“Are you all right?” I ask her.

“I'm better than all right.”

“What are you doing?” This time I ask more aggressively. Sally slowly turns her head over her shoulder. She looks at me, and her eyes brightly glow pink. Then suddenly, she bangs on the sphere with her hooves. The smoke-like creature that attacked Cherry, and the train, bursts from the opened sphere. It shoots up into the air and roars a deafening cry. The Macintosh Hills rumble and rocks slide down from their peaks to the ground. In fact, it seems all of Equestria trembles before the beast. Sally raises her forelegs and laughs. “Get back!” I tell her, but the unicorn either doesn’t hear me or just doesn’t listen. I launch towards her with the full power of my wings, prepared to swoop her up and around, away from the creature. Bang! I fall to the ground and roll several feet away. I shake the dusty earth from my face and hold the side of my muzzle that throbs in pain.

Sketchy floats just a few feet from the ground, his wings spread outright, his hoof recovering from delivering a blow. A blow to me. “Sketchy? Why?” He seems taken aback by my disbelief but he doesn’t reply. He simply folds his forelegs across his chest and looks down at his sister.

Sally dips her hooves into the opened sphere and takes out a smaller object. It’s a round gemstone, dark with an emerald green ring inside it. Celestia was right to send me here, but she wrong about my old friends. Sally stands and holds the gemstone in one of her hooves, and in the other she holds what looks like a fragment of a similar gemstone. Her brother and the creature float beside her, completely stoic. “Celestia thought she destroyed one of these gemstones,” says Sally, “but this fragment survived. That’s how my magic became so strong over the years.”

“What’s wrong with you, Sally? Don’t you know what these gemstones are?”

“Of course I do,” she replies. Then Sally breaks into laughter. “You were always Celestia’s favorite. Not anymore,” Sally holds up her hooves and both gemstones, one complete and one fragment, glow with a dark green hue. The monster roars again and charges.

With a swift back flip I’m in the air, flying backwards and away from the creature. But it’s fast. Real fast. Its red eyes shine in its misty body as it tears through the air, aiming for me. Without thinking, I dive back down to the ground and the creature passes over me. I drive both my hooves into Sketchy’s stomach and he flies through the air, though not with his wings. I land next to Sally and use my wing to slap the gem fragment from her hoof. I catch it and take to the sky just before the creature crashes into me. I fly to the hills, weaving in and out amongst them, and eventually I lose the creature.

Sally, Sketchy, why? The gem fragment in my hoof shimmers under the sunlight. The tiny remnant of the emerald ring within pulsates, undoubtedly, with magic. Here I sit, in the Macintosh Hills, alone. I rub the side of my muzzle where Sketchy hit me, and a tear trickles over my hoof. Why?

The Macintosh Hills are silent and still. There’s no sign of Sketchy, Sally, or the creature down below. I circle around the top of the hills again, flying quickly over the area, knowing in my heart that time is against me and that I must stop my old friends no matter what.

For a second I think they’re gone for good, but then I realize there’s only one place they could go from here. Hooves forward, wings beating, I fly down towards Appleloosa. I land in front of Cherry Shine’s house, and then climb the front steps.

I knock on the door, hard, and hear timid little steps get closer. The door opens partially and big, pale eyes look at me over the chain lock. Cherry gasps. “Is everything okay?” I ask through pants, “Have you seen the monster?”

“No,” Cherry replies, “No, everything’s fine. Is something wrong? Is the monster back?”

“I should probably come in.” Without another word, Cherry closes the door, unlocks the chain, and lets me in.

Inside, tinny sounds mimic a song long forgotten by most ponies. On the mantle, the gilded music box plays, its music cutting the harshness from the desert silence. “It’s one of Buchs’,” says Cherry as she stands beside to join in my admiration, “Number eleven of The Twelve Neighs. Few ponies know it.”

“The original scores were lost in a fire. Where did you find this music box?”

“It’s been in my family for years, but I’m afraid I don’t know how my great-grandparents found it.”

“I’m sorry, Cherry,” I hold her by the shoulders, “but I think you should leave town for a while, it’s just not safe.”

“But where will I go?” But before I can reply, the front door bursts open with pink hued power. Sketchy flies in and lands on the floor with a loud thump. Sally enters behind him, slowly and proudly.

“I knew that if we waited long enough” says Sally with glowing eyes, “we’d be able to follow you, and trap you.”

“Give us the fragment,” Sketchy interjects, “and we’ll let both of you go.”

The gem fragment in my hoof starts to burn as it glows brighter and brighter. The gemstone in Sally’s hoof seems to glow just as brightly as if in response. Sketchy’s wings spread in anticipation, and Sally stares daggers at me. Her eyes intensify and the whole room is washed in a magical pink wave.

I open my eyes as the last of the pink surge dissipates in the air. And all around the room the same earth pony, multiplied a dozen times, surround me. Her coat is sky blue and she has a gray mane and tail. Her eyes, the same color as her coat, lull me into an old memory. The dozen ponies advance on me, and their smiles turn into snarls the closer they get.

All I do is smile back. “Your illusion magic used to scare me, Sally Shield,” I declare, “but not anymore.” Sally gasps and all the copies of the earth pony disappear. “Sly move using her against me,” I laugh and she grinds her teeth in anger, “You must be losing your touch!”

“Get him!” she cries, and the creature flies into the house. It’s about to land on top of me before it suddenly stops. Its red eyes are mere inches from mine when they shrink under its shadowy body. It roars, but this time it sounds like it’s in pain. It flays about the room wildly, smashing Cherry’s house to bits. Sally and Sketchy duck outside the house.

I grab hold of Cherry’s hoof and pull her out of the way. Then the creature stops screaming, stops moving. With a black, misty tendril the creature strikes at the music box. The joyful melody ends with a final churn of cracked gears. The gilded masterpiece falls to the floor in front of Cherry, now weeping. The creature looms over us as its red eyes burn with fury, thrilled to complete the hunt.

I’m helpless, hopeless. Celestia’s finest, Equestria’s protector, finally defeated. Behind the monster, I spot the sky blue earth pony again, but it’s not one of Sally’s illusions. Then it hits me; the wind chime, the music box, they mean something. I take a chance and sing Buchs’ eleventh epic;

“Come with me, let’s fly away,

Spread your wings, I’ll show the way,

Take my hoof and don’t let go, I,

Don’t want to be all alone.”

The monster again flails about the room. It shrieks and backs off from us. It spins within itself in the center of the room and then shoots out the door, wailing all the way into the darkening sky. I rush to the porch and look all around. The creature is gone, along with Sketchy and Sally. “I didn’t think my singing was that bad,” I say, and Cherry can’t help but laugh a little.

Cherry Shine saves what possessions she can and throws the rest into a trash bin. Most of her things are utterly destroyed, but the young pony is determined to clean up. “I think I will leave town for a while,” she says, “I have a friend in Fillydelphia I can stay with.”

“It’s for the best,” I turn the dull gem fragment in my hoof, “I have to get back to Ponyville, but I promise I’ll sort this out. I’ll make sure your home is safe to return to.” Cherry smiles and goes back to sweeping the broken furniture across the floor.

The last train has already departed, so it’s up to good old fashioned wing power to get me to Ponyville. It’s a good thing I like flying at night. Well, it’s not so much liking as being used to it. However, I don’t like flying long distances, day or night.

It’s still dark when I reach Ponyville, I’ll have to wake the princess. I land in front of Twilight’s castle and push open the doors, and the heavy wood swings inward with barely a sound. New, not yet squeaky.

Twilight opens her bedroom door and rubs the sleep from her eyes. “Wha? Mighty-”

“I’m sorry, Twilight, but I need your help,” I ask while huffing and puffing my lungs out. She gasps as I hold out the gem fragment. Twilight brings it to her bedroom window and inspects it under the moonlight.

“This is the gemstone the Appleloosa ponies found?” Twilight’s eyes grow and squint, grow and squint as she examines the fragment.

“No. According to Sally Shield it’s all that’s left of the gemstone Celestia destroyed years ago,” I inform her, and Twilight suddenly snaps her investigative eye on me.

“Sally Shield? How can she be certain this is the first gemstone?”

“She found it,” I sigh and shake my head, “And Then she used it to gain power. Once she learned where the second gemstone was, she betrayed me,” my voice catches in my throat. I look at the ground.

“Oh, Mighty. I’m sorry.”

“She betrayed Celestia, Equestria. And she betrayed you. I need to learn more about these gemstones, and the monsters that guard them.”

Twilight, poor little Spike, and I each read through a stack of books piled onto the table in the library. Like my cousin, reading isn’t really my thing except when I find something I absolutely love. But unfortunately, those times are rare. I’ve often had to read bestiaries and magic tomes, but that was for work.

The three of us read intensely throughout the remainder of the night, but it isn’t long before the two sisters do their royal duties. The moon falls as the sun rises. I slam the book cover shut and slide it down the table, and then move on to the next book. “Mighty,” says Twilight, and she puts down an open book in front of me, “Princess Cadance gave me this book after her wedding. Look there.”

“The two gemstones were made in the Crystal Empire. To stop King Sombra?”

“Those monsters you described to me sound an awful lot like King Sombra, and now this book says they were made to stop him from taking over the Crystal Empire. There must be some connection.”

“But if they were made to stop the bad guys,” Spike says, “then why did Princess Celestia and Princess Luna destroy one of them?” The insightful little dragon forces Twilight and I to fade into thought. Why would they, unless they didn’t know what the gemstones were? Or maybe the gems were corrupted somehow?

I stand up and put my helmet back on. “I’ll take the fragment to Celestia.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, Twilight,” I suddenly realize my hoof on her chest, and drop it. “You don’t have to fight now that I’m here.”

“You don’t have to do everything on your own. Let me help you.” Twilight looks into my eyes and I see in her all the best qualities of our friends Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack.

“I can send the Princess a letter if it helps?” Spike asks.

“Sally followed me once before, I won’t let her come here.” I smile and leave the castle.

The train ride to Canterlot offers me the chance to sleep, but I deny it. There’s no way to be sure when Sally will attack, and she’s got at least two monsters on her side that are capable of knocking a train off its rails. The fragment in my hand starts to glow lightly. I look out the windows on each side of the train car. Nothing. I sit back in my seat and the fragment continues to glow, and burn my hoof.

The train stops at the Canterlot station and, as soon as its doors open, I fly towards the castle. Flash Sentry is standing with Twilight’s brother next to Celestia. I land in the garden in front of them and Shining Armor salutes. I respond in kind and then bow before the princess. “Your Highness, I have important news,” I say, and I present the gem fragment to her. Celestia closes her eyes for a moment and nods.

“Luna and I will make sure we destroy it completely this time.”

“No you won’t!” I spin around and see Sketchy Sword carrying his sister through the air. They both land gently in the garden and, like a shooting star, the smoky monster cuts through the sky and floats behind Sally.

Shining Armor and Flash Sentry rush to my side in front of Celestia. We shield her with our bodies, and will fight to protect her. “Trumpets!” I tell the princess over my shoulder, “Get the musicians and tell them to play loudly!” Celestia gallops into the castle behind a wall of guards inside.

“You couldn’t just let it be, could you?” Sally asks, her voice laced with venom.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this or what you hope to gain, but your brother doesn’t want this!” I point my hoof to Sketchy Sword. His face is as empty as it was the last time I saw him, but never before that.

“It’s like I told you, Mighty,” he says, “I have to do this, despite what I wish for.” The light orange Pegasus looks pale, his coat whiter than normal, tired, and is without his usual strong spirit. His sister on the other hoof is bursting at the seams with magic power. Her eyes and horn constantly glow pink as if she’s about to cast a spell at any second.

Sally laughs and points her hoof towards us. “Ready, Flash?” Shining Armor asks his fellow guard.

“Just say the word.”

“Take care of the ponies, I’ll take care of the monster,” I tell Shining Armor and Flash Sentry. Shining Armor lunges forward and a huge ball of blue energy grows from his horn. Sally retaliates by stepping forward and firing a beam of pink energy at him. The two lights of magic power meld and push against each other.

Sketchy launches into the air and Flash Sentry is quick to reach him. I look up and hear Sketchy laugh. I know it as much as he does; Flash Sentry isn’t nearly as fast as he is.

The monster, a being of black mist with piercing red eyes, charges me with all its force. I barely manage to fly into the air when it crashes into the grass where I stood. It looks up at me and roars. Blow after blow, I duck and weave and fly out the way of the creature’s strikes. Just a few feet away, Sketchy Sword and Flash Sentry trade strikes of their own, but Flash isn’t looking so good. Sketchy’s toying with him. Then I spot the royal musicians gathering in the garden below. I dive back down.

Shining Armor crumples on his forelegs as his magic aura is consumed by Sally’s. She laughs and advances toward Shining Armor. Even his magic cannot stand against Sally’s combined with the gemstone. I land on the grass beside a bed of roses and wave my hoof down angrily. I turn around and see the monster about to land its final blow. But the musicians, well trained, obeyed my signal. They play their instruments loudly, in rhythm. They play an inspiring melody that makes me feel stronger, especially since the monster before me writhes in defeat. Guard ponies along the battlements force the creature to the ground with nets and prevent it from flying away. It’s trapped. Now for the finish, I remember the musical genius, Buchs, and sing;

“Every time I fly, my skies are filled with dark blue,

But I swear I’ve seen them clear when I’ve flown with you,

Am I only happy when you are flying beside me?

Am I in really in love or am I just being silly?

My hearts beats when you are near,

You take away my fear,

In my blue skies,

I keep flying strong,

There is a place I belong,

Will you sing my name in song?

In my blue skies,

I’m never alone,

You sing a song about me,

I’m as happy as can be.

In my blue skies,

I never fly alone.”

The monster shrieks under the barrage of trumpets and horns, the assault of song, the lyrics of Buchs. Its red eyes shrink and turn gray. They crack like stone as its body ceasing its constant misty flow. The creature fades into the sky, disappearing under the sunlight like a burnt, flakey pastry. Its final roar grows quiet as it dissipates into nothingness. I catch my breath.

The musicians cheer. Sally gasps and loses concentration. Shining Armor stands and throws her back into a pot of flowers with a final burst of magical energy. “Aargh!” I look up and see Flash Sentry falling from the sky. Shining Armor uses his magic to catch him before he falls, but Flash isn’t looking well. He was no match for Sketchy.

Sketchy dives behind the flower pot his sister fell behind. A dark green light bursts throughout the garden, and from it another monster of black mist rises. Its red eyes shine with anger. Shining Armor helps Flash up and carries him to a group of guards just inside the castle. The second monster roars.

I wave my hoof down to signal the musicians to play. And they do. With all their might and spirit they play, but to no avail. The monster remains floating in the air. It laughs when finally the royal musicians stop playing. They are as dumbfounded as I am. One of the monsters was so weak to music, why isn’t this one?

And then all of a sudden, a dozen monsters land in the garden. All their red eyes glow and they seem to laugh as the musician ponies start to panic. They all start playing their instruments again, but nothing happens. All of the monsters, except one, charge the musician ponies. They all run back into the castle and close the doors behind them. “Go! Go now!” I cry. Shining Armor, with Flash Sentry under his foreleg, resists at first, but then he looks at his poorly friend and reluctantly nods. He heads inside the castle and very quickly I am standing before a horde of monsters, alone.

All of the monsters look down at me and laugh, and their eyes light the garden in an earie red glow. “Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha!” I laugh in turn.

“What?” asks one of the monsters, it’s voice somewhat less deep and ferocious than I imagined.

“You still think your illusion magic will work on me. I find that funny.” The monster’s eyes glow brightly, and several of the other ‘monsters’ disappear suddenly. “It was you two that attacked the train to Appleloosa, wasn’t it?” The last of the pack of monster disappear as well, until there is only one. “I know you too well, Sally,” I say as I launch into the air and strike. The shadow disappears as if it never existed, and Sally and Sketchy fall from the air. I land in the garden a few feet from them and hear the guard ponies returning.

The gemstone falls into the garden with a loud thump. Sally dives for it, but I kick out my back hooves, sending her to the ground. Then I quickly drive a hoof into Sketchy’s stomach. I grab one of his wings and throw him into the hooves of the palace guards. Other guards rush over and hold Sally up by the forelegs.

Celestia returns and picks up the full gemstone. “I’ll see to it this one is destroyed as well.” Once again, the princess disappears behind a wall of guards just inside the castle. I look at them, brother and sister, and remember the attack on the train. Sally’s illusion magic really is unique, and powerful. Magic I once thought an asset, but now that she’s turned her back on Equestria, is only a threat.

Sketchy stretches out his wounded wing and wriggles around, trying to escape the guards’ grip, when he looks at me. He doesn’t say anything, but he’s eyes tell me he’s scared, unsure, sorry. I can’t help but think of Twilight. Sketchy and I were good friends once. Can it last? “This doesn’t have to be it, Sketchy. Come with me.” Sketchy Sword looks as though he’s about to accept my offer, but then Sally coughs to get his attention. Sketchy wrestles a hoof rom one of the guards and holds up the black griffon feather I gave him. She smiles, sincerely for once, and then bucks the other guards away, scoops up his sister, and launches into the air.

I offered him true friendship and he refused me. An image of Rainbow Dash enters my mind, and I can’t help but feel that Sketchy was right in his own way. He was fighting for what he believed in, he was fighting for his sister.

I watch Sketchy Sword fly away with his sister in his hooves. Other guard ponies gallop into the royal garden and look up. Shining Armor stands next to me. He puts his hoof on my shoulder and says, “Are you sure you’ve done the right thing letting them go?”

“I don’t know if it was the right thing to do, but I know they’ll be back. I just hope they remember our friendship when they do return.” Shining Armor nods and bows as princess Celestia approaches.

“Luna and I have destroyed the gemstones for good. We made sure of it.”

“There’s still something that bothers me about those gems, though,” I tell Celestia, “I promise I’ll find out why.”

“Good. I always know I can count on you, Mighty.” All the guard ponies cheer, and even Flash Sentry comes outside to celebrate. But I can’t help but think; where once there were four, now there is one.

I return to Ponyville on the next train, and swim in the punchbowl of emotions as waves of fear, anger, and sorrow all wash over me. Sketchy was doing what he thought he had to, as he said, but I didn’t understand Sally. Why did she become so hateful? I would learn the truth, no matter what it took.

Cherry Shine replied to my letter and told me she’s back in Appleloosa, living happily and without fear of any monster ruining her house. She’s trying to find another music box for her mantle and has invited me over to visit one day.

Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, and Dashie all welcome me with cheers and smiles. They all hug me and pat me on the back as they lead me to Ponyville Park. We all sit together on a picnic blanket and dig into sandwiches and cupcakes. Dashie passes me a chocolate muffin, my favorite. Yet the sense of failure stirs within my heart. But then I think of Pinkie Pie and how she can make anypony smile. I look around at each of my friends. Now is not the time for worry or fear, now is the time to celebrate the good things and enjoy each other’s company. I could have sworn Fluttershy smiled at me a little longer than the others.

True friends will always be there for you, like Sketchy was for his sister and like I was there for Celestia and Twilight. I admire Sketchy Sword’s loyalty to his sister and friend, so I hold nothing against him. I’m sure I’ll see them both again soon.

Celestia stands beside her sister as they look upon all of Equestria from their palace tower. Luna eyes her older sister and shakes her head. “Do you think he knows?”

“No,” Celestia replies.

“But didn’t you say he promised to learn more about the gemstones?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he’ll find out the truth.” Luna shakes her head again. “Don’t worry, little sister. The Crystal Empire is a long way from Ponyville.” The two princesses survey their land again. Equestria was safe. For now.