The New Timeline

Chapters

Sombra's Uprising
First Encounters
Bitter Reunions
A Death in the Family Part 1
A Death in the Family Part 2
Hatching Comfort
Snow Day
Bring a Monster to School Day
Applying Indigo (Month of Luv)
The Edge
Magic Training Part 1
Magic Training Part 2
A Canterlot Wedding Part 1 (New Timeline)
A Canterlot Wedding Part 2 (New Timeline)
The Crystal Empire (New Timeline)
Techno-Magic War
Screwball's Favor
Ballad of the Brobdingnag (New Timeline)
The Low Road
The Equestrian Prometheus
Always There
One Shall Rise
Revelations
No Second Prances (New Timeline)
B Mash Squared
School House Shock (Part 1)
Homecoming
School House Shock (Part 2)
Where is Thy Sting?
Prologue: Out with the Old, In with the New
Starswirl's Research on Other Worlds
The Dancing Ribbons
The Fall of the Sunset Shimmer (New Timeline)
The Dark Knight Returns

Sombra's Uprising

One thousand years ago, after the Siren's were banished to the world beyond, the Crystal Mirror was taken to the more fortified Crystal Kingdom. Every generation, a new guardian from the greatest of the Crystal Army would be appointed to guard the mirror should they ever return. Swearing in secrecy, only the first guardian knew of this purpose. Years went by and each succeeding guardian would know nothing of what they were guarding, nor could see it. One guardian would break that oath.

Sombra or the pony that would be known as such was first found in the frozen wilderness of the Crystal Kingdom. When he was brought into the orphanage, Sombra had very little words to speak, most often his own name. This slight learning disability, along with being "mark-less," made him an easy target for teasing. One day, another young pony by the name Radiant Hope is brought in the orphanage. Noticing the teasing she's been receiving, the two have been very close friends. While Radiant Hope's body became more crystalline like the inhabitants around her, Sombra remained the same, though he felt the aches and pains. Feeling sorry for him, Radiant applied her healing magic to him, unintentionally receiving her cutie mark in the process.

Noticing her potential, The Royal Sisters took Radiant under their tutelage. Sombra, now alone and still without a Cutie Mark, decided to find his place in the Crystal Army. With none of his former orphan mates around to tease him, Sombra trained and fought hard against the Windigoes that once threatened Equestria. Noticing this great deal of courage, Princess Amore took him in and anointed him as Guardian. Sombra couldn't be any happier, he was away from the ponies who teased and taunted him while being part of the Crystal Kingdom's alumni. What more could be done to impress Radiant Hope when she returned?

Years pass and Sombra has yet to receive word from his good friend. The aches still happen, but not as much from when he was young. For a long time, he stood guard, not moving one muscle unless it is to pay respects to the passing Princess Amore or a thief would try to steal a prized object nearby. One day, one of the passing alumni stopped and looked at Sombra as he stared into the horizon.

"Hmph!" - Chrysalis walked over to the Guardian - "Ever since as a little filly, it never fails to amuse me how the last guardian just stood there."

Sombra, either out of duty or to shrug off her annoyance, ignored her and continued his watch.

"Do you even know what you're guarding?" Chrysalis added

"I am sworn to secrecy not to disclose what is behind the doors." Sombra finally answered.

"Yes, but you know just what you're guarding?" - Sombra's silence frustrated her - "And to think" - She begins stroking the stallion's arm - "you, all alone in this hallway" - Chrysalis slowly reaches up to his ear - "unloved..."

Chrysalis' ears flicked to the hum of magic.

"Leave, now..." Sombra growled as his horn glowed.

Chrysalis stepped back to her level and began walking alway.

"Even good deed's never go unpunished." She hissed as she left the Guardian's sight.

Annoyed as he is, the brief conversation did spark some debate into his mind well into the following night. Sombra growled as he fought his away his curiosity. Then there are the memories of him being called "slow" or "not up to speed." For the first time in years, Sombra snapped out of his mind, turned around and slowly opened the door.

Inside were a series of knick knacks; ancient robes, tapestries, and jewels from the former rulers of the Empire lined up along the shelves. The large Unicorn looked around and found his answer. The Crystal Mirror, as fine as it stood years ago, was right in front of him. Sombra raised an eyebrow as he approached the mirror.

"What form of sorcery would this worthless object have?"

When he looked at his reflection, Sombra was unamused. But when he noticed something happening to his reflection, the Guardian looked harder. His reflection aged back to when he was a colt, and even further as just mere shadow seeping into a red crystal. He was then shown his adult self again exploding into several pieces by the power of one object: The Crystal Heart.

He stumbled out of the room, his eyes smaller than they were before. Now there were so many questions: What was he? What's his purpose?
Sombra raced down the hall, past the night guards and to the chamber of the Crystal Heart. As it is still night, the room was illuminated a soft blue from the Crystal Heart. Sombra slowly approached the relic, wincing in pain as he got closer. When he was six inches away, his body began to crack. Not wanted to risk oblivion, he stepped back, noticing the blue cracks receding.

When he got back, Sombra found Chrysalis along with a few guards standing next to her. His intentions revealed, Sombra growled at her as she curled her lips into a toothy grin.

The next morning, he was brought over to the throne room, where Princess Amore waited. The ruler kept a gentle glare as Sombra knelt before her.

"Sombra, when I anointed you as Guardian you swore of secrecy. Am I correct?"

"Yes, your Majesty." Sombra turned his eyes over to the smug Chrysalis.

"You understand the consequences of breaking that oath?"

"Yes, your majesty." Sombra raised his head up "But my questions need to be answered: What am I, and why does it hurt to be near the Crystal Heart?"

The Crystal Princess closed her eyes - "You, are an Umbrum, a shadow pony."

Sombra was taken aback, "How can that be? I still walk among you."

"Some can manifest themselves into a physical form. Only by the power of the Crystal Heart shall they be destroyed."

When Amore opened her eyes, she found Sombra's eyes closed shut.

"In light of that," - Amore rose from her throne - "I have decided that you should be banished from the Crystal Empire." - She approaches him. "The mirror only tells of what may happen: you still have the power to change."

As she places a hoof on him, Sombra's eyes shoot open. Dark energy flowed outwards as his body lost it's physical form and became shadow. Outside the kingdom, the darkness blotted the sun, bringing concern to the Crystal Ponies.

"Seize him!" -Chrysalis ordered- "Protect the Princess with your life!"

Without even turning around, Sombra's dark magic made the surrounding chamber from a glacier-blue to an obsidian-black. Red lines drew out the forms of ponies, which then broke out of the walls and began attacking the guards. Without much effort, over half of the army became overwhelmed by him. Sombra continued to stare as Amore as his crystal soldiers held his prisoners.

"What shall it be, Princess?" - Sombra wrapped Chrysalis in a veil of darkness - "Your throne or your subjects?"

Princess Amore stood tall, merely glaring at the Shadow Pony. Sombra took that as his answer before focusing on Chrysalis.

"In my time as Guardian, I have heard much about you from the Castle Guards. Your lust has made them fight for your love." Sombra narrowed his predatory eyes, bringing more fear from the Unicorn - "They view you as a princess, so I shall make you and your admirers as I see in you. From love they fed upon, and so love you shall feed as well."

The shadows swallowed Chrysalis and the captured soldiers. Amore shut her eyes as they screamed in their transformation, all the while the Shadow Pony gave a toothy grin.

Suddenly, Sombra felt a sharp pain inside him. He turned and found Princess Amore with her horn lit. Outside, the Crystal Heart was in motion as it was lowered to the centerpiece just below the Palace. Sombra's body became physical again, releasing his prisoners. Blue streaks began lining up on around his body. Amore kept at her magic, not backing down for one second. Sombra, in one desperate attempt to save his life, used a surge of black magic to become shadow again and wrapped around the Unicorn.

A short scream.

Then silence.

Sombra returned to a physical manifestation, now with red eyes and his horn curved slightly and having a pigment change from black to blood red.

Chrysalis woke up to find unrecognizable beings. They were charcoal black with blue carapaces and chitinous legs and wings. When she looked at the floor, her visage was horrifying. She had the same features as the others, but also her "mane" and "tail" now has the appearance of a spider web, a mere shadow of her once beautiful mane. She looked not only to find Sombra but also Princess Amore, now a crystalline statue.

"Farewell, my former master." Sombra closed his eyes when his ear flicked to the sound of magic. In a quick evasion of shadows, he dodged the green blast, destroying the statue in the process.

Chrysalis placed both of her "hooves" at her mouth as Sombra appeared behind her.

"You brought this yourself." He whispered in her ear.

Sombra stepped over the pieces of the now deceased Princess and sat on the throne. Chrysalis hissed at him as the other abominations awoke.

"Leave my kingdom" - Sombra growled - "And never return."

"One day, I will have your head!" Chrysalis shrieked at him before being shoved by a crystal soldier.

Defeated, but not willing to give up, Chrysalis wrote a letter to the Royal Sisters.

My Fair Rulers,

I bring with a heavy heart that Princess Amore was killed. Slain at the hand of the Umbrum known as Sombra. He has taken the throne in her place and now rules the Crystal Empire with an Iron Fist. Please respond immediately to this crisis.

Your faithful subject.

Upon being read, the scroll was dropped onto the floor. Tears dripped on the letter as we see the last free Crystal Pony Radiant Hope weeping.

"Sombra..."

First Encounters

The sun rose high over the mountains of Canterlot. The ponies, predominantly Unicorns, bustle the streets as they perused and scrutinized the markets by taste alone. In the castle itself, Princess Celestia continued on signing documents into law, a duty she had for millennia.
Down in the castle courtyards, her students, having finished their lessons for today, were playing, sharing what they have learned today. Twilight Sparkle sat on a small picnic blanket along with Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Moon Dancer. Spike, the dragon she hatched for her entrance exam, happily suckled on the tip of his tail. Aside from Moon Dancer, the others didn't mind Twilight reading while they enjoyed their lunch.

A little distance away from them sat Sunset Shimmer reading a book with tired eyes. Having spent half of her energy studying for today's exam last night then spending the rest of it performing it took its toll. On and off the filly dozed off for a few seconds before shaking it off and continued her reading. In time, the machinations of her mind slowly ceased and Sunset hung her head low and began to sleep.

The group of students, sans Twilight, watched as Sunset's body slowly collapse on the book.

"You know," - Twinkleshine asked of her friends - "for a pain in the neck, Sunset does look cute when she's sleepy."

"Yeah, so much for being called "Sunset" Shimmer." Minuette snickered.

"Very funny." Twilight finished, not turning her head even once to her friends.

Sunset merely ignored the chatter as she continued to sleep, not even flicking her ears to a magical hum as a balloon and needle floated to her head in a light violet aura. In one soft touch from the needle, the balloon exploded. The group of fillies turned to the source of the sound.

"Alright who did that!?" Sunset glared at her classmates with bloodshot eyes as she levitated the closed book.

There was silence for a good minute before pompous laughter can be heard behind a daffodil bush. Rolling out of the bush was a light blue Unicorn filly with white hair and a magic wand for a cutie mark. Her expression changed when she opened her teary eyes and found Sunset charging at her with the book. The mischievous filly immediately stood up and rose on her back hooves. Just when Sunset was about to throw the book at her, the filly stamped her front hooves onto the ground, releasing smoke that covered her when her pursuer throws the book.
When the smoke cleared, nopony was there. Sunset turned her head around before finding her opponent fleeing to another part of the courtyard.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie" - Trixie trips on the grass then scampers back on her feet - "strikes again!"

Sunset rolled her eyes before walking past the daffodils to find her book pages face down on the grass. When she sat down to grab it, the book lifted itself a few inches off the ground and began hovering away. Sunset bared her teeth.

"If I ever see that prankster again, it'd be too soon!" Sunset chased the book around as it kept changing direction or even in circles.

Eventually, the book reached her classmates. Everypony, even Twilight stood up as the book flew around and bopped Spike. The baby dragon took shelter underneath his "sister" as book stopped in front of them. The book "stepped" back, raising part of its spine as it prepared to run again. A sea-green aura surrounded the book and drew it away. What was underneath was the young Cosgrove just about to ram at Twilight.
The baby bounced back on the checkered blanket. Recovering from the impact, Cosgrove wiggled his toes as Sunset lowered her head at him. Looking at both Unicorn fillies, the baby squinted before ramming at Sunset's nose then to Twilight's.

"Awwww!!" - Lemon Hearts cooed - "Aren't you the cutest thing?"

Minuette held his face as she inspected the gums.

"Already in good health!" Minuette gently released him.

Spike gathered enough courage to confront the baby pony. Having only known the caring faces of ponies like Night Dancer, Cosgrove instinctively ran under Sunset's legs. The Unicorn shuffled back as the baby played around like a puppy.

"He thinks you're his mother." Twilight Sparkle giggled.

As her friends joined in, Sunset scowled at them, though the blush on her cheeks only encouraged more laughter. Wrapping the saddlebag around her waist, she levitated the baby into the pocket and stormed off towards the gates.

"Sunset!" - Moon Dancer beckoned - "Celestia said we're not allowed to go out the gates!"

"I've been yelled at a few times," - Sunset continued on - "It won't be different anyhow!"

While being out of the Castle without Celestia's permission is one thing, finding a child's parent is another. On and on Sunset searched throughout the city, but could not find a reasonable pony she could find as a parent. Ironically, she did just pass Night Dancer herself as she called out for her adopted son. Walking to an alley away from the crowds, The Unicorn placed the baby on top of an old crate and began studying him as Cosgrove made froth bubbles out of his lips.

"One thing for certain, you’re not a Zebra." - Sunset turned her head, inspecting the innocent baby - "Zebras are black and white, not yellow and purple. They should also have stripes on their legs." - She took notice of the rather hairy hooves drooping down - "And why the-?"
As she looked closer to one of his hooves, Cosgrove embraced Sunset's hoof. The Unicorn's eyes widened as the baby held her hoof tighter. Just as she relaxed her shoulders, Sunset snapped out of the moment and lifted the baby in the air.

"Do I look like a petting zoo to you?" - Sunset rhetorically asked, much to the baby's chagrin as he laughed - "Oh, you think this is funny?" Sunset levitated the baby onto a higher box, only the excite the baby further - "Still not good enough?" - She levitated him onto the highest box in the pile - "There! Be a little snack for the falcons." - Sunset looked away from him for a while before turning back to him - "You're pretty brave, I give you that."

Sunset turned around again to the sound of school children cheering at a hoofball field. Inside the ring of students was a tailless green Earth Pony colt by the name Hoof Lock and a gray Unicorn named Jet Set having a brawl. The Earth Pony managed to pin the Unicorn down and began pummeling him. Thanks to being a Unicorn, Jet Set disappeared, reappeared and shot a blast at his flank. Hoof Lock winced in pain as he looked at the burn mark.

"Ha!" - Jet Set stroked his mane, getting it back into shape - "How's that for a cutie mark?

"Better than your's, buttmunch!" Hooflock lashed back.

Sunset looked on from the wired fence as the brawl continued. As Jet Set overpowered Hoof Lock, she glare was cut short by an ugly smell. Taking a sniff, she looked down to find the stench from Cosgrove's diaper. At first reluctant, Sunset looked at the fight again and grinned.
Jet Set pinned down Hoof Lock and aims a hoof at his head, completely unaware of the payload descending fast upon him.

"Ruffians like you don't belong in Canterlot!"

Suddenly the dirty diaper landed on his head, the stench immediately noticeable. As Jet Set ran like a pansy, the other classmates back away from the dirtied Unicorn. As Hoof Lock got up, he turned to find Sunset and the now diaper-less Cosgrove walking towards him. The Unicorn lifted the baby and aimed his posterior at the others.

"There's plenty more where that came from!" Sunset threatened.

All the students screamed and fled back to the school. Those that remained are Hooflock and his younger sister, a pink and yellow-haired Earth Pony named Crescendo being comforted by a blue and orange Pegasus named Flash Sentry. Crescendo looked down to find the little colt pawing at her.

"Thanks..." said Hooflock as he gave Sunset a noogie.

Sunset batted away his hoof, "Well next time be careful."

"Wow, your little buddy would be great with my little bro!" - Flash Sentry bopped Cosgrove on the nose before turning to the Unicorn - "What's his name?"

"Cosgrove!"

The group of young ponies turned to find Night Dancer trotting around the fence to the entrance. Cosgrove happily galloped as fast as his little legs could to his mother before making a little hop into her arms.

"Don't scare me like that!" - Night Dancer berated as she held him tighter before turning looking at the other children - "Thank you so much for finding him!"

"Your... Welcome...?" Sunset thanked in a weird tone.

After Night Dancer began the long journey back to the Circus, Sunset began walking back to the Castle.

"So..." - Crescendo raised a hoof - "Sometime tomorrow?"

Sunset stopped and turned around.

"... I'll think about it."

As she walked out of the school, Flash Sentry added, "Hope we don't keep meeting up like this."

Bitter Reunions

A day has passed since the fiasco with the Ursa Minor. The trees that have been crushed are now being uprooted. Construction ponies have just finished replaced the bitten beams on the room of Bon Bon's house. Mr. Greenhooves supervised Snips and Snails as they cleared the wreckage of Trixie's wagon. Twilight walked among the crowds with her friends as they entered Sugarcube Corner.

"What other tricks can you do, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked before eating a spoonful of carrot cake.

"Well, I know of quite a few teleportation spells, some levitation spells-"

"Can you even fly?" Rainbow Dash interrupted

"Well," - Twilight placed a hoof on her chin - "no. Magic takes a lot of concentration, I'd be lucky if I could lift myself a few inches."

"Not that it matters, Sugar Cube." - Applejack scowled at Rainbow Dash before turning to Twilight - "What really matters is that you use your talent for a good purpose."

"Quite so, Applejack." - Rarity added - "Unlike that other Unicorn."

"Yeah, Sunbutt Shammer was even worse than-"

Twilight's eyes shot open before she coughed out a piece of cake silencing the conversation.

"Y'all right there, Twi?" Applejack placed a hoof on her friend while Twilight wheezed.

Upon recovering, Twilight asked, "Sunset Shimmer's here too?"

"Of course, silly!" - Pinkie Pie twirled her hair, flings it deep into the kitchen and using a reeling motion with her hooves, drew back a long list - "Sunset is just five new members above you." Pinkie finished with a squee.

"Was Sunset a close friend of your's, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight hesitantly looked at her friends before answering, "She was a classmate."

"What?" Pinkie Pie shouted.

"And so was Trixie."

"What?!" Pinkie continued, much to the amused looks of the other customers.

"I haven't heard why, but she left well before I came here."

"Wha-!" Mr. Cake placed a hoof over her mouth.

With order restored, Twilight looked at her friends again.

"Did she cause any trouble?" Twilight asked, only receiving an answer by her friends eying away from her. She placed a hoof on her head "Do you know where she lives?"

Rather than tell her, Pinkie Pie grabbed a corner of the screen and turns it over like a book page, showing them now in an underground laboratory. Machines ran at optimum levels, beakers channeled their concoctions into another mixture. Twilight looked up, noticing the tree roots. She never realized there was a laboratory in the Library before.

"So if I mix the negative hydroxyl ion with the salicylic acid" - the Mane Six turned to find Sunset Shimmer writing an entry before Pinkie began sneaking up to her - "the resulting mix should be a pain-"

"Hi, Sunset!" Pinkie's greeting made the orange Unicorn jolt up and instinctively shot the quill at the pink Pony. Dodging the bullet the quill stuck at one of the roots. " Wow! Nice aim."

"Pinkie, I thought I-" - Sunset spotted her former classmate among the rest of her "visitors."

Twilight gave a sheepish grin.

"Hi, Sunset."

Sunset furrowed a glare before she turned over to her work.

"Hi..."

Twilight gulped before walking over to her former classmate and eyed the journal entry.

"So, uh" Twilight looked harder into the log "making medicine?"

A green aura surrounded the book before almost snapping at the violet unicorn's snout.

"Private experiments." Sunset answered without looking away from her work "Why are you here?"

As if insulting her intelligence, Twilight answered, "I live in the Library."

Sunset paused, "The old hag gave you the library but not me."

Applejack stepped forward

"Well now, you haven't really been kind enough to earn a reference."

Sunset jerked to a halt.

"Quite right, Applejack." - Rarity added, stepping to her side "I still recall how you destroyed the welcome cake when you first arrived."

Sunset's hair grizzled.

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash ascended a few feet "You are no Gilda, but you are pretty-"

Rainbow narrowly dodged a shot of magic, singing off the tip of her Rainbow mane. Sunset breathed in and out heavily as her horn glowed very bright. The other four, especially Fluttershy, slowly backed away. Twilight gave a nervous giggle as she stepped between them.

"Okay, girls" Twilight began herding her friends up the earthen stairs "let's leave her to her job."

Just when Twilight walked out, the door slammed shut on her tail. Fortunately, most of a pony's tail is just hair. Twilight held a large grin as she yanked her tail out, leaving a few purple strands.

"Well, not exactly a warm welcome." Twilight kept a happy face as her friends looked at her with opposite expressions before leaving the Library.

"Twilight" - Applejack stood at the door - "not all cattle are meant to be tamed."

As soon as Applejack left the Library, Twilight's grin quickly disappeared as she slowly walked up the stairs.

"There has to be a way to make things better" - Twilight opened her saddlebag - "there always is."

Twilight pulled out something she didn't know she had. It was indeed a journal, but it was not her journal. The cutie mark on the front cover matches that of Sunset's. Opening up the pages, Twilight looked at each entry from their beginning years at the school to almost today. When she stopped at the last page to have words, her eyes widened and her equine cranium formed an idea.

"Spike," - the young dragon walked over to her - "write this down."

Despite working in the laboratory, Sunset still has to go out to eat. A few hours later, she walked out of the library, ignoring the looks the other residents gave her and walked to the Ponyville Cafe. The waiter, Savoir Fare, walked over to the orange Unicorn.

"The usual?" Asked the well groomed Earth Pony, but before Sunset could answer...

"Oh hey, girls" - Sunset turned to find the Mane Six at another table - "look who's here."

Sunset face-hoofed, "Oh, Celestia..."

As soon as she raised her head up, the Mane Six were already around her. Savoir looked at the group before writing the list of drinks each one usually drinks at the cafe and left the group alone. Her "guests," especially Pinkie, held a sheepish grin, as they tried to find the words to speak.

"So, Sunset" - Rarity asked first - "do you come here often?"

Sunset took a deep breath, "Mostly."

Another awkward silence before another waiter arrived with a tray of drinks.

Fluttershy leaned over, "Do you have any pets."

Sunset glared at her, causing Fluttershy to draw back. Twilight pulled out a wrapped present.

"Here, Sunset" - Twilight places the present on the table - "I found this in my bag just today."

After rolling her eyes, the former student levitated the book and began tearing away the wrapping. Noticing the brown binding, Sunset tilted her neck at Twilight as she began to sweat. With a skeptical eye, she tore off the rest of the wrapping and jolted at the sight of her journal with a noticeable bookmark jutting out. Opening the book, Sunset began reading the new writing.

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I have taken the time to reflect on our argument and I want to apologize. Though I may not be hearing from you, I want to tell you that you are not my least favorite student. You have proven to be one of my greatest students, and I would have taken you to the next step. Wherever you are now, I wish you the best of luck as you lead your own life outside of Canterlot. Just know that If you are willing to talk, I will be there to answer.

Your teacher,

Princess Celestia.

What Twilight hoped would be the answer to the problem was met with Sunset throwing the book on the floor and running away from the Cafe.

"Sunset!" - Twilight disappeared from the table and reappeared just at the entrance to the Library

Sunset skidded to a halt, "Get out of my way, Twilight!"

"Sunset, whatever happened between you and Celestia, I am here to say we are sorry."

"Oh, so we just forgive and forget huh?" - Sunset did a sarcastic chuckle - "Well, it's not that easy I'm afraid."

The citizens watched as the conversation unfolded before them.

"You know how many hooves I've greased just to get to be one of Celestia's finest?" - Sunset snorted, before turning to the crowd - "You all should be thanking me for the medicines I have made without your help!"

One pony, a brown stallion with a bow tie and collar stepped forward.

"I have offered you my help and you turned it away." Dr. Whooves rebuked

Another pony, a white mare with light pink hair stepped forward as well.

"So have I." Nurse Red Heart added.

Sunset growled, "And you all turned to Twilight for help when I was also there." - Sunset turned around to Twilight Sparkle - "So how about you just take your friendship speeches and your friends and just leave me alone!"

Sunset turned around with her head aloof, much to the appalled citizens. Twilight drew her ears back in uncertainty before determination drew them forward as she begins walking.

"Stay away from me, Twilight." - Sunset continued to hear her footsteps before lighting up her horn - "Please, just leave me alone!"

Before she could fire any spell, Sunset's eyes shot wide open, seeing the purple body and mane wrapped around in a tight embrace. The fire-haired Pony slowly relaxed, canceling the spell.

"Twilight, I don't understand..."

"Friendship is based on forgiveness" - Twilight loosened her embrace, holding Sunset's hooves - "even what happened before was unforgivable. We are all willing to accept you, but only if you let go of your hatred and vanity and accept us too."

Sunset looked at the faces of the ponies around her before looking at the castle in the distant mountains.

"You... you mean you are all willing to accept me as a friend?"

Sunset's question was answered with nods from the ponies around her. She teared up as she pulled Twilight into another embrace.
The rest of the Mane Six looked at each other before Pinkie Pie squeaked.

"Group hug!" Pinkie Pie immediately bounded towards the two and joined in on the hug before the others joined in.

After breaking the embrace, Twilight turned to Spike.

"Spike, take a scroll" - the young dragon took out a paper and quill - "Dear Princess-"

"Twilight," - Twilight turned around to Sunset "may I write this one?"

Twilight smiled before giving her a nod of approval.

Dear Princess Celestia,

It has been a while since I have written to you. I have begun to understand what I have been missing from your teachings. In a way, Friendship is everywhere. You could either embrace it or be alone in your hatred and vanity.

As you have written in my journal, I am also willing to talk.

You're former student,

Sunset Shimmer

As she read the letter, Celestia's eyes welled up before she stood and walked to her balcony.

"And so her second chance begins." Celestia added before lowering the sun.

A Death in the Family Part 1

As a snow storm reaches Ponyville, many of the inhabitants began to seek shelter while a large mixed-species herd walked to the train station. Sunset Shimmer just entered the Library when Twilight trotted over to her friend and hugged her.

"Sunset! Thank Celestia you are back! I was so" Twilight was broken out of the embrace as Sunset slowly walked upstairs "worried..."

Since making amends, Sunset has slept on the same floor as Twilight. On occasions where her roommate was absent, Sunset would run the library in her place. Laying down on the bed next to Twilight's, she pulled out her journal and began to write.

Dear Princess Celestia,

You recall that I was invited to join with Rarity and Rainbow Dash on a trip to Prance...

Near the city of Prance, a train makes its stop at the station. As the doors slide open, ponies of all kinds and colors due to depart step off the train. Each one wore a different colored scarf and some even wore stocking on their hooves. Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity stepped off the train and began to walk towards the city.

“Thank you so much for coming along, girls." - Rarity turned towards her two friends - "It means so much that I have to supervise Prance's textile courses.” Said Rarity

“No problem, I've always wanted to go to Prance.” Said Sunset as she caught up with Rarity.

“I don't understand why you brought me along.” Asked Rainbow Dash in an annoyed tone. “The Pegasi here already got the weather ready for winter.”

As they walked to a suburb, a filly spots Rainbow Dash and trots to the group with a quill and notebook.

“Madame Rainbow" - the little filly happily wagged her tail - "May you sign my autograph?”

Rainbow Dash looked at her two friends before giving a shrug and landing on the ground.

“Sure thing, kid.” Said Rainbow Dash as she grabbed the quill and

As Rainbow signs the notebook, more of the Prench Ponies begin to surround her, each muttering in awe at the Pegasus. Sunset and Rarity turn around at the gathering crowd as they each try asking for an autograph.

“Oh goodness! Do you need help darling?” Said Rarity with a worried tone.

Rainbow managed to pop out of the crowd and get a few feet above them. She began to be joined by the pegasi.

“Just go on ahead! I'll find you.” Said Rainbow Dash before she flew off with her admirers pursuing her.

Sunset turned her head forward to find Rarity well ahead of her.

“Hey wait for me!”

After a good walk through the city, Rarity and Sunset enter a luxurious hotel. They approach the concession stand.

"Excuse me kind sir, but I do believe we have a room reserved." Said Rarity as she winked at the receptionist.

The receptionist looked at the book before nodding.

"Ah, Madame Rarity." Said the receptionist as he waved his hoof to guest service Pony. "Please..."

Leading them to the top floor, the guest opened the door to a very stylish room, one that would be a great suit to the Canterlot Elite. After paying the waiter the tip, the two unicorns walked around.

"Seems a little much for a supervisor." Said Sunset Shimmer as she laid down on the bed.

"This room was paid for by the school itself, I am just that famous, darling." - Rarity looked at the clock, her curled mane shook at the sight - "Oh gracious me! I am almost late!"

The white unicorn ran around, frantically stuffing her saddle bags with the necessary forms for the class.

"Blasted train took so long!" She whimpered before running out the door, slamming the door shut.

Sunset, now alone in a fancy hotel, furrowed her brow a little as she hums a little tune while tapping her hooves on the soft covers. She walks over to the window and opens it. She sniffs the crisp cold air as she begins to unravel her scarf. She stops and looks up at the covered up sun before looking down at the town streets.

"A little walk wouldn't hurt." Said Sunset as she began rewrapping the scarf around her neck.

The orange unicorn walked around the city, admiring the range of fancy buildings to the more lower class buildings including the Eiffel Tower.

Which brings us to the moment that where it really began,

Sunset walked past a poster for the circus performing at Prance tonight.

Where he and I finally met... Again... For the very first time.

Sunset's eyes spotted a flower stand before she walks towards it.

Oh... Its such a long story.

Sunset takes a look at the wide variety of flowers, especially the white roses.

“Ah, the lovely lady likes the beautiful flowers, yes no?” Says the flower stallion as he leans forward causing the unicorn to blush a little.

“They... Sure, are pretty.” She answers

“And at the right price too!” Continued a young voice.

Sunset looked down to her right as she spots a yellow colt with purple stripes, mane, tail and hair covered hooves. He dug into his saddle bag took out a bag of bits and spills them on the stand. After a slow counting that would seem to be an eternity, the flower pony rolls his eyes and placed his hooves on the small pile of coins.

“This should be enough.” The flower seller accepted as he drew his hoof and places the money into a safe. He wraps the roses in a bouquet and gives it to the colt, who then places it in his saddle bag.

“Thank you.” Says the colt before walking away.

Sunset’s eyes followed the colt as he walked away. The Unicorn continued to walk around the city. When she turned the corner she finds that the area of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by a massive crowd of Ponies. She tries to get through the crowd but was constantly pushed and excused. Giving up, Sunset "swam" her way to a stone bench in the center of the plaza. Sitting down, Sunset struggled to catch her breath in the cold air.

“Big crowd, isn’t it?” - Sunset yelps, turning to find the same colt sitting at the bench -“Sorry!”

"That's fine," - Sunset scooched over to where she first sat - “don't startle me like that.”

The two ponies didn’t talk to each other as they waited for the crowd to shrink. The colt rocks back and forth, looking to his left before swinging his head at the tired mare.

He stretches his hoof, “I’m Cosgrove by the way.”

That name sparked a memory in her eight years ago. This is indeed the same individual she went on a wild goose chase with. After looking at him for a while, she held Cosgrove's hoof began shaking it.

“Sunset Shimmer.”

“Sunset Shimmer?" - Cosgrove placed a hoof on his chin - "Kind of a tongue twister isn't it?”

Sunset gave a snide smirk before eyeballing the roses jutting from Cosgrove's saddlebag.

"What are the roses for?"

"Oh they are for Mom," - Cosgrove patted the stuffed pocket - "it's her birthday today."

Sunset looked around the crowd, "Is she coming to get you?"

Cosgrove stood up to her ear, "It's a surprise."

Sunset raised an eyebrow.

"So, let me get this straight: you, a colt, walked across the City of Love, away from home, alone, to get a gift for your mother?"

Cosgrove looked the other way, "...Yeah."

Sunset tilted her head, "You're lost aren't you?"

"I am not lost, my home is just... Is..." - Cosgrove looked around, even standing on his back legs to get a better view before plopping back down in defeat - "Okay... I'm lost."

"Do you know where you live?" Asked Sunset.

"Barn and Bailey."

Sunset looked around and found a patrol guard. She motioned Cosgrove to follow her as she approached the guard.

"Excusez-moi , mais savez-vous d'une grange et Bailey?"

The guard looked at her then to the colt.

"Oui , le cirque est à seulement deux pâtés de maisons de la ville derrière vous." Answered the patrol guard as he pointed behind them.

Though she noticed the mention of the Circus, Sunset understood the directions given.

"Merci." Sunset thanked him as she gave him a bit.

The two ponies begin their walk in the direction given. As their view of the upper-class buildings became replaced with lower class ones. Agt one point of their journey they caught the smell of a particular treat; funnel cakes. Cosgrove picked up his pace as they finally reached the circus. As usual in a circus, surrounding the big top were a series of smaller tents where each of the denizens walked in and out.

"Here we are," - Cosgrove rose on his hind legs, stretching his arms out wide - "home sweet home!"

"This is it?" Sunset questioned as she noticed the slightly low quality.

Cosgrove returned to his natural stance.

"It used to be much better."

"Cosgrove!"

The colt turned find Night Dancer walking towards him. Cosgrove quickly opened his saddlebag.

"Where have you been?! I've looked everywhere for-" Night Dancer stopped as a bouquet of roses thrusts up before her.

"Happy birthday, Mom!"

The mare was speechless at the sight of white roses.

"Cos..." - Night Dancer took a soft sniff of the flowers before hugging the foal - "But you shouldn't have gone out there alone!"

"I wasn't alone, Mom" Cosgrove pointed a hoof at Sunset - "Sunset helped me find my way back."

Night Dancer looked at the Unicorn, furrowing her eyebrow as she noticed quite a familiarity.

She turns to her son, "Cosgrove, why don't you go prepare some tea."

Cosgrove nodded and trotted away as his mother stepped towards the younger pony.

"You look familiar." - Night Dancer noticed Sunset giving an uneasy look - "Yes, I remember you, eight years ago at Canterlot."

Sunset draws her ears back, "Is that a bad thing?"

Night Dancer relaxed, "Not at all. You've helped my son both times we have met now, and for that, you have my thanks." - She wraps a hoof around the Unicorn - "Why don't you stop over for some tea?"

"Oh no, that wouldn't be necessary." Said Sunset.

"We insist! You must have had quite a walk in this weather."

Sunset gave a warm smile, "Then, by all means, Mrs..."

"Night Dancer." - The Earth Pony began to walk before turning a little - "And it's Miss."

Sunset gave a look of confusion as Night Dancer walked away.

"You're not married?" - Sunset caught up to Night Dancer - "Then is Cosgrove-"

"Adopted? Yes." Night Dancer answered - "While we were at Pinto Beach, I found him in a woven cradle on the shore alone. I called out to see if there were any others, but then I found that wasn't the case. It wasn't easy, but I took him in and raised him."

They entered a tent with two stars dancing in tango and sat on a straw bed.

"Has he found out?" Sunset asked as Cosgrove brought over a cup of hot tea. Her eyes widened as she noticed the colt's hooves having dewclaws on each side.

"Pretty quickly." Answered Cosgrove as he wiggled his additional digits.

After a few cups of hot tea, the three Ponies turned to the sound of a curtain opening and found a Horse and Merpony fillies and a Sleipnir colt standing at the front.

"Hello, kids." Greeted Night Dancer

"Hi, Night Dancer," - Chelsey waved a hoof - "can Cosgrove come and play?"

"It's snowing outside." Said Diver the Merpony.

Night Dancer looked at her son with a furrowed brow before giving him a smile before answering, "Just be back before tonight."

Cosgrove hopped to his feet and ran to his friends much to Sunset's amusement.

"You may think that a circus is a bad place to raise a kid" - Night Dancer placed the teacup on the dresser "but it's really just a child's playground.

"I better get back," - Sunset stood up - "my friends might worry about me."

Seeing their silhouette inside the tent, Cosgrove formulates a plan as he spoke to Zipper.

"Thank you very much for bringing my son home." Thanked Night Dancer

Sunset nodded before she lit up her horn and teleported back to the hotel. She flopped back on her bed. Sunset's nap was cut short as her ear flicked to the sound of tapped glass. She twisted herself to find Rainbow Dash hovering outside with her arms crossed to warm herself.
Upon opening the window, the rainbow-maned Pegasus flew straight to the covers and wrapped into a ball, leaving only her snout jutting out.

"What took you so long?" Shivered Rainbow.

"I was" - Sunset flopped back on the bed - "Occupied."

Sunset winced again at the sound of wood knocking. Lighting her horn again, the unicorn opened the door to their room and allowed a ragged Rarity inside. The fashion designer gave a slow, exhausted walk dropping her items as she did.

"Rough day also?" Sunset asked as Rarity flopped down on the sofa couch and planted her face on the pillow.

"Oh, you have no idea." Rarity answered through the pillow. "The students were so good we took two hours to critique their work. Thank goodness they only needed me this once."

Rainbow Dash jutted her head out

"So does that mean you're done already?" - Rainbow exploded out of the covers - "So what are we gonna do now?"

Sunset looked back up at the ceiling before a yellow piece of paper flopped on her eyeball. Sitting up, the orange Unicorn found three tickets on the bed. It took a while before finding out that one of Cosgrove's friends is a Sleipnir. Those ponies are famous for their running prowess that would rival Rainbow Dash's flight speed if given the same conditions. Putting two and two together, she smirked.

"I know what we can do tonight."

Increased snow flurries made the journey a little longer as Sunset lead her two friends back to the Barn and Bayley Circus. The pegasus and fancy unicorn gave an uncertain look. The latter of the two stepped on a rotten apple.

"Well, they do have unsanitary standards." - Rarity was suddenly shoved by an Earth pony as he quickly trudged off - "Not to mention manners."

While Rainbow and Rarity continued to the big top, Sunset gave a concerned look at the pony who shove them.

"Come on, slowpoke!" - Rainbow shouted from a distance

Giving the tickets to admissions, they gained entry into the big top. The first pony they saw was Cosgrove in a superhero costume as he and his friends just finished a little play. The colt ran up to Sunset.

"You made it!" Said Cosgrove, giving Sunset a hug

"It wasn't that hard to find out," - Sunset looked at the young Sleipnir - "seeing that you have friends."

Zipper eyeballed back to the yellow colt as the lights dimmed.

"Come on!" - Cosgrove began to hop towards the main area - "Mom's act is just about to start."

In the center of the big top, the spotlight shines on the Ring Master, Gold Nugget.

"ladies and gentlemen," - Announced Gold Nugget "- this is the act that you have all been waiting for. All I ask of yourself is to not try this at home."

A soft chuckle can be heard from the audience

"I now present to the city of Prance: Night Dancer and the Dancing Ribbons!"

The spotlight turned off, giving the Griffon a few moments to leave. A few minutes later, the spotlight turned back on with Night Dancer holding two pieces of suspended ribbon.

At the sound of the baton tapping, she twirled the ribbons around her arms and, when the music played, leapt towards the audience. They gasped in fright and awe as she swung in a pendulum motion across the room. By wrapping herself even further, she went higher into the air as she twisted and flipped in the air. When she spotted Cosgrove, she swooped down and back up again.

"This is totally cool!" Rainbow squeaked before being shushed.

"For the rude behavior and shoddy scenery, this is a spectacular performance." Rarity complimented.

"Cosgrove is sure lucky to have her as a mother." Said Sunset before looking down at the colt.

"Though I do question the use of streamers instead of ribbon." Said Rarity.

Sunset turned to Rarity, "Streamers?"

"Yes, darling, like the ones used in Pinkie Pie's parties."

Worried, Sunset looked up at the top of the circus. The connection points of the streamers were beginning to tear. Night Dancer landed on the ground, took a deep breath before she twirled up and around, getting higher and higher.

"We have to stop her!" Sunset said before teleporting to an alley. She then galloped towards the show ring, looking upwards as the ribbon dancer got higher in the air, adding strain to the streamers. She lit up her horn just before being tackled by Big Hooves

Cosgrove looked at the contained Unicorn as she struggled to get free.

"Mam!" Big Hooves struggled to hold her - "We have to ask that you-"

"Night Dancer is in danger!" Sunset shouted at the Horse

The audience gasped when the streamers snapped. With an added hang time, Night Dancer was able to perform a few moves. But her face of joy turned to horror as gravity caught up to her. Rainbow Dash immediately flew up after her. Just missing Night Dancer, the pegasus grabbed the streamer, but the sudden force on the weak material caused it to snap. In the reflection of their eyes, they watched as Night Dancer descended fast.

Thoom!!!

Sunset quickly turned her head to find Cosgrove's mouth agape and his pupils small as pinpricks.

"...Mom..."

A pony screamed in terror as the horrified crowd looked at the limp body. The whole crowd screamed as they began running out of the circus. Cosgrove ran towards his mother when Sunset pulled herself loose from the shocked security.

"Mom...?" - Cosgrove looked as Night Dancer raised a hoof up to her child, then became limp -" Mom?!" Cosgrove began shaking her limp body. "Mom, wake up! Mom! Mom!"

Sunset and Rarity were just near the colt as Rainbow Dash landed on the floor, her head and wings drooping down.

"I almost had her..."

The entire Circus gathered as the colt hopelessly shook the body of his mother, begging, screaming, to have her come back.

Author's Note

Takes place after "Fall Weather Friends."

A Death in the Family Part 2

The following night was hard to sleep over. Back at the hotel, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer struggle to get to sleep. Rarity's mascara stained her white fur after a few hours of crying in her sleep. Rainbow Dash time and again flapped her wings and made a grabbing motion before going back to sleep. Sunset kept tossing and turning, trying to find comfort.

In her head, the exact vision plays again. With the Circus circling around Cosgrove as he curled up around his mother weeping.

Diver glared at Sunset, “You!”

Sunset turned to the Merpony as she rammed Sunset to the dirt ground. Looking up, she saw the filly's scowl on their face as she began to tear up.

“Why couldn’t you save her?! You had the power to save her!”

Sunset tried to find to answer before Zipper came up to her face.

“YoumustbelikethoseposhponiesinCanterlot," - Zipper added as an orange piebald mass came - "notgivingonegoodlookatuspoorcircusfolkastheytoilintheirwealth-!”

With two great hooves, Chelsey grabbed their manes and bopped them together.

“Now that’s enough!” - Chelsey yelled at her two best friends - “This Unicorn did what she could, but we stood in her way, so it’s our fault too! Go on, get back to your parents!!”

The two foals ran away as Chelsey gave Sunset a hoof. After taking the hoof and standing back up, the Unicorn found Chelsey was replaced by a face she never saw before. Her proportions are like that of Celestia, but her body had a much darker coat and her mane and tail a series of blues. Her cutie mark was a crescent moon.

"Are you... Princess Luna?" - Sunset asked, to which the Alicorn gave a nod. She turned to the still life of the mourning child - "Do you know about Cosgrove? How is he."

Before Luna could answer, the dreamscape started to tear apart. Sunset watched Luna ascend to the moon.

"Awake, Sunset Shimmer!" - Shouted Luna in her Canterlot Voice - "Awaken!"

Sunset's eyes shot open to find Rarity and Rainbow Dash looking at her with concerned. Sunset rose up from the hotel bed and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Asked Rainbow Dash

"I have to go back." Sunset answered.

“Darling," - Rarity stopped her - "it’s their issue, not ours.”

“I’ll just get the next train.”

Rainbow Dash flew to her side, "Sunset we do not want to-"

"Rainbow Dash..." - Sunset interrupted, before looking at the two Elements of Harmony with sad eyes - “Please…”

Rainbow turned to see Rarity nod in approval, allowing her to leave.

With the storm receded, for now, Sunset quickly made her way back to the Circus. Upon reaching the front gate, she stumbled upon a sign that read, "Remaining Show Times Cancelled." She walked inside as the circus ponies began packing up their stuff. Looking at the train they were walking to, Sunset found that there was a train car labeled: "Reserved for Night Dancer and Immediate Family". A worker Earth Pony walked up to her.

"Sad really," - Said the worker - "the kid has now only himself."

"Where will the train go?" Sunset asked.

"Plan is for the funeral to be done at Ponyville, after that he would move in with his grandparents." the pony picked his workload and walked over to the next cart.

As he walked away, Chelsey spotting Sunset from afar and ran to her.

"Oh thank Celestia you're here!" Shouted Chelsey.

"What is it?" - Sunset calmed the young Horse - "What's wrong?"

"It's Cosgrove," - Chelsey caught her breath - "he's missing!"

"Did he leave anything behind?"

As if on cue, Zipper ran to the two mares.

"I couldn'tfindanyclueastowhereheis!" - Zipper answered - "He couldbejustaboutanywhere!"

As Diver joined the group, Sunset figured Cosgrove couldn't have gone far in stormy weather. She turned to Zipper and Diver.

"You two, skim through every block as fast as you can." - Sunset turned to Chelsey - "You're with me, let's go!"

Holding Diver in two of his hooves, Zipper sped out of the area of the Circus in one way while Sunset and Chelsey race out of the other. They talked to every passing citizen, every patrol guard regarding Cosgrove's current whereabouts, describing his age, height, fur and eye color, and features. At one point, Chelsey raced paced an alley that Sunset later looked into.

"There he is!" Sunset raced inside, Chelsey quickly turning around.

Cosgrove was standing on the railing of a bridge, one of his back legs shackled to a steel ball. With a deep breath, Cosgrove kicked the ball. As the ball fell, he made a quick glance at the sound of approaching hooves.

"No no no no no!" Sunset pleaded him

The weight of the ball broke through the frozen river and a few seconds later took the young pony with it. Seeing just a glimpse of the action, Chelsey immediately leaped into the icy water and swam to Cosgrove. The Horse tried to pull him up, but the weight was still too great under water. Diver joined in, motioning Chelsey to the chains. With repeated strokes of her mighty tail, Diver managed to pull Cosgrove high enough to have his snout jut out of the surface for air. Chelsey tugged on the chain as hard as she could, but soon she started to run out of air. Diver had to make a decision: save Chelsey or save Cosgrove. If she was quick enough, she could do both. Immediately Diver swam down, grabbed Chelsey, and swam to the surface. Taking in the cold air, the two children swam to the walkway just when Sunset Shimmer dove in. The passing citizens watched as the bubbles rose to the surface. In seconds, they did not rise often and a few seconds more there were none.

As the audience talked to one another, Chelsey pounded the icy walkway in both anger and sadness. Diver and Zipper wrapped their hooves around her as they mourned the loss of another member of the family. Zipper's ear picked up a small hum as they looked at the frozen river again. A green light illuminated the ice hole as the water bubbled rapidly. In a few seconds, a large burst of energy burst out of the pocket and in a quick arc landed on the walkway. The magic dissipated, revealing Sunset holding a liberated, but unconscious Cosgrove. Using her magic to pinch his nose, the Unicorn breathed into the colt's mouth, raising his chest with each breath. After a few attempts, Cosgrove coughed out the icy water. The watching crowd clapped with acknowledgment of this great deed. But the cold air was hard to take in and Cosgrove quickly fainted. Sunset took her scarf and wrapped it around his snout and began carrying him to the direction of the Circus.

Cosgrove slowly awoke in his tent. He slowly turned to his left. There were hoof prints all over the floor, some having deeper marks than others, a record player stopped playing music, and a casket containing Night Dancer’s body with the roses given yesterday. And sitting among him were his friends and Sunset Shimmer looking at his scrapbook. Chelsey gave him a soft hug.

"Why did you save me?" Cosgrove said weakly.

Chelsey stepped away from Cosgrove, a bemused look on her face.

"Why did you try to kill yourself?" Diver asked.

"I just want to be with Mom." - Cosgrove answered

"We miss her too, Cosgrove." Said Zipper, not even speaking quickly.

“I wish that I gave her more than those roses.” Cosgrove continued

“Cos-” Zipper was interrupted

“I would have been much more happy then.”

“Cosgr-” Now Diver was interrupted

“You shouldn't have stopped me!”

“Cosgrove-” Now Chelsey was interrupted.

"Or better yet" - Sunset began to cringe at Cosgrove's responses - "it should have been me who should have died yesterday!"

Sunset immediately turned around and held Cosgrove's head in her hooves.

“Damn it, Cosgrove!” - Sunset screamed, causing his friends to back away as tears flowed from her eyes - “They've just lost a good friend, they don’t need to lose you! What that solve?" - Sunset turned his head to the casket - "What would your mother say if you said that to her?”

As the words she said sank into his mind, Cosgrove teared up as he embraced the Unicorn.

"I feel so..." - Cosgrove choked - "so..."

“Alone?" - Sunset answered as she rubbed him - "A friend of mine once told me that even if you leave home, you are never alone. But only if you are willing to accept it."

Cosgrove looked at Night Dancer’s pillow.

“I…”

“You don’t have to decide now.”

The colt laid his head on the pillow as Sunset wrapped the blanket on top of him.

Back at Ponyville, two middle-aged Earth Ponies sat at the train station, their faces sad.

“Daddy! I want the train to come over now!”

The two ponies turned to a little filly, Diamond Tiara, next to her father and mother, shuffling her legs as she waited impatiently for the train to take them away to a holiday resort further south. They look forward, hearing the sound of a train whistle.

“Finally!” Shouted Diamond Tiara as she ran out of the shared alcove. The train’s silhouette quickly became real as the engine slowed to a halt until the train car with signs placed over it was in her view.

"What kind of joke is this daddy!?" - Diamond turned to her parents - "Trying to be cheap for your-"

Diamond was interrupted as the train car doors slid open, revealing six adult Horses carrying the casket. A ramp jutted out as the group began their walk down. Diamond scooted out of the way as they walked to the main platform before stopping.

The two middle-aged Ponies stood up and began walking towards the group of Horses before eyeballing Cosgrove stepping off the train. The three Ponies embraced each other, tears rolling down their eyes. The adult Rich family member's eyes widened as the horses began their journey across the cold Ponyville before being joined by Cosgrove and his grandparents, then his friends and their relatives, then by the other circus folk. Everypony, even the clowns wore black and white.

Onward they marched through the main plaza of Ponyville. The citizens opened their windows to see the marching herd. Thinking of a dark army, a few timid ones closed their windows. At first glance, Pegasi in flight could view them as penguins. Twilight Sparkle opened the door to the library as the herd passed through the town square. The Cakes and Pinkie Pie saw with frowns despite being so close to a holiday.

They reach their destination: a house on a hill next to a tree, a few yards in front of the Everfree Forest. The horses placed the casket down on the frozen ground before the Ponies that set up the big top began shoveling the ground. It took half an hour before reaching the necessary depth to begin the burial. The grandfather, Lion Tamer, walked to the hole as the casket became positioned.

"Night Dancer... Has always been daring. I remember how she always wanted to ribbon dance." - Lion Tamer sniffled - "Wherever you are, my daughter, know that you will always be with our hearts. Night Dancer, dedicated circus performer, caring daughter," - the middle age stallion turned to his grandson - "and loving mother."

At his nod, musicians began to play as the casket was lowered down and buried. Though they didn't want to, they had a schedule to keep. One by one, the members of the Barn and Bailey Circus gave their condolences to the family before leaving, with Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver gave Cosgrove a deep hug before moving on.

The family of three continued to look at the burial site, now adorned with a stone that had the eulogy inscribed before Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop walked towards the house. Cosgrove began to turn around and walked with them before stopping and looked to his right. Sunset Shimmer was watching the funeral from a distance. She exited from the other side of the train before joining the funeral. They both look for a while before the Unicorn turned and walked towards the town, Cosgrove into his new home.

A few hours later, a soft knock is heard at the door. Lion Tamer opened the door to find Carrot Cake holding a small box.

"Hey," - Carrot Cake gave the box to the middle-aged pony - "we saw you pass by and, well, we wanted to give you this."

"Thank you, Mr. Cake" - Lion Tamer turned around - "Honey, can you get my bag of-"

"Oh no no" - Mr. Cake stopped him - "This one's on us. We are so sorry for your loss."

Loopty Hoop was just at the top of the stairs with a cup in her hoof.

"Thank you, Mr. Cake."

Lifting his baker's hat with his tail, Mr. Cake said, "Have a nice day."

Upstairs, Loopty Hoop gave her grandson a slice of lemon meringue pie before giving him a hug. After thinking deeply about what was said earlier, Cosgrove took a spoonful of the treat.

The following evening, Twilight Sparkle was just reorganizing the bookshelves when he heard a knock on the door.

"Spike! Can you get that?" She asked before resuming concentration.

Spike got up from his cat bed and walked to the front door. Upon opening the door, he found nopony outside.

"Hello?" The dragon asked before looking down.

Sunset was laying down on a bed writing her past experience in her journal when the light violet dragon walked to her.

"This is for you." He said, holding a white rose and a note.

"Thank you, Spike." Said Sunset as she levitated the items from the dragon. She opened the note which read,

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I have been thinking about what you said and you were right. If I am to live a new life here in Ponyville, I don't want to be alone. If you wouldn't mind... will you have the honor of being my first friend here?

Cosgrove

Sunset folded the note into the journal before looking out the window. Cosgrove was out there wearing a yellow scarf and green stockings. He drew down the part that concealed his snout and gave a smile. Sunset returned the smile as well before the colt ran into the darkness towards home. The orange unicorn returned to her journal.

and since then I have made this promise: that I will make things rights.

Your faithful student,

Sunset Shimmer.

After closing the journal, a magic light shined between the pages. With a deep breath, Sunset held the white rose in her hooves before levitating a flowerpot and a small bag of soil to her.

Author's Note

The draft on Deviantart was published before "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" was aired, and so didn't mention of Diamond Tiara's mother.

Hatching Comfort

The Great Giving and Hearth’s Warming came and went, and I’ve often stopped by to see how Cosgrove was coping with his loss. So far, he’s doing little better, but I hope someday he would talk to somepony who had a similar loss.

School begins a new semester once again. Every filly and colt walked into the school building, wiped the slush and mud of their hooves and took their seats. The chatter filled the air.

“Hey have you heard we are getting two new students?” Twist asked the student body

“We’re getting new Crusaders!” Squeaked Sweetie Belle

“Yay!” - Said the rest of the Crusaders as they pounded their hooves together.

“Don’t get your hopes up Blank Flanks!” Said Diamond Tiara

“Maybe they wouldn’t want to be with you losers!” Silver Spoon continued

Ms. Cheerilee walked into the school, wiped the mud off her hooves, and walked to her desk.

“Alright class, let’s take our seats.” - The student body quickly sat in their usual spots, including Apple Bloom being in the crossfire between Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Now, I hope you had a nice and relaxing Hearth’s Warming Break because there are teachings to be made and lessons to be learned. But first I would like to introduce two new students. A pair of young colts from outside Ponyville.”

That last statement made the few colts in the school cheer.

“Come on in you two.”

The two colts came in the classroom and stood in front of the class. One was a very small Earth Pony with dark brown blots scattered around his body. The other was Cosgrove wearing his hair extensions on his hooves.

“Tell us a little about yourselves.”

The pinto colt walked up first.

“Hello everypony, my name is Pipsqueak.” Announced the tiny colt with a Cockney accent.

“Hi, Pipsqueak.” Greeted the class.

“My family moved from Trottingham to enjoy the sunshine of Ponyville.”

The class responded with an “oooo.”

“That’s very nice, Pipsqueak.” - Said Ms. Cheerilee as the little colt took his spot near Featherweight and Dinky. She spots Cosgrove just standing there - “We’re waiting.”

The yellow colt snapped out of his daydream and raised a hoof.

“Hello… I am Cospl- Cosgrove, and I moved from the Barn and Bailey Circus a few-”

“You're from the Circus?” Twist interrupted.

“That’s so cool!” Said Dinky.

“Have you swung on a trapeze?”

“Did you ride an elephant?”

“Have you been shot out of a cannon?”

Cosgrove shrank back as the student body kept bombarding him with questions related to his childhood career.

Cheerilee silenced the students with a mighty slam of her hoof.

“Students! Where are your manners?”

“Sorry, Cosgrove…” Moaned the class. Cosgrove regained himself before walking over to a desk near Button Mash, Rumble, and Cogsworth.

“Now, let's begin this semester with-"

"So did you really get shot out of a cannon?" Whispered Rumble

Cheerilee stopped her writing for a moment, then continued on. Cosgrove eyeballed his teacher as he leaned to his left to the gray Pegasus.

"No, but I did do some acrobatics and was just about to blow fire from a bottle of-" Cosgrove stopped as Ms. Cheerilee walked towards the two colts with a stern face.

"Young stallion," - Cheerilee pointed to Cosgrove - "I know this is your first day in school so I will let you go with a warning. As for YOU Rumble, I don't want you to ask him any more questions." Ms. Cheerilee turned back to her teaching.

Rumble watched Cosgrove drew back into his desk.

A few hours later, lunch and recess commenced outside, the foals once again playing in their winter wonderland. Cosgrove walked around wondering where to sit.

"Hey, Cosgrove! Over here!" Shouted Button Mash as he waved from his group table. Cosgrove sat down in between Rumble and Button. "I'm Button Mash, and I like video games. You already know Rumble." - Rumble gave a smile before Button then pointed to an Earth Pony colt of a similar build, but with blue colors. "That there is Shady Daze, Featherweight, Cogsworth, and we already know Pip."

Cosgrove noticed Cogsworth's wheelchair.

"Yeah, I have six legs, you happy?" Cogsworth rebutted at Cosgrove

"What happened?"

"Camping accident."

"Was it-"

"I don't want to talk about it!"

Cosgrove flinched at that last sentence as Cogsworth continued to eat his turfwich. Rumble placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"Don't mind Cogsworth, he's always a little angry." The Pegasus reassured

"I am not always angry." - Cogsworth lashed out - "And when I do I have a good reason."

"You blank flanks always have bland food."

The colt's turned around to find Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon messing with the Crusaders.

"Their half the reason." Cogsworth added.

"What's the deal with her?" Cosgrove asked.

"Diamond was the first student to get a cutie mark. Since then, she pestered the rest of us who didn't especially Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo." Said Featherweight.

"What about her?" Said Cosgrove as he points at Silver Spoon.

"Don't know, but Silver used to be nicer." Shady Daze answered.

"Look if you want a piece of advice, just pray your not the butt of their jokes." Cogsworth grunted.

Cosgrove drew his ears back as he looked at the two bullies walking away laughing in their victory.

A few hours after, the class was just about to finish up when Ms. Cheerilee took out a jar full of slips of paper.

"Now class, you may be wondering why I had you place your name in this jar. Well, over Hearth's Warming Break I happened to find that the Cakes are having a baby." Said Ms. Cheerilee, causing the class to coo. "Well, that gave me the idea about the subject for your first project this semester."

The class began to murmur as Cheerilee took out a basket full of duck eggs.

"I had Fluttershy lend me this clutch of duck eggs." - Cheerilee placed a hoof on the basket - "Each of you will pair up to hatch your own egg."

"Why would we have to take care of a stupid egg." Said Diamond Tiara.

"That stupid egg is supposed to be your child, and yours to nurture." - Answered Cheerilee with a scowl - "And just to prove of that:" - Cheerilee drew out a name out of the bowl - "You'll be partnered with Snails."

Diamond's eyes widened as the tall, slender unicorn chuckled at the idea.

One by one the remaining foals became paired up. Cosgrove picking up the last slip of paper. He scanned the writing.

"Anypony by the name AB?"

"That's me!"

Cosgrove turned to Apple Bloom just before being given the egg. He gulped a little when the school bell rang.

"Now students remember: this could be your child someday."

Each pair of foals began their walk home, each wondering how they will care for their "child." Most carried the egg in one of their mittens, a few struggled by holding their egg with both hooves.

Cosgrove scratched a patch of snow before putting the wrapped egg down.

"So... I was thinking about taking turns?"

"Well... That would be all right." - Apple Bloom turned to the colt - "But we better watch it at my house."

"See you then at five pm?"

Apple Bloom nodded before picking up the mitten and making her way home.

Cosgrove entered his house, finding his grandmother Loopty Hoop cooking. The middle aged mare turned and found her grandson.

"Hi, Cosgrove! How was your first day of school?"

"It was... Okay..."

"Have you met anypony new?"

"Well, there was Button, Rumble, Pip, Featherweight and Shady."

"Oh, that's nice!" - Loopty chirped - "Did you guys do anything fun and exciting?"

"Well... Ms. Cheerilee paired us up to take care of an egg and I was partnered with Apple Bloom."

The chartreuse earth Pony turned her body around.

"One of the Apple farmers?" Cosgrove gave Loopty a nod in return. "That's sweet, the Apples are very nice."

"They are?"

"Mmmhmm. I usually talk to Granny Smith whenever she is in the park. They say that Sweet Apple Acres is a splendid view of country."

Cosgrove looked at the clock.

"I need to get going and check up on the egg."

Cosgrove dashed out the door before his grandmother could respond. She turned around to her cooking when the door opened and a snow covered Cosgrove came to the kitchen.

"Um... Where is Sweet Apple Acres?" His grandmother pointed in the general direction behind him. He then dashed out the door again.

Through the flurry weather, Cosgrove galloped as fast as his hooves could in the snow. Outside of the protection of the buildings, the wind blew hard against his fur. It took him a while before he spotted the sign to Sweet Apple Acres. While the farm is known for its vast amount of apple trees, in weather like this they appear dead and sparse. Spotting the lights on the house, Cosgrove trudged on to the door and gave it a few knocks. He heard the sound of their dog Winona barking like mad.

"Big Mac can you get the door?"

It's a short while before he heard the pitter patter of heavy hooves gradually getting louder as they reached the door. Cosgrove stepped back as the door opened to reveal a large red stallion with an orange mane. He gave him a stoic look.

"I-I-Is A-a-Apple Bloom h-h-home?" Asked Cosgrove as he shivered outside.

The farmer lead Cosgrove to the family room, had him sit on a chair and walked towards the stairs. Listening to the country music from the radio, the former circus colt looked around. The furniture, including the chair he is sitting on, had either a shape of an apple or had apples of various colors in the design. The woodwork is also apple themed but done very well to have him whistle.

"So you're the pony my sis was talking about?"

Cosgrove looked and saw an orange mare with blonde hair wearing a stetson. He did notice her snout was partially burned.

"Um..." Cosgrove murmured while rubbing his snout.

AJ wiped her nose, smearing the burnt fur on her arm, "You kinda broke my concentration."

"Oh," - Cosgrove winced back - "sorry about that."

Applejack sat down next to him.

"Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres," - Applejack announced - I'm Applejack, you already meet Apple Bloom and Big Mac."

Cosgrove raised a hoof, "I'm Cosgrove, from the Barn and Bailey Circus."

Applejack wrapped a hoof around him, "Hey... I've heard from the others about what happened. If you want to talk about it, we're here for you."

"Thank you, Miss Applejack."

"Please, it's just Applejack."

The two ponies turned to the sound of the patter of hooves coming down the stairs when Apple Bloom came down with the egg in Cosgrove's stocking.

"Hi, Cosgrove." Apple Bloom greeted after gently placing the egg on the table. "The egg's all ready to be with its daddy."

"Thank's, Apple Bloom." Said Cosgrove when he wrapped the stocking around his neck. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He began to walk out when a ringing sound was heard from the radio.

"Attention all listeners, attention all listeners, a snowstorm is making its way to Ponyville. All citizens are advised to stay indoors. I repeat, a snowstorm is making its way to Ponyville. All citizens are advised to stay indoors. That is all."

The Apples and their guest looked out the window. The storm was indeed blowing down snow; they couldn't even see 2 feet beyond the window. They turned to the phone ringing before being picked up by Granny Smith.

"Hello... Was that? ... No, we don't sell cucumbers we sell-"

"I'll take it from here Granny." - Applejack grabbed the phone from her grandmother - "Hello? ...Yessum he's right here." - She motioned Cosgrove over before handing him the phone.

"Hello? ...Yeah, the snow is blowing very hard. ...I haven’t heard anything about school closing. … ...Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then? ...I love you too. Bye.” - Cosgrove then hung up the phone before looking at his hosts - “I’ll probably be staying until tomorrow morning if that’s fine with you.”

“Of course, We have a guest room just for that occasion." - Applejack turned to her younger sibling - "Apple Bloom why don’t you show him up.” Said Applejack

Apple Bloom led the former circus pony upstairs, down the hall and to a small room containing a bed for an adult stallion, fitted with a large pillow and very soft covers. Cosgrove placed the mitt underneath the lamp and turned it on. Apple Bloom noticed the stripes on his back.

“Are you a zebra?” She asked, pointing to the stripes. Cosgrove looked at what the farm pony was pointing to and shook his head. “Are you sure? Because with those stripes you look like Zecora.”

Cosgrove moved his lips a little as he thought of something.

“Do you know why I have such hairy legs?” Cosgrove asked. The filly opened her mouth but shook her head instead. He undid the velcro straps on each of his feet, revealing his additional digits to her.

Apple Bloom gave them a closer look.

“Are those…. Like the ones Winona has?” She asked him.

Cosgrove gave her a nod as he wiggled them around, causing the young farmer to giggle.

“You’re not freaked out about this?” Said Cosgrove with a worried look on his face.

“Why would I be? - Applebloom pawed at his dew claws - "I find them kind of adorable.”

“Soups on, everypony!” Shouted Applejack from downstairs.

The two foals came downstairs and walked to the kitchen table adorned with food. It’s apple-based foods, but the vast recipes present with the scent of sugar and cinnamon widened Cosgrove’s pupils. Hopping on the chair, he was given two servings of candied apples. Putting a slice into his mouth, Cosgrove felt the sensation melt away as the succulent juices of the apple ran across his tongue. He gave a very large smile as he opened his eyes to the amused Apple Family. The colt quickly swallowed the morsel and shrank back, waiting to be berated.

“Well now," - Applejack chuckled - "somepony likes my cooking.”

“This is the best thing I ate in four years.” Cosgrove added

The family drew their ears forward.

“Four years?!" - Apple Bloom rose up a little - "Good gravy Cosgrove, what have they been feeding you?!”

“Apple Bloom!” - Big Mac berated - “We don't talk to our guests-”

“Pickles…” - Cosgrove interjected, getting the family’s attention - “And eggs.” - He then fidgeted his food with the fork - “The Ring Master wasn’t good with money.”

“Well, you have no more to worry about that hooligan. Help yourself to more, young un!” - Granny Smith noticed Cosgrove looking around - “What’s the matter, sonny?”

“What about... Mr. and Mrs. Apple?” - Cosgrove wondered before looking at the family as they drew their ears back. It took the colt a while to process the knowledge before drawing his ears back as well - “Oh I am so sorry. I didn’t-”

Applejack stopped him with a raise of her hoof, “That’s why we are here if you want to talk.”

Cosgrove licked the sugar off his lips.

“What happened to your parents?”

Granny Smith looked to her left, then to her right before leaning forward.

"It was just a few weeks after Apple Bloom was born, Mr. and Mrs. Apple were called into Appaloosa to help with the biggest sheep drive in all of Equestria. When we haven't heard anything from them, we simply thought they were delayed. Drives like these are never without trouble y'know." - Granny Smith's grandchildren acknowledged that with a slow nod - "But when a week passed, we received a visitor..." - The Apple Family turned to a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Apple a few years after their marriage - "Part of the drive was caught in a flash flood..."

Cosgrove also looked at the picture before turning to the Apple Family.

“So… For the past eight years..." - Cosgrove stretched his arms and twisted his body -"This, all of this… Was run by you three?”

“Eeyup.” Answered Big Mac

“Wow…”

“It took me a while to understand,' - Applejack took off her stetson - "but family isn’t just with your folks, it's everypony you cherish and love.”

Cosgrove lowered his hooves, “Did the pain ever go away?”

The Apple Family looked at each other again before Granny Smith could answer, “Only in time, young un.... Only in time…”

A few moments later, they ate their fill and began stacking the dirty dishes. All of them, even Cosgrove washed the dishes before they turned off the lights and walked upstairs to their respective rooms. The colt looked turned off the lamp and hopped on the bed. Almost forgetting about the egg, he hopped down, placed the egg in a mock nest from the heavy blanket then hopped back up on the bed, wrapped himself in the lighter covers and went to sleep.

Snow Day

Though technically morning, it was eight thirty when the rooster announced the sun’s rising. Cosgrove was still dead asleep; he didn’t hear the Applejack and Big Mac walking down the stairs.

THUNK!

Cosgrove remained asleep

THUNK!

His ear flicked to the second sound

THUNK!

Cosgrove slowly opened his eyes before looking at the window. Snowballs were being flung at it. He walked over and slid it open.

“Hey what are you-” A snowball hit Cosgrove on the snout. He looked down and saw Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, their bodies deep in snow.

“Cosgrove?" - Scootaloo cocked her head - "What are you doing in Apple Bloom’s house?”

“We got snowed in." - Cosgrove rubbed off the snow - "Shouldn’t we be getting ready for school?”

“It’s a snow day," - Sweetie Bell hopped happily up and down the deep snow - School’s canceled!”

The window next to his opened with Apple Bloom peeking out, rubbing her eyes as she took in the light.

“What’s going on?” Said Apple Bloom

Cosgrove waved a hoof at her friends below, “They said it’s a snow day.”

Apple Bloom's face beamed, “It’s a snow day?!”

“Yeah, we can get our cutie marks in making snow mares!” shouted Sweetie Belle

“Or sledding!” Said Scootaloo

“Or even-!”

“Apple Bloom, Cosgrove!" - Applejack shouted behind the doors - "Close the windows!!”

The two foals hastily shut the windows. Cosgrove can hear Apple Bloom trotting excitedly as she shuffled through her dressers. He unfolded the covers that protected the egg from last night. Placing his cheek on the egg, Cosgrove felt the warm surface. He left the egg uncovered to cool it off. When he opened the door, he jumped at the sudden appearance of Apple Bloom wearing winter clothes from head to hoof.

“You wanna to go crusading with me and the Crusaders on the playground even though you aren’t a Crusader?” Asks Apple Bloom while bobbing her tail up and down.

“Well, I did get my homework done last night…" - Cosgrove scraped the ground - "Okay.”

“Yee-!” - Apple Bloom reared on her back legs before noticing her guest jumped a little. Lowering herself back on all fours, she grinned. - “Sorry.”

“Heh, heh, that’s okay," - Said Cosgrove before proceeding down the stairs - “But I need to get home first, my grandparents are probably worried sick.”

He hopped down the last few steps when Applejack came into view

Cosgrove placed his hoof on the door, “Thank you all for last night.”

“Much obliged to you too, Cosgrove.” Said Applejack with a tip of her hat.

Cosgrove walked into the outside world, using the trails made by Big Mac to walk out of Sweet Apple Acres. All across town, ponies were sweeping snow off their front door while community service ponies plowed the streets from time to time. However, as such services haven’t reached the general area of his home, Cosgrove jumped up the snowy hill. At one point he starts to slip when Lion Tamer snatched him up by the mane with his teeth. The middle-aged Earth Pony carried him into the house before placing Cosgrove down on the couch.

“So, how was last night?” said Lion Tamer with a warm smile

"It was... Fun." - Cosgrove drew his head back - "You're not mad... Are you?"

The middle-aged stallion raised an eyebrow, "Now why would I be mad, Cosgrove?"

"I hardly remember seeing you as a baby, but Mom would tell me stories of how you would be freaked out if I did something weird."

Lion Tamer sat next to him, "You are still young, but this is better for you. All of us need to come out of our comfort zone, as you say from time to time. From what I hear, I say you have been doing well."

Lion Tamer looked at his

"So, what are your plans for the rest of your first snow day?"

"Well... Apple Bloom invited me to "crusade." Said Cosgrove, using two of his dewclaws to add quote marks.

Lion Tamer gave an uncertain look, then stepped aside.

"Have fun then, Cosgrove!"

As Cosgrove ran back outside, his grandfather looked from the open door.

"Ponyville will be a wonderful place to grow up." Lion Tamer finished before closing the door.

Cosgrove hopped a couple feet before sliding on his belly to the bottom. He retraced his steps to the school playground where he found most of his classmates making snow mares, throwing snowballs at each other, or sledding (it would be too cold/dangerous to use the equipment such as the jungle gym). He looked around before spot the Crusaders having a talk.

"Is it a good idea to have a colt be crusading with us?" Asked Sweetie Belle

"Yeah, we don't know what a colt would need to earn a cutie mark." Scootaloo continued.

"Come on y'all, it wouldn't hurt just this once." - Apple Bloom answered - "After all if you buck an apple for him, you feed him for a day. But if you teach him to buck a tree, you feed him for life."

"How does bucking a tree have to do with a cutie mark?" Said Cosgrove, surprising his host from last night.

"It's some moral Granny would say." - Apple Bloom answered before turning to the Unicorn and Pegasus - "Now, you know what to do."

The group of foals split up into groups of two, Sweetie and Scoots, Apple Bloom and Cosgrove.

Cosgrove turned to his partner, "So how does crusading work?"

"Well," - Apple Bloom began to walk - "what we do is try to find our special talent together so that at least one of us can find our cutie mark."

"What do we do?" Cosgrove asked when a cream-yellow hoof wrapped around him.

Apple Bloom waved her hoof at the groups of children around them, "What would you do?"

Cosgrove looked around and saw a few of his classmates lying on the ground and moving their arms and legs up and down. The colt sat on his haunches, laid back, and did the same, leaving an impression of a winged being. He went further by flapping his ears back and forth. He sat up before standing up straight. Apple Bloom looked at his creation.

"A snow angel within a snow angel." - Cosgrove chuckled before looking at his flank - "But no cutie mark."

"Here," - Apple Bloom walked passed him - "let me try."

Apple Bloom followed what he did, including flapping her ears. She got up and looks at her creation.

"Your angel has more wings than mine." Said Cosgrove, pointing to the impression her bow has left.

"But no cutie mark either." Apple bloom droops her head, including her bow as if they are a second pair of ears.

"Hey, we can get our cutie marks someday." Cosgrove reassured

"But I want it now..." The farm Pony mumbled.

Cosgrove thinks of what to do next. He spotted a pair of foals that went by the name Dinky and Indigo Blue making their second snow mare. Noticing that the snow sculpture was horizontal, it gave him an idea. He dashed away from the farm filly and began rolling up a snowball as big as himself. He then rolled the next ball around half that size. As the snow became dense, Cosgrove struggled to raise the ball on top of the larger one. Apple Bloom helped him push it to the top. Cosgrove rolled one last ball a 1/4th of the second ones size. He passed the ball to Apple Bloom and stood on his back legs, gaining a hold of the "waist." The young earth Pony balanced the ball on her head as she climbed onto his shoulders. Holding onto the snow sculptures "shoulders," Apple Bloom pushed the ball into the top before sliding off Cosgrove's back.

The other foals looked in awe at the vertical snow mare (if you could call it one) as the two creators looked at their flanks. Still no cutie mark, to their dismay. They walked together to Sweetie Belle, next to an igloo, and Scootaloo, holding a sled, also having frowns on their muzzles.

"You too?" Asked Sweetie Belle, with the redhead and purple back nodded in silence.

"That stinks!" - Scootaloo protested - I thought my sleek sledding moves would've gotten me a cutie mark for sure."

"Ah Ha! Aiding the enemy!" - Cosgrove and the Crusaders turned to a well designed snow fort, nay, a castle, towering over them. On the rampart were Rumble, Shady Daze, Button Mash, and Pipsqueak.

"We caught you red handed Cosgrove!" Shouted Pipsqueak.

"Hey!" - Sweetie Belle stepped forward - "Did you get your cutie marks making that?" Sweetie Belle asked.

The colt's in the fortress looked at each other in confusion.

"What?!" Shouted Button

"I said did you-"

"We can't hear you!" Shouted Button.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked up to the fortress before the former laid on her back and raised her hind legs. Scootaloo buzzed her wings as she balanced on her friend before being launched to the height of the rampart.

"She's asking if... You guys got... Your Cutie Marks... Making this..." Said the deep red-orange Pegasus each time before descending to the soft matter.

The colt's gave each other a look at their flanks, then turned to Featherweight and Cogsworth as they shook their heads.

"Nope, we don't have them." Pip spoke in his normal tone

"What?" Their foes below shouted.

"I said we don't have our cutie marks!" Pip repeated himself

Apple Bloom's ears became erect as she thought of an idea, "Hey, why don't we make a fort ourselves!"

That idea rang into the Pip's ears.

"The enemy is conspiring against us!" - Pip hopped onto the railing - Open fire!"

Immediately the four Ponies began their assault on the enemy. On instinct, the Crusaders slid inside Sweetie Belle's igloo and blocked the entrance. Still exposed, Cosgrove ran to the back of the igloo, hunkering down to avoid being hit.

"They're holding themselves in their igloo, Captain Pip." confirmed Shady Daze

"Right-O! Just where we want them!" - Pipsqueak hopped to the back of the rampart - "Cogsworth! Send out the war machine!"

The gate to the snow castle slammed opened as the war machine (or Cogsworth himself) rolled itself out of the castle. Armed with an ice breaker and a miniature catapult, the machine appeared unstoppable.

"Load me up!" Shouted Cogsworth while holding the release string in his mouth.

Featherweight scooped up a snowball and loaded the catapult. The red earth Pony tugged at the string, releasing the miniature payload onto the igloo. The Crusaders scrambled around, trying to get an idea for a counterattack when a yellow hoof scraped into the igloo. Sweetie Belle peaked out and saw a darker green eye.

“Cosgrove," - Sweetie Belle chirped - "What’s the situation?”

“Well," - Cosgrove looked from the side - "there’s a war machine that’s going to flatten you.”

Scootaloo shoved the Unicorn away and peaked out the hole, “What’s it’s speed, fast or slow?”

“Uhm," - Cosgrove peaked as much as he could without being hit by a snowball - "medium," - he looks back into the hole - "make that fast.”

Apple Bloom shoved Scootaloo aside, “Cosgrove, this igloo can’t take punishment of that magnitude.”

“Hang on I got an idea!” Cosgrove ran up the hill and smooshed the vertical snowmare before rolling up a new ball.

“Prepare for extermination!” Shouted Cogsworth as he began to step forward in his mission to destroy the igloo.

As they continued their assault Rumble spotted something odd.

“Captain Pipsqueak! We have an unknown object heading our way!”

Pip took out a small telescope and looked up the top of the hill, spotting a massive snowball. The small pony lowered the spy glass.

“By George…” Said Pip, his beady eyes now even smaller.

Back to Cosgrove, he was pushing a snowball three times his own size. He nestled it at the edge of the hill before stepping to the right of the snowball panting. Cogsworth is now halfway to the igloo while Featherweight kept loading and launching snowballs. Cosgrove’s eyes noticed a little too late that gravity took hold of the snowball.

“No no! Not Now! Not NOW!” He screamed as the snowball began to pick up speed and further increase in size.

“Abandon base!" - Shouted Button Mash - "ABANDON BASE!”

“A captain goes down with his fort!” Shouted Pipsqueak before being Rumble snatched him in the air.

Cogsworth was just there when Featherweight flew out of the way and the Crusaders hauled tail out of their igloo.

“Hey! What about the game?!” Shouted Cogsworth before noticing the snowball heading right at him. He tried to turn as fast as he could but the snowball smashed through the igloo and caught him inside.

The snowball crashed into the fort with a massive snowy mushroom cloud. All that was left of the fort was mush. Cosgrove ran to the remains and began digging for Cogsworth as the other students gathered around. Cogsworth pulled himself out of the snow. The paralyzed pony turned to find his wheelchair busted up and dragging on his hind legs. He gave Cosgrove a glare.

“You!” - Cogsworth struggled on his forelimbs to get to Cosgrove - “Do you have any idea how much this costs?!”

The other ponies began mumbling, worrying Cosgrove.

“It- it was an accident," - Cosgrove answered, lending the Earth Pony his hoof - "I was only playing...”

“Well you did it too much you… Stupid... Zebra!”

Cosgrove drew his ears back at the insult.

“Well well, looks like our six legged classmate is a two legged one”

The class turned to find Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walking towards Cosgrove.

“And we all owe our thanks to our new classmate!” Diamond Tiara continued as the two bullies circled around him.

“We knew from the get go Zebras are bad luck.” Silver Spoon added

“I’m not-” Cosgrove was interrupted

“Sure one was okay but two is too much.” Diamond added

“I’m-” Cosgrove was interrupted again

“Matter of fact, she would make a great mother!" Diamond began laughing

Apple Bloom ran up to Cosgrove, “Shut up Diamond Tiara!”

“I AM NOT A ZEBRA!!" - Cosgrove tore off the extensions and jutted his hooves at Diamond's face - LOOK!”

The other students were astonished at the look of their second newcomer. Silver Spoon raised her glasses to get a better look.

“Oh, well… I take back what I said.” - Diamond spoke in a sympathetic voice before walking away from him as Cosgrove lowered his hooves - “You’re not a Zebra, You’re a just a mutant blank flank!”

Cosgrove looked at her once again as the two bullies began to walk back up the hill. Pip looked at his larger friend before glaring at Diamond and Silver. The pinto colt hopped forward.

“At least he isn’t alone you pompous windbag!” He shouted.

The entire class gasped at that remark.

“He didn’t!” Said Boysenberry.

“He did.” added Indigo Blue

Diamond turned around with a scowl on her face.

“What did you say, midget?”

“You're a fat, pompous, bad tempered old tyrant!” Pip finished, added each emphasis with a little hop.

Diamond gritted her teeth when Cosgrove stood up next to the little pony.

“Where are your insults now?” Cosgrove's face tensed as he stood his ground.

From afar, Sunset was in a conversation with Cogsworth's mother, Pin Wheel, when she spotted the argument.

Diamond immediately charged towards them, “You two stupid-!”

Blue-Green sparks shot out before Diamond bumped herself to the larger orange object. Diamond looked up and found the glaring eyes of Sunset Shimmer. The filly tried to run away, but it took her sometime to notice she wasn’t moving closer to the hill before being levitated by her tail.

“Silver Spoon!” She cried out, but the gray filly was already over the hill. Diamond flailed her hooves as she was face to face with the Unicorn. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! I won’t do it again! Please don’t hurt me!!” She hysterically begged.

Sunset raised an eyebrow, causing the filly to shield her eyes for whatever punishment the adult pony had in store. When she open her eyes, the boorish earth pony found herself back on the snow. She looked up, finding Sunset’s glare still un-wavered. Diamond drooped her head as she slowly began her walk home. When she noticing the filly’s guard down, Sunset unraveled her scarf, rolled it and made a whip like motion. The crack made Diamond dash out into the horizon.

The students were about to cheer when Sunset turned her glare at Cosgrove, Pipsqueak, and Cogsworth before walking up to them.

“Are you alright?” She asked of them, receiving a nod in return.

“Cogsworth!” - Pip and Cosgrove turned around to see Pin Wheel galloping towards them - “What happened to your wheelchair?!”

“He broke it!” Said Cogsworth, pointing to Cosgrove.

His mother raised her head, “Is this true?”

“Yes" - Cosgrove stepped forward - "but it was accident, honest.”

She looked at him with an earnest face, then turned to her son.

“Well… You were due for a new model anyway.”

“I… was?” Said Cogsworth dumbfounded

“I tried to tell you," - Pin Wheel rolled her eyes - "but you were too panicky about your old one.”

Cogsworth looked at Cosgrove’s face in shame before he was lifted up onto his mother’s back and trotted off towards home.

Sunset placed a hoof on Cosgrove’s shoulder, gave him a smile before walking back towards the library. Rumble walked up to him.

“You didn’t tell her about calling you a… you know what?” the gray pegasus asked.

Cosgrove turned to him, "Better to not talk about it and cause anymore fuss."

...

A month has past since then, and eggs the foals have been protecting have hatched. Ms. Cheerilee brought the students to Fluttershy’s house. Each one pair having their own duckling.

“I am so proud of you, class!" - Cheerilee chirped - "All of you would be excellent parents.”

Well, to most at least. Diamond Tiara was happy that the ordeal was done with.

“All right class, see you on Monday!” Cheerilee said with a smile.

Cosgrove was walking along with the other colts.

“So Cosgrove, you up for a game of Super Smash Bros?” Button asked.

“You bet! Just let me drop off my bags at home.” Said the three toed pony as he began to increase his pace to his home

“Hey” - said Cogsworth, now with a blue wheelchair - “About that one time, I want to say…”

“It’s alright, buddy. I don’t know what I am, but that doesn’t worry me all that much. See you guys later!”

Cosgrove was almost to the door when he heard a strange sound. It appeared to sound like a woodwind instrument, coming from the edge of the Everfree. Knowing of the tales, Cosgrove kept to the few bushes around his family property. In a first person worms eye view, Cosgrove moved a bush and looked in astonishment at his discovery.

“Why hello…”

Bring a Monster to School Day

The class sat in their desks writing down their notes. Cosgrove however occasionally sketched a well-done drawing in the sides of the notes, much to Rumble's amusement. The ending bell rang.

"Okay class, remember that tomorrow is Bring your Pet to School Day. I look forward to seeing your pets."

The students walked out of the school room, each one discussing the pet they would be bringing.

"I am so happy I can bring my cat Joystick," Button's helicopter hat twirled faster - "she really needs to come out more." Said Button.

"Maybe my ferret can give her the exercise," - added Rumble - "He loves chasing cats."

"If he can jump across a table that is." - Cogsworth shuffled his saddle bags before looking at Cosgrove - "What pet are you bringing?"

"Uhm, well..."

"Maybe he should bring himself." Said Diamond Tiara, bringing the colt's to attention.

"Yeah, he's his own pet." Silver Spoon continued

Cogsworth gave the two bullies a death glare.

Cosgove turned to the two fillies, "No, I have a pet! And it's better than your schmoopy foopy poodle!"

The students gasped at the statement, their first one this new school year. Diamond Tiara furrowed her eyebrow.

"Oh yeah, you freaky blank flank?" - Diamond stepped forward - "Prove it!"

"Tomorrow!" - Cosgrove sized himself up - "And if my pet wins you have to give the entire class the most exquisite lunches for the rest of the week." Cosplay betted.

The classmates cooed at that winning; Diamond and Silver do eat a rather mouth-watering meal for a school lunch.

Diamond curled a smile, "And if I win, you have to perform your little tricks at my birthday party..."

"Diamond, how is that supposed to-" Silver was silenced by a light lavender hoof.

"Wearing a tutu!" Diamond finished.

The class gasped again at the spoiled filly's bet. Cosgrove raised a hoof.

"Challenge accepted!" Cosgrove raised his hoof, spat on it, and stretched it out.

Diamond's disgusted face watched the dripping hoof, not noticing her adversary's increasing smug. The boorish filly swallowed up some courage and bashed her hoof on his. Cosgrove added more to the wound by twisting his hoof, disgusting Diamond even further with the slushing noises. Diamond removed her hoof and instinctively rubbed it on Silver Spoon, much to her disgust. The two foals of the opposite gender turned and walked away, their respective friends following.

"Diamond, are you sure this was a good bet?" - Silver rubbed a handkerchief on the dirtied spot - "He seemed so-"

"Silver, please," - Diamond scoffed - "what worthless pet could he possibly have?

Cosgrove walked back to his house, deprived of snow for now. He found that the door was locked, presumably, as Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop are at work. But Cosgrove wouldn't fret all that much. Even when retired, Circus Ponies would find ways to maintain their health. Walking to the tree behind his house, the colt gave a running start, climbing up the tree, swinging through the branches and vaulted himself at the window to the storage room. Cosgrove walked into his room, took out today's homework, and began to write. An hour later he finished his work and walks down to the basement with a trash bag and mini shovel at hand. He turned on the light as it illuminated a ground covered with pears. Cosplay began shoveling the partially eaten fruit.

"Tomorrow is a big day for you." He said as a large object moved and covered the screen.

The next day, the student body gathered 'round as they presented each other with their pets. Each student has as follows:

Apple Bloom: Winona
Sweetie Belle: Opalescence
Scootaloo: A songbird
Cosgrove:
Rumble: A ferret
Button Mash: Joystick the cat
Cogsworth: A wind-up toy
Shady Daze: a mouse
Snips and Snails: a guinea pig
Golden Caramel: a goldfish
Dinky: A parakeet
Indigo Blue: a Venus flytrap
Boysenberry: a chinchilla
Pipsqueak: an English bulldog
Featherweight: a hamster
Truffle Shuffle: a fat cat
Twist: A gerbil
Diamond Tiara: a poodle
Silver Spoon: another cat that rivaled Opalescence.

"Well, well, guess Cosgrove didn't want to show up." - Diamond laughed - Guess he was too chicken to-"

"Too chicken to what?" The student body turned to see Cosgrove on a tricycle as he dragged a wagon containing a six-foot crate with labels "handle with care."

"What kind of pet do you have?" Indigo asked as she tried to peep into a hole.

"Is it a lion?" - Pip rose on his back legs, placing his front ones on the box - Your granddad is a lion tamer is he not?"

"Oh, it's even better than a lion." Cosgrove as he hopped to the top of the crate with a crowbar in hoof. "My class, as former member of the Barn and Bailey Circus, allow me, to introduce... Schnookums!"

As soon as Cosgrove pulled off the lid the class stopped their cheering. They have a right to.

This was no ordinary pet. The being known as Schnookums was about as tall as an Appaloosan Bison. The body was laced in different shades of red, the brightest being the plates on his back and part of his tail. The only part that wasn't is a gray, bony mask that split open, revealing a head with brown eyes. The beast looked at the students before slowly opening its mouth, revealing the baleen on the upper jaw, and made a small bellow.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon screamed before the other classmates screamed. Cosplay looked in confusion as they scrambled away with their pets.

Back in the main part of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was pushing clouds back and forth to today's weather pattern. Hearing distant screaming, she turned around and found the students and animals running towards the town.

"Stampede!!!" Rainbow Dash screamed

The alerted inhabitants below turned to the sound of their children running to home. Upon hearing them scream out the word "Monster," the adults began to panic too. Sunset Shimmer rushed behind Applejack's market stand as the students ran past them. Taking out her lasso, the Farm Pony roped her sister over to her.

"What is this talk about a monster?"

"A big monster..." - Apple Bloom tried catching her breath - "over at the school!" Apple Bloom said catching her breath.

"Cosgrove!" Sunset teleported over to the school. When she saw the beast, the Unicorn became astonished.

Cosgrove was standing in front of the beast, who became alerted to the Unicorn's sudden appearance and acted accordingly, stopping just a yard from her. Schnookums gave a low threatening growl at the unicorn as she activated her magic. Sunset slowly walked closer to the beast, who gave her a second warning by upchucking his last meal to the ground. Ignoring the odor, he sealed his face then turned his body sideways as he swung his massive tail back and forth. Cosplay was now worried; a blow from his tail could wound her, and Sunset was one of Celestia's finest.

The Unicorn mad a dash for the colt, prompting Schnookums to swing his tail forward. Sunset slid under the tail, and just when Schnookums swung to the other side, she casts a spell and sliced off a quarter of it. Schnookums howled in pain as Sunset reached Cosplay.

"Are you alright?" Sunset quickly asked.

"Yes, but-"

Sunset became defensive again as Schnookums began to regain himself before Rainbow Dash crashed into the beast, sending him down to the ground. Before he could rise up again, Applejack lassoed Schnookums around the neck. In a huge arc, the beast flung AJ into the air, though the farmer was able to land on his back and pulled hard on the rope.

"What are you waitin' for, Sunset!?" - Applejack struggled from being flung off - "Send him over to next week!" Applejack struggled as the beast tried to shake her off.

Sunset lit up her horn and aimed her spell at the beast. Just when the magic concentrated at the tip-

"Stop!!" Shouted Cosgrove in the spell's direction.

At the last second, Sunset aimed her magic to the sky just as it fired a spelled. It trailed up to the sky before exploding, leaving a cloud of smoke.

"Cosgrove what are you doing?" - Sunset stamped her hoof

"Schnookums is my pet!" Cosgrove answered

"Your pet!?" Holding the rope, Applejack hopped off the beast and stamped a stake deep into the ground.

Thanks to the Apple Family Knot, Schnookums couldn't break free, no matter how hard he pulled.

"Your pet... Is a Brobdingnag?" Asked Sunset while rubbing her temples. "For how long?"

Cosgrove wondered just what a "Brobdingnag" is before nodding, "Just before the last Winter Wrap Up."

"And your grandparents find this okay?"

"Mmhm."

Sunset looked at Applejack who then gave a look at a now slightly irritated Schnookums as he thumped what remained of his tail on the ground.

"He's tellin' the truth." Answered Applejack as she crossed her arms.

"This is incredible!" - The group of ponies turned to Twilight Sparkle and Spike approaching the beast - "For centuries we only had armor pieces."

"Centuries?" - Cosgrove asked - "What do you mean?"

"We thought that the Brobdingnag went extinct in the Chaos Extinction 5,000 years ago." - Sunset answered before eying the beast - "And only left very few fossils."

"Oh, this is exciting!" - Twilight clapped her hooves - "Spike, jot this down."

Spike took out a scroll and quill as Twilight happy walked away.

"Dear Princess Celestia..."

Sunset turned Cosgrove around, "But fossils don't lie: The biggest individual is estimated at 38 meters tall."

Cosgrove gulped as Sunset began to walk out of the school grounds.

"In the meantime, slugger," - Applejack handed Cosgrove the other part of the rope - "I suggest you bring him back home."

Near the end of the day, Princess Celestia finished reading the letter.

"Sister," - Luna asked - "This development worries me. If there was one, surely there are more."

"Maybe so, Luna." - Celestia looked to the outside world - "But as we encounter larger problems, we could have an important ally."

Author's Note

Do note that the Old Timeline "Ballad of the Brobdingnag" takes place in Season 4. As this is still in Season 2 of the New Timeline, Schnookums hasn't grown to the size you knew beforehand.

Applying Indigo (Month of Luv)

Unlike our world, most of Equestria's weather patterns are done through the Ponies themselves. Even when it still in season, certain complications demand otherwise. It was still February, but thanks to a brave groundhog, winter wrap up occurred very early, and the temperature allowed the Ponies to walk about without the use of heavy clothing. This second week began a traditional holiday. When one finds a special somepony. This was Hearts and Hooves Day. Stores all around were filled with cards and candy boxes of all shades and tints of red. Even Rose had a huge demand in flowers.

In school, the class was passing out cards and candies. The Crusaders, in particular, carried in a large paper mache heart just for Ms. Cheerilee. Button Mash necessarily didn't care, it was just another day for him at the arcade. Cosgrove was sketching up a costume that would fit a filly.

Featherweight, however, wasn't faring well. On and on, he would crumple a card he was working on and work on a new one. When he couldn't find an idea, the cycle repeated itself. Throughout recess, he would sit on the rotunda and pout, wondering what to do. This caught the attention of three of his friends; Pipsqueak being the first to walk up to the Pegasus.

"What's troubling you?"

"Oh, I am having a hard time thinking about what to say." Answered Featherweight as he pivoted his leg, rotating the playground object back and forth.

Rumble hopped off the swing set and trotted to the gap-toothed colt.

"Trying to confess to your special somepony?" Said the gray colt as he nudged his twig legged friend.

Featherweight's cheeks began to flush red while looking angry. "...yes..."

"Who are you gonna ask?" Said Cosgrove while he swung in large arcs.

"Indigo..."

"What?!" Said the three colts, Cosgrove hopping off the swing.

"I know what I want to say-"

"Then tell her, she's right there." Said Rumble as he pointed to the Unicorn in question talking to Boysenberry.

"I know, but I'm worried about her mom." Feather rebuked, and with good reason.

Indigo Blue's mother, Mae Horsetails was one of the finest botanists in Ponyville. Moving from Neighpon, she began her studies at the Everfree Forest. While she is indeed friendly to other ponies, Mae had a very strict formality when it came to suitors. Like the plants she studied, Mae valued the best phenotype in a stallion. She had four children, one son and three daughters, all of whom now have homes and successful careers of their own before Indigo's first year in school. Then came Indigo Blue Herself. After four foals with the best-expressed traits, Indigo appeared with freckles and peach hair, both of which are recessive to the family. And worse, she was growing slowly. Believing this to be her husband's genotype, Mae signed for a divorce, with Indigo in her custody.

"Didn't Truffle ask her once?" Pip wondered

Cosgrove, Rumble, and Featherweight hummed one note as they swung their heads to each other.

"Yeah, but he came rushing out with a shoulder cutie mark." Said Cosgrove before he shuddered

"And that's it, I am not having my cutie mark be a red badge!" Featherweight yelped before he pushed the rotunda to the other side.

Rumble rubbed his chin then brought the other two out of earshot and began to whisper. Featherweight kicked a small pebble as the feeling of defeat sank in.

"Why don't we help you get into shape?" Said Rumble

"What? How is getting into shape gonna help me?" Featherweight asked before blowing out his bangs.

"You only have to look fit. With our help, you could look just like you brother!" Said Pipsqueak as he poked the Pegasus' twiggy arms.

"But how am I gonna be muscular?" - Featherweight turned to his friends - "Hearts and Hooves Day is almost over."

"Then we are going to train you like there isn't going to be a Hearts and Hooves Day." Said Cosgrove

"There isn't?" Asked Pipsqueak before being interrupted by Rumble.

"By tomorrow, your hooves will be cracked, your wings torn, your eyes red, and your flank handed down on a silver platter as we make you the most improved colt in the school!" Cosgrove finished.

Featherweight rubbed his arm in uncertainty, "You... Don't mind wanting to help me?"

"They most certainly don't mind." Said Pip, pointing to the Crusaders as they began to run with excitement.

Featherweight, happy that his friends are here to help, stepped towards them.

"Okay, let's do this!" He said.

The four colt's pounded their hooves and raised them up high. Two automatic doors slid into our view as they began Featherweight's fitness training.

They first began by tying a small harness to the Pegasus' neck. Featherweight then took to the air, hovering just above their height. Cosgrove place clipped a five-pound weight onto the harness, not affecting his altitude. Pip then added another one, giving Featherweight a little strain. Rumble then took to the air, encouraging him to fly higher. Featherweight increased the beats of his wings as he slowly increased his altitude. Before he could reach his flight partner, Featherweight expired, the weights plunging him to the rubber floor in a large thump.

The next thing they did was have Featherweight do a plank. Twenty seconds in and his arms were already sore. He gritted his teeth as he tried to hold.

"Hold..." - Said Pipsqueak while looking at a stopwatch while the Pegasus became red - "Hold!" Pip said again. Featherweight began to sweat as the tiny Pinto raised a hoof - "Time!" - Featherweight collapsed to the ground.

Featherweight was then placed on a treadmill. After Pip applied the safety clip to his chest, Rumble turned the dial, bringing Featherweight to a brisk walk. A few seconds later, he turned the dial again, bringing the skinny Pegasus to a trot. Rumble hopped down, not knowing he turned the switch even further. Featherweight was now sprinting at speeds an adult could reach for a few seconds before tripping. The belt then flung him away at a breakneck speed out the door and crashing into a garbage can, with added cat scream to follow.

The colts walked to Cosgrove's house as the helpers examine their new creation. There was no muscle contours on his arms or legs, his wings frayed and sagging, and his tummy having only a two pack.

"This is tougher than I thought." Rumble concluded.

"Really?!" Featherweight snapped while holding a bag of ice on his head.

"Time's running out!" - Pipsqueak walked back and forth - "How are we gonna get you in shape?"

"Plan B: if exercise doesn't work, then a change in diet will." Said Cosgrove as he rummaged the fridge.

"What kind of change?" Said Featherweight as he turned slowly to Cosgrove before the striped colt slapped a whole assortment of food items on the table, ranging from apples to zucchinis- "I… am gonna eat that?" Featherweight shivered with a gulp.

"Yes….” - the multiple-toed pony then places a blender on the table - “And no.”

Plugging in the power cord, Cosgrove crammed in as much food as he could fit in the blender before adding milk and closing the lid. Pushing the highest setting, the contents became mushed in a matter of seconds. The white milk has now become a green-orange concoction. Featherweight dipped his head so that only his eyes could be seen above the table line.

"So," - Cosgrove removed the lid, poured the mixture into a cup and gave it to Featherweight - "wanna drink?”

“I’m not gonna drink that!" - The lightly built Pegasus slid the drink to Rumble - "Rumble you try it!”

“Nuh-uh, this is your drink!” Rumble pushed the drink away

“Okay, Pip!”

“No way! Why not Cosgrove drink it?”

Cosgrove looked at the cup with a grimace. “Can’t be a taste test if I am the only one who drinks it.”

“Taste test what?” Said Lion Tamer as he grabbed the cup away from his grandson. The middle aged stallion then poured the juice into a cup, not noticing Cosgrove slowly backing away from him. Watching him down the drink, they await the results. A few seconds of silence the Earth Pony twitched, winced, then shook his head.

“Grandpa?”

"Strange... I suddenly have a feeling to go outside." The old stallion began walking towards the door. "Need anything while I'm out?"

"(Nothing, but a large hoof mark on my flank after I ask Indigo.)" Featherweight thought to himself but gave a smile nonetheless. "Nothing at all, Mr. Tamer."

"I'll just mosey along. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day to you."

As soon as Lion Tamer closed the door, Featherweight glared at Cosplay. "What?"

"Maybe we need a different mixture." Rumble pondered as he rubbed his chin.

"Guys, no more. I'll handle this on my own." Said Featherweight

"What?! But we didn't make you buff!"

"Forget being buff! I almost broke my neck!"

Featherweight slumped off the chair and started walking towards the door. Cosgrove lurched forward.

"You know you're just biting a spear tip right?"

Featherweight stopped and turned his massive head around, giving him a "you think" kind of expression. Cosgrove raised his shoulders before he, Rumble and Pipsqueak hopped off the chairs.

The four colts arrived at Indigo's house. The bricks were blood red, reaching up to the second floor. What distinguished it the most was the greenhouse jutting from the side. Featherweight stepped forward to the door of his SSP before turning around. The remaining colt's gave him a large grin, with Cosgrove giving him a thumbs up.

Waiting a while after knocking, the door opened, revealing Mrs. Horsetails, staring at him.

"May I help you?" She said.

"Yes, is Indigo home?" Featherweight asked, his ears drawn back.

The white and orange unicorn noticed his teeth as she craned her neck down to his level, "Were you born with those teeth?"

"Uhm... No?" - Featherweight drew a hoof in front of his face - "You're not going to hurt me are you?"

"...What gave you that idea?"

"Who's at the door, Mom?" Said Indigo Blue, revealing herself to the Pegasus. "Featherweight, what are you doing here?"

"This Pony said that I hurt would hurt him. Why?"

"Hurt... Is this about last year with Truffle?" Indigo asked while she cocked her head.

"...Mmhm..." Featherweight answered.

Indigo chuckled, "He never told you about how he got himself punched by a whomping willow!" The Unicorn fell on the floor and broke out into laughter.

The other three colt's became completely dumbfounded as their jaws hung almost vertically. Featherweight looked up to the mother, who gave a sly smirk. Indigo got back on her hooves and walked to Featherweight.

"I'll leave you two alone." Mrs. Horsetails shrugged as she closed the door.

"Hey, guys." Indigo greeted the other colt's in the back. "So, what do want to talk about?"

Indigo was right at his face.

"(Come on, don't chicken out now!) Indigo, I wanted to ask..." Featherweight scratched his head nervously. "If you would want to be my special somepony?"

Indigo's eyes widened.

"You never asked me that in our first year in school. Why?"

"Because your mom-" the pegasus was stopped by a wave of a blue hoof.

"You colts still think that my mom is that ornery?" She asked, looking to his friends at the back. The three wing Ponies eyed each other nervously.

"Nuh-uh" "Nope" "well I thought she was- ... Er, i mean not in the slightest." Answered Rumble, Cosgrove, and Pipsqueak (after being shouldered on the head) respectively.

"Well, you know what I think?" She said as she inched her nose to the proposing colt. Featherweight cringed at the upcoming punishment he was about to take.

She hugged him...

Featherweight opened his eyes wide to the peach colored mane below him.

"I would like that very much..." She answered.

Featherweight's wings flushed open as he slowly wrapped his hooves around the blue-green unicorn. The other colts hoof bumped each other as Indigo and Featherweight joined them as they made their walk to Ponyville.

"So, what do you guys have planned today?" Indigo asked.

As if on cue, a large red object bounded right past in front of them. The looked to their left; Big Macintosh, strange as it is, was hopping merrily towards the Carousel Boutique, with Apple Bloom on his back. The group of ponies gave each other a look of disbelief.

"Schmoopy-Doo!" Shouted Big Mac

"Arcade?" Featherweight asked

"Arcade." Said the rest as they walked away from the strange event unfolding before the town.

The Edge

First Grade

Long before Cosgrove lost his mother, before the return of Nightmare Moon, the class of much younger foals were sitting on their desks listening attentively to each of their introductions. When a much younger Boysenberry finished and took her seat.

"Thank you Boysenberry. And now next up, Cogsworth!" Said a slightly younger Cheerilee.

Cogsworth, in his old wheelchair, heaved himself to the front of the class.

"Hello, I am Cogsworth."

"Hi Cogsworth!" Greeted the class.

"I am seven years old, but my birthday is coming soon." - Cogsworth then spotted a light lavender hoof raised up - "Uh, yes?"

The hoof in question belonged to a then cutie markless Diamond Tiara.

"How did you get two additional legs?" Diamond asked.

The class remained silent, confused at what she meant.

"Oh, I get it!" - Said Snails - "Because you have four legs and two wheels."

Realizing this, the class began to laugh. Cogsworth cringed back and began to cry. Ms. Cheerilee trotted up and comforted him.

"Students! I will not have this behavior tolerated in my class!"

The laughter died down.

"Sorry, Ms. Cheerilee."

2nd Grade (First Semester)

After a year of relative peace (he was still insulted by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon), it became worse for Cogsworth when the bullies on campus got their cutie marks, how of which is unknown. The insults were taken out amongst any foal without a cutie mark, most often on Apple Bloom and Twist before the latter got hers in making sweets.

There was a comeback when the newly formed Cutie Mark Crusaders were the focus on Diamond Tiara's party rather than the birthday Mare in question. Protection wise, Cogsworth made good friends with Rumble, Button, Shady, and Featherweight. There have been fewer insults on him since then, but each one was very snide.

Today

Its four days before the School Science Fair. Each student worked long and hard on their projects. Cosgrove, his friends, The Crusaders, Dinky, Boysenberry, and Twist were surrounding Indigo's science project. On her stand were a batch of two red flowers next to four flowers of different colors.

"And after they pollinate, this patch had one red flower, two pink flowers, and a white flower." - Indigo held her hoof above the multi colored flowers - "If I am correct, then having the white flower pollinate a pure red flower would have the same result as this batch."

The group was impressed.

"You look like you could get a cutie mark in... Uh...?" Scootaloo asked before getting her train of thought.

"Genetics." Sweetie Belle whispered.

"Yeah! What Sweetie said." Scootaloo added.

"Well, that's my mom's speciality." Said Indigo with a slight blush.

"Didn't stop my family from having an Apple cutie mark." Apple Bloom answered.

"So what's your project, Cosgrove?" Twist asked.

"Well, Sunset and I found that a Brobdingnag's call is similar to that of a bassoon." "Cosgrove pulled out the instrument from his saddlebag - "So I figured that playing in different songs may mean something to Schnookums."

"Is that why Winona was keeping us up all night?" Apple Bloom poked at the yellow colt's chest.

"She was?" - Cosgrove was given a look from the apple farmer - "Uhm... Hey, Cogsworth!" - He shouted to change the subject - "Where's your project?"

"It's at home." Answered Cogsworth

"What is it?" Button asked

"Nuh-uh, I want it to be a secret."

"Maybe it's a hunk of junk." - Diamond Tiara pointed to a very elaborate project: Christmas lights inside an ice sculpture - "My project is gonna be better than you blank flank's work!"

"...But you're rich." Boysenberry said dryly

"I know..." Said Diamond with a smile.

"Yeah..." Dinky stepped forward - "How are you going to learn if you have ponies do the actual work?"

"When are you gonna learn that you're adopted?"

The blonde Unicorn drew back from that, "...What...?"

"Come on Dinky! Isn't it obvious, your real parents probably left you in some dumpster and Derpy found you by chance."

As those words sank in, Dinky flopped down on the floor and began to cry. Her friends and even Silver Spoon found that too harsh.

"What the hay was that for?" Said Pipsqueak as he stepped ahead of the weeping foal.

"Because you guys aren't special like I am." - Diamond looked at the others - "I mean, you're friends with ponies a mother wouldn't love!"

Silver Spoon noticed the seriousness of argument as Pip's friends gave the two bullies a harsh look.

"Uhm Diamond, maybe we should-"

"All right, break it up!" The opposing groups looked at Ms. Cheerilee who then gave the spoiled filly the look. "Diamond, you apologize to Dinky this instant!"

"But Ms. Cheerilee!"

"Now!"

The other foals parted, revealing the weeping unicorn. Diamond began to walk to her.

"But it was the robot's fault." She whispered through her teeth.

"THAT'S IT!!!" Cogsworth rammed himself on Diamond Tiara, grabbed her head and started punching her repeatedly. Sans the foals being insulted, the class cheered on. Cosgrove, Rumble, Button, and Pipsqueak ran up to him and tried to break up the fight.

"Cogsworth, stop!!" Shouted Cosgrove.

With effort, the three colts pulled him away before the red earth Pony in his rage punched Pip hard in the eye. The other two letting him go, Cogsworth began to run again when he was snatched by Ms. Cheerilee and dragged to the classroom. After putting him down, the deep violet Mare gave him a hard look.

"Cogsworth, I have been stretched enough just to keep Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom from fighting, why do you need to make this worst?"

"Me?" - Cogsworth shuffled around - She started it!"

"Yes," - Continued Cheerliee - "and Diamond will get a detention for that."

"A detention? No, she should be suspended! Expelled even!!"

"Cogsworth, that temper of yours-!"

"You haven't seen my temper yet, idiot!!"

Silence filled the room immediately. Ms. Cheerilee stared at the colt in shock and anger at the snorting colt. Nopony, student or adult, ever said that to her. She took a deep breath.

"I am going have a talk with your parents." Said the teacher as she walked out of school.

As soon as she walked out, Cogsworth pounded the floor.

Cheerilee gave Diamond a scowl as she walked over to Pip and his friends. Nursery Rhyme, a student intern, was inspecting his swollen eye. The teacher then looked at Indigo comforting Dinky as she was held in Boysenberry's hooves.

"I'm dismissing class today. Diamond Tiara!" - the bully looked at her - "You have detention... And whatever punishment your father gives you." Finished the teacher, making the spoiled filly gulp in fear.

A large amount of the class looked at Diamond before running home. The Crusaders glared at Diamond as they walked in the direction towards Sweet Apple Acres. Dinky immediately ran to her home. At Nursery's request, Cosgrove, Button, and Rumble accompanied Pip back to his home before parting to their homes.

From the bottom of the hill, the multiple-toed colt saw his grandparents talking with Sunset Shimmer.

"You don't have to decide now..." - The orange unicorn spotted something yellow walking towards them - "Oh, hi Cosgrove!"

"Why are you home so early?" Asked Loopty Hoop as she and her husband turned to him.

"Something went wrong at school." Cosgrove answered

Lion Tamer chuckled, "Too much baking soda in the volcano?"

"It was Diamond Tiara... Again." Cosgrove answered, making the adults serious.

"What happened now?" Said Sunset.

"Well we were just discussing our projects then Diamond Tiara showed up, then... Dinky..."

"What about her?" Said Loopty Hoop

"Diamond Tiara joked that she as... a dumpster baby..."

"The nerve of that boorish filly!" Roared Lion Tamer. "When I get a hold of her-"

"Now honey," - Loopty Hoop calmed her husband - "we haven't even seen Diamond Tiara and she's already made you upset."

"Oh!" - Lion huffed - It just sounds like she's taking her insults too far."

"I'm more worried about Cogsworth." Cosgrove

Back at Cogsworth's house, his mother plopped him on his bed. He merely scowled at the wall while his mother looked at him.

"Well... What do you have to say?" Said the Mare, but got no after for a while. She sighed. "I have had enough of your attitude. I'm going back to work. You are grounded for calling Ms. Cheerilee an idiot."

As soon as she closed the door to her house, Cogsworth's face pinched itself as tears flew from his eyes.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"

The day of the science fair has arrived. The foals and their parents were preparing their science projects, with Cosgrove being the last to present. The school turned to the sound of hooves tapping in the grass, many of whom glared. It was Diamond Tiara and her father, Filthy Rich.

"Everyone gather around!" - Said Filthy Rich - "My daughter has something to say."

All around the spoiled filly were angered parents and their children. Diamond looked at one in particular: Derpy glared at the filly as Dinky stayed between her legs.

"I'm sorry I was bad to you guys." Diamond said nonchalantly.

"Ahem." Diamond looked up, her father eyeing her. "AND..."

"I also forfeit myself from the contest." She finished.

Filthy then turned to his band of servants, the same ones who built the project.

"Alright boys, take it down."

The servants approached the project.

BLAM!!

Out of nowhere the project was destroyed. The servants shielded themselves from the blast.

"Sorry I'm late, everypony." Said a voice at a cynical tone.

Everyone turned.

It is Cogsworth, and he brought his science project: A hovercraft augmented a smoking gun barrel. Cogsworth also had a visor adorned on his head. Diamond shook in fright as the hovercraft glided through the grass towards the filly.

"Uhm... Hi... Cogsworth! Uh... Nice set of wheels?" Diamond said with teary eyes.

That didn't stop the gun barrel from taking aim at her and began to spin. Cosgrove quickly ran towards him.

"Cosgrove!" Sunset whispered

Cosgrove stood between Diamond and the mechanic, "Cogsworth! What are you doing?!"

"What I should've done in first grade." Answered Cogsworth

"In front of all of us?!"

"One less bully to think about."

The gun barrel tracked Diamond's movements as she tried to find a way out. Sunset prepared her horn.

"And I'm not alone on this. You want to do it just as much as I do. We can make this better for either of us!" Completely distraught, Cosgrove drew his ears back. Cogsworth furrowed his brows - "Fine, I'll just have to rid myself of another obstacle."

The barrel aimed at Cosgrove and began to spin.

"Oh, and Diamond, I did get my cutie mark!" Cogsworth lifted himself to display a series of cogs on both of his flanks.

Just when Silver Spoon pushed the two foals aside the gun fired. The crowd gasped before Cosgrove and Diamond Tiara turned over. Silver Spoon slowly opened her eyes to find the bullet right in front of her eyes. The blue-green aura surrounding it soon disappeared, letting it fall to the grass. While Cogsworth was stupefied, Applejack lassoed the colt out of the vehicle. Surrounding the hovercraft in magic, Sunset then crushed the machine.

"NO!!" Shouted Cogsworth as Applejack hogtied him.

Lion Tamer and Filthy rich snatched their children out of the way as police officers apprehended the colt. Arriving too late, Pin Wheel started bawling on her husband Shock Drive as tries to comfort her. As the police carried the colt away, Cogsworth glared at his former friend

A few days have passed and our view is just behind the front door. A few knocks later and Loopty Hoop answers the door. It was Sunset again. The chartreuse Mare let her inside. After leading her upstairs and to the living room, the two Ponies looked on with a worried look.
Cosgrove sat on the couch, staring at the TV. A photo scrapbook was opened to the school photos. As they walked closer, they found any photo with Cogsworth in it marked in black marker.

"The colt is currently sentenced to Juvenile Detention." Sunset and Loopty Hoop turned their heads to the news channel. "Mayor Mare has this to say."

The screen flips over to Mayor Mare having a press conference.

"These incidents have been heard of, but never in Ponyville." - The Mayor looked down - It... Shames me... That to think our beloved town would never have a school attack. I understand that no apology will be enough for this unfortunate action.

The screen then flips back to the anchor.

"The Rich family has-" the power switch was flicked off by Loopty Hoop. The grandmother sat next to Cosgrove and wrapped her hoof around him. Sunset sat on a chair in front of them.

"How are you feeling?" Loopty Hoop asked as she rubbed her hoof up and down.

Cosgrove took a deep breath. "I'm angry, and I know it's on Cogsworth. But I don't know why I'm angry. I try not to but-"
Cosgrove stopped, trying to think about what to say.

"I know how you feel." - The three Ponies turned to Lion Tamer with a tray of iced tea, crackers, and cheese - "I had a friend once, Hammer Strike. We were good friends... But when I found out about his sister..." - The stallion pursed his lips, as he tried to continue - "I wanted to help him, but things... Escalated."

"Which is why I am here." - Said Sunset Shimmer - "Cosgrove, what you just did was very irresponsible! You knew I was there, and so was Applejack and Rainbow Dash. What if you were shot?"

Cosgrove answered that with his ears drawing back.

"Cosgrove, your grandma and I don't want to lose you." Said Lion Tamer.

"You're all that we have left." Loopty Hoop nuzzled the colt.

"When we first retired here," - Lion Tamer looked out the window - "Ponyville was the safest place we ever set our hooves on. But, it has its dangers."

Loopty Hoop rubbed her grandson's shoulder, "We have been talking for some time now and we were thinking that maybe you could be taught magic."

"With my help," - Sunset added - "you can help your friends, even your grandparents."

Cosgrove looked at his grandparents giving him a nod of approval.

"Will I be somewhat like Spike?" Cogrove asked

"Yes and no." - Sunset stood up to her full height - "I have rules; 1. This will be taught on a higher standard from where you are now. 2. You will do exactly what, when, and how I say. 3. If you ever find yourself in a situation like that again, seek help immediately. And finally, no important secrets will be kept. Is that understood?"

Cosgrove became somewhat uncertain. "For you as a teacher, this may seem much. But for you as a friend.. I'll try." - He then furrowed his brow - "I'll try."

Sunset smiled at his decision.

"There is something I need from you first." - Sunset then drew out a journal with her cutie mark on it and an ink quill.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I have learned that while it is great to have friends, it is important to know which ones are suitable to you. I still feel betrayed, but I know there are still others willing to reach out.

But I have a question to ask of you: can even the most cruel of Ponies be given a second chance?"

Your faithful subject,
Cosgrove.

After reading his letter, Princess Celestia walked throughout the sculpture garden, finding a statue of a creature that would even make her cringe.

Author's Note

Originally I was gonna give Cosgrove a regenerative ability, but realizing that such abilities make OC's OP'd I scrapped the idea.

Magic Training Part 1

It's yet another beautiful weekend at Ponyville. The dragon migration has since passed, allowing the town residents to walk out in safety. Spike has begun his trek to find his dragon nature. A few hours later, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash followed him as well. Where they have gone, nopony knows.

In the meantime, another experiment was going on.

“This isn’t going to hurt, is it?” Cosgrove asked as he looks into complete darkness. He was sitting on a chair in the Library's underground laboratory strapped up to a machine akin to how Twilight did to Pinkie. However, the helmet, fitting an adult pony, covered his entire head. The weight kept him from moving his neck.

The dark view was lit up by an aqua blue aura before tilting his head upwards. His eyes shifted down to the view of the library and spotting Sunset Shimmer walking towards him with a green plug in her mouth.

"Not at all." Answered the former Canterlot student through her teeth before plugging the wire to the helmet. She then released the helmet, returning the colt's head to a neutral state.

The spectrogram beeped constantly as faxing paper spat out into a bin. The colt shuffled his shoulders as the weight of the helmet aggravated him. After a few minutes, the machine completed its run. Tearing off the results, Sunset scanned the list for any unusual circumstances.

"From the looks of this, you have very little magic." - She eyed the BMI - "But you are pretty healthy." Sunset finished as she turned around to find Cosgrove's head and helmet on the monitor.

"Well, a circus Pony is a healthy Pony." Said the colt, the helmet flapping up and down as he talked.

A magic aura surrounded the metal cuffs and the helmet before unlocking them. The aura lifted the colt to his hind legs before loosening the strap. The colt shook his head wildly, getting his mane into its original shape.

"But how can I have magic?" - Cosgrove added - "I'm not a Unicorn."

Sunset began walking around him, "Let me ask you this: how is it that Apple Bloom, an Earth Pony your age, able to buck apple trees?"

Cosgrove placed a hoof to his snout, "Earth Ponies have magic too?"

"A somewhat passive one. Earth Ponies and Horses, even at a young age, can use Magic to enhance their natural strength."

"Is that how pegasi can walk on clouds?"

The unicorn nodded before the two Ponies began walking up the earthen steps. "You may also have a passive form of magic as well, but for our sake, we can explore other forms of magic such as alchemy."

"So is there a book I should read?" - asked Cosgrove - "You know, to help me have an edge."

"Yes," - Sunset answered before turning around - "but even when I was Celestia's student I always learned best by firsthand experience. Reading ancient texts may be okay for you, but really the best way to understand magic is if you get your hooves dirty."

She began scanning the books at her height.

"Ah." - She levitated a book to the former circus Pony - "This works best for beginners like you."

Plopping on the floor, Cosgrove looked at the title, "Equestri Magia: A Beginners Guide to Magic." He then sat on the bench and began to read, while his mentor walked to the R section of library books. Sunset looked at the books that contained the word "race" in the title. She lifted one and skimmed through the pages, but nothing she was looking for was found.

The following afternoon, the two Ponies were a good distance away from Ponyville.

"Before I was taught magic, I was given a physical assessment." - Sunset turned to her student - "What can you do?"

"Well..." Cosgrove moved his hind legs before pushing the ground and performing a hoof stand.

"Is that all?" Sunset asked.

The colt then pushed on his forelimbs, launching himself into the air towards her head. The unicorn winced... Then opened her eyes to find her student balancing on her horn with one hoof.

"Nope." He answered before vaulting off onto the grass.

Sunset rubbed her chin. "Did your grandparents teach you some of their skills?"

"Well..." Spotting a dragonfly, Cosgrove lifted his tail and whipped the bug. The insect exploded, the pieces disappeared. "I also tried to breathe fire, but Mom wouldn't let me."

Sunset then looked at a tree. Her horn glowed before she disappeared and reappeared at the top of said tree. "Can you reach me?"

Walking up to the base of the trunk, Cosgrove eyed the closest branch, shuffled his haunches then ran up the tree before leaping up and grasping the branch. He twisted around before vaulting higher up the tree. Cosgrove continued flipping up and over before reaching the canopy. After a while of huffing and puffing, he noticed something was wrong.

"Sunset?" - Cosgrove looked around - "...Where did you go?"

Indeed, his friend was nowhere to be found at the tree he was on. When his ear flicked to a loud whistle, the colt turned to find Sunset at the top of another tree giving a wave of her hoof. Cosgrove dipped under the tree cover. A little rustle of leaves and the colt vaulted from the tree to the next. He was high in the air when he noticed the green-blue aura again. Cosgrove landed on the spot.

He turned around, even passing a first glance at a bubble popping in another distance. Cosgrove began to realize just what this Pony is playing. As a strong wind began to blow, Cosgrove, with a furrowed brow, dipped below the canopy and begun to swing around to his target.

Sunset began looking around at the branches rustling around her. Her student and friend clearly caught on the idea. The wind made it hard to judge which of the trees he would jump out of.

With a gust of wind, the circus Pony leaped out of the tree behind her, the sun casting a shadow. His face beamed as he began to land on his target. The unicorn's horn began to glow. Just as he was inches away, Sunset disappeared once again. Cosgrove flailed his hooves frantically when he landed on the tree. This time the branch snapped. He tumbled down the tree, falling through weak branches.

It would have been much worse... Had Sunset not caught him before he slammed hard on the floor. She then gently lowered him to the ground and inspected the wounds.

"How'd I do?" Cosgrove asked while on shaken legs.

Sunset remained quiet as she teleported him and herself to the library. She grabbed a medical kit and began wrapping his stomach in bandages.

"Do you know why I kept warping to another tree?"

"... I thought we were playing a game?"

She nodded, "You know me like the back of your skull, but you didn't use any brute force. A good start if I say so myself."

Cosgrove smirked at the compliment. He then grabbed the book he was reading, placed it in his saddlebag and moved to his home with a slight limp. All the while, his much older friend to her room and took out her journal.

"Sunset's log. Despite having a lack of experience using his magic, Cosgrove shows much promise. His agility was one to notice, despite my common knowledge of his origins from the circus. To date, none of the books in the library contain whereabouts of his species. There were several species of Ponies with multiple toes throughout pre-equestrian times, all/most of which are extinct. Based on this day and age, I currently classify him in the genus Hipparion, but until I find something, caution is needed."

The next day, the two ponies, the younger of which is looking much better after yesterday, stood at the top of a large hill.

"So, what is today's lesson, boss?" Said Cosgrove as he shook his shoulder.

"We'll be taking a somewhat smaller approach." - Sunset burned a patch of grass, leaving only darkened earth - "Now we can practice basic alchemy."

Cosgrove turned the book over to the starting chapter regarding alchemy looking at the symbols of the most natural elements.

"So do I draw in the dirt?" asked Cosgrove

Sunset nodded. Choosing the wind symbol, Cosgrove quickly made a slightly crude version of the symbol in the dirt. After waiting for a full minute, Cosgrove turned to his mentor.

"Did I do something wrong?" - Cosgrove noticed Sunset tapping her hoof on the symbol, prompting him to hop on top of it.

The symbol began to glow underneath him. Soon the element of air began to snaking around Cosgrove before accidentally inhaling the wind into his nostrils. Almost to the point of choking, Cosgrove looked at Sunset who mouthed, "Unleash the magic!" With a curled snarl, Cosgrove arched onto his back legs then slammed his hooves to the grass and brayed so loud that even made the Stymphalian Birds of the Everfree fly in fear. Sunset walked up to Cosgrove as he panted heavily.

"What a strange sensation..." Said Cosgrove between breaths.

"That's natural for a non-Unicorn, well, that's what I've heard." Sunset added

"Why did I have to be on top of it to activate the magic?"

"Symbols written on the ground will not release their magic until pressure is added to them."

Cosgrove placed a hoof on his chin, "Like pumping water from a dry riverbed?"

The Unicorn nodded, "You can also write the symbols in the air to release the magic automatically, but you must be quick to complete it."

Curious, Cosgrove asked, "Can the symbols be in obvious shapes?"

"As long as they show what they-" - Sunset eyed Cosgrove just finishing a symbol that resembled her cutie mark, catching him in magic just as he jumped - "That is too much for you to handle."

Cosgrove raised his hooves, "Why?"

"No matter if it's science or sorcery, energy needs energy." - Sunset and Cosgrove eyed the symbol - "A spell like that can kill you at this point."

After lowering Cosgrove on the ground, Sunset scratched away the symbol.

Cosgrove looked at the distant Canterlot, "How much does lifting the Sun and the Moon take?"

Sunset looked around to see if anypony was watching before lowering her head.

"Princess Celestia's daily intake is equal to that of an entire triple-decker wedding cake."

Cosgrove's eyes widened, "You're kidding?"

Sunset crossed her hooves and gave a face that Applejack used to make while she was Discorded. Cosgrove's mouth wiggled and nose snorted, trying desperately not to laugh. He "relaxed" when a large beast leaped in front of them. A mishmash of leaves and twigs gave it a canine appearance. After giving a quick howl, four more of them joined in. The two Ponies ran as fast as they could from the splintered maws of the predators. They could feel their breath as the wolves were catching up to them. Suddenly one timberwolf leaped in front of them, halting them in their tracks. The wolves behind them began to creep up to them.

"Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

Sunset held the colt in a magical aura then vaulted him well into the forest. Cosgrove wailed as he began a quick descent through the canopy, bashing through the branches and slamming his chest on what appeared to be a large tree.

Magic Training Part 2

Cosgrove looked down and found that he was in fact on the crow's nest of a large boat, worn down by the centuries. He pulled himself up before the railing gave to his applied weight. While a short drop, the wood of the deck snapped upon impact, bringing him into the ship. Cosgrove moaned as he tried to get up.

"What was that?" Said a somewhat sassy voice.

"I don't know, you check it out." Said another, the voice sounding as if her cheeks were stuffed.

"You check it out, I checked it out last time!"

"I'm eating!"

Cosgrove became alert as hoof steps began approaching him.

"Yeah always eating!"

He winced back as a light teal Unicorn with an orange-red mane popped into view.

"Awwww! Aren't you the cutest colt I ever did see."

"A colt! Let me see!" Said the other pony, a plump red Unicorn with a black mane, slammed the other out of the way. She gave Cosgrove a good look.

"Dang it, Draggle! I thought it was a handsome stallion!" She berated while lifting him in a red aura by the tail. "I mean, look at him! He doesn't even have his watcha-ma-call-it! She said as she bobbed him up and down.

"Stop it, Reeka! You're hurting him!" Berated Draggle before ramming her sister.

Released from the grip, Cosgrove yelped as he fell to the floor before landing on an orange-red aura platform. The aura then wrapped around him. He was then brought to Draggle.

"You poor, poor thing! Did that meanie weenie sister of mine shook you too much?" Said Draggle as she had his cheek rub against hers.

"Um... Yes...?" Cosgrove said with discomfort before being gently placed on a pillow covered wooden chair and patted on the head.

The tall unicorn sat next to him.

"I am Draggle and this filth is my sister Reeka." Cosgrove looked at the other pony as she wolfed down a rather disgusting sandwich.

"Wanna bite?" Said the plump unicorn through stuffed cheeks as she brought the oozing food to his face.

Cosgrove gently moved her hoof back with a grimace.

"So who are you?" Asked Draggle

"M-m-my name is Cosgrove-"

"Cosgrove?!" - Reeka plopped onto the chair, causing their "guest" to flop over - "Who gives their kid that name?!"

"...Mom..." - Cosgrove drooped his head and ears.

Draggle tensed her face before giving her sister a smack to the forehead.

"Did you lose your mom in the forest?" asked Draggle

"No, a friend of mine vaulted me here..." Cosgrove covered his face. "To save me from the Timberwolves."

Reeka laughed, "I love it when they try to eat-"

She was suddenly blasted off the chair.

"Can't you keep your mouth shut for once?!" Draggle shouted before ducking from her sister's attack spell.

"Not when I eat!" Rebutted Reeka before she leaped at her sister.

Cosgrove watched as the two Unicorns beat the daylights out of each other.

"Let go of my leg!" Shouted Draggle.

The colt leaped off the couch as the fatter sister was flung at the furniture, breaking it in half. Cosgrove noticed the stairs leading to the upper deck. The two sisters butted heads as they pushed and shoved each other. Draggle, being slightly clumsy, was pushed away.

"Take that!" Shouted Reeka as she slams Draggle at the buffet.

Deep down the captain's quarters, another resident of the boat peered deep into a cauldron. This unicorn carefully levitated a sample over the brew.

"And a pinch of rust-"

The sudden crash caused her to drop the entire bottle of rust, causing the brew to bubble in a different color. She looked towards the commotion with a snarl.

Cosgrove was just at the stairs when the trap doors opened.

"Draggle! Reeka! Stop that racket and I mean now!!" Shouted the Mare of the house.

Reeka and Draggle stopped in a still pose of the former pinning her sister down while biting her wrist. The headmaster was even smaller than the other two.

"Sorry Mama." Said Draggle.

Suddenly a deep violet aura surrounded the Unicorn's throat as she was brought to her level.

"What did you call me...?" She hissed as she tightened her grip.

"Sorry... Hydia..." - Draggle choked before being flung to her sister- "I didn't mean-"

"Yes, she did!" Reeka interjected.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Enough!!" - Hydia roared, shaking the dust off between the wood. - "Can any of you two do-nothings tell me why did you bring this Pony here?!"

The witch showed her daughters Cosgrove, her magical aura surrounding his torso.

"It was Reeka's idea!"

"No, it was your's!!"

Hydia's face began reddening, "Either you two tell me or I swear-"

"Uh, ma'am?" Cosgrove softly asked.

"What?!!" Shouted Hydia as she brought Cosgrove face to face, snorting in anger

"I didn't come in..." Said the colt as he turned his eyes to the hole in the upper deck.

Looking in the same direction for a while, the similar sized witch turned her beady eyes back to Cosgrove, "Hmmph! And I suppose you did that as a dare from one of your friends?"

"No, mam! I didn't even know of this place until Sunset Shimmer flung-"

"Flung?" Said the witch as she gave him a skeptic look.

"Yes ma- er Hydia," - Reeka added - "he spoke of a friend of his-"

"Silence!!!" Hydia roared at Reeka before turning to the colt- "Unicorn?" - She asked receiving a weak nod. "Typical, I hoped it would be a Pegasus."

Cosgrove shook his head, "But she is one of Celestia's students."

"She has students?! Hmph!" - Hydia flopped Cosgrove to the ground - "And to think the almighty sun princess needed help. Back in my day when the world was dark, dank and dreary, my father could go toe to toe with her." - The witch relaxed, letting out a somewhat compassionate smile - "Oh, if only he were around now. Certainly, would teach these two some evil!"

Her two daughters shivered as their mother pointed at them.

"Why do you want them to be evil?" asked Cosgrove

"Why?!" Hydia rebuked before flinging him over to a chair.

Hydia
Why couldn't they be evil like I taught them?
Why won't they misbehave like they should?
They never used the guillotine I bought them
Why their not bad enough for their own good.

Why not be mean like their aunt Eureka?
She would feed her victims until they burst!
Then cook them with a pinch of paprika!
She always did her best to do her worst!

Cosgrove (not singing)
Thats disgusting

Hydia
Well we're witches
And witches are wicked!
How many times have you been told!?

My grandmother Alexis
Trashed a kingdom with her hexes
And that's the proud tradition
I want them to uphold!
"Cough!" "Cough!"

Think of evil like their cousins
Lucretia was the cruelest in the crowd!
She cook up evil potions by the dozens
They be like her and make their mama proud.

Cosgrove
Well, that's going to-

Hydia
We're witches wizards and warlocks!
We're the reason Ponies purchase door locks!
We've turned princes into frogs
Peasants into pheasants
Soldiers and sailors into swine!

Cosgrove
But have there been any exceptions?

Hydia
We've never been accused of being
Angels
But as devils we're divine!
All of our clan was evil and malicious
And that is how I want my girls to be:
Work hard at being vicious
And if their real ambitious
They might wind an evil witch like me!
A terrible, detestable, contemptible, despicable
Evil mean old witch
Like me!!

At the end of her laugh, she gave her daughters a strong glare before turning to her prisoner.

"So, my little pony: where is your answer now?" Asked the witch as she inched her snout on his.

"Well... If they don't know how to use their magic in a bad way, maybe they could use it in a... Good manner?"

"Because in my book, that's bad!" - Hydia lights up her horn and restored the boat before giving the young stallion a very nasty look - "Which is why, sad to say, I must destroy you."

Cosgrove shuffled back, "De- Destroy me!?"

"But you seem like a sporting fellow." - She began to light up her horn - "Well go on then! Gotta keep on your toes!"

Cosgrove barely dodged the blast that made a large hole in the landlocked buccaneer. This became a game of cat and mouse. Cosgrove ran to the top the ship and reached the stern when Draggle appeared in front of him.

"Help!!!!" Cosgrove shouted as Draggle chased him across the deck before slipping.

He reached the bow when Reeka appeared in front of him, just dodging the fat pony's grasp. Cosgrove then leaped at the climbing rope leading to the crow's nest. When he reached the top, the two witches appeared side by side of the nest. Cosgrove jumped off the crows nest reaching a rope that trailed down to the stern. However, the screw supporting it snapped, causing him to fall again through the deck.

Hydia, Draggle, and Reeka surrounded him, each giving him their own nasty smile. Cosgrove curled into a ball, ready for whatever punishment the three witches were going to give him. They stopped at the sound of teleportation magic and the highlights it gave to the otherwise dark room.

"Step away from the colt!"

The three attacking Ponies turned to the source. It was Sunset Shimmer, scratched and bruised from her fight with the Timberwolves. As the Canterlot student slowly approached them, Draggle and Reeka cowered and retreated to the darker reaches of the ship. Hydia lit up her horn.

"So you are one of that namby-pamby princess' pets?"

Sunset stamped her front legs apart, "One of a few..."

It was a standoff: a centuries-old witch vs a recent former Canterlot student. Hydia gave Sunset a nasty Don Bluth villain style sneer, the latter giving her the opposite. Hydia rose on her short hind legs.

"Draw!" She shouted before unleashing a spell.

The orange Unicorn just barely dodged the blast, leaving another hole in the ship. Sunset was quick to fire another spell. In slow motion, the shot sped towards Hydia as she tried to disappear, but the spell merely zapped her without any sign of damage. Hydia reappeared behind the fire-haired Pony and wrapped her in an aura.

"Hmph! That's the best Celestia could teach!? I will have no problem handling her- a-a-a- Achoo!" - The Hecate interrupted by a sudden cold spell - "What hex did you give me?!"

"Simply put a rare disease called maligolintomontorosis." - Sunset scanned her opponent - "From the looks of it, you just caught it!"

"What?!" Shouted Hydia in a fright, she turned to a mirror.

"First, you break out into spots."

Hydia's fur turned from her usual deep violet to a yellow-green as orange blotches dotted across. She then began to sweat and shiver.

"Followed by hot and cold flashes. And projectile sneezing."

Hydia began wheezing before she sneezed out a powerful spell from her horn that revealed another hole where her daughters were hiding. Such a humiliating defeat made her go into a hissy fit.

"Oh you sneaky scoundrel!" Hydia yelled before lying back.

In a short manner of time, she was wrapped in covers, a hand warmer placed on her forehead and a thermometer in her mouth. Her daughters stood beside her.

"Will she-" Draggle asked as she looked to her sick mother.

"Well, it's not that serious." - Sunset answers, pulling the thermometer from her mouth, inspecting the high temperature. "Your mother would be better, I mean, worse as ever. She should recover with a few weeks of rest and lots..." - The Unicorn made a little hole in the ceiling directly angles at Hydia - "Of sunshine."

"I hate sunshine!" The witch berated as she dug her head into the pillows. "I hate horrible loathsome sunshine! I hate! I hate-!"

The two daughters covered their ears as their mother continued her rant. Sunset and Cosgrove had their ears drawn back as they gave each other a look before walking out the ship. The further they walked away, the less they heard the witch's incessant whining.

"Now you know how magic duels is a matter of wits." Said Sunset Shimmer

"One question" - Cosgrove asked - "How were you able to find me?"

"Micro-chanting." She answered

The stopped him, "Micro-chanting?"

"Just before I vaulted you over, I placed a little of my magic into yours." - Sunset continued - "I can track you anywhere unless someone made a well-placed blow" - Sunset stopped and placed the tip of her hoof at the bridge of Cosgrove's nose - "here."

They continued their walk that lasted well into the evening, regrouping with Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Spike, who now had a Phoenix egg. The next morning, Cosgrove sat under an apple tree writing a letter.

Dear Princess Celestia

I have learned that while having magic of any kind is great, it should not be taken that much to heart. Knowledge and wisdom is the greatest power to give on how you use your talents.

Your faithful subject,
Cosgrove

As the colt finished his letter, he noticed a fox sneaking towards the chicken coup. Inhaling through his nostrils, Cosgrove quickly took out another piece of paper, wrote the air symbol and threw it in the air. Inhaling the wind, he then brayed again, scaring the fox away while startling Granny Smith.

Author's Note

Edit: Restored the lyrics as it is still a song from the My Little Pony franchise and is thus acceptable to Fimfiction.

Watch the G1 movie if you don't know who Hydia, Draggle, and Reeka are.

A Canterlot Wedding Part 1 (New Timeline)

Author's Note

I'm back! And two weeks before the holidays kick in.

A Canterlot Wedding Part 1 (New Timeline)

In the middle of a bright warm day, The Mane Six and Sunset Shimmer were having a picnic. A short distance away, The Crusaders and Cosgrove were playing with a new beach ball as Twilight destroyed their old one during one of her paranoia moments. A much further distance away, Spike was running like a mad man.

“Ahh!” - Rarity breathed in - “It is gorgeous out. Just gorgeous!”

Applejack slurped a cup of apple juice while Rainbow Dash ate her sandwich. Twilight just pulled out an apple when

“Twi... light!” - Spike Panted - “...I... have…” - he raises a finger - “ Lemme just…”

Taking a deep breath, Spike belched out a message

Dear Twilight,

I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot.

“Wedding?” Twilight aside to her friends before continuing.

Princess Luna will be presiding over the ceremony, but I would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion. Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music.

“Oh my goodness!” - Fluttershy blushed - “What an honor!

Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception.

“Hip, hip, hooray!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she cartwheeled to Twilight, who then tidied up the picnic blanket, including the hoofprint in the cake.

Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception.

“Well, color me pleased as punch!” responded Applejack

Rainbow Dash

Twilight paused to notice Rainbow Dash yawn.

I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a sonic rainboom as the bride and groom complete their "I do"'s.

Rainbow Dash jumped a few feet in the air, “Yes!”

Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids.

“Princess Celestia wants me to–” Rarity wobbled a while, speaking unintelligibly” ...wedding dress? For a Canterlot wedding... I, ah, ooh, ooh!” Rarity fell back onto the grass with a loud thump, a large smile on her face.

At Luna’s request, I would like Sunset Shimmer to be head of security, and remove any impolite guests.

“Me?” The orange Unicorn responded

And as for you, Twilight, you will be playing the most important role of all: Making sure that everything goes as planned. See you all very soon. Yours, Princess Celestia.

Twilight looked at the scroll with confusion, “But... I don't understand. Who's getting married?”

“Oh, wait!” - Spike piped up - “Uh, I was probably supposed to give you this one first.”

Spike nervously handed Twilight another scroll he received a little earlier.

“Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and…” Twilight’s eyes widened as she dropped the scroll onto the grass- “My brother?!”

The other picnic guests gasped at this news.

“Your brother's getting married?” - Asked Applejack - “Congratulations, Twilight! That's great news!”

“Yeah, great news.” - Twilight responded in the exact opposite tone - “That I just got from a wedding invitation! Not from my brother, but from a piece of paper! Thanks a lot, Shining Armor. I mean, really, he couldn't tell me personally?”

Levitating a sandwich, Twilight began imitating her brother’s voice - “Hey, Twilight, just thought you should know I'm making a really big decision that changes everything. Oh, never mind, you'll hear about it when you get the invitation.” Twilight dropped the sandwich

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? Who in the hoof is that?!” Twilight finished with a snort.

“Um, Twilight?” - Fluttershy approached her friend - “Are you okay?”

Calmed down, Twilight answered, “Sorry, it's just that Shining Armor and I have always been so close. He's my B.B.B.F.F!” - Twilight looked at her silent audience - “Big Brother Best Friend Forever?”

“Oh!” they responded.

“Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship, Shining Armor was the only pony I ever really accepted as a friend.”

[Twilight Sparkle]
When I was just a filly, I found it rather silly
To see how many other ponies I could meet
I had my books to read, didn't know that I would ever need
Other ponies to make my life complete
But there was one colt that I cared for
I knew he would be there for me
My big brother, best friend forever!
Like two peas in a pod, we did everything together
He taught me how to fly a kite (Best friend forever!)
We never had a single fight (We did everything together!)
We shared our hopes, we shared our dreams
I miss him more than I realized
It seems...

[Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Sunset]
Your big brother, best friend forever
Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together

[Twilight Sparkle]
And though he's, oh, so far away
I hoped that he would stay
My big brother best friend
Forever...
Forever...

At the end of the song, Pinky Pie bounded to Twilight.

“As one of your P.F.F.'s…” - again the ponies around her were silent - “Pony Friends Forever…”

“Oh!” they said again.

“I wanna say that I think your brother sounds like a real great guy.”

Reassured, Twilight walked back to the picnic table, “He is pretty special. I mean, they don't let just anypony be captain of the Royal Guard.”

Rarity gasped, “So let me get this straight. We're helping out with the wedding of not only a princess, but a captain of the Royal Guard?”

Placing a hoof on her chin, Twilight shrugged, “I guess we are.”

Rarity, now so excited about this fact, wobbled again before falling back to the ground, Twilight quickly drew a pillow to soften the fall. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew in a loopty loop, Applejack and Pinkie Pie hopping in a circle, holding hooves. Sunset and Cosgrove were bemused as the Crusaders skipped around them (akin to what they did in after finding that their love poison worked on Big Mac and Cheerilee).

A day after, the Mane Six and their family and friends boarded the next train to Canterlot. Even after 24 hours, they still were excited about their duties. Rainbow Dash had her eyes wide open.

“A sonic rainboom? At a wedding?!” - Rainbow Dash squeed - “Can you say, "best wedding ever"?!”

Seeing the tunnel at the base of the mountain, Pinkie Pie to a deep breath and shouted, “Best wedding ever!”

Sweetie Belle shuffled next to her sister, “And we’re gonna be:”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FLOWER GIRLS!!!” They screamed.

“And I can’t wait to show a little performance between me and Schnookums!” Cosgrove flipped a page of his sketchbook, revealing a Peanuts style drawing of the Brobdingnag doing a headstand on a small column while he balanced on the tip of his tail.

Spike scoffed, “So you all get to help with the big fancy wedding, but I'm the one who gets to host the bachelor party! I have just one question. What's a bachelor party?

The other passengers in the car laughed at his question. All except Twilight Sparkle, who sat alone staring at the mountain face. Applejack noticed this and walked down the aisle.

“Why the long face, sugar cube?”

Twilight Sparkle sighed, “I'm just thinking about Shining Armor. Ever since I moved to Ponyville, we've been seeing each other less and less.” - She turns to Applejack with a stern look on her face - “And now that he's starting a new family with this "Princess Mi Amore Ca-whatshername", we'll probably never see each other.”

Rainbow Dash walked over and bumped her shoulder. “Aw come on. You're his sister. He'll always make time for you.”

The violet Unicorn kept her stern face.

“Couldn't seem to make time to tell me he was getting married.” she thought to herself.

“We're here, we're here!” Pinkie Pie screamed.

When the guards spotted the train coming closer to Canterlot, they lifted their spears allowing the train to pass through a red-pink force field. As it filtered through the interior to the locomotive, the passengers felt a shiver as it passed them. As the train slowed to a stop, the passengers took note of the amount of guards of all races at the station.

"Whoa, what's with all the guards?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"I'm sure they're just taking the necessary precautions." - Rarity answered - "Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies."

Just as Rarity finished, Pinky Pie sneezed out confetti.

"Whelp, what are we waiting for?" - Pinky Pie started bounding around - "We've got work to do!" - She lands in front of Twilight "And you've got a big brother to go congratulate."

"Yeah. Congratulate." - Said Twilight in a deadpan voice before trotting forward - "And then give him a piece of my mind."

As her friends unloaded their cargo, Twilight Sparkle made her way to the castle. On top of one of the towers, the Royal Sister's advisor Kibitz watched from a telescope. Up at one of the ramparts, Shining Armor himself commanded a few squadrons to their positions when he noticed the Earth Pony soldiers aiming their spears. Looking down, he found his sister trotting angrily towards him.

"Twily!" - He ran down the stairs and reached out to her - "Ah, I've missed you, kid! How was the train ride? I–"

"How dare you not tell me in person that you were getting married!" - Twilight berated him - "I'm your sister, for pony's sake!"

Shaken, her brother placed his hoof on his chest.

"It's not my fault! Princess Celestia has requested a major increase in security." - Shining pointed back to the general direction of the train station - "Didn't you see all the guards at the train station?"

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Yeah, there's a big wedding coming up." - She walks away from him to a fountain - "Maybe you heard about it?

Feeling worried, Shining Armor walked up to his sister.

"It has nothing to do with the wedding. A threat has been made against Manehatten. We don't know who's responsible for it, but Princess Celestia asked that I help provide additional protection." - He raised her chin - "This, you need to see."

Shining Armor closed his eyes before concentrating a great deal of magic, brightening the atmosphere so much that it was blinding to his sister. Shining then fired the energy to the sky, rejuvenating the force field as it's hum echoed the cityscape. Twilight opened her eyes just in time to notice her brother flinching. Recovered, the groom-to-be walked back upstairs.

"The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rests squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hand has been my top priority."

Feeling a little convinced for what she said, Twilight calmed down and followed her brother.

"Okay, okay, I get it. You've got a really important job protecting all of Canterlot with a force field only you can conjure up." - Twilight returned a saddened look at her big brother - "But still... how could you not tell me about something as big as your wedding? Am I not that important to you anymore?

"Hey," - Shining Armor placed a hoof on her shoulders - "you're my little sister. Of course, you're important to me. But I'd understand if you didn't want to be my best mare now." Shining gave her a pleading look on his muzzle.

Twilight Sparkle pointed to herself, "You want me to be your best mare?"

Shining placed a hoof on his chin before chuckling, "Well... yeah."

"I'd be honored!" - Twilight bowed to the Captain as he hugged his little sister before being pushed aside - "But I'm still pretty ticked you're marrying somepony I don't even know! When did you even meet this "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza"?

"Twily," - Shining Armor had a surprised tone in his voice - "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is Cadance, your old foal sitter.

Twilight Sparkle processed that in her biological memory banks before it clicked.

"Cadance? As in the Cadance? As in the greatest foal sitter in all the history of foal sitters?!"

Shining Armor chuckled, "You tell me. She was your foal sitter."

Twilight Sparkle jumped up and down, "Ohmygoshohmygosh! Cadance is only the most amazing pony ever!" - She began to recollect her memories during her foalhood - "She's beautiful, she's caring, she's kind..."

At one point in time, the younger Twilight was being swung by the slightly younger Cadance.

"I am so lucky to have you as my foal sitter!" Said the young Unicorn as she swung back and forth.

"I'm the one who's lucky, Twilight." Cadence responded.

Twilight scoffed at that fact, "But you're a princess." - she hops of the swing and looked down - "I'm just a regular old unicorn."

Cadance then held her in her hooves, "You are anything but a 'regular old Unicorn'."

The young Alicorn tickled her friend before placing her down on a picnic blanket. They began to step in place singing: "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" before falling on their backs laughing.

A while later, the two younger ponies walked along the streets when they heard arguing going on between an Earth Pony stallion and a Pegasus mare. It has been a while since Twilight recalled the event, but it had something to do with getting a hooficure. With an illumination of her horn, Cadance sent an illusion of a broken heart. When the two halves joined together, the angry couple stopped arguing and began talking to each other in a lovestruck tone.

"How many ponies can just spread love wherever they go? I only know of one!" - The time returns to the present Twilight turning to her brother with both hooves in the air- "And you're marrying her! - Twilight began hopping around her brother singing - "You're marrying Cadance! You're marrying Cadance!"

Just as she finished she stood face-to-face with her foal sitter for the first time in years. Much has changed between then and now; Cadance's proportions are more like that of her aunts, with a much longer mane and tail.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." She said in a questioning tone.

"Cadance!" - Twilight ran up to her before stepping in place - "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"

Cadance raised an eyebrow at Twilight's questioning pose, "What are you doing?"

Twilight Sparkle turned around and rose to her full height, "Cadance, it's me, Twilight!"

A long awkward silence before Cadance started walking forward, completely ignoring Twilight.

"Uh-huh." She answered.

Shining Armor wrapped a hoof around his betrothed, "I've gotta get back to my station, but Cadance will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going. I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?"

"Absolutely." She answered, the strange tone in her voice worrying Twilight.

"Well, we'll let you get to it." Shining finished before he and Cadance walked away, not noticing his sister's skeptical look.

Further down the city, in the Canterlot Zoo, the towns ponies watched as Cosgrove was just exiting a holding pen, having herded Schnookums inside.

"Phew! Didn't know Schnookums never liked big crowds." - The colt wiped the sweat off his brow before joining up with Sunset Shimmer as they walked over to the castle - "You've been awfully quiet, must be nice to come home again."

"Yeah..." - Sunset responded

As they passed the gates, one of the ponies in their post, a white Earth Pony mare with yellow hair wearing a flag holder bearing Celestia's cutie mark, eyed the two ponies.

"Quite a while seeing you again, Sunset Shimmer."

A short while later, Sunset stepped backward to the flag bearer.

"Excuse me?"

"Though I have to admit, you have gone quite soft after not seeing you."

Sunset squinted as she examined her, but there was one thing to ask, "Crescendo?"

"You got it." - Sunset beamed before she kept from hugging her - "Nuh-uh, these flag poles are very delicate."

"I can't believe it!" - Sunset looked at Crescendo from all angles, not even having the Earth Pony move a muscle - "I thought you and your brother must have gone away? Last I remember, you and Hooflock were always teased."

Crescendo shook her head, "Nope, we decided that to earn respect from the Elite, we became tough." - She turned her head to the now much older Cosgrove - "You look familiar..."

"Oh, yes," - Sunset chuckled before looking at her friend and student - "you remember Cosgrove from a long while back?"

"Cosgrove?" - Crescendo lowers her head to his level - "Is that you?"

Cosgrove looked uneasy, "Yeessssss...?"

Sunset started to worry about this unusual reunion before her mind clicked, "Say, is the Castle Library open at this time?"

"Not sure, you'll have to check with Lieutenant Flash Sentry."

"Lieutenant Flash Sentry?" - Sunset raised an eyebrow - "He's in the army too?"

Crescendo smirked as she nodded, "Affirmative."

"We... better let you resume your duties." - Sunset and Cosgrove walked away before the former turned around - "But hey! If you have time off, why don't you hang out with us?"

When she noticed Crescendo returned to her statuesque pose, Sunset walked away to the castle.

"I'll think about it." the Earth Pony's answer rang her ear.

Inside the chef's kitchen of the castle, Applejack along with Big Mac, Apple Fritter, and Peachy Sweet were hard at work at making the food. Twilight was still frustrated after her rather unsatisfying reunion with her former foal sitter. The unicorn levitated a list of the things the Apple Family had to do while sitting by a pillar. Applejack climbed to the top of the later to finish decorating a massive wedding cake.

"Cake, check."

Peachy Sweet just finished chipping an ice sculpture, the negative space giving the impression of a heart.

"Ice sculpture, check."

Apple Fritter placed a new batch of her namesake treats on the counter.

"Best darn bite-size apple fritter you ever tasted..."

Stuffing one down her mouth, Twilight lavished the flavor of the treat before positioning her pencil.

"Mmm. Check."

"I do. Do you?" - Twilight noticed Spike sitting on one of the counters playing with the cake figures of Shining and Cadance performing their vows- "I do!" Just as the dragon positioned the small dolls into a kissing position, Twilight stepped forward and removed them from his claws, much to his chagrin.

"Hiya, Princess!" Applejack caught Twilight's attention as Cadance entered the kitchen. The Apple Family showed their respects with a bow.

"Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." Corrected the Alicorn, not noticing Twilight rolling her eyes.

"Hiya, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." - Applejack corrected herself -"You come to check out what's on the menu for your big day?

"I have!" She said cheerfully, but as she walked with the farmer, her frustrated look did not go unnoticed by Twilight. She takes a bite out of a fritter, quickly finishing them with a deep gulp - "Delicious! I love-love-love them." the alicorn's nervous chuckle made Twilight raise an eyebrow.

Applejack too raised a concerned brow of her own, but let it pass and chuckled.

"Aw, shucks. Why don't you take a few to go?" - She presented a bagful of the delicious treats - "I know how you brides can be. So busy, you forget to get a little somethin' in your belly."

Twilight kept a close eye on her as her former foal sitter grabbed the bag of fritters and walked to the exit. Just as she was about to leave, Cadance tosses the bag into a waste bin. With a disgusted look on her face, Twilight became speechless.

"Did... you see what she..." - She turned to notice Applejack back at work with her brother and cousins. Rolling her eyes again, she storms off the cafeteria. She focused her glare as Cadance walked in a different direction, not paying attention when she bumped into one of the guards, an orange Pegasus with blue hair.

"Oh, sorry ma'am!" Flash Sentry lifted Twilight back to her feet.

"Flash!" Both Twilight and Flash turned to see Sunset and Cosgrove walking towards them.

"Sunny? Man, it's been it's been awhile!" - Flash hugged his old friend, Cosgrove noticing Twilight walking away from them - "Where have you been?"

"Oh, just a little..." - Sunset noticed Cosgrove looking at Twilight's direction. Clearing her throat, the colt turned his attention - "Busy."

"I know you!" - Flash lowered his head to the colt's level - "Sunset used your dirty diaper to scare away Jetset!"

Cosgrove merely squinted his eyes as he tried to recognize a pony he remembered so little so long ago.

"Do you have a brother, around my height and looks exactly like you?" - He looked to find wings when he raised his right hoof - "But without..."
Cosgrove fluttered his dewclaws, much to Flash's amusement.

"You've met First Base," - Flash chuckled - "I knew there was something off when he wrote to me. Where you born with this?"

"That's why we came to you." - Sunset caught his attention - "Is the Castle library available?"

"The libraries closed for the wedding. But..." - Flash pulls out a set of keys - "I have been trusted with the keys."

A distance away, Twilight was in Rarity's bed chambers, pacing around as the fashionista was finished stitching up the wedding dress.

"Oh, you should have seen how she acted back there. I don't know when she changed, but she changed!" Twilight then assumed a pompous stance, fluttering her eyelashes as she repeated, "'Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'."

"Did I hear someone say my name?" Just on cue, Cadance walked into the bedchambers, with the bridesmaids Lyra, Minuette and Twinkleshine following her.

"Your highness!" Rarity zipped in front of her and showed her respects - "Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion."

After her nervous chuckle, Cadance was still unenthusiastic, "Uh-huh. Is my dress ready?" the alicorn began to walk forward to the dress.

"Oh, uh, yes, of course." - Rarity trotted with her, ready to explain the design - "Um, I've been working on it ever since I was given the assignment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results!" finished, the Unicorn closed her eyes with a big smile on her face.

"I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer train." Cadance addressed before walking away from the gown.

"Oh," - A beginner would be shaken by that, but as a professional, Rarity took critique very well as she took out a pen and pad and wrote her suggestions - "yes, of course."

"And those should be a different color." Cadance requested of the bridesmaid's dresses.

"I think they're lovely." Said Twinkleshine

"Me too!" Minuette added.

"I love them." Lyra piped up.

Cadance gave them a glare, making her bridesmaids uneasy.

"Make them a different color." She ordered before walking away.

As soon as the princess was out of earshot, Twilight drew her ears back.

"Gee, maybe her name should be 'Princess Demandy-pants.'" Twilight then walked away.

At the reception hall, Pinky Pie was discussing with Cadance on the variety of possible activities.

"Okay, let me see. We've been over the games..." Pinky Pie dashed over to a corner littered with games from pin the tail on the Pony to Candy Land which rolled dice on- "...the dances..." She then placed a record needle on the vinyl disc before doing a chicken dance to polka music. With a mad dash back, the pink pony stopped the polka music while she caught her breath - "I think this reception is gonna be perfect! Don't you?"

"Perfect!" - Cadance's smile quickly drew to a frown as she walked to the exit - "...If we were celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party."

Pinky Pie gasped, "Thank you!"

Both ponies were unaware that Twilight hid behind on the pillars, giving the Princess a glare as she watched her leave.

Further away at the Castle Library, Sunset and Cosgrove looked around for the book they have been looking for since his magic training began. She took out another book beginning with the word "race" but found nothing.

"Try looking for the word 'ancient.'" Sunset asked of him as she pulled out another book.

Climbing to the top of a rolling ladder, Cosgrove rolled his way to the "A" section.

"'Agriculture', 'Allusions', 'Amareicas'," - He squinted at the text - "'Ancient through Modern: the Races of Equestria'. Found it, Sunset!" - the colt now grabbed the massive book with both hooves - "But it's gonna take some time before I could-" Before he could finish, a sea-green aura lifted the book, carrying Cosgrove down to the floor.

The orange Unicorn looked at the index before quickly flipping over to the page she intended.

"What is it?" - Cosgrove rose on his hind legs - "What did you find?"

"Your people..."

Sunset turned the book and lowered it to the hard floor. Cosgrove looked at the text and pictures of cave drawings illustrating pony's interacting with those with two additional toes just like him along with fossils. The text read as followed:

Hipparion ("Hipparion prostylum")

Avg. Height: 1.2 meters

Avg. Weight: 300 lbs

Specific traits: Three toes on each foot, slight gracile build compared to Earth Ponies of a similar size, stripes on the back, adult males sport facial hair on the chin, advanced aged individuals do show gray on the muzzle and tips of mane and tail.

Other notes: Produce a diverse set of vocals aside from language and song. Somewhat adventurous compared to their single-toed cousins. While nowhere near as fast as Pegasi or Sleipnir, Hipparion are faster than Earth Ponies and Horses, but because they run only half as far as said races before tiring out.

History: Like a majority of the races in this Almanac, Hipparion were once widespread all over Equestria; their hoof prints were found as far south as Northern Appaloosa. It’s unknown what caused the Hipparion to be missing while other pony kinds and other races have recovered from the cataclysms. I presume that this was the result of competition; the ponies with a single toe have divulged into many forms that could fly, swim in the depths, and most importantly use magic while the Hipparion merely resembled a Zebra from a distance. I do hope that somepony finds a population living somewhere just as their ancestors have several centuries before them.

Cosgrove flipped through the pages for races of his friends. No matter the physical difference, they all had one thing in common: all were classed in the genus Equus. He lifted his hand and stared at it.

"So..." - Cosgrove looked to his friend and teacher - "I'm not a real pony?"

"You are just as much a real pony as me, Zipper, Chelsey, Diver, and even your grandparents." - Sunset raised a hoof to her chin - "In fact, in genus terms, Hipparion is Hellenistic for "Pony." - Sunset's attempt to brighten his mood didn't work. The Unicorn's mind raced to find another way before her ears perked up - "If there is one Hipparion, then there is another." - She then lifted his chin - "There is one Hipparion, therefore there are others."

Cosgrove gave a slow grin before breathing in, "Modus ponens."

The Hipparion noticed his friend's eyes slightly upward. Turning around, Cosgrove yelped at the sight of a gray Earth Pony Royal Guard giving them a stern look.

"Library is closed." The Earth Pony turned around, exposing his tailless posterior.

"Glad to see you too," - Sunset tilted her head forward - "Hooflock." - The Earth Pony stopped and gave them a glare - "Your sister may be coming by to visit us, maybe you could-"

"Didn't Princess Luna request that you be security for the wedding?" Hooflock interrupted before leaving.

"What's got up his flank?" Cosgrove growled.

"We... had a falling out." Sunset began to leave the library, Cosgrove following her to their bed chambers, one that struck a haunting feeling in the Unicorn. Lion Tamer and his wife were fitting their suits and dress for the wedding when they spotted them.

"So," - Lion Tamer straightened his necktie - "how was your little tour, Cosgrove?"

"It was great! And best of all, I found what I really-" Flailing his hooves, the young Hipparion smacked his saddle bag, dispersing the contents around the room.

One of them caught Sunset's interest. It appeared to be a masquerade mask in various shades of violet, with a white band bridging the nose, red "eyebrows," cloud-like fringes and above all her Cutie Mark design as the centerpiece. Time and again she tried it on, noticing how well it worked well with her orange-yellow fur.

"Did you... make this?"

"I hoped to keep it as a surprise," - Cosgrove scratched his head - "in case you ever got invited to the Gala."

Sunset slowly returned the mask to him, "Just remember not to show it around to Princess Cadance. No one tops the bride."

The two middle-aged ponies looked at each other.

"You know," - Lion Tamer stepped forward - "Loopty Hoop and I were thinking that after the wedding, maybe we can be introduced to your family."

The Tamer family watched as Sunset lowered her shoulders, drew back her ears, and turned her eyes away. The chartreuse mare walked up to her, comforting Sunset as she rubbed her hoof along her back.

"I've never known my family. All that I could remember that I had one was my name. For all my life, I lived here."

"What made you leave?" Asked Loopty Hoop.

Sunset looked at a row in the bookshelf containing yearbooks. She pulled out her the book that listed her first year at the school, showing the family her years as a young filly.

Power
Was all I desired
But all that grew inside me
Was the darkness I acquired
When I began to fall
And I lost the path ahead
That's when your friendship found me
And it lifted me instead

Just as she closed the book, Sunset is now shown leading them through the halls of the great castle.

Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky
I'll show there's another side to me
You can't deny
I may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today

She then had visions of when she was around Fluttershy's filly stature to near today as she developed her skill tremendously at the cost of her friend's trust.

Ambition
Is what I believed
Would be the only way
To set me free
But when it disappeared
And I found myself alone
That's when they came and got me
And it felt like I was home

Running out of the castle and to the ramparts, Sunset came face to face with the setting sun.

At the end of the song, she hugged her friends both young and old before returning to the castle to get ready. Despite it becoming nighttime, the shield still gave a soft light over the city, adding a tinge of red-violet to the atmosphere. As the moon rose over the castle, Princess Luna flew past the protection spell to the tower where Kibitz took watch.

"Rest, my advisor." - She relieved him of his duty - "As always, I will guard the night."

Further down the city, the Mane Six, having done their hard work, were in the midst of having drinks from one of the finest restaurants in Equestria. Twilight was just walking out of the door with her own drink.

"Bet I can guess what you're all thinking." - She sits down on the pillow - "Cadance is the absolute worst bride-to-be ever".

Spike took out the wedding topper of Cadance, "Who, me?"

"Spike!" - Applejack berated - "That goes on the cake."

With a chuckle, the young dragon pushes the topper aside.

"Twilight," - Rarity interjected as Twilight took a sip - "whatever are you talking about? Cadance is an absolute gem!"

"Rarity, she was so demanding!"

"Well, of course she is! Why shouldn't she expect the very best on her wedding day?"

Twilight facehoofed before turning to Applejack, "Applejack, did you know that after she told you how much she just 'love-love-loved' your hors d'oeuvres, she threw them in the trash?"

Applejack merely responded to that with a slight blush, "Aw, she was probably just trying to spare my feelin's."

"No, she was just being fake and totally insincere!"

Fluttershy raised a hoof, "She did raise her voice at one of my birds during rehearsal."

"See? Rude!" Twilight crossed her arms with a victorious smile on her face.

"But he was singing really off-key." A cardinal that was perching on her hoof started singing... terribly before he could be stopped.

"Pinky Pie, you had to have noticed how Cadance treated" - Twilight stopped to notice both Pinky Pie and Spike playing with the cake toppers before she rolled her eyes - "Never mind. Rainbow Dash, you're with me, right?"

"Sorry, Twi." - Rainbow was flexing her arms and her wings - "Been too busy prepping for my sonic rainboom to pay much attention to the bride's "bad" attitude."

With all six of her friends not agreeing with her, Twilight growled.

"The princess is about to get married." - Rarity added - "I'm sure any negative behavior she might be displaying is simply the result of nerves."

At the height of the growl, Twilight slams her hoof on the table.

Twilight rose on her hind legs, "And I'm sure it's the result of being an awful pony who doesn't deserve to even know Shining Armor, let alone marry him!"

After leaving the noise to the nightly cityscape, Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"Think maybe you're bein' just a tiny bit possessive of your brother?" The ponies (and dragon) around her added an "uh-huh."

"I am not being possessive, and I am not taking it out on Cadance!" - She waves her hoof at all her friends - "You're all just too caught up in your wedding planning to notice that maybe there shouldn't even be a wedding!" Slamming her hoof so hard that the drinks toppled over, Twilight turned around and left her friends.

She was now at her brother's house, looking very similar to how a huntsman would live if he were rich. As is custom for a high ranking officer, two guards were posted at the front door. Knocking on the wooden doors, Shining Armor appeared before her in his officer's suit adorned with medals and his family crest strapped on his chest.

"Twily!" - the groom let his sister enter, placing a hoof on the collar and tugging it happily - "Your big brother's looking pretty good, don't you think?" - He opened his eyes to find Twilight's sad look - "Huh. Everything okay?"

"We need to talk." - Twilight looked around before adding - "I think you're making a big–"

Before she could finish, they were interrupted by Cadance clearing her throat upstairs.

"Oh, uh, hi, sweetie." Shining greeted his bride.

"She sure has a way of sneaking up on people." Twilight thought to herself as she glared at the Alicorn walking towards them.

"Could I speak to you alone for a moment, dear?"

After a silence, Shining Armor shrugged, "Better see what she wants."

Leaving the door a crack open, Twilight observed the couple arguing with a worry that Cadance would reveal her suspicions to her brother. Instead, she talked about how Shining shouldn't wear the family crest, a gift from their uncle. At one point, the groom felt a sharp sting in his brain.

"Oh, dear. Are you getting another one of your headaches?" - Twilight watched as Cadance used a strange magic on her brother, causing his eyes to go completely green - "Feeling better?"

Shining Armor answered that with a nod while being in a noticeable zombie-like state.

Horrified, Twilight slowly backed away from the door, "She isn't just unpleasant and rude. She's downright evil!"

Shining Armor and Cadance walked out just to notice his sister run out of his house

"Twi-"

"Let her go." Cadance added as she rubbed her lover.

Both confused and worried, Shining raise an eyebrow -"Huh. It seemed like she had something else she wanted to tell me."

Back at the castle, Princess Luna was keeping vigil of her city when she heard the sound of hooves running in her direction.

"Who goes there?" - Luna turned to see her sister's prized student running towards the hall before adding - "Stay indoors, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight looked at every room her closest friends were to no avail. after turning at a corner in the hallway, she collided with another pony. Looking up, she saw Flash Sentry once again rising up to his hooves before lifting her up.

"I am sorry... again." Flash chuckled.

"No time to explain, do you know where the others who helped out at the wedding?"

"Sure," - Flash pointed to the tower where Rarity worked - "they're right at-" Flash didn't finish when she made a mad dash to the tower. The orange pegasus shrugged before resuming his duty.

Twilight barged through the door of the tower, "Shining Armor's in real trouble! You have to help–" She turned to find the other Element Bearers fitting in their Gala dresses conversing with each other - "Dresses? What are you–?"

"Can you believe it?" - Fluttershy fluttered above Twilight, stroking her dress - "We're gonna be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's new bridesmaids!"

"'New bridesmaids'?" - Twilight drew her head back - "What happened to her old bridesmaids?"

"She didn't say." - Applejack answered - "But she did tell us that she would love-love-love it if we'd fill in for them."

"Seeing as we've been working so hard and everything." Rarity added.

Pinky slid towards Twilight, wrapping a hoof around her, "And you were the worrypuss."

"Told you she was an absolute gem!" Rarity added

Rainbow Dash tried to walk around, noticing the relative stiffness of her dress, "You sure this is what I should wear? Doesn't seem all that aerodynamic."

"Hmm." - Rarity inspected the dress before leading Rainbow away - "I'll see what I can do."

Twilight turned around to see her friends relatives, Sunset, Cosgrove, Loopty Hoop and Lion Tamer walking in to fit in their dresses (and in some cases, show off). Even Spike ignored her as he tried on a black tuxedo. Twilight began walking into the faintly illuminated city.

"Looks like I really am on my own."

It was around 10 O'Clock at the wedding hall as the participants rehearsed their part while church organ music echoed the hall. Mr. Waddle stood at the center of the altar while Shining Armor and Spike stood next to him. Most of the Mane Six's relatives were stand-ins for the big audience tomorrow morning. Being security, Sunset and Cosgrove stood at the left wall. The Mane Six themselves, sans their dresses, walked in unison towards the altar.

"Perfect, girls." - Shining Armor complemented - "No need to rush. Then of course, Cadance will enter."

Angel Bunny waved the baton, directing the songbirds to sing "Here Comes the Bride." The audience looked back Hooflock and Flash Sentry opened the doors. The Crusaders skipped ahead as the bride walked forward. Behind her, the flag bearers, now bearing ones that had Cadance's Cutie Mark, walked a few paces behind. The pink Alicorn is now face to face with Shining.

"I'll say a few words, and then we'll begin with the vows." - Mr. Waddle turned to the groom - "Shining Armor, you'll get the ring from your best mare."

Shining Armor turned to find Twilight missing, just Spike playing with the wedding toppers again.

"Hey... has anypony seen Twilight?"

Suddenly the doors slam open, revealing a snarling purple Unicorn.

"I'm here!" - Twilight stepped forward, releasing her hold on the doors revealing a flattened Flash and Hoof -"I'm not gonna stand next to her! And neither should you!

Shining Armor held his lower lip with his teeth before turning to Mr. Waddle, "I'm sorry, I... I don't know why she's acting like this."

"Maybe we should just ignore her." Cadance added.

"You have to listen to me!" Twilight yelled across the hall.

Cadance turned to Sunset, prompting her to take action when the Mane Five walked over to Twilight.

"Oh, goodness!" - Fluttershy hovered above her -"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Twilight growled

"Ya sure about that?" Applejack questioned before her stetson was shoved in her face.

"I've got something to say!" - Twilight stepped forward and raised a hoof - "She's evil!

Pointing a hoof at Cadance, the stand-ins, the guards, and her friends talked about what she meant before Twilight appeared before at the altar in a flash of violet.

"She's been horrible to my friends, she's obviously done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that made his eyes go all-!" Twilight jiggled her eyes with an added cowbell, drawing curious looks from the others. Twilight turned to Cadance, slowly inching up her horn to the Alicorn.

Cadance looked around nervously, trying to find a way out of this. When she saw the one foal she cared give a devious smile, she broke down.

"Why are you doing this to me?!" Cadance ran down the hall crying.

"Because you're evil!" - Twilight chases her down out of the wedding hall - "Evil! And if I don't stop you, you're gonna ruin my brother's life!"

The audience was completely dumbfounded and aghast. No one spoke a word, several of them had their mouth agape as they shared each other a look. Just as Twilight turned around, she bumped into someone again, but this time she looked into the angry eyes of her brother.

"You want to know why my eyes went all-?" - Shining Armor repeated the same thing with his eyes before wincing in pain as he held his head - "Because ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadance hasn't been casting spells on me. She's been using her magic to heal me!" - Twilight tried to respond - "And she decided to replace her bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so that they could meet Canterlot royalty! And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends, it's because with me being so busy, she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding!

"I was just trying to–"

"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our big day be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you!" - Shining Armor winced again - "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride. And you can forget about being my best mare. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all."

Twilight turned to see the angered looks of everypony in the wedding hall. Twilight raised a hoof before Applejack lowered it down herself.

"C'mon, y'all." - She asked of everyone - "Let's go check on the Princess."

Twilight watched as everyone walked around her, an empty feeling growing in her that she hasn't felt since becoming Discorded. When she noticed something off with Cosgrove and his grandparents being the last to leave, she turned around meeting nose to nose with Sunset Shimmer. Her former classmate glared at her for quite a while, knowing which Pony is no longer invited to the wedding.

Shaken, Twilight stretched a leg, "I was-"

"You have a lot to think about." Sunset, Flash Sentry, and Hooflock walked out of the door before her magic wrapped around the doors and slammed them shut.

The echo faded across the hall. Now she was completely alone. Twilight walked towards the altar as sadness crept inside her. Walking to the balcony, she saw the stand in audience return to their rooms while her friends and brother comforted Cadance.

"Maybe I was being overprotective." - She sniffled - "I could've gained a sister. But instead..." - Twilight slumped on the railing, tears streaming on her face - "I just lost a brother.

He was my big brother, best friend
Forever...
And now, we'll never do anything
Together...

A while after, Princess Cadance walked along the garden, hoping to take in the splendors. At one point she stopped at a stone pedestal. Looking up, the Alicorn saw Discord in his stone imprisonment, posed in his last desperate struggle to run. But there was something she did notice: a crack forming on his chest. Her eyes closed, Cadance started to curl a smile.

"Don't worry, my little pony. They'll forgive you." - Cadence chuckled as she walked away from the statue, opening her eyes to reveal predatory green ones in place of her usual eyes - "They all will."

A Canterlot Wedding Part 2 (New Timeline)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

The Crystal Empire (New Timeline)

Author's Note

Originally, I was going to have this in two parts like that of "A Canterlot Wedding," but after writing Part 1, I found that there was very few words, so I combined the two.

The Crystal Empire (New Timeline)

One Thousand Years before Today

Outside the city of Canterlot, thousands of troops march out, ready to give their lives for a just cause. Back at the castle Celestia and Luna don armor as the blacksmith sharpened their weapons.

"Princess Celestia!" Radiant Hope begged "Please take me with you!"

"We have been over this, child." - Celestia answered - "It is too dangerous for you to come with us."

"I know Sombra, give me the chance to reach out to him!"

"I'm sorry, but you're needed here."

"Yes, your Highness." Radiant Hope lowered here head.

Today

Back at her throne, Celestia stopped signing bill as she recalls the memory from so long ago, a few hours in immortal time. Kibitz noticed her sad expression.

"Is there something troubling you, Your Highness?"

Celestia took a deep breath, "Its quite sad when you can recall a sad moment in a life as long as mine."

Just as Celestia placed the quill back on the page, the doors slammed open as one of the Royal Guards rushed in.

"News from Northern Equestria!" - He sheepishly takes off his helmet in respect - "Uh... Your Highness."

Celestia gently lowers the stack of paper, "Yes?"

"I am simply to tell you that it has returned."

Princess Celestia's eyes widened before turning to the guards in front of her, "Find Princess Cadance and Shining Armor."

"Yes, Your Highness."

As the guards cleared out of the throne room, Celestia takes out a scroll and in haste wrote: "My dearest Twilight, you must come to Canterlot at once."

Just as soon as Twilight recieved the scroll, she assumed all possible outcomes, the most important of which is a possible pop-test. Inside the library, Twilight ran around panicking, her faithful assistant watched while holding an empty sack.

"Where are all my quills?"- Spotting her writing utensils, Twilight levitated them and fired at the sack before starting to levitate several books - "No, no, no, no, no... Ugh! I need the Magical Compendium volumes 1 through 36! Where is it?!"

Just at the door, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer looked at each other as they were mused by the panicky Unicorn. Twilight did uncover the Compendium; a book that exceeded even her size and with the weight to match as it fell on Spike.

"Flash cards! I should make some flash cards." - She turned to her assistant - "Spike, I'm gonna need you to quiz me. On everything. Everything I've ever learned. Ever." - Twilight paused for a moment - "That isn't going to be enough cards."

"Twilight, calm down." - Spike placed the items aside - "It's just a test."

"Just a test?" - Spike said the worst possible thing to say to Twilight as she sized up to him - "Just a test!? Princess Celestia wants to give me some kind of exam, and you're trying to tell me to calm down because it's just a test?!"

Expecting the worst, Spike pulls out an army helmet and a suit of pillows.

"Uh... yes." - Spike shut his eyes hard, expecting Twilight to explode.

With a snarl, Twilight's horn began to light and fizzle, gradually lighting up the room. The other six Ponies dashed out of the room, with a good enough distance to Sugar Cube Corner just to be safe. A few seconds later, Twilight's anger made the tree jump a few hundred feet before descended back to it's place. Walking back inside, they found the entirety of the library, books, living spaces, all scattered about on impact.

Applejack crossed her legs, "I'd say she's handling things pretty well, considerin'."

Back at the palace, the Royal Sisters looked at a stain glass window of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance performing their protection spell to banish the Changelings.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?" Asked Luna.

"Yes." - Princess Celestia answered, not taking one look at her sister - "Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are already there. The others will be joining them soon.

Worried, Luna turned to her sister. "The Empire's magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister."

"She will succeed at her task." - Celestia reassured - "And when she does, we'll know that she is that much closer to being ready."

"Ahem."

The Alicorns turned to see Twilight at the doors, prepared to the tooth with test taking materials.

Celestia turned to Luna once more as the latter walked out of the hall - "Trust me, little sister."

Bogged down with materials, Twilight staggered down the hall, dropping books and quills.

"You wanted to see me? To give me a test? I brought my own quills and plenty of paper to show my work." - Bumping into Luna by accident, she showed just how much paper she had brought as it rolled to it's full length to Celestia's shoes - "Sorry, sorry!"

"This is a different kind of test." - Celestia quickly rolled up the parchment and brought the spilled items to the sack - "The Crystal Empire has returned."

"The Crystal Empire? I'm sorry, I-I thought I'd studied." - Twilight search through each of her books for any context of the location - "Ooh. I don't think there's anything in any of my books th–"

"There wouldn't be." - Celestia interrupted - "Few remember it ever existed at all. Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited." - Pulling out a crystal from the land - "But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic."

Under her magic, Celestia had the crystal bring forth an illusion of the Crystal Empire at it's prime. It lives up to it's name, the streets and buildings were made of crystals. Even the fur of the citizens had a crystalline glow to them. Twilight admired the vision before the land became ravaged with blackened crystals. On the balcony of the castle, a pony-like creature watched as obsidian-black crystal ponies lead the enslaved inhabitants, now without their usual glow.

"One thousand years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire."

Sombra looks up to find the past versions of Celestia and Luna about to cast a spell.

"He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow, and banished to the ice of the arctic north."

Just as they had banished him, the princesses watched the Empire disappear before them.

"But not before he was able to put a curse upon the Empire. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air." - Lifting the crystal into the sun, the prism illuminated the halls in lovely colors - "If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria. If hatred and fear take hold..." - For the first time in Twilight's eyes, Celestia's eyes had a green glow as she unleashed a dark magic on the crystal. In the shadow beneath, jagged crystals jutted out of the red rug. Using light magic, the cursed rocks were destroyed - "Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it."

Twilight drew her ears back - "You want me to help protect an entire empire?"

Princess Celestia brought the crystal back into it's container - "It is, as I said, a different kind of test. But one I'm certain you will pass."

"How do I begin?" Twilight rose to her full height, confident to take the test.

"By joining Princess Cadance and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire." Twilight joined her mentor as she walked down the hall.

"My brother is there?"

"He is. And your Ponyville friends will join you there as well. I have every confidence you will succeed. And when you do, I'll know you are ready to move on to the next level of your studies."

Twilight turned to find Princess Luna looking down at her, not at all confident with her ability.

Twilight eyed Celestia, "But what if I fail?"

"You won't."

"But what if–" Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder.

"You won't. But Twilight, in the end, it must be you and you alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadance and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?"

Twilight gulped as she hid her fear.

"Mm-hmm!"

"Then go. There is no time to lose." The two princesses closed the doors to the hall.

Twilight made a brisk pace to the outside world, seeing Spike at the bottom of the stairs.

"Ah! Twilight! That was fast!" - Spike walked backwards in front of her - "Let me guess, you got a perfect score?" - Twilight didn't answer - "A-minus?" - Spike raised a fingure - "B-plus?" - Spike noticed Twilight's head lowered - "Twilight, did you... fail?"

[Twilight Sparkle]
I was prepared to do my best
Thought I could handle any test
For I can do so many tricks
But I wasn't prepared for this
Levitation would have been a breeze
Facts and figures I recite with ease

Looking at an equation, Twilight answered, "The square root of five hundred and forty-six is twenty-three point three six six six four two eight nine one zero nine."

"She is correct!" the professor justified.

[Twilight Sparkle]
I could ace a quiz on friendship's bliss
But I wasn't prepared for this
Will I fail, or will I pass?
I can't be sure...

[Spike]
She can't be sure...

[Twilight Sparkle]
My mind is sharp, my skills intact
My heart is pure...

[Spike]
Her heart is pure...

[Twilight Sparkle]
Oh, I've taken my share of licks
I've made it through the thin and thick
But no I wasn't

[Spike]
Oh no, she wasn't

[Twilight Sparkle]
Oh no, I wasn't

[Spike]
Oh no, she wasn't

[Twilight Sparkle]
No I wasn't

[Twilight Sparkle and Spike]
Prepared... for this!

Twilight, still in doubt, and Spike returned to the train station before the latter became dumbfounded.

"Uh, prepared for what exactly?" Spike asked.

"Twilight!" - Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were waiting for her - "Uh, did you pass?"

Pinkie Pie bumped Spike over with a loaded party cannon, "Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness with Princess Celestia?"

"Not quite." Twilight answered, not quite to Pinkie's expectation - "We're going to the Crystal Empire!"

"Crystal what?" Her friends mumbled to each other.

Using the Royal Train, our heroes travel to the frozen north. Despite it being so close to Summer, the arctic winds blew like mad over the snowy terrain. The train stops at an abandoned station, releasing the Mane Six into the cold world.

"Ha!" - Rarity scoffed as she wrapped a scarf around her neck - "And you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves."

Scarves weren't the only things; Rarity also brought most (if not all) her clothes, as shown by Spike lifting several bags.

"I didn't say a word." the dragon grunted before slipping on an ice slip.

"Twilight!"

Twilight looked into the foggy horizon to find a silhouette of a unicorn coming towards them. "Shining Armor?"

As the figure got closer, it was indeed Shining Armor in winter garb.

"Twily! You made it!" - After a quick hug, the situation became serious again - "We'd better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark."

"What kind of things?" Fluttershy gulped.

"Let's just say the Empire... isn't the only thing that's returned." - Shining lead the others throughout the frozen wilderness - "Something keeps trying to get in! We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place."

"But Princess Celestia said I was being sent here to find a way to protect the Empire!" - Twilight responded as she shook the snow off her muzzle - "If King Sombra can't get in, then it must already be protected."

Suddenly a black crystalline hoof jutted out of the snow between the Mane Six and Shining Armor. As it pulled itself out of the snow, several others surrounded them. The only indication of life they had was a red glow where the eyes were.

Fluttershy shuffled back, "Th-That's one of the things, isn't it?"

One of the soldiers charged at the Mane Six before Shining stood in between and fired a spell similar to what Celestia showed Twilight, shattering the creature into a thousand pieces. Twilight was about to join the fight when a loud howl, as if a person in agony, disturbed the howl of the wind. Shining looked behind to see a glowing pair of eyes in smoke.

"We have to get to the Crystal Empire, Now!" No questions asked, the Mane Six, Spike and Shining Armor raced away as fast as they could. Being bogged down with clothes, Spike hardly caught up with them when Shining flung him away onto his sister's back.

Twilight looked back to see the King roaring to his soldiers, "Tear... Them... Apart!!!"

Shining Armor spotted a blue shield in the fog.

"Almost there." - Shining Armor stopped and turned around. Twilight saw this and tried to turn around - "I'll be fine! GO!!"

Hesitant, Twilight rejoined the others as her brother destroyed the charging soldiers one by one before Sombra solidified himself before the Captain. With a growl, the King fired a blast from his crooked horn before it being locked by Shining Armor. Hard as he tried, the favor was not with the Unicorn. The Mane Six and Spike continued their mad dash through the shield, instantly changing their setting from a frozen waste to a mammoth steppe.

"Everypony okay?" - Asked Twilight as she gasped for breath.

As the others agreed with each other, Shining Armor belly flopped through the shield, making it out of the battle with only the tip of his horn shrouded in dark crystals.

Noticing the condition, Twilight ran up to him - "Oh, no! Shining Armor, your horn!"

Shining tried to perform a spell, but the crystals prevented the aura from fully wrapping around the horn. Twilight and Shining joined their friends as they took in the splendor of a restored Crystal Kingdom.

"Sparkleriffic!" Shouting Pinkie Pie.

Despite the absence of the townsfolk, the city was still a wonder to look at as they walked to the castle.

"It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!" - Rarity took this site very well as she kept swinging her head around - "There are no words!"

"Focus, Rarity." - Applejack snapped - "We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenery."

"Eh, I don't see what the big deal is." - Rainbow Dash yawned - "Just looks like another old castle to me."

Rarity was dumbfounded with what Rainbow had described the Crystal Palace - "A– p– guh! Another old...! Have you lost your mind? Look at the magni–" - Rarity then noticed Rainbow Dash and Applejack snickering as they bumped their hooves in approval - "Very funny."

In the throne room where the first Princess Amore sat, Cadance sat in on the crystalline seat performing a similar protection spell. Having done so for a long while on an area much bigger than Canterlot, fatigue has crept up to her.

"Cadance!" - The Princess woke up to find Twilight walking up to her.

Despite her condition, Cadance still had quite enough energy to join Twilight in singing: "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" before starting to cringe in pain.

Recovering, Cadance commented, - "One of these days we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance."

Twilight drew her ears back as she looked at her former foalsitter's condition when her brother walked next to her.

"Cadance has been able to use her magic to spread love and light. That seems to be what is protecting it. But she hasn't slept, barely eats. I want to help her," - Shining tries casting a spell again - "but my protection spell has been countered by King Sombra."

Cadance looked at her husband with tired eyes, "It's alright Shining Armor, I'm fine."

"She's not fine." - He rebuked - "She can't go on like this forever, and if her magic were to fade..." - He looks at the horizon - "Well, you saw what's out there waiting for that to happen."

"That's why we're here." Twilight hugged her brother.

"Why we're all here." Applejack added, something which everyone else in the room agreed.

This comforted Shining, but not by much. "Well, with Cadance putting all her strength into keeping her spell going, and me trying to keep an eye on signs of trouble in the arctic, we haven't been able to gather much information from the Crystal Ponies."

Rarity jumped up in joy, pushing her cheeks in a big smile. "Crystal Ponies?! Hahaha, there are Crystal Ponies?!" - Rarity looked at the surprised looks on her friend's muzzles - "Um, ahem. Please continue."

"But we have to believe one of them knows how we can protect the Empire without having to use Cadance's magic."

"A research paper!" - Twilight interjected, much to her brother's confusion - "That must be part of my test – to gather information from the Crystal Ponies and deliver it to you!" - She then squeed in delight - "This is gonna be great! I love research papers!"

"Yeah, who doesn't?" Rainbow whispered to Pinkie Pie.

"Oh-oh-oh!" - Pinkie jumped around - "Lemme guess! Is it Spike? Nono, Fluttershy! Rarity?"

"Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing." - The next half hour jumps ahead to Twilight just in the midst of asking one of the inhabitans - "Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"

"I'm sorry. I wish I could help you." - Jewel Joy lowers her head - "But I... can't seem to remember anything before King Sombra came to power." - Suddenly she had a flash back of her being beaten by one of his soldiers - "And I don't want to remember anything about the time he ruled over us."

"King Sombra's spell must be why their coats aren't..." - Twilight examined the shine-less inhabitant - "crystally."

Jewel Joy sniffled. "Have we really been gone a thousand years?" - She watched Twilight nod - "It feels like it was just yesterday."

Twilight Sparkle coaxed the Crystal Pony, "If you think of anything, even the smallest thing..."

"Of course." - Jewel Joy walked back into her lightless home before closing the door.

"Well, that was a total bust." Spike walked down the stairs.

"Maybe the others are having better luck." Twilight Thought to herself.

Rainbow Dash was hovering above another Crystal Pony in her attempt to find a way to save their home. "A way to protect the Empire! You know anything about it or what?"

The Crystal Pony sadly just walked away. "I wish I could help you. Really."

Rainbow Dash zoomed to her. "Hold on!" - Rainbow nudged her - "You gotta know something!"

"But... I don't have any information." - Just as she walked away again, Rainbow face hoofed herself.

Another distance away, Fluttershy was trying to converse with the inhabitants as they pass by her.

"Oh, um. Excuse me! Oh! Hello! Umm, I was just wondering." - Fluttershy looked to find a depressed couple at a restaurant table. Furrowing her brow, the yellow Pegasus trotted over to them and raised a hoof up high as she readied to slam the table - "Oh, oh, that's okay, um, you all look really busy." She hovers away with a nervous laugh.

Pinkie Pie took the search much more proactively, wearing a Splinter Cell styled costume as she bounded from building to building. She spotted another couple looking at the Crystal Palace.

"Time to gather some intel!" Climbing down, Pinkie snuck up to the couple.

"It just feels like something is missing."

"I know. It looks the same, but it doesn't feel the same."

"Because it isn't!" Pinkie Bolted.

The two ponies gasped at Pinkie Pie before dashing away, "A spy!"

"A spy? How did they know?" - Pinkie looked up to notice the a pair of night vision goggles strapped to her head - "Ah! Must have noticed my night vision goggles." - Putting them on, Pinkie's vision was a series of blue-greens - "Ooh! Night vision-y!" But in broad daylight, the goggles proved ineffectual as she slammed into a light post.

Rarity, believing herself to be a Crystal Pony, talked to the public in the town square. "And when you flip your mane, it simply must create a rainbow of color." - Rarity turned away as she coddled her hair - "Oh! Wouldn't I look just magnificent? So sparkly!" - Disturbed and slightly embarrassed, the public merely snuck away while she wasn't looking.

Reuniting underneath the Palace, the Mane Six and Spike give off what they have.

"I got nothing so far." Rainbow sighed.

"Oh, me neither." Rarity moaned.

Twilight turned to see Fluttershy walk to her with a stern look on her face. Putting a hoof to her face, the pony before her was in fact Pinkie Pie in disguise as she unzipped the costume.

"My cover has been blown." - Pinkie tapped Twilights head - "I repeat, my cover has been blown!"

Just as Pinkie left them, Twilight found the real Fluttershy walking towards her. "Ooookay."

"Sorry, Twilight." - Applejack apologized - "These crystal ponies seem to have some kinda collective amnesia or somethin'. Only thing I was able to get out of 'em was somethin' about a library."

That last word brought a smile to Twilight's face. "A library?" - She puckered up AJ's face - "Well, why didn't you say so?!"

Immediately she dashed off towards to library.

"Uh... thought I just did." Applejack answered before she and the others trotted towards the ecstatic Unicorn.

The library, like the other buildings in the Crystal Empire, was a very elaborate piece of work. On the front door, two crystalline Griffon statues stood side by side. When Twilight opened the doors, she took in the splendor of how the books were arranged

"I just..." - Twilight plopped to the floor, staring in awe at the collections - "I don't even know what to... There are no words."

"Ahem." - The joy stopped when the group found the librarian, a mare around the same age as Loopty Hoop - "May I help you?"

"Yes." - Twilight walked up to the librarian - "We're looking for a book."

The Librarian walked a hoof around her - "We have plenty of those."

"You do." - Twilight was still in the moment - "You really do."

Applejack walked up to the librarian.

"We're lookin' for a history book. Somethin' that might tell us how the Empire might've protected itself from danger back in the day."

"Yes. Of course." - She places a hoof to her chin - "History, history..." - Suddenly it clicked - "Ah, yes."

The Mane Six's eyes and smiles widened as they waited their answer. After a while of awkward silence, Twilight dropped the smile.

"Which is where, exactly?"

"I... I can't seem to remember." - Amethyst Maresbury looked around nervously - "I'm not sure I actually work here."

Rainbow groaned in frustration as she slapped herself on the face, stretching her muzzle as she slid her hoof down.

Twilight wasn't that much so. "We'll just take a look around." - Twilight and most of her posse walked down the stairs - "I'm sure we can find it on our own."

"Let me know if you find anything." - The Librarian finished before walking away.

"I like her!" Pinkie joined the others.

But a library this big would make finding a history book a needle in a hay stack as each pony (and dragon) split up to find it. Over time, hours have passed to the point that Applejack asked, "Uh, anyone else startin' to think this is a lost cause?"

In a conveyor belt of magic, Twilight skimmed each title of the book before moving it aside. "No, no, no, no, no..." - She was just about to pass a book before taking a second glance and grabbing it - "Yes! 'History of the Crystal Empire'. I just hope it has the answers we need." - Showing before Twilight and Shining Armor, Twilight read - "A 'Crystal Faire'. According to this book, it was established by their first queen and became their most important tradition. The Faire was held every year to "renew the spirit of love and unity in the empire so they could protect it from harm". My friends and I could put it together. Everything we need to know is in the book!"

"That sounds pretty promising." Shining smiled before returning to his ailing wife.

"We'll get started right away." - Twilight walked away, revealing Spike being used as a pedestal - "C'mon, Spike, we've got a Crystal Faire to put together!" Opening the doors to a meeting room, Twilight reconvened with her friends as they plan the festival.

[Twilight Sparkle]
Princess Cadance needs our help
Her magic will not last forever
I think we can do it
But we need to work together
We have to get this right
Yes, we have to make them see
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history

[Rainbow Dash]
It says that they liked jousting

[Rarity]
They flew a flag of many hues

[Applejack]
Made sweets of crystal berries

[Fluttershy]
They had a petting zoo with tiny ewes

[All]
Oh, we have to get this right
Yes, we have to make them see
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history

[Pinkie Pie]
There was a crystal flugelhorn
That every pony liked to play

[Twilight Sparkle]
And the Crystal Kingdom anthem
Can you learn it in a day?

[All]
Oh, we have to get this right
Yes, we have to make them see
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history

At the end of the song, Twilight looked at the various festival exhibits and activities they had set up.

"It looks amazing! I don't know how I could've done this without you!" - She looks to the book again - "One last check to make sure everything is in place, and then the festivities can begin!"

"What's this thing for?" - Twilight turned to find Applejack tapping a carve piece of crystal with a heart shape on top.

"The last page of the book mentioned a Crystal Heart as the faire's centerpiece, so I used my magic to cut one out of a crystal block."

"Nice work, Twi." - Applejack complemented on the craftsmanship - "Think we're ready to get this faire up and runnin'."

High on the balcony, Pinkie Pie took a deep breath before blowing into the flugelhorn, drawing out a daft note as Twilight, Cadance, and Shining Armor walking out of the castle.

"Hear ye, hear–" - Twilight was interrupted again when Pinkie tried a second time.

Opening her eyes, she meet to confused looks of the other three before slowly drawing awaying.

"My bad."

Clearing her throat, Twilight started again. "Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Faire!"

Hearing the last two words made the inhabitants spike their interests, literally brightening their coats as they walked towards the faire.

"Come on in, y'all." - Applejack lead them around - "Got food and drinks thataway, games and crafts are thataway, Crystal Heart to the back near the Princess."

"Did she say... Crystal Heart?" One of the Crystal inhabitants asked, causing a little stir with the others.

Rainbow flew to one of them.

"We totally nailed it, right?" - startled, the Crystal Mare ran away before being caught up - "Must be feeling a lot of love and unity about now!" - Rainbow caught up to the pony at a food stand - "Gonna have some grub, huh? What are you thinking? Crystal Empire berry pie? Maybe some crystal corn-on-the-cob!" - Just as she showed the vegetable, she found no one in front of her - "What is with these ponies?!"

Jewel Joy, along with another name Fluer de Verre, walked around, their coats still in a depressive state.

"Seeing all of this, I feel like I'm starting to remember." - Jewel Joy thought - "Remember things from before the king."

"Me too." Added Fluer

It took them awhile before their faces beamed and their coats brightening up. "The Crystal Heart!"

"Do you think they really have it?" Fluer asked of Jewel when Rainbow Dash zipped over to her.

"Of course we have it! Can't have a Crystal Faire without the Crystal Heart, right?"

"Of course you can't. " - Amethyst answered - The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies, so the light within them can power the Crystal Heart, so that the Empire can be protected!" - remembering all that, her coat brightened up from a dull grey to a light lavender - "I do work at the library!"

Rainbow's eye twitched as Applejack joined in, "W-what's that about 'powering the heart'?"

"I just can't believe you found it. King Sombra said he'd hidden it away where we would never see it again! I only hope it will still be as powerful after all these years...!" - The Librarian turned to a funnel cake stand - "Mm, funnel cake!"

Rainbow Dash twitched at that fact before zipping into the air, grabbing a flag, soared over to palace and draped the sculpture while Twilight was still paying attention to her book.

"Why did you–"

"I think we may have a problem..."

Back at the balcony of the palace with Cadance and Shining Armor, Twilight hastily flipped through the pages of the book.

"I didn't know it was an actual relic! The book didn't mention anything about the Crystal Ponies powering the Heart!" - Twilight found that the last page of the book was torn - "There was a page missing... How did I not notice?!"

Cadance began to wobble. "It's alright, Twilight."

Shining Armor was able to catch his wife from falling onto the floor. With her fainted, the protection spell was turned off, exposing the empire to the wind... and Sombra, laughing in delight as his soldiers marched their way towards the border.

Shining Armor drew his ears back - "The Empire is under attack."

While still in her husband's arms, Cadance strained herself to bring the shield up once more. Angered, Sombra raced to the grassy border, but was too late as the spell chipped off the tip of his horn. He growled in pain as the tip of his horn fizzled into the ground, oozing dark magic.

Shining Armor began walking back inside. "I have to find the Crystal Heart!"

Twilight stepped in front of him. "No, you stay here with Cadance. She needs you, Shining Armor. I'll retrieve the Heart."

"Let's do this!" Rainbow jumped and followed Twilight inside.

"I've been trying to figure out how I'm meant to pass Celestia's test. Retrieving the Crystal Heart must be it." - Twilight turned her head to Rainbow as she galloped down the halls - "But there is something else you can do."

Rainbow caught up to her, "Name it."

"You and the rest of our friends have to keep the Faire going."

"What?" - Rainbow protested as they went down the main staircase - "With that thing moving into the Empire?"

"The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies, so they can activate the Crystal Heart."

"Yeah, and?"

"If the Crystal Ponies find out that King Sombra is trying to take over the Empire again, their spirits are gonna be anything but lifted." - Twilight busted out of the door where Applejack was keeping the heart hidden - "It won't matter if I find the Crystal Heart. They won't be able to make it work. You have to keep them happy here at the Faire."

"Keep the Faire going and the Crystal Ponies' spirits high." - Rainbow saluted - "Done and done!"

"Twily," Shining Armor called from up high - "be careful."

Twilight smiled, "I will."

A great distance from where Twilight ran off to, the dark magic began to jut out a crystalline claw.

Back at the Faire, the Crystal Ponies started gaining their confidence again as they ate their favored food and played their games. Rarity was in the middle of making accessories out of weavings with Spike when Rainbow hovered at her ear. Hearing her plan, Rarity found that the Crystal Heart was still needed to be found.

"Huuuuh?" - Rarity pawed her mouth, noticing the attention of her guests - "I... just found out they're offering face painting for the little ones." Rarity held Spike like her own child just long enough for the citizens to walk away with their bought merchandise. Putting him on the floor, Rarity quickly whispered into Spike's ear.

"Uh-huh... We can do that.... Twilight's doing what?!" The young dragon ran clean away, drawing attention again from the inhabitants.

"He... really... loves getting his face painted. Haha."

As Twilight walked through the Faire, Rainbow Dash grabbed the flugelhorn on the table

"Who wants a flugelhorn?"

While in a jester's costume, Pinkie cried, "I want a flugelhorn!

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Who else wants a flugelhorn?"

Pinkie started a tantrum, "I want a flugelhorn!!"

Twilight tried to piece together the clues before turning to the Palace again.

"Twilight, wait!" - Spike caught up with her, catching his breath - "I'm coming with you!"

"You can't." - Twilight began walking back towards the Palace - "I have to retrieve the Crystal Heart by myself."

"I know." - Spike shook his head before catching up to the Unicorn - "I promise I won't lift a claw to help you." True to his word, Spike wrapped his arms together, not exposing a single finger.

With a sigh, Twilight levitated her assistant onto her back, "Not a claw, Spike."

Immediately she raced forth to the Palace so fast that it was a surprise that Spike was able to hold on without using his arms.

"Where are we going exactly?"

"I think I might know where King Sombra hid the Crystal Heart."

Spike looked up in the direction they are going, "The castle?"

"The king would've been counting on the fact that nopony would dare come looking for it here. They'd have been too afraid to even try."

"I hope you're right."

"You and me both." Twilight agreed as they entered the palace.

Back at the center courtyard, Applejack kept a nervous eye as she kept the mock up hidden when a sudden gust of wind made her jump. Rainbow Dash kept a more stern eye at the inhabitants. One of them was happily minding his business when Rainbow jumped at him.

"What are you lookin' at?!" - since he has known fear for quite a while, the Crystal Pony backed away from the Blue Blur - "That's what I thought!"

Applejack pulled Rainbow down to the ground. "Uh, Rainbow Dash? We're supposed to be actin' like nothing's wrong."

"Exactly." Rainbow spotted two of the Crystal Ponies before landing in front of them, growling like a bulldog.

"What I mean is," - AJ pulled Rainbow's ear closer - "maybe you should let me keep the Crystal Ponies away from the fake Heart, while you show off your joustin' skills.

Enticed, Rainbow grinned. "Huh. Seeing my awesomeness does have a way of putting ponies into a pretty good mood."

A distance away, Fluttershy was at the petting zoo, watching over the animals as they played with the citizens when Rainbow wrapped a hoof around her.

"Come on, "Knight" Fluttershy. It's showtime."

Applejack was leaning on the mock up when she saw a Crystal Pony walking towards her.

"How are y'all feelin'? Havin' a good time?"

"The best I've had in over a thousand years!" Jewel Joy tried to see the "heart" before Applejack started walking forward.

"Well, that's good! Gotta renew that spirit of love and unity if you're gonna power up that Crystal Heart, right?"

"I sure would like to see it before the ceremony." - The Crystal Mare tried to get a glimpse, but each time she shifted her head, AJ would get in her face - "It's been such a long time."

"Oh, I hear ya, but, uh... phew! Gettin' a little toasty out here." - Applejack pointed to a beverage stand - "Bet you'd like to cool off with a little Crystal Empire nectar!" - turning around, she found another trying to look at the mock up - "Uh, you tried the Crystal Empire fritters yet? Made from a traditional Crystal Empire recipe! You're gonna love 'em!" - Noticing another walking by, AJ tossed the fritters aside, leading the pony she was talking to away - "Uh, I hear there's a joustin' match about to start! You don't wanna miss that!" - The farmer chuckled before looking up at the ceiling, wondering why it is taking so long - "Come on, Twilight... These Crystal Ponies are more curious than a cat!"

Inside the halls, Twilight and Spike race back and forth as they continue their search for the heart.

"It's gotta be here somewhere. It's just gotta be!" - Twilight looked through a bookshelf when she noticed her compadre peeking under a rug, both hands exposed - "Not a claw, Spike."

"Uh..." Spike drew his hands back.

"Celestia's orders!"

Twilight just passed the throne room before taking a second glance. One of the centerpieces on top resembles the one Celestia has in her possession.

If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria. If hatred and fear take hold...

"Of course!" - Spike suddenly rammed into her, flopping back to the ground.

"What? Did you find it?"

"No." - Twilight started walking towards the throne - "Because this isn't King Sombra's castle."

"Well, isn't this where he lived when he was in power?"

"It is. But it didn't look like this."

Twilight closed her eyes, straining herself as her usual aura gradually faded to black as dark magic seeped through her eyes. Firing at the crystal, the tainted object casted a shadow that revealed a staircase below.

"Whoa." - the young dragon looked down at the spiral staircase - "When did you learn to do that?"

"That was a little trick Celestia taught me." - Twilight lit up her horn and began her journey downstairs. With a nervous gulp, Spike was about to join her when - "You stay here."

"Huh, if you insist." - Spike stepped back from the staircase, rocked back and forth for a while before looking down again - "Can you see what's down there yet?"

"Not yet. - Twilight's voice echoed from below - "I can't even tell how far down this goes!" Breaking a piece of crystal, she drops it down the shaft. After a moment of waiting, Twilight cleaned out her ears just when a soft "clang" was heard down below - "Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you see outside?"

Spike looked out one of the windows to see the shield fizzling in and out. Outside, Sombra watched as the dark magic inside brought forth a few new soldiers into the city.

"Yesss..." - Sombra chuckled - "Leave no one to run!"

"It's not good!" - Spike hopped down and ran back to the staircase - "Cadance's magic must be fading faster than before!"

Now the pressure was on! Twilight ran faster down the stairs like the fate of the world depended on it (in fact it was for the fate of the world). One of the steps gave to her weight, causing the Unicorn to trip and roll the rest of the way. Before she could be given any more punishment she performed the levitation spell on her again. Opening her eye, she found that she was already at the bottom.

"Twilight?" - Twilight looked up to see the practically microscopic dragon - "Are you okay?"

"Yes..." - Twilight turned to find a door. Just when she was about to open it, the door began sliding away from her. Moving from wall to wall, the door seemed to outsmart her - "Stop..." - In her anger, the aura in her horn became black again - "moving!" - with a shot of dark magic, the door stopped and opened on it's own, illuminating the tunnel in a white light - "Spike, I think it's here!"

Twilight ran through the light, running ever deeper until the light faded away.

She did not find the Crystal Heart. In fact, she wasn't where she should. She was back in the halls of Canterlot.

"What are you doing here?"

Twilight turned to find Princess Celestia writing a series of army drafts.

"I don't know! I opened the door and–"

"And now you must go."

"Go where?"

"Doesn't matter to me." - Celestia turned a glare at her student - "You failed the test, Twilight!"

Twilight was horrified, the first mentioning of the word "fail" from the Alicorn's mouth.
"I don't understand!

"Not only will you not move on to the next level of your studies, you won't continue your studies at all!"

"I..." - The now former student welled up - "You didn't say anything about no longer being your student if I failed!"

Celestia gently wrapped a wing around her before jerking her forward and walking away.

"Didn't I?"

Twilight looked up find a stained glass window showing Sombra returning to power, damning the Crystal Empire as he defeated her. His laughter echoed the halls, scaring Twilight to tears.

But in truth, Twilight was just staring at a solid wall behind the door, her eyes green and red.

"Twilight! [closer]" - The silence of the cave was disturbed as the young dragon ran down the stairs - "Twilight? Twilight! Twiliiiight!" - Twilight snapped out of the trance before looking upstairs - "I know you told me to stay up there, but you were down here for such a long time and you weren't answering and I got worried so I came down here and you were just staring at that wall and... I was calling your name, but I couldn't seem to get your attention, and–" - Spike cocked his head - "What were you looking at?" - As Twilight watched from behind the opened door, Spike approached the wall - "I mean... it's just a wall.

Twilight watched the centerpiece glow a dark magic, putting the reptile into a trance like she did.

" ...Ponyville?! Well, how did I get... No! I don't wanna go! Please, Twilight, don't make me!" Spike was just about to cry when Twilight slammed the door shut.

"King Sombra's dark magic: A doorway that leads to your worst fear."

"We were home. You told me you didn't need me anymore. " - Spike rubbed the tear from his eye - "You were sending me away..."

Twilight hugged her little "brother". "A fear that will never come to pass. I'm never gonna send you away. And I'm not gonna fail my test!"

Using her own magic this time, Twilight opened the door again, this time revealing an empty room.

"What's in there?"

Looking up, Twilight groaned.

"Stairs." - A whole column staircase - "Lots and lots of stairs." - Twilight walked a few steps before turning to notice Spike leaning on the door, his arms crossed once more - "Maybe you should come with me this time."

Back outside, time was running out as Cadance began to expire once again. Sombra laughed as he watched his soldiers come ever closer to the Palace.

Speaking which, several of the Crystal Ponies cheered on as Rainbow Dash donned armor, wielding a lance on her left side. As she blew kisses to the audience, her combatant arrived, but not at all willing to fight. Pinkie Pie entertained the crowd in her jester's costume when she saw the protection spell flickering on and off. But with company to entertain, Pinkie sounded the flugelhorn. Rainbow wasted no time and ran down the arena. Fluttershy began to run, but as the lance drew near, she stopped and winced before she was "impaled" and flung into the air.
The crowds cheered Rainbow Dash' name as the victor trotted to her friend lying in hay, trying to catch her breath.

"Isn't there... somepony else who could... take over the jousting demonstration with you?"

"The fate of an entire empire rests on us showing these ponies a good time. " - Rainbow scoffed - "But, y'know, if that isn't important to you..." - taking a second glance, she found Fluttershy crying - "Okay, okay, I'll take it easy on you next time." - Fluttershy drew her ears forward and smiled - "But not too easy." - the joy died away - "I've got a reputation to maintain!"

Just a few blocks away, the dark magic blackened a building as Sombra's soldiers were just there.

Back inside, the journey up the staircase seemed to take forever. Twilight and Spike were now dragging their bellies up the flight now.

"What if this is just more of his magic?" - Spike crawled to the edge of a step, looking down at the tremendous height - "He makes a door that leads to your worst nightmare. Why not a staircase that goes on forever?"

Twilight stopped and examined the staircase. There were hundreds of thousands of steps to go before they could ever reach the top. But there was one important detail that she could use to her advantage.

She levitated Spike onto her back.

"Hold on to me." Exerting her power, Twilight managed to do one of the impossible: changing her gravity to allow her to slide on the smooth surface under the steps.

Back outside, the Crystal Ponies now saw the dark magic transforming their homes as several started running away from the soldiers as they smashed through the stands. The majority of them stood just below the Palace, each one being denied access to see The Crystal Heart.

"Excuse me, pardon me..." - Rarity, just barely escaped from one such dreadnaught, trotted towards Applejack before pulling her ear - "I am running out of weaving materials for the traditional crafts booth! I just made a hat out of three pieces of hay and a drinking straw! I made it work. But still!"

"We gotta do everything we can to keep this thing goin'." - Applejack looked to find Cadance's aura flickering out - "The Princess isn't lookin' so good. I can't imagine her magic is gonna last much longer. It's gonna be fine. These ponies are gonna power up that Crystal Heart when the time comes, and we won't be needin' her magic anyway."

"I sure hope that time comes soon!" - Pinkie Pie was juggling several flugelhorns while balancing on a ball - "Even I can't keep this party going forever!"

From afar, one of the dreadnoughts flung a spear at the stand, tipping it over and revealing the fake heart to the public.

"This isn't the Crystal Heart."

Rarity stamped her feet around nervously. "Oh, of course it isn't. The real one is–"

"On its way!" Applejack blurted out, only to add more to fear of the people.

"I was going to say 'being polished' to buy us some more time?" Rarity spoke through her teeth.

"Oops."

The crowds turned around to find the dreadnoughts just a few meters now before they charged at them. The Crystal Ponies screamed in terror as they fled for their lives.

Back inside, Twilight was having a blast as she and Spike slid up the staircase.

"Whoooooahahaha! I actually studied gravity spells, thinking it might be on my test! Turns out I was prepared for this! Wooo-hooo!"

Just before being launched off the tower, Twilight switched her gravity, thumping back down onto the floor. Looking up, they found it. The Crystal Heart was floating along the center of the alcove. Knowing that Spike cannot grab the heart, he motioned Twilight to get it. At last, her test can be completed.

Or so she thought, when the ground just below it became black as she stepped on it. The platform made a loud sound repeatedly that quickly reached Sombra's ear. Using the magic inside the fizzling shield, he turned the palace into obsidian black, releasing a few of his soldiers from the walls in the chamber. As they approached her, Twilight found that the relic was nowhere to be seen.

"The Heart... Where's the Crystal–"

"Here!" - Spike was seen just a step away from the Crystal Heart - "It rolled over to me when you dropped it!"

"Don't move!" - Twilight began fighting back against the dreadnoughts as they approached her. When she heard Spike yelp at a soldier coming over, Twilight blasted it - "You can move, just not toward me!"

More soldiers were coming out so fast than she could possibly handle. Spike dodged the dreadnoughts attacks as much as he could.

"You have to get out of there, Twilight!" - He barely dodged a spear as it lopped off parts of his crests - "You have to be the one who brings the Heart to Princess Cadance! If you don't, you'll fail Celestia's test!"

"King Sombra is already attacking the Empire. He could reach the Crystal Ponies at any moment... reach Princess Cadance, my brother, my friends..." - as the soldiers approached her, Twilight though long and hard about what to do next as blackened crystals started to cut off their escape - "You have to be the one to bring the Crystal Heart to the Faire."

"Me? - Spike looked at the heart - "But Twilight–"

"Go!"

"But–"

"Goooo!"

Spike did what she told him as he grabbed the heart and escaped just out of the chamber before it is sealed up.

Down Below, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie fought the dreadnoughts while Fluttershy and Rarity lead the people to safety. Back on the balcony, Cadance now lost all her magic power, causing the shield to faint once more. One of the Crystal Ponies stopped when she found all of the Empire return to the nightmare she new long ago. And with the shield gone, more dreadnoughts cut off their means of escape as well.

"He's back!" - She turned tail and ran the other way - "I can't take it!"

The Crystal Pony ran like crazy, crying her tears away just when she bumped into someone.

It was Sombra in his solid form giving a cold stare at her.

"K-k-k King Ssss -ss -sss Sombra...!" The crystal pony pursed her lips as the overlord approached his subjects.

"My crystal slaves..." - Sombra growled - "Your true lord and master has returned!"

As the blackened crystals continued to cover the Palace, Spike saw his friends below before waving the heart.

"Hey! Up here!" - the Ponies below, including the overlord, saw the dragon on high - "I got the Crystal Heart!"

Sombra growled before he trapped the rest of the Mane Five in cages - "That is mine!"

Stamping the ground, Sombra caused a large tower of crystals to jut out and carry him towards the dragon. The shockwave from his action also caused a vibration that made Spike fall off the ledge, the Crystal Heart falling even faster.

"Spikey-wikey!" Rarity cried out as a lance drew at her throat.

Seeing the Crystal Heart draw near the ground, Cadance felt some of her energy return as she unfolded her wings. At her approval, Shining picked up his wife and started to take aim. Just when Sombra was so close that he could taste the Heart, Cadance was thrown into the sky, catching Spike and holding the Crystal Heart in her restored power. As she soared around, the Crystal Ponies watched in awe before she landed before them.

"The Crystal Heart has returned." - Cadance placed the relic underneath the Palace, illuminating the snowflake beneath - "Use the light and love within you to ensure that King Sombra does not."

As the power began to rise, the Crystal Ponies regained their natural sheen in their coats as they bowed before her, illuminating the streets below them. After expanding, the magic contracted back to the Heart, causing it to spin faster until it discharged in a veil of light. The Mane Six, Spike, Cadance, and Shining Armor also gained a crystal sheen on their coats, much to Rarity's chagrin. Sombra's dreadnoughts were destroyed before his physical form started to crack. With one last roar of anguish, Sombra was shattered into several pieces. The palace then shot out a beam into the sky that dissipated the dark atmosphere. For the first time in a thousand years, the Northern Lights echoed across the sky and reached as far south as Ponyville. Back at Canterlot, the Royal Sisters watched the lights.

"If only she could see it now." Celestia lowered her head.

"I'm certain she is." Luna embraced her sister as tears streamed from her eyes."

Back at the Empire, the landscape returned to it's peaceful state. Cadance flew to the balcony before her husband embraced her.

"Behold! The Crystal Princess!" One of the Crystal Ponies beckoned before the Ponies around him cheered.

Spike then just remembered about the test as he crossed his arms upon looking at Twilight up above.

Twilight began her journey downstairs. "Good job, Spike."

The following day, our heroes, now without a crystal sheen were walking back to the train station. With the curse lifted, the arctic was now having 24 hour sunshine and so did not require heavy clothing.

"I do so wish it was permanent." - Rarity flipped her mane back - "Did you see how my mane just absolutely sparkled?"

"But..." - Applejack added - "good things are better when they're a rarity."

"Aww." Rarity hugged Applejack before the both laughed together.

Spike still had his arms crossed as he looked behind him to see Twilight, Cadance and Shining Armor.

"Everything's gonna be okay." - Shining craned his neck to his sister - "You've gotta stop saving my rump like this. It's starting to get embarrassing."

Twilight lowered her head. "Wasn't me who saved you in the end. It was Spike."

"It's just a test. Maybe she'll let you retake it."

Cadance flustered a wing at him, reminding him that her aunt doesn't jest.

"I don't think she's gonna give me a new test."

Taking the train station back to Canterlotm, the Mane Six laid about on the courtyard, waiting for whatever fate Twilight has recieved.
Spike was pacing around.

"Keep it together, buddy... Gotta stay strong... for Twilight..."

Back at the throne room, Celestia continued to watch the Northern Lights out the window, while Twilight stood to the left of a new stained glass window showing Spike being the one who retrieved the Crystal Heart.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"I wish it had been me who ultimately made it so. But it wasn't."

"Twilight," - Celestia walked over to the new work of art - "as I understand it, Spike brought Princess Cadance the Crystal Heart because you weren't sure how quickly you could find a way to escape the tower. You weren't willing to risk the future of the citizens of the Crystal Empire in an effort to guarantee your own. Far better that I have a student who understands the meaning of self-sacrifice than one who only looks out for her own best interests."

Twilight beamed.

"Does this mean...?"

Back outside, Spike still paced back and forth by the doors.

"She's totally gonna lose it! Keep it together, buddy... Gotta stay strong... for Twilight...!"

Slamming the door at his face, Spike and the Mane Five watched Twilight slowly walk out the door.

She took a deep breath.

"I passed!"

Her friends cheered for her as they gave her a group hug.

[Rarity]
You were prepared to do your best
Had what it takes to pass the test
All those doubts you can dismiss
Turns out you were

[All sans Twilight Sparkle]
Prepared for this!

[Applejack]
You clearly have just what it takes
[Pinkie Pie]
To pass a test with such high stakes

[Fluttershy]
We knew for sure you would prevail
[Rainbow Dash]
Since when does Twilight Sparkle ever fail?

[All sans Twilight Sparkle]
All those doubts that you can dismiss
Trust yourself and you cannot miss

[Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie]
Turns out you were

[Twilight Sparkle]
Turns out I was

[Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Spike]
Turns out you were

[Twilight Sparkle]
Turns out I was

[Rarity]
Turns out you were

[All sans Twilight Sparkle]
Prepared for this!

The Royal Sisters watched as they took the next train back to Ponyville. Luna pulled out a secret book, illustrating Twilight's next steps in her education.

"Yeah, I knew everything was going to be fine." Spike chuckled before being given a noogie.

...

A few weeks later at a distant Rock Farm, Trixie was just finished chipping down a rock she worked on for months since she left Ponyville. Igneous Rock Pie walked up to her and pointed to the boulder behind her. The magician sighed before beginning work on the rock. Chipping at the rock well into the evening, the darkness that surrounded her was disturbed with a red glow. In the reflection of her eyes was an amulet that appeared to have an Alicorn shape in dark and black.

Techno-Magic War

Author's Note

Akin to "Just for Sidekicks"/"Games Ponies Play" this takes place alongside "Magic Duel."

Techno-Magic War

Five Weeks before the Liberation of the Crystal Empire

It's been quite a while since the attack at school. Nopony dared speak of it, let alone mention the pony responsible. Not even his close friends such as Rumble, Cosgrove, and Button ever talked to him. Likewise, they shunned Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon whenever they passed.

Sitting at a lunch table, Silver Spoon slowly nibbled her sandwich, something her closest friend seemed to not grasp clearly.

"Okay, Silvie." - Diamond slammed her soft drink on the table - "What's up with you?!"

Ignoring that, Silver Spoon just continued to eat.

"Oh come on!" - Diamond rolled her eyes - "Is this still about that pointless attack? Daddy kept the tabloids out! We are safe."

Silver looked up and fidgeted her glasses, "It's not about you. It's about Cogsworth."

"You still worry about him!?" - Diamond pointed to Cosgrove a few tables away - "That circus animal's teacher stopped him!"

Turning an ear to that, the Hipparion growled, trying to restrain himself from lashing out.

Silver Spoon stood on the seat, glaring at her long enough to have her glasses fall out of her nose.

"We almost got ourselves killed!!" - Silver's outburst drew the attention of her classmates - "And you still haven't taken that to heart?"

The gray Earth Pony grabs her glasses, rubbed them on her fur, and stormed away from her friend. Diamond huffed before noticing the looks the others gave her.

"What are you looking at?" She mumbled

Two Weeks Before the Liberation of the Crystal Empire

Despite the rather mixed public opinion, The Ponyville Juvenile Detention Center was among the most comforting of such centers. Inside, a majority of the incarcerated participate with each other in hopes that their good behavior could land them a way out of there. Cogsworth was more of the harder cases. Being the only one there with a wheelchair, the mechanic didn't interact well when it came to statements such as, "I know how you feel," or, "Must be tough having to climb the stairs." Still, he did his share when he interacted with Scruffy Jan whenever he came down to fix the furnace. His parents have visited him three times in the last two months, though often these were talks of, "What are you going to do first thing you get out."

His answer, "I don't know."

One night, Cogsworth did receive a mysterious package, the tag only reading, "To: Cogsworth, From: A Friend." This wasn't a wise move. He would imagine that this could a last minute prank by Diamond Tiara. Placing the box on the dresser, the mechanic stomped his front hooves, summoning his roommate Screwloose. The dog minded pony hopped over and took a sniff at the container before giving her friend a lick and running off. Cogsworth opened the package but found nothing inside. Screwloose got his attention as she patted the door. The Earth Pony walked towards her, unaware that the package hid a secret compartment as a leech like being slithered out and eyed him.

"You I am going to -" Suddenly the beast snatched him.

Today

It was the last day for the school year, and of course, everyone was excited. During lunch break, fillies and colts talked about their big plans for the summer. For the Crusaders, this was the extra time to go out and find their Cutie Marks. For Button Mash, this was an all out gaming binge. For Cosgrove, he would go on the Royal Train with Sunset and Princess Celestia to Saddle Arabia first thing the end of the day bell rang.

The Hipparion would be happy... Had Featherweight not published the last paper for the year, the headline reading, "Former Classmate Captured: Suspect Unknown," displaying a very well taken photo from Shady Daze. Cosgrove crumpled the paper. He never took the opportunity to schedule a visit and had hoped that he would once he got back.

"I... tried to time it right." - Cosgrove jumped when he heard the new Editor-in-Chief right next to him - "But his parents had to know..."

Cosgrove patted his back. "You did what you could, Featherweight."

"It still hurts, doesn't it?"

Cosgrove looked to find Silver Spoon walking a little farther to Diamond's left. "Sometimes."

Well after the school bell rang, Cosgrove's friends and family were at the station, waiting for the train to arrive. Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop hugged their grandson. Sunset watched as Twilight walked next to her.

"I'm so happy that you and Celestia finally got back together again." Twilight wrapped a hoof around her.

"Though I do question why would you bring Cosgrove with you." - Rarity curled an eyebrow - "A diplomatic mission would be boring to a child."

"Cosgrove made his choice. Besides" - Sunset looked at Spike - "you brought Spike to the Crystal Empire."

Spike chuckled before turning to the sound of a train whistle. The Royal Express ground to a halt with the most elaborate train car positioned before them. The doors opening, two guards, Flash Sentry among them, stepped out.

"Presenting your Royal Highness, Princess Celestia!"

As she stepped out of the train, the ponies before her bowed before rising up. She looked down at the two ponies that would accompany her.

"Are you ready?" asked Celestia.

"Please do be careful." Loopty Hoop hugged her grandson.

"Do not worry," - Celestia assured - "he will return as you see him now." - She turns to Twilight - "Twilight, I would like for you to provide the entertainment when we arrive with the delegates."

"Yes, your Highness."

As the train made its departure, the ponies at the station waved goodbye as the train drew ever farther away. As it sped through the railroad, the landscape changed from the grassy hills of Ponyville to the desert scrub of Appaloosa. Cosgrove watched out the window as they passed through the badlands, not noticing the faint reflection of Princess Celestia.

"Should it not surprise you that the view is beautiful?"

"Oh!" - Cosgrove yelped before he stepped off his seat and bowed.

"No need to bow, young stallion. You and Sunset maybe my guests, but I still treat you as equals."

The Hipparion sat back on the chair before the Alicorn set next to him. Cosgrove dared not mention Celestia's cake consumption, lest he be blasted off the train on the spot.

"So... In your life as... An immortal, have there been any fascinating stories?"

"I have had quite many." - Sunset was just returning to the main passenger car when her ear picked up their conversation - "And there I was, flying as fast as my wings could. The dragon gained on me, his jaws opened wide, teeth above me, teeth below!"

"Can't blame you, Your Highness." Cosgrove grabbed a small cookie "You live a very exciting life."

"High praise indeed coming from you." - Celestia wrapped a primary wing Feather around him - "Twilight has told that you have had quite a life yourself."

Behind a door slightly ajar, Sunset smiled as her former mentor and her friend are getting along so well.

A few hundred feet higher, a large object was flying above the train. In a green visor, the being picked up energy signatures from several Ponies on the train, the highest being Celestia and Cosgrove. With a command sent to it, "Continue Surveillance, Don't Engage," the mass veered right.

The train finally arrived at the desert city of Saddle Arabia. As was custom, Princess Celestia stood behind two of her guards while Sunset and Cosgrove stood behind her. The doors opened, allowing the two guards to step out.

"Presenting the Royal Highness of Canterlot: Princess Celestia."

On cue, the Alicorn walked out, her two guests joining her side. In front of them were two Horses of an Arabian stock. One was dark brown with a yellow mane and tail, the second was pink with a darkened mane. Both wore an elaborate garb from head to flank.

"Presenting the Sultan of Saddle Arabia: Saluk Cassim."

Walking between them was another Horse wearing a garb much more elaborate than his protectors. After the two rulers stepped forward, they greeted each other with a bow.

"Welcome, Princess Celestia." The Elderly Horse turned around "Please, come."

They began their walk through the marketplace. Sunset and Cosgrove looked around at the various people in one location. Aside from Horses, Goats, Griffons, and especially Camels both one and two-humped walked the streets. There were still a few familiar races, but for the most part, Horses are dominant in Saddle Arabia. Both master and student looked to see the Flim Flam Brothers once again trying to sell their merchandise (in this case Mana) to the town square.

When they arrived at the palace gates, they were greeted by two large guards that made the two rather uneasy. Since the chaos caused by Discord, Elephants have largely been extirpated from the main areas of Equestria, and tend to not take kindly to Ponies. Cosgrove shouldn't have any trouble with this, but being away from the Circus he lost being used to their smell. As they walked through the wooden doors, the beasts gave them a glare.

The representatives from Equestria Proper were split off into two groups; Celestia, Sunset, and Saluk in one group, Cosgrove, Amira, and Haakim with the other. After waving goodbye, the Hipparion and the two Horses walked through the halls. Unaware, the object targeting them now has a victim separated from the other. Both groups stopped to the sound of a sonic boom in the air before they continued.

Cosgrove and his escorts stopped at one of the palaces finest locations: The Court of Twelve Manticores. The Hipparion noticed how many of the statues aren't spilling water. Looking around the fountain, he found one spilling out water.

"It helps the Sultan keep track of time." Said Haakim as he pointed to the sun

After looking up at the massive star, Cosgrove turned to the two Horses when Amira lowered her head.

"Does our size intimidate you, young one?"

"I've seen bigger" Cosgrove placed a hoof on his chin "It's just that I haven't seen so many Horses in one place outside of the Circus. Did you chose to stay here... Or did some Draconequus find you unworthy?"

Haakim and Amira looked at each other before the former looked back at him.

"You ask very deep questions for one your age." - Haakim turned to the walls around him, looking at how there are words of their own language inscribed - "The answers do lie within our architecture, along with our laws and testaments."

Cosgrove raised a hoof when an object crashed onto the fountain, the shock wave sending them flying back as dust and water spills everywhere. When the dust cleared, they saw something that is practically foreign to them. It appeared to be some kind of machine but looked very advanced. The top half had a head like that of a bol weevil, two mechanical wings, two arms jutting from slim shoulders with the hands being four-fingered claws. The lower half pivoted at a ball joint as it balanced on four arachnoid legs, with a tail holding a stinger.

"How dare you violate the Sultan's palace with your perversions!!" - Haakim's warning appeared to fall on deaf ears as the machine's "eyes" glowed purple - "Get Back!"

It shot a series of purple lights that "splattered" on the ground in their tiny shock waves. Seeing that the targets have fled, the machine drew out a scanning laser as the upper body pivoted around the hall. They were in fact, hiding behind the walls of a doorway.

"This is unlike any war machine we have ever encountered." Amira peeked from the door just as the laser was about to scan her presence.

"But any siege machine can be destroyed." - Haakim turned to Cosgrove - "You must seek help from your Princess!" - the Horse drew a scimitar blade from a scabbard embedded in the armor - "Go! We will distract it!"

The two Arabian Knights galloped out, drawing the attention of the machine as it's pincers glowed a sickly green before firing at them. Dodging each blast, Haakim swung his neck around before turning around. The blade didn't leave a scratch as the machine turned to the stallion and prepared to fire from it's "nose" when Amira slashed it, turning the discharged flame the other way.

Cosgrove stopped and turned to find that the battle was not in their favor. He wanted to help, but then he remembered: "If you ever see encounter something like this again, seek help immediately." He furrowed his brow as he took out a parchment and an ink quill.

"Well, they are the help."

The two Horses were pinned by the machine's claws as the stinger drew towards Haakim.

"Do what you will monster, but others will rise to end you." - the machine applied pressure to his neck.

"No! Leave him alone!!" Amira yelled as the stinger aimed at her head.

Just at the stinger draws back, the machine began to fidget and spark, releasing it's victims and shutting down. Amira ran to Haakim as he wheezed. They turned to find Cosgrove walking around the mech.

"Though we Saddle Arabians have had wars with magic users, we are in your debt." Amira thanked him.

Cosgrove turned to the machine, noticing the intersecting plates on its thorax.

"The spell won't last long." The Hipparion tried to fiddle a fingernail to pry out the hatch.

Haakim dug a little of his blade and with the help of the EMP spell, he pried it open.

"By... Allah..."

What they saw inside was no magic gem or liquid fuel.

It was a pony, Cogsworth to be exact, his body attached with cables piercing his spinal cord. Cosgrove's eyes became pinpricks as he shambled onto the mech and placed his hoof on his neck. Feeling a faint heartbeat, he relaxed.

"Thank Celestia!"

Cosgrove noticed the green lining of the chamber having a somewhat organic nature. Scraping it, he felt that it was viscous. This had him piece together the thing in front of him. The black and blue color scheme, an arthropod form, green insides, all attached to a pony.

"Chrysalis!" The Hipparion hissed.

"That is only half true."

The three Ponies looked up to see a hornless Changeling descending upon them.

"Makes sense that she'd send a bug to ruin the picnic." Cosgrove stamped his hooves and lowered into an attack position, his cohorts drawing their swords.

"Hmph! This is merely a side effect, what I really want is my horn back!"

"Well," - Cosgrove growled - "I don't have it."

"No matter, my Queen promised me a new horn" - She slowly drew her "hoof" around her throat - "if I bring a head from one of the Ponies that resisted our invasion."

Cogsworth awoke, bringing the machine back online. He turned to Cosgrove who had a sympathetic look to him.

"Cosgrove..." A gentle voice from his before his eyes turned green, changing one of the arms into a hammer - "you betrayed me!"

Dodging the attack, Cosgrove turned to the Changeling.

"What have you done with him?!" He roared.

"Having no power of my own, I needed... Additional help." - The Changeling hovered to her servant and rubbed his shoulders - "You should have seen him be so strong, but all too soon Galgameth succumbed to our will."

The two Horses trotted up to him when he turned around.

"Go and protect the Sultan, warn him about the intruder!" Dipping his hoof in water, Cosgrove drew a copper and gold symbol on the stone floor, drawing the power of electricity - "I can handle this."

The Changeling drew a toothy grin as she turned to her servant. "Bring me his head."

Drawing his hammer hand again, Cogsworth slammed into the stone ground as Cosgrove pounced on him, discharging electric currents around the machine. The mind controlled Earth Pony aimed his stinger, barely missing his target as it stabbed him in the back, just barely missed the cockpit. This was a risky maneuver, but if he could last long enough for Sunset or Celestia to arrive, then he could be removed.

I don't want to hurt you!" Cosgrove yelled

Cosgrove aimed a laser at the Hipparion. "You left me when you could've helped me, you never visited me, you aren't my friend, you already have!!" Cogsworth immediately shot a grenade that spiraled forward.

The explosion can be heard very well up the towers of the palace. The Sultan rushed out to a balcony, spotting a smoke trail rising up. The echo of the explosion is disturbed by the sound of heavy hoof steps as Haakim and Amira entered the bed chamber.

"Your Highness!" The two Horses bowed before them "There is an intruder: a Changeling is trying to sabotage!"

Sunset looked behind them before her eyes shot wide open before another explosion is heard.

Back at the battle, Cosgrove started to wear out. The spell he performed drains his energy the least, it still counts as he got slower and weaker in dodging the robot's attack. Arching back, Cogsworth shot out a grappling hook, grabbing the Hipparion and pulling to his reach.

"Changeling magic suits me well, while you have no magic left to use. What more could you possibly do?"

As he aimed a blaster at the tired Hipparion, the light drew him to the Earth Pony.

"Im... pro... vise..." With one final pulse, Cosgrove used his magic to shock the claw. With an opening exposed, He leaped onto the cockpit, grabbed onto the pilot, arched his head back and slammed it on Cogsworth's crown.

As one of the methods of breaking a mind control spell, the red Earth Pony reeled back before becoming limp. Cosgrove, now deprived of energy, fell onto the stone floor, his breath shallow.

The silence of the horseshoe halls is disturbed again by the buzzing of wings. Cosgrove slowly turned his head as the Changeling landed on top of him.

"Queen Chrysalis isn't the only one with a name. You should know it before I end you! My name is Blackarachnia."

As she prepared to sink her teeth into him, she stopped to the sound of a gun clicking.

"Adios cucaracha." Cogsworth fired a spiral grenade at her, sending her flying, screaming into the sands. Cogsworth steered the machine to Cosgrove, now fainted on the floor.

"Cogsworth?" The mechanic turned the machine again to an amazed Sunset Shimmer staring at him. The Unicorn galloped to her student and checked his pulse. Lifting him onto her back, Sunset looked up to find the mechanic tearing up. Wiping a tear, inadvertently causing the robot's arm to move as well, he lowered himself to her height.

The black void soon ebbed away to a full view of Sunset Shimmer up close, along with Celestia and her chosen delegates, those being Haakim and Amira. Cosgrove slowly tilted his head down to find that he was bandaged on his torso.

"Cogsworth...?" Cosgrove wheezed when Sunset gave him a scroll.

Dear Cosgrove,

I was unable to say this in person because you were out cold. I want to say that I am so sorry for what I almost did to you, Diamond, and Silver Spoon. The truth is, I have been teased so much by them that before you arrived I was already... Bitter. When you come home, can you tell my parents that I am okay? I need to go under a... Reformation. I will come back, just not now.

Showing this to Cogsworth's parents made them tear up as they hugged Cosgrove as if he was their own. Back at the library, Sunset was in the middle of a conversation with Twilight.

"And I thought that Trixie was bad, but a techno-organic being, that really takes the cake." Twilight chuckled.

"So what happened to this Alicorn Amulet?"

"Oh, I have if." Twilight levitated a chest Zecora gave her when they put the Amulet away. Opening it up, Twilight frowned.

"Is there a problem?"

"I could have sworn Rainbow gave it to me. Spike!"

Well into the trees of the Everfree, Blackarachnia glared at the nearby town before holding up the Alicorn Amulet to her face. A toothy grin spread across her mouth as Sombra's face appeared inside.

Screwball's Favor

Trixie Lulamoon, often with the surname "The Great and Powerful," was formerly one of the most respected magicians across Equestria. Her shows, wherever they were, have been her bread and butter. But her pride has always been in her way leading to her utter humiliation in front of her captive audience. But for all she is, the Unicorn never answered the question, "why do you do this?"

Eight years before today

In a corner of the street in Canterlot, a much younger Trixie weeps in the freezing rain. Homeless and hungry with no one to turn to, the young Unicorn could just as well weep until she became nothing more than a memory. She grabbed an empty bottle and began rubbing it.

"If only there is such a thing as Genies." Trixie choked as she rubbed the bottle.

Suddenly the bottle began to shake as smoke came out of the opening. It was Screwball, only with a fez (it still has a helicopter on top) and her lower body in smoke as it reached the bottle. To her worry, the genie did have spirals for eyes.

"My dear child, I am here to grant you all your wishes, all your desires. You receive three free wishes."

Feeling the sudden joy, Trixie thought of the first thing to come in her head.

"I wish to have a nice warm home."

With a clop of her hooves, Screwball materialized Trixie into a humble wagon. She squeed as the unicorn pranced around and lavished in her bed. That is until her belly rumbled.

"I wish for food, lots of food!"

Suddenly, the cabin was filled with all sorts of food, including her favored snack: peanut butter crackers. As she nibbled on the cracker, she pondered on the next thing as her "djinn" appeared before her.

"Any last wish before I leave?"

"I wish for you to be my best friend."

Screwball had her hoof in her muzzle, but she had to respect her wish. She didn't treat this as enslavement, rather an opportunity and all she had to do is wait... "Your wish is my command."

A few weeks later, Trixie watched as many Unicorn families dropped off their students for the entrance exam. With a feeling of emptiness, she had to turn to her next best thing. Rubbing the bottle, Screwball appeared before her.

"Can you grant one more wish?"

Screwball's lips curled upwards before she patted her friend's blue-white mane. "Of course, for my dear friend..."

1 week before today

After her discovery of an amulet, Trixie pondered about what to do. Why did it glow, why the weird design, and where did it come from before the boulder it was trapped in was shipped there?

Her meditation was interrupted when the interior of her wagon darkened.

"Hmmm.... Lovely amulet." - Trixie looked up to see Screwball floating above her - "Would be a pretty valuable item to pay for your debt."

"Debt?" - She shuffled back - "To whom does The Great and Powerful Trixie pay?"

"Oh... to your djinn..." Screwball floated closer.

"Sorry, but Trixie has no time for childish games." The former performer walked away when she opened up her eyes to Screwball once more.

"I believe you forget the picture." - Screwball took out one package of her many peanut butter crackers - "You see, when you were a filly you made quite a few wishes." - She takes out one cracker, giving it a snide look before aiming it at the dip - "And by now you are so much in debt..." - She took a bite of the cracker before tossing it out, getting the attention of Marble Pie. Just as she places her ear on the wagon... - "I OWN YOUR FLANK!!!!"

Trixie now had her back against the wall as a shadow loomed over her.

"I have come here to collect and you know what happens if you don't pay your collectors?"

Shakily raising a hoof, Trixie whimpers, "Take... my... wagon away?"

Screwball calmed down as quickly as she floated in the air, shuffling a few fingers she materialized in her hoof.

"Close, but not paying back to the Screwball Loans will result in the deletion of your birthday." She said nonchalantly before pointing her spiraled eyes upward - "Which also wipes out others born the same day."

Defeated, Trixie began to sob as she lifted her amulet.

"Call this my first payment?"

Screwball looked at the weeping Unicorn and the amulet. "Try that on. I want to see how it fits you."

Wiping her tears, Trixie wrapped the chain around her neck. Suddenly she winced as her natural magic fought back the dark origins of the amulet, eventually shifting the aura from her light violet to a deep red. Trixie slowly opened her eyes, glaring at her loaner.

"Trixie has a method of payment. She will establish a stronghold in the one place where the one pony that Trixie will destroy." - She took a glare at her mirror before making her reflection into that of Twilight Sparkle.

Screwball peeked from behind. "Not what I expected..." - She began rubbing Trixie's shoulders - "But it's a start."

Today

In a dark room, so dark that it could be the end of the universe.

Poiiiii ffft-fffft

"And in recent news, the Changeling Invasion was successfully-"

Pfftfffftff!

"For the first time in a few thousand years, the Crystal Empire has-"

Pfftfffftff!

"The Great and Powerful Trixie has control of this news station. From now on this-"

Pfftfffftff!

"Our apologies... In other news, Princess Celestia has returned with delegates from Saddle Arabia. Our journalist has recently stated that a sabotage incident was involved, but was stopped by one very brave colt."

Pteeww!

A light lavender hoof placed a remote control on the arm rest. On the chair was what appeared to be an earth pony... If you can overlook the hypnotizing eyes. She sulked on the chair, tapping her hooves.

"She has done poorly." In the shadows, She gave a grin. "Time to collect her debt..."

While it rained once more in a deep forest, Trixie pulled her wagon blindly through the harsh weather. Feeling the mud beneath her hooves, the Unicorn almost slipped constantly. Suddenly, she was jerked back, landing her rump on the wet soil. After repeatedly pulling harder, Trixie unhitched herself before walking around. A wheel was caught in a few rocks. This would be no problem had it not been raining. With a groan evidenced by the warm air from her muzzle, Trixie entered her wagon. Soaked down to the skin under her fur, the Unicorn closed the door and shut the windows in a desperate attempt to keep the heat in.

Wrapping herself in blankets, Trixie kept thinking to herself, "The Great and Apologetic Trixie will make up for her past crimes, she will."

Sleeping the storm away, Trixie was dormant the entire silent night when her ear began flicking to the sound of splashing mud. As it grew louder, she rose up from her mattress and stomped out of the wagon.

"The Great and Powerful-!" Trixie looked up to find the Galgameth pivoting it's upper body at her. The sight made her gulp when the cockpit opened, revealing the pony inside.

"Can I help you?" asked Cogsworth.

Clearing her throat, Trixie walked up to him. "The Great and Apologetic Trixie does not require help," - she looks the other way with sad eyes - "Let alone hurt anypony."

As she walked to the wagon tongue, the young mechanic cocked his head.

"Great and 'Apologetic'? What happened to Great and 'Powerful'?"

Trixie stopped hitching herself for a moment before shaking her head and fasted herself to the wagon. Straining herself once more, Trixie couldn't go anywhere without digging her hooves deeper in mud. Just as she was about to give up, she felt something unusual, as if the weight of the world meant nothing as she walked a few steps forward. Looking back, she found Cogsworth just lowering the wagon. She lowers her head.

"Trixie has nothing to offer in return."

"Oh, I think you do." - the two Ponies looked around, wondering where the sound came from. The only thing around them was an owl... with light violet plumage. The squarish bird turned its head a full one-eighty before opening it's spiraled eyes - "You most certainly do."

Screwball descended from the tree before transforming into her true form before them.

"Trixie Lulamoon, by the power vested in me, It's time to pay up."

"Wh- what?" - Trixie staggered back - "But she has done your favor."

"On your terms, but not on mine." - Screwball interjected when Trixie raised a hoof - "No, you can't take a rain check. But look," - Screwball floated to the mechanic - "you don't have to do it alone"

"What? No no! I was just passing by." Cogsworth turned the mech when the Chaos Pony appeared before him, hanging upside down from the snout of the machine.

"Maybe a little reward?" With a clap of her hooves, the cords that were attached to his spine detached.

Unprepared, Cogsworth fell to the mud.

"What was that for?!" - Cogsworth staggered to his hooves - "You have any idea how-" - All his hooves. For the first time in four years, he could move his lower body. - "I can stand... I can walk... I can run!!" - the Earth Pony started running in circles several times. But with another clap of her hooves, Cogsworth's back legs became limp, spiraling him to a halt in the mud. He tried lifting his lower body, but not even his tail could move. He looked up to see Screwball standing on two legs, her arms crossed.

"What do you want us to do?"

Screwball pointed her right hoof to her right. "There's a Diamond Dog mine to your left. Bring me the fanciest gem you can find." - The chaos Pony ascended into the air "Don't bother running, cause I know when you do!" She giggled before clopping her hooves disappearing in a puff of smoke.

In his short burst of excitement, Cogsworth ran a few meters from the machine. He tried to crawl back when a light-violet aura wrapped around him and positioned him into the cockpit. The cords once again plugged into his spine, giving him a tingling feeling as the energy surged through his body. Regaining motion in the arms and legs, the mechanic joined up with Trixie as they journeyed towards their destination.

"So, Trixie" - Cogsworth turned his head to the magician - "what's a big shot like you being in debt to some freaky Pony?"

After walking a few more steps, Trixie took a deep breath.

"Trixie, like other stars, comes from dirt." - Trixie flashes back to her childhood. One night she watches as her parents argue with each other, wincing back when her father smacks her. Not taking the sight of the beating, Trixie immediately ran out the door - "Though this star needed some extra fuel to shine. What about you?"

"I... Almost shot three of my classmates. And just as I was about to come out of Juvi, I just went through Tartarus." - In a Mirage Comics style flashback, Cogsworth watched as Chrysalis applied her mind control spell - "When I first saw Cosgrove in Saddle Arabia I tried swimming to the surface, tried to communicate, but something held me back. I watched as I almost did something I can never forgive myself."

Trixie's eyes were wide open as she took in the information.

"You have much in common with Trixie."

"Yeah... You could say that."

Kaboom!!

The horizon of the forest suddenly lit in an orange color. As they walked out, Trixie and Cogsworth found that much of their work was cut out for them. Garble had already raided the mine, the only obstacle that remained was Spot who was inspecting the mine at the time. The dragon fired its breath at the Diamond Dog, but Spot quickly burrowed into the ground and leaped out at him. Pinning Garble to the ground, Spot tried to wrestle the gem away from the dragon.

"Give gem back!! Give gem back!!" Spot barked

"And miss my breakfast!? No way!" Garble tries to push the Diamond Dog away, but his weight made this unlikely.

Suddenly Spot was snatched up by the mechanic. After dragging him a few feet away, Cogsworth flung the Diamond Dog a good distance. Garble staggered to his feet, his predatory eyes spotting the two Ponies that broke up the fight.

But dragons like him are not that grateful. "What do you want?" Garble growled, showing his teeth.

"Trixie just wants that gem you are holding." Said Trixie

"First a mutt, now a namby-pamby Pony and her pet." Garble snorted before putting the gem down "let's see how great you are." Garble immediately flew over to Trixie when she casts an illusion spell, bringing up a form of a larger dragon. The beast roared at him, but when Garble clutched its snout, it merely popped and was shot up into the air.

Spot slowly awoke to find Trixie and Garble fighting, and Cogsworth turning around with the gem in the machines grip. Just as the Galgameth took off, Spot climbed up a nearby rock face, jumped and gripped onto the tail with his teeth. Cogsworth struggled to be airborne, but the weight was too much. Rising back onto its feet, Cogsworth aimed a blaster at the Diamond Dog. Spot continuously dodged the blasts while holding the tail.

Trixie raced the dragon down the rock and grabbed the gem before being pummeled by Garble. Her magic only used to perform magician's spells, the best she could do is shoot a flare right at his eyes. Garble roared before his tail smacked the gem away. The gem rolled before being stopped by Screwball. As she levitated into the sky, the Chaos Pony giggled as they continued to fight.

"Let the snake eat its own tail." She snarked before looking away with her gem.

The battle lasted well into the evening. By then, Trixie, Spot, and Garble stared at a campfire, keeping a good distance away from each other. Trixie suffered several bruises and gashes on her back that she immediately bandaged with her star-spangled cape, Spot had a few burns and a bloody nose, Garble's eyes were bloodshot from the multiple flares Trixie casts before being hit in the jaw a few times as well as a broken wing. Cogsworth returned with a few bruises, but that didn't stop him from dragging the wagon back here.

"Why you guys need gem anyway?" Spot asked before pointing to Garble "Dragon want gem to eat, but you value gem for money?"

"I just wanted my legs back." Detaching the cables from his back, Cogsworth lifted a leg before letting it loose with a small thump.

"Trixie needed to pay her debt." - She looks up at the night sky before drawing Screwball's illusion - "Guess she already has."

"Why did you need it for?" Garble asked of Spot.

"Was to be centerpiece of great chair." - Spot groaned - "Now it ruined..."

"All because Trixie wanted a friend when she was young." The unicorn began to sniffle when she entered the wagon.

Cogsworth and Spot looked at each other before hearing Garble groan as he turned his back to them, curling up to sleep. Spot circled around a couple times before curling up to sleep. Cogsworth sealed the hatch of the cockpit, slowly going to sleep as the green interior became darker.

Much later, Trixie awoke to the sound of leaves rustling and twigs crunching. Looking out the window, she found that her wagon was moving. Opening a seal behind the area of the wagon tongue, she found that Cogsworth was dragging the wagon.

"Hey! What's the meaning of this? Trixie demands an answer!"

The Galgameth pivoted its upper body around, revealing the pilot.

"I thought of this last night and well I feel that we should help you out."

After pivoting towards the road, Trixie turned to find Garble walking beside them.

"Even you?"

"Well, you did break my wing. And ruin my meal" The teenage dragon snorted before Spot came running back with a few gems "Good thing we brought the mutt along."

Trixie almost choked up as she held her head up with both hooves up, looking at the bright blue sky.

"Oh, what would we encounter on our travels?"

Our view draws back more and more until it is shown to be a movie screen. In one of the seats, Screwball looks back at us.

“And that is another adventure waiting to happen.”

“It sure is!” Says Pinkie before she and the chaos pony hoof bump.

Author's Note

The Deviantart draft of the same name is quite different from this but Screwball's threat is still the same.

Ballad of the Brobdingnag (New Timeline)

When Cosgrove first brought Schnookums into his family home, he was the size of a sweet potato. Feeding him a diet of grapes and pears accelerated his growth, eventually having a size that had him be kept in the basement. By the time he is first shown for the first time in Equestria, what first caused panic was turned for the better when Schnookums provided his strength to carry heavy loads, tear up dead trees, or replenish dried-up riverbeds in times of drought. One of his pinnacle moments was when he was brought in during the events of the wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, unintentionally defending the city from the Changeling forces, his size just twice as big as Queen Chrysalis. But one thing has become apparent since then, he was growing larger, and larger still.

Just near a month before the upcoming Apple Family Reunion, Schnookums is now measured at eight meters tall, much larger than the apple trees he's walking along. As he walked, he shook the ground with each step, forcing the fruit bats, birds, and arboreal mammals to hold the trees with an iron grip. At this point he is trained to feed on rotting material should he wander into Sweet Apple Acres. This did worry AJ still, for sooner than later he will have to turn to readily available sources of food. But on another hand, with a critter that size, not a timberwolf nearby could harm an Apple.

He has been making a series of strange noises that resonated well into Ponyville. The purpose of this has been constantly been tried and tested by Dr. Whooves, Twilight Sparkle, and Sunset Shimmer, the latter of whom worked underneath the library as the Mane 6 paced about.

"Oh, that dreadful sound is ruining the 23-hour beauty nap I was hoping for." Rarity whined.

Applejack slowly tilted her head to Rainbow Dash.

"So much for 24 hours." she whispered before they both snickered.

Cosgrove took out his bassoon, "I tried to get him to stop, but the noise is too loud for him to even hear the bassoon."

Twilight turned to Fluttershy, "Fluttershy, have you tried talking to him?"

"I have, but Brobdingnag language is like talking to a whale." She answered

"Have you ever spoken-" Twilight stopped when she would realize that Fluttershy would say her usual response - "Never mind."

"I can speak whale!" Pinkie Pie grinned before a doubtful audience.

"Pinkie, darling, I think now is not the-" Rarity was cut off when her pink friend started making a series of long, drawn out moans.

After taking another deep breath, and smacking her lips, Pinkie tried another noise that sounded much more stressed.

"Pinkie, that isn't a whale, that sounds like you're going to throw up!" - Rainbow Dash interjected as Pinkie made even less elegant sounds - "Now you sound even worse."

Sunset rolled her eyes before a series of knocks were heard. Opening the door was Dr. Whooves and his assistant Derpy Doo carrying rolls of recording tapes.

"Here you are," - The Doctor had his assistant to lower the bag - "the recordings of every large whale species in Equestria."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" - Rainbow Dash peaked in the bag - "How were you two able to get these?"

"Well, it's a funny story," - Derpy looked in the bag with Rainbow - "You see the Ta-" - Derpy stopped when The Doctor cleared his throat - "Well, that would be telling." - The wall-eyed Pegasus patted Rainbow's mane - "Still, keep asking questions, it sharpens the mind."

Sunset placed one recording, labeled Blue Whale, on a tape player while placing a recording of Schnookums' bellow on another. She looked at her friends. "This is going to take a while."

Later the following evening, the noise died down, allowing everyone to get a good night's sleep. Cosgrove looked from out the window as his grandfather walked up to him.

"Cosgrove, there is something I want to talk to you about." - When they both sat on the couch, Lion Tamer wrapped an arm around him - "As much as I respect your decision of keeping Schnookums as a pet, have you ever thought of letting him go?"

The Hipparion drew his ears back. "Not really. I mean, he's been with the family for so long, but he's not like Winona or Opalescence..." - he eyed away from his grandfather as he gritted his teeth - "or Gummy."

"I understand what you're going at, but know that even pets pass on as well." - Lion Tamer hugged his grandson - "You don't have to decide now."

Throughout the evening in the Library, Spike had his head held underneath a pillow as Sunset played each recording. The session seemed to last forever, which recording corresponds with Schnookums. She looked at the clock, the hour hand reaching eleven. One more tape she thought to herself as she placed a humpback whale recording. The sound, a drawn out moan, matched Schnookums'. She shuffled the case of the labeled recording. "Humpback Whale Pod Call."

"Does this mean...?" Sunset thought as the machinations of her mind ceased again and she slowly went to sleep.

Seven hours later, the sun shines once more over Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack and Big Mac roamed the farm to do their morning chores. Winona walked about with her mistress when she began growling.

"What is it, girl?" Applejack slowly felt a soft Rumble beneath her hooves - "Aw shucks, must be the cows."

The Apples continued their chores when the vibration became louder and louder, to the point that apples started falling on their own. Back underneath the library, the vibrations made soil drip from the ceiling, hitting Sunset's mane several times. Stirred from her sleep, she joined the citizens of Ponyville as the looked to where the vibration is coming from. They looked up to find swarms of parasprites flying as fast as they could. As they retreated into the Everfree, Schnookums devoured quite a few before walking to the town. Cosgrove and his family followed him.

Out of the horizon was a terrific site. It was not one, not two, but several Brobdingnags slowly marching to the town. A few where as big as Schnookums, many small, and even few even larger. The citizens watched in awe as they passed through. Schnookums stepped before the herd and emitted a bellow. One individual of the herd, appearing twenty-two meters tall approached him before lowering itself to his level as it nuzzled Schnookums, who then gave it a series of reassuring clicks. Rising back to its full height, the beast continued its walk to the Everfree.

"This... Is... Amazing!!" Twilight squeed "This opens several possibilities for research!"

"We already have." The group turned to a gang of Earth Ponies dragging a tarp covered wagon, the leader walking up "Dr. Cabballeron. My team and I have been following this herd for a few years now, and it never fails to amaze me."

"What kind of research have you done?" Sunset asked.

"Migration patterns, reproduction, feeding habits..."

Cosgrove took notice of Schnookums backing away, growling at the Caballeron and his associates. Something was up in the wagon when the Crusaders began to peak into the tarp.

"Careful!" - one such colleague slaps their hooves - "Very sensitive equipment."

"We better keep moving. This is the first time they migrated to Ponyville."

Applejack gave them a look as they walked towards the general direction of the Everfree before seeing Schnookums storming off. The next few hours, she, her family, and Cosgrove were working in the apple orchard.

"Cosgrove, did you get a strange feeling from them scientists?"

"Schnookums did act quite a bit strange, like as if they were Changelings of Timberwolves. Should we talk to the Mayor about this?"

Big Mac, ever the wiser, simply responded with a simple, "Eeyup."

Twilight, Spike, and Sunset were speaking to the Mayor.

"They have permission to perform research?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, they have" - Mayor Mare balanced her snout on her hooves - "I don't understand why they need a weapons permit?"

Cosgrove joined up with Schnookums as he feasted on a tree in their backyard. Thinking about what his grandfather said to him, he approached the beast and rubbed him.

"Like I said to Sunset, I wouldn't hold you back if you want to leave."

Schnookums merely responded with a series of clicks before they followed the trail to find the herd looking back at Schnookums. With a small slap on the leg, Schnookums walked up to the herd as the matriarch appeared before him. The larger individual bit part of Schnookums' head mask before other did the same. The Hipparion wiped a year before walking back home.

Lion Tamer was reading a newspaper when he saw his grandson walk up the stairs to his room, not taking a moment to say hi. Loopty Hoop peeked in his room. Cosgrove was wrapped up in blankets, his face somber as he drifted into sleep.

The evening was silent, especially that of the Everfree forest. Despite being a combination of muscle and cartilage, the Brobdingnag herd stood up when they slept, though a few yearlings laid down. The noise was disturbed when a hiss was heard. The sentries looked up before their eyes flinched to the burst of red in the sky. Turning to the yells of Ponies as they charged at them, the herd became panicked. Many tried to escape, but were deterred as some shot out fire from a canister of kerosene. Schnookums joined a huddle as they swung their legs forward, trying to deter the attackers. One of them took aim at a Brobdingnag.

With a series of knocks, Lion Tamer answered the door to find Zecora panting like mad.

"There is a matter at stake," - Zecora panted again - "Your grandson you must immediately awake."

The following morning, the Mane Seven joined with Cosgrove and Zecora, the former stood horrified. The attack last night had left three adult Brobdingnags lying motionless on the ground. As they slowly approached the dead beasts, a yearling the size of an adult Pony instinctively charged at them, trying to keep them away from one of the dead individuals. Sunset walked up to another being to find that the bony head masks were lopped off, leaving six oozing wounds. The inspected individual shook a little, slowly opening an eye before becoming limp once more.

"This isn't field work, it's poaching." Fluttershy began to cry at the sight of the dead animals.

Soon they became surrounded by the survivors, many have bullet wounds, some with burns on their skin from charging into the fire. Cosgrove kept turning around, hoping to find that the one he raised would come to him. Not one approached him, instead emitting a series of howls that slowly became a chorus that echoed to Ponyville. Many of the inhabitants shed a tear. Rainbow Dash flew towards them, a determined look on her face.

"I found wagon trails." Rainbow pointed to a bloodied trackway leading through a game trail.

"Twilight, have Spike send a letter to Celestia." Sunset began walking towards the trail.

"What'll you do?" Asked Pinkie

"I'm going to stop that trade."

"You mean we?" Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Cosgrove stood before her.

"Let's move!" Applejack immediately took lead as they raced down the trail.

Cosgrove, full of rage, mustered his stamina to run beside the farmer before they slowed to the sound of a conversation. Going into a slow crawl, they hid behind a rock to see Dr. Cabballeron and his associates talk to a few Earth Ponies of Manechurian origin. Cabballeron walked to the wagon and pulled the tarp, revealing the bony mask pieces of the slain animals. Behind the wagon were three live Brobdingnags chained together.

"Fluttershy," - Applejack whispered - "Ah need you to keep on the dodge as Ah let the others pass them boneheads, hootin n' hollerin', we'll cut right up to them."

Fluttershy turned her head, "Pardon me?"

"We need you to distract them long enough for us to snatch their products." Rainbow corrected.

As much as she took poaching seriously, Fluttershy began to realize that she was in shark infested waters.

"What if they aim their weapons at me?" She squealed "What if I get shot."

"Don't over think it." Cosgrove responded before he nudged her from their hiding post.

Fluttershy took a few steps before looking to the others, who gave her a nod. Fluttershy stepped closer, turning back again to find the others gone. The yellow Pegasus walked forward again when she found one of the colleagues staring down at her.

"Little early for a stroll?" - Dr. Cabballeron and his business partner turned to the colleague dragging Fluttershy over - "Got us a spy."

Throwing her to her knees, Fluttershy looked up to Cabballeron glaring at her.

"Why did you kill those poor animals? What happened to studying them?"

"Well, you see my friend." Cabballeron cleared his throat "Science doesn't pay fast enough and these frills snag quite a price to the black market."

"But what about them?" Fluttershy pointed to the three living Brobdingnags.

"These ones are better off stuffed to the highest bidder."

As they continued their conversation, the others snuck over and slowly lifted the stake that held the Brobdingnags in place.

"One of them has helped us in the past and you sold his people out!" Fluttershy yelled before being smacked in the face.

"People? These things aren't-" Cabballeron noticed the Brobdingnags being freed and escaping "Stop them!"

Arming themselves with the elephant guns used to take down the beasts, Cabballeron and his colleagues fired at them. Fluttershy scurried away as she joined the others behind the wagon. With each blast, the wagon became harder to seek cover from.

"Come on out now and we promise not to hurt you." Cabballeron ordered.

"Right, and just as soon as we come out you kill us on the spot!" Applejack retorted, sending chills to Fluttershy's spine.

"We're sorry if our merchandise gets damaged." He apologized before he pointed his gun to the wagon again.

Just as the trigger clicked, a massive red tail swept the smugglers off their hooves. Cosgrove took a peek to find Schnookums roaring at them before he charged at the wagon.

"Move, move!!" Just as the Hipparion and Ponies fled, Schnookums raised a foot, smashing the wagon and crunching the remains of his kind, ruining their chances of a quick bit.

Cabballeron bared his teeth as Schnookums turned and charged at him. He grabbed his gun, aimed it at the charging animal, and was just about to pull the trigger when a bright light shined. When the light faded out, the Ponies unshielded their eyes to Princess Celestia giving them a glare.

"Your Highness..." The sales dealer bowed before her in desperation.

"Two thousand years ago, my sister and I have gone through several crusades to eliminate the first Brobdingnag after thinking it was extinct." Celestia turned to Cosgrove "But this child, found one three years ago and nurtured him to the size capable of providing help." She took out a signed scroll "Under the Custodi Bestia, I, Princess Celestia, grant the individual known as Schnookums full protection in return for his services. Likewise, his species will be placed under the protection of law. You will never provide any illegal activity involved with this species on my land. Guards."

Celestia's guards marched over and cuffed the smugglers and sales dealer. As they were sent away to jail, the rest of the herd glared at them.

The following day, the majority of Ponyville watched the herd begin their migration once more. All except Schnookums, who stood and looked at the Pony he called father. Cosgrove stepped forward, tears flooding from his eyes. Schnookums tilted his body so that Cosgrove could rub his snout. Schnookums responded with a lick, smearing saliva on his cheek and mane. Rarity was about to walk up to him with a handkerchief when Applejack stopped her. Cosgrove watched as Schnookums traveled farther and farther away until he appeared small in the horizon. Sunset, Lion Tamer, and Loopty Hoop walked up and gave him a hug.

"Maybe he'll come back for a visit." Loopty Hoop rubbed a hoof on her grandson's chin.

"But how will I recognize him? Will he recognize me?"

Lion Tamer turned to Schnookums, just a speck in the distance.

"He'll recognize you, by sight, by scent, and by your love. That is how much you have given to him."

One day as Schnookums' herd was traveling the area of Appaloosa, Schnookums did what his kind have never done, remembering all the times he had before today.

He smiled.

The Low Road

In the same deep part of the forest where Hydia's landlocked galleon sat, the said owner, now recovering from her little battle with Sunset Shimmer, was working on a similar poison of her own.

"A little rattlesnake tail," - Hydia dipped the snake tail into the mix, turning it blue - "the sweat of a fire bellied toad," - upon pouring it in, the mixture started bubbling red - "and now the quills of a lionfish."

The centuries-old witch sneered as the bile became as transparent as water. Scooping it in a vile and capping it with a needle, Hydia began to chuckle at her new potion when she heard a ruckus beyond the captain’s quarters. As usual, her daughters bickered and fought, this time for room on the couch.

"Reeka, it’s my turn to lay down!" Said Draggle as she scooted her obese sister off the couch.

"No way!" Reeka bumped her skinny sister with her massive posterior "This couch is my baby!"

"Mama had this couch for the two of us, but mostly me."

Draggle and Reeka pushed and shoved each other constantly when a surge of dark energy destroyed the couch in a flurry of wood, leather and stuffing. They looked up to find their mother glaring at them.

"Now everyone loses!" Hydia shrieked as she hobbled down the stairs "I want you to get off your flanks and do some damage to Ponyville!"

"But Mama-" Draggle stopped when her mother turned a glare at her, causing her to clear her throat "But Hydia, we couldn't even handle one Unicorn."

"Not to mention a kid." Reeka was about to go to the pantry when it got blasted by her mother. The fatter of the two opted to lick the floor when her mother stepped on her snout.

"Now I think we understand each other more." Hydia turned to Draggle "No lounging" Back to Reeka or eating until the job gets done! Now, get moving!!!"

Back at Ponyville, the citizens both child and adult were plucking weeds as they emerged from the cracks in the pavement. Spike wasn't that quite keen on this. The day was hot, true, but the wind brought a calming sensation to the heat.

"You know, days like this I would really like to lie on the balcony and sleep." The dragon pulled out a weed before stuffing it in a bag.
Nearby, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were pulling weeds at the Boutique.

"Spike, darling" Rarity cooed as she pulled a weed that had a massive root - "weeds like these can do terrible things to a building's complexion. What would the Boutique be if these wretched things were everywhere?"

Cosgrove continued to nip around before answering, "Besides, it may be a patch now, tomorrow it could be a jungle where all the wild things could strike. Gotta think of sneak attacks."

As the Hipparion continued to clear the pavement, Spike looked at his bag before turning a snide smile. The young dragon lifted the bag and began to swing it around.

"Heads up!" Spike flung the bag at Cosgrove, staggering him to his chest.

"Spike!!" Twilight brought her "brother" to attention

"What? I was just showing the-" Suddenly a yellow and violet blur leaped at him, rolled a few times before pinning the dragon to the ground, staring into Cosgrove's eyes.

"That's a sneak attack."

Suddenly a large crashing noise is heard somewhere in the town. The inhabitants of the district fled as the culprits, Draggle and Reeka began trashing the town using their dark magic quite efficiently despite not being in use for centuries.

"Wow, I never felt this good about destroying things!" Reeka turned to Sugarcube Corner before propelling herself upward, leaving moon craters as she slammed her massive torso on the floor.

"Oh, Hydia would be so proud!" - Draggle looked around, wondering what to do next - "Dark is a bit out of our league, but we are making wonderful progress making things dreary." - She then scratched her red head - "But what does it mean by dank?"

Berry Punch, like all the others, was fleeing for her life when she was wrapped in an aura and dragged before the witch. Compared to her frightened self, Draggle was rather calm.

"Excuse me, but what does it mean to be dank?" - The witch politely asked when she is blasted aside, releasing the Earth Pony from her grip. Rising on her feet, Draggle found the Mane Seven staring daggers at them - "Oh no..."

"That's one of the witches I told you earlier." Sunset said to Twilight.

"Well whatever you are," Rainbow Dash rose into the air and charged at the witch - "you're toast!"

"Rainbow Dash, wait!" Twilight beckoned

Draggle lit up her horn before the aura enveloped around her body and exploded in a small pulse. Rainbow was taken back a short distance before she tried again only to be stopped when Applejack held her tail with her teeth.

"Fighting these witches ain't gonna be easy as pie!" Said Applejack through her teeth.

"She's right," - Twilight crouched into an attack position - "this will take smarts."

Twilight teleported behind the witch and casts a spell onto Draggle, binding the witch in one aura before Sunset bound her in another aura. Holding her long enough, Applejack was able to hogtie her. The seven Ponies surrounded her as Draggle struggled to get loose.

"That was a bit easy." Fluttershy whispered.

"Too easy," Sunset looked around "Last I saw there were two others with her."

They heard another crashing noise from Sugarcube Corner. Mr. and Mrs. Cake cornered themselves as Reeka wolfed down their entire inventory. Pound and Pumpkin trotted around the frosting covered floor, cooing in delight.

"Honey," - Mrs. Cake eyed her husband - "she's teaching the kids bad manners."

Just as the obese witch was about to devour a whole carrot cake, the saloon-style doors slammed at the wall.

"Hey!" - the witch turned to an enraged Pinkie Pie - "That cake's for Fluttershy's birthday!"

Reeka eyeballed the cake, then back to her before she devoured it completely, pastry and plate. With a dog snarl, Pinkie twirled her hair, lassoed around the witch's neck and pulled her to the open. Reeka landed in front of Rarity, before she gave a rather disgusting smile.

"Ewww!!!" - Rarity levitated a handkerchief and wiped Reekas face - "Learn some etiquette!"

"Etiquette?" - Reeka scratched her head - "What does she mean?"

"You know, like proper table manners and dancing and" - Suddenly Rarity was held hooves by the witch as she was twirled around before being released like a top. Recovering from her dizziness, she found her usually curled mane is now ruffled - "What were they raised in, a barn?"

Applejack turned a glare just as an idea popped into Draggles head.

"Now I know! Dank means wet!" The skinny witch looked around to find the water tower. Mustering the strength, Draggle managed to tilt the lid, releasing the clear liquid over the streets. The ponies were washed away a good distance before the waters became thin. One one bright side, Reeka appears clean, but the bad part is that the others are now soaking wet.

"Seriously?" Rainbow growled before she and the others shook the water off their fur.

"Now," - Sunset walked over to the two witches as she lit up her horn - "why are you here?"

Just as she finished, Hydia managed to sneak up behind the ground, levitating the vile of poison.

"To give you a taste of your own medicine, Pony!"

The Grand Witch fired the vile. As it spiraled towards the orange Unicorn, Rarity made the ultimate act of generosity as she jumped in between her friend and the vile. Digging deep into her skin, the poison seeped into her bloodstream. Giving one good look at her pierced skin, Rarity stood up, placed her wrist on her head before fainting as Applejack caught her.

Sunset glared at Hydia as the witch levitated her daughters towards her.

"Now we have our own pound of flesh." Hydia laughed as they disappeared in smoke, leaving behind Applejack's rope.

In the library Rarity slept on Twilight's bed with Spike by her side, praying that she would be okay. Downstairs, Twilight was skimming through every book for any possible cures as fast as she could, her friends doing the same.

"No, no, no, no..." - Twilight tossed out each book - "I can't find any anti-venoms."

"Can't you make one yourself?" Asked Fluttershy as she held a book in her hooves.

"I can't just make an anti-venom willy-nilly, the wrong one can coagulate her blood stream." - Her friends remained silent - "She'll die."

Her friends were taken aback by that as Sweetie Belle began to tear up.

"No, no!" - Sweetie ran up to Twilight, balancing herself on the older Unicorn's chest as she rose to her height - "Rarity can't go, not now!"

"She won't die." - The group of Ponies turned to find Sunset walking up with a finished vile - "Because it isn't a venom. It's a virus."

Twilight clapped her hooves together, "Great! Then I can make a counter virus!" - Twilight placed the anti-venom books in one pile before getting a range of possible cures - "So, what is Rarity sick with?"

"Has she broken out into spots?"

"No."

"Have hot and cold flashes?"

"...No..."

"Projectile sneezing?"

Twilight slowly turned her head to her roommate when the silence of the room was disturbed by a massive sneeze that destroyed the second floor as the bed fell to the first floor. Rarity now had a stuffy nose as she moaned before she started wheezing, igniting her horn in a brighter hue with each struggled breath. Upon sneezing, Rarity unleashed a massive blast of energy that made a hole in the wall and the ceiling (which by luck managed to hit a passing goose). The other, less sickly, Ponies hid behind a fort of books as the blasts kept repeating over and over. Twilight managed to dodge the blasts as she ran into the medicine cabinet and back with some pills and a glass of water.

"Here, take these!" Rarity tried to grab the items but was still sneezing like mad, forcing Twilight to levitate the cold medicine down her throat before flooding it with water.

Gradually her horn lost it's glow as Rarity started to take deeper breaths. The group slowly emerged from the fort when Rarity started to wheeze again. The fashionista grabbed the pillow and held it to her face as she sneezed, filling the room in thousands of feathers. Fluttershy, of course, was slightly aghast at this fact while the others shook off any of the debris off their fur.

"Gazuntite!" Pinky squeaked.

"malignalitaloptereosis..." - Twilight groaned as she facehoofed herself - "At least we should synthesize an antidote."

"Yes, but not here, though." - Sunset levitate the empty bottle - "The venoms in the solution fragmented the virus. We need a more complete specimen."

"I'll scout out and find the barge." With Sunset's approval, Cosgrove was about to run out the door.

"Wait!" - Spike ran up to the Hipparion - "I want to help!"

"Do not do anything stupid," - Twilight warned - "we'll arrive soon to help."

With a nod, both of them ran as fast as their legs can. They have just passed the town limit when Spike began to tire.
Cosgrove skidded to a halt, noticing a good nine-yard distance between him and the dragon as he panted.

"Cosgrove... a little... help...?"

Back at the rotten galleon, Hydia watched from the crow's nest as numerous shots of energy rocketed into the sky and exploded.

"Heh, heh, looks like the virus is going along perfectly." - Hydia curled a toothy grin as she snorted through her left nostril -
"Not the Pony I hoped, but a perfect test subject. Anytime now, they would have to come over and get an antidote from me and when they do, I'll be ready..."

The witch was about to break out into laughter when a loud spill and a loud clang were heard in the ship. Quickly Hydia teleported herself over to the source of the problem.

"What have you two miscreants done!?"

She had a good reason to. Her daughters were fighting again, causing the large cauldron of the virus to spill over the ship. Right now they held a pose with Reeka about to bite on Draggle's leg as the latter strangled her.

"Sorry, Ma - Hydia!" Draggle tightened her grip around her sister.

"Sorry doesn't help make the virus!" Hissed their mother as she slowly inched her horn.

"But... we don't know how to make a virus." Reeka was suddenly tossed a book regarding the virus she just made.

"GET TO WORK!!!!" She screamed, scaring away the crows that roosted at the ship.

A distance away, Cosgrove carried Spike at a slow walking pace, much to the Dragon's frustration at this time.

"C'mon," - Spike struck his heels against the Hipparion’s side - "Can't you go any faster?"

"I would..." - Cosgrove turned a glaring eye - "If you cut back on the gems."

"Hey," - Spike tilted to the left, his eyebrow raised - "are you calling me fat?"

Cosgrove stopped and bucked his passenger off him. Before Spike could get up, the Pony pressed his hoof against his tummy and shook it violently, causing the gems in his tummy to clash with each other.

"And they don't need to shoot you..." - As Cosgrove turned around, he noticed Spike about to hop back on - "Nuh uh! You're walking the rest of the way."

Giving his belly one last pinch, Spike gave his partner a look before catching up to him.

"You’re sure you know where we're going?" Spike poked at Cosgrove's side.

The Hipparion rubbed a dew claw on his nose as he figured out the trail.

"They... should be just in that patch of trees over there."

"They should be..." Spike snorted "For Sunset's sake."

Cosgrove's ear flicked to that last remark and snarled.

"Excuse me..." - He turned his gaze to Spike, looking furious - "Are you implying that this is somehow her fault?!"

"Well, you two did find them, twinkle toes!" Spike inched himself to the Pony.

From a distant tree, Owlowiscious watched the two youngsters banter at each other.

"I beg to differ, rock biter!" Cosgrove retorts making himself taller.

Having been partially enchanted sometime after adoption, Twilight could use Owlowiscious as an extra set of eyes and ears. Displaying what the owl is seeing through a magical screen, the adult Ponies watched them argue while the Crusaders have gone to get Zecora.

"Evolutionary offshoot!" Spike continued

"Wingless worm!" Cosgrove added back.

"Sheesh!" - Rainbow Dash was eying the "tv" as she picked up a loose branch - "And I thought Pinkie was the immature one."

"Oh, silly Dashie, you're so silly!" Pinkie hopped around as she swept the fallen leaves.

Fluttershy was in the middle of tucking extra blankets over her ailing friend when she asked, "Was it wise to send them out on their own?"

"To be honest, no." - Applejack pushed a large branch out the door - "But having them be alone has produced a few miracles. We can bet that either they work together or kill each other."

Rarity sneezes again, causing more debris to fall on top of them.

"Either way, I don't care which." The farmer finished before more debris fell.

Back outside and deep in the Everfree, Cosgrove and Spike continued their walk towards the ship. They haven't talked much since at one point of their banter, Cosgrove mentioned the uncertainty of Spike, a dragon his age, dating Rarity, a pony well over his age. Soon they spotted the crow's nest, prompting them to crouch down and crawl to the hill.

"There it is, just as Sunset and I left it, only now there are three healthy witches, two of whom are just meddlesome babies."

"Well," - Spike popped his knuckles - "let's get that antidote!"

"Whoa, whoa!" - Cosgrove grabbed the dragon's tail with his teeth and pulled him back - "Twilight said no funny business!"

"This isn't funny business, it's personal!" Spike kicked it into overdrive as he dashed towards the ship.

Cosgrove growled as he fiddled through the combinations of alchemy symbols.

"You guys need to arrive and arrive soon." - The Hipparion began to trot down the hill and pick up Spike - "If we're doing this, we gotta do it right."

The Crusaders were coming back with Zecora when they bore witness to another blast being shot into the air.

"This is more than I was told, for I have not seen such a cold."

The three fillies and Zebra walked into a dark library hall partially lit with medicinal candles, revealing Rarity tucked in several layers of blanket, hooked to an IV machine, a vile of vapor rub in front of her snout with Pinkie Pie in ceremonial robes making a long, drawn out chant. One would think that being armed to medicinal teeth that Rarity would be cured.

That would be had it not been for the teeny weeny word:

"AAAAACHOOOOO!!!"

The library was now clear of the canopy, lighting the room in the bright blue sky.

"Aw come on!" Rainbow Dash screamed as she and Applejack began picking up debris again.

Sunset and Twilight walked down the stairs, minding the large hole in the ceiling.

"We'll have to take the fight to them." - Twilight rubbed her head - "You said it wouldn't be easy, would it?"

Sunset nodded when they heard Rarity moaning as she sat up on the bed.

"Rarity, go back to sleep." Applejack placed a hoof on Rarity.

"My dear Applejack" - Rarity sniffled as she pushed aside the orange hoof - "if I am just going to wreck the library, I would do so on those ruffians house."

The gang cowers again when Rarity began to wheeze. Fortunately, Zecora placed the tip of her hoof on her nose, stopping the sneeze.

"Rarity may be the answer to our pleas if we use her sneeze."

Sneaking into the ship, Spike and Cosgrove look around, trying to not make too much noise. Hearing a banter from the corner, the two peaked from the side to find Reeka and Draggle adding more of the necessary ingredients for the virus. The young Hipparion took out a small coin and tossed it. Hearing the chime, the two witches found the sparkling coin.

"Hey, that’s mine!" Reeka tried reaching it from her sister's grasp.

"I'm the first to find it, so it's mine!" Draggle retorted before her sister head butted her.

Once again the two witches were at each other's necks again. As they tossed and turned on the floor, the dragon and Pony crawled up to the cauldron, took out a clean bottle and sampled the whole strain. They gave each other a nod before turning around to find Hydia standing right behind them.

"You didn't think I would have known that you would come over to collect and antidote from me?" - The witch wrapped them in her aura before turning to Cosgrove - "Now I can finish what I started, before dealing with your pet."

Spike growled when a familiar sound echoed the ship. Reeka and Draggle stopped fighting and looked around before being blasted away by part of the ship as the Mane Six, Sunset, and Zecora stood before them. Rarity was being supported by Fluttershy as she rubbed her nose.

"Ha! Guess you were wrong, wart face!" Spike sneered before the aura tightened around his neck.

Hydia lifted Spike and Cosgrove before them.

"Now if you want these two and your sick friend to survive, you will have Princess Celestia meet our demands."

From her reddened face, Rarity found her dragon friend being strangled before she dropped to the floor. After rising up on wobbly legs, the sickly Unicorn slowly walked towards the witch. The others slowly backed away after Hydia dropped her hostages and aimed a concentrated blast of dark energy.

"You... will not... huh-uh-urt... mah-my... Spah-spa-Spikey... Wi... Wii... WiikeeeeAAAAAACHHHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

In one massive burst of energy, the ship, and five kilometers of forest, exploded, sending debris over a massive distance, at one direction landing at Ponyville. All that was evident now was a burnt clearing with Rarity standing at the center.

Taking a deep sniffle, Rarity began to wobble. "Celestia, bless me."

Applejack was able to catch her before she fainted. Cosgrove walked up to his friend.

"Were you two at least able to get a bottle of the virus." - Sunset quickly grabbed the bottle after it was tossed to her.

"Got you covered."

As they began to leave, Spike walked up to him.

"Uhm, Cosgrove." - Spike got his attention - "Sorry about what I said before."

"And sorry about what I said about you and Rarity." Cosgrove answered.

Over the course of a few weeks, repairs are being made to the library, while Rarity still slept in Twilight's bed, having been injected with the antidote. Twilight was busy levitating each book by the Dewey Decimal System.

"Well, nothing helps like a good lick of paint, a few arranged books, and it's home."

Twilight and the others suddenly turned at Rarity wheezing again. The Crusaders hid behind a book fort, Spike and Cosgrove under the table.

Rarity sneezed... normally... To the relief of the others as they gave a nervous laugh, though Fluttershy fainted like a goat.
A good distance away, however, Hydia opened her eyes to be surrounded in a green liquid. Encased in a cocoon-like shape along with Reeka and Draggle, she eyeballed around to find a hornless Changeling and a mint green Pegasus hovering in front of them.

"Are you sure they would help us?" Lightning Dust looked at Blackarachnia with concern.

"Don't worry..." - The Changeling eyed the "Alicorn Amulet" around her neck - "He knows what he's doing."

The entity inside the amulet laughed as the view fades to black.

The Equestrian Prometheus

After several long days of traveling, Trixie, Cogsworth, Garble, and Spot stop to rest. The cold snowy air, which made the area gloomy was broken by a small campfire set up by a few cut-down trees and a teenage dragon. Being herbivorous creatures, the magician, and the techno-organic Earth Pony gave a grimace as Garble and Spot devoured a burnt deer. Fortunately having only one other person to share her large supply of food eased the queasiness in her hind gut.

Suddenly the Galgameth began to pick up a signal. Spot flicked his ear to the sound of rustling bushes before growling. The four travelers became defensive as a dark silhouette came out of the bushes. As it got closer, the furious brows on their faces slowly rose up as a shadow rose over them.

"What kind of pony are you?"
...

195 years ago

By the Jura Mountains of Romania, famed scientist Victoria Frankenstein was in the middle of making the experiment of a lifetime. Deep in her laboratory beside the scientist was a figure covered in a white sheet. Beside them was a vat of electrified embryonic fluid. The Unicorn raised the table above the concoction, ready to begin the experiment.

"And She said, "Let there be light," - The scientist pulled a lever, dropping the lifeless figure into the mixture. The electricity coursed through its body before being flushed out. Victoria inspected the body before noticing the black tail twitch - "And so there has..."

A few hours later, the interior of the lab was being lit aflame.

"No! Don't go!" Victoria beckoned before the creation busted through the window, galloping towards the wilderness.

The next few years, newspaper articles were being published like mad.

MONSTER SCARES VILLAGE

SCIENTIST'S GROOM MURDERED; MONSTER STILL AT LARGE

SCIENTIST MISSING IN MONSTER HUNT

The third headliner marked the last instance that the creature and it's creator existed.

...

2 weeks before Today

It is nearing New Year’s Eve, and the citizens of Ponyville are getting ready to celebrate. Party decorations lined up many of their houses while a few began gathering items such as rattlers and fireworks. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, of course, took this opportunity to earn their cutie marks in New Year’s Planning.

"All right, Crusaders" - Sweetie Belle pulled out a checklist - "we got fireworks?"

"Eeyup." Answered Apple Bloom, prompting the young Unicorn to draw a check mark.

"Sparklers?"

"Three for each." Said Scootaloo.

After checking out the checkmark Sweetie Belle asked, "Best New Year's cheer ever?"

They took in a deep breath and just as they were about to scream, a loud howl echoed the air.

"Wow, we need to improve our cheering." Said Scootaloo as she cleared her throat.

"That wasn't us..." Said Apple Bloom before the howl was heard again from the Everfree Forest.

They followed the noise to find an amazing sight, a pack of Timberwolves fighting a lone Pony. Despite the number difference, the Pony was actually winning. While crushing the others to mere twigs, one wolf took notice of the fillies and began charging at them. With a scream, they ran as fast as they could back the way they came. Scootaloo tripped on a branch, skidding on her face to a quick stop. She turned to meet with the splintered maw of the carnivore. The young Pegasus winced as the teeth drew near her. Suddenly the beast was dragged away, squirming as the fighter opening its mouth so wide that the joint broke.

Flicking her ear to the crunching snow, Scootaloo stood up - "Thanks for saving-"

Scootaloo turned to find that her savior was quite unusual. The hair was black, skin was a gray-green stretched so tight that the muscle contours could be seen, the eyes were somewhat faded (it's still evident that she could see), and most recognizable is the numerous stitches laced around her body; there was even a horn on her head and relatively small wings as the body was from a deceased Horse. All it could respond was with a simple snort as it drew its snout closer to the young Pony.

Scootaloo screamed before running as fast as her little legs could, all the while hearing the heavy hoofbeats of the makeshift Horse behind her. The orange Pegasus filly managed to reach back to town when she skidded to a halt. There were no hoofbeats, giving her the comfort needed to relax her wings. Turning around, she saw the monster standing right above her.
Before the zombie could go any further, a lasso wrapped around her neck, yanking her to the ground. Applejack held the rope between her teeth before pinning it further with her front hooves. The monster strained herself, almost getting on her stomach when Apple Bloom and Big Mac roped her legs, yanking the lassoes so tight that pieces of the leg tore off, much to their confusion.

"No this is just getting creepy." Said Applejack as she added additional weight to the rope.

"Eeyup." Big Mac strained through his teeth.

Twilight ran up to the monster, horn lit. "Hope this works on the undead." - The violet Unicorn casts a spell on the Zombie, making her relax gradually before her vision blacked out.

It took twelve Ponies to carry the body over to the library. At the center it laid on the floor, unconscious, unknowing that her captors are examining her. Against her judgment Rarity took the opportunity to stitch up the zombie, wincing and uttering a whine as she guided the needle through the rotten flesh.

"What crazed filly would ever make such a wicked rag doll?" Rarity whined.

"No, what an extraordinary find," - Sunset walked around the living corpse with curiosity that rivaled that of Twilight's - "if this is to be true, then we have found the one surviving work of Victoria Frankenstein after almost 200 years."

Twilight took out a scroll and ink quill, "Just wait until Princess Celestia gets word on this."

"So..." - Spike pointed at the mismatched thing - "What makes this so scary?"

"According to eyewitnesses, the creature is relatively gentle." Said Twilight as she passed the note to her companion.

"A good act rich in kindness would help this poor thing." Fluttershy suddenly jumped when the monster snores.

"But we're still going to keep her in chains for the time being, right." Cosgrove had come over with a steel chain that he used to keep Schnookums in place before he left.

"Well, duh!" - Said Rainbow Dash before stretching her arms at the zombie - "We're friendly, not insane!"

A few hours later, the monster slowly opened her eyes, her vision becoming clear at the sight of two Unicorns and a Dragon. Immediately she lunged at them before being jerked back by the chains that wrapped around her arms and legs. She strained herself constantly, reaching only as close as her upper lip being a few inches away. Immediately she tired herself before the chains dragged her back.

"Do you know your name?" Asked Sunset, only to not receive an answer from the Zombie Horse.

Taking a notice of the stitched wings, Twilight asked, "Can you move your wings?"

The monster unfolded the wings, swinging them back and forth before spreading them to make herself look taller. She tries flapping them, but can only get as much as a few centimeters before the chains stopped her.

"Magic?" - The Orange Unicorn again didn't get a response, in fact, the Zombie cocked her head - "Like this..."

The two Unicorns lit up their horns before practicing a series of small levitations. The Zombie plopped on the floor and started giggling. Curious, she tried to light up her horn, but not even a spark. The Zombie tried again, but no avail.
The two Unicorns looked at each other.

"It may be for the better," Said Twilight "we can't tell what power she has."

Suddenly, Spike's tummy began to rumble before belching out fire. Seeing the burst, the Zombie reared on her hind legs, braying loudly as she tried to break loose the chain.

"What's wrong with her?" Twilight fiddled back.

Spike picked up the note, "Do not show any sudden bursts of fire."

The experiment continued to yank on the chains, bringing the uneasy faces of both Twilight and Spike.

"Are you sure that chain would hold her?"

"Even Schnookums can't break through that."

But the Frankenstein Monster was no Brobdingnag. Her horn absorbed an electrical charge from the underground laboratory, gaining strength as the link stretched before snapping. Outside, Pinkie Pie was pulling a cart containing a birthday cake.

"She will be so happy when she see's this." Pinkie squealed "Oh the thought just makes my tummy-"

Suddenly, the Pink Pony’s ears started to flop, then her eyes fluttered, and her knees twitched. After the third body spasm, the Zombie Horse busted through the door and galloped away.

"Wait!" - Pinkie turned the cart around and ran alongside the monster - "You forgot your welcome cake!"

Reaching the town square, the residents began to panic as the monster roared at them. She moved one direction, only to be stopped by the explosion of firecrackers. She brays and ran the other way only to stop at a firework test. She moved the other way only to be stopped when she bumped into a telephone booth out of nowhere. She merely ran around it and ran over towards the Everfree Forest.

The door to the booth opened as The Doctor took a peek. "Hello?"

The monster met up with Twilight and Sunset before she leaped over them and continued on her run.

"She's running towards Zecora's hut!" Shouted Twilight.

She did have a reason to worry, The Crusaders are currently visiting her as the Zebra made her special New Year's brew.

"The brew is almost complete, all I need now is swamp peat." Said Zecora.

"I got it!" Scootaloo fluttered her wings, trying to get airborne. Concentrating as hard as she could, the orange Pegasus ascended quite a little height, much to the joy of her friends.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, turning their attention to the panicked Frankenstein Monster. Scootaloo flopped hard on the ground as Zecora stood between them, looking furious.

"Leave my home, Monster, and violence will not have to occur."

The monster looked ahead, noticing a vile spinning off the rack. Immediately the Zombie pushed the Zebra out of the way before grabbing Scootaloo by her mane and yanking her away. The vile splattered on the wooden floor, leaving a burn mark as the juice dried. The orange Pegasus turned her head to the Zombie, who looked at her with a scared look.

"Thanks..." - Scootaloo pushed against the Zombie - "again."

"You know," - Apple Bloom walked up to the corpse - "you need a name."

The monster cocked her head.

"How about, Sherry?" Asked Sweetie Belle, only for the Zombie to grunt.

"Kerry?" Asked Apple Bloom, only for an ear to be raised as a response.

"Mary?" Scootaloo felt the Zombie slowly embrace her before completely hugging her tightly.

The Crusader's cooed at the fact that the now Christened Mary accepted her name. But the smiles on their muzzles turned upside down when they noticed their friend starting to choke.

"Let her go, Mary!" Sweetie Belle strained herself as she tried to pry the undead limbs.

Like a mother punishing a child, Zecora smacked Mary on the head with her staff. As the Zombie instinctively rubbed her head, Scootaloo caught her breath as she wheezed in and out.

"Got some strong muscles, don't you?" Asked Scootaloo as Mary looked down at her before her belly began to rumble.

"I have not much food to fill that stomach good, but perhaps I shall see that can be fixed with a batch of tea." - The Zebra scooped up a cup of her mixture-in-process. Handing it to the Zombie revealed an underestimation of strength when the cup was smashed between two dead limbs, splattering the mix onto the Zebra - "It is never impossible to tame a beast, but being gentle is a skill to be taught at least."

Over at the trail, the Mane Seven raced as fast as they could to Zecora's.

"Whatever that thing is doing," - Rarity growled as she increased her trot - "it would have to get my sister through my cold, dead hooves!"

"You, fighting a Zombie?" Asked Rainbow Dash as she flew next to the white Unicorn.

"No holds barred, darling." Answered Rarity.

They did not hesitate when they burst through the door.

"Zecora," - beckoned Twilight - "we saw a monster-"

The group's pupils shrank as they saw the most unlikely sight: the Crusaders, Zecora, and Mary were sitting across from each other, the last just about to master being delicate when her attention was turned. Rarity was the first to react when she charged first at the beast.

"Stay away from the children, you monster!" Rarity's efforts were in vain when Mary instinctively pinned Rarity to the ground

"Mary, no!" Sweetie Belle ran up to the monster, pulling at the beast's decaying hide before being pushed aside.

Applejack tossed the loop of her lasso again, wrapping around the monster's neck before pulling her with such force that she vaulted her out the door and into the snow covered forest floor. The others stepped out as they surrounded the monster, ready to take it down. Having known that the monster can use electricity to amplify its strength, Twilight and Sunset respectively prepared an EMP spell.

"Wait!" - Scootaloo ran between the two opposing sides, spreading her tiny wings - "She wasn't hurting anyone!"

"Scootaloo, get out of the way!" Rainbow Dash ordered, not getting the orange Pegasus to budge.

"She saved my life twice already!" Scootaloo

"So she has to eye witnesses in the past, but there have been more destruction than blessings!" Said Rarity.

"No girls." - Fluttershy stepped forward, turning around to the others - "She's right." - She pointed a hoof to the monster - "We gave Schnookums and Discord a chance, why not Mary?"

Twilight thought long and hard before dousing the aura on her horn. "Let her go..."

The monster softened her expression before looking down at the ponies defending her.

"We are so sorry, Mary. Would you ever forgive us?"

Fluttershy's answer was met with a snort before turning her attention to the sound of fireworks firing into the air with a slight echo of "Happy New Year!" from the distance. Scared of loud noises, Mary ran deeper into the forest again. When they returned, Princess Celestia stepped forward before them with a pair of guards holding capture gear.

"I'm, sorry Your Highness." - Twilight lowered her head - "The monster got away."

Celestia groaned before walking away, the others joining her. Scootaloo looked at the forest, wondering what Mary would do next.

"You comin', Scoots?" Asked Apple Bloom.

Scraping the ground, filly turned around and ran towards the group. At the forest's edge, the Frankenstein Monster watched as Zecora came by her side.

"They will warm up to you, in the meantime, there is much for you to do."

Today

The four rogues watched as the Zombie sat by the fire, even though dead flesh doesn't need to be warmed up. Cogsworth raised a hoof.

"So... What's your name?"

The Zombie looked at the group, snorting out a puff of hot air.

"Mmm-Mu... Mare-Mary..."

Author's Note

Originally the plot would be a science project involving the creation of life through alchemy, but I guess since the Monster was made with Alchemy to begin with, it would make sense to show a past example of a life form created by magic.

Always There

Over at the library, Sunset Shimmer looked at the white rose, now joined by a few buds. After breathing in the air a little, she takes out her journal, looking outside to find Cosgrove walking about.

Over the past three years, Cosgrove has improved quite well both emotionally and academically, but as Mother's Day is approaching, I worry whether or not he will make the decision to let go. And with Schnookums gone, he has felt a little empty. I remember you saying the teachings of Santayana, "those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." But then again, "a fanatic redoubles his efforts while losing sight of his goal. I'm certain that throughout your life you had to make similar decisions."

Over at the City of Canterlot, Princess Celestia walks over to her balcony ready to raise the sun. Before she does, she levitates her journal and begins to respond.

"The circle of life is simple yet profound." - she wrote in the journal - "And that to me must surely be life's secret, my friend for life continues every day none of us can stop it from going on its way with each new generation one more circle is complete. It nurtures the young until they're fully grown and soon life brings them children of their own. The family of nature, each husband, and wife enhances the ever-widening circle of life.

Celestia's subjects arose from their slumber and began their daily routine. The adults performed their talents given to them by their cutie marks, their children made their way to school. As it was just two days before Mother's Day, the fillies and colts were hard at work on making their cards for their mothers. There the usual difference, Cosgrove just sat there, looking at his given materials.

Noticing this once more, Ms. Cheerilee walked to him.

"It's okay if you don't want to make a card." Ms. Cheerilee grabbed the materials when a yellow hoof was placed on the desk.

"I can make it at home..." Cosgrove said with a sniffle.

As the end of the school bell rang, the students walked to their homes, Cosgrove slowly walking away from them.

"You don't want to go to the arcade?" Asked Button Mash

"I... just want to be alone..."

Making his way back home, Cosgrove sat in front of Night Dancer's headstone, his mind in a familiar thought. Placing his hoof
on the stone, the Hipparion rubbed it before closing his eyes. A memory flashed before his eyes. One time as a baby, he hopped about in a lion costume as he chased a rubber ball. At one point the baby Cosgrove jumps on the ball and bounces off. Fortunately, his mother caught him before he landed.

"Looks like the Prince of the Jungle has been a little ambitious," - Cosgrove started to worry when his mother gave him a look - "and you know what happens when little lions get ambitious?"

Before he could react, Night Dancer flipped the baby onto his back and began tickling him. The baby laughed as he tried to get away.

A much older Cosgrove opened his eyes as a small tear dripped from his eyes. Stepping back, he noticed Loopty Hoop's reflection on the stone. The Mare sat to him and rubbed his shoulder.

"I still miss her too." - She holds him in her arms - "It's okay, we don't have to celebrate Mother's Day."

The Hipparion sniffled again before pushing her aside and trotting to the house. Lion Tamer just walked out of the restroom when he found his grandson fidgeting through his belongings, including a baby picture of him and Night Dancer.

"Cosgrove, what's wrong?"

"I'm sick of it!" - Cosgrove snapped - "I'm sick of having to worry about Mom. I want to let her go!" - He started tearing up - "But, but, I just want to know if she's okay for me to do this."

Loopty Hoop walked up the stairs to find Lion Tamer embracing the weeping child.

"Maybe she has..." - The two ponies turned to find Loopty Hoop walking behind them - "Maybe she sent you."
Loopty Hoop wrote a list and gave it to Cosgrove before giving him an embrace.

As he walked around the town, he pulled out the checklist.

"Okay... First on the list is her favorite perfume." Just as he lowers the list, we see Cosgrove explore the fragrance store, fiddling bottle after bottle for the favored scent. At a first glance, he takes a double look, finding the bottle: Mint chocolate.

Walking outside with the perfume in his saddlebag, the Hipparion made his next trip to the hardest part of his sidequest: Sugarcube Corner. When he stepped in, Pound Cake zoomed over him, his sister levitating after him, looping a figure eight in the air as they continued a dog fight.

"Pound, Pumpkin!" - Pinkie Pie bounded up and down, trying to catch the two toddlers.

Cosgrove chuckled as he walked up to the counter, where Mr. Cake waited.

"Hello, Cosgrove." - the tall earth pony greeted - "What can I get you?"

"Does this store have sourdough bread?"

"Why yes, we do."

"May I have a loaf?" - Walking to the back and coming to the counter again with said loaf, Cosgrove paid the baker - "Thank you."

"Have a nice day. Tell your grandparents I said hi."

Rubbing the manes of the Cake Twins, Cosgrove walked out into the town square again when his ear flicked to the sound of multiple hoofbeats following him. He places a dew claw in one of the pockets, ready to pull a tarot card when he turned to find Sunset behind him.

"Oh, it's you..."

"You still miss her?" She asked

"Yes, but I am going to take the first step." Cosgrove sniffled

The orange Unicorn nodded as she embraced him. As he continued his trek, Sunset lowered her head and walked back to the library, sitting in front of the white rose once more.

"I don't usually do this kind of thing." - Sunset sniffled - "Night Dancer, if only you could see him now. He has done everything beyond a colt his age would do. Even at the risk of his own life. But, he can't stop thinking about you. If you believe it is time for him to let go, send him a sign."

Tears began to stream from her eyes as she held her head in her hooves and sobbed. From the top of the stairs, Twilight and Spike watched before the former nudged him away.

As the evening rolled by, Cosgrove placed his materials in a metal canister before preparing to dig a small hole. Soon, two large shadows loomed over him. Turning around, it was his grandparents as they lay down next to him.

"She would be so proud of you for making it this far." Said Loopty Hoop as she nuzzled him.

"Is there anything we can do... before...?" Said Lion Tamer as he patted the container.

The Hipparion looked at the stone in front of him before answering, "Can you sing her lullaby?"

The two middle-aged Earth Ponies almost choked, rubbing their heads together.

"When the sun went down, and ponies started sleeping," - Loopty Hoop sang - "If she heard a sound, like things are around her creeping. I would my tail around her, and tell her, 'Don't be scared.' And she knew that she was safe because I'm always there..."

"When the storms would come" - Lion Tamer added in - "and things would seem so bad, she'd almost cried when she listened to her dad. I promised that the rain would pass, the day would soon be fair and she never was afraid because I'm always there."

"Always there" - The two chorused - "someone you can count on to comfort you. Always there, like a great green valley you can come home to."

Cosgrove picked up the canister and set it in the hole.

"I remember now" - he added - "like it was yesterday." - he rubbed the uncovered earth over the hole - "She would hold me close, and then I hear her say, 'You know I'll never leave you, you can find me anywhere. In the morning light, the evening star, I'm always there.'"

"Always there" - They all chorused - "someone you can count on to comfort you." - Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop picked up their grandson - "Always there, like a great green valley you can come home to."

From afar, Sunset watched as they entered their home before looking up at the night sky, seeing two stars in a similar configuration to Night Dancer's cutie mark.

"Always there..." She finished before turning around to leave, just missing a sudden flash from the window.

It's now Mother's Day once again. Every foal and their mother's celebrated the day as several pairs (or threes, depending on the family) walked about the schoolyard. In every Mother's Day, Apple Bloom had her niche filled with Granny Smith. Many would sit at the table, eat lunch, or would visit the playground.

Several familiar faces turned to their familiar friend walking towards them. The most obvious difference being that his cheeks weren't stained with tears, and his eyes didn't look tired. He sat on a swing set, pushing forward with his tail. Rumble, Button, Pip and Featherweight walked up to him, their eyes widened.

"What?" Asked Cosgrove.

"You're..." - Featherweight pointed to his flank - "Cutie mark..."

Hopping off the swing, Cosgrove looked at his flank. The void of yellow fur was filled with what appeared to be a red, abstract sabertooth cat at a first glance. The Crusaders walked up to him, hopping up and down.

"You got your cutie mark, Cosgrove!" Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"What's your special talent?" Asked Scootaloo.

It took him a while to realize it before Cosgrove looked up at the sky. "Letting her go..."

The other children looked up at the sky with him, noticing a cloud in a shape of an Earth Pony. As the view descends down, we see a group of bipedal, mostly hairless mammals looking down at a similar stone. Most of them have similar cutie mark as Cosgrove. Five of them turned and leave when the yellow and violet boy placed a white rose on the ground before he turned as well. As he walked, the environment around him became much more lush as his clothed legs were replaced by scaly ones. The massive dinosaur stops over at a hill, looking at a cloud resembling that of a duckbilled dinosaur. With a guttural rumble, the Alamosaurus arches his neck back and bellows repeatedly.

One Shall Rise

On a nice sunny afternoon, Twilight opened her door, took in a breath of fresh air and walks around the town with a smile on her muzzle.

Twilight Sparkle
Morning in Ponyville shimmers
Morning in Ponyville shines
And I know for absolute certain
That everything is certainly fine
There's the Mayor en route to her office
There's the sofa clerk selling some quills

"Morning, kid!" greeted Davenport.

Twilight Sparkle
My Ponyville is so gentle and still
Can things ever go wrong?
I don't think that they will
Morning in Ponyville shimmers
Morning in Ponyville shines
And I know for absolute certain
That everything is certainly—

The song became interrupted by a shattering kaboom, the shockwave sending many a pony flying off, including Rainbow Dash from her cloud. Recovering from the shockwave, the inhabitants walked over to the crater. As the dust cleared, it revealed a blackened crystal.

Twilight and her friends knew this all too well.

"Everypony, get back!" - Twilight ordered when black smoke shot out of the hole like a volcano, the topmost part revealing a set of menacing eyes, red horn, and toothy maw - "Sombra" Twilight growled.

"Sparkle..." Sombra whispered, baring his teeth at the purple Unicorn.

Two Days before Today

Far up north, a good distance away from the Crystal Empire, Blackarachnia, Lightning Dust, and the Red Hood carried the three petrified cocoons of the three Witches in the Red Hood's snow vehicle. Parking over by a small cave, the three rogues carried the cases inside. Lightning Dust and the Red Hood looked around to see just a dark void illuminated barely lit by the sun.

"So, where do we go now?" - Shivered Lightning Dust

Blackarachnia looked at the Alicorn Amulet, this time no longer glowing as was days ago.

"I don't know, this amulet should guide us further."

Under the all around helmet, the Red Hood drew a glare.

"Well," - She pulls a pistol and grabs the hornless Changeling - "how about you tell your little gem here that it lead us to a wild goose chase!"

"Enough!"

Suddenly a massive burst of red light illuminated the cave, sealing off the entrance and releasing Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle from their prison.
Draggle lifted her arms in disgust as she was covered in the viscous fluid.

"Finally!" - Draggle moaned, rubbing the slime off her fur - "I was wondering when we would get out."

The group turned to a massive red crystal, glowing in and out as if breathing

"Wh-who are you?" Lightning Dust began to shake.

"I... am the Umbrum." - Muttered the crystal in a deep, feminine voice - "I have brought you for a purpose..."

Hydia snorted, "Nopony summons the leader of my clan."

"Then... it pleases me to be the first." The crystal scoffed, bringing a chuckle from Hydia's daughters before being silenced by her glare.

"What's your business?" asked the Red Hood.

"This is my command: Destroy the Element of Magic." - the Umbrum glowed - "It is far too readily available to overcome."

Blackarachnia fluttered her wings, "What's in it for us?"

The gem hummed a deep note, "You are foolish to bargain against my word. Very well, I shall grant you new powers and soldiers to command."

Reeka's tummy growled, gaining an idea. "And?"

"And nothing!" - the Umbrum yelled - "You all belong to me now."

"I serve nopony but herself!" Hydia growled when a red aura surrounded her, choking her as the witch held her throat.

"Perhaps I misjudged you. Proceed your way to oblivion."

As the glow intensified, Hydia was almost at the point to death when her daughters came to her aid.

"No!" - Draggle shouted - "We accept, we accept!"

The magic receded, releasing Hydia from the Umbrum.

"Excellent." - Said the Umbrum in a sadistic tone - "And to make sure you have done the job correctly..."

The Umbrum shoots out a beam onto the Alicorn Amulet. The group steps back as an image slowly appears before them.

1 hour before now

Over at the library, Twilight Sparkle was happily prancing about the library, her dragon assistant still slightly unamused.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" - Twilight prepared a pile of books on the central desk - "This will be a fascinating moment for Celestia's School of Magic!"

"It's just a practice test, Twilight." Said Spike as he lifted another pile of books.

"Just a practice test?" - Twilight inched her nose to her dragon companion - "Even if it's a practice test, if he passes it, it can set a new standard for the school. How often does a non-Unicorn enter the school?"

Spike crossed his arms, "Not very."

Far over at the testing room, Cosgrove studied the subject of his practice test: a locked treasure chest. He took a glance at the directions they gave.

Open the lock without scathing the chest.

From the side, Sunset watched the Hipparion tap his snout before flicking his ears high into the air. Adding a small amount of gunpowder into the key hole, Cosgrove then scratched his hooves repeatedly before a spark shot out of them. Feeling the heat, the lock was sent limp with a small pop. Removing it, he opened the chest revealing a small gem inside. He showed it in front of his prospective judges, who were just finished talking to each other.

"Mr. Cosgrove," - Top Marks beckoned - "at this point, your skill is currently below our standards for a pony your age. We suggest that you improve your craft and try the test again."

Despite the fact that this was a practice test, Cosgrove droops his ears before taking a deep breath.

"Thank you for allowing this opportunity." Placing the gem back into its chest, he hops off the stage and walks out the room with Sunset.

Throughout their walk towards the exit, Cosgrove remained silent, much to the worry of his friend slash mentor.

"Even in a practice test, Cosgrove, they are usually rigged in a Unicorn's favor." - Sunset eyed the ceiling of the halls - "But even then it can be dubious, mine certainly was."

"You wouldn't be mad if I failed the real test?" Asked the young Hipparion.

Sunset stopped, turning her head to him.

"If anything, it is my fault for only teaching defensive magics." - She answered - "I wouldn't be mad at you for at least trying."

Cosgrove slowly smiled when their ears flicked to a series of heavy hoofbeats coming towards them. Turning their heads to the right, they found Princess Luna approaching them. She stopped as they bowed their heads before her.

"I see you have taken the practice exam." Said Princess Luna to Cosgrove

"Yeah, didn't turn out so well." - He answered, scratching his head - "Don't know how Twilight would react to that."

Princess Luna chuckled, "Leave thy worry to Twilight alone." - The Alicorn eyed the unusual cutie mark on Cosgrove's flank - "Have you any clue as to the purpose of your cutie mark?"

"We have already tried to find that out, your Highness." - Answered Sunset - "Every historical record, even photographs of Paleolithic cave paintings, nopony displayed a similar cutie mark. The only way to find out is if we find his people."

Princess Luna nodded, "Take as much time as you need, your student is still young."

Luna gestured her subjects to walk with her. The three ponies walked out of the schoolhouse and over to the castle. As with Princess Celestia, Cosgrove kept his snout closed. One time, a little slumber party, or "Brony Bash" by Button Mash, at Pipsqueak's turned up a little south after Cosgrove spotted a small shrine dedicated to the Princess of the Night. Granted that the first Nightmare Night that Luna Celebrated was at first lukewarm, the Hipparion didn't think that the small pinto would take the fantasy quite well.

"You seem concerned, young stallion." - Luna's statement got Cosgrove out of his blank state - "Is there anything of concern?"

Cosgrove started to flick his ear a little, trying to get find a reasonable question to ask back.

"Have you ever had any students of your own?" he asked before holding his lower lip with his teeth.

Luna looked up at the sky, trying to recollect any previous knowledge before her millennium exile on the moon.

"Before my exile, my sister and I have trained several students," - Cosgrove was about to interject when Luna turned her head to him - "but on my own, no if that is what you are asking."

Cosgrove puckered his lips back as he tried to ask another question. "If you had a student of your own like your sister has, who would it be?"

Princess Luna immediately stopped, the machinations of her mind humming for an answer. That was disturbed when a large flying object flew over the sky, speeding down over the mountainous city.

"That's strange," - Sunset cocked her head - never seen a meteor make its way towards Ponyville."

"Never seen one that glowed black." Cosgrove added.

They watched as the asteroid crashed to the ground.

"We better return." Said Sunset as she and Cosgrove ran towards the train station.

"Take my chariot, it's much faster." Luna offered

Much further away, the other members of Twilight's posse stood next to her, though Fluttershy did quiver as usual.

"And what brings yer smokey keister here, your Highness?" Applejack asked mockingly.

Suddenly, a launched rocket exploded on the ground. Looking up, they found the Red Hood standing on top of one of the roofs holding a bazooka on one shoulder. Rarity lit her horn as a green blur pushed her aside. Looking up, Lightning Dust fluttered above them. Rainbow Dash growled.

"No one hurts my friend like that!" Rainbow immediately took off, pursuing her near equal high in the sky.

Three blasts of dark energy strike the earth; Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle appeared before them in an new wardrobe. Hydia tied her hair in two braids jutting out the back of her head while wearing a violet robe adorned with spiked shoulder pads of a silver suit, gauntlets of silver on her arms and legs. Reeka wore a red-gray battle suit with massive red shoulder pads, arm and leg gauntlets, and a black band on the top of her face. Draggle wore much simpler clothing: a tattered blue cloak over a conditioned dress, holding a wooden staff with the top end impaling through a skull of a young pony.

"I appreciate the nice set of clothes" - Rarity lit up her horn before slowly going into a battle pose - "but I suppose your manners haven't changed."

"By the time we are done with you," - Hydia cackled - "there won't be enough of your fur to stuff a pillow."

Lighting up her horn, the witch fired a blast that the remaining five members barely dodged.

"You big meanie!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie

"Ah, did I hurt you?" - Reeka said in an appealing voice, all the while lighting her horn - "This will make it better!"

Pinkie Pie dodged the blast of black magic before taking out her party cannon, hopping inside of it, and blasting out, hooves stretched forward as she collided with the witch.

Fluttershy, of course, had the weird side of the battle. Binding her under containment spell, Draggle hugged the yellow Pegasus like a teddy bear, ignoring her soft whimpers.

"Don't worry, I have a nice little cage where we can play all day." - That sentence sinking into her ear, Fluttershy screamed, pushed the witch aside and began to run like a mad cow. - "Don't you dare leave me!!"

Applejack kept landing a few glancing blows against the Red Hood, leaving a few cracks on the helmet. Throwing a smoke bomb, the antagonist vaulted over the Farmer and ran towards the edge of the roof. She leaped away when the loop of a rope snagged her leg. With a tight turn, the Red Hood took out a knife and sliced off the rope in one quick stroke. But with the momentum lost, the criminal landed on the pavement, looking to see Applejack scowl at her.

"Ya know there are ways to get Ponies hurt, right?" Applejack immediately dodged an onslaught of bullets, sliding down as they pierced the straw roofing.

"Yeah," - answered the Red Hood as she lifted up the smoking gun upright - "like yelling at the pony carrying the MW-87."

Back up in the air, Rainbow Dash continued to chase Lightning Dust, reaching by her rival's side.

"Couldn't resist a grudge after Wonderbolt Camp?" Rainbow Dash grappled with her equal, swirling in the air as their bodies cast silhouettes in the sun.

"I should have been lead pony, not you!" Lightning Dust lashed out

"And this is going to get you back into the Wonderbolts?"

Just as Rainbow Dash finished, Blackarachnia swooped over, biting the back of her neck and taking a nosedive straight to the ground. The Changeling rose up on her perforated hooves, looking down at the broken Pegasus when Lightning Dust landed next to her.

"That should get you in a place with Admiral Firefly!" Lightning hissed.

Back to Twilight and Sombra, the fight was very one sided. Being away from the Crystal Empire, the Shadow Pony didn't have to worry about the effects of the Crystal Heart. In his shadow form, Sombra easily dodged Twilight's blasts before shooting out a bolt of lightning from his demented horn.

"Twilight!" - From a distance, Spike beckoned her name while holding the Elements of Harmony.

Sombra, recognizing the small beast who brought the key to his downfall, stormed after him.

"Insolent animal!" - He roared as he solidified himself into his black, armored form - "I'll grind you to pulp!"

"Sombra!" - Twilight beckoned, drawing the tyrant's attention - "Do what you want with me, but leave Spike alone!"

Sombra stopped for a moment to think, "Let us test the strength of your friendship with this beast!"

The Shadow Pony glowed his horn once more, ready to blast at the young dragon. Spike tried to run, but each area of escape he went was blocked off as his shadow generated black crystals. Twilight fired a beam of light at the tyrant, only to be cast aside by a crystal that shattered upon contact. Seeing him rearing his head, Twilight faced with no other option. She teleported to Spike's side, casting a shield to protect them both from the blast. The violet Unicorn mustered all her strength to repel Sombra's dark magic.

A good distance away, the Umbrum glowed a bright red. "Destroy her!"

Sombra's magical aura grew much more intense as his spell drew much closer. Spike watched when a small aura wrapped around him. The young dragon was confused before noticing Twilight slowly turning her head. His eyes widened when he noticed Twilight curl a smile, a tear just streaming from her eye.

"I love you, Spike."

In a split second discharge of energy, Twilight dissolved the shield to teleport Spike as far as she could when Sombra's spell wraps over her, the other Elements of Harmony looked in horror as Twilight screamed. When the spell cleared, what was in Twilight's place was no longer a flesh and blood pony, but a crystal statue standing in a pose of fright.

Everypony looked at the statue, their mouths open agape and their eyes small as pinpricks. Rainbow Dash slowly turned a glare at Lightning Dust, who also had the same look.

The other antagonists looked at the stunned populace.

"Well," - Hydia lit up her horn, aiming it at the nearest pony - "there's still enough time for it."

Suddenly a series of tarot cards stab into her horn. Looking up, Cosgrove just descended from Luna's royal chariot, Sunset joining him in a flash of sea green. Blackarachnia drew a sneer as she launched towards the Hipparion before being retracted back by Sombra's magic.

"Our mission is done..." Sombra quickly became shadow as he began engulfing his allies. Seeing Lightning Dust enveloped in shadow as well, Rainbow Dash in a fit of rage flew as fast as she could, but by the time she reached the ground, it was too late. Tears welled up in the Pegasus' eyes before she slammed both hooves on the ground and screamed.

A while later, the Mane Five, the Crusaders, Cosgrove and his grandparents waited outside of the library. Inside, Spike peeked from behind a bookshelf as Sunset and Princess Celestia discussed the crystalline statue.

"This spell I recall was the one used on the first Princess Amore." - The Alicorn touched the statue - "Thank the maker that he had not shattered it at the same time."

"Then there is a spell that can bring her back?" Sunset asked.

Celestia lowered her head, "There was..."

Realizing this, Spike ran towards them. "No, no it can't be!" - he begged - "You have the power, you can bring her back!" - He began to tear up - "Please!"

"I'm sorry, Spike." - The Alicorn embraced him - "But unless we can find a spell, Twilight may remain this state forever."

Spike slowly backed away, his claws trembling, before he ran to the nearest bookshelf and began pulling out books.

"She can't be gone, I'll find the cure!" - the young dragon skimmed each book before tossing it aside - "I will!"

The two older individuals looked at each other before Princess Celestia walked over and embraced him.

"I have too!" The young dragon sniffled as he clung onto the ruler's white fur, weeping as he is brought to reality.

A few days later, every inhabitant of Ponyville, including a few guests such as a few additional Apple Family members, gathered around the statue. Twilight's immediate family sat in front, with Twilight Velvet weeping as her remaining child, Shining Armor, rubbed her back. Princess Celestia stepped before her people, taking a deep breath.

"And so the departure of Twilight Sparkle is a tragic loss to us all. She was among my greatest students, and one of my best friends. I remember when she would check out a large pile of books so much that she would max out her library card. I will miss her dearly as so we all. Rest well, Twilight, rest well."

As if on cue, Philomena ascends and burns ceremonially. When the light faded, Shining Armor lined up next to a column of soldiers, issuing an order to fire several blasts into the air that exploded in a series of colors.

As the funeral was shown on air, back at the Mane Manor, Trixie, Cogsworth, Spot, Garble, and Mary watched as Celestia delivered her speech. The crippled Earth colt turned to the magician.

"Anything we would like to say?" He asked.

"Before I left Canterlot, I remember Twilight Sparkle was always such a bookworm." - The blue Unicorn sniffled - "But she knew a few steps ahead."

Garble snorted, "She was just one of those namby-pamby Ponies, just like her dragon pet."

"I can tell you one thing," the group turned around to find a recovering Bridgette looking at a microscope, "she's not dead."

"How so, like me?" Asked Mary.

"Matter cannot be created or destroyed, only converted to one form or another. Unless the law of conservation was repealed, she's not dead."

Trixie looked at the display case of Bridgette's second apprentice.

"If only that were true to Jamieson."

The master of the house glared at her new student, promoting Spot to wave his arms."

"Sorry, low blow." He barked.

Over the course of a few days again, the effect of the loss took hold of Twilight's closest friends. At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was busy harvesting the family crop. When she came across one tree holding red apples, the farmer imagined the pure white eyes from the Red Hood on each fruit. Gritting her teeth, she bucked at the trunk, relieving it of its burden before smashing each individual apple. Stopping at the sight of a shadow, Applejack turned to find her older brother looking at her with a pitiful look on his muzzle. Tears welled in her eyes before the proud farmer broke down, embracing her brother as the water streamed down her face.

Pinkie Pie tried to keep a happy face as she baked for her customers. But it is still pretty evident when she delivered orders.

“Uhm, Pinky” - Bon Bon pointed to the order, a violet carrot cake with Neapolitan ice cream on the side - “this isn’t what I ordered.”

“Oh,” - Pinkie's hair deflated slightly - “I'm sorry, I'll get you another order.”

The party Pony grabbed the order and bounded a good enough distance into the kitchen before she broke down and cried so hard, tears shot out of the kitchen like a fire hydrant, washing away the customers.

Rarity was just signing a commission form to sell duplicates of Twilight's grand galloping gala costume.

“Your friend would be happy that you are letting her do this.”

The white Unicorn looked to the Library before lowering her head.
“Not entirely.”

Rainbow Dash flew around the town’s airspace, her face clenched in rage as she rammed through every cloud, a reminder for what she would have done to her rival along with that Changeling.

Ever since her passing, Fluttershy would weep in her garden, her animal companions surrounding her. Inside her college, Discord, now (for the most part) reformed, looked at his first friend, one of the few times the normally happy go lucky Draconequus was sad. His daughter, Screwball, floated towards the door.

“Well, I'm going out to do some well-deserved chaos.” Screwball placed a hoof on the doorknob.

“No more acts of chaos, Screwie.” Moaned Discord as he lowered his head.

Confused at first, the Chaos Pony then chuckled. “You’re such a kidder, Da-”

“I SAID NO!!” - The Draconequus lashed out at his daughter, scaring her to seep into a crack in the stairs. Screwball shivered in her hiding spot before being joined by her father. - “Oh, I'm sorry, Screwball. It’s just that without Twilight, Chaos has no punchline.”

With Twilight gone, Sunset Shimmer was now the official library master, but she wasn’t happy about it. Stamping each book to give to a borrower, then having to reorganize it on a shelf gave her a sense of nostalgia. Memories flooded around her as she recalled each moment she was with her former classmate from shunning her off as a filly to trying to prove she was the best as an adult.

One particular memory surfaces. One point as a filly, Sunset was berated by Princess Celestia after getting into a fight with Twilight.

“Sunset, you will apologize to Twilight this instant.” She ordered.

“Why, she started it!” Said the young Unicorn as she crossed her arms.

“I felt your magic start first.” Celestia rebuked “why do you-”

“Because she is all so special!” - Sunset lashed out - “She believes she can be your own pet, well I came here first, damn it!”

“Sunset!” Celestia stopped her as the young Twilight hid behind her mentor.

Realizing what she had said, the young Sunset drew her ears back before running out of the room. Twilight looked on as her sniffles echoed across the hall.

“Sunset…” whispered the young Twilight before the memory flashed over to the present, the visual of Cosgrove carrying a scrapbook in his saddlebag.

“Oh, hi Cosgrove.” - Sunset sniffled as she wiped a small tear from her eye - “Just came by to visit?”

“That, and I wanted to check up on Spike.” Cosgrove answered.

Upstairs, the young dragon curled up on Twilight's bed, his arms wrapping around his muzzle. Right in front of him, Owlowiscious sat there.

“I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Who…”

“Without Twilight, I feel empty.”

“Who…”

“Twilight, my friend.”

“Who…”

“Your owner.” Spike furrowed his brow as he lifted up his saddened eyes.

“Who…”

“The original owner of this library.”

“Who…”

Spike began to shake before exploding before the strigiform.

“The Pony who now won’t hold me back from coming at you!” The young dragon chased the owl around the room, jumping up and down to catch the hovering bird.

Just as Cosgrove walked up the stairs, Owlowiscious soared to the Hipparion, ascending above him and hovering behind him. Just when he looked ahead, Spike jumped at Cosgrove, causing them both to roll down the stairs, landing on the floor with a hard thud before the young Pony rolled back up and pinned Spike to the ground. A moment of hard breathing, the dragon calmed down well enough for Cosgrove to release him.

“Sorry,” - Spike dragged his arm across his muzzle - “Owlowiscious was just teasing as usual.”

High on a bookshelf, the little owl crossed his arms, raising a brow in disagreement.

“We miss her, Spike.” - Sunset walked up to them - “We all do.”

“How can you two get over the fact that our best friend is… is…” Spike placed his claws over his eyes when a yellow forearm stretched forward. Uncovering his eyes, Cosgrove took out his scrapbook, revealing pictures of his younger years in Ponyville.

“Talk.” Cosgrove answered.

A good distance away in the Everfree Forest, the Ponies responsible for the attack hid in an abandoned house, Lightning Dust kept watch outside. Inside, however, their success is met on a rather sour note.

“What do you mean, Mother?” - Sombra asked as the Umbrum grew brighter - “Twilight has been defeated, the others cannot use their elements against us.”

“The Elements do not affix to one owner.” The Umbrum growled “They become part of anyone who best fits the element.”

“Sunset Shimmer…” - Hydia growled before stepping forward - “If I so may, why not discourage them much further?”

“How so, Hecate?” The Umbrum asked.

Unaware to either of them, Lightning Dust was watching them, learning of their plan.

“My barge may be destroyed, but I know of one destructive formula that will really get them running.”

Reeka and Draggle’s eyes widened.

“You don’t-?!”
“You mean?!”

“The Smooze.” - Hydia answered - “Even with the Phlume plant extinct, the Smooze can still create enough destruction before they can use their magical charms.”

The Umbrum hums echoed the room. “Very well, see to it as you must. My victory must be certain.”

Suddenly their ears picked up the sound of hooves scraping against the rocks. Lightning Dust immediately was a good distance away when a massive black cloud erupted from the house. The green Pegasus looked behind to see the predatory head of the former king of the Crystal Empire. With a zap of his mighty horn, Lightning’s left wing became crippled, careening herself down to the forest floor. Leaving the Pony to the predator’s mercy, Sombra slowly faded away.

Slightly further away, Zecora meditated on the sudden loss of Twilight Sparkle. Since Apple Bloom established a friendship between them, the Zebra has provided much-needed help. She was needed when the young farmer had a case of cutie pox when Spike was becoming greedy (and dare to say much larger), and tried to provide the means to defeat the then bewitched Trixie. She took a small sip from her cup, taking a few small breaths as she maintained her emotions.

Her ears flicked to the sound of frantic hooves passing by, drawing a concern from her foreign eyes.

“Even if it is not night, being in the forest alone does not give-” Zecora stopped when she found the wounded Lightning Dust wobbling passed the hut. This still made the Zebra concerned as she was told about her.

“Please…” - Lightning Dust was about to faint - “Take me to the library.”

The green Pegasus fainted on the forest floor. Zecora looked around for any signs of danger before lifting the stranger onto her back and began a slow trot over towards Ponyville.

“That looks like the exact spell Sombra placed on Shining Armor.” A faint voice was heard.

Slowly, Lightning's vision became clear as it revealed the remaining Elements of Harmony, Sunset, and Zecora looking at her

“It is still curable with the help of the Crystal Heart.” Added Applejack

“Uh, girls.” Whispered Fluttershy as she turned to her friends “She’s waking up.”

Rainbow Dash was the first to turn around and fly over to Lightning Dust, holding her down as she looked at her furiously.

“Glad you’re not dead,” - Rainbow snarled, aiming a hoof at her muzzle - “cuz I wanna make that my honor!”

“Rainbow!” Applejack pulled her back, trying to resist her squirming.

“You have a lot of nerve showing your flank over here again!” Rainbow Dash hissed.

“Why have you come, after what you’ve done?” Asked Sunset as she walked towards the injured Pegasus.

“I just wanted to get back at Rainbow for getting Spitfire to remove me from the Wonderbolts.”

“My fault?!” Rainbow rebutted “You almost got my friends and our teammates killed out there!”

“Never mind that,” Sunset interjected before turning back to Lightning Dust “Where are the others? What are their plans?”

“They plan to unleash something called a Smooze.”

The other Ponies were completely dumbfounded.

“What, pray tell,” - Rarity broke the silence - “is a Smooze?”

Suddenly a flash of light appears, revealing one of their former enemies floating above them.

“What’s a Smooze?” Discord asked in a tone like that of Rarity’s “Why Smooze and I go a long ways back.”

Stretching his bird arm, the Draconequus pulled down a screen, 1950’s style video countdown before displaying a Rocky and Bullwinkle style visual depicting what happened a millennia or so ago.

“Quite a long time ago, Hydia lead a revolt of her clan from Midnight Mountain against Celestia, with their chief weapon, the Smooze. Smooze gobbled up their armor, jewels, and even clothes. When all hope was lost, Discord came and saved the day.” The animatic Discord tore open a hole before casting the demon aside “While our Royal Princess’ journeyed about to rid an ingredient, I was placed in charge of repair.”

At the end of the video, Discord made a sinister chuckle before noticing the concerned muzzles of his equine friends before clearing his throat.

“Can’t you get rid of it like you have before?” asked Fluttershy.

“Well I would but with the Phlume plant extinct, it wouldn’t be sporty.”

“You, the spirit of chaos, don’t find the Smooze all that challenging?” Asked Applejack as she poked the brown, snakelike body.

“If one ingredient is ever missing, the Elements of Harmony should do the trick.” Discord suddenly rose his head “Oh right, but you still need the Element of Magic now that our dearly departed friend is on the other side.”

Spike suddenly got an idea as he ran towards the mismatched creature. “Can you bring Twilight back?”

A long awkward silence was then interrupted by a bellied laugh, when he opened one teary eye, he found the young dragon still waiting for an answer.

“Oh, you're serious? Well, I could…”

“But…?” Spike stood on his tippy toes.

“My magic cannot tear into the spiritual realm, besides, it would be like that time Screwball gave a poor stallion a monkey paw. It isn’t a pretty picture.” He snakes his way to Sunset “I'm sure the Element shall choose a new suitor, isn’t that right, Sunny?”

The entire audience looked at the Element of Magic resting on the chair, collecting dust after a few days from Twilight's funeral. Spike droops his tail as the orange Unicorn levitated the Element to her. Pinkie shuffled her hair as she took out a pair of kiddy sunglasses, ready for the unexpected.

After staring at her reflection on the star-shaped gem, Sunset nestled the Crown on her mane, her eyes closed shut as she prepared to expect any form of transition to come upon her. After a few seconds, her face relaxed, spying her friends with their eyes widened.

“So…” Cosgrove broke the silence “How do you feel?”

After looking up, tapping a hoof on the floor, Sunset raised a brow before looking at the mirror. “Just the same as before.”

She had a reason to; the gem at the top of the Crown hasn’t changed shape to her cutie mark nor has it changed color.

Discord’s normally slim body suddenly became much bulkier as he waddled over to Sunset.

“Guess your body doesn't realize it's the Element of Magic.” He said in a punk accent “Gonna take a lot more than a Crown, and Universe juice.”

“It’ll have to do,” She turns around “I may not be Twilight, but I wish this can make up for my past sins.”

Applejack walked up to her friend, wrapping an arm around her neck.

“If Twilight were here right now, she would be so proud of you.”

Sunset looked to see her friends look at her, many with smiles on their faces. This brought a fuzzy feeling in her heart.

“Group hug!” Pinkie chirped as they gave the new Element of Magic a group hug.

“Uh, Pinkie” Rainbow Dash suddenly reminded herself of the situation at hoof “shouldn't we do this after this is all done?”

“First, we need to tell the Mayor to evacuate the town.” Said Rarity.

Spike took out a parchment and ink quill, waiting for Sunset’s speech.

“Dear Princess Celestia, I am writing to you that a threat has been made to Ponyville. The Ponies responsible for the last attack plans to unleash the Smooze. We are currently in process of evacuating the town. We have heard about the extinction of the Phlume plant, and plan on using the Elements of Harmony to destroy it. Best of luck from your faithful student, Sunset Shimmer.”

Reading the letter next to her sister, Celestia’s face tensed as she stepped forward.

“Send for Shining Armor at once.” Celestia ordered

“My sister?” Luna beckoned

“These are troubled times, and we need the help we can muster.”

“But my sister, the Elements of Harmony should be just enough to stop the Smooze.” - Luna looked outside - “You have trained Sunset for this, though she doesn't know it.”

“It is true, Luna.” Celestia turned her head “But the Element of Magic isn’t ready for her.”

The younger Alicorn cocked her head. “Why thou say that?”

Meanwhile, in an unknown realm, Twilight Sparkle herself hastily looked around.

“What is this place?” - Turning around often had the same result, just empty void - “Hello?”

A while after writing to Celestia, Mayor Mare declared a state of emergency. Ponies of all kinds crowded the train station, gradually reducing in size as each train came and went. At Lion Tamer’s request, the Barn and Bailey Circus train arrived to pick up the remainder of the populace, that composed mostly of the children from the Elementary School.

“Daddy,” Diamond Tiara whined as she pinched her nose “why can't we wait for a fancy train?”

“Diamond, this is the only free way to travel,” answered Filthy Rich “besides, your friends are going with you.”

The boorish Pony groaned as she boarded the train. A distance away, the Crusaders, Cosgrove, and Spike were saying their goodbyes to the Elements.

“Big Mac will take good care of you, Sugarcube.” Said Applejack as she hugged her little sibling.

“And don’t worry, darling” Rarity sniffled “we’ll defeat those brutes like last time.”

“Take care, squirt.” Added Rainbow as she rubbed Scootaloo’s mane.

“Things will get better” Sunset embraced the Hipparion she knew for so long “they will.”

As the children boarded the train, Fluttershy flapped to Discord.

“Discord, may I ask a favor?”

“Anything for my first friend.” Answered the Draconequus with a bow.

“Watch over them and Screwball.”

Discord's eyes popped open. “But Fluttershy, you need me.”

“Right now, there are Ponies who need you more.” Fluttershy cemented it further with a hug.

Feeling a fuzzy feeling since being reformed, Discord dons on an eagle scout uniform, placing his lion arm on his heart and raised his bird index and middle fingers.

“I promise to do my best to do my duty (most of it anyway), Colt Scout’s honor.”

With a snap of his fingers, Discord and Screwball reappeared at the last car, the former in a dress as he cries in anguish, holding a handkerchief as the train moves farther and farther away. Lightning Dust looked on as she felt the guilt rising in her heart before she walked away.

Back at the station, Sunset took a deep breath before turning to her friends.

“Let's go.”

Back on the train, Cosgrove felt something funny in his saddlebag. Unzipping it, he found the most unlikely of objects: Sunset's journal. Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop cocked their heads in confusion.

“Why would Sunset trust you with her book?” Asked the grandfather.

The Hipparion flipped through a few pages before finding a note that revealed a set of alchemy spells he hasn’t tried yet, including one resembling her cutie mark with a warning label, “Only to be used as a last minute measure.”

Cosgrove embraced the book, knowing what will happen in the near future.

Back at Ponyville itself, the Mane Six waited for the threat to appear. Rainbow Dash floated high above them to get a better look. The silence was soon disturbed when a series of voice, as if scatting, became louder and louder. Soon the Valley was becoming swamped by a purple slime with a series of floating eyes and mouths as it devoured everything. Floating on it was a new sailboat with the three witches of Midnight Mountain.

Reeka and Draggle:
Something bad is coming down - have you heard the news?

Smooze:
Listen up!

Reeka and Draggle:
Get inside...better run and hide - nothing can stop the Smooze

Smooze:
You can't stop me!

Reeka and Draggle:
See the way it slithers forth - spewing gobs of ooze henceforth

Smooze:
I love ooze!

Hydia
Here is comes!

Reeka and Draggle:
Right now!

Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle:
Nothing can stop the Smooze!

Smooze:
No way!

Reeka, Draggle, and Smooze:
You can't escape it...you can't escape it - you haven't got a chance. Yeah!

Hydia:
That evil goo is a witch's brew

Reeka and Draggle:
No matter what you do, it's gonna get to you
Anyone who tries to fight is guaranteed to lose

Smooze:
Guaranteed!

Reeka and Draggle:
You can't win!

Hydia:
You oughtta pack it in

Hydia, Reeka, Draggle, and Smooze:
Nothing can stop the Smooze

Smooze:
Don't even try!!

Reeka and Draggle:
Here comes the Smooze cruisin' along singin' it's funky, gunky song!

Hydia:
Just ain't no way to stop...

Hydia, Reeka and Draggle:
Our gooey, gooey glop! Ooh!
When it comes to witches brews, Smooze is what we choose
We won't stop - nothing else can top our ......... unstoppable Smooze

Smooze:
I love to Smooze!

Reeka and Draggle:
Smooze...nothing can stop the Smooze

Smooze:
Smooze…

As the slimy monster drowned the town in sludge, the Elements of Harmony stood on a nearby hill, looking down with determined looks on their faces.

“Here goes.” Sunset closed her eyes as the other elements began to shine, levitating her friends into the air. The orange Unicorn rose up on her hind legs, ready to perform the first action as the Element of Magic.

Nothing happened. The Smooze still devoured the town.

“What gives?” Rainbow Dash protested

“I don’t know.” Sunset levitated the Element of Magic to her face “It should have worked with me!”

Suddenly, Discord's image appeared on the gem.

“Guess your body doesn’t recognize it as the Element of Magic.” His comment echoed in her head.

A lightning strike turned her attention as black smoke erupted from the boat, the predatory head of Sombra swirling around the town. The Smooze fossilized, changing from the harsh purple to obsidian. At the town square, Sombra materialized on a jagged crystal as another, giant red crystal erupted, becoming much taller as the sky grew darker.

Blackarachnia stood on the crow's nest as the Alicorn Amulet dissolved into her chitinous body, channeling its energy over to the bare spot on her head. Soon, the magic spiraled up into a horn.

“Yesssssss!!!!!” Blackarachnia squealed in sly joy at her restored feature. She then looked at the intruders below her. “Let's test this baby out!”

Hovering in the air, the drone channeled a new red aura in her horn as it illuminated hundreds of shapes in the crystalline ground.

“Arise my legion!”

On cue, Crystal dreadnoughts of her image erupted from the ground, screeching into the sky before their glass wings buzzed into the air.

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth. “Time for the hard way!” She pounded her hooves before noticing Fluttershy flying at a breakneck speed.

“Right now, Rainbow,” Applejack turned to her cyan friend “a retreat sounds like a good option right now.”

Immediately they ran away as the soldiers divebombed into the ground behind them, leaving small craters as they shattered into several pieces before being placed back together again.

A much further distance away, the event is unfolded again on TV as a journalist reported the event.

“And as we speak, the army is coming towards us, the Elements of Harmony couldn't stop them as we have hoped and-”

“What are you standing here for?!” Rarity pushed them into a gallop as the camera mare turned to the bombarding soldiers “Run!”

Once the visual became static with the label “Please Stand By,” the residents of the Mane Manor stared in shock and awe. Cogsworth’s hoof slowly curled up.

“My home…”

“That not possible!” Spot barked before pointing to his head and neck “Gems they possess usually work.”

“Trixie recalls from her studies that the Elements work with those who suit them the most.” Said Trixie “Now without an Element of Magic, we are lost.”

“I wouldn't say that.” Said Bridgette while she drew up a 3D map of the contaminated Ponyville “I was able to get a schematic of the town. The red Crystal is shallowly rooted to the ground.”

Cogsworth rubbed his chin before gesturing.
“A well aimed spiral grenade should be able to shatter it.”

“Not possible, energy is pulsing at an alarming rate, deflecting any physical weapons such as a missile.” Rebutted Rachel

“Us Diamond Dogs should be able to dig it out!” Said Spot.

“Mary will push shiny, red rock.” Added the Zombie as she flexed her muscles.

Garble eyeballed at the massive tank behind them. “I can get the boys to provide cover fire.”

The master of the house stares forward, looking furious at the probable suicidal idea as she raised herself with her cane. The others were silent as Bridgette walked towards the entrance of the cave. Rachel, the first of Bridgette's apprentices back in the day, walked to her side.

“I’ve known you for too long to not think what you plan to do.”

Bridgette stopped and glared at her first young ward.

“The mission is not over.”

A good distance away again, the refugees that took the Barn and Bailey Circus train now roamed with the circus folk. Some did not like it, but others enjoyed being in the company of the strange beings. Cosgrove's family and Spike stayed in the same tent before the Hipparion left for Ponyville.

“Wow…” Loopty Hoop stretched her arm up “I never realized how small this tent was.”

“Brings back memories…” Lion Tamer added.

Suddenly, Spike's belly vibrated before belching out green smoke that soon materialized into another scroll. The young dragon unfurled it and began to read it.

“We have been unable to stop the Smooze and the situation has become much worse. We have been able to escape, but now we need to come up with a counter attack plan while Princess Celestia sends additional help.” Spike looks at the Tamer family, now with a worried look on their faces.

Cosgrove slammed a hoof on the dresser. “And Discord found this unsportsmanlike?”

Suddenly Discord appeared once more, now with a frustrated look.

“You know, I do have better reasons than that.”

“Such as?” Asked Scootaloo

Discord snapped his fingers, releasing a caged lion, causing ponies nearby to scream. The lion chooses Zecora it jumps out of the cage and begins chasing her.

“As you see, a lion chases a zebra. Nature isn't normal, chaos abounds in situations like this. Here the Zebra’s heart thumps, her body sweats, and her mind races to find an escape route.”

“Stop!!!” Sweetie Belle shrieked just as the lion was about to jump on Zecora. Soon they were back in the circus tent.

“What the hay was the point of all that?” Questioned Apple Bloom as she glared at the Draconequus.

Discord rolled his eyes, “The lion is the point.”

“The lion?” Said Loopty Hoop

“Yes, the lion is there to alert the Zebra of the lion.” Discord still didn’t get a response from his audience “My point is how would you learn if the danger was gone with” - The mismatched animal stopped himself from snapping his fingers - “a snap of the fingers?”

“Sunset would not allow me to do this-”

“Without help?” Discord interrupted as he wrapped around the Hipparion before looking at the audience “And the fossil Pony was taught under one of Celestia's finest. You have your miniature army before you.”

“What?!” Said Chelsey “We don’t know how to fight!”

Suddenly, the horse was tossed a bo staff from Zecora.

“Then you must learn fast.” the zebra stepped to Cosgrove’s side “Or you too will be a thing of the past.”

The children looked as they began to understand the situation. Cosgrove looked at Sunset’s journal when another shadow, Spike's, loomed over her words. The two assistants of Canterlot Students looked at each other before giving each other a nod.

“Rule 1: This will be taught on a higher level from where we are now.”

At a closer distance to Ponyville, the Mane Six conjured up a plan.

“With outside help coming soon, and Lightning Dust not among them, this does make things more even. Applejack, you can keep the Red Hood busy, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, you will fight the witches.” Sunset's plan now made the yellow Pegasus cringe “Rainbow Dash, you will take care of the Changeling. I will fight Sombra.”

“With the Elements useless now, this plan is so dangerous it's stupid.” Rainbow Dash looked at her Element

Pinkie Pie stood on her hind legs, placing her front ones on her hips. “Of course, we dare to be stupid.”

The others were silent, giving the party Pony a look.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

Back at Mane Manor, Bridgette watched the sky become ever more darker, her backside illuminated by the lit fireplace. Her associates looked in the other direction as their unusual guest stirred her spoon in a filled teacup.

“This is crazy, even for me, but if we do not do something, there will be no world left to rule over. And I fear that Celestia's help won't survive this battle.” She turns to her guest “I ask of you this: help us fight long enough for the Diamond Dogs to unearth the Umbrum.”

The blackened hoof stopped stirring before a sickly green aura lifted the cup into the shadows, where a toothy maw sipped the brew.

“Only on one condition.” The guest rose out of her chair and walked into the light, revealing a heavily scarred Changeling Queen, easily towered over the master of the house “That I finish off Sombra.”

The associates turned to their manager, who gave Chrysalis a deep glare as usual.

“Deal.”

Throughout the song, the help became much more expanded. Cosgrove, Spike, and Zecora trained the Crusaders, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver on how to fight. Apple Bloom, having been with the Zebra for quite a while, learned the basics of making simple potions. Sweetie Belle was taught the basics of using defensive magic, able to fire a few blasts on empty bottles, weak but with good accuracy. Scootaloo learned quite a few agile moves, with her wing power slowly her descent to deliver a few combos. Not being quite a grown Mare, Chelsey aimed her strikes at vital areas to maximize damage. Zipper was wanting to do this for some time; increasing his speed in circles, the Sleipnir generated a tornado or two. Diver, with her great mass, learned a tackle maneuver where she would roll onto the training dummies.

A distance over, the Brobdingnags were passing by when one in particular stopped and looked at the darkening sky. With a bellow, he walked away from the herd to the source of the problem.

North of Canterlot, Shining Armor stood over a hill, hundreds of Crystal Pony soldiers standing behind him. One of whom walked to his side.

“On my word,” Said Shining “we strike.”

Back at Mane Manor, preparations were well underway. Spot had already left to gather his kind. Garble called his friends over, and like him before, they gave an appealing whistle at the massive tank in the room. Cogsworth rolled his wheelchair to a landing dock where the Galgameth rested. Unhitching one transport, the mechanic heaved himself into the cockpit, allowing the wires inside the glowing interior to connect into his spinal cord. Further below the cave, four dark silhouettes stood before a black void. One of them gives the Unicorn a piece of cloth and hat. Taking one good look at it, she wears it over her head before placing her hat over her horn. She turns around, revealing the frightening glare that Alison remembered over forty years ago.

“By Celestia…” She said as the new Mare Do Well walked up the stairs, ready for her new mission.

Back at Ponyville, or the town so covered in fossilized Smooze and jutting crystals, it would basically be totally unrecognizable, Sombra watched from a massive spire as his mother illuminated by his side, curling a toothy grin. His ears then flicked to the sound of yelling and rapid hoofbeats. Turning around, he found Shining Armor’s army charging full force.

“Blackarachnia!!!” - the Shadow Pony roared - “Send our army and dispose of them! I want that Unicorn’s head delivered to the Crystal Princess.”

With a glow of her makeshift horn, the corrupted Changeling sent her legion over to the opposing army. Even with Sombra’s army having a flight advantage, a majority of Shining’s are Crystal Unicorns. In rapid fire, the bombarding Obsidian soldiers became obliterated, another squadron of Shining’s army provided a shield to prevent the shrapnel from piercing their armor.

A small distance away, Hydia and her daughters watched when Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy (still scared of being in a harsh environment like this) stepped before them.

“So, you Ponies still want revenge for what Sombra did to your friend?” Hydia turned around, lighting up magic from her horn.

“Revenge isn't normally on a lady’s agenda.” Rarity then rose on her hind legs, rubbing her arms as if she had sleeves “But if it's a fight you want…”

Hydia then fired a blast at the fashionista, leaving a massive hole in her ship. Agitated that her new vessel is now damaged, the witch turned to find Rarity levitating a cauldron of water.

“You want things to be dank as well?” Rarity flung the cauldron over the witch, further infuriating her.

Pinkie Pie continually blasted Reeka with her party cannon, gradually covering her in a mixture of glue and confetti, toppling the obese witch to the ground. Fluttershy was fleeing from Draggle, who constantly flung fire spells that nearly blackened her otherwise yellow fur. The skinny witch stopped and turned to the victorious pink Earth Pony.

“If you don’t want to play.” Draggle then charged up a fireball “Then maybe your friend will.”

Pinkie thought fast as she bounded away from each blast as they scorched the deck with each blast. Draggle continuously chased her when Fluttershy swooped into view, deploying her trademark stare. The witch faltered back before tripping on top of her sister.

A distance south of the fight, Spike showed a look of determination on his face as he readied to avenge his fallen sister.

“You ready, Cosgrove?”

A little zoom out revealed the young dragon on top of the Hipparion.

“Just to let you know,” the former circus Pony turned his head to his right side “I didn't pass the practice exam.”

Spike leaned right. “Seriously? You're talking about that right as we go into battle?”

Cosgrove's answer was a simple look of frustration as the Crusaders, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver joined their sides. Rearing onto his hind legs, the Hipparion galloped forth. Spike twisted his body around as he gave out the orders.

“Apple Bloom, you, Scootaloo and Zipper go to Shining Armor and tend to any of the wounded. Sweetie Belle, you, Diver and Chelsey help Rarity. We will go help Sunset.”

“And how are we going to do that?” Asked the young Horse as she raced to the young dragon.

Spike looked to the Umbrum, “We’ll find a way, now go!”

The young Ponies split off into different directions. At one point during Apple Bloom’s, Scootaloo’s, and Zipper’s journey, they came across a few of Sombra’s troops. With a quick burst speed circle and a swift kick by Scootaloo, the tornado quickly swept them away.

Just as Sunset was nearing the Umbrum, Sombra solidified before her, growling as he readied for the next fight.

“You are no Element of Magic…” Sombra growled “And you never would be.”

The orange Unicorn closed her eyes, accepting this fact when another thought occurred to her.

“Neither was Radiant Hope.” Sunset's answer made Sombra's predatory eyes widen as memories flash to his childhood days with his best friend “What would she say to you now?”

The former Lord of the Crystal Empire closed his eyes, leaving the noise to the battle around them. Then he opened his eyes once again, demonstrating his fury. Sunset lit up her horn, ready to defend herself.

“Radiant Hope is dead! I am shadow, I am eternal!”

Just before he could attack, a sickly green blast hit his side. Returning to his shadow form to recover, he looked to his right at a face he had not seen in quite a while. Queen Chrysalis hovered to the ground, her own set of eyes glowing in rage.

“You…” Sombra growled as he became solid again.

“Like I have said once upon a time, I will have your head!”

Sunset’s ear flicked to a constant buzzing sound as thousands of Changeling drones hovered behind her, hissing, ready to attack. Sombra summoned his own platoon of attack units before charging at the Queen. Chrysalis did the same as they locked horns with each other, their respective subjects colliding in flurries of green and red.

Sunset took this opportunity to continue her trek over to the Umbrum. Another section of troops blocked her path when a massive tank charged over them. Inside, Garble and his friends were having a ball with the vehicle as they blasted the troops around them. Continuing further, she found a massive pack of armored Diamond Dogs hard at work in unearthing the gem while the Frankenstein Monster, connected to an electrical generator, applied her ever increasing strength to topple it.

Rarity still dodged Hydia's attack as she increased the frequency of her blasts. But now backed against a wall, Rarity prepared for the worst when a light green blast hit the witch's flank. Hydia turned around to find Sweetie Belle, her horn glowing, while Chelsey wrestled Draggle to the ground and Diver kept smacking Reeka with her tail. Hydia charged up her horn once more at the young Unicorn when Rarity levitated the sail off the mast and wrapped it around her. As she done so, a series of loud crashes were heard as a massive beast approached the boat. The soldiers inside the ship began firing cannonballs at the beast. But in part of his much larger size he attained since leaving, the Brobdingnag’s skin bounced the balls away, though they did leave bruises.

Even when tied up, Hydia still aimed a blast at Rarity. The fashionista looked as Schnookums bellowed before wrapping her magic around the witch and flinging her away. Mistaking the witch for a large parasprite, Schnookums began to inhale, sucking the witch as she screamed down his gullet and into his stomach.

Reeka and Draggle looked in shock at the sudden loss of their mother. That is until they turned to each other with a grin on their faces.

“We're free!!!” They called out as they hugged each other.

As they cheered on, Rarity panted in and out before looking at her smaller sister.

“Why… are you… here…?”

Further up in the air, Rainbow Dash and Blackarachnia locked hooves as the latter continuously tried to bite her adversary's throat. Rainbow eyed the ground, noticing a yellow and violet object racing towards the Umbrum.

“Spike? Cosgrove?” She said.

The Changeling looked down to find one of her targets from Saddle Arabia galloping towards her new master. Pushing her aside, Blackarachnia immediately dove towards the two. Rainbow Dash tried to catch up, but one of the troops grabbed Rainbow before it got blasted by another Changeling drone.

Just as they were close to their goal, Blackarachnia slammed herself onto Cosgrove, flinging Spike a few meters forward. The young dragon turned to find the insect-like being lifting the Hipparion off the ground. Cosgrove moved his neck to face his partner.

“Go! Complete the mission!” He ordered before turning once again to the toothy maw of his enemy from Saddle Arabia, noticing her new horn.

“Take a good at it, Pony.” She hissed “It will be the last thing you’ll see.”

“Funny…” Cosgrove managed to take out her original horn through tied hooves “I really liked your old one!”

In a quick movement, he stabbed Blackarachnia’s back with the dismembered horn, beginning a free fall once released. Pulling out the horn, green blood oozed from the wound. With a shriek, she dove after Cosgrove, dodging his ignited tarot cards as she came screaming to him. Taking out a quill and parchment, the Hipparion quickly drew a wind and water symbol before illustrated a shallow curve. A small burst of turbulence extended twice as fast as he can fall, allowing for a soft landing.

Blackarachnia was furious, growling as she ignited her horn. She fires a steady blast directly at Cosgrove just when a massive robot intervenes, receiving the blast on the upper shoulder. Both fighters knew who this was, but for Cosgrove, this was for the better.

“My turn.” Said Cogsworth as he modified the arms into satellite shaped appendages before firing two steady streams of lightning that was locked by the Changeling’s horn blast.

Applejack was in the midst of fighting the Red Hood. She chased her rooftop after rooftop before the assassin pulled out a gun. The farmer reacted quickly by lassoing the weapon, pulling it to her, and crushing it under her hooves.

“Not bad, cowgirl.” The Red Hood pulls out another gun “But how long can you keep it up?”

Just as she pulls the trigger, a boomerang shaped projectile sticks itself into the barrel, causing it to explode and chip off a section of the nail. The assassin turns to find her new assailant, Mare Do Well, in a black and gray outfit, glaring at her.

“Mare do Well is real?” Applejack cocked her head.

“So,” Trying to apply as little weight as she could to her damaged limb, the Red Hood pulls another gun “the Dark Knight Returns…”

Before she could pull the trigger, Mare Do Well flings another projectile, batting it off the Red Hood. She immediately leaps onto the criminal, knocking her to the ground before being flipped over. Pulling out a knife, the Red Hood then did a series of thrusts, at one point making a tear to the cowl, revealing chainmail. She was about to throw the knife when a lasso wrapped around her wrist. Before being pulled away, the Hood grabbed the cowl and tore it off, revealing the identity to Applejack.

“Trixie?!”

The magician gave a small smile before adding, “The great and Apologetic.”

“Hmph.” The Red Hood scoffed “Guess the Old Mare didn't have it in here anymore. Well, I guess I should make it even.”

Unhitching the locks at the back of the helmet, the real face of the Red Hood is revealed: a slightly pale face with black hair, albeit with a noticeable white stripe streaking across the sides.

At the manor, Bridgette rose up, shocked at the familiar face.

“Jamieson…”

Looking at her again, a slight flash revealing the once mangled body of when Jamieson was Bridgette's second soldier.

“Yes… Now you know…” She looked at her helmet “But was it a simple death experience that made me rabid, or is this the real me?”

After kicking the helmet aside, Jamieson began to fight Trixie and Applejack once again.

The Diamond Dogs were getting much closer to their goal, as shown by Mary gradually starting to budge the Umbrum.

“Sombra!” She beckoned “Come to your mother! Make her whole again!”

While locking horns with Chrysalis, Sombra heard his mother’s call, fading away into smoke. Much to her agitation, Chrysalis resumed her battle against his soldiers. The shadowy form approached the crystal, their aura’s of Magic intertwining before Sombra became absorbed into the Umbrum. With another blast of energy directed at Blackarachnia, the energies from what was once the so-called Alicorn Amulet were sapped out, rendering the Changeling hornless again.

The Umbrum began to change, no longer it was a massive Crystal, but it now took the form of a massive Unicorn, one could easily guess she would be twice Celestia's size. Looking at the first Pony she saw with predatory eyes, Sunset began to step back as she lit up her horn. From afar, Spike looked from the corner of a building. Mary reacted accordingly and charged at the abomination before being blasted away.

Back between Applejack, Trixie, and Jamieson, they watched as the Umbrum approached Sunset.

"Guess my shift ends here." Jamieson immediately jumped off the roof. Trixie turned around to see the Red Hood now a good distance away.

Knowing of the dilemma, the Diamond Dogs quickly burrowed back to their home. Chrysalis, now having the unconscious Blackarachnia prisoner, watched the battle begin to unfold.

“Our battle is done here.” The Changeling Queen and her forces ascended into the air as they left the others to their fate.

“Do you think that your spells could save your life?” She asked as she approached the Unicorn. Without even looking, the Umbrum jutted up a crystal that quickly upturned the tank, knocking out the dragons inside.

Suddenly, Shining Armor, Cosgrove, Cogsworth, and a few Crystal Unicorns stood by her side. The orange Unicorn turned to her apprentice, giving him a slightly harsh look.

“Discord's idea, not mine!” He answered.

“Provide cover fire!” Lighting up his horn, Shining fired at the Umbrum, quickly being joined as additional blast colors, tarot cards, and spiral grenades bombarded her, but at best it could slow her to a crawl.

A good distance from the glowing battlefield, Twilight's statue stood, partially covered under fossilized Smooze.

Back at the unusual realm, Twilight continued to wander around.

“Okay, Twilight,” She reasoned to herself “There must be a reason why I am here. Let's think…”

“Congratulations, Twilight.” - A voice echoed across the realm. Looking behind her, Twilight saw the sympathetic face of her mentor - “I knew you could do it.

“Princess... I don't understand.” Twilight asked “True I did save Spike, but why am I here?”

“You did something today that's never been done before. Something even a great Unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded was not able to do, because he did not understand friendship like you do. The lessons you've learned here in Ponyville have taught you well. By making the ultimate sacrifice,you have proven that you're ready, Twilight.”

Twilight paused. “Ready? Ready for what?”

Twilight followed her mentor through a "hall" as images of her past adventures were shown before her.

[Princess Celestia]
You've come such a long, long way
And I've watched you from that very first day
To see how you might grow
To see what you might do
To see what you've been through
And all the ways you've made me proud of you
It's time now for a new change to come
You've grown up and your new life has begun
To go where you will go
To see what you will see
To find what you will be
For it's time for you to fulfill your destiny

As a series of lights circled around her, Twilight slowly ascended as the area became brighter and brighter.

Back at the battlefield, soldier after soldier is tossed aside like a ragdoll. The Mane Six was in retreat while Sunset, Cogsworth, and Trixie fired their projectile weapons at the Umbrum, who continued to shrug it off.

“Your lives are mine…” the Umbrum hissed as she stepped ever closer “for the insurrection of the Crystal Kingdom.”

Her eyes then focused on the sudden glow coming from the Elements of Harmony, drawing curiosity from an otherwise dark time.

“Sunset,” Rarity piped up “are you the Element of Magic now?”

“I'm not the one doing this.” answered Sunset, drawing away from her attack.

Cogsworth looked at the radar in the bottom right corner of the HUD, noticing a bright light coming straight at them.

“The Galgameth is picking a massive energy signature,” - He looked to find the height indicator, showing it to be a few hundred feet above ground - “and it’s airborne!”

Soon after saying that, a violet glow from a series of white and violet stars illuminated the entire town. The Umbrum growled.

“End her!” She ordered her soldiers, who immediately charged at her, only to be blasted with a certain amount of power witness only by Applejack.

Beneath the glow, two more much smaller set of eyes opened as the Elements of Harmony drew their power to her. In one quick motion, a massive rainbow erupted from the glowing orb, wrapping around the Umbrum, who merely continued to walk until her usual red color blackened before becoming completely immobile by the time the rainbow receded. The dark clouds above soon dissipated and the fossilized Smooze shattered and blown to the wind as the orb landed on the ground. The large light receded as well, leaving the light to the moon and stars, and also revealing a very familiar face.

Spike approached her, unsure whether he’s seeing a ghost or not.

“Twilight?” He places a claw on the violet leg “Is that you?”

Arching her head back, Twilight showed her face to her friends while also showing a new feature: wings, spreading wide before them.

They all gasped at this fact.

“Wha…” Applejack placed a hoof on her mouth “I-I've never seen anything like it!”

“Ha!” Rainbow Dash soared over to the winged Twilight, chuckling “Twilight's got wings! Awesome! A new flying buddy!”

“Why, you've become an Alicorn.” -Added Rarity - “I didn't even know that was possible.”

“Alicorn party!” Pinkie Pie screamed before taking out a kazoo and blowing on it as the others cheered.

“Wow,” Fluttershy squeaked “You look just like a princess!”

“That's because she is a princess.”

“Huh?” Said the other Elements as they turned to Princess Celestia hovering down upon them.

“Hold on a second!” Pinkie Pie quickly filled up a glass with water, drank it, then spat it out.

“A... A princess?” Twilight said shakingly

The Alicorn nodded, “Since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess.”

Twilight smiled before another question riddled in her head. “But... does this mean I won't be your student anymore?”

“Not in the same way as before.” Celestia wrapped a wing around the new Alicorn “I'll still be here to help and guide you, but we're all your students now, too. You are an inspiration to us all, Twilight.”

Twilight looked to see her friends giving her an encouraging smile before bowing before her. But again she furrowed her brow.

“Is there a book I should read?” She asked again.

The Ponies around her laughed as Spike hugged the one he called a sister.

“There will be time for all of that later.” Celestia answered once more before turning around and walking towards the Royal Express "Come, we have much to do."

The whole group began their march to the Royal Express. Rainbow Dash looked around, noticing that one of them is missing.

“Where’s Trixie?”

Cogsworth stopped and pivoted his machine to the radar pointing right, looking up at the sky.

“The mission isn’t over.”

As he ignited his thrusters and flew ahead of them, the view moves over to the Great and Apologetic Trixie, looking at the mountain range as the wind blew her cape and moon glowed behind her.

The next two days after, a lot of chatter echoed in the mountain city of Canterlot With a blare from a trumpet, the audience quieted down as Princess’ Celestia, Luna, and Cadance stood on the altar, the Mane Six and Shining Armor behind them.

“We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion. My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since she's lived in Ponyville. She even helped reunite me with my sister, Princess Luna. But today, Twilight Sparkle did something extraordinary. She created new magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess.” Spreading her wings, she decreed “Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

Two guards opened the doors, revealing the Christened Princess Twilight Sparkle in clothes like that of Cadance’s wedding, just modified enough to accommodate her wings. Behind her, flag bearers followed, each carrying a flag that now bore Twilight’s cutie mark.

[Choir]
The Princess Twilight cometh
Behold, behold
A Princess here before us
Behold, behold, behold
Behold, behold (behold, behold)
The Princess Twilight cometh
Behold, behold (behold, behold)
The Princess is
The Princess is here!

Joining her fellow Alicorns, with her dragon companion handing her the Element of Magic, Twilight walked out to the balcony to see the crowds cheer when Celestia nudged her student.

“Say something, Princess.”

“Oh. Um…” - With a clearing of her throat, Twilight spoke - “A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about." - Twilight turned to motion her friends over to the balcony- "But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!”

The crowd cheered once more as they walked back inside before Twilight is greeted by her brother.

“I'm so proud of you!” Said Shining Armor as a tear rolled out of his eye.

“Are you... crying?”

“Of course not. It's…” - Shining wiped the tear away - “it's liquid pride. Totally different thing.”

After a hearty laugh, the others walked by her side as she walked to the outside balcony.

“Way to go, Princess!” Said Applejack

“Best coronation day ever!” Cheered Pinkie Pie

“We love you, Twilight.” Said Fluttershy as her friends embraced her again

“I love you too, girls!” Twilight agrees with a great smile

[Twilight Sparkle]
Life in Equestria shimmers
Life in Equestria shines
And I know for absolute certain

[Main cast and crowd]
That everything (everything)
Yes, everything
Yes, everything is certainly fine
It’s fine

Suddenly, Discord popped out of the picture with his daughter Screwball on his shoulder.

“Yes! Everything’s going to be just fine!” He said before winking and with a snap of his fingers, the view became dark.

Revelations

Author's Note

First new chapter in three months. :pinkiehappy:

The main story takes place just before Princess Flurry Heart is born, and the ending takes place concurrently with the Premiere of "Equestria Girls: The Rubicon."

Revelations

The train stopped over at the city of Fillydelphia, releasing its passengers. Among them, Sunset, and Cosgrove walked out, strolling about the more urbanized streets. They do stop a few times, taking notice of a few family stores broken into and robbed. Community members from their respective districts looked on with sadness as police officers kept them at bay. Eventually, they reached the hotel, checking in and settling into their room. Cosgrove looked at a computer, opening up a Skype-style application and dialing up a frequency.

“Thanks for watching Dapplewood while I’m away.”

Much further away at Ponyville, recent renovations has restored the underground laboratory under the first library connecting to the Castle. It’s purpose became clear as Cogsworth tapped his hooves on several keyboards attached to a few computer monitors spanning a meter wide each. One such screen display Cosgrove’s yellow muzzle.

“Sure thing, bud. He seems to be warming up to me.” - the dinosaur came into view, took a sniffle at the computer screen before leaving - “So, what friendship problem have you two encountered so far?”

“Somewhat.” - Sunset came into view - “Several grocery stores have been robbed. So far the police are on the case.”

The mechanic placed a hoof on his muzzle, giving it a few taps. “Doesn’t seem to be much of a friendship problem then, is it?”

“Not if it discourages the local communities.” Cosgrove rebuttled “We’re about to talk it over with the owners.”

Indeed, the two sat down at a diners table with one such owner, wearing a bandage over his head.

“And we didn’t pay up, and then he attacked, robbed our store and ran off…” - the owner shakily took a sip of warm coffee.

“Can you recall what the robber looked like?” Sunset asked as she took a sip of tea.

The owner rubbed his chin, “No, he just wore a black mask. That’s all I know.”

Cosgrove placed his hoof on the owner’s, rubbing it tenderly. “We will handle this. Stay where it is safe.”

Sunset and Cosgrove walked along the sidewalk, planning their next move. “No doubt the pony responsible will take out the next store that hasn’t been robbed.” Said the former.

“And there are quite a few, if we choose one, the robber will choose another instead.” Cosgrove added.

“Trixie can help you with that.” The two visitors turned to find the Magician sitting at another dining chair, tilting her sunglasses to expose her violet eyes “Long time, no see.”

Though they just ate, reacquaintance with old friends does seem nice today. Not mentioning Trixie’s secret in public, the Unicorn and the Hipparion sat across from her.

“So, this Tirek destroyed the library” - the magician turned over to Cosgrove - “and you and Cogsworth fought in the lost city of Tambelon? Bridgette could have swore that there was a surge of magic in the mountains.”

“Yeah...” - Cosgrove turned his wrist, showing the partially healed alchemy symbol he used on Screwball at the near cost of his own life.

“I guess you travel a lot as well,” - Sunset waved a hoof - “being employed by a very wealthy business mare and all.”

“Indeed, Trixie has travelled from Blood Hayven to Manehattan,” - Trixie took a sip from her teacup - “Quite lovely sights, sans ennemis.”

Cosgrove and Sunset looked at each other. A lot of things have happened to Trixie, keeping her promise of being “Great and Apologetic.” In no way she is going back to being foolish. “When would you like us to meet?” Asked the former.

Trixie looked around before pointing to a spotlight on one of the buildings. “That building, eight o’clock tonight.” As soon as the two ponies turned around, Trixie was already gone without a trace, not even any smoke trail she used to do.

They returned to their hotel room again. As this will be a long night, Sunset and Cosgrove slept in their comfy beds throughout the rest of the day. It was around seven o’clock of a very warm evening when the Unicorn got up and went to the restroom, washing her muzzle with cold water. As she moved the towel away from her face, the reflection had one key difference that made her jump: purple swirls for eyes instead of the natural arrangement. The reflection “pulled” itself out of the the mirror, floating around the real Sunset like a balloon.

“Hello, Sunny!” - Screwball twisted herself, distorting the orange body into her “natural” light violet, though she did retain Sunset’s hair style - “It’s been a while too.”

“Well you’ll have to wait a little longer, we have a long night ahead of us.” - Sunset exited the restroom, turning her head to find Cosgrove still in a deep sleep, whispering - “How has Cosgrove not awake after all that?”

Screwball walked out of Sunset’s mane, lowering her head to her vision. “Before you yelped I placed a little time displacement spell.” - Sunset placed her hoof on the Hipparion’s head, the limb phasing right through him - “By about a fourth of a second faster.”

“What do you want?” - Sunset furrowed her brows - “Because what happened at Tambelon doesn’t give you much leeway for a favor?”

“Oh no favor.” - Screwball wiggled her hoof - “I am just here to say that tonight's the night.”

“What is?”

“The sole remaining mystery that has been going on four years now.” - Screwball pointed over to the sleeping Cosgrove - “And like before, you can’t help him, should he accept the challenge.”

“What challenge?” - Before Sunset could get an answer, Screwball clopped her hooves, drifting away with the wind - “Hey!”

All that the Unicorn’s ears could pick up is the echo of her yell, the wind, and a nearby groan.

“What is all the yelling about?” Cosgrove sat up, rubbing his eyes before looking at the clock, Seven Thirty now.

Sunset, looking at the clock as well, began walking towards the door. “It’s time.”

True to Trixie’s word, they awaited the spotlight adorned tower. The cold wind blowing against their fur had them shake the discomfort off their bodies. The hour arrived, clock tower rung eight times, echoing the sleeping town with each chime. Sunset turned around, meeting face to face with Trixie, now adorned in a more high tech version of the Mare Do Well suit. The hat and cape still remain, though the former asset had a similar shape to that of her original hat.

“Just on time.” - Sunset watched as the silent avenger walked towards the edge of the building, looking down at an unrobbed dollar store - “So, what makes you think the next robbery is here?”

Trixie hopped on the rampart, kneeling as she stretched her neck down like a vulture. The masked thief looked at his surroundings before entering the store. Screams followed thereafter, prompting them to take action. Sunset teleported herself and Cosgrove into the store.

“Stop right there!” Cosgrove shouted, drawing out a tarot card.

The robber turned around, grabbing the store owner in a headlock. “Don’t move, or the pony gets it!”

It was a little stand off, one wrong move and the store owner would be severely injured, if not killed. No magic to be drawn forth. But fortunately, their third ally doesn’t need magic. From afar, Trixie leaped off the building, spreading her cape, swooping into the window to topple the burglar across the room.

“Oh, thank Celestia.” - The store owner sighed with relief - “I’ve heard about the other stores getting robbed. And when I didn’t pay up well…”

Cosgrove placed a hoof on the store owner’s chest, “Go home, the police will arrive soon.”

The owner left the store without a second question. Cosgrove turned around, joining with his older friend as she walked towards the bounded burglar.

“Now, let’s see who is underneath that mask.” - Sunset gripped the mask with her teeth, pulling it off before looking down at him. The burglar’s face was just like any other, with a few bruises on the cheeks. But the individual was hauntingly familiar, the same pony that she bumped into four years ago - “It can’t be…”

“Sunset, what is it?” Cosgrove looked up.

“This… Is the one… The one who… sabotaged...”

Cosgrove started to realize what she is saying. They have found the pony responsible for the sabotage that ended Night Dancer. He looked down at him with an increasing fury as his hoof reached his saddlebag. As quick as the Hipparion drew out a tarot card containing an electric spell, a small projectile batted the multi-fingered limb. Trixie still had a few questions to answer.

“I’m telling you! I don’t know what you are talking about!” - Blue Nickel, as his name was wrestled out, hung over from a large suspension wire several feet above ground.

“Four years ago, I bumped into you the evening Night Dancer was killed.” - Sunset looked up at the stallion - “And now it has come back to bite you.”

Trixie turned off her magic, sending Nickel a few feet down before grabbing the wire again. Nickel opened his eyes, meeting face to face with the victim’s son.

“Why did you do it?”

Fearing another drop, Nickel sputtered a few words before answering. “Gold Nugget wouldn’t pay, and when he does, it was only a quarter of what he owned. The boss didn’t like that-”

“Who are you working for?” Cosgrove inched his snout towards Nickel’s

“I-I don’t know!” - Not the right answer to make. Cosgrove grabbed a tarot card with a flame drawn on it, flinging it at the cable and softening the metal - “Stucco! Tangy Stucco! She’s the one you want!”

Cosgrove bared his teeth before turning around. Blue sighed with relief before Trixie let go of the rope. The stallion screamed as the floor fast approached him. At the last minute, a knot at the other end stuck to a fence post, sparing him from most certain death.

As they walked down the stairs, Sunset couldn’t help to notice Cosgrove’s bitter look on his face. Perhaps this was the challenge? Had he passed it? Either account was met with the Hipparion stopping to punch the wall. When they got back on the road, Trixie tapped a few buttons on her gauntlet. A few seconds after, the streets echoed with screeching tires as a newly made Mare Mobile zoomed toward them, spinning to the side to parallel park with the sidewalk. As she hopped in, Trixie pointed to their cutie marks, drawing their attention.

“They’re not glowing.” Sunset pondered on what could be more to do.

“Because the mission, isn’t over.” - Cosgrove hopped into the car, ready for the next fight. This was the big test Screwball had talked about. Before Sunset could get a chance to stop him, a pair of swirls appeared to the left of the car, closing down and shaking them - “You coming?”

Sunset drew her ears back, there won’t be going back from here, defeatedly saying, “I… have business elsewhere. Be careful.”

Beneath that angered look, the Hipparion curled a smile as the car door slid over them. The car screeched forward, speeding down the road to the destination of the challenge. Back at the hotel, this was met with a bitter response.

“So you just let him go?” - Cogsworth flailed his left hoof - “He’ll just get himself killed!”

“He won’t go alone.” - Sunset looked out of the window - “Trixie will make sure of that.”

“You’re not bothering to help him like you always have? Sunset, you’re like a sister to him.”

“I know… But this is his fight.”

“As well as yours!” He lashed out.

“Not anymore!” - Typical of her power, the computer screens next to the skype chat screen displayed Screwball’s crazed face - “As part of the bet, Sunny cannot help him this time.” - She watched Cogsworth lift himself with his upper body, looking furious - “You see, if Cosgrove doesn’t make the move, I let him go and things go like boring old normal. But if he does… well, let’s just say he isn’t the goody two shoes colt anymore.”

Cogsworth placed a hoof on his head as the laboratory echoed with Screwball’s laughter.

Standing on a cliffside outside Fillydelphia was an elaborate mansion. Made with the extorted money of several civilians, and a financial portfolio to match, the mistress looked out. This was her town, no officer would dare harm her. From behind a butler walked up to her. “Phone call for you, m’am.”

Stucco grabbed the phone. “Have you gotten the job done?”

“Boss! We have a problem!” - from the other side of the line, Nickel talked from a prison payphone - “Mare Do Well is coming over, and remember that botch up we did at the circus four years ago? The mare that got bagged in that, her son is coming for revenge!”

“A colt?” - Stucco raised an eyebrow as she looked outside, where some of the most trained guards a private citizen could afford watched - “What could a masked vigilante and a kid do with me?”

The “masked vigilante” had that covered when the Mare Mobile crashed through the gates, launched her into the air and colliding with the crime boss. Being knocked out, all Stucco could hear was the rapid fire that gradually died down. When she awoke, she only saw darkness aside from the light of outside world.

“Tangy Stucco.”

Stucco looked around, lighting up her horn to illuminate the dark room. Up above her dangled the unconscious, but still breathing, bodies of her soldiers. When her ear turned to a crashing noise, she drew her attention away from the window, firing a blast at nothing.

“Four years ago, you ordered a sabotage on a circus performance.”

Stucco raised a brow, her memory beginning to jog from the unusual young voice. “That was a lifetime ago. You got the wrong-” A tarot card flew out of the shadows fast, lodging into the enamel of her horn.

“Yes, my lifetime.” - In a quick motion, Stucco was punched to the for - “You took her from me and in cold blood, Stucco.”

The Unicorn tried to light up her horn, but the card was dug so deep into it that it cut out all changes of magic. “Kid, how do you know all this?”

“I know because I watched it happen.” - A quick blur knocked her onto her office desk, feeling four additional hooves on her body - “I know because I am the son of the mare you murdered!” - The figure drew his neck forward, revealing the stripey face of Cosgrove, looking down with a venomous glare - “I am Cosgrove!”

Rather than be afraid of this child she knew very little about, the crime boss was still indifferent. “Pony, you come a bit of a stretch just for a little payback.” - Stucco grabbed a small crowbar, thwacking him off of her - “I like that in a grunt. Sadly,” - She flipped the crowbar to the hooked end - “the only position I have available for you is whipping boy.”

Cosgrove dodged the strike, lodging the crowbar onto the boards. The Hipparion took out a tarot card with a bomb drawn on it and slammed it on the floor. With a large ring of fire, a hole was burned, sending both the Hipparion and the crime boss falling over to the next floor. Cosgrove slowly awoke, finding Stucco groaning in pain. Her back broken and limbs immobile, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Cosgrove looked down at the immobile crime boss, ready to decide his action. In his psyche, two apparitions appeared from his left and right.

“She is beaten.” - Sunset laid a hoof on him - “Let your devotion to friendship heel your rage.”

“She took your mother, ruined everything,” - Screwball drew her snout up to his ear - “fulfill your destiny, become what I have planned you to be: an agent of vengeance. She knows who you are, if you let this mare live, more will die.”

“Well, kid?” - Stucco scowled at him, gritting her bloodied teeth - “Are you going to do it or leave me here in a body cast for six months?”

Cosgrove narrowed his eyes, raising a hoof right at her face, curling it back for a punch.

“C’mon, be a stallion!” Stucco’s jeering made him readied the punch even further. He prepared for the final blow, but was it really worth it?

Cosgrove lowered his hoof, “That would be the easy way out, you don’t deserve it…”

Stucco heard a click as Trixie cuffed her. The blair of the police cars had them make a hasty leave, escaping out the backdoor. The Mare Mobile arrived on cue, opened the doors, allowed the Unicorn and Hipparion in and drive off. Screwball watched the Hipparion up above, curling a demented smile. “Such a strong willed pony.”

Back at the dark hotel, Sunset noticed her cutie mark glowing. “Thank… Celestia…” She said, closing her eyes as a small tear dripped from her eye.

A few days after, Cosgrove sat on a chair in the library of the Castle of Friendship, reading the newspaper regarding the aftermath of the visit, including new light on the murder of Night Dancer. The silence of the room became broken by a series of hoofsteps, becoming louder and louder as Sunset Shimmer approached the chair, holding a photograph in an aura. The Hipparion held the photo between his fingers, looking at the family photo of Twilight, Shining Armor, Cadance, and the new arrival who strangely enough is another Alicorn.

“They named her Flurry Heart.” - Sunset turned her head over to him, giving him a hug - “You did the right thing.”

Cosgrove looked at the photo again, his eyes focused on the baby. “Whatever life the new princess has… I pray she will be much happier than I am.”

The moment was ruined again when the portal to the human world glowed, “upchucking” out two bound up Changelings. The two occupants walked over to the beasts, not so close as to be bitten by their gnashing teeth.

Cosgrove waved a hoof at them, “What would Changelings be doing in the human world?”

Sunset looked at the portal. Having visited there once already gave her a very good hint of what’s going on. “If your counterpart and his friends are any indication, evolution is becoming revolution.”

Cosgrove began walking towards the door, “I’ll get Hooflock to help out with the trash.”

Sunset watched him open and close the door before looking at the portal again. “Where did Twilight place the journal?”

No Second Prances (New Timeline)

Author's Note

For new readers, you may want to read the chapters set in Season 3.

No Second Prances (New Timeline)

In the dining hall of the Castle of Harmony, an important festivity was being set up. The chandelier was adorned with lilacs, the windowsills with violet ribbons, and the back wall had tapestries lined up with Starlight and Celestia’s portraits. Said unicorn was awaiting at the other side of the table when Princess Twilight pushed a cart full of plates and dinner utensils, grabbing a plate and placing it on the table

“First lesson of the day, we very carefully set the table without using magic, so that— Yikes!” Twilight just ducked out of the way, saving herself from the barrage of dinner plates, forks and knives. In a amazing feat, Starlight managed to set up the table using magic. But her new friend wasn’t amused.

“What?” Starlight asked.

“I said no magic,” - Twilight asked, shaking her head slightly - “You were supposed to do it by hoof so I could work in a friendship lesson.”

“Oh, I heard "set the table" and just kinda went for it.” Starlight added, holding her lower lip with her teeth as she waited for her apology to be accepted.

“Well, if you hadn't used magic, you'd have heard me say, uh…” - Twilight looked at the utensils before raising a hoof - “this plate represents your head, this spoon is your heart, and the knives... are sharp! Always be careful with knives.” - she held a grin for a while before sighing - “The metaphors make more sense when you're actually setting the table.”

“Should I... change it back?” Starlight asked as her mentor walked up to her.

“I just want to make sure you're ready for this dinner. Princess Celestia will be joining us tonight to see how the friendship lessons are going!”

Starlight noticed a fourth chair at the table. “If it's just you, me, and Princess Celestia, why are there four seats?”

“Well, the whole point is for you to bring a new friend. That way, the princess will see for herself just how far you've come.” The alicorn nudged her pupil “And how good a teacher you have.”

“Well, I can't choose. I like all your friends.”

“That's the best part!” - Twilight said cheerfully - “You have to make a new friend!”

“New friends?” - Aside from her reunion with Sunbust, she didn’t have much to say in regards with friends. She pondered for a moment before saying - “Hey, maybe I'll just force friendships by magically enslaving the entire population of Ponyville!”

“Starlight!” Berated Twilight

“Kidding!” Starlight gave the princess an uneasy smile, chuckling as she did before running out of the halls. Twilight sighed before inspecting her pupil’s work.

Out of Twilight’s eyes, Starlight slowed down and walked through the massive labyrinth of the castle, losing her way once more. The new resident looked at what she assumed to be the exit. She opened the door, finding not the exit, but Flash Sentry all bound up. A while after Twilight made herself comfortable in the Castle of Harmony, she has been recruiting a few guards, Flash Sentry chief among them. The sight of the Pegasus bound up amused her as she levitated him and brought him back into the closet.

She walked down the hall again, trying to find the exit. She looked to her right, watching as each one door loomed by her. That is until a door to her left slammed at her face.

“Oh, hey are you okay?”

Starlight looked up, finding the next resident, Sunset Shimmer, carrying a few scrolls in a saddlebag.

“I’m fine, Sunset, thank you.” - She notices the scrolls - “Additional invites?”

“Hm?” - Sunset looked at her bags before answering - “Oh no, these are Equestrian translations of Saurian writing.” - The two Unicorns looked inside the door; Cosgrove watched Dapplewood place a set of footprints on a large piece of paper, for Dinosaurs are not adept at writing with their hands or mouth - “We’ve just found that the Dinosaurs worship a being known as Krazoa, who is believed to have lived the in the volcano in the Unfrozen North.”

Starlight drew a smile at how the young colt and dinosaur actually contributing to the knowledge of Equestria. Ember also provided information about dragons via letters. This is a great development altogether. Sunset leaned her neck forward, noticing Starlight’s frowning face.

“Something wrong?”

“Well it’s just that Twilight wants me to find a friend for dinner tonight.” - Starlight looked at her neighbor - “I mean, who would want to be friends with a former time traveling slave driver?”

Sunset looked the other way before being held by her cheeks. “Your friend is several years younger than both of us, and he is doing much better at this than I am.”

“Because” - Sunset gentle pushed Starlight away - “I found some common ground between me and Cosgrove.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow, “Common ground?” she asked, prompting her orange neighbor to gesture to follow her.

A few flights down the stairs and through a tunnel and they were in the underground laboratory underneath what was once the Old Library. Cogsworth was at the computers once again, typing, commenting, and retyping the coding. The crippled Earth colt and the Unicorn were in mid conversation.

“Were you sent to prison?” Asked Starlight, stopping Cogsworth from typing.

“Juvenile Detention,” - Cosgrove closed his eyes, recalling the harsh memories, every shot from a gun barrel, the screams of his classmates and the begging for mercy - “but I still remember the pain I caused.”

Starlight drew her ears back. Having isolated herself for much of her life didn’t bring her in the loop in regards to news. Bringing a lack of free will to a town and changing the time flow several times is one thing, a kid being pressured to resort to deadly force is another. Cogsworth resumed coding, not paying attention to Starlight noticing the node attachments on his back. She then looked to her left, seeing the Changeling battle armor, Galgameth. She cautiously approached the mech, raising a hoof to touch it.

“Careful!” - Starlight flinched at the same time the armor raised its arms on its own before becoming idle once more - “I’ve been testing out a few modifications to the code.”

Starlight looked at the armor again before looking at the mechanic, “Why can’t you wear it now?”

“When I tried it just recently, it put a strain on my heart.”

“Well,” - Starlight walked towards the exit - “I’d better go out and find a new friend… you know before tonight.”

“Yeah,” - Cogsworth returned to coding - “you do that.”

Back outside, Starlight continued to look about among dozens of ponies both young and old. So many choices in so little time that would be running out soon.

“Let's see. Make new friends in Ponyville, the friendliest place in Equestria.” - Starlight - “Shouldn't be hard…”

“Need to make a new friend, huh?” - Pinkie Pie chimed in, scaring her new Unicorn friend before drawing her closer and touching cheeks - “I know just the pony for you!” - In a zip, Pinkie dragged Starlight over to the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner - “Miss Starlight Glimmer, meet Mrs. Cake!”

The two just stood and watched as the baker applied a ring of icing on the edges of a large cake. After “dusting” off a little excess, Mrs. Cake turned to the unicorn, “How are you, dearie?”

Starlight, amazed at Mrs. Cake’s progress, stepped forward, “Are you baking? Can I help?”

Using her magic, Starlight brought from the shelves kitchen utensils, flour and icing. With her skill, she made a complete birthday cake in just a snap. Proud of herself, Starlight kept the pastry in the air.

“Wow, Mrs. Cake!” Pinkie cooed “Look what your new friend made you!”

“New friend.” Mrs. Cake chuckled “I like the sound of– Howza-wowza!” She looked up, finding the finished cake before her
“A-Are you trying to put me out of business with your fancy magical-thingy-whatsit cake?!”

Feeling a little ashamed, Starlight canceled her magic, forgetting about the cake as it landed on the store mistress, covering her head in cake. “Sorry…”

Pinkie Pie approached her boss, looking up and down at the ruined pastry as it slithered down her face. She takes a lick of it, savoring it before swallowing, “In her defense, it is delicious!” She adds before taking another bite.

Pinkie Pie then referenced her over to Sweet Apple Acres. Knowing of her dilemma, the farmer lead Starlight over to part of the orchard.

“I think I have just the pony for you, Starlight.” - Applejack waved her hoof forward - “Meet Big Mac!”

The big stallion of the land had just bucked a tree clean of its apples, turning around to greet their guest with a simple, “Eeyup!”

Knowing this as her first time, Applejack added, “He's not much of a talker.”

“Nnope.” Big Mac agreed,

“Oh, that's too bad.” Starlight looked back “I love a good conversation.” but she wasn’t ready to give up. The unicorn lit up her horn before casting a spell that went down Big Mac’s throat.

“Eeyup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-y-y-y-y-you did something! Whoa! What's happening? I feel really weird! I'm talkin' so much! And I'm so articulate! Enunciating with such precise pronunciation!” Big Mac plugged his hoof into his mouth. Starlight clearly enchanted him with gossip talk. In some ways, he sounded a little like The Doctor. The only way to tell is... - “Annie Apple awoke and accidentally ate an auburn azalea!” - Big Mac screamed before running for the hills - “Make it stop!

His sister turned to Starlight, scowling at her as she growled.

“I can't be friends with somepony who doesn't talk.” Starlight tried to reason, only to get another growl “...And I guess my first instinct shouldn't be to magically command ponies to act the way I want them to?” Another growl from her friend ”Alright, I'll change him back!” she gave in, trotting the direction Big Mac ran off to.

Having been spared a deep kick in the flank, Starlight decided to take a new approach. Doing so would require a little advice. She trotted over to the Carousel Boutique.

“The trick to finding a new friend is to render yourself radiant.” - Rarity wrapped a light violet scarf around her neck before guiding Starlight over to a mirror - “First impressions count a great deal, you know.”

“I'm glad you all got past my first impression.” Starlight reassured herself as Rarity came back with a tape measurer.

“Well, everypony deserves a second chance. Ooh! Now, I have a top-notch idea.” - Rarity drew forth a set of sheets, wrapping them around Starlight head to toe - “I'm thinking pastel silk here and here with a crinoline underneath.”

“You really think a new outfit will help me meet ponies?” Starlight asked with a smile.

“Oh, with the right outfit,” - Walking through a private change curtain, Rarity walked out wearing a red-violet dress - “you can do anything, darling!”

“When will it be ready?” Starlight smiled at the thought of wearing an elaborate dress before Celestia.

“Three weeks.” the fashionista answered, bumming out Starlight’s excitement.

“Dinner's tonight.” She answered, her daydream dashed.

“Well then, how about a hat from the…” - Rarity cleared her throat before pointing to her left - “...clearance bin?”

Starlight lifted up a fancy fur hat from said bin and placed it on her head. But as a hat best fit for a hornless individual, the unicorn tried her best to stretch it, tearing the hat in half. “Maybe not.”

A distance outside of town, Starlight was just in the middle of a conversation with Rainbow Dash, hoping for more advice.

“Heh. Nopony's gonna make friends with you because of your outfit. The only thing you want a new friend draped in is coolness.” Rainbow Dash said with a gentle swerve in the air.

“Like you?”

“Yeah, but you already know me, so…” - Rainbow pondered before gasping, spitting out - “Spitfire! Heh. Sorry.”

Starlight rubbed the spittle off her furred muzzle, asking, “Who's that?”

Rainbow Dash gasped again, “Only the Wonderbolt-iest pony in the Wonderbolts! Come on, I'll introduce you!” - the pegasus sped out of view so fast that the turbulence blew against her hair and the trees around her. And it was a few seconds after that she came back. “You coming or what?”

With life outside of her world still unknown, Starlight has several questions left unanswered, “I guess my first question would be, "What's a Wonderbolt?"

Rainbow held Starlight’s face, her face clearly frightened to the point of being hilarious, “You've never heard of the Wonderbolts?! Where have you been?!”

“Enslaving villages, I guess…” Starlight said nervously.

“Right.” added Rainbow in a long drawn out tone as she slowly landed on the ground, remembering that fiasco.

A good distance away at a peaceful field, Starlight was tickling Angel on a picnic blanket alongside a bear, a squirrel and a duck. Though the rabbit doesn’t usually allow this on all but the closest of ponies, Angel was having a ball with getting a tummy rub.

“You're adorable,” - Starlight stopped petting the bunny and walked away, though she did leave her mark on Angel - “but probably not what Twilight had in mind.”

As the other animals waved her goodbye, Fluttershy, having wanted to converse with Starlight after seeing her with them, brought over a plate of carrots. Unfortunately, she was too late. Putting down the plate, the caretaker let out a sigh before resuming her picnic.

Now noon, and still no new friend, Starlight moaned and groaned as she walked in the park. Dozens of the inhabitants are there from Pipsqueak to Lion Tamer. She instead walks to a fountain, looking at the closest pony she knows: herself.

“What is going on? This is Ponyville! If I can't make a friend here, there's gotta be something wrong with me!” - Sighing in frustration, Starlight tried to calm herself. - “Okay, calm down. Nobody makes friends with a total stresscase.” - But with the dinner tonight and still no friend, how can one not be stressed. Fillies flying a kite, colts playing hoofball, or even senior couples celebrating their wedding anniversary was too much to handle - “Stop stressing... Stop stressing!

Her outburst silenced the park as the park guests looked at the unicorn. Starlight looked to her left, finding a custodial worker holding a trash picker as he looked at her. She looked to her right, seeing a startled mother holding her child defensively. With a chuckle, Starlight dashed off, allowing the daily lifestyle to resume. But that still hasn’t relieved the stress off of Starlight. Sensing this plight, Bulk Biceps has the answer.

“Ahh... This is just what I needed.” Starlight relaxed in a massage center, rubbed head to hoof to get the tense muscles out of her system.

“Tell me about it.” Added an unknown voice right behind her.

“You ever have one of those days?” asked Starlight as she gently lifted a hoof.

“For me, they're all one of those days.” - hearing Starlight giggle, the stranger continued - “I'm gonna start coming here every time I visit Ponyville.”

“I'm not from here either. I've been trying to make friends, but it's not easy.” - Starlight said in a slightly uneasy tone -
“They're not saying it, but I think everypony knows about my past. I may have been a tiny bit…” - Starlight twirled her hooves around before turning her head around - “completely and utterly evil?””

A pause, before the stranger added, “ Ponies judge me on my past too.”

Starlight perked her head up, twisting her upper body as she levitated a cucumber out of her eyes. “Finally, a pony I can relate to.” She said in relief.

Back at the Castle dining hall, Twilight was inspecting the table arrangements again, making sure everything is perfect to the finest detail. “Soup spoon, salad fork, pasta spoon, strawberry pick. I'm beginning to think that after friendship, the greatest magic of all is proper silverware placement!”

Twilight giggled when the door slammed open.

“Twilight, guess what?” - Starlight ran towards her teacher - “I made a new friend!”

And just about six hours away at that, Twilight spread her wings in excitement. “That's fantastic news!”

“She's great!”

“Great!” Twilight agreed

“She's Apologetic!”

“Apologetic?” Twilight was now uneasy, drawing her ears back as that word sounded familiar.

“She's-!”

“Hello... princess!”

Twilight and Starlight turned to the entrance of the dining hall, a blue Unicorn in a sun hat. Underneath the shade of the headwear, the smiling face looked up, revealing the all too familiar face, the Great, Powerful, Apologetic

“Trixie?!” Twilight exclaimed, flaring her wings out defensively as she gave the magician a glare.
Starlight looked back and forth before asking, “You know each other?”

“You could say that.”

Twilight and Trixie went way back indeed. They were classmates in Canterlot, but it was only three years ago that they have begun to notice each other. Their first reunion was ruined when Snips and Snails woke up an Ursa Minor. Humiliated in front of everyone, the magician sought revenge with the Alicorn Amulet, but afterwards had largely disappeared, her recent occurrence only a blur when she was reincarnated as an Alicorn. Then came her visits into the Human World, and both times Trixie’s human counterpart played an antagonistic role to some extent.

“Twilight gave me a second chance as well,” - Trixie approached Twilight, wrapping her hoof around her neck - “and I appreciate it.”

A long awkward pause, before Twilight gently pushed the magician aside with her wing.”So, um, what brings you to Ponyville?”

“Trixie requires a moment in the underground laboratory.”

The Princess of Friendship drew an uncertain grin on her muzzle before looking at her student.

“Starlight? A moment? Over here?” - Twilight asked in gradually strict tone before “dragging” her student like a rock with her magic to the other side of the dining hall - “I know I said make friends with anypony, but, well, with Trixie's past, and your past, I'm not sure she's the best... first friend.”

The two conversing unicorns looked back, seeing Trixie wave at them before they continued.

“But whatever she did, you've forgiven her, right?”

Noticing Starlight’s frustration, Twilight took her hoof off of her, “Of course. It's just... She wasn't the nicest pony.”

“Well, you did say anypony, and I just assumed that you'd trust me to make my own friends the way Princess Celestia trusted you.” Starlight rebuked, giving the Princess of Friendship a shove.

Starlight had a point; Twilight was just like her when she started out on her own friendship lessons. And now she was playing Celestia. Admitting defeat, she sighed. “You're right. I trust you. Just be back in time for the dinner.”

“Thanks, Twilight! You won't regret it!” In excitement, Starlight led Trixie through the halls towards the underground laboratory. Her new mentor still thought otherwise.She looked at the table, finding her finely placed utensils bent into the shape of a giraffe.

“I hope not.” Twilight sighed once more before beginning to dismantle the found art.

Back underground, Cogsworth was just adjusting a piece of coding, changing the color from red to blue. His ears turning to the sounds of steps approaching the lab, he turned to find Starlight Glimmer again, this time with Trixie.
“Hi, Trixie.”

“Hello…” - Trixie closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before exhaling with a smile - “Galgameth.”

Cogsworth gave a dry smile before resuming his work.

“You know her too?” Asked Starlight.

“Stumbled at her during my journey of self discovery.” - He answered before resuming his work, noticing Trixie’s slightly darker shade of blue fur that would otherwise had her camouflaged with the interface - “How can I help you?”

“Trixie has attained information that could relate to tonight’s festivities.” The magician placed a file on the desk, in which the mechanic inspected.

Starlight’s curiosity drew her eye to the file, spotting a black and white photograph of a one eyed stallion donning a crossbow. The mechanic shuffled through the images, revealing to her a series of photos of Equestrian aristocracy marked with red x’ Noticing her shadow, Cogsworth slapped both end of the file.

“I can send for Sunset and-”

“No!” - Trixie stopped him before looking at her host - “heh, heh, not that is any of your concern. Trixie needs to return to her wagon, preparing for tonight’s event.”

“Can I come?” Asked Starlight, giving her a pleading look on her face.

Trixie still had an uneasy smile on her muzzle. She looked at Cogsworth before walking forward.

“Sure…”

Trixie and Starlight were outside the castle strolling towards Trixie’s mode of transportation. As they were, several former witnesses on both accounts of Trixie turned to each other and whispered at earshot.

Trixie groaned, lowering her head so to make it parallel to her body. “Everypony always says they'll give you a second chance, but deep down, they never forget.”

“That's what I'm worried about.” Starlight added, hearing Trixie’s sigh as she looked at the other townsfolk.

“I heard what Twilight said about me, and she's right. I wasn't very nice.” - The magician stopped in her tracks, looking ahead as Starlight turned around - “So I'd understand if you didn't want to be friends.”

“Are you kidding? - Starlight embraced Trixie as if she were a teddy bear - “You're the first pony I've met who has any idea how I feel!”

While she has made a few friends during her “exile,” making new ones in this sake can be dangerous. Especially if her career now involves… odd jobs. The magician looked around, seeing if no one is around before drawing Starlight closer. “Can you keep a secret?

“What are friends for?” Starlight smiled.

Trixie looked around again before drawing her snout towards her new companion’s ear. But before she could spill the beans, a bush shuffled on its own towards the two unicorns.

“Pssssssst! Pssst! Psssssst!” - Starlight moved the branches of the larger bush, finding Twilight Sparkle hiding among them before giving her a large shushing.

A little embarassed, Starlight turned over to her friend. “Uh, I think there's something in my hoof. Can we talk about it somewhere else?”

“Sure.” - Trixie turned around and walked away, stopping at she was at the corner of a house - “The wagon's right around the corner.” She finished before continuing on.

Starlight turned over to the foliage disguise, looking embarrassed and angry. “So, how's it going with your new friend?” Twilight asked with puppy eyes, trying to seek forgiveness..

“Great.” - Starlight answered sarcastically - “Thanks for asking in a completely not creepy way.”
Twilight popped out of another section of bush, “Because you know, if it isn't working out for any reason, I could introduce you to my friend here.”

Believing the bush to be the friend, Starlight rubbed her hoof, unamused. “Nice to meet you.” She greeted in an equally deadpan voice.

“No, no!” - Twilight leaned over to the bush - “You can come out now!” - On cue, another unicorn popped out of the bush, the case here being popular DJ Vinyl Scratch. As usual, she wore her glasses and wireless headset, blaring music so loud that a whisper can be heard - “You like music, right? Vinyl’s the perfect friend for tonight's incredibly important dinner with Celestia. You know, if you decide to make a last-minute change. Heh.”

Starlight furrowed her brow. “So back at your castle when you said ‘I trust you’, you meant ‘I don't trust you’.”

Her teacher chuckled nervously as her student continued her glare. “Who can really say who said what? I know I can't!” She turned to her left - “Can you?” - Vinyl was already a distance away when she asked that. Twilight turned back to Starlight leaving Twilight as well in a huff. The alicorn shuffled out of the bushes and caught up to her - “Starlight, I'm just trying to look out for you.”

“I appreciate it,” Starlight turned around, gently pushing her friend away “but you're wrong about Trixie. She's just like me. We have a real connection.”

“That's kind of what I'm afraid of.” Twilight’s eyes fluttered around before fixing on something “Oh! What about her?”

The one in question is Derpy. Like Pinky Pie, the wall eyed pegasus would be a good candidate to be a good friend. Derpy was in the middle of delivering mail when she saw Twilight, losing her focus when she bumped into a signpost, scattering letters around.

“Please, Twilight! I know you're trying to help, but I need to make friends on my own if I'm going to become a better pony.”

Twilight stretched out a hoof again. “But do you really think Trixie's the one to help you with that?”

Starlight narrowed her eyes, disgusted at what Twilight just said. “Wow. Trixie was right. You're not really giving her a second chance. I wonder what that says about how you feel about me.”

Starlight turned around, bumping into Cranky. His orange toupee messed up, the donkey rearranged it giving the unicorn a snort through his untrimmed nostrils before walking forward. Starlight continued her journey in a huff, not even bothering to look back.

True to Trixie’s word, Starlight found her wagon just at the corner. Compared to the old one, this wagon had a series of blues, with metal wheels and above all, much wider than her old one. Starlight entered the mobile home, just in time to see her new friends identity revealed. Trixie held the Mare Do Well mask in a aura when she found Starlight too late to put it away.

“You’re-!” The pink violet unicorn was pulled in, the door slamming shut behind her followed by the light turning off. Starlight tried to look around the pitch black area before feeling a hard object slam against her head.

It was now dinner time. Twilight was sitting next to Princess Celestia, fidgeting her hooves as her former teacher played around with the kitchen utensils. “Our friendship lessons are going so well!” Twilight broke the silence - “She made three new friends!” - Such friends consist of Cranky (with a blue jay messing with his toupee), Vinyl Scratch casually listening to her headset, and Derpy just snacking on few berry muffins. - “She has such great taste in friends.”

A nervous chuckle from Twilight, but that wasn’t enough to appease the Princess of the Sun. Twilight looked around, focusing her attention to Sunset, Flash Sentry, and Hooflock guarding the hallway entrance. The first of the three already proved that she is doing well teaching a student of her own and is making new friends on the way, but she stayed by to watch. The orange unicorn twirled her hoof as she looked at the clock, now a quarter past seven.

“Starlight Glimmer should be here, heh, any minute, heh.” - Twilight looked around, still noticing the unfazed look on Celestia’s muzzle - “Any minute now…”

“Starlight Glimmer?” Cranky joined in the silence - “I thought you said ‘nosehair trimmers’!” - He slams a hoof on the table, scaring away the bird on his head - “What's going on? I'm hungry! And my nose is too hairy.” he finished his rant with a snort.
Twilight was going to be in for it now if Celestia finds it to be a waste of time. “Ha-ha, Cranky Doodle! You're so funny!” - The small alicorn stepped out of the table, making her way towards the door - “If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check the kitchen. Maybe she got lost amongst the, uh... artichokes!” Twilight ran out of the door, praying that Celestia doesn’t summon her back for punishments unknown.

Starlight herself slowly awoke, groaning as her vision became clear that she was on a bed. Above her was the only light in an otherwise dark room. No sound either. “Hello? Is anyone here?”

“Evening, Starlight.”

Starlight rose out of bed, looking around the one light in a dark room. Her ears flicked around, waiting for another sound. She soon got her wish as a series of thumps disturbed the silence. Louder and louder, until a figure covered head to toe in a dark cloak, wearing a large hat as well. Starlight curled back, ready to fend herself, even more so when the figure raised a hoof. The figure grabbed the mask, pulling it back and revealing the blue furred unicorn Starlight had just known.

“Trixie…?” She asked, getting a slow smile in return.

“That is the secret I want you to keep.” Trixie lit up her horn, turning on the lights in the wagon. The interior was adorned with technology similar to that of the underground lab back at her home. One part of the wall had newspaper clippings of her past adventures. Another part of the wall displayed her weapons of choice from a metallic bo staff to sharpened horseshoes.

Starlight looked around before turning to the former magician at work, asking, “You're the Mysterious Mare Do Well?”

“Do not panic, you are among the few who know of my identity.” Trixie answered before a blue screen popped into view. Starlight took a look, widening her eyes that it was Cogsworth on the other side.

“If you can call it ‘few’.” he says before drawing out a large list of Ponyville inhabitants who were there during the fight with the Umbrum.

The light violet unicorn noticed a darker patch of purple on Trixie's suit. “You're bleeding!” - Trixie grabbed her cape and drew it forward to cover the wound - “What’s going on?”

Trixie stopped typing, looking down on the keyboard for a while before manipulating the mouse over, and pulling up a file. A criminal file; it was a stallion with an eyepatch on his left eye, a ring of facial hair on his muzzle, scowling at the photographer. On the right was a rifle the size of one of the policemares that turned him in. Trixie turned to her new friend, if she be her new friend.

“He goes by the name Sharp Shot. Aptly named by his very precise marksmanship. A paid assassin, he goes about to end the lives of politicians and public speakers.” Trixie motioned the gun wound “He just went for Mayor Mare.”

Starlight slowly gaped her mouth, looking at the criminal file again.

“Starlight, I need you to get back to the castle, right now.” - Starlight looked at the clock at the bottom right of the screen. 7:30 pm now. - “Any of the princess’ are in danger.”

Starlight raced out of the wagon, rushing her way back to the castle. But among the crowds of multiple colored ponies, Twilight mistakenly passed her student.

“Starlight? Has anyone seen Starlight Glimmer?” I'm looking for her!” Twilight remembered that the last pony she was with was “Trixie.” She growled before running towards the wagon and slamming the door open. “You!”

“Twilight?!” Trixie stood up, wincing applied weight on her wounded shoulder.

“Where is Starlight?!” She roared, spreading her wings in a threat display.

“Running towards the castle, looking for you!” Trixie rebuttled.

Twilight groaned before turning around, looking back at the pony she once fought “Can’t believe I let her trust you with her-” Trixie interrupted her by diving at her, rolling around before pinning her to the ground - “Trixie, what are you-?!”

Before she could answer, the second Mare Do Well slammed a smoke bomb on the ground next to them, making a quick escape with the grappling hook as a targeting laser scanned the ground. The wielder was Sharp Shot himself, hissing in irritation as he was foiled again.

Starlight ran over to the castle, down the halls and slamming the doors open. All company accounted for, except for one. “Where’s Twilight?”

The guests at the table were silent before Derpy answered, “Wasn’t she just looking for you?”

Celestia ruffled her wings, regaining her composure before inviting Starlight over. “Now that you’re here, tell me about your friends.”

Back on the rooftops, Sharp Shot scanned the area around him, waiting for either Mare Do Well, or Twilight, to come into view. “You made me miss my shot twice tonight, Mare Do Well. Nopony makes me miss!”

A distance away, Trixie and Twilight hugged by a small statue, curled up to be a small as possible to avoid the laser spotting them.

“I can play this game all night if I have to.” the assassin chuckled, making another sweep with the targeting laser.

Trixie slowly inched an eye out of her hiding spot, seeing the laser move away from them. She pointed down on the ground, signaling Twilight to remain as she makes her move.

“Trixie.” - Trixie remained and listened- “I was wrong. All that trouble that happened, I wish you have been treated fairly. The reason why I was sketchy is because of your counterpart in another dimension. You’re much better than that, and I have to hand it to you. Starlight could never have found a pony like you to be a friend. “

Trixie turned around, pulling out her cowl and giving out a small smile. “Thank you, princess.”

“You wanna try your luck?” - Trixie pulled the cowl back on and began her sneak assault on Sharp Shot - “Once I got you, I’ll take Twilight out, then Mayor Mare, then Celestia.” - Trixie then used a storm drain, no free from the sniper’s sight - “Come on! Show yourself already.”

On cue, Trixie jumped out of the storm drain, relieved Sharp Shot of his weapon before knocking him out with a punch to the head. A while later, police officers surrounded the assassin as he hung by his feet. The gun has all been smashed and scattered on the pavement. The commissioner gave a soft whistle. “Alright, boys. Let’s take out the trash.”

Back at the dining hall, the wait couldn’t be any more obvious. The swan ice sculpture has all but a puddle. Derpy was stuffed with muffins. Cranky’s tummy was still rumbling as he awaited his meal. Starlight was now in the same predicament Twilight was, sitting right next to Celestia. The Princess was still unfazed; trade one for another she thought to herself.

The doors opened once more, drawing everypony’s attention as Twilight and Trixie (now on a splint and bandaged) walked over to the table.

“Trixie apologizes if we are late.” - Trixie placed the splint down as she sat on the chair - “Trixie had an accident that needed attending to.”

Starlight giggled when Twilight reached out to her. “Starlight, when I first came to Ponyville, Princess Celestia gave me room to make my own decisions and my own friends. I need to give you the same freedom. I shouldn't have tried to pick and choose your friends for you. Just like me, you have to make your own decisions and your own friends.” - The two looked at the then former student at Canterlot, then former magician and now the second Mare Do Well - “From what I've seen, Trixie’s the real thing.”

Satisfied with her wait, Celestia wrapped a wing around Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie. Sunset as well gave smile, Twilight has finally learned what it is hard it is to be a mentor figure, all the trials and hardships to go through. Derpy and Vinyl Scratch clapped their hooves at this momentous occasion. Cranky however was distracted by Celestia’s flowing mane.

“How do you get your hair to do that all the time?” he asked, getting a heartfelt laugh in return.

B Mash Squared

Button Mash, the best video game player in class, and one of the most troublesome. Ever since first grade, Button has always snuck a portable video game into class, playing it silently behind Ms. Cheerilee's back. Only by seeing the light illuminating his face did the teacher take action. After school, he would complete his homework as hastily as he could to spend time playing his prized possessions, often resulting in unsatisfactory answers. Often these play-throughs last well into the next morning, as evidenced by his tired snout.

It is now after the first quarter, and the report cards are being sent over to all the parents. Having come back from her job at the nursery, Mrs. Mash found Derpy Whooves stuck in her mailbox.

The wall-eyed Pegasus took out an envelope, "Letter for you."

"Why thank you, Derpy!" - Mrs. Mash placed the letter in her saddle bag before inspecting the mail mare's dilemma - "Do you need some help?"

"Oh no, I can handle it." Said Derpy before applying her strength to the mailbox.

Walking inside to the usual chip tunes coming from her youngest son's room, Mrs. Mash took out the letter.

To the Parents of Button Mash - Ponyville Elementary

Opening it with a cutter, Mrs. Mash pulled out a blue slip and carefully looked at it. Her eyebrows furrowed as her eyes fluttered up and down on the card.

Button, his life bar just one hit point away from dying, was just about to inflict the last blow to his virtual enemy when he heard the door slammed open and the game shut off on its own.

"Wha?" - Button crawled towards the TV - "No! NO! You can't quit on me now! MOM!! The TV's-"

Button found his mother holding the power cord in one hoof looking furious.

"What is this?" Mrs. Mash showed the young Earth Pony the blue slip.

"A... report card?"

"Read it to me." She commanded.

Button looked at the writing of the report card, looking up to notice his mother raising an eyebrow.

"Science: 64, Social Studies: 68, Art: 85, Magic Studies: 62, P.E.: 70." - Button looked at the comments section - "Always interrupts class sessions by bringing in portable video games."

Button drew his ears back as he looked up at his angered mother with puppy dog eyes.

"This is getting ridiculous! You stay up all night-" - She looked down to find Button playing on his Joy Boy before grabbing it from him - "Button, stop. It's gonna mess with your head."

Unplugging every system, Mrs. Mash carried them to her closet and locked them in. Her head aloof, she walked towards the kitchen.

"But, Mom," - Button pleaded as he held his mother's leg, dragging himself along the floor - "I need to fight the Cohurt to save the village of Combay if I want any luck in defeating the Alexes of Humgonia."

Mrs. Mash had a dumbfounded look; kids learn the weirdest things from playing video games. Snapping herself back into focus, she answered,

"NO. Until you can raise your grades by the end of the school year, you are grounded. No TV, no video games, no arcade nights."
She left Button Mash all alone in his room, defeated as his body flopped on the floor about to cry when an idea clicked into his head as the propeller on his hat spun rapidly. Pulling out his laptop, Button logged in and was about to play a game of Minecraft when a cream colored hoof closed the screen, lifted it in her mouth and walked away.

"Zangcomlif!!!" Button kicked a rubber ball. The ball retaliated as it bounced off the wall and smacked the colt in the face.

Button, now deprived of any entertainment system to bring, trudged over to the school in the muggy air. His friends were talking about their grades, their happy expressions implying that they have done much better. They turned to find Button walk by them into the classroom, squishing his face on his assigned desk. Rumble, Cosgrove, Featherweight and Pipsqueak surrounded him with looks of concern. The brown colt grumbled inaudible words. His friends gave each other a look.
"Bad grades." They said.

A few hours after, the end of school bell rang, and with them, every school student galloping off in a big stampede. That is, except for Button Mash as he slowly trudged out of the door. No arcade, no portable console to play while in the park, Button’s desire for gameplay rumbled like another stomach. In his sad travels, without taking another glance, he found himself in a forest green tent. Around him were shelves of bottles, chests, and draperies over the wooden pillars.

“Come in, come in!” - the colt looked forward to a glass ball being rubbed by two pink hooves - “For Madame Pinkie will read your fortune. What troubles you, young Button?”

Button Mash sat on the chestnut pillow before him. “I’ve been grounded from the one thing in life. How can it get any worse?”

Pinkie looked into her magic ball, rubbing it with her hooves. She looked deeper and gasped. “The crystal ball knows the worst! I see…. I see… a group of ponies lining up to receive their diploma.”

Button joined in; as the party planner has said, multiple rows of chairs spanned a majority of the town square before the Mayor’s office. A majority of those chairs were occupied by ponies with apple related cutie marks. Other chairs were occupied by the Elements of Harmony among a various selected amount of other adult ponies wiping away their tears. The colt watched as Pipsqueak, now the same height as Button is right now, receiving his award. Rumble, half again taller from the British colt, received his diploma next.

Button looked to the right of the office building, tracing the moving Earth Pony and Pegasus colts take their seats. Alphabetically they were arranged; Apple Bloom having the first seat, then Boysenberry, then Cogsworth, then Cosgrove, and so forth. As Snails, now even taller than most of the other colts, took his diploma, Button did notice one particular thing missing: himself.

“I don’t graduate?!” Button jerked his head back, causing his helicopter cap to fall off.

“Right-a-roonie!” - Pinkie said with a smile - “You’ll be at home eating chimicherrychangas, drinking soda, and be glued to the couch.”

Button gasped, “Wait, will I still play video games?”

Pinkie looked into the orb again before saying with confidence, “Nope.”

Button ran clean away, screaming his head off. Pinkie Pie turned off the light in the orb as Gummy popped out of her turban.
“Wow, Button can take a joke huh, Gummy?” She asked, getting a response with a small squeak from the reptile.

Button ran as fast as his legs could carry him before he almost collapsed from exhaustion at the town bazaar. The exertion and the fear of being a few steps back made his heart race so hard that he heard a pounding in his skull. He could only imagine the consequences: no video games, no friends his age to hang out with, and the possibility of being kicked out. The propeller on his hat began to spin.

“I need… help.” Button raised his head up “Someone who can give me a walkthrough, somepony like”

“Me?” Asked Cogsworth as he was about to leave the Castle of Friendship.

“You're one of the smartest of us.” Button watched as the technologically infused earth pony colt raised an eyebrow “Please, I beg you, be my senpai, and I shall honor you with... things... your mind can't imagine!”

The mechanic shook his head, “I need to get my head examined. Just be at my house tomorrow after school.”

When the class exited the school, Button Mash happily trotted away from his usual destinations. Such poise made his friends curious as they joined him.

“You’re a lot happier today.” Said Rumble as he landed on the ground.

“Yep,” Button raised his head up with pride “by this time tomorrow I'm going to be an academic ace!”

“That's not how tutoring works.” Featherweight warned as he hovered about.

“Sure it does,” Button increased his walking speed “I have Cogsworth.”

Button walked over to the mechanic's house and tapped the door three times.

“Cogsworth! Time to tutor!” It didn't take even three seconds before the colt started banging on the door and screamed, “Cogsworth!!! It's time to-”

The door pulled back, showing the red colt that will serve as his master. He took a deep breath.

“Shall we get started?” Cogsworth lead Button up the ramp and to his room. Removing the harness, the mechanic pulled himself onto his bed, looking down at his “protege” looking up at him with a smile. “Well, where is your textbook?”

“Don't need one, you can pass on the knowledge over to me.” Button grinned even wider.

Cogsworth not so much as he pulled out his math textbook. “Okay, let's just use mine.”

Button sat next to him, presenting Cogsworth with his answers to today's math homework. What the mechanic saw weren't even related to mathematics, let alone any academic subject. A majority of answers related to popular culture, but otherwise had no work shown nor correct answer. In his mind, the mechanic took back everything he thought about Snails.

“Okay, let's start with the odd numbers.” Cogsworth looked at question five “Now, what is the square root of two thousand, four hundred one?”

“Uh…” Button fidgeted his hooves “Sixty-two?”

Cogsworth slowly placed his hoof on his head, gently rubbing a circle on the fur and skin. “This is gonna be one long afternoon.”

Indeed, an insult to his intelligence, what would have taken two minutes for Cogsworth to answer a question would take Button twelve minutes. Thirteen of these tortuous corrections and the mechanic felt like an old worker who didn't have his cup of coffee. How Button could keep his energy up he didn't understand. But then again, he didn't take his time to hang out with his friends between the camping accident and his time in juvenile detention.

“Whelp!” Button slammed the math book shut, waking up the dazed colt “That does it for today! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

When Button rushed out and slammed the door, the mechanic sighed with relief. The following morning, Button strode over go school and turned in his homework. A few hours of subjects and recess, and Button got his homework back. It was graded sixty-nine percent; better than what he usually gets, but still behind. In red ink, Cheerilee wrote, “Much better, but keep trying.”

The following afternoon and Button was back at Cogsworth's home. At his request, they would work the even numbered problems. They worked long and hard on the social studies problems.

“Laughter, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, and Magic all constitute the Elements of what?” Cogsworth turned his attention away from the book to his video game playing friend, who just tapped his muzzle.

“... Cringe?” Button answered, irritating the mechanic further as he lifted his upper body.

“Really!?” - Cogsworth snarled as he slammed the book - “They've been used since Princess Luna returned, we trotted among them, you're in cahoots with the generous one's sister! How the hay do you not know that!?”

Button tapped his chin before waving his hoof in an uncertain manner.

“... Lack of practice?” - Button watched Cogsworth shut his book and turned away from Button - “What's wrong?”

“Oh, nothing.” The mechanic hooked himself to his wheelchair and began walking towards the door. “I'm just thinking I am wasting my time.”

Button’s ears lowered as he picked up his books. “No, you're-”

“Forget it!” - Cogsworth stopped and turned around - “You’d never get your grades up because you hardly put any effort in solving problems.”

Much as he didn't like to admit it, Button took off his hat, sitting down as he placed it on his chest.

“Please, I just want to raise my grades so I can play video games again.” - Button began to sniffle - “That's the only good thing I'm good at. I want to make video games when I grow up.”

Keeping his red fur from becoming any redder, Cogsworth looked at a cartridge of the game, “Pokémon Stadium.” He lifted it to his mouth, looking at Button again. With a wave of his hoof, he led the gamer to the Castle. Back in the refurbished library, Cogsworth plugged in the game into the computer. With a few commands, the computer monitors displayed the tech specs, 3D asset files, and mathematics for the physics engine and UI. The mechanic turned to find Button in awe, much to his prediction.

“You want to build video games?” Cogsworth dragged his wheelchair laden body towards the young stallion, raising his hoof. “Then get smart!”

Button Mash watched Cogsworth leave him before looking to the monitor. All these math equations, the sciences used for the physics engine and the transitions for each animation. Harsh as the fact is, Button had to grow up. No one’s going to be a colt or filly forever, and their lives must be so that their parents wouldn’t have any ripples. Button walked out of the laboratory and out of the castle.

When he reached his home, Button Mash took out his notebook of all the past assignments he did in the semester so far. Aside from a few B’s, Most of them had been graded either as D or D-plus, with the red ink writing asking him to redo them. Taking out his math textbook, he began with the long division problems. His mother, having not heard of her son in a while, went over to check on him. With the sight of him re-doing his assignments had her draw a smile as she walked away and continued to cook tonight’s meal.

A few days have passed. Button was “in the zone” as he wrote down his notes. As he did, he received the whole stack of his old assignments, placed on his desk. When the recess bell rang, Button stayed behind and looked at each one assignment. Grades that were formerly D range have been bumped up to a B. He looked up, seeing Cheerilee grading her newly received assignments. With a smile, he places the re-graded assignments into his saddlebag, Button walked out of school, joining his friends as his future became much brighter.

School House Shock (Part 1)

It's been awhile since the last big catastrophe happened here in the green plains of Equestria. A human arriving unexpectedly, Trixie making a return, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash helping Zephyr Breeze graduate, Rarity helping out with quite a few occasions. For the Ponyville Elementary, one thing is on every young pupil's mind: Spring Break. Some students such as Button Mash worked hard to improve their grades, and it's starting to show each pop quiz and homework assignment old and new. For the Crusaders, Spring Break marks the annual Apple Derby, where a foal and an adult of his/her choice makes their own wooden car in a race to the finish.

For Cosgrove, this is a special Spring Break. This year, the Barn and Bailey Circus is coming to town. The thoughts of seeing his close friends again were hardly unimaginable. The last letter he received from his closest, Chelsey, Zipper and Diver, they are very close to getting their cutie marks. But as the circus entertainment desires those with entertaining cutie marks, the thought of them getting laborious marks worried him a bit. But still, the circus does provide a home to some of the rarest or exotic of creatures, and should do well.

The Friday before is a half day, now one recess session away from a week long freedom. As the other foals played around, Cosgrove played a little with a rubber ball. Staring at the red speckled sphere reminded him of his first toy when he was just a baby. Then it occurred to him: all this time learning magic or fighting a Changeling or two may have put him out of practice for circus tricks.

Stiffing his tail hairs like a balancing pole, the Hipparion applied his front hooves, crushing the ball a little before getting his hind hooves on the ball. One step down, he thought to himself as he wondered what to do next. He lifted his left leg and drew it back, followed by his right arm. As he did the same for his remaining limbs, the ball began to crawl. When he comfortable, Cosgrove increased his speed, using his stiffened tail to balance him as he tilted his body around. He stops, gaining his stillness as he stood upright on his hind legs. But the bell will see no more to this, and rang loudly before he could even lift his right hoof.

That sad moment aside, Cosgrove returned to his home near the Everfree Forest. Aging comes with rewards, and now the colt has his own copy of the house keys. Turning the lock with a loud clack, he reached into the mailbox. Holding five articles of mail with his left hand, Cosgrove resorted to hobbling up the stairs to the kitchen.

“Lion Tamer, Loopty Hoop, Loopty Hoop, Lion Tamer,” Placing those letters on the table, he found one rolled up the scroll. Above the seal of Princess Celestia, the message read, “To the parents or guardians of Cosgrove.”

His curiosity grasped, Cosgrove trotted to the couch, sat down and gently peeled the wax that kept the scroll neat.

“To the parents or Guardians of Cosgrove.

Due to changes made at the Celestia School of Gifted Unicorns, it brings us great pleasure to announce that Cosgrove as an eligible student. We invite him over to stay one week at the school. Should he be satisfied with the retreat, we will be honored to accept his application.

We look forward to seeing you,

Signed and sealed by

Princess Celestia.”

In no time at all did Cosgrove rush over to Twilight's castle. He had Spike examine the scroll, he had Sunset look at the message, followed by Princess Twilight. He checked it with Applejack, double checked it with Big Mac, triple checked it with Granny Smith. All of them, especially Twilight, gave him this one answer.

“This is an official letter.” Sunset answered as she looked at the royal seal.

“This is great!” Twilight squeaked as she levitated a whole set of books for the colt. “You're finally moving up!”

“Twilight,” Starlight Glimmer interjected as her mentor continued tp pile up books - “wouldn't this be just a field week?”

“I know it's a field week,” Twilight paid no attention to Cosgrove's worried look as the books piled one after the other. “But first impressions count if he wants to stay.”

“Yes, if.” The young Alicorn turned to find the colt's grandparents, Lion Tamer being the one to add. “There are other schools I may add.”

Loopty Hoop looked down at her grandson. “This is his life, let him decide on how he would spend his spring break.”

Now the weight is on Cosgrove's shoulders as they looked at him. Being at Celestia's school would be the highest honor for him after spending most of his life in poverty. But his closest friends were coming as well, and he did not want to miss them. But they could reach a compromise. And the idea had the colt raise his ears.

“Could my friends come visit?” He asked his grandparents.

“Of course.” Lion Tamer answered as he and his wife nudged him.

A day passed and the friends and family of the Hipparion gathered at the train station. They brought to him a small gift, mostly candy such as Pinkie's rock candy necklace. As he is still a minor, Hoof Lock volunteered to escort him. Cosgrove looked beyond the crowd to find Sunset standing there alone. He moved through the crowds and gave her a tight hug.

“Thank you for letting me get this far.” He squeezed a bit tighter as he drew his smile a bit larger.

The light amber unicorn felt the mixture of happiness and sorrow. Since Night Dancer passed away, she had become like a big sister to him. Did they have their rough moments? Yes, but what sibling, mud or blood, doesn't? And now with a first in a big step in his life, it would be a matter of time before she too will have to let him go. She watched him enter the train station, walking away from the cheering crowd. She tried to hold back her tears, but she felt so happy for him that she couldn't.

Cosgrove looked out the window, watching the capital city come closer as the train pulled its cargo with all its might. The excitement for him attending Celestia's school made his tail wag. When the train entered the partially illuminated mountain tunnel, he turned to his right to see his Hooflock keeping his stoic poise. The Hipparion looked down, seeing the Royal guards lack tail.

“So, Hooflock,” His question didn't even get the earth pony to shift his neck under that armor. “why don't you have a tail?”

It was a good ten seconds of silence that had the colt acknowledge his lack of an answer. But if Hooflock won't answer, perhaps his sister, Crescendo, will if she wishes. The tunnel gained more light before the train car they are in left the tunnel. Slowing down to make the few swerves that hugged the face of the mountain, it’s not long before the passengers were beheld the marvelous city of Canterlot.

“Next stop, Canterlot!” Announced the conductor as his train entered the city gates.

The steam locomotive slowed its gears, stopping at the loading dock before releasing the steam it churned during its run. The doors opening in each car, the passengers nearest the exits came out first. Either business or pleasure, the lone travelers went their separate ways easily. Family members, and even lone children via special tickets, reunited with more relatives. Crescendo was one such relative taking the day off to help her little friend settle in.

Being a member of the royal military has its payoffs. With a higher pay stub, Crescendo was able to live in an aristocratic house. Not as luxurious as Twilights family home to say, but it is a decent start. The walls were a teal, the floor ivory white broken by Corinthian style pillars reaching the faded red violet ceiling. Cosgrove's room, for the time being, was as large as a dorm room; an elevated bed to his left and a desk, dresser and bookshelf to his right. He placed his suitcase underneath the bed before joining his host for the walk.

The colt looked around; if he were to live here after graduating Cheerilee’s school, he would have to know more than he did when the Changelings invaded the city. A majority of the inhabitants were unicorns. It made sense given the high and mighty behavior passed down from their ancestors. They did have children, most mimicking their parents behavior. But that isn't to say they're all bad; some unicorn foals played quite well with other races.

Cosgrove stopped his walk and looked up at the square building that is the school. Even though this is a trial run, he could feel his fur twitch here and there. He takes a deep breath and walks inside. Aside from a larger size, Celestia's school interior resembles that of a high school. To the sides of both walls were lockers two and a half times his height, a testament for the school being suited for Unicorns. He finds a group of similar aged children and waved to them. They just looked at him, puzzled at his stripes and additional toes before walking away with their heads held high.

His first “class” was in room two-O-nine with Sir Marecus. He had to trot up one floor, turning his head left and right before finding the right room. While the room is square, the desks are arranged in a half circle. Already there are a few fillies and colts sitting in as proud a manner as they stand. He takes a seat next to, oddly enough, a flesh colored Siren calf with black dorsal fins.

“Hi, I'm Cosgrove.” He raises his hoof. “Nice to-”

“You talk too much, you should really go into politics.” Mane Dark looked forward once again.

Cosgrove looked the other way, lifting his shoulders. “Was it something I said?”

Instead of a typical school bell, the bell was a church bell, and it rang loud as the classroom's remaining students rushed in and took their seats. Among them was a Lagogryph, a creature with the top half of a gannet bird and the bottom half of a rabbit. A curious sight to behold as she took her seat next to Cosgrove. Her bird eye spied the Hipparion.

“You’re new.” She asked after turning her head.

“Yeah, I'm here on a little shadowing tour for Spring Break.” Cosgrove raised his hand at the avian-mammal. “My name's Cosgrove.”

The Lagogryph lifted a blue, webbed foot and grabbed the hand.

“Wind Surfer.” She turned his foot, finding the dew claws. “So are you some kind of dragon pony?”

“I'm a Hipparion.” He chuckled. Dragon Pony, how would that be possible? “I am born with this.”

The door creaked open, getting the students to sit straight. Walking inside was a mare, an odd choice to hold the title Sir. Her physical shape resembled that of Loopty Hoop. Her coat was teal with a red-lavender mane and tail wrapped in a bonnet. The shine of her coat gave away her origins. She placed a school file down and fidgeted her glasses.

“Good morning students.” She greeted without opening her eyes. “I am Professor Abacus Cinch. Sir Marecus is on leave this week so I'll be your substitute for this class. Turn your books to page three hundred ninety-four.”

Cosgrove, just there to shadow the school, didn't have a textbook. Have it not been for his better judgment, the Hipparion turned away from the Siren.

“Mrs. Cinch.” Wind Surfer raised her hand. “We already covered magic in anatomy.”

“Yes, but I wish to provide an in-depth lecture.” Cinch turned to the chalkboard. “Please turn to page three hundred and ninety-four.”

With a click of a button, Mrs. Cinch displayed an overall anatomical view of a minotaur, all the way down to its four stomachs.

“Now, a minotaur has a more efficient means of generating magic. Like other ruminants, it shares each digestive process in each stomach. Once the soft-”

“I know how Brobdingnags eat!” Cosgrove's interruption brought Cinch’ attention. She squinted her eyes at the yellow prospective student.

“Yes, Cosgrove.” She fiddled her glasses “So I've heard, but we are not talking about Brobdingnags at the moment.”

The Crystal Pony continued her lecture on minotaur magic, while Wind Surfers curiosity drew her seabird head at the colt.

“So how do they eat?” She whispered the best she could, for gryph species, for the most part, are vocal creatures; whispering is not their strong suit.

Cosgrove looked at the lecturing teacher before looking at the mismatched creature. “Well, they take a deep breath and suck in a whole lot of parasprites. Sometimes a few get stuck in the baleen, so they use tongue to-”

“Mr. Cosgrove!” Mrs. Cinch slapped her ruler on the desk. The other classmates, being veterans to her teaching methods, curled back. “I know you are here as our guest, but please show some common courtesy.”

“Yes, Mam.” Cosgrove lowered his head and ears as Cinch returned to her lecture. Mane Dark added more to the colt's shame by shaking his head.

The few hours after had the school bell echo the city once more. Cosgrove walked out of the building, exploring the gardens as he waited for Crescendo to come by and pick him up. When he passed the daffodils, the colt saw a familiar face. Princess Luna looking at the ground. He prepared to greet her, but stopped and hunkered down at a giraffe shaped hedge. Luna was conversing with Cinch.

“The colt does seem bright, but he did show a little indecency in my class today. I would expect that much from a Ponyville inhabitant.”

The dread coming back to him, Cosgrove turned away from the two mares and began walking towards the gates. Wind Surfer saw him pass by, but he didn't stop to say hello. As gannet birds are clumsy on land, and rabbits move by hopping, she hobbled as best she could to catch up with the prehistoric pony.

“Sorry, I got you in trouble.” She slowed her hobble into a walk.

“No, it's mine.” Cosgrove looked at the Lagogryph “I feel so honored to be here. And I don't want Twilight to get mad that I blew this one opportunity.”

“Twilight?” Wind Surfer hobbled ahead, stopping Cosgrove. “As in Princess Twilight?”

“Yeah. She's just excited that I'm there.”

“Did she teach you any magic?” The gryph continued.

“No, Sunset Shimmer did.”

Wind Surfer cocked her head. “Who's Sunset Shimmer?”

“Cosgrove!” The two children saw Crescendo standing at the gates waving at them.

“I'll tell you later.” With a few hops, the colt ran towards the Earth Pony. Evening came and Cosgrove was already preparing a letter to his grandparents. It took him a while to come up with the right words, but it's worth the effort as he let out a yawn.

“Cosgrove.” The colt turned to see his caretaker at his guest room door. “Time for bed.”

Rolling up the message into a scroll, Cosgrove hopped onto his bed as Crescendo prepared to douse the lamp.

“Crescendo?” The white and yellow earth pony turned to the young stallion. “How were you, Flash, and Sunset able to recognize me?”

The flag bearer walked to the bed and sat down on the wood floor.

“You were quite young,” - Crescendo chuckled - “like really young. And it's fascinating how fate can bring a face I hardly remember as a filly.”

Cosgrove yawned before he drifted to sleep. The earth pony cooed at the sight; the colt she hasn't seen for years, grown up, and spending his spring break at Canterlot. She pulled the covers over him, watching him smile as she doused the lamp and left the room.

As she cleaned the kitchen, the Royal Guard Mare heard the door open. It was Hooflock, back from a long shift. He hangs his armor on the rack, slouching over to the couch.

“How was work?” Crescendo greets while scrubbing a wine glass.

Fine. Just fine.” Hooflock turns his head to the guest room. “How is he?”

Having been told of the awkward day the young Hipparion had, Crescendo answered, “He'll get comfortable.” Seeing her brother scoff before grabbing the remote, she walks in front of him. “Hooflock, we need to talk.”

“What is there to talk about?” Hooflock moves his head one side, gets his view blocked by his sister. Before he could shift to the other, Crescendo shifted her body to the side, blocking the TV.

“I've heard that you haven't been looking for a squire.”

“I've been over this over dozens of times times now,” - Hooflock stands up, a look of anger in his eyes. - “I don't need one!”

“Really?” Crescendo raises her eyebrow before pointing at the gold and blue armor. “Who will help you put that on when you go into the warzone? Who will have your weapons?”

Realizing how loud she is talking, she turns her head, seeing if she is disturbing her guest. “At least think about it.” She whispers before going into the kitchen. “Maybe the one you look for may be closer than you think.”

Hooflock resumes watching TV, turning his yellow eyes at the guestroom. He turns down the volume, resting his heavy head on his bare hoof. Closer than he thinks? Him? The one who already has combat skills and magic? Maybe so, but like mares, there are plenty of squires in the sea. He changes the channel, watching a comedy show guest starring Cheese Sandwich.

Homecoming

Following the troublesome day known as the Apple Derby and Rainbow's pranks, the Crusaders use the rest of their Spring Break to use what their talent calls them: helping others earn their cutie marks. Inside their clubhouse, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle list off every inhabitant in Ponyville without cutie marks. Recent examples include Tender Taps, Petunia, and first Gryphon Cutie Mark Crusader Gabby. Other upcoming helpers include Button Mash, Dinky, Indigo Blue, Pipsqueak, and Shady Daze. They hope to one day go outside of Ponyville and help out… Without their relatives need of course.

“The best clue we have for Pip,” - Sweetie Belle points to a last year school picture of the tiny pinto - “is that he likes to explore for treasure. Maybe he would be great at treasure hunting.”

Apple Bloom rubs her chin. “Nah, probably too similar to Petunia’s cutie mark. He does like to play pirate.”

“Girls!” Scootaloo rushes in, holding a roll of paper. She unfurls it, showing a neat graphic design of a large tent. “The circus is coming to town!”

Her two associates seem unfazed by this at first, but it occurred to them. The circus is a good place to find wayward souls that need a mark. Three of those are close friends to a former circus pony as well who lack a cutie mark.

“Too bad Cosgrove isn’t here.” Sweetie Belle droops her ears as Scootaloo approaches her.

“But imagine the look on his face when he sees his friend's cutie marks!” On cue, the Crusaders look up at a thought cloud, imagining the three of them along with Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver having gray blotches on their flanks for the moment. “What do you say, girls?”

“Cutie Mark Crusaders Circus Helpers!” They shout before clapping their hoofs together.

Having made their stop last night, the infamous Barn and Bailey Circus got most of its tents established and outside attractions ready to go. Families with enough free time took the chance to explore the temporary establishment, playing a few games such as dunk tank or whack a mole. Among those ponies are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, looking around the place they’ve heard for years, but only now have officially visited. Compared to the stories, the place doesn’t look messy and the workers appear well fed.

“I don’t see anypony else without a cutie mark.” Said Scootaloo, her hoof over her brow as she scans the horizon.

“Maybe Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver already have their cutie marks?” Apple Bloom looks to her left, seeing the Horses and occasional Merponies casually strolling around. “If they can get a cutie mark.”

As they have found the hard way with Gabby, only Ponies and Alicorns, of all equids, can have a cutie mark. It’s evident with Zecora as well; even in her adult age, the closest thing she has for a cutie mark is the spiral that served as her tribe’s rite of passage. What would a Horse do for a Cutie Mark? What would a Merpony or Sleipnir do for theirs? The answer is out there, they just need some help. Sweetie Belle turns to one of the circus folk, a yellow Horse colt with a bi-colored mane and tail of orange and blue.

“Excuse me, but do you know where Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver are?” Sweetie Belle asks, leaning her head back as the colt approached her. While not as big as Trouble Shoes, this is the closest they have for a Horse their age.

“I have no idea.” Tex looks around. “Last I saw of them is when we boarded the train for Ponyville. But you can try the train if they’re still helping the others unload.”

As the Horse parted ways, the Crusaders took his advice and walked further down to the train, now looking polished; no longer does the engine look rusty or the cars appear rotting. They approach an open train car; with no ramp, they did what they can to lift themselves on the car.

“Hey!” The crusaders turn to an employee, a gruff looking Earth Pony. “No guests are allowed on the train.”

“Oh, but uh,” - Sweetie Belle gives her friends a puzzled look, her eye catching Scootaloo twirling her hoof - “we have a few friends in the circus.”

The employee raises an eyebrow then sighs. “Probably won’t find them in there.” He huffs before turning around and walked away.

The Crusaders went inside anyway. Illuminated by just one light bulb, the trio of fillies scoured the train car, sweeping dust off the crates. No matter what stone they turned, they could find no trace of the Horse, the Sleipnir, and the Merpony. At least not in this train car. They turned back, reaching for the light when they hear a loud thunk from a magic box. Seeing it move on its own, the Crusaders approach it cautiously. From the sounds of the muffled yelling, they could tell that whoever’s in this box really needs air. The three grab the lock, pulling it with all their might. As the Crusaders fall back, the lid bursts open and reveals the juvenile Horse known as Chelsey as she fills her starved lungs with a loud whinny.

“Sweet Celestia!” Chelsey stretches her leg, popping a few joints before she places it on the floor. “I thought we’d never get out.”

Diver sprung out of the chest, flopping to the wooden floor like a fallen snake. Popping her tail in several places, she groans as she pushes her body around the floor. Zipper appeared the most disjointed, with all of his arms disjointed in all directions and his neck stuck in one direction.

“Why did I have to be on the bottom.” Zipper groaned, hopping out of the chest on his good leg like a pogo stick.

The Crusaders looked at each other, Scootaloo’s left brow furrowed while she raised the other.

“Was there any reason why you were in the chest?” Scootaloo asks, expecting to find a logical answer for an illogical action.

“We were practicing for a surprise showing for Cosgrove.” Chelsey grabs Zippers arms, pulling them forward until they popped.

“Butthensomeonelockedthe-” Zipper’s neck is snapped in place, getting him to breath shallowly. Chelsey moves over to Diver, holding the Merpony like an accordion and popped her in several places. Diver laid on the floor, turning her head at the Crusaders.

“We’ve been stuck in there for a day.” Diver said in such a relaxed manner. She eyeballs the train car, wondering for the other company aside from the three fillies in front of her. “Where is Cosgrove anyhow?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard?” Apple Bloom raised her hoof. “Cosgrove’s at Canterlot for a week long tour.”

The three circus children took this news slowly as they drooptheir ears.

“Oh, well that was pointless.” Chelsey slunks her shoulders. “We were really hoping to surprise him.”

The Crusaders felt the shame as well, but the purpose of their mission brought them hope again.

“You still can!” They shout, getting their circus friends to give them a puzzled look. “You can surprise him with your cutie marks!”

“Cutie Marks!?” The three ponies lifted their heads, shocked at their proposal.

“We can’t get cutie marks.” Diver rebukes, pointing to the insignias that dot the Crusaders flanks. “We’re not Ponies.”

“Trouble Shoes got his cutie mark, and he’s a Horse,” Scootaloo adds, raising her hoof to get the point across. “never hurts to try.”

With three foals that could possibly get a cutie mark, the Crusaders split the workload. Scootaloo took Zipper, Sweetie Belle took Diver, and Apple Bloom took Chelsey. After walking a distance around the circus carnival, the apple farmer sat on a barrel to become level with a pony her age, yet the height to her sister.

“So, Chelsey. What do Horses like best?”

A moment of silence before Chelsey rubs her neck. It’s not that she doesn’t know the potential of heritage, it’s that such a question caught her off guard.

“Well… We do…” She eyeballs the barrel underneath Apple Bloom, and lifts it up. “We like to lift things up.”

“Yeah…” Apple Bloom mutters in an uncertain tone before she is lifted even higher after Chelsey places the barrel on her snout while on her hind legs.

“We also like to do tricks!” She says with a smile as she eyeballs a few other watching children.

Apple Bloom struggled to keep her balance, slowly shifting her weight to face the young Horse. “Well, what do you like to do?”

“What I like to do?” With a jerk of her head, Chelsey catches the tossed barrel with filly on top. “I just like to work like all other horses.” Apple Bloom isn’t that convinced as she crossed her arms. Not wanting the Crusader to waste her time, Chelsey admits defeat. “Okay, follow me.”

Apple Bloom follows the horse filly to her family tent, taking an immediate notice of the charts displaying outlines of Ponies, Gryphons, Dragons, and all other known inhabitants. When she looked closer, she notices small needle like drawings inserted to each specific part and the notes giving the result.

“You want to do acupuncture?” Apple Bloom turns, finding Chelsey lifting a pincushion with fifty needles.

“Yeah, I’ve been wanting to do it for a while now...” Chelsey responds between her teeth.

“So why haven’t you?” Apple Bloom’s question is answered for her: A Horse performing such a delicate operation would require a miracle. She paces around the tent as she comes up with a solution. “Have you tried out on anyone?”

Chelsey motions the pin cushion at Apple Bloom. “Want to be the first?”

Apple Bloom drew her head back; she would do anything to help foals earn their cutie marks, becoming a guinea pig might not be the best idea. They turn to a tent curtain unfurling, finding Big Hooves enter the tent. They notice the pained wobble the older Horse made as he sits on his bed.

“I tell you, working these long hours have given me these aches.” Big Hooves moves his shoulder a little before rendering himself motionless. After feeling Apple Bloom nudge her shoulder, Chelsey grabs the chart of her species and approaches her father. “Chels, we’ve been over this, I don’t need needles.”

“Can I at least try?” Chelsey pleads, preparing to grab the pincushion. What else has he got to lose? Nodding his head, his daughter hops behind him, studying the chart for the best place to put the pin.

Sweetie Belle’s patience was going where the dead crabs go as she watched Diver float around in a tube large enough to fit a dolphin or two. With an irritated flick of her ear, she decided to speak up.

“I don’t think floating would be your special talent.” Sweetie Belle’s remark got Diver to turn her floating body to her. “What is it you really like?”

With a couple strokes from her powerful tail, the Merpony reaches the each of the pool and lifting herself with her forelegs.

“Somedays, I have these… dreams.”

“Dreams?” - Sweetie Belle cocks her head - “How so?”

“Two years ago, I took a nap in this pool, and I had a vision involving Cosgrove being happy on Mother’s day. When I woke up, I suddenly felt happy too.”

Sweetie Belle rubs her chin. There are some clues there. Diver’s happy after having dreams, and she sleeps in water. Water is a soothing element on a hot day, especially when setting up a circus.

“I think your special talent involves meditation.” Sweetie Belle answers. Diver cocks her head, urging the Unicorn to elaborate. “If you see visions in your sleep and are happy after, then meditation must be your talent. Zecora does it a lot. Just try it again.”

Diver flicks her ears rapidly, shrugs, then pushes herself towards the middle of the pool. She submerges, leaving her nostrils exposed. Sweetie Belle shivers at the sight of the submerged Merpony; unlike their land-based cousins, they along with Sirens and Sea Ponies have a thin membrane that protects the eye while they’re submerged. After moving her cloudy eyes, Diver closes them, taking slow, cleansing breaths. Taking a deep breath, the nostrils sealed themselves tight, joining the rest of the Merpony underwater. Time and again, the nostrils briefly open to expel the trapped air and give her some relief. As she appears relaxed, a strange glow starts to happen, one that brings a smile to Sweetie’s face.

Scootaloo is baffled by Zipper’s proposed talent. Sleipnirs, with their multiple limbs, run a ground speed several times that of an Earth Pony of the same weight class. It shouldn’t be a surprise that some of them would just be almost as daring as Rainbow Dash. What Zipper presents her is just that: a figure eight daredevil death loop under construction via Pegasi, Earth Ponies, and Horses. The principle is simple: just keep moving to maintain your momentum. Problem is, as a wild shape, this would require a fast running Pony capable to easily navigating the tunnels. Even if she could, Rainbow Dash would have to keep her wings clasped to avoid being caught by the mesh.

“Wow.” Scootaloo gasped, imagining the scooter tricks she can pull off if she ever survives an obstacle course like that.

“It’skindofariteofpassagereally.” Zipper lifts his left frontmost forehoof. “Myfamilyhasbeendoingthisforthepastfourgenerations.”

Scootaloo walks around the obstacle, thinking of any second opinion she can come with.

“Any chance of getting, say, a crochet cutie mark?” She peeks her head around to see the Sleipnir rub his lower jaw.

“No.”

The final latch bolted down, the daredevil course is complete. The workers wipe the sweat from their brow and shook the rest from their bodies and wings.

“Still in tip top shape like before.” Said one of the Horses with a flick of her tail. She motions Zipper to the cage. “Try it out.”

“Whoa, whoa!” Scootaloo bridges herself between the two circus ponies. “He has to go up there now?”

“Well who else is going to do it, you?” The Horse sputters, lifting the young Sleipnir into the cage and closes the lid. The orange Pegasus peeks like a child would staring into a birdcage.

“You have at least practiced, right?” Scootaloo questions with a worried tone. His silence gives her a sense of dread as he looks to his right.

“Onewaytofindout.” Zipper moves up a little to his right, runs little faster to his left, repeating the pattern to move like he was a pool of rising water. In his steady trot, he moved in a circle on the first half of the figure before going at full speed. The momentum gained, Zipper twists his body before making a leap of faith to the upper half. His upper body slammed against the ring, the Sleipnir pulls himself as he could to the upper part of the cage. Before gravity could pick up, he begins to run again, moving faster and faster before he almost reaches the ceiling of the cage. He runs back in a downward spiral, jumping over the small ring to the lower half of the cage, rushing down the bottom then made an upward spiral back up the cage. Zipper moved so fast that all he could see is a blur. Outside, this is reflected in the generating turbulence that slowly draws in their hair. Scootaloo squints as she notices a small flash in the figure eight tornado.

Big Hooves is completely motionless while his daughter pulls the last pin in the cushion with her teeth. Chelsey’s slow, yet steady progress has lined every sore area on her father’s back. One keen eye spies one last sore spot and slowly inches her armed lips towards it. Apple Bloom had her back turned through all of this, turning her head just in time to see Chelsey gently insert the needle right into her father’s withers. At the distance she sat, Apple Bloom hardly notices the Master of the Tent relax his shoulders.

“This… Feels…” - The Horse takes a sputtered breath. - “Great. Thanks, Chelsey.”

As she gave a smile back, her eyes spot a sudden shine. She turns her head around, expecting what she thinks she expects. What she finds only confused her. It’s a cutie mark, but not the one she would imagine if her talent is acupuncture. Instead, it resembled Cosgrove’s, albeit blue to complement her blotched peach skin.

“C’mon, let’s get the others.” Apple Bloom motions Chelsey to the outside world, leaving her father there until she returns.

Diver jumps out of the pool just a few seconds after Scootaloo arrives with an exhausted Zipper. The two also had baffling cutie marks; Zipper’s being white to complement his charcoal black fur and Diver’s a deeper gray to complement her sparse gray skin. When Apple Bloom and Chelsey arrive, the latter became puzzled.

“What talent did you have?” Asked Chelsey, pointing at their odd cutie marks.

“Meditation.” Answers Diver, rubbing her marked flank with her tail.

“Daredevil sports.” Zipper lifts his back most left hind leg. “You?”

“Acupuncture.” Chelsey turns her side to show off her cutie mark. “Why do we have Cosgrove’s?”

The three fillies that supervised them went into a huddle. It takes them a long while to come with a good answer. The answer becomes obvious when they recall their cutie marks.

“Perhaps your cutie marks and Cosgrove’s make closer than your think.” Apple Bloom and her companions show their marked flanks. Sure they have a miniature insignia in their emblems, but the general shape and colors are what unite the three together. Perhaps the three circus ponies cutie marks mean the same as well. Chelsey turns to find the determined looks on Zipper and Diver’s muzzles before looking back at the Crusaders.

“Thank you, all of you.” Chelsey gives the Crusaders a big hug. As Zipper and Diver joined in the huddle, Tex watches from a distance. After rubbing his chin, the Horse looks at his flank. If they can get a cutie mark, maybe he can as well.

Author's Note

I was originally planning to have this involve a subplot of certain transformable beings (wink, wink) turning several circus folks into their own. But I am in a bit of a rush, so I simplified the story.

School House Shock (Part 2)

Half the Spring Break has gone. For some, it went by like it was hours. For others, it seemed like months. For one, it seemed like a whole year. For the first time in four and a half years, Sunset felt a gap in her life. Twilight, Spike, and Starlight have gone to the Crystal Empire to visit the first’s niece, Flurry Heart. Sure she has the run of the place while they're gone, but it still doesn't seem right without another two pair of smaller hooves by her side. She levitated a glass of water and sat on a desk to read a book. The other Elements of Harmony watched her continue to succumb to her loneliness. One pink pony, however, had an idea.

“Oh…” Pinkie Pie rose up next to Sunset. “And the cats in the cradle in the silver spoon. Little colt blue and the mare in the moon. When you coming home, bro? I don't know when. But we'll get together then, yeah. You know we'll have a-”

“Pinkie!” Sunset wrapped Pinkie's lips in a sea green aura, interrupting her song. “Can't you give me any better news?”

“Hey, what's your deal!” Rainbow Dash cornered the orange unicorn. “It's not like he'll be gone forever.”

“Rainbow.” Applejack reprimands, giving her cyan friend a stern look. She turns back to the occupant of the castle, who continued to read her book. “Sorry about that, sugar cube.”

“It’s all right.” Sunset responds, though the weight of the thought has her lower her head, almost to the point of crying as she draws in a sniffle. “I’m sorry. I don’t know whether I should feel proud for him or not.”

The Elements of Harmony looked at each other, Fluttershy being the first to approach her fire-maned friend, rubbing her by the withers.

“I understand how you feel.” Fluttershy whispers, easily calming the troubled Unicorn. “I was so happy that Zephyr Breeze was able to graduate because of my help. You’ve brought Cosgrove this far since…” - Fluttershy keeps her silence, wishing not to mention of the accident that claimed Night Dancer a few years ago - “You have every right to be proud of him.”

“But it just seems like it was handed to him so easily.” Sunset levitates a copy of Cosgrove’s invitation. “He tried the test so many times, and he never passed. Why would they bring him now.”

The Unicorn uses the invite as a bookmark as she closes the piece of literature. She walks away from her friends, ready to check up on Dapplewood’s process in writing more of his culture in the next set of scrolls. Like Twilight before, study of sciences and sorcery help channel her feelings.

“Sunset.” Applejack calls out to her again, getting Sunset to stop. “We knew this would come one of these days. Cosgrove’s growing up, and he wouldn’t want to be in Ponyville forever. The best you can do is keep supporting him, and treasure each benefit forever.”

Sunset remains motionless as she took the thought in her mind. Applejack is correct; children grow up, move to another city, marry, and have children of their own. His friends from the circus would probably move to new homes once they grow up. It’s only a matter of time before Cosgrove takes the torch. Sunset takes a deep breath, and continues to move.

Though it is only two days away before he moves back to Ponyville and continue the rest of the semester, Cosgrove felt it as weeks since he left in the first place. At least he’s been making progress since his first day being a little misadventure. The education seemed to be for ninth graders when his prospective classmates appear to be in fifth. By Thursday, the Hipparion’s brain was already pumping. How Twilight, Sunset, and the like even passed this class while he was still a baby is unknown. Now out from shadowing Advanced Astrophysics, the colt felt relief seep back in as he goes to the gardens. He sits on a blanket laid down by the castle servants. Before him were also platters housing some of the best dishes this side of Equestria has to offer.

The only downside to this offering of nutrition: Cosgrove wasn’t that keen. He takes a small bite of a ground up mixture of parsley and grapefruit before gagging. It’s fancier than the pickles and eggs he ate as a toddler, but it tasted like uncooked liver and raw celery. At least Rarity and Pinkie Pie saved The Tasty Treat from being shut down, for he plans to go there on his last day. He continues to eat either way as an avian shadow looms over him.

“Not tasty, isn’t it?” Wind Surfer sits down, taking out a bag of raw sardines from her backpack. Though Gryphons are omnivorous, the multitude of hybrids have different tastes. She, with a front half of a gannet bird, has a diet of fish and squid. With no teeth or cheeks at the side of her slim beak, Wind Surfer puts the fish as deep in her mouth as she could, lifting her head and jerked it back and forth to bolt it down her throat. She licks the salt from her beak when she sees a slightly disgusted Cosgrove. “Oh,” - the Lagogryph presents the Hipparion with the bag - “want some?”

Even herbivores need other minerals to balance an otherwise nutritionless diet. Ponies aren’t keen on eating meat, but usually make up by eating egg products via pastries and drinking soda. Salt licks work as well, but overdosing has a similar effect as alcohol. Cosgrove pushes the fancy dish aside and pulls one of the dead fish to him. If not for the flesh, then having a little salt would help his diet. He nips at the sardine, guiding it to his molars with his tongue. This too was a problem; he could feel the fish “swim” in his mouth for his teeth, built for grazing, aren’t good at holding meat. He swallows it whole, giving him the shivers as it reaches his stomach.

“Do you like it here?” Wind Surfer asks, scooching herself closer to him, seeing him furrow his brow.

“Well…” - Cosgrove looks at the highest tower, the bedchamber of Princess Celestia - “it’s clean, but certainly not a fancy hotel to stay in. The citizens are very pompous, even the children.”

Wind Surfer droops her wings, not taking kindly to the news. “Then why did you come here in the first place?”

It takes the colt a while to think about it as he lowers his shoulders. “From one freak to another, no offense, this is the highest honor I can be. Besides, two of my close friends were students here.”

“Two?” The Lagogryph cocks her head. “I know Princess Twilight was from here, but who is the other one?”

Cosgrove shuffles his body, certainly the pony in question would have been seen in the year books. “Sunset Shimmer. She was in the same class as Twilight, and lives with her in Ponyville.”

Wind Surfer raises a brow, “Why would she live in Ponyville?”

Why wouldn’t any student want to live anywhere else? Minuette also resides in Ponyville and Trixie is now a caped hero while in the guise of a traveling performer. But for Sunset, it had a deeper meaning revealed to his family on the day before the Changeling Invasion.

“She… Doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“I heard she got kicked out.” The Hipparion and Gryphon turn around, seeing the Siren known as Mane Dark behind them. In the old days, Sirens would have to drag themselves on land. Now in this day and age, they are fitted with a harness in the general area of their hips. “Celestia couldn't keep two students, so she got the boot.”

“Thanks for the spoiler.” Wind Surfer rolls her eyes. It's not the exact story, but it does add another nail to the damaged picket fence.

“Why would you care?” - Mane Dark raises his black hoof - “From what I've heard, she was a pompous-”

“Hey!” Cosgrove stands up with his hackles raised. “She is a good friend! Does she have problems? Yes. But nobody's perfect. Not even you!”

For a person who doesn't believe in mistakes, this made Mane Dark gasps. He gives Cosgrove a good smack on the cheek. The colt holds his hoof to his bruised cheek. He snorts in frustration; this is nothing compared to what happened in his venture in Tambelon with Cogsworth.

“How dare you! I'm one of the best students in my class!” The Siren points at Wind Surfer. “Better than you,” - He points at Cosgrove - “and definitely better than-”

“Have you lost a parent to an organized murder?” Cosgrove inches his nose to the Siren, looking furious. “Have you gone around the world and back again? Have you even braved death? Being in the best school means nothing if you don't go out of your comfort zone.”

Taking this as another insult, Mane Dark curls his lips back. “Fighting also gets you nowhere you filthy lowlife.”

Wind Surfer immediately pounces on Mane Dark, flapping her skinny wings before giving him a sharp kick with her rabbit feet. Having a wheelchair for hindquarters does the Siren no justice as he lied on his back like a turtle. The Lagogryph sits on Mane Dark’s chest, aiming her mouth at his face as she prepares to cough out her last meal.

“What is going on?” The three children turn their heads, seeing a concerned Mrs. Cinch. “Well?”

“Those two were beating me up!” Mane Dark unlatches the harness, scraping his front hooves rapidly to make his getaway. Cinch looks at the two children.

“Wind Surfer, that kind of behavior is not tolerated in this school.” - She looks at Cosgrove. “As for you, young stallion. If it does happen that you apply for the school, I will see to it that this incident be a strike against you.”

Cosgrove lowers his head, hearing the schoolmaster's footsteps become faint as she left the garden. Wind Surfer turn her head around just in time to see Cosgrove leave in the opposite direction. A sense of guilt building up, she hobbles as she could to reach the colt.

“Hey Cosgrove, wait!” She beckons.

“Leave me alone.” Cosgrove shrugs, flipping his tail in agitation.

“Hey, hey.” Now next to him, Wind Surfer wraps her wing around him, tapping his side with the fused flipper. “Look, I've been with that snake the entire time I've been in this school. Mane Dark is just snobby. I mean, you had some snobby classmates back at your school, right?”

“Yeah, but at least they had reasons.” Cosgrove flicks his ears before raising his head. “That's it!”

“What's it?” Windy cocks her head.

“Celestia didn't invite me on accident. This is a friendship test! I have to solve a problem on my own.” Cosgrove runs in the opposite direction. He stops, turning his front half to the mixed up animal behind him. “Can you show me Mane Dark's room?”

The Lagogryph pulled her head a little, tilting it as she hobbles to his side.

“You think Mane Dark is the friendship problem?” Wind Surfer raises her left foot, pointing to where the Siren went. “He hates me, and he's been mean to you too just like all the other Unicorns.”

“Still we have to try.”

“Us? Why”

“I just have to try.” Cosgrove nears the dorms, turning around to leave. “You do what you want.”

Cosgrove enters the dorm. Wind Surfer huffs. With a flick of her wing, she turns around just to bump into a large white object. The familiar face made her gasp.

Inside, Cosgrove asks for Mane Dark’s room. He goes up one floor, looking to his left to find the number 92714. Knocks a couple times and waits for a response. The door opens a little before a chain keeps it from moving further, revealing the Siren who demonized Sunset’s story a little.

“Can I help you?” He asks, his voice seething a little hate. “Come to insult my intelligence again?”

Cosgrove shook his head, “Look, I feel that we’ve been going off the wrong foot.” He raises his hoof, displaying his show of mercy. “I want to offer a show of friendship.”

Mane Dark shifts his predatory eye up and down. Is he really telling the truth? Perhaps so; the colt’s muzzle is held straight for a long while. He closes the door, unlatches the lock, and opens it up fully. Without warning, the Siren gave Cosgrove a hug. This was much easier than he thought.

“I accept your friendship.” Mane Dark lurches back, giving his guest a small grin. “As a show of gratitude, I would like to take you to my private library.”

“Every student get a private library?” Cosgrove cocked his head; Sunset told him She and Twilight, being Celestia’s students, had a private library of their own, it didn’t occur that all students shared library.

“Of course, it’s just in the castle.” Mane Dark leads him to the castle and through a few halls, one of which Moon Dancer realizes all too easily. The two reach two gigantic doors, their push handles made of solid gold. The design itself made Cosgrove whistle. The siren motions his hoof at the door. “Why don’t you come inside, read some of our books.”

Cosgrove approaches the doors, lifting a hoof towards the handle. He turns his head around to see Mane Dark, who gives him an encouraging nod. The colt looks to the doors once more, lifting his hoof even higher. But when the tip is just about to touch the wood, he stops, lowering it to the floor. While he wasn't looking, the Siren rises on his robotic hind legs, his tail used as a third leg.

“Some things are better left unseen.” Cosgrove says. When he turns around, a pair of black hooves reach his face when they are surrounded by an aura. The Siren is turned around, seeing the ruler herself and founder of the school, Princess Celestia. She gives him a firm glare while Schoolmaster Cinch walks towards them.

“What is going on?” She asks for the second time today, shifting her glasses towards her eyes.

Mane Dark’s eyes dart around before turning his head to the Hipparion he is trying to frame. “Our guest was-”

“No need for lies, Mane Dark.” Celestia spoke, her angered tone making the Siren curl his tail. “You tried to frame our guest into entering my private library. And lying is something I will not tolerate.” She puts him down, casting off the spell as a pair of guards surround him. “Have him stay at his chambers, I’ll deal with him then.”

As the guards lead him out of the castle, the Siren turns his head, letting out a small hiss before a golden horseshoe pushes him to carry on. Celestia turns to Cosgrove, who immediately bows in both thanks and respect.

“May I see you in my throne room?” Celestia asks of him, walking in the general direction to her royal hall. Doing as she wishes, Cosgrove sat on the end of the rug spanning the hall. Before him was Celestia, Schoolmaster Cinch, and the three judges who inspected his magic skill each time he came to take the test. “Do you realize why you have been brought here, without Sunset?”

Cosgrove nods, “Yes, and I’ve failed. I thought I could make friends with Mane Dark.”

“You didn’t fail.” Behind him are Wind Surfer, Hooflock, and Crescendo. The Lagogryph hobbles to the young Hipparion. “When I enrolled here as a chick, I was pestered constantly. I thought Mane Dark wouldn’t be that, but I was wrong.”

“I have noticed this too, young stallion.” Celestia adds to this, her muzzle having a small smile. “And who better to show that not all ponies she’s seen are bad.”

“But.” Cinch raises a hoof. “As your Royal Highness has sent you via a forged letter of her own, your application is thus false and voided.”

Much as he wants to say otherwise, Cosgrove has no power here. He lowers his head in respect, though they notice his ears drawn. He turns around to leave the hall. As he passes his three friends both young and old, Wind Surfer felt an anger building in her.

“Okay, wait!” Wind Surfer interrupts the silence, spreading her wings in fury. The colt he is addressing stops to turn around. “He’s always wanting to come to this school, and you keep turning him down with your stupid tests!”

“Fledgeling, may we ask you restrain yourself.” Asked Sir Malarkey, his voice stern. Wind Surfer slowly folds her wings, but still keeping an angered head.

“If I may add to this. ” Hooflock takes off his helmet, letting his Roman combed mane lay down over his sweaty head. “Cosgrove has been through things most colts his age would never do in their entire life. I don’t give a damn about Princess Twilight’s wishes, but giving him a place in the school housed in our fair capital would bring him the best honor he would ever receive. So what say you? Is he truly qualified?”

The three alumni took a look at each other before Abacus Cinch answers, “His endeavors, we know. But brute force alone doesn’t guarantee him a place in our school. Each time he took the test, we notice very little improvement for magical skills. As far as we can see, Cosgrove can continue taking the test, but he won’t earn a spot in our school.”

Cosgrove was just motionless as these facts stirred in his mind. All his time being taught by one of the greatest minds Celestia had taught, brought down by those who have also worked hard to maintain the status as teacher. He leaves the throne room, keeping his respect as he let the door closed on it’s own. Wind Surfer tries to stop him, but is stopped by Crescendo.

“Your Highness.” Hooflock and Crescendo bow their heads before leading Wind Surfer out of the room. Celestia closed her eyes, ashamed that this news had been taken so hard. Her moment is interrupted again when another guard, a white one, galloped through the great doors.

“Your Highness.” He pants, bowing his head before taking off his helmet. “Mane Dark is missing.”

Cosgrove sat by the train station, his suitcase and saddlebag in place. As he waited for his ride home, a thought boils in his head. How would they feel if they found out that the invitation was a lie. Pinkie Pie must have made a celebration cake for the occasion. Sunset? Well, Sunset’s reasonable enough to talk to, but what about Twilight, a pony who had always made counterplans of her counterplans? Does she have a counterplan if she finds that it was a farce?

“Hey.” Cosgrove turns from his deep thought, finding Wind Surfer next to him. “Sorry it didn’t work out.”

Cosgrove sighs. “What does it matter? It’s like they only reserve the school for Unicorns. I mean, you’re lucky enough to be there.”

The Lagogryph hops on the waiting bench, rocking left and right. Hooflock kept his distance, watching the two converse with each other. Cosgrove turns to Wind Surfer.

“You know, if you want, you can maybe make a visit in Ponyville.” Cosgrove waves his hoof in the general direction of the town. “There are quite a few friendly Unicorns.”

The Gryph, with a beak making up a majority of her snout, she could only make a little smile at best.

“I’ll think about it.” She gives the Hipparion a hug before hobbling back to her dormitory.

Still his escort, he walks over and sits down. The two kept silent, waiting for their train to arrive.
He turns his head, seeing Cosgrove not even turn his head. He doesn’t want to take advantage, but he is still taking Crescendo’s suggestion. He takes a deep breath.

“You know… I… am thinking… of getting a squire of my own. And, I am thinking that you, with your interest in offensive magic.” He sees Cosgrove slowly turn his head to him. Hooflock, of all ponies, got the kid interested? “Now, I'm not saying you have too, only if you want to. Besides, you are too young…” He notices Cosgrove turning his head away. “Until you graduate. Until you graduate…”

Hooflock turned his head away, keeping a yellow eye at the colt. Cosgrove, a squire? The Hipparion rubbed his chin. If not a magus, then what is the highest honor. The train comes over, letting out a small hiss as it screeched to a halt. The two ponies reached for the doors when they suddenly opened, releasing a spray of confetti.

“Welcome home, Cosgrove!” Cheered Sunset, five of the Elements of Harmony, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Pinkie Pie added more to the emphasis by giving a toot from a party horn as she shows him a cake. There are things to explain back at home. But until then, let the good times roll. The two enter the train, waiting for it to make the first heave back home.

Where is Thy Sting?

Author's Note

Edit: Do note that at the time of publication, the season finale was already released in the UK. While this sticks to my headcanon about Changelings, what happens does give me an idea for what to do in the next story arc.

What will this mean for the Ponyverse version of The New Timeline? Well, as soon as I get my ideas straight, I might do my own Guardians of Harmony story arc.

I went through three editing websites; it might not be perfect, but it will take practice.

Where is Thy Sting?

A camera screen blinks several times. And each moment, the view is with Chrysalis staring at the camera.

“Yes, that’s it!” The screen turns on, this time without stopping. “Heed the call of your Queen.”

The view stands up, appearing taller than the Changeling Queen in front of him. The camera turns left and right.

“Now,” - The camera looks down to Chrysalis - “What is your name?”

“My name… is Galgameth.”

Chrysalis’ wings start to buzz. “What do you despise the most?”

“…Ponies.”

Chrysalis reaches to his height, baring her teeth. “And what do you want to do?”

“Kill them… Kill them all.”

Chrysalis begins to laugh, her entire hive joining the chorus with their shrieks and buzzing. This was the Christening of the Changeling robot Galgameth. And who else to pilot the robot than Cogsworth himself.

Who immediately gets wakes up, panting rapidly as sweat drips down his fur. As he calms himself, he face palms himself, cursing to himself that it was a dream. But that dream would become a reality. What happened to him occurred in another world as well. He could wonder as he looks at the moon.

The moonlight shines through the holes of the spiraling Changeling hive. This time of day is not suitable for royal affairs, but Chrysalis has an affair of her own. In the lower reaches of her tower, the walls appeared gnarled with green slime dotting the floors and ceilings. Changeling cells don’t use bars to hold prisoners, they’re encased in fossilized saliva instead. One such chamber held her own, the one called Blackarachnia. After she recovers from the fight against the Umbrum, the violet, and black Changeling was beaten and sent to the dungeons with little rations.

“Blackarachnia.” Chrysalis’ war criminal turned her red eyes at her benevolent ruler “It has come to my attention that one of us has defected.”

“Another besides me?” Blackarachnia huffs, not bringing much of a threat to her queen.

“I present this opportunity: a hunt for this traitor with the bounty being your reinstatement to our ranks.” Glowing her crooked horn, Chrysalis fires at the hardened slime, releasing her captive. After a guard gives her a bowl of full rations, Blackarachnia scarfed it down like a hyena. Chrysalis takes delight in this as she waits for her prisoner to finish eating.

“Which one would you like for me to hunt?” She asks, licking the gruel from her black lips. For the first time in days, Blackarachnia walks beside her queen to a large, empty room. Though vacant, the banners and crevices signify this as Chrysalis’ audience chamber. “I will do whatever it takes to take down the traitor. Even if it means my life.”

“You won’t be going alone.” Chrysalis lights up her horn, summoning her subjects to her chamber, echoing the room with her chirps. “Who is the fiercest among you?”

“There is no greater ferocity than the Changeling Hive.” Echoed a deep voice. “But if you are to choose those among us.”

Immediately, three large figures descend to the floor, rising to their full height. Chrysalis turns her head to her subordinate, watching Blackarachnia draw a toothy smile. The one that accompanied her so long ago betrayed her and the hive. Now three beings that will go with her. The destruction possibilities are endless.

The day is like any other day here in the calm streets of Ponyville. Children going to school, their parents going to work, some with days off buying from other merchants. For the castle that they walk aside, there is much excitement from its chief resident, Princess Twilight Sparkle. To Spikes and Starlight’s Glimmer amusement, Twilight wore a large grin on her muzzle as she walked giddily on the edges of her hooves.

“Can’t stop thinking about it?” Starlight asks, trying to hold back her laughter as she looks at her mentor.

“Yes!” Twilight makes a little jump ahead of her companions. “This will be Flurry Heart’s first time in Ponyville! I’m so excited for all the fun activities we’ll have together.”

Hearing Twilight squee so delightfully had Starlight give a little chuckle. “Yeah, It’s a good thing Sunburst was able to neutralize her magic. Too bad he won’t be here.”

“Well, somepony’s gotta protect the Crystal Empire. Good thing Thorax is coming.” Spike rubs his hands, giving a small chuckle. “I have a lot of games planned for him.”

“Right.” Twilight presents him with yet another list. “But right now I need you to cross off anything I mention in this list.”

Spike groans while he grabs the list. Starlight chuckles as she parts ways from her friends. In the direction she walks, she waves at Sunset while the latter sips from a glass of grape juice. She walks down the stairs to the basement, now fully renovated with lanterns of fireflies to light her way. It’s been awhile since she talked to Trixie, and with her technology similar to the basements would make this just as easy as our Skype chats. But in the joyous atmosphere, her ears pick up a suspicious sound. She slowly continues her walk, taking notice of the sound becoming clear by the time she reaches the underground laboratory.

“Perhaps it hinges on what happens next.” Starlight peaks from the doorway, Cogsworth stood face to face with his hollow alter ego, Galgameth. With the top down spotlight, one could imagine this as an interrogation scene from a movie. “I don’t know what she has in store, but maybe it’s her, maybe it’s us. If you are made in another dimension, how easy will it be for Chrysalis to make others?”

The robot remained motionless, staring at its host with its dull eyes. A mere puppet no longer being played, that’s what the armor can do. It could answer if only for Chrysalis to tear it apart for scrap. If not the robot, then the bug that lives in the Crystal Empire. If he left, maybe there are answers.

The computer screen swiftly turns on, the blue interface blinking reading four hostile signatures reaching Ponyville at an alarming rate. Starlight watches the red dots careening across the screen, taking notice of another screen: ETA five minutes dropping fast.

“They’re coming.” Said Cogsworth without looking away from his battle suit.

Twilight and Spike stroll through the halls, checking off every known item on the agenda.

“Cakes?” Twilight asks, getting the young dragon to manipulate the scroll before promptly crossing it off with his ink quill.

“Check.”

“Party decor?”

“Check.”

With a surge of magic, Twilight opens the door to the library with no effort. “Invitations sent?”

Among the invites sent across Equestria, Dragon Lord Ember is on the list. With a chuckle, Spike crosses it off. “Check.”

So attentive is her checklist that Twilight exchanges a glance at Cosgrove reading a book.

“One Hipparion colt reading a…” - Twilight stops her walk, turning herself to give a peek at just the colt is reading. The page displayed a Royal Guard with a lance holstered against his left side. “This is new.”

“Oh,” - Cosgrove turns his attention from the book - “this is just a little research I’ve been doing.”

“Research?” Twilight asks, her ears drawn back slightly. “About knighthood?”

“She didn’t tell you?” Cosgrove draws his ears back fully. This is the big moment Twilight needed to hear. He takes a deep, ready to come clean. “I wasn’t accepted at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.”

“But…” Twilight draws her ears back even further. “The invitation-”

“Was Celestia’s intention to give me a friendship lesson.” Cosgrove taps the tips of his middle hooves. “Far as we know, I’ll won’t be able to pass the tests they give out so randomly.”

Twilight lowers one eyebrow; the teacher she looked up to as a second mother does play tricks occasionally, but to a colt, why?

“Then what is the book for?”

“Hooflock offered me a position as his squire. I haven’t accepted it.” Seeing Twilight’s silence, the Hipparion closes the book, placing it into his saddle bag. “I’ll leave you alone.”

When he left the library, Twilight turns around and sits down. Her faithful assistant approached his closest friend cautiously, finding her face scrunched in anger and confusion. Twilight usually is angry when pushed to her full limit; this seems more of a grudge that something is placed in one of her master plans. Keeping to her silence, Spike licks his lips, coming up with a good explanation.

“You know, being a knight would be beneficial for this castle’s alumni.”

“Yes.” Twilight places her head on her hoof. “A fine specimen polishing horseshoes for a pony who would be dead soon.”

Spike narrows his eyes. “Twilight, maybe it’s for the better. Cosgrove’s risks his life just as we have. Besides, your brother served as captain before he married Cadence, remember?”

“Yes.” Twilight slowly turns her glare at Spike. “But I hoped he would amount to something. I hoped he had a few brains.” Twilight turned her glare away from her companion, who looks ahead to find the Sunset Shimmer peeking into the library while levitating a filled glass. He begins to sputter Twilight’s name as she continues. “Heh, guess the school really doesn’t a thing for circus ponies.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?!” Sunset throws the glass to the floor, getting her “roommates” attention. “You know just as well as I do that those tests are rigged for Unicorns.”

That remark gave Twilight an idea as she steps towards the doors, “Then I will just have to change the rules. Spike, get a-”

“Spike, wait.” Sunset interrupts, giving the room a cold silence. Spike cowered behind the chair, expecting the worst to happen. “Twilight, I don’t want you to make the decisions for Cosgrove.”

Twilight draws her wings forward. “So you are going to let him train to die?”

“He won’t be alone. If he wants to become a knight,” - Sunset brings herself to a tall posture - “I won’t miss it for the world.”

Still angered, but defeated, Twilight lowers her wings. If she can let Starlight have leeway when making new friends, then she can have Cosgrove make decisions for himself. “If that’s what he wants, then I’ll stop.”

A moment’s silence before the entire castle rumbled, shaking the loose pieces of the shattered glass. Deeper in the halls, Cosgrove staggers a little, moving his left hooves to regain his balance. In the underground basement, dust falls to the floor. Starlight lights up her horn, returning to the main floor just in time as Cosgrove ran towards the foyer. Twilight, Sunset, and Spike ran to the foyer, seeing part of Ponyville in smoke.

Near Rose’s flower shop and Derpy’s post office, ponies ran in all directions as a large robotic stag beetle crushed several buildings with his massive jaws. At Sugarcube Corner, a robotic praying mantis broke through the windows, reaching out with is large claws to grab the Cakes and some pastries. A third one, appearing as a pill bug, bounded up and down, smashing buildings and vehicles. Monitoring the progress, Blackarachnia hovers over the skyline as she hunts for the traitor.

“Thorax! We know of your betrayal!” She beckons. “Come out and surrender, or…”

The stag beetle lifts up a wagon without much effort, turning his attention to a few struggling Ponies. He prepares to toss the object before a series of violet, opal, and sky blue auras lift the wagon from the wrong hands and to a safe distance. The culprits behind this save is none other than Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, and Starlight Glimmer, soon being joined by the other Elements of Harmony.

“Leave this town at once!” Twilight warned, spreading her wings to add her demand.

But this did nothing to the three robotic insects as the Pill Bug rolls over a fruit cart and would have plowed them had they not moved away in time. The mantis quickly ascends to the air, snatching Fluttershy in her claws.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash soars down and grabs the insect by the head.

“Pony on my head-head-head!” The mantis spoke in robotic chirps. “Maneterror require Asis-sis-sis-tance.”

The stag beetle heeds Maneterror’s call, grasping Rainbow Dash in his jaws. The cyan Pegasus squirmed as she felt the pressure begin to pop some of her bones. Applejack uses her physical strength to pry apart the mouth, the force of which is like prying apart a stubborn door. Sunset takes notice of the pillbug rolling back at her. She surrounds it in an aura, getting him to disappear and reappear just to plow over the stag beetle. Released, Rainbow gasped for breath as her bones ached from the pressure.

“Where is the traitor!?” - The stag beetle slams his foot - “Where is Thorax!?”

“Silly,” - Pinkie chirps - “Thorax won’t be here for a few hours.”

“Pinkie!!” Yelled the others.

The stag beetle curled a little before raising a fist. “Lies! The traitor is here!”

The fist bursts into flames, extinguishing to show a naval mine. While the heroic equines remain baffled, the pillbug curls into a ball, while Maneterror and Blackarachnia get away. Getting the message, Starlight uses her power to draw forth a barrier large enough to encapsulate all of them. The stag beetle slams his transformed fist on the pavement, generating an explosion large enough to smother a city block in fire. In her daily walks from far away, Celestia easily saw the smoke. What was left from the explosion are a few burning houses, a crater, eight fainted ponies and a robotic stag beetle. The beast made a few rumbling chirps before getting his head thwacked.

“Ransack, you bolt brain!” Blackarachnia scolded. “This was a retrieval mission!”

“No, matter.” Ransack points to his fainted enemies. “Our adversaries have fainted, they will make great prizes for the Queen!”

“Not if what you did here leaves a clue for somepony up there!” Blackarachnia adds, pointing to the mountainous city known as Canterlot. Agreeing to this, the band of four bugs took to the Everfree Forest, where their trail will most likely be cold.

The following two hours dedicate to fixing up the town. What they lack in defense, they make up for with such a strong community, and the burnt roofs, demolished houses, and charred pavement removed. Though this did leave questions unanswered. Who were those three? And what purpose would they have with Thorax after he seceded from the Hive? The first question would be answered had the Galgameth not left a large tunnel in the library. It would be answered instead by Thorax himself as he, in his Crystal Hoof guise, arrived with Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and their daughter Flurry Heart.

“Twilight, what happened?” Shining Armor spoke in a confused, yet serious tone.

“Well” - Rainbow Dash flexes her ruffled wings - “we got four bugs rampaging Equestria.”

“Three of whom are robotic like Galgameth.” Twilight adds, adding a sense of worry for the Changeling in Pony’s clothing. It became more so when everypony turned to Thorax.

“It’s okay, buddy.” Spike reassured as he pats Thorax’ shoulder. “we have nothing against you.”

Aside from the nourishment of love, it does give him reassurance. Cadence and Twilight motion him to bring his hoof to his chest as he inhaled, bringing it out as he exhaled.

“After the siege at Canterlot, the loss it made to our, her, forces would take a few years to rebuild the army. Chrysalis figured that if she couldn’t make more of us, she would improve us. We raided junkyards, tech depots. We watched as she harvested our fallen brethren to form the one you know as Galgameth. But it couldn’t be piloted on its own, so Chrysalis needed test subjects.”

“Cogsworth.” Sunset Shimmer mutters.

“So those things that attacked Ponyville are the next batch?” Asks Applejack, pointing at the general direction of the Everfree Forest.

Thorax sits down, tapping the tips of his hooves as he recollects his past occupation. “Maybe, I left the hive after Galgameth was created.”

Shining Armor wraps his arm around Thorax. “Thank you. We’ll send this information to Princess Celestia immediately.”

Twilight turned to her small companion. “Spike, jot a note to Celestia.”

“Way ahead of you.” Spike responded, already writing halfway down the scroll.

In the wilds outside of Ponyville, Cogsworth had Galgameth perched on a cliff ledge, watching the conversation as if on television. Though Thorax has spoken, that doesn’t explain if there are more cyborg Changelings in production. He zooms the feed away from Ponyville, turning to the Everfree Forest. With an infrared screen, he finds three large heat signatures gathered in one area. Blackarachnia, Maneterror, Ransack, and the pillbug Retrax conversed with each other on how to salvage the mission.

“We will have to return with backup now that you’ve given us away.” Blackarachnia reasoned.

“And who will tell the Queen we returned empty-handed?” Ransack retorts, pushing his “supervisor’s” nose.

“Yes, the Queen has given us this big test, test, test.” Maneterror adds with a few distorted chirps.

Blackarachnia hissed, “If that colt didn’t rip out my horn, I could do it myself. We’ll just have to risk another assault, and this time” - she turns to the stag beetle - “give a warning the next time you use the punch!”

“That won’t be necessary.” The four Changelings turn to the source of the talk tearing through the forest. For the first time in days, Blackarachnia stood face to face with Galgameth. “I won’t allow you to go any further.”

“Well, there’s a prize worthy of the Queen.” Blackarachnia chuckles, getting her cohorts intrigued.

It’s a standoff, one robot augmented earth pony against a lame Changeling and her three cohorts. He draws a spiral grenade, releasing the payload at them. Being the most heavily armored, Retrax balled up, letting the missiles hit him. He spins like a screeching tire, rushing at him and flattening several trees. Cogsworth looks up to find Ransack in the air, fist morphed into a warhead.

“The Queen will not be denied!” He roars before slamming the warhead to the ground, igniting their part of the forest. Seeing it at this distance, Twilight and her companions rush towards the fire. When the flames parted, Cogsworth laid on the ground, struggling to get the machine up to no avail. Maneterror cackles as she and Ransack lifts the unconscious robot.

“Return to the Hive.” Blackarachnia orders, getting them to move through the untouched areas of the forest. Once again having to douse the fires, all that is left is a large clearing of burnt wood and grass. Starlight does pick up some pieces of a spiral grenade.

“Canterlot, we have a problem.” Starlight mutters.

Regrouping in the castle, the throne bearers watch the Cutie Map form a hologram of the Changeling Hive far away in the Badlands. Shining Armor returned to his kingdom, well underway to form his siege army.

“So what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash flutters around the projection. “Let’s go full force and get Cogsworth out of there.”

“No, Rainbow.” Twilight retorts. “We need to wait for a plan from Princess Celestia.”

“Plan?” Applejack raises a hoof. “To sit here while Chrysalis makes more robo-bugs?”

“Well, at least there will be plenty to smash.” Pinkie Pie adds, hoping to lighten the mood. It only adds delight to Rainbow while the others gave her the look.

“Eww….” Rarity gags.

At a distance, Sunset and Starlight watch their friends discuss their options. The orange Unicorn turns away towards the underground laboratory. Starlight takes one more glance before joining her.

“Can’t you track him like you do with Cosgrove?” The pink-lavender Pony asks.

“That magic is best used for families with one child.” Sunset stops, exchanging a glare at Starlight. “Unless you can do so with many children?”

While her skills do rival that of Twilight’s, Starlight wishes not to answer that lest the two cause a commotion. The two continue to walk, Sunset holding her head down.

“Hey, Twilight will find a solution. She always does.”

Sunset exchanges another glare. “Always? You don’t know Twilight like I do.”

Starlight stops following her friend, ears turning slowly. She only met Twilight twice before being taken in as a protege. What did Twilight do between their two encounters? Or for that matter, what did she do before they first met? The answer will have to wait, for today has made larger problems.

Cogsworth slowly opens his eyes to a duly lit room. Earthen in nature, though the holes told him it isn’t the library. The muffled chirping outside the walls adds to his whereabouts. At on wall was a bed of finely grown moss in an otherwise dry chamber. The mechanic tries to move; looking down, he finds his front hooves encased in hardened saliva. Turning around, Cogsworth rolls his eyes at how his paralyzed hindquarters were positioned before being encased.

“I see you are awake.” Cogsworth turns his head to see Chrysalis looking out the carved cave leading to the Badlands. She turns her head to him. “Of course, you weren’t the company I was expecting.”

Cogsworth narrows his eyes at the Queen as she approaches him. “What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much.” - Chrysalis lifts his head - “I just need the diagnostics of my stolen property.”

“Why? You made three others.” Cogsworth asks with his brow raised.

“True.” Chrysalis steps back, walking over to the original battle armor. “But they are far from perfect. When you defected with the suit, the original schematics for the armor was also stolen. My engineers tried to replicate the armor,” - She looks to her right, finding a few skulls of her people adorning the wall - “But with little success.”

“And you want me to help you develop an army of doomsday weapons before tossing me out?” Cogsworth would turn around had his hooves not been cemented by fossilized saliva. What would have insulted Chrysalis only made her chuckle. “What’s so funny?”

“You think so small, child.” Chrysalis releases Cogsworth from his shackle; without a wheelchair or harness, he could only support his body with his front hooves. “An army means nothing when you don’t have a strategy. When I strategize, I think big.”

Levitating him to the windowsill, Cogsworth widened his purple eyes and his red fur paled. Outside Chrysalis’ chambers is a hangar; dozens upon hundreds of worker drones worked their damnedest on a large robot. When seen from their point of view, it resembled a lobster with a reptilian head. Underneath the dorsal plane, its heavy body is supported by four thick vertical legs.

“I must be mad if I’m going to help you!” Cogsworth turned his head around, seeing the Queen with her head turned to him as well, the left part of her lips curled slightly upwards.

“Since the suit’s creation, our advances in technology has proven beneficial to us. Workers can slave for days without food or water. Guards can stand for seventy-two hours straight without food or sleep. Even our most wounded get’s healed quickly,” - Chrysalis douses the levitation spell, causing the colt to fall with a loud thud. As he rubs his tail section, she adds, - “including nerve tissue.”

Seeing him turn his attention so quickly, Chrysalis now has him hooked. The moment Screwball gave him his hind legs again was one of the happiest moments and now Cogsworth’s given the chance to make it a full reality. To support his weight on all four hooves, running as fast as his classmates. It’s such a sweet deal, too sweet as It’s basically dealing with the devil. He looks to the floor, coming up with a decision.

“I’ll do it.” Cogsworth looks up to the Queen. “But you’d figure I say that, didn’t you?”

Indeed, Chrysalis did keep a firm grin. Sure, she doesn’t have the traitor she wants, but she has another traitor who just as well fits the bill for her plans. Chrysalis lead the colt to one section of the Hive was dedicated to their technological advances; among such tech was a stolen supercomputer, one of the first of many. Galgameth is hooked to said computer, with Cogsworth hooked as well to activate the robot’s operations. The colt requested that he do this alone, for this operation is like a Unicorn meditating. He opens one eye, looking to find that forty-five percent of the upload is complete. A slow progress, along with being alone, is the perfect opportunity to do some leaks. He activates a satellite relay, transmitting the schematics to the only other place he knows with similar tech.

That message is instantly received in the computers in the underground basement. Starlight, Sunset, Cosgrove, and Dapplewood are illuminated as the long list of coding is presented before them. Sunset scrolls a few pages down, silently reading,

“Project: Cykor

Length: Eighty meters

Height: thirty-five meters.

Mass: thirty tons

Weaponry: A tail stinger capable of firing artificial lightning, pincers capable of crushing steel, thick armor based on that of the so-called Monster Zero.

Status: forty-eight percent complete and rising.”

“Sweet Celestia…” Sunset mutters. If Celestia and Luna had trouble with the monster that terrorized Equestria just after Tirek did, then what chance would they have if there are going to be more than one of this Cykor model?

“Twilight needs to know this!” Starlight begins to run, bumping into Sunset teleporting before her.

“Twilight and her friends will be easily recognizable to Chrysalis. We are more unrecognizable.

”We?“ Starlight jerks her head back. ”We’re going to just go into the Hive and stop them?“

”Not altogether.“ Sunset lifts a hoof at her. ”You will gather what help you can, infiltrate the Hive and get Cogsworth out of there.“

She motions Cosgrove to follow her. Whatever plan Sunset has, Starlight isn’t that keen on. Sure she is powerful, rivaling even Twilight’s. But running into enemy territory, that’s a challenge. Aside from Trixie, who else could qualify for her ragtag team? She turns to Dapplewood, who simply sat down and scratches his muzzle.

”That’s two.“ Starlight surrounds the dinosaur in an aura, levitating him as she makes her way out of the basement.

Sunset and Cosgrove walked throughout the Everfree Forest, to where exactly not even Sunset would tell him. The orange Unicorn didn’t speak much since her argument with Twilight. She had no right to talk him like that, nor should she decide how he should spend his years. Cosgrove kept his silence as well, at the very least he had other support.

”Why are we in the Everfree Forest?“ Cosgrove asked, breaking the uneasy silence.

Sunset stops her walk, giving a deep breath. ”Recruiting our own monster.“ - She turns her head around. - ”If we can find him.“

Cosgrove’s ears drew forward. It’s been awhile since he’s seen the annual migrations, having gone through several adventures since. They continued to walk through the forest, feeling the ground begin to shake beneath their hooves. When they reach a foggy clearing, they stop. Seeing a dark silhouette approaching them, Cosgrove took out an object he hadn’t used in so long: a bassoon. Coming out of the fog was a Brobdingnag, a yearling about six meters tall. As it walked ahead, other yearlings and older adults emerge from the fog. Some have smaller heads than the dominant big heads, females maybe? Cosgrove places his lips on the reed, playing a gentle note. Either the herd ignores this lack of practice session or this was a different herd from the one Schnookums joined, Cosgrove continues to play. When the last animal in the herd crossed the clearing, so too went the drowning rumbling of the march. Believing their journey for not, they turn around to make their way home when a large shadow looms. For such a threatening presence, the Hipparion curled a cheerful smile instead.

”Hello, old friend.“ Cosgrove greeted.

With Dapplewood by her side, Starlight sat next to the Cutie Map in the middle of a conversation.

”What I’m asking for many others wouldn’t even dream of doing. I understand if you want to back out.“ Starlight drinks a bit of grape juice through a straw. ”Will you help us?“

Starlight’s proposed posse sat before her. From left to right are as follows: Gabby, Thorax, Zephyr Breeze, Trixie, and Maud. Being her first friend in a long while, Trixie lifts herself.

”The great and powerful Trrrixie“ - Trixie pauses for dramatic effect, then sits down and raises her hoof - ”will be very honored to defend her home.“

”I’m not the heroic type.“ Zephyr slurps from a straw. ”But for my Flutter Butter, I’ll do my best.“

”As first Gryphon to be a Cutie Mark Crusader, I’m in.“ Gabby answers with a salute from both her claws and her wings.

Characteristic of her, Maud kept her blank expression and spoke in an equally dull tone, ”Do you have a plan?“

Starlight taps the tips of her hooves. ”With Thorax with us, I was thinking…“

It’s near sundown in the barren wastes near the Changeling Hive. Thorax, in the most unlikely of places he would want to return, pulled a rope snaring four Ponies, a Gryphon, and a Dinosaur draped in brown cloaks. As he nears the entrance, he tries to hide his fear, lest his former acquaintances at the door get suspicious and turn him in as well. When he is at the entrance, the guards cross his path with their spears.

”Business?“ Asks the guard to his left.

”I“ - Thorax coughs to change his voice; he had to play this carefully, speaking in his regular voice will raise suspicions, so he tries again in a deeper voice - ”I have prisoners, stragglers from a nearby caravan.“

The two Changelings look at each other, getting their spears upright as they let them in. So far so good, but the gig can’t be held forever. Starlight sneaks a peak to her left, seeing the project their ”hosts“ were creating for years. A sight to behold, the lighter lavender Unicorn stops to look further when she is forcefully tugged to continue her long walk. Since Thorax left after the first robot is completed, he tries his best to find where the operation happened. Beneath their hoods, they notice a series of flashing lights up above. Determined that this is the room, they shift their direction towards the room, the one obstacle remaining between them and Cogsworth is a single Changeling soldier.

”Halt!“ The soldier orders, getting the band of unlikely heroes to stop. ”Prisoners should be sent to the lower catacombs.“

”Our queen has requested these… Ingrates“ - Thorax pulls the rope - ”to be slaves of our esteemed guest.“

The soldier raises his brow, shifts his head to look at the others down the line. Before Thorax could add any further, the soldier lowers his spear.

”You’re not a soldier and we don’t take slaves.“ The soldier steps forward, pointing the spear at Thorax’s throat ”You try to hard to sound tough.“ - He then goes to the other prisoners - ”Even if we did the prisoners are too frail to serve in our menial labor. Who are you, really?“

Zephyr Breeze was the first to lift his head, casting off the hood from his head.

”I hate to be a whiny baby right now, but do we have a Plan B?“

In a split second, Trixie snaps the bind with a knife spreads her arms as she slaps a smoke bomb on the ground. Blinded by the smoke, the second Mare Do Well charges forth, giving the Changeling a punch with her left hoof. Then with a sharp turn, Trixie gave the beast a roundhouse to the head. The guard knocked out, she pickpockets him, bringing the key to the lock.

”An intelligent guard.“ Starlight turns her attention to said guard for a while then continues to the room. ”Never saw that one coming.“

Maud Pie stood by the entrance as her companions enter the chamber. Hearing the various hoof steps and claw-clacking, Cogsworth opens his eyes. The fact that Starlight even brought a herbivorous Dinosaur made him raise an eyebrow. He would expect his other friends to come bust him out, but then again they are well-known enough that they couldn’t step one hoof into Changeling territory. He shifts his eyes to Gabby, lifting one of the many utensils a Changeling scientist used. Starlight assists him with unlocking the robot from the supercomputer.

”So this is what they did to you? Cut you open?“

”Yeah.“ Cogsworth answers, detaching the last cord from the computer.

From her distance, Maud kept her stoic expression before backhanding the recovering Changeling. Cogsworth aims the Plasma Cannon at the supercomputer, which now read seventy percent completion. With a few blasts, he ends the progress of the doomsday programming. His heart-felt a little heavy, but he shrugs it off before joining his posse on their daring escape. Hearing a small chirping, and a set of glowing blue eyes, the group started to run in a panic (or at least most, as Maud still kept her stoic expression). Even in the air, Thorax, Gabby and Zephyr Breeze couldn’t escape as hundreds upon thousands of Changelings surrounded them. The hissing and chirping of the populace died over, giving the large chamber an eery silence as they kept their firm glares.

”Galgameth.“ A voice echoes the hallway. Looking behind them, the numbers made a path for the Queen. ”I’m quite disappointed, I was actually considering getting you to walk again. I was wrong. And Thorax, how have you still survived, only to meet your death today.“

”Your Highness,“ - Thorax walks towards his former mistress, getting his former comrades on edge - ”we don’t have to fight others to feed their love. Befriending them helps us! We can survive without a war!“

His mentioning of such an alternate source of energy fell on deaf ears. Chrysalis cackles, her subjects snickering with her.

”Oh, you pathetic soul. If you became hatched a millennium ago, that would have worked so well.“ Chrysalis turns one drone to her. ”But today, such free-spirited minds are only one in every thousand hatched.“

Thorax draws his horn-like ears when Cogsworth bridges between the good Changeling and the Queen.

”You’re still too late, we’ve destroyed your little science project.“ - He points a pincer at Chrysalis - ”You lose!“

Insulted or not, Chrysalis kept a straight face as she lit up her horn. In the darkness, a series of green lights define the outline of Cykor. It opens it’s eyes, letting out a mechanical roar. Seeing Cogsworth’s flabbergasted face, Chrysalis lets out a cruel chuckle.

”Did you think we’d be monitoring and recording your progress?“ - The massive war machine behind her begins to move, shaking the earth with each heavy footstep. - ”No? Pity.“

Chrysalis begins to ascend, letting her horde come closer. With a clap from her perforated hooves, they begin their attack when a yellow beam of light smites a column of them. Both hero and villain look to the entrance; Princess Celestia stood in a proud stance, the Elements of Harmony behind her, and a whole army of Royal Guards behind them. Chrysalis bares her teeth before charging at the eldest Alicorn, locking her crooked horn with the Princess’. The Royal Guard and Changeling drones, sans Thorax, collide with each other; hooves smacking faces, teeth digging into skin, spears lodged into ribs. Keeping a close-knit formation, the Mane Six rejoin with Starlight and her posse.

”Starlight!?“ Twilight spoke in a surprised, yet irritated tone.

”It was Sunset’s idea!“ Starlight yells before firing a charged shot at an ambushing Changeling.

The large steps became louder when a column-like foreleg steps out of the shadows. While an ally to the Changelings, the mechanical beast caused friendly fire as the massive feet crushed both Changeling and Ponykind. Its claws and tail carved pieces from the walls, adding more to the casualties. Soon, it crashes through the front door, entering the outside desert. With one large object plodding towards Canterlot, Celestia’s forces draws back as some the Royal Guards focus their attention on slowing Down Cykor. Twilight tries to give chase, but the Changelings in the air were as big a problem as gnats.

”I can’t get to it.“ Twilight grunts, blasting Changeling after another.

Cogsworth turns to Thorax. ”You want to earn your share of friendship?“

Getting the idea, the friendly Changeling buzzes his wings. Seeing him in the air, Cogsworth ignites his thrusters, barreling through the swarm before resorting to his plasma cannons to mow through the thinning crowd. Landing on the beast’s back, the colt and the bug both made their way towards the front. They are stopped by Blackarachnia, Ransack, Maneterror, and Retrax bounding on the hull.

”Ready for round two, traitor?“ Blackarachnia hisses.

”The Queen will have excellent trophies.“ Ransack clicks his massive jaws before ascending to the air, slamming his fist to the hull with a large shockwave.

Learning his lesson regarding fighting three at once, Cogsworth opted the use of the Plasma Cannon. He dodges the charging strikes of Ransack, firing at his carapace and rolling away from another charge before turning over to Maneterror raising her claws. Dodging the strike at full force, the robot mantis’ claws dug into Cykor’s metallic hide. Cogsworth turns his machine’s top half, finding Retrax rolling towards him. The mechanic gives a salute, jetting himself out-of-the-way of the rolling Changeling. Both her arms torn from her torso, Maneterror and Retrax fall off the mechanical beast. Ransack makes another jump at Galgameth, lodging a fist into a thruster. Aiming his tail stinger carefully, Cogsworth stabs into Ransack’s back. The stag beetle circuits buzz and crackle before shutting down. Curious, he pulls the body towards him, using the pincers to pull apart the hatch. Unlike how he is one separate entity connected by wires, the Changeling, appearing in a larval stage, is completely fused. Deprived of its source of power, the pulsing mass lost consciousness.

Thorax and Blackarachnia circle each other, slapping the sharp edges of their hooves and biting their necks. Between one genetic mutation to another, Thorax’s similar skin color to his former comrades camouflaged him as he flew in circles around her. The violet Changeling soon became dizzy, trying to return her vision back to normal. As she does, she finds Thorax hovering before her, leaned backwards and giving her a good smack on her hornless head.

Cogsworth tears through the fractured hull, jumping inside with guns drawn. For such an important weapon of mass destruction, there’s very little security. Pulling the guns away, he barrels through the doors. Busting the last door he finds the being who augmented him through cruel torture. Now it’s his turn to give back the favor.

”Queen Chrysalis…“ He has Galgameth draw a sword. ”You’re finished!“

Cogsworth charges forth, screaming like a mad bull at the inattentive Queen. When he is at striking distance, two biomechanical arms stretch from the walls and grab the machines shoulders. Cogsworth tries to move forward, but the arms are much too strong. The Queen turns around, this time with a more irritated look on her snout.

”You didn’t think that I would create something so powerful such as you and never have a way to control it?“ Chrysalis returns to her post. ”Now, sit there like a good servant while I claim my victory.“

Cogsworth couldn’t help but remain motionless as Cykor turns around, raising its tail. The pincer lights up, unleashing a stream of lightning that scorched both Royal Guard and Changeling upon touch. Charging up another shot, Cykor fires in a half circle. Chrysalis begins to laugh at her progress when her ears pick up a beeping sound. While there are hundreds of thousands of smaller signatures, at ”six o’clock“ there is a larger body signature.

Emerging from the hill was Schnookums. His bruised body now thirty-eight meters tall from head to toe, and about ten meters longer from snout to tail, the beast gave a suitable sounding bellow. Cykor turns around, answering his call with a roar. At his heel, Cosgrove stretches his leg, giving his surrogate son a good petting.

”Knock it dead, kid.“ He says as an opal aura surrounds him, getting him to a safer distance as the beast continues his walk to his new enemy.

In a surprising turn of speed and grace, Cykor rears on its hind legs before bounding towards Schnookums. It then clasps the Brobdingnags wrists and began pushing forward, displacing the sand dunes. Schnookums clasps his bony mask together, slamming his head so hard it made a massive hole in the hull. The repto-insect curls its tail at him, illuminating the red monster before firing another stream of lightning at Schnookum’ chest.

Encasing himself in a green aura, Thorax sent Blackarachnia figuratively flying into the swarm. He turns to Cykor approaching the downed Brobdingnag. If the battle outside isn’t scary enough, encountering his former supervisor in the battle will. But if Cogsworth hasn’t taken Chrysalis down by now, who else will? He gathers his courage, and divebombs into the damaged carapace, moving into the cockpit. Another chip off her shoulder, Chrysalis wasted no time to strike back at her former servant. In a small room occupied with a large robot, Thorax’ size is his salvation as he dodges her blasts. With a buzz from his wings, he makes a leap at his Queen, slashing her on the chest. He does so again, slashing her legs. Chrysalis has enough of this and wraps Thorax in an aura. Her glare sent shivers down his spine.

Unable to get Galgameth to break the hold of the robot arms, Cogsworth had to do the last thing he had on his mind. Unhooking himself from the machine, the red colt climbs the hull, balancing himself as Chrysalis hovers backward. With a push of his forelimbs, the mechanic lands on the Queen. Her concentration broken, Thorax frees himself from Chrysalis’ grip. He watches the Queen struggle as Cogsworth held with an iron grip.

”Shut down the arms!“ Cogsworth orders, turning his attention back to Chrysalis trying to throw him off.

Thorax turns to the controls, from which he is clearly stumped. The buttons aren’t labeled, nor are there any levers and switches. The kind Changeling isn’t the violent type, but when in Rome, wherever that is. He slams his hooves on the interface, sending sparks throughout the room. Not only does it release Galgameth, but it also causes a chain reaction to Cykor.

The mechanical beast howls in agony, thrashing its head and tail around wildly. Schnookums slowly recovers, letting out a bellow and approaches his enemy. Inside Cykor, Chrysalis bites down on Cogsworth’s hoof, tugging him to her front side. Unlike Thorax, the mechanic still kept his angered expression.

”I had enough out of the both of you!“ Chrysalis screams before extending her fangs, not paying attention to the colt looking towards the controls.

”Just the two of us?“

Chrysalis closes her mouth, swiftly tilting her head just in time to see her view covered in shades of crimson. Schnookums reaches to the head, shifting his weight enough to tumble Cykor to its back. Pinning one foot on the abdomen, the Brobdingnag proceeds to tear the head from the body. Cogsworth tries to get in the battle armor, but without it being held by the arms, it falls down, bringing down a fleeing Chrysalis. As Schnookums tosses the head aside, the colt tumbles around before Thorax catches him and flies out from the back. With one more slam of his great head, Schnookums tore off the power source, slaying the Changelings master weapon.

Around the same time, the drones stopped moving, save for the ones that are born with a higher IQ than the others. They turn to their left, moving towards a specific spot like ants to a cookie. Confused, both princess’s, the Elements of Harmony, and Starlights posse turn to the marching Changelings. Galgameth had fallen flat on the ground, beneath him a twitching hoof. Her faithful subjects turn the cyborg, letting out a painful wail at the sight of their comatose queen. Blackarachnia turns to her enemies, ready for one last push.

”Take the Queen to the hive.“ She ascends, looking at Princess Celestia. ”We’re finished here.“

It took five workers to lift the crushed body. The soldiers drop their spears and join the fallen Queen. As they walk towards the hive, the Royal Guards begin to cheer. Some went a little too far, cursing and jeering at the losing army. The cockpit turned over, Cogsworth hooks himself into Galgameth once more. From a distance, Sunset and Cosgrove watch the cheering army before watching the bruised Schnookums leave for his herd. Wherever they are is unknown.

While the victory is rewarding to Equestrians, the aftermath is a little bittersweet in Ponyville. One evening in the Library, Sunset sat in front of the fireplace, a stern look fixed to her face. The only part of her head that moved was her ear turning to the sounds of hoof steps. Behind her was Twilight Sparkle, who also bore a similar look on her face. The former Unicorn sits in the chair next to Sunset’s, keeping her gaze to the fire.

”Are we even?“ Twilight asks, not moving her head. She hears her partner take a deep breath.

”Even.“ Sunset levitates a teacup to her friend. ”Tea?“

Twilight accepts her offer, replacing the opal aura with her violet one. Drawing it to her mouth, she then takes a small sip. Sunset fills up the other cup, levitating it to her own snout to take a sip. From a distance, their friends and students Starlight and Cosgrove watch in silence. With the castle, not his home, the Hipparion turns away from the opened door. Outside the castle, he walks a distance towards his home before stopping and giving the crystalline building a look. No matter the good days, even they had their bad moments. There isn’t any other way.

The effort from the Changelings repaired their hive like it was brand new. But their accomplishment is short-lived. The horde gathered in the audience chamber, echoing the room with soft chirps from their wings. As they are adept climbers, many roosted on the walls, turning their heads to look down. Chrysalis laid on a patch of moss in the moonlight, unconscious but alive. They keep their silence as Blackarachnia steps into the moonlight. She rubs the still breathing body before lowering head.

”Long live Queen Chrysalis…“ Blackarachnia mutters before turning her head to a part of the crowd. They part, allowing a group of workers to approach the fallen queen with stolen technology. The violet Changeling slowly lifts her lips, forming a crooked smile.

”All. Hail. Blackarachnia.“

Prologue: Out with the Old, In with the New

Author's Note

Spoiler: Contains a scene from "Friendship Games".

Prologue: Out with the Old, In with the New

Deep within an unknown dimension, where all things make no sense, Discord and his daughter Screwball merely float around, wondering what other good hearted chaos can they do. But good hearted chaos can cause their minds to become chaotic. In their mess house, things became even messier. Every few seconds, an idea bubble lights up and so is his expression before it flickers. In anger, the Draconequus grabs the bulb and crunches it.

Screwball meanwhile was scribbling her ideas on the floor. With a clop of her hooves, her creations would come to life and play out accordingly before reality strikes her that she has done this at one point in her immortal lifespan. Transforming into a computer mouse, she clicks on her creations and moves them to her 95% full trash bin.

"Oh, bittersweet child of mine, what is it with us these days?"

Screwball turned her spiral eyes to her father before transforming into a Shakespearian figure holding a dragon skull.

"Too chaotic or not chaotic" Screwball lifts the skull higher. "That is the question."

Discord joined in, wrapping a Greek toga around his serpentine body.

"These deeds we have done," Discord snapped his fingers, placing a chalice in his bird claw. "are among our best or our worst. For if, the world is getting thick as we are foretold, then our ideas have gone stale for though chaos beings as we are" Discord strokes the chalice, producing a long, monotonous note. "for we have not been same."

"But," Screwball raised a hoof. "If one idea can arise. If this muddled confusion is one of the many ways chaos can be, then our power is infinite" Screwball pivots the skull towards her. "Yet, limited for our minds must figure this before it is lost forever more..."

Discord's face pinched before screaming, "We could destroy them!"

After holding the pose for a while, the draconequus' upper torso slouched.

"No, that be a coward's answer, we will find the idea as we always had and let it be them or us who would have the last laugh.

Discord and Screwball kneel on one leg, both concluding, "Till then."

The deep silence was interrupted by the sound of hooves clapping. They turned around and found Pinkie Pie happily clapping her hooves with a massive grin.

"Oh, I love comedy skits!" -Pinkie bounced around Discord and Screwball- "One time, I put on a puppet show for Pound and Pumpkin, and I had Peanut and Jose argue with themselves and I made everyone laugh with the dead-"

"Pinky," Discord wrapped his body around the excited Earth Pony. "how in Equestria did you get in here?"

"Oh," Pinkie poked through one of the coils. "I fell through a massive hole in the ground, well actually I dove in but-"

With a flash and a puff of smoke, Discord and Screwball disappeared and reappeared outside their homes. There were indeed a bunch of space-time loops around their dimension. One was Equestria itself, another a world populated by large reptiles, another where a monster attacked a city, and another had a visual of a winged creature of an unknown species. With a quick rotation, Discord got a better look at the creature before giving off a look of surprise.

"Twilight?" Discord flew closer to the rift and studied the creature more thoroughly.

"Hmph!" Screwball pouted. "Guess she's having all the fun while we mope around."

On the other side of the rift, Non-Discord affiliated chaos was amok in Canterlot High. Monstrous plant vines snared the benches, Sharpteeth chased the students, and one particular rift opened to several miles above Canterlot itself. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity along with their Crystal Prep rivals pulled their classmates out of the rift. Sunset Shimmer watched as the Human Twilight Sparkle lavished her new powers before noticing an aura surrounding her friends.

"This isn't the way!" Sunset turned to Twilight. "I know you feel powerful now like you can have everything you want! I've been where you are, I've made the same mistake you're making! I put on a crown and, just like you, I was overwhelmed by the magic it contained! I thought I could get whatever I wanted."

"Oh you're wrong," Twilight shook her head. "unlike you, I CAN have everything I want!"

"No, you can't!" Sunset continued. "Even with all that magic and power, you'll still be alone! True magic comes from honesty,"

A ray of light shines from Applejack,

"Loyalty,"

Another ray of light shines from Rainbow Dash

"Laughter,"

Another from the Human Pinkie Pie

"Generosity,"

Another light from Rarity

"Kindness,"

One final light from Fluttershy joins the other rays touching the EM detector Twilight was using before as Sunset ascended.

"I understand you, Twilight" The magic began accumulating around Sunset's hand. "and I want to show you the most important magic of all:"

Once Sunset smashes the EM detector, the magic kept within circled around her, brightening the otherwise stormy day. When the light dimmed down, both Canterlot High and Crystal Prep, student and alumni looked in astonishment. Sunset was in an elaborate dress that even Rarity couldn't describe along with a set of gloves and boots. Jutting from her back were illuminating wings as well as a glowing "horn" on her forehead.

"The Magic of Friendship!" Sunset finished before she sealed off the rifts. No more evil plants, Sharpteeth or deep pits to worry about.

Just before one rift was closed forever, a lion paw snatches it. The dimension became dark, leaving only the fabric tear illuminate between his fingers. Discord opened his paw, revealing his head.

"And the greatest prank of all" Pinkie Pie slowly jutted her head behind the Draconequus' left, her blues eyes looking at Discord. "is in your grasp."

"But would it make sense to pull it off?" Screwball did the same, coming from Discord's right side. "For the things we change can render us fiction forevermore..."

Discord stared long and hard at the space-time tear as it slithered around his paw. The Draconequus slowly curled a toothy grin.

"My little ponies..." Discord wrapped the fabric of space-time at the tip of his middle finger. "what point is there in making sense?"

Discord places his thumb onto his middle finger and breaks the sound barrier with one big snap. The fabric sizzled into the unknown before it burst into little particles. Most of them gathered into a center while the rest scattered in six trails outside of the center.

And so our story begins.

Starswirl's Research on Other Worlds

Among the magical research Starswirl the Bearded has done, one of his most famed works has to be his research regarding the possibility of inter-dimensional travel. His writings have been preserved upon his passing, but have been kept hidden somewhere deep within his personal wing. With warrant granted by the Royal Sister's, their best students have been able to view such research.

Personal Interviews with them has given us an approximate reading.

Starswirl's Diary, June -018 BCE (Before Common Equestria)

In my meditations, I have figured of the possibility of other worlds in similarity. But the possibility that they would be exact to ours is uncertain but has been explored by philosophers such as Haycartes. My best approach, for now, is to expand on my teleportation magic.

August -018 BCE

After much trial and error, I was able to perform a spell stable enough for long distance travel. With a target world in mind, I plan to send two of my best apprentices to the world under the condition that they must not reveal their origins.

December -018 BCE

My apprentices have described the target world I sent them as being very different. There are no buildings or ancient structures of any known sort, just that the landscape is plain wilderness. The inhabitants themselves aren't ponies but can be best described as those of a reptilian origin. Most do not have a belief in magic, though they do mention a young "Longneck" who is curious of our understandings. What occurred to me is that my apprentices have also adopted a form like one of their own. Could it be a side effect of the teleportation spell? I have to explore this for myself to find out.

May -017 BCE

In one last attempt to stop the Sirens, I created the Crystal Mirror. In my haste, the world behind isn't the target world, but their torment there would be better than here. What bitter irony, that I the most famed of Equestria's Arch Magus, have been unable to stop a pack of loathsome beasts. I will require meditation on the thought, but I hope that the world I sent them to fares much better than I have. While I have placed conditions that the portal would not open for thirty moons, Princess Celestia has insisted that the Mirror be placed in the Crystal Kingdom. While not being the kind to trust foreign lands with my possessions, it would be for the better.

The Dancing Ribbons

Fifteen Years Before Today

Since the Eighth Century, various markets have opened up across Equestria, one of them the Circus Industry. The first of them, and still going strong is the one opened by the famous Ringling Brothers: The Barn and Bailey Circus. Behind the scenes tours offered to schools have revealed that the Circus is basically a portable town, each one with their own mixed races. In the case of the Barn and Bailey, Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, Horses, Merponies, Sleipnirs, Minotaurs, Elephants, and Giraffes make their home along with their pets. With centuries of practice, these races have performed some of the best performances in Equestrian history.

In the recent decade, among the more respected families living there were the Tamer family, consisting of Lion Tamer himself, Loopty Hoop, and Night Dancer. The two older ponies were already married when they joined the Barn and Bailey Family, providing what their talents allowed them to. As a rule of thumb, a member of the Circus usually provides the physical labor until their cutie marks appear. Even then it is chancy, as a cutie mark not related to the events of the show itself could as well doom a member.

Ever since she was a little filly, Night Dancer always admired ribbon dancing and one day she wished to move to the Cirque du Soleil in Prance. As she practiced on her own, her parents and friends watched and laughed as she tripped on one of the ribbons or got her arms tied up by accident. Having a personal time slot chart when the shows would air on TV, she would study their moves though Night Dancer herself doesn't have the necessary equipment for the elaborate stunts.

Night Dancer, nearing her thirteenth birthday was just walking back to her family tent with an angered look on her face.

Lion Tamer, noticing his daughter's bitter look, asked, "Didn't go well with Silver Bolt?"

"He said that I wouldn't be worth the money." - Night Dancer glared in the general direction of the Ring Master - "Greedy money laundering-"

"Night Dancer!" Lion Tamer stopped her.

"It's true!" Night Dancer yelled, "Why do we have to prove our worth when we already have a lifetime ago?!"

"Because, your greatest proof is when you received a cutie mark." Loopty Hoop adds as she walked up to her daughter - "What if your cutie mark doesn't involve ribbon dancing?"

Defeated, Night Dancer flopped to the floor, her head hung low. Her parents drew their ears back before looking at each other. A thought ran through them as if they had the power of telepathy. With a nod, Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop crouched to their daughter's level.

"Even if it doesn't earn you a cutie mark, would you still like to know how?"

Night Dancer turned to her father before nodding.

As her inspiration of ribbon dancing is rather ambitious for a pony her age, much more skill outside of the usual skill is needed. Throughout the course of the past few weeks, Night Dancer trained hard under the Barn and Bayley's best acrobat. One such practice session was shown to Silver Bolt. Seeing the potential in her, the Griffon approved for a live performance.

On the evening of her 13th birthday, the city of Las Pegasus gathered inside the big top as a spotlight shined onto the Ring Master.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" - The Griffon stood on his hind legs - "For the first time ever, I give to you the first big performance she has ever done."

Up above, Night Dancer was just getting ready, the excitement filling her head.

"All I ask of you is: not to try this at home." - The Ringmaster curled as smile as a soft laughter filled the room - "And now, my fair people, Night Dancer and the Dancing Ribbons!"

The audience quieted as the spotlight turned away from the Ringmaster to the young Night Dancer. She looked around the silent audience, then took a deep breath. Wrapping the ribbons around her arms, Night Dancer leaped off the podium. The audience gasped as she descended quickly. When she was three feet above ground, the ribbons became taut, swinging her in a massive arc. Pulling more ribbon into her left arm, Night Dancer "flew" to her right before swinging upwards again. Knowing the audience' astonishment, she tried something that wasn't rehearsed. Wrapping her arms around her body, the first timer began twisting herself upwards until even her tail was wrapped in ribbon. As she rolled down to five feet above ground, Night Dancer popped open, the ribbons giving a silhouette like that of a butterfly for a mere second before she landed on the ground.

There is a good two minutes of silence before one pony started clapping before being joined up by more hooves. Night Dancer looked around as her cheeks curled a smile. As she bowed to the audience, the little filly did not pay attention as a flash of light brightened her body. When she got to her family, she received a good hug.

"Happy Birthday, Night Dancer." Lion Tamer pointed to his posterior.

Night Dancer looked at her flank, finding the usual blue fur be adorned with two stars appearing to be in tango. Her face beaming with delight, Night Dancer hopped up and down.

Eight Years Before Today

Time flew fast for the Circus. Many of the more elderly members have begun entering retirement. In a short while, age had finally reached Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop. After the performance in Saddle Arabia, they gave their daughter a blessing as they took the next train over to Ponyville. Night Dancer herself became a profound member of the circus. Her spotlight the climax of each circus showing, she traveled all over Equestria (rent free if one would add).

Silver Bolt had entered retirement, turning his position to, yet again, another Griffon by the name Gold Nugget. And as with other Griffons, he valued only the profit received at each performance and tended to be very scrutinizing of the performers keeping their workload. It's when he shifted the finances from the well being of the performers and workers to the funding of more elaborate performances. This change started to become noticeable after two years, with the non-performing Circus Ponies being malnourished.

The show still went on, but one destination changed Night Dancer's life forever.

After setting up for the show along Pinto beach, The Earth Pony took time off to walk along the shores. Taking in the sweet sea breeze, Night Dancer began to wonder.

"Is the Circus really a good place to have children?" - Night Dancer asked to herself before shaking her head - "Can't blame why that stupid Griffon doesn't have kids of his own."

Looking back up, Night Dancer spotted an object floating towards the shore. Walking towards the waves, her eyes found out it was a basket. While not the best swimmer, Night Dancer took to the water and pushed it back to shore, all the while hearing a cooing sound. Now on land, she removed the lid. To her astonishment, the basket contained a foal with purple stripes along the lower jaw.

Looking back to the horizon, Night Dancer shouted, "Hello!! Anypony else out there!!!"

No other sound other than her echo and the crashing waves came to her. She looked back down to the foal, innocently sleeping under the ragged cloth. Night Dancer looked behind her before lifting the entire basket and made her way back inland.

"You've had quite a journey." Night Dancer whispered as she switched arms to carry the basket.

It wasn't easy raising him, let alone hide him from the more gossipy members, but luck was on her side when the train made it's next stop to Canterlot. As they began setting up in the outskirts, Night Dancer snuck off with the foal to the authorities. Later that same day, one of the Horses, Big Hooves, spotted Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop coming to the circus grounds.

"Well, look who's here!" Said the large stallion as he walked over and gave them a big hug.

"It's great to see you too, Big Hooves." Loopty Hoop chuckled.

"You here to see your daughter's performance?"

"Actually we're here because she has something to announce." Lion Tamer answered

That raised quite a few eyebrows from Big Hooves and the surrounding Circus ponies. Loopty Hoop spotted her daughter walking towards them along with a few authority figures behind her, holding something in her arms. The Circus Ponies, current and former, looked with confusion.

"Night Dancer" - Loopty Hoop cocked her head - "Why are they here?"

"Mom, Dad..." - Night Dancer sat down and unwrapped the blue sheet - "meet your grandson..."

The crowd slowly gathered around the family to look at the newest member of the Barn and Bailey Circus. Lion Tamer's eyes welled up as he lifted the baby into his arms.

"I'm..." -Lion Tamer breathed deep- "a grandfather."

"Move aside! Move aside!"

The moment was ruined when Gold Nugget pushed through the crowds before his eagle head spies the baby.

"What is that horrid yellow Zebra!?" The Griffon yelled, pointing at the baby.

Loopty Hoop sized up to the Griffon, shouting out, "That is my grandson!"

Gold Nugget took a glance at the baby, noticing the rather bright colors compared to his opponent before looking at her.

"Nice to know the similarities." - The Griffon smirked - "But unfortunately the Circus doesn't have room for new children-"

As he reached for the baby, an authority figure blocked him.

"Sir," - The Unicorn pulled out a restraining order - "under the restraining order issued at the same time of adoption, you are not allowed to come five feet from Cosgrove."

Another authority figure walked over with a large list as she looked her surroundings.

"Also, we need to talk about your business practices."

Gold Nugget looked at Night Dancer as she stared daggers into his eyes. Defeated, the Griffon lead the authorities to his office tent. The crowd turned back to Lion Tamer giving the child back to Night Dancer. A few other foals slightly older than him crawled up to the mare as Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop embraced their daughter as the Christened Cosgrove began suckling his mother's hoof.

"Beautiful Cosgrove..." She whispered.

Because of the inspection and approval, the Circus couldn't leave Canterlot. In the meantime, charity services have provided them with very exquisite meals after a few years of a mere pickles and eggs diet.

Cosgrove was grouped up with the other children born around the same year. Among them, he became the closest with Zipper for helping him escape the diaper change, Chelsey after replacing her rubber ball, and Diver after being invited to play. Each night, they would huddle together in a large cat bed, much to the admiration of their parents. Her question answered Night Dancer slept next to the children with a warm grin on her face.

Very early the next morning, a moth kept flapping over the young Cosgrove, stirring him from his sleep. Curiosity gets the best of children; the baby chased after the moth out of the tent and deep into Canterlot. The sound of tiny hooves echoed the empty streets as the sun rose over the town, displacing the fog. To avoid the light, the moth flew under a hole in the wall just large enough for him to follow through straight to the Castle.

The Fall of the Sunset Shimmer (New Timeline)

Ever since that day, Sunset has indeed been hanging out with Hoof Lock, Crescendo, and Flash Sentry on weekends. Being the most skilled in magic, they counted on her as their de-facto leader when it came to sports such as bowling. Issues between Hoof Lock and jet Set were easily solved with a small burst of magic. Sunset's friends hoped to see the baby again, but the days pass and he hadn't returned.

As the year's pass, Sunset's academic career became more intensive. Aside from Twilight, every other student had left with general degrees, with the student by the name Trixie being the first. She would find very little time to hang out with her friends and eventually forgot about them. With a heavy heart, they looked beyond the gate of the Castle, took one last good look at her before leaving returning to the main city.

In her room, Sunset Shimmer was working on a Thesis well before her time to leave. Already several drafts were crumpled up and littered on the hard floor. As she paced around her room, the Unicorn dipped her quill into the ink jar and continued writing.

"And I have learned that magic can be best learned by performing it after studying the methods used..." - Sunset scrunched her face before wrapping the aura around the tome and gave it the same treatment as her other drafts - "No! That's still too obvious! There has to be something new! Something I haven't discovered..."

At lunchtime, Sunset continued to ponder what she needed to find as Lemon Hearts and Minuette walked by.

"Hey, Sunset!" - Minuette walked up to her - "Moon Dancer's birthday is coming in a few weeks."

Sunset remained silent as Lemon Hearts joined in.

"You wanna come?" Asked the yellow Unicorn

"Why would I waste my time when I should be working on my thesis?" Sunset rebuked.

Lemon Hearts and Minuette scowled at her before walking away.

"No wonder her friends don't see her anymore." Minuette whispered.

From a balcony, Celestia watched her two former students leave in a huff past one of her current students. She had noticed this eight years ago, but nowadays it has become much more apparent. Later that day, both teacher and student walked down one of the halls.

"I have been told how you have shrugged them off" - Celestia turned her head to Sunset - "Sunset, we have talked about this time and again."

"Hmph!" - Sunset scoffed - "If they wanted to be my friends, they should've stayed to have the same skill level as me!"

Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"Which reminds me:" - Sunset added - "as one of your finest students, can I have permission to explore your section of the Library?"

Celestia stopped in her tracks before craning her head at her student, "Absolutely not!"

"And why not?" - Sunset cocked her head - "Shouldn't I take the next step?"

"You are not ready for-."

"Then what!?" - Sunset lashed out - "What will it take then?"

Celestia narrowed her eyes at her rebellious student before taking a deep breath and continued walking down the hall alone before her student stomped in the opposite direction. At one point, Sunset took a glare at one of the guards.

"And you follow her orders." She berated before storming off to her room, not noticing how that one guard didn't have a tail.

After Equestria was swallowed in the by the shadow of the night, Sunset snuck out of her chambers and crept down the halls. At one point, a guard with a searchlight attached to his helmet walked in her general direction. At the last minute, she applied an invisibility spell, masking her presence just before the light shines over her. The guard took a second glance at the cast shadow only to find it gone.

To her confusion, there wasn't a guard by the door to the Library, but her desire for knowledge clouded her judgement. Unlocking the door, Sunset entered the library and snuck to Celestia's section of the archives. Pulling a book from the shelves, she began to scanning the content.

"Now what can I learn from you?"

Sunset skimmed the book, noticing that quite a few spells from the book are similar to her own. Suddenly, one page of the book caught her attention. It was a Renaissance style portrait of a mare of Sunset's stature with wings and a horn. As she scanned the sentences, her eyes widened as a sneer drew on her snout.

"I knew you wouldn't take no for an answer."

Sunset turned a glare to Princess Celestia along with two guards.

"This is what you have been hiding?" - Sunset slowly turned around before putting a hoof on the cover - "How dare you kept this power away from any of us that should be rightfully ours!"

"As I've told you before, you are not ready to take the first step." - Celestia stepped closer - "You're growing ambition has made you selfish and I need-"

"I'm being selfish?" - Sunset tossed the book towards her teacher only to be bounced back by a magical force - "This book shows that you could turn any of us, even your past students into Alicorns!"

Sunset stepped closer, "If you never turned Radiant Hope into an Alicorn Princess, then make me your first student to be your equal!"

"No," - Princess Celestia rebuked - "having the title "Princess" must be earned."

"Didn't stop you from turning your "niece" into a princess!" Sunset lashed out before being stopped by the guards drawing their spears.

Celestia spread her wings as anger vented around her before she calmed down with a deep breath.

"I have tried everything to reach you, but now I see no other option." - Celestia stepped back - "Sunset Shimmer, I am removing you from my tutelage. You may still wander Canterlot but you are not allowed to enter the Castle. I hoped for the better, but if that's what it takes, so be it."

Celestia motioned the guards to escort her to her room.

Sunset gritted her teeth, "You have made one of the biggest mistakes of your life!"

As the three ponies left her line of sight, Celestia turned to a silk weaving depicting the banishment of Princess Luna.

Lowering her head, she whispered, "One of many..."

A few minutes later, a crashing sound was heard, loud enough to stir Twilight from her sleep. Sunset began destroying the place she had called home. Her books became nothing by shredded paper, her writing desk splintered, and her drawers torn apart. In her rage, she lit up her horn and aimed it at the last piece unscathed, a picture of her as a filly with Celestia. Tears drew from her eyes before shooting at it, exploding in a burst of wood, glass, and paper. Sunset lurched back and cried...

The following morning, Celestia watched as her former student left the castle, the only item her saddlebag. Before continuing her duties, the Princess entered the decimated room. She looked around before feeling something tap on her hoof. Looking down, she found a journal with her cutie mark on the cover. Celestia lifted it up and walked out.

"Take care, my student..." - Celestia thought in her head - "Take care..."

The Dark Knight Returns

1 week before today

A good distance away from Ponyville stood an abandoned theme park. Built around the Eighth Century, it was once one of the most popular attractions until other more modern (and to say ambitious) theme parks open. On this day, one Pony stood at the entrance, looking over the hollow shell that it formerly was.

"Ah, there you are!" - The theme park owner was passing by - "I see you had a chance to inspect the property?"

"Well, it's garish, ugly, and derelicts have used it for a toilet." - the visitor took a deep breath - "The rides are dilapidated to the point of being lethal, and could maim or kill small children..."

"Oh, so you don't like it?"

"Don't like it?" - the visitor turned her head, revealing a white fur mare with green hair - "I'm crazy for it!"
The visitor walked into the park once again.

"You really want to buy it?" - the owner caught up with her - "And the price? It wasn't too steep?"

"Too steep?" - She added a series of tsks - "My dear sir, as I look at it, I'm making a killing... Besides, money isn't that important, not these days."

The owner looks at one of the stable rides. "Y'know, I'm sure you won't regret this purchase." - he gets on a pink elephant - "Really, this could be one hay of a carnival."

"Oh, you're so right" - She pats him on the back - "Thanks to you, I've been completely sold on this place! Let's shake on it!"
"Sure!" - The owner grabs her hoof - "It's my privilege!"

"Indeed it is..." - lifting her hoof showed an injection needle strapped to it - "No need for me to pay you anything, my colleagues 'persuaded' your partner to sign the documents an hour ago." - She walks a little before turning around - "You're happy with that, I take it?"

The owner didn't answer for he just stared into the horizon with a big, nasty grin on his face.

"Oh I can see that you are, I'm so glad!" - She began to leave - "Well, I must dash, equipment to repair, crew to hire, and all the time to do it, feel free to stick around."

Today

Now accompanied by the Frankenstein Monster, Trixie's caravan continue their journey through the forest. With the world becoming warm once more, the frozen dew on the trees melted, giving the impression that it is raining despite the sunny day. Trixie housed Mary in the cart as the Galgameth pulled through the thick mud and loose branches. Garble on occasion tried to fly, but the wing was still sore. Spot gave a little chuckle as the "rain" continued to drip on the dragon.

"Hey, can we find some shelter?" - Garble growled before sniffing himself - "This dew scent is really getting to me."

Trixie was just filling up a small bottle of the melting liquid when she spotted a mansion on the top of a hill.
"Might Trixie suggest we stop over there?"

The group of five stopped at the closed gates of the mansion, parking over to the side. The group looked around, wondering how to get in. Garble tried to climb up the rock wall, but the stone is too smooth to get a good grip. Spot scratched the ground, only to find the floor is composed of solid concrete. Cogsworth noticed a lock combination before the techno-organic material pulled out a decoder.

"It may take a while, but I-" - Cogsworth was interrupted when Mary grabbed the gates. The electricity coursed through her veins, gradually gaining strength before she tore the gates and tossed them aside as if they were scrap wire - "Never mind..."

As they walked into the estate, they were being watched as a security camera tracked them. Behind the feed, a textured hoof was tapping at the chair. The Galgameth was too big to enter the doors, without having to tear apart said doors.

"I'll see if there's another way." Cogsworth steered the machine to the right of the estate.

"Mary come help you too." - The Zombie joined him, having Spot snort out a little.

"Hmph!!" - Spot shook himself - "Dead pony smell burn my nose!"

The Magician, Dragon, and Diamond Dog walked into the manor, taking in the sight of the entrance. The wooden trims of the house had a bumpy texture, but still a good match for the cavern-beige walls, the rug purple with stripes arranged in a diamond pattern. When they reached the living room, Spot stopped and sniffed the air.

"Mmmm..." - The Diamond Dog's snub nose sniffed the air, drawing back a mischievous grin - "I smell gems!"

Garble's tummy rumbled as Spot followed his nose. "Finally, something to eat around here!"

Now alone in the large mansion, Trixie sighed before continuing to explore. The magician continued to be amazed at the very large rooms in the house, though she did scoff.

"Trixie wouldn't need that much room." - Inside an office, she does come across a large portrait depicting a mustached Earth Pony stallion and mare looking towards outside world - "Though the art does intrigue her."

The magician turned to a squeaking sound. A bat somehow was caught inside an old man clock. Using her magic, Trixie pried the glass, unintentionally opening a door behind it. The bat flew down the tunnel, its screeches echoing the cavern. Curiosity filled her mind as she explored even further, using the aura of her magic to light her way.

Outside the mansion, Cogsworth and Mary happened to stumble upon a cemetery. Noticing the most elaborate gravestone, the mechanic steered the robot towards it.

"Mary reminded of past years." Said the Zombie as she looked at a more humble tombstone.

Back at the manor, Garble and Spot happened to stumble upon a large vault. A few minutes worth of heating up the lock, the two physically powerful beings opened the door. A yellow glow shined upon their bodies as their eyes feasted on a pool of gold coins and gems of all colors. The dragon's mouth salivated as he slowly crept up to the trove.

"I am bursting my belly for this..." - Garble immediately took a crystal when he heard the sound of a whimper. Turning around, he found that Spot was gone - "Well, more for me!"

Back outside, Cogsworth was reading the chiseled words on the tomb.

In Loving Memory of Thomas and Martha Mane.

"Mary not understand," - the Zombie scratched her dead hair- "who Thomas and Martha?"

Suddenly, the Galgameth picked up something on radar, prompting the to phase a weapon. "Whoever made the owner of the house."

Suddenly, gray marbles rolled around the garden. The Zombie picked one up, unaware that the mechanic was backing away.

"Funny rock..."

Suddenly, the bead spout out smoke at her eye, as the other beads covered the grave area in smog. Cogsworth kept following his radar, trying to get a single glance at who is attacking them. When he spotted a figure trotting past him, the Galgameth fired a three-row shot, burning a series of holes in the ground. After scanning the fog for a while, three white pads launched out, stuck onto the machine and shocked him.

From a distance, Mary's ear flicked to the sound of a machine crashing to the ground as she rubbed her eyes.

"Mary not feel good."

"Mary gonna feel a lot worse." Said a voice before tackling the Frankenstein Monster, wrapping her limbs in a tightrope.

The tunnel Trixie followed lead to a massive dark void that her horn lit a few inches. Looking around, she did find a series of light switches. Flicking one revealed a structured area, with a massive object covered in a cloth. Flicking more revealed the entire cavern being occupied by a supported platform. Scattered across were other objects draped in cloth, except for a massive 1980's style computer that also turned on with a flicking green line saying, "Enter password." Trixie looked around in astonishment before bumping into a tall object. Removing the cover revealed that it was a glass canister surrounding a mannequin of a teen mare. It was clothed in a primarily red tunic with black gloves and boots, a yellow and black cape wrapped around the neck. Looking below, the magician found a plaque that read, "A good soldier."

Suddenly, Trixie was yanked by her mane, dragged across the floor, then was gripped by the throat, her body hanging over the edge of the platform. The magician looked as forward as she can, seeing an aging Earth Pony mare, her body laced with knife scratches and bullet wounds, and an expression to match.

"Who sent you?" She asked with a low growl.

"N-no-no one," - The magician choked, holding for dear life - "Trixie came here on her." - the aggressor released her hold. Trixie clutched onto the hoof, preventing a certain death - "It's the truth she swears!"

The master of the house flung the Unicorn aside, stepping forward as she raised a fist.

"Last-" the aged Mare winced, reeling back as she held her heart.

Curling onto the floor the same time as Trixie rose on her legs, the magician inspected the older individual as she breathed in and out.

"Are you-?" In a quick lunge, the aged Mare grabbed Trixie's head and slammed her to the ground, knocking her out cold.
The aged Mare looked at the glass case, a sense of guilt looming over her.

"Mistress Bridgette," upstairs, a much older Mare was looking below "I've heard the alarm go off."
Heavy footsteps ascended the stairs, revealing Bridgette carrying the knocked out Trixie.

"Just remembering this promise, Alison."

The master handed the unconscious Unicorn to her Butler.

"And that is?"

Bridgette looked back down, raising a hoof at the master switch.

"Never again..."

Flicking the switch, the lights of the underground laboratory died off one by one, shutting off at the mannequin.
Trixie slowly awoke to the fireplace, spotting Cogsworth stripped off his machine, sitting on the chair next to her. The Red Earth Pony slowly shook as he took a sip of tea.

"Ohhh..." Trixie groaned as her hoof touched a soft fabric around her head "Trixie feels like she got hit by a sledgehammer."
The Unicorn tried to move, only for the butler to hold her back. Looking forward, she saw Bridgette sitting across, a furious look on her house.

"Now, I ask you again, why have you trespassed on my property?"

"Well, we wanted to find a place to rest." Trixie leans back "And we thought it was abandoned."

Bridgette's lower eyelids raised up, giving them a glare.

"To be honest, Mistress Bridgette," Alison got the attention of her boss "nopony has come here for over forty years."

"Forty years?" -Cogsworth leaned forward "Who are you? What are you?"

Bridgette closed her eyes, retaining the fury in her muzzle.

"My name is Bridgette Mane. Former manager of Mane Enterprises." She leaned forward "And also... Mare Do Well."
The two prisoner's eyes widened.

"Mare Do Well is real?!" - Cogsworth looked in shock - "I thought it was a ploy to tick off Rainbow Dash?"
Cogsworth is given a newspaper article with headlines related to the six fake Mare-do-Wells.

"Mayor Mare never really told you, she was there when I was on duty."

"Where are our friends?" Asked Trixie

"They're around." Allison picked up the tray "It was hard finding a right size kennel for the mutt, you're dragon friend needed enough tums, and the monster..." She turned to a loud roar down the hall is in 'good hooves'."

"So can we leave and forget this ever happened?" Trixie pleaded.

"Leave," Bridgette furrowed her glare again, scaring her "with a broken gate worth 10,000 bits, leaving me and my Butler vulnerable to the Pranksters?"

"We don't have much money." Said Cogsworth

"Then how about a favor?" Bridgette hissed.

Trixie looked around the tall room, "Does Trixie have to clean the mansion?"

"No... There are a few punks down the hill that have been bothering me." - Realizing what she was asking her to do, Allison tried to step forward only to be stopped by a wave of a hoof - "Get rid of them."

The Unicorn drew her ears back, "Trixie already has a bad reputation, she wouldn't want to make it worse."

"Allison," - The Butler stood up straight at her name - "get the old suit."

True to her word, Bridgette's first suit, which had the traditional violet/navy blue color scheme, but years of use have taken it's toll in the exact same punishment as it's owner. Trixie altogether looked awkward in the suit. all at is needed is to hide the horn underneath the hat.

"Don't disappoint me." - Bridgette ordered - "I know just where you are, Beatrix."

Trixie furrowed her brow before running off into the deep woods. Cogsworth fuddled with the actual name.
"Her real name is Beatrix?"

Following the trail described by Bridgette, Trixie found the campsite of the Pranksters, an old amusement park. The gang of Earth Ponies relished their guns, with the canisters of laughing gas to arm them to the teeth.

"Those goons seem heavily armed." - Trixie thought behind the cowl - "Then again Cogsworth's machine appears more so than they are, and he's a kid. But Trixie can make a grand entrance."

Back at the cave, Bridgette turned on the computer, revealing a first perspective view on screen from Trixie's cowl. Allison still had a worried look as Trixie prepared to make a move. The view then tilted downward as the magician was fumbling through the belt.

Bridgette raised an eyebrow as her assistant emptied each pocket before pulling out the thing she was looking for, a grappling hook. She looked for the firing mechanism, accidentally firing it forward and hitting a soldier in the head.

"Huh? What's-" - The guard turned, flashing a light to reveal the Dark Knight - "Mare Do Well!?" - the guard clicked a weapon, pointing it right at Trixie - "Mare Do Well's back!"

With a whole battalion of guards coming right at her, armed to the tooth, Trixie did the only logical thing. Rising on her back hooves, the magician disappeared under a veil of smoke.

"Search the area!" - the guard ordered - "Don't let her get away!"

"Does she seem a little smaller to you?"

One of the soldiers ran to the main area, where their leader stood overlooking the area.

"Ms. P! Mare Do Well is back!"

"M-ma-Mare Do Well...?" - Slowly looking back, spotting the new Mare Do Well sneaking around, the Prankster herself curled back a toothy grin - "Darling..."

With the smoke clearing up, and with no more smoke bombs available, Trixie would have to resort to fighting. Grabbing a few bowling pins, the magician whacked a few weak blows against the guards.

"Bowling pins?" - Two of the guards looked at each other - "What happened with snapping our limbs?"

"Trixie not resort to that sort of thing." Trixie thought in her head as she flung the bowling pins before resorting to using plastic rings.

Back at the base, Cogsworth shared the same worrying expression Alison had. Looking at the screen, he noticed a slightly taller figure fast approaching, holding a crowbar in her teeth before finding a microphone on the table. He scooted the chair he sat on in a desperate attempt to reach it when a middle-aged hoof scooped it up.

"Call her back!" Cogsworth begged.

"You all knew the risk," - Bridgette stated, only looking at the paralyzed mechanic with one eye - "she has to complete the mission."

Trixie continued her attack, turning around too late when a fast object smacked her on the head. The rugged hat flew off, revealing the blue horn jutting out of the cowl as the magician flopped to the ground. Lying there for a few moments, the guards picked her up, presenting her before the Clown Princess of Crime, holding the crowbar in one hoof while patting it on the other.

"Hmmm... Looks more like an imposter to me." - The Prankster looked up at the sky - "Probably so, the real Mare Do Well's a senile old mare by now..." - She looks back down at Trixie - "And without Mare Do Well, crime has no punchline. But you know, you lying on the floor reminds me of a time long ago when I beat somepony with a crowbar just like this one. I forgot who... Too bad the Old Mare isn't here, she always kept count. And I'm happy she did."

The Prankster grabbed Trixie by the nape of the cape, her stretched grin reflecting back at the Magician's pupils.

"But I can teach you a lesson. Let's start with 'Getting Your Flank Kicked 101.'" The Prankster began to chuckle, growing louder as it became a full-fledged laugh as she dragged Trixie into another area of the carnival before the video feed of the cowl died out, leaving only the laughter to be heard from the speakers.

"Trixie!!" Cogsworth screamed, echoing the caves.

Alison slammed her hooves on the computer table, not even getting the attention of her boss. "Have you forgotten what happened to Jamison?"

As the laughter continued behind the intercoms, Bridgette looked at the glass case before closing her eyes. She recalls a memory: Long ago in Saddle Arabia, a much younger Bridgette holding the limp body of Jamison after arriving too late to save her from an explosion caused by the Prankster. Flashing forward, Bridgette donned a more menacing outfit of darker colors, matching her newfound aggression as she pummeled the Prankster to a pulp. Flashing forward to today, Bridgette turned the chair around and walked towards another draped containment unit.

"I will never forget Jamison" - She pulled the sheet, revealing the more menacing suit - "She was a good soldier." - Bridgette released the other three guests she kept for so long - "She honored me." - she turns to a much larger draped object, which surprised Cogsworth when she pulled it down - "But the war goes on."

Garble whistled at the sight. "What kinda vehicle is that?"

Not even turning an ear, the former Mare Do Well answered, "Rachael used to call this the Mare Mobile."

...

About an hour later, Trixie slowly awoke in a steel cage, the outside view concealed by a curtain. She looked down, finding a few drops of blood. Crazed as the Prankster was, she at least left a water bowl. The reflection showed a morbid Unicorn, parts of the cowl were torn off from a few slices of the crowbar, revealing part of her mane, a black eye, and a bloodied muzzle. Trixie curled up, her ears drooping down.

"What was I thinking?" - Trixie said among the few times without using her title - "I can be apologetic, but not great. Who am I kidding, all I can do is impress kids..."

Before she could cry, a spotlight lit up the area around her, hearing the hoofbeats of the Prankster as she walked around the cage.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts! You've read about it in the papers! Now witness, before your very eyes, that most rare and tragic of nature's mistakes!" - The Prankster pulls the curtain, revealing her jeering henchmen as they threw drinks and rotten food - "I give you: the Unicorn. Though physically remarkable, it instead possesses a deformed set of values. Notice the hideously bloated sense of Equestrian importance. Also, note the club-footed social conscience and the withered optimism. It's certainly not for the squeamish, is it?" Most repulsive of all, are its frail and useless notions of order and sanity." - the crazed criminal picks up a stick - "If too much weight is placed upon them...' - She snaps the twig- "How does it live, I hear you ask? How does this poor pathetic specimen survive in today's harsh and irrational environment? I'm afraid the sad answer is, "Not very well."

Suddenly a fireball landed on the crowd, drawing the attention of the army. In the horizon, a massive, tank-like vehicle treads toward them. Armed to the tooth with canons, this would stop any riot from happening. Without a second warning, the killer clowns started firing at the tank, to no avail, not even piercing the armor. Inside, Cogsworth drove the tank, Garble and Spot armed the cannons, and Mary looked through a periscope.

"They don't wait for an order..." - A Pony thought to herself as she sat in the commanding chair - "Kid's these days, no respect."

Garble fuddled through the list of possible weapons, but they all had one thing in common.

"Rubber bullets?" - The dragon looked back - "Seriously?"

Opening the hatch, Mary launched out of the tank, frightening several that saw her.

"Mary no like spooky clowns." - The Zombie was shot in the back, turning a furrowed glare at the pony with the smoking gun barrel - "Funny stallion gonna pay for that."

As Mary started plowing through the multitudes of soldiers, the tank continued on towards the Prankster and her hostage.
"Well, I should be running, but like they say, 'a bat in the hoof is worth two in the belfry.'" - The Prankster whistled, bringing out a conjoined Horse twin, - "Girls, be so kind as to rid of our kind guest."

Taking a bow, the Prankster stepped away into the mirror hall. The two twins stepped in between as the tanked pulled up.
"Mare Do Well!" - The left head beckoned - "We call you coward! Come out and fight! We kill you, we rend the bones from your body! We'll show you who should rule Equestria!"

Inside, the captain of the tank furrowed a glare at the screen before standing up and walking towards the elevator. Cogsworth turned around.

"Lady, they are at their peak, they'll tear you apart!" He warned, only to receive the same glare.

It's the only way.

Opening the hatch, the elevator brought up a stiff silhouette of the vehicle's owner. After standing there for a while, the figure leapt into the air, illuminated by a thunderbolt. Landing before them, the true Mare Do Well gave them a glare as the battle began. The twins lunged forward, slamming their left fist at the stadium, just barely missed the middle aged mare. Bridgette landed a few hooks before being batted aside by the pair. Just as the twins charged at Mare Do Well, becoming the receiving end of a boot. A distance away, a clown aimed a gun at the winning foe when Garble pounced on him, breathing a stream of fire on anyone who tried to come close. But Bridgette's age began to reach her, tipping the scales to the conjoined Horse' favor as she landed a series of blows.

Back inside, Spot and Cogsworth watched as their new boss get pummeled.

"Dusted!" - Spot barked - "Mare Do Well dusted!"

Back outside, the twin's right head raised the beaten Mare Do Well to her snout.

"You are slow, Old Mare!"

Just on cue, Bridgette grabbed their heads and bops them together. Dazed, it was now the giant's turn to receive the series of blows, taking her down with a roundhouse to the torso. Mary was just holding the troop that shot her when she spotted Bridgette pinning the twins down, pulling her right arm.

"She dusted." The troop commented before bopped on the head.

Trixie winced as a loud snap was heard, followed by a loud scream. She covered her eyes again as Bridgette moved to the legs, breaking them as if they were mere twigs. The others looked to the stage as their boss stnds up, a strike of lightning revealing her suit's gray and black color scheme. Without even turning a glance at Trixie, Bridgette turned and galloped into the hall of mirrors

Mary took a hold of the wounded Magician as Garble, Spot, and Cogsworth joined them.

"Why she go after some clown?"

The mechanic half closed his eyes, "She's going to do this by the book."

Mare Do Well proceeded down the hall, following the trail of her hated foe when the PA system buzzed.

"So... I see you received the free ticket I sent you. I'm glad. I did so want you to be here. You see it doesn't matter if you catch me and send me back to the asylum... your friend's been driven mad."

Suddenly the floor parted beneath Bridgette. Quickly she gripped on the front ledge, straining herself from being impaled on the spikes below.

"I'll start with how I peeled back the layers of the mare's mind. I took her to my private quarters and gave her the welcoming crowbar. You know, the one I used on one of your pets. And the funny thing is, she actually cracked up."

Behind the mirrors, the Prankster watched as she held a microphone.

"All to soon, the beatings and serums took their toll and the dear lass shared such secrets with me. Secrets that are mine alone to know..."

Mare Do Well stopped at a dead end, the mirrors showing her from multiple perspectives.

"Bridgette." - Mare Do Well furrowed her brow at the mentioning of her real name - "It's true Dewey, I know everything. And kind of like the kid that peeks into his birthday presents, it's sad to say, anticlimactic. Beneath that sturm and rage, you're just a poor little playfoal crying for Mommy and Daddy. It'd be funny if it wasn't pathetic." - The Prankster stopped to think before drawing back a smile - "Aw what the Hay, I'll laugh anyway!"

Just as she cackled, Mare Do Well broke through the mirror, landing a series of punches on her dreaded foe. Before she could escape, the Prankster was held by her collar, showing a few chipped teeth and bloodied gums.

"Don't believe me?" - She flicked her wrists, revealing a few pictures - "I got slides."

In one great arc, Bridgette flung the Prankster out the mirror hall, colliding with several shipping crates before landing hard on the ground. The clown looked up when Mare Do Well landed hard on the floor, grabbed her and pinned her to the wall. She looked at the caped crusader giving her a glare that she hasn't seen in a long while, returning a grin.

"Well, are you going to do it, or put me in a body cast for six months." - Mare Do Well answered with a raise of a hoof - "My, you should have done this years ago, I on the other hoof..."

Immediately the Prankster drew out a knife, stabbing Mare Do Well in the chest several times before punching her to the ground, stabbing her in the leg. The clown knelt at her valiant foe.

"You've lost, Mare Do Well, the last sound you would hear is my laughter." - She pulls out a gun, pulls the trigger, jutting out a miniature flag with the word 'Bang!' on it. The Prankster chuckled - "Never have a death without a punchline!"

Just as she was about to pull the trigger again, she was suddenly vaulted back, colliding with the crates again. Mare Do Well rolled over, standing on her knees as the Prankster lifted her head, coughing as she held her chest.

"Th-That's not funny... That's not..." The Prankster flopped on the ground, limp, lifeless...

Bridgette looked to her right to find an Earth Pony Mare dressed in black with a beige jacket and donning a red helmet on her head. She heard the sounds of feet approaching before noticing the Dark Knight beginning to faint.

"You never cease to amaze me, Bridgette."

After several long hours of darkness, Bridgette slowly awoke in bed, her body connected to an IV machine. She looked ahead to find Trixie, Cogsworth, Garble, Spot, and Mary looking at her. Trixie had a few stitches on her head, and wrappings on her chest... again. To her left, Alison stood by, balancing a glass of water and painkillers on a platter.

"You should be lucky, Mistress Bridgette. Had they not been there, you would not have seen this day."

Bridgette still held a glare at the Unicorn that briefly took her place, "If she hadn't been that careless, she would almost not have seen the light of day."

Trixie was saddened at this bitter truth when Cogsworth leaned forward on the chair her sat on.

"Is that why you retired? Because of Jamison?"

Bridgette turned a glare to the colt, acknowledging his comment.

"Your debt has been paid. Leave."

Mary placed Cogsworth on her back as she joined Garble and Spot as they walked out the door.

"Trixie, you coming?" Asked Cogsworth

Trixie stood up and walked towards the wounded mare.

"Trixie wants to help. Trixie wants to be Great as well as Apologetic."

Bridgette did her traditional glare, "And how will you be Great and Apologetic?"

"Make Trixie into Mare Do Well."

"NO. Ever since her death, I forbade anyone to be my protege, let alone..." Bridgette looked at her new costume as it hung over a chair.

The other four of Trixie's caravan looked at each other before joining her. Cogsworth, Spot and Garble crossed their arms. Furrowing a brow, Bridgette slipped out of bed, almost collapsing had it not been for her faithful butler. Regaining her balance, the master of the house walked over to the Unicorn.

"You work with me, Beatrix. You follow my rules. First, you give me your all. Then you give me some more. Third, I make the rules."

"Better be careful about that last one." - The group turned to find a middle-aged Pegasus mare, albeit much younger than Bridgette - "It can be a doozy."

"Rachel..." - Bridgette softened her expression at the familiar face.

"What can I say?" - Rachel lifted the slightly torn up costume - "It's great to be home."

A good distance away from the mansion, the mare in the red hood watched as Trixie be welcomed into the family.
"You can come out." - She beckoned - "I can hear you a mile away."

A short distance behind, Blackarachnia approached from behind, drawing back a toothy grin.