Chapter IX. Old Friends New Teammates

It had started to snow, you and Applebloom lead The Equestria Defenders through the Everfree heading towards the Tree of Harmony, Well That's what Twilight told you anyway. Twilight didn't tell you much you wished she had told you more. "Go towards the old castle, then turn left by thirty hooves and then forwards, you cant miss it! Be on your guard you might have trouble!" That was all you could remember Twilight saying and You had been and done the thirty hooves turn and now it had felt like you been trotting forever and your hooves were starting to hurt and it was tiring wearing the armour for so long. You Look over to Applebloom and She seemed fine and she was carrying her saddle bags but then again it didn't surprise you, Applebloom worked on the Apple farm all her life this walk was a breeze for her.

Seeing that Applebloom was okay you turned around to look at the rest of the team. With no real surprise Apple Charm and Thorax fine but Blazing, Agile and Princess Flurry were looking tired as well. But Flurry Heart look like she had something on her mind which made you worried. Seeing how long you had been trotting for and the rest of the Teams face's, you decide now is best time to rest.

"But hon- I mean Anon do you think that's wise?" Applebloom asks sounding worried.

"Just Look at everypony!" You pointed your hoof towards Blazing Diamond, Agile and Flurry Heart, they had all sat down shearing the water that Agile took with her as well as her trusty sword.

"Perhaps your right. Flurry aint looking so happy either?" Applebloom looked at Flurry heart with worry.

"Don't worry ill talk to her." You tell Applebloom with your hoof on her shoulder before trotting over to talk with Flurry.

You made your way over to Flurry Heart she sat Tree log alone for some reason you could not understand, but you could hear tears as you got closer. "Flurry, are you okay?"

Flurry Heart wipes the tears from her eyes quickly and Turned around with a fake smile that wasn't fooling anypony. "Yeah im great." You stayed silent and gave her a look let her know she wasn't fooling you. "Fine! Im afraid that when I finally I go home, Mum wont be there!"

You sit down next Flurry Heart as she frowns looking at the floor "Now if I Know your Mum, which I do, I know for a fact she'll be fine. Knowing Cadence she be safe somewhere hide it out until we do something."

"You think so?" your mouth went dry as you looked into Flurry Heart's eyes seeing only hope.

"I know so." You lied knowing that Cadence could well be dead or worse.

Apple Charm trotted over to Agile and sat next to her on the log. Agile leaned against Apple Charm resting her head against her. "You are really out of Shape. Im Gonna have to put you through your paces when get back." Apple Charm whispered into Agile ear making her shiver in delight.

"I think I Like the sound of that." Agile lightly kiss Apple Charm on her lips Making her smile.

Blazing looked over at Thorax and thought ran through his and now seemed like the best time to ask. "Thorax?"

"Yeah?" Thorax looked up.

"Why don't you try to talk to the other Changeling's and try to show them a better way to live?" Blazing asks sounding intrigued.

"Well every time I tried they hissed at me and called me a Traitor and then tried to kill me. So I gave up, they wouldn't listen to reason and there was nothing I could do." Thorax answered.

"Well at least you tried." Blazing patted Thorax on the shoulder.

You was about to call Applebloom over bu loud Explosion happens making your head Snap in that direction. you saw Nightfall standing in the middle of the destruction, he soon teleported away happy with his work. Your eyes go wide as you remember his part of the plan.

Everypony else was standing next you looking in the same direction. "Come on that's our cue to go! The Changeling army along with Discord will be here soon, come on, let's go!"

Applebloom lead the group while you stayed behind making sure no pony was left behind. It wasn't long until you heard the hoof steps of the Changeling army behind you "STOP! CRIMINALS!"

You look behind your self as you continue running seeing at least twenty Changeling's on your tail. you stop and running and use your magic to bring a tree down landing on the changelings killing them. You smile and turn around to catch up with the others, it wasn't long since you met them at the destination. You trot past the others to stand next to Applebloom, you look down the massive hole in the floor seeing stairs leading to cave.

"Im guessing that's where this, er tree is." Applebloom didn't quite understand the plan but she put her faith in Twilight knowing that she wouldn't let her down.

"It Looks like it, we'd better be quick about it we have Changeling's not far from us." Applebloom looks at you and nods in agreement before leading the team down the steps with you following behind.

But when it came to cave you entered first making sure it was safe with Applebloom and the team following behind this time. You soon found the tree, it wasn't hard to miss, a massive white tree stood in front of you with white balls hanging off every branch. The Elements of Harmony were imbedded in the tree dotted around. Your horn lit up as you pulled out The Elements out of the tree into Applebloom Saddle bags. The Elements were easily pulled out of their slots with no resistance like they knew that they were needed.

"Now lets go back" You tell Applebloom seeing that all the elements were in the bag.

"Not so fast now." You look towards the entrance seeing Discord smiling his trademark toothy grin surrounded by Changelings.

"Discord!" You take defensive stance in front of your team, as Agile pulled her sword from her sheath.

"So the Great Anon is it? the Human turned male Alicorn, a first for Equestria. A true wonder for this world." You stare at Discord he hasn't done and any of his chaos Magic yet. he's just stood there and watch, you notice he wore a sword just like Agile's.

"Agile get everypony out of here!" You order Agile as test out your theory.

"But.-"

"That's an order, get going now!" You shout.

"Yes, yes sir" Agile puts her sword away and gathers everypony around and a blink of an eye they were gone.

You look Discord oddly he hasn't even moved. "You don't have your chaos magic do you?" You ask feeling smug.

"Nope I just have normal unicorn magic, I lost my Chaos magic when The Master brought me back from the dead." Discord frowned and stared at the floor, he was a former shadow of himself; you could tell he didn't want to do this.

"Well I guess we must draw sword since we are matched in magic powers." Using your magic you pull out your sword from your sheath and point it towards Discord as does the same back at you.

You both simultaneously run at each other coming towards the middle your swords hit each other at great ferocity. The Changelings crowed around as you and Discord battle it out. Left to right, right to left, back and forth, forth and back your swords hit each other as dance around each other locked in battle. You jump over discord with the help of your wings trying to get one over him but his tail flick you into the wall.

"Just Shake it off Anon, its only your bones, organs and Mussels." you tell your self as the pain in your entire body hurts as you get up. You look over at discord he's Fiddling with sword on the ground waiting for you, he could care less about the fight. You limp of to discord as you could feel one of your hooves were sprained, you throw your sword to wards discord dropping in front of him. "I surrender."

"Why? You do know if you were to teleport away now I wont stop you." Discord looks at you with confusion.

"Well why don't you want to fight? Your the bad guy?" You ask confused, with what knowledge you had on Discord you knew him to be a bad guy.

"Lets just say me and Celestia, we we're more then friends and I was a better back then, better then what I am meant to be now, so go just make it look good." Discord winks at you. "I told you silly pony, nothing can withstand the power of the Discord."

You suddenly catch on to what discord was and you grabbed hold of your sword pretended to knock Discord down and teleport away. Discord Smiles a slight bit at you remind Discord of Twilight a slight bit, Discord fakes a frown as the changeling make their way over to aid him.

"My Lord are you okay?" The changeling trooper ask worried.

"Get off me!" Discord growled " I must report this to Master Nightmare immediately, he will not be happy!" Discord gets up and walks out of the cave with the Changelings.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Outside Canterlot High

Twilight and Spike have just fallen out of the portal and they are having to hold them selves back from being sick. Twilight brought her hands to her mouth as she could feel her self about throw up, Spike was the same bring his paw to his mouth. They stayed the on the snow cover path waiting for the feeling to go.

"I swear it never use to be that bad." Twilight opened her eyes hoping she could be able to see and sighed in defeat when she found out she still couldn't See. "Its so cold, Where are you Spike?" Twilight wrapped her arms around her self for warmth as a guest of wind blew snow at her direction.

"Im here Twilight! We better get going or were gonna freeze to death out here" Spike stood on his three paws and tried to walk but fell over instead. "Twilight can you put me in your Bag, I cant walk properly."

"Sure." Twilight bent down with her hands held out for Spike to jump into. "We gonna need to talk to Fluttershy as well I have a plan." Once Twilight felt Spike she put him in the bag behind her. "Its probably best if you were in my bag any why I cant see where im going, you gonna have to give me directions." And Spike did just that all the way to Sugar Cube Corner.

Twilight opens the doors to the café feeling the warmth from inside Twilight breathed into her hands and rubbing them together trying to warm her self up from the cold outside.

"Twilight!" Pinkie shouted in delight see her friend at the entrance, She hopped over the counter pushing past customer to get to twilight Pulling her into a deep hug.

"Hi... Pinkie, Its... g-good to, to see you." Twilight struggled to breath as Pinkie hugged her tightly.

"Oopsie Sorry." Pinkie realized she was hugging Twilight too tightly and put her down.

"That's okay, no harm done." Twilight Smiled, it was nice change of pace from what was going on at home in Equestria.

Pinkie looks straight at Twilight seeing her eyes completely white it horrified the pink girl "Twilight! what Happened to your eyes?"

"Ill tell you in a minute can I get a hot coco and can you bring the others here we need your girls help!" Twilight look at Pinkie seriously which Pinkie understood with a nod.

"Sure Thing Twilight ill be right back" Pinkie Rushed into the Kitchen while Spike Directed Twilight to an empty Table to sit and wait at. Twilight took off her back and to the table in front of her so Spike could get out. "Tell me if im wrong but Pinkie still seems to be young?"

"Yeah she is, its like we haven't been away long" Spike frowns confused.

"Well I still don't know how the Portal works so it may not be long from when we left." Twilight explains.

"Im just glad Anon isn't here. I don't think he would of be able to see Pinkie like that." Spike frowns at the thought of Pinkie and Anon.

Twilight nods in agreement. "Its best he's in back in Equestria."

A thought pops in to Spikes head to which he must know the answer to. "Twilight?"

"Yeah, Spike?"

"Why do you need to Talk to Fluttershy?" Spike asked turn his head to the side.

"Don't you worry it'll beneficial." Twilight Smiled.

Soon Pinkie Came over with a Hot Chocolate with marshmallows for Twilight and Bowl of warm Milk for Spike she placed both of them on the table next to Spike. "Here you go and I've phoned the others for ya. they'll be here in a minute." Pinkie say cautiously.

"Thanks Pinkie" Twilight carefully put out her arms searching the table for her Hot Chocolate. It wasn't until Spike push the drink forward with his nose, that she finally found it.

Pinkie watched as Spike went back to drinking his milk that she had laid out for him. Pinkie notice the missing leg and giant Scratch over Spike's eye. "What's happened to you both."

Spike looks a Pinkie Pie. "A lot has happened since we saw you last and don't worry we're gonna tell you it all when the others get here."

"I do hope so I don't like Waiting." Pinkie frowned disappointed, crossing her arms.

Twilight took the cup away from her putting it on the table "That reminds me, how long has it been since we left?"

Pinkie looked up in the corner of her eye with her finger on the bottom of her lip, thinking. "Hmm, about a year, give or take. Why? How long has been for you?"

"About Twenty years I think im not so sure." Spike told Pinkie bluntly still drinking his milk.

"WHAT?!" Pinkie shouted in shock.

"Calm down we'll tell you everything when the others get here." Pinkie nodded in agreement.

Soon all of their friends arrived one by one, each of them wore the same expression on their faces and asked the same questions when they saw Twilight. But Still Twilight wouldn't say anything until Everyone had arrived she didn't want to keep saying the same thing over and over again.

"Who we waiting for?" Twilight ask after Finishing her hot Chocolate.

"Rainbow and the other Twilight, they should be here soon." Just as Sunset had said that Rainbow, Twilight, Spike and Scootaloo came through the doors. "they here." Sunset waved them over.

"So What's the-" Rainbow stopped talking out of shock as she saw Twilight and Spike. "-Emergency?"

"Twilight what happened to you?" Scootaloo asks making Spike turn around at the sound of her voice.

Spike hobbled over to Scootaloo as Quick as he could Making her look at Spike. "Hi Scoot."

"Spike What happened to you leg and your eye?" Scootaloo ask worried.

"Twilight will tell you, could I have a cuddle?" Spike put on his best puppy dog eyes, Spike hadn't lost his touch.

"Sure." Scootaloo picked Spike up and held him close to her chest, to which Spike enjoyed and nuzzled up to her slowly falling off to sleep.

"Scootaloo why don't you take both Spikes over there while Twilight tells us what's happened." Applejack Points over to a sofa in the corner.

"Fine. Come on Spike." Scootaloo calls the other Spike over as she walks over to the sofa.

"Coming!" Spike runs after the Scootaloo and the other Spike.

"We are all here Twi, now what's happened in Equestria?" Sunset asks.

Twilight began her story from the very beginning back when Celestia was killed to when Rarity started killing ponies to now. Twilight went through the main story of the Battles, deaths and what was happing right now. Twilight didn't want to over load them on information. She could only imagine their shocked and horrified face's.

"Well there you go that's What's My life has been like." Silence filled their corner of the café as the others didn't know what to say it was a lot to take in at once. "Please someone Say something?" Twilight couldn't stand the silence since she couldn't see.

Soon Twilight felt arms wrap round her as her friends group hug her. It wasn't a hug of joy more a hug of sorrow, Twilight began to hear sob before hearing apologies from each of her friends. The hug lasted a good few minutes before each friend pulled away wiping their eyes with their shirts.

Sunset was the first to speak "Im so sorry I wasn't there to help you Twilight. I should of be there and I wasn't I could of helped and I wasn't there, im so sorry Twilight im sorry."

"Its not your fault Sunset, there wasn't anything you could of done. Don't blame your self." Twilight told Sunset trying to sound strong yet caring.

"I cant believe I could do something like that." Rarity was horrified by the actions of her double.

"It wasn't you Rare's we know ya wouldn't do that." Applejack looked Rarity smiling reassuring her. Making the others agree in unison.

"Thank you, it was just a bit of shock to hear, you know." Rarity Smiled glad she had such great friends.

"Um Princess is there anything we can do to help?" Twilight's human double asks.

"Im glad you asked that me because I came here with a plan and I need you all. But before I tell you it's going to be dangerous, deadly dangerous." Twilight warned.

"We want to help, what is it?" Rainbow asks with her usual gusto.

"I need you to come back with me to Equestria to use the Elements of Harmony on The Master stopping him for good." Twilight answers.

Silence came once more as each of them looked at each other and nodded in agreement. "We're in Twilight!" Sunset answered.

"Wait just like that? This is gonna be dangerous!" Twilight argued out of shock that her friends are so willing to go at the drop of a hat.

"Like that has ever stopped us before darling. You have risked your self saving this world so many times before, its about time we helped saved yours." Rarity argued back.

"Thank you so much I don't know what to say." Twilight wiped away the tears that had started to form around her eyes.

"I do lets go!" Rainbow said with a smile.

"No, not yet I need to talk to ask Fluttershy something first?"

"Yes Twilight?" Fluttershy smiled warmly not that Twilight could see it anyway.

"Your Dad fits fake legs onto animals doesn't he?" Twilight asks not sure.

"Yeah... he does." Fluttershy answered not wanting to correct her friend who had already gone through so much.

"Do you think he could do Spike?"

"Yeah he could do him now. My Dad hasn't had any work lately, but it will take all day and you wouldn't be able to collect him until tomorrow." Fluttershy frowned.

"That's fine. we can take a day away from the mess in Equestria." Twilight smiled she was quite happy to get away for a day. "We'd better get Spike over and let him know the good news."

"Sure ill go get him." Fluttershy stood up and left to get Scootaloo and both Spikes.

"I know what your doing Twilight." Sunset Told Twilight with a confident tone.

"You do?"

"Your hoping if Spike gets a metal leg here then when we go through the portal he'll have a metal claw as a Dragon, but its highly unlikely it would work." Sunset Warned Twilight.

"Well I've gotta try, he's gone through so much and everything he does is for everyone else he is so selfless, he doesn't even ask for anything in return. If there's anything I can do to help him then im gonna do it with no hesitation ." Twilight spoke with so much determination in her voice.

Fluttershy was back with Scootaloo and the Spike's "So what happing?" Spike asks while yawning he had just woken up from his nap.

"Well everyone has agreed to help you fight The Master."

"Really! thank you im going too need all the help I can get."

"No problem your Highness." Sunset smiled at Spike.

Twilight frowned she didn't know how he would take the next news "But we wont be going back to Equestria to day."

"Why not, we cant stay, they need us now. Equestria needs us now." Spike protested.

"I know they do but hear me out first." Spike remained Quite letting Twilight talk. "Well I have plan to get you new arm, Fluttershy's Dad puts metal legs on pets who have lost their own legs. And I was think he could fix you up a new leg and when you came out of the portal on the other side you would have a brand new metal claw! What do you think?" Twilight swallowed a lump in her throat as nerves filled her body.

"Well its crazy! but its so crazy that it might just work!" Twilight smiled as she reached her arms out for Spike to placed in them.

"We'd better get going then." Twilight gave Spike a quick hug before putting him in her bag and stood up with the help of her friends.

"Wait! Before we go." Pinkie rushed off up stairs quickly. It wasn't long before Pinkie came back down wearing big pink fluffy coat as well as bringing one down for Twilight to wear. Pinkie Took Spike and the bag off of Twilights back so she could put the coat around Twilight. "There all toasty and warm."

"Thanks Pinkie." Twilight hugged the pink girl lightly.

"No Problem Twilight." Pinkie put the bag back on twilights back.

"Spike why don't you stay in the bag and Keep warm, the girls will help." Twilight suggests.

"Yeah alright I could do with nap right now." Since the Master had taken over Spike hadn't been sleeping that well, now was good time for some well need rest.

Once Pinkie Zipped up the bag they left Scootaloo behind in Sugar Cube Corner and made their way through the snow, it was worse then before. The winds had picked up and the Snow was coming down harder, but they still pushed on through. they would not let any thing get in the way of their goals especially the weather. After what had felt like hour of walking in the Snow, the girls make it to the vets where Fluttershy's Dad worked. After shake all the snow of them Fluttershy walked up to the receptionist and asked for Dad.

"Sure Fluttershy, I'll just go get him." The woman left to go get Fluttershy's Dad.

While they waited for Fluttershy's Dad they sat down in the waiting room give Twilight time to get Spike out. "Come on Spike time to wake up." Twilight could hear his light snores.

"I don't snore like that. Do I?" Spike's double asks.

Human Twilight giggled while adjusting her glasses. "Maybe a little."

"Spike Scootaloo's need's you!" Twilight felt bad about tricking Spike like this but it was the only why she knew to awake him up.

Soon Spike's eyes went and he got up immediately looking around him. "Scootaloo!" Spike frowned when found that he was still in the Human world.

"Im sorry but you wasn't waking up and I need to talk to you." Twilight apologise.

"What. What do you want?" Spike asks with a clear tone of anger.

"Sorry but when Fluttershy's dad comes you need to act like a normal dog, okay? Twilight felt awful about using Scootaloo like that.

It wasn't long until Fluttershy's Dad arrived "Well this is unexpected pleasure, what brings you here?"

Fluttershy smiled warmly as her Dad kissed her on the cheek. "Well my friend Twilight's dog got into a fight with some nasty dogs and he lost a leg." Twilight Stood next to Fluttershy carrying Spike.

"I see, well lets have a look at him." Mr shy Spike up looking at his missing leg. "Yes he does look quite bad."

"Will you be able to help him sir?" Twilight asks worried. "Ill pay as much as I need to."

"Now, Now don't you fret. I can help him just come back tomorrow morning to collect him and don't worry about pay call it an early Christmas present." Mr Shy Smiled.

"Thank you so much sir." Twilight felt relived that he was able to help Spike.

"Thank you Daddy." Fluttershy hugged her father tightly.

"Its no problem, now get going so I can get to Work." Mr Shy Smiled.

Twilight said her good byes to Spike and left with her friends knowing he was in good hands. Twilight was in deep thought she had just hopped that this would all be worth all this work. She also hopped that her family back home is safe, Twilight kind felt bad about not coming back straight away but if there was a small possibility get Spikes arm back then it was worth it.

"So how about a Sleep over at Mine?" Sunset asked to which everyone agreed to. "Alright then lets go."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Twilight sat on Sunset's bed wearing one of Sunset spear pyjamas. Sunset sat next to twilight as the others called their parents asking if they could sleep round Sunsets.

"I've Gotta ask, did Celestia Suffer?" Sunset asks frowning.

Twilight frowned as well she didn't know weather to lie or tell the truth, she didn't want to hurt her friend. in the end Twilight thought that Sunset deserved to know the truth, She was Celestia's first student it seemed only right. "Im sorry but, King Sombra cut her throat open."

A tear fell from Sunset as she heard about her teacher being brutally murdered. "Why didn't she fight back?" Sunset had to fight back from bursting into tears.

"She, she was really sick and her powers were weak, She couldn't fight back." Twilight bowed head feeling awful.

"So there was no there for her?" Sunset began to sound angry.

"Actually when she died, Discord went to avenge her death but also died in the process. I think they were a couple but they kept it secret though." Twilight Smiled at the thought of Celestia being with Discord.

It gave Sunset some comfort knowing someone had Celestia's back; that she wasn't totally alone. But before Sunset could ask Twilight any more questions the rest of her friends came in making Sunset Wiper her eye's dry.

"Our parents have said its cool." Rainbow told Sunset as the others nodded in agreement.

"Great what should we do?" Sunset asks.

"How about bottle flips!" Pinkie suggested. "Then we can do Spin the bottle!"

Everyone seemed to like that idea. "I'll just go get a bottle." Applejack offered, but before she left Applejack had an idea "Sunset. Do you have any booze?"

"Yeah lots, why do ask?" Sunset looked at Applejack oddly.

"Well I don't know about you but I think the Princess could do with a drink." Applejack looked over at Twilight, she stayed silent but instead she nodded, Twilight couldn't agree more if she tried.

"I most certainly agree Applejack, the Princess needs to cut loose darling." Rarity added on.

"its all in the fridge in the basement, Ill come with you and help bring them up." Sunset got up and walked with Applejack to the basement.

"Alright! this sleep over just became twenty percent cooler." Rainbow exclaimed with her fist in the air.

"Um even I got admit this sounds like a lot of fun. if that's ok, that is." Fluttershy smiled warmly.

It felt weird to Twilight hearing the voices of all her dead friends. Twilight had mourned each of her friend, she had been there at every single one of their funerals and yet she was going to be sitting down and playing game of bottle flips. Her mind was telling her it was wrong to play a game with friends doubles, while her heart was telling her to let go and enjoy to night. It wasn't long until she listened to heart, it had been a long time since she had fun and she missed her friend there was no real harm in it. All Twilight want was to have a good time with her friends and she had feeling it was going to be a good night.