The Redemption of King Sombra

by DrewCarriker6231993

Chapters

Chapter One: Sombra's Return
Chapter Two: Slumber Party and Scary Stories
Chapter Three: Sombra's Good Deeds
Chapter Four: Changed King
Chapter Five: Forgiven
Chapter Six: Shadow and the Moon
Chapter Seven: Yykees!
Chapter Eight: The Bandit
Chapter Nine: Sombra's First Hearts and Hooves Day
Chapter Ten: The Feral Colt
Chapter Eleven: The Vampire of Sweet Apple Acres
Chapter Twelve: Sickly Apple
Chapter Thirteen: Comedy Show
Chapter Fourteen: The Pirate and The Merpony
Chapter Fifteen: The Big Ape
Chapter Sixteen: Cutie Mark Supporters
Chapter Seventeen: The Return of Nightmare Moon
Chapter Eighteen: King Sombra's Proposal
Chapter Nineteen: Frankencorn
Chapter Twenty: Starlight, Star bright....
Chapter Twenty One: Quality Time with Discord and The Beastly Gang
Chapter Twenty Two: Island Princess
Chapter Twenty Three: Tale of Sombra and Luna
Chapter Twenty Four: Day Care
Chapter Twenty Five: Enter the Dragon
Chapter Twenty Six: Eternal Love

Chapter One: Sombra's Return

Much time has passed since King Sombra's defeat. His body may have been destroyed but his spirit lived in the shadows. Humiliated, and desperate he fed on the darkness in the villains' hearts until his powers were fully restored and created a new body. "I live!" He looked around and found himself standing on a mountain seeing the land where the ponies lived hundreds of miles away. He felt different, but he couldn't explain it. "What happened to me?" he asked himself. "Why do I feel the need to go away and not return?" He sat there and thought, and thought until he remembered the day he was turned to crystal and shattered to pieces. "I could get my revenge on the Crystal Empire right now, but what good would that do?" he looked down at his hooves. "Humiliation? Remorse? I can't remember the last time I felt like this...." He looks around and sees that he is on a deserted island and decides to explore. He soon realized that he was the only living thing on the island. "Perfect..." He came back to the mountain and began charging his horn with dark magic. In a few moments the mountain was turned into a castle of stone. The castle looked grim and gloomy; a place where spooks would hang out. He walked inside and made a throne room similar to the throne room back in Crystal Empire, but only gloomy. He then used his magic to bring in four large boulders as big as him. His horn glowed as he began creating statues out of the lifeless stone: he first created what appeared to be a male pony in spiked armor and bat wings; his second statue appeared to be a female pony with bat wings; and with the other two he made unicorn versions of the first two. They looked almost alive, almost. "My new servants, awaken!" he yelled as his eyes turned green. The statues began to crack and then out came new ponies. The unicorn and Pegasus knights were dark blue; their armor were black; their eyes yellow; their manes and tails light blue; and the pegasus' wings were just as black as his armor. The females were dark green; they manes and tail were black; their eyes were red; and the female Pegasus' wings were dark red. They all looked at King Sombra.

"Master...." they said in unison as they walked up to him and bowed, "How may we serve you?"

"Find the Mirror Pool underneath Everfree Forest. Multiply as much as you desire and come back here..." King Sombra ordered.

"Yes master!" the knights and servants all said before they left the room. Hours later, the castle was being guarded by the Pegasus and Unicorn Knights. The females were given the jobs cooking, cleaning, and other chores. King Sombra sat in his new throne as one of the female unicorns bowed down and handed her king a plate of food. A female Pegasus filled a glass with grape juice and presented it to him. King Sombra used his telekinesis to take the glass cup and plate of food. After he has eaten he walked up a stairs to the highest room in the castle that had a crystal ball he created to look at the world from his castle. He looked out the window at the land miles away. He looked up at the night sky and sighed.

"They will never forgive me.... I must live in isolation...." A female unicorn came into the room with a blue robe in the air.

"Master, your bed is ready...." King Sombra took the robe with his magic and followed her to his room. Sombra opened the door and walked in. The room had really big windows, bookshelves filled up, a desk with a mirror, and a king sized bed. "If you need anything, you may call us..." the unicorn bowed and left. Sombra dressed in his bed robe, got under the covers, and laid his head on the pillows. He laid there looking out the window, watching the moon move across the star filled night sky. Soon he drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Two: Slumber Party and Scary Stories

Unaware of Sombra's return, Twilight Sparkle decided to throw another slumber party. Spike was at Celestia's kingdom. Applejack and Apple Bloom were busy making snacks; Pinkie Pie was jumping around happily; Rarity was giving Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy makeovers; Scootaloo was riding on Rainbow Dash's back while she was flying around the room; and Twilight Sparkle was sitting in a chair reading a book. She looks up and see's her friends, "They seem to be having a good time..." she said to herself. Rainbow Dash landed next to Twilight Sparkle.

"Hey Twilight, when are we going to tell scary stories?"

"Whenever Applejack and Apple Bloom are done with the snacks." she answered. Applejack and Apple Bloom came in carrying two plates of s'mores.

"The snack's are ready!" Apple Bloom yelled.

"Excellent! Okay everypony, it's time for scary stories!" They set their cushions around a lamp. They all seemed enthusiastic except for Fluttershy, who was wiping the mud mask off her face. Once they got their s'mores they sat on their cushions. "Who wants to tell a ghost story first?" Twilight Sparkle asked. Rainbow Dash raised a hoof.

"I got one! Have you all heard the legend of the Wailing Pony?" they all looked at each other.

"Nah..." Applejack answered, "But I reckon yal heard the Whinin' Fashion Designer!" she threw a piece of melted marshmallow in Rarity's face and started laughing.

"Yuck!" she took a napkin, wiped it off, and took out a small mirror. "You ruined my makeup!" Applejack and Apple Bloom just laughed, but Rarity used her magic to hold up makeup supplies and sent them towards Applejack!

"What in tarnat....!" after a few seconds the supplies went back to Rarity. Applejack got back up only to be laughed at. Rarity handed her a mirror; Applejack took one look at it and screamed, "AHHHH!!! I look like a clown!"

"You should go to the circus!" Rainbow Dash yelled, lying on her back laughing. Applejack glared at them.

"Ha ha! Very funny!" she looked over Rarity, "This means war!" she ran outside for a minute and brought in a bucket of dirt. "Take this!" she tossed the bucket in the air as Rarity ducked for cover. Twilight Sparkle quickly used her magic to stop the bucket and put it back outside.

"That's enough! We're here to have fun, not fight!" Applejack and Rarity both grunted. "Now, Rainbow Dash? What were you saying?" Rainbow Dash recovered and got back on her cushion.

"The Legend of the Wailing Pony: this dates back to when Ponyville was still new; it was a small village and had only about, I don't know twenty to thirty ponies. Can you imagine that? Anyway, a mother pony recently moved into the village. She recently lost her husband and was left with a son and a daughter, so she worked really hard to feed them and eventually earned enough money to build her own pottery shop. Her business was really good and eventually word got around about her pottery skills and other ponies started coming from far and wide to buy her amazing pots and bowls. Things went good for her and her children for a few years until one day she had to run some errands; her son was old enough to stay home and watch his little sister. Before she left she said to her son, 'Remember, don't let anyone or anything in the house!' 'Yes mother!' the boy said. She kissed her children and left. Hours passed and she finally returned home to find her house on fire! And her children were still in there!" They all gasped as Apple Bloom hugged her sister and Sweetie Belle nuzzled close to her sister. Scootaloo sat close to Fluttershy who seemed scared too. "All the ponies tried desperately to put out the fire. 'NOOO!!! MY CHILDREN!!!!' the mother yelled. The others tried to stop her, but she ran into the burning house in attempt to save her children. She made it out alive, but she was to late...."

"That's very sad...." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, it is. But what this gotta do with the Wailin' Pony?" Applejack asked Rainbow before she continued.

"I was getting to that. Her loss was unbearable; she was so devastated that she didn't go to her children's funerals, and as a result she never knew where their graves were. Since that day things got really bad for her: she lost her money to robbers; went out of business; and lost her reputation, but she didn't care. Day and night she would weep and mourn over the loss of her children; she did not eat, drink, or sleep and eventually grew ill, wasted away, and passed away. The villagers found her, but couldn't find her children's graves, so they decided to bury her somewhere else..."

"How awful! How could they do that?" Rarity asked before Rainbow continued.

"I don't know. After her funeral they built a statue of her and her children. 'Here lies Lalora, and her two dear children, Kay and Swella. The peace loving, artistic family' was engraved at the bottom of the statue."

"But her children were buried somewhere else!" Pinkie Pie yelled out.

"I know, and that was the reason..."

"Reason? Reason for what?" Pinkie Pie asked again.

"Let her continue..." Twilight Sparkle said.

"Many months later, things started getting very spooky after dark. You know, not the same. People started hearing what sounded to be a lady's voice saying: 'Where are my children? Where are my dear, sweet children? Where? Wheeeere?'" The fillies started huddling closer to each other. "Only a few have seen the ghost and lived to tell the tale. Yes, it was the restless spirit of Lalora searching for her children! Since she started haunting the village, parent's kept their children in doors at after dark. You want to know why? Because the children who didn't know better would get captured by Lalora's ghost, and never be seen again! Night after night she would roam the village at night searching for her children, and she kidnaps children who go out after dark out of grief. And every time she would come she would moan: 'Where are my children? Where are my dear, sweet children? Where? Wheeeere?"

"I'VE GOT YOU!" arms wrapped around the fillies!

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!" Twilight Sparkle quickly turned the lights back on and saw it was Pinkie Pie with a bed sheet over her! She took it off and started laughing as the fillies ran over to their sisters and Fluttershy.

"Pinkie Pie!" all except Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Give me a hoof!" Rainbow Dash told Pinkie Pie as their hooves clacked.

"We are good!" Pinkie Pie said jumping up and down. Scootaloo lets go of Fluttershy and sighs in relief.

"You really got us!"

"Yeah, that was great!" Sweetie Belle replied. Apple Bloom was still nuzzling Applejack. She wrapped an arm around her younger sister.

"It's okay...." she said in a comforting voice. Rainbow Dash walks over to her.

"It was only a story, and a joke. There's no such thing as the Wailing Pony." Apple Bloom looked up at her.

"There isn't?"

"Nah, just an old story made up." just then a ghost shaped like a pony came from the ceiling!

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!" Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo grabbed each other. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hugged their sisters again all screaming in fright. Pinkie Pie jumped out of hiding with a rope in her mouth. She tried to laugh but her mouth was full.

"Pinkie Pie!" She let go of the rope and the fake ghost dropped.

"Ha! You should've seen the looks on your faces! Especially you Rainbow Dash!" she bursted out laughing again. Rainbow Dash let go and started chasing Pinkie Pie around the room.

"Okay, okay let's settle down!" Twilight Sparkle said. Pinkie Pie grabbed a pillow and threw it at Rainbow Dash's face.

"Hey!" she threw a pillow back at her,

"Yay, pillow fight!"

"Awe, what the heck?" Twilight Sparkle use her magic to lift two pillows and threw it at Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. Pretty soon everyone joined in.
Canterlot

Discord was helping Celestia who was blindfolded to a present covered in a sheet near a window. "Getting warmer...." Discord said with a sly grin on his face. "Okay, stop! You can take off the blindfold." he instructed removing the sheet. After Celestia took off the blindfold she gasped in delight. Discord has made her a a beautiful telescope; it appeared to be a telescope except it was the same color as Celestia's mane and shined in the light; it had her Cutie Mark on it; and it was about five times a telescope's normal size.

"It's beautiful! Thank you!" she kissed Discord's cheek causing him to turn red. After a few seconds he got his color back.

"I call it the Celestiascope! I made it so you can see things that are really far away, not to mention you can eavesdrop if you wanted to! Ha! Just kidding, you can see them but they can't see you, and you can't hear what they're saying unfortunately...." Eager, she decided to try it out. But what she saw was Discord's face.

"Can you please move?" she asked.

"Oh, yes of course!" after he moved out of the way she saw the moon and what was on the moon clearly!

"This is perfect!"

"Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it!" she and Discord hugged each other. While hugging and Celestia wasn't looking he winked an eye.She then looked through her new telescope again and this time she was looking at a island with an unfamiliar castle. "This is peculiar. Discord, come and see!" she moved so her friend could look.

"A castle?"

"Did you build it?"

"No, but I know that island. I called it the Deserted Island; an island that has been uninhabited for centuries..." he twisted a gear on the telescope so he can look closer. "Zooming in on the master of the castle! Let's see.... black mane.... red horn.... sharp teeth.... appears to be sleeping.... he looks familiar, but what was his name again?" he moved so Celestia can look.

"King Sombra?!"

"Yeah, that's it!"

"He has returned!" she backed up.

"I thought he was long gone!" said Discord.

"I did too. I don't like this...." Then Discord got an idea.

"I can go check it out if you want me to." Celestia nodded.

"Yes, please do. But please be careful!"

"Back in a jiffy!" with that he teleported.
Sombra's Castle

Discord arrived at the window of Sombra's room. He looks around, "My kind of place...." he carefully opens the window and flew in. Sombra was snoring as Discord floated quietly close to the bed. "Suppose I should wake him..." he said plucking a feather from his wing. He started tickling Sombra's snout with the feather, which didn't take much to wake him. His eyes opened and glowed and his horn started charging up. He jumped up and snarled at Discord. "Whoa, hey! Take it easy! It's me, Discord!" Sombra powered down.

"Discord?"

"Yeah, the one and only!" Sombra grunted.

"What do you want?"

"No need to be rude! I just want to talk." Discord replied making two chairs appear in the room. He disappeared and reappeared in one of the chairs with a cup of tea. Sombra walked over and sat on the other chair. "Celestia has just learned of your return, and she wishes to know what you are up to." Sombra looked down at his hooves and growled. "Sombra old boy?" Discord asked.

"Nothing...." King Sombra said.

"Nothing? Nothing at all?" Discord asked again.

"No.... I'm done...."

"How unusual...."

"What?"

"It's just normally you would be so.... so...."

"Power-hungry? Don't be afraid to say it.... After my return I came to the conclusion that evil never wins. So why bother going on?" Discord was so surprised that he spat out his tea coughing and hacking; he never thought he would hear someone who was once such a tyrant say those words. "I chose to live here in isolation, far away from the other ponies...."

"Oh, I see. You fear they won't forgive you. I've been there too..." Discord then thought for a moment and said, "Look, you can't change your past. But you can still make amends, learn from the past, live in the present, and hope for the future, or whatever. It might take some time, but I'm sure the ponies will forgive you."

"Leave me!" Sombra ordered.

"And you need to forgive yourself...."

"I said LEAVE ME!" his horn began powering up and his eyes glowed again.

"Alright! Alright! No need to get all huffy! But do think about what I said!" with that Discord vanishes.
Canterlot

Celestia was sitting in her throne with Luna, talking about Sombra until Discord appeared in front of them. "Boo! Gotchya!" they just look at him. "I have good news and I have some bad news: the good news is that I think Sombra regrets everything he has done and probably wants to go straight." Celestia and Luna had surprised looks on their faces.

"That's wonderful!" Luna said.

"But what's the bad knews?" Celestia asked.

"The bad news is he feels so bad that he chose to live in isolation and he fears that nopony will forgive him."

"He is sad; filled with remorse...." Celestia said.

"Did I forget to mention I also sensed something in him? I saw that his heart is lighting up and now there is room for friendship and love. Maybe that's what he needs! Look how I turned out when I experienced these things!" Discord said as a halo appeared above his head and a harp appeared in his paw and talon.

"You are right Discord. But for now we must leave him alone to adjust...." Celestia said. Luna smiled and looked outside at the full moon.

"Permission to tell Twilight Sparkle and the others, ma'am!" Discord saluted, wearing his general outfit. Celestia giggled,

"Permission granted!" with that Discord teleported again.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

They all decided to decided to sleep in the middle of the throne room in their sleeping bags just for the fun of it. Applejack yawned, "I'm tuckered out!"

"You and me both!" Rarity replied while brushing her mane. Rainbow Dash go into their sleeping bag,

"Night guys!" Pinkie Pie got into her sleeping bag, making a farting sound.

"Pinkie!" Twilight Sparkle yelled.

"It wasn't me!" she looked through her sleeping bag and found a whoopee cushion. Rainbow Dash started laughing. Fluttershy got into her own sleeping bag with Angel Bunny,

"Good night everyone..." Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom already got into their sleeping bags and fell asleep. Twilight Sparkle was about to get into her own sleeping bag until she saw something hiding under the covers! She powered up her horn and lifted the covers revealing Discord! They both screamed when they saw each other.

"You scared me!" Twilight Sparkle said.

"You scared me!" Discord replied. Fluttershy jumped up and flew towards Discord, hugging him.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Been doing great!"

"What brings you here?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, I've got big news!" "What is it?" Fluttershy asked eagerly. "King Sombra has returned!"

"What!?"

"No way!"

"For real?"

"Land sakes!"

"Yikes!"

"Oh...."

"Yes, you heard right!" Discord replied.

"No way! We were there! We were all there! We all saw what happened to King Sombra that day!" Rainbow Dash cried out.

"Yeah, there's no way anypony could survive that!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Hold your horses! Horses? I just made a joke! Haha! Anyway, he won't be causing any problems for us anymore." Discord told everyone.

"Really?" Fluttershy asked.

"Really really!" Discord held out his paw and a map appeared. With his talon he pointed at an island on the map, "He now lives on Deserted Island in a very gloomy castle. Hundreds of miles Northwest from where we're standing! The poor sap is so filled with remorse, which still baffles me a little, that he wishes to be left alone. And I don't know if he would let you in if you plan to visit him. Well, got to get back to Canterlot! Good night!" he teleports again. Everyone in the room was speechless, including Twilight Sparkle. After a few minutes Twilight Sparkle asked her friends:

"King Sombra?"

Chapter Three: Sombra's Good Deeds

Chapter Three: Sombra's Good Deeds
Sombra's Castle
Three weeks later

Sunlight woke King Sombra from his sleep. He yawned, got out of bed and dressed in his cape and armor. He made his way to his throne room, being greeted by his servants along the way. He sat on his throne, for a while with a depressed look on his face. He looks next to him, no other throne besides his. He sighed and began thinking about the Crystal Empire and all he has ever hurt. "I can never have a queen, nor can I go to places without being recognized as an evil king...." then an idea came to him, "Wait, that's it!" He left his throne room and went to a big mirror. He stood there and thought for a moment. His eyes then glowed and his horn powered up. His red horn straightened and turned as grey as his fur; his fangs turned to teeth, and in moments he began to look less terrifying. "Yes! But my voice!" He grunted as if he was clearing his throat, and then spoke in a deep raspy voice. "This could work! Now, all I need is something to wear...." He went to his crystal ball and began searching around until he found Rarity's place full of different costumes, dresses, and jackets. One by one he looked and stopped at a dummy wearing a black leather with red lines on the sleeves, red collar, red cuffs. And around the head was a black headband with black spikes. Sombra grinned and went to a chest full of diamonds and crystals of many colors, but he shook his head and went to another chest. In the other chest was filled with black diamonds, crystal shards, and rubies. He and his servants discovered these treasures while investigating a secret cave they accidentally found. With his magic he took a sack and filled it with the black and red treasure. He looks back in his crystal ball and his eyes glowed again. In the crystal ball he watched as the jacket disappeared, scaring Rarity. Then he transported his sack of treasures right in front of her. Rarity jumped, but she calmed down and opened the sack to find the black diamonds, crystal shards, and rubies.

"Beautiful! I can make an even better black and red jacket! Or maybe even a dress! I don't know who you are, but thank you!"

Sombra smiled and used his magic to put on his new jacket and headband. He looked back in the mirror, "Now no one can recognize me! Now, all I need is a name! Hmmmmm...... Umbra! I'll call myself Umbra!

"Your highness!" a unicorn guard walked in, "You have a visitor!" Princess Luna walked in as King Sombra morphed into his original form.

"Luna?"

"Yes Sombra, it is I."

What beauty.... Sombra thought to himself.

"You were planning on disguising yourself, yes?"

"Yes, because...." Luna beat him to it,

"You fear that no one will forgive you and everyone will still think you're evil..."

"Correct...." he morphed back into his disguise.

"You were planning on doing good things, make new friends, and find a queen." Sombra was surprised to hear this.

"You went into my dreams, didn't you?"

"Yes, and I can't help but take pity on you."

"Pity? You pity me?!" Pity me? No one has ever taken pity on me before.... King Sombra thought.

"Yes, Discord and I know how you feel since we had gone through the same thing. I am also here to say that you don't need to disguise yourself...."

“Why not?”

“If you live a lie you may never know if you have friends or not; real friends will like for who you are, not what you look like.” Sombra thought for a moment,

“I guess that makes sense, but still would they ever forgive me?”

“Perhaps, but it might take some time. If you wish to seek help you may seek Twilight Sparkle. She knows of your return and believes you want to change. You may also seek me out anytime, day or night, with this." she handed Sombra a black circle medallion with a crescent moon and put it around his neck.

"Thank you Luna. I really appreciate it..."

"You're welcome. You may find Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville in the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom. I wish you best of luck...." she kissed Sombra's cheek and flew away. Sombra stood there frozen and turning as red as his horn. Once he recovered he looked into his crystal ball and found the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom. He morphed back into his normal self, turned into a shadow and left his castle. He hid in the shadows and the ponies shadows until he found the castle. He then spotted Fluttershy walking towards the entrance and hid in her shadow. Unaware Sombra was following her, she went into the castle. Once she entered the castle Sombra left her shadow and hid in the dark corners of the kingdom. Thinking someone was following her she looked around, but she saw no one. As a shadow Sombra searched the castle until she found Twilight Sparkle and her friends sitting on their thrones. As Pinkie Pie welcomed Fluttershy her Pinkie Sense started acting up.

"There's someone in here! Someone we can't see!"

"What?! Who is it?!" Twilight Sparkle asked. Suddenly a monstrous shadow appeared right behind her! Rainbow Dash flew in the air,

"Look out!" Twilight Sparkle turned around fast and powered up her horn.

"Wait, Sombra?"

"SOMBRA?!" the shadow started taking shape then Sombra came out of the shadow. He smiled his evil smile,

"Greetings!" Twilight Sparkle powered down and smiled back at him.

"I've been expecting you!"

"You were?!" Rainbow Dash asked in a bewildered tone of voice. Sombra looks around him,

"Not a bad castle. I know I was a jerk to you before, so I suggest we start over. Yes, I am King Sombra." Pinkie Pie bounced around him,

"I'm Pinkie Pie, welcome to the good side!" Sombra then looks up and see's Rainbow Dash,

"I'm Rainbow Dash, the most awesome flyer around!" Rarity walks up to him,

"I'm Rarity, and I have to say your horn matches your cape well."

"Thank you...."

"Howdy stranger! I'm Applejack!" she began shaking Sombra's hoof.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, welcome to our castle! Hey, where's Fluttershy?" Fluttershy's head popped out from behind her throne. Twilight Sparkle sighed and used her magic to carry her in the air and in front of Sombra. She was shaking in fear as Sombra looked down at her,

"Um.... um.... I'm Fluttershy...." she whispered.

"Appropriate...." Sombra said. Fluttershy screamed, broke free, and started to run only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

"I thank you for welcoming me in your kingdom, Princess Twilight Sparkle. If you please I wish to reform completely."

"Well, you've come to the right place!" Pinkie Pie said bouncing up and down.

"Shocker!" Rainbow Dash replied. Twilight Sparkle looked up at her angrily,

"Rainbow!"

"What?" "Sorry about that..."

"That's alright, I understand...." he looked down sadly.

"Was it you that sent me those crystals, diamonds, and rubies?" Rarity asked. Sombra looked up her,

"Indeed, in exchange for that jacket." he morphed into his disguise.

"It looks good on you!" Rarity said.

"Thank you, I apologize for being sneaky..." "It's alright! You've done me a favor!"

"That's a start! Instead of stealing you paid!" Pinkie Pie said. "Say, would you like to go shopping with me?" Sombra thought for a moment and remembered what Luna said. He morphed back into his normal self,

"Sure, to be honest I always wondered what you ponies do everyday...."
Ponyville

Pinkie Pie and Sombra started walking through Ponyville. Many ponies shook in fear, ducked down, ran for cover, or just shut their windows and door. Sombra looked discouraged. He then noticed that other ponies were just going about their lives. "You returning and wanting to reform sorta became a Ponyville gossip." Pinkie Pie told him. Then a ball hit Sombra in the hit.

"Hey mister, can you throw that back?" a kid asked. Sombra looked down at the ball, but Pinkie Pie stepped in front and threw it back and continued on their way.

"Here we are!" Pinkie Pie said.

"What is this place?"

"This is the Joke Shop! Rainbow Dash and I get our pranking supplies here!"

"Pranking supplies?"

"Yes! Like whoopee cushions, sneezing powder, disappearing ink, you name it!"

"Is that your idea of fun?"

"Of course! It makes us laugh!" Pinkie Pie headed for the entrance, "You coming?"

"I'll just wait out here...." Sombra answered.

"Okay, but you're missing out!" she jumped in. Sombra stood there for a few minutes when he heard three ponies circling a colt, taunting and teasing him. Sombra started walking towards them until the colt escaped and bumped into him. The sight of Sombra frightened him at first, but when he saw the bullies he hid behind Sombra.

"Awe, how cute! Little baby is trying to hide!" one of the bullies said before they laughed.

"What's the meaning of this?" Sombra demanded.

"They're teasing me because I have no cutie mark!" the colt cried. The bullies just laughed. Sombra looked and saw the bullies had cutie marks.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves! You didn't have cutie marks when you were younger either."

"Who are you to tell us what to do?" one of the bullies said punching Sombra's armored chest.

"Perhaps you need a lesson...." Sombra said before his horn glowed. He lifted the bully in the air,

"Hey! No! Put me down!" the bully yelled before he started moving his front and back legs rapidly.

"If you insist...." Sombra said before he tossed the bully in the fountain. "Not so funny now, huh?" Sombra asked before he smiled his evil smile. The other two bullies rushed over to their friend. The colt walked up to him,

"Thank you, sir...."

"Call me Sombra. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm alright...." he had tears in his eyes. A female pony ran towards the colt.

"Are you alright?!" she took the colt in her arms. "Yes Mama. Those bullies were teasing me again, and Sombra saved me...." he cried in her arms.

"Sombra? King Sombra?" his mother asked.

"Formerly...."

"Good or evil, I thank you for helping my son!" not having ever been thanked before in pony, he stuttered and stammered.

"Um.... uh.... you're welcome....." They both smiled at him and left. Pinkie Pie bounced around her new friend,

"You did good! You did good!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, you stood up to that bully for that colt! You did good! You did good!" Sombra grinned.
Sweet Apple Acres

"Sweet Apple Acres?"

"Yep! Applejack and her family live here!" she pointed over to Applejack using her hind legs to kick and apple tree. The baskets around the tree filled up. "Hi Applejack!" Pinkie Pie waved at her.

"Howdy!" Applejack waved back. "Yee-haw!" she kicked another tree and filled the baskets. Big Mac started carrying these baskets to the barn when he saw Pinkie Pie and Sombra.

"Howdy!" then he stopped and backed up. "Sombra?!"

"Greetings...." Sombra greeted. Applejack ran up to her brother,

"It's okay! He's on our side!"

"I'm still working on it though...." Sombra added.

"You're doing good!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing up and down again. "I bought you something!" Pinkie Pie handed a box to Applejack who quickly opened it. There was a pie in it. Applejack sniffed it,

"Apple pie! Mmmmm!" while she wasn't looking, Pinkie Pie got out a remote and pressed the red button, setting loose a spring in the box and sending the apple pie in Applejack's face! Pinkie Pie's eyes filled with tears as she laughed and fell on her back. Big Mac couldn't help but laugh, but Sombra just grinned and shook his head. "What are yal laughin' at?" asked Applejack. She licked the apple pie off her face and swallowed it. "Say why don't you give us a hoof helpin' us harvest them apples?" Applejack asked. Sombra looked over at the apple trees and smiled,

"Not a problem...." his horn powered up and in a few seconds all the apple tree's were emptied and the apples were put in different baskets and wagons!

"Land sakes! Thank you!"

"My pleasure...."

Granny Smith woke up and left her rocking chair, "What's all the commotion?" she then noticed all the apple trees emptied and the wagons and basket full. "Golly! You must have been working all day!" Applejack shook her head,

"Sombra did all the work!"

"Sombra?" she looked over to the scary looking unicorn.

"Eyep!" said Big Mac.

"I don't know who you are or where you came from, but thank you for your help!" Sombra smiled his evil smile.

"Anytime...."

"You can't catch me!" Apple Bloom's voice yelled. They all looked over and saw Babs Seeds and Apple Bloom playing tag.

"Don't push your luck!" Babs Seed yelled back. Apple Bloom was looking back instead of in front and bumped into Sombra, hitting her head on the armor! She fell backwards and started rubbing her head. She looked down at Sombra's hooves then up to Sombra's face.

"Ahhhh!!" she hid behind Applejack.

"It's okay lil sister! He's one of the good guys now!"

Babs Seed caught up and stopped in front of the former Evil King. "Howdy stranger! Cool armor!"

"Evening child, and thank you...."

"Would you like to stay for brunch?" Applejack invited.

"Certainly..."

"Follow us!"

They were now sitting at the table with many things imaginable made out of apples. Sombra smelled the air, it was good. King Sombra had a plate with and apple dumpling, a piece of apple pie, a piece of apple crostata, and a cup of apple cider. Sombra used his magic to wrap a napkin around his neck and take a bite of the apple pie. After getting the taste and swallowing he said, "This is terrific!" he then tried the cider, "Not bad!"

"I'm glad you like it. We made them ourselves." Applejack said. During brunch the Apple Family started sharing stuff about themselves: their hobbies, businesses, Babs Seed hometown, their musical instruments, and much more. Apple Bloom spoke up,

"Um.... Sombra...." he looked down at her,

"Yes, young lady?"

"Um.... um.... I'm really sorry for the way I acted when I saw you...." Sombra grinned,

"It's alright child...." Apple Bloom smiled. She started telling him about her and her friends trying to get their cutie marks for some time and how Babs got her Cutie Mark. "You have to earn your Cutie Marks, not work towards them...." Sombra said.

"Yeah, I know. But we want our Cutie Marks so bad...." "

Hey, what's your cutie mark?" Babs asked suddenly. Sombra had a disturbed look on his face, "What's the matter?"

"It's terrible! It resembles me!" He used his magic to remove his cape. They all gasped in horror as they saw his Cutie Mark. Looking at his Cutie Mark was like looking into darkness. He puts his cape back on in disgust.

"I'm sorry, Sombra...." Babs said with tears in her eyes.

"And I'm sorry for scaring all of you.... darkness is what I am...." Sombra began to cry, "It's really difficult to change that...."

"Nonsense!" Pinkie Pie yelled out. "If you were completely darkness you would've stole that jacket instead of paying for it! If you were completely darkness you would be so mean instead of so nice! If you were completely darkness you would've left the colt instead of helping him! If you were completely darkness you would've destroyed those apple trees instead of harvesting all the apples!" Applejack put a hoof over her mouth after that one.

"You talk to much, but I guess you're right. Thank you...." Pinkie Pie broke free,

"Don't mention it!" they finished brunch. Sombra wiped his lips with his napkin and walked out of the house with Pinkie Pie.

"It was a good meal, I appreciate it...."

"Your welcome, partner! Drop by anytime!" the Apple Family waved their hooves goodbye.

"They're a nice family...." Sombra told Pinkie Pie.

"I know!"

"What is brunch?"

"Breakfast and lunch!"

"Interesting...."

"Do you have a family?" Pinkie Pie asked. Sombra looked sad,

"No, I never had a family...."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that...." she said sadly. Then she got an idea, "I know! Why don't you become part of our family! Our family of friends!"

"Family.... friends.... I think I might like that...." Sombra smiled at the thought.

"I bet you will!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing up and down as they continued on their way.

Chapter Four: Changed King

Chapter Four: Changed King
Friendship Rainbow Castle

"Welcome back, Sombra. Hi Pinkie Pie! Have a good time?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"You bet we did!" Pinkie Pie replied.

"Indeed...." Sombra said. Discord flew through the window.

"Yeah, I saw the whole thing! You're becoming good faster than I ever been."

"You really think so?"

"I know so! Keep it up!" Discord patted Sombra's shoulder. Then Rarity came in.

"Sombra, you're just in time. Fluttershy and I are just about to head to the spa."
Ponyville Day Spa

Rarity was hanging on to Sombra's arm as they walked with Fluttershy to the spa. "You just relax at the spa?" Sombra asked Rarity.

"Yes, and you get massages, hooves cared for, oooh! You're going to love it!"

"If you say so...."

The trio entered, and the some of the guests stood petrified at the sight of Sombra. Even a mare he passed fainted. They came to Lotus Blossom and Aloe who bowed down in fear. Rarity let's go of Sombra and lowers her head to the two, "Lotus, this is King Sombra and I'm sure you've heard of him."

"Y-yes...." she answered still shaking.

"He's not the Evil King we all used to know anymore; he's intimidating I'll admit, but he's a changed king." Rarity assured her.

"Quite right...." Sombra said making the workers squeak and grab each other. "I have somehow gone through a very big change since I was defeated...." then he notices a pony with a mud mask, "What's that stuff?"

"It's called a mud mask, it rejuvenates your complexion." Rarity said.

"You mean it makes you look good?"

"Exactly!"

"And the cucumbers?"

"It reduces the puffiness in your eyes."

"Interesting....."

"W-would you like to try it, sir?" Aloe asked nervously.

"No thank you...."

Rarity and Fluttershy puts on robes and towels and started getting massages and their hooves done while Sombra watches. "You really should try this." Rarity said to Sombra, but he refused. He looks over to the hot tub,

"Maybe I should add one of those to my castle...." he said to himself as his horn and eyes glowed and his own big hot tub built itself in one of the rooms at his castle. He then looks around him and sees some workers bringing in a piano. After getting it set up they left. Sombra walked over to the piano, sat in the seat, and started playing relaxing music with his hooves and magic. Many of the ponies who were in the spa looked and saw King Sombra playing. King Sombra played for a while, then he stopped as the ponies applauded. King Sombra got off the seat and bowed, "I still go it...." he said to himself. Fluttershy trotted up to Sombra,

"That was pretty...." Sombra smiled,

"Thank you, my dear." Later, Sombra decided to see what else goes on in Ponyville by himself. He was walking through a field outside of Ponyville when he ran into Rainbow Dash,

"Hi Sombra! Can you do me a favor?"

"Of course, what do you need?"

"Your magic can throw things, even ponies, right?"

"Indeed...."

"I want you to throw me in the air as hard as you can while wearing a blindfold! Once I'm far enough I'll create a Sonic Rainboom!"

"But, that sounds dangerous." Sombra said with concern.

"I know! That what makes me a dare devil! Come on, help me out!"

"If you say so...."

"Great! Thanks!" Rainbow Dash puts on the blindfold, "I'm ready!"

Sombra's horn glowed and he lifted Rainbow Dash, spun around three times and tossed the Pegasus into the air. "YAHOOOOO!!!!" Once she was far enough, she created a big Sonic Rainboom and made her way back to town with her blindfold. All the ponies who were watching applauded and whooped. Soon they, even Sombra, realized she was going to fast and was going to crash right into Ponyville!

"Oh no!", Sombra turned into a shadow and quickly got to the center of Ponyville! Seconds before Rainbow Dash could crash into the center of Ponyville, Sombra quickly powered up his horn and stopped Rainbow Dash! Everypony applauded and wooped even louder. Rainbow Dash took off her blindfold and saw she was in the middle of Ponyville,

"Whoa!"

"Did you see that?" a pony asked.

"The Evil King, I mean former Evil King saved Rainbow Dash and Ponyville!" another pony said.

"Incredible!" Sombra put Rainbow Dash down and walked up to her,

"Are you alright?"

"A little shaken, but I'm alright!"

"That Sonic Rainboom was amazing, yet beautiful young Pegasus...." Sombra said nicely.

"It was? I mean it was! Couldn't have done it without you! Can't wait to hang out with you some more!" without realizing it they got their pictures taken. Soon a crowd of ponies surrounded Sombra, asking for autographs, questions, and some apologizing about how they acted around him. "Wow, you're popular already!" Rainbow told Sombra. Later that night, after everything calmed down, Sombra was having dinner with the Mane 6, Spike, Babs Seed, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash explained to everyone about what happened that day.

"Are you crazy?!" Rarity asked.

"You could've blown up Ponyville!" Pinkie Pie yelled.

"I didn't know where I was going because of the blindfold! I was lucky Sombra was there; I don't know what I would've done if he hadn't been there. Thanks again!" Sombra smiled and nodded. Twilight Sparkle lifted a glass with her magic,

"A toast to King Sombra for turning good, his good deeds, and for saving Rainbow Dash and Ponyville!" all the others lifted their glasses. Sombra was surprised for a moment, then he asked,

"For me?"

"Of course! You're a changed King!" Pinkie Pie said.

"You deserve it!" Twilight Sparkle added. Sombra grinned,

"Thank you Princess...."

"You may call Twilight, or Twilight Sparkle if you want." Scootaloo poked Sombra,

"You know, I'm not afraid of you anymore!" Sombra smiled,

"I'm glad!"

"You can come visit at our headquarters anytime!" Sweetie Belle invited.

"Headquarters?"

"It's our clubhouse!"

"Oh, I see. Thank you for the invitation...." Angel Bunny jumped on Sombra's head. Everyone laughed, "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Looks like someone made a new friend!" Applejack said. Sombra looked up and Angel Bunny looked down and saw each other in the eyes.

"Boo!" Angel Bunny jumped off and hopped towards Fluttershy. Everyone laughed some more. After dinner, they all sat by the fireplace.

"Hey, Sombra?"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"Why don't you spend the night here?" Sombra was surprised.

"Really?"

"Really! You can stay as long as you need to." Twilight Sparkle invited. Sombra thought for a moment about it,

"Of course...." Sombra went to a mirror and fired dark magic into it. One of his unicorn knights showed up.

"King Sombra, sir!"

"I'm not going to be back until tomorrow. Let no one or nothing in the castle!"

"As you wish master!" the mirror turned back to normal.

"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Say, what is your castle like, friend?!" Pinkie Pie asked jumping up and down.

"It is a bit gloomy and dark, not much to tell...."

"Sounds great for a costume party!"

"Everyone, to show my appreciation for your kindness and friendship, I'll give you this...." he eyes and horned glowed and powered up. A huge shiny, colorful pipe organ appeared in the room. Everyone was surprised, but Pinkie Pie jumped up and down with joy.

"This is for us?!" Rarity asked bewildered.

"Yes..."

"Wow, thanks!" Rainbow Dash flew to the air.

"Can you play the pipe organ?" Pinkie Pie asked. Sombra smiled his evil smile.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I can...." he walked over to the organ, sat in the seat, closed his eyes, made his horn glow and started playing all five keyboards with both hooves and magic. The music he was playing sounded like 'Night on Bald Mountain', only creepier. The pipes let out different colored ghosts and evil looking shadows that started dancing to the scary music. Scootaloo huddled close to Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed huddled close to Applejack, and Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity. Even the fireplace began to take shape into three ponies dancing until they turned into dragons, scaring the fillies and the others out of their wits. Then the colorful ghosts changed into different kinds of ghost monsters and started dancing. Fluttershy hid under a pillow, the fillies huddled closer, but the others had scared or excited looks on their faces. When the music was reaching it's finale, the ghosts and shadow went back to where they came from, and the fire turned to normal. The music now sounded peaceful and relaxing, and Fluttershy and the fillies were no longer scared. Then the music ended. All the ponies, fillies, and Dragon clapped their claws and hooves wildly.

"Bravo! Encore!" Spike yelled.

"That was amazing!" Rainbow Dash said about the scary magic.

"Dazzling if it weren't for the spooks!" Rarity said.

"So cool!" Pinkie Pie jumped up and down again. Sombra stepped off the seat,

"Thank you my friends! If you add magic to the organ, like I did, it will reflect the music and create images or illusions." Rarity was excited when she heard this.

"Why don't you play Twilight. I do it myself, dear, but I can't seem to get it right." everyone else, including Sombra, agreed and talked her into it.

"Alright, I'll give it a try. But I'm still learning, though." Sombra helped her on the seat. Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath, made her horn glow, and started playing a very beautiful, relaxing melody. The pipes created many good things, such as clouds, rainbows, animals dancing, ponies playing and dancing, and it also showed a pony couple nuzzle and kiss. The melody was so relaxing that the fillies fell asleep with smiles on their faces. When she finished, the others applauded quietly so they don't wake the fillies.

"That was beautiful, Twilight...." Fluttershy said.

"Darling!" Rarity added.

"Splendid..." Sombra added.

"Thank you everyone...." Twilight Sparkle bowed. "Time for bed...." Twilight Sparkle said with a yawn. Rarity used her magic to pick up her younger sister. Before Applejack and Rainbow Dash could do anything, Sombra picked the other three up with his magic.

"Which way?" he asked.

"Follow Rarity." Rainbow Dash instructed. Sombra followed Rarity into the room where the fillies slept when they're over. Rarity already tucked her sister in, and Sombra carefully and gently put the other three fillies on the same bed and Rarity pulled the blanket up. They left the room, then Rarity realized something,

"Where are you going to sleep?"

"I'll sleep on the sofa; it's very comfortable." Rarity smiled,

"Okay, Sombra. Good night."

"Good night...." after saying good night to everypony he went back to the fireplace "Had a good day for the first time in my life...." Sombra said to himself. "I feel good, happy, these feelings are new to me, and I like it...." his horn powered up and he fired magic at the pipe organ making it play by itself. He let the music play for a while then he began singing: "Evil to good, darkness to light.... bitter to content, wrong to right.... chaos to peace, sadness to happiness.... A changed king, coming from the blackness...." He went over to the window as the pipe organ played a little louder, closed his eyes and sung: "Sorrow to joy, changed emotions.... Repentance, evil remotion.... Heartless, unforgotten past.... Ruthless, troubled memories outlast...." He then began to raise his voice: "Forget these memories, and move on.... So hard to let the past be long gone.... I can live and be good, and make up for what I've done.... And carry the guilt I cannot outrun...." His Luna Medallion glowed and Luna appeared by his side and sung in a beautiful voice:

"Memories you cannot run from or forget, but you can learn from.... Use your memories to be wise, and become the pony you wish to become.... You're now a changed king, do what you think is right.... Be a good king and you'll see the light...." Luna and Sombra flew outside to the roof and they both sung:

"A changed king coming from the blackness. Turning sadness to happiness. Be good, and we'll see the light! And our spirits will shine bright! And our spirits will shine bright....." With that that sat down on the roof and Luna rested her head against Sombra's shoulder, causing him to blush.

"Luna, I think I finally understand...."
The Next morning....

At breakfast, Rainbow Dash was reading the newspaper. "Hey Sombra, look at this!" she handed him the paper. 'Former King of Evil saves Rainbow Dash and Ponyville!' the first page said. 'King Sombra REFORMED' another said. "At this rate everyone will know you've turned good!" Rainbow Dash told Sombra. After Sombra read the paper, he smiled.

"Perfect...."

(Song: Changed King, coming from the blackness)

Chapter Five: Forgiven

Chapter Five: Forgiven
Canterlot

That very same day, Discord was sitting at a table reading the newspaper. Toast just came out of the toaster and on to his plate that had cooked eggs and an orange. He took a sip of his coffee as Celestia walked into the room. "Good morning Discord!" Discord looked over to her and smiled,

"Good morning Celestia! Sleep well?"

"Yes, have you?"

"Yep! Have you seen these headlines?"

"No, why?"

"Take a look at this." he showed her the papers saying King Sombra REFORMED and the Former King of Evil saves Rainbow Dash and Ponyville. "That tyrant finally turned himself around!" Discord told Celestia, "I-I mean former tyrant! Yeah!" Celestia smiled,

"I'm happy for him."

"Me too! I wonder if Cadance heard about this?" he finished breakfast. "One way to find out!" he went to the Celestiascope and looked through it. The Crystal Empire was filled with ponies reading newspapers. "It appears that everypony in the Crystal Empire knows about it...." he then moved over to Princess Cadance standing with Shining Armor on the balcony using her magic to read the headlines. "Yep, she knows alright! AND I can't help myself!"

"What?" he disappears.
Crystal Empire

"King Sombra? Alive?" Shining Armor asked his wife.

"I don't believe it either! Last time we saw him, he was like, well you know...." she remembers that day Sombra was defeated. "Now they say he's reformed! It's a miracle!" Cadance smiled.

"I don't believe it...." Shining Armor said. Then a paw and talon covered his eyes,

"Guess who?!" Shining Armor grunted and moved his head backwards. "Ow! My nose!" Cadance saw this and giggled.

"Discord?!"

"Hey Shiny!" Discord was rubbing his nose. "Hey Cadance, looking lovely today!"

"Why, thank you Discord. What brings you here?" she asked sweetly.

"Oh, nothing! Just hanging around." he started hanging by his tail. "Get it? Hanging? Ha!" Cadance giggled again. He looks over to Shining Armor, who didn't seem amused. "Gee Shiny, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Discord asked.

"What is it you want Discord?" Discord let go and stood on his feet.

"You seem tense! You should've seen Sombra, he's been in a good mood lately!"

"Sombra? Has he really reformed? Tell me!" Shining ordered.

"You heard right! He turned himself around at last!" Shining Armor didn't look convinced, "You don't believe me? I won't blame you, if you don't. You can ask your sister, or any of her friends, or maybe even Luna. They helped him through it!" he then looked at the watch that appeared on his wrist, "Oops! Got to go! See you later!" he tossed a smoke bomb to the ground and disappeared. Cadance and Shining Armor coughed.

"That's just rude!" Shining Armor groaned. Cadance blew away the smoke with her wings.

"Sorry!" Discord's voice yelled.

"Isn't it great? King Sombra has turned good!"

"I don't know, my love. After what he did to us. And after what he did to you, I just can't forgive him...." Cadance nuzzled against her husband after he said that.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra was still sleeping. Sombra sounded like he was having a nightmare. Inside his nightmare appeared to be back in the Crystal Palace. He was in the throne room, and the throne went up in flames and a dark figure appearing like a dragon came from the flames laughing wickedly. "Aah!" he woke up from his nightmare, breathing heavily. "Only a bad dream...." He thought about the dream for a minute, "What was that? A memory?" he jumped out of bed and got dressed, "I don't recall anything catching on fire in the Throne Room when I was ruling the Crystal Empire...." he said to himself. "Oh well, might not be important." He had breakfast and walked outside his castle with two of his soldiers and two of his female servants. "It's time we paid Princess Cadance a visit, and apologize...." they all turned into shadows and disappeared.
Crystal Empire

Princess Cadance was sitting in her throne when a dark shadow appeared in the middle of the throne room as everyone, except the guards ran for cover. Sombra walked out of the shadows with his soldiers and servants at his side. Sombra looked over to Cadance and smiled his evil smile. Shining Armor, alarmed, pointed at Sombra. "Seize him!" the guards rushed towards Sombra with their weapons, but Sombra immobilized them with his dark magic.

"Was that really necessary?" King Sombra asked. Sombra and his four servants approached the prince and princess. The servants bowed down as Sombra walked closer to Cadance. Shining Armor stopped him,

"What do you want?!" he demanded.

"I just wish to talk, to the both of you...." Sombra's eyes glowed and he unfroze the guards. Sombra bowed down to the princess. "I have come to say how sorry I am for all the evil things I did...." Shining Armor had a surprised look on his face, but Cadance smiled as he continued. "It was a different life, even though it's hardly an excuse. I was blind, power-hungry, but after I returned I realized how foolish I was, filled with remorse. I know you all must be angry, and I understand. I hope you can all find it in your hearts to forgive me. If you don't forgive me or if you want me gone, I'll understand...." Shining Armor and Princess Cadance looked at each other. Cadance stepped off her throne and put one hoof on Sombra's shoulder.

"I forgive you...." Sombra looked up at her, "I understand what you have been through. The Crystal Heart has given you a second chance...."

"Second chance?" Sombra asked puzzled. Shining Armor looked at his wife confused.

"When the Crystal Heart, as well as the light and love within the Crystal Ponies, restored the Crystal Empire, and not only it defeated you but it might have entered your darkened heart. And as a result, the door to your heart has finally been opened...."

Sombra couldn't believe his ears, "So I have you and all of the Crystal Empire to thank for my change. I guess I owe you...."

"No need, just be our friend." she held out her hoof. Sombra looked up at her again and sat his hoof on hers.

"If she forgives you, I'll forgive you too...." Shining Armor said as he held out his hoof and shook Sombra's.

"Thank you all. You have made yourselves friends and allies in the dark." Sombra said as he took out a ruby as red as Sombra's horn attached to a silver bracelet out from under his cape. "If you need me you may used this bracelet to contact me...." Sombra presented it to Cadance who took it with her magic and looked it over. Sombra backed up then he and his servants turned into shadows then vanished. Cadance and Shining Armor hugged each other and then looked at the bracelet. Cadance used her magic and put the bracelet around her left wrist.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra and the four of his servants appeared at the entrance of the castle. The gate opened and they all entered. Sombra felt so good that he went into the ballroom and started playing his own pipe organ. While playing his organ, he did some thinking: why not throw a ball in his castle? He stopped and looked around him. "This place is a bit gloomy...." He thought for a minute and then powered up his horn and his eyes glowed. Within moments his haunted castle turned into an beautiful castle with many shades of blue and ebony; blue banners with different shapes of the moon were added; blue carpets were added; and everything seemed to shine and sparkle like the stars. He even changed his cape from red to blue and his silver armor to light blue. "Perfect!" His Luna Medallion glowed and Princess Luna appeared before him.

"Hello Sombra!" she greeted. She looks around and saw what Sombra did to his castle. "It's beautiful!" Sombra smiled.

"Not as beautiful as you...." did I say that out loud? Luna looks back at Sombra and she smiles her beautiful smile. "Luna, I-I'm planning on having a ball here tonight, and I was wondering if you and your sister would like to come...." Luna gasped.

"I would love to! Sounds like fun! I'll go tell her at once!" she flew away. Sombra went to his room, took a scroll and pen with his magic, and wrote something down.

Once he was done he called, "Messenger!" then one of his Pegasus knights came in,

"Sir!" Sombra handed him a scroll,

"Send this message to all the Ponies and creatures of Equestria. Bring help if you need too." the messenger saluted.

"Yes sir!" One by one the messenger went to every place in Equestria. Numerous of them were very excited, especially the Mane Six. Some of them were reluctant and some haven't forgiven Sombra yet. By dusk everypony in Equestria knew of the ball.

Chapter Six: Shadow and the Moon

Those who were going to Sombra's Ball arrived at a beach that was facing the direction of Sombra's Castle. They were all dressed in their best clothes, especially the fillies and colts who agreed to go. Many of them were familiar: Trixie, Zecora, Bulk Biceps, you name them. Spike was dressed in his tuxedo while the Mane Six dressed in the dresses they wore at the Gala. "This is so exciting!" Pinkie Pie squealed jumping up and down. "Where do we go from here?" Rarity asked Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle looked at the direction of the castle.

"I think we're about to find out...." A blue light was glowing and was coming right towards them! Once it got close enough the light created a shiny bridge. Twilight Sparkle stepped on it first. She looked back at her friends and the others and nodded. Soon all who were going were crossing the very long bridge to Sombra's Castle.

When they got to the shiny doors of the castle it opened wide. "Welcome to my castle!" Sombra's voice echoed through the castle. "Please, come in and make yourselves at home. Feel free to look around. You don't have to pay for the food here, it's all free! If you need anything my servants will help." Rarity's jaw dropped when she saw the inside of the castle.

"Beautiful!"

"Yeah...." Spike was in the air floating behind Rarity with hearts in his eyes.

"Yee-haw!" Applejack yelled.

"This is going to be fun!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing through the hallways. Rainbow Dash started flying around the castle outside in full speed.

"This is very nice of Sombra!" Twilight Sparkle said with a smile. They all made it to the ballroom where tables were sat close to the huge windows with many kinds of food. The tablecloths were light blue and the blue vases that were in the middle of the tables were filled with blue and black roses. Sombra hired some musicians, even Octavia, to play with Discord as the conductor. Discord was looking in a mirror fixing his suit. Fluttershy saw him she ran towards him. "Hi Discord!" he turned around fast.

"Hello Fluttershy!" they hugged each other.

"Looking good Discord!"

"You to Fluttershy! This night is going to rock! I even get to conduct the band!"

"Good for you!"

"Thanks! And between you and me, I think Sombra and Luna have the hots for each other."

"Really?"

"Really really! Those two are going to be dancing together, and I have the perfect song for them. Celestia's going to be singing of course and I'll be conducting the band! Did I say that already?"

"Yes, you did..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. And that reminds me, there is somepony who wishes to meet you." he looks over to his left, put a finger and thumb in his mouth and whistled. A handsome stallion wearing a white suit, red tie, and pink carnation came up to them. His coat was white, his eyes were green, and his mane and tail were blonde and brown. His cutie mark had three bunnies: one light brown, one white, and one gold colored. Fluttershy looked at him and blushed. "Fluttershy, I would like you to meet my friend Easter. He's a little shy, but he warms up and is just as good with animals."

Easter blushed as did Fluttershy, "I-I'm Easter. Nice to meet you, Fluttershy...." he spoke quietly. They both looked at each other.

"I guess I'll leave you two to get acquainted." Discord said before leaving. Easter and Fluttershy continued looking at each other.

"Hello...." was all the shy stallion could say. Twilight Sparkle was walking through the ballroom, amazed of what King Sombra has done when she bumped into Flash Sentry and fell down.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Flash Sentry?" she looked up at him. Instead of his armor he wore a red suit with a pink tie. He held out his hoof and helped the princess up.

"We need to stop meeting like that." they both said, then they started laughing.

"How have you been doing?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"Doing great. You having fun?"

"You bet!"

"Would you like to dance later?" Twilight Sparkle blushed,

"Oh.... uh.... sure!"

"Great! Is there anything you need?"

"Oh, no thank you!"

"Okay, see you later." after he left, Twilight Sparkle sighed in relief. Pinkie Pie bounced next to her,

"I saw that!" Twilight Sparkle looks at her,

"What?"

"You like him, don't you?" Twilight Sparkle blushed,

"No! I...."

"Don't be modest! I know you do secretly! Well, catch you later!" she bounced away. Twilight then spotted her brother and ran over to him.

"Shining Armor!"

"Twilight Sparkle!" they hugged each other.

"And Cadance!" then Twilight and Cadance both said,

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and give a little shake!" with that they hugged.

"Great to see you Twilight!"

"Great to see you too!"

Rainbow Dash was flying around the chandelier in full speed creating rainbows and making the crystals change color. "Wheee-hee-hee! LOOK OUT!" she hit heads with another Pegasus. "Ow! Oh, I'm so sorry!" she gasps, "Soarin?!"

"Ow!" he was rubbing his head. "I thought I'd find you up here!" they flew to each other and hugged. "Surprised to see me Rainbow?"

"Yeah! I didn't think the Wonderbolts would be here!"

"We got an invitation to join the ball too!"

"Lucky you!" then Gilda shows up,

"Hey, Rainbow!"

"Gilda!" they hugged. "How have you been?" Rainbow asked.

"I've been doing okay, considering. Griffonstone is doing better than it has been lately."

"Glad to hear it. Hey, would you like to race us ten laps outside around the island?" Soarin chuckled.

"You're on!" they both took off.

"Hey, no head starts!" Gilda yelled before she dashed off after them.

Sombra's General, who was more bulkier and darker than the other soldiers, stood in the middle of the ballroom. "Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, and Alicorns! All creatures of all ages!" he shouted getting everyone's attention. "We thank you for coming here tonight! Right now it's time to bring out the guests of honor! First off is the Crystal Empire Prince and Princess: Shining Armor and Cadance!" the crowd applauded as they came to the center of the room. "Next is the Lord of Chaos himself! The conductor Discord!" the crowd applauded as he too walked to the center putting both paw and talon together in the air shaking it. "Next up is the Good Princess of Daylight, Princess Celestia!" Celestia flew through in open window as she glowed. Everyone bowed down to her as she landed, "That's quite a entrance your majesty!" Celestia smiled.

"Thank you!" she walked and stood by Discord.

"Next up is the Princess of Ponyville and her friends! The Magical Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon!" they had a surprised look on their faces, but they walked to the center and stood next to Shining Armor as the crowd applauded louder. "Next up is the rootin' tootin', apple bucking, yet Honest Applejack! Come on up here partner!"

"Yee-haw!" she ran up to the center and stood next to Twilight.

"Next is the quietest, and sweetest of them all, the animal-loving and Kind Fluttershy!" Fluttershy blushed, but she walked up there slowly. "Next, how should I say, energetic, fun-loving, rambunctious? Give it up for the Queen of Laughter Pinkie Pie!"

"That's me!" she bounced up and down as she went to the center.

"Next stop is the Master Fashion Designer and Seamstress! The glamorous and Generous Lady Rarity!" Rarity walked up waving at the crowd as they applauded. "Last, but not least, is the well known dare devil and the Princess of Sonic Rainbooms, the one and only tomboyish, and yet Loyal Rainbow Dash!" she dashed through the window, flew around the Ballroom, then around the Chandelier and then landed next to her friends.

"Did I miss anything?"

"We have Spike, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash to thank for saving The Crystal Empire, defeating the dark side of King Sombra, the evil Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, helping Discord reform, turning the Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna, and many countless good things. And, most recently, along with Celestia's, Discord's, Luna's, Cadance's, and Shining Armor's support, changing King Sombra from evil to good!" the crowd applauded even louder. "Everypony, please welcome the reformed King Sombra!" a shadow ball came from the ceiling and in front of the other. The shadow took shape and then Sombra stood. The crowd was scared at first, but they applauded. Twilight Sparkle and the others smiled at him.

"Looking good old boy!" Discord said elbowing him.

"Did I forget to mention that there is going to be a special dance tonight? Yes, King Sombra is going to be dancing for us! But he's not alone! His dancing partner is none other than the Princess of the Night herself, Princess Luna!" everyone looked at the open window and saw a black shadow. Her eyes glowed white and she smiled. She spread out her wings and came into the light showing that she was wearing a light blue sparkly dress and landed next to Sombra as everyone applauded again. "Places everyone!" the General ordered. "Discord, are you ready?"

"I was born ready!" Discord answered the General.

"Yeah right!" Rainbow said. Discord headed to the front of the band. The others returned to their spots with Celestia joining them. Discord bowed to the crowd, then turned around and tapped the music stand with his music stick. He moved his arms slowly and then the band started playing Beauty and the Beast. Sombra and Luna bowed. Luna got close to Sombra, and with her magic she helped Sombra's hooves to where they should be then she rested her left hoof on Sombra's right arm and then took Sombra's left hoof into her right. Even though Sombra didn't show it on the outside he was very, very nervous on the inside. Luna looked up at Sombra and smiled her beautiful smile and they started dancing.

Then Celestia started singing in a very sweet and beautiful voice: "Story as old as time.... As real as it could be..... Narrowly close friends.... Then somepony bends.... Unexpectedly...." Cadance and Shining armor looked at each other, smiled, and began nuzzling. "Just a little change.... Say it really soon.... Both just a little scared.... Both are not prepared.... Shadow and the Moon...." Sombra and Luna kept their eyes on each other. Luna smiled again and rested her head on Sombra's shoulder. Sombra was surprised at first, then he smiled. "Ever selfsame.... Ever to amaze.... Ever as before.... Ever just as sure.... As the sun I raise...." Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry looked one another. Twilight then closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder without realizing it. Scootaloo laid on her belly and leaned on her hoofs smiling; Apple Bloom leaned against her older sister's side with a smile on her face; Sweetie Belle's and Rarity's eyes were beginning to water but Spike handed them a handkerchief; Easter and Fluttershy both sheepishly smiled at one another; Soarin wrapped one arm around Rainbow Dash. "Story as old as time.... Tune as old as song.... Bitter sweet and strange.... Finding one can change.... Learning one was wrong. Certain as the sun.... I raise in the East.... Story as old as time.... Melody as old as rhyme.... Shadow and the Moon...." Celestia then closed her eyes. "Story as old as time.... Melody as old as rhyme.... Shadow and the Moon...." The music than started quieting down and then stopped. The crowd whistled and applauded wildly as Celestia walked to the center where Luna and Sombra was standing. All together they bowed. Then light shown on Discord who bowed as well. Sombra and Luna left the ballroom and went to the balcony outside to talk.

"Sombra?"

"Yes Luna?"

"Are you happy?" Sombra looked down at her and smiled,

"Being good? Yes, and these past several days spent with you and new friends was the best time of my life...." Luna smiled and the two began nuzzling. If only I can tell her how much I've grown fond of her.... Sombra thought to himself. They looked back at the ballroom and saw many of the ponies have begun dancing themselves. Twilight was Dancing with Flash Sentry; Shining Armor was dancing with Cadance; Big Mac was dancing with Cheerilee; Fluttershy was dancing with Easter, and also made plans to see each other again; Rainbow Dash was dancing in the air with Soarin; almost all the ponies were dancing in the air and on the floor. Discord was still conducting the band.

"Up for another round?" Luna asked.

Sombra smiled, "Let's!"

(Song: Shadow and the Moon) Parody of Disney's Beauty and the Beast song: Tale as old as time

Chapter Seven: Yykees!

Around midnight the Mane Six returned to their castle with the CMC and Babs Seed. "That was soooo much fun!" Pinkie Pie said.

"I know, I would go dancing every night!" Spike replied.

"I'm all danced out!" Scootaloo said with a yawn.

"Yeah, me too!" Sweetie Belle replied.

"Me three...." said Apple Bloom.

"Me four...." yawned Babs Seed. Rainbow Dash flew inside.

"I danced with Soarin of the Wonderbolts!"

"Everything in that castle was just dazzling!" Rarity said. "Hey, Fluttershy? Who was that stallion you were dancing with?" Fluttershy blushed.

"Um.... he said his name is Easter...."

"You like him, don't you?" Rainbow Dash asked with a smirk. Fluttershy blushed harder.

"Um.... uh.... he's really nice and we recently became friends...."

"Not to mention I saw Flash Sentry and Twilight kiss!" Twilight Sparkle blushed madly.

"We weren't kissing!"

"Yadda-yadda! You're attracted to him!"

"No I'm not!"

"Okay, whatever you say! Good night!" Rainbow Dash flew away. Twilight Sparkle looked over to the CMC and Babs Seed, who reading a newspaper.

"Haunted House discovered at edge of of the Flame Geyser Swamp." Apple Bloom read out loud.

"How cool is that?" Babs Seed asked.

"Sounds spooky!" Scootaloo said. Applejack walked up to them.

"Now don't even think about checkin' it out! Yal remember what happened last time?" The memory of the chimera gave Apple Bloom the shivers. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Babs Seed smirked at each other.

"We won't." Apple Bloom said not noticing.
The next morning....

"No way!" Apple Bloom said.

"Come on!" said Babs Seed.

"Uh-uh! I don't think it's a good idea."

"This could be an opportunity to get our Cutie Marks! Babs already got hers, but we might get our Cutie Marks for discovery!" Scootaloo told her friend.

"Well, I do want to get my Cutie Mark...." Apple Bloom said quietly.

"Is that a yes?" Babs Seed asked.

"Okay, I'll pack some apple pies for the trip...." Once they were all ready they snuck out of the castle and headed towards the Flame Geyser Swamp. It was still dawn so they were careful not to wake anypony up.
Hours later at the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom....

It was almost lunch time and the Mane Six were wondering why the fillies weren't up. Applejack went to the room they shared. "Up and at 'em lazy bones!" she yelled removing the covers. Panic stricken she ran back to the throne room. "They're not here!"

"What?!" Rarity nearly fainted.

"Even Scootaloo?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Even her! Babs Seed too!" Applejack then got the idea where they might be! "Oh no! We have to leave immediately!"
The Flame Geyser Swamp

"Whoa!" said Babs Seed in awe.

"Stay close, that chimera lives here...." whispered Apple Bloom. They walked carefully through the area. A geyser blew up scaring Scootaloo out of her wits.

"Aaah!" Apple Bloom covered her mouth.

"Not so loud...." she said.

"Rarity would freak out if this ash got on her hooves...." Sweetie Belle whispered with a giggle.

"How much further?" Babs asked her cousin. Apple Bloom got out the newspaper.

"Well, according to this. We should be turning to our left down that hill...." Babs Seed stopped them.

"Look...." she whispered. Straight ahead was the chimera! Apple Bloom and Scootaloo grabbed each other. Babs Seed then pointed at the chimera and they saw that she was sleeping. "Keep very quiet...." Babs Seed said. They began to tiptoe. They have not gotten far when the tiger head sniffed while sleeping. She woke up and saw the fillies!

"Hey, wake up!" she told the goat head and snake head. "Feeding time!" she licked her lips. The goat saw Apple Bloom.

"It's thaaaat filly agaaaaain! She brouuuuught friends toooooo! Baaaah!" she said.

"The more the better!" the snake hissed. The tiger sniffed the air again.

"She brought apple pies again!"

"We'll saaaaave those fooooor dessert!" suggested the goat.

"Let'sssss sssssneak up on them!" said the snake.

"There's no hill here..." Sweetie Belle said.

"A dead end. Must have taken a wrong turn...." guessed Scootaloo. They turned around not realizing somepony in a black cloak was watching. They have not gotten far when they were ambushed by the Chimera!

"Look out!" Babs yelled. They all jumped out of the way in time!

"We meet again, filly!" the tiger said. Apple Bloom and Babs Seed grabbed each other as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle huddled close to them, all shaking in fear.

"Theeeeere is no escaaaaaape this time!" the goat said.

"Who'ssssss firssssssst?" asked the snake. Babs Seed looked down at her friends.

"I'll lead them away! You get out of here!" she whispered.

"Babs no!" despite their pleas Babs Seed ran towards the beast. She dodged her claw and ran between her legs making the tiger look between and flip over!

"Hey, you get back here!" the tiger yelled getting up.

"No, YOU catch me!" Babs yelled back. The Chimera chased Babs Seed until she tripped and fell unconscious! The Chimera stopped on top of her,

"We have to help her!" Scootaloo yelled. Before they can do anything, they heard a ghostly girl's voice saying:

"Where are my children? Where are my dear, sweet children? Where? Wheeeere?" The Chimera heard the voice too.

"Now what?" the tiger asked. Then straight ahead she saw a ghostly white pony with a long gray mane and tail and tears in her black colored eyes floating right towards them.

She was weeping: "Where are my children? Where are my dear, sweet children? Where? Wheeeere?"

"A ghost?" the tiger asked her sisters. Then all six eyes opened wide.

"GHOST!" all three heads screamed and then the Chimera ran off! The ghost floated towards Babs Seed and picked her up.

"Babs!" the ghost looked over to the fillies and floated towards them!

"The Wailing Pony...." Scootaloo said with a gasp. They were all so scared that they couldn't move. The ghost stopped as the CMC shut their eyes tight as the ghost touched Apple Bloom's cheek gently with her hoof. Apple Bloom's opened her eyes and looked into the ghost's eyes. The ghost's black eyes glowed white and then she sent out what looked like thought waves at the frightened fillies.

"So sleepy...." Sweetie Belle said.

"Can't.... stay.... awake....." said Scootaloo.

"Night.... night....." Apple Bloom said before they fell asleep. The ghost picked up the three sleeping fillies and looked up and that pony wearing a black cloak and his horn was glowing white. He nodded and then they all teleported. They all made it inside the Haunted House the CMC and Babs were trying to find. The pony in the black cloak led the ghost with the fillies to a room with a king sized bed.

"Tuck them in...." he ordered in a raspy voice. The ghost floated towards the bed, lifted the blankets, and carefully sat the fillies on the bed. She pulled the blankets up to their chins and kissed all four of them on the heads. "Leave them...." the unicorn said. The ghost followed her master out and then closed the door. Back at the Flame Geyser Swamp the Mane Six have just made it. They found a smashed apple pie and a sack.

"They've been here already!" Applejack said. Her dog sniffed the sack and then ran off. "Follow her!" Applejack ordered.
The Haunted House

Apple Bloom woke up and rubbed her eyes. "That was a good nap...." she said with a yawn. Then she suddenly remembered what happened, "The Chimera! Babs!" she looked and saw that she was in the same bed as Babs. She shook Babs who woke up with a fright. When she saw Apple Bloom she hugged her.

"Are you all alright?!" Babs asked.

"Yes, I fine. But Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are missing! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just my head hurts a little...." Babs looked around, "Where are we?"

Suddenly the same ghost who saved them floated into the room with a lit candle. "You are in the Mansion of Master Yykees...." she said in a ghostly voice. Babs and Apple Bloom grabbed one another again.

"W-who are you? Where are our friends?" Babs asked nervously.

"Do not be frightened young ones. You may call me Spectra. I am based off of the one you call the Wailing Pony, but I'm not really her. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle have woken up before you and are with Master Yykees. If you wish to see them, follow me...." she began floating outside the room with Babs and Apple Bloom following behind. They looked around and saw paintings with eyes that moved around, knight statues, and every step they took made creaking sounds. Spider webs filled in empty places and the wind blew through making a noise. Apple Bloom looked to her left and saw another pony.

"Aaaaahhh!"

"It's only your reflection in the mirror...." Spectra said. Apple Bloom sighed in relief and left, but her reflection was still there snickering. They walked down the stairs, "We're almost there...." the ghost pony said. Then they came to a door where a pipe organ can be heard playing. The door opened by itself and inside they saw somepony in a black cloak playing a scary-looking organ with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle watching.

"Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom she yelled as she and Babs ran into the room. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo ran towards them and they hugged one another.

"Good evening, children...." the pony in black greeted in a raspy voice while playing his organ. "I am Yykees, the master of this mansion. You were all brave to come and try to find this place, even at your ages. You don't know how much it means to me...."

"Howdy sir...." Babs Seed greeted. "We heard...." Yykees interrupted her.

"You heard rumors that this place was haunted and you came to investigate. I know, your friends told me everything. And you all have me and Spectra to thank for saving you all from the Chimera and coming here...."

"Oh, thank you!" said Babs.

"Yeah, thanks a lot!" Scootaloo said.

"Thank you kindly...." said Sweetie Belle.

"Thanks!" said Apple Bloom. Spectra smiled.

"You are all welcome...."

Yykees stopped playing his pipe organ and turned around. He walked over to the fillies and removed his hood. It was a green unicorn who had many stitches; screws stuck out of both sides of his neck like Frankenstein's monster; his eye color was red; his mane and tail were all spider web filled with spiders; he wore a cracked skull mask covering the right side of his face; the shirt he wore was all mummy bandages; his teeth were vampire fangs; around his waist looked like a mechanical belt attached to something on his back under his cape; and his cutie mark was a jack-o-lantern with three ghosts circling around the stem. He took the mask off, "This skull mask is plastic." he told them before he puts it back on. His horn then glowed and four lollipops shaped like jack-o-lanterns started floating towards the fillies.

"Hey, thanks!" Babs took the lollipop. Sweetie Belle tasted hers.

"It's good!" Yykees smiled.

"Made them myself. I can give you the recipe."

"Wait till the others back home hear about this!" said Scootaloo.

"Who said anything about leaving?" Yykees horn glowed and the door behind them closed up!

"Hey, what's the big idea?!" Babs demanded.

Yykees smiled, "You are my guests!" Babs and the CMC panicked and tried to get the door open, "It's to late!" Yykees cackled like a vampire. Suddenly an alarm went off, scaring the bats. Yykees went to a curtain and opened it revealing many screens. One of the screens showed the Mane Six and Applejack's dog entering the mansion. "Excellent! More guests to share my loneliness!" after saying that he disappeared. Spectra tried to comfort the fillies.

"Please forgive my master. He is very lonely...."

"Creepy...." said Spike.

"Who would live in a place like this?" Rarity asked.

"Alright, here's the plan!" said Twilight Sparkle, "We'll split up and try to find Babs and the others. We can go in groups if you like." Rainbow Dash flew to the air.

"I'll search on the top!" Then some rats passed over Rarity's hooves.

"Aaaaahhh!!!" her scream echoed through the mansion waking up the bats.

"Duck!" Twilight Sparkle yelled.

"Those ain't ducks! They're bats!" Applejack yelled ducking down with her dog and friends. After the bats flew over they got up. Fluttershy got up.

"Those bats and rats might know where the kids are...." she said.

"Ew!" Rarity groaned, "I draw the line at rodents!"

"Rarity, Spike, you both can come with me. Fluttershy and Angel Bunny will see what they can find. Pinkie Pie, you're with Rainbow Dash. Applejack and her dog will...." Twilight then realizes that they already left. "Let's move!" they all went into different directions. Yykees reappeared in the spot they were standing and smiled.

"Their Cutie Marks tells me what they like and some bear the resemblance of the young ones!" he laughs, "Party time!" he disappeared again. Applejack and her dog were walking through a hallway when they heard the sound of crying. They followed the crying until they found a room. It was Apple Bloom laying on a bed crying, or was it?

"Apple Bloom!" she ran up to her, "Are you alright?" but she paid no attention. The dog barked, getting Applejack's attention. The door closed, and when she looked back Apple Bloom was gone! "Apple Bloom?!" a vampire laugh was heard. "Who's there?!" she yelled. She backed up uneasily and stepped on to a rug covering a hole and her hat floated through the air after she fell. "Aaaaahhhhh!" she fell through the hole which became a slide. The door opened up and the dog came in. She found her owner's hat and picked it up in her mouth whining, then she left the room. Applejack slid down the slide until she fell through a hole and into the music room, "Ow!"

"Applejack!" she was tackled by the fillies. They all embraced laughing.

"Yal alright! I was so worried!"

Applejack then looked down angrily at her sister who looked sad, "I'm sorry...." Babs stepped up.

"Don't be mad at her! I kinda talked her into it." Applejack hugs them both looking very emotional.

"We'll talk about this later...." Spectra was watching the whole thing.

"This touches my heart, if I have one...." she said.

"This reminds me the first time we checked out the Castle of the Two Sisters!" said Rainbow Dash.

"I wonder if they have an organ here...." Pinkie Pie thought out loud. They passed a painting of Yykees who moved his eyes and left. Rainbow Dash looked back at the painting.

"Wasn't there a guy in this painting? Hey, wait up!" Suddenly Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense started acting up.

"Watch your step!" she warned. But it was to late; something from the ceiling sucked up Rainbow Dash like a vacuum.

"Whoaaaaa!!!!" Pinkie Pie jumped into the center and lets herself get sucked in too! Rainbow Dash fell through the ceiling of the music room.

"Ooff!" before she could get up, Pinkie Pie falls on top of her, knocking the wind out of her.

"That was FUN!" Pinkie Pie said. She helps Rainbow Dash up. Scootaloo runs over to the athlete and hugs her. Rainbow Dash hugs the filly back with her wings.

"Scootaloo! I'm so glad you're all okay!"

"Glad for you to drop in!" said Applejack.

"Applejack? How'd you get here?"

"I fell through a trap hole and it sent me here! We are trapped too! I can't break down the door, and I tried!"

Spectra floated towards them, "My master sealed up this place. It would take a strong magic to break this seal...." Pinkie Pie started playing the organ, scaring the others except for Spectra.

"Must you do that?" Rainbow Dash asked scornfully. "And who the heck are you?" Rainbow asked the ghost.

"My name is Spectra. I have been ordered to keep an eye on all of you...."

"What do yal want with us?" Applejack demanded.

"You are all in no danger, I assure you. My master and I are not evil, we just want company...."

"So you're trapping us?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Please forgive me. As much as I want to let you out, I can't...."

"You can't or you won't?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I can't because my master created me and I can't turn against him...."

"Is he your father?" Scootaloo asked.

"He's my creator, so yes, in a way, he is...."

Fluttershy and Angel Bunny were walking down a hallway until they came to a doorway leading to a garden. "Kids? Are you our here?" she called out. She looked around until she saw a stallion, "Aaahhh!!" she fell backwards.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Fluttershy! I startled you!"

"Easter?" he walked up to her and helped her up. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came by the castle to visit you, then I went to your cottage and found Discord. Then Discord showed me where you are and I left as soon as possible. Are you alright?"

Fluttershy blushed, "Yes, I'm alright. Um.... uh.... can you help me find Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Babs Seed?"

"Sure, are your friends here too?"

"Yes, we split up in groups to find the fillies. I'm with Angel Bunny...." Easter looked down at the rabbit.

"He's a cute little bunny...." he said.

Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you...." In the black and orange rose bushes Yykees was watching the whole thing. He pressed a button and the sound of the thunder came out of nowhere! Fluttershy, Angel Bunny, and Easter grabbed one another. Fluttershy and Easter looked at each other and blushed. "S-s-should we get going?" Fluttershy asked her new friend.

"Yes, we should...." together they went deeper into the garden. Yykees snickered and vanished. They continued walking until they reached a garden full of vegetables and fruits. Black rabbits came out of the garden and stopped in front of the trio.

"Awe...." the two ponies lowered their heads as two of the rabbits nuzzled against their snouts. The third black rabbit was greeting Angel Bunny with a paw shake. Then three ravens, three rats, and three bats appeared before them.

"Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy started spoiling them. Yykees was watching them from the tree.

"Interesting, let's see if they can handle this! Terrify them!" his horned powered up and fake fog started covering the area. Then there was a slithering sound heard, scaring away the small animals. Angel Bunny hid behind Fluttershy's arm.

"What wrong?" soon they became aware of six red glowing eyes coming towards them!

"W-who's there?" Easter asked nervously. Fluttershy, Easter, and Angel Bunny held on to one another as the six eyes came closer and closer. On the left and right came out two black wolves and in the middle came out a big black cobra!
"Jusssssssst in time for lunch! Hissssssss....." the cobra hissed.

"S-sorry, we didn't bring anything to eat...." Easter replied.

"That ain't a problem at all!" the wolf on the left licked his lips.

"Mmmm! Tasty!" said the other wolf.

"F-Fluttershy, I think we're the lunch!"

Fluttershy stood there not intimidated by the three black creatures coming closer. Fluttershy closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them, doing the stare. As if they were hypnotized they stopped. "If you please, if you know anything, tell us where our friends are...." Fluttershy told them.

The cobra lowered his head to face Fluttershy, "If you musssssssst know. The filliessssss are being kept in the musssssssic room on the sssssssecond floor of the manssssssion...." the right wolf stepped up.

"I heard from a bat that three of your friends have joined them...." the left wolf stepped up next.

"You have to be careful. Our master has booby trapped the mansion so you can join your friends trapped in the music room...." Fluttershy smiled.

"Thank you. I hope you all can forgive me. I promise to make this up to you three...." the three black creatures nodded and went back into the fog. Fluttershy stopped staring, "We have to go back into the mansion!" she led the way with Easter, who was very amazed at her staring ability, by her side and Angel Bunny on her back.

"Interesting...." Yykees said before vanishing in the fog.

Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike were walking down another hallway filled with paintings with moving eyes and knight armor. "Sweetie Belle must be very scared...." Rarity said.

"I hope they're having more fun than we are...." Spike said.

"I'm sure they're all fine...." Twilight Sparkle said trying to reassure them.

"This place is like a maze, and this place is absolutely filthy!" Rarity complained. Then they passed a door saying 'Dressing Room'. The door made a creaking sound when Spike opened it. He spotted a candle and lit it. Inside were costumes of different kinds all hung up and surprisingly clean.

"Whoever lives here must be a costume designer." Spike said to the other two.

"But, who would live here?" Rarity asked. Then Spike shined the light on a treasure chest with a lock. Spike melted the lock with his flame and opened the chest, but it was empty. Disappointed, he turned around. Suddenly pitch black arms with claws came out of the chest and grabbed Spike!

"Let me go! HELP!!!" before Rarity and Twilight could do anything to help Spike the arms took Spike into the chest, closed, and then went inside the wall into another room!

"SPIKE!!!"

The treasure chest came into the music room. "Let me out!" Spike yelled, "Let me out!" Rainbow Dash opened up the chest.

"Spike?"

"Rainbow Dash?"

"Oh, Spikey-wikey!" Rarity cried. Twilight Sparkle tried to get the wall opened with her magic, but it was stuck. Rarity then stood in front of the wall and tried too, but it wouldn't budge.

"We're going to have to find another way in...." Twilight told Rarity. They exited the room and continued down the hall, but little did they know that Yykees is following them secretly. They came to another door saying 'Yykees Lab'.

"Yykees? As in 'Yikes'?" Rarity asked Twilight.

"Sounds like it...." they walked in and the lights in the lab turned on by itself! "Whoa...." Twilight Sparkle's jaw dropped. Inside the labs was full of containers, glasses, liquid bubbling in one of them over a heater, welding tools, metal parts scattered all over the place, really big bookshelves filled with many books imaginable, papers piled up on another desk with machines similar to Twilight Sparkle's machines, and a bed connected to some machines with a sheet covering something. "He must be a scientist...." Twilight Sparkle said.

"Yeah, a mad scientist!" Rarity said pointing at the bed.

"What's this?" Rarity stood frozen in fear as Twilight lifted the sheet and saw a metal hoof. "Eeek!" she fell backwards and accidentally flipped a switch. Electricity started coming from the machines and into what was under the seat.

"NOOO!!!" Yykees stormed into the lab and tried to turn it off, but it was to late! What was on the bed took the sheet off. It was a unicorn made out of metal and it's eyes glowed fiery orange. It got off the bed.

"I AM UNIBOT! MUST CAPTURE INTRUDERS!" it spoke. It started towards Twilight Sparkle and Rarity.

"STOP!" Yykees commanded. But it kept going, "I command you to STOP!" but it wouldn't obey. "Magic can stop it, when I say go, hit it with the magic you have!" Yykees instructed. Twilight Sparkle's, Rarity's, and Yykees' horns powered up, "GO!" the magic beams hit the robot and drained her of her energy. The robot stood there and then collapsed. Yykees then used his magic to put the robot back on the table, "Shame, I'm going to have to reprogram everything from scratch..." he said. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity approached him.

"Are you the owner of this mansion?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, I am Yykees. You were all pretty brave to come here...."

"What have you done with Spike and the fillies?!" Rarity demanded. Yykees turned around and got close so Rarity can see his face. Rarity put one hoof to her head and fainted. Yykees' horn glowed again and Rarity disappeared!

"What have you done to Rarity?!" Twilight yelled charging up her horn.

"Not to worry, she is with the ones I have captured." he laughed his evil laugh.

"Let them go!" Twilight Sparkle fired a beam at him, but Yykees vanished.

His voice yelled, "You want to see them again, you're going to have to find me first!" he laughed again.

Rarity woke up with the others crowding around her. "Aaahh! Where?!"

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle hugged her sister.

"Sweetie Belle? Oh, Sweetie Belle!" she hugged her sister back, crying. "Oh, Sweetie Belle I'll never let you out of my sight! I'll never, never, never!!" Rarity hugged her sister tighter, squeezing her. Sweetie Belle's face was turning red.

"Uh! Uh! Rarity!"

"Oh, sorry!" she let go and Sweetie Belle who started catching her breath. "And Spike!" Rarity hugged the little dragon. Hearts came to his eyes as he blushed. "What is this place?"

"This is the music room!" Pinkie Pie answered, still playing the organ.

"And the only way out is if your friend can beat my master...." Spectra said behind Rarity. Rarity looked back at the ghost and fainted again. Suddenly they heard a knock at the door.

"Kids? Are you in there?" Fluttershy's voice asked.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Yeah, we're in here!" Babs yelled. Then there was barking.

"Winona!" Applejack yelled before Spectra floated through the door.

"What the....?!" Easter yelled.

"Who?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sleeeeeeep!" Spectra's voice yelled. Spectra opened the door, came in quickly, and sat down Fluttershy, Easter, Winona and Angel Bunny, who were sleeping. Rainbow Dash tried to make a break for it, but the door closed fast and she flew right into it!

"Ouch...."

Spectra sighed, "Please forgive me young ones...."

"Why are you doing this to us?" Rainbow Dash asked, rubbing her head. "Yeah, what's the idea?" Applejack asked next.

"If your friend can stop playing the pipe organ, I'll tell you...."

Pinkie Pie stopped and joined the group. After Winona, Fluttershy, Easter, Angel Bunny, and Rarity woke up they all formed a circle and listened. "It was a long time ago. Back when Master Yykees was a colt. Yykees was born green and had no mane or tail. His mother was a costume designer and his father was a scientist and an engineer. He was a loner, a prankster, and loved anything spooky and his parents didn't what to do with him. He was often taunted and teased because of his appearance. He was determined to change all that and began doing science experiments with his father. Yykees looked through a book of manes until he found a spell for making a mane and tail out of spider web. While his parents were sleeping, he gathered the ingredients and tested the potion on himself. As a result he grew a spider web mane and tail, and it suited him perfectly. The potion also had a side effect: it turned his teeth into fangs and his brown eye color red...."

"Yikes!" Scootaloo said.

"Is that how he got his name?" Rainbow Dash asked sarcastically.

"Yes, he changed his name after his transformation. His father scolded him for doing what he did, and the mother nearly collapsed. Despite the lectures, Yykees did not care because with his new appearance he can take pranking to a whole new level. And he did and he eventually earned the title as the King of Pranks. And because of his appearance and his mother's mastery of costume designing he won many costume contests. And because of his skills in being scary he earned his cutie mark. When he got older he became a skilled scientist, engineer, and costume designer just like his parents but he didn't give up his scary talents."

"But, how did he get those scars and those screws in his neck? And what about the right side of his face?" Rarity asked.

"It's a mask made out of plastic and the screws are fake. He became obsessed with the idea of being the greatest prankster in history and he thought he would get there through science. Being an inventor, he invented a pair of metal black bat wings, also called a jet pack. After many tests and accidents, which resulted in many scars all over his body, he succeeded. Despite all that respect he earned and his achievements, he had little or no friends and hardly knew the true meaning of friendship. His only friend closest to him was a zebra from a distant land whom he has not seen since they were children. Soon he began pranking ponies at night time; it was so funny to him that he couldn't stop. He meant no harm, but his hometown couldn't take it anymore, so they all kicked him out...."

"How awful!" said Fluttershy.

"What about his parents?" Easter asked.

"Sadly, they reluctantly kicked him out too...."

"That's to bad...." Rainbow dash replied.

"Heartbroken he left and searched high and low for a new place to live. He then came to an abandoned mansion, this mansion, and modified this place the way it is now. When he looked in the mirror he started to believe that his appearance was keeping him from making friends. No matter what did he could never change his appearance. In need of assistance and company he found a spell and used it to create me. Yykees grew to love me as his daughter, and I grew to love my creator as my father. We have lived here ever since...."

"Oh, poor Yykees!" Sweetie Belle said.

"It's no wonder he's keepin' us locked in here!" Applejack yelled.

"He just wants some friends...." Fluttershy said.

"Hold on a minute!" Rainbow Dash yelled out, "Who is this zebra that was friends with Yykees?" Spectra's eyes glowed for a second and then back to normal.

"Zecora...." their eyes opened wide. "She and Father shared romantic feelings for each other, and she was the only one who tried to make the villagers reconsider, but they didn't. Now Father doesn't know where this Zecora lives...."

Apple Bloom jumped up, "We know where she lives!"

Spectra looked down at her, "Where?"

"She lives in a hut in the Everfree Forest!"

Spectra floated around the room for a minute and then said, "Then, you Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy must go get her...." a secret door opened. "Take this door and it'll lead you back outside. With your wings you can get there faster...." Rainbow Dash began to fly.

"We'll be back as soon as we can!" she flew through the secret door. Fluttershy started to fly.

"We promise...." she flew through the secret door slower than Rainbow Dash. Once they entered the door closed. Spectra went towards the security tv's and spotted Twilight Sparkle in the garden coming face to face with Yykees.

"There is going to be a battle...." Spectra said as everyone came to watch.

"You found me, finally...." Yykees said as he smirked.

"Where are my friends?" Twilight demanded, glaring at him.

Yykees cackled, "They are all safe, and it leaves just you...."

"Release them!"

"All in good times! But, I have a proposition for you...."

"I'm listening...."

"You beat me, I'll set free your friends. If I win, you and your friends stay here...."

"Bring it!" Twilight's horn powered up and she spread out her wings; Yykees' horn powered up and his mechanical wings tore through his cape.

"Thanks to these wings I've invented, you are not the only one who can take to the sky!" fire came from under his cape and he took off! Twilight Sparkle took off after him into the darkened sky. "Afraid of the dark?" Yykees voice asked. Twilight used her horn as a flashlight and looked around for him. Yykees laugh can be heard. Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes as Yykees flew right towards her from behind!

"Look out!" all except Spectra yelled. Once Yykees was close enough Twilight Sparkle did a back flip and fired a magic beam right at the mechanical wings!

"My jet pack! NOOOO!!!!" Yykees lost control over his jet pack and started towards the garden! Twilight Sparkle flew down after him and used her magic to save him! Once he sat him on the ground his horn powered up again, "You haven't beaten me yet!" he fired a white magic beam at Twilight who fired a pink magic beam. They were both equal, but Twilight Sparkle thought of her friends trapped and it made the magic beam stronger! The magic beam hit Yykees who shrieked in pain. Yykees collapsed and all the doors unlocked in the mansion.

"We're free!" Rarity yelled. Twilight Sparkle sighed in relief as her friends ran outside and hugged her laughing. Spectra floated towards Yykees and helped him stand up. Yykees watched as they all embraced. Tears filled his eyes as we limped towards them, getting their attention.

"I'm sorry...." he said. "I was lonely and I was trying to keep you all from leaving..." Yykees started crying. Twilight Sparkle walked up to him.

"Yykees, you can't make friends by locking them up...." Yykees looked up at her.

"Just look at me! I'm hideous! No one would want to make friends with me...." he sobbed as he spoke.

"Real friends will like you for who you are, not what you look like. But if you lock them up against their will you can never make real friends...." Yykees looked down and started crying again. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash came from the sky carrying Zecora in a blanket. Once they landed, Twilight Sparkle ran up to her, "Zecora? What are you doing here?"

Zecora smiled, "I have come to see my old friend. There is hole in his heart that he needs help to mend." She walked towards Yykees, who was still crying. She put a hoof on his shoulder and Yykees looks up at her.

"Zecora?" she smiled. He stopped crying, "Is it really you?"

"Yes, beloved Yykees, it is I. Your crimson eyes do not lie."

Yykees looks her over and smiles his vampire smile, "Aren't you a sight for these red eyes!" they hugged one another. They let go and started a conversation. Fluttershy explains everything to Twilight Sparkle.

"Those two must have a lot to talk about..." Twilight Sparkle said. She couldn't imagine not seeing her best friends for years. Zecora, Spectra, and Yykees approached Twilight Sparkle and her friends.

"You have made Father happy by bringing Zecora back to him and teaching him something about friendship...." Spectra said with a smile.

"Yykees wishes to make it up to you, by giving you gifts or maybe two." Zecora told them.

"It's not much, but please accept them as my apology...." Yykees said while his horn glowed. One of the windows of the mansion opened up. "Rarity, these are for you. They'll help you with your designs." scrolls landed in front of her. She opened up one of the scrolls and saw they were costume blueprints!

She gasped, "This is perfect! Thank you!" Then a cook book appeared in front of Pinkie Pie.

"This book is full of recipes for making homemade candy." Pinkie Pie jumped up and down as she saw the pictures.

"They all look sooooo sweet! Thanks!"

Then all the small animals that Fluttershy, Easter, and Angel Bunny met came up to them. Happy to see them the animals hugged them. "I think they must go with you...." Fluttershy's eyes opened wide. "I watched and saw how they were happy around you. Perhaps they would be much happier living with you. My wolves and cobra wish to stay with me and you may visit them anytime you like...."

"Oh, Yykees! I don't know what to say...." Fluttershy said happily. Then a basket full of small bags full different kinds of seeds appeared in front of Applejack. Each of those bags each had a picture of a fruit, a vegetable, or a flower.

"Those are all fruit, vegetable, and flower seeds. Be sure to plant them in soil, water them with clean water, and let them get plenty of sunshine...."

"Golly! Thanks partner! We're goin' to be busy!" then a rope toy appeared in front of Winona who took it in her mouth and swung it wildly. Then a box landed in front of Rainbow Dash. She looked inside and saw there was a Wonderbolts costume.

"Rainbow Dash, this is a replica of the Wonderbolts uniform. It's good for costume parties." Yykees told her.

"Cool! Thank you!"

"And Twilight Sparkle, I give you my permission to use my lab anytime you want and you may bring your friends and family as well...." Twilight Sparkle smiled.

"That's great! Thank you so much!" then a small bag of mini gems appeared in front of Spike.

"These are gems broken into pieces. You can eat them or do what you want with them." Spike took out a clawful and put the gems in his mouth.

"Gee, thanks! Yummy!"

Then four trick-or-treat bags appeared in front of the fillies. "Here are some candy for the trip back home, and that's not all! Look inside." Yykees told them. Babs pulled out a pair of gold and silver scissors; Scootaloo brought out new shiny wheels and handles for his scooter; Sweetie Belle took out a gem necklace; and Apple Bloom took out a sparkly pink bow.

"Wow! Scissors of silver and gold! Thanks!" Babs said.

"My old wheels and handles have been wearing out and making noises! Thanks a lot!" yelled Scootaloo.

"I now have a good luck charm! Thank you!" said Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom tried on her new bow, "Thank you Yykees! This is so pretty, and I promise not to get it dirty!" the fillies hugged their new friends.

After hugging, Yykees approached Twilight Sparkle, "Are.... are we friends?" Twilight Sparkle smiled.

"Of course we are!" she held out her hoof and Yykees shook it. Just then a wagon with a metal horse pulling it came to the entrance.

"You may use my wagon and robot horse. Just name the place you wish to be and it'll take you there. And don't worry about returning it, it'll come back on it's own. It is right back to where you started."

"Thank you so much, Yykees! I promise to visit time to time." Twilight Sparkle told her new friend. The others agreed in their own ways.

"Yeah!"

"I will...."

"You can count on that!"

"Yay!"

"Darling!"

After the goodbyes they went to the wagon and jumped in with their gifts and animals. "Goodbye my friends!" Yykees yelled waving at them alongside Zecora and Spectra. They all waved back as the robot horse pulled the wagon all the way home.

Author's Note

You can find Yykees, Easter, Spectra and other characters I've made on my DeviantART page, DrewCarriker6231993.

Chapter Eight: The Bandit

Days later, Babs Seed went home. Applejack started planting her new apple seeds in the empty spots of her apple garden. Then she planted flower seeds in some flower pots and made a new garden for her new fruit and vegetable seeds. She wiped the sweat from her head, "Phew! Good day's work!" She then spotted Big Mac with a stallion walking down the road. The stranger's coat was orange, his mane and tail were dark brown; he wore a white cowboy hat, a dark blue flannel shirt with a brown vest, and blue jeans with a brown leather belt and gold buckle; his eye color was brown; his hooves were white; and he wore a red bandanna over his snout and mouth. Applejack ran up to her brother, "Apple core!" she said.

"Baltimore!" he answered.

"Who's your friend?" Applejack asked.

"I would like you to meet our new neighbor, Bandit."

Applejack looked over to him, "Howdy neighbor! I'm Applejack, Big Mac's younger sister. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!" she shook Bandit's hoof fast.

"Nice to meet you...." he said in a deep raspy voice. Apple Bloom walked up to the new neighbor,

"Howdy neighbor!" Bandit looked down at her, "Howdy little lady...."

"I'm Apple Bloom, the youngest sister."

"I see...." He lowered his bandanna and sniffed the air, "The air here smells fresh...." he said. He then took out a toothpick and put it in his mouth, "I reckon yal are very good workers...." before Applejack could answer, Pinkie Pie's voice yelled,

"They're the best!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing down the road and stopped in front of Bandit. "Hi! Haven't seen you here before! I'm Pinkie Pie!"

"Pinkie Pie? Heh, the name suits you...."

"Why don't you come over to the barn tonight, especially you guys?" Applejack smiled, knowing what she has planned.

"Sure thing!" Bandit thought and said,

"Sure, why not?"

"Oh! Oh! I almost forgot! My sister is coming next week!" Pinkie Pie told them jumping up and down.

"Maud Pie?" Applejack asked.

"Yes! Maud Pie! Just thought I let you all know! Bye!" Pinkie Pie bounced away.

"Maud Pie, huh? I take it she's much like Pinkie Pie?" Bandit asked before Applejack shook her head.

"Nah, she doesn't show much emotion, and she is an expert in rocks."

"Rocks? She must've grown up on a rock farm...."

"That's right." Bandit moved the toothpick in his mouth.

"Must be mighty fine to have a family...."

"You don't have a family?" Apple Bloom asked. Bandit shook his head.

"I'm a loner. Yal might as well call me an orphan; I never had a family...." Apple Bloom looked sad.

"Oh, I'm sorry...." Bandit put a hoof under the filly's chin.

"Thanks little lady...."

"Why don't you stay for brunch?" Applejack asked.

"That's mighty kind of you ma'am, but I have to go find a job since I just moved here. It was nice meetin' you...." he turned around and left.

"He's a nice fella. A little dingy, but nice." Applejack said.

"Eyep! Oh yeah, that's reminds me. I have to go and pick up flowers for my girlfriend."

"Ms. Cheerilee?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Eyep! If you haven't used that love poison on us I never would have met her...." he smiled and left.

"I still regret using that on them...." Apple Bloom told her sister.

"Awe, it's water under the bridge! Yal turned out okay."
Sombra's Castle

Sombra was taking a nap. He was tossing and turning in his sleep. Inside his nightmare was right after Cadance's throne burst into flames and a shadow resembling Sombra was seen. The shadow laughed the same way Sombra laughed when he was evil as the shadow began to take the appearance of a dragon! Sombra woke up, "Just another bad dream...." he said to himself. "Yet, it sounds like I'm trying to be told something...." his horn glows and his crystal ball comes into the room. He looks through it and see's that everything in the Crystal Empire is just fine. Relieved, he lays back down, "Was THAT really me? Or is it a part of me?" he asked himself. His Luna Medallion glowed and Princess Luna appeared.

"Sombra, those dreams you have been having are very bad visions...."

Sombra sat up, "Visions?"

"Yes, from what I can tell you did something to the Crystal Empire before you were defeated. Because that memory is not full restored, I can't make out what it is either...."

"Do you know when It'll be fully restored?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't. But I have a bad feeling about this. Please be careful...." Luna kisses Sombra and then vanishes.
Ponyville

Big Mac, with a bouquet of roses in his mouth, trotted through Ponyville and came to Cheerilee's house. He knocked on the door. Cheerilee answered, "Why, hello Big Mac." she greeted happily. He presented the roses to her, "How lovely! Are those for me?"

"Eyep!" after holding the roses for a second, Cheerilee sat them down, wrapped her arms around Big Mac and kisses his face again and again. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw this and smiled.

"You know, I think we did Big Mac and Ms. Cheerilee a favor. See how happy they are?" Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah, you think they'll get married?" Sweetie Belle asked back.

Bandit appeared behind them, "If they keep seein' one another, it's quite possible...." the two fillies jumped and turned around. "Did I startle you? Forgive me, name's Bandit. I'm Big Mac's new neighbor...."

"Oh, I'm Sweetie Belle."

"And I'm Scootaloo! We're friends with Big Mac and his family. And Ms. Cheerilee is our teacher."

Bandit put a new toothpick in his mouth, "I see. She is a mighty handsome pony, gotta give her that...."

"You mean pretty?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yep...." Big Mac, who had kisses all over his face, walked over to Bandit and the fillies. "Howdy neighbor...." Bandit greeted, handing him a handkerchief. "I take it your visit with your girlfriend went well?"

Big Mac wiped his face off, "Eyep! We're going out for dinner tonight. My heart's a poundin' like a jackhammer!"
Discord's House

Discord was in the shower with a blue bath hat and hairbrush when one of Celestia's guards walked in. "La da dee, la de daa. Huh?! Do you mind?" Discord asked before he closed the bath curtain.

"Discord, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna need you!"

"Okay, tell them I'll be right there." the guard leaves. Discord gets out of the tub, and dries himself off before he teleports.
Canterlot

He came into the throne room and see's Sombra. "Oh, Sombra old boy! Nice to see you again!"

"Nice to see you, too. But I think we got a problem." Sombra explains the dreams he has been having.

"Sounds like nightmares to me...." Discord said.

"I know, but they sound so real. It feels like there's something in the back of my mind."

"Sombra, I've been told that in your dream that something came from below the Throne Room." Celestia said, and then a memory came back to him.

"Wait I remember, there is a secret safe under the throne but I can't remember what I put in there. I'm going to have to get to the Crystal Empire!" he turned into a shadow and left Canterlot.
Crystal Empire

Sombra appeared in the throne room and bowed to Shining Armor and Cadance. He explains that there is something dark in the kingdom and it has to be removed. "The only thing I remember is before my defeat I placed something in this Throne Room."

"Where?" Shining Armor asked him.

"You might have not known, but there is a secret safe under your thrones holding it. With your permission, I need to move them." Shining Armor and Cadance looked at one another and got off. They watched as Sombra's horn glowed and the thrones were lifted in the air and moved. And to the Prince's and Princess's surprise, right where the thrones were was a keyhole in the floor. Sombra zapped it with his magic, melting the lock and opening the safe in the floor. He looked in and saw what appeared to be a black egg with red fire designs around it. He picked it up with his magic, "This is it?"

Shining Armor and Cadance approached Sombra with the egg and took a look at it. "A dragon egg?" Shining Armor asked. Cadance was just as confused.

"Why would you put a dragon egg below the thrones?" she asked.

"I-I don't know...." Sombra answered, closing the safe, cleaning the mess, and putting the thrones back with his magic. "But I sense darkness from inside of this egg. Something evil and shouldn't be awakened, but I can't explain it."

"Can it be changed?" Cadance asked with concern. Sombra shook his head uneasily.

"I truly cannot say...."
Canterlot

Sombra appeared in the Throne Room with the egg. He showed it to Luna, Discord, and Celestia. "An egg? Must be very important...." Discord said.

"I can feel a dark presence coming from this egg. It feels somehow familiar...." Sombra told them.

"I can feel it too. We're going to have take extreme caution with this egg. Sombra, I'll put you in charge with this egg." Celestia ordered. Sombra bowed.

"As you wish...." he turned into a shadow again and left with the egg.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra appeared in his bedroom with the egg and a domed glass case. He sat the egg in the case and sat the case on his night table and sealed it with his magic. He nodded and left the room. As soon as he left the room two evil looking green eyes opened up on the egg!
Fluttershy's cottage

Fluttershy and Easter were taking care of the animals; feeding them, washing them, and playing with them. Yykees' animals seemed to be getting used to their new home. Fluttershy just got done feeding her chickens and saw Easter playing with the squirrels. She giggled when one of them jumped on Easter's head. She looked around and saw how happy the animals were. She sighed happily and began to sing: "Animals.... my friends.... all so precious to me.... Without.... them all.... I don't know where I would be.... I.... love them.... with all of my heart.... We would never be torn apart.... Even.... when far away.... our friendship lasts.... Everyone.... can be friends.... even when we're on different paths.... Good.... or bad.... different or the same.... we can still be friends.... Everlasting friendship.... yes, that's what I recommend...." She flies to the front of her cottage. Easter stands beside her, smiles, and sings:

"Love and friendship.... is so very strong.... All that is right.... it is never wrong.... Love and friendship.... it never dies.... That.... I can see.... in your eyes.... If everyone.... can understand.... the world would be better place.... For you.... and for me.... and many other races.... Good.... or bad.... different or the same.... we can still be friends.... Everlasting friendship.... yes, that's what I recommend...." Fluttershy and Easter held hooves, and didn't notice Bandit and the CMC walking down the road, together they both sing:

"If we can all see.... eye to eye.... the world would be a better place.... For you.... and for me.... and many other races.... Love and friendship.... it never dies.... That.... I can see.... in your eyes.... Good.... or bad.... different or the same.... we cans still be friends.... Everlasting friendship.... yes, that's what we recommend.... That's what we recommend...." Fluttershy and Easter held one another and slowly kissed. The CMC and Bandit applauded.

"Bravo!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"Encore!" Scootaloo added.

"Whooo-eeee!!!" Apple Bloom shouted. Fluttershy and Easter let go and blushed.

"Oh.... uh.... hi girls...." Fluttershy greeted quietly.

"Where.... where did you come from?" Easter asked. "How long were you here?"

"We just got here buckaroo...." Bandit answered having his bandanna covering his mouth and snout. "These here girls were showin' me around and we heard yal singin' and we came to listen. Fluttershy is it?" Fluttershy nodded. "Well, I have to say this here town has quite a diva and a partner...." Fluttershy and Easter blushed at the compliment. "Do forgive my manners. The name's Bandit. I just moved here...."

"Oh.... uh.... welcome to Ponyville. My name is Easter." he held out his hoof and Bandit shook it. Bandit looks around and see's the animals.

"Yal have a love for animals, or so I'm told...."

"Yes, we do...." Fluttershy answered sheepishly. Bandit looks up.

"What are you youngins' doing up there?" Easter and Fluttershy look up too. The CMC climbed the highest tree fluttershy had!

"You could get great view from up here!" Scootaloo yelled.

Horrified Fluttershy yells, "Girls! Get down from there before you hurt yourselves!"

"Okay Fluttershy!" they said together before they started to climb down when Scootaloo slipped and fell! Fluttershy gasped and was just about to fly when a rope came for the falling filly and caught her! Bandit pulled the rope and Scootaloo came right towards him and landed in Bandit's arm. Fluttershy, with her mouth wide open, put a hoof to her head and fainted. She woke up. Her vision was blurry at first but when it became clear she saw Easter, who was holding her, Bandit, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Angel Bunny around her.

"Are you okay Fluttershy?" Easter asked caringly.

"W-what did you say?" she then gasps and gets up quickly, "Girls! Are you alright?!"

"We're fine." Scootaloo assured her. Fluttershy wraps her arms around them. Bandit sees this and puts a toothpick in his mouth.

"She's good with kids too...."
Carousel Boutique

"What kind of a place is this?" Bandit asked the trio.

"This is the Carousel Boutique! My sister lives here and she runs a business." Sweetie Belle said to Bandit.

"What kind of business?"

"She's a fashion designer and a seamstress."

"I see...." Sweetie Belle opens the door and they all inside. "Very fancy...." Bandit said.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle calls out.

"Yes Sweetie Belle?" Rarity answers back.

"We have a visitor!"

"Be right there!"

Rarity walks out of her work room and approaches them with her eyes closed. "Welcome to the Carousel Bou..." she opens her eyes and sees Bandit and what he's wearing, "Tique!"

"Hi Rarity! This is our new friend Bandit." Sweetie Belle said.

"Howdy my lady...." he walked over to Rarity , took her hoof into his hoof and kissed it. Rarity backed up a bit with a shocked look on her face. "Name's Bandit. I'm new here...."

Rarity straightened out, "My name is Rarity. Dear sir, feel free to look around but please don't touch anything."

"Much obliged my lady...."

Sweetie Belle took Bandit's hoof, "Wait till you see the costumes she's been working on!" she led him to a nearby room.

"He is not good looking, but he is gentlecoltly." Rarity said looking down at the hoof Bandit kissed. She used her magic and got a handkerchief and wiped her hoof clean.

Thanks to the blueprints Yykees gave to Rarity she was able to make a dozen costumes for both adults and kids. What really caught his eye was the cowpony costume. Except for the red shirt, brown hat, and the gems around the cuffs, collar, pockets and belt, it was very similar to what Bandit was wearing. "She must make a fortune...." he said.

"Yeah, she would work all night if she wanted to just to make a dress, shirt, or costume." Sweetie Belle replied.

"Must be a very busy pony...."

"Yeah, sometimes to busy to spend time with me...." Sweetie Belle said with a frown. Bandit placed a hoof on her back to comfort her. Rarity came into the room.

"Sweetie Belle, I got your favorite cake in the kitchen!" lit up, Sweetie Belle runs out of the room.

"Hey, save some for us!" Scootaloo yelled running with Apple Bloom to the kitchen.

"Hmm, kids...." he looks back at the cowpony costume. "This somehow takes me back to when I was a colt...." Sweetie Belle came back in with a little bit of cake on her face.

"Come on, join us!" she runs back out.

Bandit groaned, "I hate sweets...." Bandit walks out of the shop with a sigh of relief, "Way to fancy...." he looks to his left and sees something coming right towards him! "What in tarnation?!" it crashes right into him. Bandit opens his eyes and sees Rainbow Dash on top of him. "Hey, watch where you're flyin'!"

"Oh, sorry!"

"Can you get off of me?" Bandit asked scornfully.

"Oh sure!" he flies in the air and Bandit stands back up and brushes the dust off him. "You must be the new guy everyone's been talking about. I'm Rainbow Dash!"

Bandit looks up at the flying pony, "Name's Bandit, and I've heard of you Rainbow Dash. Rainbooms, dare devil and all...."

"Yep! That's me! Would you like to see a Sonic Rainboom?" Bandit spat out the toothpick in his mouth.

"That'll be fine...." Rainbow Dash smirked and flew to the sky. Once he was far enough he dash down leaving a Rainboom in her wake. Rarity and the fillies heard the noise and came outside to see.

"Awesome!" yelled Scootaloo.

"Dazzling! Very Dazzling!" Rarity said. Rainbow Dash landed and bowed.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

"Impressive. Very impressive...." Bandit told Rainbow Dash.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

The free fillies were jumping and trotting while leading Bandit. "This is our last stop! The Friendship Rainbow Kingdom!" Apple Bloom said. Bandit looks and sees how big the place is.

"Golly...."

Twilight Sparkle walks out, "Hi girls!" she notices Bandit. "Hello, I don't think we met. My name is Twilight Sparkle." she said politely. Bandit lowers his bandanna.

"Twilight Sparkle? The princess?"

"Yes, welcome to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom! What can I do for you?"

"Awe, nothin'! These fillies were just showin' me around. I must say that Ponyville is a very nice place your majesty...." Bandit tips his hat. Twilight smiles at him.

"You may call me Twilight Sparkle, or Twilight."

"All righty then, Twilight, I have been lookin' for a job. Is there any spots open for a sheriff?"

Twilight Sparkle scratches her chin, "Wellllll, I think the mayor might have something. If you like I could talk to her."

"That'd be mighty fine, thank you...." he puts a toothpick in his mouth.
Later that evening....

"Well, here we are again. Back in Sweet Apple Acres...." Bandit said spitting out his toothpick.

"Isn't it great?" Apple Bloom asked.

"We also have a surprise for you!" Sweetie Belle told Bandit.

"It's in the barn!" added Scootaloo.

"That's mighty thoughtful of you kids, but I don't get surprised easily...." they walked over to the barn and Apple Bloom opened the door.

"SURPRISE!!"

Almost everypony in Ponyville was in the barn! There was a banner saying "WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!"; a yellow cake with candy cacti, tumble weeds, and in light yellow frosting it said 'Welcome Bandit!"; and there were a few barrels full of apple cider; instead of party hats there wore cowboy or cowgirl hats. "Golly! This is for me?" asked Bandit, still keeping his cool. Pinkie Pie bounced towards him.

"Yep! We do this for everypony that starts living here!"

Bandit grinned, "That's mighty nice of you...."

"We even got you something!" Pinkie Pie said. Two ponies carrying a box walked over to him and sat it down. Bandit remained silent for a moment and then opened a box. Inside was a shiny brown guitar with the name BANDIT in gold letters on the dark brown neck.

"Well, al be darn! And just in time, too. My old guitar is gettin' pretty wore out...." he picked up the guitar and tried out the strings, "Perfect...."

"Why don't you play it?" Applejack asked. Everypony in the barn agreed.

"Well, if you insist. I have a song in my head about today....." he began strumming his new guitar. After everypony gathered around, Bandit sat down and began singing: "Comin' here to Ponyville, all the way from my hometown I trot. Travelin' through deserts, and forests for a new home I sought. Fightin' through harsh weather, and seein' how tough I am. From climbing rocky mountains, to dangerous rivers I've swam. Ponyvillllllllle, Ponyvillllllllllle. The name of the town I arrived to, is Ponyville. Once I got settled in, I met my new neighbor Big Mac. Then I met his sisters, then Pinkie Pie who said her sister is comin' back. I started lookin' for a job, but I found none. Then I met two more fillies, and they showed me their friends one by one. In Ponyvillllllle, in Ponyvilllllllllle. I met all of their friends, right here in Ponyville. First I met the Diva Fluttershy, and her friend Easter. Singin' and carin' for animals, is two of their best features. Then I met the gorgeous Rarity, and saw all her new costumes. Then Rainbow Dash crashed in to me, and demonstrated a Sonic Rainboom. In Ponyvillllllle, In Ponyvilllllllllllle. I even met the Princess, of Ponyville...." Then he started strumming his new guitar slowly and started singing slowly: "The job I seek is to be a sheriff, in hopes of doing good..... Keeping Ponyville safe, is somethin' I would and could..... Why would I want to do good? If somepony asked me or you..... And if somepony asked me I'll tell you: 'A stallion's gotta do what a stallion's gotta do.....'" He started playing his guitar fast again and continued singing: "In Ponyvillllllllle, in Ponyvillllllllllle. Is where I live happy now, right here in Ponyville. Is where I live happy now, right here in Ponyvilllllllllllllle! Yee-haw!" He lifted his hat in the air as soon as he said the last part. Everypony cheered and then the party started; Square dancing, hay throwing with rope contests, bobbing apples, apple pie eating contest, and a game of finding out which filly is in the right barrel. Bandit stepped outside with his new guitar and looked up at the stars, "I think I'm gonna like it here...." then he stuck a toothpick in his mouth.

(Song 1: That's what we recommend....)
(Song 2: Here in Ponyville) parody of the Batman: the Brave and the Bold song: Grey and Blue

Chapter Nine: Sombra's First Hearts and Hooves Day

Chapter Nine: Sombra's first Hearts and Hooves Day

It was Hearts and Hooves Day and couples, family, and friends were getting together all over. Yykees and Zecora were taking a walk in the park, Big Mac and Cheerilee were having a picnic in the same spot they met, and Fluttershy and Easter were happily feeding fishes, birds, and turtles. Applejack just gave Apple Bloom a cowpony hat similar to hers but smaller. Apple Bloom gives her an apple covered with three kinds of chocolate on a Popsicle stick and they both hugged and nuzzled. Rarity have just given Sweetie Belle a sparkly pink dress with red and whites hearts and Spike a sparkly purple suit and top hat. Sweetie Belle gives a white mug with a photo of Rarity saying #1 Sister and was decorated with gems on the top, bottom, and the handle while Spike gives Rarity a sapphire necklace he made himself. Before Rarity could do anything a water balloon splashes next to Rarity! It was Scootaloo riding on Rainbow Dash's back with a new slingshot. They both laughed, then Scootaloo gives Rainbow Dash and a clay rainbow. Rainbow Dash wraps one arm around her and they both hugged. Maud Pie arrives at Pinkie Pie's house carrying a box and enters. As if she was expecting her Pinkie Pie runs towards her and hugs her. Maud slowly returns the hug and gives her the box. Pinkie Pie eagerly opens it and takes out heart shaped chocolate chip cookies, and in return Pinkie Pie gives Maud Pie a jackhammer with a pink ribbon wrapped around it. Maud Pie smiles and they hugged again.

Flash Sentry, with a bouquet of flowers and a red heart shaped box full of chocolates in his saddlebag. He saw Twilight Sparkle exit her castle and approached her. "Hello Twilight...." she looks over to him and blushes.

"Oh, hello Flash. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!"

"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day to you too. These are for you...." Flash takes out the bouquet and heart shaped box full of chocolates. Twilight takes the bouquet and box, looks over them and smiled.

"They're lovely, thank you!" Rainbow Dash flies to the castle with Scootaloo on her back in full speed and bumps into Twilight, causing her and Flash Sentry to kiss by accident! They both pulled away and blushed madly. "Oh, I'm sorry! I.... I....." she was at a lost for words.

"No, no, no! It's alright, really...." Flash assured her.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra was watching everything through his crystal ball; watching it was like watching a love movie. "What is this Hearts and Hooves Day?" Luna appeared in the room.

"You ready to go?" Sombra looks at her and smiles.

She's getting more beautiful every day.... he thought to himself. "Yes, I'm ready...." Luna spreads out his wings and flies out the window while Sombra uses his magic to follow her to Ponyville.
Canterlot

They landed by the river and sat down on a bench, not expecting anyone watching them. Discord was watching the whole thing through the Celestiascope, "Awe, the perfect Dark Couple...." he said wiping the tears from his eyes. Luna rested her head on Sombra's shoulder as he wrapped on arm around her. "This touches my black heart....."

"Evening Discord!" Celestia greeted her friend. "Did you polish my crown?"

"Yep, you like it?"

"Yes, I do. What are you watching?" Discord sighs happily.

"Luna and Sombra. They look so good together....."

"Discord, remember our talk...." Discord steps back from the Celestiascope.

"Yeah, I know...."

"By the way, I have something for you...."

"A present? For me? You really shouldn't have!"

Celestia chuckled, "Follow me." they walked into a room Discord stays in when he's invited over to Canterlot.

"A piano?! Come to papa!" he flew over to it, dresses in his tuxedo and sits down at the piano. He cracks his fingers and knuckles and starts playing Fur Elise, "This is fantastic! Thank you Celestia!"

"I'm glad you like it...."

"Like it? I love it! Oh, I left something in your room, too!"

Celestia heads to her room, opens the door and gasps. In her room was a statue of Celestia made out of many different kinds of gems and diamonds. Celestia hugs Discord, "It's beautiful, thank you!"

"Don't mention it, it took me all night to build it but...." Celestia kissed Discord's lips. He was tense at first but he relaxed. After kissing they looked at one another.

"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day Discord...."

"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day Celestia...." they stood there hugging one another for about a minute. "You know Celestia, don't get mad, but I couldn't help doing some eavesdropping on Luna and Sombra. Before they left the castle I overheard Sombra asking what is Hearts and Hooves Day. So I asked myself, 'how can we teach him?'. Then it came to me in a flash!"
Back at the park

Flash Sentry and Twilight Sparkle were walking down the park when they spotted Luna and Sombra sitting down together on a large blue blanket looking at one another. "Awe, can you feel the love?" Flash asks Twilight.

"Tell me my dear, Hearts and Hooves Day is all about love isn't it?" Luna nods an yes.

"Yes Sombra, and from what I have learned Hearts and Hooves Day is the day we share our feelings with one another and exchanging gifts...."

Suddenly paper hearts started raining down on them. "What the?" Sombra looks up and sees Discord dressed up like cupid and sprinkling hearts from a basket. "Hey, could you cut it out?" Sombra asked a little annoyed.

"Cut out more hearts? No problem!" Discord got out a red poster board and a pair of scissors and cut out a big heart and a hole in it and stuck it around Sombra's neck laughing. Luna put a hoof over her mouth and tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help it.

"Very funny...." Sombra groaned taking the heart off.

Discord laughs while flying in a heart shape, and he began singing: "Hearts and Hooves Day is a Holiday, when ponies show love and generosity, and oh the flowers and chocolates, the sweet smells just carry you away." He points to a young couple nuzzling one another, a unicorn on his knees proposing to his girlfriend, and Bulk Biceps showing off his muscles to some mares. "Young lovers kiss and nuzzle, some lovesick may show off their skills or maybe their muscles, and the lovebirds sing, and dance and later nestle, confessing love sounds hard but it's actually child's play!" Pink, red, and white hearts appeared around Discord as he makes chocolate fall from the sky. Luna catches one in her mouth, chews, and swallows it. Sombra takes one in his hoof, smells it and gives a look of disgust before tossing it aside. "Hearts and Hooves Day! When chocolates becomes so, so sweet! It tastes really good, it's the way it should, even if it melts in the heat! Hearts and Hooves Day! I think I hear wedding bells toll, it only takes two, to make it so true, I can sense your heart is whole....." Sombra and Luna walked through the park when Discord stops them and shows them wedding pictures from Shining Armor's and Cadance's wedding. Sombra then imagines himself and Luna getting married. "Is that a smile I see, Romeo?" Discord asks snapping his fingers. Sombra and Luna found themselves in a wagon and Discord pushes them and the wagon hits a rock and sends them flying and they landed safely on a heart shaped cloud Rainbow Dash pushed. "If you go down the hill and lose control, but you are not alone, that you can't withhold, you take to the air and land on a cloud with the heart you stole, and floating in midair's half the fun!" Discord falls from the sky, breaks the cloud and the three start falling. Discord whistles and a dragon catches them. Discord, now dressed like a horse racer, drives the dragon as Pegasus couples joined Discord:

"Everypony! Hearts and Hooves Day! When chocolates becomes so, so sweet! It tastes really good, it's the way it should, even if it melts in the heat!" Discord makes chocolate fall again and one falls into Sombra's mouth and he swallows it.

"Hm, not bad...."

Luna giggles, "What did he tell you?"

"Hearts and Hooves Day! I think I hear wedding bells toll, it only takes two, to make it so true, I can sense your heart is whole....." Discord then leads some ponies in doing the conga. They stop and the males turned around and gives the females flowers. "You can dance like a fool as much as you desire, from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire, but you'll find this love anywhere together, even under Celestia's sun...."

"I think I finally get this love. It all comes from the heart, does it not?" Sombra asked Luna as she smiles at him.

"Exactly...." then they joined Discord and the others. All together they sung:

"Hearts and Hooves Day! When chocolates becomes so, so sweet! It tastes really good, it's the way it should, even if it melts in the heat!" Hearts and Hooves Day! I think I hear wedding bells toll, it only takes two, to make it so true, I can sense your heart is whole....." They stood on a stage and everypony threw roses and cheered for the trio.

Discord bows, "Thank you! Thank you! Happy Hearts and Hooves Day everypony!"
The Crystal Empire

Shining Armor leads Cadance, wearing a blindfold, to the center of the Throne Room. "Okay, stop! You can take off the blindfold." With her magic she removes the blindfold and then she gasps. A replica of the Crystal Heart, only five times bigger, was in the center of the room.

"Shiny!"

"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day my love!" they both kissed. "My happiness is so complete that I just had to make this for you."

"Oh, Shiny...." they kissed again and embraced. Once they let go, Cadance looks up at him with a smile. "It's beautiful...."

A guard, who was watching this, approached them with a smile, "Did you tell him?" he asked Cadance who gasped.

"Tell me what?" Shining Armor asked. Cadance looks back at him and smiles.

"I wanted it to be a surprise. Shining Armor we're..... we're....." she gulped, but Shining Armor smiles at her and holds her hoof.

"We're what?"

Cadance takes a deep breath and spoke quietly, "We're going to have a baby...." with a surprised look on his face Shining Armor faints. He wakes up with his wife looking down at him, "Are you okay honey?"

Shining Armor rubs his head, "How long have I been out?"

"For about five minutes." she helps him stand up.

"What did you say before I fainted?"

"We're going to have a baby!" they both laughed and embraced.

"That's wonderful!"

"We're going to be parents! Oh, I love you Shining Armor!"

"I love you too! Wait until Twilight hears about this!"
Canterlot

Sombra and Luna were walking down the road to the castle. "Best date ever!" Luna told Sombra.

"I know, I've never felt so giddy before...."

"How does it feel to you?"

"Why, it feels so swell! Especially when I'm with you, my dear...."

Luna blushes, "Oh, Sombra. I.... I...." then the door opens. Celestia was the first to welcome them.

"Welcome back little sister and Sombra, did you have a good time?"

"Oh, big sister! It was the best!" Luna looks back at Sombra.

"Yes, this sister of yours is the best thing that ever happened to me!" Uh-oh, did I say that out loud? he thought.

Luna gasps, "Oh, Sombra!" she rushed forward and kisses Sombra on the lips. His eyes opened wide, but he relaxed and returned the kiss and closed his eyes. Celestia's eyes started to tear up, but Discord passes a hanky to her. After she dries her eyes Discord wraps one arm around her while watching the perfect Dark Couple share their first kiss.

After kissing, Sombra smiles, "That..... was something....." was all he could say. Luna giggles and starts towards the door.

"Good day Sombra...."

"Good day Luna, sleep well....." he turns into a shadow and disappears. Luna sighs happily.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra reappears in his room. "Another best day of my life...." he sighs happily. He looks over to the egg, which started moving. Sombra approaches the egg and examines it with his horn, "It's getting stronger......"
Sweet Apple Acres

Pinkie Pie and Maud Pie were at the entrance. "You're gonna like him!"

"If you say so...." Pinkie Pie looks at one of the apple tree's and see's Bandit use his hind legs to kick the tree.

After the apples fell in the baskets, Pinkie Pie calls out to him, "Hey Bandit!"

Bandit looks over at Pinkie Pie, "Howdy Pinkie!" he answers.

"Can you come here? I'd like you to meet my sister!" Bandit trotted over to them. "I'd like you to meet Maud Pie! The one I told you about!" Pinkie jumps up and down.

Bandit lowers his bandanna, "Howdy...."

The two started staring at each other with their emotionless eyes. "So, you're Bandit...."

"Yep, I never met a mare like you Mud Pie...."

"It's Maud Pie...." she takes out her pet rock, "And this is Boulder...."

"I had a pet rock once, but I lost it in the river when I was twelve...."

"You didn't keep him in your pocket?"

"Nah, I used to keep things in my hat...." Bandit tips his hat and puts it back on.

"This is great!" Pinkie Pie said to herself while watching the two talk like they were old friends.

"I heard you grew up on a Rock Farm...."

"That's right...."

"I grew up in a desert, and the rocks down there are really hot. Perfect for lizards and for critters who live under rocks, I might add, and the desert cools down at night...."

"All the rocks back home come in many different smells, shapes, sizes...."

"Smells, huh? I reckon you can't name them all?"

"Yes, I can...."

Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Pinkie Pie were watching them. "I'd never seen your sister so talkative...." Applejack told Pinkie Pie.

"That's why I thought the two would be good together! You know, their personalities." Pinkie replied.

"I reckon it'll be a beginnin' of a beautiful friendship for them." Apple Bloom said.

"Hey, you want to see how to use a jackhammer?" Pinkie asked before they looked back at Bandit and Maud who were still emotionless.

"You're a mighty fine pony...." Bandit told Maud.

"You're okay yourself...." she replied. Then they heard a jackhammer acting up. They looked over and saw Pinkie Pie on Maud's new jackhammer! She was shaking up and down on the tool.

"T-h-a-a-a-a-a-t f-e-e-e-e-l-s g-o-o-o-o-o-d!" she said while shaking. Apple Bloom and Applejack laughed.

"What in tarnation is she doin'?" Bandit asked.

"Just being herself...." Maud answered. Then she lost control of the jackhammer and it crashed into something! The Apple sisters made painful faces.

"OUCHIES!!!" Pinkie yelled. Maud, Bandit, and the Apple sisters rushed over to her.

(Song: Hearts and Hooves Day) Parody of The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride song: Upendi

Author's Note

My family and I exchange gifts on Valentine's Day. What do you do on Valentine's Day?

Chapter Ten: The Feral Colt

Chapter Ten: The Feral Colt
Everfree Forest

It was late one night and what sounded like a kid screaming a Tarzan scream. Then there was a crashing sound. Zecora wakes up and exits her hut with a lantern to see who it was. She looks around and saw it was a colt. She gasps and rushes towards him. A few days later, Apple Bloom was trotting through Everfree Forest and entered Zecora's hut. "Hi Zecora!"

Zecora was at her cauldron pouring an ingredient in. She puts it down and turns her head to see Apple Bloom, "Good evening Apple Bloom, there is a colt I like you to meet. He is skittish, and a bit feral, but he is really sweet." Zecora points over to a small bed with a colt sleeping on it. He was a few years older than Apple Bloom and was slightly muscular, his black mane and tail was unruly, his coat was light brown, his cutie mark looked like a picture of a jungle. and he had bandages wrapped around his left arm.

"Who's he?"

"He was raised in the wild and he doesn't know how to speak. He sprained his arm and is running a fever, and is very weak...." Zecora checked the colt's temperature with her head, "His fever appears to have broke, it's about time that he awoke." Zecora gently shook him with her hoof. Slowly, he opened his eyes showing his hazel eye color. He stood up with his three good legs. He tried moving his bad arm, but he made a squeaking sound and sat back down.

Apple Bloom approached him, "Hi!" the colt just looks at her. Then he walks up to her until he was close to her face and starts sniffing her, and then looks at her sparkly pink bow. He then he walks around her, checking her out. "What is he doing?" Apple Bloom asked.

Zecora smiles, "He's just curious, and he means no harm. He also appears to be attracted to you and your charm."

"My new bow?" Zecora nods. The colt stood in front of Apple Bloom and smiles at her. Apple Bloom returns the smile.

"Apple Bloom, I have a favor to ask. It might be difficult, but I'm confident you'll complete the task."

"Sure, anything."

"His recovery should take just a couple more days. Once this colt has recovered, I ask you to try to teach him your ways."

Apple Bloom's eyes opened wide, "I would love to! But, I'm goin' have to check with my sister."
Sweet Apple Acres

"So let me get this straight: Zecora is takin' care of a colt raised in the wild, he doesn't talk, and she wants us to teach him our ways?"

"Yes, if you don't mind."

Applejack puts a hoof on her chin and thinks for a moment, "Welllll, It won't be easy, but I reckon we should give it a try...."

Once the colt has recovered a few days later Zecora and Apple Bloom escorted the colt to Sweet Apple Acres. The colt wasn't used to being around other ponies so he hid behind Zecora or Apple Bloom all the way. They made it to the entrance where Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith were waiting. "Howdy Zecora!" Applejack greeted and she looks around, "Where's the colt?" Zecora raises an arm and the colt pokes his head out nervously. "Awe...." Applejack lowers her head to look at him but he hides behind Zecora's other arm.

"He is very shy, but he'll warm up to you. He is very happy around animals and children, it's true."

Apple Bloom walks over to her new friend and offers him her hoof. He looks at it at first but he places his hoof on it. Apple Bloom led the colt to her family. The colt was shaking and sweating a little. "There's no need to be afraid...." Applejack said to him. She raises an arm, making the colt's eyes shut tight, but when he felt her arm around him he opens them back up. He looks up at Applejack, who was smiling down at him, and rubs his head against her chest. "Awe, look at him...."

Once they got into the house, the colt starts looking around, so full of curiosity. Apple Bloom had to follow him to keep him out of certain things he shouldn't get into. Apple Bloom led the colt back to the living room where the others were waiting. She and her new friend sat down on the carpet. "Okay, I think the first thing we need to work on is his language skills." Applejack said.

"Eyep!" Big Mac agreed.

"Can I try first?" Apple Bloom asked. Apple Bloom tapped the colt's shoulder and points to herself, "Apple Bloom." he looks at her puzzled. She points to herself again and says it slower, "Ap-ple Bloom...."

The colt points at her, "A..... Ap..... ple..... Blo....oom...." Apple Bloom smiles and nods. Again he speaks, "Ap... ple.... Bloom....." then he points to himself, "Wi.... ld.... For..... rest...." he points to her again and then himself, "Apple Bloom, Wi....ld Forrest, Apple Bloom, Wild Forrest...."

"Wild Forrest?" Apple Bloom asked nicely. The colt smiles at her and nods.

"Wild Forrest? That's a mighty fine name." Applejack said and then points to herself and slowly says, "Ap-ple-jack." the colt looks up at her and points to her and himself.

"Apple.... jack? Applejack..... Wild Forrest...."

Then Apple Bloom got an idea, "Why don't we name the stuff we do while Wild Forrest is watchin' or doin' it with us?"

"That ain't a bad idea, why don't you take him outside and try?"

"Okay!" Apple Bloom led Wild Forrest to the yard and they started running, "Running!" Apple Bloom said.

"Run-ning!" Wild Forrest repeated.

Then they started skipping, "Skipping!"

"Skip-ping!" then they start hopping.

"Hopping!"

"Hop-ping!"

Apple Bloom was now starting to enjoy herself. Then they walked through mud, "Mud!"

"M-ud!" they stopped at an apple tree with baskets.

She places a hoof on the trunk, "Apple tree!"

"Apple.....tree!"

She then kicked the trunk, "Kick!"

"K-kick!" then apples fell into the baskets.

She picked up an apple, "Apple!"

"Apple!" Apple Bloom then lays her hoof on one of the baskets.

"Baskets!"

"Bas.... kets!"

After many hours of practicing Wild Forrest got everything down, including sentences, but only broken. His manners weren't the best during supper, but they didn't mind. After supper they watched the sunset and the moon rise. Then it was time for bed and Wild Forrest was very tired after a long day. Apple Bloom yawned, "Time for bed...." she looked over to Wild Forrest who just walks out the door. "Forrest?" he already found a spot and laid down in the soft grass, curled up, and fell asleep.

"Well, would you look at." Granny Smith said surprised. "He prefers to sleep outside. Better get him a blanket."

Applejack walked back in and grabbed a red and white checkered blanket. She approached the sleeping colt slowly and covered him with the blanket. "Night-night...."

The Next day Wild Forrest got up early, tossed aside the blanket, and started practicing the new words he learned while doing them. "Running! "Skipping!" "Hopping" he walked through mud, "Mud!" he stopped at an apple tree, "Apple tree!" he kicked the trunk, "Kick!" he picked up an apple from a basket and took a bite, "Apple!" after he swallowed he felt the basket, "Basket!" then he looks up at the sun, "Sunrise!"

He looks up and see's a fruit bat about to leave, the bat squeaked. "What's a pony doing up this early?" Wild Forrest squeaked back at him saying:

"I'm practicing the language my new pony friends speak!" he answered.

"You can understand me?" the bat asked surprised.

"Yes I can. I can speak any animal language, even bats."

"We're you raised by animals like us or is it a gift?"

"I've been raised in the Everfree Forest since I was a toddler."

"Everfree Forest, eh? You're pretty tough for your age! What's your name?"

"My name is Wild Forrest, what's yours?"

"Hey, I've heard of you from relatives in Everfree Forest!

Everybat calls me Frutti the Fruit Bat. Nice to meet you!" the bat yawns, "It's time for me to go to sleep. Good morning Forrest!"

"Good morning Frutti, sweet dreams!" the bat flew away to a dead tree, hung upside down, and fell asleep.

"There you are!" Apple Bloom yelled running up to him.

"Apple Bloom!"

"What are you doing?"

Trying clearly he spoke, "Wild.... Forrest met..... fruit bat.... says.... good morning..... to me..... and him....."

Apple Bloom smiles at him, "You're learnin' fast! I'm proud of you!"

Wild Forrest looks puzzled, "Learning.... what?"

"How to speak in sentences, silly!"

"Oh.... I..... not..... silly....." Apple Bloom giggles and holds out her hoof.

"Cm'on, you're goin' to miss breakfast!" he took her hoof and together they trotted back to the house.

After breakfast and the morning chores Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo arrived and found Applejack giving Wild Forrest a bath. He seemed to be enjoying it. Applejack then poured a bucket on to rinse him off, "There, I'm done."

Wild Forrest jumped out of the tub. Apple Bloom was bringing him a towel when Forrest shook himself, "Hey!" Apple Bloom laughed. "You use this to dry yourself off." she handed him the towel. Forrest sniffs it and then figures it out and dries himself off.

"Hi Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle greeted.

"Hi Scootaloo! Hi Sweetie Belle!" after Forrest gets the towel off his face he see the two fillies.

"Who.... they?" he asked Apple Bloom.

"They're my friends!"

"Fr-friends?"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo approached them. "I'm Scootaloo!"

"And my name's Sweetie Belle! What's your name?"

Wild Forrest smiles and points to himself, "Me.... Wild Forrest."

"Nice to meet you! Are you new around here?" Scootaloo asks.

"Wild Forrest was raised by the wild animals from Everfree Forest and is still learnin' how to speak." Apple Bloom told them, "He's also goin' to be stayin' with us for a while. Would you like to come with us to Ponyville? I'm goin' to be showin' him around Ponyville and try to teach him what there is to teach, and I could use your help."

"Okay!"

"Sure thing!"

The three put there hooves together, "Cutie Mark Crusaders Teachers!".
Ponyville

The four were trotting along while Forrest was looking left and right. Except for the day before he had never been in Ponyville. So many sights, so many smells, and so much to learn. Many colts and fillies were playing and the adults were going about their lives. They went through the marketplace. Wild Forrest caught the smell of pies cooking. He didn't know why, but they just smelled good. He didn't want to take anything without asking so he continued following his new friends. They stopped at the schoolhouse, which was closed, but they were allowed to play on the playground. Apple Bloom jumped on a swing, "Can you give me a push, Forrest?" Forrest walks over to her and places both hooves on her back. Apple Bloom looks back at him and nods. He gives her a push and she started swinging. Forrest kept pushing and pushing until he pushed to hard and sent Apple Bloom flying. "Whoaaaaa!!!" Forrest rushed over, slid on his back, and caught her in his arms! "Whoo! That was kinda fun! Thanks!" the two then looked at each other in the eyes and blushed. Apple Bloom got off and helped him stand back up. She looked and saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara approaching them. "Uh-oh...."

"What wrong?" Forrest asked the concerned Apple Bloom.

"Who is he? Your new boyfriend?" Silver Spoon asked rudely.

"Oh, honey would you mind holding my bow?" Diamond Tiara asked mockingly. "Oh, I forgot he came from the wild so he doesn't know anything!" they laughed. Apple Bloom glared at them.

"Apple Bloom, what say?" Forrest asked.

"Nothing, let's just go...."

"Wait, Apple Bloom! We're just curious: why do you want to hang out with a filthy colt like him?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"Yeah, like you got nothing better to do!" Silver Spoon replied as they both laughed again. Apple Bloom's ears went down and she looked sad. Forrest saw this and walked up to them.

"You..... pink..... and grey fillies stop! Apple Bloom feel hurt!"

"So, you CAN talk! Just gets better and better!" Diamond Tiara said as she and her friend walked over to Apple Bloom.

"Let's see what he does when we push her." Silver Spoon suggested.

"Good idea!" together they pushed Apple Bloom in the mud! Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw this and rushed over to comfort her. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon just laughed as Forrest approached them with anger in his eyes. While they weren't looking the colt snatched Diamond's tiara! "Hey!" she turns around to face him and gasps. Forrest put the tiara in his mouth, chewed, and then spits it out! The tiara was now bent out of shape and twisted.

"Taste bad...." he said.

"My tiara! My precious, precious tiara!" she takes it into her hooves, "It's ruined!" she looked back at Forrest outraged. "You have any idea how much this costs?!" the colt just stood there still angry. "You filthy pony!" she charged towards him. Forrest stood on his hind legs with no effort, showing his abs and muscular chest, and stopped Tiara with his hooves.

"You bad filly...." he said. Then he pushed Tiara causing her to roll like a ball and crash into Silver Spoon! "Pain me to do that to female but you hurt friend. Leave, before I ruin another important thing yours!" he threatened standing back on all four.

They stood back up, "We'll get you!" Tiara promised before she and her friend ran off.

He walked over to Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. "You alright?" Apple Bloom looked up at him sadly.

"I.... I am now....."

They went to the lakeside and went swimming. Many colts and fillies were splashing, swimming, playing, relaxing. Apple Bloom washed the mud off, "Good thing I'm not wearing my new bow...." she grunted. "They have a lot of nerve....". Sweetie Belle laid on a blanket Rainbow Dash brought. Rainbow Dash was sitting in a chair with a reflector and sunglasses sunbathing. Scootaloo was swimming with floaties. Forrest joined Apple Bloom.

"You alright?" he asked caringly.

"Yes, don't worry about me. I'm sorry they bullied you like that...."

Forrest tries to comfort her, "Not Apple Bloom's fault. They did wrong...."

"I know, and I sometimes don't understand why they're so mean....."

"They choose bad. They hurt without realizing pain caused because it feel good. Very foolish them...."

"Maybe you're right. Unless if they change they'll never have a friend like you, Scootaloo, or Sweetie Belle." she said happily.

Forrest smiles, "Apple Bloom good friend to Wild Forrest...."

Rainbow Dash swam up to them, "I heard you came from Everfree Forrest. You must be pretty tough to live out there!"

"I am strong, but Forrest don't brag. With help from animals I here today." Forrest told her.

"That's pretty awesome! Do you get to swing on vines?"

"Yes, lot of fun!"

"HELP!!!" a young colt lost his floaties and went to the deepest part of the lakeside! Before anypony could do anything Forrest swam out there so fast. Once he got close enough he dove underwater and arose under the colt! Once the colt was on Forrest's back he wrapped his arms around Forrest's neck tight. Forrest, showing no effort again, swam back to shore just as fast as he got to the colt. The colt jumped off Forrest's back, then a filly ran up to him and gave him a hug. The colt looked back at Forrest, "You saved my life. Thank you!" Forrest smiles at him.

"Yes, thank you for saving my brother!" the filly said, almost crying. She walked up to him, kissed his cheek and left with her brother.

Apple Bloom ran up to him, "You saved him! You saved him!"

Forrest eyes were open wide, "What that she did?" he asked Apple Bloom.

"That was a kiss!"

"A kiss?"

"Maybe it's her way of showing that she's very grateful to you." Scootaloo told him.

"I thought it meant 'I love you'...." Sweetie Belle whispered to Scootaloo.

"Love?" Forrest asked, still confused.

"I'll explain later...." promised Apple Bloom.
Sweet Apple Acres

The CMC and Forrest went back to the Apple family's house in time for lunch. "How'd was Forrest's first day in Ponyville?" Applejack asked.

"It was better than I hoped!" Apple Bloom replied.

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon bullied us again, and tried to bully Wild Forrest..." Sweetie Belle said. Applejack groaned.

"But Forrest showed them!" Scootaloo assured her.

"What did he do?" Applejack asked.

"After they pushed me in the mud, Forrest got angry and chewed Diamond Tiara's tiara and spat it out like it was bubble gum." Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith were surprised but Apple Bloom continued, "Diamond Tiara got mad and tried tackling Forrest, but he stood on his legs and pushed her back at Silver Spoon!"

"My goodness! I reckon they won't pick on him again anytime soon." replied Applejack.

"That's not all! He also saved a colt from drowning at the lake!" Sweetie Belle added.

"He's gonna be popular!" said Scootaloo.

"His sister kiss me...." Forrest said.

"Awe, how sweet!" Applejack said.

"It feel familiar...." this got their attention. "Faint memory...." he put his hoof on his forehead. "Grandmother....."

"Grandmother? Your Grandmother?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Yes. Try remember...." then a tear came to his eye. "Wild Forrest..... lost grandmother..... only one love me....." Everypony gasped.

Apple Bloom wraps an arm around Forrest, "I'm so sorry...."

"After I lost Grandmother the Animals of Everfree took care of me.... like grandmother....." he sobbed as he explained. He then looks up at the Apple family, "I.... I thank you welcome me your lives. I need thank Zecora too...."

Applejack got off her seat, went over to Forrest and hugged him. "No need to thank us, sugar cube. You may stay here as long as you wish...." she invited.

"I'm already thinkin' of you as my second grandson!" said Granny Smith.

"You look like my brother, even though I never had a brother." Big Mac said nicely.

"Thank you.... so much. And, I hate mention this. I told about Apple family friends. Wild Forrest like to live in each their homes spend time...."

"Stayin' at one friend after another? That's a mighty fine idea! I mean whatever makes you happy." replied Applejack.

"Eyep!" Big Mac agreed.

"We be like family." Forrest said with a smile and wiping tears away, "But, for Apple Bloom, I stay for while...."

Apple Bloom blushed, "You do that?"

"Apple Bloom close friend Wild Forrest ever had even we know each other short time...." Forrest replied smiling at her.

"I.... I don't know what to say...."

After lunch, Apple Bloom watched Wild Forrest running around with Winona. Sweetie Belle sat next to her, "You like him, don't you?" she asked with a grin.

Apple Bloom blushed again, "No! He's my friend! Hey, where's Scootaloo?" then they saw Scootaloo riding her scooter again. She passed Forrest, who quickly caught up with her.

"Whoa! You're not only strong, you're also fast!"

"Wild Forrest practice every day!"

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Applejack watched with amazement. "That little sugar cube is so full of energy!" said Applejack.

"You should've seen his muscles! They were awesome!" Sweetie Belle replied. They continued watching Scootaloo, Winona and Wild Forrest race.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

"So it's settled!" said Twilight Sparkle. "One by one we'll all take turns taking care of Wild Forest for a week. Until next week is over Wild Forrest will stay with Applejack's family." she decided.

Fluttershy smiled, "That will be wonderful, won't it Easter?"

"I'll say!"

"Forrest, dear, I can't wait to have you over!" Rarity said with ideas going through her head.

"This is gonna be fun fun fun! I know it!" said Pinkie Pie.

"You're going to love soaring through the sky!" yelled Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah, what they said!" said Spike.

Forrest smiles, "Thank you all! This will be beautiful friendship."

Then Flash Sentry entered the room. "Oh, I'm sorry! Was I interrupting anything?"

Twilight looks over to him and blushes, "No, not at all!"

Flash Sentry chuckles and then says, "I have a message from Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance...."

"What? Is everything alright?" Twilight asked walking up to him with concern in her eyes.

"Don't worry, everything is just fine." he assured her. "But it's big news!"

"What?" Twilight asked very eager to know.

"Your brother and Princess Cadance are going to have a baby!" at those words Twilight's eyes opened wide and her mouth hung open.

After a few seconds she squeals with joy and hugs Flash Sentry, "I'm going to be an aunt! I'm going to be an aunt!" then she realizes who she was hugging and then she blushes, "Oh, I'm sorry! I got really excited!"

"It's okay. I'm really happy for you." he replied with a smile.

"You're gonna be an aunt! You're gonna be an aunt!" Pinkie Pie yelled happily bouncing around the two.

"You'll be a good aunt!" said Applejack.

"Yeah, congratulations!" yelled Rainbow Dash flying in the air.

"I know your nephew or niece will be such a dear!" said Rarity.

"We're happy for you...." said Fluttershy.

"Yes, we are!" added Easter.

"Would you imagine that?!" Spike yelled.

Forrest walked up to Twilight and Flash, "Relative having baby?" he asked.

"Yes, my brother and his wife are going to be parents." Twilight Sparkle replied.

"What wife?"

Twilight thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have animal friends who are couples, or mates?"

"Yes. Forrest know lot..." he replied.

"Same thing...."

"Oh.... you orange Pegasus wife?" Forrest asks.

Twilight blushes, "Oh no!! We're not yet...... I mean, right now we're....." she smiled sheepishly.

"Close friends?" Flash Sentry asked.

"Yes, exactly! We're friends, and friends can hug each other too..." added Twilight.

"Okay.... Forrest go back Sweet Apple Acres. Bye!" Forrest replied and walks outside with Applejack.

"Would you like to go out for dinner?" Flash asked, making Twilight blush again.

"Sure, I love too!" see turns back to her friends, "See you later!" then she leaves with the Pegasus knight.

"Maybe Twilight really does have the hots for him...." Rainbow Dash whispered to Pinkie Pie.

"I heard that!" Twilight yelled back. Then everypony in the room and Spike laughs.

Chapter Eleven: The Vampire of Sweet Apple Acres

Forrest was fast asleep in the grass with a blanket covering him one night. Diamond Tiara, who was still mad at Forrest for ruining her tiara, snuck into Sweet Apple Acres with Silver Spoon. They both carried paint buckets, "This purple paint won't come off for a week." Diamond Tiara said with a snicker.

"This will be perfect!" Silver Spoon replied. They stopped and were surprised to see Wild Forrest asleep on the grass. "Like I said: perfect!"

Forrest's ears perked up and he opened one eye. While lying there he sniffed the air, "Bad fillies...." he whispered. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. The duo tiptoed towards the Forrest, unaware he was waiting for them. When they were close enough they lifted the buckets, preparing to dump it on Forrest. But Forrest jumped up fast and made an animal sound, scaring the two fillies and causing them to dump the paint on themselves! Forrest looks at them, he tried to keep a straight face but he laughed. He laughed so hard he fell on his back. Apple Bloom, who was watching the whole thing from her window, laughed too.

"Now look what you've done!" Diamond yelled.

"Now WE'RE going to be purple for a week!" Silver Spoon whined.

Then they realized something, "Our parents are going to kill us!" they both said.

"You bad fillies brought upon selves!" Forrest told them.

"You better leave before the paint dries!" Apple Bloom suggested.

"You'll pay for this!"

"Yeah, we'll get even with you!" Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon promised before running off.

After Apple Bloom wiped the tears from her eyes she waved at Forrest, "Good night Forrest! You sure showed them!"

"Good night Apple Bloom!" Forrest answers back. Apple Bloom goes back to her bed proudly. Forrest curled up and closed his eyes. It wasn't long before there was a flapping sound and the sound of sucking. Forrest got up fast and sniffed the air, "Somepony else?"

Having heard the flapping sound too Apple Bloom got up and looked outside. "Did you hear that?" she asked.

"Yes, Apple Bloom stay! Wild Forrest check out!"

"Be careful!"

Wild Forrest walked through the apple orchard cautiously and fearlessly. He sniffed the air again, "Nearby, but can't see...." he whispered and sniffed again. "Smell familiar too...." he passed something big hanging upside down and camouflaging. It's red eyes opened up then it vanished. Forrest smells the air again and made a bat squeak, "Frutti?"

The vampire fruit bat came out of a tree, "Ah, Wild Forrest! What brings you here on such a fine night?" the bat squeaked sucking an apple.

"I heard something big fly through here. Have you seen anything big?"

"I've been hear all night and I haven't seen anything bigger than me. Sorry."

"That's alright, thank you. I had it's scent a minute ago and then I caught yours."

"I must have distracted you, I'm sorry!"

"It's not your fault. Whoever it was, it's must have left anyway. Good night!"

"Good night Forrest! Unpleasant dreams!" as soon as Wild Forrest left, Frutti's eyes turned red and more scary looking.

"Did you find him?" Apple Bloom asked.

"No, he got away. Good night...."

"Good night Forrest!" Apple Bloom said with a yawn and went back to bed. Forrest curled up in the soft grass and fell asleep.
The next morning

The rooster crowed as the sun rose in the East. Forrest, who was now laying on his back, yawned, then got up and stretched. He opened the door and went into the house. He walked into the kitchen and found Granny Smith, "Oh, good mornin' Forrest!"

"Good morning Granny Smith. Sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you." she started making pancakes. Once she put the mix in the hot pan it let out a sweet smell.

"Wake others up?" Forrest asked.

"Yes, please do."

Forrest went into Apple Bloom's room and found her still sleeping. Forrest jumped on the bed, "Time wake up!" Apple Bloom groaned and woke up.

"Oh, good morning Forrest...."

"Good morning Apple Bloom, breakfast time!"

"Okay...." Apple Bloom yawns and gets out of bed. They walked past Applejack's room, "Let's wake her up." Apple Bloom said. They walked in quietly. Once they got close Apple Bloom smiles, "1..... 2..... 3!" they both jumped, "Geronimo!" Apple Bloom yelled before they landed on the bed making Applejack bounce into the air.

"What in tarnation!"

They both laughed, "Good morning!" Apple Bloom said.

"What a wake up call!" Applejack groaned rubbing her eye. Then the children began jumping on the bed, "Whoa, hey!" they stopped and laughed again. Applejack picked up a pillow and hit her sister with it. Apple Bloom shook her head and picked up another pillow and hit her sister back. Then the two started to have a pillow fight.

In the middle of their fight Granny Smith calls out, "Pancakes are ready!"

"Oh boy!" Applejack yells as they jumped off the bed and raced to the kitchen.

After breakfast Apple Bloom grabbed her backpack. "Where Apple Bloom going?" Forrest asked.

"I'm goin' to school!"

"School?"

"Yeah, you wanna come?"

"Yes, Apple Bloom explain on way!"

"Bye, Applejack! Bye Granny! Bye Big Mac!" Apple Bloom before they left. They met Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle along the way and went to school together. Once they got to the schoolhouse Forrest recognizes the place.

"Going to play?" he asked.

Apple Bloom giggled, "Not yet, we're going to learn something!"

"I'm sure Ms. Cheerilee won't mind if you stuck around." said Scootaloo.

They entered the Schoolhouse and found Cheerilee at the chalkboard. "Good morning Ms. Cheerilee!" the CMC greeted.

She turned and smiles at them, "Good morning girls!" she notices Forrest. "And good morning to you! What's your name?" she asked politely.

"Wild Forrest." he answered.

"Is it okay if Forrest stuck around for a while?" Sweetie Belle asked her teacher.

"Of course! All children are welcomed here." School started, and Cheerilee noticed that two of her students were not there. "Where's Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?" Then they came in angrily. There coats and manes were all purple or faded purple. "My goodness! What happened?"

Some of the kids tried not to laugh. "We don't want to talk about it...." Tiara answered.

"This is embarrassing...." Silver Spoon groaned. They both took a seat giving an evil eye to Forrest.

"Before we begin I would like to introduce you to Wild Forrest. Please come up here, dear." Wild Forrest got off the seat and stood next to the teacher. "Wild Forrest is going to be observing us today. Please be polite to him."

Twist raised a hoof, "Can we ask him questions?"

"Of course, if you don't mind Forrest."

"No..."

"I heard rumors you grew up in the Everfree Forest and you were raised by animals. Is that true?" Twist asked nicely.

Forrest nodded, "Yes, it true. Wild Forrest lost parents then grandmother....." he answered sadly and his ears went down.

"Oh, I'm sorry...." the filly apologized.

Wild Forrest continued, "No pony turn to or live with. No family. Animals took pity and raised Wild Forrest like one them...."

Then a colt raised a hoof, "Can you understand animals?"

"Yes, time pass Wild Forrest learn animal language. Wild Forrest became strong, fast, learn sense of smell hearing along way."

Another filly raised a hoof, "How do you recover from sickness and injuries? And did you find your way to Ponyville?"

"Plants herbs in Everfree heal me. Just other night Forrest got sick searching for right plant while swinging vines. I fell sprain arm. Zecora found Wild Forrest took care Wild Forrest. Meet Apple Bloom few days after. Became friends, taught me speaking. Still learning...."

"That's amazing! And you got your cutie mark because of your skills living in the wild?" Cheerilee asked.

"Correct. Soon Forrest learned surviving plants animals Wild Forrest became good. Got jungle tree cutie mark." he showed his cutie mark to the class.

"That's unique!" a filly complimented.

"Awesome!" Snips and Snails yelled.

During recess Wild Forrest got a lot of attention. Wild Forrest even got on top of the swing and stood on one front hoof, jumped, did a flip and then hung from his back legs. Scootaloo watched this too, "Show off...."

After jumping from the top and landing safely the children applauded. Suddenly a red bird flew up to him and tweeted wildly, "Wild Forrest! That pink filly's father is at Sweet Apple Acres!"

Forrest tweeted back, "What does he want?"

"I don't know! But it was about you and Apple Bloom!"

"What is he saying?" Apple Bloom asked. "He say Diamond Tiara's father at Apple Bloom home!"

Apple Bloom gasped, "I bet I know why!" in the crowd Diamond Tiara smirked. "We better go!" with that Forrest and Apple Bloom were off. They didn't stop running until they got to Sweet Apple Acres.
Sweet Apple Acres

Filthy Rich was talking with Applejack. "That colt you are taking care of chewed up my daughter's tiara out of spite and dumped purple paint over her and Silver Spoon!" he yelled.

"Now wait just a goldarn minute!" Applejack yelled back. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were bullyin' them! Chewin' up her tiara was just his way of sayin' she was hurtin' his friends. And he pushed her in self defense! I don't about the purple paint, but he wouldn't do anything to hurt anypony!"

"That's not what my daughter said!"

"Stop it!" Apple Bloom yelled.

"Apple Bloom?! What are you...." asked the surprised Applejack.

"It's true, he WAS defending himself and me! And the purple paint was unexpected. I can prove it!"

"How?" Filthy Rich asked, unconvinced. Suddenly a metal black bird with red camera like eyes flew down and landed in front of Apple Bloom.

"Where'd you get that?" Applejack asked.

Apple Bloom sighed and said, "A few weeks ago Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were bullying us again and I couldn't take it anymore so I asked Rainbow Dash to take me back to Yykees' Mansion."
Flashback

"So you want to prove they are bullying you, right?" Rainbow Dash asked entering the mansion with Apple Bloom.

"Yes, and Yykees should know what to do!" Once they got to his lab, Apple Bloom explains everything to Yykees. "And I was wondering if there might be a way to prove they are bullyin' us!"

Yykees scratched his chin, "Proof, eh? I think I have just what you're looking for!" he goes to his desk with the metal bird on it. "This is my new invention! I call it the Cameraven. Also known as The Camera Raven. Play on words, ha! Anyway, it's eyes are built in cameras, and when you press the button on the back it'll show you what the bird has recorded. I can also tweek it so it'll follow you if you want it to." Apple Bloom nodded and Yykees puts on a welding mask and takes out his tools. Rainbow Dash and Apple Bloom watch as sparks and light came from the bird. An hour later, it was finished. "There, it is ready. I have also made it so it can look like a real raven." he took out what looked like hearing aid. "Put this in your ear and it'll follow you whenever you need it."

Apple Bloom hugs Yykees, "Oh, thank you!" he hugs her back.

"No need to thank me. It's what friends do for each other."
End Flashback

"It's been with me since. Sorry Applejack...." Apple Bloom's ears and head went down.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I-I thought you wouldn't let me go...." the filly confessed.

"You can always go to a friend's house, sugar cube. Soooo, how does this thing work?"

Apple Bloom pressed a small circle button on the bird's back and it created a screen. It showed the day Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon pushed Apple Bloom in the mud, Forrest chewing up Diamond's tiara because of what she did, Diamond trying to tackle him, and the night before. Apple Bloom hit another button to pause it. Satisfied, Filthy Rich turns to Applejack, "Applejack, I apologize."

Applejack nodded, "I forgive you."

"It's time I gave that filly a stern talking to. And young lady, if you see this Yykees again can you tell him I'm interested in his technology?"

Apple Bloom smiled, "Sure!"

"Wild Forrest is it?" Filthy asked the colt who nodded. "I apologize for doubting you."

"Daughter lie to you. I forgive you." Filthy Rich grinned, nodded, and left.

"This is neat!" Applejack complimented as she pressed a button on the bird. They watched the screen and watched the part after Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon left. Just when Apple Bloom went back to bed and Forrest laid back down in the grass something black passed in high speed! "What the hay was that?" Applejack asked surprised. Apple Bloom pressed another button and it rewound that part.

They saw it pass by again, "That's must be what we heard last night!"

"I don't know what it is but it's stealin' our apples!" she pointed over to the tree's and wagons that were empty or half empty. Applejack puts a hoof under her sister's chin. "And Apple Bloom, always tell us before you're goin' to Yykees' place."

"Okay Applejack...."

"Don't worry, I ain't mad...." she hugs her and they nuzzle. "You know, we could use that metal bird to find the varmint who's stealin' our apples, if he comes back here. By the way, don't you have school today?"

Apple Bloom gasps, "Oh no! Recess is almost over! Ms. Cheerilee is goin' to be cross with me! Bye!" Apple Bloom then takes off in full speed.

"Say, how'd you know Filthy Rich was here?"

"I speak animal. Red bird told me."

"Ain't that somethin'?"

"Forrest better follow Apple Bloom. Don't want her trouble."

"Okay, seeya!"

"Seeya!" with that he took off too.

After school the CMC and Forrest left the building and started for home. They looked over and saw Filthy Rich scolding his daughter. "You're grounded for two weeks! School and home and that's it!"

"Yes, Dad...." she sobbed.

The wild colt sighs, "Wild Forrest feel bad, but pink filly must learn...."

"I feel bad for getting her in trouble too, but I didn't want others to think you're a bad pony." Apple Bloom replied.

"You did right thing...." Forrest assured her.

"Thank you, let's go home." The CMC and Forrest trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres and went in the clubhouse. Applejack had a paper made, 'APPLE ROBBER on the LOSE!' and in a few days everypony in Ponyville have started locking their produce at night.
Few nights later....

Rose was trotting down the road at night after getting fertilizer alone. She too have heard of the 'Apple Robber'. Thinking about the Apple Robber made her a little nervous. "Good evening my lady...." somepony spoke in a Romanian accent.

"Eek!" she turned around and saw a stallion with a light blue coat, yellow eye color, black mane styled similarly as Dracula's, black tail, dark blue tuxedo, and he wore a pitch black cape with red lining.

"Did I frighten you?" he asked politely.

A little nervous she answered, "Y-yes, you kind of snuck up on me...." the stallion approached her.

"Do forgive me my lady. I saw you pass by and I thought a young pony like you shouldn't be out here all alone."

Rose blushed, "Oh, thank you...."

"How rude of me, my name is Prof. A. What's your name, my dear?"

"M-my name is Rose, sir...."

"Rose...." he said, "Yes, Rose. The name suits you well; a rose is a very beautiful flower, and you are beautiful." he took her hoof and kissed it.

Rose blushed, "Oh, why thank you. Um, would you mind escorting me back to my house?"

The stallion smiled, "I be delighted too...." she turned around, and while she wasn't looking he smiled and showed sharp teeth. Together they walked until they reached Rose's house.

"Thank you for helping me Professor. I feel very safe...."

He nodded, "Anything for a fair lady...."

Rose blushed again, "You're such a gentlecolt. Would you like to come in?" she invited.

"Don't mind if I do...." The Professor takes a seat at the table and Rose comes back with a pitcher full of apple juice. She fills their cups and sits down. He takes a sip of the apple juice, "Did you make this?" he asked.

"Yes, I did. You like it?"

"I love it."

"Thank you. So, uh, where are you from?"

"I come from Tracksylvania."

"Tracksylvania? That's pretty far away."

"Yes, I came here to study the bats in Ponyville." he took another sip. "I am an expert on bats. What do you do?"

"I grow flowers, and why do you study bats? Aren't they rodents?" she asked.

"No, my dear, they're not rodents. I think bats are very interesting; their habits, diets, appearances, how they fly, their sensitive ears, their habitats. It's all fascinating, really." he answered. "I also have this special problem: I stay up all night and sleep all day."

"I'm sorry to hear about that."

"Thank you. It's not so bad, except I can't see sunlight without it hurting my eyes and I don't see much ponies. Especially lovely ponies like you, my dear."

"Awe, that's to bad. Wait, did you say lovely?"

"Yes, lovely. As lovely as a red rose fully bloomed, and the scent of sweetness coming from it." he spoke as if he was reading poetry.

Again she blushed, "Oh, you are such a flirt! You are very sweet yourself!" they both laughed.

"Would you like to go out for dinner tomorrow night, my dear?"

"I would love too! How about the Hay Burger?"

"Sure, what time would you like to go?"

"How about 7:30?"

"Okay then..."

Once Rose was asleep on her couch Prof. A left the house. "Must drink...." he said to himself. He looked around and spread out his cape like bat wings and turned into a fruit bat! Frutti the Fruit Bat! He took to the sky desperate to find apples. A found a window open and caught the scent of apples. He flew in and found a bowl of fruit with Red delicious, Golden delicious, Gala, and Granny Smith apples. His mouth watered as he turned back into his pony form, snatched the apples and was gone. He sat on a roof and sunk his fangs into the apples one by one and drained the juice. He then looks around for a place to discard them and found four empty flower pots. He tossed them in the pots one by one. He nodded, turned back into a bat and flew away. He flew until he came to another apple tree close to a dirt road. He took an apple, hung by his feet and started sucking the juice from it. He was enjoying it when he spotted two ponies, a male unicorn and a female Earth pony, walking down the dirt road. They stopped by the apple tree not noticing anypony, or bat, watching them.

"This is the spot where we first met...." the female said to the unicorn.

"Yes, it is...." The bat grabbed two more apples and continued watching. The unicorn bent down and used his magic to hold a small box up to her and opened it.

"Will you marry me?"

The pony gasps, "Oh, I thought you would never ask me!" she wrapped her arms around him and they kissed. Prof. A tossed aside an apple he drained and kept watching. Then he imagined himself and Rose getting married in the dark of night inside an abandoned building with bats hanging from the ceiling. And then turning into bats and flying away.

He sighed and thought, Ah, she wouldn't want to share her life with a vampire. Unless..... whoops! He dropped an apple and it fell on the unicorns head. The mare looked at him and laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" the unicorn asked, wiping the apple off his head with his hoof. They both looked up and saw the bat.

"Eeeek! A bat!" the mare yelled grabbing her fiance. The bat squeaked and flew away. While he was flying through the night sky, looking for more apples, he started thinking about Rose again and how she could fly with him if she were a Fruit Vampire. Then he spotted three wagons full of apples and landed. He turned back into his pony form and laughed. What he didn't know was that the same metal bird was watching the whole thing with it's camera eyes.
The next morning....

"Mornin' Forrest!"

"Good morning Apple Bloom!" they sat down at the table with Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith. Before they could eat breakfast, the Cameraven flew through the open window and landed in front of Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom pressed a button and it created a screen showing the three wagons. They all watched as a bat flew and transformed in a pony laughing. Then the screen turned black for a moment and then the pony and apples were gone!

"He can't be a vampire, can he?" Apple Bloom asked.

"He must be a Fruit Vampire if he's stealin' all those apples." Applejack replied.

"He's mighty creepy, and he didn't show his face." said Granny Smith.

"Nope!" Big Mac agreed. "At least we know who's doin' it."

"Maybe Zecora will know somethin'!" Apple Bloom said. After breakfast, Apple Bloom and Wild Forrest left for Everfree Forest and showed Zecora the video.

"I heard of vampires but I never seen one. Something about it seems unusual, please rerun." Apple Bloom pressed a button and rewound it. Again they saw the video. "I think this vampire is just really thirsty for apple juice. I don't think he's trying to put his powers to evil use."

"Did you say vampire?" Yykees asked coming in.

"Yykees! What are you doing here?" Apple Bloom asked surprised.

"I came as soon as I heard of this vampire. Let me see the video." Apple Bloom pressed the button and saw the video again. "The way he laughs, and his ability to turn into a bat. I think I know him, but I can't believe it."

"Who is he?" Forrest asked.

Yykees sighed, "If I'm right, his name is Count Appula. My Earth pony cousin...." everypony's eyes opened wide. "That's right, and he seems to have gotten worse...."

"Gotten worse? What do you mean?" Apple Bloom asked.

Yykees took a deep breath and said, "About a year ago I got a letter from him...." with his magic he took out a piece of paper out from under his cape. He read out loud: "To Cousin Yykees: Day and night I've worked on a potion in hopes of on growing my own wings. Because of my love for bats, my scientific knowledge for bats, magic from a unicorn who offered to help, and a piece of a Vampire Fruit Bat's hair I was able to create a magic potion. I was very reluctant to drink the potion. If I didn't want wings so badly I would've put the experiment on hold, but I drank it. I felt a strange tingling, and finally searing pain on the inside of my body. I felt my body change and it hurt so bad that I lost consciousness. When I woke up hours later I felt different; I felt the need to be in the dark and I was thirsty for apple juice. I looked at my back, but there was no wings. At first I thought the experiment failed until I looked in the mirror. My ears became pointed, my teeth became sharp, and my eye color became yellow. Terrified I jumped in the air and I saw I could fly! Needing more control over my new ability to fly I created a cape that will help me glide and move in many directions as I fly. And by accident I found out that I could turn myself into a Vampire Fruit Bat at will, teleport, sunlight hurts me, see in the dark, and that my hearing and sense of smell increased. Not to mention my hatred for garlic grew. As a bat I can still understand what others ponies are saying and I can speak bat language. I feel incredible! But I am not without fear about losing control over myself. I have also found out I can also turn anypony into Fruit Vampires and back to themselves at will. I call it the 'Vampire Stare'. If anypony looks at me in the eyes while I'm seeing red they get turned into Fruit Vampires. Once I've learned to control these new powers I was able to turn them back to normal. When I turned them into vampires I felt proud, and when I turned them back I felt lonely. I can feel myself turning into a monster and something is preventing me from trying to find a cure and I can't explain it. In the letter you'll find some samples of my mane. If you please, study the mane and see what you can do to find a cure.

Sincerely: Count Appula"

After reading it Yykees put the letter back under his cape. "Since the day I got the letter I started doing experiments on the mane samples. After many months I was able to create an antidote. It might not be a complete cure, but it'll reverse some of his transformation. And hopefully his thirst for apple juice will stop...." he took a small glass container from his cape with a red liquid. "I also have a plan about how to lure him out."
Ponyville

It was almost dusk, and Rose was with her friends. "You have a date?" Daisy asked.

"With a pony who is nocturnal?" Lily Valley added.

"He is mysterious, I'll admit, but he is very charming...." Rose sighed after saying that, "You should meet him...." then the sun went down. "He should be here any minute...." Rose told her friends.

"I already am...." Prof. A said behind them.

Daisy and Lily screamed and turned around, "Eeek!!!"

"Professor, I didn't see you there!" Rose said surprised too. The stallion came into the light with a bat on his shoulder who flew away.

"My apologies. I see you brought friends with you...."

"I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all. The more the merrier." he walked up to them. Daisy was getting the shivers as he got closer. "I am Prof. A, lovely meeting you two...."

"Oh, uh, I'm Daisy...." she said, still shaking.

"And I'm Lily Valley, nice to meet you...."

"Daisy and Lily Valley, eh? I must say you three flowers are looking lovely tonight...." Lily Valley and Daisy fainted while Rose blushed after he said that.
Hay Burger

Daisy, Rose, and Lily Valley ate and left the restaurant. "Not like the food back home, but it was good...." Prof. A said.

"I'm glad you liked it. You really love apple juice, don't you?"

"Oh, yes. I can't seem to get enough of it...." Hiding nearby was Forrest.

He sniffed the air and saw Prof. A, "He the one Forrest smell other night!" then he hid.

"Rose and I are going for a walk, would you like to join us?" he invited Daisy and Lily Valley.

"Oh, no thank you. I have to get home." Daisy replied.

"Yes, so do I." said Lily.

"Okay, good night."

"Good night Lily. Good night Daisy." the couple then left.

"He gives me the creeps...." Daisy whispered to Lily.

"Yeah, me too. But he's nice."
The Park

Prof A. and Rose walked down the dirt road. The moon was full and many stars were up in the sky. "This is so romantic...." Rose said. They sat on a bench and looked up at the sky. The vampire put one arm across her shoulders and Rose rested her head on his shoulder.

"You know, even though I haven't known you for to long I have grown rather fond of you, my dear...." Prof. A said.

Rose blushed, "Oh, Professor...."

Forrest was hiding in a tree. Then he looked up and nodded. Rainbow Dash nods and points in a direction. Pinkie Pie, holding a container of garlic powder in her mouth, started bouncing down the road. Once she was close enough to the couple she pretended to trip and the garlic filled the air. Prof. A smelled the air and began coughing up a storm. Before Rose could do anything Prof. A picked her up and flew in the air away from the garlic smell. "You can fly?!" Rose asked in a bewildered tone of voice. "You don't have wings!"

"It's a long story, my dear...."

"And your teeth!" Rose yells, getting more freaked out. Prof. A gasped. "Professor, what's going on?!" Rose demanded.

Prof. A landed and sat Rose down and he confesses, "I'm sorry, I was going to tell you later. I'm.... I'm a Fruit Vampire. The Apple Robber...." Rose gasps. "Now you know the truth, I have no choice...." his eyes glowed red. Rose's mouth opened as her eyes glowed red as well. "You are a Fruit Vampire, just like me...." Prof. A said.

"I am a Fruit Vampire, just like you...." Rose repeated. In moments Rose's teeth sharpened, her ears became pointed, and her green eyes turned yellow. "Appula, my darling...." Rose said as if she was hypnotized. Appula smiled his vampire smile and they flew away.

"No! He took Rose!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"We must move to phase 2!" Yykees yelled. "Get Appula and Rose to follow you to Sweet Apple Acres!" he told Rainbow.

"I'm on it!" Rainbow Dash caught up with them and stopped them. "Hey you juice-suckers! I've seen plenty of nasty things in my day, but you two definitely take the cake!" Rainbow spat her tongue out.

"Why you?!" Prof. A yelled in an angry tone of voice.

"Nana nana boo boo! You can't catch me!" Rainbow Dash flew off in full speed.

"Let's get her!" Rose yelled then they took off after her.
Sweet Apple Acres

Yykees, with Forrest and Pinkie Pie, teleported to the apple garden. "Is the bait ready?"

"Uh-huh! I've brought out all the cooked desserts I have and I sliced a dozen apples!" Applejack replied.

"Excellent! Now Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, get your wings ready! Rainbow Dash is leading Appula here."

"And he turned Rose into a vampire! Think you can reverse the spell?" Pinkie Pie asked Twilight.

"I can try...."

"You don't have too; as long as Appula has his powers your friend will remain a vampire, but if we give him the antidote he'll lose his power and she'll turn back to normal! Now, Pinkie Pie, Easter, and Rarity get the garlic powder ready!"

Rarity put on a beekeeper suit, "Ready!"

Apple Bloom, with binoculars, was up in the tree. "Here they come!" she yelled. Twilight and Fluttershy flapped their wings hard and the smell of the apple desserts and apple went into the air. Count Appula and Rose were getting close to Rainbow Dash when the scents reached them.

"Mmm, that's good...." Appula said smiling.

"It's apple time...." Rose told him before she snickered. They flew down towards the apples.

Once they were close enough Yykees yells, "NOW!" Rarity, Easter and Pinkie Pie tossed three arm fulls of garlic powder. Prof. A grabbed Rose and they both teleported. "Fluttershy, now's your chance!" she nodded, took an apple and flew to the sky.

She looked around nervously then she spotted Appula and Rose coming right towards her laughing. Sweat drops started going down Fluttershy's face as the two vampires flew closer and closer. She closed her eyes tight and then opened them back up, staring. Appula and Rose stopped in their tracks. Fluttershy sighs in relief, "Please, follow me...." she led them to a garlic free area. Yykees, with the antidote, and the others approached them.

"We're sorry, but it's for your own good." Yykees told his cousin before he used his magic to move the antidote to Appula and pour it in his mouth. "You may stop staring." Fluttershy's eyes turned back to normal. Once Appula could move again he and Rose screamed in pain. Rose's ears, eyes, and teeth turned back to normal. Appula's fangs turned to normal teeth and his ears became less pointed.

"Huh? What a horrible nightmare!" Rose said before shaking her head. She then saw the others, "What are you all doing here? Where are we?"

Twilight approached her and helped her up, "It's a long story...."

They looked over to Appula, who was groaning and had his face down. Rose ran up to him, "Professor, are you alright?" he looked up her, "Why Professor, you look different...."

"What?" Rarity shows him a mirror. "I'm cured?" he looks at his teeth and ears. "I AM cured!" he jumped with joy and started flying, "And I can still fly too!"

"Professor, what are you talking about?" asked the puzzled Rose.

"Ah Rose, my dear! My real name is Count Appula, and an experiment turned me into a Fruit Vampire, thirsty for apple juice. But thanks to my cousin and your friends I'm no longer a thirsty vampire."

Yykees ran up to Appula and they hugged one another. "It's great to have you back my cousin...." Yykees told Appula.

Once they let go they looked back at Rose. "Rose, I would like you to meet my cousin Yykees."

Yykees got closer to her, "Nice to meet you...." Rose stared at his face for a moment and fainted. "Bit of a shock I suppose...." Yykees said.
The next morning....

The Mane Six, Daisy, Lily Valley, Easter, Forrest, Apple Bloom Spike were walking down the road in Ponyville. "Phew! I sure glad that's over!" said Applejack.

"Ditto!" replied Rarity, then she smelled herself, "I still smell like garlic! Ew!"

"And all the apples Appula drained grew into more apple trees, too!" Pinkie Pie told them and then pointed to the four flowers pots filled with new apple trees.

"I still can't believe Rose dated a vampire." Daisy told them.

"Now you're saying he's cured?" Lily Valley asked.

"Yeah, but he can still fly!" answered Rainbow Dash.

"Look over there!" Spike pointed at the cafe.

At one of the tables sat Appula and Rose enjoying apple juice. "I'm so glad this FRUITY nightmare is over...." he told Rose. "Can you ever forgive me for turning you into a vampire and lying to you?"

Rose smiles, "You weren't yourself. Of course I can...."

Count Appula smiles back at her. "And it feels good to see sunlight again, especially with you, my dear...."

Rose blushes, "I'm happy for you...." Then her hoof sat on his hoof and then there heads started getting closer.

"Are they....?" before Spike could finish Appula and Rose had their first kiss. Lily and Daisy stood there, eyes wide and jaws dropped.

Easter smiles and looks at Fluttershy, "Can you feel the love?"

"I sure do...." Fluttershy whispered back.

Rarity started drying her eyes with a hanky and sniffing, "I love a happy ending...."

Twilight smiles at the sight, "Me too...."

Flash Sentry ran up to Twilight, "Thank goodness you're safe! I came as soon as I found out you were trying to catch the Apple Robber!"

Twilight blushed, "It's okay Flash. I don't think we need to worry about the Apple Robber anymore...."

After kissing Appula and Rose looked at a tree and saw a male Vampire Fruit Bat and a female red Fruit Bat sharing a red apple with a heart carved into it.

Author's Note

The name Appula is a combination of Apple and Dracula.

Chapter Twelve: Sickly Apple

Chapter Twelve: Sickly Apple
Fluttershy's Cottage

Fluttershy just got done feeding the animals. She looked over at Forrest, who just climbed the high tree. "Oh my!" she ran up to the tree. "Forrest, please come down from there." she then notices a rope he's holding. She looks and sees that the other end was tied to another tree. "No, Forrest, don't!" but he jumped off the limb and swung on the rope screaming his Tarzan scream. Fluttershy flies in the air and catches him before he hits the other tree. "Please, don't do that. It's dangerous." she said calmly.

She landed and sat the colt down. "Sorry Fluttershy. It hobby...."

"That's alright. I'm just concerned for your safety...." they hugged each other. Then they spotted Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "Good evening girls!" Fluttershy greeted. "Where's Apple Bloom?"

"I think Apple Bloom is sick...." Sweetie Belle said sadly.

"Applejack took her home during school today. She didn't look to good...." Scootaloo added.
Sweet Apple Acres

Apple Bloom was in her bed with a pile of Kleenex on the floor. Her nose was red and an ice pack was on her head. She started coughing. Applejack came in with a glass of orange juice, "You feelin' any better?" she asked.

Apple Bloom coughed again, "Not really...."

Applejack put a thermometer in her sister's mouth. "Hm, you're runnin' a fever...." Forrest, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Fluttershy came into the room.

Forrest ran up to her bed, "Apple Bloom alright?!" he yelled.

Apple Bloom groaned. "Yeah.... achoo! Just feelin' sick.... achoo! And my head hurts...." Apple Bloom took another tissue and blew her nose.

Fluttershy came up to her and notices something, "Oh dear...."

"What's wrong?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I think you have the pony pox...."

"What?" Apple Bloom takes out a mirror and see's a brown spot on her cheek. She groaned and laid back down. Then a shadow appeared in the room, took shape, and Sombra came out.

"Sombra? It's you!" Scootaloo yelled jumping towards him with Sweetie Belle.

"Hello children...." he greeted. He walked over to the sick filly, "Hello Apple Bloom...."

Apple Bloom sat up, "Hi Sombra...." she started coughing again.

"I have heard you were sick so I came to check on you...."

Apple Bloom sniffed, "Thank you, but I don't want any of you to get sick from pony pox too...."

Sombra smiled, "Not to worry young lady, I had the pony pox centuries ago. I can't get them again. I also brought you something...." he took out a small carved light blue crystal Alicorn out from under his cape and sat it on the night table.

Apple Bloom looked at it with sparkles in her eyes, "Its... achoo! So pretty.... achoo! Thank you!"

"My pleasure. It's not a toy and is very fragile but it's a good decoration...." Sombra told her.

"Did you make it yourself?" Sweetie Belle asked staring at the shiny Alicorn with sparkles in her eyes too.

"Yes, it's one of my hobbies...."

"I bet you could make a fortune selling sculptures!" said Scootaloo.

Sombra laughs, "I have no need for money. I just wish to make others happy. It is a good idea though."

"You could live like a king! Oh, I forgot! You ARE a King." Scootaloo replied and they all laughed. Apple Bloom laughed too and then started coughing really hard. Then some more brown spots started coming.

Applejack pulled the blanket up, "You best be gettin' some rest, sugar cube."

"I guess we better go, too. Come on girls, come on Forrest...." Fluttershy said to the kids.

"We'll come back to check on you." promised Scootaloo, then they left.

"I'll watch over her, Applejack...." Sombra said.

"Thank you Sombra, seeya later." she left the room. Sombra pulled up a chair and sat down.

"You'll get better soon...." he assured her.

"Um, Sombra?"

"Yes?"

"Can you show me how you carve crystals?"

Sombra smirked and used his magic to bring out a diamond shaped red crystal out from under his cape. "I thought you might ask." he held the crystal in front of him, "Some ponies would use a hammer and stake, but I use magic. Watch carefully...." with that his eyes glowed red and lasers came from the pupils at the crystal.

"Laser vision?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Precisely...." the lasers began carving the crystal. In a half hour Sombra made another Alicorn and presented it to Apple Bloom.

"Wow.... achoo!"

"Bless you...."

"Thanks...." she starts coughing. Sombra sets the new Alicorn next to the blue Alicorn and hands her the orange juice. After drinking the orange juice she looks outside and see's Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Forrest helping Applejack and Big Mac with their chores. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat on a wood bucket full of apples wiping the sweat from their heads. Forrest lifted that bucket over his head and carried them to the barn. Apple Bloom sighs, "I wish I could help them...."

"If you did your illness might get worse...." Sombra said. Apple Bloom started scratching her back, "You mustn't scratch either...." Sombra said stopping her, then he sees Forrest outside, "That colt is strong for his age...."

"All that survival trainin' must have gave him that strength...." Apple Bloom said.

"Survival training? Oh, he was raised by the animals of Everfree Forest. I know...."

"How do you know? Achoo!"

"I know through my Crystal Ball. It can show me the past and the present, but not the future. And I use it as a window to see the world outside my castle. You are very close to him, aren't you?"

Apple Bloom sniffed, "I thought you can see... achoo! Through your Crystal Ball... achoo!"

Sombra laughs, "That's a good one! The Crystal Ball doesn't show me feelings of others."

"Oh, well, yes he is a good friend to me. He is also very protective.... achoo!" she blows her nose and then continues, "He wouldn't let anythin' bad happen to us, mostly me.... he's like a brother.... I never had...." she starts coughing again.

"I see. He seems to be very attracted to you. I saw it in his eyes; he cares deeply for you. Do you feel the same way?"

Apple Bloom blushed, "Welllll....."

"It's alright. You don't have to tell me."

"I have been gettin' this need to be beside him, to be honest.... achoo!" Apple Bloom told him.

"It's very understanding. I know because I feel the same about Luna...." he smiled at the thought of her.

"Do you love her?" Apple Bloom asked before coughing again.

"I haven't told her yet...." he sighs. "Even though she has forgiven me, I still feel bad about all the evil things I did. But she and the others are helping me keep the past in the past, so now I'm feeling better than I was...."

"I'm glad." Apple Bloom replied happily.

"Me too. I never thought having friends could feel so good until the Crystal Heart opened my darkened heart and I came back."

"Are you immortal? Achoo!"

"Yes, as long as there is darkness, I am. I have the powers of darkness, whether I like it or not, and it was darkness in all black hearted creatures that brought me back...."

"How?"

"After I was defeated I became a ghost, hungry for revenge. I searched the world and absorbed the darkness and evil inside the black hearted creatures' minds and hearts. I soon became strong enough to create a new body. And as soon as I got my new body, what the Crystal Heart did to me took effect; As soon as I was alive again I felt so much remorse. I felt so bad that I decided to stay on an island that I have found as a ghost and I the built the castle where I chose to live in isolation...."

"What does that mean?" Apple Bloom asked before she coughed again.

"Not to be heard from or seen, or far away. In my new castle I used my magic to create statues and bring them to life."

"You mean the soldiers and your servants?"

"Yes, and I sent them to the Mirror Pool to multiply themselves..."

"Wow.... achoo! I thought... achoo! The Mirror Pool was closed off.... achoo!"

"It was, but they found another way in and blocked it out. Discord found out I came back and went to talk to me, but I just wanted to be alone. He reported to Celestia and Luna and then Twilight Sparkle and the others. A few weeks later I decided to go to Ponyville wearing a disguise, but Luna told me to go as myself. The rest you already know...."

"Wow, that's quite a story." Apple Bloom said before coughing. "Have you and Luna known each other for a long time?"

Sombra's cleared his throat, "That is a story for another day. And yes, we've have known each other for a long, long time...."

"Is it okay to tell the others the story you told me?"

"Of course, but you'll have to get better first."

After Sombra told his story they talked, and talked like they were old friends. Then Sombra entertained Apple Bloom by turning into a shadow, making shapes, and having Apple Bloom guess what it is. Sombra used his magic to bring his pipe organ into her room and then played very pretty melodies and creating pictures while the music played. Soon Apple Bloom became very tired and fell asleep. Sombra stops playing his organ and pulls the blankets up, "Sleep well...." he whispers as his eyes and horn glowed and the pipe organ went back to his castle.

Sombra was just about to leave the room when Applejack came in, Sombra motioned her to be quiet. "How is she?" she whispered.

"She will be fine. Just let her sleep."

"I take it your visit went well?" they walked out and closed the door.

"Yes, way better than I thought...." Sombra smiles, "She's a good filly...."

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Wild Forrest, Sombra, and the others visited Apple Bloom as often as they were aloud too. They brought in gifts like toys, decorations, fruits, ice cream, and books and get well soon cards signed by them and others at school. It went on for about ten days until the pony pox went away and Apple Bloom got healthy. "Ah, it feels good to be out of bed!" she said skipping out of the house. Sombra, Scootaloo, and Forrest were waiting for her.

"Glad to see you're feeling better..." Sombra told her.

"We lonely without you..." Wild Forrest said.

"You up to finding your Cutie Mark?" Scootaloo asked eagerly.

Apple Bloom jumped up and down, "You bet I am!" before they left Apple Bloom nuzzled against Sombra. Smiling, he wrapped an arm around her. "Thank you Sombra...."

"You're welcome Apple Bloom..."

After hugging Apple Bloom left with the other two waving goodbye. Sombra smiles again and then remembers something, "Maybe I should've told them...."
Carousel Boutique

Forrest, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom skipped over to Rarity's house and went on in. They found Rarity working in her room again. "Hi Rarity!" Apple Bloom greeted.

"Oh, hello girls! Hello Forrest! Glad you're feeling better, dear!"

"Thanks, where's Sweetie Belle?"

"Oh, the poor thing...." she said quietly. "She has caught your pony pox, dear...." the kids gasped. "She is in her room. You may go see her...."

The kids went to Sweetie Belle's room and found her in bed with the pony pox. And to their surprise Sombra was in there too! He has just given her a purple crystal Alicorn. Sweetie Belle smiled and hugged Sombra before sneezing and falling back down on the bed. Forrest, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom smiled and joins them.

Author's Note

Pony pox
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Season Two Episode Twenty Two
Hurricane Fluttershy

Chapter Thirteen: Comedy Show

Fluttershy was feeding fish and turtles while humming when she heard something in the bushes. She turned around and a purple colt with a blue mane and tail, and green eyes, juggling balls cutie mark, and dressed like a clown in white and polka dots jumps out. "Ahhh!" Fluttershy falls backwards.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" he trotted over to her. "Are you alright?"

"Why, yes. Where did you come from?" Fluttershy got back up.

"I'm a traveler trying to make ponies laugh. You can call me Polkey Dots." the colt replied.

"My name is Fluttershy, nice to meet you Polkey Dots." she said politely.

"Would like to see some of my tricks?"

"I love too!"

The little clown takes off his hat and different colored balls fell out. He stood on one of them and began juggling the other balls while balancing on it. While he was entertaining Fluttershy some ponies were watching them carefully. "Now's our chance!" one of them whispered.

Polkey Dots threw the balls in the air and he held out his hat. He managed to catch all the balls in every direction and then bowed. "That was very good!" Fluttershy said clapping her hooves. Then suddenly some stallions also dressed up like clowns grabbed her! "What?! Oh no, HELP!!"

Polkey Dots looks down sadly, "My apologies miss...." then he moved aside. Then a white stallion walked out of the bushes. He had blue eyes, red clown nose, pink cheeks, green mane and tail, red lips, his Cutie Mark was three smiley faces, and a rainbow striped suit with a carnation. He smiled an evil smile and showing his teeth.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Fluttershy asked quietly, very scared.

"Just to make you laugh...." he answered taking out some yellow powder and he blew it.

Fluttershy sniffed it, "It's smells sweet, but....." she gasps and then starts laughing uncontrollably. This clown's henchponies let go of her and she falls on her back laughing.

"Have a funny day!" the clown laughs maniacally. "Let's go boys!" the stallions leave.

The colt stays behind for a minute and says to the laughing Pegasus. "Please forgive me...." then he follows the others.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Fluttershy was strapped to one of Twilight Sparkle's machines still laughing. Papers came out of another machine as Twilight examines them. Spike walks in, "Hi Twilight!" he see's Fluttershy, "What wrong with her?"

Still focused on the papers she said, "Fluttershy is laughing endlessly. I'm trying to find out why. Hmm, it appears that she inhaled a laughing powder...." Twilight concluded.

"Hey, I think I read something about laughing powder! Be right back!" Spike leaves the room and comes back with a book.

Twilight took the book with her magic and read out loud, "Laughing Powder: a sweet smelling powder that makes whoever smells it laugh for the next twenty four hours. Twenty-four hours?! There's got to be a cure!" she goes through the pages, "Two Antidotes for the effects of the Laughing Powder: have the victim look at somebody in the eyes of somepony who has no sense of humor, or have a the victim drink the Weeping Potion."

"The Weeping Potion?" Spike asks.

"Yes, it's a potion that can make ponies cry."

"I kinda go with somepony who has no sense of humor."

Twilight nodded in agreement, "Now, where can we find such a pony?" she thinks for a moment and gasps.

She and Spike both yelled in unison, "Maud Pie and Bandit!"
Sugarcube Corner

Maud Pie, Bandit, and Pinkie Pie were standing in front of the store. "It's a shame you have to leave...." Bandit said.

"Yeah, but I'm needed back at the Rock Farm...."

Pinkie Pie hugs her, "Please come back soon!"

"I'll try..."

"Maud Pie!" Spike yelled running towards them. He stops speaks while trying to catch his breath, "Huh.... huh.... Twilight needs you at the castle right away!"

"What's the matter?" Maud asked, showing no concern.

"It's.... it's Fluttershy!"
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

"Let me get this straight: If Maud and I look at her in the eyes she'll be cured?" Bandit asked.

"Yes, because you have no sense of humor, no offense." Twilight explained and felt remorseful at the last part.

"Non taken...." Maud replied.

"Alrighty then, let's give it a try...." Bandit suggests standing in front of Fluttershy, who is still laughing up a storm. Maud stands next to him and they began staring Fluttershy down. And within moments Fluttershy stops laughing and begins breathing heavily.

"It worked!" Twilight yells pressing a button and made the machine let go of Fluttershy. She laid there on the floor breathing very hard. Twilight runs up to her, "Are you alright?"

"Huh..... huh..... yeah..... huh..... those clowns..... huh.... huh..... did this to me....." Fluttershy said panting and wheezing.

"Clowns? What clowns?" Twilight asked before Fluttershy fainted.

"Varmints dressed up like clowns and usin' laughin' powder to make others laugh? What'll they come up with next?" Bandit asked putting a tooth pick in his mouth.

"I don't think we want to know...." Maud replied. Twilight used her magic to carry Fluttershy to a nearby couch.

"Whoever they are, we need to stop them!" Twilight said.

"Twilight! We have visitors!" Pinkie Pie yelled. She came into the room with an orange mare with a rainbow mane and tail, rainbow diamond jester costume and hat, jester baton with a pony head, a saddle sack, her Cutie Mark was a different colored jester hat, her face had clown make up except her lips, her cheeks were pink, she had a red clown nose, and her eyes were green and with her was Polkey Dots.

She walks up to Twilight and bows before her saying, "Do not be alarmed! My name is Lolo, and this is Polkey Dots. We are here to warn you. If you please gather the others and I'll tell you what the Clownz Gang is up to...."

After the Mane Six and Spike got together in the throne room, Lolo sat in the center. "Lolo, tell us what this Clownz Gang is up to." Twilight ordered.

"Yes your majesty. But first I'd like to apologize for what the leader and the others did to your friend...." Lolo said with guilt in her voice.

"It's alright. It was mean of them to do that to me, but I have to admit it felt kind of good laughing that much...." Fluttershy said smiling at the jester.

"If only he knew what kind of pain it can cause others if they laugh for hours...." Lolo said putting her head and ears down sadly.

"Who?" Applejack asked.

"His name is Hecko...." Lolo told them.

"Hecko?! The comedian?!" Pinkie Pie asked getting excited.

"Yes, he's planning on using his Laughing Powder to make everypony in Ponyville laugh....." Lolo replied.

"Why would he do that, dear?" Rarity asked.

"It's a long story...." Lolo replied.

"Tell us! Tell us!" Pinkie Pie yelled jumping up and down.

"It's no laughing matter. Haha, I just made a joke!" she laughs. Everypony and Spike just look at her. Lolo sighs, "Just my sense of humor, sorry." she takes a deep breath and began: "Back when Hecko and I were teenagers we used to be successful comedians. We started working together for a few months, and as the time passed I was drawn to Hecko. We fell in love eventually. A few happy years later we were invited to perform in front of a big crowd. Seeing this as a big opportunity we agreed. We had our jokes and puns all written down, but Hecko was overconfident; he chose not to study them. When that big night came we succeeded in making many ponies laugh and then.... then....." Lolo starts crying.

Rarity takes a hanky and hands it to her, "What happened dear?"

After she dried her eyes she continued. "We we're half way to the finale when we decided to tell the funniest joke of them all...."

"So what went wrong?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Hecko forgot the punchline!" Lolo yelled crying again. After she blew her nose she went on, "Hecko messed up and we got booed off the stage...."

"I'm so sorry to hear about that...." Fluttershy said quietly.

"That must have been rough!" said Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah, getting humiliated is never fun!" added Pinkie Pie.

"So what happened next?" Applejack asked Lolo.

Lolo sighed, "It still upsets me. After that humiliation my beloved Hecko became very bitter and obsessed with making ponies laugh in any way possible. Over the years I watched Hecko's bitterness grew. I tried to talk him out of it, but he won't listen. I reluctantly helped him form a gang of clowns. Calling ourselves the Clownz Gang we traveled and eventually came across a book somepony dropped. It was full of recipes for powders. Hecko looked through it and found the recipe for the Laughing Powder...." she shakes the saddlebag and the book fell out. "I was able to steal it from Hecko so I can give it to you for safekeeping...." she takes the book and gives it to Twilight Sparkle.

She uses her magic to read the book, "This is incredible!" she said.

"He plans on making a comeback in the center of Ponyville. He made me talk to the mayor and she is a fan of Hecko, so she agreed to help us. When she is done with her speech she'll let Hecko take over and try to make everypony laugh. And when he gives the signal the Clownz Gang are going to unleash the Laughing Powder!"

"How thoughtless!" Rarity yelled.

"Do you know where the Clowns are going to be hidin'?" Applejack asked.

"Yes, two of the Clown Pegasi are going to be hiding in the clouds; Two Unicorn Clowns are going to be standing around the stage; and two Clown Earth Ponies are going to be in the crowd disguised. We better hurry because the mayor will giving her speech any minute! Follow me!" with that they all ran out of throne room.
Center of Ponyville

The mayor stood on stage in front of the crowd with a red curtain behind her. "And now I would like to introduce you to the legendary clown and comedian, Hecko the Clown!"

The curtain opened and Hecko came out as everyone cheered. The mayor moved aside to let Hecko stand in front of the microphone. "Greetings Ponyville! Hecko is back in town!" he yelled and then laughed maniacally as the crowd cheered louder. Once they quieted down Hecko said, "You know, it's been a while since I performed in front of stage. I hope I ain't to rusty. You still want me to try?"

"YEAH!!" the crowd yelled.

"Okay, if you insist!" he smirked. "You know, just the other day I went to get a haircut. While the barber was trimming my mane two patrons came in with some kids. The kids we're playing and I heard one of them said, 'You know, I got something stuck in my head....' and then I asked, 'Your hair?'" then the crowd started laughing. "Then he said 'No, this song I've been hearing...' and then I asked, 'How are you hearing a song? You're not wearing headphones!'" that made the crowd laugh harder. "Then the barber said, 'Hey CUT it out!' and I answered 'I hate it when someone CUTS me off!" while the crowd was laughing he thought to himself, I'm feeling some sort of deja vu....

Lolo and the others arrived. "Good, he didn't release the powder yet. I'll try to bide some time, you all get rid of the Laughing Powder in any way you can." they all nodded and went their own ways.

Hecko then spots Lolo, "Mares and Gentlecolts please welcome Lolo the Jester!" Lolo walks up the stage as the crowd cheered for her. Lolo bows before going to Hecko's side. "Where have you been?" Hecko whispered.

"I was spreading word about your comeback.", she lied.

Hecko smiled, "You did a very good job." then he turned his attention back to the crowd. "Say Lolo, do you remember when we visited my grandparents house?" he asked.

"Why yes, they loved talking! Speaking of conversations, how do you start a conversation?"

"Well, when it comes with grandparents I start out with 'Hey, wake up!'" the crowd laughed again. While Hecko and Lolo were making the crowd laugh Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy managed to take the bags of Laughing Powder from the Clown Pegasus while they weren't looking.

"I also saw some applebuckers down at Sweet Apple Acres this morning. Did you see how happy she looked when she kicked those trees and made many apple fall into the baskets?" Lolo asked Hecko.

"Yeah, she really gets a KICK out of that job!"

Applejack heard that pun and laughed, "It's funny cause it's true!"

"I remember one time my brother dared me to empty out an apple tree just by kicking it." Lolo told Hecko.

"Did you do it?" he asked.

"Yeah, it was surprisingly easy to me! Once I emptied the tree I asked my brother, 'How do you like them apples?'" Hecko and the crowd laughed. "And there was that one time I asked my father, 'Do you like baked apples?' and he says 'Yes, why?' and then I yelled, 'Your apple tree's on fire!'" Applejack didn't really like that joke, but the crowd laughed.

Pinkie Pie, Polkey Dots, Spike and Applejack found the bags the disguised clowns were holding and took them while nopony was looking. Hecko whispered to Lolo, "Are you up to something?"

Lolo started sweating a little, "No, of course not. But I have been thinking: Do we have to go through with this? I mean, look at the crowd. We're making them laugh. Isn't that what you wanted to begin with?"

Surprised and unaware of the Mane Six, Spike and Polkey Dots are finding the bags he answered, "Thinking about it now, perhaps not. But there's no going back now....." Maybe she has a point, but I've come to far to not make everypony laugh! he thought. "Now we're going to move on to Q&A jokes. One of us asks the question and one of us answers. Hey, Lolo!"

"Yes Hecko?" "What sounds do porcupines make when they kiss?"

"I don't know, what?"

"Ouch!" Lolo and the crowd laughed.

"I got one! What did the big chimney say to the little chimney?" Lolo asked Hecko.

"Beats me, what?"

"You're to young to smoke!"

Hecko laughed, "That's a good one! Hey what did the egg say when he fell on his head?"

"I don't know."

"My NOGgin!" Rarity, trying not to laugh at his jokes, helped Twilight carry the bags of Laughing Powder that was hidden under the stage.

"Why did the orange stay in the sun?" Lolo asked Hecko.

"I don't know, what?"

"He wanted to be a TANgerine!" after all the bags were taking care of the Mane Six, Spike, and Polkey Dots joined the crowd.

"They're good!" Spike told Twilight.

"Where do Eskimo ponies keep their money?" Hecko asked Lolo.

"I have no idea, where?"

"In a snowBANK!" they all laughed.

"I got another one! What did the bench press ask the other bench press who had little or no weights?" Lolo asked Hecko.

"I don't know. What?"

"Did you lose weight?" again the crowd laughed, even Bulk Biceps.

Hecko then smirked, "Do it!"

Lolo nodded and got in front of the microphone, "I'm afraid that's all we have for now! There will more next time! Until then laugh it up!" the crowd cheered as they left. The henchponies finally realized their Laughing Powder was missing.

One of them went to Hecko, "Sir, the Laughing Powder's missing!"

"WHAT?! Who would..... LOLO?!" He turned towards Lolo and saw the Mane Six, Spike, and Polkey Dots behind her. "How could you?" Hecko demanded as he walked towards her angrily. Twilight Sparkle stood in front of Lolo to defend her, "Oh, y-your highness!" Hecko and his henchponies bowed down.

Lolo knelt down to Hecko, "I asked them to help because what you were going to do was wrong." Lolo said.

"Did you ever stop to think what kind of pain you could've caused?" Twilight Sparkle asked him.

Still grovelling Hecko said, "No. I never thought making them laugh would hurt anypony...."

"Think about how they would've felt if they laughed against their will. And when they stop laughing in the next twenty-four hours they would have a hard time breathing, or maybe worse...."

"I had to catch my breath after all that laughing....." said Fluttershy.

Hecko looks up at them, "I never thought about that. All I wanted to do is make others laugh; I didn't want to hurt them."

Twilight Sparkle smiles, "Look around you." Hecko gets up and see's the crowd still laughing, "You've made them all laugh, even us. And you didn't need powder for that."

"Y-you laughed at our jokes?"

"Of course we did, you the stallion!" Spike replied.

"You're not going to punish us?" Hecko asked again.

Twilight shook her head, "Because of the rough time you went through, no. And since you made us laugh and kept us entertained I'm willing to give you an opportunity to use your skills."

Hecko couldn't believe his ears, "You do that for us?" he asked in a surprised tone of voice.

"Yes, just don't forget to study!"

"Yes your majesty." then he looks over to Lolo, "Why did you do what you did to help me even though I was a big jerk?"

Lolo trotted up to him and held his hoof with her hoof, "I did what I did because I couldn't bear seeing you punished or become worse because of hurting all those ponies. But the number one reason for making me do it is...." she took a deep breath and said, "I love you...." then she wrapped her arms around Hecko, "I love you so much!"

Hecko was stunned for a second but he wrapped his arms around her too. "I.... I love you too.... please forgive me....."

"I have already...."

Polkey Dots nuzzled with Fluttershy before he joined Hecko and Lolo. "Is he their son?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Hecko and Lolo heard this and went up to them, "No, but we're planning on taking him under our wings. Isn't that right Polkey Dots?" Lolo asked kissing Polkey Dot's head.

A small stage was set up close to the Cafe. The rest of the Clownz Gang, Hecko, Lolo, and Polkey Dots decided to stay in Ponyville and happily stood on that stage doing everything they can to make everypony laugh. And when there was a circus, carnival, festival, party, any special events or a place in need for comedians or clowns they were all there. And Hecko never forgot to study his lines and he promised to never use Laughing Powder unless for emergencies. Hecko and Lolo even adopted Polkey Dots as their son. Polkey Dots became close friends with Wild Forrest and the CMC and started hanging out with them and going to the same school as them. Polkey Dots, being a prankster too, sometimes hung out with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. And Hecko, for the first time in years, felt so good.

Author's Note

I thought of the name Hecko from the word heckling. And while I was thinking about what to name the jester and I guess one of my favorite girl names Lola, and some other clown names like Bobo, Jojo, or Bozo came to my head and I thought of the name Lolo. I thought of the name Polkey Dots from Polka Dots.

The Joker and Harley Quinn inspired me to make Hecko and Lolo. Hecko, unlike The Joker, turns good. Lolo was always a good mare and supported Hecko like Harley Quinn would support The Joker, but Lolo was reluctant and never turned bad.

Chapter Fourteen: The Pirate and The Merpony

Chapter Fourteen: The Pirate and the Merpony
Sombra's Castle

Sombra used his magic to examine the egg again. "It appears to have calmed down, so we might not have to worry about it for a while....." he went to his Crystal Ball and saw what looked like a ship in the sea and a mare on the beach. "What have we here?"

Rarity steps in, "Hello Sombra! We're here!" the CMC, Forrest, and Polkey Dots darted in.

"This is so cool!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Hello children, Hello Rarity...." Sombra greeted.

"Hi Sombra! What are you looking at?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"This is the Crystal Ball I've told you all about...."

"What can you see?" Apple Bloom asked eagerly.

"It appears we have a visitor on the island, and a ship coming to the island...."
Pirate Ship

The ship said 'The Terrible Revenge' in black letters on it's side, and a wooden merpony was carved in front of the ship. The sails were white, and the flag was black with a skull and two bones in an X behind it. A stallion stepped out of a door. He had peach colored coat, black mane, thin mustache, and tail, a gold earring on his left ear, a red pirate captain hat with a pink feather, dark blue patch over his right eye, blue coat with gold facing, wooden left hind leg, his left front hoof was made out of gold, he carried a sword in his brown belt, and his cutie mark was a skull with two bones in an X behind it. A green parrot wearing a red bandanna stood on his shoulder. A unicorn, dressed as a pirate, stood in the crows nest with a telescope. He then spotted Sombra's Island, "Land ho!" he yelled.

The captain looked, "Set sail to that island!" he ordered the stallion in charge of the wheel.

"Aye aye Captain Blackmane!"
Sombra's Beach

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were making sand castles, Rarity was sunbathing, Polkey Dots was juggling seashells and rocks, and Wild Forrest was trying to teach Apple Bloom how to swing on vines. Apple Bloom hung on tight with her mouth and hooves but she fell down and landed on a big plant. Wild Forrest laughs, "No, like this!" he held on to a vine with both hooves and swung while screaming the Tarzan scream. Apple Bloom watched as Forrest was swinging from vine to vine, doing flips in the process, then he swung and grabbed Apple Bloom.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Whoo-hoo!!" Forrest looks back at her and smiled. "Forrest, watch out for that tree!"

Forrest looks back in front of him, "Huh?" they smashed into the tree and fell! Forrest rubbed his head while falling, then he took Apple Bloom into his arms and they landed safely on his back hooves. "Are you alright?" Forrest asked setting his friend down.

"A little shaken, but I'm alright. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I've been through worse..." Then they heard the sound of singing, "You hear that?" Forrest his ears twitching.

"I sure do.... It's so pretty....." Apple Bloom said smiling.

"Let's check it out!"

They exited the jungle and went to another side of the beach. There they found an aqua green mare with a long blonde mane, her eye color was as blue as the sky, and she had a white flower on the right side of her head. She sat up and showed she had a fish tail instead of hind legs! Her scales pink, purple, light blue, and light green and her Cutie Mark was three bubbles. She began smoothing down her long mane down with her hooves and sung: "Everyday I wait here, wait for my love to come.... But not one came not even where I came from....." The kids walked up closer to her slowly, smitten by her beauty and beautiful voice. Without noticing them she sung again: "Everyday I wait here, wait for my love to come.... But not one came not even where I came from....."

She started humming when she turned her head and saw the children. "You have a beautiful voice...." Apple Bloom told her happily.

"And you're beautiful too....." Wild Forrest added. Apple Bloom elbowed him grunting.

She giggled, "Thank you children. I haven't seen children since the night the master here had that party."

"What's your name?" Apple Bloom asked.

"My name is Valtameri, the Daughter of Aqua Marina, Queen of the Deep Sea Kingdom. What's your names?" she asked nicely.

"My name is Apple Bloom."

"And my name is Wild Forrest, we're from Ponyville."

"Ponyville? I never heard of it...." Valtameri took a deep breath and blew bubbles that shined in the sunlight. "I often see ponies on land, in the sky, or on ships but they don't see me...." she said.

"Why's that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"My mother doesn't want me befriending ponies that are not merponies because I lost my father to pirates when I was still a baby. But, I'm convinced that not all land and sky ponies are bad so I try to make friends here on this island out of my mother's watchful eye. And so far I've made friends with the master of this island, King Sombra. Will you children be my friends?" she held out her hoof.

"Of course I will!" Apple Bloom yelled and placed her hoof on the merpony's hoof.

"And so will I...." he placed his hoof on the girls hooves. "Sorry for your loss...."

"Thank you, Wild Forrest. By the way I saw other children and a mare just down the beach. Are you with them?"

Apple Bloom gasped, "Yes, they are! You have to meet them! Follow us!" Valtameri jumped into the water and swam down the beach following the running children.

"Aaah, this is what I call a holiday...." Rarity said still sunbathing.

"Rarity!" Apple Bloom yelled.

Rarity stood up fast, "What is it, dear?"

"You'll never believe who we just met!" Apple Bloom points to the ocean. Rarity, Polkey Dots, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle looked at the direction Apple Bloom was pointing as Valtameri rose from the water.

"Greetings...." she said.

Rarity got up and walked over to her, "Hello, my name is Rarity...." she greeted politely.

The merpony smiled, "My name is Valtameri, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance...."

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Polkey Dots ran up to her.

"Hi! My name's Scootaloo!"

"Hello, my name is Sweetie Belle."

"And you can call me Polkey Dots!"

"Hello children, I'm happy to meet you...." the merpony said with a smile.

"Can you come out of the water?" Rarity asked.

"I can...." she jumped and landed on the sand. Scootaloo's, Sweetie Belle's, Polkey Dots', and Rarity's jaws dropped and their eyes opened wide.

Rarity looked at Valtameri and then her tail, Valtameri and her tail again, "You're.... you're..... what.... ah..... uh...." she said fast, then she fainted.

Sweetie Belle ran over to the merpony, "So beautiful!"

Scootaloo trotted over to her, "So cool!"

Polkey Dots walked over to her, "Are you a merpony?"

"Yes, have you heard of us?" she asked.

"I've heard stories, but I didn't know you were real!" the little clown replied.

Valtameri giggled, "Surprise! By the way, is Rarity a fainter?"

"Just depends...." Sweetie Belle said.

"You're her sister, correct?"

"How did you know?"

"It's easy, you two bear a resemblance except for your manes and tails...."

"I guess we do, don't we?" Sweetie Belle asked looking back at her sister. "Do you have any sisters?"

"Yes, nineteen to be exact...."

"Nineteen?!" all the kids yelled together in shock.

"Yes, and I'm the youngest of them all. I can wake up your sister if you want me to, Sweetie Belle."

"Go ahead!" Sweetie said before the merpony smiled and her eyes glowed aqua blue. The a wave of water came and splashed all over Rarity!

Rarity gasped, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" all the kids and Valtameri laughed.

"I'm a prankster, too!" the merpony told the laughing kids before laughing again.

Rarity got up and said in an angry tone of voice, "Why.... YOU!!!!" They all stopped, "You ruined my mane! And you got wet sand all over me! Now I'll have to get cleaned up! Agh!" she turned away and headed towards Sombra's Castle. After she was out of sight they all laughed again. Rarity entered the castle shivering and still wet.

A female servant came up to her, "May I be of some assistance?" she asked.

"Yes, please. Please take me to the shower...."

"Follow me...." They went into a room with a hot tub. The servant turned on the hot water and filled it, then put bubble bath in it and bubbles came in a few seconds. "It's not a shower, but it'll clean and warm you up...."

"Thank you...."

Rarity dipped a front hoof and pulled back for a second and then walked in. "Ow, oooh, hot!" then she felt herself relax and sighed. After cleaning herself up she sat back just to relax, "Ahhhhhh, I wonder if I could get Twilight to get one of these....." then she felt her shoulders being rubbed, "Oh! Oh, that feels good!"

"Shall I continue, miss?" the servant asked.

"Yes, please do...." she then closed her eyes.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Polkey Dots put on floaties. Forrest, a skilled swimmer, had no need for floaties. They all started swimming with the merpony when they spotted the Terrible Revenge and pirates coming right towards them! Valtameri turned invisible. "Ahoy!" one of them yelled. "Ya kids wouldn't know anything about thee treasure buried on this island, would ya?"

"There's treasure buried here?!" Sweetie Belle asked excited.

"Ye heard right lil' lass!" he took out a map and showed it to the kids. "It says here about treasure belonging to thee legendary pirate known as Goldhooves, our Captain's ancestor! Ye know anything or not?"

"No, sir. We didn't know there was treasure on this island...." Scootaloo said.

"Then why are ye here?" the pirate demanded.

"Visiting a friend..." Apple Bloom replied.

"What kind of friend?"

"His name is King Sombra, his castle is right up there." Polkey Dots pointed to the cerulean castle.

The pirate looks at the castle and then the map, "I can't find this castle on this map....."

"He lived here for a while, so it's still new." said Scootaloo.

"I see, we're gonna have to tell thy captain about this!" with that they left.

Valtameri turned visible after they left, "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

"Yes, we're fine! They were just asking questions."

The merpony sighed in relief, "Thank goodness. I'm sorry I turned invisible, I panicked because they're pirates...."

"It's alright, no harm done." Wild Forrest assured.

"You can turn invisible?! COOL!" Scootloo yelled.

Valtameri looks over and see's the captain exiting his ship. Once she got a good look at his face she smiled and blew heart shaped bubbles. Sweetie Belle notices the look on her face "Are you alright?"

"I'm going to be just fine....." she answered not keeping her eyes off of Blackmane.
Throne Room

Sombra was sitting on his throne when the guards, escorting some pirates and their captain, approached him. "What have we here?" Sombra asked.

"Bow down!" one of the guards ordered. Except for the captain, the pirates bowed down. Instead he walked closer, took off his hat and then bowed.

"What can I do for you?" Sombra asked.

"You're majesty...." the captain began, "Thy name is Captain Blackmane, and we seek the treasure buried on this island...."

"Treasure?"

"Yes sire, here...." he hands Sombra the map. Sombra examines it and see's the X.

"I haven't searched there. And since I have no use for the treasure I give you my permission to search for it and keep anything you find along the way." he said handing the captain back the map.

"Thank ye, sire...." then they heard humming.

Rarity came out wearing a pink robe and a pink towel over her head, "That was very relaxing...." then she spotted the pirates. "Eeek!!!" she ran and then came back all dry and her mane and tail fixed up. Then she gave a pose.

A heart came into Blackmane's eye as he trotted towards her, "Ye are one of thee most beautiful mares I've ever seen...." he said tipping his hat.

"Why, thank you. My name is Rarity...."

"We're about to search for buried treasure, would like to accompany us my lady?"

"Oooh, a treasure hunt?!" Rarity said getting all excited. "Count me in!" Blackmane smiles showing that one of his teeth is gold. "I can use my ability to find the treasure for you...." then she sniffs the air, "What's that smell?" she then looks at the pirates behind Blackmane, "Oh, it's you three. I suggest you all take a bath after we find the treasure."

One of the pirates sniffed himself and then had a look of disgust and one of their faces turned light green, "Phew!"

"Whatever ye say my lady. Boys, get thy wagon ready!" with that the pirates left the room.

"And I'll dress in something suitable for treasure hunting...." Rarity left and later came back in a safari jacket and hat. "I'm reaaaady!" she sung.

They left the castle and headed into the jungle with the pirates following behind and one of them pulling a wagon with shovels. Rarity used her magic to find gems and use a stick to make an x in the ground. "Ah, don't you love thee sight of gems?" Blackmane asked as the wagon was filling up.

"Oh, yes. I could stare at them all day and think of what dresses, costumes, and many things I can make using them...." Rarity sighed happily.

"Ye use gems for decorating?" Blackmane asked.

"Yes, it makes them more beautiful! What do you use them for?"

"We horde them and become rich!" one of the pirates replied.

"Really, is that all?"

"Pretty much." Blackmane answered.

"Why with treasure you can buy anything you want or maybe live like a king."

"Good suggestion my lady, but we're not interested in those things, har!" another pirate replied.

Suddenly Rarity's horn acted up, "I think we found it! Follow me!" together they all ran until they came to a huge boulder. Rarity scans it, "It's under this rock!"

"We're gonna have to move it." the captain said. "Alright ya scalawags! Get to work!" he ordered.

"Aye aye captain!" they yelled at the same time. They dropped the shovels and got out of the wagon's harness and began pushing the boulder.

"Put yar backs into it!" the captain yelled.

"Why don't you help them?" Suggested Rarity.

"I would but I have only one hoof and one leg!" he shows her his front left hoof, "This here hoof is solid gold...."

Rarity stares at the shiny hoof, "It's pretty...."

"Thank you, it wasn't easy but I was able to melt a lot of gold coins and shape it into a hoof to replace the one I lost! And to keep it clean I polish it every morning."

"Captain! We got the boulder moved!" one of the pirates yelled.

"What are ye waiting fer? Dig it up!"

"Aye aye captain!" they got their shovels and started digging.

"Say, I've been thinking." Blackmane said to Rarity.

"Yes, Captain Blackmane?"

"Why don't you be my first mate? Together we'll sail the world digging up all the treasure we can find! Har!"

Rarity put a hoof to her chin and then imagined all the gems that she can gather, but then she started thinking about her family and friends and how they might feel and how dirty she can get. "I appreciate the invitation, really I do. But I think a pirate's life isn't a life for me...." she told him.

"That's a pity..." Blackmane replied.

"Treasure! YES!!!" one of the pirates yelled while carrying up a treasure chest. Rarity and Blackmane rushed over to the chest and opened it up. Inside we're diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, pearls, silver, gold, and jewelry. Rarity's eyes sparkled at the sight of the treasure.

"I never thought I see it, with me only eye...." Blackmane said breath taken. "My ancestor's treasure!" with that they all cheered. Even Rarity found herself cheering. "Alright ya scurvy dogs! Let's head back to the ship!"

"Aye aye Captain Blackmane!" the pirates yelled putting the chest in the wagon. It took all three of them to move the wagon back to the beach. They found the CMC, Wild Forrest, and Polkey Dots still playing.

Sweetie Belle runs up to her sister, "Where have been all day?!" she asked.

"I was out treasure hunting!"

"Did you find anything?!" Sweetie yelled getting excited.

"Oh yes, we did!" she looked over at the pirates pushing and pulling the wagon.

"Wow!"

"Yes, wow! If it weren't for her we wouldn't have found thy treasure!" Blackmane replied.

"It was a little messy, but I...." before Rarity could finish a net draped over her! "HEY!"

"Sorry fair mare, but you and yer ability is needed! Take her to my ship!" Blackmane ordered.

"Leave her alone!" Sweetie Belle angrily.

"Ah, I wouldn't try anything if I were you...." he points behind her. She looks back and sees four pirates surrounding her friends with swords! Forrest stood his ground fearless and growling at them.

Blackmane laughs and then a shadow appeared out of nowhere and Sombra appeared. "Stop this at once!" he ordered.

"Sorry Sombra, but I take orders from nopony especially kings!" he said. Forgetting about the kids he drew his sword.

"Have it your way...." Sombra's horn glowed and a red sword appeared in front of him.

They both stood there staring until Blackmane yells, "En garde!" then their swords started clashing at each other. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom covers her eyes while the others watched in amazement. Sombra, being more experienced with swords, quickly got the upper hoof and knocked the sword out of the captain's hoof. Then Sombra used his hind legs to kick Blackmane to the ground. Before he could get up Sombra held him down with his own front hooves with murder in his eyes. "Okay, okay! I surrender!" Blackmane yelled in fear for his life.

Sombra began to calm down and the sword vanished. "Release Rarity...." he ordered the captain.

"Aye.... aye..... you heard him! Let her go!" the pirates did what they were told and took the net off her. Sombra got off and turned around. Blackmane got up, smirked, and pulled out a spare sword!

"Sombra, look out!" Scootaloo yelled.

Sombra turns around fast and Blackmane rushes towards him. Before the two can do anything singing was heard: "Please dear ponies do not fight, settle this another way.... No good can come from violence, it only ruins the day." It was Valtameri! Just the sight of her caused Blackmane and the pirates to drop their weapons. "Let's be friends and live in harmony, and it'll all be good.... Love, giving, caring, hope, and believing, that's how it all should.... Yes, that's how it all should...."

As if he was hypnotized he walked over to her, "What magnificence!" he took off his hat and knelt down. "YOU are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen!" he said taking her hoof into his hoof. Rarity and the children ran towards one another and embraced. Together they all watched the pirate and the merpony. "Your song has changed me and I've been seeking you for so long!" he kissed her hoof. "I've fallen in love with you fair creature, say you'll travel with me and eventually become my wife....." he then chuckled.

Valtameri blushed, "I happily agree, but will you be good pirates from now on?"

"Of course, anything for you me sweet...."

Blackmane walks up to Rarity, "Please forgive us for our actions. To make it up to you we'll give you the gems we've found."

Rarity gasped and put her hoof to her chest, "You really mean it?!"

"Of course my lady, besides we only came fer Goldhooves Treasure! And maybe, MAYBE I'll think about using the treasure for good things. It makes us better ponies don't it?"

"Of course! Thank you! And I'll make something for Valtameri to travel with you in return!"

"I'll help too." Sombra told her.

Hours later, after handing the wagon to Rarity the pirates went back to their ship. "Are ye ready to go my love?" Blackmane asked Valtameri in a really big aquarium made out of glass, gold, diamonds and jewels.

"I'm ready when you are!"

"Then let set sail maties!"

After weighing the anchor the ship started to move. "Goodbye children! Goodbye Sombra! Goodbye Rarity!" the merpony yelled waving at them. Together they all waved back at her, "I'll write to you soon!" Valtameri promised.

"Goodbye now!" Blackmane yells.

That night Rarity, who invited the others over, and the children sat in the bubbling hot tub. "So just the sight of the merpony and her song made Blackmane want to change?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"Let's hope he keeps his word...." Easter putting an arm across Fluttershy's shoulders.

"I guess all he needed was love....." Fluttershy said.

"What a day this has been!" Rarity said.

"Yeah! I'm really happy for Captain Blackmane and Valtameri too." Scootaloo replied.

"Valtameri finally found love and Blackmane will be a good pirate from now on." Apple Bloom added.

"And to think he wanted ME as his first mate and probably his wife!" Rarity said.

"Are you jealous?" Rainbow Dash asked with a snicker.

"Heaven's no! He's not my type!" they all laughed.

"Just like the doctor ordered...." Rainbow Dash said stretching.

"Yeah after a whole day of fun, action, responsibilities, and a little love it feels good to kick back." Pinkie Pie replied.

"Good friends, no trouble, and a bubbling hot tub! How much more could you want?" Sweetie Belle asked. Then they all sighed and relaxed.

Pinkie Pie then feels her Pinkie Sense, then she stretches and yawns, "I'm all funned out, I think I'll turn in for the night...." she said getting out of the hot tub. As soon as she go out the bubbles stopped.

"Hey, where are the bubbles?" Applejack asked Pinkie Pie who was about to exit the room with a towel.

"Actually, that was me!" she yelled back. All except Forrest gasped and then Pinkie Pie bursted out laughing, "Just kidding!", then she pulled a switch and the bubbles came back on.

"Hahaha! That's a good one Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Pinkie Pie, that's gross!" Rarity in disgust.

"What, it's just air!" Spike said before laughing. Then he looked up and Pinkie Pie fell from the ceiling and into the tub splashing on him and the others.

"If that were REALLY me, it would sound like this!" she put her hooves together and made a farting noise with them.

"Some manners..." Rarity groaned and then closed her eyes to relax when she felt her shoulders rubbed, "Ahh, that feels good. Thank you!"

"My pleasure Lady Rarity...." the servant replied.

"What a day...." Rarity said before sighing happily.
The Terrible Revenge

Valtameri was sitting at the edge of the ship staring out at the ocean. Blackmane walked up to her, "What are ye doing out here?" She looked back at him and reveals that her fish tail turned into hind legs and a blonde tail. Blackmane's jaw dropped and before he could say anything she stood on her four legs.

"I can travel on land and in water now!" she yelled all excited and hugged the captain. "And we can always be together!"

Blackmane smiles at her, "Aye aye...." Then their eyes met and then they kissed. After kissing they stood there embracing each other and looked at the moon and the stars.

Songs: Valtameri's song part one

Valtameri's song part two

Author's Note

Blackmane was inspired by Blackbeard and his ship The Terrible Revenge was inspired by Blackbeard's ship Queen Anne's Revenge.
The name Valtameri is Finnish for Ocean.

Chapter Fifteen: The Big Ape

Chapter Fifteen: The Big Ape
Fluttershy's Cottage

Fluttershy was taking care of the animals while humming when spotted Easter coming down the road. "Hi Easter!"

He smiled at her, "Hi Fluttershy. You'll never guess who I ran into on the way here."

"Who?" Easter turns his head and looks behind him. Fluttershy looks and a see's a big, Silverback Gorilla carrying a sack on his back coming down the road! "Oh my!" Fluttershy said and flew right towards the primate. "Hi!"

The gorilla looks up at her, "Good evening, young lady...." he said in a deep voice.

Fluttershy gasps, "You can talk?!"

"Yes, my name is Prof. George.... resident of Primate Village."

"How wonderful!"

The ape smiles, "What Easter said about you is true; you really love animals. I can see that...."

"Oh, yes!" she leads him to her cottage.

"This is where you live?" George asked.

"Yes, you like to come in?"

"Don't mind if I do. I've been walking for days and my old bones could use a rest...." he said walking in the grass. "This place ain't bad...." he said looking around and seeing the animals. He sits down in the grass, opens his bag and takes out a banana. He peels it and takes a bite, "Nothing like a banana...." he said while chewing. He puts a paw on his back and groans.

"Are you alright?" Easter asked, concerned.

"I'm not as young as I used to be...." the gorilla replied.

"What brings you here?" Fluttershy asked politely.

"I'm an old friend of Yykees and fellow scientist. He worked as my assistant while he was in school. And I've heard Princess Twilight Sparkle is a scientist too. And I thought I'd meet her before I head to Yykees' Mansion...." he takes another bite of the banana and swallows.

"Oh, but the way to Yykees' Mansion is dangerous...." Fluttershy replied.

"I am aware of that, but I'm not worried...." he said finishing his banana and throwing his banana peel away. "But I'm not overconfident either...."

Then the CMC, Wild Forrest, and Polkey Dots arrived. "Hi Fluttershy! Hi Easter!" they all greeted. Fluttershy and Easter smiled at them.

"Hello kids...." Fluttershy greeted.

"Hi kids!" Easter greeted next. The kids all ran up to them.

"Good evening children...." the gorilla said to them, startling them except for Wild Forrest.

"Who are you and what are you?" Polkey Dots asked.

"My name is Prof. George, and I'm a Silverback Gorilla...." he answered. "What are your names?"

"I'm Polkey Dots, the juggler!" the clown replied taking out his balls and started juggling.

"I'm Wild Forrest, I'm from the Everfree Forest." the wild colt said.

"I know, you have the smell of the Everfree Forest on you...." the gorilla said. "You were raised by the animals of the Everfree Forest, were you not?"

"That's right, and your scent tells me you came from a jungle far away." Wild Forrest confirmed.

"You are very good, young colt...."

"I'm Apple Bloom, I'm from Sweet Apple Acres! I must smell like apples, do I?" Apple Bloom said turning her head at the last part.

"Your scent tells me you grew up on a farm. A whole lot of fresh air, sunshine, plenty of room to run. Must be a good life...." the gorilla confirmed.

"Oh, thank you!"

"I'm Sweetie Belle, nice to meet you!" she said.

George sniffed her, "You have the scent of sweet perfume; sweet as strawberries...."

"Oh, I was around my sister when she was spraying that stuff around herself. She loves to look her best and to smell good."

"I see, I take it her name is Rarity?"

"How did you know?" she asked surprised.

"I've heard of her, and everything she has made...."

"And I'm Scootaloo! And I ride a scooter because I can't fly, I keep trying but I can't do it...." she said sadly.

The ape puts a finger under her chin so she can look up at him, "You'll fly in time, I'm certain of it...."

"You really think so?"

"I know so. You use your wings to ride your scooter?"

"Yeah, you wanna see?" she flapped her wings fast and went around in circles until she hit a rock and went flying in the air.

George raises a paw and catches her, "Careful my dear..." he said before putting her down.

"I felt like I just flew!" she said.

"You riding your scooter the way you do shows potential...."

"What does that mean?" Polkey Dots asked.

"That kind of potential means something good can come from it. Like a good future...." he explained.

"Oh, that makes sense...." Scootaloo replied then she joined hooves with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

"And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, huh? That's an interesting group name...." the ape said scratching his chin.

"We're searching for our Cutie Marks. We keep trying, but still blank flanks...." Sweetie Belle explained.

"You all must earn your Cutie Marks...."

"Not work for it, we know...." Scootaloo said.

"But we want them so badly...." Apple Bloom added.

"That's very understandable, young ones. But time will tell. By the way you all got together because you have no Cutie Marks, correct? And you are all really close friends?"

"Yes, we did and we are...." Apple Bloom replied.

"Why do you ask?" Scootaloo asked.

"If it weren't for you're 'blank flanks' you three would probably have never met...."

The CMC looked at each other and their blank spots and smiled. "Maybe you're right!" Scootaloo replied.

"That's a positive way to put having a blank flank!" added Sweetie Belle.

"Yes, you're the first closest friends I have ever had!" Apple Bloom said before they hugged one another.

"Awe, how sweet...." Fluttershy said before resting her head on Easter's shoulder.

"I can't imagine what they would do without each other...." replied Easter.

"Are you still going to search for your Cutie Marks?" Polkey Dots asked.

"Of course we are! We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" the CMC yelled putting their hooves together in the air.

Forrest nods, "Cutie Mark or not, we're all friends forever!" then they joined the group hug.

George smiled at the sight, "Ah, to be young again....."
Center of Ponyville

Prof. George walked with the fillies and colts talking along the way. "I have a son, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson." he told them.

"Do you have a wife?" Polkey asked.

George grunted, "I did, but now she's my ex-wife...."

"Oh my! Are you divorced?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yep! It's a long story, so don't ask...." George told them.

"It's probably not our business." Forrest told his friends.

"Thank you, young colt." replied George.

"Now, I would like to introduce you to Ponyville's new sheriff: Bandit!" the Mayor said as the crowd cheered as Bandit, with a gold star-shaped badge on his vest saying 'SHERIFF BANDIT' on it, stepped up.

George and the kids stopped to watch. "Thank you Mayor. And I would like to thank you all for makin' me the new Sheriff...." he began. "By promisin' to do what I can to keep Ponyville safe for all of you...." with that the crowd cheered again.

"Bandit, is that his name?" George asked.

"Yes, he's my neighbor." Apple Bloom replied.

"Hmm, he seems like a good stallion. But why does he go by the name Bandit?" George asked.

"I have no idea." Apple Bloom said as they left.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

"Here we are!" Sweetie Belle said.

The gorilla looks at the castle in awe, "It's beautiful! I'm glad these old eyes of mine lasted long enough to this..." With that the door opened and Twilight Sparkle came on. At the sight of her Prof. George went down on one knee and bowed.

Twilight greeted them with a smile, "Hello children!" then turns to the ape, "Hello there! Welcome to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom." "Greetings Princess Twilight Sparkle...." George said.
Twilight's Room

"You're on you way to see Yykees?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, that's right. He's an old friend of mine...." George replied.

"You know, I have been working on a teleporter." Twilight said with a hoof on her chin. "Just a few finishing touches and then it should be ready."

They walked over to a mirror similar to the mirror that leads to Equestria High. "If we worked together it should be done in no time...." suggested George picking up a wrench. "Let's get started...."

A few hours later, after working on the teleporter in every possible way, that teleporter was done. Twilight Sparkle turns it on and a map of Equestria appeared on the mirror. "It works!" Twilight yelled excited.

"But we better make sure...." said George with a paper airplane. "A letter to Yykees...." he told her before he threw it into the teleporter.
Yykees' Mansion

Yykees was working on a robot when a blue portal opened up, surprising Yykees. Then the paper plane came through and landed in front of Yykees. He picked up the plane with his magic and unfolded it. It said:
"To Yykees:

If you are reading this letter then the experiment was a success! I helped Twilight Sparkle finish a machine that can teleport us to your mansion or anywhere in Equestria. Please send us back a letter so we'll know my letter got to you.

Sincerely:

Prof. George"

After he got done reading it he got out a piece of paper and pen. He wrote:
"To George:

The experiment was a success; your letter got here safely! Feel free to come here anytime you want! And can you please bring the blueprints to the teleporter, if it's not any trouble?

From:

Yykees"

He threw the letter into the portal.
Rainbow Friendship Kingdom

The letter landed in front of George and Twilight Sparkle. George picked it up and read it. "You've done it!" the gorilla yelled.

"We done it. Thank you so much for your help!" Twilight Sparkle said.

"He also would like to make his own teleporter. You have the blueprints?"

"Got it right here!" Twilight said using her magic to picked up rolled up blueprints. "Ready?" she asked.

"Whenever you are...." with that Twilight jumps in.

Then George jumps in next, "Geronimo!"
Back at Yykees' Mansion

"WHOAA!" Twilight got out of the portal and landed on her stomach, "Ooof!" she was just about to get up when George came out of the portal and landed on her!

"Well, that was different...." George said shaking his head. He looks around, "Twilight?"

"Uh..... you're..... sitting on me..... so heavy..... ouch!" Twilight spoke as if she couldn't breath. George got up quickly and Twilight gasped for air.

"Sorry...."

"George!" Yykees yelled running towards him.

"Yykees! How the heck are you?!" George asked taking the green unicorn into a bear hug, or gorilla hug. George squeezed him and Yykees' back made a cracking sound.

"George...." he said in a whisper.

"Oh, sorry!" he sets the unicorn down.

"Phew, it's good to see that you haven't changed...." Yykees said stretching his back.

Twilight gets up after catching her breath and trotted towards them, "Hello Yykees!" she greeted.

"Evening Twilight! How have you been?"

"I've been doing okay, how are you?"

"Doing just fine! How do you feel after going through the portal?"

"Well, I felt a little dizzy because of the spiraling. But I'm alright...."

"And I landed on something soft...." George said with a snicker, making Twilight glare at him. "What, it was a joke! Even simians have a sense of humor." he told her taking out a banana.

"WHOAAA HOO HOO!!!" Pinkie Pie's voice yelled. Pinkie Pie went through the portal and hitting George's big belly and falling to the ground. Pinkie Pie got up and rubbed her head, "That gonna leave a bump!" then she notices Twilight, Yykees, and George. "Hi Twilight! Hi Yykees! We're back at the mansion?!"

"Yep, and you went through my teleporter to get here." Twilight replied.

"Teleporter?! My Pinkie Sense told me that you went through it and I thought you were in trouble!"

"I'm alright." Twilight assured her.

Pinkie looks over to George, "I didn't know you had a pet gorilla, Yykees."

George's eyes opened wide and made a growling noise, "I beg your pardon? Pet?"

"You can talk?!" Pinkie Pie asked in a surprised tone of voice and jumping in the air.

"Yes, and I am not a pet; I'm an old friend of Yykees."

"Oh, well either way it's cool!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing around the three, "Cool! Cool! Cool!"

"Is she always like this?" the ape asked Twilight.

"Yep, always...." she replied. "Oh, and here's the blueprints for the teleporter." Twilight hands it over to Yykees who unrolled them with his magic and looked them over.

"Excellent!" he looks up at George, "Shall we get started?"

"No, not yet. I've been at it for days, and I would like to rest...."

"Sure thing. Spectra!"

Hearing her master's voice she went through the wall. "Yes father?"

"Please take George to a spare room so he can rest."

Spectra nods, "As you wish. Follow me...." she exits the room with Prof. George following behind.

"We better get back to the castle before anypony else enters the teleporter." Twilight said to Pinkie Pie and Yykees.

"See you! Come back anytime!" Yykees said waving at them.

"Bye!" Pinkie Pie jumps through the portal.

"See you later!" Twilight jumps in next. Then the portal closes.

Yykees looks down at the blueprints, "Might as well get started on my teleporter." he said to himself picking up a really big wrench with his magic. He took a step and slipped on George's banana peel causing him to do a back flip, throw the wrench in the air, and land on his stomach. "Ouch!" he then looked up and the wrench fell right on his head. Yykees eyes went in circles, stars started going around his head, and then he collapsed.

Author's Note

I have heard that gorilla's appear overweight and they are all muscle.
Prof. George has a few things in common with Gorilla Grodd from Justice League, Fingers the Gorilla from Batman Beyond, Dr. Jumba Jookiba from Lilo and Stitch, Mojo Jojo from the Powerpuff Girls, and Ape from George of the Jungle.
Prof. George, Gorilla Grodd, Mojo Jojo, Fingers and Ape are very intelligent primates and can talk.
Prof. George and Dr. Jumba Jookiba are divorced and don't like talking about their ex-wives.
Prof. George, Gorilla Grodd, Mojo Jojo, and Dr. Jumba Jookiba are genius scientists.
Prof. George, Ape, Fingers, and Dr. Jumba Jookiba are good guys, but George, Fingers, and Ape were never evil.
Prof. George, Ape, Fingers, and Gorilla Grodd are gorillas.

Chapter Sixteen: Cutie Mark Supporters

Chapter Sixteen: Cutie Mark Supporters
Schoolhouse

"Good morning class!" Cheerilee greeted her class.

"Good morning Ms. Cheerilee!"

"Before we start, I would like to introduce you to your new classmates. Come on in!"

Then rapping music was heard and a an orange colt entered doing the moonwalk. His mane and tail were green; he wore black sunglasses; his eye color was green; he wore a blue hat backwards; he wore a gold necklace; he wore a green belt with a little black radio; and his Cutie Mark was a microphone. His head was moving up and down to the rapping rythem. He moon walked until he was in front of the class and smiled. Then he spoke in raps and rhymes, "Rapper Mouth is my name, rapping is my biggest game! But that's not all that I know, I also do choreography bro!" he spins around, jumps and does the splits. "If you like you may call me R.M., just don't confuse it with AM or PM!"

"That's very good!" Cheerilee said sweetly. "If you please turn off the music until recess."

R.M. nods, "Yes, Ms. Cheerilee I'll do what you say! I'll can speak in raps and rhymes, is that okay?"

"Of course!" Rapper Mouth turns off the radio and moonwalks to his seat. Once he got to his desk he spins around and takes a seat. "Oh yeah!"

Then another colt came in. Everypony, except Cheerilee, Diamond, and Silver, seemed intimidated by his appearance. His coat was laser lemon yellow; like the first he wore sunglasses, only they were black with dark purple linings; his eye color was brown; he wore a torn black leather vest with a white t-shirt underneath it; he wore a silver nose ring; his tail and mane were purple and orange, and the mane was Mohawk styled; he wore a chain necklace around his neck; he wore spiked black wristbands; his Cutie Mark was a black electric guitar with yellow lightning bolt designs; and on his back he carried a black thunderbolt shaped guitar with blue electricity marks. "The name's Guitar Emo!" he screamed playing guitar wildly, "Ohhhh yeaaaahhh! You may find it hard to believe, but Rapper Mouth and I are brothers, man! Whooo!" some of the kids looked at Rapper Mouth who rapped,

"Yes its true, he is my only big bro. We are different in our own ways, though. He takes his music in punk rock, and is a big jerk. I take my music in rapping and I'm a nice guy...." a tomato hits his face, "Errrk!"

The punk laughed. Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara tried keeping straight faces. "There will be no tomato throwing during school!" Cheerilee said to the naughty colt who yelled,

"Say what? No way!"

Cheerilee sighed, "We'll talk about this after school. Apologize to your brother before you take your seat."

Guitar Emo snickered, "Sure thing teach..." he walked over to Rapper Mouth. "Sorry bro..." he put a hoof on his brother's shoulder causing him to move like he's being electrocuted.

"Ahhhhh!"

Guitar Emo laughed out loud and showed his buzzer, "No joy buzzers either!" Cheerilee yelled. Guitar Emo just laughed and took a seat next to his brother.

Diamond Tiara snickered and whispers to Silver Spoon, "I think we might get along with him just fine...."

During recess the CMC got together. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah, we can be....." Sweetie Belle said before they put their hooves together,

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Song Writers!". They all looked over to Rapper Mouth who was dancing and rapping to the music he was playing.

"All this rappin' is about to happen!" then he moon walked over to the other five. "Song writers came to my ear. Now that's something I like to hear!"

The CMC looked at each other and nodded, "Would you like to help us write our songs?" Apple Bloom asked him nicely.

Rapper Mouth thought for a moment and rubbed his chin. "Sure, why not? I'll give it a shot!" they all cheered when he said that. "There is one thing I first recommend: is first that we become good friends!"

Apple Bloom happily held out her hoof, "You got yourself a deal!" then they shook.

Not to far away Guitar Emo was playing his electric guitar when Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara walked up behind him. He turned around and screamed, making the two fillies scream in fright. "Don't sneak up on me like that! Whooo!"

"Sorry, we just want to talk to you." Silver Spoon said.

"What is there to talk about!?" Emo asked as he strummed his guitar wildly.

"We couldn't help but notice how good you are with what you do...." Diamond replied.

"We also consider you a prankster, so how would you like to hang out with us?" Silver Spoon asked and then whispered something in his ear causing him to smile.

"Oh yeah! You seem alright, chicks!"

Diamond Tiara giggled, "I'm Diamond Tiara,"

"And my name is Silver Spoon, this might be a beginning of a beautiful friendship." then the two smirked.
Clubhouse

Forrest was hanging upside down on the ceiling; Polkey Dots was on his unicycle juggling balls or anything in the clubhouse. Rapper Mouth was at the table with the CMC with piles of paper and pens.

"Agh! I'm out of ideas!" Sweetie Belle groaned.

"All these rhymes are really good, don't get me wrong. But some of these won't make a good song...." Rapper Mouth said.

"This is harder than I thought...." Apple Bloom replied.

Discord appears in the room, "Hi kids! Need some help?"

"Oh, hi Discord...." Scootaloo greeted quietly.

"You're writing songs?" Discord asked.

"Yeah, are you?" "Yes, ME! MEMEME MEEEEEE!" Discord chuckles at the last part.

"We're having trouble writing songs." Sweetie Belle told him.

"Awe, writing a song is easy! Songs are made up of memories, dreams, emotions, inspiration and all that is around us." Discord said dressing in his music conductor suit and pulled out his music stick. "You're doing this for your Cutie Marks are you?" he asked.

"Yeah, why?" Apple Bloom asked. "Because I just the thought of the Cutie Mark gave me an idea of a song...." Discord said then he sung: "Swing low, sweet Cutie Marks.... Coming to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.... Swing low, sweet Cutie Marks.... Coming to the cute little Crusaders...."

The CMC smiled and started singing while Discord was speaking:

"Ooooooooooooo....."

(You know, when I'm feeling lost and downhearted....)

"Ooooooooooooo....."

(And when I'm sad, I just think positive things.....)

"Ooooooooooooo....."

(Such as getting a Cutie Mark.....)

"Ooooooooooooo....."

(It's one of the best things that can happen to anypony....)

Then all together, even Forrest, Polkey, and Rapper, they sung: "Swing low, sweet Cutie Marks.... Coming to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.... Swing low, sweet Cutie Marks.... Coming to the cute little Crusaders...." Applejack and Big Mac heard the singing and went to check it out. They poked their heads in and listened to them sing: "Swing low, sweet Cutie Marks.... Coming to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.... Swing low, sweet Cutie Marks.... Coming to the cute little Crusaders...."

"That's very good!" Applejack said about their singing.

"Eyep!" Big Mac agreed.

"Thank you, thank you very much!" Discord said bowing.

"What is the singing about?" Applejack asked.

"We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders Song Writers!" the CMC said together. Applejack smiles and notices Rapper Mouth.

"Howdy, I don't think we've met. I'm Applejack, and this is Big Mac. We're Applebloom's brother and sister!" Applejack said to Rapper Mouth.

"I'm Rapper Mouth and I just moved here, and you work as apple buckers so I hear! Nice to meet to meet you Apple Bloom's sis and bro, rapping is my biggest talent just so you know!" he rapped while trotting over to the two.

"Nice to meet you, Rapper Mouth!" Applejack said shaking his hoof.

"I have an idea!" Discord said. "Why don't you go into town and write about everything you see, do, or whatever in a song?"

"That sounds like a good idea!" Sweetie Belle agreed.

"Yeah, we can call it the Ponyville Song!" Scootaloo replied.

"Yeah! Let's get started!" Apple Bloom told them.

Then they put their hooves together, "Cutie Mark Crusaders, out!" then they all left.

Forrest looks over to Polkey Dots and Rapper Mouth, "You want to hang out?" he asked.
Ponyville

The CMC trotted through town looking around. Sweetie Belle was holding a notebook and pencil. "Let's see, what to write about...." she said.

Suddenly Guitar Emo, with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon holding both his arms while walking, appeared for them, "Uh-oh!" they said.

"You must be the Dorky Mark Losers that my new friends told me about!" he snickered.

The other two giggled, "Good one!" Silver Spoon said.

"It's Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo yelled.

"What do you want?" Apple Bloom demanded.

"What? It's a free country; we can hang out if we wanted to." Diamond Tiara said.

"Yeah! And we can have fun if we want to!" Emo added.

"Yeah, let's give them a makeover!" Silver Spoon said taking out a black marker.

The other two took out their own markers, "Let's do this, man!" Emo yelled as they walked closer to them.

The CMC backed up as the bullies walked closer to them. Suddenly Rapper Mouth, Wild Forest, and Polkey Dots ran in front of the CMC to defend them.

"Drawing on their faces is so not cool! In my opinion there should be a rule!" Rapper Mouth rapped.

"I couldn't agree more; bullying is not right!" Polkey Dots said.

"You are fools hurting others just for your own amusement!" Wild Forrest said to the bullies.

"Awe, we're not going to hurt them. We were going to draw on them! Yeah!" Emo replied.

"Yeah, let's give them the Cutie Marks they deserve." Diamond Tiara suggested as they walk closer.

The three colts walked up to them bravely. "Why would you want to hang out with blank flanks like them?" Emo asked them.

"Blank or not, they're our friends!" Wild Forrest said.

"Are you the colt that chewed up Diamond Tiara's tiara?!" Emo asked him.

"Yes, it's him!" Diamond Tiara told him.

"Be a stallion and teach him a lesson!" Silver Spoon told him.

"With pleasure!" they let go of his arms and he walks closer to Forrest who was making growling sounds. Forrest approaches him fearlessly and let Emo grab his shoulders, "Prepare for a..... HEY!" Forrest turned around fast and flipped the punk over! "What the?!" he got up fast and charged at him, but Forrest was quicker and grabbed him by the back left hoof and tossed him into a wall, "OW!" the he looked over at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showing his teeth and growling. The two, with their mouths open in surprise, backed up from Forrest and ran over to Emo and helped him up.

"That's what you get for being bad! Now leave before I tell mom and dad!" Rapper Mouth threatened.

"This isn't over!" Emo said before running off with the mean fillies.

"Are you all alright?" Forrest asked the CMC concerned.

"Yes...." Apple Bloom said as she hugged Forrest who hugged her back.

"Ugh! It's like two bullies weren't enough!" Scootaloo said in an angered tone of voice.

"My brother always had a really bad side! Can't change that even though I've tried! Being nice to him doesn't seem to do any good; Every day he's acting more like a hood!" Rapper Mouth said agreeing with Scootaloo.

"I've never seen Forrest throw somepony before! That was very neat." Polkey Dots said.

"Thanks for your help!" Sweetie Belle said to the colts.

Polkey Dots blushed, "Oh, it was nothing.... That reminds me. While we were hanging out were thinking about the Cutie Mark Crusaders...." Polkey Dots said to them.

"Then the word support came up, and we decided to make our own group, yup!" Rapper said holding out his hoof.

Forrest and Polkey joined hooves with him, "From now on we're the Cutie Mark Supporters!" they yelled together.

"The Cutie Mark Supporters?" Scootaloo asked.
At the clubhouse

All the Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered at the clubhouse with the three colts standing in front. Polkey Dots stepped up, "The Cutie Mark Supporters will do everything we can to help you Cutie Mark Crusaders and others who don't have their Cutie Marks yet." he said

Forrest stepped up next, "And when you or other members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders have found your Cutie Marks, you may join the Cutie Mark Supporters to help others find their Cutie Marks."

Rapper Mouth stepped up last, "That way our friendship will last! Man, this will be a blast!"

"We're all still friends Cutie Mark or not, or CMC and CMS member or not" Forrest told Rapper who nodded in agreement.

The CMC's eyes opened wide and they smiled. "This is very thoughtful!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

Apple Bloom hugged Forrest, "Thank you so much! We could use all the help we can get!"

"This is going to be great!" Scootaloo agreed.

Then all six put their hooves together, "Cutie Mark Crusaders and Cutie Mark Supporters team up!" they all yelled.

Author's Note

Rapping is one of my favorite kinds of music. I also like opera, pop, rock, country, emotional, and lots more. What's your favorite music?

Chapter Seventeen: The Return of Nightmare Moon

Chapter Seventeen: The Return of Nightmare Moon
The Crystal Empire

Princess Cadance was in her room straightening out her mane with a brush while humming. She began thinking about her baby. She smiled, felt her stomach and began to imagine what will it be like to be a parent. She got off her seat and started for the door when she began to groan in pain. She backed up from the door and into a chair with her eyes shut tight, "It's.... it's time...." She said and she happened to touch the ruby on Sombra's bracelet while her hooves were on her belly.
Sombra's Castle

"The darkness is getting stronger....." Sombra said scanning the egg with his horn. He powered down his horn, "I sure hope whatever is in that egg can be reformed...." then he sensed Cadance touching her bracelet. "She needs me...." he turned into a shadow and left the room.

Soon after leaving the castle green evil-looking eyes opened on the egg. It's eyes glowed and a shadow taking a shape of Queen Chrysalis appeared before it. "Take a piece of Princess Luna's mane, and a feather from her wing. Then merge with it and do as you please and make me strong...." an evil familiar voice commanded the shadow. The shadow spread out it's wings and left the castle.
The Crystal Empire

Cadance sat down in her chair groaning and breathing heavily when Sombra appeared into the room. Once he saw Cadance in pain he rushed over to her, "Cadance, are you alright?!"

"Huh..... huh..... Sombra..... huh.... thank goodness you're here....." she sobbed and breathed hard as she spoke. "It's.... time.... please help me....." Sombra gasped and helped Cadance stand up and together they turned into shadows and left the room. Once they got to the hospital Sombra carried Cadance in. The doctors saw this and immediately got her into another room.

"Must find Shining Armor...." Sombra said before he turned into a shadow again and left as fast as he came. Sombra searched around until he found Shining Armor with some guards in the castle. Shining Armor turned in alarm as Sombra's shadow appeared. Sombra appeared out of the shadow, "Shining Armor, I found you!"

"Sombra?! What's the matter?" he asked surprised to see him.

"It's Cadance!"

Shining Armor gasped, "What's wrong?! Is she alright?!"

"She's giving birth! Come with me!" Sombra put an arm around Shining Armor then they turned into shadows and left. Once they got to the hospital they rushed inside.

Shining Armor went ahead of Sombra, "Cadance! Are you alright?!" Sombra stayed behind as Shining Armor rushed to his wife's room. Sombra turned back into a shadow and left the hospital to tell Luna and Celestia.
Canterlot

Luna was taking a nap in her bed while the shadow the egg created entered her room unnoticed by the guards. The shadow slowly approached the sleeping princess as it's left hoof turn into a pair of scissors. It took an end of Luna's mane and cut off a piece. And to the shadow's surprise the part where it cut grew back in a few seconds. Luna groaned and rolled over, making her wings face the shadow. The shadow reached out with it's mouth and plucked a feather making Luna wake up! "Ow! Who's there?!" she sat up and looked around, but there was nopony here. She looked at the spot where the feather was plucked and instantly grew back the feather. One moment she sensed a dark presence and then the next moment it was gone. "How strange...." she yawned, laid back down, and fell back to sleep.
In a cave miles away

The shadow took out the sample of Luna's mane and feather. It sat them down, stepped back and it's eyes glowed white and then the shadow's body turned into a sphere. The sphere floated towards the mane sample and feather and made them float around the sphere. The pieces circled around the sphere like a ring on planet Saturn. Then all three merged into a big shadow taking a shape of an a alicorn who's eyes glowed white and let out an evil laugh. It sounded very familiar.

As if she sensed something Luna woke up gasping. On his way to Canterlot Sombra's horn glowed. "I sense a very dark presence...." Sombra said to himself as he moved faster.
Canterlot

"Did you feel that too?" Luna asked Celestia.

"Yes, it felt like a great evil came back...." Celestia said to her sister.

"It felt familiar, too familiar...." Luna replied.

Sombra's shadow appeared in the room. Once Sombra appeared out of the shadow Luna ran over to him and nuzzled him. "Luna, Celestia! Cadance is having her baby!" he yelled.

Forgetting what she felt earlier Luna hugged Sombra, "That's wonderful!"

Discord walks in, "Did I just hear that Cadance is having her baby?" he asked with a paw to his ear.

"Yes, today!" Sombra said.

"How precious....." said an evil, female voice. They looked outside and saw the sky was getting dark and there was thunder and lightning.

Luna's eyes opened wide, "It can't be...." Then a shadow appeared in the middle of the room and began taking shape into an alicorn. Thunder sounds filled the room and a dark figure appeared from the shadow. It was the Mare of the Moon, Nightmare Moon! She approached the four and smiled her evil smile. Just the sight of her filled Luna with anger, "YOU!"

"So, we meet again...." Nightmare Moon said. Sombra and Discord stepped in front of the princesses to protect them. Luna motioned them to move. Nightmare Moon laughed, "After one thousand years stuck together did you really think you could escape me?!"

"Why are you here?!" Luna demanded.

"Your hatred and jealousy was so strong that it created me, your alter ego! After the fight with Twilight Sparkle we got separated. Then something happened and now I no longer need you to exist! In other words, I'm now free to do as I please!" she laughed again and powered up her horn.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Wild Forrest was learning how to read with the help of Twilight Sparkle. "You're doing a good job!" said Twilight.

"This is better than I thought...." Wild Forrest replied. Then he picked up a scent and began sniffing.

"What do you smell?" Twilight asked.

"Discord...." he answered and then ran off to the throne room and found Discord sitting in the center with a shocked look on his face with Fluttershy by his side.

"Discord!" Twilight ran over to him, "Are you alright?!"

Discord gets up with help from Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "We're...... we're in trouble. Big trouble!"

"What's wrong?" Applejack asked.

"She's.... she's back.... Nightmare Moon...." Discord said, still shocked. All their eyes opened wide at the news. "She has her own body now, and she ponynapped Celestia and Luna! Sombra and I tried to stop her but she knocked us unconscious!"

"What?! You know where they are?!" Twilight asked.

"Sombra is searching for them. I looked too, but I can't find them anywhere! We have to do something!"
The Moon

Celestia slowly began to wake up, then she gasped, "Luna!" she looks around and see's Luna laying next to her unconscious. "Luna! Luna wake up!" she shook her sister.

"Huh, what?" Luna asked while waking up.

Celestia hugs her, "Are you alright?" she asked caringly.

"Yes, I'm alright...." Luna looks around her, "We're.... on the moon...."

"Nightmare Moon...." Celestia whispered. "She must have took us here, but how?"

Then her laugh was heard, "I'm now many times stronger than I was before!"

"Where are you?!" Luna demanded.

"What, aren't you happy to be back on the moon? You should feel at home here...." Nightmare Moon snickered.

"I was very lonely up here...." Luna said with a sigh. Then painful memories started coming to her, then she began to cry. "Just being here...." she sat down and covered her face with her hooves as she cried harder. Celestia hugged her and tried to comfort her.

"What's the matter?" The Mare of the Moon asked, "Oh, I see. You fear living on the moon for another one thousand years; Abandoned, betrayed, and unforgiven by OUR own sister. What did we do to deserve it? By taking what was rightfully OURS: the world. We could've made the night eternal, but you chose to abandon me. And what's worse then that? You've forgiven the very sister who betrayed US! Forgiveness, love, so insignificant. It would be funny if it weren't so pathetic. But, I'll laugh about it anyway...." Nightmare Moon then laughed maniacally.

"I did what I did because it was for her own good...." Celestia said nuzzling her crying sister. "It pained me doing this to my own sister, but I've never given up on her even after she became the Nightmare Moon...."

"You fool, I AM the Nightmare Moon!" she yelled.

Celestia's eyes began to tear up as she held her sister, "I would never, ever abandon you little sister. Because I love you...." Celestia held her tighter.

"I.... I love you too....." Luna sobbed as she spoke.

Celestia looks up, "And nothing is stronger than love and friendship. Nightmare Moon, if you are really are part of Luna, you must know that I love you as my sister too. Please, forgive me. Please stop whatever it is you're trying to do before it's too late and join us...."

Nightmare Moon appeared before Celestia with concern in her eyes. Then they turned to angry eyes and Nightmare Moon fired a beam right at Celestia! "Celestia!" Luna rushed over to her.

The Mare of the Moon laughed maniacally again. "You may fight this all you want, but let's face it: we all have our dark sides, even you Luna...."

"NO! My dark side has faded!" Luna snapped.

"Is that so? Perhaps you need a little reminding...." with that the evil mare's eyes glowed. Luna was transforming into the Nightmare Moon!

"Luna! LUNA! NOOOO!!!" Celestia cried. Celestia got up and faced Luna's evil double, but Luna blocked the way and kicked Celestia down!

Nightmare Moon laughed at the sight and then said, "That's right, finish your sister; have OUR revenge; and become one with me once again!"

Celestia struggled to block Luna's attacks. "Luna...." then she got hit by Luna's magic beam, knocking her down.

"GET UP! FIGHT ME!!!" Luna yelled. Nightmare Moon laughed again while Luna was beating up her sister. "WHY WON'T YOU FIGHT?!"

"Because, your my sister.... and I refuse to hurt you.... good or evil, I still love you...." Celestia answered.

Luna gasped and then she turned back to normal, "I'm so sorry!" she helped Celestia stand up.

"AGH! So be it! You have made your choice and soon you'll be imprisoned here on the moon in torment for all eternity! Prepare yourselves!" with that Nightmare Moon spread out her wings and took off to the blackness.

"We must fight her. We have no choice." Celestia said.

"I'm with you, until the end...." Luna replied. The two looked at each other and smiled. Then they took off after the evil mare.
Frienship Rainbow Kingdom

Discord unknowingly got a piece of Nightmare Moon's mane into his mane. After Twilight noticed she took it and put it into one of her machines. After reading the diagnosis she said, "It appears someone or something has taken some of Luna's DNA and created a dark version of herself, Nightmare Moon...."

"So she's a fake?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No, she is real; she is an evil clone of Luna. But I have a theory: If she is really a clone of Luna, it is possible that she can be turned good by the Elements of Harmony...."

Sombra appears in the room, "I'm afraid it's not going to be that simple; before she attacked us I was able to examine her and I saw that she is almost fully consumed by darkness. If we were to act quickly it's possible that we can weaken her and use the Elements of Harmony...."

"But, wait! Where will the darkness inside Nightmare Moon go?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I'll take the power. I'm the Creature of Darkness so it'll not turn me evil...."

"But, that sounds dangerous...." Fluttershy replied.

"I must take the risk, for Luna...."

"Have you found the location?" Discord asked with concern.

"Yes, they are on the moon. And whenever you're all ready I'll take us there....

Twilight looks at her friends who all nodded. Twilight used her magic to get the Elements of Harmony, "Let's do this...." she said. Sombra nods, then they all turned to shadows, except for Spike and Wild Forrest, and left the kingdom.

"I sure hope they'll be alright...." Forrest said to Spike. "Yeah, me too...." then the owl hooted.
Back on the Moon

Celestia and Luna were in a beam struggle with Nightmare Moon, "You can't do this forever!" the evil mare said with a laugh.

Discord, Sombra, and the Mane Six appeared on the moon. "Whoa, Nellie!" Applejack said looking around her.

"Wow...." Rainbow Dash whispered.

Discord looks up, "Up there!"

"Oh my...." Fluttershy gasped. Discord and Sombra looked at one another and nodded. Together they flew up close to Luna and Celestia unleashing their own beams.

Nightmare Moon felt her magic going back to her, "What?!"

"Discord!" Celestia yelled, happy to see him. Discord gave a thumb up to her.

"Oh, Sombra....." Luna whispered looking over to him who smiled back at her. Then all four combined their magic beams into one and struck down the Mare of the Moon.

"AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!" The Nightmare Moon fell to the moon. She got up outraged then she spotted the Mane Six around her. Her anger nearly reached the boiling point, "YOU!!!!"

"Now's our chance!" Twilight yelled as the Elements of Harmony began to power up.

"You're kidding. You're kidding, right? STRIKING ME DOWN AGAIN!" Nightmare Moon yelled in anger as she began powering up her own horn. Before she could do anything the Elements of Harmony used their magic on her!

Then an evil voice inside the evil mare's head said, "Your usefulness to me has ended...."

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!" the clone screamed in anguish.

After they stopped, Nightmare Moon's outline was glowing blue on and off as she was groaning in pain. She showed her teeth as she growled and groaned; her armor began to crack and fall off; then she let out one last roar of pain and collapsed. She groaned and began to shrink until she looked just like Luna except she still had her Nightmare Moon colors. "We've done it!" Twilight yelled.

"Nightmare Moon is no more! Nightmare Moon is no more!" Pinkie Pie yelled bouncing up and down.

"So it's over for good?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Sombra, Discord, Luna, and Celestia landed then the Mane Six rushed over to them and had a group hug. Sombra then walks over to the former Mare of the Moon, who was unconscious. Sombra's horn glowed and a ball of dark aura came out of the mare's horn as Sombra opened his mouth. Then the aura went into his mouth. Sombra stood there for a moment and his eyes glowed, "My powers have increased...." he said.

"You feeling okay?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine...." he said with an evil looking smile.

"What about Nightmare Moon?" Rarity asked.

Sombra examined the mare with his horn, "She will awaken soon, and it feels that the darkness has left her heart completely. It also feels like she'll have no recollection of what has happened, who she is, or her evil intentions...."

"So she'll have a second chance at life!" Pinkie Pie yelled getting excited.

"But, what should we do with her?" Rainbow Dash asked Celestia.

Celestia thought for a moment and said, "Since she is no longer evil and she has lost her memory you all may take care of her....."

"If you think it's best, then we'll do it." Twilight replied happily.

Rainbow Dash and Rarity had a look that told them they were unsure. Celestia and Luna smiled at each other, "Let's go home...." Luna suggested. Sombra nods and they all turn to shadows and return to Canterlot and the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom.

"Phew, what a day this has been!" Discord said stretching.

"That's enough adventure for one day...." Sombra replied. "Luna, are you going to be alright?" he asked caringly.

"Yes, I'll be alright...." Luna assured him and then they kissed and nuzzled, "Thank you, all of you...." Celestia trotted over to the Dark Couple and hugged them both. Discord shrugged his shoulders and joined them. Then Luna remembered something, "Did you say Cadance is having her baby, Sombra?"

"Yes, we better go check on her...." Sombra said before they all left the room.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Twilight and Rarity put the former Nightmare Moon into a bed and pulled up the covers. Spike jumped up on the bed, "You know, since she's not the Nightmare Moon anymore, except she looks like it, we need to think of a name for her...." he suggested.

They all thought. "Night Sky?" Rainbow Dash asked. They all disagreed.

"Midnight?" Applejack suggested. They all disagreed.

"Black Jewel?" Rarity asked. They all disagreed.

"Bad Dream?" Pinkie Pie asked bouncing again. They all looked at her and disagreed with her.

"Ebony?" Fluttershy asked. They all disagreed.

"How about..... Eclipse?" Twilight asked the others.

"As in Lunar Eclipse?" Rarity asked.

"Yes, since she is the clone of Luna...." Twilight Sparkle began but got interrupted by Spike,

"Oh, I get it! Luna Eclipse!"

"Exactly...."

"Eclipse it is then, dear!" Rarity said.

"Yeah, it's kind of a cool name." Rainbow Dash replied.

"Eclipse! Eclipse! ECLIPSE!!!" Pinkie Pie chanted.

"The name's mighty appropriate!" said Applejack.

"I like it...." said Fluttershy.

Suddenly Eclipse began tossing and turning. "I think she's waking up." Spike said jumping off the bed. Slowly, Eclipse opened her eyes and screamed. She tried to get up but she was in so much pain that she fell back on the bed.

"Take it easy, darling! There's nothing to be afraid of..." Rarity assured her.

"Where.... where am I?" Eclipse asked nervously.

"You are in the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom. My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, but you can call me Twilight...."

"Am I your prisoner?" Eclipse asked.

"More like our patient." Rainbow Dash replied.

"Your patient?" she asked confused.

"Yes, you were unconscious and we took you home...." Fluttershy said nicely.

"You helped me even though we never met?" the mare asked again, feeling moved.

"Of course! We couldn't leave you!" Pinkie Pie answered.

"That's right partner, nopony should leave an injured pony behind." Applejack added.

"How are you feeling?" Spike asked.

"I feel sore all over...." she groaned before leaning back against the pillow. "Who am I?" she asked herself.

"Eclipse." Twilight answered.

"Eclipse?" she asked.

"If you don't mind, we would like to call you that."

"Eclipse? I like it...." she said before yawning. "I owe you my life. I'll be happy to serve you Twilight when I get better...."

Twilight chuckled, "There's no need, just be our friend...."

"Friend?" she asked and then she thought for moment, "I like that....."

"And you may live with us for as long as you wish, whatever makes you more comfortable." replied Twilight.

Eclipse smiled, "Thank you so much...." then she fell asleep.

Discord came into the room, "How is she?" he asked.

"She's going to be just fine...." Twilight said with a smile.

"We named her Eclipse!" Pinkie Pie added.

"Eclipse, eh? I like the sound of that. Oh, and Aunt Twilight Sparkle, Cadance.... she just had her baby." Discord said smiling at her.

Twilight gasped, but the others cheered. "You're an Aunt! You're an Aunt! You're an Aunt!" Pinkie Pie yelled bouncing again.

Fluttershy hugged Twilight, "Congratulations...."

"I reckon you'll be a good Aunt!" Applejack added. Twilight was still speechless.
Hospital

Cadance was in bed holding a male foal with a white coat, purple, pink, and white mane and tail, and violet eyes. Shining Armor wrapped an arm around her and kissed both his wife and son. "So beautiful...." the new mother said before kissing her husband back. Then she kissed her son, "We still have to name him...."

"How about Alexandrite?" Shining Armor asked his wife.

"Alexandrite.... yes, Alexandrite....." the baby looked up at his parents.

"He probably already knows his name." Shining Armor said with a chuckle.

Cadance held their baby closer, "Our beloved little Alexandrite...."

Author's Note

Alexandrite birthstone
Alexandrite gem
Alexandrite crystal

Chapter Eighteen: King Sombra's Proposal

Chapter Eighteen: King Sombra's Proposal
Hospital

Celestia, Luna, Eclipse, Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Velvet, Night Light, Discord, and Sombra were in Cadance's room. Cadance was cradling her baby. Cadance told everypony what happened while Shining Armor was out and how Sombra came and helped her to the hospital. Shining Armor walked up to Sombra, "I.... I guess I owe you one...."

Sombra smiled, "No need. It's what's friends do for each other: help one another. I learned that from Twilight Sparkle, Luna, and the others...." he looked over to them who smiled back at him.

Discord got a good look at the foal, "He looks kinda like you, Shining Armor."

Cadance chuckled, "Like father, like son...." she kisses her baby.

Twilight Velvet wiped her eyes with a hanky, "Our little boy is a daddy...." she blew her nose. "Can I hold him?" she asked. Cadance nodded and handed her son over to the new grandmother. "So beautiful...." Velvet said holding the baby close.

Night Light wrapped an arm around his wife and looked at his new grandson. Discord flew over to them, "Awe, grandma and grandpa meeting their grandson for the first time...." he said. Twilight Velvet sobbed a little and kissed her grandson's head.

Night Light tickled the baby's belly, "Hello...."

"So cute, so innocent...." Eclipse whispered looking at the baby from where she was standing. She walked over to them and looked at the baby with her teal eyes. "I don't think I've ever seen a baby before...." just looking at the baby made her happy. Then she looked over to Twilight who approached her, "He's your nephew?" she asked.

"That's right...." Twilight looked at him with teary eyes. Twilight Velvet handed her grandson over to his aunt. Twilight cradled the baby in her arm, "Hi nephew...." she whispered to him.

Luna cried a little, "That's so sweet...." she leaned on Sombra's shoulder.

A doctor walked in, "It time for Princess Cadance to rest...." she said.

Twilight handed her nephew back to his mother, "Bye, now...." she whispered and kissed him. After they all left Shining Armor and Cadance looked at one another and kissed.

Celestia and Discord were about to head home when Luna said, "Sombra said he wants to talk to me about something. I'll catch up later."

Celestia, smiling as if she knew what's about to happen, nodded. "Okay, see you later." she flew away.

Discord and Twilight Sparkle looked at each other, "You think he's going to do it?" Twilight asked.

"Maybe. Care to do a little eavesdropping?"

Twilight grinned, "Oh, alright. But just this once."
Crystal Empire Square

Luna was holding on to one of Sombra's arms with one arm while walking; some of the Crystal Ponies cowered in fear at the sight of Sombra, some ignored him, and others just watched happily. The Dark Couple paid no attention as they stopped at the Crystal Heart, "What did you want to talk about?" Luna asked.

Sombra wiped the sweat off his face, took a deep breath, and said, "Luna, you and I have known each other for centuries...." he began. "Way before my corruption I've grown rather fond of you. As the time we spent together, my feelings for you have grown. When I was corrupted I thought I could never be with you again, but then I came back thanks to the Crystal Heart. And after I came back you chose to trust me and help me despite all the horrible things I did; You helped me through my change and now my feelings for you have grown stronger. So strong that I don't want to leave you again...."

Luna smiled and nuzzled Sombra, "Oh, Sombra. I have feelings for you too...." some of the Crystal Ponies watched in awe, and some of them stopped others passing by and motioned them to watch too. Eclipse, Twilight, and Discord were watching in the small crowd.

"There is something I wanted to ask you before my corruption...." Sombra bent down and took a small box out from under his cape with his magic and opened it revealing a silver wedding ring with a sapphire stone, "Will you marry me?" Luna and the others watching gasped. "I.... I love you more than life itself. I love everything about you; I love being with you and I don't know where I would be without you. Please marry me...."

Luna's eyes began to water, "Oh, Sombra...." she sniffed, "I thought you would never ask me...." Those who were watching moved in a little closer, "YES!" then the small crowd cheered as Sombra and Luna embraced and kissed. Some of the Crystal Ponies, who have not yet forgiven Sombra yet, looked disgusted but were happy for Luna though. While embracing Sombra saw Discord, Twilight, and Eclipse. Discord gave both thumbs up, Twilight smiled at him, Eclipse began to cry a little. Twilight hands her a hanky with her magic. After Eclipse dried her eyes she smiled too.

Chapter Nineteen: Frankencorn

Chapter Nineteen: Frankencorn
Nighttime at Yykees' Mansion

"Phew, this teleporter is taking longer than I hoped...." Yykees said wiping the sweat off his face.

"Don't worry, we're half way done...." Prof. George said putting on a welding mask and turned on a welding torch. Yykees looked back at the robot that Rarity and Twilight Sparkle accidentally woke up that one time. Yykees has modified it; he given it a jet pack; put screws into it's neck attached to the machine; and he added three claws on each hoof.

"Maybe it's time we took a break and see what my robot can do...."

The gorilla lifted his welding mask, "Maybe you're right...." he put it back on.

Yykees put on safety goggles and walked over to a machine and pulled the switch. Electricity started entering the robots body as Yykees laughed much like a mad scientist. Yykees continued laughing as more electricity entered the robot. Then the robot started moving like it was getting electrocuted. Yykees immediately turned off the power and started coughing, "Not very easy on the throat...." He took off the goggles and walked over to the robot, who laid there motionless. "Hmm, must of overheated the battery...." he guessed feeling disappointed.

"Maybe...." George took off the mask and his stomach rumbled, "All this work is making me hungry. Care for peanut butter and banana sandwiches?"

"Yeah...."

George left the room. Yykees turned around and sat at his desk with his hooves on his face. Suddenly the robot's head moved to the direction of Yykees. Yykees, moving his hooves off his face, began getting a very bad feeling. Reluctantly he made his chair turn around to see the robot and then he blacked out.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Scootaloo was reading books full of scary stories on the bed the room Rainbow Dash stayed in when she's staying at the castle. Scootaloo's teeth starting chattering. Then the door slammed open making Scootaloo scream. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! it's me!" Rainbow Dash assured her.

The Pegasus filly sighed in relief, "Oh, sorry Rainbow..." Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash sat down next to her, "Hey, you're going to give yourself a nightmare reading this stuff before bed..."

"But, I can't stop now; the zombies are making their way into town...."

"Wait, is that Invasion of the Zombies? Why didn't you tell me? I love this story!" Rainbow Dash grabbed a lantern, pulled a blanket over them, wrapped a wing around Scootaloo and together they both read. A picture made Scootaloo jump and grab Rainbow Dash. But Rainbow Dash calmed her down and they continued reading.

After a while the door opened again, making Scootaloo jump to the ceiling. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy said.

"That's okay. Hey, would you like to read some scary stories with us?"

"Oh, no thank you...." then they both looked up and saw that Scootaloo was hanging on to something.

Then she slipped and fell, but Rainbow Dash caught the filly in her arms. "I'm going to have to try sugar-free snacks..." she said.

"That's a good idea." Rainbow Dash agreed.

Fluttershy chuckled, "Good night...."

"Good night Fluttershy...." they both said. "Maybe it's time we went to bed too...." Rainbow Dash said pulling up the blanket over her and Scootaloo. "Good night Scootaloo...."

"Good night Rainbow...."
In Ponyville

"That was so romantic...." Rose said walking with Count Appula.

"We should go out like this every night, my dear...." he replied.

"That would be...." before Rose could finish Appula motioned her to be quiet.

"I hear something...." he said his ears twitching.

She stayed quiet and listened. It sounded like a machine walking. "What is that?"

"I don't know, but it's near...." Appula's ears twitched again and again then his eyes opened wide, "Look out!" he pushed Rose out of the way. Then the robot was on top of Appula!

Rose shook her head and then saw them fighting, "Appula!"

Appula's hooves were against the robots hooves and claws as they struggled to push each other back. The Appula was able to lift the robot over his head and toss it. Appula pulls his cape over and teleports to the robot that was getting back up. Appula hissed at it as it raised a claw and attempted to crush Appula, but he moved just in time. Appula then took a deep breath and let out a bat screech so loud at Rose had to cover her ears and it woke up a lot of ponies. "What the?!" one of them yelled.

"What's that?!" another yelled.

Appula ducked, dodged, teleported, and avoided every hit the robot tried to do. Then it unleashed laser beams from it's eyes, making Appula take to the sky! Then the robot's jet pack started up and it took to the sky as it's horn powered up and unleashed electricity, sounding like thunder. Appula teleported just in time and used his superstallion strength to pull off the robot's left arm! The robot then moved it's head toward's Appula and electrocuted him with it's horn! Appula screamed in pain and teleported out of the there, "Appula!" Appula reappeared in front of Rose and fell to his knees. They looked around and saw the robot ran off and left it's arm behind. Rose hugged her boyfriend, "Are you alright?!"

"Yeah.... at least you didn't get hurt.... my dear...." then he lost consciousness. Some ponies rushed out of their houses and helped Rose get him to the hospital.
Yykees' Mansion

Yykees' woke up and found himself in his bed and had a bandage over his head. "Ugh.... my head...." he groaned.

Spectra hugs him, "We were so worried...."

"What the heck happened?" George asked.

Yykees' thought back and then remembered, "After George left the lab I sat at my desk frustrated because the experiment didn't work. Then I turned around and then I was attacked...."

"The experiment is missing." George replied. "While I was making those sandwiches I heard a really loud noise so I came to see if you were okay. And when I got there I found you unconscious and the robot gone."

"Interesting. The experiment was a success after all...." Yykees said before realizing something, "Where'd go?!"
Hospital

Appula slowly woke up and saw Rose, her friends, the Mane Six, and Easter in the room. Appula shook his head and saw where he was and saw he wasn't wearing his suit or cape and had bandages over his chest, right arm, left hoof. Before he could say anything Rose rushed over and hugged him, "I was so worried!"

"I'm fine...." he assured her. Rose hugged him tighter, "OW!"

Rose let go fast, "I'm so sorry!"

"What the heck happened?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah, you've taken quite a beating!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Electrocuted, actually...." Appula told her.

Bandit came in with two stallion cops. They brought in the robot's arm, "This was recovered after the scene. We would like to know what has happened." Bandit said having one of the cops take out a pencil and a notebook.

"There's not much to tell...." Appula said. "I was out last night with my girlfriend; we just got done with dinner and I was escorting her home. We were almost there when my sensitive ears picked up something...."

"What was it?!" Pinkie Pie asked getting excited.

"I was getting to that. This mechanical alicorn came out of nowhere....."

"What did this alicorn look like?" the cop asked.

"It's arms and legs are like the arm you brought in; it's whole body was made out of metal; it had two screws in it's neck; glowing red eyes; it can stand on two; and instead of wings it had a jet pack. I also have to warn you that it could shoot lasers from it eyes and electricity from it's horn...."

"I see, and do you know where it came from?"

"No, sir...."

"Thank you. Get well soon." then the sheriff and the cops left.

"How are you feeling?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm still sore, but I'll make it my dear...."

Suddenly Eclipse appeared in the room with magic, "Master Applejack, a metal alicorn with three legs is attacking Sweet Apple Acres!"

"What?! We have to leave right away!" Applejack yelled then Eclipse surrounded herself, Easter, and the Mane Six with her magic and they teleported out.

"Have to help them...." Appula said trying to get up the doctor stopped him,

"You must take it easy our your wounds won't heal properly...."

"But!" Rose put a hoof on Appula's good hoof.

"They'll take care of it...."
Sweet Apple Acres

The metal alicorn was pushing down trees and stomping on the fallen apples! Apple Bloom and Big Mac try to run for cover, but Wild Forrest tried to fight it, but with one smack it threw the colt into a tree and knocked him out! "Forrest!" Apple Bloom and Big Mac rushed over to him as the metal alicorn walked closer to them. It raised a claw and was about to strike them when the Mane Six, Easter, and Eclipse showed up.

"Leave them alone!" Applejack yelled kicking the robot's leg with her hind legs causing it to back up a little. Rainbow Dash dashed in full speed and tackled the robot making it fall on it's back. "Yal okay?" Applejack asked.

"Yes, but Forrest is out cold!" Apple Bloom said.

"Get the kids inside, quickly!" Applejack ordered as Big Mac put Forrest on his back and ran with Apple Bloom into the house.

The robot got back up and made what sounded like a roar. "Quick, to the barn!" Fluttershy yelled aS she and Easter led the animals away from the robot.

Pinkie Pie bounced towards the robot. The robot slammed it's claw to the ground, but it missed. "Missed me! Missed me! Now you gotta kiss me!" Pinkie yelled making kissy faces at the the robot who tried striking again and again as Pinkie Pie jumped all over it and around it. "Here I am! Not here! Over here! Peek-a-boo, I see you! Na na nana na! Whee! This is so much fun!"

"Get on it's wrist!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Okey-dokey lokey!" she jumped on the wrist and then her Pinkie Sense acted up. The robot's eyes glowed red and fire lasers as Pinkie Pie jumped off in time, "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!" then the robot blasted it's only arm off! The robot roared again and it took to the sky!

"It's heading for Ponyville!" Eclipse yelled as she surrounded herself and the others with her magic and teleported again.
Ponyville

They all arrived in Ponyville and saw the ponies scream and run for cover as the robot fired laser beams and electricity. Twilight then remembered her and Rarity's first encounter with the robot. "Yykees said it could be affected by magic! Eclipse, come with me!"

"Yes Twilight!" Twilight then used her magic to carry Rarity into the air and all three took off after the robot.

"Aim for the jet pack on my mark!" Twilight ordered as they chased it and powered up their horns. "NOW!" then all three fired magic beams combining into one and destroyed the jet pack, creating a big hole in the back in the process! Then the robot fell to the earth below! "Good work!"

Eclipse turned her head and saw that a wall was about to collapse on two kids! She gasped and dashed over to them. She grabbed them and moved them to safety right before the wall fell on them. The two hugged the mare frightened as she tried to comfort them.

The robot landed in the area where the fountain was, and surprisingly the robot just got up ready for more! Before the Mane Six, Easter, Eclipse, and the robot could do anything George came running on all fours towards the robot roaring. Then he stopped in front of the robot, stood on his legs, pounded on his chest and roared. Then the robot and the gorilla wrestled each other. Even without arms the robot was pretty formidable, but the gorilla lifted the robot over his head and tossed it. George stood up and pounded his chest as he roared again. Discord appeared out of nowhere and used his magic to immobilize it. While the robot was down and struggling to get back up Yykees jumped onto it's back and ripped out the battery through the hole in it's back with his magic! Then the robot's eyes went out as it laid there motionless. "Yykees! Prof. George! Discord!" they all ran up to them.

George puts his right paw on his back, "Ugh, I'm getting to old for this!"

"Is everypony alright?" Yykees asked.

Before anypony could answer Sheriff Bandit came through the crowd towards Yykees. "Was it you who constructed this machine?"

"Yes, but it was not for destructive purposes I assure you Sheriff." Yykees answered.

George walked up to the sheriff, "It was meant to be our security robot, but something went wrong in it's program which caused it to go berserk. On our behalf we offer you all our most sincere apology..."

The Sheriff thought for a moment and said, "Well, since you never meant any harm to begin with and nopony is seriously hurt I suppose can't charge you two. But you're goin' to have to make up for your mistake in any way you can." after saying that, Sombra appeared.

"Perhaps I could be of some assistance...."

Eclipse stood next to him, "I'll help too...."

Discord appeared next to them, "Can't fix anything without me!", then their eyes or horns glowed at the same time and in moments all the damage was reversed. Then they looked at the robot and it got repaired as well, but this time it was turned off.

"Nicely done...." Bandit said putting a toothpick in his mouth. "But you two still have to do somethin' to make up for your blunder...."

"Glad I brought my tools." Yykees said taking a sack out from behind his cape. "George and I should have this thing running again in no time. And this time I program it to guard Ponyville and work for Twilight Sparkle...."

"That be mighty fine, just don't let it go berserk again...." Bandit told Yykees as he nodded.

"Of course!" Then he and George got to work on it. With help from the Mane Six, Discord, and Easter they got it done quickly. "That should do it!" Yykees said, "Now all it needs is electricity."

"Leave that to me!" Rainbow said getting a storm cloud and unleashing lightning into the robot.

"Alright, that's enough!" Yykees yelled as Rainbow stopped.

"Let's try it out. Good thing we added an on and off switch." George said flipping the new switch on it's back.

The robot powered up and it's eyes glowed red, "ALIBOT REPORTING FOR DUTY!"

"It works!" Yykees yelled excited.

The robot looks over to Twilight Sparkle, approached her, and got on one knee, "PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE, HOW MAY I SERVE YOU?"

Twilight Sparkle smiles, "Please go to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom and guard the entrance until we get back." she ordered.

"AS YOU WISH." with that the robot's jet pack turned on it flew away.

She looked to her left, "Would you look at that." she said as the others looked into the direction she was looking at. Eclipse was playing tag with children who were laughing. Then some other kids jumped on top of her back causing her to fall down, but she wasn't mad. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

"I didn't think she be good with kids." Rainbow Dash said.

"She's having so much fun!" Pinkie Pie yelled bouncing.

"I'm proud of her." Twilight told them.

"I reckon she should look into Daycare!" Applejack said.

"That sound's like a good idea...." Fluttershy agreed.

"We should talk to her about it...." Easter suggested.

"Ideaaaaaaa!" Rarity yelled, "I have just the thing to help her look good!"

Sombra walked over to the group, "She is coming around very well...." he said looking back at the alicorn now playing ball with the kids.

"What are you talking about?" George asked.

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Yykees asked next.

"It's a long story." Twilight replied. The everything went black and THE END appeared in white.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

The Mane Six, Easter, George, Spike, Opal, Angel Bunny, Tank, Gummy, Winona, Owlicious, the CMC, the CMS, Discord, Yykees, Zecora, Spectra, Flash Sentry, and Eclipse were in Twilight's room on the bed, in their seats, and the sofa with a movie projector. "What a movie!" Pinkie Pie yelled throwing her popcorn in the air.

"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"I liked it." Twilight Sparkle said, "But I still can't believe we didn't notice that Cameraven."

"I designed the Cameraven to be very stealthy. If I haven't forgotten I left mine on, or realized that it'll fly on it's own we wouldn't have had this movie. By the way, how's your side Forrest?"

Yykees asked Forrest who had bandages put around his waist, "It still hurts, but I'll be alright...."

"If I known I was going to be in a movie I would've dressed in my best dress." Rarity said.

"Hey Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, yal thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, we could be...." Scootaloo said before they put their hooves together.

"Cutie Mark Crusader Movie Makers! Yeah!"

"You weren't planning on showing this movie to others, were you?" Fluttershy asked Yykees.

"I was thinking about it, but I won't if you don't want me too. But can I show Appula?"

"Okay...."

"Um, everypony...." Eclipse said.

"Yes Eclipse?" Twilight asked.

"What did Sombra mean when he said I was coming around very well?" before Twilight could answer Pinkie Pie asked,

"Do you really want to know?" Twilight motioned her nervously not to tell Eclipse.

"Thinking about it now, no...." she said. Twilight sighed in relief.

Fluttershy and Discord hugged each other, "Good night Fluttershy. Good night everypony! We should do this again some time." Discord whispered to Fluttershy who smiled.

"Good night Discord!" the others answered.

"Good night Discord, maybe we should do this again soon...." Fluttershy said to Discord before he teleported.

"It's time we visited Appula at the hospital." Yykees said turning off the movie projector.

"Yes, we should...." Spectra said.

"Zecora, would you like to come with us?" Yykees invited.

"Yes beloved Yykees, I'll come with you. We must hurry before the day is through." after the goodbyes they left for the hospital.

"Would you like me to guard the castle tonight?" Flash Sentry offered.

Twilight blushed, "Um, sure. I mean if you want too...."

"Yeah, you can guard the inside and Alibot can guard the outside." Pinkie Pie said to Flash Sentry.

Polkey Dots yawned, "It's time I headed home too...." he said.

"Yeah, and we had a great day. Not mention a movie to play." Rapper Mouth replied.

"Seeya Forrest!" Polkey yelled.

"See you later, alligator!" Rapper Mouth said getting Gummy's attention.

Forrest waved at his friends, "Bye guys!" with that the two left the castle.

Twilight yawned, "Maybe we should go to bed early...." she suggested before going to her room with Flash Sentry following her. "Come on, Spike.... Spike?" he was asleep on a cushion.
Hospital

Appula was still in bed with Rose by his side. Yykees, Zecora, and Spectra came in to the room. "Yykees, great to see you again. George, Zecora and Spectra, hello." Appula said.

"Good to see you too Cousin Appula." Yykees greeted.

"Is that a movie projector?" Appula asked.

"Yes, it has the movie of what happened last night and today." George replied.

"Would you like to watch it?" Spectra asked getting close to Rose who took one look at the ghost and fainted.

Once Rose has regained consciousness George sat the movie projector up, then they all sat down as the black screen with 'FRANKENCORN' in white letters came up and then the movie began. "Rose and I are in the movie too?" Appula asked.

"Yes, and so are Rose's friends." Yykees answered.

"Now this is exciting! Wait till they hear about this!" Rose yelled.

Author's Note

The antidote Count Appula drank was not a complete cure. He can't turn others into Fruit Vampires and he is not constantly thirsty for apple juice anymore and he can see sunlight without hurting his eyes. He still has his other abilities like his superstallion strength, flight, communication with bats, seeing in the dark, sensitive ears, bat screeching, hissing, and he can still turn himself into a bat at will.

Chapter Twenty: Starlight, Star bright....

Chapter Twenty: Starlight, Star bright....
Sombra's Castle

Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, Flash Sentry, Spike, the Mane Six, Treehugger, Moondancer, Eclipse, Easter, Hecko, Lolo, Sheriff Bandit, Yykees, George, Count Appula, Zecora, Spectra, Rose, Daisy, Lily Valley, Filthy Rich, Bulk Biceps, Maud Pie, Trixie, Gilda, many familiar faces, and the citizens of Our Town were all seated in the throne room like it was a courtroom. "Who's getting sued?" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight who shrugged her shoulders.

"You'll never guess who's going to be the judge!" said Pinkie Pie.

Then a gargoyle looking creature passed by and notices the Royal Sisters, "Celestia? Luna? Is it really you?" he asked.

Celestia gasped, "Scorpan!" the sisters left their seats and the creature hugs them both.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?!"

"What are you doing here?" Luna asked.

"You're the famous Scorpan?!" Rainbow Dash asked getting all excited.

"Scorpan? As in Tirek's brother Scorpan Scorpan?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Yes, that's me." he answered. "I've heard much about you six. Don't tell me what you are, let me guess. You, you're Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

She nodded, "Yes, but please call me Twilight. Nice to meet you!"

"You, no doubt about it, are Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie Pie jumped up and down, "Yep! Yep! Yep!"

"And you, you're Applejack?"

Applejack shook his claw, "Howdy partner!"

"You must be Rainbow Dash."

"Well, he guessed it!" she told the others.

"You, gorgeous one, are Rarity?"

"Oh, darling! Yes I am."

Then he looks over to the quiet Pegasus who turned her head and blushed, "Awe, you must be Fluttershy." he said in baby talk, making the others laugh or giggle.

"Yes, I am..... nice to meet you...." she said quietly.

"You're kind of cute when you act like that and talk quietly." Fluttershy blushed more at the compliment.

"And I'm Spike!" the little dragon jumped up.

"Oh, Spike the Dragon? Hm, no offense but I thought you would be taller...." Scorpan said taking a good look at him.

"Hey!"

"And you, you're Twilight's brother Shining Armor I presume?" he asked as he held out his claw.

"Yes, I am. Pleased to meet you Scorpan." Shining said shaking his hand.

"And you're Princess Cadance?"

She giggled, "Yes..." she extend her hoof then Scorpan held it and kissed it.

"You're more beautiful in pony...." then he see's the baby, "Alexandrite?" he asked receiving a nod from Cadance. He started tickling the baby's belly making him giggle, "Goochy goochy goo!" then he turned his attention towards Eclipse. His jaw dropped and his eyes opened wide. He went over to her with hearts in his eyes, "Hello beautiful as the starlit sky...."

Eclipse turned her head and blushed, "I'm.... my name is Eclipse.... nice to meet you...." she said as she extend her hoof and Scorpan held it and kissed it.

"Likewise. You're too much...." he whispered.

"Very charming...." Eclipse replied.

Then a stallion played a trumpet and Sombra entered and sat on his throne. Scorpan stood beside Sombra as the trumpet player stopped and said, "Bring the prisoner forward!"

With that two of Sombra's guards with shackles around their necks linked to a mare's shackle. Her hooves and horn were shackled. She struggled and tried to get free as the guards escorted her to the front. She also tried to use her magic, "The shackles and chains are magic proof so don't bother trying." one of the guards told her.

Everypony all looked, even the Mane Six. "Starlight Glimmer?! No way!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

Once Starlight was in front of Sombra, one of the guards pushed her, "On your knees!" he yelled.

"How dare you! Ouch!" she yelled before dropping to her knees. She turned her attention to King Sombra. She gasped and started shaking in fear. Then Discord came in wearing a judge costume and wig and sat down at a table.

He took out his hammer and hit the table twice getting everypony's attention, "This court is now in session!" the small crowd quieted down. "Eclipse, you may read the charges." Discord said as Eclipse got up from her seat with a piece of paper.

She cleared her throat and read: "Starlight Glimmer, former leader of Our Town, you stand before this council accused for manipulation of many ponies, making them believe that having a Cutie Mark is evil, taking away their Cutie Marks, attempting to do the same to Equestria, taking away the Cutie Marks of Princess Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy, and recently attempted on taking King Sombra's magic so you can use his powers for evil!"

Once she has finished reading the crowd talked and muttered to each other. "Order!" Discord yelled and hammered the table again. "Double Diamond, please come up here." Discord ordered. The stallion walked up and sat down next to the table. "You've known Starlight Glimmer for some time?" Discord asked.

"Yes your honor, and it's true about what the charges say." he began. "She did strip us of our Cutie Marks. We all fell under her evil influence until Twilight Sparkle and her friends showed us the truth about Starlight Glimmer, and about friendship. Of course, if weren't for Starlight Glimmer I wouldn't have had the friends I have today...." he said looking over to the Our Town citizens who smiled at him.

"Very good, please return to your seat...." Discord told him.

"How do you plead?" King Sombra asked Starlight.

Starlight Glimmer gulped and looked around her as she sweated; some of the citizens of Our Town and the others looked at her with anger or sadness. "I.... I did what I did, but I had my reasons!" she said.

"And what reasons would that be?" King Sombra demanded.

"Because I believe that 'True Friendship' comes from being equal."

"Please explain..." Sombra ordered.

"The only way of being equal is being no more or less than another and having special talents only leads to disharmony. So to be equal I stripped them of their Cutie Marks so we can all be alike, your highness...."

King Sombra turned into a shadow and went over to Starlight who felt like she was going to faint as his face showed out of the shadow. Some of the other pony's looked scared or nervous too. "You little fool...." he said. "We don't have to look alike to be equal. As a matter of fact we are all equal even though we have our differences. There's more to friendship besides having Cutie Marks, and because the way you are and your foolish beliefs you'll never learn the true meaning of friendship and you'll be alone for the rest of your days." Starlight looks down sadly after he finished. "Does anypony have anything to say before we pass judgment?" Sombra asked turning to his normal form, but everypony remained silent.

Celestia, Luna, Eclipse, Cadance, Shining Armor, Spike, and the Mane Six huddled together and spoke quietly. After a few minutes Fluttershy handed a paper to Discord. "This trial finds you, Starlight Glimmer..... GUILTY!"

"Ouch...." George said before Discord continued,

"For doing such evil deeds, taking away Cutie Marks, and trying to steal King Sombra's powers I hereby sentence Starlight Glimmer to labor. However, since you helped Double Diamond and the others become friends and we'll allow only Twilight Sparkle, her friends, Sombra's servants can help you. And until she is fully reformed and she fully understand the meaning of friendship King Sombra will strip her of her powers and Cutie Mark as a taste of her own medicine, and she will not be allowed to leave King Sombra's Kingdom!" Discord hammers the table twice, "Court adjourned!"

"WHAT?! NO! NO!" Starlight yelled as the guards restrained her and made her look into Sombra's eyes. Sombra's horn and his eyes glowed. Starlight screamed in distress as her powers left her and went into Sombra's mouth. Once her powers were gone her Cutie Mark vanished too. Once Sombra finished absorbing her powers he felt himself get stronger.

"Throw her in the dungeon and put her to work tomorrow morning." he ordered the guards who saluted.

"Yes sir!"

The guards had to carry her since she felt drained and passed out. The dungeon was not really a bad place; like the whole kingdom it was clean, crystal blue, and shiny. Even the bars were crystal and shiny. The guards came to a room that had a blue rug, a queen sized bed with a blue blanket and pillow, a Crystal Ball, a bookshelf full of books of different kinds, a door leading to a restroom, and a brown desk with a lamp, piles of papers, a journal, and some pens. One of the guards opened unlocked the cell, removed the shackles and chains, and laid her on the bed. After leaving a bucket of berries by the bed they locked the cell again and left.

"Boy, I never thought Starlight Glimmer would be getting sued!" Rainbow Dash said while the ponies were leaving the room. "Fancy seeing you here Trixie! You going to perform magic tricks for King Sombra?" Rainbow teased.

"Ha ha, very funny. I've actually improved!" she said throwing a smoke bomb and 'disappearing'. Rainbow Dash and the others looked around and then Trixie fell on top of Rainbow Dash!

"Oof!!"

"Maybe I should practice a little more...." Trixie said getting off of her, giving her a hoof and helping Rainbow up. "Thanks for breaking my fall Rainbow Dash."

"Why I oughta!" Rainbow started towards her but Pinkie Pie and Applejack restrained her as Trixie laughs.

Fluttershy giggles and notices Twilight Sparkle looking sad, "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I feel bad because King Sombra had to take away Starlight's magic, not to mention her Cutie Mark...." Twilight replied.

Rainbow Dash, breaking free, flew towards her, "She had it coming, I say!"

"How else will she learn?" Trixie asked.

"I also feel bad because she never had friends, and as a result she doesn't know anything about friendship...." Twilight said with a sigh, "And yes she brought this on herself, but I think it's a little harsh...."

Celestia wrapped a wing around Twilight, "It may seem harsh, but Trixie is right."

"I'm right! The Great and Powerful Trixie is right!" they all looked at her, and she blushed.

Celestia continued, "Starlight Glimmer has to learn from her mistakes...."

"Sometimes things have to be learned the hard way, and I should know...." Discord replied placing an arm across Celestia's shoulders.

"If only my brother could understand...." Scorpan said to himself.

"Maybe you're right. At least we get to help her...." Twilight said grinning a little.

"It won't be easy, but I'm confident we'll succeed in changing her...." Easter said smiling.

"What's with the wig?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"It goes well with the costume, you should try it on." Discord said snapping his fingers and a wig appeared on Rainbow's head and a mirror appeared before her. "What do you think?"

Rainbow, looking annoyed, said, "I look like a dork...." then Discord snaps his fingers again and Rainbow was in a judge costume. "HEY!" Discord then covers his mouth while laughing.

"It actually looks good on you!" Pinkie said laughing.

Applejack snickered, "Proceed your honor!" she yelled before laughing.

"Cut it out!" Rainbow yelled then they all started laughing, "It's not funny!"

Double Diamond, Party Favor, Sugar Belle, and Night Glider approached King Sombra and bowed, "Our Town seeks a leader, sire. And we believe you're the perfect leader. If you please, lead us." Double Diamond said.

King Sombra scratched his chin and thought about it for a moment and said, "It'll be an honor."

"Thank you, sire." Diamond thanked while bowing his head.
Sombra's Beach

The children who came along some parents or guardians were all playing on the beach; Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, with sunglasses, were on towels under an umbrella sunbathing; Scootaloo, Babs Seed, Twist and Sweetie Belle were making sand castles; Polkey Dots was entertaining some of the kids and adults by balancing on a ball and juggling anything that's thrown at him; Rapper Mouth was rapping away while walking on the beach, and many others were swimming or playing ball. Wild Forrest was teaching Apple Bloom how to swim without her floaties.

"Sombra is very lucky to have an island of his own...." Silver Spoon said while putting on sunscreen.

"Yeah, it's beautiful!" Diamond Tiara replied.

Silver lifts her sunglasses, "Young couple at twelve o'clock." she said. Diamond looked too and saw Apple Bloom with her arms wrapped around Forrest's neck and his arms wrapped around her waist as he kept himself and Apple Bloom above water. The two smiled at each other and Forrest looked at the ponies crossing the big magic bridge and many Pegasi flying. While he was looking Apple Bloom kissed Forrest's cheek causing him to look back at her and blush.

"Did she just do what I think she did?" Diamond asked Silver.

"Yes, she did. Ew!" then water with ice cubes poured on top of them. They both screamed and then shivered.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Brrrrr!" Diamond and Silver yelled as they looked back and saw Guitar Emo jumping up and down laughing. The two got up and started chasing after the punk.

"CANNONBALL!" Discord, out of his judge costume, yelled falling from the sky and into the water, splashing on most of the ponies. Then he started floating on his back. Eclipse started swimming with some of the kids on her back while Scorpan was in an inner tube. One of kids got on Eclipse's head and jumped into the water. Fluttershy and Easter began feeding fish, gulls, and turtles. Rarity got out a towel and a tanning reflector board and began sunbathing. Bulk Biceps was lifting a weight with some kids sitting on it. Spike, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Hecko, Lolo, and Trixie began playing volleyball with some other ponies. George was sitting on top of a banana tree with bananas in his arm and throwing away banana peels on the ground. Rainbow Dash was racing Soarin and Gilda around the island. Shining Armor, Cadance, with their baby Alexandrite, Big Mac, Cheerilee, Twilight Sparkle, Flash Sentry, Count Appula, Rose, Yykees, Zecora, and many other couples went on walks. Celestia, Luna, and Sombra walked out of the castle.

Luna was leaning against her fiancé as they all watched the others leave or go to the beach. "How long has Scorpan been here?" she asked.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Scorpan was flying through a storm...."
Flashback

Weeks ago Scorpan was flying on his way to visit the Royal Sisters when he was struck by lightning and knocked unconscious. He washed up on Sombra's island and the guards found him. They took him inside the castle and the servants started nursing him back to health. After he recovered days later he bowed to the king, "For saving me I owe you my life, from this day forth I swear loyalty to you...." he said. Scorpan started working for King Sombra and he quickly became King Sombra's right-hoof creature.
End Flashback

"He been here since." Sombra finished.

"Scorpan always had a sense of loyalty since he turned good...." Luna said.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Celestia asked.

"Must have slipped my mind, sorry." Then there was the sound of rap music. They all looked and saw Rapper Mouth holding a microphone.

Dancing to the rapping music he sung: "The sound of waves, the feeling of salty wind. The sun is hot, and the sand is warm. A perfect place to relax and unwind. When there is no problems, no strife, or no storm. The Beach Rap, yeah!" Some of the ponies came up close to listen and some danced as Rapper Mouth sung: "Don't forget to put sunscreen on you skin, or you'll get a sunburn, and that's not fun! You can play sports or games with no lose or win, collect seashells one by one! Go for romantic walks, or spend time with friends and kin, you can have all sorts of fun until the day is done! The Beach Rap, yeah!"

"That kid's good." Sombra said.

Luna took his hoof, "Shall we?"

"I bet you know the answer, my love." together they flew to the beach.

"Wait for me!" Celestia yelled joining them.

Three fillies wearing hula skirts and coconuts danced behind Rapper Mouth as he continued singing: "Sit under a palm tree to relax under the shade, but be careful to not let a coconut fall on your head! Sunbathe in the sand, drink sweet lemonade, workout in the sun, get your sweat to shed! Have ice cream, cook on the grill, make castles, or bury yourself in the sand, go waterskiing with a parachute, now that's mad skill! You can even feed the animals on this land. Go swimming in the sea, see what's under. If you're lucky you'll see a merpony. Their singing and beauty is a wonder, If she falls in love, you'll never again be alone. There so many fun things on the beach, traveling and many imaginable things, I guess that does finish my speech, so have some fun on the Island of the King! The Beach Rap! Yeah!"

The crowd applauded as Rapper Mouth and the hula dancers bowed. Many through flowers at them. Sombra walks up to him, "Excellent! Excellent young one!"

Rapper Mouth bowed to him, "Thank you your highness, It's what I do! If you like I can sing for you!"

Sombra chuckled, "That's very nice of you, but there are other places waiting for somepony as skilled as you to sing for them." Rapper Mouth smiles at him after he said that.
Starlight Glimmer's Cell

She had woken up and was watching the whole thing from the Crystal Ball. Her eyes began to tear up, "They're having fun without me...." she then looks at the Cutie Marks of the ponies on the island. "So many different Cutie Marks. So many different and are friends...." she began to cry then she fell on the bed.

"As Sombra said: you don't have to look alike to be friends my lady." one of Sombra's unicorn guard said overhearing her.

"Unless if you have a carton of ice cream, I don't think I'm in the mood...." Starlight said. The guard's horn glowed and an opened carton of ice cream with a spoon appeared beside Starlight Glimmer. As soon as she saw this she used the magic she had left to lift the spoon and scoop out some ice cream. "What do you want?" she demanded putting the ice cream in her mouth.

"I heard everything during the trial, and I was told that you never had real friends in your life...."

"Tell me something I don't know." Starlight said angrily.

"My name is Sir Stonehorn. I pity you, I really do my lady. And I feel, and I'm not the only one, that thinks you need a friend. So King Sombra ordered me to keep an eye on you, help you, and do anything to make you more comfortable here."
Down the beach

Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry were sitting on a rock surrounded by water watching the waves go back and forth. Twilight rested her head against Flash's shoulder and his wing wrapped around her. Just watching the and hearing the waves was all so relaxing. "Do you think Starlight will be alright?" Twilight asked, still concerned about her.

"If Princess Celestia says so." he replied.

"Hey, Flash Sentry? Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, anything for you."

"We were given permission to visit Starlight, especially friends so I was wondering if you can come with me and help me during our visits."

"Sure, I'll help in any way I can."

Shining Armor, Cadance, with their baby were walking down the beach and spotted Twilight with Flash Sentry having another conversation. Shining started not feeling good. "Honey, what's the matter?" Cadance asked then she saw that he was staring at Twilight and Flash Sentry, "Honey, you shouldn't worry about them; Twilight is old enough to make her own decisions and Flash Sentry is a really good Pegasus. He wouldn't do anything to harm her."

"That may be true, but still...."

Then Flash's lips and Twilight's lips got closer until they kissed. Rainbow Dash, Gilda, and Soarin were watching the whole thing from the sky, "Awe, can you feel the love?" Soarin asked.

Gilda wrapped her arms, "Mushy...."

Rainbow looks down and see's the look on Shining's face, "Uh-oh, enter the overprotective big brother...." she said. Shining was about to scream when Cadance covered his mouth and motioned him to follow her. Twilight and Flash looked back for a moment and then back at each other then they hugged. Rainbow Dash flew down and landed behind them, "Hello!" the couple screamed and they both fell in the water. "Oops...." Rainbow chuckles while scratching the back of her head.

They both swam back to shore. "Rainbow!" they both yelled.

"Ah, don't worry! I got just the thing to dry you off!"

Twilight immediately knew what she was talking about, "No, no, no!"

The Pegasus circled around them in a rainbow tornado, "My very own Rainblow Dry!" Then she landed, "No need to thank me, you're very welcome!" then she see's what she did to their manes and tails. Rainbow just couldn't help it; she laughed it out. Soarin and Gilda looks at them and they start laughing too.

"Thanks for ruining the moment...." Twilight groaned as she and Flash left the laughing trio.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

"That was sooooo much fun!" Pinkie said bouncing.

"We should go to Sombra's Beach every day!" Sweetie Belle suggested as they all trotted in except for Flash and Twilght. The two kissed again before saying goodnight.

Flash left with Twilight watching him smiling. Spike waved a claw up and down in front of Twilight's face, "Uh, Twilight?"

"Yes Spike?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes...." they both went back into the castle. Then Twilight gasped, "Oh, I almost forgot!"
Sombra's Castle

Sombra's eyes glowed, his purple aura got big, and his horn glowed as he gave a loud roar as he lifted the castle, his garden, and everything he owned on the island into the air and engulfed it in shadows.
Our Town

All the citizens of Our Town waited eagerly for their new king to arrive. Then a strong wind blew and an orb of shadows appeared in the sky as they gasped and some ran for cover. The shadow faded and revealed the castle as everypony watched in awe. The house that used to belong to Starlight and has been abandoned was tore down by Sombra's magic and created a big hole as the castle floated down and the bottom went into the hole. The gate opened and knights came out and formed two separate lines and held out their weapons in front of them. Two played the trumpets as Sombra came out and walked between the two lines. Once he reached the end the citizens whooped and cheered. Sombra raised his right hoof to quiet down the crowd, "Citizens of Our Town, you all have no idea how much this means to me making me your leader. As your King I will do my best to lead, and I promise that I will be good to each and every one of you."

The crowd cheered again, "Long live the King! Long live the King!"

"Thank you, thank you very much. And for accepting me I'll share my wealth with you...." Sombra said as his eyes and horn glowed. Diamonds, crystals, and gold appeared in every house in Our Town. "You may use what I've given you for whatever you desire, even rebuilding Our Town if you like." the crowd cheered again and a big party was held that night.

There was music, dancing, games, sweets, you name it. Sombra found himself enjoying the party in the middle of Our Town. Many of the children ran up to him and idolized him. Some of his knights and female servants made friends with the citizens and some have found love. Starlight was watching everything from the Crystal Ball; and even saw how Sombra moved his castle. "Such power.... and King Sombra.... is the new leader.... of MY town?!" she sobbed as she spoke. In the Crystal Ball she saw some of the kids hugging Sombra.

"Sombra is a good king...." Sir Stonehorn said coming to check on her. Starlight started crying. Sir Stonehorn couldn't stand seeing girls cry so he teleported inside of the cell, sat down next to her on the bed.

Before he could do anything to comfort her she said, "Please, get me some more ice cream...."

Stonehorn nodded, "As you wish my lady."
The next morning at Sombra's Castle....

It was almost dawn, and Starlight was sleeping in her bed with a tear-stained face and a pile of empty ice cream cartons by the bed when a guard came unlocked the cell and walked in, "Rise and shine Starlight Glimmer!"

Starlight rolled over groaning, "Ugh, it's still early. Please let me sleep a little while longer...." she started snoring. The guard grunted and left the cell and came back with a bucket of water and drenched Starlight. Starlight woke and got up fast screaming, "Oh my gosh! BRRRR!"

"Up and at 'em, Starlight Glimmer! King Sombra's orders."

"Okay fine! But was using the water bucket really necessary?" she asked drying herself off with a towel.

"For stubborn mares like you, yes." the guard replied motioning her to follow him.

The female servants dressed her in clothes suitable for gardening and a sun hat. "Why am I wearing this?" she asked getting irritated.

"You're going to be working in Sombra's garden. Just don't pick anything without permission, okay?"

They escorted Starlight to a garden behind Sombra's Castle. Starlight was astonished; there was the biggest rose garden she has ever seen. It was full of roses of different colors that sparkled and smelled so sweet. And in the center of the huge rose garden was a garden full of different kinds of fruits and vegetables. And near was a huge apple orchard. Nearby was a statue of Luna in a middle of fountain with a road leading around and to the garden. There were also servants and volunteers planting grass. "Here's the list for you." a guard said handing Starlight a long piece of paper. "If you have any questions don't hesitate asking the other servants working. And remember we knights will be watching you; we'll know if you're slacking off."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah...."

One of the female servants led Starlight to the start of the rose garden and handed her a pair of pruners. "Start pruning the branches that look black, shriveled, dry, or really thin."

"Why?"

"Because it's healthy for the roses, dear." the servant said before attending to the other roses. Starlight looked and saw how far the rose bushes and trees reached. She groaned and got started. A few hours later she wiped the sweat off her face. Sir Stonehorn came with a jug and a glass of water. She took the glass and gulped it down. The female servant brought a cut up watermelon and presented it to Starlight, "It's time for your break, dear." she said. Starlight sat at the fountain and started eating her watermelon.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle arrived and sat down next to Starlight, "This garden is beautiful!" Rarity said looking around in awe.

Her sister sniffed the air, "It smells great here too." she added.

"I take it that you're here to help me with the pruning?" Starlight asked.

"Sweetie Belle is going to be helping you by picking up what you clipped off and Sombra gave me permission to trim the bushes to my design." Rarity replied with a smile, "Be careful not to prick yourself, okay Sweetie Belle?"

After the break Starlight got back to work and Sweetie Belle picked up all the branches she clipped up and put them in a bucket. "I heard about how you lost your Cutie Mark Ms. Glimmer, I'm sorry...." Sweetie Belle told Starlight.

"More like taken away...." she replied.

"Me and my friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, have been trying to get our Cutie Marks for some time."

"You have to earn your Cutie Mark."

"I know, everyone keeps telling us that. We call ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders; we would do anything to find our special talent and get our cutie mark. We keep trying, but still blank flanks...." she said as she looked at her blank spot.

"Having blank flanks isn't to bad, if you have friends who also have blank flanks."

"Yeah, our blank flanks is what got me, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo together. Wait, are you referring to what you believe?" Sweetie Belle asked her.

"Yes..."

"We all don't have to look alike or have the same Cutie Mark to be friends. Even some of my closest friends have different Cutie Marks and their own special talents."

"That's what I've been hearing, and now it's from a child...." Starlight said in disgust.

Rarity, hearing this, stopped working and said, "She's right darling, being different is very good especially if it's in our own ways. It also depends on how you use your gift that may lead to harmony or disharmony."

"Even removing Cutie Marks?" Starlight asked.

"Precisely, and that's bad. If you have used your gift for positive things instead of taking what belongs to others against their will you've probably would've made friends, learned the meaning, and wouldn't have ended up here. But then again if you haven't done what you did the citizens of Our Town wouldn't have the closest friends that they have right now."

A few hours have passed. Starlight, Sweetie Belle, and Rarity finished with the bushes and the roses. Sombra and Luna came to check it out. "Hmm, impressive...." Sombra said with a nod, "But there's still much for you to do...." Starlight groaned in disgust.

"Like Rarity and Sweetie Belle, there will be others helping you." Luna said.

"You're next assignment is applebucking. Harvest as much good apples you can get. Applejack, Wild Forrest, and Apple Bloom are waiting for you. Stonehorn!" Sombra called.

"Yes your highness?"

"Show Starlight Glimmer to my apple orchard."

Stonehorn saluted, "Yes sir!"
Sombra's Apple Orchard

Stonehorn gave Starlight another glass of water which she gulped down. Starlight got out of her gardening clothes and put on a saddle with baskets.

"Yeeee-haw!" Applejack yelled kicking one of the trees and filling some buckets.

"Whoo-eee!" Apple Bloom yelled and did the same with another.

Forrest did his Tarzan scream and kicked a tree as well. "Give me a break...." Starlight groaned.

"You'll be fine...." Stonehorn assured her before leaving.

Applejack notices Starlight, "Howdy Starlight!" she greeted.

"Whatever, let's just get this over with...." Starlight said.

Apple Bloom trotted up to her, "Sounds like somepony needs a hug...."

"No thanks."

"Why the edges of your mouth go down and not up?" Forrest asked nicely.

"What do you think?"

"C'mon, applebucking is not that bad." Applejack assured her patting her back. Then she kicked another appletree and filled some buckets.

"It's also good exercise." Apple Bloom added kicking another tree.

Starlight sighed and then an apple fell on her head, "Ow!" she looked up and saw Forrest laughing in a tree.

"Sorry!"

Starlight got to work and kicked a tree and apples filled her baskets and some fell on her head, "Ow! Ooh! Ouch!" Apple Bloom trotted over to her and picked up the apples and put them in the baskets.

"C'mon, cheer up! At least you're not alone." Apple Bloom said happily.

"Yeah...." Starlight answered sadly.

Forrest landed on Starlight's back, "Yeah, you shouldn't let anything ruin your day. Think positive, like what you plan to do when Sombra will let you leave."

"What's the point?" Starlight asked lifting her back up and throwing Forrest into a basket of apples.

Applejack trotted over to her, "Because thinkin' positive brings happiness, sugar cube. Thinkin' positive increases motivation. Thinkin' positive also helps your self-esteem. Not to mention that it's also good for your health and it makes you a better pony."

Forrest popped up with an apple in his mouth, "That's right!"

"Are you saying if I think positive this will be done before I realize it?" Starlight asked.

"Yeah, think stuff that's makes you happy. And don't dwell on the negative stuff." Applejack told her.

They continued working, and Starlight began thinking about getting her powers and Cutie Mark back and making friends. She also remembered what Rarity said about being different is okay and what she does with her powers will lead to something. This is getting kind of complicated.... she thought.
Sombra's Hot Tub

After finishing with the applebucking her hind legs were really sore. The servants prepared the hot tube for her and put bubble bath in it. Starlight sighed as she got into the tub, "Oh, my sore legs.... ah, that hits the spot...." she said.

Sombra came into the room, "You are doing a good job with the chores so far. Once you're finished bathing Stonehorn will escort you to my library where your next assignment awaits."

"How many chores do you expect me to do?!" Starlight snapped.

"Don't get snotty with me. You'll be doing these chores until the day is done until you're completely reformed." Sombra said with his eyes glowing with purple aura and showing his sharp teeth, intimidating Starlight.

"Y-yes sir...."

"Good, now you've got thirty minutes to bathe. And don't get smart with me again, or I'll make your sentence longer."

"Yes sir...."
Sombra's Library

"Here we are." Sir Stonehorn said after reaching a door saying 'Library' and opening the door. They looked in and inside were walls filled with thousands of book, and there were some chairs and lamps circled in the center. Twilight Sparkle was sitting in one of the chairs with a stack of books by the right side and Flash Sentry by the left. Twilight was using her magic to read one of them and was wearing gold spectacles. Spike fell asleep with a book on his face in one of the chairs. "Princess Twilight!" Stonehorn called.

"Yes?"

"Starlight Glimmer is here."

Twilight puts the book down and takes off the spectacles. "Time to wake up Spike!"

Spike just continued snoring. "I'll get him up." Flash Sentry said walking over the sleeping dragon and nudged him, "Hey, wake up."

Spike stretches and groans, "Just five more minutes mommy...."

Twilight grunts and throws a pillow at him, waking him up. "Hey!"

Starlight chuckled as she entered the library, "What's the assignment this time? Do you expect me to read all these books? That's something I can do."

"That's something I would like to do too, but no that's not why you're here." Twilight said giving her a really long list. "What Sombra want's you to do is to check and see if all the books are in order and if there is a book that's in a wrong spot put it where it goes."

"That sounds easy, but why am I doing this?" Starlight asked.

"It's to make up for all the wrong things you've done."

"But I don't think I've done anything wrong...."

"Well, technically you did by removing the Our Town citizens' Cutie Marks and manipulating them, doing the same thing to me and the others, attempting to do the same to everypony in Equestria, and taking what doesn't belong to you, and for what? Because of your equal nonsense?" this got Starlight's attention. "Starlight, me and my friends forgive you for doing those bad things to us. But there are others who don't forgive you yet, but if you keep your nose clean, or make amends, and do a little bit of hard work they'll all forgive you in time, and maybe, just maybe you'll make real friends. But you don't have to take my word for it, you can ask King Sombra, Princess Luna, or Discord the next time you see them. Let's get to work. Spike you do the dusting, and cover your nose."

"Sure thing!" he said putting a clothes pin on his nose. Twilight said picking up the books she read and putting them right where they go. They and Spike got on their ladders and started going the book names one my one making sure they're in alphabetical order. "You should've seen the ponies in here earlier. That was crazy!" Spike said moving a duster around.

A little while later Starlight was next to Spike who was still dusting. Starlight got some dust on her nose, "Ahhh, ahhh.... ahhh.... achoo!" she then lost her balance and fell but Sir Stonehorn held out an arm and caught her.

"Careful my lady." he said.

Starlight blushed madly, "Please put me down...."

"Of course my lady." he sat her down and she climbed back on the ladder.
The Ballroom

"Working with books sure beats gardening." Starlight said.

Twilight looks over to her smiling, "That's the most positive thing I've heard you say today. Maybe Sombra can give you the job of being a librarian, in case if you're interested."

Starlight grinned, "That sounds like a good idea...."

Then they spotted Pinkie Pie with wet sponges on her hooves. "This next assignment for you is going to be fun!" then she started 'skating' on the floor, "Wheeee!"

"You expect me to do that?" Starlight asked.

Scootaloo slid by with sponges on her hooves too,"Yeah, instead of making a chore out of it let's make fun out of it!"

Pinkie now started spinning around in circles. "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!"

Rainbow Dash was using her Rainblow Dry to dry the the floor, "Time flies when you're having fun!" she yelled. She was like a small rainbow tornado going around every wet spot in the ballroom. Rapper Mouth and Polkey Dots straps sponges to Starlight's hooves and their own hooves.

"Sponge skating time!" Polkey Dots yelled before sliding. Starlight was starting to look amused.

Rapper Mouth saw this, "I see you're starting to loosen up and that's a good thing. This ought to please Sombra the King!" with that he started sliding.

"Does he always talk like that?" Starlight asked Twilight.

"They don't call him Rapper Mouth for nothing." she replied giving Starlight glimmer a push.

"Whoooa! Hey!" They spent some time cleaning the ballroom; the kids and Pinkie Pie were having a terrific time, Rainbow Dash was still feeling energetic, but Starlight was pretty dizzy. She was on her stomach and her eyes were spinning, "I think I'm going to be sick...." Sir Stonehorn offered his hoof and helped her up.

Sombra came in and saw how clean the place was, "Excellent! You are done for today. But before you find anything to do or rest Fluttershy and Easter would like to speak to you near the fountain. Stonehorn will show you the way." he said before exiting the room.

Together Starlight and Stonehorn started heading towards the back of the castle. "What a day...." Starlight said.

"I'll say." Stonehorn replied. "The fountain is straight ahead."

"Thank you...."

Easter and Fluttershy were sitting down at the fountain holding hooves when they saw Starlight approaching them. "Ah, Starlight. I take it you're finished today?" Easter asked.

"Yes, what did you want to talk about?" she asked sitting down next to them.

"How was your day? And how do you feel about it?" Fluttershy asked nicely.

Starlight thought about it for a moment and said, "It all started out dull.... but as I worked with the others we all talked...."

"About what?" Easter asked.

"About it's okay if we're all different, even in our own ways. And it depends on how I use my talents that might lead to a good future or a bad one...."

The Shy Couple nodded, "Go on." Fluttershy said.

"Keeping a positive mind will help you with many things and will make you a better pony. Twilight told me about forgiveness and by being good I can be forgiven. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash showed me how to have fun even while I'm working. As I talked and spent time with them I felt something going on. Like we were bonding, or something."

Fluttershy smiled, "You feel like you're becoming friends with them and you didn't need your powers for that from the start...."

"Do you really think so? I mean, I still got things to learn...." Starlight said.

"We know so. That's why we're going to be visiting you now and then helping you in any way we can." Easter said.

"It's very kind of you, but why are you all doing this for me even though I've done nothing but give you trouble?" Starlight asked feeling confused.

"Because we want to be your friends...." Fluttershy answered as the others arrived.

"Nothing is more magical than friendship...." Twilight said.

"Yeah, not only it's magical it's a lot of fun!" Pinkie Pie added.

"A true friend is somepony who would truly understands you, listens to you, and will always help you in anyway...." Applejack added.

"And would be forgiving and loyal to somepony, even if their past is bad." said Rainbow Dash.

"Even though we have our differences, likes and dislikes, we can all still be friends. I would even give up my own tail or mane to do anything for you, Sweetie Belle, and anypony precious to me, darling." Rarity said hugging her sister.

"Friends will even love and support one another even those that are still learning about friendship....." Fluttershy added.

Starlight was very moved by what they said to her that she cried. "Thank you..... thank you all..... you don't know how much this means to me....."

"But that's not all. There's still plenty to learn about friendship! But you'll learn it over time." Spike said. Starlight threw her arms around all the ponies while she cried.

"Yay! Group hug! Group hug!" Pinkie Pie yelled.

They all let go and smiled, making Starlight smile. "If I get out, would you all like to hang out with me?" Starlight asked.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Twilight said.

Sir Stonehorn arrived and stood before Starlight, "I'll help you through it all too...." with that the two embraced. Meanwhile the ponies of Our Town were beginning to rebuild Our Town.

(Song: The Beach Rap)

Chapter Twenty One: Quality Time with Discord and The Beastly Gang

Chapter Twenty One: Quality Time with Discord and The Beastly Gang
Discord's House

Discord was laying on his couch with what appeared to be portal in front of him. In the portal he was watching hilarious blunders, mistakes, and accidents going on in Equestria. "Hahahahahahahahaha! Ha, I love this show!" he got ate some popcorn and started flipping through the 'channels'. He went through until he found the CMC and CMS out and about again. Apple Bloom and Wild Forrest started a conversation when Scootaloo, on her scooter, bumped into Apple Bloom making her move forward and kissing Wild Forrest by accident. They both pulled away and blushed. "Awe, young love...." Discord said pretending to cry.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!" Scootaloo yelled getting off her scooter and running up to them.

Applejack approached Wild Forrest and Apple Bloom in overprotective mode. "Apple Bloom!"

"Bummer, she's in the doghouse now. And she's not even a dog." Discord laughed at that last part and continued watching.

Scootaloo stood in front of Apple Bloom, "It was an accident! I bumped into her!"

"Yes, it was an accident...." Discord said. "Those two do make a very good couple, but they're still young though." then he noticed something, "Oh, she didn't bring her Cameraven thing...."

After Apple Bloom and Applejack had their argument they turned their backs and left. Apple Bloom started crying, then Wild Forrest wraps an arm around her and tries to comfort her. Applejack looks back at her, feeling a little guilty for overreacting. "Awe, poor little filly...." Discord said before a light bulb came over Discord's head, "I know just the thing to cheer her up!" with that he started cleaning his house.

Wild Forrest and Apple Bloom went to Sweet Apple Acres while Applejack stayed in Ponyville, still shocked about what she saw. Suddenly a Vampire Fruit Bat appeared in front of Applejack and turned into Count Appula. "Howdy Appula!"

"Hello Applejack. I was sitting on a roof in my bat form sucking an apple when I spotted Scootaloo bumping into Apple Bloom and she and Wild Forrest did what they did. And my bat ears heard what you and Apple Bloom said to each other. You should be ashamed of yourself; yelling at your sister like that when they kissed by accident."

Applejack, realizing that Scootaloo was telling the truth, looked down sadly. "I guess I overreacted a bit, huh?"

"That's right, and I suggest you find your sister and apologize to her...." with that the vampire wrapped his cape around himself and teleported.

"Maybe I should...." Applejack said before heading towards home.
Sweet Apple Acres

Apple Bloom and Wild Forrest were sitting on hay. Apple Bloom was still crying over those hurtful words and Wild Forrest was still trying to comfort her. Applejack came up to them and sat down next to her crying sister. "Apple Bloom?" but she didn't answer.

"You really hurt her...." Forrest told her with anger in his eyes.

"I know, I just want to apologize...." Applejack replied. "Apple Bloom, look at me...." Apple Bloom looked up with tears staining her face. "I'm sorry I overreacted, sugar cube. Appula told me everythin'. It's just that I'm your sister and I can be very overprotective, and a little rash. For what it's worth, I'm sorry...." the two sisters hugged. Wild Forrest smiled at the two and then he sniffed the air.

Discord appeared in front of the hugging Apple sisters with bat ears and wings scaring them out of their wits. "Hi, what's up?"

"Hi Discord, I thought I picked up your scent." Forrest said.

"Ohhoho, nothing can get past you without leaving a whiff or two can it?" Discord asked.

“I also heard you from a mile away.” Forrest added.

“That’s very impressive.” Discord said.

After the sisters recovered they let go. “Howdy, Discord. What brings you here?”

“Hello Applejack, how's it hanging? Get it? Hanging? And I'm dressed like a bat.” Discord joked, and the three laughed. Discord got down, stood up, and turned back to normal. “Actually, I was thinking about having a slumber party over at my house and I was wondering if Apple Bloom and Wild Forrest would like to go?”

Apple Bloom jumped up, “That sounds like fun! I’ll go get the others!”

“No need my little sour apple, I’ve already invited them. They’re waiting for us at the house.” Discord said scratching her chin.

“Oh, then I just go pack my things!” Apple Bloom said before running off.

“Right behind you!” Forrest yelled before following her.

“This is very nice of you, Discord.” Applejack said. “Say, I’ve been wonderin’. Where do you live?”

Discord snaps his fingers and a portal showing a picture of Discord’s house in Chaosville and what’s around it. “Golly!”

“I know, and get this: you can float around in the sky there. The kids will love it, especially Scootaloo!”

Apple Bloom came back with a backpack and stopped in front of the portal, “Whoa, is that where you live?”

“That’s right!” Apple Bloom got up close and the portal sucked her in! Applejack gasped, then Forrest jumps in after her. “Ah, don’t worry; this portal will take them to my house.” Discord assured her. "TTFN! Ta ta for now!" he jumped in the portal and it closed. Apple Bloom was screaming as she went through the colorful portal while Forrest was screaming his Tarzan scream.
Discord's House

Forrest fell through first and landed on his stomach. Before he could get up Apple Bloom landed on him, "Ooof! Oh, sorry Forrest!"

"It's okay Apple Bloom, it wasn't your fault. But can you please get off my back?"

"Will the both of you get off mine?" Discord asked making them realize they were on him. They got up and brushed themselves off, "Welcome to my humble home." Discord said holding out his arms.

They kids looked around, "Whoa...." Apple Bloom whispered.

"Yeah, whoa." replied Discord.

"Wheee-hee-he!" Scootaloo yelled floating through the sky and flapping his wings.

"I can watch this all day." Polkey Dots said sitting in the grass with Rapper Mouth and Sweetie Belle.

Discord looks too, "Scootaloo, watch out for that!"

"Huh?" she bumped into one of the creatures in the dimension. "Ow, sorry!" the creature looks at the filly with an angry look on it's face. "Uh-oh...." the creature started chasing after Scootaloo as she floated uncontrollably, "HELP! This thing is chasing me!"

Discord swooped in and caught Scootaloo in his arms, "Got ya!". The creature stopped in front of Discord who gave it a dirty look scaring it away.

"Thanks Discord."

"Don't mention it." they landed in the grass and Discord sat the filly down. "Have fun?"

"It was a blast!" Scootaloo shouted. They all teleported inside the house.

"Get a load of this place!" Scootaloo yelled excited. "Imagine Rarity seeing this!"

They all scattered around seeing what there is to see kind of like the CMC did when they stayed spent the night at Fluttershy's Cottage. "Music to my ears...." Discord said smiling.

"This is great! We can stay up late, or all night!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Of course you can!" Discord replied.

The kids all cheered, "YAY!"

"I also have a box of games for you to play." Discord said snapping his fingers and a green chest full of games imaginable. "I also have arts & crafts." Discord added snapping his fingers again and a red chest full of art supplies. "I almost forgot! I also have snacks ready in the kitchen." he snapped his fingers again and PBJ's, ice cream, popcorn, cucumber sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, potato chips, fruit juice, hot chocolate, different kinds of fruits and vegetables, s'mores, cakes, donuts, and vegetable pizza appeared on the kitchen counters and table.

"Oh boy!" the kids all yelled.

"This will be quite a party." Discord said snapping his fingers again and the portal appeared with more funny stuff. "Grab what you like and we'll watch some comedy shows."

"YAY!"

After getting what they wanted they sat on the couch with Discord who was flipping through channels. Wild Forrest grabbed only fruits and vegetables. Then he got to the time when Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash started hanging out and pulling pranks. When they were done Discord changed the channel and stopped, "Oh, this one was from a few weeks ago. I was bored so I started pulling pranks all over the place."

The portal first showed the time Discord snuck into Rarity's house and found Rarity putting on the finishing touches of the dresses, clothes, and costumes she was making. "Phew, it took me all night but I'm finally finished." she looks in a mirror, "What a mess...." she groaned before leaving the room passing Discord who turned invisible.

He became visible and went into the workroom, "Impressive....." he said before snapping his fingers and making what Rarity made fall apart. "Can't wait to see her reaction!" he hid on the ceiling.

Rarity came in and gasped, "My.... my..... many hours..... what..... I.... uh..... huh....." she fainted. Discord jumped down laughing before snapping his fingers again and the dresses, clothes, and costumes fixed themselves.

"Now she'll think she's overworked and needs a vacation." he snickered and teleported.

Rarity wakes up and sees her work back together, "What a terrible dream....." she looks again, "probably just my imagination....." she yawned, "I need a break...." she said exiting the room.

"I wondered why she was so stressed that day." Sweetie Belle said before laughing.

"Wait, there's more!" then came Twilight reading a book in her room. Discord was outside the door and he knocked.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"It's Discord! Come quickly Tirek has escaped again!"

"What?"

"Tirek escaped again!" Discord yelled before he stepped aside.

Twilight and Spike dashed out and slid on the oil Discord put on the floor, "Whooaa!" she slid down a hallway and crashed into something.

"Oooh!" Discord said while making a face and then started laughing.

"Discord!"

"Uh-oh!"

Twilight, a little bit dirty, charged up to him, "Never, I repeat, never, ever warn me of Tirek if he hasn't really escaped!" she ordered in a threatening tone of voice.

Discord laughs again, "Ha! Tirek! That was a good one! You really fell for it!" Discord laughs while he disappears.

Flash Sentry runs in, "Twilight, are you alright?!"

"Yeah, it was just Discord...." she grinned, "What are we going to do with him?"

"Why did you use Tirek?" Scootaloo asked.

"I had to say something to get her to run out. Tirek escaping! HAHAHA! I just crack myself up sometimes!" with that they all laughed. Then came Sweet Apple Acres.

"I remember this one!" Apple Bloom yelled. Then the screen went to the barn with smoke coming from the doors and the window. Inside Apple Bloom yelled, "HELP ME! APPLEJACK HELP ME!"

Applejack rushed out of the house and saw the barn supposedly on fire, "OH.... MY.... GOSH! APPLE BLOOM!" she ran to the barn yelling, "SOMETHIN'S ON FIRE! GET A BUCKET!" she ran into the barn and saw there was no fire. "What the heck?!" Apple Bloom and Discord jumped out of hiding laughing. Then Discord snaps his fingers and the fake smoke went back into a small fog machine.

"Wow, you should've seen the look on your face!" Apple Bloom yelled laughing and giving Discord a high four or hoof. Applejack runs over to her sister and hugs her tight crying. Then she looks up at Discord.

"Are you mad?" Discord asked.

"Yes, it looked so real.... I thought Apple Bloom was going to be burned alive....."

"That was the idea!"

"I could really cry right now..... I'm just so glad my little sugar cube is alright...." she hugs Apple Bloom tighter, "Why would you do that?" she asked Apple Bloom.

Before she could answer Discord says, "Don't be mad at the little sour apple; I kinda talked her into it. What? I was bored! Tootles!" he teleports. The kids and Discord laughed then another came up.

Then came Rainbow Dash taking a nap on a cloud. Discord sneaks up on her, snaps his finger, and made Rainbow Dash black, white, and grey. Then he yells, "GET UP YOUR COLORS ARE GONE!!!" Rainbow Dash jumps up panic stricken and waving her arms and legs about before landing back on the cloud.

Rainbow Dash then looks at herself, "My color?! What happened to my color?!" then she starts sobbing, "My beautiful, beautiful colors have been stolen!" she planted her face on the cloud crying.

Discord smirks and snaps her fingers again, "Look, your colors are back!"

Rainbow got up and looks at herself. "Hey, your right!" tears forgotten she looks around and doesn't see Discord anywhere. "What was that all about?" she asked before shrugging her shoulders and resuming her nap. Discord laughs, "She still doesn't know I took her colors!" he said to the kids.

Then came Sugarcube Corner. Discord left a chocolate cake with candles with a note saying 'To: Pinkie Pie From: Discord enjoy!'. Pinkie Pie walks in and see's the cake, "MMMM!" she rushed over to it and blows the candles out. Before she could take a bite the cake blows up in her face! Discord comes out of hiding and laughs. Pinkie licks the cake off her face and laughs with Discord, "That was a good one!" she yelled.

"How did you make the cake blow up?" Polkey Dots asked.

Discord hands him a piece of paper, "Just read the instructions and you're sure prank somepony." he said.

"Wait till I pull this prank on my parents!"

Then came Fluttershy's Cottage. She and Easter were hanging out again. Easter then notices something, "Where'd that bush come from?" Easter asked. They were looking at a flower pot with a bush shaped like Discord striking the pose he had when he got turned to stone the first time. There was a note at the bottom saying 'To: Fluttershy From: Discord'.

"How thoughtful...." Fluttershy said. She and Easter were just about to move the bush when it bent down and screamed! Easter and Fluttershy grabbed each other and screamed as they fell to the ground. Discord got out of his bush disguise, jumped off the flower pot and laughed.

"Oh my gosh! HAHAHAHAHAHA! You two should've seen the looks on your faces!" Fluttershy and Easter laughed a little.

"You really got me...." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, me too...." Easter admitted before helping Fluttershy stand up.

"I have to admit I was surprised that they took it well." Discord told the kids who were laughing. "And you'll never guess what prank I pulled on Cadance and Shining Armor."

Then the screen went to the Crystal Empire. Discord put something in Cadance's perfume and hid under the couple's bed. Cadance just got out of the shower, got dressed, and took the perfume with her magic. She started spraying herself a few times then she made a look of disgust, "UGGGGGH!" she then starts coughing, "Agh! This stinks!"

Discord gets out from under the bed with a clothespin on his nose laughing. "Hya Stinkance! Long time no smell."

Cadance coughed a little, "What'd you put in my perfume?!"

"Skunk Perfume!" Discord answered laughing.

Shining Armor came into the room, "What's going on in he..... P.U.!" he yelled covering his nose, "What happened in here?"

Discord laughed and said, "I put Skunk Perfume into your wife's perfume!"

"Now I need another bath!" Cadance scolded Discord before heading to the bathroom, "Oh, this stinks really bad...." she groaned.

Shining Armor chuckled, "Okay, I admit it. It's kind of funny.... Discord?" he looks around and didn't see him. Then water and ice fell on top of him! "AGH! OH, THAT'S COLD!" he looks up and see's Discord standing on the ceiling with a bucket laughing.

"What's the matter?" Discord asked.

"Y-you dumped cold water on me that's what!"

"I was here, so I know what happened." Discord laughs again, "Toot-a-loo!" he teleports.

Discord and the kids all laughed, "Do you have any more of that Skunk Perfume?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yes, here you go!" a bottle appeared in his talon and he handed it to Sweetie Belle. "Only three more to go!" Discord said changing the channel.

In Canterlot Celestia was going about her work when Discord came into the room with a package. "Hi Celestia! I brought you something." Celestia sniffed and she smelled something sweet and couldn't resist. Discord handed her the package and she opened it up.

"Donuts? Don't mind if I do." she took one with her magic and took a bite not noticing a small machine in the box. Then confetti blew out in Celestia's face making her scream and make a face. Discord laughed as Celestia coughed, swallowed, and put a hoof to her throat. A servant saw this and got water for Celestia. Celestia took the glass, drunk it down and sighed.

"You okay Celestia?" Discord asked concerned.

"Yes, I'm alright."

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that."

"It's alright. It was very funny though!" Celestia laughed with Discord.

"By the way, where's Luna?" Discord asked.

Luna was taking a nap when Discord snuck in with a black phantom robe and a plastic horse skull mask. "She's gonna flip!" Discord snickered putting on the mask and skeleton gloves. Discord floated in the air above Luna in her bed chamber. Discord said while groaning, "Luuuuuuuuna......" she rolled over and groaned. "Luuuuuuuuna......"

"Not now Celestia......" Luna said in her sleep.

"She sure is a heavy sleeper....." Discord said to himself before getting closer. "LUNA!" she woke up fast, saw the ghost, and screamed while backing up on the bed. Discord took off the mask and laughed, "Now that's what I call a wake up call!"

Luna groaned and laid back down and pulled the covers back up, "I thought I was having a nightmare...." Celestia came in laughing and motioned Discord to come with her. "I'll get even with him...." Luna said to herself before dozing off slowly.

Discord and the kids laughed and laughed. "Aren't they princesses?" Polkey Dots asked.

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean we can pull pranks on each other." Discord laughed.

"Did Luna get even with you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nope, and neither did the others. Next stop is King Sombra!" Discord changed the channel again.

Discord snuck into Sombra's room while Sombra was taking a nap. Discord got out a black marker and drew something on his friend's face. Discord hid as Sombra woke up and got dressed. Luna came into the room, "Hello Sombra! Ready for....." Luna see's his face and starts laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Sombra dear, since when did you start growing a mustache?"

Sombra looked puzzled, "What?" he goes and looks in the mirror and see's a big black mustache drawn on his face. Discord jumps out and starts laughing too. "Ha ha ha, that's really funny Discord!" Sombra said, not amused. A servant hands Sombra a wet rag and he wipes his face off. The next night Spike, Sombra, Easter, Flash Sentry, Soarin, and the Mane Six were looking up at the stars through a telescope. Sombra decides to try out a pair of binoculars so he can see with both eyes. After he stops looking he turns to his friends and says, "There's goes a comet." then his friends look at him and started to laugh and giggle. "What's so funny?" he asked. Rarity takes out a mirror and gives it to Sombra. Discord put ink on the binoculars and when Sombra looked through it he got black circles around his eyes. Discord jumps out of hiding and laughs with the others. "Discord! Why you!" Sombra yells and chases after him. The next morning, Sombra wakes up, got dressed and looked at the mirror. He gasped and saw that his mane was spiked up like he just got static shocked.

Discord appears at the window and laughs, "Got you again!"

Sombra fixes his mane and goes for Discord, "Darn it Discord!" he turned into a shadow and chases after Discord.

"And he came so close to catching me, but I teleported before he could." Discord told the kids and they all laughed.

For hours the kids enjoyed themselves; playing games, dress up, making things, breaking things by accident, watching hilarious stunts, blunders, jokes, and pranks until it was night time. "Are you all up for more fun?" Discord asked them.

"YEAH!"

"Just what I wanted to hear." Discord said and he dressed in a Peter Pan costume. He cracked his knuckles and fingers and shook his fingers over the kids letting out a gold dust on them. Then they started floating in the air, "We're going flying!" Discord said before they all teleported.

They all flew through the clouds. The kids were all whooping and cheering in joy. "Whee-hee-hee! Hello Ponyville!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"Hello flying!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Yee-haw!" Apple Bloom.

"This is so cool flying through the sky. Hey look, it's the bullies we're passing by!" Rapper Mouth rapped as they all looked down and saw Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and Guitar Emo at Filthy Rich's house playing in the pool. Filthy Rich and the three looked up eyes wide.

"Look at us! We're airborne! Whoo-hoo!" Polkey Dots yelled.

"Whoa! My brother is up there!" Emo yelled.

"Since when do they hang out with Discord?" Silver Spoon asked.

"Who else would want to hang out with him?" Diamond asked. Then they all laughed making Filthy Rich look at his daughter sternly, "Sorry Dad...."

Discord and the CMC and S appeared right in front of them. "Hi kids!" Discord greeted. Silver and Diamond screamed and grabbed each other before they realized it was just Discord and the others. "Hello Filthy Rich." Discord greeted after dressing in a blue business suit.

"Hello Discord. You better be careful with those kids or they'll get hurt."

"Ah, don't worry. As long as I don't snap my fingers they'll remain airborne and I wouldn't let them wander off. My magic makes sure of that."

Sweetie Belle, while floating in the air, looked like she was swimming on her back and paddling her hooves. "This is great! You really got to try this." she said.

"Good idea! Say, why don't you come over to my house next weekend? And we'll have loads of fun!" Discord invited the bullies. Excited, Diamond asked her Dad. "Can we? Can we? Can we?"

Filthy Rich thought about it for a moment and said, "It's alright with me. But I draw the line at flying. Got it Discord?"

"Of course. Whatever you say. Wouldn't dream of it Filthy." the paw behind Discord's back crossed two fingers.

"Discord, I mean it."

"Fine, fine, fine. TTFN!" with that he and the good kids flew in the air. Discord now dresses in a pilot costume and they continued flying through the night sky. After a while they stopped on a roof of an abandoned building to rest for a minute. "Wasn't that fun?" Discord asked.

"That was awesome!" Scootaloo replied.

"I've always wanted to fly like bird or a bat." Forrest said.

"Hey, let's go back to Discord's house and do it all again!" Polkey Dots suggested.

"YEAH!"

Then heavy metal music was heard inside the building scaring the kids. "Oh ho, I forgot. I have friends that live in this abandoned warehouse!" Discord said.

"Who are your friends?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Oh, they're a bunch of monsters who used to be criminals but they've turned to music. They're really good at it too. Would you like to meet them?" Discord asked getting out of his pilot costume.

"If it's safe." Sweetie Belle replied.

"Don't worry, they may look vicious but they're as gentle as you all." with that they teleported into the building, which was a mess. "My apologies for the mess. They're not very hygienic." then they came into a lit up room where the music was coming from.

Inside was a centaur similar to Tirek except his skin was blue and his hair was black and hung down, and his clothing was red. He also wore a black leather jacket and was playing a black electric guitar. A pale white harpy with tangled black tangled hair, sharp teeth, black and yellow eyes, black lips, and silver feathers. Her hands and feet were black talons, she wore a blank tank top, and she played the bass. A brown Minotaur with a big belly, muscular chest and arms, bull legs and tail, and yellow horns. His hooves, claws, and loincloth were black; his snout was pale colored and had a gold nose ring; and his eyes appeared red and black. He was playing the drums. A stone gray gargoyle played a keyboard. And last was a brown lizard man. He appeared half human and half komodo dragon; he wore a black vest with a white t-shirt underneath it, and black leather torn pants; and he was doing the vocals. "WAH! WAH! WAHWAHWAH! WAH! WAH! WAHWAHWAH! WAH! WAHWAHWAH! WAH! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Hey guys!" Discord yelled.

"Discord! Great to see you back again!" the lizard man yelled giving him a high four.

"And you brought an audience. How sweet!" the harpy added strumming her bass.

"Who are you guys?" Polkey Dots asked.

The centaur stepped up, "I'm Sapphirex! I used to rob jewelry stores and auction them up to the highest bidder. But I realized there was another way to make money, so I gave what I've made to the owners of the jewelry stores and started hiding here."

The harpy flew up to them, "I'm Sireene, I used to be a vandal. I later asked myself 'what's the point in damaging property if they're going to keep rebuilding what I've broken' so I stopped and hid here too."

The Minotaur charged up to them breathing gust on the kids from his nostrils. "I'm Big Bully! I used to pick on others weaker than myself just for a laugh! HUFF!" gust came from his nostrils again. "Soon picking on others got boring so I came here! HUFF!"

The gargoyle landed behind the kids startling them. "Call me Rocky the Gargoyle. I used to terrorize others who were out late. I meant no harm; it was just for sport. Then one night a scared somepony silly so bad that she went into a coma for a few days. I felt so ashamed that I came here as well to hide."

The lizard man walked up to the kids hissing, "And I'm Skinner." he said sticking out his tongue and putting it back in. "I have never been a criminal, but ponies had a problem with an overgrown reptile wandering about. In other words they judged me before they got to know me so I lived alone here until I met these guys. We formed our own family and we called ourselves the Beastly Gang." he stuck his tongue out and stuck it back in again.

"Hey, I've heard of you guys!" Apple Bloom said. "You guys are like a legend!"

"How did you hear about us?" the lizard asked.

"Sheriff Bandit told us stories around a campfire." Sweetie Belle replied, "And ponies seem to be afraid when we bring them up. Sorry...."

"It's alright. We're used to it...." Sireena said with a frown.

"No one wants us around.... HUFF!" Big Bully added.

Then Sweetie Belle got an idea. "Why don't you perform in Ponyville and show that you've all changed. We'll just ask Twilight Sparkle. You also can't hide forever and no one will no that you've changed for the better if you don't show your faces." Discord and the other kids agreed.

The Beastly Gang huddled together talking so Discord and the kids can't hear them. When they were done talking, Skinner walked up to them. "We'll think about it.... oh, would you like to hear the song we've been working on?" they all agreed. "Okay, hang on to your hats you little mules! Because the baddest of the bad, and the Masters of Heavy Metal I might add, will give you all a show to watch!" Skinner yelled then the Beastly Gang started playing their instruments wildly. Skinner picked up a microphone and started singing: "When things are really rough, and it's very hard to cope! Nopony is hiring, and you're reaching the end of the rope! Go crazy, go mad, wreck havoc, steal, destroy! In other words, be a bad boy! Be a bad boy!"

Altogether they sung: "More money can be made in crime! Not to mention fame can come to you all in time! Our names will be in the Criminal Hall of Fame! Everyone shall fear my name! THE BEASTLY GANG!

Skinner sung by himself: "Fiends, felons, scoundrals, swindlers hear our call! When you go bad you might not go back at all! Be heartless, be cruel, and be downright mean! Go nuts, be rotten, make a really big scene! What I mean is be a bad boy! Be a bad boy! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The kids and Discord applauded wildly. "Thank you. Now don't get the wrong idea about the song; we don't really mean it." Skinner told them, "We're still writing it though...."

"Are you kidding? That was great!" Scootaloo told them.

"Yeah, you might even get first prize in Heavy Metal Band! Oh man, that will be so grand!" Rapper Mouth added.

"You really think so?" Sireene asked.

"We know so." Polkey Dots replied, "You'll go down in history for sure!"
Discord's House

Discord tucks the kids into their own beds. "Have a good day?" he asked.

"One of the most exciting days ever!" Scootaloo answered.

"We should hang out more often." Polkey Dots said.

"YEAH!"

Discord smiles, "Wouldn't that be something? Goodnight children."

"Goodnight Discord." with that Discord turns off the lights.

The next morning after breakfast they went outside with five portals open; one with Sweet Apple Acres, one with Carousel Boutique, one with a cloud Rainbow Dash is sleeping on, the Cafe where Hecko and Lolo were working at, and Rapper Mouth's parents' house. "These portals will take you home." Discord told them.

Apple Bloom and Wild Forrest went to the Sweet Apple Acres portal. "It's been fun!" Forrest said.

"Seeya! And thank you." Apple Bloom said before they jumped in.

Sweetie Belle went to the Carousel Boutique portal. "Bye Discord!" she jumps in.

"See you soon!" Scootaloo yelled before jumping into the portal leading to Rainbow Dash.

Rapper Mouth went to his parents' house portal. "Later Discord! It's been fun hanging you. Come over to our house having nothing to do!" he invited before jumping in.

"Bye Discord, have a silly day!" Polkey Dots said before jumping in the Cafe portal.

"Bye kids!" Discord yells back at them. Discord heads back to his house and opens the door, "Ah, kids...." he said before turning around, showing a piece of paper saying 'Kick Me' on it, then entered his house and closed the door.
Three weeks later....

A stage was set up in Ponyville one night. A crowd came and already took their seats. Discord, wearing his tuxedo, stood in front of the stage with a microphone in his paw. "Hello everypony! Now many of you are probably wondering why I called you all here tonight, but wonder no more! Tonight, I'm going to introduce you to a Heavy Metal Band who wishes to show everypony what they can do beside being mean-looking and scary. And don't worry; they won't hurt you. Most of them are reformed criminals, like myself. Please give it up for the Beastly Gang!" he yelled as he moved aside and the curtain opened showing the gang. Most of the ponies gasped in horror as they saw them. Discord hands Skinner a microphone.

Skinner said, "Hello, welcome to the show! What Discord said is true: we are troubled, and reformed outlaws. I was just rejected because of my appearance and I met with these guys. They felt so guilty for their crimes that they went into hiding, and I felt so embarrassed that I went into hiding with them for years. As the years passed we played Heavy Metal and became really good at it, but we were so ashamed to show our faces in public. But thanks to Discord, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Wild Forrest, Polkey Dots, and Rapper Mouth and their encouraging, not to mention Princess Twilight Sparkle's permission, we're able to show our skills and how reformed we are. So hang on to your hats you mules, because the masters of Heavy Metal will give you all a show to watch!" with that the band started playing as the crowd cheered. Skinner threw the microphone in the air, spun around, and caught it before singing: "When things are really rough, and it's very hard to cope! Nopony is hiring, and you're reaching the end of the rope! Go crazy, go mad, wreck havoc, steal, destroy! In other words, be a bad boy! Be a bad boy!"

Altogether they sung: "More money can be made in crime! Not to mention fame can come to you all in time! Our names will be in the Criminal Hall of Fame! Everyone shall fear my name! THE BEASTLY GANG!

By himself Skinner sung: "Fiends, felons, scoundrels, swindlers hear our call! When you go bad you might not go back at all! Be heartless, be cruel, and be downright mean! Go nuts, be rotten, make a really big scene! What I mean is be a bad boy! Be a bad boy!

Altogether they sung: "More money can be made in crime! Not to mention fame can come to you all in time! Our names will be in the Criminal Hall of Fame! Everyone shall fear my name! THE BEASTLY GANG!

By himself Skinner sung: "Why be a goody two or four shoes if it won't last?! Why not rob stores, bully others, disturb the peace, or maybe break some glass?! Ignore others that say 'Crime never pays'! You can have fun being a felon for the rest of your days!

Altogether they sung: "More money can be made in crime! Not to mention fame can come to you all in time! Our names will be in the criminal Hall of Fame! Everyone shall fear my name! THE BEASTLY GANG!

By himself Skinner sung: "Being bad may not last, so enjoy it while you can! Being bad can feel really good, man! But when your evil deeds catches up to you, try to find a way to make it up, or just be blue! Or if you don't know another life, just be a bad boy! YEAH! Be a bad boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooy! AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

Skinner snapped the microphone, and the others broke their instruments as the crowd applauded wildly. "WE ARE THE BEASTLY GANG!" Skinner yelled.

Big Bully looked over to Rocky, "They love us! HUFF!"

"No doubt about it!" Rocky replied.

Sireene landed between the two, "We've made history!"

Soon the Beastly Gang were in the newspapers. 'REFORMED CRIMINALS AND OUTSIDER PERFORM HEAVY METAL!' they said. Soon a music producer read the article too and found the Beastly Gang handing out autographs getting pictures taken with ponies. "You guys are just the band I'm looking for!" he told them as he gave them a card, "Here's my card if you're interested."

Skinner took it and read it with his gang. Skinner gasped, "We'll take the job!"

Discord, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Guitar Emo watched them. "This is exciting!" Discord told them.

"So cool!" Emo yelled.

"Yeah, it looks like they will be getting jobs in music." Tiara added.

"Hey Discord? Are we....." Silver Spoon was about to ask.

"Say no more!" Discord interrupted.
Later that night....

Discord took Guitar Emo, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon out flying. The bullies were having a very terrific time.

"Whee! This is so much fun!" Silver Spoon yelled.

"Whooo-yeah!" Emo yelled.

"This so cool! Just don't tell my dad." Diamond said to Discord.

"Our little secret is safe with me." Discord replied before taking the kids into the clouds.

(Songs: Beastly Gang part 1 and Beastly Gang part 2)

Author's Note

The name Rocky I used means difficult, or unreliable and I also named him Rocky because he looks almost like a gargoyle statue.
I named the Minotaur Big Bully because he's part bull and it's also a pun.
The name Skinner was the name I gave to my imaginary friend who was a lizard man when I was a kid and reptiles can shed skin.
I thought of the name Sireene when I put two e's in the word siren and the siren is from mythology
Sapphirex is a combination Sapphire and Rex (Latin for king) and his name is pronounced suh-fear-ex

Chapter Twenty Two: Island Princess

Chapter Twenty Two: Island Princess
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

The Mane Six were checking the map when they found an island not far from Sombra's Old Island. "It looks like we're all needed there." said Twilight.

"What island is that?" Spike asked.

"Wait, I've read about this island. They call it the Luau Tiki Island." Twilight said in a surprised tone of voice.

"Luau Tiki Island?" Rarity asked.

"It's an old tale, but the book said that Luau Tiki Island is a very peaceful island and the ponies that live there have not made any contact with any other island for centuries." Twilight explained, "The natives are not known to be hostile; they actually love visitors. But for some reason ponies stopped coming to that island."

"Sounds like they need new friends." Pinkie said before noticing Rainbow sleeping in her throne. Pinkie bounced over to her and woke her up.

"What?" she asked with a yawn.

"Pack your bags because we're going on vacation!"

Rainbow got up fast, "Really?"

"We're going to be visiting an island that no pony has been to for centuries, dear." said Rarity, "Just think of what we might find there...."

"And the tropical food...." Spike added licking his lips.

"Eclipse!" Twilight called.

Eclipse came into the Throne Room, "Yes Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

"Please, just Twilight. We're going to Luau Tiki Island. Would you like to come with us?"

"Of course. I'm with you always."

Once they've gathered their things Twilight turned on her teleporter.

"Are you okay, Eclipse?" Fluttershy asked in a concerned tone of voice, "Are you scared?"

"No, if my masters are not scared then I am not scared." Eclipse replied.

"Oh good. I was just checking...."

"Can't go to an Island without us!" Easter said entering the room with Flash Sentry following behind both carrying bags.

"Hello Easter. Hello Flash." Twilight greeted then she and Flash kissed.

"Spike called us, and we thought you could use our help." Flash told his girlfriend.

"Thank you. Alibot, you look after things while we're away."

The robot salutes, "YES PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE."

"Luau Tiki Island, here we come!" Spike yelled before jumping into the teleporter. One by one they all jumped in.
Luau Tiki Island

They all fell through the portal. Rarity got her head stuck in the sand. "Yee-haw!" Applejack yelled before falling in the sea.

Flash Sentry landed on his stomach with Easter landing on his back "Ow!"

Fluttershy was caught in Easter's arms making her blush.

Twilight spiraled out of control before getting her horn stuck in a rock.

Spike hit a palm tree making coconuts fall on his head making him see stars and do the hula before he fell on his back. Easter got off Flash Sentry and helped him up. "Is everypony and dragon alright?" Flash asked before Eclipse fell through and landed on Easter and Flash Sentry.

"Oof!"

"So sorry...." she said before getting off him. She runs over to Rarity, grabs her tail, and pulls her out. "Are you okay?"

"Define okay." she said trying to get the sand out of her eyes, mane, coat, and tail. "Just look at me! I'm a mess."

"You should be grateful that nothing is broken." Eclipse replied.

Twilight pulled and tried to get her horn out of the rock while flapping her wings. Flash grabbed her tail and pulled until she got lose. "Ugh, thanks...."

"Are you okay Twilight?"

She began rubbing her head, "Have a little bit of a hornache, but I'll be alright. Hey, where's Pinkie Pie?"

"Surf's up!" they all looked towards the ocean and saw Pinkie Pie surfing. She was standing on her hindlegs on a pink surfboard, wearing coconuts, a flower garland around her neck, and a hula skirt. "Aloha!" she yelled before joining her friends.

"I didn't know you can surf." Eclipse said.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me!" Pinkie replied bouncing up and down.

Flash Sentry helped Twilight wrap some bandages around around her horn. Once he was done she said, "Okay, here's the plan. We'll all split up and try to find what's wrong with the island. Fluttershy, you're with Easter."

"Okay...." Fluttershy said.

"Rainbow Dash and Eclipse will search the sky."

"That I can do!" Rainbow said.

"Yes Twilight." said Eclipse.

"Rarity, Spike, Flash Sentry, Applejack, and I will look on land. And Pinkie Pie, you do what you can to help."

"Okey-dokey lokey!" Pinkie yelled.

With that they all left their own ways; Twilight went with Flash; Rarity, Spike, and Applejack went together with Pinkie Pie bouncing behind; Fluttershy went with Easter; Eclipse and Rainbow took to the sky.

Rarity put on her traveling clothes and was very careful where she was stepping, "Is it warm, or is it just me?" she asked.

"It can get humid in jungles." Applejack replied.

"George and Wild Forrest would feel at home here." Spike told them before noticing hoofprints. "Hey, look at this."

They all looked, "So there are ponies living on this island." Rarity said.

"Let's hope they are as friendly like the book said." Spike suggested unaware they were being watched from the trees. Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense told her there was somepony watching.

Fluttershy and Easter walked through the jungle enjoying the scenery, "It's beautiful here...." Fluttershy said.

"Yes, it is...." Easter agreed.

Then some piglets came out, "Oh, how cute!" Fluttershy said spoiling them, then the mother pig and the boar father came out.

"Oh, hello there." Easter greeted them. "You haven't seen any ponies around here besides us have you?" The boar snorted and nodded a yes. "Do they live here?" the mother snorts and nods a yes and snorts again. "Because we're on a mission here, but we don't know what the problem is. Has there been any problems lately?" The boar snorts and shakes his head no. "Oh, can you show us where we can find the natives?" the boar points his his tail straight ahead and snorts again. "Thank you kindly." The mother snorted, calling for her piglets who were all over Fluttershy. She hugs them, then she and Easter wave goodbye to them before they left. "The piglet's parents told me where we can find the natives. Follow me." they trotted off together unaware of somepony watching them.

Eclipse and Rainbow were flying through the air when they spotted children playing at the beach. Eclipse, loving children, gasped in delight. They both landed and hid. "So there are ponies living on this island after all." said Rainbow.

"Just look at them...." Eclipse said smiling at them.

"You must really love kids, huh?" Rainbow asked.

Then they spotted a shark coming towards the children swimming! "Oh no! SHARK!" Eclipse yelled alerting the children. Once they saw the shark's dorsal fin they all swam to shore. Rainbow Dash and Eclipse flies up to them.

"Is everypony alright?" Rainbow Dash asked. Then there was a scream heard. There was a filly left behind! Eclipse got into the water a swam as fast as she could towards the filly. The filly was scared at first, but then she realizes that Eclipse is an Alicorn and got on her back. She wrapped her arms around Eclipse's neck tightly. Eclipse started swimming to shore when the shark was getting close to her. The filly screamed and closed her eyes shut. Seeing the filly scared her horn glowed and the children on the beach watched in awe as she lifted the shark in the air and tossed it somewhere else!

The children and Rainbow Dash cheered as Eclipse came to shore with the filly. Eclipse used her magic to lift the filly off her back and put her on the ground. The filly cried and hugged the Alicorn clone. She wrapped one arm around the kid, "Shh, it's okay honey...." she whispered trying to comfort her. Then she wrapped a wing around her. Some of the children gasped in awe when they saw that the girl's savior was an Alicorn and they all bowed down to her.

"What's up?" Rainbow Dash asked seeing the children bowing.

"She's an alicorn." one of the children said.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"It's very good!" another child said.

"Twilight, how's your head?" Flash asked caringly.

"It's fine Flash, thanks...." then they heard the sound of singing, drums, and dancing. They looked and saw different colored earth ponies. Some of the males were wearing tribal tattoos, feathers, and tiki masks while the females were wearing shells, coconuts, and green or yellow grass skirts.

One of the dancers spots the duo. "Visitors!" she yelled. "Visitors!"

The music stopped and they all turned their attention to the two. One of the female dancers trotted up to them, "Welcome to Luau Tiki Island! Please stay as long as you like."

"Thank you, my name is Twilight Sparkle." she said nicely.

"And my name is Flash Sentry."

The girl smiles and notices Twilight's horn. "Your horn hurts?" she asked.

"A little...."

"Please, come with me." the two followed her to a hut where an elderly stallion mixed up a medicine. Flash helps Twilight removes the bandage then the stallion rubs the medicine on her horn. Then the medicine dissolved.

"My horn, it feels better. Thank you!" the stallion smiles and nods.

Then he sees the wings on Twilight's back. "Alicorn...." he said. "I never thought I live to see an Alicorn...." his eyes were locked on Twilight.

"Grandfather?" the girl asked before looking too.

She took one of Twilight's wing and pulled it, "Ow!"

"You ARE an Alicorn!"

Twilight was puzzled, "Yes, I am. Is there a problem?" she asked before the girl bowed down surprising her.

"Great Alicorn, have you come to rule us?" she asked.

"No, not at all." Twilight replied in a bewildered tone of voice.

Then there were voices saying 'Alicorn!' outside the hut.

The girl looks out, "Another Alicorn?!" she ran out with the other three following her. As Eclipse and Rainbow Dash walked through the village the villagers bowed their heads and bend their knees.

"Neat, huh?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight and Flash ran up to her. "You made it!" Twilight said.

"Are you alright?" Eclipse asked her.

"Yes, how about you?"

"We're fine...."

"Two Alicorns...." one of the children said with his eyes wide.

Then another elderly stallion with a headband with three feathers and a brown cloak approached the four. "I am Chief Bonga-Shaka. State your names and where you're from...." he said.

"I'm Rainbow Dash, one of the most awesome athletes and flyers of all time! And I'm from Cloudsdale." Rainbow said striking a pose.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle. I'm from the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom in Ponyville."

"I am Eclipse. I don't know where I came from but I serve Twilight Sparkle at the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom."

"I'm Flash Sentry. Royal Guard in Equestria and Twilight Sparkle's boyfriend."

Twilight nudges him, "Not the best time...." she said.

"Well Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Eclipse, and Flash Sentry welcome to our island." he turned to Twilight and Eclipse, "What may we do for you great Alicorns?" the chief asked before bowing down.

"We're here on a mission, but we don't know what it is yet. Has there been any trouble here lately?" Eclipse asked.

"No madame, there has not been any trouble here; we are a peace loving tribe. It has been centuries since we've last had visitors. If you please stay as long as you desire and we will obey your every command o great Alicorns."

"Why do you call us great?" Eclipse asked puzzled.

The Chief stood up and pointed to his left. The four looked and saw an Alicorn statue. The statue looked old and the Alicorn was wearing what looked like a crown made out of a headband with feathers; her necklace was made out of sea shells and coconuts; and in her left hoof she was holding a staff with an three orbs and leaves, kind of like a palm tree. Eclipse's horn glowed, "Something about this statue sounds familiar...."

"Chief! Great Alicorns! We have more visitors!" some of the tribal warriors led Fluttershy and Easter and others led Applejack, Rarity, Spike, and Pinkie Pie.

The Chief approaches them, "Welcome to Luau Tiki Island. I am Chief Bonga-Shaka, state your names and where you from."

"I'm Applejack, I'm an applebucker from Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville. Howdy!"

"I'm Spike, I'm Twilight Sparkle's number one assistant."

"I am Rarity, I'm from the Carousel Boutique. That's in Ponyville as well."

"And I'm Pinkie Pie! I'm from the Sugarcube Corner, and that's also in Ponyville!"

Fluttershy turned her head shyly, "Um, my name is Fluttershy....." she said.

"My name's Easter, and we're also from Ponyville. We're all friends with Twilight Sparkle, Flash Sentry, Rainbow Dash, and Eclipse sir."

The Chief smiled and nodded, "This is getting better and better. Feel free to stay as long as you desire."

"That's very kind of you, sir." Easter said.

"Much appreciated partner!" Applejack added.

The natives took the Alicorns to two thrones made out of stone and was decorated with flowers and engraved markings. "These thrones are yours." one of the natives said motioning them to sit on them.

They both sat down on the thrones and two females started fanning them. "Is this really necessary?" Eclipse asked.

"Of course. You two are Alicorns." one of the females answered.

"Eclipse, I think they worship Alicorns like they're gods or goddesses." Twilight told her.

"Yes, we do." the other female said overhearing Twilight. "It was the Great Alicorn that gave us this island at the very beginning and taught us how to live here and to live in harmony and for that we worship them."

They can't be talking about Luna or Celestia can they? Twilight thought.

"What was the Alicorn's name?" Eclipse asked them.

"Her name was Isle."

"Isle?" Twilight asked.

The Chief walked up to them, "Yes, Isle. Isle was the Princess of Luau Tiki Island centuries ago until a dark being tried to take over the world. Isle used her powers to make our Island invisible so it could be safe, sacrificing herself to do so. Once she made her Island invisible all that was found was this statue. It has been here ever since."

"Is that why nopony has visited this Island?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, and it has become very lonely but at least we have each other." The chief said looking back and seeing Fluttershy and Easter playing with the kids. Applejack helping some of the natives with their harvest. Pinkie Pie was hula dancing with the other hula dancers. Rainbow Dash was showing off her abilities in the air. Rarity was helping the ponies that make clothes. Spike was enjoying a bowl of tropical fruit.

"Flash!" Twilight called.

He ran up to her, "Yes Twilight?"

"The Chief says that this Island is invisible. Can you fly to the sky and take a look?"

"As you wish." with that he took off.

As soon as Flash was high enough he looked down and to his surprise he couldn't see the island anywhere, "Incredible!" He flew down carefully and landed in front of Twilight. "What he says is true; the Island is invisible!"

Twilight thought for a minute and gasped, "What if Isle turned herself into stone?" she asked getting the females and the Chief's attention.

"What do you mean?" The chief asked.

"Maybe, just maybe the spell Isle cast was so powerful that she turned to stone and as long as she remains stone the Island will remain invisible."

"That makes sense." Eclipse said.

"We'll need the Elements of Harmony." Twilight said her horn glowing, "Please get Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack." she ordered the Chief.

"Yes Twilight Sparkle." he said bowing.

The Mane Six stood around the statue with their Elements of Harmony. "If this works we might set her free." Twilight said as the elements were powering up one by one.

"Wait!" Sombra's voice yelled. A shadow appeared out of nowhere and Sombra appeared.

"Sombra?! What are you doing here?" Twilight asked surprised.

"I was looking through my Crystal Ball and I found you all here. I also have a confession to make...." he said. "I was the dark being who tried to take over and I was the one that put a curse on Isle before she made the island invisible to my eyes!" the natives gasped.

"Why am I not surprised?" Rainbow Dash asked making Applejack nudge her.

Sombra looked towards the villagers, "I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. It was a very different time and a very different me, even though that's hardly an excuse. I hope it'll make up for my mistakes by helping them set your Princess free." he said as his horn started glowing. He joined the six in the circle and then they all concentrated on the statue. All together they all used their magic and Elements of Harmony on the statue. The statue glowed blue and then turned green.

Then a dark aura left the statue and Sombra absorbed it making his powers stronger. Then the statue turned back to grey as it began to crack. "AGH!" out came a beautiful light green alicorn. Her eye color was brown; her mane and tail were water blue; the feathers she was wearing around her rainbow colored headband were rainbow as well; her necklace was sand colored; the coconuts around the necklace were brown; her sea shells were pink, white, and brown; her staff appeared to be made out of wood and the coconuts looked like they were carved and the leaves were real; and her Cutie Mark was an island with waves. She breathed hard and tried to walk forwards but she lost her balance and fell with Sombra catching her in his arms in time. She opened her eyes. It was blurry at first but her vision cleared and she saw Sombra, "Sombra? Is that you?" she whispered as her horn glowed making Sombra's horn glow. "It is you.... you've repented and helped set me free at last....."

Sombra smiled, "Yes, Isle. Much has passed since we last met." he said helping her stand up and she put an arm across his shoulders so she can lean on him.

She looked and saw the tribe who bowed down to her. "Luau Tiki Island?" she asked.

"Yes."

"How long was I asleep?"

"It's been over a thousand years, my dear." her eyes opened wide with surprise.

"A thousand years?! Oh, I imagine the world has changed quite a bit. What about Luna and Celestia?"

Sombra helped her into a bed in a hut, "Celestia and Luna are still around. If you like I can take you to them later once you feel better."

"I'd like that. Thank you."

The medicine stallion walked in with a bowl full of tropical food. "Here my princess...." he said presenting it to her and bowing.

"Thank you." she started eating.

Sombra walked out of the hut with some of the natives, Eclipse, Spike, Easter, Flash Sentry, and the Mane Six waiting. "Is she going to be alright?" one of the natives asked.

"She'll be fine. I guess being trapped in stone has made her exhausted. Ugh, I don't know if I can forgive myself.... or if she'll forgive me...."

After a while Isle walked out with the stallion and his granddaughter helping her, "Sombra, what you did years ago was not your fault; it was your dark side. Yes, I forgive you and in time my village will forgive you as well. As you might have been told already, you must forgive yourself. Sombra, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy. I am forever in your dept for breaking the evil spell and I shall make Luau Tiki Island visible to others...." with that her horn glowed dark green and within moments the island became totally visible making everypony cheer for joy. Once Isle felt better she and Sombra used their powers to leave the island with the Mane Six, Eclipse, Spike, Flash Sentry, and Easter.
Canterlot

They all appeared in the throne room surprising Celestia and Luna. Luna and Celestia saw Isle. All three gasped and ran up to each other and shared a group hug crying.

"They're really happy to see each other...." Fluttershy said.

"They should be." Sombra replied, "Believe it or not, Isle is Luna's and Celestia's cousin...."

Their eyes opened wide at that. "I never knew they have a cousin." Twilight said.

"You never asked?" Sombra asked her.

"No, it didn't occur to me...." Twilight said shaking her head.

"They must have a lot to talk about." Rainbow Dash added.

"Yeah...." Twilight said. They all couldn't imagine not seeing their relatives for years.

Discord came in and saw Isle who saw him. "Well, if it isn't my old favorite Island Princess!" he yelled.

"And if it isn't my old favorite loud mouth!" she replied before they hugged each other.

"Good to see you again Isle. You look great!"

"You too Discord."

Discord sees her long tail and grabs it, "Ooh, soft blue tail." he laughs and puts it around his neck like a boa, dresses in a blue dress and wig, and winked his eyes like a girl, "Beautiful!" Everypony and Spike laughed except for Isle who pulled her tail back with a chuckle.

"Cut it out, Discord!" she looks at the others and says, "Discord and I have a long history of teasing." she looks back at Discord who got out of his dress and wig, "It's also good to see you haven't changed."

They all talked for a while in the room. "You and Sombra are getting married?!" Isle asked Luna excited before hugging her.

Sombra wrapped an arm around Luna after the two cousins let go, "Yes. Who ever thought a monster like me would get married to a beauty like Luna?" he asked.

"Sombra, you're not a monster." Luna said before kissing him.

Discord whispers to Isle, "They make the perfect Dark Couple don't you think?"

"Yeah...."

Suddenly the Mane Six's Cutie Marks glowed. "Our mission is accomplished...." Twilight said. "Not only we reunited Luna and Celestia with their cousin, we helped Luau Tiki Island become visible to the world and now others may come to the island after all these centuries."

"Speaking of luau, we wouldn't want to be late for the 'Welcome Back Isle!' party back on the Island!" Pinkie yelled.
Luau Tiki Island

Hula and tiki masked dancers were dancing, drummers were playing, others were serving food and drink to the tourists. Discord and Celestia, Flash and Twilight, Fluttershy and Easter, Luna and Sombra, they all danced together. Spike, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity were doing the hula with the other dancers, Rainbow Dash was learning to play a ukulele, Eclipse was dancing and playing with the children before Scorpan asked her to dance with him. Isle sat on her new throne watching everypony happily.

Chapter Twenty Three: Tale of Sombra and Luna

Chapter Twenty Three: Tale of Sombra and Luna
Carousel Boutique

"Ow!" Forrest yelled.

"Hold still, dear. I'm almost done." Rarity said. Rarity was brushing Forrest's mane and tail and he was dressed in a green vest with jungle trees on the back and white buttons in front. "There, finished!" then she put a green baseball cap with a white 'W' on it. "Hmm, something's missing...." She thought for a moment and sung, "Ideaaaaa!" She used her magic to grab a green bandanna with white stars on it and tied it around the colt's neck. "You look sooooo good!" Rarity said leading him to a mirror. "You like it?"

"Yeah, thanks Rarity." he looked at himself closely. "I might get used to it." then the doorbell rung.

Rarity answered and Yykees was at the door. "Good evening Yykees." she greeted.

"Good evening Rarity. I got the wings you wanted." he said holding a box.

Yykees went inside and took the wings out, making Rarity gasp for joy. These wings were very identical to the butterfly wings Rarity had that one time only it was made of metal, and it had a purple strap with diamonds around it. Rarity's eyes sparkled at the sight of it. "OH, THANK YOU!" Rarity hugged Yykees.

"Don't mention it. It's what friends do for each other. Here, let me help you get it on." With his magic he carefully put the wings on Rarity and tightened the strap. "The strap's adjustable." Then Yykees took out a purple head band that also had diamonds around it and put it around Rarity's head. "This device will help you control your wings with your mind. And the wings can also unleash glitter the same way Rainbow Dash leaves rainbows if you want it to. Not to mention it has the same abilities as your old wings." Rarity mouth was wide open. "You love it?" Yykees asked.

"Love it?! Oh, I could just kiss you if you weren't so.... so....."

"Creepy? Don't be afraid to say it. I was the first to admit it by the way."

"I can't wait to try this out! Oh, can you keep an eye on Sweetie Belle and Wild Forrest while I'm showing off my new wings?"

"Sure. It won't be a problem. Just don't do anything reckless, okay?"

"Darling, I was born careful. Bye!" with that she took off.

"You made those wings?!" Sweetie Belle asked jumping towards him, "Can you make me wings too?"

Yykees chuckled while stroking Opal's back, "Maybe. Would you like to go to Twilight Sparkle's with me?" he lifted a machine identical to Twilight's teleporter outside the Carousel Boutique with his magic. Meanwhile Wild Forrest was struggling to get his new clothes off.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

King Sombra was speaking with Twilight Sparkle about her teleporter. "Fascinating. So that's how you found Luau Tiki Island."

"Yes. Yykees has been working on his own teleporter lately and I received a letter saying that we'll never believe what he made by accident."

"What did he make?"

Yykees came into the room with his teleporter, "Kids, can you go find something to do? I need to speak to Twilight."

"Ok!" the kids ran off.

Yykees explained everything. "You made a time machine?!" Twilight asked surprised.

"Yes. I don't get it either. Just when I thought I finished it I started thinking about my hometown and it appeared in the teleporter. When I jumped in I found myself in my own childhood! I even saw my younger self."

Sombra walks up to the mirror and the Crystal Empire appeared, "The Crystal Empire from a thousand years ago...." he whispered walking forward.

Yykees stopped him, "Hold it, your majesty! If we mess with time to much something in the present day will change. In other words if you change something in the past you'll be changing something in the present. I suggest we use this time machine only for emergencies."

"Maybe you're right. If I stopped myself in the past, things would be really different today. And Luna...." Sombra said before he looked down and sighed.

"What's the matter, Sombra?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just personal stuff is all...." Sombra answered making his horn glow and black and red crystals surrounded the time machine. "There, now nopony can get in." then a keyhole appeared in the center of the crystal and a black key with a ruby on the handle was made. "Twilight, I'll put you in charge of the time machine if it's alright with Yykees."

"Of course! I don't feel like messing with history anyway."

Sombra hands the key to Twilight. "Thank you Sombra. I'll put this key in a safe." She said with a blue box identical to the box that held the power that defeated Lord Tirek except it had no keyholes. The chest opened and Twilight sat the key inside and sealed it with magic. Twilight notices a sad look on Sombra's face, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just horrible memories twisting inside me again like spoiled food. I'm perfectly fine; don't worry about me." with that he disappeared in a shadow.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra was in the ballroom playing his pipe organ. It was a rather sad melody filling the castle. Luna came into the room, "Hello Sombra." she greeted.

Sombra looks over his shoulder, "Oh, hello Luna...."

Luna trotted over to her fiance and sat next to him on the chair. She heard the music, "That's very pretty. Depressing, but pretty. Is something the matter?"

Sombra stopped playing and looked at her. He sighed and said, "Yykees accidentally built a time machine and I was hoping to travel back in time and stop myself from...." he stopped there. "Do you recall the argument we had before I took over the Crystal Empire?" Sombra asked.

"Sadly, yes...." Luna replied.

"I hurt you Luna. I didn't mean too; I lost my temper. I was hoping to change that, for you...." Sombra told her.

Luna hugs Sombra, "Sombra, I've already forgiven you for hurting me. I am also touched that you are willing to do such a thing to prevent me from getting hurt. But if you did change something done over a thousand years ago things won't be what they are today, and I am happy that you were able to resist temptation."

"You are?" Sombra asked.

"You did what you thought is right not just for me, but for yourself and others around you." Luna explained. "If you didn't resist temptation who knows what could happen to us."

Sombra smiles, "Thank you Luna. I locked up the time machine and put Twilight in charge of it so nopony could use it. We'll only use the time machine if it's necessary."

"Good idea Sombra. Would you like to come to Canterlot for dinner?"

"You already know the answer to that." Sombra said with chuckle then they both kissed.
Canterlot

Celestia, Discord, Cadance, Eclipse, Scorpan, Shining Armor, Alexandrite, Isle, Luna, the CMC, the CMS, the Mane Six, Easter, Flash Sentry, Spike, and Sombra were sitting at the table eating their dinner. "This is really good I will not lie, this food just makes me want to fly!" Rapper Mouth said before scarfing his dinner down.

Rarity nudges him, "Rapper, you mind your manners." she said, "That's no way to behave in front of the Princesses and the King."

Celestia chuckles, "It's alright."

"Hey, Sombra? Do you remember tellin' me about you and Luna?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yes. I take it you want to know how we met?"

"YEAH!" the children yelled. "Yeah, I was wondering the same thing: how long did you and Luna get together?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Ooh! Story time!" Pinkie Pie yelled getting out popcorn.

"Well...." Sombra took out a very old book and opened it showing the pictures, "This took place many centuries ago, back to when I was a colt...."

"This is going to be good! I can tell." Spike said.

"I used to live in the Crystal Empire and I was ostracized by the others because of my special gifts: shadow and darkness. Not to mention my gray coat, black mane, and my red horn. No matter how hard I tried to fit in, everypony seemed to be afraid of the dark and many believed that I was a warlock. I assured them that I wasn't, but they didn't believe me...."

"How awful! How prejudice!" Rarity yelled.

"Yes, it was awful. But that was a very different time. different from today. My parents and I were banished from the Crystal Empire because of an accident I caused using my dark magic. Then my parents abandoned me, leaving me to fend for myself. I hid in the shadows, stole food when nopony was looking just to survive. Before my parents kicked me out I took a family heirloom: A beautiful crystal necklace made from the crystals of the Crystal Empire. One day, after a failed attempt to find food, I was bullied by colts older than myself. They tormented me, teased me, and hurt me emotionally. I was just about to use my dark magic on them when Luna came by and stood up for me."

"That was the day our lives changed forever...." Luna said. "I was taking a stroll down the village when I spotted Sombra mercilessly being picked on. I stood up for him and used my title as the Princess of the Night against them and I threatened to tell my father if they didn't leave Sombra alone. After they left I made sure Sombra was okay and I looked into his eyes. Loneliness and darkness is what I saw. I took pity on him and invited him to live with me and my family."

"I was very moved by her kindness and her beauty. And I saw no trace of fright. I accepted the offer and together we went back to the castle. I demonstrated my powers to the Royal Sister's parents, the King and Queen. They too showed no trace of fright and said that I have great potential. I looked up to them like they were my parents. Around the clock I spent with the family, mostly Luna. And as we came of age I fell in love with Luna...."

"And I fell in love with Sombra. As the more time we spent together, our bond grew more stronger. I also saw that there was darkness in Sombra's heart because of his hatred and bitterness caused by the incidents from his childhood."

"And as my hatred and bitterness grew, so did my powers and I eventually learned how to master the power of the crystals."

"I still loved him and he still loved me. Afraid that my parents would kick him out, leaving him without a family once again, I hid what I knew about what was in Sombra's heart from them."

"I was ready to propose to her, but before I could make a ring for her something terrible happened...."

"What happened?" Shining Armor asked.

"The darkness took it's toll on me and closed the door to my heart. I became power hungry, mad, and vengeful. I even made a new name for myself: Sombra, the King of Darkness alias King Sombra. I tried to stop it, but I couldn't stop it. Once I became stronger, I headed back to my parents..... it still upsets me....." Sombra began to cry, "Mother, father..... forgive me....." Luna hugs Sombra and tries to comfort him. Isle handed Sombra a hanky. After Sombra dried his eyes he continued. "I got my revenge by turning them into crystals and I made sure they were lost in the darkness, forever."

The guests gasped. "How awful...." Fluttershy whispered.

"How could you?" Rarity asked.

"I wasn't myself during that time. If I could see my parents again, I want to tell them how sorry I am. Even though it might not do any good because what's done is done. I can't change it and I can't free them. And I've tried...."

"I witnessed what he had done. He came up to me and revealed is new sinister plans. I remember it well.... he planned on overthrowing the ruler of the Crystal Empire, ruling the Crystal Empire and eventually the world. Only it'll all be darkness. I tried to reason with my love, but the darkness blinded him."

"I tried to persuade her into ruling the world with me as my queen, but she refused. We got into an argument, then I lost my temper and fired a magic beam at her. After I realized that I hurt the only mare I have ever loved, It pushed me over the edge."

"By the time I recovered, Sombra has taken over the Crystal Empire. Celestia and I had no choice but to seal him in the ice. 'Forgive me, my love....' was I said before we turned him into a shadow and trapped him. Even after all that he had done, I never gave up on him and I still loved him...."

Sombra took Luna's hoof, "Now that we're together again, and we'll be getting married soon, we'll be together forever...." Luna's eyes were full of tears as she smiled her beautiful smile. Sombra closed the book. He and Luna kissed.

Rarity was sobbing and drying her eyes with her hanky. Applejack held her hat on her chest. Forrest's arm was across Apple Bloom's shoulders. Pinkie Pie just finished her popcorn. Discord dried his eyes with his own hanky, then Celestia rested her head on his shoulder. Everyone else looked very emotional. "Man, I never knew you went through a tough time." Shining Armor said.

"We're so sorry...." Cadance whispered while cradling her baby son. They all agreed with her.

"Thank you...." Sombra said.

"So what happened to your family heirloom?" Spike asked.

Luna's eyes opened wide, "I almost forgot!" a chest came up to her. She opened it up and took out a very beautiful necklace made out of different colored crystals.

Sombra gasped, "You've kept it all those years?" he asked and whispered.

"Yes, after you left I found the necklace under your bed and I kept it to remind me of you and if you ever came back....."

"Oh, Luna...." they embraced again.

"So touching....." Isle sobbed as she spoke.

"That was quite a story." Rainbow Dash said.

"Romance, friendship, tragedy, hurt, and comfort..... makes an emotional story." Rarity said still drying her eyes.

"I have it all written down, if you don't mind Sombra." Twilight said showing him the scroll she's written on.

"No, not at all. Feel free to share this story to others."

"Would you all like to hear how the Cutie Mark Crusaders got together?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Fire away." said Celestia. Apple Bloom began to tell their story.
Ponyville

A crowd of ponies, even her friends, were watching in awe as Rarity showed off her wings and everything she can do with her wings. She even sparkled different-colored glitter over the crowd. Rarity landed in front of the crowd and bowed as they applauded. Sapphire Shores approached her, "Where did you get such fabulous wings?" she asked.

"My friend Yykees made it for me."

"Yykees? Tell me, where can I find Yykees?"

"Right here, toots." she looked to her right and saw Yykees standing next to her.

She jumped back in disgust, "Ugh! You are Yykees?!"

"At your service!" Yykees said bowing in a gentlecoltly way.

Sapphire quickly recovered and said politely, "If you please, make me a pair of wings similar to Rarity's only different shades of blue and it has dolphins."

"Anything to please a lady." Yykees replied before noticing Zecora watching and grinning sheepishly. He left with Zecora.

Sapphire leaned over to Rarity, "He's one of the most ugliest ponies I have ever seen. But he's very skilled and has great potential. I got to give him that."

"Like a diamond in the rough." Rarity added.

Sapphire chuckled, "Precisely...."

Chapter Twenty Four: Day Care

Chapter Twenty Four: Day Care
Our Town

A meeting was being held in the center of Our Town, which is slowly getting bigger. All the ponies of Our Town, the Mane Six, Eclipse, and Scorpan stood in front of a stage. Sir Stonehorn and Starlight Glimmer stood on the stage with King Sombra. "Starlight Glimmer has done well during the past few months reforming. With help from the Mane Six and friends, Starlight Glimmer has finally learned the true meaning of friendship." Sombra said to the crowd. The crowd applauded, and Sombra looked down at the mare. "Starlight Glimmer, you have worked hard to make up for your mistakes and you finally let go of your foolish beliefs. For that, I'll give you back your powers and your Cutie Mark." with that his eyes and horn glowed. Starlight's Cutie Mark came back and so did her powers.

Starlight sighed happily, "Thank you, Sire.... thank you...."

Sombra nodded, "And you are free to go."

"Really?"

"Yes...."

"Would I be allowed to return if I wanted too?"

"If you wish to be one of my servants, or if you want to pay a visit yes." Starlight smiled at the answer and looked over at Sir Stonehorn who smiled back at her.

Once the meeting was done the ponies went back to their everyday things. The Mane Six, Eclipse, and Scorpan stood together talking. "Did you see that look Starlight gave to Stonehorn?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Rainbow Dash chuckled, "Something tells me she's in love."

"I don't blame her...." Eclipse said before realizing what she just said. She looked over to Scorpan and blushed.

"Ooh, Eclipse and Scorpan!" Rainbow teased. "Eclipse and Scorpan! Eclipse and Scorpan! Eclipse and Scorpan! Eclipse and Scorpan!" she sung. Eclipse grunted and used her magic to throw her in the air, "WHOA!"

She and Scorpan stared at each other happily. The moment was short-lived when Rainbow came back and tackled Eclipse. Then a cloud of dust surrounded the two. "Girls, there's no need to fight...." Fluttershy said approaching the two.

Starlight trotted up to Twilight and the others happily saying, "I'm free! I'm changed, and I'm hoofloose and fancy-free!"

She and Twilight hugged, "We're happy for you Starlight." Twilight said.

"Now you have the burden off your shoulders, what do you plan to do?" Rarity asked.

Starlight put a hoof to her chin, "I could hang out with you guys, but I also need a job." she looked over to Eclipse and Rainbow who were holding their front hooves wrestling. "What are they fighting about?"

"Just personal stuff." Applejack answered.

Twilight's horn glowed and she separated the two, "Let's have no more of that." she said. After the two calmed down Eclipse brushed herself off and straightened out her mane. "Eclipse is going to be opening up a Day Care in Ponyville soon. Just in case if you're interested Starlight." said Twilight.

"That's not a bad idea. To tell you the truth, I've always loved children." replied Starlight.

"You and me both, Starlight. Partners?" Eclipse asked extending her hoof.

"Sure." Starlight shook hooves.
Ponyville

They all went to a building some workers were working on. "This is it?" Starlight asked.

"It's going to be. They said it'll take a few more days to finish it. And we also need to think of a name for our Day Care." Eclipse replied.

"Why don't you stay at our castle until then?" Twilight offered.

"No kidding?" Starlight asked putting a hoof on her chest.

"No kidding."
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Starlight looked around the castle, "What a beautiful place!" she yelled.

Flash Sentry came in, "Welcome back, Twilight." he greeted trotting up to her.

"Hi Flash." they both kissed. "You remember Starlight Glimmer?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, nice to see you again." he said politely.

"This is Flash Sentry, the Royal Guard and my boyfriend." Twilight introduced.

"Nice to meet you." Starlight greeted. "Starlight is going to be staying with us until she can find a place to live." Twilight told Flash.

"Where is she goin' to sleep?" Applejack asked.

"Eclipse, you don't mind having a roommate do you?" Twilight asked.

"No, not at all. I'll make a bed for her." Eclipse answered making her horn glow and her bed cloned itself.

Eclipse showed Starlight to their room. Starlight jumped on her bed and laid down, "I feel like a princess." she said.

"I take it you like our room?" Eclipse asked.

"Oh, yes! It's so much better than the small, yet fancy, cell I stayed in back at Sombra's Castle. By the way, do you have a library?"

"Yes, go outside the door, turn left and keep going and you'll see a sign on your right." Eclipse then yawns, "Nap time is calling my name...."

Starlight chuckles, "Thanks Eclipse. Sweet dreams." she exits the room and Eclipse gets in her bed. She pulls up the covers, sets an alarm clock on her night table and slowly drifts off to sleep.
Later that night....

Eclipse was on the roof of the castle looking out into the night. It was almost dawn and Everypony else was still asleep, the Alibot was standing guard at the entrance, and everything seemed quiet. Then she saw a stallion walking down the street. "What's he doing out this early?" she asked herself. Then something caught her eye: a pony dressed in a black cloak and hood.

"You can't sleep either, huh?" the stallion asked. The hooded pony didn't answer, "Is something the matter?"

"You are young...." the hooded pony said.

"Yeah, I'm twenty two years old. Why?" then he saw the pony's eyes glow and her horn powering up. "What are you doing?" then there was a flash of light so bright that Eclipse had to cover her eyes. When the light faded, and she saw a colt in the stallion's place who looked very confused.

"Come with me child, I'll be your mother...."

"HEY!" Eclipse yelled swooping down. The hooded pony took the colt in her arm and they teleported. "Dang it!" Eclipse yelled, then she flew back into the castle. Eclipse barged into Twilight's room, "TWILIGHT!".

Twilight woke up fast and spoke as she yawned, "What's the matter Eclipse?"

"You'll never believe what I just saw!" All of the Mane Six, Starlight, Flash Sentry, Spike, and Eclipse gathered into the throne room and Eclipse explained what she had saw. "That stranger turned that stallion into a colt."

"How could she do that?" Rainbow asked.

"Did she have the Alicorn Amulet? Did you see what she looked like?" Spike asked.

"I don't know how she did it, and I didn't see the stranger's face. But I heard her voice, so the stranger must be a female." Eclipse told them. "And it sounded like Starlight's voice. Do you have any relatives?" Eclipse asked her.

"Well, I do have a grandmother who works as a nanny. My parents are back in my hometown last I checked. But I don't have any relatives that know that kind of magic. Not that I know of." Starlight told everypony.

Angel Bunny ran into the room with a piece of black clothe in his mouth. "What do you have there?" Fluttershy asked as Angel handed her the clothe. Fluttershy looks at it and hands it to Twilight.

"Hmmm.... it appears before or after she teleported she must have left a piece of her cloak behind." Twilight told everypony.

Forrest came in with a yawn, "What are you all doing up?" he asked.

"Somepony is causing trouble and she left behind this piece of clothe." Fluttershy told him.

Forrest looked at the clothe and trotted over to Twilight. "Let me smell it...." he said. Twilight lowered her hoof and Forrest sniffed it.

"What do you make of it?" Applejack asked.

"This clothe has the scent of baby powder...." he sniffed it again, "Other ponies walked over it...." he sniffed again, "And it also tells me that this stranger doesn't live around here...."

"That's awesome! Your senses I mean." Rainbow said patting the colt's back.

"Can you tell where she lives?" Pinkie asked.

"No, but if we all traveled together I might pick up the troublemaker's scent."

"Wait, how can you tell she doesn't live around here?" Rainbow Dash.

"Since he started livin' here he memorized every scent in Ponyville and always made sure of his surroundin's." Applejack explained.

"That's right. It's always a good idea to memorize everything you see, hear, or smell so you'll know where you're at, who lives where, and everything."

"That's very impressive, dear." Rarity complimented.

Wild Forrest sniffed the air, "You sprayed strawberry perfume again." he said.

"Yes, I did. Thank you for noticing."

Suddenly Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense acted up. "It feels..... like somepony is casting a spell...." she said.

"Where?!" Twilight asked and yelled.

"It feels like..... Zecora's hut!"

"We must get there and fast!" Twilight said as her horn glowed then they all teleported to the hut.
Zecora's Hut

A zebra child was in the arms of the hooded stranger, "There, there.... no need to be afraid. Mommy's got you...." she said.

"STOP!" Twilight yelled barging in with the others. Then she saw Zecora as a filly, "Zecora...." Twilight whispered.

"Goodness me, more children...." the hooded pony smiled. "You know, I love children very much. The more the merrier I say...." she said powering up her horn.

Forrest fearlessly tackled the stranger, "Let her go!" the hood came off and Forrest saw her face briefly before she pulled it back over.

"You naughty, naughty child. Didn't your parents teach you manners?"

Forrest growled at her, "My parents passed away when I was three years old." he said with his eyes locked on her.

"Oh, you poor sweet thing...." she walked over to the wild colt and was about to place a hoof on his head but he snapped at her like a dog.

Applejack stood in front of Forrest to protect him, "Don't you lay a hoof on him!"

"Are you his guardian?" the pony asked.

"We all take care of him." Rainbow Dash replied standing next to Applejack.

Rarity walked up to the stranger, "Who are you really? What do you want?" Rarity asked, trying to be polite.

The pony chuckled, "You all may call me Mother Mare. And I care for children as if they were my own...."

Eclipse stood up to her, "You changed that stallion into a colt! I saw you do it with my own eyes."

"I was giving what any full grown pony would want: to be young again...." with that she zapped Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash while Eclipse was able to avoid it.

"Rainbow Dash! Rarity! Applejack!" Twilight yelled in horror.

In their places were three fillies. "Play time!" Rainbow yelled as the three ran around the room with the younger Zecora following them.

Outraged, Eclipse made her mane magical and grabbed the pony by the collar and pulled her up close. "Change them back!"

"It's to late, these children are mine...." Mother Mare snickered with glee.

Then a dark shadow came into the room and took shape. Sombra then appears, "Change them back this instant!" he roared.

"Ah, King Sombra I presume?"

Eclipse wrapped her mane around Mother Mare like rope and made her look at Sombra. "Change them back or feel the wrath of darkness!" Sombra turned to Shadow Form and growled at her. Seemingly intimidated her horn powered up and then there was a flash of light. Sombra opened his eyes and saw that she escaped. "She got away!" Sombra turned to his normal self and slammed his hoof to the ground.

Eclipse uncovered her eyes, looked at the others and gasped, "Sombra, look!" He looked and saw Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie turned into children as well. Spike was hanging on to the ceiling and didn't get hit and Starlight was unaffected. The kids started bouncing or rolling around and Pinkie Pie bounced on top of Sombra's back playfully. "We have to get them back to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom." with that Starlight's, Eclipse's, and Sombra's horns glowed and they all teleported together.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Eclipse laid down and let some of the kids climb over her while Starlight, Wild Forrest and Spike were playing tag with the others, "I'm gonna get you!" Starlight yelled playfully. Sombra was in the library searching every book. And he found a page and he read out loud.

"'Only the one that turned ponies into children can undo the spell.' Shoot!" He turned and saw Twilight trying to pull a book from the bottom of a book pile. Sombra used his magic to stop the book from falling on her and stack them back up, "Phew...." then Twilight hugged his right arm. Sombra chuckled and wrapped his other arm around her. Sombra then used his magic to lift her in the air and put her on his back.

"Whee!"

Rainbow Dash was flying around the room laughing until she hit her head on a wall and fell. Eclipse caught her in time in her arm. "Careful Rainbow, or you'll hurt yourself." Eclipse said in baby talk.

"Okay Eclipse." Rainbow hugged Eclipse. She chuckled, hugged her back and then sat her down. Sombra came into the room with Twilight on his back. "This is fun!" the Alicorn filly squealed.

"Did you find the book?" Spike asked with Rarity hot on his tail.

"Yes, but we can't undo the spell. You see this magic that Mother Mare used can only be undone by the latter. I'll head back to the castle and try to find the Mare. Until then these youngsters have to be kept an eye on. You think you can handle it, Starlight, Eclipse, and Spike?"

"No complaints here, Sire!" Starlight replied.

"This will be easy." Eclipse added, feeling confident.

"I'm up for it!" yelled Spike.

Sombra nodded and used his magic to lift Twilight off his back and sit her down, "Call for help or for their families and come to my castle later. I'm off. Good luck!" he turned into a shadow and left.

"Sombra went Bye-bye!" Pinkie Pie yelled bouncing on Eclipse's back.

"Starlight, I think it's time we put our Day Care skills to the test."

"Ditto!" they shook hooves.

All morning long they played with the children; they played dress up; played pretend; had a tea party; and they even invited the CMC who just came in. When Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash saw their sisters they ran up to them. Rarity nuzzled Sweetie Belle; Applejack hugged Apple Bloom; and Rainbow gave Scootaloo a noogie.

"This is so cool!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Rarity and I are like twins!" Sweetie Belle yelled next.

"I'm still the big sister even though we're the same age right now." Rarity told her.

"We're goin' to have so much fun!" Apple Bloom jumped up and down.

Applejack looked back at Eclipse, "Is it okay if we hang out?" she asked showing cute eyes.

Eclipse chuckled, "It's alright with me, but don't go wandering off outside of Ponyville."

Apple Bloom then looked over to the zebra filly. Apple Bloom ran up to her, "Zecora?!" she smiled at Apple Bloom, "Yes, dear Apple Bloom. I'm a filly again. I'm about your age or maybe ten." the two hugged each other.

"Would you like to hang out with us?"

"Yes, I want to enjoy being a kid before becoming adult again. Just imagine these new memories we can gain." they laughed and left with the others and Forrest. Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie stayed behind. Twilight was reading a book on her throne with Spike sitting next to her. Flash Sentry was playing guard next to the throne. Pinkie Pie was bouncing around the room. Fluttershy played with Angel Bunny, Gummy, Obal, Tank, and Owlicious.

"You having a good time Starlight?" Eclipse asked.

"Oh, yes. Eclipse, I was also think it's about time we helped Sombra find this Mother Mare. So I called Shining Armor, Cadance, and Easter to pick them up."

As soon as she said that they heard ALIBOT say, "STATE YOUR NAMES."

"My name is Shining Armor."

"My name is Cadance."

"PROCEED."

Shining Armor and Cadance walked in and went to the throne room. As soon as Twilight saw Shining she dropped her book and bounced over to him. "Big Brother Best Friend! Big Brother Best Friend!" she jumped and wrapped her arms and legs around Shining's neck.

"My goodness!" Cadance said in a bewildered tone of voice, "This sure brings back memories."

"Hey Twily, how's my favorite sister?" Shining asked hugging his sister back.

"I'm doing great. I'm a filly again!" she said as she let go and bounced around the two.

Twilight's boyfriend trotted up to them. "Hi Shiny! Hi Cadance!"

"Flash Sentry?" Shining asked.

"Yep, that's me!"

"Oh, he's so cute!" Cadance said as she wrapped an arm around him, "Like a little Royal Guard." she said talking baby talk before kissing his head.

Twilight put a hoof to her mouth, jumped up and down and giggled. "Cadance kissed Flash Sentry!"

"It's no different than kissing our son, or your big brother." Cadance playfully said to her before kissing Shining, making him blush.

"Prince Shining Armor...." Eclipse began but Shining said,

"You can call me Shining."

"Okay then, Shining, Starlight and I have to go help Sombra find the one responsible for turning Twilight and the others into children. If it's no problem to you, can you and your wife watch over them until Easter comes over and picks up Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie?"

"Of course we can! I would love to foalsit again." Cadance answered happily.

Eclipse smiled, "Thank you. We must be on our way." Eclipse began to use her magic when she heard Fluttershy crying. She rushed over to Fluttershy who had both front hooves on her back knee and hugged her, "Oh, did Fluttershy get a boo-boo?" Eclipse asked trying to comfort her. Shining Armor and Cadance watched in amazement.

Shining Armor whispered to his wife, "Not only she's turned herself around, she is also great with kids."

"I know. Isn't it wonderful?" Cadance whispered back.

"Eclipse and I are going to be running a Day Care soon. Have you heard about it?" Starlight asked the two who nodded a yes.

They watched as Eclipse put a band-aid on Fluttershy's knee and kissing her head, "You'll be fine. Starlight and I have to head out. Shining Armor and Cadance will be here if you need them, okay?"

"Okay...." Fluttershy whispered before hugging Eclipse.
Sombra's Castle

Sombra was going through his Crystal Ball searching every place in Equestria. A guard came in, "Sire, Eclipse and Starlight Glimmer are here."

"Send them in."

Eclipse and Starlight, with a saddlebag, came into Sombra's room. "Any luck?" Starlight asked.

"No.... if only we had something that Mother Mare left behind...."

Starlight gasped and she used her magic to take out the clothe. She presented it to Sombra who took it with his magic. "That stranger left this behind. Wild Forrest smelled it and confirmed that the stranger is not from Ponyville." Starlight explained.

"That's a start...." Sombra said before taking the clothe to the Crystal Ball. He sat the clothe on the ball, which absorbed it, and then what appeared to be a schoolhouse similar to the schoolhouse only blue and bigger, and was in the middle of a meadow with swings, seesaws, slides, a sandbox, and many children playing. Then a mare, who's appearance resembled Starlight's greatly, came out of the building with a bell. "Alright children, snack time!" she called as the children ran back in excited.

"She looks just like you Starlight...." Eclipse said.

"Only not as beautiful." Starlight added.

"She has to be Mother Mare...." Sombra said.

"I would also like to introduce our newest members of our happy family: "Zecora, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Wild Forrest, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash." the mare told the children.

"She kidnapped them too! We must leave immediately!" Sombra was about to turn into a shadow but Eclipse stopped him.

"Hold on a minute! She knows us, so I suggest we should try sneaking in and wait for the right moment."

Sombra powered down and scratched his chin for a moment. Then he came up with an idea. "I know just the way...." he said with a sly grin. Then Sombra turned into a shadow and shrunk until he was the size of a colt. He stepped out of the shadow and showed his disguise: a grey unicorn colt with a black mane and tail; green eyes; and a straight normal horn; and no Cutie Mark, armor, or cape. Even his voice changed, "We'll disguise ourselves as children. And we'll change our names. I'll call myself Umbra."

"That's a great idea!" Eclipse said before wrapping herself and Starlight in her magic mane. The mane lifted and they too have changed. Eclipse was now a black Alicorn filly with a light blue mane and tail, water blue eyes, and her Cutie Mark wasn't there either. Starlight remained the same except she was younger and her cutie mark wasn't visible. Even their voices changed, "I'll call myself Ebony, what will you call yourself?"

"I'll call myself Twinkle Star. As in Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

"The names are very appropriate. Now, we must leave. And we'll need to proceed with great care once we get there, understand?"

"Yes Sombra." Eclipse answered.

"Yes Umbra. Er.... I mean Sombra. Yes Sombra!" Starlight answered next.

"Good!" with that they all vanished from the room.
The Building

They appeared in the playground. "We have to act like children." Sombra reminded them, "Follow my lead." he ordered then they went to the door and Sombra knocked.

Mother Mare opened up, "Oh, hello there! Where did you come from?" she asked caringly.

"My name is Umbra, and they are my sisters. Ebony and Twinkle Star. We lost our parents and nopony wants us...." tears filled his eyes. The other two looked sad too.

"Oh, you poor things. Please do come in, I'll be your mother." she turned around as Sombra wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Good acting." Eclipse whispered.

"Sisters?" Starlight asked.

"I had to come up with something so we can go in undetected."

They all walked in and they all looked around and saw that the place had many things children could love; from toys to books, games and art supplies. It was like a really big Day Care. The colorful walls were filled with drawings made by kids, and the carpet was checkered rainbow. "You're just in time for snack time. Follow me dears." They came into the cafeteria which was just as colorful. The snacks they were having were trail mix and apple juice. The kids sat in their own groups of circles and talked about random things. Mother Mare handed the trio their snacks, "Here's your snacks. You may join whoever you want to join, and don't worry they are all friendly."

"Thank you so much!" Umbra said.

"You're welcome honey." she hugged the trio and then left the cafeteria.

They searched the room and found the CMC, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Wild Forrest, Zecora, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack sitting together.

"I still blame all of you for getting us into this mess, but I got to admit it's fun here." Diamond Tiara said.

"Yeah, there's also no rules here." Silver Spoon added.

"It is fun here, but children can't be locked up against our will; children should be free." Wild Forrest said.

"Not to mention the one in charge here is you know who." Scootaloo added.

The trio sat close to them. "Hello Apple Bloom." Umbra greeted.

"Howdy! Have we met?" Umbra's face turned into Sombra's face and spoke in his voice surprising all except Forrest.

"It's me, Sombra. Eclipse and Starlight Glimmer too." then his face turned back into Umbra's face.

"I thought I picked up your scents." Forrest said.

"We are here to help." Ebony told them using her normal voice. "Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, I know how you feel about them, but like it or not we all have to work together to get out of this."

Silver and Diamond walked away for a second and talked about it. They came back. "We'll help, but just this once." Diamond said. "Then it's back to our old ways." Silver added.

"Good enough for me." Apple Bloom said before looking at Umbra, "Do yal have a plan?"

"Yes, come here and listen closely." they huddled together and whispered. Diamond smirked, "I like it!"

"It's crazy. Crazy enough it might just work." Silver added.

"Why do we have to wait till dark?" Scootaloo asked.

"Mother Mare will least expect it and it'll give us an advantage." Forrest explained.

"Very good Wild Forrest. We'll all have to wait until everypony is asleep and then we all must get to our places." Umbra told them.

"Why don't you use your magic?" Sweetie Belle suggested.

"She already knows us but now she knows us as Umbra, Ebony, and Twinkle Star."

"Oh, I get it! It's part of the strategy and that will make her vulnerable." Sweetie realized.

"Precisely. This will be quite a party." Twinkle Star said with a smirk, "And I love parties by the way."

After all day of playing, reading, puppet shows, and many other activities it was time for bed. Each child had their own beds in a big room. Mother Mare sat in a rocking chair humming a lullaby that made everypony, except for Umbra and Eclipse, drowsy. Eclipse and Sombra pretended to be asleep and waited until Mother Mare left. A few hours later Umbra and Ebony got out of bed and got the CMC, Wild Forrest, Twinkle Star, Zecora, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack up.

"Time to put the plan into affect. You all remember what you're supposed to do?" Umbra asked the group. They all nodded. "Let's do this." they put their hooves together.

Mother Mare was in her own room rocking on a rocking chair in front of a fireplace reading a book. Apple Bloom came in carrying a small blanket on her back looking tired. "Mother...." she said.

Mother Mare turned around, "Yes dear?"

"I.... I had a bad dream and..... I'm afraid to go back to sleep...."

Mother Mare got up from her seat, "Awe, come here little one." together they went to the couch. Mother wrapped an arm around her, "It'll be alright..."

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came in, "Are you alright Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked.

"We woke up and saw you weren't in bed so we came looking for you." Sweetie Belle said winking an eye.

Umbra nodded and hid. "Your friend had a bad dream." Mother told them motioning them to sit down with her and Apple Bloom. "How about I read you a story?"

"We would like that." Apple Bloom replied.

Umbra, as a shadow, looked and saw a glowing green crystal floating above what looked like a black spike. The Crystal of Youth! How in the world did she get her hooves on that? If I destroy that Crystal, Mother Mare will lose her powers and everypony will be turned back to normal. Umbra thought to himself before leaving. Umbra went to the playground and found the others waiting. "I just found out the source of Mother Mare's power."

"What is it?" Applejack asked.

"It's called the Crystal of Youth. It's an extremely rare Crystal and gives the latter eternal youth and the power to turn others into children. And as long as she turns others into children she'll remain young. It's an illegal magic."

"Are you saying that Mother Mare might be an old mare?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes, she might be...."

"And she's using that magic to keep herself young and make others younger? That sounds selfish." said Rarity.

"If we could destroy the Crystal she and those she turned into children will be turned back to normal. I must tell Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo about this." Sombra's horn glowed and he talked to them with his mind, "This is Sombra. I'm using my magic to tell you through our thoughts. There is a green magic crystal in the room you are in. The others will try to distract Mother Mare and until I get into the room stay put." the CMC nodded while Mother Mare was not looking and was reading them stories. Umbra nods and the others went to their places.

Forrest got on top of the roof and howled like a wolf. Mother Mare stood up, "What on earth?"

"What is it Mother?" Scootaloo asked acting afraid.

"Stay here, I'll go check it out." Mother Mare told them before leaving the room. Zecora looked through the window and nodded at Diamond and Silver, who had both sides of a rope in their mouths in front of a door, pulled both sides. Mother Mare walked out and tripped over the rope and falling on her face, "Whoa! Oof!" Silver and Diamond bursted out laughing before running off. "Hey you little pranksters, get back here!" Mother yelled playfully before chasing after them. Sombra, Eclipse, and Starlight Glimmer as shadows snuck back into the building and went to Mother Mare's room.

He turned himself and the other two back to their normal selves and approached the CMC concerned, "Are you alright?" Sombra asked.

"Yes, we're fine." Sweetie Belle replied.

"I know she might be a criminal and all, but I have to admit she is a really good mother. Not to mention foalsitter." Scootaloo said.

"Maybe she could get a job at the new Day Care when this is over." Apple Bloom added.

"That sounds like a good idea, but we'll have to see." the King replied.

Sombra and the CMC approached the Crystal of Youth. "It's so pretty...." Sweetie Belle said her eyes sparkling at the sight of the crystal, "Rarity would love to see this." they looked outside and saw Mother Mare, who caught the bullies, Zecora, Wild Forrest, and the three of the Mane Six before starting back to the door. Sombra's and Eclipse's horns and eyes glowed. Together they lifted the crystal. Mother Mare has just put three of the Mane Six, Zecora, and the bullies back to bed when she felt something coming from her room with her horn and went to check it out.

"One blow and this crystal should shatter." Eclipse said.

"Stop this at once!" Mother Mare barged in with anger in her eyes.

"Your eternal youth plans ends now!" Starlight Glimmer yelled back at her. Mother's eyes opened wide at the sight of Starlight. The two looked at each other for a moment looking surprised. "Grammama...." Starlight whispered, "Why are you doing this?!" Starlight demanded.

Mother Mare chuckled, "Wouldn't you like to know, my dear?" Mother asked. Then she notices the crystal beginning to crack, "NO!" she teleported towards it, but it was too late. The Crystal shattered into shards. White orbs began leaving Mother Mare's body, "NOOOO! MY BEAUTY! MY YOUTH! NOOOOOOOOO!" she yelled in dismay as she began aging.

The noise woke everypony up as the orbs entered and went to their owners. One by one and few by few, they turned back into adults or teenagers. "I'm me!" one of them yelled.

"We're back to normal!" another yelled.

"Yeee-haw!" Applejack yelled as Wild Forrest hugged her.

"I'm a lady again!" Rarity yelled.

"That was awesome!" Rainbow yelled before flying around in full speed.

"This was an interesting experience, I must say. Being a child and an adult in one day." Zecora said. They all cheered.

Twilight Sparkle was sitting on Shining Armor's back and Cadance was holding Flash Sentry in her arm back at the Crystal Empire when two orbs went to them. Twilight and Flash were now back to their normal selves. Cadance lost her balance while holding Flash Sentry. "Sorry your highness." Flash said helping her stand up.

Twilight got off her brother's back, "We're back!" she hugged her brother.

At Fluttershy's Cottage Easter was laying on the sofa with Fluttershy and Pinkie laying against his side all asleep. Two orbs came in and turned the two back to normal. Pinkie Pie jumped off the couch and bounced up and down, "We're back! We're back! Weeeee're back!" Easter woke up. He and Fluttershy looked at one another and blushed. Gummy and Angel Bunny hugged their owners and they hugged them back.

Mother Mare, now an elderly mare, collapsed on her knees crying. Starlight ran over to her and hugged her, "Grammama...."

The CMC looked surprised, "Grammama?!"

"Yes, it's true. I'm an old lady...." she told them before her granddaughter let go.

Sombra approached her, "Why did you do what you did?" he asked. The mare refused to look up at him. Sombra turned himself back to Umbra and asked again, "Why did you do what you did?"

She looked at him and answered with tears in her eyes, "I just wanted what any old lady would want: to be young and beautiful again and to be surrounded by children. And when I found that Crystal of Youth in the mountains I immediately knew what it was and I couldn't resist what it had to offer. That evil crystal blinded me to the truth, and for destroying it I am grateful. The truth is you have to find it in you to be young again, enjoy life, be a child at heart, have fun, make friends young and old, and do many things positive and love others around you while you have the time. Can you all forgive an old mare for what she did?"

Sombra turned back to normal and the stallion from last night came in, "Of course we can. You were possessed by that crystal so it wasn't your fault."

A mare about his age came in next, "Many of us forgot what is was like to be a kid. We are grateful because we now remember. And we are also grateful for you turning us back into ourselves your Majesty, Eclipse, Starlight Glimmer, and you children. Thank you."

Mother Mare approached the crowd, "And thank you for everything. You are all free to go return to your families and friends. I'm sure they miss you. Feel free to come by anytime you like and you may bring your children."

Before they left some of the stallions and mares hugged Mother Mare before they left. Many of them promised to come again with their children. The stallion from last night spoke with the mare about his age, "Would you like to go out?" he asked.

She smiled, "I would love too." they left together. Not only Mother Mare helped the victims make new friends she also helped some find love. Apple Bloom and Applejack nuzzled, Rarity and Sweetie Belle hugged, Rainbow wrapped her wings around Scootaloo and nuzzled. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stayed with Eclipse as they left with the crowd. Starlight stayed behind with her grandmother. Sombra left with the crowd to make sure they make it home safely.

Sombra and Eclipse escorted them all home, but their last stop was Filthy Rich's house. Eclipse knocked on the door and Filthy opened it. Diamond dashed in a wrapped her arms around her dad. Her mother came crying and hugged her daughter too, "Oh my baby!"

Silver's parents came out too and embraced her, "Oh, my little girl!" her mother cried. Sombra explained to the parents what has happened.

"She won't be abducting children or changing adults into children anymore." Eclipse assured here.

"How can we ever repay you?" Filthy asked.

"No need." Sombra took out a scroll. "Here is a map to the Day Care your daughter was staying at, just in case in you are interested."

"It's really fun there dad." Diamond told her.

"Yeah. Mother Mare, at least that's what she calls herself, is really good with children." Silver added.

"I'll think about it. And you are sure that she lost her powers and she's reformed?" Filthy asked Eclipse.

"Yes sir. Good night." Eclipse flew away.

"Good night children. Good night everypony." Sombra said to them.

"Good night!" they said together before Sombra turned into a shadow and left.

"And to think we helped THEM." Diamond whispered to Silver.

"We'll forget about it in time." Silver assured her.
A few days later....

Eclipse took a pair of gold scissors with her magic and cut the red ribbon in front of the entrance of her new Day Care. The Lunar Eclipse Day Care. Everypony watching cheered and some took pictures.

Starlight stood beside Eclipse, "Sorry I can't help you run the Lunar Eclipse Day Care...." she said sadly.

"It's okay. You have to help your grandmother run her Day Care."

"Thank you for understanding. I have to go. She is waiting for me." they hugged and Starlight teleported. Eclipse looked at the children watching and smiled. Starlight appeared at her grandmother's Day Care, which is now the Shooting Star Day Care.

Chapter Twenty Five: Enter the Dragon

Chapter Twenty Five: Enter the Dragon
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom

Flash Sentry escorted Daring Do into Twilight's room. "Daring!" Rainbow yelled excited.

"Rainbow!" they hugged each other. "So good to see you again." Daring told her friend.

Twilight walks in, "Hi Daring Do!" she greeted. "You're just in time."

"Why'd you call me here?" Daring Do asked.

"I would like you and Rainbow Dash to help me with an experiment."

"Experiment?" they both asked.

"Yes, I recently built a machine that can tell if two or more ponies are related or not."

"What do we have to do?" Rainbow Dash asked. Then a pair of tweezers floated in the air and took a piece of Rainbow's hair, "Ouch!"

The tweezers did the same to Daring Do, "Ow!"

"Why did you do that for?" Rainbow demanded.

"Sorry, I need your hair samples for my experiment to work." Twilight said taking the hair samples to a machine that had a screen. She pressed some buttons and it opened up. Twilight put the hair samples in the machine and it closed. The screen on the machine showed the hair samples put into the machine. Then 'SCANNING' in red words appeared and it started loading.

"Did you say that the machine can determine that two ponies or more are related?" Daring asked.

"Correct. You and Rainbow Dash share some similarities like the pattern on your manes, tails, personalities, and not to mention your eye colors. So it got me thinking: are you two long lost sisters?"

"You're kidding?" Daring asked.

"That would be SO cool!" Rainbow yelled.

"I have also read that two twin Pegasus sisters were separated during a really bad storm at a very young age. One took to the sky and the other traveled the world. And it sounded much like you two but it remains to be proven." Twilight said before the machine beeped and then papers came out. 'MATCH!' in red letters appeared on the screen. Twilight examined the papers carefully and then gasped.

"What's the matter?" Rainbow asked, "And what does MATCH mean?"

"Your DNA sample matches Daring Do's DNA sample. And according to this..... you two ARE sisters!" the two were now at a loss for words. Sombra appeared in the room as a shadow and then normal form. "Hi Sombra!" Twilight greeted.

"Greetings Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. Daring Do I presume?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you your Highness." Daring Do greeted before bowing.

"You may call me Sombra. I have come to tell you that my Dragon Egg is about to hatch."

"Dragon Egg?" Daring Do asked.

"Months ago Sombra started having these visions about an evil dragon coming to the Crystal Empire and he found a Dragon Egg and it was put under his care." Twilight explained.

"Thank you Twilight. I also sense a familiar darkness coming from that egg so there's a chance it might be evil, but I hope we can reform this creature."

"Hey, maybe you can put that in your new book." Rainbow suggested to Daring.

"Good idea, and I'll also write about having a long lost sister."

"That'll be a great story!"

"You and Daring Do are sisters?" Sombra asked.

"Yeah, we just learned about it right before you arrived with Twilight's new invention." Rainbow pointed at the machine.

"Fascinating. You've done a great job Twilight; you've reunited two sisters."

"Thank you Sombra."

"I also take it you're going to spend time and catch up on a lot of things?" Sombra asked the sisters.

"You bet. Rainbow Dash would you like to go traveling with me?"

"You bet I do!" they hugged and they both took off out the window leaving their trail blazes.

"They really ARE sisters." Twilight said with a giggle.
Sombra's Castle

It was in the middle of the night and King Sombra was fast asleep in his bed. The dragon egg began to crack and out came flames! The noise woke Sombra, "What the?!" then he saw a shadow come from the flames. It looked like Sombra, and yet it didn't. The shadow laughed wickedly and that laugh sounded like Sombra when he was evil. "No, it can't be!" then the room blew up with Sombra in it!

The guards came and found the room ruined. They dug through the rubble and found King Sombra. "Your highness! Are you alright?!" They helped Sombra up.

"He's here...." he coughed.

Luna flew through the window the creature shattered, "Sombra, are you alright?!" she began nuzzling him.

"The egg.... it hatched...." Sombra told her, still shocked.
Crystal Empire

By daybreak Luna, Celestia, Shining Armor, Cadance, Discord, The Mane Six, Daring Do, Easter, Flash Sentry, and Isle were in the same room as Sombra, some of his knights and servants. "Why have you called us?" Shining Armor asked.

"It's bad.... even worse than I was ever was...." Sombra replied. "The egg hatched and I finally remembered why I put it under the throne before my defeat...."

"What?!" Isle yelled.

"Why did you put it there?" Shining asked again.

Sombra sighed and said, "Before my defeat I knew that I would be defeated again someday so I created a beast more evil than I was to take my place...." all their eyes opened wide with surprise. "That's right, and with a piece of my mane I was able to create a perfect Dragon clone of myself. His name is Sombragon, and his one and only purpose is to take over the Crystal Empire, eventually the world, and make every living thing remember me. And he will stop at nothing to do so. Please forgive me. If I remembered sooner I would have gotten rid of the egg instead of watching over it...."

"Sombra, it's not your fault." Cadance assured him.

"Losing a memory could happen to anypony or creature." Discord added.

Suddenly Sombra's horn glowed, "I can feel the beast; he is getting closer."

"Is it possible to use the Elements against him?" Twilight asked.

"My clone is very powerful, but if I can weaken him there might be a chance."

Luna approached him, "You're not fighting him alone." she said.

Discord turned to Godzilla form, "Yeah, let us have a piece of the action too!"

"I created this monster so I must stop it even if it means I go down with him. Luna, Discord, everyone, I'm sorry but I won't let any of you fight him!" Discord turned back to normal as Sombra turned to his knights, "Do what you can to protect the citizens of the Crystal Empire...." the knights saluted and then he turned to his servants, "Do what you can to help...." the servants bowed as their king turned into a shadow and left. Luna was going to follow him but Celestia stopped her. Sombra appeared in the center of the Crystal Empire getting everypony's attention. "Listen up!" Sombra yelled. "There is going to be an evil greater than I once was coming here!"

All the crystal ponies talked to each other about it for a moment until one of them asked, "Who is this great evil? Who could be greater than you?"

Sombra looked down, "It's an evil I created when I was evil. Crystal Ponies, I'm sorry. I will do everything in my power to fight him off. Until it is safe to come out you must stay in the Crystal Empire." with that he went to the entrance of the Crystal Empire and looked back at the Princesses on the balcony and nodded. Altogether their horns glowed and a barrier formed around the Crystal Empire locking Sombra out. Sombra's horn glowed, "He's near....." he whispered. Suddenly a cloud of shadows was coming right towards the barrier. This scene reminded many of the Crystal Ponies about what happened that day the evil Sombra came back and begun to panic.

"He led the monster toward us! We're doomed!" a Crystal Pony yelled.

Suddenly a dragon resembling Sombra appeared out of the clouds of shadows. This dragon was a giant; he had Sombra's face except he had a small horn on his nose and three red horns; his scales were as gray as Sombra's coat; he wore a crown and armor just like Sombra's except the armor was spiked; his underbelly was red and black in a pattern; he had wings as red as Sombra's cape with red claws at the top; his spines were red and in pairs, and the bottom of the spines were red and black in in a pattern; the end of his tail had his unicorn tail; and he had razor sharp claws. The dragon saw the barrier and laughed. Then he said, "Foolish mortals! There is nothing you can do to stop me preventing my quest. I have fed on the darkness all over and became strong!" he looks down at Sombra approaching him, "Ah, King Sombra.... you dare challenge me? Me the King of all Monsters?!" he laughed again. "Very foolish choice. You and I are superior; you and I are the masters of darkness; together we can have whatever we want!"

"Don't think you can try to recruit me!" Sombra snapped at his clone.

"Why do you protect these ponies even though many of them have not forgiven you?" Sombragon asked him.

"Because it's right."

The dragon laughed, "Pathetic. Time, love, and friendship has done nothing but made you weak. However, it is not too late to reconsider. Join me, and together we'll be unstoppable."

Sombra shook his head fast and looked up at the dragon with anger in his eyes. His eyes glowed, the purple aura from his eyes were bigger than usual, and his horn powered up, "NEVER! I would rather disappear forever than to hurt those I have grown to love!" with that he turned into his giant shadow form.

"So be it! I have offered you a chance, but you have made a mistake choosing to protect the Crystal Empire and now you will cease to exist! Prepare yourself!" Sombragon yelled, spreading out his wings, getting into battle position, and roaring. The two giants tackled each other and the fight was on.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom.

The CMC and the CMS arrived at the teleporter that had a picture of the Crystal Empire on it. Spike came in, "Don't think about going to the Crystal Empire!"

"Why not?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Twilight told me not to let anypony into the teleporter until she comes back." Spike told them.

"But why?" Sweetie Belle asked next.

"There is an evil coming to the Crystal Empire that Twilight, Sombra, and the others have to take care of. So until it's taken care of the teleporter is off limits!"
Outside of the Crystal Empire

Neither Sombra and Sombragon were holding back. Sombragon breathed blue fire on Sombra, but he didn't flinch and fired a magic beam from his horn. The dragon used his wings as a shield. Sombra stopped and sent black crystals at the beast, trapping him. The dragon easily broke out of the crystals and breathed fire at Sombra who unleashed a magic beam causing the flame and magic beam to struggle.

Suddenly the CMC, CMS, and Spike came into the room and on to the balcony. "What's going on out there?" Apple Bloom asked Applejack.

"Apple Bloom! I thought I told you to stay put!"

"I know, but we're worried about Sombra and we want to help too."

Twilight looked over at Spike angrily, "I'm sorry, I tried to stop them!" he said.

Twilight sighed, "It can't be helped. Just stay close to us." Sweetie Belle jumped on Rarity's back to get a better look.

She gasped, "Sombra's fighting a dragon!"

Scootaloo got on Rainbow's back before she flew up, "How cool is that?!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Dears, this is no laughing matter." Rarity told them.

Sombra formed shadow claws and was now wrestling with his clone. Their battle went on for a while until Sombragon got the upper claw, lifted Sombra into the air and tossed him at the barrier. The magic on the barrier hurt Sombra as he screamed in pain and the impact caused the barrier to break. Sombra then shrunk back to his normal self breathing heavily. Sombra struggled to get up, "I..... WON'T..... GIVE UP!" his eyes and horn glowed weakly. The two stared each other down. Luna just couldn't watch this anymore and flew off the balcony towards the beast.

"LUNA! DON'T!!!" Celestia yelled. The dragon breathed fire heading straight to Sombra who closed his eyes. Then there was the sound of Luna's scream.

"LUNA!" Celestia and the others yelled.

Sombra opened his eyes and saw Luna on the ground unconscious. "LUNA! NOOOOOOO!!!!" Sombra ran up to her, took her in his arms, and went back to the center of the Crystal Empire. Celestia and the others raised the barrier again and went down there with the others. "Luna...." Sombra began crying as he held Luna close.

Celestia rushed over to them and hugged Luna too, "Oh, Luna!" she cried.

The CMC began to cry as they hugged their sisters. "Is she...." Apple Bloom was about to ask Applejack.

"I don't know...."

Sombra sat down Luna, "Luna, my love...." he couldn't wake her up, "This.... this can't be happening!" with that his horn and eyes glowed brighter and he went into an uncontrollable rage. Everypony watched in horror as shadows began to leave them and enter Sombra who screamed in anguish and began to change in appearance. Sombra began to grow in size; claws grew out of his hooves; his tail got longer; as he grew so did his armor and his cape tore; and he began to look more like a horned lion then a unicorn. As he grew the ponies ran for cover and Celestia took Luna to safety. Sombra stood on his hind legs and laughed wickedly, "There can only be one King Sombra! That will be me!" he yelled in a beastly voice before roaring.

Twilight realized what just happened, "Oh no! Darkness has entered his heart again!"

"Open the barrier!" Sombra ordered, "The Sombragon is mine! Mine! Mine!" The conscious Princesses, seeing that Sombra is still in there, lowered the barrier as Sombra jumped and landed in front of the Sombragon and then raised the barrier again. "Round Two!" Sombra said with a roar.

The dragon laughed, "This will be more fun than I hoped." Sombra, blinded with rage, ran towards his dragon clone and pounced as the dragon breathed fire. The fire had no effect on Sombra and they wrestled on the ground biting and clawing at each other. They used their powers against each other and fought for what seemed like hours. Both the dragon and Sombra eventually got on their knees breathing heavily. Sombragon chuckled, "Congratulations. You, my weaker self, have made me, you're greatest creation, breath hard." the dragon got up and approached Sombra, "But victory will be mine and I shall rule this world as it's king. But this world will be a World of Darkness!" he raised a claw.

Sombra jumped up, screamed, and landed behind Sombragon. He wrapped his arms around the dragon, "So it has come to this!" Sombra yelled, "Twilight, the Elements now!"

The Mane Six, with their Elements of Harmony, flew to the air until Twilight realized something, "Move away first Sombra!"

"NO! I must make sure he doesn't escape! HURRY!" The Mane Six were very hesitant. "NOW!" Sombra yelled again. In tears, the Princesses lowered the barrier and the Mane Six fired their beam at them causing the dragon to roar. "Hold still you impostor! It won't be long now!" Sombra yelled still holding the dragon. When the dragon was starting to turn to stone Sombra jumped out of the way and watched.

"NOOO! I AM SOMBRAGON! I AM THE KING OF MONSTERS! I AM THE ETERNAL DARKNESS!! I AM INVINCIBLE!!! I..... I...... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" the dragon was now a stone statue. Sombra got back up and used the last of his strength to raise a claw and turned the statue into a pile of rubble. Sombra laughed his one last evil laugh before he collapsed, shrunk, and turned back to normal.

"Sombra!" Twilight and the others flew down and carried Sombra back to the center of the Crystal Empire.

Luna regains consciousness and gets up fast, "Sombra!" she looks around. Once she sees Sombra on the ground runs over to him, "Sombra! My Sombra!" She knelt down and lifted Sombra's head. All the ponies gathered around and were stopped by Flash Sentry, the other guards, and Sombra's knights.

"Give them some air!" one of them ordered.

"My Sombra....." Luna sobbed as she spoke. The Princesses, Easter, Shining Armor, the Mane Six, the CMC, the CMS, and Spike walked up to them.

Sombra raised his head, "There's nothing you can do for me..... the darkness.... has taken it's toll.... one last time...." he said weakly. The tip of his tail was turning to stone and was working it's way up slowly.

"Sombra! No!" Luna hugged him crying.

Sombra raised a hoof and dried off her tears and looked at the ponies watching. "Cutie Mark Crusaders and Supporters, come here....." the six approached him. "All my friends, please come here...." the Mane Six, Spike, Discord, Shining Armor, the other Princesses approached him as well. "Thank you..... thank you all.... for showing me the true meaning of friendship and love..... and helping me despite my wicked ways....." half his body was turned to stone.

Twilight, now crying, sat a hoof on his. "Sombra..... you are more than welcome....." was all she said.

"Sombra, I don't understand. What is happening to you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Children..... I'm afraid my time is coming to an end....."

"NO!"

"But you're immortal!" Apple Bloom cried.

"Even immortals have endings....." Sombra said as the children cried and hugged him and he hugged them back.

"Sombra....." Fluttershy said crying.

"Oh Sombra...." Rarity said before she and the rest of the Mane Six and Spike gathered and hugged Sombra as well.

"Please, don't leave...." Applejack begged.

"My friends..... I'm sorry..... nothing can prevent this.... goodbye...." they all let go and Sombra turned his attention to Shining Armor and the Princesses, "Goodbye..... Celestia..... Isle..... Shining Armor.... and Cadance....." then he looked over to the others, "Goodbye Flash Sentry..... Discord..... Easter..... everyone ....." he took his crown off and gave it to Princess Luna, "Goodbye..... my love..... take this crown so..... I can always be with you....." Luna took the crown in her hooves still crying. "Goodbye..... even when I'm stone I'll never forget you and I'll always love you..... Luna..... and my friends...." with that he turned to stone completely with a tear going down his face. Then Sombra crumbled.

Luna gasped, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" she collapsed on the pieces crying. "Please..... oh please no..... don't leave me....." she sobbed as she spoke. "I love you...."

Discord and Celestia cried and hugged each other. Apple Bloom rubbed against her sister crying, "Sombra..... he's gone?"

Applejack hugged her, "I'm..... I'm afraid so....."

The Crystal Ponies who have not forgiven him felt very guilty. One of them said, "He.... he sacrificed himself..... to save us...." All the Crystal Ponies and their children hugged each other and cried. All of Royal Guards, Sombra's Knights and servants got on their knees with their heads down. Applejack embraced Wild Forrest and Apple Bloom as they cried. Rainbow Dash, Daring Do, wrapped their wings around Scootaloo and each other as they shed tears. Sweetie Belle and Rarity hugged and cried. Fluttershy hugged Rapper Mouth and Polkey Dots as they cried while Easter wrapped an arm across Fluttershy's shoulders crying. Flash Sentry, shedding tears too, wrapped his arms around Twilight Sparkle as she cried on his shoulder. Shining Armor held Cadance in his arms as they too cried. Isle nuzzled against Celestia and Discord. Pinkie Pie hugged Rainbow Dash, Daring Do and Scootaloo crying. Spike hugged Twilight's arm and cried as well. Then they all had flashbacks of the times they spent with Sombra.

In the Crystal Empire the Crystal Heart began to glow and so did the tears everypony and creature were shedding. The tears magically flew through the air entering the stone pieces of Sombra. Then the stone pieces glowed a light blue. Luna saw this and backed up gasping. Everypony and creature watched in awe as the stone pieces flew through the air and began rebuilding themselves. Once Sombra was put back together the stone began to crack. Then there was a flash of light! Once the light went away, Sombra was in the air! Sombra's grey color has changed to sky blue; his black mane has changed to dark blue; his new cape was purple; and his new armor was light blue; his red horn has changed purple; and his face was handsome. He floated back down to the ground and laid there. Luna walked up to him and was going to touch him but he moved and slowly got back up and opens his eyes. He looks at himself for a moment and turns to face Luna. Luna was completely breathless. His eyes sparkled like sapphires as he smiled at her, "Luna, it's me!" his voice has changed as well. He took one of her hooves in his hooves.

Luna's horn glowed as did Sombra's. Luna gasped, "It.... it IS you! Oh Sombra!" they embraced. Their eyes met, and then they kissed. As they kissed all the damage that Sombragon caused corrected themselves. All the ponies cheered and whooped for joy. "Oh Sombra..... I love you so much!" Luna told him.

"I love you too.... now and forever....."

The Mane Six and the children hugged Sombra and Luna. The other Princesses, Spike, Flash Sentry, Easter, Discord, and Shining Armor joined them. "GROUP HUG!" Pinkie Pie yelled.

Once they let go Sombra said to everypony, "I have been reborn a Crystal Pony; I am no longer the creature of shadow and darkness, but I still have authority over darkness. I am now a creature of crystals and light!" with that the crowd cheered again. Then a dark shadow ball appeared and landed before Sombra and Luna. The shadow began to take shape into a colt. The shadow faded and in it's place was a grey colt with a dark red horn, black mane, and black tail. His crown, necklace, and shoes were similar to King Sombra's when he was the creature of darkness except the crown didn't have the rubies, and his cape was purple.

He laid on the ground as if he was sleeping. He opened his eyes, showing his red eye color, and yawned. He looked around afraid, and saw Sombra. "Daddy?" he asked before getting up and approaching him. "Daddy, I.... I just had a horrible nightmare...." he said crying and hugging Sombra's arm.

Sombra smiled and hugged him back, "It's okay..... it's over now...... Umbra....."

"Awe...." many of the ponies said.

Umbra looked up at Luna, "Mommy?"

Luna's eyes teared up a little, "Yes honey, I'm your mommy...." she said hugging both her fiance and new son.

Twilight wiped the tears of her face, "Celestia, you're.... you're an aunt again...." she said happily. "But, how did Sombra and Umbra....."

"I have a theory." Cadance said. "The Crystal Heart saw how Sombra sacrificed himself selflessly. And because of his brave and unselfish sacrifice the Crystal Heart has made him into a Crystal Pony. And I also believe that the Crystal Heart believed that the Sombragon deserves a chance to start his life all over and has made him into a colt. But if it weren't for the Elements of Harmony, every creature's and everypony else's help, it might have not been possible." Cadance picked up Sombra's crown which has turned water blue, the silver turned to light purple, and the rubies changed into sapphire and walked over to Sombra, "I believe this belongs to you, my friend."

Sombra takes the crown and puts it back on his head, "Thank you Cadance."

"This calls for a celebration!" Pinkie Pie yelled, "The Sombra-Saving-the-Crystal-Empire-from-the-Dragon Party!"

A big party was held that day. There was music and dancing; lots and lots of sweets and fruit juice; plenty of party favors and balloons; many games, you name it. The couples were dancing. Cadance, holding her baby, danced with her husband Shining. Eclipse shared a dance with Scorpan as Starlight Glimmer shared her first dance Sir Stonehorn. Some of Sombra's knights and servants who has not found love or friends found them during the party. The CMC and CMS befriended Umbra since he had no Cutie Mark. Apple Bloom taught Wild Forrest how to dance during the party. Rapper Mouth was showing off his rapping and dancing skills. Polkey Dots was balancing on a ball while juggling crystals entertaining some of the ponies. Scootaloo and Sweetie played the games. Rarity helped out with the dresses and costumes with those who had nothing to wear during the party and was being paid. Pinkie Pie was being Pinkie Pie while Applejack was helping out with the food and drinks. Daring Do was signing autographs while her sister Rainbow Dash made a few Sonic Rainbooms. Luna and Sombra, with their new son, embraced. Luna kissed her son's head before she and Sombra kissed again.

Author's Note

Since Sombragon/Prince Umbra was created by King Sombra's DNA he is King Sombra's biological son.

Chapter Twenty Six: Eternal Love

As the months passed Sombra and Luna bonded with Umbra; they grew to love him as their son and Umbra grew to love them as his parents. Our Town has gotten bigger as the time passed and was now named Seleneville. It was Nightmare Night and the everypony was decorating or making their costumes preparing for a really big night.

The sun was setting and Sombra was was in his room in front of a mirror a little nervous. He decided to dress in his new armor, crown, and cape and he wiped the sweat from his head with a hanky. Twilight, wearing the dress she wore during her brother's wedding, came in to check on the groom. "Hey Sombra, how are you doing?"

"I'm a little on edge right now....." Sombra admitted.

"It'll be alright Sombra." Twilight said putting a hoof on his shoulder.

"I'm.... I'm not sure if I can do this....." Sombra said, "What if I mess up what I'm supposed to say?"

Spike came in wearing his tuxedo and top hat, "Did I just hear the great King Sombra getting cold hooves? You love Luna don't you?"

"I love Luna and my son more than anything. And I'm just worried about messing up. Not to mention I'm afraid about what Luna might be thinking."

"I just got done talking with Luna. And I got to tell you, she is just as nervous as you are." Spike told him, "It's very natural for the bride and groom to be nervous, I assure you."

"I know, and I've been looking forward to this for a very long time. Even if I wanted too, there's no going back now. By the way, when does the wedding start?" Sombra asked Spike.

Spike looked at his watch, "Two hours. Got to go take care of the guests. Bye!" Spike left.

Sombra sighed, "Just imagine, after all these years, Luna and I are finally getting married...."

Luna was in another room in front of a mirror with some of Sombra's female servants helping her get ready for tonight. "You look beautiful your majesty...." one of them said. Luna was dressed in a wedding dress and veil similar to Cadance's except that it's the same colors as Luna's mane, had stars, and a little bit of black. The flowers around the light blue veil were blue and black roses.

"Thank you...." she wiped a tear from her eye, "Just imagine, after many centuries, Sombra and I are getting married...."

Almost all of Equestria came to Seleneville and some were already in their places. Umbra was dressed in a tuxedo and was talking with the CMC, who were being the flower girls again, and the CMS. "So the Ring Bearer just holds the rings up in front?" he asked.

"Yes, just until your parents make their wedding vows." Sweetie Belle replied.

"Are you excited?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, and not to mention this is my first time attending a wedding."

"You never forget your first time!" Scootaloo told him.

"And we also get to wear our costumes!" said Polkey Dots in his clown costume.

Forrest wore a leopard skin caveman costume and Rapper Mouth wore his hat, necklace, and sunglasses. "It's Nightmare Night after all." Forrest said.

"And it's perfect for Luna's night that's for sure. Candy, costumes, music, dancing and a little fear!" Rapper Mouth rapped.

"Speaking of fear, dad hired Yykees to play that creepy pipe organ. And I've also learned how to go into shadow form. Watch this!" Umbra concentrated and turned into a shadow with his face sticking out. Then he lost his concentration and turned to normal.

Eclipse came up to him, "Oh, I think Umbra was playing King Sombra." she said. Eclipse patted his head and left.

"I love it when she talks baby talk." Umbra told his friends smiling.

"Me too." Sweetie said.

"Me three." said Scootaloo. The others agreed.

"And she's a very good foalsitter." Apple Bloom added.

"Doting, but good." Forrest added.

"She does give me the willies sometimes," Polkey Dots admitted, "But she's very beautiful." they all agreed.

When it was time for the wedding everypony got to their places inside Sombra's Castle; the Mane Six, Shining Armor, Cadance and their baby Alexandrite, Eclipse, Discord, Isle, Scorpan stood in front of the crowd. Discord was dressed in a black suit while Scorpan's was white. Eclipse was dressed in a blue and purple dress and the rest of the Mane Six dressed in the dresses they wore during Shining Armor's wedding. Umbra was holding the rings. Shining Armor was dressed in his uniform he wore during his wedding while his son wore a tuxedo for babies. Celestia stood in the middle. Sombra was already at the front waiting for his bride nervously. He took out a hanky and wiped his head. Discord put his paw on Sombra's shoulder, "Don't get to nervous and pass out." he joked.

"Very funny..."

"Just trying to help ease the tension. Look at me in the eyes and your tension will be eased...." Discord said as he eyes began changing colors and spiraling, hypnotizing King Sombra. King Sombra's eyes were the same color for a moment then he shook his head fast, his eyes turned back to normal, and he came to his senses quickly.

"Agh! None of that, please!"

"Just trying to help.... Discord replied.

"We're so happy for you...." Fluttershy told him with a little bit of tears.

Sombra smiled at them, "Thank you, my friends. I couldn't have done it without all of you." They all smiled at him. Sombra then remembers over a thousand years ago he was in the middle of making a ring when the darkness began to take it's toll on Sombra and he imagined what things would've been like if he and Luna married and if the darkness didn't take control over them. He sighed, Things would be very different today and I probably wouldn't have the family and friends I have today.... maybe under certain circumstances I would have met them.... but, it's time to let go of my past and spend all eternity with the mare, family, and friends I love. Thank you Luna, thank you Celestia, thank you Discord, thank you Shining Armor, thank you Cadance, thank you Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and all your families and friends. Thank you everyone for giving me back what I lost centuries ago..... my heart.... Sombra thought.

Celestia whispered into his ear, "It's time...." Sombra looked over to Yykees and nodded. Yykees nodded back and started playing the pipe organ. He played a creepy version of 'Here comes the Bride'.

All the guests looked and the unicorn guards opened the door. The CMC let out flowers as they bounced down the aisle. Luna walked down the aisle with bats holding her cape in the air. Sombra looked at her and his eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped, "Angel..... of the Night....." he whispered.

"Easy there...." said Applejack. Rarity began to cry making Applejack put on her hat again.

"She's pretty Dad...." Umbra whispered.

"I know...."

From the ceiling Queen Chrysalis and some of her Changelings were watching unnoticed. "I still can't believe my favorite Dark King has changed, but I have to admit he is pretty handsome this way too." she said to her minions.

Ahuizotl, his cats, and his henchponies looked through a window. "Too bad we lost an ally, but at least we get to watch a wedding." Ahuizotl said before he notices Daring Do. He growled at her, then he looks up and see's Queen Chrysalis. "So dark, so evil-looking, so beautiful, and she looks deadly!" he yelled with hearts in his eyes, "She's not even my species and I think I'm attracted to her. Anypony knows her name?"

"Her name is Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings." one of his henchponies said.

"Chrysalis? Now that's a name to warm my soul. I wonder if I can get her to team up with me?"

Down in Tartarus Tirek, who was still imprisoned, watched the wedding through a portal outside his cage. "He gave up hostile takeover for that mare and my useless, foolish brother is serving them?! Pathetic. Sombra has grown soft, and Scorpan has grown softer. But at least Sombra has a queen finally." he said in disgust. "If only they were still evil, they would've been great allies....." he smirked at that one. Thanks to Isle's magic her island was able to watch the wedding as well. Yykees had some of his Cameravens hiding around the room video taping the wedding.

Luna got to the front and the bats let go. One of the bats turned into Count Appula surprising the others, "So sorry...." he said before joining Rose in the crowd.

Luna was now standing next to Sombra holding hooves. Celestia spread out her wings and said, "Mares and Gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Princess Luna and King Sombra. More than once in the history of Equestria there has been a love so powerful, so strong that it lasted over a thousand years and surpassed even darkness itself. Do you, Princess Luna, take this stallion to be your lawfully wedded husband through sickness, health, and for all eternity?"

"I do...."

"And do you, King Sombra, take this mare to be lawfully wedded wife through sickness, health, and for all eternity?"

"I do...."

Celestia turns her head towards Umbra, "May we have the rings, dear nephew?"

"Sure thing Aunt Celly!" he held up the rings.

Sombra's and Luna's horns glowed and the rings floated and went on their horns. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you King and Queen. You may kiss the bride." with that Luna wrapped her arms around Sombra and they kissed as the guests cheered. Celestia shed a few tears and smiled. Umbra hugged his aunt as they watched the newlyweds leave. Rainbow Dash immediately left the room, leaving her dress again, and made a Sonic Rainboom outside.

They all went to the ballroom where Sombra and Luna nuzzled and rubbed against each other. Celestia and Discord sat down together in a seat. "When you said 'More than once' did you mean...."

Celestia beat him to it, "Yes...." Discord smiles, wraps an arm around her, and they kissed.

Queen Chrysalis and her minions just left the castle unnoticed. "To bad I can't impersonate Luna, or Sombra would've been mine...." she chuckled at that.

Ahuizotl came out of hiding and stopped in front of Chrysalis, "Evening Dark, Evil, Beautiful, and Deadly, name's Ahuizotl. Maybe you've heard of me?" he took her hoof and kissed it. Chrysalis took her hoof back, slapped him in the face, and she flew away with the other changelings. Ahuizotl paced like he was dizzy and said, "Oooh! I think she likes me!" then he shook his head fast.

"Should we give chase?" one of his henchponies asked.

"Nah, maybe some other time."

While flying Chrysalis said, "He's a fool, but maybe we can use him sometime." she smiled her evil smile.

Discord got in front of the band with his stick. Discord hits his stand with his stick a few times and began conducting the band. Many couples got together and started dancing. Appula and Rose, Yykees and Zecora, Easter and Fluttershy, Soarin and Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor, Cadance, and their baby, Eclipse and Scorpan, Bandit and Maud Pie, Starlight Glimmer and Sir Stonehorn, Big Mac and Cheerilee, Wild Forrest and Apple Bloom and so on. Umbra sat down on a chair watching everypony dance. Sweetie Belle was skipping when she stopped in front of Umbra, "Hi Umbra! You want to dance?" she asked holding out her hoof.

Umbra blushed, "Oh..... um...... sure...." he took her hoof and together they went to the center and danced. Guitar Emo, with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara holding his arms, were passing by when they spotted Umbra and Sweetie Belle dancing.

"Just look at her. Dancing with the prince...." Silver Spoon said disgusted.

"You jealous?" Diamond asked.

"Nah, just wondering why the Prince would choose somepony like Sweetie Belle." Silver replied.

"Well, those two have blank flanks. Makes perfect sense!" Emo told them making them giggle.

"You dance good." Sweetie Belle told Umbra.

"Oh.... thank you Sweetie Belle...." Sweetie Belle rested her head on Umbra's shoulder, making him blush again.

Spike and Rarity were enjoying a drink when Spike spotted those two dancing and smiled. "You don't think that she has a crush on him, do you?" Spike asked.

Rarity shook her head, "No. She told me that he's not her type, but he considers him one of the closest friends she has ever had. Shall we dance?"

Spike blushed, "Oh, uh sure!"

Sombra was dancing with Luna. "This is one of the greatest nights of my life....." Sombra whispered to her.

"Mine too...." Luna said resting her head on her new husband's shoulder.

Skinner handed Twilight a microphone as the music continued playing, "I sing myself, but all I'm good at is Heavy Metal." he said before joining his gang. Light shined on Twilight as she slowly sung: "Love.... It lasts for all time.... Things may change, but love endures.... Wherever you go, walk, fly, or climb.... Love is there, both mine and yours.... Eternal Love...."

Umbra went over to Silver Spoon, held her hoof and kissed it. Silver Spoon blushed and Umbra asked, "Would you like to dance?"

"Oh.... I love too...."

Diamond watched the two and giggled. "Shall we?" Emo asked Diamond before they danced too.

Twilight continued singing: "Love will forever live.... Without love, you may feel empty.... Open your heart, spread joy, and maybe give.... Do more than just being friendly...."

Spectra was floating around when a stallion in a ghost costume approached her. "That's a very good costume you have there." he said.

"Thank you. Your costume is good too."

"Would you like to dance?"

"I would love too...." the two tried to hold hooves but the stallion passed right through her. The stallion turned around, realized what she was, and fainted. Spectra shrugged her shoulders and raised her hooves.

Twilight sung: "Love is eternal.... Love is strong.... Put aside darkness and all infernal.... Show love, friendship, and kindness all lifelong...." Starlight Glimmer and Sir Stonehorn were dancing slowly. She had her arms wrapped around Stonehorn's neck and Stonehorn had his arms around her waist. Their eyes met and their lips got closer until they kissed for the first time. Scorpan gives Eclipse a bouquet of different colored roses blushing. Eclipse takes the roses with her magic and holds them close and kisses Scorpan's cheek. Twilight closed her eyes and sung: "Love comes in any imaginable form.... Chaos and Order, Darkness and the Night.... Some may appear to be an unlikely match.... Some may appear beautiful, handsome, and deform.... But it doesn't mean love is not right.... Love you may feel can never detach.... It's Eternal Love..... Eternal Love.... Eternal....... love......"

The crowd applauded and many of them threw roses. Twilight bowed as Flash Sentry came up and they hugged. "Enough of this mushy stuff!" Skinner yelled getting everyone's attention, "Aren't we supposed to be having a fiesta?!" with that he and his gang started playing wildly and many couples started dancing wildly.

Many pictures were taken: Twilight and Flash hugging; Rainbow Dash crashing into Soarin again; Spike eating some of Sombra's crystals and diamonds with Rarity looking down at him sternly; Appula flying with Rose on his back; Yykees and Spectra giving some of the guests a good scare; Zecora, in her costume, snuck up on Yykees and scared him; Prof. George hanging from the chandelier with one arm while holding a banana with one foot and eating it; Big Mac and Cheerilee kissing with Apple Bloom and Applejack watching; Fluttershy and Easter blushing while looking at the camera; Eclipse and Starlight Glimmer dancing with some of the kids while Stonehorn and Scorpan were watching and laughing; Scorpan and Stonehorn shaking a claw and a front hoof; The CMC in the first row and the CMS in the second row all doing what looked like the River Dance; Prince Umbra getting some of the fillies attention; Pinkie Pie and Party Favor bouncing up and down on balloons; Applejack watching Wild Forrest and Apple Bloom dance looking overprotective; Guitar Emo playing his guitar with the Beastly Gang with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon watching; Discord and Celestia dancing; Isle doing the hula; and the newlyweds hugging and kissing. Luna, Celestia, and Isle hugged one another. Luna threw her bouquet. Cheerilee caught it.

"I'm so proud of you little sister...." Celestia said weeping a little.

The two nuzzled, "Thank you, big sister. I love you....." Luna said starting to cry.

"I love you too...." Suddenly Umbra jumped on Celestia's back.

"Bye mom! Bye dad! See you next week."

Sombra and Luna hugged their son. "Bye, son!" Sombra said.

"Bye Umbra. Be a good colt." Luna said. She kisses his head before she and Sombra went into a carriage and left waving goodbye to everypony and creature. A sign saying 'Just Married' was on the back of the carriage.

Umbra and Celestia waved back at them. Umbra stops and asked, "Aunt Celly, why is it called a honeymoon? Do they eat honey under a full moon?"

Celestia laughed, "Oh no!"

"What do they do then?"

"We'll tell you when you're older...." Celestia said nuzzling her nephew.

Big Mac and Cheerilee sat down on a bench in Sombra's Garden. Big Mac had an arm wrapped around her and Cheerilee was resting her head on his shoulder. Big Mac took out a small box from his saddle sack and opened it, "Cheerilee, will you marry me?" Cheerilee gasped, then she hugged him. "EYEP!" the two laughed and kissed.

Song: Eternal Love (inspired by the song: "Love" from Disney's Robin Hood, but I don't know if you call it a parody)