Life Goes On

Chapters

Long Time No See
Atom's Apple
The Challenge
Moving with the Wind
A Grudge
New Guards on the Block
PaTROLLing
Expand and Conquer
Captured Part 1
Captured Part 2
The Correct and Incorrect Ways to Escape
Bonus Chapter: Meet the OC's
Rematch
May the Games Begin
Competition Gets Rough
Over the River and Through the Woods to the Royal Sisters' Castle We Go
Dang Nature, You Scary
Bonus Chapter: Blue's Birthday
Troubles Aplenty
Bonus Chapter: A Hearth's Warming Reunion
Future In-Laws
New Winds on the Horizon

Long Time No See

Author's Note: Here it is boys and girls, the newest in the line of Blue Breeze stories. Surprised this is out so soon? Well, I just hate to keep you guys waiting(unless I'm in a trollish mood *troll face*). To anyone who is seeing this as a newcomer, I HIGHLY recommend reading 'The Mark of Blue Breeze' and 'Continuing the Dream', otherwise you won't get any of this at all. Now with that out of the way, as I always say, on with the story.

Oh hey, it's you again. Long time no see(yep, I did it yet again. You mad?). What'cha been up to? Been having a nice Summer? Oh you might be wondering why I said Summer.

Well, a lot has been happened since you all left. It's been about two months since the whole Everfree Forest business and we're now in late July. Believe it or not things have actually been fairly quiet for my friends and I since then. I know, us and quiet doesn't really mix now does it? But just because things have been quiet doesn't mean everypony hasn't been keeping busy over the past few months.

Myself? I've just been keeping up my job at the weather office with the others, I've also been keeping in shape with help from both Drax and Graze, and I learned some new tricks. But I'll save those for later.

Although some things haven't been quite the same. Zeph did what he said he was going to do and used a bunch of his money to buy a house for him and Octavia to live in. They're not quite married yet, but the wedding's gonna be coming up pretty soon.

Zeph wasn't the only one to move out from the house either. With an extra room and need for more money, Vinyl invited Ice to come stay with her. That's not the only thing Ice did. He switched his job at the cafe to only be part-time so he can do special effects for Vinyl's shows. They've definitely become twenty percent 'cooler' since then.

Isn't it nice to see I kept my sense of humor and bad puns?

Anyway, since Ice isn't serving us at the cafe quite as often, we had to switch to paying full price. Vine actually... no, wait, never mind, she didn't get over that.

But speaking of Vine, she decided that since she goes into the forest so often that she'd just move in there. Fleur and Fern were scared at first, but after Vine told them about this secluded little lake area they decided to go with it. The lake's been really good with it being Summer and all. Vine says she's still working on that thing from a few months ago, but she says she's nearly done. I'm honestly starting to get scared for what she has planned.

On the mention of Fern, it's actually quite crazy, she started going out with some stallion named, um... Thunder something... Lane! That's it! She started going out with this stallion named Thunderlane. One day they got to talking when he came to the bar and it just sort of happened. You know what? I give up. I'm just gonna accept the fact that I'm bad with mares and just got lucky with Dash taking me.

But on to me telling you on what you missed out on. Another one is how Drax also changed his job at the weather office to be part time so he could become a personal trainer at the gym. He even trains the Wonderbolts besides Spitfire every once in a while. He's actually quite good at it.

Moving on we have Orion. He actually did invest and model a bit for that astronomy themed fashion line for Rarity. It got quite popular in big cities like Canterlot and Manehattan. I'm not one for clothes, but to each his own.

Rhino has been doing a bit with Fluttershy. Remember how Fluttershy didn't have much of a job? Well, Rhino got her a job doing small cases at the vet clinic. She takes care of small things and bigger things are sent to the clinic.

Graze spent his time to readjusting to life in Ponyville again. Ditzy was there to help him every step of the way, Graze was also doing great as a sparring partner for me. Dude's got mad fighting skills.

And last up we have everypony's favorite jerk that we love to hate: Dark. Believe it or not, he actually got a job. Twilight forced him to do it, but after what Twilight told him it was he jumped at the chance to do it. You won't believe what it is, he got a job for the library as the book return enforcer. What's that mean you may ask? Basically if a pony is late on returning a book, it's Dark's job to hunt 'em down and make 'em return it. Perfect for a guy as crazy as him, ain't it?

The others are doing just fine too. Sunny's flying lessons have been going great. She's just about done with 'em. Pinkie has been her usual crazy self, throwing parties and breaking the laws of physics as usual. She threw a party for Arbor Day. Can you believe that? The only one to really appreciate it was Vine though.

The only one not doing so good is Applejack. Ever since leaving Canterlot and Atom behind she's been depressed lately. She's been slower at Sweet Apple Acres, and just been more down in general. Seems waiting for Atom while he's in the guard, it's harder than she'd thought. I really feel for her.

...Anyway, that's what's been going on during the past two months. Some of it big, some little. After Zeph moved out, Ice moved out, and making his cafe job part-time, and Drax making his weather job part-time, I haven't been seeing my closest friends that much. It's a bit discouraging, but we still hang out enough to where it's not so bad.

But that's then, this is now. And right now I'm reclining back on a cloud above Ponyville. This is SO relaxing. The sun is shining brightly, there's a nice cool breeze to keep me from getting too hot, and I don't have a care in the world.

I sigh in relaxation. "Ah, this is the life. Nothing can possibly ruin this mome-"

"Hey, Blue!" a pony shouts as they pop their head through the cloud.

"HOLY BUCK!" I scream as I start backing up. I step back so far I run out of room. "W-Woah! Ah!" I fall off the cloud and am unable to catch myself as I hit the roof of a building head first. I then roll off the building and hit my chin hard as I hit the ground. I swear I nearly bit my tongue off there.

I groan in pain. "Ow... What the buck was that?"

The pony flies down and lands right infront of me. "Geez, sorry about that man. Didn't mean to scare ya."

I try to shake off the pain as I get up. "Well, just bucking watch it nex ti-" my eyes widen as I realize who the pony is. "Atom?!"

Atom's Apple

Atom grins at me. "Surprised to see me again?" he chuckles.

I'm really hoping that fall didn't make me start halucinating or put me in some kind of coma induced dream. I really can't believe that Atom is here. At least, I hope he's here. My head is still feeling fuzzy.

I get up from the ground and dust myself off. "Atom? Is that really you?"

"Well, of course it's me. Who'd you think I was, Pinkie Pie?"

"Did somepony say my name?" Pinkie says as she pops out of a nearby fruit stand.

Atom and I each jump back in surprise. "Pinkie?! When did you get there?!" I shout.

"Just right now." she gasps as she jumps out of the stand and hugs Atom. "Hey, Atom. It's SO great to see you again!"

"Great to see you again too, Pinkie." he says.

"Oh, it is SO great that you're here! I just HAVE to throw a party for this!" she says as she lets go of him. "Oh, I need to go get that set up right away."

Atom grabs her before she can dash off to start getting a party ready. "Actually Pinkie, I'm pretty tired from the trip over and would just like a bit of peace and quiet. No need to make a big fuss over it."

"Hmm, okie dokie lokie then. See ya later. Bye, Atom. Bye, Breezy." Pinkie then cheerfully bounces off, humming to herself.

That's Pinkie Pie for ya.

Atom and I just stare at her as she bounces away before looking at each other. "Yeah... So, Atom, great to see ya again."

"Thanks for breaking the awkward silence, and likewise." I take a hoof and touch around his face. He bats it away in annoyance. "Hey, what are you doing?"

"Sorry, just making sure you were real and that fall wasn't making me see things."

"Yeah, again, sorry about that. Just saw you up there, so I thought I'd give you a little surprise."

"Hahaha." I laugh sarcastically. "But anyway, what are you doing in Ponyville? I thought Celestia still needed you back in Canterlot."

"Oh that. Well, Princess Celestia decided it'd be best if I were to get restationed here in Ponyville."

"You just tried kising up to her until you eventually broke down and went begging to her, didn't you?" I give him a sly face.

He chuckles nervously before hanging his head. "Yes, yes I did."

I put a foreleg around his sholders. "Eh, it's cool bro. So, I guess Glare had to stay back huh?"

"Yeah, Celestia said she needed at least one of us to stay there. He's doing just fine though."

I take my foreleg off. "Oh, that's good."

"Yeah, but I had to take a train here. I hate trains."

"Then you've never watched asdfmovie."

"I haven't watched what?"

"Never mind, forget about it."

"So, how are the others doing?" Atom says, quickly changing the subject.

"Well, just follow me under that shady tree over there and I'll tell ya." I say, pointing to a big tree.

He follows me under the tree as I begin to tell him of all the stuff everypony's been doing since he last saw us. Sometimes he just nodded, while others he was busting out laughing.

"And that's basically it." I finish.

He laughs outloud. "That's hilarious. Dark seriously started going around finding ponies and forcing them to give back overdue books?"

"Yep, you better believe it. He's made quite a few ponies around town too afraid to even check out any books. The ones brave enough though are smart enough to give 'em back when they're told and not a second later."

Atom chuckles more before a thought comes to his head. "Hey, how's AJ doing?"

"What?" I ask.

"How's Applejack doing? You didn't mention what she's been up to."

"Well..." I scratch the back of my head. I don't want him to start worrying. "Oh, she's doing just great."

Atom's eyes narrow behind his sunglasses. "Really?"

"Yep, she's been holding up just fine."

Atom gets up and comes closer to me. "Blue, don't you lie to me. Tell me how Applejack is doing, NOW!"

I hold up a fake smile as I sweat, but even with my hardest efforts, I crack. I sigh in defeat. "Applejack hasn't been doing so good since we left Canterlot."

His eyes widen. "What?"

"Ever since she had to leave you she's been feeling down a lot more. She's always acting depressed even with the group. Even her work at Sweet Apple Acres has been suffering because of it."

"That's it! I gotta go see her! I refuse to let my Applejack be sad because of me!" Atom immediately takes off with a word, making a dust trail behind him as he flies down the streets.

I shake my head. "Well, I better go after him. So much for a relaxing day."

I know it's weird to hear that from me, but I had gotten used to days being much quieter than before.

Anyway, I get up from my nice, cool, relaxing spot under the tree... What was I doing? Oh, right. I get up and open my wings up as I talk off down the streets after Atom. Even with my larger wings, keeping up with him the way he is isn't easy. A stallion on a mission of love is a powrful thing. I swear he could come close to Zephyr right now.

I catch up to him as we get closer to the outside of town and reach the gate to Sweet Apple Acres.

Atom touches down to the ground as he reaches the front gate to go inside. He looks around frantically for Applejack. "Oh where is she?"

I stop next to him and take a breath. "Take it easy, Atom. She's not hurt."

He gives me an angry look. "No, worse! She's sad and it's because of me! I NEED to find her!"

I back up a bit, actually getting a bit frightened by how he's acting. "Okay, okay! She's probably out working in the orchard right now. Let's just look around for her a bit, alright?"

He takes a deep breath. "Okay, you're right. I'll search around the trees, you go check the animal pens."

"Got it."

We both put our front hooves together in a double highhoof. "Break!"

Atom takes to the air as he starts to search for AJ. One problem with his plan though: the trees are in the way of the ground. He notices this as he goes down to the ground and starts searching the old fashioned way. Another problem: all the trees look the same, making navigation pretty difficult.

Even though I don't have to navigate a huge freakin' maze, my luck at the animal pens isn't much better. The chickens aren't as nice as Fluttershy's, the pigs keep nearly getting mud on me, the sheep wool makes me itch, and the cow pens reek. For being sentient beings like ponies, they sure are dirty. And their accents are pretty annoying too(no offense to any Canadians).

As Atom runs through the orchard, he begins getting tired as he leans up against a tree. "I *pant* didn't expect this *pant* to be so *pant* HARD." he slumps up against a tree to try and rest. "I need to rest for a minute."

A few trees away, Applejack's ears perk up as she hears some heavy breathing. "What in tarnation? Somepony must be trespassing." her eyes narrow as she starts sneaking around the trees to the source of the noise. Without bothering to see who the pony is, Applejack gets into position to buck them. "Ya no good, thievin' varmint!"

"Say what?" Atom says as he turns his head. His jaw was met with a strong buck from the farm mare that launches him up in the air and makes him hit the ground hard.

"That'll learn ya." Applejack says before looking at the pony. She gasps as she turns around to see who it is. "Atom?!"

Atom rubs his chin as he tries to get up. "Of course it's me!" he grabs at his jaw in pain. "Ow! That hurt!"

Applejack rushes over to him and helps him get up. "Ah am So sorry! Ah had no idea it was you! Ah thought ya were a thief."

"What kind of thief tries taking apples from in orchard in the middle of the day?"

"Ah don't know, bah really am sorry."

"It's fine, but you definitely weren't kidding when you said you had strong legs."

She crosses a foreleg infront of the other. "Strongest mare in all of Ponyville."

"Besides Rainbow Dash that is." I say as I step in.

"Oh, hey, Blu-WOAH!" Atom says as he looks at me, seeing that I'm now covered in feathers. "What happened to you?"

"The chickens got me again. Celestia, I hate those things." I shake myself off like a dog, getting rid of most of the feathers. "But anyway, it's good to see you two found each other."

"We sure did." AJ says as she hugs Atom. "What are ya doin' in Ponyville anyhow?"

"Isn't it great? Celestia restationed me to live here!"

"That sure is great, sugarcube. You're more than welcome to stay with me and mah family."

"Really? Thanks a lot."

"Anytime hun. Oh, and speakin' of mah family, let me go get 'em. Ah'm sure they'd love to finally meet ya'll." Applejack then gallops off towards her house to find her family.

Atom looks to me. "So Blue, you know AJ's family right?"

"Yeah." I answer. "What about it?"

"Well, what are they like so I can prepare myself."

"Hmm, they're very... colorful, but they're very nice and hospitiable like AJ herself."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER PONY GREETERS! YAY!" three familiar fillies scream off in the distance.

"What in the world was that?" Atom says a bit worriedly.

"Oh no." I say.

"Oh no what?"

"You'll see."

This feels very familiar to me.

The Challenge

I'm not really sure if I'm just overly nice and like to help ponies out, or if I'm masochistic and just love to get into situations even though I know that they won't end well.

I'm more than fully aware that the last time I was left incharge of these three that they ran off into the forest and nearly got themselves eaten. Oh well, at least I'll have Atom with me to help watch them this time. And if something bad does happen, I can just blame him.

Nah, I'm just kidding... sort of.

Anyway, right now we're all still hanging back at Sweet Apple Acres up near the house with the crusaders who are currently eagerly awaiting to hear some of Atom's stories of being in the Royal Guard.

Atom looks at the girls. "Okay, so, what do you girls want to know about being in the guard?"

The girls get excited as they all start throwing out questions at once.

"Have you ever killed anypony?"

"Have you ever gone on any crazy adventures?"

"What's it like to wear all that armor?"

"How long does it take to become a guard?"

"Is it hard being a guard?"

"Do you get free food and rooms at the castle?"

"Do you get to fight giant monsters?"

"Woah woah woah." Atom says, pushing his hooves out. "Calm down, girls. I can't understand you if you all talk at the same time."

"Ooh, pick me!"

"No, me!"

"Me me me!"

Atom facehoofs. "Okay, let me just tell you everything that's personally happened to me since I joined the guard."

"Yay!" they all cheer.

Atom chuckles a bit. "Okay, so, you can't just immediately become a Royal guard, you need to go to the academy first."

"So, you even have to do school to become a guard? That's lame." Scootaloo says.

"Yeah, but if they didn't have that rule than any moron with four legs could become a guard."

"You mean like you?" I joke.

Atom glares at me through his glasses, but ignores my taunt. "Anyway, on average it takes two years before you can graduate the academy. After that, you're started out in the guard as a private, the lowest rank possible."

"What do privates do?" Sweetie Belle asks.

I'd so make a joke right here if there weren't kids around.

"Basically privates do whatever they're told. You don't question anything your commanding officer orders you to do, and if you do, they'll make sure you learn not to."

"Isn't that a bit harsh?" Apple Bloom asks.

"It is, but no one said being a guard would be easy. They do that to make sure no one ever gets out of line."

"Ah like their style." Granny Smith says from her rocking chair. "Good ol' fashion punishments is what ponies these days need to stay in line."

We all look at her in silence, doing nothing but blinking. "Um, anyway, like I was saying." Atom continues, breaking the awkward silence. "I eventually got through my two years of training at the academy and got assigned to a squad as a private. I eventually worked my way up as a lieutenant in the guard, but now my position is the official royal watcher over Ponyville."

"That's cool and all, but it sounds like a lot of hard work." Scootaloo says. "I'm getting exhausted just thinking about it."

"It definitely wasn't easy, but I was determined to push through. I think all my hard work paid off."

"Hmm, ya say you're good at doin' hard work, are ya?" Granny Smith questions.

"Yep, you bet."

"Well, how's about we put that to the test?"

Atom raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Since you're gonna be workin' fer us, ah'd like a little sample at just well ya can pull yer own weight."

"Hmm, okay, that seems fair enough. What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Well first off, you're the first non-earth pony we've ever hired, so to make it fair to others we've hired, ya can't use you're wings to help do the work."

"Hmm, fair enough."

"Good. Since our main income comes from apples we sell out in town-"

"Go figure." I say.

"Hush." she orders. "But since our main source of money is apples, ah'd like to know how many ya can harvest in an hour's time."

"How much is the normal?"

"Well, Applejack can usually get about seven hundred in that amount o' time. Since you're new to farmin', let's see ya try to get a minimum of five hundred without any use o' yer wings."

"Five hundred, huh? Sure, sounds like fun."

"Okay, GO!"

The suddenness of the challenge starting catches Atom off guard as he is connfused for a moment. "What?"

"Ah said GO! Better hurry up, time's a wastin'!"

"Go, Atom! Go!" AJ shouts.

Atom listens as he quickly takes off into the orchard and begins bucking at trees with buckets neatly set under them to catch the ripe apples. Due to being a pegasus without an earth pony's naturally born strength, Atom has a harder time knocking the fruit from the branches.

A half an hour goes by as Atom starts to feel the effects of all the work start taking their toll. Atom leans against a tree as he sweats enough to fill the buckets carrying the apples.

He breaths hard. "Even the academy boot camp wasn't this grueling."

"Come on Atom! Ya'll can do it!" Applejack cheers on.

From seeing his mare cheer him on, Atom starts forcing himself to work through the exhaustion, now starting to work nearly twice as fast as before.

We all continue cheering Atom on while Granny Smith watches in silence, keeping a close eye on Atom and the buckets of apples.

More time passes as Atom continues working as hard as he can, but the exhaustion starts taking over again.

"Five minutes left!" Granny Smith announces.

Atom stops to shout back at her. "How many apples do I have?!"

Granny Smith starts counting off the buckets, knowing the general average one can hold. "Four hundred and twelve!"

"What?! There's no way I'll get the rest in time!" a thought comes to Atom's head in his frustration. He looks down at a sword hilt strapped to his left foreleg. "Well, she did only say I couldn't use my wings."

Atom takes the hilt and starts focusing energy through it with his hooves. Visible wind starts forming from the blade into a double-helix shape, matching the sword on his cutie mark.

The rest of us watch in confusion. "What in tarnation is he doin'?" Granny Smith asks a bit angrily.

Apparently I'm not the only wind elemental around here. Hmm...

Atom clutches the sword in his hooves as he swings it, sending out a strong gust of wind that blows down the apples from their branches. Apples begun falling much faster as before as complete rows of trees are stripped of their apples.

Granny Smith looks over at the hourglass that was set up to track of time as the last grain of sand falls through. "Time's up!"

Atom looks back as he stops pumping energy into the sword and puts it away. He smiles smugly as he walks up to Granny Smith.

"So, how'd I do?" he asks confidently.

"Ya'll cheated!" Granny Smith snaps at him.

"No, I didn't. All you said was I couldn't use my wings, and I didn't."

Granny Smith grumbles a bit. "Fine, far as ah can see, ya got close to six hundred and fifty apples."

"Sweet!"

"But ah don't want ya'll to use any o' that fancy magic stuff when ya start workin' tomorruh!"

"You have my promise on that." Atom turns to us. "So, how was I?"

"So awesome!" all the crusaders say at once.

"That was mighty impressive, sugarcube." AJ congratulates.

"Yeah, Atom. That was awesome." I say. "So, you have wind powers too?"

"Yep, I sure do, but they're pretty different from the ones I've heard you have. This little hilt of mine is what I call the Whispering Breeze."

That sounds oddly familiar...

"So, why didn't you tell us?"

"Because you didn't ask." he gives a smug grin.

I laugh. "Fair enough." a thought crosses my mind about this whole situation. "Hey, Atom. You wanna fight me?"

"What?!" everypony shouts.

"Why would I wanna fight you?" Atom asks in confusion.

"Not a real fight, just a sparring match. Don't tell me you don't think it'd be interesting to see who's the better wind pony."

Atom rubs his chin as he thinks it over. "Hmm, that does sound interesting."

"Perfect. We'll gather up the others and meet out in the open field on the outskirts of town in two hours."

"It's a deal."

Atom and I brohoof as we look at each other with extreme determination. Time to see who's the best when it comes to wind. This is gonna be fun.

Moving with the Wind

Well, I'm definitely psyched for this. Time for my first real one on one fight with another pony in a while, against another pony with wind powers no less.

For those of who don't remember for whatever reason, I challenged Atom to a fight to see who's best wind pony... Why did I say it like that?

Anywway, why am I reminding you of something so recent? Because I don't trust some of you to remember on your own. But that's besides the point.

After agreeing to the fight, we had taken a bit of time to rest up before gathering up the others. Not everypony was available, but we were able to get just about everypony besides Fern, Thunderlane, Rarity, Fleur, Twilight, and Fluttershy. Fluttershy said she didn't want to see us fighting and she had some animals to tend to, Fern had to work, Thunderlane wanted to hang with Fern, Twilight had some studies to catch up on with Spike, and both Rarity and Fleur said they didn't want to risk getting dirty and that fighting is barbaric or something dumb like that. So typical.

Right now we're all heading out to the open field where we agreed to have the fight at. Are you excited? Because I'm excited. I've never been so excited. And I'm really starting to sound like Pinkie right now, but I don't even care!

Hmm, speaking of Pinkie...

We reach the outskirts of the town, clear of anything we could possibly damage during the fight. I look everypony over and notice our pinky party planner missing.

"Hey, where did Pinkie disappear to?" I ask.

"I think she said something about grabbing something at Sugarcube Corner and then catching up with us." Sunny says.

"Grabbing something? Like what?"

"Who knows? With it being Pinkie Pie, it could be anything." Dash says.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, everypony!" Pinkie says as she walks up from the distance, pushing some kind of cart on wheels.

"Pinkie, what in the world is that?"

She stops the cart infront of everypony. "This? This is my specialized Pinkie Pie Concession Stand." she presses a red button on the top, making the whole cart pop open into a concession stand filled with the kind of food you'd see being sold at sporting events like popcorn and cotton candy. "You just CAN'T watch something this awesome without a snack. I've got popcorn, caotton candy, pretzels, those little bags filled with peanuts, ooh, and my favorite, CHURROES! There's nothing like a good churro. Anypony want one?"

"You got any coffee on that thing?" Vine asks.

"Sure, I installed just for you, Viney."

"Viney?"

"You got any chimicherrychongas?" I ask excitedly.

"Blue!" Atom shouts.

"Oh, right. We're about to fight. My bad."

Atom facehoofs. "Unbelieveable."

"Just go over there and get ready." I say impatiently, pointing my hoof off to a distant spot.

He nods as we each walk a few good yards away from everypony else, as well from as each other. Atom and I look at each intently, both of us eagerly ready to get started. Tensions run high as we both stare at each other in silence, having a bit of a battle of the minds, trying to psych each other out.

"Dark." I say.

"What?" he asks.

"You're acting as the referee, so get us started."

He smirks. "With pleasure." he walks over, getting an eaquel distance between Atom and I. "This match will be between Atomic Vortex and Blue Breeze. The rules are... THERE ARE NO RULES! You two crazy crazy and give us a darn good fight. Now FIGHT!" Dark uses his hooves to make the sound of thunder to act as the start signal.

Atom graps his sword hilt and takes it off as he starts focusing energy into it, once again creating the double-helix shaped wind blade. While he is doing that, I flare my wings and focus energy in them as well, making them glow with white aura.

Atom smirks at me. "Interesting. You think you're ready for this?"

I smirk back. "Nope, I know I'm ready. Royal Guard or not, you're going down."

"Then stop talking and come at me, bro."

"You got it!"

"Let's go!" we both shout before we lunge at each other.

Here we go.

(Blue Breeze vs. Atomic Vortex. BEGIN!)

(Credit for image goes to Rhino)

Atom and I charge at each other full speed, blades ready. Instead of waiting to get up close, I try to throw Atom off by firing some Wing Waves in his direction. Atom isn't thrown off at all as he shoots off a strong gust of wind that disrupts the waves into nothing but small, white particles.

With the distance between us now closed up, I charge my wings again as we get into a clash of blades. We continue to trade blades, Atom doing surprisingly well at keeping up with only one sword compared to my two.

Atom goes in for a horizontal swipe towards my head, but I duck under and come back up with a headbutt to his midsection, knocking him away and making him drop Breeze.

I smirk at him as he gets up. "Now let's see you try to fight me without your sword." I go charging at him again.

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet." he warns as he gets ready for me.

As I come in, I start delivering punches to him which he dodges. After I go for another punch, he trips me up. With an open opportunity, Atom focuses energy in his throat.

"VORTEX BLAST!"

"WOAH!"

I huge wave of concentrated air shouts out from Atom's voice, sending me flying across the way before I catch myself with my wings.

I just got Fus Ro Dah'ed.

With me now a good distance away, Atom runs over and grabs Breeze as he charges it up once again. He goes into to the air to follow me as we take the fight into the air.

We go at our sword fight once again, this time doing several flybies as we meet each other. During one flyby, a stop as we clash rather than continue flying and I grab Atom in a bearhug.

I smirk. "You're not getting away from me."

I fly up a bit higher into the air before turning upside towards the ground.

"Atom!" Applejack shouts from the sidelines.

"Blue, what the hay are you doing?!" Dash shouts.

We start falling faster and faster with Atom still stuck in my hold. But instead of a big thud when we reach the ground, a tornado shouts up, throwing us back and making me release Atom.

I shake my head to get rid of the dizzy feeling. "What the buck was that?"

Atom smirks as he looks at me. "My Cyclone Trap."

"Your what?"

"Cyclone Trap. I placed a flat tornado and the ground that was set to go off whenever something touched it. Apparently I picked a good place to set it."

I growl in frustration. I shoot off more waves of wind that I quickly follow behind. Atom uses Breeze to block the attacks, but is unable to stop me as I come in and clench the blade. I bring up a hiindleg, which i use to bring the blade down and out of the way. With a wide open shot now, I charge up a hoof and deliver a hard blow directly to Atom's face, smashing his shades and sending him down to the ground where his body leaves cracks on impact.

Everypony on the sidelines gasps in shock. I fly back down to the ground, a satisfying look on my face.

Atom groggily gets back. As he gets up, he notices he's no longer wearing his shades. He looks around worriedly before looking over to see the broken remains of the frames lying on the ground. He slowly gets up and goes over to them before picking them up and looking at them.

"My shades..." he says, deadpanned.

"Serves you right." I say.

"My shades!" he says with more anger.

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Um, Atom, you okay?"

He glares at me angrily with his teeth gritted. "NOPONY BREAKS MY SHADES!"

Oh buck. I did something bad again.

Atom grabs Breeze again and reels back far. "VORTEX BLAST!" he swings it hard, combining with his voice to send out an incredibly strong wind that throws me back far.

With me out of the way, Atom starts charging miniature tornadoes around his hooves, similar to the kind I can make. Once they're fully charged, he puts them on the ground and uses them to launch himself in the air with incredible speed. The tornadoes put on the ground merge together as they start to form one big circle on the ground.

Once the circle on the ground is finished expanding, Atom flies towards the tround with Breeze ready. As he lands, he stabs Breeze into the ground, making a big tornado that shoots up into the air before being absorbed into the sword and changing it from a double-helix shape into a tornado.

With the move finished, Atom glares at me. "Tempest Blade."

I look on in fear at him. This is not good.

I get my wings ready in an attempt to defend myself as Atom comes flying at me. Despite the blade becoming a tornado, it's still fully capable of slicing and dicing as sparks fly as it connects with my wings.

I trip on a rock as I fall back on the ground and Atom pins me down. His anger fuels his strength as he forces my wings further and further down.

Is it really going to end like this?

The others have enough as Drax jumps in and restrains Atom by the forelegs just before he breaks through my defenses.

(End battle music)

"Hey, let me go!" Atom oreders as he struggles.

"No way!" Drax shouts. "Not until you calm down!"

I breathe hard as I get up. "Thanks, Drax. You make sure to keep him away from me. He's crazy."

"Buck you! You broke my shades!"

AJ walks up from behind them, a saddened and even scared expression on her face. "Atom, just calm down. There ain't no need to be actin' like this."

From looking at AJ, Atom's breathing starts to normalize as he calms down. "Drax, you can let me go. I promise not to lash out at Blue."

Drax raises an eyebrow as he slowly lets him go. "Okay, but don't try anything funny. I'm not afraid to put you down."

Atom and I glare at each other. AJ rests a hoof on Atom's sholder. "Let's just go home."

Atom says nothing as he looks at her and simply nods his head. The two then start walking together. Everypony remains speechless at what they had just witnessed, even Pinkie has nothing to say.

I slowly get up and dust myself off as I glare at Atom as he walks away. I then walk away from everypony else, not saying even one word.

A Grudge

Author's Note: For those of you don't read my blog for whatever reason, I've decided that after this chapter I'll be taking a short break for a few days, not long, but just enough to rest up. The longest it'll last is three days, so the latest I'll start updating again is on Tuesday(unless a ceratin thing keeps me from it). I'll still be on, but there will be no story updates til then. Just a heads up for you. Now, on with the story(been a while since I said that).

Atom and Applejack walk together back to Sweet Apple Acres, Atom carrying the broken frames of his shades and looking at them with a mixture of anger and sadness. Applejack looks at Atom worriedly, not being able to take her eyes off of him after seeing what happened. The entire time that they walk is silent, Atom from his anger and AJ from not wanting to set him off.

Eventually the worry gets to Applejack as she can't hold it in any longer. "Atom, please talk to me. What was all that that happened back there?"

Atom closes his eyes and leans his head down as he goes deep into thought on how to respond. He takes a deep breath before responding. "I'm sorry you had to see me that way, Applejack. But what Blue did just made me go balistic. I can't share why, but just know I had a reason for why I went off the way I did."

Atom continues walking to the house as Applejack just stops in place, nearly feeling her heart breaking at the sight she is witnessing.

As AJ stands in place, still looking at Atom, the Cutie Mark Crusaders run up behind her. "Applejack, what's goin' on?" Apple Bloom asks worriedly.

"Yeah, what's up with Atom?" Scootaloo asks.

"And why did he get so angry at Blue?' Sweetie Belle adds.

Applejack is silent for a moment before breathing a heavy sigh and turning to the girls. "Ah have no idea what's goin' on, but ah think it'd be best if ya'll stayed back and let me do the talkin'."

"But, Applejack-"

"Hush. Ah won't have any arguin' on this. Ya'll are gonna stay out of it and that's final!"

"Aw." they all say at once as they sulk. It's a bit weird how Apple Bloom's bow acts like a mood band and sulks with her.

Atom continues silently walking up to the farm house where Big Macintosh sits while chewing on a bit if straw. I always thought that looked really cool.

As Atom walks up, Big Mac notices him. "Howdy, Atom. Did ya have fun with Blue?" Atom turns and glares at him. Big Mac then looks at the broken shade frames in his hoof. "Aw, sorry 'bout the shades. Ah'm sure ya'll can get 'em fixed in town."

Atom's glare hardens as his eyes become slits. "Just shut up."

Big Mac raises an eyebrow. "Beg pardon?"

"Never mind. Where's my room?"

"Well, ah don't really like it, but ya'll are bunkin' with Applejack. It's the first room upstairs. Just be quiet. Granny's sleepin' upstairs."

Atom silently nods before opening the front door and walking inside and walking up to the room, where he shuts the door behind himself.

Applejack trots up to the house with a worried expression. "AJ, what happened out there?"

"Ah'm not quite sure, Big Mac. But you just let me handle it." she answers.

"Alrighty, ah trust ya, sis." Applejack nods as she follows inside after Atom. Big Mac remains at the front. "Ah just knew AJ gettin' a colt would complicate things."

Applejack walks upstairs and looks to see her bedroom door closed. She knocks on it a few times. "Atom?"

"Go away." he says.

"Atom, please? Ah can't help ya if ya won't talk to me." she opens the door up to see Atom lying down on the bed. She takes a seat at the end. "Atom, please talk to me. You're really scarin' me."

Atom looks up to see her saddened face. Not being able to see her like this, he decides to sit up. He shows her the frames. "You wanna know why I got so mad over Blue breaking my shades?"

"O' course. Please tell me." she says pleadingly.

"Because these shades were a gift from my mother and they mean more to me than anything else in the world besides you."

AJ is taken aback by this. "What?"

"My mother died when I was young."

"Atom, ah'm so sorry."

"Don't be. Anyway, she gave me these shades before she passed. She told me that my eyes were so beautiful that they could mesmorize any mare, so I should keep these on until I found that one special mare." he looks over at AJ. "I knew I found her when I found you."

AJ stares at him in shock for a moment before speaking. "Atom, ah had no idea. And ah know for sure if Blue knew, he wouldn'ta done it. It was an accident."

Atom turns away from her, scowling. "Yeah, well, accidents are why things like Discord happen. Just because they were accidental doesn't make it okay. And I am NOT speaking with him until he apologizes."

Applejack tries to say something, but can't find the right words for it. She decides to just leave Atom alone as she exits, closing the door behind her to give him some alone time.

She heads outside to be meeted by Drax, Graze, Dark, and rion. "Oh, um, hey, ya'll." Applejack says, surprised to see them.

"Hey, AJ." Drax says. "We just came by to check up on, Atom. Also, I wanted to say sorry for pulling him away like that."

"Why apologize? He nearly tore Blue apart." Dark says.

"Don't be so harsh, Daek." Graze says. "He's not the only one to try to kill Blue."

"Oh, so now you're gonna play that one, are ya?"

Orion ignores their bickering. "So, how is Atom doing?"

"Not so good. He just want to be left alone right now. he also refuses to talk to Blue."

"Well, that's just great." Dark says. "I wonder how the others are doing right now."

Flash right over to me

I walk down Ponyville with an angry expression on my face. Not sure if you guys know this, but I don't take too kindly to ponies trying to kill me. I seriously can't believe Atom. It was only an accident.

I get to my house and open the door. Lyall walks up in the livining room and looks happy at first, but his expression drops as he gets a look at me.

"What happened?" his look reads.

"Don't ask." I say as I march up the stairs and to my room.

Lyall just sits there, confused. 'I'll seriously never understand that pony, especially if he never tells me anything.'

Rainbow Dash enters the house worriedly, the door being left open by me. She looks around and notices Lyall. "Hey, Lyall. Have you seen Blue?" the small lupis points towards the staircase. "Thanks."

The rainbow-maned mare hurries up the staircase and looks towards my bedroom, which is closed. She opens up the door, not even bothering to knock.

I look over at her. "You know, it's illegal to enter other ponies' houses without their permission."

She looks at me sternly. "Cut the act, Blue. Why did you hurry off like that?"

"You saw what happened. Atom totally went off on me for no reason."

"You broke his shades."

"That was an accident!"

"Look, I'm sure the thing with the shades is deeper than you think. Why don't you just apologize, or at least talk to him?"

"No way! I am NOT getting near that psycho again! He might come after me. I'm not talking to him unless I get an apology."

Dash facehoofs. "Fine! Just mope up here then!" she leaves the room in an annoyed hurry.

"I will!"

She exits the house, slamming the door behind her. She growls in frustration. "Stupid Blue! Why does he have to be so stubborn?!"

"Bluey's always been that way." Zeph says as he walks up with Vine, Ice, and Rhino.

"Not to mention stupid, but that's more of a thing for all stallions."

"Way to be sexist." Rhino says.

"I only speak the truth." she gives a smug look.

"So, Blue refusing to talk with Atom?" Ice asks.

She sighs. "Yeah, he's being a total baby about this."

"Really. I'm sure Atom had a good reason why he went berserk like that." Rhino says.

"That's what I said."

"Maybe we should just force him to talk." Vine suggests. "It could be lots of fun."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Zeph says.

"Zeph's right. There's no use forcing him. That'll just make it worse."

"Oh, you guys are no fun."

"I say we should just meet up with the others." Ice says.

The rest agree as they head over to town square to meet up like they had planned earlier before splitting up. All the ponies arrive at the same time. Convenience is so nice.

"So, how'd things go with Blue?" Dark asks the others.

"He's being a huge foal and refuses to apologize to Atom unless he gets one first." Dash answers irritably.

"That's what I was afriad of."

"Atom is acting exactly the same way." Graze says.

"Those shades meant a lot to him." AJ says in his defense.

"Well, now what are we supposed to do?" Rhino asks.

"I still say we just force them to talk." Vine says.

"Well, I've got an idea. Not exactly forcing, but it should still get them to talk." Zephyr says.

"Really? What is it?"

He smirks. "Gather around, everypony, as Uncle Zephyr gives you the details." he says, mortioning for everypony to huddle around him. Everypony huddles in a big circle as Zeph starts to go over his plan. "Okay, so what we're gonna do is..."

Author's Note: Sorry to leave you off on a cliffhanger, but I feel like a troll right now. And now, I go on my break. See you guys back here in a few days. Try not to start any riots without this story.

New Guards on the Block

Author's Note: Hey, good to see you guys back here. How have you been? Me, I've had my ups and downs, but I'm good. Okay, back to this now, are we? Well, I think the break was a good idea. Just wait til you see what Dark, Atom, Rhino, and I came up with right here. It's pretty nuts. Anyway, on with the story.

After a few minutes of whispering to the others, which is somehow inaudible outside of the huddle, Zephyr breaks up the circle.

"And that's my plan." he says with a smirk. He looks at everypony else. "So, what do you think?"

"Is that really it?" Dark asks, unimpressed.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it does seem a bit too easy to do it like that." Ice says.

"I like it." Rhino says. "Simple, but effective. No need to go crazy if it's unnecessary."

"Ah agree with Rhino." AJ says. "The more simple the better in this case."

"I don't care what it is as long as it works." Rainbow Dash says.

"I still prefer my idea." Vine says.

"I think you need to work on... whatever it is you call that." Drax says.

"Yeah, it seems really unhealthy." Orion says.

"Oh, would you just let it go?"

"Okay, before we get anymore distracted, does anypony besides Vine have a different plan?" Graze asks. "'Cause if not, then I guess we'll just go with Zeph's."

Dark raises a hoof. "We could try-"

"That DOESN'T involve physically harming them?" Graze interrupts.

Dark drops his hoof and grumbles. "Dang killjoy."

"I really hope that wasn't a pun."

He smirks. "I'll never tell."

"OKAY!" Zeph shouts, stopping them before they go off on a tangent. "So, are we all in agreement on the plan?"

"Ah'd do anything to get this whole mess fixed up. Ah'm in." AJ says.

"Me too. I refuse to let them be like this." Dash says with a determined tone.

"Okay, then it's settled. We'll get it going tomorrow afternoon."

All of the others agree, Vine and Dark a bit more on the fence about it, but knowing they couldn't win the arguement, reluctantly agree.

"Okay, see you all back here tomorrow."

Look at Zeph take charge for once. They grow up so fast.

With everypony in agreement, the plan is set to begin in motion tomorrow. Whether or not it would work though was to still be determined.

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. But that can wait for now, this day isn't over yet.

On the very outskirts of Ponyville, deep within the apple orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, the Cutie Mark Crusaders sit in their clubhouse, or as they prefer to call it, headquarters.

Each of the crusaders sits around bored, either just looking at the floor or fiddling with their hooves.

Sweetie Belle groans loudly. "I'm so bored!" she starts using her back legs to skoot her slumping front half along the floor of the house.

Scootaloo gives her unicorn friend a questioning look. "What are you doing?"

"I'm bored, so I'm trying to entertain myself." she says as she continues scooting.

"Scooting your face across the floor?"

"I can't think of anything better to do, unless you have some suggestion. Ow!" she stops scooting around as she brings her forehooves up to her chin. "I think I got a splinter in my chin."

Scootaloo reels back laughing, holding her stomach. "Maybe scooting around wasn't such a good idea."

Sweetie Belle glares at her as she wiggles the splinter out. "You should know after you crashed your scooter."

"Hey, that was only one time!" Scootaloo shouts in her defense.

Apple Bloom just growls, getting fed up with their constant arguing. "Come on, guys! That's enough!"

"She started it!" her fellow crusaders shout, pointing at each other.

The bow-wearing farm filly facehoofs. "Look, ah think the boredom is just starin' to get to us."

"Well, then what are we gonna do?" Scootaloo asks.

"We could try gettimg Blue and Atom to make up." Sweetie Belle suggests. "There's something important we could do."

Apple Bloom's eyes widen. "No way! Applejack said not to. Ah'm not gonna risk gettin' punished by her, Big Mac, or Granny."

"What's the big deal?"

"Last time Applejack punished me ah had to clean the pig stighs for a week. When Big Mac punished me ah had to do all his daily chores with no help. And when Granny did it..." she cringes. "My rump still hurts when ah sit down sometimes." she sits down and flinches. "Ow."

Sweetie Belle taps her chin for a moment before her face lights up with an idea. "I've got it!"

"What?" the others ask.

"Remember all that stuff Atom said about being a guard? We could do that."

"Hey, yeah, that's a great idea!" Scootaloo says. "We could go around town, protecting ponies and stopping ponies from committing crimes."

"Yeah, that's a great idea! Ah could even make us some nifty badges. Get me some construction paper."

The pegasus and unicorn fillies hop to it as they grab some golden colored contruction paper. Apple Bloom takes some scissors and uses them to cut badge-shaped patterns out of the paper and uses crayons to add to the effect with a star and the words "Ponyville Guard" on them.

"Wow. These are awesome, Apple Bloom." Scootaloo says as she sticks it on her chest.

How does it stick on their chests? It's magic, don't question it.

Apple Bloom smiles at her friends for a second before a thought crosses her mind. She puts a hoof to her chin. "Hmm."

"What is it, Apple Bloom?"

"Well, ah was thinkin' if we take somepony in, this would obviously be the holding place."

"Right. So, what's the problem?"

"How are we gonna make sure they don't try to run away?"

"Oh, I know!" Sweetie Belle says. "Rarity has a lot of fabric at her place that's indestructible and cuts off magic. We could use that to hold them."

"Great." Scootaloo says. She then thinks up a question that's probably on everyone's mind. "Wait, why does Rarity have all that fabric anyway?"

"This one pony said she uses it to make something called "bondage gear"."

"What's bondage gear?" Apple Bloom asks, a bit weirded out by the sound of it.

She shrugs. "I don't know, Rarity doesn't like to talk about it, but Orion sure does like it for some reason."

"Whatever. Let's just get going." Scootaloo says.

The three energetic fillies rush out of the clubhouse as Scootaloo gets on her scooter and her friends get in the wagon attached to the back. They speed through and out of the apple fields as they make their way down to the Carousel Boutique.

As they get to the boutique, they sneakily peek inside to see if the coast is clear. They look inside to see a distressed Rarity working on an outfit on a model.

Knowing Rarity wouldn't just let them use the fabric, the girls tiptoe passed her, making sure to stay discrete and out of sight. They go upstairs to Rarity's supply room and start to search for the special fabric.

While all that is going on, Orion comes through the front door down stairs. "Hey, Rares." he greets his marefriend.

"Oh, hello, dear." she answers, distraught.

Orion goes over to her and kisses her on the cheek. "Don't you worry, we've got everything under control."

"I do hope so. I hate to see our friends fighting like this."

Back upstairs, the girls continue gathering the fabric. During this, Sweetie Belle accidentally steps on Opal's tail, making the white cat screech.

"Oops. Sorry, Opal." she says.

"What in Equestria was that?" Rarity says from downstairs.

"I don't know, let's go check it out." Orion says.

The girls all look at each other worriedly as they begin hurrying up their work. Without being able to use the door, they find a length of rope in the room and throw it out the window to climb down. They quickly put all their supplies with them in the wagon as they hurry off once more.

Rarity and Orion come up to the room to find it emty of any life whatsoever. "Huh, guess it was nothing." Orion says.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Rarity says.

"Eh, you're just being paranoid. Come on, let's head downstairs for some lunch."

"It's already five o'clock."

"Okay, fine, dinner then."

The couple go back downstairs, leaving the situation be.

Those fools are going to regret not looking more into it. This cannot end well. Not well at all.

PaTROLLing

Author's Note: Happy 4th of July to all of you American bronies. And happy Wednesday to everyone else. ...I have nothing else to say here, so on with the story.

With the indestructible, inescapable fabric safely, and might I add, easily secured, the Cutie Mark Crusaders ride back to their headquarters to drop it off and go over their plan one last time.

Scootaloo's scooter comes to a screeching hault just out front of the treehouse, picking up a cloud of dust behind them. Each of the small fillies grabs a few rolls of fabric and stumble around under the weight of them. They have a bit of trouble with the steps up to the door, but are able to get up.

As they reach the door, they all try to go through it at once, making them get jammed in the frame. "Hey, move out of they way!" Scootaloo shouts.

"Me? YOU get out of the way!" Apple Bloom shouts back.

"Both of you get out of the way!" Sweetie Belle shouts, making her voice crack a bit. "You're messing up my coat!"

"Now you're starting to sound like your sister!"

"I am not!"

"Would ya'll just get out o' the-WOAH!"

After all of the combined struggling, all three crusaders burst through the front door with an explosion of fabric going everywhere. The pile of fabric wriggles around while the girls all move around underneath until popping their heads out.

Scootaloo spits out a bit of fabric from her mouth. "Well, I guess that works."

"Ah, told ya move out of the way." Apple Bloom says irritably.

"Ugh, whatever. Just let it go already."

"Fine, ah guess."

"So, now that we got the badges and fabric, what are we gonna do?" Sweetie Belle asks.

"Yeah, and how are we supposed to use fabric to tie up ponies? It's not like their hoofcuffs or shackles or anything like that."

"Oh, that's easy." Apple Bloom says. "Ya'll saw Applejack and the time she hogtied that escaped pig, right?"

"Yeah." they both answer, still not understanding.

"Well, we could just cut off a ribbon o' fabric and use it to hogtie ponies. That way we don't have to use so much, yet we still get full restriction of our prisoners."

"Hey, yeah, that could work. I mean, how hard could it be to tie somepony up by the legs?" Scootaloo says nonchalantly.

"Well, that's one thing out of the way, but what are we gonna do now?" Sweetie Bele asks. "It's already ate in the afternoon."

"Well, what else are guards supposed to do besides patrol around town and keep it safe and arrest ponies for doin' crimes?" Apple Bloom grins.

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Scootaloo says with enthusiasm. "I say we each split up to cover more ground around the town and meet up here with any criminals we might get."

"Sounds like a plan, crusaders!"

They all do a group highhoof before siling at each other. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER TOWN GUARDS! YAY!"

I'm not even there and now my ears are ringing. Ow.

Anyway, Scootaloo gives the others a lift back to town to help them out before each of them go about the town their seperate ways.

Scootaloo, who normally zooms around town on her scooter performing tricks and endangering the live of nearvy civilians, diligantly walks around the streets in order to keep a closer eye on surrounding events.

She looks around the area, finding really nothing of interest. She sighs loudly. "Was it always this boring for Atom and Zeph to be guards? Maybe, things are just more interesting up in Canterlot."

She wakes under an awning on a nearby building to take a break an escape the heat of the Summer sun. "Well, it's not like something is just gonna fall out of the sky."

"May day! May! We're coming in for a crash landing!" a voice from the sky shouts.

Oh, how I do so love irony.

Scootaloo's eyes widen as a certain wall-eyed mailmare comes flying towards the building. Derpy approaches faster and faster, giving Scootaloo no time to run out of the way. With no other option, Scootaloo ducks down to the ground, shuts her eyes tight, and puts her hooves over her head.

A crash is heard behind her as Derpy narrowly avoids hitting her and crashes halfway through the wall. Hafway meaning her rump and hindelegs are still hanging out the front end.

"Oh, lousy eyes." she says, annoyed. She tries using her hindelegs to push against the wall and is able to dislodge herself as she bounces a bit on her landing. Scootaloo gives her a strange look. "Oh, hey, Scootaloo. Sorry about that. You know, the eyes." she sheepishly grins.

"Yeah..." Scootaloo says, really weirded out. A thought pops into her head. "Derpy, I'm afraid I'll have to take you in."

"Take me in?" Derpy asks, confused.

"Me and the others became guards for Ponyville. We take in any ponies we feel are causing trouble. And your flying is a serious danger to other ponies, as well as causes a bunch of property damage."

"Well, I don't know. You're just a kid. Why should I go with you?"

"Did I mention there'd be free muffins?" she gives a sly look.

Derpy's eyes light up. "I'm in!"

The orange filly smirks. "That's what I thought."

Over more towards the center of Ponyville, the supposed ring leader of the crusaders searches around town for ponies that may be committing any crimes. Though, unlike Las Pegasus, Ponyville is generally crime free most of the time. So, good luck with that.

Apple Bloom taps her chin. "Now, if ah were a law breakin' criminal, where would ah be?" her focus is broken as a ruckus goes on in the distance. She looks over to see Fern kicking out a familiar looking purple earth mare.

"Aw, come on *hic*, Fern. I thought we was friends." Berry Punch pleads.

"Sorry, Berry, but you've reached your limit for today." Fern says sternly. "You can come back and get more tomorrow."

Berry throws her hooves at the air. "Eh, who needs ya."

"See you tomorrow, Berry." Fern says, closing the door behind her.

"Eh, I'll see YOU *hic* tomorrow." the drunken Berry stumbles around, barely able to keep herself from falling.

Apple Bloom grins at seeig this. "Perfect." she walks over to Berry in the hopes of taking her in. That shouldn't be too difficult.

"Nice kitty." Berry says, petting something.

"Uh, Berry, that's a fire hydrant." Apple Bloom says as she walks up from behind.

Berry turns and glares at her. "Nopony asked for your opinion *hic*, munchkin." she starts smiling and bends down. "Hey, are you off to see the wizard?"

"Uh, yeah, ah am. Why don't ya come with me down the yellow brick road and see him too?" Apple Bloom takes her by a hoof and starts guiding her down the street.

"Whatever you say, magical chihuahua." Berry says with a clueless smiles.

Apple Bloom groans. "Just my luck."

And now for the last new "guard" of Ponyville: Sweetie Belle. The white unicorn filly wanders the streets of the little village blindly, going no place in particular.

In her walking, her stomach grumbles. "Hmm, can't patrol on an empty stomach." she says happily. Shr looks around and spots a nearby carrot cart run by the town's premier carrot farmer: Carrot Top.

Sweetie Belle walks over and grabs a carrot. "I'll take this one."

"Good choice, Sweetie Belle." Carrot Top says.

Sweetie Bele tosses her a bit before taking a bite of the carrot. She happily mucnhes on the veggie before noticing something pink wriggling around the inside.

She immediatey starts spitting out the bits of carrot in her mouth. "GROSS!"

"What's wrong?"

"There's a worm in this carrot!"

"A worm? That can't be right."

Sweetie Belle takes the carrot and shows her. "Oh, yeah?" she takes the carrot and tosses it away. "Carrot Top, I'm taking you in for selling improperly produced carrots."

"Take me in?"

Sweetie Belle flashes her badge. "I'm a new guard in Ponyville."

Carrot Top starts catching on to the idea and thinks of it as a game the fillies are playing She giigles. "Alright, take me in, Guard Sweetie Belle."

She puts a hoof out. "Right this way."

Each of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, in seperate parts of town, begin leading their "criminals" back to the treehouse at Sweet Apple Acres. Carrot Top and Sweetie Belle are the first to arrive.

A minute later, Sweetie Belle arrives with Derpy. "Derpy? the orange-maned mare asks.

"Hey, Carrot Top. Are you here for the muffins too?" she replies.

"Muffins? I was taken here as part of a game."

"What game?" Scootaloo asks, looking at Sweetie Belle. She shrugs in return.

Another minute later, Appe Bloom arrives back with the inebriated Berry Punch. "Okay *hic*, you've brought me to the end of your rainbow, little leprechaun. Now give me your pot of *hic* gold."

"Berry?" both Derpy and Carrot Top say simultaneously.

"Hey, guys. Are you here for the gold too?"

"Girls, what is going on?" Carrot Top asks.

"We told you, we're guards."

"I thought that was just a game."

"Nope. Now time to tie you up so you can't get away." Scootaloo says.

"What?"

"Get 'em!"

The three filies each quickly snip off a length of fabric and jump the three mares, tying up all their hooves together before they have a chance to get away.

They try to struggle, but are unable to fre themselves. "Girls, what in Equestria are you doing?"

"We're tying you up so that you'll stay here in our prison."

Apple Bloom looks out the window to see the sun setting. "It's gettin' a bit late. Ah say we should all turn in for the night."

"Wait, you're just gonna leave us here?" Derpy asks worriedly.

"Yep, see you guys tomorrow." Scootaloo says as she shuts the door behind them.

"Woah, since when were we all ponies?" Berry says, completely clueless.

Derpy and Carrot Top share annoyed expressions.

Outside of the treehouse, the crusaders walk happily together. "Ah'd say that was a great first day, Cutie Mark Crusader Town Guards."

"Yeah, we got three criminals in just an hour." Scootaloo says.

"Yeah, but it's a pretty big town for just three filies." Sweetie Belle points out. "We can't keep an eye on everything."

"Hm, ah know, why don't we get the other kids involved?"

"Yeah, we could go in early tomorrow and ask them to become guards too."

"It's settled then. Tomorrow, we expand our army."

Each of them does another celebratory group highhoof. Come this time tomorrow, the town will be full of crazy kids going around the town as guards.

Celestia help us all.

Expand and Conquer

Author's Note: Last time on Life Goes On, Atomic Vortex and Blue Breeze were both having a petty grudge over something completely stupid that could easily fixed with just a simle apology. Their friends, wanting to stop their childish squabble, devised a plan to get them back together. While all this was going on, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had appointed themselves the new town guards and had gone crazy with illegaly kidnapping ponies and tying them up in their clubhouse. Things are about to get even worse as the crusaders are going to be recruiting their fellow classmates to help them. Why am I recapping all of this so soon? For dramatic effect, but mostly because it makes good padding to the word count. Can the group of friends stop all of this before it gets out of hand? Probably not, but let's move on with the story to find out.

Today is now the day Ponyville as we know it will be utterly destroyed. Or at the very least go under total siege under the reign of young school fillies and colts.

...Yeah, it's gonna be destroyed.

Yesterday, after having "arrested" Derpy, Berry Punch, and Carrot Top, the crusaders decided to get some help from their fellow classmates. Sounds like a legit plan to me. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

The crusaders each arrive at school early in the morning, at least early enough that all the other kids have arrived and Ms. Cheerilee has yet to herself.

As the three arrive at the front, they give each other knowing grins before giggling quietly. They walk up the steps leading inside the school house and walk up to the front desk to get everypony's attention.

Apple Bloom gets up o the desk and clears her throat. "Excuse me, everypony. May ah have yer attention?"

The classroom of ponies continues chatting away. Snips and Snails discussing the best kind of pudding, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon saying how FABULOUS they are(oh, gag me), Twist and Pipsqueak talking about candy, and a chubby, grey earth pony with a cutie mark of a fork and knife named Truffle Shuffle talking with Featherweight.

Apple Bloom slits her eyes angrily. "Ah said, can ah have yer attention?!" she screams louder. The classroom still continues talking, completely ignoring her. She growls in frustration.

Scootaloo motions her away with a foreleg. "Let me try." she takes in a deep breath. "QUIET!"

The classroom, once filled with chattering children, goes quiet as all of the kids look up to the front, some annoyed and some confused.

Scootaloo smiles in success. "Thank you for your cooperation."

"What in the world do you want?" Diamond Tiara asks angrily.

"Yeah, can't you see we're trying to talk before stupid classes start?" Silver Spoon adds with a mixture of irritability and stuck-upness(is that even a word? Ah, who cares?).

Apple Bloom groans a bit. "We're here to offer ya'll positions in our new town guard squad."

"Town guard squad?" Pipsqueak asks. "What's that?"

"We're glad you asked, Pip." Sweetie Belle says happily. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders have recently became the new town guards of Ponyville. We're doing good so far, but this town is WAY too big for just three little fillies to keep watch over the entire thing."

"So, we decided to ask you all if you wanted to help us out." Scootaloo finishes.

Apple Bloom brings out a stack of badges she had made over night just for this occassion. "And ah made a bunch of paper badges for ya'll to wear."

All of the kids ooh and ah, except for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon of course. "Neato." Twist says with a lisp. "I've always wanted to try being in law enforcement."

"Are there gonna be any snacks?" Truffle Shuffle asks.

"Sure will be. As many apples as ya'll can eat."

"Sweet!"

Featherweight nods his head in agreement. He doesn't really talk much.

Diamond Tiara looks at her friend. "This sounds totaly lame."

"No way, this is perfect." Silver Spoon says with glee.

"What do you mean? You actualy want to work under those blank flanks?"

"Of course not, but we could use this as a way to get rid of all the ponies in this town with bad fashion."

The tiara-wearing filly gets a devilish smile on her face. "That IS perfect. We could be the fashion police." she raises a hoof up. "We're in!"

"Ooh, Snails and I are in too!" Snips says.

"Uh, we are?" Snails says with a slow voice. That boy needs help.

"Yeah, Snails. Haven't you always wanted to be a guard and go around busting bad guys?"

"Hmm, that actually does sound kinda cool."

"Great to hear everypony is on board." Scootaloo says. "Everypony come up to grab your special Ponyville guard badges."

Everypony gets up from their desks as they come up to the front of the room and grab a paper badge from Apple Bloom before sticking on their chests.

"Now to assign teams. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and I are the first team and the one in charge. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are a team, Twist can go with Pipsqueak, Snips and Snails are together and will act as guards back at the Cutie Mark Crusader headquarters, and Truffle Shuffle is with Featherweight. Everypony got that?"

Everypony looks at their team member before nodding to Scootaloo in agreement.

Just then, Cheerilee cheerfully walks through the front door with a smile on her face. Good morning, class. I hope you're ready for-" she stops as she notices them. "Oh, are you kids playing a game?"

"eah, it's called Cops and Robbers." Scootaloo lies. "We're all the cops and it's our job to arrest ponies."

"Oh, how fun."

"Hey, I say we arrest the teacher for giving us boring lessons." Snails says.

"What?" Cheerilee asks, confused.

"Yeah, I'm sick of boring lessons, especially homework." Snips agrees.

All of the other children agree as they decide to jump Cheerliee and tie her up. Cheerilee struggles to break the rope tied around her legs. "Class, wat is the meaning of this?" they decide to silence the teacher by stuffing an apple in her mouth.

"Good work, fellow guards." Apple Bloom says. "Snips and Snails, you both get her back to the headquarters and replace that rope with some fabric we have their."

"Roger that." hey both say with a salute. They pick up Cheerilee as they stumble a bit under the weight of the teacher before walking off with her. Cheerliee tries to scream, but the apple prevents much noise from coming out.

"Okay, fellow guards. Off to your duties!" Scootaloo orders.

All of the rest of them salute before leaving the building as instructed.

I knew this would not end well for anypony. The worst part is how this is only just beginning.

Author's Note: Sorry about the short chapter, but you know, suspense and you guys know I like to keep you begging.

Captured Part 1

With Cheerilee taken care of, the kids of Ponyville Elementary had gone about the town arresting ponies like crazy, most of which for completely ridiculous reasons. Lyra was arrested for sitting with her hindelegs pushed out infront. Bon Bon got taken in for coffee being a burn liability to ponies. Colgate, the town dentist, was arrested for both causing kids pain during routine check ups and for promoting oral hygene. The Doctor was taken for... I'm not really sure. I think something to do with speaking crazy, mentioning something called daleks. I don't really know. The flower trio was arrested for, get this, being annoying from incesently saying the same thing at the same time. And Junebug was taken in for littering loose flower petals around town.

To make it worse, with Bon Bon gone, everypony who works at the cafe, including Ice, decided to take the day off with their boss gone. Vine wasn't too happy to see nopony at the cafe to serve her her daily coffee.

As you can plainly see, things are getting out of control REALLY fast. It's madness! And no, don't say what I know you're thinking of.

During all of this, our whole group has no idea what's going on due to us being busy with our own stuff, mainly me and Atom still feuding. Well, Graze has been looking around for Ditzy since she hasn't been flying around like normal, but that's just about it.

Right now it's early in the afternoon and I'm getting ready to punch out for work. I put my card in, but it doesn't punch me out. I try repeatedly, pushing in harder and harder(get your mind out of the gutter). Eventually I slam it in so hard the machine breaks and smoke comes off, but I do hear the sound to know it worked.

I snort a bit. "Finally! Stupid thing!"

Rainbow Dash and the others look at me worriedly from behind. They look at each other and Zeph and Sunny nod to her to begin the plan. For the record, they had let everyone else in on the plan but us(obviously).

Rainbow Dash walks up to me. "Hey, Blue. You doin' all right?"

I turn to her and take a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit tense is all."

"Yeah, I think everypony is a little tense right now. How's about you and I go get something to eat together? Just us hanging out, nothing else."

"Hmm, yeah, I'd like that a lot."

"Great, let's go."

The two of us walk together. As we leave the office, Dash winks to Zeph and Sunny who wink back.

"You're the one buying the food though." Dash says as we leave.

"Say what?!"

Sometime a bit earlier, down at Sweet Apple Acres, Atom and Applejack are hard at work harvesting apples on Atom's first real day.

The entire time that the two are working, Applejack looks at Atom worriedly as he bucks away. On the very last tree Atom bucks, he hits it so hard that not only the apples fall down, but he also splinters the wood a bit, not often seen by a pony of his size and type.

Applejack stops the work as she goes over to check on him. "Ya all right, sugarcube?"

He snorts. "Don't mind me, just relieving some pent up anger." he replies. He walks over and bucks another tree.

"Atom, ah really can't stand to see ya like this. Ya need to get yer mind off this whole thing."

He stops and raises an eyebrow... I think. Black fur makes it hard to tell. "And how do you suppose I do that?"

"Well, how's about we go get some vittles in town on me?"

"Vittles? Hehe, I love the way you say that. You've got a deal."

The couple leaves the orchard to go on a lunch break as they towards town together. Unbeknownst to Atom, Applejack is leading him to meet at the same restaurant Dash and I are heading too.

(I wish story me knew this instead of narrator me.)

Dash and I walk through the streets of town together to our favorite restaurant, you guessed it, Olive's Garden. At the same time, Applejack is leading Atom right over there.

As we arrive at the restaurant, we get there to find Atom and AJ also arriving. As Atom and I notice each other, we start griiting our teeth and glaring at the at another.

"YOU!" we both shout and point.

"Let's get out of here, Dash." I say as I turn around.

"Yeah, AJ. I just lost my appetite." Atom says as turns around.

"Not so fast!" a voice shouts. Suddenly, multiple vines wrap around each of us and carry us over to chairs that we are then tied up in.

"Hey, what the buck is this?!" I shout as I struggle.

Vine steps out from behind a building. "Just a little something to push you guys out of your idiocy."

"Yeah, we're sick of you guys arguing and not even bothering to try to solve it." Dash says sternly.

"That's why Zeph had the ider to trick ya'll into meetin' up." AJ says.

"The tying up part was my idea." Vine says smugly.

"This is not cool! Let us go!" Atom shouts.

"Not until ya'll stop actin' like lil' fillies and make up."

The girls then walk away, leaving us to be stuck to the chairs.

"Hey, come back! You can't leave us here! This is inequine!" I shout. I stop struggling as I realize I cant break the vines.

Atom and I just sit there in silence as we stare each other down from opposite sides of the table.

Yeah, this is how I wanted to spend my afternoon today. *sigh* Dang it, Zeph. I blame you and your idea.

Elsewhere in Ponyville, Truffle Shuffle and Featherweight patrol around together. You ever watch a movie or T.V. show with one skinny guy and one fat guy? This reminds me of one of those.

The two colts peacefully walk the streets, that is until Featherweight stops and puts his ear out as he hears something.

Truffle stops and looks at his slender friend. "What is it, Feather? You hear something?"

The young pegasus nods and points up to the upstairs window of Zephyr's house.

Truffle puts his ear out and starts hearing some faint moaning and thumping. "Yeah, I hear it. Let's go check it out."

The two colts go to the front door and nudge it a bit, finding it's unlocked and open. They step inside and hear the noise coming from upstairs. They look to each other and nod as they decide to stealthily walk up the stairs. As the reach the top, I hear the noise coming from one of the doors.

Truffle looks at Feather as they sit by the door. "Okay, on three. One... two... three!"

They open the door to find Zephyr on top of Octavia under the covers on their bed. They freeze as they hear the door open and see the colts.

"What the hay?!" Zeph says as he quickly gets off of Octavia.

"Sorry to bust in, but all that wrestling you two were doing was REALLY loud." Truffle says. Feather nods in agreement.

"Actually, we were-"

Octavia quickly sticks a hoof in Zeph's mouth. "Just wrestling, like you said. Nothing else." she quickly says. She glares at Zephyr a bit.

"Well, as new Ponyville guards, we have no choice but to arrest you both for being too loud. Featherweight, you take them down to the prison."

He salutes as he goes over to them and motions for them to follow.

Octavia and Zeph look at each other in confusion about this whoe thing. And so our group starts to dwindle under the might of the new child army.

Back out in Ponyville, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walk around looking proud for getting so many ponies with bad fashion sense.

"Isn't it great to have control?" Silver Spoon says.

"It is, but it's even better having control over ponies with bad fashion sense." Diamond Tiara replies.

Silver Spoon looks across the street to see a group of ponies. She gasps. "Fashion emergency!"

Diamond Tiara looks over and sees them. "Desperate fashion emergency. We MUST fix this."

Over on the other side of the street, Fleur and Rarity walk together, having gone on a fashion trip with Orion companying them from behind.

"I think we did wonderfully." Fleur says.

"Oh, I agree. That necklace you chose was marvelous." Rarity says.

"Yes, but the scarf you chose was so much nicer."

Orion stumbles behind them, carrying dozens of bags. "Yeah, but can somepony tell me why I'm the one stuck holding the bags?"

Rarity turns to him and smiles. "Because you're such a gentlecolt."

He sighs. "Give me a break."

"Halt! Fashion police!" Diamond Tiara shouts, her and Silver Spoon having walked over infront of them. "You three are under arrest for crimes against fashion."

"Us? Crimes against fashion? Why, the gall of you to say such a thing!"

"White coats are out this season. Don't you check your fashion calendar?"

"Why, of course I-"

"She's right, Rarity." Fleur interrupts, looking at her fashion calendar.

Rarity looks at the model mare with wide eyes. "What?!"

Fleur shows her the calender. "White coats ARE out this season!"

Rarity looks it over and nearly cries at what she sees. "Oh, it can't be true." she puts her hooves the ground. "Please take us away."

"What?!" Orion shouts in shock.

Fleur follows Rarity's lead. "Yes, take us for our crimes against fashion."

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

Diamond Tiara looks over across the street again towards Club Pon3 to see Sunny and Vinyl heading inside together. She narrows her eyes. "Silver Spoon, you take care of these three. I've got more criminals to catch."

She runs across the street and immediately barges into the night club(which is pretty populated for the afternoon). As she walks around, she is repeatedly bumped into by dancing ponies while searching for the two white mares.

During all of this, a certain party-loving pink mare bounces up and down the dance floor. "Woo! Woo! Woo! I LOVE DANCING!"

During all of Pinkie's bouncing around, she accidentally bounces on Diamod Tiara, making her fall to the floor with a thud. The tiara-wearing filly growls as she picks herself up off the ground.

Done with her "dancing", Pinkie bounces over to Vinyl and Sunny who are sitting at the mini-bar. "Woo, that was fun. I LOVE dancing."

"Yeah, we could tell, Pinkie." Sunny says with a giggle.

"If you call bouncing around like a spring dancing." Vinyl says before laughing.

Diamond Tiara, now looking a bit scruffed up, angrily marches up to the three mares, interrupting their conversation. She points at Sunny and Vinyl. "You two are under arrest for crimes against fashion." she then points at Pinkie. "And you're under arrest for assaulting an officer and for being a hyper-active freak."

Vinyl and Sunny are taken a bit bac by this, but Pinkie just smiles away like the airhead she can be. "Ooh, is this a game? Oh, I love cops and robbers."

"Uh, sure." she says, going with it. "I'm the cop, and you're all under arrest. Now you have to follow me back to the prison."

"Sounds fun."

"A game? Seriously, Pinkie?" Vinyl says in a bored voice.

"Vinyl, this is Pinkie Pie, remember?" Sunny says.

"Oh... yeah."

She wraps her two friends by the sholders. "Come on, guys. It'll be fun. Just watch."

"Yeah, fun." Diamond Tiara says as she gives a mischievious smile. She begins slowly laughing until she bursts into full on evil laughter. She stops as she sees them looking at her. "Oh, I'm, uh, just so excited for all the fun we're gonna have. Now, if you'll follow me."

Diamond Tiara walks out of the club with all three ponies following behind her in a line.

Those poor fools. I can only imagine how the others are gonna fair against this.

Author's Note: I was originally gonna show ALL of the captures, but that'd make this chapter WAY too long, so I'm splitting it in two. Problem?

Captured Part 2

Author's Note: And now for the trilling conclusion to... Actually, this isn't the conclusion to anything. This is just the second half of the last chapter. ...I have nothing to say, so let's move on with the story.

The children of Ponyville are quickly becoming stronger and stronger as the amount of ponies among the streets of Ponyville dwindles. Even members of our own group are falling in bunches now. It's actually pretty embarassing to be honest.

Monsters from the Everfree Forest? Piece of cake. All nine floors of Tartarus, as well as Cerberus? No sweat. An army of power-crazed school children? Now that right there is too much for us.

*facehoof* What is this world coming to?

Even though I'm not technically captured, I may as well be since Vine tied Atom and me to the chairs. Ugh, could this get any worse?

Actually, yes, it can. Because right now Applejack and Rainbow Dash are walking together through town. How is that worse you ask. Well, just sit back and watch.

"Ah really hope those two come to their sense on this." Applejack says to Dash. "It's plum foolish of them to be actin' like this. Friends are supped to be able to forgive each other, no matter what."

"I hear ya." Dash says. "Like that time when you and I fought on who was the better athlete."

"Exactly. Petty things like that can be solved with just a lil' talkin' and some apologies. Ah mean, all Blue really needs to do is say he's sorry."

"Well, it's not all Blue's fault. Atom did get pretty worked up over just a pair of shades."

Applejack stops in her tracks. "Just a pair o' shades?"

Dash stops and looks at her. "Yeah, that's what I said."

"Do ya have any idea what those shades meant to him?" she asks angrily.

Dash herself starts getting abrasive. "No, but I don't think he had any right to get so upset over something that was just an accident."

AJ stomps. "If yer coltfriend had been more careful, it wouldn't even have happened!"

Dash stomps herself. "Well, if YOUR coltfriend had any skills, he wouldn't have gotten hit in the first place!"

The two continue to argue about Atom and I arguing, which is a HUGE help by the way, as the Cutie Mark Crusaders come around the corner, hearing some yelling going on.

"I think I heard it coming from over here." Sweetie Belle says as she rounds the corner with the others behind her.

They look over at the source of the yelling and are surprised by what they see. "Is that Applejack-" Apple Bloom says.

"And Rainbow Dash arguing?" Scootaloo finishes.

Apple Bloom sighs. "Well, whether or not it is them, we have to do our job as town guards."

"Right." the others say.

They approach the two arguing mares and Apple Bloom steps inbetween them. "Alright, alright. That's quite enough."

They look at the fillies in confusion. "Apple Bloom, what are ya'll doin'?"

"We've assigned ourselves the new town guards after all that stuff Atom taught us."

"Yeah, and we heard you two arguing." Scootaloo says. "Sorry, Rainbow Dash, but we're gonna have to take you in for disturbing the peace." she grabs her by a leg.

Apple Bloom does the same to her sister. "You too, Applejack."

The two of them give each other questioning looks before smiling and deciding to go along with it. "Alright, Cutie Mark Crusader Guards, take us to prison." Dash says.

"Okay. Sweetie Belle, we'll take these two in, ya'll stay around here and see what ya can find."

She gives Apple Bloom a salute. "You got it."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom take their two newest "criminals" as Sweetie Belle continues to go on a solo patrol.

While all the kids around town look for "law breakers", Graze desperately searches around for Ditzy, having seen no sign of her and thinking bad may have happened to her.

"Oh, where could that mare be?" he asks as he looks around. "She'd tell me if she wasn't gonna be around."

As Sweetie Belle patrols by herself, she notices Graze looking around frantically.

She decides to walk up to him. "Hey, Graze. What are you doing?"

"Oh, hey, Sweetie Belle. Just looking for something."

'Hmm, that's a bit suspicious. What could Graze be looking for? I've also always wondered why he always wears that full body suit. He must be hiding something.' she thinks to herself.

She grabs him by a hoof. Hey, what the?"

"Graze, I'm going to be taking you in for questioning."

"For what?"

"On accounts of suspicious activities."

"Sweetie Belle, I'm only looking for Ditzy. I can't find her anywhere." he says as he pulls away from her.

A thought creeps into her head. "Really? I know where she is."

"Really? You do?" his eyes narrow at her. "This isn't some kind of trick, is it?"

"Nope, I promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." she says with doing the motions.

"Why does everypony keep doing that?"

"Pinkie Pie grows on you, whether you want her to or not."

He thinks about it for a moment before shrugging. "Yeah, that sounds right. Well, I believe you, so let's go."

Sweetie Belle motions for Graze to follow her to where Ditzy is: their prison, where she also secretly plans to "take him in for questioning".

(How many times have I used air quotes for this stuff? Answer correctly and you win a prize. A slow clap and a congratulations by yours truly.)

If even Graze was tricked that easily, I don't have much faith in the others.

Having left Sweetie Belle behind, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo take Dash and AJ down to Sweet Apple Acres to be captured. They reach to the outskirts of the orchard and get there to find Snips and Snails guarding the clubhouse. I'm sorry, prison.

Snips wakes up from sleeping as he sees them approach. "Oh, they're coming."

"Huh, wha?" Snails says, barely awake. Snips throws a rock at his head, snapping him awake. "Oh!"

They salute as the girls walk passed them up the steps. "Ladies."

The fillies nod, but the mares look at each other a bit worriedly.

As the girls open the door, they reveal a room filled with hogtied ponies. “What in tarnation is all this?” Applejack shouts.

“We weren‘t kiddin‘ when we said we were arrestin‘ ponies. They‘re tied up so they can‘t escape.” AB explains..

“And no we’re gonna tie up you two.” Scootaloo says.

“What the hy?!” Dash shouts.

“Get ‘em!”

Before AJ or Dash can even react, Snips and Snails sneak up behind the two mares and tie them both up. With them taken care of, they leave the clubhouse and head back down.

“Great work, you two.” AB says to the two colts.

“Yeah, but I think the prison is getting a bit crowded.” Scootaloo says. “Did you se how packed that floor was?”

“We could try moving them all over to the barn.” Snails says.

“Snails, that is-”

“A brilliant idea!” AB says, cutting Snips off. “Good going, Snails.”

The four kids head over to the barn to inspect it. They reach the large, red building and open the swinging doors.

Big Macintosh, having been inside the barn, doing his daily chores, looks as the door opens, revealing the kids.

“Apple Bloom?” he asks. "What are ya’ll up to?"

She looks at her brother and brings out a length of ribbon. “Sorry about this Big Mac, I’ll make it up to ya later.”

Big Mac’s eyes go wide as the foals slowly approach him. One hogtied red stallion later and the kids exit the barn looking satisfied.

(Stop thinking like that.)

"Snips and Snails."

"Yeah? We mean, yes, ma'am?" they say to AB, catching themselves.

"We'll take over guard duty and move the others into the barn. Ya'll are now on patrol duty."

"Haha, you said doody." Snails laughs.

"You got it, Apple Bloom." Snips says with a salute. "Come on, Snails. We've got patrolling to do."

Snips pulls his much taller and skinnier to follow him as they head off into Ponyville. Now I'm getting that feeling I got with Truffle Shuffle and Featherweight again, only even dumber. Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.

Aren't are I so nice? I'm just kidding. I'm not that mean... most of the time.

"What exactly are we looking for, Snips?" Snails asks him.

"We're looking for anything that could be suspicious or against the law." he replies.

"Well, what about that Fluttershy mare? She lives by the Everfree Forest. That's pretty creepy. And why does she have so many animals?"

Snips gasps before leaning his hooves against him. "Snails, your genius is showing again?"

"Where?!" he says as he quickly crosses his legs.

Ignoring that, they head down to the other side of town to Fluttershy's cottage. The two colts make the log walk all the way from Sweet Apple Acres to the Everfree Forest, all the way on the opposite side of town.

Sounds fun.

They eventually reach the dirt path that leads right up to the cottage, huffing and puffing from all the walking. They slowly walk up to the cottage and knock on the door.

Fluttershy answers a door a moment later and looks at the exhausted colts. "Oh my, would you both like some water?"

Snips wipes his head and clears his throat. "No thanks. We're fine,"

"I could actually go for a-"

"Shh!" Snips hushes Snails before turning back to Fluttershy.. "We're actually here on official business."

Fluttershy curiously tilts her head. "What kind of official business?"

“We’re here to arrest you account of suspicious behavior!” he says, trying to sound intimidating, but failing due to his nasally voice.

Fluttershy’s expression drops. “Arrest? Me? I didn’t know I was doing anything bad. Honest!”

“Tough tulips, lady!”

Fluttershy starts to break down, tears brimming on the edges of her eyes. “I…I…”

Snips and Snails start feeling guilty as they look at the fragile mare on the brim of weeping. They look at each other as they try to think of a solution.

“Hey, Fluttershy?”

“Y-Yes?” she says, sniveling.

“How’s about instead of arresting you, you could join us in the guard?”

She gives a weak smile. “R-Really?”

“Sure, I’m sure the others wouldn’t mind.”

Rhino walks in up from behind Fluttershy. “Okay, Fluttershy. I think that toucan should be just fine. Just keep some ice on it’s tongue to reduce swelling on the bee stings and-” he stops as he notices Snips and Snails. “Fluttershy, what’s going on?”

“Oh, I’m just joining Snips and Snails in their new town guard.”

“What?!” he says in shock. “Fluttershy, that’s crazy.”

Snails turns toward the forest as he hears some noise. He looks over to see Vine coming out with Ciel, her having gone back home to grab the pet before returning to work.

“Ah It’s the crazy witch lady!” he shouts as he ducks behind Snips.

“Ah! You’re right!” Snips shouts back.

Vine raises an eyebrow at them. “Crazy witch lady? I’m not crazy or a witch!”

“Yeah, you are! What kind of pony lives in the Everfree?”

“And mixes weird potions?”

“And has a pet… THING?!”

Vine glares at them. “It’s called an ooze, and it has feelings. Isn’t that right, Ciel?” she says as she pets it.

“I say we take her, Snips.”

“Agreed.”

“WHAT?!”

“Um, Vine, maybe you should just go with them” Fluttershy timidly says. “If you don’t mind that is.”

“Fluttershy, this is ridiculous.” Rhino says.

“I think we should take in the big guy too. He might try to stop the guard.”

“You can’t be serious!”

“Rhino, please just go with them?” Fluttershy says in a cute tone. She pouts as she starts giving him puppy dog eyes.

Rhino is unable to to hold his position as he caves under Fluttershy’s look. Vine doesn’t last much longer as Fluttershy also convines her to just go.

Okay, I have officially lost all hope if even the two most level-headed members of our group were captured. I don’t have much faith in Drax, Ice, or Dark..

Speaking of Drax, right now he and Spitfire are leaving the gym after a daily work out session. Did I mention the gym doesn’t have running water at the moment? Blame the owner for not paying his bills. Now they stink like sweat.

As they walk, Pipsqueak and Twist also patrol around the same area. Big coincidence, right? Ugh. *facehoof*

Pipsqueak stops as he smells something foul. “Ew. What is that?”

Twist stops as she too sniffs at the air. “Bleck! It smells terrible.” she looks at where the smell seems to be emanating from She points a hoof. “There it is!”

They dash across the street as they cut off Drax and Spitfire. “Halt!”

“Oh, hey, kids. What’s up?” Drax says in a friendly tone.

“Sorry, Drax, but you two smell awful.”

“We do?” he sniffs at Spitfire before covering his nose. “Pew! You really do stink.”

“Hey, you’re not exactly Mr. Squeaky Clean either.” she retorts.

As the couple argues, Twist looks up to see Ice sliding around on his ice slide. “Pip, you take care of these two. I’ve got another perp to catch.”

“Roger that, Twist.”

Twist falls the cool pony from down below as Ice heads straight to The Sleepy Stallion bar.

The blue stallion cuts off his sliding as he lands down and steps inside. He heads inside and meets Fern and Thunderlane up front.

“Hey, guys.” he says.

“Hey, Ice. Glad to see ya here, buddy.” Thunderlane greets.

“Yeah, want your usual cider?” Fern asks.

“You bet.”

“Alright, coming right up.” Fern grabs a mug and goes over to the cider tap as she fills the mug to the top with the golden, appley liquid.

Ice takes it from her magical grasp and takes a swig. “So, how have you guys been?”

“Pretty good, but most of my normal customers aren’t showing up.”

“Yeah, it’s been like a ghost town in here all day.”

“Huh. I wonder why that is.”

Before they all can continue chatting, Twist comes into the bar and gallops up to the front where she takes a seat to get up to their level.

“Ice, you’re under arrest for abusing your powers!”

“Say what?!”

“Hey, kids aren’t supposed to be in here!” Fern says.

Twist glares at her. “And you’re under arrest for selling a dangerous drink to ponies!”

“But this stuff is perfectly legal.” Thunderlane points out.

She points at him. “And you’re under arrest for aiding and abetting a criminal. All of you, come with me.”

I think Twist is getting a bit too into this.

All the ponies decide to go along with it despite the fact they have no real reason to… bucking morons.

Over in town, Truffle Shuffle walks the streets as he goes on a solo search for ponies. Nothing happens until-

“How many times do I gotta tell ya not to hog your book!” Dark shouts at a light brown colt named Lickety Split.

“S-Sorry, Mr. Dark Lightning sir. It won’t happen again.” Lickety says, filled with fear.

Dark snatches the book from him and brings out a shocking hoof. “It better not, or else!”

Lickety split goes off lickety split(oh, my puns are getting even worse) as Dark chuckles to himself before walking off. “I love my job.”

Truffle decides to follow Dark back to the library, knowing as well as everypony else how bad Dark is. He silently follows the black pegasus back to the giant tree as he knocks on the door once the coast is clear.

Dark answers it and looks down at the chubby colt. “Huh. I didn’t know they were letting colts sell filly scout cookies these days.”

“Actually, I’m here to arrest you on charges of bullying ponies unfairly.” he explains.

“What?!”

Twilight walks up behind Dark, having heard the conversation. “I warned you you were being too hard on ponies.”

“Actually, Ms. Twilight, your arrested too for library being a huge fire hazard.”

Spike laughs at the both of them. “Haha, sucks for you guys.”

“And Spike too for also being a fire hazard.”

The dragon’s eyes widen. “What?! I’m not a fire hazard!” he then belches, making a flame come out. He gives a nervous chuckle as he blushes.

Dark growls. “No way am I going to jail just because of some snot-nosed, little-”

“Oh, come on, Dark. He is only doing his job.” Twilight says. “What’s the worse that could happen?”

She’s going to eat those words.

Dark takes a heavy sigh before agreeing to go, if not for the only reason being Twilight said to.

Okay, that’s it, we’re officially screwed now. Game over, man! GAME OVER!

Author's Note: Why was this chapter so late? ...DON'T QUESTION ME, THAT'S WHY! But hopefully the length made up for it.

The Correct and Incorrect Ways to Escape

Well, what can I say exactly? I'm tied to a chair, sitting across from Atom no less, everypony in Ponyville besides us, including our friends as well, has been captured by the school kids, and Atom and I are none the wiser to all of this because we're too sucked up in our feud to even notice.

Yep, it's official, Ponyville is doomed. How did it all come to this?

As I speak, the entire barn down at Sweet Apple Acres is filled to the brim with, a good lot of them actually put into big piles just to fit inside.

Yes, they literally stacked ponies up on top of each other in piles to fit them in. Can you believe that? Imagine how awkward that must feel. I'm actually kind of thankful to be tied up in the middle of town right about now.

Anyway, a certain hot-headed, lightning-controlling pegasus groans loudly as he fidgets his legs, trying desperately to escape his indestructable bonds and failing miserably.

He groans loudly as he bangs his head against a wall. "This is a load of buck!"

"You've said that at least a million times now." Ice says with a bored tone.

"Well, that's because it is! I can't even use my powers because of this stuff!"

"Well, you don't see us complaining." Vine says. "I didn't even do anything."

"Neither did I!" the others give him a blank expression. "Okay, I guess I can't say I didn't do ANYTHING. But I didn't do anything ILLEGAL!"

"Oh, I knew we should've checked out that noise." Rarity says in despair. She glares at Orion.

He nervously chuckles. "My bad?"

"No kidding." Graze says. "Well, at least Sweetie Belle technically didn't lie when she said I'd find Ditzy here."

"Scootaloo lied to me when she promised me muffins." the depressed mailmare says.

Dark groans again. "Drax, you're a strong guy. Why don't you just bust us out of here?"

"Okay, a few flaws with that plan." he says. "One: this fabric is unbreakable, even for me. Two: I don't want to risk hurting anypony, especially the kids. And three: even if I wanted to, I'm tied by my legs, so I can't even stand up to get the proper hoofing to do that."

"Ugh, you're useless. Fine, I guess if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself." he grunts as he wiggles around and rolls onto his stomach. He moves his legs around and forces himself up as he balances on his hooves awkwardly. "And you said this would be too hard."

He starts repeatedly bashing himself against the wall, grunting on every blow. He pauses for a moment to take a deep breath before going back to slamming side first against the wall. He eventually even starts to put cracks in the wood.

The barn gates crack open as Apple Bloom looks inside. "What in tarnation is all o' that camotion?"

Dark freezes as the filly's gaze goes to him. "Um... this isn't what it looks like."

She glares at him. "Ah knew ya'll would be a troublemaker, Dark."

"That's my unofficial title." he grins smugly.

"Looks like we'll need to teach ya a lesson about misbehavin'."

"Aw, but I hate learning." he whines.

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!"

The two premadonna fillies walk up to her with annoyed looks. "What do you want?"

AB points at Dark. "Ah need ya'll to teach Dark here on what we do to prisoners who don't behave."

They examine him for a moment before smoking. "I have just the idea for him. Silver Spoon, if you'd be so kind."

"With please, Diamond Tiara." the glasses-wearing filly says. She walks over to Dark and gets behind him.

He looks back at her. "Hey, what are you-"

Dark's sentence is cut off as he gets hit between the legs, forcing him to crumble to his knees before making him roll back on his side.

"All done."

"Very good."

Diamond Tiara walks over behind Dark to meet her as the two of them grab him by the tail and start dragging him across the ground.

Apple Bloom looks at them curiously as they pass her. "Where are ya'll goin?"

"We're taking him to the clubhouse. We'll be back when we're done with the makeover." Diamond Tiara answers with a smirk as she continues pulling.

Dark's eyes widen in terror from hearing that, making him completely ignore his ball pain. "Makeover? No! Anything but that!"

Did I mention the pegasi have their wings strapped down so they can't fly? Because they do. Just thought I'd point that out before anyone says anything.

Dark thrashes to try and escape, but is unable to as the fabric is coming him firmly held together, leaving him grounded, quite literally.

As Dark is grabbed through the apple orchard, he is constantly scraping against loose twigs and rocks on the ground, making small cuts on his body.

He groans. "Couldn't you takeme there a different way?"

"No." they both answer smugly.

As they reach the clubhouse, they start dragging him up the stairs, making him bump his chin on every step. "Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow!"

The reach the top of the steps and open the door. Once inside, the grab a chair out of the corner of the room and place it in the center with Dark sitting on it, awkwardly positioned on his rump. They grab some fabric they brought with them and make sure to tie him to the chair to keep him still. Once that's done, they shut the door in a creepy fashion.

This reminds me of a lot of torture scenes in horror movies. I'm suddenly feeling a bit frightened.

Dark's eyes widen as he looks at the two grinning fillies. "You can't do this to me!"

They giggle as they bring out a bag and unzip to reveal a bunch of makeover products. "Oh, we're just gonna make you pretty."

They slowly approach more and more, their eyes becoming increasingly creepy. "We're gonna make you pretty! We're gonna make you pretty! We're gonna make you pretty!"

Dark lets out a terrifying shriek as they reach him and get to work.

Celestia have mercy on his soul... if he had one. Just kidding... sorta.

Half an hour later, the two fillies finish up their massacre of Dark's masculinity and drag him right back to the barn. The doors open up as the two of them drag him back inside, revealing his new look.

(Thanks to Rhino for this HILARIOUS image)

"Dark?!" Ice asks, smiling.

He rolls his eyes before sighing. "Buck me."

"I like the new look, bro. *snicker* It suits you." Zeph says.

"Yeah, nice pink eyeshadow." Vine teases.

"And I really like the matching bow." Rhino says.

"Yeah, pink is definitely your color." Fern adds.

The group can no longer hold it as they burst out into laughter at Dark's look.

Dark just grits his teeth before shouting. "You're all gonna get it later!"

They start calming down as their roars of laughter turn into soft chuckles. Vine is the first to compose herself. "Anyway, I wonder how Atom and Blue are holding up since I tied them to those chairs. I haven't seen them brought in, so they still must be out there."

Indeed, we are still stuck out here. At this very moment, Atom and i have given up looking at each other as we just rest our heads back on the chairs.

I groan. "Stupid Vine and Zephyr. I really need to take a leak right now."

"Thanks for sharing that valuable information, jerk."

I pick my head up as I glare at him again. "I'm the jerk? You're the one who nearly killed me!"

He returns the glare. "Yeah, but you're the one who broke my special shades!"

"It was an accident! Besides, you could've gotten them fixed!"

"The least YOU could do is apologize for it!"

"ME?! YOU apologize for trying to kill me!"

"Never! I'd rather die first!"

"I could easily arrange that if I wasn't tied to this stupid chair!"

"Aw, are you afriad? Come on! Come at me, bro!" he taunts.

"That's it!" I struggle in my chair as I try to get close to him, but lose my ballance and hit the ground. "Ouch."

He smirks. "Smooth move, smart guy."

"Shut up." I say angrily. I wriggle around some more and slip a wing out between the vines. "Hey, I got a wing out!"

"And?"

"If you get close to me, I can cut you out and then you could free me and we could settle this once and for all."

"Yeah right. Like I'm gonna trust you to get a blade that close to me."

"Fine, be a scaredy pony and don't fight me."

He growls. "Oh, it. Is! ON!"

He makes himself fall to the ground and scootches himself close enough to me that I may charge my wing up and slice right through his vine.

He gets up on his hooves and grabs Breeze as he charges it up and uses it to free me.

I get up and look at him. "Good, now we can finish what we started."

He smirks. "Yeah, let's head out to the field and finish this."

"I'll meet you there. I wasn't kidding when I said I had to go." I say as I cross my legs.

He rolls his eyes. "Fine, meet me there in five minutes."

"No problem." I dash off to my house, completely oblivious of the emptiness of the town.

In just five minutes, it will be the beginning of the end to all this. Just wait and see.

Bonus Chapter: Meet the OC's

Okay, I know this is something I probably should've done closer to the beginning, but oh well. Also, those of you who think this is just a copout and I'm cheating you out of a chapter for the day, I wasn't gonna write at all, so feel good about getting something. Feel better? No? Too bad.

This will just basically be a list of the exact 12 main OC's that are currently in the story, their name, an image, their role, ship, occupation, and abilities, if any, as well as just other small bits of info. They will also be done in they order they were originally introduced in back in 'Continuing the Dream'. Also, ignore the image size differences. I really can't do anything about that. Anyway, let's get started.

Meet the Blue Breeze. The main protagonist to the story and usually the middle stallion of the group. He's around the middle when it comes to the group's craziness levels. He is currently going out with Rainbow Dash and is working at Ponyville Weather Control with her. Has powers over wind.

Meet the Sunny Rays. One of the first ponies Blue met, but one of the ones to take the longest to become one of Blue's friends. She works alongside Blue and some of the others at the weather office and is just an average pegasus who one day wishes to become an actor. She is currently single, but has her friends to make up for that. Definitely one of the most sane ponies in the group.

Meet the Ice. The first pony Blue met with powers like him whom he took in. Generally not too crazy, but he's had his moments. He is going out with Vinyl Scratch while working part-time at The Coffee and Cream Cafe and doing some special effects for Vinyl's shows at Club Pon3. Has powers over ice if you couldn't guess.

Meet the Vinetion Lutin. The second pony Blue met with powers and the first to try to kill him. While she can be very level-headed and knowledgeable, her trolling nature more often than not is what's in control of her. She runs her own shop in town that sells products made from plants she grows and is going out with Fleur de Lis. Has powers over plants and to talk to them.

Meet the Zephyr Verve. Blue's closest and most long time friend from when they were teenagers. Generally a nice guy, but can be pretty dirty-minded sometimes. One of the fastest ponies in Ponyville, if not all of Equestria. Works weather duty with the others and is engaged to Octavia Philharmonica. Was once a Royal Guard member, but retired shortly into it due to certain events.

Meet the Drax. Also one of Blue's closest friends and the only one still living with him. Despite his size, he's a very nice guy and isn't the quickest one to lose it, but you better look out if he does. Not just big, but also the strength to take down just about anypony he wants to. Works part-time weather and physical trainer at the gym. Going out with Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts. Very good on his part.

Meet the Dark Lightning. Basically the loveable jerk of the group. Well, as loveable as a psycho who's tried to kill some of you and your friends can be. But he's toned that down since joining the group. Definitely the craziest member of the group by far. A real hothead too. Works as the library's "book return enforcer". Going out with Twilight Sparkle. What she sees in him, I have no idea. Has powers over lightning and is extremely fast.

Meet the Fern. One of the members that's less close to the group as a whole and is more a friend to Vine and Fleur than anyone, which makes sense since she lives with them and they're the ones who took her away from her horrible job in Las Pegasus. Being a regular unicorn with no powers, she's pretty sane. She works as a bartender at The Sleepy Stallion bar and hooked up with Thunderlane. ...Odd choice.

Meet the Orion Starchaser. Despite his normally sane and nice demeanor, he's actually quite the interesting in comparison to other members of the group. While he doesn't seem crazy, he's constantly having aruguements with his consciences, Nova and Eclipse. He's both an astronomer and does some modeling for Rarity, being the nice coltfriend to her that he is. Has a star trail when flying that can make things dark and gives him a powerful crash move.

Meet the Rhino. Definitely the most level-headed and intellectual member of the grou besides Twilight herself. He works as a vet in Ponyville and is dating Fluttershy, as well as gave her a job as a vet nurse. While not the most combat-specialized member in the group, he has the ability to do quick teleports and control friction. He also dabbles in some magical territories sometimes.

Meet the Razor Graze. One of the most powerful members of the group with great fighting skills.He also seems like a good fighting strategist and not that crazy compared to some of the others. He is dating Dizty Doo(his nickname for Derpy Hooves) and has jobs where he both helps deliver mail with her, and also works as a trainer at the gym, but where as Drax works in strength, Graze works in agility and limbering up. While never stated, he does have consciences of his own named Kill and Joy. Has powers over black fire.

Meet the Atomic Vortex. The newest member of the group who, in all honestly, hasn't had much time with most of the group yet. Not all that crazy, unless you piss him off. Trust me, don't. He is going out with Appejack and is a ieutenant in the Royal Guard. While currently being stationed in Ponyville, he is working at Sweet Apple Acres. Just like Graze and Orion, he too has consciences named Cyclone and Proton. Like Blue, has powers over wind, but his powers are much more different in comparison.

And that's it. All the basic info. on this big, colorful cast of characters. Don't worry, there are definitely more to come later on.

Rematch

Author's Note: Aw, back to the canon story that you all love for some unfathamable reason I cannot understand. Are you all ready to watch Blue and Atom try to beat the shit out of each other once again? You are? Well, that's just wonderful. Now gather 'round while Uncle Bluey reads, youngin's. Time to move on with the story.

"Ah, that felt good." I say as I exit the house after "using" the bathroom. I get a determined look on my face now that I no longer have any distractions. "Now it's time for me to get my payback against that son of a mare."

As I walk down the street, ready to try and put Atom in his place, Lyall looks out the window at me and raises an eyebrow.

'Does he even realize it's the middle of the afternoon and the town is completely empty.' he thinks to himself before facepawing. 'He can really be an idiot sometimes. Scratch that. All the time. The others can't be doing much better if the streets are empty. What the hay is going on with this town?'

Excellent question, my dear Lyall. Too bad I do not quite know the answer. I think it's something in the water, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, I march down the streets of Ponyville, ready to have my showdown with Atom. It is high noon, actually it's closer to three, but high noon makes it sound a lot more dramatic, you know? I kinda feel like I'm in one of those Western movies right before the big stand-off.

The sun is... relatively high in the sky, it's very hot, and the town is empty besides some tumbleweeds that roll by.

...Where did those come from? Oh, whatever. They do definitely add to the effect though.

As the sun beams down from above, I make my way down the empty streets, taking down Atom my only care right now. I head straight out to the open field where we fought the first time and get there to find Atom waiting there for me.

He smirks with an air of anger. "About time you showed up. I was getting worried you were gonna wuss out on me."

I snort back at him as I flare my wings and crouch forward.. "Like I'd ever run away from you. Now, are you just gonna keep stalling this, or are we gonna fight?"

His smirk drops as his eyes narrow and he grits his teeth furiously. He grabs the Whispering Breeze off of his foreleg and forms the double-helix wind blade on it. "Fine. I'm ready to go when you are."

We start to circle around each other, never breaking eye contact. We both crouch down before lugning at each other full force.

We both shout. "YOU'RE GOING DOWN, MOTHERBUCKER!"

It's about to hit the fan.

(Blue Breeze vs. Atomic Vortex 2. BEGIN!)

We both fly towards each other at full speed, intent to tear each other a new flankhole. As we near each other, I charge up my hooves and try to deliver a Double Hurricane hoof, but Atom positions his sword infront of him horizontally and uses the blade to take the impact, the force still making him fly back and making him have to slide to a stop.

Once he comes to a stop he brings a hoof out and motions me to come at him. Like I'm really that stupid. I remember his little Cyclone Trap move that'll just make a tornado and shoot me up. Instead, I jump back a bit and-

"WOAH!" I scream as a tornado pops up and shoots me into the air.

Atom chuckles a bit. "Moron, you're just so predictable."

With me unable to control myself in the tornado, Atom flies in after me to go in for an attack. He flies right above me and positions his sword down at me. I look up at him and fire some Wing Waves, but his sword cuts through them as he drops town towards me, preparing to stab me like a shishcabob.

My eyes widen in terror as he gets closer and closer. Out of desperation, I spin myself around just as he reaches me and use a wing to knock him right into the spiral of the tornado.

As he starts spinning around and around around, I smirk as I get an idea and use this little tornado against him. Now back in control of my flight, I start spinning with the tornado, increasing its power and making it start turning blue to match me. As I continue spinning, the tornado grows and grows, nearly doubling in size.

(Pause battle music)

Over at Sweet Apple Acres

The Cutie Mark Crusader "Guards" sit outside of the "prison", thinking there are no more ponies left in town to arrest.

Scootaloo, feeling accomplished, reclines against the building. "Ah, nothing better than the feeling of a job well done."

"You said it." says Sweetie Belle in agreement.

Apple Bloom relaxes with them before her ears perk up as she hears something. She puts her ear out to hear better. "Do ya'll hear that?"

The other two crusaders put their ears out to get a listen. "Yeah, I do now that you mention it." Scootaloo says.

"Hey, what's that over there?" Sweetie Belle asks, pointing a hoof out at what looks to be a large tornado.

"What in Equestria is that?"

"It looks like some kind of tornado."

"But ah thought we already caught everypony in Ponyville."

"Well, the only ones who can do something like that are Blue and Atom. Did we get them?"

"Um..." Sweetie Belle stops for a moment as she opens up the barn door and takes a look inside. She comes back out a minute later and looks at her friends. "I don't see them at all."

Scootaloo jumps up from her comfy position and onto her hooves. "Well, we better go check it out then. This one looks big."

"Right. Let's move, crusaders!" Apple Bloom orders as all three of them gallop away to where all the action is happening.

(Resume battle music)

Back over at the fight, Atom continuously spins around in what is now my tornado. He grits his teeth in frustration. 'You're not gonna get me this easily.' he thinks to himself.

While still spinning, he starts forming the tornadoes on his hooves as he travels up the spiral. Once at the top, he's thrown upwards.

I stop as I look up at him. "Ha! Not so tough now, are ya?"

I am quickly shut up as he catches himself with his wings and prepares to stab Breeze into the ground like last time. With his blade ready, he drops to the ground like a rock.

My eyes widen and I facehoof as I realize what's going on. "Buck me."

As Atom reaches the ground, he stabs his sword into it again and the huge tornado is sucked inside of his sword, making it stronger than ever.

I snort as I go back on the ground to face him. "A reversal reversal. Not bad. I can see why they made you a lieutenant."

He smirks. "Oh, you haven't seen anything yet. I'm just getting started."

I flare my wings again as I start charging up all of my limbs. "Peh, you're not gonna get the upperhoof on me this time. I'm ready for you now."

"Then stop yappin' and start fightin'."

"Fine, if you're ready to be put six hooves under."

We both yell out battle cries as we charge out at each other, our moves now at full power. We get closer and closer until...

"STOP!"

(End battle music)

"Say what?!" Atom and I both say as we lose focus and crash right into each other.

I shakily get up to my hooves from the crash. "What the buck was that?"

"Ugh, hay if I know." Atom says as he gets up, aggitated.

We look over to see the crusaders wearing paper badges and looking really serious. "Ya'll are under arrest!" Apple Bloom announces as she points at us.

Oh, great. What now?

Author's Note: Well, would you look at that? One thousand total views on this story? Thanks to everyone who's been watching and supporting me, especially those of you who have been around since 'Continuing the Dream'.

May the Games Begin

It's another one of those happy go lucky, bright and sunny, nothing crazy going on days in Ponyville. Well, it's like that right now, but we all know that won't last much longer, especially with the pink party mistress herself bouncing around the whole town.

Pinkie Pie is currently going around putting some kind of fliers on every inch of every building, and I do mean EVERY building. With the amount of energy she has, she can literally cover an entire building in ten, no, FIVE seconds flat. Jus watch this.

Pinkie Pie bounces into Sweet Apple Acres singing merrily. "La la la la la! Whee!" she begins to put posters all over all the trees in the orchard. A few moments later, she bounces back out and back towards town.

Applejack steps out of the barn with a bucket of water being held in her mouth, which she drops upon seeing her trees. "Land sakes!"

"What is it, AJ?" Atom asks as he follows her out. His eyes widen a bit as he sees it too. "Woah, whoever did this sure can work fast."

AJ sighs in exasperation. "It was probably Pinkie Pie. She's lucky we're friends, or ah'd be on her faster than a hungry caterpillar on a fresh apple."

"What are the fliers for anyway?"

AJ goes over to one try and rips a flier off of it. "Ah don't know. Knowin' Pinkie, it's probly a birthday for one o' Fluttershy's fish friends at the pond." she chuckles a bit as she brings the flier to her face and starts reading it. "Ponyville town meetin'. Everypony needs to be at town hall at one o'clock."

Atom looks at his watch. "Hmm, that's in ten minutes. We better head over there and see what's up."

AJ tips in her hat in approval as the two of them walk their way to catch what they assume to be a big, important announcement.

Over back in Ponyville, Pinkie continues to put fliers on every visible wall in the vicinity. Guess it's lucky, or unlucky, whichever you think, that that vicinity just so happens to include the weather office. Even better that it's right when we're about to get off of work.

As she posts fliers, she starts humming a familiar tune. "Hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm of my gypsy tambourine."

As I step outside, everything goes dark as a flier is stuck on my face. "Hey, who turned out the sun?"

She giggles. "Oops. Sorry, Breezy."

"Pinkie Pie, what the heck?" I grab the flier off of my face in annoyance. I begin to skim over it in curiosity. "A town meeting? For what?"

"You'll just have to show up to find out." she says in a teasing yet cheery manner as she bounces away.

The others and I look at each other in a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "Should we even bother asking?" Zeph asks first.

"Not really much of point, because one: it's Pinkie Pie. And two: because she didn't say anything anyway."

"Well, then I guess our only option is to go to town hall ourselves." Drax suggests.

"Hopefully it's something cool this time. These town meetings are always such a drag." Dash says in irritation.

We leave the office in our group as we head to town hall and see what the whole deal is about. At least with Pinkie being involved, it should be interesting. That's always a guarantee.

We walk down the streets with dozens of other ponies doing much in the same, everypony interested in seeing why exactly Pinkie has been unnecessarily putting a ton of fliers everywhere.

We get to town hall a bit later to see the stage set up once again with a big crowd of ponies standing infront of it. We even find a very familiar and large group of ponies.

We approach them from behind. "So, any of you guys know what's up?" I ask.

"No idea." Twilight answers. "We just found the fliers stuck all over the library and came down here."

"Yeah, I hope Pinkie plans to take those down." Dark says. "No way am I gonna do all that."

"Peh, and you say you're one of the fastest ponies in Equestria." Zeph taunts.

Dark turns his head and glares at him. "That sounds like a challenge, Verve."

Zeph smirks at him. "Maybe it is. We ended our last race in a tie, but that one had outside interference."

"Just trying to make it a bit more interesting." Vine points out.

"Well, how's about we have a rematch with no one getting involved, just the two of us?"

Dark gives a smirk of his own. "Heh, you're on."

"Shh, shut up, you guys. It's about to start." Graze says.

Indeed, it is. Mayor Ivory Scroll walks up onto the stage as the crowd goes silent in attention. She clears her throat as she gets behind the podium that is set up.

"Greetings, everypony." she starts off. "I thank you all for coming here on this fine afternoon."

"You're welcome." a pony in the crowd says, getting some chuckles from the crowd.

"Yes, well... Anyhoo, you have all been gathered here today for a very special occassion that was suggested by our very own Pinkamena Diane Pie."

The crowd looks at Pinkie, who is smiling happy as she waves to them. "Hi!"

The crowd looks back towards the stage in anticipation and slight worry at hearing this is Pinkie's idea. "Ms. Pie has come up with what I believe to be a very fun idea for the whole town, and no, it isn't a party for once." everypony sighs in relief.

I agree. Parties are fun, but Pinkie's get a bit excessive with how many she has.

"Moving right along. This will be a town-wide competition for a mystery prize."

"Ooh, I like mystery prizes." Ditzy says. "I say the best kind of prize is a sur-prize."

"Hehe, good one, Bright Eyes." Graze says.

Oh, sure. When she makes a pun, it's cute. When I do it, everypony groans. Sometimes I wonder if life would be better if I were a mare.

"Hmm, a competition, huh? Screw the prize, I'm just in it for the feel of winning and shoving it in ponies' faces." Dark says smugly.

Upon him saying that, the crowd of ponies starts walking away, leaving us to our not-so-small group.

"What's their problem?" Ice asks.

"Well, considering it's no doubt some kind of competition that involves physical work, they're not going to even bother since we're all no doubt going to enter." Rhino explains.

"Sweet, makes it easier to win." Dark says.

"It's probably for the best. This competition is rather dangerous for more normal ponies, but I know you, uh..." the mayor stops as she starts counting us off. "Twenty four can handle this."

"Dangerous? Exactly what kind of competition is this anyway?" I ask with suspicion.

"I'm glad you asked, Mr. Breeze. This competition will be a treasure hunt played in teams of two. No bigger and you cannot play solo, only in pairs. So, I'd like for you all to get in your teams before I continue."

Dash looks at me. "You wanna be partners?"

"Sure." I answer happily. "I've got brawn, brain, and looks, and you've got speed. We'll make the perfect team."

"Brawn is right at least." she says jokingly. I love having a mare that can out smartflank me. Provides a fun challenge.

"Well, then I call Twi as a partner." Dark says, pulling her in.

All of the other couples follow suit as they each team up, leaving just Sunny and Pinkie.

The white mare looks around and is saddened "I guess I don't have anypony to be partners with."

Pinkie pops up and quickly wraps around her neck. "Don't be a silly filly, Sunny. I'd LOVE to be your partner."

Sunny's frown turns upside down as she looks at Pinkie. "Really, Pinkie? Thanks."

"Alright, now that you're all in your teams, I shall explain how the game works. Firstly, pegasi are not allowed to fly and unicorns are not allowed to teleport."

"And what if we do?" Dark asks.

The mayor answers by pointing a hoof to the sky were there are several pegasi holding ropes. They quickly fly down and begin tying ropes around the torsos of all the pegasi.

"Hey!"

"Watch it!"

"Not so tight!"

Done with all their tying, the go back into the sky. The mayor smiles at us. "That will make sure there are no accidental flyings. Those pegasi will keep a keen eye on the rest of you to make sure no teleportation is used or that you try to break the rope off."

"Fan-bucking-tastic." Dark says sarcastically.

"Now, as for the game itself, it will be a treasure hunt for one common item that you are all trying to get, a flag to be specific. You will need to travel to several locations to find it first though. Your first one will be given here. Once you find the flag, you will need to bring it back here, and the that brings it back will be our winner."

Hmm, interesting, I actually like it. Gives a nice challenge with both physical and mental problems to solve. This should be fun. I also personally hope the prize is something good. Knowing me, I shouldn't even need to tell you what it is. But I'll give you points if you get it right.

One of the mayor's assistants walks up on stage and gives her a piece of paper. "I shall now give you your first riddle." she clears her throat.

"Sturdy and proud I did once stand
Home to the greatest in the land
Once the scene of an important brawl
But now I'm rarely seen at all."

The teams pay close attention as they try to absorb every detail in the riddle to try and figure it out as quickly as possible.

The mare sets the paper down and smiles. "Good luck, everypony. May the best team win."

Oh, I intend to. May the games begin.

Author's Note: For the record, every riddle I'm using for this was thought up by RLYoshi. Thanks, man.

Competition Gets Rough

Author's Note: Well, after a week long hiatus, I have finally returned. Hope you guys didn't miss this story too much. But now it is time for the treasure hunt to really begin for our group of players. Let's read the story to see to how it happens, shall we?

Did I mention I suck at riddles? Like, I'm not even kidding. I'm more of a jigsaw puzzle kind of guy when I feel like testing my mind. That involves actual brain power, right? ...Right?!

Well, I suppose the others can't be doing much better since we're all still stuck in the middle of town trying to figure it out, which is actually pretty surprising considering we have ponies like Rhino and Twilight.

Hmm. How did it go again?

Sturdy and proud I did once stand
Home to the greatest in the land
Once the scene of an important brawl
But now I'm rarely seen at all.

Hmm... Yeah, I've got nothin'. Right now is when I wish I paid more attention in history class. Or maybe at least when we were learning about the geography of Equestria.

I can think of tons of places where there were important fights. The earliest comes to mind of that fight club we took down back in Las Pegasus, which I'm sure was either taken down or remade into something else. But there's no way they'd go that far to hide a clue.

Ugh. Why do I suck so bad at riddles? Iron Shell's riddles were easier than this. Dash doesn't look like she's doing any better than I am.

I give her a bored look as I continue to think. "You have any ideas?"

She returns the look with a bit of a "what do you think?" look. "Blue, I'm an athlete, not an egghead. I suck at stuff like this."

"Yeah, I figured as much. I'm stumped too." I turn towards the direction of the others. "You guys have any clues?"

"If we did, do you think any of us would be sticking around here?" Vine asks in an annoyed tone. "Besides, this is a competition, numbskull. We wouldn't tell you even if we did have any ideas."

Dark groans loudly as he puts his hooves down at a table he's sitting at. "Come on, Twilight. You're the smart one. You're just gotta know this."

She rolls her eyes at him. "Just because I'm smart doesn't mean I'm a riddle machine. You gotta give me some time to think about it."

"Ooh, I think I've got an idea!" Pinkie announces. Everyone turns their heads to her and leans in closely to hear.

"Really? What is it, Pinkie?" Sunny asks her partner.

Pinkie takes a deep breath in preparation. "The moon!"

Everypony loses interest at the ridiculous sounding answer. Fern fachoofs. "Pinkie, did you drink from the cider taps while I wasn't looking again?"

"No no no. You guys just don't get it. The riddle says "Home to the proudest in the land", doesn't it?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, Princess Luna was on the moon for a thousand years. That means it was her home for a long time."

"But the riddle also said "rarely seen at all"." Graze points out. "The moon is out every night, so that definitely can't be it."

Pinkie's expression drops as she realizes that she left out basically the rest of the riddle. "Oh... yeah."

"But I do like where Pinkie's mind is." Rhino says. "Sturdy and proud and home to the proudest in the land... That makes me think of the royal castle in Canterlot, but that's up all the time."

Twilight, being the equine super computer she is, starts piecing together all of this new info as she tries to pinpoint the real location of the second clue.

Her eyes light up as she figures it out. "I know where the next clue is." Everypony perks their ears up as they get ready to listen.

Dark puts a hoof out to her. "Twilight, wait! Don't!"

Already beginning what she was gonna say, she ignores Dark's plea. "It's the Old Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters in the Everfree Forest that we fought Nightmare Moon in."

Everypony remains in silence for a moment before thinking about it. "Oh." Everypony says in complete unison.

Everything is very quiet as nopony makes any sound or movement. That silence is quickly broken as everypony tries to rush off immediately to the forest.

"AJ, hop on!" Atom says. She complies as she gets on his back and he charges his hooves. "So long, suckers!" he uses his hooves, now fully charged, to shoot up into the air to get more distance to get ahead.

Drax grabs him by the tail and slams him down to the ground. He smirks down at them. "Now who's the sucker?"

"You, that's who!" I shout as I run up behind him. I take a jump as I land on his back and jump again, this time landing on his head and using it as a springboard to jump up and over the crowd.

"Fat chance, Blue!" Vine shouts at me as she summons a vine that grabs me and throws me down just like Drax did to Atom. "Guess the saying is true. Pegasi of a feather fall together."

"Which is why I like being an earth pony." Ice says as he summons his ice slide and starts zooming through the air.

Dark glares up at Ice. "Like I'm gonna let Frosty take the lead in this." he summons a lightning shot in his hoof and shoots it at the base of the slide, making it collapse with Ice to the ground.

Ice gets back up and glares back at Dark as he grits his teeth. "Okay, that's it. You're going down, Sparky!"

"HOLD IT!" Fluttershy shouts in the middle of all the fighting, grabbing everypony's attention. She blushes as everypony looks at her. "Um, if you don't mind that is. I just think we shouldn't fight, at least out in the middle of the town. Maybe we can wait until the forest first? If that's alright with all of you."

"I agree with Ms. Fluttershy's idea." the mayor says. "I'd prefer you all not destroy my town during this competition. Now, all of you shall go down to the forest entrance in an organized group, and NO fighting allowed until you enter it."

"That's a load of bu-"

"Or would you rather be disqualified from the competition, Mr. Lightning?"

Feeling the threatening tone in that last statement, Dark shuts up and nods as we all start to neatly and calmly head to the forest to get the real competition started.

We are escorted there by the mayor's hired pegasus patrol to make sure that there's no funny business from any of us on the way. Once there, they stop us to give us a final send off.

"Okay, this is where we part ways." the leading pegasus says. "We'll be keeping a close eye on all of you to make sure there is no flying, breaking of your ropes, or teleporting. There will be no exceptions to these rules. Good luck to all of you."

With all that said, the group takes to the air above spreads out over the surrounding area.

Geez, it really does feel as if these guys have a stick up their rumps twenty four hours a day.

With us now at the entrance and the watch pegasi gone, everypony starts looking at each other, psyching themselves up for the game ahead.

Me and Dash, Rhino and Fluttershy, Ice and Vinyl, Zephyr and Octavia, Vine and Fleur, Drax and Spitfire, Orion and Rarity, Fern and Thunderlane, Atom and Applejack, Dark and Twilight, Graze and Ditzy, Sunny and Pinkie. Twelve teams, twenty four ponies. One team shall win, and the others shall taste bitter defeat.

Without another moment's hesitation, we all head into the forest, each team going their seperate ways with only one goal in mind: get the flag back to Ponyville and cease victory.

This is where it all gets real.

Author's Note: Oh, do you hate cliffhangers? I know you do. Give me your hate, I feed on it. Muhahahaha! As for anyone who's disappointed I didn't use them much, or even at all, don't worry, I promise that every team will get some time in the spotlight during the competition.

Over the River and Through the Woods to the Royal Sisters' Castle We Go

The competition has started and everypony is pumped and ready to win that mystery prize, I know it all sounds very exciting, but I myself can't help but find myself a bit underwhelmed by it all. I mean, come on, you guys know me. You guys should know that I of all ponies don't have any reason to be afraid of the forest. Though, right now I can't fly or even use my wings, not to mention I have to watch out for Dash as well, so I do have to stay on the tips of my hooves for her sake.

As for our search for the castle itself... I honestly have no clue where we're going. You'd think after so many visits I'd have learned my way around, but it's a forest, everything looks the same to me. Ugh. Darn me and my inability to pay attention to my surroundings.

Much like when we were trying to solve the riddle back in town, Rainbow Dash doesn't look like she's all that much better. She doesn't look scared or worried like the first time we came in here together, but just as confused as to where we're going as I am.

"Hey, Dash?" I ask her as we casually walk down a dirt trail.

"Yeah, Blue?" she asks in return, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?"

"I don't know. I've been following you this whole time."

I stop and look at her with wide eyes. "You were following ME?! I was following YOU!"

She stops with a skid and gives a worried look of her own. "What?! Why would you be following me?!"

"Well, you're the one who's actually been to the castle, so I thought you'd know how to get back there."

"I was just following Twilight and the others. I wasn't paying attention to anything but just walking."

I facehoof for her epic failure, but I guess I can't really say I'm any better than her. "Well, why were you following me though?"

"Well, you're the one who's been in here a bunch of times. I thought maybe you would know your way around here."

"First of all, I was studying this place's weather, not it's geography and layout. Second, I don't think I've ever been anywhere even near the castle, I've only ever been in the earlier areas that are close to the entrance."

She groans loudly. "Great. So that means we're lost. That's just perfect."

I scratch at the under side of my chin as I look around. "Actually, come to think of it, this area actually does look a little familar to me."

Dash starts looking at me with a hopeful expression. "Really? All right, Blue! What is it then?"

I begin to walk down the path a bit. "I remember that if I go a bit further down this path a bit and make a right, I should come up to some bushes and-AAAAHHHHH!" I begin screaming as I cross through the bushes and begin falling down a steep cliffside, hitting some rocks on my way down. "Ow! Ah! Eeh! Ooh! Ack! Buck!"

Dash rushes over to the edge of the cliff and watches me fall, flinching at each time I hit something.

Another five hits to some debris on the way down later, I finally reach the bottom with a thud. I groan in pain. "That's right. I go that way and I fall off of a cliff. Just wonderful."

"Are you all right, Blue?" Dash calls from above.

"Oh, sure, I'm just peachy. I just fell down a forty foot tall cliff and nearly broke my back from the fall. Yeah, I'm just dandy."

She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, you're fine." she looks up, in thought. "I wonder if the others are having any better luck than we are."

I'm sure we're all wondering that very same thing. So let's go check it out.

Elsewhere in the forest, Zephyr and Octavia make their way through a bit of a more dense area of the forest. Zephyr walks along like it's no problem, but Octavia keeps nervously darting her eyes around as she hears different noises.

Zephyr notices his fiance's shaky behavior and decides to check on her. "Is something the matter, Tavi? You seem awfully nervous all of a sudden."

She cringes a bit. "Oh, I can't stand being in forests. The creepy, crawly bugs that are all around them. Just thinking about it makes my flesh crawl."

"Then what are you doing with that spider pin on the back of your bowtie?" he asks, pointing at the back of her neck.

"Spider pin? What spider pin?" she feels around her back and her pupils shrink to the size of pins as she feels something hairy with eight legs. She lets out a terrified shriek as she quickly hurries off and goes to hide behind a fallen tree.

Zephyr looks at her and then they spider that lay on the ground after it fell off of her. "What's the big deal, Tavi? It's just a spider, a jumping spider more accurate." he bends down and puts a hoof out. "Come on, little guy. I won't hurt you."

Octavia peers over and watches in disgust. "How in Equestria can you touch that thing?! Vinetion told us you jumped back from thinking there was a spider once."

Zephyr smiles at the spider in his hoof. "That's because I was worried I was gonna squish it, not because I was scared of it. I love spiders."

The spider suddenly pops out of Zeph's hoof and onto Octavia's face, making her freeze in fear before fainting. Zeph chuckles a bit at that. "Hehe. He seems to like you too." he walks over to them and picks the spider back up. "You know, I've been wanting to get a pet for a while. I think a jumping spider would actually be a pretty awesome one." he looks at the spider as he tries to think up a name for it. "I think I'll name you Archibald. I'll call you Archie for short. Yeah, that'll work."

"Oh, what happened?" Octavia says groggily as she starts coming to.

"You passed out from my new pet spider." Zeph says nonchalantly.

Her eyes go wide in fear. "Excuse me?"

Zephyr puts his hoof down to get the spider right next to her face. "Tavi, meet Archie. He'll be coming home with us.

Octavia remains silent for a moment before doing another high-pitched shriek. The shriek is so loud that it can be heard from all over the forest.

Speaking of which, the resident white pony couple, Orion and Rarity, stop and look around as they here the screaming from off in the distance.

"Good heaven. What in Equestria was that?" Rarity asks with worry as she frantically moves her head around.

"Kinda sounded like Octavia." Orion says. He points his hoof out in the direction the scream was coming from. "Sounds like it's coming from over there."

Isn't that what I just said?

"Well, we must go see if she is all right. Oh, but that way does require us to go off of the path."

"So what?"

"I just had a new hooficure recently and I refuse to ruin it by trecking it through bushes thick grass... However, I don't mind if you treck through them." she looks at Orion with a devilish grin as she flutters her eyelashes.

He rolls his eyes and sighs at her before crouching down. "Hop on."

She waves a hoof at him. "Oh, darling, I couldn't... But if you insist." she jumps up on him, knocking the wind out of him for a moment before stansing back up. "Now carry on, dear. Octavia needs us!"

"Right!" Orion says as he starts galloping through the forest to save Octavia. Or what he thinks is saving her anyway.

They run for a bit longer, passing, as you'd expect from a forest, many trees, bushes, and other assortments of plants before coming up to a large and raging river.

"Great. Now what?" Orion asks as he looks at the rapids. "No way we're swimming across that."

Rarity squints her eyes at the water as she tries to think up an idea. "Actually, I have the perfect solution." she sticks a hoof in her mouth as she whistles.

Suddenly, a large, purple, and well-groomed sea serpent arises from the river, brining a smile to Rarity's face and a look of terror on Orion's.

The serpent looks down at them and smiles brightly. "Rarity! Oh, my dear, it has been far too long since the last time we met."

"Oh, I know, Steven. But visiting isn't exactly easy for a lady like myself."

"I understand, my dear. I wouldn't want you to ruin that luxurious coat of yours by running through the forest anyway." he stops as he looks at Orion. "Oh, and who do we have here."

"Sea... serpent... talking... big hair." is all Orion manages to get out.

"Orion dear, dont be rude." Rarity scolds. "This is my friend, Steven Magnet, and he is a true gentleserpent. Steven, this is my coltfriend, Orion."

"It is so wonderful to meet you, Orion. Any friend of Rarity's is a friend of mine." he brings a scaly hand down for him to shake.

Orion hesistantly grabs it with a hoof and shakes. "Yeah, nice to meet you too."

"I see your moustache has grown back quite nicely." Rarity says.

"Yes, well, it was because of you that I was able to last long enough for it to grow back."

"Oh, you're such a dear."

"Guys, what about Octavia? She still needs our rescue." Orion says, breaking up the conversation.

"Are you talking about that grey mare with the bowtie?" Steven asks.

"Yeah, that's the one."

"Oh, no need to worry about her. She was meerly screaming over a spider."

"Oh, is that all? That's good to hear. Now we can get back to the competition."

"Competition?" the serpent asks, raising a well-brushed eyebrow.

"Yes, dear. We're on our way over to the old castle as part of a treasure hunt." Rarity explains.

"Well, your best bet is to cross this river to get there. Allow me to make a bridge for you." the serpent dives under the water as he forms his body into a bunch of arches for Orion to use to jump over to the other side.

Once on the other side, the couple turns back to say their good bye. "Thank you, Steven. You really are such a dear for helping us out like that."

"It was my pleasure, my dear. And Orion, it was very nice meeting you, and I wish you both the best of luck."

"You too, Steven. Thanks again." they wave good bye as he goes back under and they turn around to continue going on. "Well, he seemed cool. Maybe a little... flamboyant, but cool."

"Oh, don't be so judgmental. You could do with getting a bit more in touch with your feminine side."

"As if." he says, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I think the least you could do is get a moustache like his."

Orion thinks about it for the moment before grabbing some leaves off the ground and putting them below his snout as he looks into a puddle.

"...Nah." he chucks the leaves away as he continues walking with Rarity giving him a huff.

The competition has only just begun and things are already getting weird. And that was only a fourth of the teams. Just imagine how some of the others must be doing.

Author's Note: I was gonna show more, but that'd make this chapter a bit too long, don't you think? Don't worry, you'll get more soon enough.

Dang Nature, You Scary

This competition sure has gotten off to a rocky start, quite literally in my case. So far, it's had cliffs and spiders and sea serpents. Oh my! Eh, but we've had much worse. Surprisingly everypony is still in one piece, if a shaky piece at that.

So, who do we have next up on our list of twelve crazy teams to check up on? Well, you may be disappointed to find it's the team that's probably the least crazy out of all of us: Rhino and Fluttershy.

But just because they're not crazy doesn't mean crazy things can't happen. That would be too easy, after all.

Rhino walks behind Fluttershy, allowing her to take the lead as they try to find their way to the castle. Fluttershy looks around attentively as she tries to recount her past visits into the forest in an attempt to figure out the right way.

Rhino watches her curiously. "Are you certain this is the right way, Fluttershy?" he asks.

"I believe so." she answers. "I don't go this deep into the forest very often, but the times I have I've tried to pay attention to the environment so that I never got lost."

"Heh, clever girl."

Her face turns a bright crimson as she turns and smiles at him. "Well, you're why I have the courage to be out here. I may still be a bit nervous, but I'm confident my big, strong stallion will keep me safe." she walks up to him and gives him a peck on the cheek, making both cheeks shine red through his green coat.

He rubs the spot on his face and chuckles a bit. "No problem, Fluttershy. Now come on, we gotta keep going."

"Right. Now I believe next we should head this way." she pokes through some bushes and eeps a bit at what she finds.

"What is it, Fluttershy?" Rhino asks as he comes over. His eyes widen a bit as he sees an entire pack of timberwolves sleeping on the other side of the shrub. "Woah."

"Shh. Keep quiet. We wouldn't want to wake them." Fluttershy whispers.

"You're right. I think it'd be best if we turn back around."

She agrees as they turn back around, but stop as they see more timberwolves sleeping soundly. "Were they always there?"

"I don't think so. How is that even remotely possible?" he says in a bit of a whispered panic.

"I don't know, but ther's nothing we can do about it now. We'll just have to keep moving forward and make sure to not wake them up."

He looks at her with a hesistant look, but nods as he turns around. "Okay, but let me take the lead on this one to try and scout for the best route."

She nods as Rhino begins to carefully maneuver over the sleeping beasts. Eh, they're not so bad. Believe me when I say their bark is worse then their bite.

*ba dum bump tsh* Get it? Timberwolves? Bark? Ah? You know you love it.

Anyway, Rhino very diligantly steps over and around all of the sleeping wolves, Fluttershy not far behind him as she copies his movements. There are a few close calls as they accidentally step on some twigs and dry leaves, but luckily they're not big enough to wake up any of the creatures.

The couple sighs as they rach the other side and look back to the wolves and then to each other in relief.

That relief doesn't last long though as Fluttershy feels a tickle in her nose and she sneezes. The two of them begin panicking before realizing that Fluttershy's sneeze was so quiet that none of the wolves heard it.

"Well, that was pretty lu-ACHOO!" Rhino says before he cuts off with a loud sneeze.

At first they ignore it as they attend to Rhino's nose, but they then freeze as they hear loud growling from behind them. They look back to see that Rhino's sneeze had woken up the timberwolves, who now look both angry and hungry.

Fluttershy stands with her mouth wide open as Rhino tugs on her foreleg. "Fluttershy, we gotta get out of here! Come on, there's no time to lose!"

Fluttershy remains silent before narrowing her eyes in anger at the bark-ridden beasts. "No..."

Rhino looks at her, completely dumbfounded. "What?"

She pulls her foreleg away. "I said no." she walks right up to the closest timberwolf and gets in its face. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves." the wolves begin to give her a confused look, as if saying "what?". "That's right, ashamed. We were trying to be nice snd not disturb you from your naps, and we're sorry we did, but this is no way to behave." the wolves begin backing down as Fluttershy's eyes open incredibly wide, activating her infamous Stare.

"Now I want you all to leave us alone and go back to sleep somewhere else. Is that clear?" the wolves only whimper a bit, not even moving. Fluttershy gets closer and raises her voice. "I said, is that clear!"

They nod furiously before darting off in the other direction as fast as they can. Fluttershy smiles proudly as she turns around to Rhino. "Are you all right?"

Rhino stands there in amazement for a moment before shaking it off. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine." he says, at a bit of a loss for words

"Good. Now let's get going."

"Sure, I'm right behind you."

The couple continues on, Fluttershy acting as if nothing happened and Rhino having a much higher respect for Fluttershy for sticking up to the wolves.

So much for him being the big, strong stallion who has to take care of her, huh?

And now we move on from a couple that isn't crazy to a couple that is half crazy and half intellectual. You guessed it. Dark and Twilight.

Dark slumps in boredom as he walks besides Twilight, who is observing the area around them as she thinks about the correct path to take.

"Hmm." she says before turning to Dark. "Dark, you lived in the forest for a lomg time. Any idea where the castle could be?"

He looks at her with a bored look. "Do I look the kinda guy who would bother to to memorize paths on locations? Besides, I've never even been to the castle."

"Fifteen years in here and you never just ran into the castle?"

"Not that I can remember. You've been there, though. Can you remember the way?"

"I've been trying to, but I've only been to it once, over a year ago. Back then I never thought I'd come back in here again, so I didn't bother trying to remember the way."

He facehoofs. "That's just great. It's not like some kind of mystical guide is gonna stroll by and give us the way."

"I'm telling you, Fleur, we've got this competition in the bag." a voice says faintly from off in the distance.

Dark's ears perk up as he hears that. "What was that?"

"It kind of sounded like Vine." Twilight says.

Dark starts rubbing his hooves together as he gets a mischievious smile on his face. "Oh irony, I do so love you and your trolling ways."

He runs through a few bushes and looks behind a try to see Vine and Fleur walking together. Twilight walks to him from behind and looks at him with a confused face.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"Shh. Think about it, Twi. Vine and Fleur live in here, and Vine spends most of her free time in here. She probably knows this place like the back of her hoof."

"And?"

"And if we follow them, they can take us straight to the next clue."

"I don't know, Dark. Isn't that wrong?"

"It wasn't in the rules, so I say it doesn't count as cheating."

She sighs. "Fine, we'll play it your way, but if we're caught, I'll tell them it was your idea. And you know they'll believe me."

He shrugs. "That works just fine for me."

The black and purple ponies begin to follow quietly behind Vine and Fleur as they make their way to the castle.

"I mean, finding our way to the castle is so easy for us." Vine continues. "All we'll need to do after that is figure out the next clue from their and we'll be set."

"There is no doubt we have a good advantage over the others, but don't go getting ahead of yourself." Fleur says.

"Oh, you're no fun."

"I'm just trying to be realistic."

"Yeah, I know. But we should be coming right up on the castle soon."

And indeed Vinetion is right. After a good ten minutes of walking, they do indeed come up to the rundown ruins of the once mighty castle.

As they come up to the bridge that swings over the gorge surrounding the castle, Fleur tests it by resting a hoof on it and it finds it to be very rickety.

"I don't think I trust this bridge." she says.

"No worries, I've got this handled." Vine says as she summons multiple vines from the ground. She has the vines lift up the both of them and drop the off on the other side, safe and sound. The two head in as their follows watch from behind.

Dark and Twilight look at the bridge together. "Think it's sturdy enough, Twilight?"

"It should be. I doubt that it's been used much since the others and I were here." she carefully takes a step onto the first plank and tests it out a bit. "See? Perfectly safe."

Dark follows her as the two make it across the decrepit bridge and make it to the other side as they duck under a nearby window to spy on Vine and Fleur.

The other team gets inside and looks around to find a piece of paper in the center of the room. Vine walks over to it, picks it up, and begins reading it.

"My advantage over the rest is height
Though I have no power over flight
I stay out in the open, but you may see
I keep a shelter close to me."

Fleur looks at her as she finishes reading and sets it down. "Something tall, out in the open, and has a shelter."

Vine puts a hoof up to her chin as she thinks up an answer. "Hmm. Sounds maybe like some kind of tower, or a really big building, or-"

"A giant mountain." Fleur says as she points to a window with a view of a mountain with a cave entrance near the top.

Vine smiles at her. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"

"You have, but it wouldn't hurt to hear it more often."

Dark smiles as he and Twilight look at each other from outside. "You hear that, Twi? We've got this competition won."

Vine continues looking out the window until she notices some purple, red, and black poking out from the bottom of the frame. "It appears we have some company."

Dark and Twilight scream as vines suddenly wrap around them and Vine and Fleur step outside. "I should've known you'd do this kind of thing, Dark."

"I swear he made me do it!" Twilight screams, pointing at Dark.

"I can believe that." she sets down Twilight, but keeps Dark suspended in the air. "You like flying, right, Dark?"

"When I can actually use my wings, yeah." he answers, a bit scared and annoyed.

"Well, too bad." she brings the vine back a bit as she slingahots Dark out of it and sends him flying over the forest, screaming the entire time. They look back at Twilight. "No hard feelings, Twi. Good luck."

"Yeah, I understand. Good luck to you too." she says as the two leave her by way of vines again.

The lavender unicorn begins crossing the bridge once more, but as she reaches the final plank, it breaks under her and falls into a river below, making her yelp as she looks back in terror. "Okay, so maybe it's not so perfectly safe. Hopefully nopony falls in."

Oh, don't worry, I'm sure no one will.

Now with the second clue found and figured out by some of the teams, the race to win becomes even more intense. But just who will get to the mountain top first?

Bonus Chapter: Blue's Birthday

Author's Note: Yes, I realize that my birthday passed five days ago and this is pretty irrelevant, but screw relevancy. I'm doing this in attempt to escape my rut and finally give my long-starving fans something to read. Plus, I'm hoping to use this as a platform to get my writing mojo back. Here's to hoping, eh? And as per usual with bonus chapters, this is not part of the main canon. Now, on with the story(god, it feels good to say that again).

On a bright Saturday morning we find... Zephyr? Okay, I'll roll with it. We find Zephyr sleeping in bed with Octavia after a long night of sleeping, among other things.

The lean stallion groggily gets up and lets out a yawn as he stretches his limbs out in all directions. He looks down and smiles warmly at his sleeping fiancé before giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek as to not awake her.

Now awake enough to get to the bathroom without bumping into everything on the way, he does just that as he goes to start his day.

As he shaves his face of blue stubble, he starts getting a thought in his head. 'Hmm, I feel like I'm forgetting something. Something important. Dang it, why does my memory continue to fail me?'

His thought is suddenly cut off as he cuts his chin and yelps in pain. He rubs the newly formed cut on his face as he looks at his razor angrily. "Stupid thing!"

Not the razor's fault you don't pay attention.

After tending to his bleeding cut, Zephyr begins to brush his teeth as he continues trying to remember that important thing he apparently forgot.

'Is the heat soon? No, that can't be it. It it me and Tavi's anniversary? No, too soon. What is it?' he thinks to himself as he kept eliminating possibilities.

Just then, Zeph turns his head to a calendar he had hanging up and spits his mouth full of water at the bathroom mirror as he sees the circled date.

"September 12th Blue's Birthday! Don't forget!"

That sure did help, didn't it?

Zeph facehoofs so hard a smack can be heard, but he's too upset to feel it. "Oh, how in Luna's moon could I forget about this?" he says out loud, embarrassed. He looks at himself in the mirror with determination. "No, don't freak out. Just hurry up and you can still make it up!"

He quickly finishes brushing his teeth as he hurries out of the bathroom, now waking Octavia up.

She rubs her eyes as she looks at him. "Zephyr? What in Equestria are you in such a hurry for?"

He walks past the bed to the door, not bothering to stop for even a second. "Sorry, Tavi. I gotta go. It's Blue's birthday today and I gotta go wish him a happy one."

"Oh, well, do make sure to tell him I wish him a happy birthday as well."

"Will do. See ya, Tavi." he says to her before turning his head to the tank of his pet spider. "Bye, Archie. See you both later."

Zeph shuts the door behind himself before quickly flying down stairs and quickly heads out the front door as he begins searching around town in an attempt to find me.

In his frantic searching, he the force of his flying blows some ponies back a bit, knocks over some produce, and nearly makes him hit a crossing elderly pony.

I think Ponyville should issue some speed limits for things like this.

Zephyr continues his low flying as he makes a sharp turn around a corner. His eyes widen though as he sees a big mess of pink fluff in front of him with a huge smile on her face.

"Hi!" Pinkie greets excitedly, not even flinching at Zeph's speed.

His eyes widen as he can't stop, so he desperately tries to steer himself only to crash upside down into a bale of hay.

Pinkie giggles at him as he spits out a wad of hay. She giddily bounces over and looks straight at him. "Heya, Zephy."

"Hey, Pinkie." he says weekly, feeling dizzy from the crash. "You mind helping me up? I don't feel so good"

"Oh, oops. Sorry about that. Sure, give me your hoof." she says apologetically as she takes one of his forehooves and helps him back to his hooves. "You okay?"

Zephyr rubs his head and dusts off some loose hay from his coat as he gets back up. "Yeah, I'll be fine. So, what were you doing just standing there like that?"

"Oh, I had saw you zoom-zoomin' all around town and wondered what you were doing, so I decided to take a shortcut and cut you off.." she explains before before fluttering her eyelashes at him. "So, what'cha doin'?"

"Well, today's Blue's birthday and I was on my way to go wish him a happy birthday and maybe do something with him."

"Oh, that makes sense." Pinkie says with a straight face before what Zeph said suddenly catches up with her and she freezes in place with wide eyes.

Zeph looks at her worriedly as she continues standing there like a statue, not even the sound of breathing being heard from her.

He waved a hoof in front of her face in an attempt to get some kind of a response out of her. "Pinkie, you okay? Equestria to Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie takes in a deep breath before shooting up several hooves into the air. "WHAT?!" she shouts before landing back down and starts nervously pacing. "How in Equestria could I not know it was Breezy's birthday? Oh, I'm a terrible friend. We just have have HAVE to throw him a party. I mean, he's done SO much for all of us. Don't you agree?" she says with incredible speed before getting right in Zephyr's face with bulging eyes.

Zephyr stands there for a moment in silence, barely comprehending what she had just said. "Um... yes?" he responds with a weak smile.

"Good. You wait right here while I go fetch all of the others. We're gonna need to work fast if we're gonna pull this off for Breezy."

Without another word from either of them, Pinkie zooms off in a pink blur, almost matching Zephyr's flying speed.

Remind me never to offer her caffeine. Ever.

Ten minutes later.

Zephyr sits under a shady tree as he patiently waits for Pinkie's return. He looks up at the sun to try to judge how long it's been.

Before another moment could pass, he looks ahead to see a pink figure frantically hopping backwards in front of a large, colorful mass of ponies.

"Come on, you guys! We gotta move! Time's a wastin'!" Pinkie shouts at the group hurriedly. They continue to follow her, still not yet aware of why they are doing so. But they know it's Pinkie, so yeah, best to not question it.

Zephyr gets up as he goes to join the group. He smirks as he's impressed by their timing. "Wow. I'll admit, that was pretty fast."

"No time for that, Zephy! We gottta go!" she shouts at him.

"Go where, Pinkie?" Rhino asks on behalf of the group. "You haven't told us anything."

She quickly turns around to face them before giving the reveal. "It's Blue Breeze's birthday!"

"What?" everypony in the group besides Drax all says at once.

"Yeah, I already knew that." he says. "I was on my way to see him before you pulled me over here."

"Well, that jerk never told me about it!" Rainbow Dash says angrily. "Me! His own marefriend! When I find him I'll-"

"There's no time for that, Dashie! We gotta get a party set up before it's too late!" Pinkie says, cutting her off.

"Party?" the others question.

"Well, duh. What else do you do on someone's birthday? Besides, Breezy deserves this. Don't you guys think so?"

The others begin to think it over for a minute, remembering all the time we had spent together up to this point. They each look at each other and give agreeing smiles.

Zeph puts a hoof around Pinkie's shoulder in reassurance. "You got it, Pinkie. You're the party expert, so what's the plan?"

The corners of her mouth shoot right up to her ears in excitement before she motions for the group to come closer like a huddle. An extremely big huddle.

"Okay, so we don't have a lot of time. We're gonna need to set up at Sugarcube Corner, but we have to keep Blue away long enough so it can be a surprise. Ditzy, Graze, Sunny, and I will work on treats. Fern can take the drinks. We'll need at least four of us to keep Blue occupied. The rest can work on decorations. Got it?"

"Wow, Pinkie, I'm impressed." Rhino whispers. "You sure are organized when it comes to party planning."

"Partying is my talent. No point in having a talent if you won't use it." she says before looking over the group. "So, who's gonna be our distraction for Blue?"

"I'll go." Zephyr offers, raising a hoof. "Blue's my best friend and I've known him the longest."

"I'll go too." Drax says. "I've known him just as long as Zeph. Only right I go with him."

"Anypony else?" Pinkie asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll go." Orion says. "Decorating and baking aren't really my thing."

"That's three. One more."

"I say Dark should go." Vine says, looking at the black and red pegasus with a vexed look.

"What? Why?" he asks in a characteristically angry tone.

"Because I don't trust you with something like this."

Everypony else exchanges agreeing mutters as Dark grows increasingly angry before letting out a loud groan. "Ugh, fine. I don't like that stuff anyway. Besides, this could be fun." he finishes with a mischievous grin. "Also, I suggest Ice not be allowed near any ice cream."

The blue earth pony facehoofs before giving him an annoyed glance. "You guys are never gonna let that go, are you? It was just one time."

"Okay, we've got everything in place." Pinkie says, switching back on topic. "Anypony know where Blue is so we can keep him busy?"

"Yeah, I saw him at the market getting some groceries earlier." Dash says.

"Perfect." the pink mare says before looking at the four volunteers. "You guys go get him and keep him off us. I'll come get you when it's time."

"Got it." they all say, giving some salutes.

With the plan now in place and the group in motion, they immediately separate and go to their assigned duties to throw my first Ponyville birthday party.

Over in the town market, I'm walking around with a basket as I grab groceries for myself and Lyall. Not exactly easy to pick out food for a wolf in a vegetarian market.

I go over to a nearby apple stand and grab one and inspect it. I take a whiff and cringe a bit at the smell. 'They call this produce?' I think to myself.

As I go to put it back, I look to see what looks to be a red eyeball. Suddenly, Zephyr, Dark, Drax, and Orion burst out from the pile of fruit, knocking out most of it onto the ground.

"Surprise! Happy birthday, Blue!" they all shout enthusiastically.

I smile at all of them widely. "Aw, thanks, you guys. Cool of you to remember."

They give me confused looks, as if something is wrong. "Um, aren't you, like, surprised that we all jumped out of these apples?" Zeph asks.

I wave a hoof at them nonchalantly. "Peh, you kidding me? With all the times Pinkie's popped out of nowhere I've gotten used to it."

"Hey, my apple stand!" an angry fruit vendor shouts from behind us. We all quickly get out of there before we get stuck with the bill or cleaning up the mess.

As we get far enough away to know the vendor gave up, we stop and I look at the guys. "So, where are the others? Why's it just you four?"

They are suddenly stricken silent as they remembered that forgot to think up an excuse for the others.

Zeph scratches the back of his head as he tries to think up a reason. "Well, uh..."

"They were busy." Dark says nonchalantly, giving the most vague and cop-out excuse ever.

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Busy? Is that it? Just busy?"

"Yep. We can't all stop what we're doing just because of a birthday, you know."

I put a hoof to my chin and look up as I think it over. While still suspicious, I shrug it off and decide to go with it. "Okay, so, what do you guys wanna do first then?"

"Oh, I know something." Drax says as he suddenly gets behind me and gets me by my forehooves, making me stand up straight. "Remember this from when we were kids, Blue"

I struggle against him, but it's no use with our huge strength difference. "What are you-" I stop as my eyes widen in realization. "Oh no."

"Yep, a birthday beating." he says excitedly.

Dark's expression immediately lightens up as he looks at us. "Oh yeah, I've always wanted to try one of these." he walks over to use and gets on his back legs as he cracks his hoof joints. He gives me an eager smile. "So, Blue, how old are you now so we can do this right?"

"T-Twenty one." I say nervously. I always hated this as a kid.

"Oh, this'll be fun then." he says as he winds up a hoof.

"No electric shocks, Dark." Drax says sternly. "Don't wanna kill him."

He rolls his eyes before turning off his hooves. "Oh, fine."

The throws the first punch straight at my chest, knocking the breath out of me. "Gah!"

"Oh, come on, Blue. I know you're tougher than that. It was just one punch. We still have twenty to go."

Zeph and Orion sit on the sidelines as Dark continues to wail on me, each of them flinching on each hit.

"Should we do something to *flinch* stop this?" Orion asks Zephyr, unsure of what to do.

"You can try to stop Dark *flinch* if you want."

Orion looks at Dark, noticing the pure joy and craziness in his eye. He cringes a bit at the thought of getting in the way of that thing. "Um, I think I'm good."

"Don't worry about it, dude. Blue can *flinch* handle it. We did this all the *flinch* time. Besides, we need to stall for as long as possible."

I let out a loud shriek of pain as Dark punches me a little too far down and I nearly slump over if it wasn't for Drax holding me up.

Zeph and Orion both flinch and shut their eyes at my pain before slowly opening them. "Ooh, that'll leave a mark. I hope the others don't take too long."

Over at Sugarcube Corner.

The others are hurriedly preparing everything for the big party. Setting up streamers, making food, blowing up balloons, all that good stuff.

Rhino blows up a balloon and ties it up with his magic as he pants a bit in exasperation. "Geez, who knew blowing up balloons would be so exhausting?" he asks himself. He looks back at Ice who is standing on a ladder as he hangs up streamers. "Hey, Ice. Mind giving me a hoof with these?"

"Sure, I'm just about done here." he says as he throws up the last colorful strip of paper and hops down.

He grabs a deflated balloon with a hoof and puts the end piece in his mouth as he begins to blow on it(don't say it). As the balloon expands with his breath, it begins to form ice on the outside and become hard.

Ice looks at his work in confusion. "Woah, didn't know I could do that." he takes a hoof and taps it. Cracks start to form from the pressure on such a thin layer of ice before it crumbles to pieces onto the wooden floor. He looks down the pile of ice chips with disappointment. "Yeah, this definitely isn't gonna work."

"You know, Ice, I bet with your powers you'd make quite the ice sculptor." Rhino says encouragingly.

"You really think so?" he asks.

"Definitely. In fact, I bet you could make quite the centerpiece for the snack table."

Ice scratch the top of his head for a moment in contemplation before deciding to try it out. "You bet I can. I'm gonna go head out the back and get started on it right away."

"But there isn't a back door."

"No, but there is a back window." he says before heading through the kitchen, not wasting another moment.

Rhino shakes his head as he continues back on the balloons. He exhales loudly as he finished tying up another one, losing more breath with every one. "Geez, I'm gonna pass out before I'm done with these."

"Um, you do know there are some helium tanks over in the corner over there, right?" Vine says from above as her and Dash are busy with tying up the banner.

"Helium?" Atom asks enthusiastically. "Oh, I've always wanted to try this."

He grabs a balloon and goes over to a tank, placing the end of the balloon on the nozzle and quickly filling it with air. He then takes the end of the filled balloon to his mouth and lets go as he breaths in the helium.

"Testing. Testing." he says in an obnoxiously high-pitched voice. He begins laughing at himself. "Dude, that is awesome. Rhino, you gotta try this."

"Uh, I think I'll pass I like my deep voice the way it is, thank you." he says proudly.

"Aw, come on. Just try it."

"Atom, I refuse to-" he's suddenly cut off as Atom sticks on balloon on his lips and forces the air into his mouth.

Rhino coughs a bit from the sudden air in his throat. "Dude, that was seriously uncalled fo-" he clasps a hoof over his lips as he hears his new voice. He takes his hoof off as he tries again. "Is that my voice?"

Atom starts laughing at him. "It sure is."

"Would you two quit fooling around and get back to work?" Vine says annoyedly.

"Yes, ma'am." they say together in their high voices before continuing.

Back out in Ponyville... Ugh, I can't even believe this one. The guys thought it'd be fun to blindfold me and play pin the tail on the pony in the middle of town.

Zeph secures the blindfold from behind me and pats me on the back. "So, how do you feel?" he asks.

"Like an idiot." I reply. "Aren't we a little old for this?"

"Pinkie's always having it at parties." Orion comments. "Everypony in town has played it at her parties at least once. Just go ahead and try it."

I give an audible sigh. "Alright, I'll try it."

"Good to hear. I'll just spin you around three times and then you can give it a go." Zephyr says as he puts his hooves on my shoulders and begins spinning me around. "One. Two. Three. Go!"

I wobble around a little from dizziness as I try to keep myself from toppling over. I end up falling snout first into a pole on the street.

I grab my face in pain. "Ow!" I shout in a muffled voice. "Dang it, Zeph!"

"That's your fault, not mine." he says back. "Just keep going, Blue. You'll get it."

I sigh again as I continue stumbling around for the pony poster on the wall that was supposed to be in front of me. I keep walking until I feel my hoof stop on a twig and I fall in a puddle.

"Get up, Blue! You're almost there!" Orion shouts from the side.

"Yeah, just get up and go directly left!" Dark advises.

I decide to try one last time as I pick myself up and go left as instructed. I reach a large, rough mass infront of me and stick the pin in.

"Did I get it? Did I pin the pony?" I ask, still blindfolded.

Dark holds a few giggles in as he tries to talk. "I'll say you did." he says before he bursts out laughing while the others look upon with worried expressions.

I take off the blindfold to see a really pissed and big stallion in front of me. I look to see my pin stuck in his flank. I give a nervous laugh as he growls angrily at me before reeling his legs back and bucking me in the face.

Dark continues to hold his gut in laughter while the others come to check on me. "Yo, Blue. You alright?" Zephyr asks.

I pick my head up from off the ground in a weak attempt to get up. I fall back down a facehoof in grief. "Why me?"

Back over at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight decides to step into the kitchen to see how preparations are going on the food.
"So, how are the baked goods coming along, guys?" she asks them.

The buzzer suddenly goes off and Graze smiles at it. "Sounds like the muffins are just about down."

"Allow me." Twilight says as she summons magic into her horn and levitates the over door open to magically remove the steamy muffins from inside. She goes over and takes a big sniff. "Mmm, these smell great, Graze."

"Well, I can't take all the credit." he says modestly. "I couldn't have done it without-DITZY!" he shouts, now noticing his marefriend scarfing down the newly finished muffins.

She swallows the last bite and sheepishly. "Um, I was, um.... taste testing?" she says nervously, giving an innocent smile.

Twilight. "Great."

"Don't worry, Twi." Sunny says gleefully. "We still have the cup... cakes." she stops as she sees Pinkie eat the last one of the tasty confections. "Pinkie, why?! We needed those!"

"I thought that was just the test batch." she says, clueless. The others all simultaneously facehoof in displeasure.

While that mess is going on, the guys decide to make up the other stuff to me by taking me to an ice cream shop. The bell at the top of the door rings as we step inside.

We all take a seat at some benches on the side of the room and a waitress comes by. "Welcome to the Pegasice Cream Parlour." she greets. "What can I get you boys?"

Dark puts a hoof around my shoulders and looks at her. "We'd like the special for the birthday boy here."

"Oh, right away." she says with intrigue.

After a few moments of waiting, she comes back wheeling in a cart with a humongous vanilla sundae covered in chocolate syrup, caramel, chocolate shavings, and cherries.

She stops just short of our table and puts a spoon in front of me. "One special for the birthday boy. Happy birthday." she says before going back to work with other customers.

I look up at the gargantuan glob of gluttonous mess put in front of me. "What in the holy name of Celestia is this thing?"

"This, my blue buddy, is the Birthday Bomb." Dark explains. "It's the biggest thing on the menu and is only given on birthdays. If you can finish it, it's totally free." he picks up my spoon and puts it in my hoof. "Eat up."

"Are you kidding? I'm not eating this thing." I say in protest.

Dark sneers at me before getting an idea in his head. "Blue! Blue! Blue! Blue!" he begins chanting slowly while banging his hooves on the table top.

The others soon join in as all four of them begin chanting faster and faster and pound on the table.

I stick my hooves out. "No way, guys! I'm not doing it, especially not after Ice's prank all that time ago."

"Just do it, you whimp." Dark mocks. "We already ordered it, so if you don't eat it, it's twenty bits."

"I don't care, I'll just pay the bill. I'm not gonna force myself to eat all of this."

"Blue, we've seen you gorge on over fifty chimicherrychongas before." Drax points out.

"That's different. Chimicherrychongas are bucking delicious."

Dark groans loudly as he sets his hooves on the table. He smirks to himself, though, as he gets one last idea. "You're right Blue. You could never eat all this bucking ice cream anyway."

I feel my ear twitch at the sound of his words. "What was that, Lightning?" I say in a deadpanned tone.

"I said-"

I get put and poke his chest with a hoof. "Buck you I can't eat all this ice cream!" I shout before I dig face first into the massive sundae.

The others quickly begin cheering me on to go for it as Dark smirks in victory. 'Got him.' he smugly thinks.

Over back at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie goes around the entire place to do one final inspection to check for any loose ends before calling us over.

"Decorations?" she says, looking around.

"Check." Twilight says for herself and the others.

"Food?"

"Check." Graze and Sunny say, keeping Ditzy away from the muffins.

"Hmm, that seems to be about it." Pinkie says before going to the front door. "You all get in your positions. I'll be back here lickety-split."

She steps outside and shuts the door behind her as she heads down to the ice cream shop like they had planned on earlier.

She races down the streets in no time, getting there in record speed for an earth pony.

She loooks inside to see me pounding down ounce after ounce of ice cream down my gullet. Doing against normal Pinkie Pie rules, she quietly sneaks in as to not get my attention.

"Psst." she says. "Pssst."

Zephyr hears the noise and looks at the door to see her waving. He points at her and the others notice her too as I continue stuffing my face.

Zeph gently flies over to her as to not draw my attention. "What is it, Pinkie?"

"It's time to start. Get Blue and come on down to the Corner." she whispers.

"Right. Just give us a minute. He's nearly done with the ice cream."

"Okay. See you there, Zephy." she says before ninja-ing out of there without another sound.

Zeph comes back and winks at the others. Begins to pound on the table once more and the guys follow his lead. "Go, Blue, go! Go, Blue, go! Go, Blue, go!"

I start taking in more and more ice cream with every bite, quickly shortening the huge stack of vanilla goodness. After another minute and a half or guzzling down the sweet cream, I lay back and take in a huge breath of air with my belly sticking out.

The guys cheer for me all out once as I just groan. "I don't think I should've done that." I say in pain. I seriously haven't felt this sick since I binged on all those chimicherrychongas a while back.

"Well, you're gonna need to get over it, 'cause we need to be heading down to Sugarcube Corner." Dark says, not even caring.

"I don't want any more sweets." I say weakly.

"Not for that, something else."

"I don't think I can move either."

Drax sighs as he grabs me over his shoulder and hoists me onto his back. "I'll carry you on the way back then."

"Great, now let's go." Dark says excitedly as he's the first to exit the establishment.

We start walking the streets of Ponyville, ponies giving concern looks as they see me on Drax's back. But none of them really say or do anything, so carry along our way as well.

We reach just outside Sugarcube Corner and stop. "Okay, Blue. You're gonna need to do this part yourself."

"What for?" I weakly voice in anger.

"Just do it. I promise it'll be worth it."

"Yeah, I bet." I say as I begin trying to turn myself over and roll off. I roll over enough to fall down and land on my hooves, feeling a big jerk in my gut from the movement.

I grab the doorknob and turn it slowly to open it up and see a dark room. Suddenly, the room is lit up to reveal tons of balloons, streamers, a snack table filled with sweets and a big ice sculpture of a tornado.

Just then, all of my other friends pop out. "SURPRISE!" they all scream. "Happy birthday, Blue Breeze!"

My groggy expression turns into a bright one as I get a big smile on my face from seeing all my friends put in so much effort just to surprise me.

Dash comes up to me and kisses me on the cheek. "Happy birthday, Blue." she says. Then she raises a hoof and punches me hard in a shoulder.

I rub it in pain. "Ow! What'd you do that for?"

"For you not telling me it was your birthday, you big jerk!" she shouts. "I'm your marefriend for pony's sake!"

"Aw, you two make such a sweet couple." Pinkie says with a giggle. "But that's not the only sweet thing we've got for you, Breezy. Bring it out, Drax!"

"Coming through." he says from the kitchen as he pushes in a cart with a huge structure made out of chimicherrychongas on it. There's gotta be at least a hundred of them on there, and it's got lot of candles with black fire on them.

My eyes widen in excitement and I lick my lips as I begin to drool over it. "It's magnificent." I whisper in awe.

"But Blue, I thought you didn't want any more sweets." Zephyr said, perplexed.

"I can't really explain it, Zeph, but I'm suddenly feeling a bit empty inside." I say anxiously as I take further steps towards this new cuisine achievement.

"Don't forget to blow out the candles and makes a wish." Pinkie says, reminding me.

I spring up in the air and use my wings to give a blast of air that not only blows out all the candles, but knocks them off as well.

I go higher as I divebomb the tower and take it all in in one huge bite, making my form almost a ball from how much I had taken in.

Me and all the gang begin to laugh like crazy from the antics. I'm so lucky to have such great friends.

Author's Note: Well, that was a doozy, wasn't it? Feels good to finally come back to this story after so long. But, how do you all think this chapter feels in comparison to my previous ones? I'm talking tone wise, not length wise. Like, do you think it still feels like the old stuff. Personally, I think it does, only much more descriptive. But as the fans, your opinion is what matters most. Let me know what you think..

Troubles Aplenty

Author's Note: This has been a real long time coming, but after a staggering three and a half month hiatus, we have finally returned to the main storyline! It feels good to be back, don't you agree? I'm really sorry about making you all wait so long, but just know I appreciate every single one of you out there reading this. Now it's time to fill that piece of me that's been missing. It is time for life to go on. Now, as I can never say enough, on with the story.

So, yeah... competition is still going on. Big shocker, I know. So far only Vine, Fleur, Dark, and Twilight have made any progress in heading towards the location of the third clue, but Vine and Fleur are still in the forest and Twilight's searching for Dark after Vine tossed him Celestia knows where. Well, it's actually still somewhere in the forest, but you get my point.

Speaking of random, unspecified areas in the forest, the grey duo of Fern and Thunderlane are blindly trying to find their way around as well with, as expected, no luck.

The couple pushes past some large leaves as Fern sighs heavily in both exhaustion and frustration. "This sucks. I'm a city pony. I've spent my life in bars at Canterlot and Las Pegasus. Me and forests don't mix." she complains.

Thunderlane smirks a bit at his disgruntled marefriend. "Heh, this coming from the second toughest mare in Ponyville?" he jokes.

"Second toughest? Who's the first?" she asks, eyeing him strangely.

"Vinetion. But that chick kinda scares me with those powers of hers." he answers in a somewhat worried tone.

I can't say I blame him.

Fern leans up against a tree as she looks out at the seemingly endless forest. "And she knows this place like the back of her hoof. I live in this place for crying out loud and can't remember more than my route home." she hangs her head down before turning to Thunderlane. "How long have we been out here anyway?"

He puts a hoof to his chin for a moment in contemplation for looking at her nonchalantly. "About twenty minutes."

Fern groans loudly in exasperation. "Feels like it's been at least an hour."

Thunderlane, ignoring her cries, turns around and squints his eyes. "I think I can still see Ponyville from here."

Before the bartender can continue her whi-I mean... yeah, it's whining. But before she can continue, she hears something from a few yards away. "Hey, you hear that?"

"Hear what, babe?" Thunderlane asks as he comes by her and pokes his ear out. "Yeah, it sounds like hoofsteps."

Fern's frown does a full one-eighty as she's relieved to have found salvation. "Yes! Finally, someone to help us out of here! Let's go! Come on!"

The two frantically weave past bushes and tree limbs, or rather Fern weaves while Thunderlane tries to keep up, as they reach an isolated hut with the forest's resident witch doctor, Zecora, preparing a brew in a cauldron outside.

The zebra stops as she notices the two approach and skid to a stop in front of her. "Well, this quite a surprise, I must say… I was not expecting any company today."

Fern and Thunderlane blink at each other in confusion before looking at one another. "You understand any of that?" Fern whispers to Thunder, not wanting to offend Zecora.

"I think she's trying to say hi." he answers before looking at the zebra mare. "Hey there. Sorry to just drop in on you. I'm Thunderlane and this is Fern."

"It is nice to meet you, Fern and Thunderlane. My name is Zecora and potions are my game." she happily replies.

Fern and Thunder are once again confused by the odd speech pattern, though why that is is anyone's guess.

Fern shakes her head as she looks at her with an innocent face. "Look, we're trying to find the royal pony sister's castle. Do you know where that is?"

Zecora grins at them reassuringly. "Of course I do, my dear Fern. Allow me to tell you which way to turn. First you go forward, make a turn at the cliff, then head straight. In no time at all, you will reach the castle gate."

Fern facehoofs as she begins to get frustrated at not understanding her phrasing. "Can you try saying that a little more clearly?" she says, obviously irritated.

Zecora's expression falls into a more saddened state by her tone. "I am not sure why you are acting this way. Most ponies I meet can understand what I say."

Fern groans again as she looks towards her coltfriend. "Might as well get comfy, Thunder. This is gonna take a while."

Indeed it will. To save us all the boredom, allow me to cut us over to another team. And who better than the hothead and airhead?

Over near the edge of the forest, Graze and Ditzy wander aimlessly, Graze looking, unable to shake a feeling he has, and Ditzy obliviously trotting along beside him.

While stopping in his tracks, Graze decides to ask Ditzy about what's bugging him. "Ditzy, do you know where you're going? This place looks awfully familiar, even for a forest that all looks the same."

Ditzy too stops as she begins to look around. "Hmm, I can't tell. Sometimes trees look wide or thin, or they'll look all slanted. Everything looks like it's melting into each other." she answers in a confused tone.

Graze's eyes widen as he notices Ditzy's own eyes. "Have your eyes been crossed this whole time?" he asks in worry.

"Have they?" she says before shaking her head and blinking. She smiles as the world around her stops looking like an abstract art piece. "Huh, I guess they were. Guess I was too focused on getting there to notice."

Graze facehoofs hard for her epic fail. "Great, so we're lost then."

Ditzy's normally cheery expression quickly drops to a fretful one as she waves her hooves out. "No no no, I know where we're going!" she quickly turns her head and smiles as she sees an opening. "Follow me. I think we're there."

Graze apprehensively follows her as they go out to the clearing. But once Ditzy reaches it, she becomes crestfallen as she sees nothing more than Ghastly Gorge.

Graze catches up with her and is also disappointed by the view. Ghastly Gorge? Oh man, we're on the complete opposite side of the forest."

Ditzy drops her head low to the ground in guilt. "I'm sorry, Graze. This is all my fault."

Graze can feel a twinge in his heart at seeing his marefriend so saddened. He places a reassuring foreleg around her shoulders. "Hey, don't worry, Bright Eyes. It's all right."

She sniffles a bit. "But what about winning the prize?" she asks, unsure why he's so cheery.

He throws a hoof out. "Meh, screw the prize. The real prize is getting to spend time with you."

Ditzy smiles brightly at him and giggles. "Aw, that's so sweet. Even if it was really cheesy."

Graze shrugs it off as he turns his head to face Ponyville. "Hey, you wanna go back to town and get some muffins while we wait for the others?"

Ditzy gasps as her mouth goes wide in excitement. "Did you say muffins? Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

The ecstatic mailmare bites off the ropes tying their wings down as the two take off to the skies. While up in the air, one of the hired pegasus enforcers jumps back a bit in surprise from seeing them before glaring at them.

"Hey, you two! Flying is strictly against the rules! You're both disqualified!"

Ditzy and Graze both smile warmly at each other and laugh. "That's the idea!" Graze shouts at him before waving. "Good luck! You're gonna need it for the others!"

And with that, the couple flies back to town, leaving the pegasus in a stupor. In stares at the two for a moment before shaking his head as he writes their name off the list.

"Ponies in this town, I swear."

I know, right? They're crazy.

But seriously, Graze quitting like that? Did not see that coming at all. Ah well. Less competition. Woo!

But getting back to the action, our friendly neighborhood fitness freaks, Drax and Spitfire, are surprisingly having an easy trek. Why does Drax seem to get everything?

While having an eventful walk there up till now, Spitfire decides to break the silence. "So, how do you think the others are holding up?"

Drax chuckles a bit at the ideas in his head. "Knowing them, Vine's probably in the lead, Dark is busy trying to figure out how to cheat, Rarity's throwing a hissy fit about the dirt, and the others are either lost or on their way there."

Spits laughs a bit at the remark. "Yeah, that sounds about right. How much longer do you think till we're there?"

Drax puts a hoof to his chin as he started to think. "Well, I don't know. We've been walking for a good bit, but it's pretty deep in here, so it may take another-"

"Five seconds?" Spitfire says happily.

"Five seconds? What are you-" Drax says in confusion before realizing there's a hundred hoof tall castle right across from him. "Oh... I see."

"So, how do you figure we get across the gorge?"

"Umm... the bridge?" Drax answers, stating the obvious.

Spits goes near the ancient bridge, noticing cracks in the plants and loose threads hanging off of the ropes. "I don't know, Drax. This thing looks beat to hay. You sure it'll hold? Especially you."

He walks beside her and inspects it for himself. "Well, we don't have much other choice. Tell ya what, you go out in front and I'll stay back in case you fall."

"But what about you?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Heh, you kidding? I'll be fine. Trust me."

She looks back between him and the bridge a few times before reluctantly agreeing to it. "Okay, if you're sure."

The speedster mare takes a small step onto the first step, making a creaking noise under her weight. She starts to carefully move forward with Drax behind her. The entire area is completely silent as the two make extra sure not to do anything to upset the decrepit mess of wood and rope.

Spitfire gets near the end, but before she can get off, Drax suddenly breaks a plank in front of him as he starts to fall through head first. "Woah!" he screams.

"Drax!" Spitfire says as she turns around and leaps out. She grabs him by the hindlegs and ties to pull him up, but he is far too heavy for her. "You okay, Drax?"

He looks down at the rapids blow him before looking up. "Yeah, just hanging around."

"This isn't the time for jokes, Drax!" she yells.

"Sorry, been spending too much time around Blue."

He has learned well.

Spitfire sighs in annoyance. "How could this get any worse?" Just as she says that, the ropes holding the bridge up begin to slowly snap as Spitfire looks up at them. "Buck me. Why did I say that?"

I don't know, you tell me.

The bridge collapses under their weight causing the two crash down into the roaring river surrounding the castle. The current is too strong for them as they try to fight it and they are swept away.

I'm sure they'll be fine. This whole thing will just be water under the bridge when this is over.

I'm terrible, I know. But this contest is certainly far from over, and things are only getting crazier from here on out.

Author's Note: And there we have the real return to LGO. I hope you all enjoyed it, I know I certainly did.. Tell me what you thought in the comments down below. See you guys on the next installment. I promise not to take another month to get it done.

Bonus Chapter: A Hearth's Warming Reunion

Author's Note: Welcome one and all to my Christmas special for 'Life Goes On'. This is really more of a 'what if' type of chapter, so don't take it too seriously. But I do hope you all enjoy it. Now, on with the story.

Well, I never thought I'd find myself back here again. It's been a long time, hasn't it? Guess Dash isn't the only loyal pony around here if you all are still sticking around to listen to my ramblings.

This may come as a bit of a shocker, but it's been roughly ten years since last we talked. I'll just give that a moment to sink in... Ah, screw it. I can't wait that long.

So yeah, trust me when I say it's been a lot longer for me than it has been for you. It's actually been a pretty calm time believe it or not. Just a lot of hanging out with friends having fun times and having no sort of hijinx whatsoev-Pffft. Hahahaha!

I'm sorry, I couldn't say that with a straight face. Hehe, you guys know me better than that. If I'm not pulling my hair out from going insane, then something is seriously wrong.

I can't go over everything that's gone on since then, as much as I'd like to, because let's face it, I don't have time to tell you an anthology's worth of the kind of nonsense you've come to expect out of me.

But here's something you may not have expected: Dash and I had kids. Twins no less. I know, me a daddy? That just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. But I love those little tykes. They're just like their folks. Whether or not that's a good thing is up for debate, though.

After Shining Gale and Aqua Shimmer were born nine years back, we decided it'd be best for them if we moved to Cloudsdale to raise them. It was heartbreaking when we had to leave Ponyville... to leave so many friends behind... to leave the ponies that were like a second family behind.

I could go on and on about other things that have happened, but that's not what I'm here to do. I'm here to do something I should've done a long time ago.

Right now it's Hearth's Warming Eve and I'm off to make a visit. Dash decided to stay back home with the kids and head over to my parent's house while I do this. I told her I'd be sure to be back before it was time to put the kids to bed. I only hope I can keep to that so she doesn't clip my wings.

I fly high in the sky, Ponyville within sight, covered in a white blanket of snow. I stop midflight to gaze at the wintery village, feeling a strong sense of nostalgia.

I smirk to myself as I look down at the town. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. It's been too long, old friend." I say to it, feeling like I'm seeing a long lost friend for the first time in years.

I lifted the hood of my red sweatshirt over my head, wanting to not draw too much attention to myself when landing. I tell ya, over ten years and this thing's still in great shape. Rarity knows her stuff.

Anyway, I fly down towards the town entrance and touch down, starting to take in the scenery I had missed so much. The old place hasn't changed a single bit from what I remember of it. Still looks like that pony tale (yep, I went there) village I had all those crazy adventures in when I was young... Celestia, I sound old.

As I look around, I notice a few ponies glancing at me, but apparently not recognizing me with my head being covered. As much as I'd love to be greeted by the towns ponies, I don't want word of me being back before I get a chance to see my friends.

I begin to slowly walk up the path, trying to take in as much of the view as possible. The surrounding area looks beautiful with the snow, but the snow looks off.

I put a hoof to my chin as I remember something that happened just before I left. "Could it...?" I quietly ask myself as I walk over to a patch of snow and stick a hoof in.

I lick the "snow" on my hoof to taste test and smile. "Mmm, vanilla. I knew it. Seems Anarchy is still up to her old tricks."

"You know it, Bluey." a sensual female voice responds from out of nowhere.

I look down at the ice cream snow to see a familiar female draconequus face pop up with a large grin on her expression as she winks at me.

Just then, with a puff of smoke, the serpentine vixen herself pops out and hovers in the air, smiling down at me as she rests her chin on her palms.

"Well, if it isn't old Bluey." she says nonchalantly. "Pleasure to see you again, dearie. What brings you by?"

I shrug a bit. "Eh, you know. Just decided to swing by for the holidays." I answer casually, as if it hadn't been nine years since I moved.

"Wonderful to hear it. Though, you really should visit more often, Blue. It's not as fun without you around to tease." she flys around me, brushing her tail by my face.

My cheeks turn a bit red in reponse. "Hehe, I'll make sure to do that."

She took note of my blush and gives a small chuckle. "You could pass for Santa Hooves with cheeks like that."

I turn around with a goofy smile on my face as I begin to continue my trot. "Well, it was great seeing you again, Anarchy. We should catch up later."

She gives a small wave as I go. "See you later, Blue. And don't worry, there'll be PLENTY of time to catch up."

I'm not sure what she means by that. I'm not sure I wanna know either. Darn that woman and her charms.

Moving right along before I make myself look any worse (is that even possible?), I continue to trot up the streets of Ponyville, on my way to town square for a certain special errand I need to run.

But on my way I stop in my tracks as I notice something that brings back some of my fondest memories of this town: Bon Bon's Coffee and Cream Cafe. The memories of all the days spent in there hanging out with my friends begin to flood back to me, putting a grin on my face.

Yeah, really sappy, I know. But the opportunity to go in is to good to pass up, so I head through the doors and breathe in. Yep, still smells as strong as ever, making my nose crinkle a bit from no longer being used to it. I really should come by more often. It's just that having the kids has been a fulltime thing combined with now working at the factory. But now that the kids don't need as much attention, I've finally got a good time to visit. But I digress.

I trot to the front counter, finding Bon Bon there hoofing somepony their expresso. She turns to me as she gets ready to serve her next customer.

"Hello, can I take your order?" she asked cheerfully as she always did.

"Yeah." I answer before lowering my hood just enough to show my face clearly and smirking at her. "Can you get me my usual?"

Her eyes widen slightly as she gets a large grin. "Blue, is that y-" I interrupt her with a shush as I point my head back at the room. She gets the hint as she nods and goes to get me my normal capucino.

She comes back a moment later and hoofs me my drink and I give her my bits in return. I give her a wink as I trot out and leave without another word.

I'm look at my drink and get all to eager to taste it for the first time in years. As I drink it, the broiling hotness burns my mouth as I stick my tongue out and wave a hoof at it.

"Ah, hot hot hot! Ah, but so good!" I say frantically as I take another sip. As I take more and more, my mouth gets used to the temperature and it stops burning as I give a contented sigh. "That's the stuff."

Hey, doofus! In case you didn't know, coffee is hot! I amaze myself at my own stupidity sometimes.

Before I can take another step, a grey feather falls on the ground in front of me. I pick it up and look at it in confuson before I look up at the nearby rooftops to see a familiar hooded pony nod at me before leaping away one roof at a time.

"Shadow Mark, you old son of a gun." I say with a laugh as I shake my head. After all these years, it's great to see the old guy alive and kicking. For being roughly fifty five, he's as agile as ever.

I tuck the feather away and keep trotting as I had planned earlier. I just hope Dash doesn't mind me making a few detours. Meh, she'll get over it. She wouldn't put me out on the couch on Hearth's Warming... I hope.

I finally see the town square off in the distance with the traditional Ponyville Hearth's Warming tree being set up in the center. And who should I see setting up the lights other than my old buddy Iron Clad. Being a tinkerer, the mayor entrusted him with being the electrical technician for the tree.

I trot up behind him with my hood over my eyes as he casually wraps the lights around the tree in a pattern before it's later time for the annual town tree-decorating where everypony in town puts an ornament on the tree. It's one of the town's key symbols of unity.

"Looking good, man." I say as I stop to look up at the tree.

He turns to see me, but is unable to see my face. He notices my blue wings and yellow tail to find a distinction. "Hey, Arrell. Thanks. Bit of a bore to put these up, but somepony's gotta do it."

I suppress a laugh as I put a hoof to my mouth. "I'm sorry, who?" I say smugly as I pull down my hood to smile at him. "I'm no Arrell."

His eyes widen a bit in surprise before he chuckles and trots up to me. "Heh, nice to see you back, Blue."

"Good to be back, man." I say as we do a brohoof. "Bit 'iron'ic to see me, huh?"

He facehoofs with a groan. "Yeah, it's definitely you." he sighs before getting his grin back, wanting to change the subject. "So, what brings you by? What's it been, nine years since you moved? You should've at least wrote or something." he quips at me.

I give a sheepish laugh in reply. "Yeah, real sorry about that. But you know how it is. The kids and Dash are a real hooful."

He nods in understanding. "No problem, buddy. I know how it is. Zecora and I had a little one of our own since then, and being a dad has been rougher than any job I had."

I grin widely at hearing him. "Really? That's awesome, bro. Congrats."

"Thanks. So, what brings you here? Just a quick visit?"

I look down at the pockets of my coat. "Actually, I do have something more I wanted to do." I say before reaching a hoof in and pulling out a string pulled through four blue feathers of various shades.

Iron eyebals it quizzically before looking back at me. "What's that?"

I smile at the feathers as I gently squeeze them in my hoof. "It's an ornament Dash, the kids, and I made to put on the tree, to show we still feel connected to the town and you guys.

He grinned at me and gave a nod as he stepped aside to allow me to be the first to decorate the tree. I look at it for a moment before giving a contnted sigh and looking back at Iron.

"So, you wanna go visit the others? Twilight's holding a pre-Hearth's Warming party at the library." he offered.

My grin encompasses my whole face at the prospect of spending a Haerth's Warming party with all of my friends. "I'd love to. Let's go." I say enthusiastically.

He smiles and shakes his head as he begins to lead me over to the Book and Branches Library. I'm so excited. I still remember that big, impractical tree of library. And for once I'm excited to go to Dark's place. Who woulda thunk it?

Yeah, even after all these years I'm still a flankhole. Sue me.

In almost no time at all we reach the giant, hollow tree, completely encased in vanilla snow. I seriously wonder how that stuff isn't melting, whether it be cold outside or not. Ah well. Far be it from me to question draconequus magic.

My heart begins to race faster in excitement as we approach the front door. Iron smirks at me. "You ready for this?" he asks.

I give a determined look and nod. "More than I've ever been... minus a few exceptions." I state.

He turns the doorknob and it opens to reveal a room filled with colorful ponies, all of whom turn to look at us as we enter. There's a collective gasp as they notice me. They all begin to smile as wide as Pinkie Pie at a party... oh, wait.

I smile at them and wave. "Hey guys. Long time no see."

The group surrounds me instantly as they all begin to greet me, the room buzzing with dozens of talking ponies.

After all these years and nothing's seemed to change. Same friends, same parties, same obnoxious level. Yep, not a single thing has changed. But I'm just glad to be back with them. It feels good to be back.

Author's Note: And that was my Christmas special for 'Life Goes On'. I really hoped you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Arrell belongs to RLYoshi, Shadow Mark belongs to Dleifragcat, and Iron Clad and Anarchy belong to the users of the same names. I hope you all like your involvement. Be sure to let me know if I did something OOC with them. But I thank you all for reading, and have a happy holiday season.

Future In-Laws

"Dogpile on the new pony!" Scootaloo says as she jumps on Atom.

"What the hay?!" Atom says as he's knocked over and all three Cutie Mark Crusaders jump on him and laugh.

I laugh as Atom struggles under them. "I think they like you Atom. I never thought you'd be so good with kids."

He tries to get up, but the weight of all three of them is too much. "Blue, help me! I can't get up!"

"Somepony sounds grumpy." Sweetie Belle says. "I think it's time for a tickle fight!"

"Tickle?! No!"

"That sounds like a yes to me!" Apple Bloom says. The fillies begin tickling Atom all over, making him laugh and roll around uncontrollably.

"Hehehe, stoop it! I'm ticklish! Hahaha, I can't take it!" Atom cries out, laughing and nearly crying at the same time. "Blue, hehehehe, HELP!"

I chuckle a bit as I walk over and nudge the girls. "Okay, girls. That's enough. Let him get up."

"Aw." they say as they are forced off Atom.

Atom's laughter calms down before he clears his throat and gets up. "Thanks Blue. I seriously thought I was gonna wet myself there."

My face contorts in disgust a bit. "Um, no problem. I'm glad I could prevent THAT from happening."

"Oh, don't be such a priss."

"I'm not being a priss, I just don't like piss."

"You rhymed that on purpose, didn't you?" he facehoofs.

"Yep." I say smugly. Ignoring Atom, I turn to the girls. "Hey girls, what's up?"

"We saw ya with this new pony and we thought we'd try gettin' our cutie marks in pony greetin'." Apple Bloom explains.

"But it doesn't like look it worked." Sweetie Belle says as she looks at her blank flank.

"Hey, cheer up Sweetie Belle. What kind of talent would it be to just greet ponies anyway?"

"Yeah, that would be really lame." Scootaloo says. "So who is this guy anyways?"

"Well, he's-"

"I can introduce myself, thank you very much." Atom interrupts.

I glare at him. "Fine, you do it then, Mr. Pushy."

"Gladly." he takes a step forward. "Before I introduce myself, would you three mind telling me your names?"

I cup my hooves over my ears as I brace myself. He's going to regret that.

"Ah'm Apple Bloom!"

"I'm Sweetie Belle!"

"And I'm Scootaloo!"

"AND WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!" they all shout at once directly into Atom's ear.

Didn't I tell you he'd regret it?

Atom rubs at his ears. "SORRY I ASKED!" he screams.

"Hey, no need to shout." I say.

"WHAT'D YOU SAY?! I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING!"

I facehoof. "That's fantastic."

"WHAT?!"

"Okay, that's it." I walk up to him and give him a hard slap across the face. "There, that better?"

"Ow! What do you mean better?!" his eyes widen in realization. "Hey, I can hear again!"

I smile smugly again. "You're welcome."

"Hey, would you two focus?" Scootaloo shouts impatiently. "What's your name?"

"Oh, right. Sorry about that." Atom says. "Well girls my name is Atomic Vortex, but you can call me Atom. I just moved here from Canterlot."

Apple Bloom gasps. "You're that Atom feller Applejack's been tellin' us all about?"

"She's mentioned me?"

"Mentioned? She talks about ya all the time. She even said yer in the Royal Guard."

"Really? That is so awesome!" Scootaloo says.

"Yeah, it was. But the princess has restationed me to stay here in Ponyville."

"And ah truly could not be happier about that." Applejack says as she walks up from behind us with Big Macintosh.

We turn around to see them and Atom actually steps back a bit when he sees just how truly big AJ's brother is. "Oh, hey AJ."

"Howdy Atom. Ah see ya met my little sister Apple Bloom, and her friends."

"Yeah, that's right. I remember you mentioning a sister."

"Yep, now ah'd like fer ya to meet my brother, Big Macintosh."

Big Mac walks up to. "Howdy Atom, nice to finally meet ya. Applejack told me a lotta nice things about ya." he extends a hoof out to Atom.

Atom hesitantly returns the gesture by shaking it with his own hoof while giving a smile. "Thanks Big Mac. Good to meet you too."

"Also, ah'd like ya to meet my grandmother, Granny Smith."

We raise an eyebrow to her. "What grandmother?"

Applejack looks next to her to see nothing but an empty space. Well, empty besides the dirt, but you get my meaning. "Granny smith?"

"Ah'm a comin', youngin's!" Granny Smith announces from the distance. We look out to see the elderly, green mare moving towards us ever so slowly. I think I can hear creeking whenever she takes a step. "Just gimme a minute and ah'll be over there faster than a hungry jackrabbit chasin' a carrot!"

We wait for a few seconds, but we all realize this is gonna take way too long. Applejack looks at her brother. "Big Mac."

He nods. "Eeyup." he says, basically his version of saying "I'm on it". He walks over to his grandmother and lifts her up onto his back. He walks back with her and sets her down gently.

"Ah coulda done that mahself, but thanks dearie." she says to Big Mac. She slowly turns around to meet Atom. "Now look at you. Yer that Atom feller who my granddaughter's been seein'?"

"Well not seen as of late, but I am her coltfriend." Atom answers.

"Hmm, let me get a good look at ya." she starts to circle around Atom, looking him all over.

"Um, is this really necessary?" Atom asks.

"Hush. Ah'm almost done." Granny Smith says. As she finishes looking him over, she slaps him on the flank.

"Gah!"

"Hoowee! Ya'll chose a real good one here Applejack. Nice and fit."

Applejack's cheeks turn as red as the fruit on the trees. "Granny, ya'll embarassin' me!"

"Aw shucks, ah'm just havin' a bit of fun. Ya seem like a real nice stallion, Atom."

"Thanks ma'am. I promise I'll be good to Applejack."

"Actually Atom, ah'd like to speak with ya'll on that one." Big Mac says.

Atom starts getting nervous as he hears thar. "Uh, why's that?"

"Ah just wanna talk to ya'll on some things. No reason to be frightened."

Atom gulps a bit. "Well, okay."

It's the quiet ones like Big Mac you really gotta watch out for, he's probably like Drax. They're both big and nice, but the last thing you wanna do is get 'em mad.

Big Mac and Atom go behind a tree together to talk in private. I just hope it's just talking.

"So, what's up?" Atom asks.

"First off, would ya mind takin' off those sunglasses so ah can look ya in the eye?"

"Sorry, no can do on that."

"Why is that?"

"That's personal. Just know that they mean a lot to me."

"Hmm, alright. I can respect that. Now, ah just wanted to make a few things clear about you datin' mah sister."

"Um, you're not gonna beat me up, are you?" Atom asks, growing more nervous.

"Well, that all depends on you. Ah love mah family more than anythin', especially Applejack. Ah'd do anythin' for her. So let me just make one thing clear." Big mac leans down, getting in Atom's face. "If ya'll ever do anythin' to hurt mah sister or any of mah family, ah will hunt you down and turn you into mah new coffee table. Is that clear?"

Atom gulps again before furiously nodding his head. "Big Mac, you have me on my honor as a royal guard soldier that I will never harm AJ and will risk my very life to protect her if need be."

Big Mac straightens up as he smiles at him. "Glad to hear it. Now come on."

The two walk out from behind the tree and join us again. I look at Atom as he's sweating a bit. "Hey, you all right, man? You just look like you saw a ghost."

"Big Macintosh is scary when he wants to be." he answers.

I believe it. I nod as I understand him.

As Big Mac joins his family again, Granny Smith gets a thought. "You're from the Royal Guard, right sonny?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Well, you're probably gonna need a job to do with all that free time you'll be gettin', right?"

"Yes."

"Well, how would ya like to work as a farmhoof here at Sweet Apple Acres?"

"That's a great idea Atom." AJ says as she comes over to him. "Just think about it. You and ah could work together in the fields all day long."

A thought crosses Atom's mind as he hears that. 'And with it being Summer, I could watch AJ as she gets all sweaty doing all that physical labor.'

Luckily he has enough self-control to keep his wings from popping out. "Okay, I'll do it."

"Well, we don't have anymore work to do today, so you can just relax and get settled in." Big Mac says.

"Ooh, ah know!" Apple Bloom says, garnering everypony's attention. "Ya'll could tell us crusaders about what it's like bein' a royal guard."

"That's an awesome idea!" Scootaloo says.

"Yeah, and it sounds like fun." Sweetie Belle says.

They all put on their cutest faces. "Please?"

Atom and I look at each other as we both are thinking the same thing. Atom sighs. "Sure, why not?"

"I'll come along too. I don't have anything else going on today." I say.

"Are ya'll sure?" Applejack asks. "Blue, ya do remember what happened the last time ya agreed to watch 'em, right?"

"Yeah, but I think I can handle them."

Applejack looks at the girls sternly. "If ah let ya'll go, you promise to behave for Atom and Blue?"

"We promise." they all say innocently.

"Well, ah guess it's alright then." Applejack agrees, though still a bit hesitant.

All the crusaders smile at each other. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER ROYAL GUARDS! YAY!"

Okay, that one got me. I'm starting to get that weird feeling again.

New Winds on the Horizon

"Ya'll are under arrest!" Apple Bloom shouts at us, pointing a hoof out.

Okay, I am now officially confused. Under arrest by a bunch of fillies wearing fake badges? This is really up there with some of the craziest things that have happened to me, and that's really saying something.

"What in Equesteia are you girls talking about?" Atom asks.

"Yeah, what do you mean we're arrested?" I add.

"Well, after ya'll told us all that stuff 'bout bein' a royal guard, we decided to try it out for ourselves."

"Yeah, and we've been doing a really great job at it too." Sweetie Belle adds. "We even got the other kids at school involved."

"Yeah, we've arrested dozens of ponies. They're down at the farm right now." Scootaloo says, smiling proudly.

Atom and I stare at them for a moment before looking at each other. I glare at him, basically saying it's his fault.

He returns the glare with his own. "Oh, don't give me that look. It's not my fault this happened."

"Actually, yeah, it is." I reply.

"Actually, it's more like both of your faults." Scootaloo says.

We both raise an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"You're both being arrested for fighting, potentially harming both each other and any bystanders or property."

I facehoof. "That's not what we were talking about."

Atom looks around the area. "Yeah, besides, there is no bystanders or property anywhere near here."

She shrugs. "Whatever. We're still placing you both under arrest for fighting like that."

Atom groans. "I don't have time for this. I've still gotta kill this jerk." he points at me.

I smirk. "Aw, come on, Atom. Don't be such a stick in the mud. How can you say no to these three little angels?" I motion to them as they start smiling and haloes appear above their heads.

...Where are those... Nope, I'm not gonna question it.

He looks at them as he rolls his eyes and sighs. "Okay, I'll play along. Take us to jail, guards."

"YAY!" they all cheer.

They take us as we start walking back to Sweet Apple Acres to be "put in jail". Right now I'd much rather be beating Atom's flank into the ground, but I'm a nice guy, so I'll let the kids have their fun.

As casually stroll through the town Atom and I finally start noticing just how empty it is.

"Uh, where is everypony?" I ask.

"Yeah, it's like a ghost town around here." Atom says.

"We told ya, we went around arrestin' ponies." Apple Bloom says, a bit annoyed at having to repeat it.

"Yeah, but, this many?"

"How long ago was this?"

"We haven't brought any ponies in for about an hour now." Scootaloo says.

Atom and I look at each other in shock. "I don't remember it being this empty."

"Me neither."

"Guess we let our fighting completely take over our thoughts. We were so busy fighting, we disn't even notice what was happening around us."

"Well, too late now." Sweetie Belle says.

Atom and I look back at each other, frowning. I sigh. "Atom, I'm sorry, both for smashing your shades and for not saying sorry sooner."

"No, I'm the one who's sorry. I let my anger get the best of me. You were right to be mad." he says.

"No, you were. I'm the one who was stupid and screwed up." I insist.

He starts glaring at me. "No, I was."

I return the glare as I nudge him. "Dude, just learn how to take an apology."

He pushes me. "Me? You learn to take an apology. I'm the stupid one here."

I get in his face. "No, I am!"

"Hey, no more fighting, or you'll get worse than just arrested!" Scootaloo orders.

We stop and give each other sheepish smiles. "How's about we just both admit that we were both stupid and leave it at that?"

He smiles and sticks a hoof out. "Deal."

I pound his hoof with my own as we brohoof as friends once again. After that, we continue walking through the vacant town and down to the apple farm.

We get there a short time later and we get to the barn where we find the rest of the kids lazing around with nothing to do. Wait a minute...

"Fluttershy, is that you?" I say as we come up on the barn.

She blushes a bit as she notices us. "Oh, um, yes." she says nervously. "Hi, Atom and Blue."

"What in Equestria are you doing with all these kids?" Atom asks.

"Well, instead of arresting me, they offered to let me join them. I hope that's okay." she looks down at the ground in shame.

I sigh. "Nah, that's alright. I guess we can't really blame you for it."

Atom nods in agreement. She looks back at us and smiles as the CMC open up the barn doors to get us inside. Atom and I are taken aback at the abundance of ponies we see lying inside, tied together by some kind of strange fabric..

"Luna, the entire town must be locked up in here."

A head pops up from the light shining through. A good look reveals it to be Rhino, who smiles once he sees us. "Guys! Oh, thank Celestia. You gotta save us."

"Rhino?" I ask.

"About bucking time you guys showed up! Get us out of here!" a black pony with a pink bow shouts angrily at us.

Atom and I start snickering once we realize who it is. "Dark, *snicker* is that you?"

He growls. "Shut up!"

We burst out into laughter at his face. I slap a knee. "Looks great on you, Dark. You should wear bows more often."

He growls even louder. "Just shut up, you buckers, and get us out of here!"

We calm ourselves down as we try to talk once again. "*chuckle* Right, right. Sorry."

"Ya'll shouldn't be laughin' too much, you'll be joiin' him soon." Apple Bloom says from behind us.

"What do you-WOAH!" I say as we turn around and look at the kids holding pieces of fabric.

We start backing up a bit when Atom decides to speak up. "What's the fabric?"

"This is some stuff we got from Rarity's shop." Sweetie Belle starts explaining. "It's indestructible and cuts off magic. Nopony can get out of it or break it."

"Isn't that a bit excessive?"

She shrugs. "Whatever it takes to be the best guards Ponyville can have."

"Well I have one question first." I say, trying to stall for an idea. "What did all these ponies do to get sent here anyway? Besides Dark, I mean."

"Hey!" he shouts from behind.

"Well, some ponies committed crimes against fashion." Diamond Tiara says in a prissy tone. "I mean, white coats? Are they kidding?"

"Some ponies were really loud." Truffle Shuffle says, eating an apple.

"And really suspicious." Snips adds.

"And they smelled bad." Pipsqueak says, pinching his nose.

"And some of them were abusing their powers." Twist says.

"Hmm..." I put a hoof to my chin as I think about what they had just said. "Idea!" I whisper as my eyes light up.

"What?" Atom whispers to me.

"Just follow my lead." I whisper back before smiling at the kids. "Well, very good job kids, but I do see some flaws in your arresting system."

"Some flaws?!" Dark shouts from behind.

I look back and glare at him. "Shut up." I turn my head back around. "Ponies get arrested for having a white coat, but Sweetie Belle is white, and she's not arrested."

"What?!" the little filly yelps.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon look at her angrily as they trot up to her. "Hey, yeah, she is white."

"And ponies who smell are taken in too. These two don't exactly smell like roses." Atom says about Snips and Snails.

Pip walks up to them and takes a wiff before turning his head. "Gross! You're right, they smell terrible!"

"And making noise is also illegal? Well, that apple munching isn't exactly the most quiet thing either."

Truffle slows down his chewing and looks at his apple as he realizes just how loud he was eating.

"And if suspicion is also a crime, then this little guy sure is a culprit. He hasn't said he word." Atom says about Featherweight.

"And if abusing power is also a crime, then I'd say making all these crazy laws is DEFINITELY an abuse of power. Wouldn't you say so?" I ask Twist with a grin.

"Well, I, um, uh..." she stammers as she tries to think up a response.

Got 'em right where we want 'em. "Looks like you'll just have to arrest each other."

The group of fillies and colts start jumping on top of each other as they wrestle around, trying to tie up the other for their "crime".

Atom and I look at each other. "Good thinking." Atom compliments.

"Thanks." I reply. "Now come on, let's get everypony free while we have the chance.

He nods as he turns around and we begin to untie ponies. As we untie more, others help us go faster and faster, soon the piles of ponies start dwindling at an alarming rate.

Once ponies are freed, they run out of the barn as quickly as possible. We stad on the sidelines as the kids continue fighting amongst themselves.

"Should we do something about this?" Fluttershy asks with concern.

Applejack looks out into the orchard and sees something, or somepony, and smiles. "Nah, this whole thing is under control now."

While the kids are still fighting, a certain elderly, green mare walks up to them. She clears her throat and the group stops immediately in terror.

"G-Granny?" Apple Bloom asks in a whisper.

Granny Smith looks down at them with a look that could rival Fluttershy's stare. "Ah take one nap in the middle o' the day and all o' ya'll make the town go to hay."

"No, Granny. We was just-"

"Ah don't wanna hear it. Now, ya'll got two options: spankin's or farm work. Which is it gonna be?"

They are all silent as they look at her.

She stomps a hoof in anger. "Ah said, spankin's or farm work?!"

They immediately spring up. "Farm work, ma'am!"

"Then hop to it!"

They try to scatter, but bump into each other before getting up and getting right to work.

She may be old, but don't buck with Granny Smith.

The kids all get to work harvesting apples, plowing the fields, and cleaning up loose trash around the place as Applejack decides to step up.

"Well, now that that's all squared away, ah'm glad to see you two came to your sense." she says.

Atom and I smile at each other. "Yep, sure have."

"That's great. And, Atom, I have a lil' surprise for you." she reaches behind herself and pulls something out.

"My shades!" he shouts as he grabs them from her. He looks at them for a moment. "They're good as new. How'd you fix them?"

"Twilight did it."

Atom looks at her as she smiles at him. "Thanks a whole lot, Twi."

"Oh, it was no problem." she says. "When you live with both Dark and Spike, you quickly learn a spell to fix small things."

He chuckles as he puts the shades back on. "Yeah, that definitely makes sense."

"Oh, buck you guys. I'm going home to wash this junk off." Dark says as he marches off with a huff.

"Huh, guess it's just her time of the month."

We all share a laugh as I wrap a foreleg around Atom's sholder. "Atom, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."