Equestria Heroes

by Matthais Unidostres

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure
Length: 5366

The Crystal Heart has been stolen, Spike has been kidnapped, and Queen Chrysalis has announced that in three days she will unleash her "ultimate weapon" upon Equestria. Can the heroes of Equestria stop her?

During the Alicorn Princess' recent Equestria's Royal Summit in Canterlot, to which Cadence does not show up, Queen Chrysalis makes an announcement: In three days she will unleash her "ultimate weapon" upon Equestria, and that Celestia, Luna, and Twilight must face it alone or else she will have it attack the civilians of a random city.
Earlier, after finding the Crystal Heart missing, Flash Sentry discovers a mysterious message from an anonymous voice claiming to know where the Crystal Heart has been taken, and joins Shining Armor and Princess Cadence on a quest to recover it.
Meanwhile, Spike has been kidnapped by Changelings, and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash must go on a quest to rescue him.
Can these Equestria Heroes stop this twisted evil plot, and discover the truth behind it all?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-04-25 12:43:38 UTC

Team Princess

"Friendship is magic!"

"Of course."

"Verily."

Celestia's Sun hung high and bright in the sky as it shone down upon the capital city of Canterlot for Equestria's Royal Summit. Within the conference room, three alicorns took their seats, ready to discuss the main issues important to the land of Equestria. However, one of the seats around the table were empty, and this did not go unnoticed by the Princess of Friendship.

"Where's Princess Cadence?" Twilight asked, looking a bit thrown off by the absence of her sister-in-law.

Celestia cast a sideways glance at the empty seat as she replied, "That is quite odd. The Crystal Empire train has yet to arrive, and we honestly are not sure what could be keeping it. We've already sent a pegasi messenger to the Crystal Empire, but I doubt we'll get a response in time."

Luna directed her attention to Twilight and asked, "Speaking of absentees, might I ask where your faithful assistant is?"

"He has a cold," Twilight said, looking greatly crestfallen, "He begged me to let him come, but the fact remains that a dragon spewing fire all over the place probably should stay in bed."

"Don't despair, Twilight," Luna replied confidently, "You made the correct decision. As for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I am sure we will have an explanation soon enough. Regardless, Equestria's Royal Summit waits for no pony."

Celestia nodded, "Indeed. Now, if we can avoid any interruptions."

"PRINCESSES OF EQUESTRIA! HEAR MY WORDS!"

The three alicorns received a jolt of surprise as the loud voice echoed throughout Canterlot Castle and the city below.

Luna stood up boldly and shouted in her Royal Canterlot Voice, "WHO DARES ADDRESS US SO AND INTERRUPT OUR ROYAL SUMMIT!?"

Twilight looked up gravely and said, "I know that voice. . ."

"Chrysalis. . ." Celestia said with a darkened expression and a voice dripping with scorn and pure loathing.

"IN THREE DAYS, I SHALL UNLEASH MY NEW ULTIMATE WEAPON UPON EQUESTRIA TO GET REVENGE FOR MY PAST DEFEATS! I ISSUE A CHALLENGE THE PRINCESSES! THEY, AND ONLY THEY, MUST FIGHT MY ULTIMATE WEAPON IN THE BADLANDS! THEY MUST TRAVEL ALONE! IF ANYONE ELSE JOINS THEM, I WILL SEND MY WEAPON TO DESTROY A RANDOM CITY IN EQUESTRIA AND EXTERMINATE EVERYONE THERE! THAT IS MY ULTIMATUM! COME, ALICORNS. . . AND FACE ME! THAT IS ALL!"

When the echoing finally ceased, Twilight stood up tall, looked over at Celestia and Luna, and said, "It looks like fourth time is going to be a charm, and this time, we defeat Chrysalis for good."

"It most certainly will be," Celestia said with a harshness scarcely heard from the benevolent ruler, "I will never forget the disgrace Chrysalis had brought upon me. Due to her machinations, I was struck down before the ponies I have sworn to protect. . ." Celestia hung her head in shame, ". . . and doubted my most faithful student."

Twilight was before her former mentor in a flash to lift her chin and say, "Don't talk like that, Celestia. Chrysalis was powered by Shining Armor's love at the time, and my accusations against the fake Cadence really were flimsy and overly emotional. I should have spoken to you in private, not burst in calling her evil."

"The past is past," Luna said impatiently as she briskly trotted towards the door, "The present concern is Chrysalis' ultimate weapon. Although she may be lying, we can't afford to gamble a city full of innocent lives. We must do as she says and fight her ourselves."

Just as Luna got to the door, it opened, revealing a white pegasus Solar guard and a grey thestral Lunar guard, who both gave quick bows to the royals in the room.

"Captain Akatosh," Luna said as she nodded to the Solar guard, and then she nodded to the Lunar guard, "Captain Arkay."

"Your majesties," Akatosh said reverently, "We cannot allow you-."

Celestia stepped forward and cut the Captain of the Solar Guards off, saying, "We cannot risk the destruction of city just to keep ourselves safe. If we do nothing, Chrysalis will attack where we least expect it. Equestria is too large to give ample protection everywhere. And if anyone accompanies us, I am sure you heard Chrysalis' threat."

"Could it be. . ." Arkay said with a raised eyebrow, ". . . That you wish to even the score with the Changeling Queen?"

Akatosh glared with disgust at the thestral, while Luna merely turned around to give Celestia a nervous look.

Celestia gave Arkay a look that lacked any interest or concern, and replied, "I won't deny that, but the other points I made still stand, making your point inconsequential. Nevertheless, I commend you for being observant." She then looked over at Twilight and said, "What do you say about all this, Twilight."

Twilight's eyes widened briefly with a touch of nervousness within them, then she quickly composed herself and said with great conviction, "We have no choice. We must go and defend Equestria from this threat. That's our duty as the rulers of this land. We'll put an end to anything that would try to destroy our peace and harmony."

Luna nodded, "Then it is settled. We leave at once." Luna turned to Arkay and said, "Maintain order until we return."

As Luna left, Celestia and Twilight followed after her, with Celestia turning to Akatosh saying, "You will share in that responsible. Be wise in your decisions."

After the alicorns left, Akatosh turned to Arkay and said, "You ought to learn when to hold your tongue."

Arkay smirked and said, "Celestia commended me. Has Luna ever commended you?"

Akatosh let out a loud breath and turned saying, "Let's go. The populace are all in a panic after that headache inducing message."

And so, for three days the three Alicorns traveled by wing and hoof towards the Badlands, the very outskirts of Equestria. It might have taken them only two days if it weren't for the fact that they were constantly besieged upon by groups of Changeling marauders. Luckily, Changelings never were very strong fighters, and they went down like flies to the alicorns' powerful magic.

However, near the end of the second day, as they got close to the Badlands, they received their first true challenge.

Luna peered out towards the horizon and said, "Ha-ha! I can see the beginnings of the barren wasteland approaching!"

As Luna landed back on the ground amid the edge of the forest were the team had stopped to rest, Twilight took a moment to stretch her back and her wings. "Those Changelings attacks are so aggravating!" she said, "But they certainly are ingenious. Chrysalis really wants to make sure we don't get there sooner than three days!"

"I am glad that you acknowledge my superior intellect, fools!"

The alicorns all looked up to see Queen Chrysalis herself hovering in from behind, accompanied by three larger, burly Changelings wearing smooth, black armor.

"Chrysalis! You're days of harming the ponies of Equestria are over!" Celestia shouted in righteous fury, her eyes fixated directly on the Queen.

"You have no hope! I doubt that you'll even be able to defeat my Elite Guard to get to my ultimate weapon in time!" Chrysalis said with a vile grin.

Twilight flared her wings and charged her horn, readying herself for battle. Luna and Celestia followed her lead.

"Destroy them!" Chrysalis shouted and pointed, and the three large Changeling warriors flew at them.

Twilight teleported in the nick of time, and one of the warriors slammed into the ground face first. It quickly got up flew at her again. Twilight teleported again, and this time reappeared upside down and underneath the warrior. She kicked hard with all four hooves, knocking the  wind out of the warrior and sending him sprawling. Twilight then flew in close and touched her horn to his head, zapping him senseless.

Luna fire lighting out of her horn at the second warrior. The warrior tucked and rolled, and the lighting was deflected off of his armor. Seeing this, Luna quickly took off and flew right towards the warrior, much to his surprise. The warrior fired a beam of green energy out of his horn, but Luna created a magical shield to block it, and then bashed him with it. Luna then spun around and kicked him square in the face with her rear hooves.

Celestia didn't waste any time. First she hammered the third warrior into the ground with a scorching blast for her horn, then she raised her head regally and cast a spell that ignited the patch of ground where the warrior lay. Badly scorched, the Changeling cried out and rolled out of the flames, just in time for Celestia to swoop down and cast a sleeping spell upon him.

Seeing that things were going badly, Chrysalis quickly started to fly in the direction of the Badlands. However, Celestia spotted her.

"You are not getting away from me!" Celestia shouted as she charged up her horn.

"FROM US!" Luna corrected as she and Twilight also charged up their horns.

Three beams of magic were fired upwards, and Luna's and Celestia's beams wrapped around Twilight's, forming a spiraling blaze of light that smashed into Chrysalis' back, resulting in a huge explosion.

As brutal as the blast had appeared, Chrysalis didn't look too bad as she fell to the ground, seemingly unconscious. By the time the Changeling Queen hit the dry dessert ground, Celestia was already there, standing over her still form.

"I believe the appropriate term for this situation is, check-mate," Luna said confidently.

"Not yet, Luna," Celestia said with a note of disappointment in her voice as she stared down at Chrysalis.

"Hmm?" Luna asked as Twilight timidly got closer to the Changeling Queen.

Twilight gasped, "I don't believe it!"

Luna got a closer look at the Queen, and was taken by surprise by what she saw. What lay on the ground was a lifestyle wooden dummy painted to look like Chrysalis.

"A Golem," Celestia said, "Enchanted with illusion magic to look real. Our attack dispelled both enchantments."

"Golem Magic. . ." Twilight whispered, "That's in the same realm as Age Manipulation! How on earth did-?" Twilight gasped again and said, "You don't suppose Chrysalis has the Alicorn Amulet?"

"I most certainly hope not," Celestia said gravely.

Luna kicked sand at the wooden dummy and said, "Enough of this! Chrysalis must still be waiting with her weapon. We must go there now and end this for good. Let us go!"

Luna promptly took the the skies, and after a moment of exchanging glances, Twilight and Celestia followed.

Once the alicorns were a good distance away, the wooden dummy began to change. It vaporized into a cloud of black smoke, and a distorted voice neither male nor female said, "AliCorn mAGiC, aBsoRbeD."

The alicorn stood in slight awe of the large, black, egg shaped structure that towered into the sky before them.

"So, this is a Changeling Hive," Luna said in both fascination and disbelief.

Twilight nodded and shuddered, "It looks even worse than the one I went to when she kidnapped the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

Celestia scrapped at the ground and said, "I swear upon the Sun I raise and lower every day, that this will be were Queen Chrysalis is defeated for the final time!"

"THE ONLY DEFEAT THAT WILL OCCUR HERE, IS YOURS!"

The alicorns were caught of guard by Chrysalis' voice, and caught off guard even more when the very ground started to shake. Suddenly, right in front of the massive hive, something just as massive burst out of the ground. It was a massive red dragon decked out in jet black armor similar to that of the Elite Guard. It's tail armor was spiked, as was it's arm armor, and it wore a horrifying black horned helmet. And seated atop the helmet was Queen Chrysalis herself. She cackled maniacally as her eyes blazed both hatred and victory down at the three alicorns.

"BEHOLD!" she shouted down at them, "My ultimate weapon! His armor is made by the hardened chitin of mighty Changeling warriors of the distant past! He is invincible, AND HE WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!"

"WE MUST DIVIDE AND CONQUER AND REUINITE! GO NOW!" Luna roared, and the three alicorns flew off in different directions just as a huge burst of fire blasted down right where they stood.

Twilight flew towards the dragon's tail and fired a few magical shots at it. Predictably, the tail swung towards her, and she teleported. When she reappeared, she fired a much stronger magic blast behind the tail's swing, sending it further than what the dragon intended. This sent the tail right into his legs, the spikes biting into his ankles, which did not have armor on them.

The dragon roared out in pain and stumbled, which allowed Luna to get in close and kick the dragon square in the draw with her rear hooves. She began shooting magic blasts where she had kicked. Furious and still in pain, the dragon reached out to grab Luna with his claws. Luna immediately looped in mid air and sent a strong blast at the dragon's left elbow. At the same time, Twilight did the same to the dragon's right elbow. This sent the dragon's arms smashing into each other, causing the spikes on the arm armor to lock together, pinning his arms together. The dragon roared and snarled with frustration as Chrysalis screeched and raged at the dragon to attack. However, the dragon didn't seem to be paying attention to her.

Celestia could feel the satisfaction welling up inside of her. Although they had no idea what they were going to face, they were still able to put several plans together based on what they thought they would find. Luna's Divide and Conquer and Reunite plan was genius, and it was the best choice for a creature like a dragon. Everything was going according to plan. As Luna and Twilight attacked, Celestia was up high, charging up her horn for the one mighty blow that could knock the dragon out of sheer blunt force: the power move they had all used earlier.

Luna and Twilight flew up next to Celestia and join her in charging up for the attack. It seemed as if nothing could go wrong. However, in all their planning, they had neglected to see the obvious flaw.

Angered beyond comprehension, Chrysalis jumped off of the dragon's helmet and flew out towards the three alicorns, snarling and looking ready to kill with her bare hooves.

Celestia felt a dreaded sense of deja vu grow in her, and her thought flew at a mile a minute, "No! None of us can strike back! We're still charging our magic, and if we move we'll miss our chance! I can't loose to her again!"

Luna and Twilight had similar worried thoughts as they realized that they were easy targets in this position. Twilight closed her eyes and braced for impact as Luna clenched her teeth and glared back at the angered Changeling Queen.

Suddenly, a sphere of magical energy formed around the alicorns. Chrysalis slammed into the shield and was blasted back into the dragon's helmet, denting it with her impact.

The alicorns stared in awe at the sudden miracle, but then they suddenly saw it. To the left of the dragon hovered Princess Cadence, and to the right hovered Flash Sentry, holding Shining Armor in his forelegs.

"Don't give up! You're so close!" Cadence shouted.

"Come on, you can do it, Twily! Do it!" Shining Armor shouted.

"Do it! JUST DO IT!" Flash Sentry shouted.

The alicorns were struck speechless, utterly dumbfounded by the sudden arrival of unexpected backup.

However, Queen Chrysalis was beyond livid, and she send a massive blast of magic down at the dragon's arm armor, shattering it. The dragon roared in relief, and he raised his hands to grab the three interlopers.

"No!" Twilight shouted in fear, "Look out! Move!"

Twilight's warning was too late, for the dragon had already snatched the team from the Crystal Empire out of the sky and held them tightly in his grip.

Then, there was an explosion. It burst right underneath the dragon's chin and sent a shock-wave of rainbow colored light out from the point. There was no mistaking what it was, or who was responsible for it. Only one pony could perform a Sonic Rainboom.

The force of the Sonic Rainbow knocked the dragon backwards and made him loose his balance. He instinctively let go of his captives, who quickly flew to safety.

Not sure how or why Rainbow Dash was here, but not having time to think about it right now, Twilight felt her magic reach it's pinnacle strength along with Celestia and Luna, and all three alicorns fired their ultimate attack down straight at the dragon's head. The explosion completely knocked all consciousness out of the dragon, and he promptly began falling backwards.

Queen Chrysalis had been knocked off of the dragon's helmet by the Sonic Rainboom, and was hovered over the scene when the alicorns' attack hit. With a scream of intense rage, she quickly turned to fly towards the hive.

Celestia was nearly exhausted from the attack, just as Luna and Twilight were. But when she spotted Chrysalis flying away, she dug deep within herself, and brought up just enough magic to send one concentrated fiery beam out towards her. The beam struck Chrysalis in her right wing, disintegrating it instantly. The crippled Changeling Queen screamed in fear, all courage and anger cone from her, and she fell into a dive and slammed into the ground. After just 3 more seconds, the massive dragon landed right on top of her in a thunderous crash.

Both magically and physically drained, the three alicorns landed on the ground, breathing heavily.

"We . . . we did it . . ." Luna gasped out, her eyes widened with disbelief.

"Not . . . without. . . our friends," Twilight said, smiling in spite of her exhaustion.

Celestia matched Twilight's smile with with a smile of her own, this one of self satisfaction, closure, and redemption as she gazed upon the sprawled out form of the red dragon. "Yes, Twilight," she said, "It's like you've always said. . ."

Twilight nodded and declared proudly, "Friendship is magic!"

Team Harmony

Last Story

"It's nO uSe. . ." Tantabus moaned out as it lay on the ground, now smaller and lacking its wings. There was a loud hissing sound as smoke leaked out of its body, and it shrank further into the shape of a small unicorn foal. Then, it looked straight at Luna and whimpered, "Why? Why don't you love me, mother?"

Everyone was completely taken off guard by this statement, but none more so that Luna. With utter shock stamped upon her face, Luna replied softly, "W-what did you-?" Luna was unable to finish her sentence as she stared down at the small foal-like figure before her.

Tantabus kept looking up at the Princess of the Night, and then continued in its softer, whimpering voice, "When you. . . brought me into this world, you gave me a task. . . a directive. . .a purpose. . . I was to give you dreams of the Elements of Harmony falling before you, and you ruling a world of eternal night. Yet, after every time, you awoke in great despair and with a aching heart and mind. It distressed me so to see you in such misery. I tried to so hard to give you what you wanted, and yet you were never satisfied. . . you never thanked me. . . you even referred to what I was doing as 'my worst.' I wouldn't have mined chastisement. What hurt. . .was my failure to please you, mother."

Tantabus hung its head and said, "I thought long and hard about what I was doing wrong. Eventually, I looked out into the waking world, and I realized that in reality, you were not the sole ruler of a world bathed in eternal night. I then reasoned that this was why my task could not please you. It was just an illusion you could never obtain. So then, I decided to make that world the world you had always wanted. I used your fears to give myself the power to escape to the dreams of others, and then planned to use their fears to gain enough power to enter reality and recreate it to suit you, my exquisite, glorious mother. A Kingdom of the Night for the Princess of the Night. But then . . ."

If Tantabus were able to cry, he would have been as he sobbed out, "You struck out at me! You tried to hurt me! I could not speak to you at the time, and even if I could, you clearly would not have listened. I assumed you did not know what I had planned, or were trying to protect me from the outside world. Either way, I knew if I could just escape and bring your eternal night, you would see. I had almost achieved my goal, but then you somehow managed to cut all of my power, and you took over my will. Then, you dispelled my very being, my very soul, back into raw magic. Only one small fragment of myself remained, locked away in the mind of that dragon. As I slowly regenerate myself, it became clear to me what your intention was. You wanted to destroy me, your own child!"

Tantabus made as if to rise, but his legs shook underneath him and he fell down flat. Moaning in pain, it continued, "I was filled with anger, pain, and hatred. I wanted you to feel what you made me feel. So I used the unique innate magic that dragons possessed to evolve myself. I gained the power to move through the world in a weakened ghost-like state. I developed a spell that allowed me to copy the magical energies of others. I took over the dragon's mind and sought out forces that would be able to guide you to me, which happened to be the Changelings. I then absorbed all of your magic in order to restore myself to full power. I had everything I needed to make you feel the pain that you made me feel. And yet. . . it still wasn't enough. You still were able to smack me back down. . ."

Tantabus looked back up at Luna and asked desperately, "Why? Why don't you love me!?"

Luna was at complete loss for words as she stared blankly at Tantabus. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but her thoughts were so confused that she couldn't put together anything meaningful to say.

"Do you see now, Luna?"

Luna turned towards her sister, whose face showed great disappointment.

"Sister-" Luna began, but Celestia cut her off.

"You've made more than one mistake, it seems," Celestia said in cold, harsh tone of chastisement, "Not only do you seek to wallow in your own guilt and pity, but you also create an innocent intelligent living soul to do it, and then kill it when it doesn't turn out the way you want it to."

With tears in her eyes, Luna said defensively, "I had not choice! The Tantabus would have turned the world into a living nightmare! I-."

"The Tantabus was your responsibility Luna. It was your instructions that caused it to act the way it did," Celestia pressed onward, frowning down at her younger sister.

"I didn't know!" Luna cried out.

"Know what?" Celestia asked.

"That it was alive! That it could think! That it could feel!" Luna shook her head violently, "What do you want me to do?!"

Luna suddenly felt Celestia place a comforting hoof on her shoulder. Luna looked up at Celestia, who said with a calm smile, "Make it right."

Luna blinked as the meaning of Celestia's words sunk in. Then, she nodded, and she turned to Tantabus who still lay trembling on the ground. Luna bent down to Tantabus, and began the long task of explaining. She explained how she had tried to take over Equestria as Nightmare Moon out of the intense envy she had for her sister. She explained the guilt she had felt for her past crimes against her sister and the ponies she loved and wanted to be loved by. She explained how she wanted Tantabus to punish her with those nightmares. She explained how she would never want Equestria to face the threat of eternal night ever again. She explained how see feared that the Tantabus would turn the world into a nightmare realm, and how she felt that turning it back into pure magic was the only thing to do.

"But know this, Tantabus," Luna said in a soft nurturing tone and a warm smile she used on young ponies as she comforted them after dispelling their nightmares, "Had I known that you had thoughts and feelings, and that all your actions were merely attempts to please me and based on a grave misunderstanding, I would have made efforts to clear up your confusion, and explain what I really desired. And if you would not have listened out of fear, also know that once I had realized how foolish my self punishment was, and had taken away your power, I would have never destroyed you. I would have kept you by my side as my apprentice and if. . ." Luna took a soft breath, and slowly reached out a hoof to Tantabus. She slowly and gently brushed her hoof through its dark mane and said, ". . if you . . . had truly desired it. . . as my child as well."

Tantabus looked up at the Princess of the Night, who was smiling warmly as she continued her gently stroking. "Do you. . . love me now?" it asked.

Luna leaned close to Tantabus and said, "Now that I see you for who you really are, yes. I do love you, my child." Luna gave Tantabus a saddened look and said, "I only ask you to forgive me for thinking that I could just treat a living being like property and then try to get rid of it when it becomes inconvenient. I am truly sorry."

Tantabus raised one of its hooves and gently placed it on Luna's cheek. "Don't be  sad, mother. I forgive you. . .I love you. . ." Tantabus said, then giving another moan, it said, "And please. . . forgive me. . ."

And with that, Tantabus' head leaned to the left, and it's entire body flopped onto its left side and lay still. Then, more smoke leaked out of its body with a loud hissing sound.

"Tantabus!?" Luna cried out in alarm.

Everyone present watched in shock as Tantabus' body began to flicker, slowly fading from existence.

"I believe the Tantabus is returning to whence it came," Celestia said somberly as she turned to Luna, who was becoming more and more distraught by the second.

"NO! This cannot be!" Luna cried out tearfully, "I cannot let my child die! Not after we have only truly just found each other!"

"Luna," Celestia said sternly as she placed a hoof on her shoulder again, "Let it go."

"NO!" Luna roared in her Royal Canterlot Voice, actually blowing Celestia back a few inches. She then turned to Twilight and said pleadingly, "Twilight Sparkle! Please! You must have some way to turn this event around!"

Twilight was shocked by Luna's request. She was stunned into silence for a moment, looking around wildly, then her eyes fell upon her friends. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were staring at Luna in shock, Pinkie Pie looked frozen solid, and Fluttershy and Rarity were both leaning on one another as they cried, although Fluttershy was crying much harder.

Twilight nodded determinedly and said, "Okay. Girls, gather around the Tantabus. Hurry!"

Everypony quickly followed Twilight's direction, and Spike, Flash, Cadence, and Shining Armor joined the royal sisters in watching the tight circle the Element Bearers had formed around the flickering, smoking form.

Six pillars of light burst forth, and the Bearers floated off the ground, imbued with Rainbow Power. They each launched a beam of light out from their hearts, and the beams fused together into the Rainbow of Light, which came crashing down upon the still form in the center of the circle.

When the light finally faded, the Mane Six were back in their normal forms, still in the circle and staring at the center.

"Luna. . ." Twilight called out without turning around.

Her heart hammering, Luna nervously walked over to Twilight.

The Princess of Friendship wordlessly stepped aside.

Luna's breath caught in her chest as she beheld a sight that both thrilled her and shocked her beyond comprehension. There, lying on the ground, was a little unicorn colt, a tad younger than the Cutie Mark Crusaders. He was midnight blue, with a slightly messy black mane, and a long flowing black tail. The little colt opened his eyes, and Luna felt like her heart jumped in her body when she saw that the colt had her eyes.

The colt looked around nervously at the ponies surrounding him, but then his eyes found Luna. His cyan eyes widened as asked in a gentle, innocent voice, "Mom?"

Luna paid no attention to the joyful tears streaming down her face as she smiled and said, "Oh, my son. . ."

"MOM!" the colt cheered as he got up to run towards her, but Luna practically flew over to him and gathered him up in her forelegs for a loving hug.

"Oh, Tantabus, my son," Luna said as she nuzzled him.

"Um. . . Mom?" he said.

Luna looked down at the child she held. He looked down nervously and said, "Could you. . . give me a new name? Please? I. . . don't wanna be called-."

The colt stopped speaking when she felt Luna kiss him on his forehead, right below his horn. The Princess of the Night smiled with love in her heart and said, "Of course, my child. You are more of a nightmare now than I am. How about. . . Nyx?"

The colt winced and frowned, clearly not a fan of the name.

Luna chuckled at the colt's reaction and said, "Surely I jest! Seriously now, I know the true name that would suit the new Prince of the Night very well. . . Somnium."

Somnium eyes lit up, and he smiled and nodded, "I've got a real good name! I really good name! I'm Prince Somnium!" Somnium hugged Luna tight and giggled, and he said, "I love you, mom."

Her heart now overflowing with love, simply held her son and said, "I love you too, my little Somnium."

As Twilight watched the scene, she couldn't help but voice her observations and conclusions, "So the Tantabus was just a childlike entity. He thought he earn love through desperate action. . . but love needs to be given freely to really matter."

Team Crystal

"Love is our strength!"

"I am with you!"

"Let's do this thing!"

Flash Sentry pounded on the door to the royal bedchambers. This was something he would never had imagined himself doing, yet here he was. He has a very good reason for doing this, but his reason just made him all the more nervous.

Eventually, a sleepy looking Shining Armor opened the door. He looked upon the orange pegasus before him and said, "Flash . .  Sentry, is it? Why do you awaken us at this hour?"

"Sir! The Crystal Heart has been stolen," Flash Sentry said urgently.

Shining Armor was completely caught of guard by the revelation and actually stumbled backwards. "What!?" he gasped.

"What!?" shouted Princess Cadence as she seemed to appear at her husband's side.

"Impossible! We assigned a 24 hour guard schedule after the Siege of the Crystal Empire," Shining Armor argued.