"I just wanted to personally thank you on behalf of myself and the rest of the Royal Guard for granting us the opportunity to attend Ponyville's annual Cider Season Celebration!" The white stallion smiled gratefully as a pink alicorn took his side.

"Without your help, we wouldn't have been able to make it!" The pink alicorn added, "Everypony would've been so disappointed," she turned to Shining Armor at her side, "especially Twilight."

"Yes I know, dear. I'm sure she'll be happy to see us again and spend this occasion with her."

The pink alicorn smiled cheerfully, and the train jerked as it began to leave the station.

"Anyways, I'm sure the Princesses must be pretty pleased with you; I know we all are!" Shining Armor gestured a hoof towards the front of the train, where most of the members of the Royal Guard were seated and conversing amongst themselves. "I'm sure the Princesses would like to speak with you once they come down to the celebration!"

Oh man, I can't let him assume I can take all the credit for it. Then again, I can't really let anyone assume that, especially the Princesses!

"Uh, I-I really can't take all credit for it, I'm afraid. There were a few unicorns who were extremely helpful, especially with procedures requiring magic."

The pink alicorn studied me top to bottom for a moment. "But aren't you--"

I pointed a hoof to my stump of a horn, which was still impeding any magical ability. I shrugged and the alicorn seemed to at least understand.

"Oh... I see." The pink alicorn nodded her head, looking a bit confused.

"Anyways, we shall take our leave of you. I imagine that there will be plenty of time to talk at the celebration; that’s what Twilight had us come down for, after all! It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Davin."

"You too, uhh... Sir Armor."

Shining Armor and the alicorn mare left towards the front of the train, to their seats.

Mr. Davin? Ugh, that doesn't sound right. The more I realize it, everypony's name has something to do with their cutie mark, and mine just doesn't fit. Like, at all. Ah well, technically I don't even belong here as a pony anyways, so I guess in a way, it suits me in a way of...not suiting me at all... Unless, I mentioned my old friends from back home used to call me Strach as a nickname! At least it would be a bit more suitable for me now than my birth name! Ah, who cares anyways. It's just a name. Maybe I'll just keep that nickname I had to myself and my memories or something.

Yup, I'm confused too. Just go with it.

"Well it sure looks like you've made quite the name for yourself!" Lyra smiled cheerfully.

"Ugh, don't remind me..." I said under my breath.

Lyra continued, thankfully not hearing me mumble or taking notice to any hint of disapproval I had. "I mean, you saved me in the Town Hall incident, you helped the Apple family get back on track with Cider Season, you repaired this train--"

"Ahem, Uh... I helped repair it Lyra." I felt kind of bad for interrupting her, but I'd really rather her not list off my infamous exploits.

"Well, I mean, if it weren't for you, it wouldn’t have gotten fixed." She tilted her head and pressed a hoof to my shoulder. "Right?"

"Uh, I guess--"

"See? Stop being so hard on yourself."

"Well..."

"Well what, Davin?"

"I just don’t want ponies thinking I'm something that I'm not. I don't want to build a reputation that I have no hope of living up to."

"Well...what do you mean?" Lyra pulled me back down onto the seat.

I sighed sharply as I took a seat. I faced Lyra without really looking at her as my shame began to take hold... AGAIN.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I just don't want to be put into a situation I can't handle... Again..." I somewhat trailed off as I flashed back to the accident with the train that brought me here, and away from everything I loved.

God damn it i need to stop thinking about this...

I could feel my eyes welling up a bit, but I fought it.

God damnit, I'm such a pussy sometimes. My emotions are a fucking mess...

"So you're afraid of not--"

I sighed again, "I just don't know how much more I can live up to. I mean, I've been in Equestria for only a few weeks now, and I've caused so much... Ugh, I don't even know! Just so much shit that not you or anypony should've have to put up with..."

Lyra sighed at my choice of words, "Davin, there's a lot more to this than what you're telling me. I can tell."

"I-I'm..." I grumbled as I tried to find the words, but it was impossible. "Ugh. I'm just such a mess right now, Lyra."

Lyra didn't reply to that, but I guess the more I thought about it, she really couldn't. I'm definitely not very good at opening up, and man I can be extremely stubborn with stuff...

Not long after I feebly tried to get Lyra to understand, the train rolled into Ponyville. The station was decorated with banners and streamers welcoming the Royal Guard to the celebration. There was quite a crowd of ponies outside, and I spotted Twilight and Spike out ahead of the crowd. It took me a second to realize, but it felt like only a matter of a few minutes had transpired since the train departed from Canterlot; I mean, the trip usually takes at least an hour or so by train...

Huh, I guess that’s maybe why this train is so special to the Royal Guard...

That aside, I think the first thing I'm going to do is go to the Apple's farm and make sure nothing I worked on has gone wrong. The feeling that I missed something has been burning in the back of my mind all week, and I just have to make sure. Uhh, actually... Maybe it would be best if I shower and clean myself up a bit before I head to AJ's.

After Lyra and I said our goodbyes for the time being, I left towards my apartment and cleaned myself up a bit. I must say, after a long-ass week, it felt good to come back to this. Maybe things would actually settle down for a bit. Who knows?

"What? But... how?!" Apple Bloom tried to comprehend the sight held before her and the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"I think maybe it was a bad idea coming here..." Sweetie Belle turned her head away from the two cells next to the wall, where two appearingly-lifeless bodies were contained.

"No... Please! No..." a voice sobbed from one of the cells, and Scootaloo gasped sharply and took a step back as one of the bodies moved.

"Did you hear that?" She shot back, pointing a shaky hoof towards the cell.

Sweetie Belle heard it too, and she snapped back around.

Apple Bloom squinted at the two figures in the cells, and began trotting towards them under the light of her helmet.

"Apple Bloom, what are you doing?!" Scootaloo jumped in front of the yellow filly, attempting to block her path.

Apple Bloom didn't reply, she just shot Scootaloo a quick glare and trotted around her. She approached the cells, and reared back as she could finally distinguish the figures.

"B-Brae--Braeburn?! What are y'all doin' here?!" Apple Bloom rested both her front hooves on the bars of his cell. "What the hay?" she took notice to the clasp locking the cell door closed, and she wrestled with it in attempt to unlock it.

Braeburn was lying stomach down, and had his head buried under a hoof. His other was extended through the bars of his cell and into the next, holding hooves with a very sickly-looking mare, laying rather peacefully on her side. She wasn't moving, and it was hard to tell if she was even breathing...

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cautiously caught up to Apple Bloom standing in front of the cells; both recognizing the grimy-looking tan stallion.

"Hey, isn't that Apple Bloom's--"

"Shh!" Sweetie Belle placed a hoof over her mouth, cutting Scootaloo short. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Scootaloo shrugged, taking a quick glance through the dark cavern.

Sweetie Belle too took a look around, only to see nothing but blackness. "Uh, n-never mind. I thought I heard something over there."

"Ugh," the little orange pegasus shivered, "this place is really giving me the creeps."

Braeburn finally looked up with teary eyes from the ground, trying to comprehend everything that was transpiring before him. The sudden gravity of the situation caused nothing but sadness and denial, and he was about convinced that his mind could just be playing tricks on him; he ignored the yellow filly at the door of his cell, and his face contorted to anger.

"Nopony deserves this... 'specially you Cherry..." Braeburn gritted his teeth at the ground, wiping tears out of his eye with a hoof. " N-Nopony..."

After hopelessly fiddling with the lock, Apple Bloom grumbled and pressed down effortlessly onto the clasp; with a puff of a greenish smoke, it broke from the bars of the cell, and fell to the ground with a hollow clank. Apple Bloom cocked her head back at this slightly, but shrugged it off and swung the door of the cell open.

This caught Braeburn's attention, and he was momentarily swayed away from believing that his mind was playing tricks on him as Apple Bloom stepped into the cell, and nudged at his side.

"C'mon cuz, get up!" Apple Bloom grabbed one of his hooves and tried to pull him up.

Braeburn was dumbstruck, but he obliged. It took him a moment to really realize what was happening as he freely stepped out of the confines of his cell.

"A-Apple Bloom?" Braeburn squinted down to the little yellow filly through his glazed vision, trying to believe his own eyes.

"Uh, yeah? Who else would Ah be?" Apple Bloom trotted over to Cherry's cell, again breaking the clasp clean off the barred door of the cell with nothing but a gentle tap of her hoof.

"B-But... How?"

"Well howdy there, partner!" AJ playfully nudged me in the side with a hoof as soon as I stepped onto the property of Sweet Apple Acres. "Y'all have a nice time in Canterlot?"

"Oh, hey AJ!"

Great. I bet all the equipment at Sweet Apple Acres I repaired before leaving has failed or broke. Why else would she be here immediately greeting me? I've been having this feeling all week, and I'm getting that vibe big-time right now...

"Well, I was kept busy if that’s what you mean."

This made her laugh, "Well Ah hope so! If'n the Princess jus' comes down an' thinks she can take ya away from me, y'all better have been kept busy!"

Honestly, I'm not even sure if she's just kidding or being serious.

"AJ, I thought we agreed that it was--"

AJ stopped me with a hoof to my mouth. "Ah'm only kiddin' ya, sugarcube. Things have been jus' dandy here; all that 'quipment y'all fixed up fer us has been workin' jus' perfectly, an' we managed ta round everypony together ta make an entirely new batch of cider!"

"Oh good! I was beginning to worry..." I let out a huge sigh of relief.

AJ snickered, "Well, we couldn't have pulled it off without yer hard work! Thank ya, Davin."

"Hey now, if there's anypony to thank, it's you. You gave me the job in the first place AJ, and I just kinda ditched you and your family when you probably needed me most. Plus, having to re-harvest all that cider all over again must've been a hassle and a half. I really wish I could've helped out more than I did."

AJ scoffed and jabbed me with a hoof. "Oh jus' give yerself some credit! Yeah, we maybe had ta work jus' a bit harder every day, but we pulled it off, and we surely got enough cider fer everypony!"

Well, she was being honest with me at least; I guess I can accept that...

After catching up a bit and lending AJ a hoof with a few things to prepare, everypony began showing up. There were ponies from all over Equestria attending the event, and Sweet Apple Acres was packed with ponies from all around Equestria. Within just a few minutes, the Apple's had profited thousands from their cider sales.

Finally taking notice to how thirsty I actually was, I stepped into line and contributed a fair amount to the Apple's efforts. I mean, I kind of helped cause the collapse of the building they're raising money to rebuild, so I damn-well should contribute! I'm not even sure how many bits I placed into the chest before I received my cup of fresh cider, but it didn't bother me at all, they deserved every bit!

I bought my cup of cider to one of the many park tables the Apple's had set out for guests and took a seat. I stared at the gold liquid for a moment, then leaned the cup back and took a sip.

Wow... I'm not even sure how to explain it... It's just like drinking liquid gold. It's just... absolutely amazing. It's so smooth and so... God I don't even know! Just so good!

I immediately tilted the cup back again, taking another long sip.

No wonder this stuff is so famous! It's absolutely, unquestionably, hands-er, hooves down, the best drink I have ever tasted!

I caught eye with AJ dealing with a customer across the way from the table, and raised my cup into the air to show my appreciation. Had I have been able to at that moment, I would've totally done the Captain Morgan stance. Too bad nopony would've understood the reference, and I would just look like an idiot... I could see AJ chuckle a bit as she gave a tilt of her hat.

I must say, it was pretty relaxing; just chilling out sipping on some of the best cider I had ever tasted, just taking some time to myself for once!

"Hey buddy!"

The voice almost startled me off my seat. I turned around to see the unmistakable hardware store owner approaching me, followed by a familiar-looking, magenta-coated mare, who wore small metal kegs as her saddlebags.

Hah, somepony's ready to party!

"Hah... Hey, Pin Stripe. How you been, bud?"

"I've been great!" he smiled proudly, "You?"

"Meh, pretty tired actually. Just got back from a work trip in Canterlot."

"Oh yeah? How did that go?"

"I don't even know, really. The work was a pain in the ass, but at the same time I'm being held to a praise I can't help to live up to. Shining Armor personally thanked me for it on behalf of the Royal Guard and everything... It's a headache and a half."

"Well jeez Dav, you better stop giving everypony so much help around here then if you don't want to be highly praised for stuff that you've done!" Pin Stripe shook his head sarcastically.

"Yeah, well if it wasn't for everypony having broken shit, I'd be useless." I blankly took another sip of the cup of cider, until the last drop.

Pin Stripe and the magenta colored pony burst into laughter.

"Well I really hate to add to your little list of praise, but..." He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a clear bottle filled with a bubbly yellowish liquid and set it before me.

"...this is a little something that Berry Punch and I have been working on after hours for the past couple of weeks."

Of course! Berry Punch! I knew I recognized her from somewhere! Pin Stripe was wearing kind of a sly smile, almost as if he was hiding something. I didn’t think much of it though; I shrugged, pulled the cork out of the bottle with my teeth, and took a sip.

I set the bottle back onto the table and shook my head. It was the exact same beverage I had in that dubstep bar-club thing in Canterlot with Lyra.

I knew it! God damnit Pin Stripe... Hahaha. Stealin' my ideas...

"Well what do you think?" Both Pin Stripe and Berry raised their brow, eagerly awaiting an answer.

I couldn't help but laugh. "It's great stuff man. Reminds me all too well of home."

"That’s a good thing right?" Berry turned to Pin Stripe with a somewhat puzzled look on her face.

Pin answered with a nod. "We've been pretty successful with this stuff after we perfected the recipe a few days ago. Ponies have been buying it everywhere!"

"You're not exactly helping my issues any here, Pin Stripe." I chuckled as I took another sip of the equestrian lager.

He shrugged, "I know pal, but I've..." He trailed off as something caught his eye. "What in Equestria is that?" He pointed a hoof into the air, towards Canterlot and the Everfree Forest.

"What's what?" I turned around to see a black cloud quickly heading our way. Well, whatever it was, it looked like a black cloud...

Berry frowned, "Aw, c'mon! I thought the pegasi told us there wasn't going to be any storms this week?"

Pin Stripe peered harder at the cloud, "Uh you guys, I really don't think that’s a storm..."

Braeburn gingerly stepped into Cherry's cell, and gently scooped her over his back. As he carried her out of her cell, Braeburn's fears were slightly relieved as he could feel her breathing; her breaths were short and shallow; almost completely unnoticeable, but she was still breathing...

His relief was short lived however; sooner or later, the Changelings would come to realize something was amiss, and surely the Cutie Mark Crusaders could find themselves in immediate danger if they decided to pick this time to attack. Also, Cherry needed medical attention. NOW. She had time, but very little.

"Cuz, we need ta get outta here. It ain't safe here fer you three."

"What do you mean, 'not safe'?" Scootaloo tilted her head in question.

"I'll explain that later." Braeburn shook his head, still having trouble comprehending everything. "We jus' need a way outta here, and fast!"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shared a concerned look, realizing there was clearly no easy way out.

Sweetie Belle shuffled a hoof and unconfidently spoke up. "Umm, well, I've been practicing a spell Rarity taught me... I-I think maybe I've tried it enough. M-Maybe I could try to get us all out of these caves?"

"Well what are y'all waiting for girl? Git us outta here Sweetie Belle!"

"Okaaay... Here goes." Sweetie Belle's horn glowed a light purple, and quickly after, the same aura surrounded everypony.

Sweetie Belle clearly wasn't prepared for such an extremely high demand for magic, and she began to strain.

"I-I don't think I can--"

"You can do it Sweetie Belle!"

"How... NO!" A female voice commanded in fury beyond the darkness, "Guards! The prisoners are escaping!"

"The what now?" Apple Bloom reared back.

Braeburn bit his bottom lip as he began to have doubts for escape; Changelings were appearing from every direction and soon had them surrounded. He clenched his eyes shut and wished for anything but the worst. "Hang in there Cherry..."

"C'mon Sweetie Belle, You can do it!" Scootaloo took the little unicorn's side, and held her around her neck.

"Hnnnggg..." Sweetie's eyes were clenched tightly shut as she strained, until they shot open; glowing a brilliant light green.

Apple Bloom also held Sweetie Belle, until she began to hover off the ground.

In an incredible blast of purple and white, no trace was left of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Braeburn, or the critically-ill Cherry Jubilee. The surrounding Changelings were blasted several feet away from the force of the shockwave that followed; the Changeling Queen arose to her hooves in a rage.

"Attack now!" She demanded, angrily stomping a hoof onto the rock floor of the cavern. "Begin the invasion of Ponyville!"

"B-But Chrysalis, your highness, we still haven't located our captain!" one of her Changeling followers crawled before her.

"Fool!" She kicked at the Changeling on the ground, sending him tumbling away painfully. "We have every little pony right where we want them! The Canterlot Express has been repaired as planned, and all of the Royal Guard are stationed out of Canterlot. There is no better time to attack then now!"

"But your highness, the prisoners--"

"SILENCE!" Queen Chrysalis was becoming so furious that her eyes began to burn green. "I will take care of the prisoners! You all will invade Ponyville as planned, and cripple the Royal Guard before they have a chance to react! I'll see to it personally that the rule of Equestria is entitled to me!" The Changeling Queen arced her head back as she cackled maliciously.

"And as for the mechanic?" another one of her followers stepped up.

"Ah, of course! I think we owe him a thanks! See to that, will you?"

"Yes your highness..." The Changelings began to change course for a moment before their queen spoke again.

"Wait!" she demanded, "One final thing. Do not allow Shining Armor and Princess Cadence to cast that spell!" She punctuated the severity by stomping a hoof onto the ground. "DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!?"

In almost perfect unison, her horde bowed to her will. "Yes, your highness!"

The sunny day casting over the celebration quickly fell into darkness as the dark cloud blocked out the sun. Several of the guests, including the royal guard looked to the sky.

Amidst the sudden confusion, green streaks of light shot down from the cloud, landing a green gooey substance on several of the members of the royal guard, pinning them down; too carefully aimed to be a coincidence.

Nearly all of the ponies present at the Cider Season celebration panicked as the first of the hundreds of Changelings fell from the sky. A few pegasi tried to escape, but the Changelings shot them down with the same substance as they did with the Royal Guard. Rainbow Dash was one of the few pegasi who were fast enough to evade the Changeling's immobilization spell. She didn't flee; in fact, she was trying to fight off the Changelings as they came.

"What the hell is going on!?" I stood from my table, completely drawing a blank of what to do.

"I don't know! What the hay are these things?" Pin Stripe watched the sky as the cloud dissipated into hundreds of Changelings.

Berry Punch peered up to the sky, leaning her front hooves on the top of the table. "I've seen these creatures before! They're Changelings!"

"These are the creatures that tried to sabotage the Royal Wedding?!" Pin Stripe's mouth dropped.

"Yeah... Yes they definitely are!" Berry frantically nodded her head in agreement.

Completely at a total loss, I tried to find Twilight, AJ, or anypony amongst the chaos, but it was useless; most of the ponies were trying to flee, others were frozen trying to comprehend the sight held before them, several had already been pinned down with the Changeling's spell, and few were hopelessly fighting back.

"Uh... what should we do?" I tried not to sound panicky, but it was already a miracle that us three hadn't been hit yet.

"Well, you're good at fighting Davin! Go fight 'em!"

"Yeah! Go kick some Changeling flank!" Berry pushed me from across the table with a hoof.

"What?!" I didn't even really have a chance to protest as a Changeling landed directly in front of my path.

I completely froze up, but luckily Pin Stripe charged into the Changeling in front of me, knocking it to the ground.

Pin looked towards Berry Punch and told her to run for it. He turned to me and gave me a face that read 'what the hell are you doing'.

"Well, I--"

"Dav, shut up and fight! I got your back!"

He puts up a good argument. This might be a good chance to let out some of my frustrations!

Changeling after Changeling were fought off, but they kept coming faster than they were going. These creatures were definitely a lot stronger than I thought, and I took quite a beating just trying to defend myself! Pin Stripe was definitely one tough stallion, because he was fending them off left, right, and center!

For a moment, it seemed like we were gaining the upper hoof. The crowd of black and green looked like it was thinning out some; that is, right up until the distinct sound of somepony screaming and of an airplane careening to the ground filled the air.

With a blur of cyan and rainbow, a powerful crash sent both Pin Stripe and myself to the ground. As the dust settled, I could finally make out what had just happened.

"Rainbow Dash, what are you doing?!" Pin Stripe was first to get to his hooves, and he even offered the blue pegasus a hoof up.

"Yea, what the hell!?" I finally got myself back to my hooves.

"Uh, what's it look like I'm doing?!" She struggled with some of that green substance sticking to her wings, until taking notice to the current situation.

Pin Stripe, Rainbow Dash and I immediately found ourselves back-to-back-to-back, encircled by a horde of the black disgusting creatures.

This was hopeless. In a split second, the three of us found our hooves cemented in place to the ground with the green gooey substance; struggling wasn't even an option. We were stuck, and stuck for good.

"Where the hay are Shining Armor and Cadence?!" Rainbow Dash lent back, straining to break her front hooves free.

A Changeling stepped up to her face, and pointed a holed hoof towards two pony-sized green blobs near the farmhouse. "They're taken care of until our queen has secured the throne."

I was getting even more pissed off than I already was, and I'm sure my face had to be just red with anger right now. "The fu--"

The Changeling stepped towards me and cut me off with a forceful hoof to the mouth. "Of course... The mechanic." He smiled with malice, "We have a lot to thank you for!"

The black creature finally brought his hoof from my mouth. I didn't even hesitate the moment I was able to speak again. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

This gained the full attention of Pin Stripe and Rainbow Dash, and they looked completely bewildered at the choice of words.

"I am so glad you asked." He grinned wildly, "You see, you have allowed us to finally take over all of Equestria and feed off it's unlimited supply of companionship and love!"

"How could he even have contributed?" Pin Stripe struggled with the green substance as he spoke.

"Davin wouldn't do that!" Rainbow Dash's choice of words actually caught me a bit by surprise. I never would have expected her to take my side so willingly; even in a situation such as this!

"No?" the Changeling glanced over us three, and shrugged before looking me directly in the eye; with both hate and admiration. "He led the Royal Guard straight into a trap! A trap that would seal the fate of Equestria, of course!"

I couldn't believe it. Suddenly everything made complete sense; the enchanted cider, the mysterious train wreck... The Changelings clearly had put a lot of thought into this plan of theirs, and I was a pawn in this whole charade.

God damnit! I am so fucking angry right now the veins in my head feel like they're going to burst!

The Changeling took notice to my realization, and chuckled to himself. "Oh yes, that’s not all either; you had almost discovered us a while back on you're little misadventure with your..." The dark creature paused as he sniffed at me for a moment, "...special somepony."

I fucking lost it. A fuse blew as I lunged forward at the creature, but due to my being stuck to the ground I missed him by quite a bit; only making me even all the more angry.

The satisfaction I'd get beating the living shit out of this fucking creature...

"You better not have done anything to her, I swear to God..."

The Changeling scoffed. "You aren't really in any position to be making threats here..." he peered over my shoulder to the image of the crossed standard screwdriver and the wrench on the side of my flank. "...Strach."

"What the fuck did you just call me?!"

"Huh, like that name do you?" he chuckled, "You should. It suits you." He waved a hoof to something off beyond the surrounding black figures, and a way was cleared as two Changelings dragged a bound green unicorn before us.

The unicorn looked up to me with her teary amber eyes. "I-I'm sorry Davin..."

These creatures are fucking dead. Mark my words...

The Changeling shook his head as he grinned through his teeth. He brought a perforated hoof to his mouth and cleared his throat. "As you have already proved your worth to us, I come offering you a proposal."

"If it involves harming anypony, you can fuck right off and shove it up your ass."

"So quick to make his mind!" With a flick of his hoof, he signaled the two Changelings binding Lyra. They began to pull the ropes around her neck tighter, and I could see the pain on her face before there was even tension on the ropes.

"Fine! Fine! I'll do whatever you want! Just don't hurt her!" It killed me to surrender so easily, but there was no way I was going to let them hurt her!

Off in the distance, a small, but very bright light emanated from the tallest peak of Canterlot. This caught the attention of the Changeling almost immediately, and his proud sneer grew.

"Ah, looks like her majesty Chrysalis has come through on her end..."

Princess Celestia was at last finishing inscribing the last line on a very long scroll, when a tremendous blast of white-purple light ripped through the castle. It startled the Princess enough to drop the scroll from the grasp of her magic, and she gawked at the sight before her.

As the light finally vanished, the five ponies who had appeared collapsed to the floor.

"Ugh..." Apple Bloom groaned as she shakily rose to her hooves. "Sweetie Belle? You ok?"

"Uhh... Yeah I'm fine."

Scootaloo quickly came to also, but she had to shake herself out of her state to keep her eyes from rolling about her head. "How'd you do that Sweetie Belle? That was incredible!"

"I-I don't know... It couldn't have been just me! I could barely cast the spell on my own until you two hugged me!"

Braeburn weakly came around also, but laid flat on the ground as Cherry Jubilee still laid over his back. "Where... Ugh. W-Where are we?"

"I think the better question is where did you come from?" Celestia gazed in bewilderment at the five ponies who had unintentionally intruded her presence.

Everypony's jaws hung open in disbelief of where they had ended up. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo turned to face Sweetie Belle wide-eyed as the realization swept over them.

"Celestia's royal quarters?" Apple Bloom reared back, aiming her confusion at the small white unicorn, "Why'd ya bring us here Sweetie Belle?"

"I-I didn't mean to!" She raised her front hooves in surrender.

"My little--" the royal alicorn glanced over the three small fillies, landing on the unkempt looking stallion and unconscious mare lay on the floor. She put a hoof to her mouth as she gasped. "What happened?!"

"Uh... Umm... W-We were in the crystal caverns... a-and..." Sweetie Belle stammered as she shyly tried to come up with an explanation.

"And we found Braeburn and this mare locked up!" Scootaloo forwardly finished for Sweetie Belle, pointing a hoof towards the mare and stallion.

Apple Bloom nodded her head in agreement, biting her bottom lip worriedly.

Celestia quickly paced over to Braeburn and Cherry, and she peered at them with extreme concern.

"Princess...she needs help..." Braeburn croaked as the physical exertion of his escape caught up with him.

Princess Celestia didn't say a word. She lent an ear down to cream-colored mare's side, gasping and rearing back almost immediately. "I-I..." She stammered, and hollered down the castle. "Luna! I need your assistance!"

Within only a few moments, Princess Luna burst into Celestia's chambers, taking immediate notice to the less-than-well looking mare and stallion. "What has happened here?"

"No time sister. This mare needs help!"

The next few blurry minutes of hectic scrambling about the castle for a doctor, proved utterly hopeless. A willing doctor was eventually found after several minutes of searching Canterlot's Hospital across town, and he was summoned to Celestia's quarters of the Royal Castle.

The doctor very carefully and gently laid Cherry onto her back, onto Celestia's bed; the doctor examined her condition, and in a light cast of magic, he placed a stethoscope to the mare's chest. Celestia, Luna, Braeburn, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood around the bed hopelessly. The doctor listened carefully, until his eyes widened. A very deeply concerned look fell upon the doctor's face as he glanced to the three fillies at the end of the bed, then up to the tan stallion and the princesses. He worriedly shook his head.

"I'm afraid to say that these three fillies need not see this..." He bit his bottom lip as he tried to cover up his uneasiness, while still remaining as polite as he possibly could. Surely the three young foals did not need to witness such a heart-wrenching scene such as this.

Without another word, the members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders politely nodded, and left out of Celestia's room and waited outside the door.

The doctor looked over to Braeburn who was wearily leaning against the bed, staring down to the red-maned mare. Tears were forming in his eyes, and he fought with himself not to cry.

Celestia gently placed a comforting hoof onto the back of Braeburn's shoulder. "Braeburn, there's not much we can do. We should leave her with the Doctor; he'll know what the best thing for her is."

Braeburn sniffled and wiped a hoof across his face. "I-If I may Princess, I'd like ta stay fer a moment..." Braeburn sniffled again, " 'specially if'n this is goin' ta be the last time I get ta speak with her..."

The Princesses understood, and took their leave of the chamber.

The doctor too nodded his head in understanding; with a simple spell, he brought Cherry back to consciousness and stepped aside, allowing Braeburn to get closer. It would only be brief...

The doctor joined the two Princesses and the Cutie Mark Crusaders outside the door, and was immediately bombarded with questions. He could only sum up a few words to break the confusion.

"I'm afraid she doesn't have much time... There's nothing more I can do." The doctor hung his head and trotted off.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders watched him trot off, and the three hung their heads as they too trotted off towards the base of the castle.

Just a matter of moments after the doctor and Cutie Mark Crusaders took their leave to the lower halls of the castle, a dark figure appeared down the corridor in a blaze of green flames. She was galloping at full tilt towards the princesses, and they had little-to-no time to react.

"Do not challenge me!" Chrysalis sent a shockwave from her crooked horn, backing the royal sisters against the walls of the castle. "I am more powerful than even the both of you combined!"

"Y-You will not get away with this, C-Chrysalis..." Luna croaked back as she lied resentfully on the floor, unable to stand back up.

"Oh, and who is going to stop me?" The Changeling queen chuckled.

"Your weakness." Celestia coughed as she too tried to pick herself from the ground, but to no avail. "You're going about this all wrong Chrysalis; you underestimate the power of friendship and love, and this is why you are going to fail... Again."

Celestia coughed again and she collapsed against the floor; completely drained of any energy to fight. The crown on her head fell to the ground, sliding to a stop right in front of Queen Chrysalis.

"This was almost too easy..." The Queen chuckled as she placed the golden crown atop her head in an aura of green. With a forceful buck, the door of Celestia's room was opened.

"No..." The Queen reared back, "NO!"

Cherry's emerald eyes opened slowly, and she took a slow look around the room until her gaze fell upon the tan stallion at her side.

"B-Braeburn?"

"Shh, Miss Jubilee. Yer safe now." Braeburn placed a hoof on her forehead; she was burning up.

"W-We are? W-Where..." she coughed softly, "Where are we?"

"The Royal Castle in Canterlot..." Braeburn sniffled as he began to tear up.

"B-But, how?"

"We were found..." Braeburn wiped a tear from his eye, "Jus' like ya said we would, Miss Jubilee..."

A short smile appeared on the mare's face as she looked up to Braeburn. He couldn’t help but return a bit of a smile as well. The moment was unfortunately short lived as there was some commotion outside of the door to Celestia's room.

"What in tarnation was that?" Braeburn was momentarily distracted, and he averted his eyes towards the door.

"Braeburn..." With a hoof, Cherry turned Braeburn's head to face her. She gave him another smile, and her cheeks flushed slightly giving her a glow that she had lost a long time ago. "H-How many times do I have to tell you to call me Cherry?"

Braeburn broke down right then and there; Cherry pulled his head to hers, and they shared the most bittersweet kiss...

Their bodies began to glow blindingly as their lips touched, and a forceful blast soon engulfed the room, the castle, all of Canterlot, and across the valley to all of Equestria...

Author's Note

My hands hurt. Aside from that, I sure hope you guys enjoy this "little" bit of closure for leaving you all hanging from the last chapter.
Sorry in advance for any errors I might have missed; I spent a good hour proofreading while finishing my homework for the night so I was a bit distracted. Hope you like it, nonetheless!