The Pony Who Embraced The Darkness

by Zurvan

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Slice of Life, Sex, Sweetie Belle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Romance
Length: 41017

After the Griffin attack things are going back to normal in Equestria, or are they?

Sweetie and Ash have seemed to put the past behind them! They are now both engaged and are waiting and preparing for their wedding. But when a familiar face comes back for revenge, who knows what will happen.

Sequel to The Pony That Fell From The Sky.

Special thanks to The Great Eater for being my sounded board, idea pony, editor, and all around helpful pony. And to Sudoku Brony who helped write this description and get me out of my writers block.

Published 2016-07-26 23:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2017-05-10 00:09:44 UTC

Chapter 2: Somepony to Love

Chapter 2: Somepony to Love

“Winter Spark get back here!” Nymeria yells as she chases the colt.

“Come on Nymeria.” Winter says as he teleports to an alcove. “You’re supposed to be practicing teleporting.

”Nymeria plops down on the ground. “I don’t want to practice anymore.”

Winter teleports to her side. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m just tired Winter.”

“Tired of what?”

“Princess Twilight’s classes.”

“Aren’t you learning magic?”

“She treats me as if I’m a child!” Nymeria says angrily. “Master always treated me like an adult.”

Winter puts a forehoof around Nymeria. “Tell me about him.”

“Master?”

Winter nods. “If you want to talk about him.”

Nymeria pushes herself against Winter. “Why don’t we talk about something else?"

“And what exactly is it you want to talk about?”

“Us.”

“What about us?”

“The same thing I always want to talk about.”

“Nymeria, I care for you deeply, you know that.”

“But?”

“I’ve told you I am not going to...” Winter blushes heavily. “Sleep with you at this stage in our relationship.”

“I’m going to go into heat again soon.” Nymeria says. “Even with my magic, and moon tea I can only get so much relief. I'll drink enough tea to make sure I don't get pregnant, please?”

Winter sighs. “I’m sorry Nymeria, I really just don’t feel comfortable with that idea. I’d rather wait until I was married.”

“Then marry me.” Nymeria says as she presses as close to him as she can. “It’ll be great, we can make love every night. I’ll give you as many foals as I can once we're ready, it’ll be great.”

“Wait! Are you proposing to me?”\

Nymeria laughs. “It’s the modern era, you might have missed a few things in that thousand years. The mare can propose to the stallion now.”

“Last time I checked with just barely technically meet the criteria of being called those. To most we’re still a filly and colt.”

“You’ve had your cutie mark for years.” Nymeria says. “So what if I just got mine.” She looks to her mark, a zebrican design that nopony is quite sure what it means.

“So you really want to marry me?”

Nymeria nods. “I do.”

“This isn’t just because of… you know is it?”

“Is it really that hard for you to say sex? Or would you rather say intercourse?” Nymeria teases. “Or do you need another euphemism?”

Winter sighs. “Fine. This isn’t all about sex is it?”

“See?” Nymeria says “Was that so hard?”

“Will you answer my question?”

“That is certainly one reason.”

“Is it the only one?”

“I do care greatly for you, and the idea of spending the rest of my life with you isn’t the worst idea ever.”

Winter chuckles slightly at her phrasing. “Let me think about it.”

“Really?” Nymeria asks hopefully.

“Yeah, I need to decide what I want, so give me a day or two.”

“Then you’ll let me know your decision?”

“Of course.” Winter says then kisses her. “And if I say yes, I may consider bending my rule on some matters for you.” He pats her flank with a grin.

Nymeria blushes and grins broadly. “I like that idea!”

Winter nods. “But I expect you to learn what Princess Twilight wants you to learn.”

Nymeria sighs. “So teleportation practice?” Winter nods and teleports away from her.

==========

Twilight lays in bed with her forelegs wrapped around Trixie. “You know I think I like our study sessions.”

“Trixie likes our sessions too.” She says. “Very educational.”

Twilight chuckles. “I think I’m learning more about the magic of friendship and progressing relationships than you are learning anything.”

“Trixie has learned lots. Just a bit ago you showed a new spell to Trixie.”

“The Starswirl the Bearded Wing does have some interesting spells.”

“Trixie has heard that. Where did you find that spell?”

“In a book of body modification spells.” Twilight answers. “It’s called the futanari spell.”

“Trixie finds it odd that Starswirl would need such a spell, he was a colt after all.”

Twilight shrugs. “Maybe he developed it for somepony else?”

Trixie nods. “Trixie agrees with this idea.”

‘“Speaking of other ponies we should check on Nymeria and Winter.”

“Does that mean Trixie has to get up?”

Twilight chuckles. “You don’t have to get up, but you do need to move so I can get my leg out from under you.”

Trixie moves and kisses Twilight. “Trixie loves you.”

“I love you too Trixie.” Twilight says as Trixie moves so Twilight can get up and gets out of bed, “I’ll come get you once I’ve checked on them. You can lay here until then.”

“Sounds good to Trixie.” She says as she curls up under the covers.

Twilight chuckles softly as she steps out into the hall. No sooner does she close the door behind her does she see Winter galloping towards her. “Winter, what are you doing?”

“Getting Nymeria to practice teleportation.” Winter answers with a grin. “We're playing tag.”

Nymeria appears in front of Winter and tackles him. “I win!” She announces before kissing Winter.

“Looks like you've gotten the hang of teleportation.” Twilight says startling the filly, causing her to jump off Winter.

“I didn’t see you there Princess.” Nymeria says as she blushes and climbs off Winter.

“You two don’t have to be so embarrassed about your relationship.” Twilight says. “Public displays of affection are natural.”

“That’s amusing coming from you Princess.” Nymeria says.

“I have to agree with her on this one.” Winter says as he pushes himself up onto his hooves. “How many ponies even know you’re even in a relationship?”

Twilight blushes heavily. “That’s not exactly the same, I’m a princess.”

“And what exactly am I?” Winter asks.

“I do suppose that even though you are aren’t technically a prince that you are in the public eye a lot.” Twilight admits. “Perhaps I owe you an apology.”

“In that case apology accepted.” Winter says.

Twilight nods. “Anything else I can help you with?”

Winter shakes his head. “We’re done with our training for the day. I need to head back to Canterlot and will be gone for a couple days.”

Twilight nods. “Alright, take care. See you then.” With that she goes back into her room to to give them some privacy.

]Nymeria looks at Winter. “You didn’t tell me you were going to be gone for a few days.”

“I told you I needed some time to think.” Winter says. “What were you expecting?”

“So that means you’ll have an answer for me when you come back?” Nymeria asks hopefully.

Winter nods. “Of course.”

Nymeria kisses him. “Hurry back then.”

Author's Note

Fimfic imported this badly from GDOCS, please let me know if I missed correcting anything.

Chapter 3: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Chapter 3: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

King Bastion sits on his throne reviewing paperwork on a desk in front of him when a battle scarred female griffin storms into the room. “I need a word with you your majesty.” She says the last words as if they are poison on her tongue.

“Retired General Bluttrinker, I'm a little busy at the moment. Why don't you come back when you have an appointment?”

“Your staff has been giving me the run around.” Bluttrinker says. “You never seem to have an appointment.”

“I'm an important griffin.” Bastion claims. “It can't be helped.”

Bluttrinker digs her claws into the desk and and drags her claws across the desk leaving gouges as she does. “I don’t like to play games.”

Bastion sighs as places the paperwork down. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t have you arrested.”

“You don’t have the balls to touch me.” Bluttrinker says. “You’re not half the griffin your father was.”

Bastion places his claws on the desk and pushes himself up. “My father started a war that we had no hope of winning.”

“So when he lost you rolled over and let the ponies castrate you?”

“You go too far!” Bastion yells. “If I didn’t give into their demands they were going to attack us, what would’ve happened then?”

“The ponies would never attack us.” Bluttrinker says. “You fell for their bluff.”

“You can’t prove that.”

“You can’t prove they were going to attack.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to step down, and let somegriffin else take over control.”

“I suppose you mean yourself?”

“Of course.” Bluttrinker says. “I’ll conscript from the entire empire and raise an army large enough to squash those puny ponies.”

“You’ll kill us all.” Bastion says. “You have no idea what those ponies are capable of.”

“The only griffin I’m going to kill is you if you don’t step aside.”

Bastion growls. “That’s it, arrest her!”

The guards don’t move and Bluttrinker laughs. “Problem your majesty?”

“What’s going on here?” Bastion growls as he turns to the guards. “I gave you an order!”

“I made sure your guards were members of my old team, they won’t lay a claw on me.” Bluttrinker says. “Now will you step aside or will I have to kill you?”

“I’ll kill you first!” Bastion yells

“Then die!” Bluttrinker yells as she uses her claws to strike out at Bastion as he turns around.

Bastion sees the claw and dodges backward and down, the claw meant for his neck rakes across the side of his face. He puts his right claw over his bleeding face and screams.

Bluttrinker flares her wings As a flash of purple light marks the arrival of Princess Twilight and Rainbow Dash. “Flee!” Bluttrinker yells as she flies through the nearby window followed by the two guards.

“Dash, follow them!” Twilight says. “I’ll see about the King.”

“I’m on it!” Rainbow says as she quickly takes wing and goes through the window after the griffins.

“King Bastion, are you okay?” Twilight asks.

Bastion growls. “I think the Bitch took my eye.”

“Let me see, I know some healing spells.”

“Fine!” Bastion growls as he moves his claw aside, letting Twilight examine the wound.

“I’m not going to lie.” Twilight says as she charges her horn. “It’s pretty bad, I don’t know if I can save your eye or not.”

“Do what you can, Princess.” Bastion says. “But leave the scars.”

Twilight carefully focuses her magic at the gashes sealing them up, leaving only the scars as asked she carefully works on his eye. After a few minutes, Twilight is sweating furiously. “I can’t do anymore.” She says as she collapses onto the floor.

“Princess, are you alright?” Bastion asks.

“I used all my stored magic trying to heal you.” Twilight admits. “I’m going to need food and rest before I can do anymore magic.”

“We'll have to get some appropriate food made for you and your friend.”

“How’s your eye?”

“Not good.” Bastion says. “I have almost no vision in it.”

“You seem remarkably calm for somepony that just lost half of your vision.”

“I know you did what you could. I don’t blame you.” Bastion says. “I have some vision, so there's a chance that one of your unicorn surgeons may be able to do something for me.”

“It's definitely a possibility, I'll have to look into.” Twilight says. “Now, why don't you tell me about who attacked you?”

“Her name is Bluttrinker, she was a general, but she has since retired.”

“Sounds like she should be loyal to you, so why attack you?”

“Many griffins view me as weak for giving into you ponies.” Bastion says. “She wanted me to step down so that she could take over and raise a new army to attack you.”

“Wow, that’s pretty specific.”

Bastion nods. “Bluttrinker attacked me when I refused and tried to kill me, now I will have her head on a platter.”

“How you dispense justice is your business.” Twilight says. “I will not stand in your way.”

“Do you think I could borrow a couple guards until I find out who’s loyal to me?”

Twilight nods. “I’ll have to discuss that with Celestia but I’m sure we can arrange that.”

Bastion nods. “Who is the pony you arrived here with?”

“That’s Rainbow Dash, she’s the captain of my personal guard.”

“Can she catch them?”

Twilight laughs. “Rainbow’s the fastest pegasus in Equestria, I have every confidence of her catching them. Though I’m a little worried about what might happen if they outnumber her.”

“She can hold her own in a fight then?”

“She wouldn’t be the captain of my guard if she couldn’t” Twilight says as a purple light flashes behind her. “Dash?”

Dash takes a couple breathes. “Sorry Twilight, there were too many of them. I had to use the emergency teleportation charm on my armor.”

“That’s what the charm is on there for.” Twilight says. “Certainly sounds like it was an emergency to me.”

“I take it you caught up to them?” Bastion asks.

“I did, but I flew right into a trap, they had more griffins waiting and jumped me.” Dash answers. “I flew away as fast as I could and activated the gem as soon as I could.”

“I’m just glad you’re safe.” Twilight says. “You up to keep an eye on Bastion while I write a letter to Celestia?”

Dash nods. “Not a problem.”

“I’ll be right back.” Twilight says as she walks off.

Dash looks at Bastion a few minutes later. “Seems like you’ve had better days.”

Bastion chuckles slightly. “That’s putting things nicely.”

“Alright.” Twilight says as she walks back into the room. “A team of guards will be here shortly.”

“Thank you.” Bastion says. “Now if you excuse me, I need to write a speech to address my subjects. They need to know to be on the look out for the traitor.”

“I understand.” Twilight says.

“Why don’t one of you head down to the kitchen and get you both some food?” Bastion suggests.

“That’s a good idea.” Twilight says.

==========

Some time later they are fed and rested. The team of 4 royal guards appear in a flash of light. “We’re here to relieve you Princess.” The unicorn guard says.

Twilight nods. “Come on Dash, I can teleport us back to Ponyville.”

Dash nods. “Alright Twilight.” She flies over to Twilight and the two of them vanish in flash of purple light.

The unicorn turns to Bastion. “How can we be of assistance your majesty?”

“Can you protect me while I give a speech?” Bastion asks.

“Should be easy enough.” The guard answers.

“Good, then do it.” Bastion orders and the unicorn uses his magic to create a sheild between Bastion and the crowd.

Chapter 4: Something to Talk About

Chapter 4: Something to Talk About

“Winter!” Luna yells at the distracted unicorn, then bashes her fore hooves on the table and uses The Royal Canterlot Voice. “WINTER SPARK!”

Winter winces, not failing to hear her that time and looks at her. “Sorry, mother, I was lost in thought.”

“Obviously, you’ve not touched your dinner.”

“Doesn’t look like you’ve touched your breakfast either.” Winter says as he motions to her food.

“I have just sat down to eat.”

“Then I haven't been sitting here nearly as long as I thought.” Winter says then charges up his horn and magically reheats his food then starts eating it.

“So are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?”

“It’s Nymeria.”

“What about her?”

“She asked me to marry her.”

“Really?” Luna asks. “Is that a thing now?”

“What do you mean mom?”

“The filly asking the colt, is that a thing now?”

“Nymeria claims it’s fairly common.”

“Huh.” Luna says. “I never would have imagined. When we were sent to the moon that never would have happened.”

Winter nods. “I know, it feels weird to me too.”

“I can imagine, I’m sure you always thought you’d ask her.”

“Honestly before she asked I hadn’t even thought about it.”

“You hadn’t?”

Winter shakes his head. “We’ve only known each other under a year, I honestly feel like I’ve just begun courting her.”

“So what did you say to her?”

“I told her I needed some time to think about it.”

“And I take it that’s what has you so distracted?”

“Exactly.” Winter nods. “It’s a lot to think about.”

“I can only imagine.” Luna says. “Do you think this anything to do with the upcoming marriage of Ash Fall and Sweetie Belle?”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Winter admits.

“They are to be married close to a year from when they met.”

“Yeah, but Sweetie Belle literally saved Ash’s life, so that’s a completely different situation.”

“Maybe, but her situation isn’t exactly normal.” Luna points out. “Does she still wear a collar?”

“Yeah, she doesn't feel comfortable not wearing one.”

‘She’s told us enough about how she was raised to know she wasn’t shown a lot of affection.” Luna says. “She could be afraid of losing you.”

“I honestly never thought of it that way.”

“It’s something to keep in mind.”

“True.”

“Well, let me ask you this. Do you care for her?”

Winter nods. “I do.”

“Could you see yourself spending the rest of your life with her?”

Winter blushes slightly. “Maybe, that’s a bit of a daunting question.”

Luna nods. “Why not compromise?”

“What are you talking about?”

“A hornfasting ceremony. The were very popular among unicorns in more rural areas.”

Winter nods. “That’s brilliant!” He jumps up and kisses Luna’s cheek. “Thank you Mom!” He runs off.

Luna smiles slightly. “Kids. gotta love them.”

===========

“Please forgive the delay Baroness Amira.” Celestia says as she enters the sitting room. “If I had known you were coming I would not have held Day Court.”

“It's fine Princess.” Amira says as she looks up from her tea. “I certainly didn't mean to interrupt your busy schedule.”

“So what is this visit about?” Celestia asks. “I highly doubt you came all the way here for a social call.”

“We are having a border dispute with our neighbor Emperor Jindan of the Guoxians “

“I don't much care to intervene in other ponies matters.”

“Please, just come and hear both sides of the argument. We could really use a neutral third party before things escalate.” Amira says. “I promise that we will hold to whatever you decide regardless of whose side you take in the end.”

Celestia brings a forehoof to her chin as she thinks for a minute. “Could I send somepony I trust in my steed?”

“Who do you have in mind?”

“My former student, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Former student?”

“She stopped being my student when she ascended to alicornhood.”

“What is she princess of?”

Celestia grins. “Friendship.”

Amira chuckles slightly. “I doubt we’ll ever call Emperor Jindan our friend.”

“Be that as it may, I feel like Twilight’s the best for this job.”

Amira nods. “I don't even know this pony.”

“That's the point.” Celestia says. “You asked me to be an impartial third party, but the truth is because I'm your friend there’s a chance I wouldn’t be impartial.”

“Why not?”

“As Princess I don’t have many ponies I can call friend.”

“And you might see it as if you disagree with me you might lose a friend.”

“Exactly.”

“So to avoid that you want to send a pony you trust to be our intermediary and give a fair unbiased decision?”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“How could I argue with that?” Amira asks. “I asked for an impartial party, and you’re supplying me one.”

Celestia nods. “I take it that you’re interested then?”

Amira nods. “Very much so, I shall return to Saddle Arabia and tell Haakim what to expect.”

“Feel free to stay at least the night and refresh yourself before you leave.”

“Thank you very much, I shall take you up on that.”

Celestia nods. “Is there anything else I can do for you in the meantime?”

“Actually there is one more thing, since Haakim isn’t here.”

“What is that Baroness?”

“Could you summon you best mare doctor to come see me please?”

Celestia smirks slightly. “Are you asking for the doctor to be a mare, or to specialize in mares? There’s a difference.”

Amira blushes slightly. “Both preferably. Especially one that knows to keep her muzzle shut about sensitive matters.”

“What’s wrong with you Amira?”

“Nothing Princess, I think the day Haakim and I have awaited for has finally happened.”

“You don’t mean?” Celestia trails off as Amira nods.

“Yes, Princess. I believe I am with foal.”

“Then I shall summon my personal physician.” Celestia says. “She won’t tell anypony anything that you don’t want her to.”

“Thank you. Knowing that is a huge weight off my shoulders.”

Chapter 5: Love and Marriage

Chapter 5: Love and Marriage

Lieutenant Greaves wakes up in the bed he shares with his marefriend Applejack. He is of course completely unsurprised that the farm mare was already up, even though the sun hadn’t quite risen yet, and Fluttershy’s rooster hadn’t called the morning with his normal ‘cock-a-doodle-do’.

Greaves gets out of the bed and walks down the steps of the barn loft that was their bedroom. As he leaves the barn to head to the main house he sees a small house under construction, that house is to be the future residence of Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara. Greaves chuckles as he remembers Diamond offering to front the money to build him and Applejack a place of their own if they so decide. To be honest for the time being he was content in the barn loft, even though he wasn’t sure how long that would work, especially since he planned on asking Applejack to be his wife.

Greaves walks into the farmhouse and the smell of two things, the first is breakfast, the second is his marefriend clearly in heat. He sighs, not sure what to make of the later, this was a first for him. He hears somepony talking and he moves closer to both hear better and see the ponies talking. He looks into the kitchen and sees Applejack and Apple Bloom.

“So you and Diamond ready for your wedding?” Applejack asks.

“Well, we’re ready for it, but it’s not ready for us.”

“Whatcha mean?”

“We’re still deciding where we’re going to have the wedding. Diamond wants somewhere big and fancy.”

“Well, what you expect marrying a rich pony like her?”

Apple Bloom nods. “I’m more than happy to have a big and fancy wedding for her, heck even for me, but the problem is how much of our family would be able to go to something in like Canterlot or Manehatten?”

“How many of them you want?”

Apple Bloom blushes slightly. “We’re Apples, I was hoping they’d all show up.”

Applejack whistles. “That’s a tall order.”

“Am I asking too much?”

Applejack nods. “I think you are a bit, short of holding it in the middle of winter a few might be able to come up from Appleloosa, and we’ll have to have a couple of them watch of our farm so that we can go to it.”

Apple Bloom nods. “Well…. there was one place that Diamond said she’d love to get married in if possible.”

“Name it Bloom.” Applejack says. “I’m sure we can arrange it.”

“I don’t want you to call in any favors for me.” Apple Bloom says. “I’m sure you're going to need them for yourself.”

“”Whatcha mean?”

“You and Greaves?” Apple Bloom says. “”The two of you have been in the barn loft since winter broke.”

Applejack takes her turn to blush. “I suppose you have a point there.” Applejack coughs slightly. “I’ve been thinking about forcing the issue with him.”

“Applejack!” Apple Bloom yells. “You wouldn’t?!”

“Maybe it’s just mah heat talkin.” Applejack says.

“Maybe you have a point.” Greaves says causing the sisters to jump.

“How long you been standing there?” Applejack asks.

“Long enough.” He answers.

Applejack blushes slightly. “Oh.”

Greaves walks over to her and kisses her passionately. “I'd been thinking about asking you to marry me, I think I know what you would answer now.”

“Your want to marry me?”

Greaves nods. “Guard pay isn't that great, but I've been trying to save up for a pair of those earrings that everypony uses.”

“I don't need any fancy jewelry.” Applejack says. “I have you.”

“Marry me then?”

“Can we go to Twilight and get it down quickly then come back and take care of other things?” Applejack asks and Greaves nods.

“I'm out of here before I see my niece or nephew conceived.” Apple Bloom says and heads to her room.

Applejack grins. “You know, this farm pony doesn't have an issue with a little honeymoon before the ceremony.”

Greaves grabs an apple from the counter. “Lead the way, I'm happy to serve.”

==========

Later that night the farmhouse is full of excitement. “I can't believe you two are married already “ Apple Bloom says.

“What do ya expect?” Applejack asks. “I never was big on ceremony.”

“Not everypony is.” Apple Bloom says. “Though I know somepony who thinks you need to celebrate.” Apple Bloom nods to Big Mac who opens the door and Pinkie Pie comes in.

“Congratulations!” Pinkie yells. “Time for your engagement/wedding party.”

“Pinkie, this isn’t necessary.”

“I argue that it is very necessary.” Twilight says as she walks in behind Pinkie.

“Twilight, you did the ceremony for us, isn’t that enough?”

“Of course not Darling.” Rarity says as she pushes her way in.

“I’m beginning to feel a bit outnumbered here.” Applejack says.

“Perhaps you should just give in and celebrate.” Sweetie says as she comes in behind her sister followed by Ash Fall, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Silver Spoon, Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara.

Applejack sighs. “I reckon if everypony’s here and going to insist we might as well have a party.”

“I thought you’d say that.” Apple Bloom says.

A short time later the party is in full swing. Silver Spoon approached the happy couple. “Apple Bloom told me that you two didn’t have the earrings everypony is using.”

“Sweet Apple Acres isn’t doing quite well enough to afford them right now, so we decided we didn’t need them. All that matters is that we know we’re married.”

“Apple Bloom said you’d say something like that. So the lot of us got together.” Silver Spoon pulls a box out of her bag. “I made them, Ash and Sweetie used their magic to speed things up, and everypony pitched in some bits to pay for materials.”

“Y’all shouldn’t have.” Applejack says.

“Well, we did.” Silver Spoon says. “So you might as well take them.”

“I guess what’s done is done.” Applejack says as she opens the box and sees the earrings, her and Greaves cutie marks bound together.

“Let me help you Darling.” Rarity says as she grabs the earrings in her magic and carefully puts them in Applejacks ears.

“Thank you.” Applejack says. “I can’t believe y’all are doing all this for us.”

“You mean a lot to all us.”Apple Bloom says. “We’d do anything for ya.”

Diamond Tiara walks up to them. “I’ve got something for you also.”

“Diamond?” Apple Bloom asks as she looks at her fiance. “What are you doing?”

“What I think is best.” Diamond answers as she pulls a key out of her saddlebags and places it on the table.

"What’s this?” Applejack asks.

“They key to the house I had built. I want you two to have it.”

“We can’t take the house.” Applejack says. “What about you two?”

“I was thinking we could live at the mansion, it’s not that far away.” Diamond answers as she bites her lip and looks at Apple Bloom.

“What about your dad?” Bloom asks.

“He’s moving to Manehatten to manage a store there.”

“I think we can work with that.”

“Really?”

Apple Bloom nods. “Yeah, we’ll move into your mansion.”

“Thank you!” Diamond says and hugs Bloom.

Chapter 6: I Got You (I Feel Good)

Chapter 6: I Got You (I Feel Good)

The Cutie Mark Crusaders and their significant others are gathered at Diamond’s club house. “I got to admit.” Diamond says. “I liked your club house in the tree better.”

“There’s just too many of us for that place anymore.” Scootaloo says.

“Sides I thought I did a good job fixin’ this place up.” Apple Bloom says. “It earned me mah cutie mark, so there's no place I'd rather be.”

“Well said.” Ash says. “Besides now you can bring in injured ponies if you want. Instead of having the welcoming ceremony at the foot of the tree.”

“At least it didn't rain.” Scootaloo points out.

“By some miracle.” Ash replies, and everypony chuckles.

“Just think after tomorrow we don't know when we'll be able to do this again.” Sweetie says.

“I'm sure it won't be more than 3 months, tops before we're all able to be back here.” Diamond says.

“I'm sure you're right.” Sweetie says.

Somepony knocks on the door. “Scootaloo are you here?” Winter Spark asks through the door.

“Scootaloo been seeing a colt behind my back?” Silver Spoon teases.

Scootaloo chuckles. “Come on, you met Winter before.” She gets up and let's him in. “Hey Winter, what's up?”

“I wanted to talk to you about something, your Mom said you'd be here.”

“Yeah, we're all here. Tomorrow is Sweetie’s big day so we're all spending the day together.” Scootaloo says as she moves out of the doorway. “Come take a load of your hooves and tell me what's going on.”

“But all your friends are here.” Winter says

“At least a few of us count you as our friend as well.” Ash says.

Winter nods. “I suppose there's no reason I can't talk to everypony “

“That’s the spirit.” Scootaloo laughs. “Now out with it.”

“Nymeria proposed to me the other day.” Winter says.

“I knew there was something I liked about that filly.” Diamond says.

“So you said yes?” Scootaloo asks.

“I told her I needed some time to think about it, and I think we’re going to have a hornfasting ceremony.” Winter answers.

Sweetie gasps. “I've always wanted to see one of those.”

“Can somepony explain to us non-unicorns what the heck a hornfasting ceremony is?” Scootaloo ask.

“The officiating pony will tie their horns together with a piece of magical thread signifying they are to be considered married for a year and a day. If everything goes well a year and a day later they are officially married, unless of course the mare gets pregnant, then they’re automatically considered married.” Ash explains.

The room gets eerily quiet as everypony looks at Ash, finally Silver speaks up. “How in Tartarus did you know that?”

“My mother was the commander of a garrison of ponies, she’s occasionally be called to officiate one if they didn’t want to bother the Chaplain”.

“Oh, yeah.” Silver says. “I suppose that makes sense.”

“Wait, so that means you know the ceremony?” Winter asks.

Ash nods. “Of course.”

“That’s perfect! I needed to find somepony other than my Mom or Aunt to officiate.”

“Wow! Wait a second, I don’t have that kind of authority.” Ash says. “I’m just one of Twilight’s guards.”

“If I get you the authority will you do it?”

“I suppose, but I have my own wedding tomorrow, then we’re going on our honeymoon so it’ll be a while before I could do it.”

“I mean to do it tonight.”

“If you can get me authority to officiate by tonight, then sure.”

Winter nods. “I’ll do that, I’ll get back with you.” He runs off.

“Do you think he has a chance of getting you the authority?” Scootaloo asks.

“IHe's Luna's adopted son, anything's possible.” Ash answers.

“Then we should try and find ways that we can help him.” Diamond says.

“Diamond’s right, let’s brainstorm everypony!” Sweetie commands.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo grin and look at Sweetie Belle. "Can we do it for old time's sake?"

Sweetie grins with them both as she nods. "Everypony all at once though."

Everypony nods and together they all say. "Cutie Mark Crusaders Hornfasting planners!"

==========

Winter teleports to the doors of Twilight’s castle and chuckles to himself. “I guess all that practicing with Nymeria has it’s perks.” He opens the door and walks in. “Anypony home!”

“Winter!” Nymeria says as she appears in an alcove and then pounces the colt pinning him to the floor before kissing him passionately.

Winter kisses her for a minute then uses his magic to move her off him enough so he can get up. “I’m glad to see you too Nymeria.”

“Did you make up your mind yet?” Nymeria asks.

Winter nods. “I need to discuss something with Twilight, then I’ll tell you my answer.”

Nymeria sighs then nods. “Fair enough. She’s in the library.”

Winter chuckles. “Of course she is.” He heads to the library, when she doesn’t follow he turns to her. “Come on, I don’t want to have to repeat everything.” Nymeria quickly catches up to him and the two of them go to the library where they find Twilight reading. “Excuse me Twilight?”

Twilight looks up from her book. “Winter how wonderful to see you back, Nymeria has been lonely without you. What can I help you with?”

“I wish to have a hornfasting ceremony performed for myself and Nymeria.”

Nymeria gasps then chants. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

“I wouldn’t know where to begin researching to perform a hornfasting ceremony.”

“I don't’ need you to perform it, I just need you to grant somepony else the authority to perform it.”

=========

The door to Diamond’s clubhouse opens, and the assembled ponies all stop their planning and look to Winter enter. “I’m back everypony, and I brought a few other ponies with me.” He enters the clubhouse fully and Nymeria and Twilight enter behind him.

Diamond, and Silver quickly bow and in unison say. “Princess.”

“I thought I’d been over this with everypony in Ponyville.” Twilight sighs and looks at the two fillies. “Will you two get up? I’d much prefer it if everypony would just forget the honorifics for the most part.”

“Sorry, habit.” Diamond says.

“Unlike our fiance’s we’re still not entirely use to the idea of addressing royalty so informally.” Silver says.

“It’s okay, I’m here on a little bit of business anyway.” Twilight says as she pulls a scroll out of her saddlebags. “Lieutenant Commander Ash Fall, step forward!”

Ash immediately snaps into military stance and steps forward. “Yes Ma’am!”

“By the power granted to me as a Princess of Friendship, I hereby give you the authority to perform the ceremony known as hornfasting, and raise your rank to Commander in recompence of your new duties.”

Ash salutes. “Duty accepted Ma’am! Thank you very much!”

Twilight smiles. “You’re welcome, now I have some paperwork to fill out to make this appointment official.” She leaves.

Winter looks at Ash. “Well Commander; what do you say?”

Ash chuckles. “I’d say we have a hornfasting to prepare for and I know just the place to hold it, right in the Everfree Forest .”

“Zecora has a clearing around her hut.” Apple Bloom says. “I bet we can use that.”

“That’s exactly what I have in mind.” Ash says. “I wonder, Apple Bloom would you mind telling Zecora what’s going on and seeing if she’d let us use her land?”

Apple Bloom nods. “I’ll go right now.” She runs off.

“Come on Nymeria.” Sweetie says. “I’m going to take you to see my sister, you need a dress for tonight.”

“Earthtones, for a hornfasting.” Ash says.

Sweetie nods. “That works, I have that green dress Rarity made for me, I think she could modify it for Nymeria by tonight.”

Ash nods and they head off. Next Ash grabs the pad he’d been scribbling on while they were discussing ideas. “Can you three take care of these details, while I get my new uniform and an appropriate outfit for Winter?”

Diamond takes the pad. "We'll get right on it."

==========

That evening, just before dusk they are all gathered outside Zecora’s hut. The trees around her hut are decorated with ribbons, and a path is made straight to Zecora’s door using ribbon. Ash stands right in front of Zecora’s door, a bonfire burns about two pony lengths in front of him. The witnesses all sit in the clearing around Zecora’s hut.

Winter and Nymeria walk together up the path and stop before the bonfire. “Let the bonfire represent the separate paths you have lead until now, please separate and walk around it, and join each other on the other side.” Ash commands.

Winter and Nymeria split off each walking around the fire arriving at the other side at the same time. “You have arrived at your destination. Winter and Nymeria, you are here today surrounded by nature, and your friends and family, all of whom are gathered to to witness your exchange of vows and to share in the joy of this occasion.”

==========

“Let it be known that from this day forth you two are united for a year and a day, if neither of you comes before anypony and says anything contrary, then at the end of that time you two shall be legally married.” Ash says as he finishes up the ceremony.

Author's Note

I might have been to more handfastings then weddings, but doesn't mean I want to sit and write out the vows, hope you all don't mind.

Chapter 7: Doctor My Eyes

Chapter 7: Doctor My Eyes

Rainbow Dash flies into Twilight’s castle. “I hear you are looking for me.”

“Yes, I have a mission for you, though I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

“I’m listening.”

“I need you to escort The legendary Doctor Vier Augen.” Twilight says as she indicated a pony wearing lederhosen sitting nearby. “To Griffonholm so that he can work on Bastion.”

“By myself?” Rainbow asks.

“No, you will have 8 guards under you, and once you get there you will assume command of the ponies that are there. You’ll be sending the current leader home, to guard Doctor Augen once he’s done, the leader’s wife just had their first foal.” Twilight answers.

Rainbow nods. “So I’ll stay there and do what?”

“You’re mission is to protect Bastion.”

“Is it going that bad over there?”

“The reports from the guards over there indicate that fewer and fewer griffons seem to be on Bastion’s side everyday. An extraction may become necessary.”

“Did you recharge the teleportation charm on my armor?”

“You’ll be wearing your actual combat armor for this.”

“So no teleportation charm?”

“Not one that you can activate yourself.”

Rainbow nods. “The standard teleport to hospital if you’re in critical condition spell, that uses next to no power.”

“That’s correct.” Twilight says. “But that doesn’t mean that I couldn’t upgrade your armor as much as I was able.”

“What kind of upgrades?”

“I’m glad you asked.” Twilight answers. She walks over to a chest on the other side of the room and opens it with her magic then pulls out a suit of platinum armor with her cutie mark emblazoned on the chest.

“When did you get so vain?”

“I’ll have you know Rarity designed this especially for my guards. It’s almost impossible to tell that all the stars have gemstones in their centers.”

“What?” Rainbow looks closer and sees that there are gemstones that could be pressed easily with a hoof. “Wow, that’s rather impressive.”

“Each gem has a different function. The one in the center of the largest star is a shield charm. then going clockwise from the top of the star we have: speed burst; lightning attack; stamina charm; invisibility charm; armor repair charm.”

“It sounds like you think you’re sending me into a war zone.”

“Ever since Bastion publicly denounced Bluttrinker tensions have been high, so I could see it quickly becoming a war zone if things go badly.”

“Then why send ponies in to protect him at all?”

“It’s part of our agreement, we agree to protect Griffonholm, more particularly the King in exchange he would disband the majority of his forces.”

“Disbanding his forces put a lot of griffons out of work, didn’t it?”

“I don’t know, but given the force that came at Ponyville that day I’d wonder what was left back home.” Twilight answers. “Could be just as many griffons are angry at the defeat of their army, and the loss of lives, as there are at the loss of jobs.”

“But it was his father King Appolyinia that actually attacked us, why should they be angry at Bastion?”

“They view the royalty as a whole at fault since they failed, if they’d been successful then they’d be exalted, no matter many lives were lost.”

“That has gotten to be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Different cultures, what are you going to do?”

“I see what you mean. Alright, let’s get going, help me put this armor on.”

Twilight grabs the armor in her magic and helps Rainbow into it. “So am I coming back for you to go to the Peace Summit?”

“No, I plan on taking Lieutenant Greaves instead.”

“Applejack’s husband?”

Twilight nods. “I can’t take Trixie because she’s technically my student. He’s the next highest guard I have available.”

“I don’t like it.”

“It’s a Peace Summit. Bringing a guard is just a formality. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“I guess you’re right. I’m probably just overreacting.”

=====Griffonholm=====

A portal opens up in Bastion’s palace. Rainbow; dressed in her armor; steps through the portal followed by the guards ponies surrounding Doctor Vier Augen. “Ah, the rainbow pony.” Bastion says. “So you’re princess sent you here huh?”

“It’s Rainbow Dash..”

“Yeah, sure. So why are you here?”

“Princess Twilight sent me with our leading eye surgeon to see if he could do anything for your eye, unless you’d like to remain half-blind.”

Bastion growls at her. “You go too far!”

“Really? I go too far?” Rainbow asks. “Have you looked around you? You only have a handful of griffons on your side now. One of them is MY friend Gilda. You’ve managed to alienate yourself from your own kind, and I go too far?”

“You may have a point there.” Bastion concedes. “Let’s see what your surgeon can do for me then.”

“I vill see vhat I can do.” Doctor Veir says as he walks up to Bastion with his horn lit up.

“Well Doctor?” Bastion asks.

Doctor Veir nods and grabs something out of his saddlebags. “I can help, it vill hurt.”

Bastion grimaces. “Do it I can take it.”

“I doubt that.” Veir says as he brings the instrument up and Bastion screams.

==========

“Vell, I have done vhat I could.” Doctor Veir says. “Don’t let him take the eye patch off for a couple days.”

“No problem, Doctor Veir.” Rainbow Dash says. “Thank you very much.”

“Now I’ll be taking you home.” An earth pony guard says. “No teleportation rift this time unfortunately, but we do have a chariot pulled by two pegasi on the roof.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Then let’s head on.” The two of them head to the roof. Get in the chariot and leave.

“Alright everypony.” Rainbow says. “Let’s get back to work.”

Author's Note

I know, I'm absolutely horrible at accents.

Chapter 8: Marry You

Chapter 8: Marry You

“Well Boneless 2.” Cheese Sandwich says as he watched the Yaks party. “Looks like my job here in Yakyakistan is done. I wonder where to next.” He jumps off the ground as a shiver goes up his body. “Woah! That was a doozy! Looks like I’m needed in Canterlot!.”

==========

“How are you feeling?” Apple Bloom asks Sweetie Belle as Rarity helps her get ready for her wedding.

“I’m nervous about the wedding.” Sweetie says. “The last one I actually went to didn’t exactly go well.”

“It’s not like there’s a changeling queen to ruin your big day.” Princess Cadance says as she walks in.

“You made it!” Sweetie cheers and goes and hugs her. “Thank you for coming.”

“I wouldn’t miss coming to one of my flower fillies weddings for the world.” Cadance says.

“Come back here and let me finish your mane Sweetie.” Rarity says.

“I have a better idea.” Cadance says. “Aunt Celestia taught me the spell she and Aunt Luna use for court, I think it’d be appropriate here.” She charges her horn,, the blue aurora quickly surrounds it. She carefully focuses the spell and discharges the spell onto Sweetie Belle’s mane. Her mane takes on an ethereal form and moves in a non-existent wind.

“My stars!” Rarity says. “That’s amazing!”

“Really?” Sweetie asks and Rarity moves to the side so Sweetie can see herself in the mirror. She gasps as she sees herself in the ivory dress with lilac trim. “Is… is that really me?”

“Ash is going to have a heart attack when he sees you.” Rarity says.

“I’ll say.” Scootaloo says as she gets up from her spot by the window. “Time for us to get dressed?”

Rarity nods, then grabs the two lilac dresses in her magic and pulls them over. “Here we go.”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom put on the dresses. Scootaloo flexes her wings a few times. “Perfect fit.”

“Would you expect anything less?” Rarity asks.

Scootaloo shakes her head. “Will this make it easier to make our wedding dresses?”

Rarity nods. “I have a good idea of your sizes, so I'll be able to get a basic designs sewed up fairly easily once you decide what you want.”

“We hope to have the details for you soon.” Scootaloo says.

“Don’t rush your decision.” Rarity says. “You want your wedding to perfect.”

“I know, but we want to give you and Coco enough time to design the dresses.”

“Coco Pommel?” Rarity asks.

Scootaloo nods. “She’s going to make Silver’s dress, that way we don’t risk seeing each other in our dresses, I hope you’re not offended.”

“Not at all.” Rarity says. “How did you meet her?”

“When me and Silver were first debating the idea of a Cloudsdale wedding we went to Twilight to ask her about getting everypony there and placing the cloudwalking spell on their hooves. While we were talking the subject of dresses came up, and Twilight introduced us to Coco ” Scootaloo answers. “

“If you had mentioned wanting to do that I would have recommended her myself, I’m glad Twilight remembered her.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“Not to interrupt, but are we all ready?” Sweetie asks, obviously nervous.

“I think we’re ready.” Rarity says. “Princess Cadance?”

“Ready!” Cadance says and charges her magic then uses the magic to open a portal. Sweetie steps through the portal followed immediately by Rarity and the other Crusaders, Cadance comes last closing the portal behind her.

Sweetie looks around the room they are in then at the large doors. “This is really it isn’t it?”

“You’re ready Sweetie, I know you are.” Rarity says

“I’m sure you are too.” Hondo says.

Sweetie turns to the other door and sees her father dressed in a tuxedo jacket. “Daddy!” Sweetie runs over and hugs him. ”I’m so glad you made it.”

“Your sister sicked one of our princesses on me and your mother.” Hondo chuckles. “Though I’m glad she did, you mother is so happy to be here, and so am I.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” Sweetie says then looks to her sister who nods. “Would you do me the honor of walking me down the aisle and giving me away?”

Hondo smiles. “It would be my pleasure.”

==========

“I now pronounce you mare and gentlecolt!” Luna says as Ash and Sweetie kiss.

All of the wedding guests cheer, and Pinkie Pie bursts in. “Come on everypony; they party’s over here!”

“And it’s going to be epic!” Cheese Sandwich yells from behind Pinkie.

“Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich doing my wedding party?” Sweetie asks with a squeak. “This is so awesome!”

“Come on.” Ash says. “Let’s go see what they have planned for us.”

Sweetie grins and they head into the room with all their friends and family and make their way through the crowd. Sweetie spots Pinkie with the microphone and turns to Ash. “There’s something I want to do.”

“Sweetie?” Ash asks as he walks with his wife. “What are you thinking?”

Sweetie grins as they walk up to Pinkie.”Excuse me Pinkie, I wonder if I could have the microphone for a little.”

“It’s your wedding reception.” Pinkie says as she steps away from the microphone. “Knock yourself out.”

Sweetie reaches up and taps the microphone with her forehoof. “Is this thing on?”

The crowd gets quiet and some random pony yells. “SPEECH!”

Sweetie chuckles slightly. “No, no speech, I got something better.” She walks over the the band and says something to them then walks back to the microphone. “I wrote this song especially for today.” The band starts playing music and everypony pays attention to Sweetie as she starts to sing:

Today is the first day,

The first of many to come;

The day I give my life to you,

And you pledge yours to me.

As we grow,

We will find our way;

And greet each day with a smile,

Through both good and bad.

I am ready,

Come with me today;

And let our journey begin,

Down the path to the rest of our lives.

Everypony claps as Sweetie steps away from the stage. “That was wonderful, my love.” Ash says.

Sweetie smiles and nuzzles against him. “You really think so?”

“That was awesome Sweetie!” Scootaloo says as she comes up with Apple Bloom.

“Ya really showed your talent there.”

Sweetie blushes slightly. “Thanks.”

“So do you feel any different now that it’s official?” Apple Bloom asks.

“I still can’t believe this is real.” Sweetie says. “We’re really married.”

Ash nods “It is a lot to take in, isn’t it?”

“So which one of you is next?” Sweetie asks.

“We are.” Silver Spoon says as she walks up to them from behind.

“When?” Sweetie asks. “We don’t want to miss it.”

“Two weeks from now in Cloudsdale.”

“That soon?” Sweetie saks. “Will everything be ready in time?”

“Rarity said she will have my dress done, and Coco will have Silver’s done.” Scootaloo says.

“Why two weeks from now?” Sweetie asks.

“Because I told them about my wedding present to you.” Twilight says.

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought you two might like to see more of Equestria, so I’m paying for you two to travel around Equestria. I’ve drawn up a rough itinerary that has you in Cloudsdale in two weeks.”

“Rough itinerary?”

“Just a schedule of trains and such I think you should take, if you keep to it you’ll be in Cloudsdale in 2 weeks.” Twilight answers. “I know that Ash knows the cloudwalking spell as part of his guard training.”

“But what about my bridesmaid dress?” Sweetie asks. “I am going to be on of your bridesmaids right?” She looks at Scootaloo.

“Of course you are.” Scootaloo says and waves Rarity over.

“Yes Scootaloo?”

“Sweetie kinda asked about her bridesmaid dress.”

“Of course, Sweetie darling I just made your wedding dress, no?”

Sweetie nods. “And it’s beautiful.”

“All your measurements are in my head, I can make a bridesmaid dress for you without you being there. I might need to make some minor adjustments at the last minute.”

“Thank you Rarity!” Sweetie says as she hugs her sister. “You’re the best.”

“You’re welcome darling.”

"Then I'll be there."

Chapter 10: I Won't Back Down

Chapter 10: I Won’t Back Down

“Let us take a break.” Emperor Jinden says and all the leaders stretch their legs and walk in different directions.

Twilight sighs as she stretches her wings as she walks. “I can’t believe it’s been four bucking days!”

“And just think your universal translator spell has sped things up.” Greaves says as he walks with her.

“Thank Faust I thought ahead on that one.” Twilight says. “Five minutes into the first day! Five minutes before I realized that those other ponies were translators!”

“You can’t blame yourself Princess.”

“Haven’t I asked you to call me Twilight when we’re not in a formal setting?”

Greaves nods his head. “It’s one thing for me to so that around the castle. I just don’t feel comfortable doing that here on foreign soil.”

“I suppose that’s a good idea.” Twilight says. “Especially since we’re traveling together.”

“Exactly, don’t want anypony to misinterpret anything.”

“Very well, what do you think of what’s been said so far?”

“You want MY opinion?”

“I WANT this to be over.”

“I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon.”

“Be that as it may the more information I have the quicker we can end this thing.”

“Very well.” Greaves says. “My opinion is that they are stalling for some reason.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asks as she stops and faces Greaves.

“We’ve been here four days and the information they’ve given us is useless. Not one thing they’ve said has had anything to do with where the border in question is. It’s all been useless history.”

“I know, I can’t see why they think I need their entire history to be able to judge a simple border dispute.”

“That’s because they’re waiting for me.” A masculine voice says and Twilight and Greaves turn to see a pony shaped shadow with blood red eyes.

Twilight flares her wings and charges her magic as she steps toward the shadow. “Identify yourself!”

“Lord Umbra doesn't’ have to answer your questions peasant.” A weapon wielding unicorn says as he and several other armed ponies surround them.

“Princess, this doesn’t bode well.” Greaves says as he draws his weapon.

“Surrender princess, and I will spare the guard’s life.” The shadowform of Lord Umbra commands.

“Princess, don’t listen to him.” Greaves says.

“What do you want with me?” Twilight asks.

Umbra grins. “I’ve always wanted a princess for my experiments.”

Twilight gasps. “Allusio Possum! Nymeria told me about your experiments. I’ll not have anything to do with them.”

“Ah sweet Nymeria, has she married the prince yet?”

Twilight looks at Umbra in shock. “How do you even know about her relationship?”

“Because she told me”

Twilight gasps and charges her horn and trying to teleport out. “What is this?”

“I figured you’d be well acquainted with the anti-teleportation field princess.” Umbra answers , then when Twilight flaps her wings. “There’s also a negative pressure spell, so no flying out of here.”

Twilight starts shooting magical blasts at the approaching ponies, but the unicorn’s put up a shield that stop her attack. “They’re well trained.” she says.

“I’m almost sorry to do this.” Umbra sighs as he waves a shadowy forehoof. “Kill the guard, bring me the princess alive.” He grins showing sharp shadowy teeth. “Try not to damage her too much.” With that the shadow melts back into the shadow of a nearby rock.

“Princess it’s been an honor serving with you.” Greaves says.

“We’re not dead yet.”

“I fail to see many options here.”

“Can you rush at them and attack them with your sword? With luck they won't be expecting that and I'll be able to use the distraction to use my magic and take out at least one of the others.”

“Too bad you don’t have a more conventional weapon.”

“Yeah, if I make it out of here alive I’m going to make it an edict that all princesses must carry one at all times.”

“Are you trained to use one if I get you one?”

Twilight nods. “It’s a mandatory class in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.”

“They had a class on sword fighting?” Greaves asks incredulously. “You know what, let’s address that at another time.”

“You have a better plan?”

“Shield me, I’ll get you a weapon, then we can fight them together.”

Twilight nods. “We’ll go out fighting,”

“Something like that.” Greaves mumbles as he charges at the nearest pony using three hooves, keeping his sword held in the fourth. The pony strikes at him but the blow his deflected by a glimmering purple shield. In the moment of surprise Greaves strikes at the pony, and severs his head. “Princess!” Greaves yells as he tosses her his sword, then picks up the fallen pony’s sword and rushing to the left towards the next pony.

Twilight catches the sword in her magic and rushes towards the pony on the right of the one Greaves killed. “Got you!” Twilight calls out as she magically wields the sword catching the pony off guard and leaving him dead. As the rest of the ponies move her direction she starts shooting them with her magic, their shield blocking all her attacks. “Damn! Taking out three of them should’ve taken down one of the spells.”

“Even if each of them was only casting one of the spells?” Greaves asks as the next pony gives him a bit more of a fight.

“I figured it was some sort of group casting.” Twilight answers as the ponies start forcing her to backup towards Greaves. Twilight scans the group of ponies and gasps. “It’s an Elderich incantation!”

“What’s that in common terms?” Greaves ask as he starts to back up too.

“See those three ponies that aren’t advancing as much as the others?”

“Of course.”

“They’re the ones that are actually casting the spells, everypony else is just powering it.”

“What can we do?”

“We need to kill one of those three, no matter which one we’ll have an advantage.”

“I fail to see a way to do that.”

Twilight sighs. “Follow me if you can.” She folds her wings up against her barrel and using her magic tosses her sword in the air distracting the ponies come at her. She quickly charges at the ponies.

They regain their sense as she hits the line and one of them manages to hit her cutting out her left eye right before Greaves kills him. “Princess?”

“Have to keep going!” Twilight pants as she runs and uses her magic to stop herself from bleeding.

“You’re injured!” Greaves says as he runs behind her.

“I’ll live!” Twilight yells as she runs at the three ponies standing next to each other slightly to the rear. “How are you?”

“Not well, my armor is taking a beating.”

“Let’s hope I’m right then.” Twilight says as she runs at the pony on the right but quickly changes direction to the one on the on the left grabbing her sword out of the air with her magic she leaps at the pony and directing the sword with her magic.

The pony grabs his sword and swings it right at Twilight, Greaves sees this, drops his sword and comes up and pushes Twilight out of the way of the blade that would have surely gutted her. The blade still takes off her right foreleg and then continues down into the left shoulder of Greaves armor, breaking his armor and cutting into his shoulder. Greaves falls to the ground as Twilight brings her sword around and impales the pony, the pony falls dead.

The negative pressure lessens and Twilight snaps her wings open taking to the air and quickly stopping the bleeding from her missing foreleg. “Damn! Greaves!”

Greaves attempts to push himself up on three legs, gritting in pain he falls down. The other ponies quickly circle him. “Princess, leave me.”

“I can’t do that.”

“If you try to save me you’ll die too.” Greaves says. “And somepony needs to let the other Princesses know about Nymeria.”

Twilight charges her magic and shots at the ponies, but it bounces off their shield turning their attention towards her. “Greaves, you can’t leave Applejack like this.”

“Just tell her not to name the foal after me. Keep up her Apple family tradition. Can you do that?”

Twilight sniffles a tear rolling down from her remaining eye. “I will do that.”

“Then fly away!” Greaves yells as he gets up on his three good legs and charges at the nearest pony, drawing their attention back to him, and they charge him forgetting about Twilight.

Twilight flies away to the Peace Summit, and sees her tent ransacked. She uses her magic to rip the tent open and sees her saddlebags ripped open. To her relief she sees a book thrown to the side. She lifts the book with her magic and opens it, a jeweled bookmark falls out of it. She grabs the bookmark with her magic and touches it with her remaining forehoof. A radiant golden light flashes as she is immediately teleported to her castle in Ponyville.

Chapter 11: Urgent

Chapter 11: Urgent

Trixie is reading in the library of Twilight's Castle when her amulet starts to glow. As calmly as she can muster she places a bookmark in the book and gets up with a smile. ”Twilight’s home, Twilight’s home!” Trixie says as she leaves the room and starts looking for Twilight. “Twilight? Where are you?” Trixie asks as she follows the glow of the amulet to track Twilight.

“Strange game of hide and seak you’re playing with Trixie.” She says as she continues to look for Twilight. She enters the thrones room and that’s where she finds her. “Twilight?” She runs up to her and sees her emaciated form. “Twilight? What happened to you?” Trixie sobs, then runs out the doors and yells. “SPIKE!”

Spike comes out of his room. “Trixie?”

“Twilight is hurt, we need help!”

“Yes, of course.” He goes to runoff.

“Wait! Trixie needs you to send a letter to Celestia, she needs to know about Twilight.”

Spike nods then runs and grabs a quill and scroll and quickly writes a letter, then breathes fire on it sending it to Celestia. “I’m going to get Doctor Staff, maybe he can help while we wait for Princess Celestia.”

“Trixie is going to stay with Twilight in case she wakes up.”

“Good idea.” Spike says then leaves.

Trixie goes back to the throne room and looks at Twilight still laying in the middle of the floor. A sudden flash of yellow light draws Trixie's attention from Twilight to the light. Princess Celestia now stands in the room. “Princess, come help.” Trixie says.

Celestia walks over to Trixie. “What happened?”

“Trixie’s amulet started glowing telling Trixie that Twilight was home. Trixie followed the glow of her amulet here and found Twilight like this.”

“This isn’t good.” Celestia says. “Somepony must have been using a great deal of magic to get close enough to injure her like this.”

“Trixie thought she was going to a peace conference, who would attack her there?”

“‘Nopony good.” Celestia answers as she looks her over. “We must get her to Canterlot where my private physicians can take care of her.”

“What are you waiting for?” Trixie asks.

“That.” Celestia says as she nods towards the door and Spike rushes in with Doctor Staff.

“Trixie, we’re here!” Spike says then stops when he sees Celestia. “Princess Celestia, you got here quickly.”

“I teleported here as soon as I could.” Celestia says. “Doctor Staff, we will not be needing your help today, I’ll be taking Twilight with me to Canterlot, and she will be seen by my private physicians.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Doctor Staff asks. “I can see she’s badly injured. I’m not sure she should be moved.”

Celestia sighs. “How much do you know about alicorn physiology?”

“Well, I’ve not really had much of a chance to study alicorns.”

“Exactly, my physicians have been treating me for years, and are well versed in alicorn physiology. They know exactly how to treat her.”

“I suppose if you think that’s the best thing for her then I won’t stand in your way.”

“Thank you Doctor.” Celestia says then teleports Twilight away. “Now I should be going as well. My doctors should already be examining her.”

“Can Trixie come too?”

“I fail to see why you should. As Twilight’s apprentice you’d be better off staying here and going over whatever course she laid out before she left.”

“Trixie has already finished all the books Twilight has left her. Trixie was hoping you could teach Trixie while Twilight was being healed.”

Celestia looks at Trixie suspiciously. “You’re hiding something, what is it?”

Trixie looks to the ground where she traces shapes with her fore hoof. “It’s personal.”

“Then you can stay here, I don’t need you getting in the way.”

“Fine.” Trixie sighs as she looks at Celestia and blushes heavily as she whispers. “Twilight is Trixie’s lover.”

Celestia blinks a few times.”Excuse me?”

“Did Trixie stutter?” Trixie asks in her normal voice. “Trixie hopes not. Trixie hasn’t done that since Trixie was little.”

“You didn’t stutter, I’m just afraid I didn’t quite catch what you said the first time.”

“Oh, um.” Trixie blushes again. “Twilight is Trixie’s lover.”

“Oh, that explains a lot.” Celestia says. “Since that’s the case, you may come. I trust you to do as instructed though.”

“Thank you Princess.” Trixie says as they are both enveloped in Celestia’s golden aura and teleported away.

Spike looks to Doctor Staff after they vanish. “Sorry about having you come over.”

“Having a Doctor come see Twilight was the right thing to do.”

"Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I guess you should be heading back.”

“Probably a good idea. I may still may be needed at the hospital.”

“Thank you for coming.” Spike says as Doctor Staff walks away.

“Don’t worry, you’re still getting a bill.”

“But..but…” Spike sighs. “Oh well, guess he’s got to make a living.”

=====Canterlot=====

Trixie looks around the room once they appear. “Where is Twilight?”

“You will see her in a little while.” Celestia says. “First we should have you seen.”

“Trixie is fine. Trixie wasn't in a battle.”

“You know what I’m talking about Trixie.” Celestia says. “I felt it when I teleported you.”

“Trixie has no clue what you’re talking about.”

Celestia sighs. “Your pregnant.”

“That’s impossible.”

“What do you mean that’s impossible?”

“Twilight has been Trixie’s only lover and Twilight said she needed to cast a special spell to get Trixie pregnant. Trixie would remember if Twilight had cast that spell. Trixie is not ready to be somepony’s mother.”

Celestia hangs her head and signs. “I knew there was something I forgot to tell Twilight.”

“Trixie doesn’t understand.”

“There’s a two-part spell for unicorn mares so that they can get other mares pregnant.” Celestia explains. “The first part gives them a stallions...equipment.”

“Trixie is very familiar with this part of the spell. Twilight used it and rutted Trixie like there was no tomorrow.” Trixie sighs happily. “Trixie loved it.”

Celestia nods. “The second part allows for the actual fertilization.”

“Twilight said as much. Twilight didn’t use the second part of spell.”

“She didn’t need to. As alicorn’s are created by magic, our bodies adjust to the magic around us. For instance when Twilight was given wings she was immediately able to fly regardless of the fact that she would not have had the time to develop the proper muscles in order to perform that action.”

“Oh.” Trixie says. ‘If Trixie had known Trixie wouldn’t have teleported. Trixie has heard that’s bad for developing foals.”

“It can be, but isn’t always.” Celestai says. “Hence the reason I want to have you checked out.”

Trixie nods. “Of course. Then Trixie can see Twilight?”

“Of course you can.”

“Okay.” Trixie looks at the floor. “Princess?”

“Yes Trixie?”

“Is Twilight going to die?”

“Not this time my little pony, and if I have anything to say about it not for a long time. She has a foal to help raise.”

“Thank you Princess.”

Chapter 12: Volunteers

Chapter 12: Volunteers

=====Griffonholm=====

Rainbow Dash stands on the roof of Prince Bastion’s palace. A pair of unicorn guards maintain a shieldi around the palace, rocks, spears and various other objects bounce off the shield. A few griffins fly near the shield wielding various weapons. “Captain Dash!” One of the the other guards, an earth pony on the roof yells. “To the East!”

Rainbow turns to the east and sees a chariot being pulled by two pegasi guards, a unicorn guard rides in the chariot creating a shield around them all, occasionally a spear or rock sails high enough to bounce off the shield. “Unicorns ready to make a hole! Pegasi ready to defend the whole, those griffons look ready to slip in!”

A third unicorn, a female steps forward. “Ready ma’am!”

Rainbow watches the chariot come closer. “Open it!”

The third unicorn uses her magic to create a hole in the shield big enough for the chariot to enter. As she opens the hole two pegasi, wielding lances, fly up from the roof to either side of the hole discouraging the griffons from rushing in. Once the chariot is inside the shield the hole closes up again. The unicorn in the chariot drops the shield. Rainbow walks up to the chariot. ‘I’m guessing you’re not the additional troops I asked Celestia for?”

“No ma’am, we’re not.” The unicorn, a stallion says. “Sending us in was a very interesting undertaking.”

Rainbow nods. “State your name and reason for being here then.”

“Iron Horn.” He salutes her. “I have news that should be told to you in private.”

Rainbow nods. “Keep an eye on the crowd, and keep that shield going.”

“Ma’am, we’re going to need a break soon.” One of the two unicorns holding the shield says.

Rainbow nods. “Rune Skirt!”

The female unicorn from earlier steps up. “Yes, ma’am!”

“Go get your sister and relieve these two.”

Rune Skirt nods and heads off.

“Come on.” Rainbow says to Iron Horn. “We’ll go down to Prince Bastion’s private quarters and we can talk there.”

“What about the pegasi that flew me in?”

“The other pegasi will make sure they’re tended to, but I’ll tell you right now you’re not getting out the same way you came in.”

Iron Horn sighs. “I’m part of your unit whether I like it or not, aren’t I?”

“Unfortunately. You saw those griffons out there. There’s absolutely no way we can protect a hole long enough for you to take off safely. Even if you do get off you’re likely to be attacked by the griffons before you get very far..”

“Are there any griffons left that support Prince Bastion?”

“If there are, they’re in hiding. I haven’t heard anything from any supporters in a long time.”

“What’s your plan?”

“I’d asked Celestia to send me an entire company of unicorns to make a portal to get Bastion out.”

“That’s a lot of unicorns.”

“This palace is literally surrounded by the griffon army. If it wasn’t for the unicorn’s making shields we’d all most likely be dead. So if you have a better plan I’d really like to hear it.”

Iron Horn sighs. “That doesn’t leave us many options, that’s for sure..”

“Now, you mind telling me why Celestia sent just you instead of the entire company I asked for?”

“I’m afraid that there’s no company coming for you.”

“I kinda figured that. Mind telling me why not?”

“Princess Twilight’s mission didn’t go well.”

“Are we at war with Saddle Arabia now?”

“Thankfully that’s not the problem.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“Somepony attacked Twilight during the talks.”

“WHAT?!” Rainbow exclaims. “Is she okay?”

“I’m afraid she’s comatose, and recovering from her injuries.”

“How badly was she injured?”

“I’m not privy to that information, but Celestia has all of her spare forces searching for her attackers, so I’m guessing it must not be very good.”

“Damn! She ordered me to protect Bastion, but I really should be there for her.”

“Not like you could leave if you wanted to any way.”

‘Are you kidding me? I’m Rainbow Dash; the fastest pegasus in Equestria; and the only pegasus to successfully pull off multiple Sonic Rainbooms.”

“Are you kidding me? You really did that? I thought that was an old mare’s tale. ”

“I’m not kidding you, and I certainly did all that. If anypony could fly out of here it’s me.”

“Then why don’t you just go?.”

“I can’t. I might have shirked my duties before, but since Twilight has made me the Captain of her Guard I’ve felt like I had better live up to the position she gave me. She asked me to protect Bastion, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“Then we’ll just have to find another way to get Bastion to safety.”

“You have a plan?”

“Not yet, but let me think on it. I’m good in a tight situation.”

“Let me know if you come up with anything. I’ll listen to anything at this point.”

“Do I have your permission to talk to all your troops? It’ll help if I know what skills I have to work with.”

“Of course, anything that’ll get us away from this revolt.”

“Thank you.”

“In the meantime I’m going to need you to be ready to relieve a one of the other’s maintaining the shield, they’re running 8 hour shifts. I have 2 maintaining the shield, and one ready to make holes for deliveries and such, but I only have 4 right now, so it gets complicated. There’s a cot on the roof so the one hole duty can nap for the most part.”

“How long have they been maintaining the shield?”

“A week.”

“Impressive, your troops must be very disciplined.”

“They are indeed.”

“Well, I can easily hold this shield for 4 hours by myself.”

“Thank Faust! Some good news!” Rainbow exclaims.

“When will my first shift be?”

“In 8 hours, since I just rotated guards.”

Iron Horn nods. “That’ll be fine. If you have me do 4 hours, then give me 8 hours I’ll be able to do another 4.”

“I think I can work with that, that give you time to work your escape plan out?”

“No problem, I’m used to sleeping in 4 hour shifts too.”

Rainbow Dash nods. “I’ll rework the other guard’s schedules.”

Chapter 13: Get Off My Cloud

Chapter 13: Get Off of My Cloud

====Cloudsdale====

“Is Twilight still unconscious?” Scootaloo asks as Rarity helps her into her wedding dress.

“The last letter Spike received from Celestia said she was.” Rarity answers.

Scootaloo sighs sadly. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Are you sure we shouldn’t delay this?”

“We are not delaying this!” Silver Spoon shouts from the conjoining room.

“You’re not suppose to be listening to our conversation!”

Silver giggles. “Oh come on, can you blame me? You’re adorable when you’re paranoid.”

“We don’t even know who is going to do the ceremony.”

“I am.” Princess Cadance says as she walks into the room.

“Princess Cadance.” Scootaloo says. “I’d bow but Rarity would kill me for messing up my dress.”

Cadance chuckles lightly. “Oh, I understand.”

“I don't.” Discord says as he appears. “If Rarity killed you wouldn’t that completely ruin the dress?”

“Discord!” Scootaloo says surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t think I was going to miss my favorite daughter’s wedding did you?”

“She’s our only daughter.” Fluttershy says as she walks in. “At least for the time being.”

“Wait!” Scootaloo shouts. “You two are married? And what's this about being your only daughter for the time being?”

“Discord says that there's a place where if you say you are married to somepony three times you're married.” Fluttershy explains.

“Where is that?” Scootaloo asks.

“The Seanchan Empire.” Discord answers simply.

“And what about my other question?”

Fluttershy blushes heavily. “Nothing to worry about yet, but maybe some day.”

Scootaloo nods. “Well I’m glad you two could make it.”

“Us too.”

“Listen, I heard there was a problem with who was going to officiate the wedding.” Discord says. “I could do it if you’d like.”

A collective “What?!” Is asked by everypony in the two rooms.

“Discord, stop teasing.” Fluttershy says.

“I’m not teasing. I have the capacity to marry two ponies if I so wish.”

“Who would give you the authority to marry ponies?” Cadance asks.

“Celestia did of course.” Discord answers as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You can ask her if you’d like.”

“I believe I will.” Cadance says then looks to Rarity. “Did Spike come with you?”

“Of course he did.” Rarity answers. “He’s in charge of the other details while I work on Scootaloo’s dress.”

“I’ll go see him. In the meantime I brought somepony with me that wishes to see both of you.” Cadance says as she turns to leave.

“Silver!” Diamond Tiara shouts as she runs to see her friend in her wedding gown. “You look beautiful!”

Diamond goes to hug Silver but Coco stops her. “Please don’t mess up her dress Miss Diamond.”

“Sorry Coco, I’m just glad I made it in time.”

“Me too.” Silver says.

“Me three.” Apple Bloom says. “You better not cut it this close when it comes to our wedding. I mean even Sweetie Belle beat you here."

"Hey! I heard that!" Sweetie says from podium where she waits for Rarity to adjust her dress. "I'll have you know we arrived in Cloudsdale yesterday morning."

"See, a whole day ahead of time and she's already on her honeymoon." Apple Bloom says

“I'm sorry, Bloom.” Diamond says as she walks up to her fiance. “I don’t plan on not being in the same city as you ever again.”

“Fair enough.” Bloom says then kisses Diamond.

“Girls, you mind?” Silver says. “This is my wedding.”

“Ours!” Scootaloo shouts.

Bloom blushes slightly. “I’ll go with Scoots, we’ll talk later.”

Diamond nods. “Sounds good to me.”

Cadance sighs as she comes back. “You’ll never believe this.”

“I take it Celestia confirmed what I said?” Discord asks as he pops next to Cadance wearing a priest robe, and holding a Bible in his taloned hand.

“She told me that you tricked her into giving you permission.”

“Tricked her? I would never do something like that ” Discord asks as his nose suddenly starts to get longer.

Coco Pommel pokes her head around the corner. “He’s like that puppet that wants to a real colt.”

“Discord does stuff like that when he’s being dramatic.” Fluttershy explains.

“He just chooses to do it?”

“Coco, darling, Discord’s a very unique individual.” Rarity says. “I’m not sure there’s anything that he can’t do.”

“He gave me my wings.” Silver says.

“Why would he do that?” Coco asks.

“I thought it’d spice things up a little.” Discord says. “Thought her mom would have a field day at the very least.”

They all watch as Discord's nose grows longer. “Discord!” Fluttershy scolds.

Discord sighs. “Fine! I did it because I wanted to make Scootaloo happy. Not everything I do has to be chaotic.”

“Just every other thing.” Scootaloo mumbles.

“Now Scootaloo, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?”

Scootaloo looks at Fluttershy who says. “You don't have to call him Dad if you don't want. Just like I never forced you to call me Mom.”

Scootaloo sighs. “Sorry, Dad.”

“That’s my little mare.” Discord says as he charges himself to look like an older male version of Scootaloo.

“Change back this instant.” Scootaloo says coldly.

Discord disappears and then reappears in his normal form next to Fluttershy. “Did I do something wrong?”

“You looked a lot like her actual father.” Fluttershy explains.

“That was the general idea.”

“She literally watched her father die in a horrible explosion.”

“Oh.” Discord says as he shrinks himself, hiding in Fluttershy’s mane.

“Scootaloo, please say something.”

Scootaloo sighs. “Come on out, Dad. If Silver’s alright with it you can marry us.”

Discord suddenly appears full size in a outfit that is one part priest's robe, one part tuxedo, holding a book with a weird looking “t” in one hand and one with two triangles overlapping in the other. “Seriously?”

“As long as you can kept it a traditional pony wedding, with limited chaos, sure.” Scootaloo answers.

Discord pops in onto Silver Spoon’s side. “Do you agree with this?”

Silver looks at Discord and sighs. “Why the hay not? It’ll be a wedding to remember.”

Discord squeals with delight. “Yeah! Now I’ve got to make changes to the wedding chapel.” With that he vanishes.

“Why do I have a feeling we’re in way over our heads?” Silver Spoon asks.

“I said limited chaos.” Scootaloo says. “I’m sure even he can’t do much with that.”

Cadance opens the door to the wedding chapel just enough to look out. “You want to bet?”

Scootaloo looks to Rarity. “You’re dress is as good as it’s going to be, go ahead.”

“You too, Miss Spoon.” Coco says. “I don’t think tradition is going to say anything about you two seeing each other in your dresses now.”

Scootaloo and Silver Spoon both hope off their respective perches and walk to the door, seeing each other in their wedding dresses they smile at the choices that their designer had made then continue to the door. “Alright, Princess Cadance.” Scootaloo says. “Let’s see what Dad has cooked up.”

"I want to see!" Sweetie says.

"Not so fast, some last minute alterations." Rarity says as she does just that. "Go on Sweetie."

Sweetie hops down to and heads to Scootaloo,, while Apple Bloom and Diamond come up too.

They all look out the door. “What the buck?” Silver exclaims as they see that all the clouds have been turned into pink cotton candy, the columns turned into candy canes, and the pews are all made of chocolate.

“Well…” Scootaloo hesitates. “We wanted a ceremony that nopony would soon forget. I think we’re about to get that.”

Silver Spoon sighs as she adjusts her glasses on her face. “Fine! Let’s this ceremony moving!”

The two of them march down the aisle, with the other following. Discord stands at the altar holding a broomstick in one hand and an empty glass in the other. “You girls ready?

Scootaloo looks at Silver who just nods. “Let’s do this.”

Chapter 14: Alibis

Chapter 14: Alibis

=====Ponyville; Same day as the wedding=====

Trixie walks into the throne room and starts going through the requests. “Trixie still isn’t sure about this.” She says to nopony at all.

A jeweled earring in her right ear glows. “You’re Twilight’s apprentice aren’t you?” Celestia says through the jewel.

“Yeah, but Trixie is not a princess. These are petitions to the princess.”

“I’m a princess, and I’m asking you to answer these petitions for Twilight.”

Trixie sighs. “If you insist, Trixie will look them over and do what Trixie can.”

“That’s all that I can ask for.”

“Any change with Twilight?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Oh well, Trixie better get to work.” Trixie grabs the first petition in her magic and starts reading it.

Some time later Trixie stretches after she finishes reading a petition, then goes to grab another petition when she hears a noise in the castle. “Is somepony there?” Trixie asks as she gets up and starts to look around. Not hearing anypony she begins to wonder if she was just imaging things when she sees a shadow and charges up her magic. “Come out from there!”

A turquoise dragon a little taller than Spike comes out of the shadows. “Hello” she says.

Trixie looks at the dragon. “Trixie hasn’t seen a dragon other than Spike. What’s your name?”

The dragon touches the collar Trixie just now realizes she’s wearing, and tag reading SW - 8. “Master calls me SW - 8.”

“Master?”

“He sent us to get you.” A gruff voice to her left says. She turns and sees what looks like a cross between a diamond dog and a pony, a creature having the upper body of a diamond dog, but equine legs somehow standing on his back hooves, wearing a jacket and a collar that reads SD - 5.

‘Your master has a thing for collaring his pets Trixie sees.” Trixie says as she powers up her horn and activates the gem in her ear. “Princess, Trixie needs help!”

The diamond dog / pony pulls out a ring. “You’re coming with us.”

“Trixie is not going anyway with you!” Trixie says and fires her magic at the diamond dog / pony only to get hit by the dragon.

“Yes, you are.” the dragon says as she puts her claws against Trixie’s neck.

“Please,don’t hurt Trixie. Trixie is pregnant.”

The diamond dog / pony holds out the ring. “Pewter, I make them myself.”

Trixie nods. “Trixie will go with you, just don’t hurt Trixie’s foal.”

“Our master will decide what to do with you.” the dragon says. “But I doubt even he’ll hurt an unborn foal.”

Trixie nods as the diamond dog / pony ties her up just hard enough to restrict her movement, places the ring on her horn and gags her and then picks her up and carries her out.

=====Cloudsdale; during the ceremony=====

“Aren’t you going to see the ceremony Miss Rarity?” Coco asks as she cleans up from her last minute alterations.

“Not if Discord’s doing it.” Rarity answers.

“Why not?”

“I just prefer the traditional ceremony, so I’m sure I wouldn't enjoy whatever Discord cooks up. Besides it’s nice to rest, between my sister’s wedding, this wedding, planning Apple Bloom’s wedding, and everything else I MAY have bitten off more than I can chew.”

“What else do you have going on, maybe I could help?”

“Oh Darling, that’s so sweet of you.” Rarity replies. “As you know I opened a second boutique in Canterlot a couple months ago, I believe I sent you an invitation.”

Coco nods. “You did indeed, regretfully I couldn’t come. I was traveling with the performing group you’d set me up with, just in case their costumes needed any last minute alterations.”

“Why, that sounds interesting, I bet you got to see all of Equestria that way.”

“A good portion of it.” Coco admits. “I’d just gotten back here when I received your letter asking for help with the weddings.”

“After myself you’re the best designer I know, who else would I trust to make a dress to pair with mine?”

Coco blushes slightly at the comment. “I had to leave the performing group to do these you know.”

“Oh heavens, why didn’t you say so?” Rarity asks. “I surely could have found somepony else.”

Coco shakes her head. “It’s fine, I’d found a young mare much like myself and taught her what she needed to know, it’s a great start for her.”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to open your own boutique?”

“I don't want to compete with you, I was hoping that we might work out some sort of partnership.”

“What kind of partnership are you thinking?”

Coco comes over to Rarity. “This kind.” Then she kisses her. Rarity looks at her completely shocked. “Did I mess up?”

“No, you just shocked me.”

“I’ve got something to shock both of you.” A pony that looks and sounds like Rarity says as she walks up.

Rarity gasps. “A changeling!”

“More than one!” A changeling in the shape of Coco steps out of the shadows.

“Miss Rarity, what's going on?” The real Coco asks as she presses herself against her. “Why do they look like us?”

“They're shape changers.” Rarity answers. “They’re the ones that attacked Canterlot a few years back “

“What are they doing here?”

“I'd guess that they're going to abduct us and take our places.”

Coco’s eyes get really big as she goes into shock and passes out.

“If you give yourself up we won't hurt you.” Pseudo-Rarity says.

“You think I believe you for a minute?” Rarity asks as she grabs a pair of scissors in her magic. “Where's Chrysalis? Tell her to come herself, she may be dishonest, but at least I know her.”

“Who is this Chrysalis?” Pseudo-Coco asks.

“Nopony I’ve ever heard of.” Pseudo-Rarity says then looks to the actual Rarity. “You should tell our master about this Chrysalis.”

“You’re master?” Rarity asks.

“The great Lord Umbra, he is our master and our father.” Pseudo-Coco answers.

“SC-12!” Pseudo-Rarity says.

Pseudo-Coco, SC-12 hangs her head, “Sorry.”

“Now, it’s time for these two to go with the others.” Pseudo-Rarity says and turns to a window where a few pegasi fly in, all wearing collars with tags on them. “Now will you go with them willingly, or are we going to have to force you?”

Rarity looks at the pegasi, and then at Coco unconscious. “Not really much of a choice.”

“I assume that means you’ll cooperate?”

“I don’t really see another option.”

“Very good.” Pseudo-Rarity says then looks to the pegasi. “SP-15, you’re in charge of these prisoners. Master wants them unharmed.”

The lead pegasi salutes Pseudo-Rarity. “Or course, SC - 9.” SP-15 responds, and then waves the rest of her team in to grab the two unicorns and fly them away.

After the pegasi leave Pseudo-Coco looks to Pseudo-Rarity. “SP-9, how should we play this, we saw them kiss?”

“We need to refer to each other by their names, Coco.” Pseudo-Rarity says.

“Of course, Rarity. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“Tell me do you find this form attractive?”

Pseudo-Coco nods. “Of course.”

Pseudo-Rarity kisses Pseudo-Coco. “Then we roll with it.”

“This could be a lot of fun.” Pseudo-Coco says then kisses Pseudo-Rarity again.

Chapter 15: Call Me

Chapter 15: Call Me

=====Ponyville, a few days later=====

Pinkie Pie hops down the road towards whatever party she has planned next when suddenly she stops dead in her tracks and looks up the alley she was about to cross. ” Come out, whomever you are!”

The turquoise dragon SW - 8 steps out from the shadows. “How did you know I was here?”

“My Pinkie Sense told me somepony, or well I guess it'd be somedragon was up to no good in this alley.”

“Actually pony or dragon is fine, I'm actually both.”

“Oh good, I was worried my Pinkie Sense was messed up for a minute.”

“You know you don't seem too worried for somepony that knows I'm up to no good.”

“That’s cause I'm not.”

“Do you know what I'm here to do?”

Pinkie nods. “You’re here to ponynap me. Just like you did Trixie, and take me to your master so that he can do whatever he wants to me in an attempt to get me on his side, either as a broodmare or a fighter when he has his army attack Canterlot in an attempt to knock the Princesses off their thrones.”

SW - 8 blinks a few times I'm complete shock at the oddly specific guess then finally speaks. “How the buck do you know that?”

Pinkie smiles innocently. “Just a lucky guess.” Then she pulls her party cannon out of nowhere and shoots confetti at SW - 8.

“What!?” Is all SW - 8 manages to get out before her mouth is filled with confetti.

“Nice meeting you!” Pinkie says as she stuffs herself in the cannon and fires it making her fly away

SW - 8 watches Pinkie fly away. “Damn, Master won't like this one bit.”

===========

Fluttershy is tending to her animals when a group of Diamond Dogs all apparently injured, and lead by SD - 5 walk up to her cottage. “Oh my!” Fluttershy says as she sees them and quickly flies over to them. “Are you all okay?”

“A monster attacked our den.” SD - 5 says. “Please you must help us.”

“Of course.” Fluttershy says. “Let me just get my friends and we'll help. ”

“Please, we really need you to hurry, some of our kin are still trapped in there. We're really worried what the monster will do to them ”

“Oh my, I’d better see if I can do something..”

“We can show you the way.” SD - 5 says and the others nod.

Fluttershy looks down to Angel. “Keep the other animals in line while I’m gone.”

Angel chitters and salutes as he goes to do just that.

“Are you coming?” SD - 5 asks.

“Of course.” Fluttershy says and follows the Diamond Dogs, her fear of pretty much everything telling her to stay back, but her desire to help the defenseless animals pulling her forward. “Come on Fluttershy.” She mutters to herself as she walks. “You can do this.”

They lead her into the Everfree, and to a cave. “It’s inside the cave. Our young were in here when the monster showed up. They should be hiding in a nook in the very back, we hope we’re not too late.”

“You didn't tell me children were trapped.” Fluttershy says.

“What do you think we meant when we said our kin?”

“The poor things.” Fluttershy says then stomps a front hoof and puts on her brave face and marches into the cave. The first thing that she notices is that the cave is lit up by enchanted torches, which means this group of Diamond Dogs has been trading with the ponies. Taking that as a good sign she quickly makes her way to the back, looking for the monster or their kin as she does. She eventually comes to a dead end. “What?” She asks as she turns around to see the Diamond Dogs followed her carrying a large net and a bag.

“We had to get you to a place you couldn't fly away.” SD - 5 says.

Fluttershy looks up and sees that the roof is too low for her to fly over their heads. “But.. why?”

“Why do you think? You’re an Element of Harmony, that makes you a valuable hostage. ” SD - 5 answers. “Now be a good little pegasus and get in the bag.”

Fluttershy backs herself against the dead end and murmurs. “Help.”

Then a familiar voice sounds in her head. ‘If you ever need my help all you need to do is say this rhyme.’

Fluttershy looks at the approaching Diamond Dogs and sighs. “Fearing trouble is coming my way. I summon the one who can lead it away. Chaos spirit, Loki, Comus, Puck, I call you, Discord to bring me luck!”

A large door appear between the Diamond Dogs and Fluttershy causing them stop and look at it oddly. “What in Tartarus?” SD - 5 asks as he cautiously approaches the door.

Suddenly a large crochet mallet busts a hole in the door and Discord pokes his head through the hole. “Here’s Discord!”

“What in Equestria?”

“Time for a game that’s called Denver Crochet!” Discord says as he snaps his talons and the Diamond Dogs are forced to roll up into balls. Discord appears next to SD - 5, place his foot on him and raises the larger than normal mallet. “I think this isn’t going to be big enough, time to make a new game!”

The mallet enlarges so that it’s head is the same size as the rolled up Diamond Dogs. “I think I’ll call this Texas Crochet now. After all everything’s bigger in Texas!” Discord says as he hits SD - 5 with the mallet causing SD - 5 to rolls into the other Diamond Dogs and they all start rolling. Several large wickets appear on the floor and the Diamond Dogs roll through them and then out the cave.

“Oh Discord!” Fluttershy says as she flies to him and hugs him.

“You know I wouldn’t let them hurt you.” Discord says as the large mallet vanishes.

Fluttershy nuzzles against Discord. “Will they come back?”

“I doubt it.” Discord says. “I rolled them back to where they came from.”

“Then let’s go home.” Fluttershy says and they head out of the cave.

Chapter 16: Jailbreak

Chapter 16: Jailbreak

=====Griffonholm=====

Rainbow Dash stands at the top of Bastions palace, the number of griffons in the air has increased to the point that there is no way that anything was getting in or out without them wanting it. With a heavy sigh Rainbow heads down to the lowest level of the palace. Once at the bottom floor she sees a roughly pony sized hole in the very corner of the building leading to what appears to be a tunnel of some sort. She enters the tunnel, walks for a little and then sees ponies working on expanding the tunnel. She sees Iron Horn moves a beam into place with his magic and then a few ponies work on making sure it won’t move. Once the tunnel is braced the ponies work on digging some more. “Iron Horn!” Rainbow Dash calls out as she comes into the dig site.

“Captain Dash!” Iron Horn says as he salutes, then walks towards Dash. “How can I help you ma’am?”

“How’s the progress on the escape tunnel?”

“We’re about a hoofball field’s length out.”

Dash sighs. ‘I was really hoping that we were farther out.”

“Why?”

“As you know the griffons have stopped letting anything in.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard the grumbling from the other soldiers, you’ve cut everypony but the unicorns to half rations.”

“I can’t exactly risk the shield being dropped, can I?”

Iron Horn sighs. “No, I suppose not.”

“Even at that rations are running low.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that.” Iron Horn says. “What are we looking at?”

“A week tops, then we’ll be out of food all together.”

Iron Horn nods. “We’re not going to make that much of a difference in a week, and then we’d be out of time to go with other options.”

“I know, but I’m not sure what to do.”

“Might I suggest a crazy option?”

“As long as it’s not handing Bastion over I’m all ears.”

Iron Horn laughs. “Had a few ponies suggest that already, huh?”

“More that a few.” Dash answers. “If it was up to them we’d already have handed him over.”

“We both know that wouldn’t help anything at this point.”

“I know. So what’s your plan?”

“Get that food out and feed everypony good tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow night we’ll make out break for it, at least we’ll be at full strength.”

Dash nods. “That’s a really good plan. I’ll get right on it.”

Iron Horn nods. “We’ll get this shored up and start working our way up so that we’re ready to go for tomorrow night.”

=====The next night=====

Iron Hord marches up to the top of Bastion’s palace. “I’m ready to take the shield.”

Rune Skirt and Rune Vest both nod and they transfer the control of the shield to him. “Thank you sir!” Rune Skirt says.

“I know you two want to rest, but I’m afraid we don’t have time for that.”

“Is it time to move then?” Rune Skirt asks.

“Yes, I believe that they have some food made to help you recharge. We leave in an hour, I’m going to tie the shield off right before I go.”

“What are you going to tie it to?” Rune Vest asks.

Iron Horn pulls a glowing gem out of his saddlebags. “This mana gem should hold the shield for about an hour. Hopefully we’ll be able to get far away before then.”

“Then we’d better go eat and head downstairs with the rest.” Rune Skirt says and the two head downstairs.

Iron Horn looks up at the griffons in the sky, there’s so many of them he can’t see the sky. Every once in awhile on hits the shield with something, testing it.

“Will the shield hold if they keep hitting it?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“The more they hit it the quicker the gem will lose it’s charge.”

“You’re going to have to wait until the very last minute to tie the shield to the gem, aren’t you?”

“I am, but I can hold the shield without seeing it, I can tie the shield to the gem right before I go into the tunnel. I’m a little worried how long it will hold though.”

“We just need it to hold long enough to get us through the tunnel, there’s only 16 of us, counting Bastion. We’re only talking a hoofball length, and most of us should be able to be by the exit before you even tie the gem off.”

“You can’t have too many ponies in there at once, just because we shored it up doesn’t mean it won’t collapse when the surface is breached.”

“How were you planning on dealing with that?”

“I was planning on reinforcing the tunnel with magic, something very similar to the shield spell, but I need the tunnel to be empty to do that.”

Dash nods. “We’ll figure it out, let’s go.”

Iron Horn nods and follows Dash downstairs where everypony is gathered outside the tunnel. “Cold Steel,are you ready?”

Cold Steel, an earth pony nods. “Yes, sir.”

“You may begin.” Iron Horn says then Cold Steel walks into the tunnel. Iron Horn pulls the energized crystal from his saddlebags and a stream magic goes from his horn to the gem until the gem is glowing brightly. He places the gem down and his horn lights up again, a shield reinforces the tunnel.

Cold Steel quickly digs to the surface and climbs out, he pokes his head back into the hole and yells. “Let’s move it ponies!”

“You heard him!” Rainbow Dash says. “Rune Skirt; Rune Vest advance and secure the exit!”

“Yes Ma’am!” They salute unanimously and quickly run down the tunnel.

“Bastion, you’re next!” Rainbow yells at the griffon prince. ‘The rest of you follow single file. I’ll bring up the rear, followed only by Iron Horn, is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Everypony responds.

Bastion glares at Rainbow Dash. “You’re giving me orders now?”

Dash flies up so that she’s eye level with Bastion. “I’ve been letting you act like you’ve been in charge long enough! Now get your feathered ass in that tunnel so we can get out of here!”

Bastion’s eye widen. “I got it, I got it!” He says as he walks into the tunnel followed by the rest of the ponies except Rainbow Dash and Iron Horn.

“Let’s go Iron Horn.” Dash says then only for the sound of shattering glass to draw their attention.

“The gem!” Iron Horn says as he looks to see the shattered remains of the gem on the floor. He quickly changes his shield to protect the room.

Rainbow looks over at the tunnel. “It’s collapsing, let’s go!”

Iron Horn shakes his head. “Go on without me, I’ll collapse the tunnel behind you.”

“I can’t just leave you here.”

“For the sake of everypony you need to leave, and you need to leave now. You’re one of the Elements of Harmony, Equestria needs you to survive.”

“But what about..” Dash starts to ask only for Iron Horn to stop her.

“There’s no time to argue, go now!” Iron Horn yells as he physically pushes Rainbow Dash.

“Iron Horn, stop! That’s an order!” Dash yells as she’s pushed into the tunnel.

“That’s one order I can’t obey!” Iron Horn says as he drops the shield spell then uses his magic to hold Rainbow Dash back. “It’s been an honor serving under you.” With that he uses his magic to collapse the tunnel entrance.

Rainbow Dash climbs out of the tunnel only to have one of the pegasus guards greet her. “Is Iron Horn coming?”

Rainbow Dash looks at the guard and sees that it’s Iron Wing and she hangs her head. “I’m sorry, the crystal failed.”

“What do you mean?”

“Iron Horn forced me into the tunnel and then collapsed the entrance afterwards. He gave his life to save mine.”

The pegasus, Iron Wing sniffles a few times. “That sounds like my brother.”

“Are you going to be alright?” Rainbow asks.

Iron Wing nods. “I’ll manage until we’re through this. I’ll break down when I’m back home.”

“I respect that, let’s get moving!”

Chapter 17: Bits and Pieces

Chapter 17: Bits and Pieces

Chapter 17: Bits and Pieces

“It’s nice of ya two to invite me over for tea.” Applejack says as she relaxes on one of Rarity’s sofas. “It’s nice to take a break from everything.”

“How are you holding up Darling?” SC - 9, disguised as Rarity asks. “I know it must be hard on you losing Greaves like that.”

Applejack flinches noticeably. “Yeah, it is, but I got Big Mac to lean on, along with Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara. In fact Diamond’s paying any bills that needs paid and has arranged for a pony named Au Pair to come help when necessary.”

"That sounds like it should take a bit of the pressure off of you.” Rarity says.

“I haven’t met her yet, but I do think she’ll be a great help.” Applejack admits. “So tell me why the invite to tea?”

“Rarity, you might as well tell her.” SC - 12, disguised as Coco says.

“I suppose you have a point Coco.” Rarity sighs trying to add a bit of drama to the situation. “I’m telling my friends one at a time that I’ve finally found myself a special somepony.”

“Congratulations!” Applejack says then looks at Coco. “I’m bettin’ that’s you, right?”

Coco nods. “It is indeed, we’re going to use our collective knowledge of fashion to put all other boutiques out of business, and have a little fun along the way.” She smiles at Rarity.

“That’s really great.” Applejack says as she drinks her tea. “I’m happy to hear that.”

Rarity nods and pours Applejack another cup of tea. “You’re the first pony I’ve told.”

“I’m honored, I didn’t think we were that close.” Applejack admits. “I would have figured you’d tell Twilight or Fluttershy first.”

“Since Twilight’s unconscious I can’t exactly tell her anything, can I?”

“I suppose not. “ Applejack answers as she drinks more tea. “This is really good tea, what’s in it?”

Rarity grins. “Valerian, passionflower, chamomile, and some lavender. To help you sleep.”

“Why I Equestria would I want to sleep?”

“It’s not a matter of you wanting to sleep.” Rarity says.

“It’s a matter of us needing you to sleep.” Coco says. “You’ll be easier to handle that way.”

“Easier to handle?” Applejack asks as she jumps to her hooves.

“How are you still awake?” Rarity asks.

"Earth ponies are highly resistant to herbs.” Applejack answers as she backs away from them towards the exit.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Coco says as she hits her with magic.

“What in Tarnation is wrong with you two?”

Rarity and Coco shed their disguises. “It’s time for you to meet our Master. “SC - 9 says.

“Well.” Applejack says as she reaches up and takes off her hat, then as she puts it back on she taps the earring in her right ear. “I suppose it’s time for me to go.”

“So you’ll come with us peacefully?” SC - 12 asks.

Applejack grins. “Not a chance in Tartarus. I’m going home.” The earring in her right ear glows with a lavender light that quickly expands and encompasses her entire body, then she disappears.

“A teleportation spell built into an earring?” SC - 12 looks at SC - 9 in shock.

“That infernal alicorn, Princess Twilight must be behind this.”

“We must confer with Master immediately.”

SC - 9 nods and moves the couch to create pool of shadow, she steps into the shadow. “Lord Umbra, I your humble servant beg you. Come forth, and advise me.”

The shadow quickly takes the form of Lord Umbra. “What is it SC - 9?”

“We have a problem Master, the one named Applejack got away from us after seeing through our disguises.”

“Return to me quickly, before she rallies support.”

“Yes Master.”

Lord Umbra vanishes.

==========

Winter, dressed in an explorer's outfit, takes a drink of water from a canteen. “Hopefully we find fresh water soon, we don’t even have enough to get back at this point.”

“We’ve got three more days of water, I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Nymeria says as she walks up to him dressed in a similar outfit.. “Plus whatever we get tonight from those rain collectors you built.”

Winter nods. “They’d be more useful if the canopy of this forest wasn’t so dense. Otherwise I’d really love a map right now.”

“If there was a map it wouldn’t be the undiscovered west now, would it?”

Winter sighs. “I suppose you have a point. Now remind me, what are we doing out here again?”

“You missed out on something like 1,000 years of discovery, so I thought maybe we could discover something to make up for it.”

Winter smiles. “And the fact that we have one large sleeping bag to share has nothing to do with it?”

Nymeria grins. “I don’t hear you complaining.”

Winter kisses her lightly and the two of them continue to walk.

Nymeria spots a shadowy form off the the side. “Hold up, I’ve got to pee.”

Winter stops. “Of course.” He keeps one eye on her as the steps into the heavy bushes to take care of her business. As she vanishes from his sight he mumbles to himself. “Don’t know why you want privacy now, ain’t like you have anything I haven’t seen.”

Nymeria undoes her outfit to take care of business when the shadowy form of Lord Umbra approaches her from behind. “How is the plan daughter?”

Nymeria jumps slightly then starts peeing as he approaches her. “Didn’t you teach me it was rude to walk up on somepony when they were peeing?”

Umbra chuckles slightly. “I see being with the ponies has given you a bit of spirit, but don’t forget that you belong to me!” The shadow grabs at her flanks.

Nymeria gasps. “You said I could have Winter if I brought him to you. I thought that meant I could have only him.”

“I said you could have him if you brought him and the Princess to me.” Umbra growls. “It’s not that hard, there’s 4 of them now, you only had to get one of them.”

“I need more time, once I bring him to you I’ll be able to convince him we should stay with you.” Nymeria says as she feels the shadow mount her and has to bite her lip for a second to not say something she shouldn’t, or make too much noise so that Winter would wonder what was going on. “Then his dear sweet mother will coming running to save him, and that’s when you’ll have her.”

“Very well.” Umbra says as he finishes with her. “You may end up belonging to just him, but until then you’re mine.”

“Yes Master.” Nymeria says and watches him vanish before fixing her outfit, and wiping the tears from her eyes. Then she walks back to Winter. “Sorry Dear, really had to go.”

Winter nods in understanding. “Fair enough, let’s go this way.” He heads into a dark cluster of the woods using his magic to make cold fire to light the way.

Nymeria follows him, watching the shadows his magic casts, looking to see Umbra’s face in them. Suddenly they come to a clearing with a brook running through it. “See, told you we’d find water!” She runs towards the water, and stops at the riverbank. She strips off her saddlebags then her outfit and hops in the water. “This feels so good. Come on Winter, join me.”

Winter nods and carefully placing their camping equipment next to her saddlebags before stripping down and joining her in the water. “You’re right this is nice.”

Nymeria kisses him. “I’m about to make it better.”

Meanwhile from the edge of the clearing Lord Umbra watches.

Author's Note

Special thanks to SudokuBrony for pointing out this originally had the same title as a previous chapter, that's what I get for posting with a migraine.

Chapter 18: One Thing Leads to Another

Chapter 18: One Thing Leads to Another

A group of hooded ponies gather around the body of Lieutenant Greaves chanting incoherently. Lord Umbra steps up to the body as shadow wraps around his horn. “Shadows I summon thee. Imbue this body with your magic. Bring it back to life. Let it serve my will.”

The ponies around Greaves continue chanting as the shadow leaves Umbra’s horn and glides around them. Taking no certain form the shadow glides through the chanting ponies and cover the body of Greaves. The ponies circling start chanting louder, there words becoming clear. “Imbue! Resurrect! Imbue! Resurrect!”

The shadow swirls over Greaves body before going inside of him, suddenly Greaves breathes. He opens his eyes, every part of the eye is completely black. “Master?”

“I am your Master, tell me who you were.” Umbra responds.

“My name was Greaves, I was a lieutenant under Princess Twilight Sparkle. I was….”

“You were what slave?”

“I was married to somepony, something is stopping me from telling you to whom Master.”

Umbra growls. “Something is stopping you from telling me who you were married to?”

“Yes Master.”

“I own you! You are my servant until such time as I have no use for you!” Umbra yells. “What could possibly be telling you not to tell me something?”

“Some part of who I was is trying to protect that pony.”

Umbra picks up a ceremonial knife with his magic and stabs Greaves with the knife. “Did that get rid of that part of you?” He pulls the knife out and shadow seals the wound healing it.

“I’m sorry Master, it did not.”

Umbra growls and backhoofs Greaves knocking him clear across the room. “Maybe that'll loosen something up.”

Greaves tries to get up, but obviously every limb is broken. Shadow ripples through his body and fixes the injuries and he gets up. “I think that did it Master.”

“Who were you married to?”

“Applejack.”

Greaves grins. “Excellent!”

==========

Applejack lays on the couch of Fluttershy’s cottage. “Thank you both for taking me in.”

“You used the teleportation charm Twilight gave you.” Fluttershy says. “I had to make sure you were okay.”

"Rarity and Coco have been replaced with changelings, and tried to ponynap me."

"What?!"

“I wouldn’t believe you were you if Discord wasn't right here.”

‘Well, I'm glad that you have so much faith in me." Discord says

Applejack nods. “It's just there ain’t no way a changeling could impersonate ya Discord.”

“I’m sure they could try, but they’d never have my style.” Discord says as he snaps his talons and is suddenly in a suit, the top is black on the left side, and white on the right, the pants are the opposite, and a black and white checkered zoot hat complete with a pheasant feather completes the outfit.

“I’m sure they could technically do that, but I bet it wouldn’t be easy.” Applejack says.

Discord grins and snaps his talons again and a bunch of mini Discords are running around. “Could they do that?”

“Nope, don’t think so.” Applejack says. “Definitely gotta be you.”

“And I assure you that this is the real Fluttershy, I’d think I’d know if my wife was a changeling.”

“What are we going to do about the two changelings that I did see?”

Discord snaps his talons. “I just placed a shield around Ponyville, much like Trixie did except this one only stops changelings from leaving.” He grins. “Oh and they are forced back into their normal form.”

Applejack grins. “We’ve got some changelings to hunt then.”

Fluttershy shakes her head. “I can’t.”

“Why not? They probably have our friends.”

“I know, but I don’t think I should go, nor should you.” Fluttershy says. “We both have foals to worry about.”

“How’d ya know I was pregnant?”

“I told her.” Discord answers. “And before you ask I’m the Spirit of Chaos, I just know things.”

“I take it that’s how ya know yer pregnant too?”

Fluttershy nods. “Discord said I was, and that’s not something he’d even think about joking about, he know how much I want foals.”

“I guess I can’t blame ya for wanting to be careful, but you know our friends would go after these changelings if they had us.”

Fluttershy gets up. “You’re right! I’m going with you.”

“Fluttershy, you could get hurt.” Discord pleads.

“It’s for my friends, I’m going to help.”

Discord sighs and snaps his talons, the two changelings appear in front of him. “The things I do for love.”

The two changelings look at each other. “You’re going to tell me where mah friends are.” Applejack says as she stares them down.

“Never!” SC - 9 says.

“Fluttershy, be dear and make our guests some tea.” Discord says.

Fluttershy’s eyes go wide. “Of course.” She quickly heads to the kitchen.

“Now.” Applejack says. “You two are going to tell us everything or Discord here is going to tear you to pieces.”

“Oh, that sounds like fun!” Discord says as he looms over the changelings. “Now which one of you do I pluck first?”

“We’ll talk!” SC - 12 says.

“No we won’t, you fool!” SC - 9 says as she backhooves SC-12. “Do your worst!”

Discord grins. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear somepony say that.” He grabs SC - 9 with his taloned hand. “With this dog tag you must be somepony’s pet.”

“I won’t tell you anything.” SC - 9 says then spits into Discord’s face.

“No, no you won’t.” Discord says. “Especially without your tongue.” He holds up a tongue and SC - 9 uses her hooves to feel into her mouth only to realize that he did just take her tongue. “See I don’t need you to talk, your friend was quite willing to talk before, I have a feeling she’ll tell me anything I want after I’m done disassembling you.”

SC- 9 squirms in his grip and attempts to kick him. “Well, if you’re going to be that way those pesky legs will have to go next.” He snaps his pawed fingers and all four of her legs are laying on the ground. Her eyes light up, the fear obvious.

“Wait, please.” SC -12 says. “Don’t hurt my sister.”

Discord puts the limbless SC - 9 down. “Will you tell me everything I want to know?”

“Yes, just please restore my sister, I can’t stand seeing her like this.”

Discord snaps his talons and suddenly SC - 9 has her legs back and his in a cage. “That’s in good faith, you give me the information, and I’ll give her back her tongue.” He holds up SC - 9’s tongue.

“Our master, Lord Umbra has your friends.”

“Where does he have them?”

“In his secret..” SC -12 suddenly stops talking as she falls down dead.. A shadow creeps away from her.

“I see.” Discord says as he grabs the shadow. “Shadow magic… interesting.”

“The spirit of chaos.” The shadow says. “How unexpected.”

“You’d better release my two friends safely, or you’ll face my wrath.”

The shadow disperses, another shadow lunges at Fluttershy as she walks in carrying the tea, causing her to drop the tea, a sudden light stops the shadow. Discord growls holding a lamp in his claw. “Discord?” Fluttershy asks.

“Pack your bags, and go get the others. We’re going to wake up Twilight.” Discord says.

“You.. you can do that?” Fluttershy says.

“No! Luna can, I’m going to make her! Then we’re going to find this Lord Umbra and you 6 are going to summon your rainbow magic to beat the crap out of him, if there’s anything left he’s mine! Nopony attempts to hurt my mate and gets away with it!”

Chapter 19: Sad But True

Chapter 19: Sad but True

Lord Umbra growls and kicks at the nearest thing to him. “They have the bucking spirit of chaos on their side!” He growls, then stomps his front hooves causing shadow magic to ripple across the floor.. “Greaves!”

Lieutenant Greaves steps out of the shadows. “You summoned me Master?”

“Is my army ready?”

“Nearly 2000 undead are ready to march at your command Master.”

“Good, get them moving, you’re going to attack Canterlot.”

Greaves bows. “Do you have a specific target in mind?”

“Celestia’s castle.” Umbra replies. “You’re to find and kill Twilight Sparkle.”

“Of course Master. We will do what we can, but I fear we won’t make it in as we are.”

“You’re not going alone.”

“What do you mean Master?”

“You’re taking Onyx.”

“That will increase the odds dramatically.”

“Onyx and the soldiers will create the distractions, you’ll go kill Twilight.”

“That has a good possibility of working.”

“Then move out.”

“I will tell Onyx immediately.” Greaves replies. “Then I’ll get the army moving.”

“Move fast, there isn’t much time.”

“Yes, Master.”

=====Crystal Empire=====

The train pulls up to the Crystal Empire and Ash and Sweetie step off. “The Crystal Empire is so beautiful.” Sweetie says.

“We like to think so.” Princess Cadance says.

“Princess Cadance!” Sweetie says as she runs up to Cadance and hugs her.

“Sweetie Belle!” Cadance says as she hugs her. “I’m so glad to see you two.”

“You just saw us at Scoots and Silver’s wedding a little over a week ago.” Sweetie says.

“Yes, and I think it’s time I told you things you should’ve been told then.” Cadance says. “But first, let’s get you to the castle, some of the things I have to tell you aren’t public knowledge yet.”

The three of them walk the streets of the Crystal Empire. “I notice that everypony is being very nice to us, is that because you’re with us?” Sweetie asks.

“Oh no, it’s the Crystal Heart.” Cadance answers. “The love of the Empire powers the Crystal Heart, and in return it makes all of the citizens feel even more loved. So every citizen tries to make everypony feel loved so that the Heart will be more powerful.”

“That’s just amazing.” Sweetie says.

“Do you think while we’re here we’ll have time to examine the Heart?” Ash asks.

“That depends on many things.” Cadance says as they enter the castle and she leads them to her quarters and casts a spell.

“A privacy spell in your own castle?” Ash asks surprised.

“Walls have ears in a place like this.” Cadance says. “Now I suggest you both sit. You may not like some of what I have to tell you.”

Ash and Sweetie both sit. “We’re ready your Majesty.” Ash says.

Cadance sighs. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, but Twilight was attacked at the Peace summit, and gravely injured. We don’t know what happened to her guard, but we assume the worst.”

Ash immediately launches onto his hooves. “Why didn’t you stop us after the wedding and tell us?”

“What would you have done?” Cadance asks.

“We’d have come back to Ponyville immediately.” Ash answers. “I’d have ordered more guards from Canterlot, without Twilight surely somepony was going to try something.”

Cadance looks at her hooves ashamed. “About that.”

“What… what happened?”

“Several ponies were abducted, and several additional attempts were made.”

“What do you mean several ponies were abducted?”

“Well…” Cadance hesitates as she looks at Sweetie Belle, then when she sees Sweetie notice she looks away.

Sweetie gasps. “They have my sister, don’t they?”

Cadance nods. “I’m afraid so.”

“NO!” Sweetie sobs.

Ash hugs her. “Who else?”

“Twilight’s student Trixie, and a mare named Coco Pommel.”

“Twilight can’t be too happy about that.”

“Twilight's not conscious.”

Ash sighs. “Let me get this straight. Twilight is injured, and unconscious, has been for some time and I’m just finding out now that other ponies have been ponynapped?”

“Pretty much.”

“We need to go home. I need my armor and I need a set for Sweetie.”

“For me?” Sweetie asks.

“For her?” Cadance asks at the same time.

“That’s right, Sweetie can track Rarity.” Ash says.

“No I can’t.”

“Yes, actually you can.” Cadance says. “But the only magical compass that would let you do so is locked up in Canterlot.”

“Magical compass?” Sweetie asks.

“An enchanted compass, that in a unicorn’s magical grasp can be used to find a blood relative of theirs.” Cadance answers. “Though I’m curious as to where Ash heard of them, as they are extremely rare.

“I have the other one in my belongings. The fortress I was raised in had several magical items, I retrieved as many as I could.”

“You have the other one?” Cadance looks at him surprised. “Starswirl the bearded himself made those two compasses, and gave them to Luna and Celestia. Luna’s was assumed lost when she was banished.”

“How do you think a fortress run my lunar guards ended up with it?” Ash grins.

Cadance sighs. “Of course, that makes sense. Your fortress was erased from all records, I had wondered why. Now I understand, Luna was using your fortress to store magical items.”

“That’s correct.”

“Why didn’t you turn them over?” Sweetie asks.

Ash grins. “Because they legally belong to me now. Luna turned over all items inside of the fortress to me as I was the last living guard that had served there.”

“She must of forgot that such a rare item was in there!” Cadance jumps.

“I’ll tell you what Princess, I’m a good sport. You write Luna and tell her what item I have. IF she says she wants it back she can have it back AFTER we use it to find Sweetie’s sister.”

“Fine.” Cadance huffs. “Let’s get you to the Crystal Heart, by using it’s magic I can create a set of crystal armor for Sweetie.”

“You’re going to give me armor so I can help find my sister?” Sweetie asks surprised.

“That’s not all I’m giving you.” Cadance says as she opens up a door to see Shinning armor in his full battle regalia. “I’m sending my husband and some soldiers with you. I’m declaring war on these ponynappers.”

Chapter 20: Time For Me To Fly

Chapter 20: Time For Me To Fly

Rainbow Dash sits on the floor of the cave that her company is hiding in. The are all tired, and dirty. “So what do the griffins see when they come by?”

“It’ll look like an avalanche happened and blocked off the cave, just in case they know this cave is here.” Rune Skirt answers.

“I find it unlikely that the know every cave in these hills.” Bastion says.

“No offense, your majesty, but you were raised in a palace, not on these hills.” Cold Steel says. “I promise you if I was back in the hills I was raised I’d know every hill, valley and cave like it was the back of my hoof.”

Bastion looks at the earth pony then nods. “I suppose you may have a point.”

“I don’t care what they see as long as they pass us by.” Iron Wing says. “We’re not exactly running at full strength here.”

Rainbow Dash hangs her head, since they fled the palace they’d be ambushed too many times. Her company had dwindled down to just 6 ponies and of course the eternal pain in her flank Bastion. “Rune Plate, how’s Copper Penny?”

Rune Plate’s horn glow as she stands over an earth pony mare. “She’s resting, the wound on her flank is sealed.”

“Will she be ready to move by nightfall?” Rainbow asks.

“I don’t see why not, the wound wasn’t deep and and earth ponies have a high healing factor. She might be a little slower than normal, so she won’t be taking point.” Rune Plate answers.

“I’ll take point.” Iron Wing volunteers

The rest of the squad all stops what they’re doing and looks at her. “Are you sure about that Iron Wing?” Rainbow Dash asks.

Iron Wing nods. “Losing Iron Horn has been tough Captain, and I respect that you’ve given me time to deal with it in spite of everything., but I’m a guard first. He’d want me to do my job, not mourn for him. Let me do my job.”

Rainbow nods. “You take point then, just remember our lives rely on you too,”

“Don’t worry Captain, I’m not ready to meet my brother in the afterlife yet.”

“Now that’s settled you should all rest.” Rainbow Dash says.

“I’ll take the first shift.” Rune Skirt says. “I have to stay up to hold the illusion anyway.”

“You and your sister need to rest at some point.” Rainbow says.

“Unless you have an energy crystal to spare one of us will have to maintain the shield.”

“Could you use one that’s enchanted to do something else?”

“If I removed the enchantment sure.”

Rainbow taps her armor. “This small gem is enchanted to repair my armor, but you can have it if it’ll work.”

Rune Skirt examines the armor. “This is beautifully made, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Twilight had it made just before I came here.” Rainbow says.

“I can’t take the gem out of the armor, but I could certainly tie the spell off to it.”

“Then do that and go rest.” Rainbow says.

Rune Skirt shakes her head. “We’ll tie it off to the gem later, first you rest.”

“I suppose that’s fair, the gem won’t hold the illusion forever after all.”

“I’ll tell Plate about the gem, and have her wake you up so she can tie the spell off.”

“Fair enough.” Rainbow Dash says as she gets into a corner and lays down. “I suggest the rest of you get some rest.”

“I can’t wait to be out of the Faust forsaken land.” Iron Wing says as she settles down.

“Since my own soldiers are against me, I suppose I can’t argue with you there.” Bastion says as he finds his own place to settle down.

=========

“Alright everypony.” Rainbow Dash says waking them up. “The sun will set soon, and it’ll be time to move out.”

“Copper Penny reporting for duty, Captain!” The injured earth pony mare says.

“Good to hear soldier, how are you feeling?”

“A little sore, but I’ll make due.”

“Good, because I hope to push it tonight, if Cold Steel’s reckoning is correct we have a good chance of getting across to Equestria tonight.”

“What’s to stop them from chasing us all the way to Canterlot?” Bastion asks. “It’s not like you have an army at your border.”

Rainbow Dash grins. “Princess Twilight left a little present at the border just in case, I plan to activate it. That’s all I’m telling you.”

Bastion laughs. “Why am I not surprised?”

Rainbow grins. “Alright everypony, you know the drill, dingy up your armor, we need to try and be unseen.”

“We’ve been doing this for a week.” Cold Steel says as he rubs dirt onto Copper Penny’s armor, and then Copper Penny rubs dirt onto his. “I think we know what the plan is by now.”

“Sorry.” Rainbow says. “I’m just as tired of this hiding as the rest of you.”

“Then why the buck haven’t we given up the Faust-damned griffon?”

Rainbow growls. “I’ll chalk that up to the stress of it all, Cold Steel, but you know the answer to that.”

“Because YOUR princess ordered it. The princess that just gave you a captaincy. Instead of you having to work for it like the rest of us, you disgust me!” Cold Steel says as he moves to hit Rainbow Dash.

Iron Wing flies in front of Cold Steel. “If any of us are going to hit the Captain I have dibs.”

Cold Steel backs off. “Sorry Wing.”

“Look, I don’t blame you, I don’t like her orders either.”

“Then let’s send beaky packing.”

“Iron Hoof died believing in the princess’ orders, and I’m not going to besmirch his memory by going against them.”

Cold Steel nods. “Okay, okay I’ll back off.”

“Good, now let’s go, it’s dark.”

“I’ll drop the illusion.” Rune Plate says as she walks to Rainbow Dash and cancels the spell on the gem.

Iron Wing pokes her head carefully out the cave. “Looks clear.” she says in a hushed tone.

“Alright, move out, Copper Penny you stay with Bastion in the middle of the group.” Rainbow Dash says.

Copper Penny salutes. “Yes, sir!”

“I’ll take rear guard tonight. So move out!”

Iron Wing takes the lead, and rest follow with Rainbow Dash taking up the rear. They quietly walk through the barren outskirts of the griffin kingdom. After a few hours all the ponies can feel the ambient magic that radiates from Equestria.

Iron Wing flies ahead taking a bigger lead forward, and by consequence she’s alone when the griffon’s spring their surprise attack. Iron Wing sees it at the last second and dives yelling. “It’s a trap!”

The griffins dive after Iron Wing, but suddenly one is hit by a battleaxe, the axe cuts into him as it knocks him out of the sky between the two the griffin doesn't stand a chance. Cold Steel gallops toward Iron Wing activating the magic of his armor, claws forming on his hooves making him able to move faster as he can dig into the ground, and it’s obvious they are menacingly sharp. “Get them to the ground where I can gut them, I used my only aerial attack.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Iron Wing says as she stays low to the ground and heads toward Cold Steel, a couple griffins right on her tail.

Cold Steel grimaces knowing full well that there’s no way Iron Wing will get away in time when all the sudden and rainbow colored blur comes out of nowhere and stops in front of the griffins causing them to stop. “Regroup!” Rainbow Dash says as she taps her armor and electricity is discharged killing the two griffins.

Rune Skirt erects a magical shield around the others. “Captain, quick!”

“Get Bastion to the Equestria!” Rainbow says. “I’ll distract them.” With saying that she flies as fast as she can almost straight up. Most of the griffons follow her.

“You heard the captain!” Copper Penny says. “Move it!”

Rune Skirt goes to the front of the shield while Rune Plate goes to the back and using her magic to help hold the shield. “Let’s advance, double time!”

The group moves in unison advancing quickly. “We need to move quick!” Iron Wing says. “She’s going to do a Sonic Rainboom!”

“I thought that was a myth!” Cold Steel yells as the group speeds up.

“She’s the only pegasus known to be able to do one consistently.”

“Holy Buck!”

They continue to run as Rainbow reaches the apex of her flight, the griffons right on her tail. She suddenly dives at top speed, the griffons stop flying for a minute before flying after but steadily falling behind. The cone steadily forms around her, then the light starts to reflect off the cone. Right at the right moment she pulls up creating the rainboom knocking all the griffins out of the sky.

The rainboom goes over the heads of the group of soldiers. “I.. I’ve never seen anything like that.” Cold Steel says as they run across the border.

Rainbow flies up to them, obviously very tired. “We made it!”

“We’re not out of trouble yet, here they come!” Cold Steel says. As most of the griffins shake off the shock of the rainboom and fly toward them.

Rainbow flies down to a rock that now that you look at it it seems out of place and places her hoof on it. “Captain Rainbow Dash; action: activate barrier, repel invaders; code word: Loyalty!”

The rock glows, and so does another one off the the north, and one to the south. A magical barrier appears between the rocks and stretches up to the sky. “You’re Princess enchanted rocks?” Bastion asks surprised.

“They’re actually giant gemstones covered in clay to make them look like rocks.” Rainbow answers. “Come on everypony, we may be safe, but I’d like to get to civilization.”

The rest of the group nods and they begin walking. “Ma’am.” Cold Steel says as they walk.

“Yeah?” Rainbow asks looking at him.

“I’m sorry I questioned your orders.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Really?”

“To be honest I questioned them from day one.”

“Then why follow them through when it would’ve been so much easier to to give them Bastion? Especially since Twilight just made you Captain; no offense after that spectacular save.”

“The rainboom is without a doubt one of the biggest reasons Twilight made me captain, of that I have no doubt. It’s the fact that she had the confidence in me to send me here to do this, and the fact that I represent the Element of Loyalty, those are the reasons I couldn't just turn Bastion over, and turn tail and run.”

Cold Steel nods. “I think I have a new respect for you Ma’am.”

“And I you, you saved Iron Wing’s life there with that axe threw, that was amazing.”

"I was doing what I could, I don't want to loss anymore teammates.”

Chapter 21: You Got Another Thing Comin'

Chapter 21: You Got Another Thing Comin’

=====Canterlot=====

Late in the day, near sunset Luna knocks on the door to Celestia’s chambers. “Sister, we have a problem.”

“Come in, Luna, please tell me what’s going on.”

Luna opens the door and enters Celestia’s room. “Spike sent us a letter.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Discord wants us to break the rules.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sister, you know how we walk the dreams of ponies keeping nightmares away?”

“Of course, it’s a duty I’m glad you have taken back up. It let’s me rest easier knowing that you help others sleep well.”

“It’s my honor to do so.”

“I take it Discord wishes you to do something unsavory with this ability?”

Luna nods. “Mother had rules to dreamwalking; Discord asks us to break them.”

“What does he wish you to do?”

“He wishes for us to force ourselves into Twilight’s unconsciousness and attempt to wake her.”

“You forced yourself into young Ash’s unconsciousness, how is this any different?”

Luna nods. “Ash’s unconsciousness was open to us, like most ponies dreams are. It’s only those ponies whose dreams are open that we set hooves into. One of Mother’s rules was never to force yourself into somepony’s dreams.”

“Oh, I see.” Celestia says. “So you’ve attempted to enter Twilight’s dreams?”

“Every chance I get I test her dreams, but I short of forcing my way in I can’t get to her. That’s why we still don’t know exactly what happened to her.”

“I suppose I never thought of it that way. What are you going to do?”

“I don't know. I'm not sure what to tell Discord.”

“Why Luna.” Discord says as he appears. “I didn’t know you cared.”

“We just don’t wish to upset you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry Discord, but I just can’t do what you are asking me to do.”

“I don’t understand, you go into pony’s dream’s all the time, why not Twilight’s?”

“Somepony’s dream’s I can enter, some I can’t. I have been unable to enter Twilight’s dream state since she returned to us.”

“I see.” Discord says sounding rather disappointed.

“I promise I’ll keep trying.”

Discord nods. “Thank you, I really thought you’d be able to help.”

“Even if I was able to do as you ask and go into her dreams there’s no guarantee I could wake her, so surely you have a plan B”

Discord nods. “I was hoping if you couldn’t wake her that you could at least get information about who attacked her. I want to know if it was a pony calling himself Lord Umbra.”

Luna growls. “I’ve been hearing way too much about this Lord Umbra.”

“What do you mean?”

“As I’m sure you’re aware I adopted a colt a couple years ago.”

“Yes, of course. Winter, he had a hornfasting ceremony recently didn’t he?”

“I’m surprised you remember him so well.”

“Scootaloo mentioned it, and since she’s special to Fluttershy she’s special to me. Also he's the one I lent Fluttershy's wings to for the battle of Ponyville, I'd never forget something like that. Has a habit of calling me 'Uncle' now."

"Doesn't sound like you're trying to stop him."

"Never hurts to have royal family."

“Well the filly he’s bound to was raised by this Lord Umbra.”

“Where is this filly?”

“She insisted that since they were considered married that they take a honeymoon.”

“I can’t say as I blame her. I certainly don’t want to disturb her during her honeymoon so I’ll have to assume that the intel I have is correct.”

“Intel?”

“On where this Lord Umbra is.”

“How do you have that kind of intel?”

Discord grins. “I can’t tell you that.”

Luna looks at him debating what to say. Celestia steps up to her and puts a wing on her back as she speaks. “I think this is one of the times we’re going to have to just let it go.”

“You sister know that we can’t just let it go.” Luna says. “There’s no telling how he got that information. He probably tortured some poor pony to get it.”

“You know is well as I do that he can’t actually hurt anypony with his powers, that wouldn’t be chaotic. I couldn’t imagine him doing it by traditional means either.”

“I suppose you have a point.” Luna says as she turns to Discord. “Please tell us of your information.”

“I have a location that may be the liar of this Lord Umbra.”

“WHAT?!” The royal sisters yell at the same time.

“I’d hoped that you’d be able to wake Twilight so that I could gather the Elements and blast him into a stone statue, or whatever it is that they plan to do to him when we found him.”

“That obviously isn’t going to work.” Celestia says.

“I knew there was a chance it wouldn’t, so I was wondering if you could lend me an army.”

“An army?” Celestia asks.

“He tried to ponynap Fluttershy.” Discord says. “I have no intention of letting that go.”

“We can’t..” Luna starts before being cut off by Celestia.

“Come back tomorrow, you’ll have your army.” Celestia says. “You’ll have to use your powers to make sure that the general population doesn’t know about this though.”

“That will be fine, it gives me time to take care of some last minute details.” Discord says before vanishing.

“Are you sure it’s a wise idea to give Discord control of an army?” Luna asks.

“No, but he came and asked for one.” Celestia answers. “He didn’t try and use his magic to trick us into giving it to him. That can only mean one thing.”

“He’s desperate.”

Celestia nods. “I’ll find him some soldiers we'll ask for volunteers, that way he only has those that are willing to serve under him.”

=====Ponyville; Fluttershy’s cottage====

Fluttershy and Applejack are sitting drinking tea, while SC - 9 lays on the floor. The room is lot up to remove any shadows. “You can have some tea you know.” Fluttershy says.

“Why are you even trying to be nice to me?” SC - 9 asks.

“I can’t help it.” Fluttershy says. “It’s just the way I am. I know that part of the reason that you are the way that you are is how you were raised.”

“So what? You feel sorry for me because of how I was raised?”

“I suppose, would that be all that bad?”

“I...I don’t know.”

“I’m not asking for anything from you except for you to enjoy some tea.”

SC - 9 sighs as her horn lights and she grabs the tea. She sips the tea. “This is very good tea.”

“Wait a minute.” Applejack says. “I thought Discord took your magic away.”

“My ability to shift into other forms, and to hurt anypony with my magic. It's all about intent.” SC - 9 answers as she sips the tea. “What’s in this anyway?”

Discord suddenly appears. “A special type of truth potion.”

Fluttershy looks at the teacup in her hooves aghast. “Discord! How dare you? You know potions could hurt an unborn foal.”

“I got the potion from Zecora, she promised me it was completely safe if you consumed it mixed into tea like it is.”

“Why in tarnation you need us to drink a truth potion?” Applejack asks.

“It’s not for you.” Discord says. “Our changeling friend here has information I need, now she'll have to tell me.”

SC - 9 grits her teeth as she feels the potion kick in. “What do you want to know?”

“I just want to know where I can find your Master. I wish to drop in and visit him; with a small army.”

Chapter 22: One Way Out

Chapter 22: One Way Out

Rainbow Dash trudges at the head of a short column of ponies, with one griffon in the middle of the column. The entire group looks exhausted, like they've barely sleep in a long time. All the ponies wear armor marking them as members of the Royal Guard. They'd been walking since Manehatten; the city kicked them out when they saw they had a griffon with them. No big surprise, the griffons had attacked Equestria less than a year before. At least the ponies of Manehatten were nice enough to give them supplies, otherwise they'd have starved long before this.

Rainbow looks forward. Canterlot was finally in sight. One of the two cities that would not turn them away. Rainbow had debated going home to Ponyville, but decided against it. Her priority was still to get Prince Bastion to safety. The anticipation of a warm meal, and a soft bed reinvigorates her.

Rainbow turns to the soldiers following her. “Come on you lot; we’re almost there!”

Her words seem to reinvigorate the ponies following behind her causing them to cheer. Bastion chuckles slightly. “Glad to see you’re all so happy. I’m just trading one prison for another.”

Iron Wing, currently behind Copper Penny takes to the air, catches up to Bastion and looks him in the eyes. “We sacrificed a lot to get you here, so I don't want to hear it. Chances are once Princess Celestia can get the elements together she'll send them to blast those we left behind with their rainbow friendship cannon.

“Seriously Wing?” Copper Penny says as she walks next to Bastion , having had used her earth pony magic to catch up to them. “I'm fairly sure that's NOT what they call it.”

“And I suppose you know what they call it?” Iron Wing asks.

“No, but I'd be interested to know, in fact I'll go catch up to the captain and ask.” Copper says, seemingly hurt by her comment.

“Sorry Cop, we're all a little tired and I'm just ready to be able to mourn my brother.”

Copper nods. “I shouldn't take offense, of those that remain none have sacrificed more than you.”

“Thanks Cop, I appreciate.”

“No problem, hopefully we'll all be able to stay in touch once we're home. I know we didn’t know him well but I'd like to be at your brother's funeral. He gave his life for us.”

“I'll make sure everypony in this company gets an invite.” Wing says as she looks forward to Cold Steel, who walks right behind Rainbow Dash.

Copper sees the look. “Forgive me if I'm out of line, but I hear earth pony stallions are the best lovers. Their magic gives them insane stamina.”

Wing blushes heavily but smiles as she looks to Copper. “I'm sure as an earth pony yourself you'd know.”

Copper chuckles, knowing it was meant as a joke. “I wish I could say I did, but I still haven’t found the right pony yet.”

Wing nods. “Perhaps I should introduce you to my brother the earth pony.”

“Wait! What?”

Wing chuckles. “My family is a herd, my mom is the earth pony, have two dads a pegasus and a unicorn.”

“Seriously?”

“Oh yeah, we were a rare set of triplets; one of each race. Iron Hoof; Iron Wing and of course Iron Horn.”

“That’s pretty cool. If you're serious I'd like to meet your brother, even if it's just to pay my respects.”

“I'll make sure to introduce you to him then.”

“Are you two done gossiping?” Bastion asks causing the two ponies to remember that he was there.

“Sorry.” Wing says. “Forgot you were there.”

Bastion laughs. “I can only hope that something like that happens in Canterlot, I don't want ponies treating me like some sort of sideshow freak.”

“I'm sure once ponies get use to you it'll be fine.” Copper says.

Bastion nods. “I hope you're right.”

==========

Winter and Nymeria walk through the woods, a river flowing to one side of them. “Remind me again why we're following the river.” Nymeria says.

“It’s completely logical, if there was going to be any type of civilization it'd be near the water.” Winter explains.

Nymeria nods. “That makes sense.” She watches the woods as they walk. The shadowy form of Lord Umbra shows itself just at the edge of her vision as if wanting to tell her something. Knowing that Umbra’s base was at the mouth of this river she realized she couldn't avoid him forever. “Hold up, I need to pee.”

“Alright dear.” Winter says as he stops and sits down to take a short breather while Nymeria goes into the dense foliage to take care of business.

Nymeria finds a secluded enough spot and lifts her skirt when Umbra approaches her. “Taking your time getting to me, aren’t you? Umbra says as he walks around her watching her pee.

“If I make him go too fast he'll get suspicious.” Nymeria says.

“The time for suspicion is over!” Umbra growls as his shadow form pushes her head down and smacks her front legs causing them to fold up slightly. He pushes her horn into the ground and uses his shadow magic to hold her still and her eyes open on her raised rear “You’ll bring him to me tomorrow, or I'll make things worse for you.” He says as he places his cold hooves on her flanks and forces her to watch as he forces himself on her.

Nymeria grimaces disgusted and waits until he finishes before speaking. “It will be as you command.”

“It had better be, or the next time I'll make sure he's watching.” Umbra says before releasing the magic and vanishing.

Nymeria sighs a couple times before pushing herself up then cleaning herself up and adjusting her skirt before putting on her best false face and stepping outside the foliage. “Come on Winter, let's move!” She says as she heads upstream as quickly as she dare.

Winter gets up and follows her. “Nymeria, what's going on?” He asks once he catches up to her.

She looks at him with tears in her eyes. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“Nymeria, what are you talking about?”

She looks behind him, the shadowy form Umbra leers at her and she screams. “He’s here!”

Winter charges his magic as he grabs her and releases a pulse of cold fire around them. The spell leaves a ring of fire surrounding them, bathing them in it’s light. Winter turns around. “There’s nopony there.”

Nymeria looks around the blue fire eliminating every bit of shadow within the ring of fire, and for a good distance around them. “Your… your fire.”

“What about it?”

“I didn’t realize you could do this!” She says suddenly uplifted. “Please don’t let the fire go away.”

“Only if you tell me why.”

Nymeria nods. “Yes, I have so much to tell you, let’s start with the most important. Lord Umbra is my father, that much you know. He controls shadows, he can hear through them, see through them… hurt you through them.”

Winter looks around seeing that there are not shadows near them because of his fire. “He’s been hurting you hasn’t he?”

Nymeria nods. “He’d appear to me at the edge of the woods and if I didn’t sneak away to talk to him he’d hurt you. So I’d sneak away and he’s take a full shadow form and he’d...” she sniffles. “I’m supposed to bring you to him, so ha can use you as bait for your mother, but somewhere along the line I really fell in love with you. I swear Winter I love you and nopony else.”

“We’ll discuss that later, right now we need to get back to civilization.”

“We’ll have to get away fast, since he can’t spy on us with his magic he’ll send sentries after us, we’re a day away from his base, if that.”

Winter nods. “I’d rather get back sooner than later anyway, I can hold the cold fire, but it’s going to burn my mana reserves.”

“How do we get away?”

“It’s going to get a lot colder and dimmer, but I’ll keep the shadows away.”

Nymeria nods. “He’ll taunt us from the edge of your magic.”

“If he can keep up with us.” Winter says as he forms the cold fire into a boat, and levitates them both into it.

“This is very cold, but also amazing.” Nymeria says as she lights up her horn and uses her magic to propel them down the river.

Chapter 23: Home

Chapter 23: Home

=====Canterlot=====

“Who goes there?” The guard stallion calls out at the group that approaches Canterlot gates.

“Captain Rainbow Dash.” She answers. “And this is my company, we have the Griffon Prince Bastion with us, and we need to see the princesses immediately.”

The guard salutes her. “I’ll send a runner to the castle immediately, and clear the way.”

Rainbow nods. “Thanks.”

Within moments a group of guard ponies are moving. The guards line the streets creating an unobstructed path to the castle. All the guard ponies are standing saluting them. “Captain Dash!” A voice calls out and an earth pony approaches them. “We’d begun to worry about your company. We’d lost all word of you shortly after my brother went to you.”

“Iron Hoof!” Iron Wing yells as she flies out of formation and tackles he brother. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Iron Hoof chuckles as he hugs his sister. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”

Iron Wing looks to the ground, her ears and wings droop. “Horn….”

“I already know.”

“How?”

“He had a charm on his armor, he’s in the infirmary.”

“He’s alive?!”

“He is indeed.”

Iron Wing looks to Rainbow. “Go.” Rainbow says with a smile. “Just hit him once for me.”

Iron Wing salutes Rainbow. “Yes Ma’am!”

Rainbow turns to the rest of her company. “The rest of you can find a quartermaster and get your back pay. You’re on leave until I come find you.”

“No offense Captain.” Cold Steel says. “But I’d like to see this through first.”

“I think we all would.” Rune Skirt says.

Iron Wing nods. “You all are right, the mission isn’t over yet, let’s finish it.”

“I’d be happy to escort you all to the castle.” Iron Hoof says. “Meanwhile my quartermaster will work on your back pay, and she’ll meet us there after you’ve had something to eat”

Copper Penny manages to slip next to Iron Wing and whispers. “You were right, I do like your brother.”

Iron Wing grins. “Then I’ll introduce you.”

=====Fluttershy’s Cottage=====

“Thank you very much.” Discord says to SC - 9. “Now I know where your master is and can go after him.”

“Are you going to rip him to shreds with your magic?” SC - 9 asks.

“No, that would be against the rules.” Discord answers. “I plan on marching an army of soldiers against him and have them rip him to shreds.”

“Ya know I’m going with ya, right?” Applejack says.

“I’d never dream of stopping you.” Discord says then looks at Fluttershy. “You however I’m going to ask to stay here.”

“You’re going to leave me here, alone?” Fluttershy asks.

“Oh no, not alone.” Discord answers. “I’ve got some help coming.”

“What sort of help?” Fluttershy asks.

Discord reaches up with his taloned hand and carefully lowers it leaving a glowing green rip in reality. Once satisfied with it’s length he takes both hands and widens the rip into an actual portal and sticks his head in. “Come on through please.” Discord says before backing away from the portal slightly.

Everypony focuses on the portal, and sure enough a figure steps through, but nopony expects this. Another draconequus steps through. The appearance of the newcomer is startlingly similar to Discord, except for that fact that this draconequus is obviously female. “What in tarnation is going on here?” Applejack asks as she watches the female draconequus close up the portal.

“Everypony I’d like you to meet Eris, my female self from another dimension.” Discord says. “Eris volunteered to come here and monitor things around Fluttershy’s cottage for me while I went off.”

“Um..” Fluttershy starts meekly. “Why can’t you do that the other way around?”

“Personal reasons.” Discord says.

“I can protect this cottage and both of us with my magic just as surely as Discord could.” Eris says. “And it’ll be nice to have a little female bonding time.”

Fluttershy looks hard at Eris. “Can we trust you? This better not be some sort of prank.”

Eris looks at Discord. “You’re right, she is a lot like Butterscotch.”

“Butterscotch?” Flutershy asks confused.

“My husband.” Eris answers. “You’re double in my world.”

“Wait a minute here, you telling us that all are genders are flipped in your world?” Applejack asks.

“No, Applejack, they’re not. About half of them are different. For instance you’re still a mare.”

Applejack nods. “What about the other elements?”

“Dusk Shine; Rarity; Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Blitz.”

Applejack chuckles. “I bet Rainbow’s about the same as a stallion as a mare, but a stallion version of Twilight? That’s just odd.”

“Yes, we’ve already determined that putting those two in the same room would result in the universe collapsing in on itself.”

They all chuckle. “Tell us more about your world, please.” Fluttershy says. “It sounds intriguing.”

=====Canterlot=====

“Prince Bastion.” Celestia says as she sits on her throne and the group approaches her. “You have no idea how relieved I am that you are still alive.”

“Thank you Princess.” Bastion says as he bows. “Though I'm not sure calling me a prince is appropriate anymore. Seems my country has been taken from me.”

“Yes, I've meet with Warlord Bluttrinker, she informed me via messenger that if I were to give you safe harbor that she'd declare war on Equestria.” Celestia says as she motions for Bastion to rise, which he immediately does.

“Then I can’t ask you to further endanger your subjects for my sake.” Bastion says. “Grant me passage through your lands and I'll flee to the dragon wastes.”

“You'll do nothing like that!” Rainbow Dash shouts then remembers where she is and turns to Celestia. “Sorry your majesty, it's just that my company has laid their lives on the line keeping him safe, some have paid the ultimate price, and I for one don't wish to have him throw his life away just like that.”

Celestia smiles slightly. “What if I commanded you to kill him where he stood to avoid a war?”

“Respectfully, I'd tell you where you can shove your command, we both know that Bluttrinker will attack us at some point. It might as well be on our terms.”

“I see being around Twilight has rubbed off on you a little.” Celestia grins. “Prince Bastion, you're not going anyway for the time being.”

“I'm not?” Bastion asks incredulously.

“No, in fact I expected this and already replied to Bluttrinker that ANY griffon force that attempts to cross into Equestrian airspace will be meet with extreme prejudice.”

“Thank you your majesty.” Bastion bows.

Celestia turns to Rainbow and her company. “”I can not express my gratitude for bringing Bastion here. You have sacrificed more than most ponies would ever understand what you have gone through. You are hereby granted leave until such time as I personally call you back.”

The ponies in Rainbow’s company all bow and quickly leave the building, only Rainbow and Bastion remain. “Princess, I’d like to see Twilight, if that’s okay.” Rainbow requests.

Celestia nods. “Luna will escort you.”

Rainbow turns around only to see Luna calmly standing by they. “Please follow me Rainbow Dash.”

“Thank you Princess.” Rainbow says as she quickly follows Luna up to the medical area.

“This is her room.” Luna says. “I’m afraid she was badly injured.”

Rainbow nods. “I need to see her.”

Luna opens the door revealing the form of Twilight laying on a bed. Rainbow enters the room and walks up to the bed, she looks her over and her eyes stop Twilight’s severed foreleg. “Princess Luna?”

“What is it?”

“What kind of medicine do you have here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Her foreleg, it looks like she’s trying to regrow it.”

"That’s because she is.” Luna says. “Alicorns will heal from anything that doesn't immediately kill us. In fact if she wasn’t unconscious it would have already fully regrown by now.”

“Wouldn’t being unconscious make it go faster?”

“No, her magic is almost completely blocked in this comatose state.”

Rainbow lays a forehoof on Twilight’s remaining foreleg. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“If you had been there you’d likely be dead.” Luna says. “We never found the body of her bodyguard but we have no reason to suspect that he is still alive.”

Rainbow grimaces. “Applejack must be devastated.”

“From what I hear she took the news remarkably well. Never even stopped working on the farm.”

“Okay, yeah, that sounds like Applejack.” Rainbow says as she looks back at Twilight. “Do we know who attacked her?”

“Not for sure, but Discord seems to think it’s this pony calling himself Lord Umbra. Discord claims he knows where to find him, and has asked us to lend him some troops.”

“I volunteer for that.”

Luna shakes her head. “Celestia has placed you on paid leave, you’re not going anywhere. If fact, I need you to remove your armor.”

Rainbow sighs and she slips out of her armor. “Fine.”

Luna takes the armor in her magic. “Thank you, I’ll take this and put it in my quarters where it’ll be safe.”

Rainbow watches Luna walk away and then grins. “It’s a good thing I have another set of armor.”

Chapter 25: Just What I Needed

Chapter 25: Just What I Needed

Princess Celestia sits in her chambers eating her dessert when a guard rushes in. “Your Majesty!”

Celestia looks at the guard obviously annoyed. “The sun has set, it's my sister’s job to take care of business until morning.”

“Princess Luna told me to get you, said it was urgent.”

Celestia pushes the cake away. “This had better be very important.”

“I know that another guard came rushing in then she closed the Night Court and sent me to get you.”

Celestia gets up quickly and heads to the throne room. “Sister what is the emergency?”

“We are under attack.”

“I’d think I’d know if we were…” Celestia starts to say only for a loud roar to shake the castle.

“Buck!” Luna swear. “The dragon the scout saw has made it here.”

“Why didn’t you lead with the dragon?”

“I was getting there, but you didn’t even believe in the attack.”

Celestia sighs. “Tell me what the report said about this dragon, please.”

“It’s a black.”

“Luna, this is not the time for jokes. The prismatic dragons all died out before your banishment.”

“I thought so too, but the guard described the dragon perfectly.”

“It must be some trick.” Celestia says as the building shakes and a sizzle is heard. She looks up and a hole is slowly being eaten away in the castle. “Faust damn! It is a black! Keep the guards away from the dragon, I’ll armor up and deal with it.”

Luna nods. “I’ll take charge of the guards and deal with the soldiers that are coming behind the dragon.”

==========

Celestia goes back to her room and grabs her golden armor with her magic and quickly puts it on. She uses her magic to open a chest and moves things out of the way until she comes to a small box. She pulls the box out with her hooves and places it on the floor then using her magic she pulls a golden key attached to a golden chain off from around her neck and inserts it into the box, the second it touches the box her magic aura dissipates. “All these years, I’d hoped I never need this again.” She uses her hoof to turn the key and the box opens up. Inside the box a pair of earrings sit, they look as if somehow two teardrops were turned into jewelry. Grabbing the earrings with her hooves she quickly puts them in then marches out the door to face the dragon.

“The legendary Princess Celestia!” Onyx says mockingly as Celestia steps outside the castle. “Come to meet your doom?”

“Hardly.” Celestia says as a couple guards deliver a golden glaive to her. “Surrender now, or I shall be your doom.” She says as she takes flight and grabs the glaive in her front hooves.

Onyx grins. “Good, I always wanted to kill a princess.” She says as rakes her claw at Celestia.

Celestia brings the glaives pole up in front of her blocking the attack. “You’ll find I'm not that easy to kill.” She pushes the glaive up scratching the gold paint off it as she does. Onyx swings at her with her other claw but Celestia flies backwards dodging the attack. Then swings the glaive cutting through Onyx scales.

“How!” Onyx screams in pain.

“We call it star steel, millennia ago rocks fell from the sky, the material inside when refined creates the strongest metal on Equestria.” Celestia explains as she attacks again.

“Interesting.” Onyx say as she dodges the attack only to bring her tail around and hit Celestia directly in her armored side knocking her away. “But ultimately useless.” She says before taking a deep breath and waiting. Sure enough Celestia flies towards her, when she's too close to dodge Onyx exhales a cloud of green mist. Onyx grins as the heavy acidic mist completely obscures Celestia so she is caught completely by surprise when Celestia flies right through the mist and emerges unscratched, her glaive leading the way. “How?” Onyx asks as she attempts to dodge the attack.

Celestia sees the attempt at a dodge and move accordingly pushing the glaive deep into Onyx’s chest. “The tears of Bahamut. Absorb all magic. You’re acidic breath was like flying through fog.” Celestia explains as she lets go of the glaive, and watches Onyx’s body fall to the ground, As she flies back to the castle a couple guards go to retrieve her glaive. It’s been too long since she took to the air without her magic; thankfully the fight was short. Hopefully Luna will find no problem with the soldiers. She walks to her chambers and removes the earrings, placing them back in the box and relocking it, before removing the key and placing both in the previous hiding spots. She feels a rush as her magic returns to her and passes out.

==========

Meanwhile Luna marshals the guards, putting on her obsidian armor as she waits. Leading the group of guards she grabs her obsidian glaive and marches to the entrance right as the horde of zomponies rushes at the gate. “Let none past!” Luna commands as her glaive beheads one.

Several guards cheer and raise their weapons meeting the horde with resistance, above Onyx roars stirring the horde. The horde keeps spreading out forcing Luna to spread her guards more and more.Once the line is spread out is when Greaves suddenly jumps over several of the horde members, kicking an unexpecting guard in the head, the result of the kick killing the guard. The dark magic of the horde quickly animates the dead guard and has him fighting on their side now. Greaves grins at how easy it was to find a hole in the line. He slips inside the castle, and starts walking the halls looking for Twilight. He feels the ground quake and quickly realizes that Onyx must be dead and hurries through the halls. He finally finds himself in the medical ward and looks around. With nopony around he goes further into the ward and finds Twilight laying unconscious. Seeing her brings back memories of his previous life and he groans. “Twilight.” He says as he grabs his head, then his eyes turn black as the shadowy force takes him back over. He presses his forelegs on the table and raises his right foreleg. Shadow condenses around the hoof forming a knife. He goes to strike the shadow knife down when his foreleg is stopped by a magical forcefield.

Twilight glares at him with her good eye, her horn covered in magic. “You’re not Greaves!” She says as she uses her magic to force him away then opens her wings and flies.

“Oh but I am princess.” Greaves says. “Or at least I was. Greaves died protecting you, and then Lord umbra resurrected him for his own means. What better use for an old guard then to kill the one he was originally meant to protect?”

“What are you?”

“I am the shadow that animates this body, nothing more. Destroy this body and I am free!” Greaves laughs as a tendril of shadow comes from him and launches at Twilight.

Twilight uses her magic to create a shield. “Then perhaps I need to find away around that.” she says as she uses her magic to create a cage around Greaves,and refocuses the lights so that he has no shadow.. “I’ll study you and see if I can’t separate the two of you without killing Greaves again.”

“No, wait you can’t do that!” Greaves yells in the cage, but finds himself unable to move, and his access to shadows cut off.

“I just did.” Twilight says as a couple guards come in to check on the ruckus. “Guards find a very well lit cell for this captive, there is to be no hint of shadow near him understand?.”

“Yes ma’am!” They reply one taking the cage in his magic and the other creating light so that no shadows form and goes away.

Twilight lands as the medical ponies rush to her. “Princess, you are awake!” One doctor says.

“I felt the presence of the shadow magic that hurt me before, and it woke me up.” Twilight says as she doctor’s examine her.

The doctor nods. “You are healing quite well, now that you are awake you should regenerate your foreleg in a couple days. Your eye is a little more complicated, but it should regenerate in less than a month.

Twilight nods. “Am I as healthy as I’m going to be right now?”

“Of course, we magically kept you full of fluids and nutrients you needed and stimulated your muscles to avoid atrophy.”

“I’d like to know how that pony came so close to killing me.”

“That would be my fault Twilight.” Luna says from the door. “The castle was under attack so I took most of the guards to defend the line, I didn’t realize that they were trying to get the line thin enough to sneak somepony in until too late.”

“Wait the castle was under attack?”

“Yes, most of the forces fled when the dragon fell in battle to my sister, whom I’m sure is resting now.”

“I think I have a lot of catching up to do, and I have a feeling I don’t have a lot of time to do it.”

Chapter 26: I Knew You Were Trouble

Chapter 26: I Knew You Were Trouble

“Nymeria, steer the boat to the shore, I can hold the cold fire in this form much longer.” Winter says.

Nymeria nods and uses her magic to push the boat to the shore and they quickly get out of the boat as it dissipates. Winter falls onto the ground, a weak field of cold fire surrounding the two of them. “Winter!”

The shadowy form of Lord Umbra appears in the closest shadow. “You two will never get away! I’ll chase you to the very ends of Equestria, my shadows will haunt you for the rest of your lives!”

Winter grunts as he shoots a ball of cold fire at the shadow casing it to howl in pain as it vanishes. He slowly pushes himself back to his hooves. “I was really hoping we lost him there.” He says nearly out of breath. Sweat comes from him as he strains to hold the fire. Then he collapses, his magic winking out.

Quickly the sounds of the forest are drowned out by the laughing of Lord Umbra. “Looks like I didn’t have to chase you very far after all.” The shadow rematerializes along with some shadowy minions.

Nymeria grabs Winter and hugs him tight. “I’m sorry, this is all my fault. If I’d told you sooner then maybe we won’t be in this situation.”

Winter hugs her back.”It’s not your fault, Nymeria, he would’ve come at us anyway. Never forget that I love you.” He kisses her.

“Now you die!” The shadow of Lord Umbra calls out as it shifts part of itself into a lethal blade and goes to strike them both down.

“For Fluttershy!” A voice yells as a bolt of light rips through the shadow blade, causing it to dissapaite.

“Discord!” The shadow hisses and then takes one more look at Nymeria and Winter. “I won’t forget this.” The shadow quickly vanishes as Discord and his troops all bathed in unnatural light come marching up.

Winter looks up at them. “Uncle Discord?”

“Winter! I thought that was you.” Discod says as he grabs the unicorn and lifts him up. “What in Equestria are you doing here? And looking so worn out?”

“Umbra chased us; mana burn.” Winter says before passing out.

“Winter used his magic to protect us from Umbra’s shadows.” Nymeria explains.

“Medic!” Discord calls out and an unicorn steps forward. “Treat this colt, he’s exhausted and has mana burn.”

The unicorn nods and takes Winter in his magic. “I got just the thing.” He goes off to treat Winter.

Discord turns to Nymeria and growls as he grabs her with in his hand. “Give me one reason why I should take you apart limb by limb, you little traitor! I know you’ve been working for Umbra this entire time!”

“I turned on him! I realized he never intended to keep his promise of letting me keep Winter.” Nymeria explains. “If I hadn’t done that Winter would be a captive right now.”

“Winter wouldn’t have even been here if not for you.” Discord snarls. “So you’d better have a better reason.”

Nymeria looks at Discord nervously. “I can lead you to Umbra.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“I know where his base is, I can take you to it.”

“How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

“First off you’re Discord, can you even be trapped?”

Discord glares at her. “Of course I can I can be trapped. Everything can be trapped, somethings are just easier to trap than others. Now if would please make your point.”

“I have a vested interest in getting rid of Umbra.”

“Really?” Discord asks. “What exactly is that?”

“There’s a good chance I’m pregnant. I don’t want my foal to be raised like I was.”

“Ny, you’re pregnant?” Winter says as he pushes his way through the ponies, still looking rather tired.

Nymeria looks to the ground. “I’m honestly not sure right now, but my heats have always run right on schedule, and I’m currently running late.”

Winter glares at Discord. “Put her down!”

“I swear.” Discord says as he puts Nymeria down. “Somedays I wonder if you’re not really adopted. You’re just like Luna.”

“Where do you think I learned it?” Winter asks as he hugs Nymeria.

“Winter, are you mad at me?” Nymeria asks.

“For what?”

“Not telling you sooner.”

“How far off are you?”

“A little over a week.”

Winter shakes his head. “Of course I’m not mad, it’s still too early to know or not. The stress of this could have upset your system. You would have told me as soon as you were sure”

Nymeria nods. “Of course I would have.”

“If you are, is it mine?”

“I… I don’t know if he can get me pregnant through his shadows.” Nymeria admits.

Winter nods. “Those are the only possibilities?”

Nymeria nods. “I swear they are, and none of the encounters with him were willing.”

“Then we’ll find a solution, won’t we Uncle?”

“Nope.” Discord says as he crosses his arms. “I’m in the middle of marching my army to fight an epic battle, I don’t have time for this.” As he speaks the lowers half of his body starts marching off, leaving his upper half floating there. “See, I’ve got to catch up with myself.” He snaps his fingers and he’s reassembled, marching away from Winter. “Come on troops. We have a villain to vanquish.”

“Not amusing.” Winter says as he somehow uses his magic to summon cold fire right in front of Discord.

Discord steps into the cold fire and it freezes his feet, they instantly shatter into a million pieces. “Hey! I was marching here!”

Winter pants, obviously very exhausted. “Please Uncle, help.”

“Somepony replenish the kid’s mana before he burns himself out.”

“Sorry.” The medic pony says as he comes up carrying a potion in his magic. He gives the potion to Winter. “I left him for just a minute to get a mana potion from supply.”

Discord snaps his fingers and his feet reassemble. “Fine, I’ll help you Winter, but I name a price.”

Winter grins. “I’ll tell Fluttershy you were benevolent.”

Discord blinks a few times. “That works too.” He snaps his fingers again. “There, she’s pregnant with your foal. Now can we get marching again?”

“Just one more thing.”

Discord sighs. “Seriously? What is it with foals theses days? Discord do this; Discord do that; Discord I want a human; Discord fix my house, that you destroyed. I swear you ponies are never happy. So just tell me what it is you want.”

“I want to come with you, this is my fight too.”

Discord grins and snaps his fingers putting them both in armor. “Let’s go then.”

Chapter 27: Show Me The Way

Chapter 27: Show Me The Way

Shining Armor sets a hoof on grass. He looks behind him as he does. His rear hooves are still in the snow, they’ve finally made it out of the Frozen North. He takes a few steps forward and flops onto the grass. “Finally made we it through that snow!”

Sweetie sits down in the grass near him and pulls the magical compass out of her saddlebag. “It’s still pointing southwest.”

“This may not have been the best thought out idea.” Ash says.

“I really thought that with the magic of the crystal heart we’d be moving faster than this.” Shinning says. “It’s almost like that Faust forsaken compass is leading us the longest way imaginable!”

“Don’t look at me. I didn’t create the thing.” Sweetie says. “I’m just using it.”

“If I remember my lore correctly Star Swirl the Bearded the made them.” Ash comments.

“That makes a lot of sense.” Shining says. “Everything he made seems to work in the most inconvenient way possible. I mean who makes a portal that only opens once every 30 moons?”

“A very bored lunatic?” Ash suggests

“What’s sad is you’re probably not that far off.”

“Too bad we can’t just teleport to where we’re going.” Sweetie says.

“Wait! That’s it!” Ash says.

“What?” Sweetie asks.

“We can’t teleport exactly where we need to, but we can certainly get closer.” Ash says as he unfolds a map. “Here is Tall Tale, me and you have been there before we can use the magic of a couple of other unicorns to open a portal there. Then you can use the compass and we can go from there.”

“I know the spell you’re casting.” Shining says. “And I’m almost as powerful as my sister was before she ascended, we should be able to do it with just the 3 of us.”

Ash nods. “Alright, let’s do this then.” All three of their horns light up, Sweetie and Shining’s magic arches to Ash, then he focuses the energy and a portal opens up. “Go through, quick.”

The soldiers quickly rush through, followed by Shining, Ash and Sweetie all at the same time. The portal collapsing behind them. Shining looks around.”It worked, impressive.”

“I’ve used it before in practice, never over such a long distance.” Ash says.

“Let’s see if we’re even close now.” Sweetie says as she pulls out the compass. “Well, we must be fairly close the compass is pointing almost due west.”

“The Undiscovered West, terrific place to hide.” Shining says sarcastically.

“Quartermaster, how are our supplies?” Ash asks.

“We have plenty of everything for the time being.” One of the crystal ponies answers.

Ash nods. “I suggest we keep moving, I don’t want Rarity waiting any longer than she has to.”

“I agree.” Sweetie smiles trying to encourage the soldiers.

“You heard the Commander.” Shining Armor says.”Let’s move.”

“I’m not a commander you know.” Ash says.

Shining grins. “Congratulations on your promotion, now move out.”

Ash sighs. “Come on dear, we’d better move it.”

Sweetie quickly follows after him.

==========

Discord stops and looks east. “Did you feel that?”

“Somepony unleashed a massive amount of power to the east, it didn’t feel like any of the alicorns.” Winter says.

“You wait here, I’m going to investigate.” Discord says before vanishing,

“Right.” Winter says then turns to the troops “Company halt!”

=========

“Ash Fall is that you?” Discord asks as he appears beside the colt.

“Discord! What are you doing here?”

“I was just about to ask you the same thing.”

“We heard the Rarity was taken, we’re here to get her back.”

“And that lead you here how?”

“This!” Sweetie answers as she holds up the compass.

“One of Starswirl's compasses?” Discord asks. “Impressive.”

“Now care to tell me why you are here?” Ask asks.

“This pony who calls himself Lord Umbra attempted to harm Fluttershy, I’m here for revenge.”

“Why does that name sound familiar?” Sweetie asks.

“If I remember right that was the name Nymeria gave to her father.” Ash answers.

“That’s right, they are one in the same.” Discord says. “And I’m going after him.”

“Then we’ll help you.” Ash says.

“Ash, what about my sister?” Sweetie asks,

“You think I’ll let your sister suffer?” Discord asks. “I’ll help save your sister, then we can deal with Umbra, unless the two happen to coincide.”

Sweetie hugs Discord. “Thank you, thank you.”

“Whoa!” Discord says as pries her off him. “Ease up a little. Fluttershy would not like it if I did it any other way.”

“Can you use your magic and make this go a little faster?” Sweetie asks.

“I can bring your forces together with the ones that the princesses gave me, something here limits my powers.”

Sweetie nods. “That must be very tough on you.”

“I’ll do what I can with them.”

“There you two are.” Shining Armor says. “What’s keeping...Discord?”

“Ah, Shining Armor, that explains Sweetie’s new outfit.” Discord says as he taps Sweetie’s crystal armor.

“And here I thought it was the latest in fashion accessories.” Sweetie says in her best imitation of her sister.

“You’re making jokes?” Shining Armor asks. “We need to get moving so we can find Rarity.”

“Oh Shining Armor, I’m here to help.” Discord says. “Round up your troops and I’ll teleport them a little further into the forest and then we’ll use the compass to go from there.”

Shining nods and motions for his troops to gather around him. “Alright troops, Discord’s going to move us all again.”

The troops all get into formation. “That was very quick.” Discord says. “So let’s go!” He snaps his fingers and they vanish.

==========

Winter is waiting with Discord’s troops when Discord suddenly returns and speaks. “Hello.”

“Uncle, you’ve returned!” Winter says then sees the others. “And you brought friends.”

“Winter Spark, nice to see you again.” Ash says as he steps forward.

“Ash Fall! Sweetie Belle!” Winter exclaims as he moves forward and hugs Ash, and then Sweetie. “I’m so very glad to see you both.”

“We’re glad to see you too.” Sweetie says. “Where’s Nymeria?”

“I’m right here.” Nymeria says as she steps through the soldiers.

Sweetie goes and hugs her tight. “How did you two end up in the middle of all this?”

Nymeria hangs her head. “I… I’ve been a very, very bad pony.”

“Nymeria! Why would you say something like that?”

“Because I was a spy for Lord Umbra until recently.”

"All that matters is that you're on our side now." Sweetie says.

"I couldn't have said it better." Ash nods in agreement.

"Come on ponies." Discord says. "We got marching to do." The all sigh and start marching.

Chapter 28: It's Time

Chapter 28: It’s Time

Twilight sits on a hospital bed as doctor’s examine here, she listens to Luna tell her everything she’s missed. “I’ve heard enough!” She yells as she uses her magic to push aside the doctors and then jumps off the hospital bed. She lands on her three hooves and quickly opens her wings to catch her balance.

“Princess!” One of the doctor’s call out. “We’re not through with your tests.”

“You are now.”

“But..”

“I said you’re done!.” Twilight snaps

The doctor’s quickly back away. “Of course, your majesty.”

Twilight turns and looks at Luna. “I’m going after Discord, from what you said he needs my help.”

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.” Luna says softly.

“NOT THE BEST IDEA!?” Twilight yells. “Do you have any idea what Discord is up against?”

“What do you mean?” Luna asks.

“He’s the one that attacked me, it was his followers that did this to me. Not him himself. Can you imagine what his force is like?”

“You make a valid point, but you’re in no shape to go after him.”

“What do you expect me to do? I can’t just sit here and do nothing!”

“Twilight, you need to take time and heal. You’’re magic isn’t at full strength while you are regenerating. We will not let you leave the castle for the time being.”

Twilight growls and stomps off without saying another word.

==========

Sweetie leads the group to a clearing. From the clearing they see the river flows from a waterfall. “There.” She says. “That’s where the compass is pointing.”

“That’s Lord Umbra’s liar!” Nymeria says.

“Umbra ponynapped Rarity?” Ash asks.

“That’d certainly be convenient.” Winter says.

“I don’t see any lair anywhere.” Discord says. “I’m beginning to wonder about our information.”

“Use your magic to divert the waterfall, then you’ll see it.” Nymeria says.

Discord cracks his knuckles. “I guess it’s time for me to ‘Let it go’ then.” He says as he snaps his fingers and the water freezes.

Nymeria sighs. “Seriously?”

Discord snaps his fingers again and the frozen waterfall turns into snow around them. “Answer me something.” He says then sings.

“Do you want to build a snowman?”

Pinkie Pie suddenly pops up out of nowhere and puts her hoof to his mouth. “That’ll be enough of that, we don’t have the rights to that song.”

Just as suddenly as she appeared Pinkie vanishes. “Are you sure Pinkie’s not related to you somehow?” Winter asks.

“I’m really beginning to wonder that myself.” Discord answers.

“Can we get we get back to the matter at hoof?” Nymeria asks.

“Of course.” Discord says his face suddenly going very serious as he looks at the area that is exposed now that the waterfall has stopped. “It looks like a cave.”

“It’s a series a caves. His fortress is inside there.”

“I’m sure that the caves are full of all kinds of traps too.” Winter says.

“They would be if this was my fortress, and I’d have moved them recently since Nymeria has obviously changed sides.” Ash comments.

“That’s what I’m here for.” Discord says. “Why send forces through trapped tunnels when you can just get rid of the tunnels?” He snaps his fingers and the entire mountain turns black, but nothing else happens. “Why is nothing happening?”

The shadows around the cave start to move. “It’s him!” Nymeria calls out and moves behind Winter.

The shadows merge into the form of Lord Umbra. “Discord, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You, using your magic to help ponies, where’s the chaos in that?”

“I’m the Spirit of Chaos. Who’s to say chaos has to be evil? Chaos is whatever I want it to be.”

“So you tried to rip my fortress apart?”

“Not much more chaotic than that, don’t you agree?”

“You could turn on your pony allies, that’d be pretty chaotic.”

“Tempting as that is, I’d never side with you. You tried to kill Fluttershy.”

“And that concerns you how?”

Discord growls. “She’s my mate!”

“That’s…”

“I’m done talking to you!” Discord yells and claps his hands together before pulling them apart. The shadow magic covering the mountain along with the form of Lord Umbra shatters as Discord pulls the mountain apart exposing the fortress. He snaps his fingers so that the armor on every pony is glowing. “Now surrender and I’ll make this quick.”

Lord Umbra, the actual pony steps forward and laughs. “You have no idea what you and you’re measly forces are up against.” A legion of shadows form in front of him.

Discord grins as the area is suddenly lit up very brightly, dispelling the shadows. “Oh I’m sorry, is creating light where there is only darkness no chaotic enough for you?”

“Oh I don’t need my shadows.” .” Umbra says as he stomps his hooves and a bunch of zomponies start raising from the ground. From somewhere a war horn sounds. Following the sound ponies of every race, griffons, dragons, minotaurs and diamond dogs all fully armed step forward. The army easily dwarfs Discord’s force. “Now what are you going to do?”

“Uncle?” Winter asks. “You do have a plan, don’t you?”

“I have to admit that this isn’t exactly what I expected our forces to face.”

===== Fluttershy’s Cottage =====

“Fluttershy!” Spike yells as he bangs on her door.

Eris opens the door. “Oh Spike, you’re adorable here too.”

Spike blinks a few times. “Discord?”

“Yes and no.” Eris answers. “I’m Eris, I’m Discord's double from another dimension.”

“Oh, why didn’t you just say that in the first place?” Spike asks.

“I forgot you’re Twilight’s assistant.” Eris says. “Of course saying something like that would make sense to you.”

“Spike!” Fluttershy says as she sees the baby dragon. “What are you doing here?”

Spike holds a scroll in his claw. “News from Canterlot!”

“Princess Celestia sent you a letter? What’s it say?” Fluttershy asks. “Is it about Twilight?”

“Celestia didn’t send it.” Spike says with a grin. “Twilight did.”

“Twilight’s awake!” Fluttershy exclaims. “We need to get Pinkie and get to Canterlot!”

“I’m right here.” Pinkie says popping up seemingly out of nowhere. “Why do we need to get to Canterlot?”

“We need to be there for Twilight.” Fluttershy answers.

“I’m supposed to be protecting you.” Eris protests.

“You can protect me just fine in Canterlot.”

Eris sighs. “Fine, but I have a feeling I’m going to regret this.” She snaps her fingers and they vanish.

Chapter 29: Rescue Me

Chapter 29: Rescue Me

Winter looks at Ash. “Well, your talent is strategy. Got anything?”

“Insurmountable odds against us.” Ash says as he surveys the scene.

“Don’t forget Rarity is here somewhere.” Sweetie says as she holds the compass in her magical grip.

“Okay then, step one find a way to rescue Rarity.” Winter says. “How do we go about doing that?”

Ash looks to Discord. “Please tell me your powers can do something to help here?”

Discord nods. “I can, though I’m afraid it won’t be the most pleasant experience for your wife.”

“Me?” Sweetie asks.

“I need your permission to hurt you, I need to use your magic and the compass to find your sister. I’m afraid that it’s going to hurt, a lot. Normally I can’t hurt ponies with my powers, but if you give me permission I can do this.” Discord explains.

“If it means rescuing my sister I’ll do it.” Sweetie says.

“Sweetie, are you sure about this?” Ash asks. “We can find Rarity another way.”

Sweetie considers for a minute. “Okay, I’ll consider it while you tell me your plan if I say yes.”

Ash looks at the forces, standing guarding the cave unmoving. He sighs. “Once we know that we have no assets inside I’d suggest that we have Discord disrupt their magic and then firebomb the whole place. Then our forces should be able to clean up after that.”

“And if I say no?” Sweetie asks.

Ash looks at the army again and sighs. “We use the compass to make some selective strikes aiming our attacks away from the general area where Rarity might be, then we send a team in the rescue her while the rest of us fight.”

“So option B is a lot more dangerous for everypony, including my sister. Where option A is safer, but I'm going to have to experience a great deal of pain?”

Ash sighs. “That sums it up rather well.”

“Discord, do what you need to. Rescue my sister.”

Discord places his hand on Sweetie’s head then looks to Ash. “If you distract them this will go faster.”

“I'll take care of a distraction.” Shining Armor says.

Ash nods. “Get it done.” He moves and wraps his foreleg around Sweetie’s. “ I'll be right here.”

“I'm sorry.” Discord says before snapping the fingers on his free hand. Sweetie immediately screams in pain as her magic is summoned around Discord’s hand and the compass is lifted in her magic.

“Archers! Fire at will!” Shining Armor yells and a large group of of pegasi take to the air pulling bows off their backs and firing at the assembled enemies.

“They’re distracted, hurry.” Ash says as he looks at Sweetie who's obviously trying not to scream in pain as sweat rolls down her face.

“It’s working.” Discord says. “I see her, and she's with a couple other ponies.”

“Grab them all.” Ash says. “We'll deal with any enemies that you get as well.”

“Aaaaaandddd.” Discord says as he snaps his fingers and Rarity, Coco and Trixie appear.

Sweetie screams again as Discord snaps his fingers once more and the spell is broken. Sweetie collapses to the ground. “Sweetie!” Ash says as he grabs her in his magic.

“Did it work?” Sweetie asks weakly.

“Sweetie Belle, is that really you?” Rarity asks.

Sweetie looks up suddenly rejuvenated by the sound of her sister's voice. “Rarity!” She pushes herself free of Ash’s magic and hugs Rarity.

“Were there any other prisoners?” Winter asks.

“Not that Trixie saw. Everypony else in there seemed to be there willingly.”

“Sounds like all the innocents are out.” Winter says as he looks to Ash.

“Unicorns!” Ash yells. “Ready your magic!”

Winter and Nymeria charge up their magic along with every other unicorn. “I suppose that's my cue.” Discord says then snaps his fingers.

“NOW!” Ash commands and every unicorn fires a spell at the enemy.

===== Canterlot =====

“I’m so glad you all came.” Twilight says, she lays down on a bed, her one foreleg resting on an open book.

“What kind of friends would we be if we didn't?” Fluttershy asks.

“Here.” Pinkie says as she pushes a basket of goodies to Twilight. “Celestia and Luna told us you knew what happened so I figured you wouldn’t want a get well soon party since everypony can't be here.” Her mane deflates slightly as she finishes talking.

Twilight smiles. “Thank you Pinkie, and I promise you I'll make it a royal order that once this is over you can throw the biggest party imaginable.”

Pinkie's mane instantly puffs back up as she grins widely. “Really?”

“Pinkie Promise.” Twilight says as she pantomimes the motions with her good foreleg.

“Deal!” Pinkie says returning to her ever jubilant self.

Eris, who seems to be dozing in the corner suddenly lifts her head up. “Discord rescued Rarity.”

“How could you know that?” Twilight asks.

“Since I'm his double our powers are almost identical. We can talk telepathically to each other.” Eris explains.

“Are Rainbow Dash and Applejack with him?” Twilight asks as she pushes herself up.

“Yes.”

Twilight grins. “Can you teleport us there?”

“You want me to teleport you into the middle of a war?”

“Not just me, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy too.”

“Twilight.” Fluttershy mutters. “I promised Discord I’d stay safe.”

“Listen Fluttershy, I saw what Lord Umbra was capable of from a distance. Discord is going to need our help.”

“Discord has an army what can you possibly do to help him?” Eris asks.

“We’ll have all six of the Elements of Harmony together.” Twilight explains. “What do you think we’ll do?”

Eris sighs. “Fine, but I’m going with you. I want to see this.”

“Well, we’re certainly not going to stop you.”

“Everypony ready?” Eris asks as she stands up.

Pinkie grins. “Sooner this is over sooner I can plan the party! So let’s go!”

Eris looks to Fluttershy who nods meekly. She turns to Twilight who’s gotten out of bed and is standing on her three hooves. “Good, let’s go.” Eris says as she snaps her fingers and they vanish.

Chapter 30: The Power of Love (Okay, Friendship)

Chapter 30: The Power of Love (Okay, Friendship)

Ash and Winter stand ahead of the rest of the army as they watch the fireballs rain down upon Umbra’s fortress. “That’s enough!” Ash yells out and the unicorns stop their magic.

They all wait while the smoke from the attack dies down. When it clears they see Umbra’s fortress unaffected. Umbra laughs. “You think you can hurt me?”

Ask looks at Discord. “I thought you could disrupt his magic.”

“I ripped his fortress in half.” Discord says as he looks at Ash confused. “I should’ve just disrupted his magic like I did before.”

“Discord, you arrogant fool.” Umbra yells. “I let you rip my fortress apart, I even let you rescue the hostages.”

“Why?” Discord yells back,

“To weaken you.” Umbra explains. “With your magic weakened this army doesn’t stand a chance.” He turns to his forces. “Crush them!”

Umbra’s forces rush forward. “Archers fire!” Shining Armor yells. “Spearpony’s hold the line! Unicorn’s fire spell bolts!”

The ponies all rush to comply. “This isn’t going to work, is it?” Winter asks.

“I...I don’t know.” Ash admits. “Shining Armor’s tactics will buy us some time but we need a good plan.”

“That’s your job isn’t it?” Winter asks.

“Yeah, yeah! Give me a minute!” Ash yells. “It’s a little hard to think right now!”

“Sorry.” Winter says. “Little nervous here. Like you my wife is here.”

Ash nods. “There are too many of them, and we have what we came for, perhaps a tactical withdrawal is needed.”

“Yes, retreat.” Discord says. “I think I have enough to hold him off.”

“I don’t think you do Discord!” Umbra yells as shadows come out from the fortress and grab Discord.

“He has Discord!” Sweetie yells.

“Grab him!” Ash yells and he, Winter, Sweetie, and Nymeria all use their telekinesis to grab Discord and hold him from being completely taken away.

“We got him.” A unicorn mare in Discordian armor says as she charges her magic and grabs Discord. Another unicorn mare steps beside her and does the same.

“Thank you.” Ash says as he lets go of his magic.

“I’m Rune Skirt, this is my sister Rune Mail. We’re used to working together we’ll keep hold of Discord.” The first unicorn states.

“You’re the famous Ash Fall aren’t you? Strategist that won the Battle of Ponyville right?” Rune Mail asks.

“That’s right.” Ash says.

“Can we win this?”

Ash takes a deep breath. “I don’t know. I need to devote my attention to the battlefield for a minute. Maybe I can come up with a strategy.”

Winter drops his hold on Discord. “I have your back.”

Ash nods and looks at the battlefield and sees Rainbow Dash flying at the head of the pegasi in Discordian armor. As she flies her armor shifts to form weapons her shielding seemingly randomly. Iron Wing flies on her right flank and comes forward anytime that side is unguarded. Her armor also shifts like Rainbow Dash’s.

“Winter, you’re in the Discordian armor. Can you make it shift into weapons like Rainbow Dash?” Ash asks

“Of course, we all can.” Winter answers.

“How much control of it do you have?”

“It’s thought controlled, better you multitask, better you can control it.”

Ash nods. “That’s why Rainbow is so good at it, while flying her mind works on a level I can’t keep up with.”

“Probably.” Winter says. “What are you thinking?”

“What happens if you shift something like a whole lot of spikes?”

Winter shifts the armor so it’s full of spikes. “It’s difficult to move.”

“Yes, but there’s no way that the enemy could hit you either!” Ash says as he turns to the forces. “Earth ponies is Discord’s armor step to up to the line and shift your armor full of spikes!”

The group of armored earth ponies step up, at the front of the group Cold Steel, Applejack and Copper Penny quickly follow his commands. The line of Umbra’s forces rushing at them doesn’t even notice at first and the front runners end up impaled on the spikes. “Shift the spikes to get rid of the bodies!” Cold Steel yells at his comrades and they comply leaving the bodies lying in front of them.

“Ash!” Sweetie yells.

Ash looks over and sees that Umbra's shadows are pulling Discord away from the four unicorns. He looks at Winter and grins. “Roll yourself into a ball.”

“What are you planning?” Winter asks as he complies.

“I’m going to throw you at the shadows, shift your armor to spikes and use your fire to shred them.” Ash commands.

Winter nods. “Let’s do it!”

Ash picks up Winter with his magic and throws him directly at the shadows. As soon as he feels the acceleration Winter shifts his armor full of spikes and lights it up with cold fire. He hits the shadows holding Discord and severs them. “I’ve got him!” Rune Skirt shouts as she pulls Discord in and lays the unconscious draconequus down.

“Winter!” Nymeria says as focuses her magic to catch her husband.

“I’ll help!” Sweetie says as she uses her magic to help Nymeria and the two of them catch Winter and bring him back to them.

The second Winter’s hooves touch the ground his armor shifts back to normal and the fire goes out. “Let’s not do that again.” He says out of breath.

Ash looks back at the battlefield and notices that all of their forces were being pushed back. Lots of bodies both ally and enemy litter the field. He sighs sounding very defeated.

“Ash?” Sweetie asks as she steps up next to him.

“I have nothing.” Ash says. “Umbra’s shadows are now making our arrows useless.” He watches as the shadows create a one way shield that stops their arrows, but the arrows that belong to Umbra’s forces still come through. The majority of those arrows are deflected by unicorns holding magical shields. “Us unicorns are going to start running low on mana really soon. Once that happens their arrows will decimate the crystal ponies. Those in Discordian armor should survive that but by then we’ll be completely outnumbered.”

“Then we should retreat like you suggested earlier.” Winter suggests.

Ash shakes his head. “It’s too late for that. They’ll chase us down for sure.”

“Can you teleport us somewhere?” Nymeria asks.

“I don’t have that kind of mana right now.” Ash says.

“What about sharing mana like we did to get here?” Sweetie asks.

“We were all at full mana, and had Shinning Armor giving us his mana.”

“What if Trixie gave you her mana?”

“All of us will.” Rarity states and Cocoa nods beside her.

“We’re use to combining our mana together, so we’re very familiar with sharing mana.” Rune Mail says.

“With all of our mana we could probably teleport out.” Rune Skirt says.

Ash looks at the collected unicorns then smiles as he looks to Winter. “I have a better idea.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Winter asks nervously.

“I want to give you all the mana to focus into one cold fire spell.”

Winter’s eyes widen. “If that fails….”

Ash nods. “I’m a soldier, I can’t in good conscious leave these to ponies to die. With your cold fire the shadows will be gone. It’s our best chance.”

Winter nods. “I’ll focus the attack on Umbra, maybe I can freeze him.”

“If you did that his army might surrender.”

The group of unicorns begin focusing their mana together. Umbra looks over at the group thinking they’re going to teleport away. “I think not!” Umbra yells as a group of shadows heads right towards them. The shadows turn into razor sharp blades and come to bear down on the group when suddenly bright flash causes them to dissipate.

“I’m not done yet.” Discord says weakly as he pushes himself up.

“Discord!” Umbra hisses. “I thought my shadows drained you!”

Discord smiles.”I’m chaos remember? You can never know what chaos has in store for you next.”

“Go on! Protect those ponies!” Umbra yells. “I’ll kill the rest!”

“I think not Umbra!” Winter yells as he takes the focused mana and puts it into a spell. The powerful blast of cold fire leaves his horn and slams through the shadows,

“What?” Umbra exclaims as the powerful spell hits him and the magic encases him in ice.

Winter lets the spell go and falls to the ground. “Did it work?”

Ash nods as the shadows have completely disappeared. “Shining now!”

Shining Armor nods. “Archers magic arrows!”

The pegasi pull out enchanted arrows and release them. The arrows plunge into the weak spots of enemy armor knocking them down. “It’s working!” Nymeria yells.

A cracking sound is hear and they all look at the form of Umbra, the ice has turned black and suddenly it shatters. Umbra laughs. “That was impressive. I can see why Nymeria fell for you. Now it’s time to kill you and reclaim my property.” He says as he eyes Rarity, Cocoa and Trixie. “And acquire some more.” He looks at the rest of the mares. Then looks at Ash. “As for you, you’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, I think I’ll enjoy killing you.”

Ash hangs his head as he grabs Sweetie. “I failed, I’m sorry.”

Umbra appears beside them. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy breaking this little filly in.” He places a forehoof on Sweetie’s face.

Ash’s eyes flash as a sword slices through Umbra’s foreleg cleanly severing it. “Over my dead body!” His horn glows with his golden aura and the sword is leveled in front of him.

Umbra rears back as shadows form a new limb for him. “I saw you give your mana to Winter! How are you doing this?”

Ash taps his armor with his forehoof. “Mana gems in my armor. I can only access them once I’ve used my own mana.”

“Well played.” Umbra says as he makes a sword out of shadow and knocks the sword aside. “But I’m sure you’re not a swordpony.”

The sword strikes back at Umbra and the two magically guided swords begin to parry each other. “I was raised as a guard, I’ve been using a sword since before I could use my magic.” Ash replies.

“I have to admit I’m impressed.” Umbra says as he uses the shadow magic to create another sword. “Ever practice wielding two blades?”

Ash’s eyes go wide as he sees the second blade. “No!” He says as but sighs defeated as the blade is swung at him and closes his eyes to not see the final blow. A few seconds pass by and he realizes that he’s still alive, he opens his eyes and sees the shadow sword held in a magenta aura.

“What?” Umbra asks astonished as he looks up and sees Eris along with Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Twilight’s horn glows as she holds the sword at bay.

“Forget about somepony?” Twilight asks.

“How…. how is this possible?” Umbra asks.

Discord laughs. “I brought my double from another dimension, as insurance.”

Meanwhile Iron Wing nudges Rainbow Dash. “Look!” Rainbow looks back and sees Twilight and the others. “Go! We got this!”

Rainbow nods and flies down. “Applejack!”

Applejack stands at the center of a triangle of earth ponies, Cold Steel on one Side, Copper Penny on the other. “Rainbow?”

“Twilight and the others are here. We all need to get together.”

“We’ll manage without you.” Cold Steel says as he steps forward.

“Rainbow, can ya give me a lift?”

Rainbow grabs Applejack, lifts her up and carries her to Twilight and the other. “We’re here.” She says as she puts Applejack down.

“Let’s do this!” Applejack says.

“Rainbow Power..” Twilight starts.

“Activate!” All Six of them cheer at the same time. The magic swirls around them quickly changing them into their rainbow forms.

“NO!” Umbra yells. “I won’t let you win!” He strikes out with his shadow magic but a burst of rainbow magic annihilates the shadows. Another blast trikes Umbra directly stripping him of his powers. The next blasts of rainbow magic hit his forces causing the forces to lay down their weapons. Umbra shivers from the blast. “It can’t end like this.”

“It’s over Umbra.” Twilight says as she lands next to him. She now holds Ash’s sword in her magic. She levels the sword at Umbra. “It’s time to send you to Tartarus.”

“NO!” Umbra yells. “I will not go to that prison!” He goes to move but finds himself restrained by all the surrounding unicorns, there magic restored from the rainbow magic.

“You don’t have much of choice in the matter,” Twilight says as she opens the portal to Tartarus then takes the magical restraints in her own magic and begins to drag him off using her three hooves and her wings.

Umbra struggles against the bonds until he sees Twilight pulling using her three legs, leaving her off balance slightly. He waits until he can tell she’s going to be off balance and leaps at her striking at her with his hooves. “I will not go to that prison, you will have to kill me first!”

Umbra suddenly goes flying. Applejack stands near Twilight having had bucked Umbra off him. “How about that?”

Umbra coughs, feeling the broken ribs. “Very good, let your anger out!” He gets up and goes to strike out at Applejack when he suddenly stops in place. Cold fire burning around him freezing him in place.

“You’re not going to get your way this time.” Winter says as he controls the cold fire. “Princess, take him.”

Twilight grabs the frozen Umbra in her magic and carries him through the portal securing him in the prison. Twilight comes back out a few minutes later. “It’s done, it’s time to go home.”

Chapter 31: Die Another Day

Chapter 31: Die Another Day

=====Canterlot=====

A flash a light is all the warning Celestia and Luna get before Eris and a large group of ponies appear in the castle. Twilight steps forward from the group. “We’ve defeated Lord Umbra.”

“We told you not to leave.” Luna says as she scowls down at Twilight. “And you didn’t listen to us.”

“I’m sorry, Princess, but I did what was necessary to end this.” Twilight says.

Luna sighs. “Aye, and never have we been more happy to have somepony disobey us.”

Twilight looks relieved. “Thank you.”

“Tell us” Celestia says. “Is this all that’s left?”

“Discord took my brother and his forces back to the Crystal Empire. He should be back…” A flash that announces Discord’s arrival interrupts her. ‘Now.”

“Hello Princesses, sorry I’m late.” Discord says as he bows. “We would have done this the other way around, but my double has never been to the Crystal Empire.”

“You’re tardiness is forgiven.” Celestia says.

“We are glad to see you return.” Luna says. “Though you return with about half the force you started with.”

“Surely you didn’t send ponies to war and expect them all to return, did you?” Discord asks.

“We sent them with you, we expected few casualties honestly.” Celestia says.

“I… I’m sorry.” Discord says as he hangs his head. “So many things went wrong.”

“We understand, truly, and you have done us a great deed.” Celestia says.

“We thank you, and will go through the process of making sure families are compensated.”

“Thank you. I did what I could.”

“If that’s settled.” Twilight says as she steps up “I was wondering if you’ve looked into the other thing I’d asked you too?”

“We have.” Celestia answers. “And I believe that we have the appropriate spell ready to fix Lieutenant Greaves.”

“Fix Lieutenant Greaves?” Applejack asks confused. “What are they talking about? I thought Greaves died protecting ya.”

Twilight sighs. “He did. But I had to leave his body. Apparently Lord Umbra thought it’d a good idea to resurrect him.”

“Wait, so Greaves is alive?”

“No quite, Umbra controlled him and had him try and kill me. That’s what woke me up, I used my magic to stop him and then had him put in a cell.”

“He kept trying to hurt the guards or anypony that came close to him since Umbra was still controlling him so we were forced to put him in magical stasis.” Celestia explains.

“So he’s frozen?” Applejack asks.

Twilight nods. “I was searching for a cure when you all came to visit. I should have told you then, but so many things were going on.”

“I understand Twi.” Applejack says. “Ya didn’t want to tell me nothin’ until you had an idea of whether or not you could bring him back, right?”

“Exactly.”

“And the spell ya asked the Princesses to look into?”

Twilight sighs. “I asked them to look into a way to bring him all the way back to life.”

“Is that possible?”

“We believe we’ve found a way.” Celestia answers. “Using the rainbow power to fuel the spell, since they’ve replaced the elements.”

“You believe?” Applejack asks.

“I’ll be honest with you.” Celestia says. “Him being brought back to life is not the only possible outcome, but it is highly likely.”

“What… what else could happen?”

“The magic could destroy him.”

“Are… are those the only possibilities?”

“They are the two most likely. I could spend all day speculating the possibilities.”

“What we’re talking about is untested magic.” Twilight says. “There’s no way to tell what’s going to happen, and no way to test it except to just do it.”

Applejack nods. “I understand.”

“We don’t have to do this, we can wait until another way is found. A safer way.”

“No, I wanna go ahead and do this. This way it’ll be over one way or the other.”

“Then let’s go see him.” Twilight says. They head down the hall and enter a side room. Once in the room they see several statues, one of them is Greaves.

“I thought he was in some sort of stasis, not a statue.” Applejack says.

“This is a stasis spell.” Celestia says. “A rather powerful one.”

“Girls, gather around the statue.” Twilight instructs and the others circle the statue. “NOW!”

As the mane six embrace their rainbow magic Celestia releases the stasis spell. Once the rainbow energy starts to flow Celestia quickly grabs it with her her magic and focuses it all into one concentrated spell. The rainbow energy cascades over Greaves. After a few minutes the magic fades away leaving Greaves laying there,

“Did it work?” Applejack asks as she rushes to Greaves side.

Twilight teleports in front of Applejack stopping her just short of Greaves.. “Hold on AJ, let me use my magic to examine him first.”

Applejack nods. “Hurry, I just want to hold him. One way or the other.”

“I understand.” Twilight turns and examines Greaves. “I don’t see any dangerous magical effects, it should be safe for you to hold him while I do a full examination to see if it worked.”

“Thank ya Twilight.” Applejack say as she walks to Greaves and gets down so she can hold him in her forelegs. Twilight continues to examine Greaves then gasps. “Twi?” Applejack asks looking up from Greaves.

“Applejack?” Greaves says weakly.

Applejack looks back to Greaves. “Greaves?”

“I never thought I’d see you again,” Greaves says as he lifts a foreleg up to touch her cheek.

“My goodness.” Rarity says. “It looks like it worked.”

Celestia nods. “It did, maybe not perfectly, but he’s alive again. There could be side effects.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Twilight says. “If there are side effects we’ll deal with them together.”

“That’s right, that’s what friends are for.” Pinkie says.

“Well one he’s recovered enough to travel he’ll go home to Sweet Apple Acres, where he belongs.” Celestia says.

“Thank you.” Applejack says. “We appreciate everything you are doing for us.”

“You’re heroes of Equestria. It’s my honor to do everything I can for you.”

Chapter 32: Happiest Days of Our Lives

Chapter 31: Happiest Days of Our Lives

=====Two Months Later=====

Smoke billows as the train pulls into Ponyville and Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara get off only to be greeted by their friends immediately. “Welcome back home!” Sweetie Belle cheers as she hugs Apple Bloom

“Geesh Sweetie ya act like we left for something other than our honeymoon.” Apple Bloom replies as she pries the unicorn off her. “We’ve only been gone a month.”

“Sorry, I’m just excited to have everypony together again.” Sweetie says. “It feels like old times.”

“Except we all have our cutie marks.” Scootaloo says.

“I remember when we formed the crusaders.” Apple Bloom says. “I never woulda guessed that after everything we’d been through our friendship would only get stronger.”

“Now here we are, all of us happily married.” Sweetie says.

“I know, right?” Scootaloo asks

Apple Bloom nods. “So can we head home or should we head to where ever Pinkie Pie has her ‘welcome home from your honeymoon’ party?”

“Where do you think she is having it?” Silver Spoon asks.

Diamond sighs. “She’s sitting waiting at the mansion, isn’t she?”

”It’s not like we could convince her NOT to throw it.” Scootaloo adds.

“Least it can’t technically be a surprise party?” Ash suggests.

“I suppose you have a point there.” Diamond says then looks over to Apple Bloom. “Well, my darling wife, what do you say?”

Apple Bloom grins. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Party Goers!”

The bad joke causes the rest of them to laugh as they all head toward Rich Manor. They enter the mansion only to immediately see Pinkie Pie pop out of seemingly nowhere. “Welcome home!” She pulls the string on her party cannon somehow only hitting Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara with the confetti in spite of them walking in at the same time as the others.

“It’s good to be back.” Apple Bloom says as she looks at the collected ponies. Of course Diamond’s father, and her siblings are there. She sees her brother-in-law Greaves, still a shock to see a pony that died and was remade into a zombie, only for the princesses to find a way to fully restore him. The only problem is there are some gaps in his memory, but it’s nothing Applejack can’t help him with since he’s officially retired, having had technically died in combat.

Twilight stands at the refreshment table talking to Rarity. Apple Bloom is relieved to see Twilight’s alicorn healing has finally caught us with her and she had all her limbs and both her eyes. Apple Bloom nudges Diamond and they approach the table. “Look like ya doing better Twilight.” Apple Bloom says.

“Thank you Apple Bloom.” Twilight says. “You look happy.”

“We just got back from our honeymoon, what else should I be?”

“Very well said.” Rarity says.

“Indeed.” Diamond says as she takes a drink. “Not bad for a farm pony.” She grins at her wife.

“You got manners in me, now Ah’m goin to get ya dirty.” Apple Bloom says as she pushes the wine glass onto Diamond getting the punch on her dress.

Diamond looks at her dress and starts laughing. “I deserved that.”

“Yeah, you did.” Apple Bloom laughs with her.

“It’s clear you two are made for each other.” Rarity says.

Apple Bloom blushes slightly. “Thank ya.”

“Miss Rarity, might I inquire as to how things are with you and Miss Pommel?” Diamond asks.

“We’re still taking it one day at a time, it isn’t easy with what Umbra did to us.” Rarity says as she touches her barrel. “Sometimes I almost want to get rid of his foal, but I just can’t do it.”

Diamond bows her head. “Sorry I asked.”

“At least you’re in same situation as your marefriend?” Twilight asks

“I suppose.”

“Trixie is here for support too.” Trixie says as she steps up to Twilight with a couple drinks.

“Those had better not have alcohol in them.” Twilight says. “It’s not any good for our foal.”

“On Trixie’s honor, no alcohol.” Trixie says then nuzzles Twilight. “Trixie wouldn’t want to upset Trixie’s wife.”

“Good.” Twilight says as she takes a drink from her and nuzzles her back.

“Well, we’re goin’ say hi to everypony else.” Apple Bloom says as she and Diamond head off to do just that.

Several hours later the party has wound down and most of the ponies have gone home. Just the cutie mark crusaders, their spouses and their honorary members Nymeria and Winter Spark remain. “Well, I gotta admit that was a great party.” Apple Bloom says as she sits down on a couch next to Diamond Tiara.

Diamond snuggles against her. “I have have to admit it was a lot of fun.”

“We all had a wonderful time.” Winter says as he pulls Nymeria against him.

“We really should do this more often.” Nymeria states.

“I don’t see why we can’t.” Silver Spoon says as she nuzzles Scootaloo.

“Yeah, sounds good to me.” Scootaloo says.

“I’m fine with doing that.” Ash says. “Just promise me no more crazy adventures, okay?”

“I’m good with that.” Diamond says. “At least for a good while, things have been too intense these last couple years.”

“A little adventure never hurt anypony.” Scootaloo says.

“I suppose I can do with a little adventure.” Ash says

“That’s good to hear.” Sweetie snuggles up against Ash and kisses him. “Because I have an absolutely grand adventure planned out.”

“Careful there.” Silver Spoon says. “You’re starting to sound like your sister.”

“Hey!” Sweetie says obviously hurt. “I can’t help it if she rubbed off on me a little.”

“I didn’t mean to mean to upset you.”

Sweetie nods. “It’s alright, I really shouldn’t have taken it that way.”

“So let me get this straight.” Ash says. “You have some sort of adventure planned out?”

Sweetie nods. “Yes.”

“And what kind of adventure do you have planned my dear?”

“I already told you it’s a grand adventure.” Sweetie says with a smile. “Some might say it’s the greatest adventure ever.”

“Oh, now you have my interest is peaked.” Ash says as he pulls Sweetie into his lap. “You’ve got to tell me about this adventure.”

Sweetie kisses him passionately and then whispers to him. “I’m pregnant.”

~THE END~

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading this.

Chapter 1: The Living Years

Chapter 1: The Living Years

“Summer is coming again to Ponyville.” Sweetie Belle says as she stands in front of the class. “This past year has brought a lot of change to Ponyville. Near the end of summer it brought my fiance, Ash Fall.” Several ponies hoot and Sweetie blushes heavily.

Once they quiet down she continues. “Me and my friends finally got our cutie marks.” She says as she looks down at her own cutie mark, a bell with music note on it; showing her talent for singing. Then at her friends; Apple Bloom whose cutie mark is that of a zap apple being painted; showing her talent for building and fixing things; Scootaloo whose cutie mark is that of a pair of pony dance shoes with wings on them; showing her talent for dance and last her fiance Ash Fall, formerly a member of Luna’s Night Guard he’s now one of Princess Twilight’s personal guards; his cutie mark is a chess board with the white king standing and the black king laying down; showing his talent for strategy.

“Some time in there the griffons attacked.” Sweetie continues “And thanks to everybody they were defeated. Then the day came that Ash proposed to me. As you all know, this is our final year in school. These past 9 months have gone by in a blur. My wedding is in a couple months, but I know I’m the first of many. For those of you that don’t know in the past year my friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have also gotten engaged to their special someponies.” Once again the group of ponies hoot as Apple Bloom; Diamond Tiara; Scootaloo and Silver Spoon; each wearing earrings with their significant other's cutie mark; all blush heavily. “I’d like to wish them, and everypony here good luck in all their future endeavors.”

The ponies all cheer. Cheerilee walks up to the podium. “Thank you Sweetie Belle for your rousing speech. I won’t keep you much longer. Some of you are going to leave here and go straight to work, others are going to pursue higher education in one of the bigger cities. Either way I wish you all the luck in Equestria. Now without further ado, I pronounce you graduated from Ponyville School."

==========

The Cutie Mark Crusaders; now incorporating Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and Ash Fall arrive at Diamond’s clubhouse. They all enter and take seats. “That was a good speech there Sweetie.” Apple Bloom says

“I think I might have left some important bits out here and there.” Sweetie admits.

“Like how I built the catapults that drove back the griffins?” Apple Bloom asks

Sweetie nods. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s alright, I’m just teasing ya anyway.”

“You also didn’t mention my mom and Discord getting engaged.” Scootaloo says.

“They’d ask us to not tell anyone, remember?” Sweetie asks.

“Oh yeah, I’d forgotten.”

Ash chuckles. “How could you forget something like that Scootaloo?”

“I guess it slipped my mind.” Scootaloo admits.

“You’ve had other stuff on your mind.” Silver admits.

“Yeah, trying to help you plan our wedding.” Scootaloo smiles.

“Are you two going to have one of those cloud weddings?” Diamond asks.

“We have discussed that option.” Silver Spoon says as she stretches out the wings that Discord had given her. “Princess Twilight says that there is a cloudwalking spell that could be cast on non-pegasi so that our friends and family could all come.”

“You should do it.” Sweetie says. “I hear the cloud ceremonies are beautiful.”

“If you mares are going to discuss weddings, I’m going to head over to Twilight’s.” Ash says. ‘I have duty in a bit anyway.”

Sweetie nods and kisses him. “See you at home.”

Ash kisses her back. “Love you.”

“Love you too.” Sweetie says as he walks off.

They all wait for Ash to leave. “So we were doing some rough math.” Diamond says. “Is it a coincidence that you have your marriage scheduled the day before you should go back into heat?”

"Rarity insisted." Sweetie Belle answers as she blushes deeply. "She says I'll enjoy the honeymoon more if I'm in heat."

"Well, you'll certainly enjoy certain parts of it that way." Apple Bloom says with a wink.

"Other than the fact I'll be downing moon tea nearly constantly."

"I thought you were getting married so you wouldn't have to drink moon tea anymore." Silver Spoon says.

"I have no intention of being anypony's mother anytime soon!" Sweetie yells. "I'm getting married cause I love Ash."

"Is that the only reason?" Diamond asks.

"I'm hoping that once we're married ponies won't give us the dirty looks anymore." Sweetie admits.

"I should imagine it'll help at least a little." Apple Bloom says.

"So onto you four." Sweetie says. "When are your weddings?"

"We're still trying to figure out where we want to get married." Apple Bloom says. "I want to get married at the farm."

"I was hoping for a nice fancy wedding, maybe in Canterlot or Manehatten." Diamond says.

"A lot of my family wouldn't be able to make that." Apple Bloom says. "Too much time away from their farms."

"There's gotta be some way to do both." Silver says.

"What about you two?" Diamond says.

"We told you already. We're thinking about a wedding in Cloudsdale." Scootaloo says. "It's either that or we'll do it right here in the town hall."

"Either way Princess Twilight has agreed to officiate." Silver says.

"Princess Luna is going to officiate ours since Ash use to be one of her guards." Sweetie says. "A night wedding in the Canterlot Garden."

"How did you ever get the Canterlot Garden?" Diamond asks. "That place is impossible to get into."

"My sister is one of the Elements of Harmony." Sweetie grins. "And friends with one of Equestria's princesses. Also my fiance derived the plan that ended the griffin attack. Some strings were pulled."

"Sounds like a lot of strings to me." Apple Bloom says.

Sweetie blushes slightly. "Well, I told Rarity what my dream wedding was and she's going to make it happen."

Diamond looks at Apple Bloom. "Does your sister have that kind of pull?"

"I reckon I don't see why she wouldn't." Apple Bloom answers.

"Could you get one of the princesses to marry us?" Diamond pleads.

"I'm sure Twilight would do it no problem."

"I wonder if we could get Princess Cadance to do it." Diamond says. "Then we can each be married by a different princess."

]"Princess Cadance rules over the Crystal Empire, we'd have to go there for her to marry us."

Diamond squeals. "A wedding in the Crystal Empire! Oh please, please say we can do that. I'll do anything you want."

"Even your family would have a hard time getting there Diamond." Apple Bloom says. "How would that work out?"

"Too bad they can't all just teleport there." Sweetie says.

Apple Bloom jumps up. "That gives me an idea!"

"What is it Apple Bloom?" Diamond asks.

"When the Equestria Games were held in the Crystal Empire the Princesses made portals for those that couldn't come by train." Apple Bloom explains. "We'll ask if they could do that again."

"Apple Bloom, that's brilliant!" Sweetie says.

"You think they'll go along with it?" Silver Spoon asks.

"Well, I did build the catapults that were a major war effort." Apple Bloom says. "And Diamond's family did fund the catapults at first. So I'd say they owe us."

"So what's next?" Diamond asks.

"I guess we go talk to some Princesses."

Author's Note

Here's the first chapter. let me know what y'all think of it.

Chapter 9: Leaving Tonight

Chapter 9: Leaving Tonight

Diamond Tiara walks up to Twilight’s castle and knocks on the door. Spike opens the door. “Diamond Tiara?” Spike asks. “What can I do for you?”

“Could.. could I speak with Twilight for a couple minutes?” Diamond asks.

“She’s packing for her trip right now. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“Trip? Where is she going?”

“Saddle Arabia, to try and stop a war.” Spike answers.

“And I should be back well before Scootaloo and Silver Spoon’s wedding to enchant shoes for everypony.” Twilight says as she comes down the stairs. “But I’ve got a couple of unicorns around town that can perform the spell and will enchant everypony’s shoes if I don’t make it back in time. Celestia has agreed to officiate their wedding if I can’t make it.”

Diamond nods. “I understand, and I’m sure they do too.”

“So what can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if I could call in that favor you owe me.”

Twilight looks surprised. “Already? But I figured…”

Diamond shakes her head. “Different favor, but no less important. I want an audience with Princess Cadance. I was hoping that she’d agree to officiate my and Apple Bloom’s wedding and let us have it in the Crystal Empire.”

Twilight smiles slightly. “That sounds wonderful. I’ll send send a letter asking her to see you.”

“Will that guarantee she’ll see me?”

Twilight shakes her head. “No, but the odds are she will see you.” Twilight grins. “And I’ll still owe you THAT favor.”

“That would be great!” Diamond says. “I’ll let Bloom know, and be on the next train to the Crystal Empire.”

Twilight nods. “I’ll write that letter and have Spike send it to Cadance shortly.”

“Thank you very much.” Diamond says. “I’d better be off.”

“Good luck!” Twilight yells as Diamond runs off.

“Shall I write that letter?” Spike asks.

“I would appreciate it.” Twilight answers. “Then I can go over my travel checklist again.”

“Not a problem.” Spike says as he goes off to write that letter.

Twilight goes upstairs where Trixie is laying on her bed waiting for her. “Are you really leaving Trixie?” She asks as she flicks her tail.

Twilight walks over to her and kisses her muzzle. “I don't want to leave you, but this is part of my princessly duties. You knew what you were getting into when you started this relationship.”

“Trixie knows this, and Trixie accepts that you have to go. Something inside Trixie wants you to stay.”

“After this trip I’ll tell Celestia I’m not going anywhere without my favorite apprentice.” Twilight says as she places a wing over Trixie.

Trixie leans into Twilight. “Trixie would like that.”

Twilight levitates a small box over. “I got you something."

“A present for Trixie?” She asks excitedly as she takes the box in her magic and opens it. She pulls a necklace out with a purple stone amulet. “It’s pretty.”

“It’s more than pretty.” Twilight says as she charges her horn and hits the amulet with a spell. The amulet starts glowing brightly. “It glows brighter the closer I am to you.”

Trixie squeals in excitement, “Trixie will always know when Twilight is close now.”

Twilight smiles. “I thought you’d like that.”

An hour later, Twilight wearing her saddlebags walks up to the train station. At the same time Lieutenant Greaves and Applejack walk up. “Hello Applejack.”

“Hey Twilight.”

“Thank you for lending me your husband for this trip.”

“Well, you had asked him to do this BEFORE we were married, so I couldn’t exactly say no, could I?”

“You know I’d have found somepony else if you had said no.”

Applejack shakes her head. “I knew what I was gettin’ into when I married a guard pony.”

Twilight nods. “Be that as it may, I’ll do my best to bring him back as soon as possible.”

“And I’m sure you’ll keep each other safe.”

“It’s a border dispute, I’m sure for the most part he’ll be bored senseless.”

“I hope that’s the case.” Applejack says.”I expect him to be here to help raise our foal.”

Twilight looks at Applejack in shock. “How can you already know you’re pregnant?”

“It’s an earth pony thing.” Applejack answers. “Granny Smith has always been really good at it, and she told me this morning.”

“Congratulations Applejack.”

“Thank ya.”

The train whistle sounds. “Sorry to cut this short, but we really have to go.” Twilight says.

“I take it the train doesn’t even wait for princesses?”

“The train waits for nopony.” Twilight says then looks at the two of them. “I’m going to head onto the train and give you two a minute.” Twilight heads onto the train.

“You know I’m going to miss ya right?” Applejack asks.

Greaves nods. “I’m going to miss you too.” He steps to her and they nuzzle. “I don’t want to go.”

“Cause the foal?” Applejack asks. “You’ll be back long before he or she comes.”

“It’s not the foal.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t like that it’s just me and her going, no other guards.”

“It’s a peace talk.” Applejack reasons. “We don’t exactly want to make a show of force.”

“It just feels like a trap.”

“I hadn’t thought about that.” Applejack says. “If somepony wanted to grab Twilight this would be an excellent time to do that.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, Applejack.” Greaves says. “If I’m right…” He trails off.

Applejack nods. “I… I understand.”

Greaves nods and the train whistle sounds again. “I really have to go now.”

Applejack kisses him. “I love ya.”

“I love you too.” Greaves says as he returns the kiss. “Good bye.” He says trying to look strong as he walks to the train, boards it and finds Twilight.

“Do you want to stay behind?” Twilight asks as Greaves steps into the compartment. ‘I didn’t want to put the offer on the table with Applejack around. I wanted it to be your decision.”

“What about you?” Greaves asks.

Twilight scoffs. “Please, you’ve heard about some of the things we’ve done for Equestria. I fought Tirek by myself for Faust’s sake! I’m sure I can handle a border discussion by myself.”

Greaves sighs. “I’m very tempted to take you up on your offer.”

“Go ahead.”

“I think you've pulled enough strings for us Princess.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Twilight says acting innocent.

Greaves glares at her. “Nopony gets a marriage license in one day for starters.”

“You're used to the bureaucracy of Canterlot.”

“How about the fact I've had very favorable work details since the wedding?”

“Coincidence?” Twilight suggests weakly.

Greaves grins. “That's what I thought.”

Twilight rolls her eyes. “Fine, you’ve caught me.”

“Then I’m going with you and doing my job.”

Twilight sighs as the train makes it’s last whistle and starts moving, “Very well, you’re in charge of my protection.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Chapter 24: Marching off to War

Chapter 24: Marching off to War

=====Canterlot=====

Discord appears in the courtyard outside Canterlot castle. “Now where’s my army?”

Celestia steps out of the castle. “You’re earlier than I thought you’d be. I’d just risen the sun.”

“Sorry, I want to get moving.” Discord says. “This Lord Umbra’s shadow magic is quite interesting, I can only teleport so close to him.”

Celestia nods. “Your army is in the dining hall. They should be out shortly.”

“Thank you for trusting me with these ponies.”

“To get rid of this Lord Umbra I'd trust almost anypony.” Celestia says.

The sound of hooves on pavement draws their attention to an assortment of ponies in mismatched armor. “Volunteer core reporting for duty you Highness!”

Discord surveys the 1000 or so ponies gathered before him. “Not bad, but it needs a little something...” He snaps his fingers and all their armor is identical, crimson in color with 8 black arrows pointing every direction arranged into a circle, “Much better.”

Celestia surveys the army and nods. “They look fierce, good luck.”

“Celestia, I don’t need luck. I have your army and my magic.” Discord grins and snaps his talons making the whole army vanish,

“I hope this was a good idea.” Celestia says to herself.

“Princess Celestia!” One of her guard runs up to her. “Princess Celestia! Where’s Discord?”

“If you were looking to join the volunteers they just left.” Celestia says.

“No, no no!”

“What’s the matter?”

“There’s a letter from Captain Rainbow Dash, it was found lying on top of Princess Twilight just moments ago.”

“What does this letter say?”

“Captain Dash is with the volunteers.”

“Find me the rest of the squad she came in with.” Celestia commands and the guard pony pales. “What is it?”

“I saw them all join the volunteers. They were all on leave so I couldn't stop them.”

“I can’t say as I’m surprised.” Celestia sighs. “Thank you for notifying me; please return to your duties.”

“Yes, ma’am.” the guard salutes and walks off.

=====South of the Crystal Empire=====

Shining Armor leads the way through the snow, creating a path for Ash and Sweetie to follow behind him. A group of soldiers in crystal armor follow behind them. “Are you sure we're going the right way?” Shining asks.

Sweetie pulls a black object out of her saddlebags with her magic and brings it in front of her. Using her magic she opens the object to reveal a compass. The needle points south west instead of north. “The compass still says go this way.”

Shining sighs and pushes on. “I just had to lead the army, me and my big mouth.”

“Just remember it was your idea that I go get the compass and bring it back and we lead the army from here.” Ash says,

“Unfortunately it is all necessary, there’s no easy way to move this many troops.”

Ash drops back and notices grumbling from the ponies behind them too. “Dear, I think we could use a morale boost.”

Sweetie nods and starts humming.

===== outside Tall Tale=====

Discord and his army appear. “Well, looks like we’re walking, or those of us that can are flying from here.”

The ponies behind him form ranks and they start marching. One pony flies up to Discord. “So what's the plan?”

“Ah, Rainbow Dash, I thought I'd seen you amongst the commoners. The plan is this: we march in, I'll use my magic to keep his shadows busy while you lot fight his soldiers and kill him for me.”

“Works with me.”

“Good.” Discord says as they go along. “Perhaps we need something to pass the time.” He snaps his fingers and instruments appear and start playing themselves, the melody the same as Sweetie Belle’s.

==========

Greaves leads a large group of undead ponies down a shadowy path, a large black dragon flies over head and roars. “Settle Onyx, you'll get your fresh meat soon enough.”

“Meat. Meat.” The horde of zombie ponies mumble.

“Master could have given you some of the smarter undead.” Onyx says.

Greaves grunts, deep inside he hoped that they would fail and that the princesses would kill him again. He’d rather that then for Applejack to see him like this, or to succeed and kill Twilight. “They’ll do the job, that’s all that matters.”

“Kill Twilight. Kill Twilight.” The horde chants,

Greaves starts to hum and some of the the zombies pick up the tone, the melody now becoming eerily similar.

==========

“That’s it my minions fortify this place.” Umbra calls out and some shadows move about creating blockades, and some zombies do the same thing elsewhere. He walks to a side room and looks to his captives, and smiles, as is his way he’s had his fun with them, he knows they’re what the ponies heading his way are after. “This is going to be glorious.” He walks back into the main room. “Minions! Music!”

The shadows take on the forms of instruments and start to play a melody. “Yes.” Umbra says. “Let’s have a war.”

=====Frozen North====

The troupes behind Sweetie Belle have now picked up the tune and she starts to sing.

The Moon hangs low as we drudge through the snow
Cold wind hitting our flanks, burning our eyes
Steeling our resolve

This causes some of the soldiers to sign.

March through the snow;
On our way to war!

=====Greaves=====

With the zombie army humming the tune Greaves sings.

We meet our doom or arrive victorious
To Canterlot Castle we go
Ready to stomp any who oppose,
We head through the unknown to meet our foe

About half the zombie horde sings:

Princess princess princess
Kill the princess

=====Discord=====

With the magical instruments floating in the air and playing Discord sings.

Through blazing heat and heavy air,
We go to find Umbra and stop him in his lair
Bringing Chaos! Bringing Strife!
We are going to war tonight!

The army of ponies that marches behind him sings.

By the orders of the Princess;
Discord leads us to war!

=====Umbra=====

Henceforth they come, in hopes of stopping me
From north, south, and easterly
This place unknown, so full of danger
I do not think they will win this war they wager

Umbra sings, and soon his shadow minions join in:

Protect the lair;
Defeat our enemies

=====Sweetie=====

“War!”

=====Greaves=====

“War!”

=====Discord====

“War!”

Somehow in the midst of everything the three of them all sing at the same time:

“We march to war!”

Author's Note

A very special thank you to my wife, who wrote the song for this chapter, as she writes all my songs. This one was a major pain in the butt.