Specter of Equis

Chapters

Prologue: The Amulet
Chapter 1: The Summer Sun Celebration Part 1
Chapter 2: The Summer Sun Celebration Part 2
Chapter 3: The Summer Sun Celebration Part 3

Prologue: The Amulet

Night in Equestria. It was a calm, brisk winter night. The Pegasi had deemed it appropriate to allow snowfall that night. Most of the ponies of Ponyville were asleep. Others, like Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and a little dragon named Spike, were wide awake and worried. Their friend had set off into the Everfree Forest that night, and it had been an hour since his departure. He told them he’d be just that long. Yet, he had not yet returned.

Twilight sat in silence, tracing her hoof in the snow. Spike was next to her, sitting with a worried expression on his face. Rainbow hovered above both of them, flying circles in the air. She was most anxious of all. She periodically let out short grunts and growls, showing her unease with the situation.

“Where do you think he is?” Rainbow asked, landing beside her friends.

Twilight sighed. “I don’t know, Rainbow. He said one hour. In and out in one hour. I don’t know why we didn’t go with him. Why didn’t we go with him?!” Twilight seemed a mess at this point.

“Why don’t we just go find him?” Spike asked.

Rainbow started hovering above her friends again. “I’m with Spike. We should go in there, Twilight.”

The Alicorn shook her head in disagreement. “No. We promised him we’d stay here.”

“Twilight, we’ve been through the Everfree Forest loads of times, and we've had tons of visits to the castle. Why should this be any different?” Rainbow questioned.

“Because, Hanzo told us to wait here. He said that something didn’t feel right; that he was going to see to it himself. We have to respect his wishes.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes angrily. “Buck that! I’m going in!” She tried to fly through the trees, but was pulled back by Twilight’s powerful magic.

“No, Rainbow Dash! We’re not going in there! We wait for Hanzo!” Twilight said, pulling Dash to the ground next to her.

Rainbow let out an agitated groan. “Come on, Twilight! We have to find him!”

“Uh, girls…” Spike muttered, pointing towards the forest.

Exiting the trees was Hanzo Hasashi, otherwise known as Scorpion. He walked towards his friends with a distinct limp, and his outfit had scratch marks all over it. The skin of his exposed arms were scraped up as well, and his mask was missing multiple pieces. He let out a painful growl as he removed his hood and threw off his mask. He fell down to one knee. He grabbed a handful of snow and pressed it on some of his wounds. More growls escaped from him.

“Hanzo!” his three friends shouted in unison. They ran to his side, trying to help him up.

“What happened in there?” Twilight asked frantically.

“What’s that in your hand?” Rainbow asked.

Hanzo looked to his right hand, which was clutching a golden amulet, with a green gem in the center. He wearily stood up and held the amulet for his friends to see. “This amulet… it does not belong here. It landed near the Castle of the Two Sisters, and I believe the magic residing in the amulet disturbed the spirits resting there. They didn’t seem too pleased with me intruding on their territory.”

“What spirits?” Twilight asked. “We’ve been to the castle before, and we’ve never encountered any spirits.”

“We’ve never activated or possessed any tainted power while you were there. This amulet… As I said, it does not belong here in Equis.”

“What is it?” Spike asked.

Hanzo looked weak as he spoke. “If I am correct, it is the amulet housing one of the greatest evils in the universe.” The girls and Spike looked to each other in unified confusion.

“What evil, Hanzo?” Twilight inquired.

“The fallen Elder God, Shinnok.”

The girls and Spike remained confused.

“Who?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Scorpion sighed. “You know of the Elder Gods, and that they rule over and maintain order in the Realms. But there was one that did not agree with the others. His name is Shinnok. He is the Fallen Elder God, for he was cast out from the Heavens long ago. His evil ambitions know no bounds. If his amulet is here in Equis, it does not bode well for the realm.”

“So, can’t we just get rid of it? Can we destroy it?” Spike asked.

“Shinnok was an Elder God. He cannot be killed. Nor can his amulet be destroyed. The only thing to do is safeguard it. As Protector of Equis, it will be my soul duty.”

“But wait, if the amulet doesn’t belong here, where does it belong?” Twilight asked.

“Earthrealm,” Hanzo answered. “Perhaps I should have words with Raiden as to why it is here. Something is amiss. I must find out what.”

“Well, whatever comes next, Hanzo, you won’t be facing it alone,” Spike reassured him.

“Yeah, we’ve got your back!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“No matter what,” Twilight added.

Hanzo smiled warmly. “Thank you, my friends. Let us return home. There is much to do.”

“Yeah, like sleeping,” Spike joked. The group exchanged laughter.

“And getting you patched up,” Twilight noted.

“That would be appreciated,” Hanzo agreed.

As they made their way back to Ponyville, Hanzo clutched the amulet in his hand. He feared for the future. And he was right to. What came next would change Equis forever.

Chapter 1: The Summer Sun Celebration Part 1

Specter of Equis

Written by BioBoy619

One Month Later

One year. One whole year had passed since Scorpion had been freed from the control of his vicious master, Quan Chi. For more than a year, Hanzo had been living amongst the citizens of Equestria, in the realm of Equis. In time, he was revitalized by the Thunder God, Raiden. Scorpion was once again human. Once more, he was Hanzo Hasashi.

Having been revitalized, Hanzo remained in Equis, universally accepted across the realm. He sought to act as the Protector of Equis, given his immense power and knowledge of the realms. With a high recommendation from the Princesses of Equestria, the many rulers across Equis agreed; Hanzo would be their Protector. His duty was to keep the realm safe from all evil.

Naturally, the various nations of the realm had their own armies, not to mention the powerful rulers themselves. Hanzo worked on a higher scale. He would protect the realm as a whole, mostly from foreign threats, such as creatures of the Netherrealm, or bounty hunters from Outworld. And Hanzo rarely acted alone. His friends, the Elements of Harmony, were always ready to stand and fight with him.

Since Hanzo had been living in Equestria, much had changed. The most important change was Twilight’s new status as a Princess. After a strange mishap regarding an ancient, unfinished spell, Twilight appropriately finished the spell, and was turned into an Alicorn. Thusly, she was pronounced as the fourth Princess of Equestria. Shortly after that, she adventured to a parallel dimension to retrieve her stolen crown. Twilight was always busy now.

As for the rest of the group, life went on as usual. Rarity was busy with her boutique, Applejack was managing Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash had Wonderbolt training and weather duties, Fluttershy tended to her woodland friends, and Pinkie Pie was Pinkie Pie. And of course, Spike always kept himself busy somehow.

Hanzo’s life became tumultuous. Though he cared deeply for his friends, his responsibilities as Protector took up a large amount of his time. When his residence in Equestria first began, he was always with them. Now, he hardly saw them. Equis was in greater danger than he could have imagined. Every other day, invaders or unannounced travelers from other realms somehow made their way to Equis. When Hanzo happened upon them, he found them bearing ill intent, and thusly, he would properly deal with them.

All threats are dealt with through Mortal Kombat, as is the law of the realms.

Given his position, Hanzo saw more and more Kombat each passing day. And every time, he would win, either sending his foes back from where they came, or killing them. It wasn’t a hard decision to make; being the Protector allows for little hesitation or doubt, both of which Hanzo had little. He was a swift and valiant Protector, if there ever was one. His justice was firm and relentless. After the damage he had caused, he vowed never to allow harm to befall Equis again.

Yet, time was still made to see his friends. Hanzo promised himself to see them at least twice every week. Unless a cataclysmic threat arose (which it never did), Hanzo would always have time for his friends. And the more time he spent with them, the more compassionate and kind he became. Though his heart had been lifted of tormented evil, Hanzo still had a coldness about him. It’s what made his job so simple. But his friends helped alleviate that stress. And he welcomed it gladly.

Recent events, however, had caused Hanzo to pay closer attention to Ponyville and his friends. He had discovered a dark artifact in the Everfree Forest, which he left in Twilight’s care. Speaking with Raiden on the matter, he was told to keep it safe in Equis until more information could be uncovered surrounding the issue. And so, Hanzo visited Ponyville with a higher frequency, checking in on Twilight and the artifact every once in a while.

He made a special visit two days before the Summer Sun Celebration. His timing couldn’t have been better. Or, perhaps it was poor timing.

Hanzo arrived in Ponyville from a fiery teleportation. He found the town bustling with ponies getting ready for the coming ceremony. There were decorations strewn all over the place. One might say it was overkill. As Hanzo made his way through Ponyville, he gave short waves and greetings to the ponies he knew. It wasn’t long before he was tackled from behind by a rainbow-maned Pegasus.

“Gotcha!” Rainbow cheered from atop Hanzo.

The man was quick to thrust her off and stand in a mock fighting stance. “Only a coward strikes from behind!” Hanzo jeered, a grin plastered on his face.

Dash giggled. “Is that why cowards win so often?” she questioned as she hovered above him. She was taken by surprise when he teleported behind her and knocked her to the ground.

“I suppose it is,” Hanzo retorted.

Rainbow continued to laugh as she stood back up. “It’s great to see you again, pal!

“It is good to see you as well, Rainbow Dash.”

“Here for the Summer Sun Celebration?”

“Of course. The realm has been quiet lately, so I thought I would have some time to spare. That, and I thought I was past due to see my friends.”

“Yeah, other than popping in on Twilight to check on the amulet, you haven’t been around much. I hate that. We never get to spar anymore. And you live right on the outskirts of town! How is it we never see you?!” Rainbow questioned.

“Protecting the realm is a heavy burden, and I do not bare it lightly. I requested the role personally. To not act on it appropriately would make me a fool. Besides, it certainly can’t be so bad that you don’t see me,” Hanzo said.

“But it is!” Rainbow complained. Hanzo laughed. The two continued to walk through Ponyville, eventually finding the rest of the gang. All except for Twilight and Spike. The group informed Hanzo that the two were away in Canterlot, helping the Princesses prepare for the Celebration. So, they decided instead to head to Sugarcube Corner for a snack. After spending most of the day wandering around Ponyville, the group went to Hanzo’s home for a late dinner. In the living room, Hanzo began to regale the group with a tale of his latest adventure.

“How is it this terrible beast came to be in Equestria?” Rarity asked.

“In truth, I’m not sure. I figure it’s the same as it always is. Kotal Khan could have banished it to a random realm, or perhaps the creature discovered a portal on its own. It gives me pause to wonder how new threats continue to arise at such an alarming rate in Equis. I worry what may have happened before I started acting as Protector,” Hanzo spoke.

“I’m sure nothin too bad happened. I mean, we’re still here, aren’t we?” Applejack inquired.

“True. Though, when my duties began, I did find in my travels a few stray demons from the Netherrealm. And, of course, since then, other realms have discovered this one. I’m thankful that none have decided to try and lay a claim to it yet.”

“Yet?” Fluttershy asked shyly. She looked a little frightened.

Hanzo looked to her with a comforting smile. “I didn’t mean to worry you, Fluttershy. As long as I am Protector, you have nothing to fear,” he said. She smiled at him.

“Yeah! Not to mention, we’ve got the Elements of Harmony to help us kick some major flank!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“And cake!” Pinkie added.

Applejack looked at her quizzically. “Cake?” she questioned with a smirk.

“Yeah! Why not?” The group joined together in laughter.

“Anyway, you were telling us how you slayed the foul beast?” Rarity asked Hanzo.

Hanzo nodded. “Of course. So, I throw my spear, latching it to the beast’s throat. I then vaulted over him, wrapping it around. I continued this until my spear was completely wrapped around its neck. With a pull, I brought it to the ground, and with a quick thrust of my blade to its heart, the beast was defeated.”

“Why do you get all the fun?” Rainbow whined.

“Because, Rainbow Dash, I’m Protector of the Realm, and you’re not,” he joked. She stuck her tongue out at him, to which he laughed. “Following that was the matter of disposing the body. Nothing my Hellfire couldn’t deal with. And with that, the beast was sent back from where it came.” The ponies cheered, and Hanzo gave a bow of his head.

“Good thing you got to keep those fire powers of yours, huh Hanzo?” Fluttershy mentioned.

“Indeed. It certainly makes my job easier. It was kind of Raiden to preserve them for me.”

“How’d he do that, again?” Rainbow asked.

“He learned a set of dark magics that would allow him to remove my demonic connection to the Netherrealm while maintaining my added abilities. He knew I wanted to act as Protector of Equis, and he thought my Hellfire power would be useful in that regard.”

“Some foresight on Raiden’s behalf, I say,” Rarity said. Hanzo nodded in agreement. AJ let out an audible yawn at the same time. “Applejack. Manners, please,” Rarity whined.

“Sorry, y’all. Guess I’m just tired. I think I’m gonna head on home,” she said.

“Yeah, I’m with AJ. I’m out,” Rainbow added.

“Perhaps we should all be heading to bed,” Hanzo said. Rarity and Fluttershy nodded, while Pinkie moped. “Now, Pinkie Pie…”

“Oh, come on! How can you girls be tired when the Summer Sun Celebration is just one day away now! We’ve gotta get excited!” the pink-maned pony cheered.

“We can get excited in bed. How bout that?” Dash joked.

Pinkie shrugged. “Eh, sure, sounds good. Night, Hanzo!” Pinkie hopped out of Hanzo’s home with the rest of the girls.

Hanzo stood at the doorway, waving them goodbye. “Until tomorrow, my friends.” He shut the door behind them, letting out a pleasant sigh. As his friends departed for home, Hanzo made his way to his bedroom. He looked around the room for a moment. He noted his Earthrealm relics, his various cabinets and dresser, his mannequin which held his gear, his Shirai Ryu banner, and his bed. He sometimes enjoyed reminiscing of his past. But now, he craved sleep.

Another sigh escaped him as he started removing his clothes. His belt, vambraces, arm straps, yellow tunic, and black shirt and under armor all fell to the floor. Finally, he removed his yellow headband, then stood and looked at himself in the mirror for a moment. His first thought was about how he needed to shave. After that he thought about how he’d shave after he showered. And then he thought about how he was going to sleep so soundly and wake up the next morning, feeling refreshed and ready to be with his friends and enjoy the day.

Hanzo stepped into the bathroom and removed his sandals, leg straps, and pants. A moment later, he was under the warm water of his shower. When that was finished, he looked in the mirror again. He really did need a shave. He grabbed his knife and began cutting away at his facial hair. When he was finished, his beard and goatee were smooth and gentle, giving him a much nicer look. He dried off his hair and tied it back into a ponytail.

Before he went to sleep, he went to his bedroom window. He wanted some fresh air as he slept. It helped him focus, allowing him to dream peacefully of his fallen family and clan. Often, those were his most wonderful dreams; he would see them, and it wouldn’t hurt when he woke up in the morning without them there. It was okay for him to just see them briefly in his dreams. As he opened the window, he looked up into the night sky. Luna’s moon was glimmering brightly that night. And so was the sun.

Hanzo jolted in surprise. The sun and moon shared the sky. To his left was day, and to his right was night. This didn’t make sense. Something was wrong. He could feel it. He then heard a scream from Ponyville.

Hanzo didn’t hesitate. He hurriedly moved to the mannequin holding his armor and weapons. He started gearing up, pulling on his combat pants and strapping up his boots. He put on his under armor and lightly armored yellow tunic, tightening the leather straps to secure it. He then put on his belt, followed by his leather gauntlets and arm straps. He sheathed his swords on his back and secured his chains and spears around his arms.

Finally, he pulled up his leather hood. Looking himself in the mirror again, his eyes quickly flashed with fire. He felt his hands heating up with Hellfire. He was ready to act. He grabbed his detailed yellow mask from his nightstand and put it on. He let out a deep breath as he looked in the mirror for one last moment.

His voice echoed demonically as he spoke.

“Time to go to work.”

Author's Note

Welcome, my friends, to Specter of Equis!

For clarification, I'll explain the timeline for you guys:

All events from MK9 are canon in this story. The first chapter of MKX (Johnny Cage's chapter) is also canon. When this story starts, Season 3 of MLP has already happened, hence Twilight is now a Princess. The Prologue happens just before the start of Season 4. The Prologue is also roughly the one year marker for how long Scorpion's been in Equis. If you think anything else needs explaining, please leave a comment.

Chapter 2: The Summer Sun Celebration Part 2

Scorpion teleported into Ponyville, arriving in a fiery blaze. Upon his arrival, he saw everypony in a frenzy. The sky above was still split between day and night. Not to mention, it was filled with dark, spiked clouds. On the ground, all hell was breaking loose. Black roots, vines, and branches were spreading through the town. They were covering nearly every structure in sight. Some ponies were trying to fend off the weeds, while others ran for cover.

“By the Elder Gods…” Hanzo quickly set out to find his friends. As he moved through the town, the weeds continued to spontaneously sprout. Hanzo drew his blades and slashed at some of the vines, only to find they continued to grow. Sheathing his swords, he threw his Hellfire at some of the roots, but again, it seemed his efforts were in vain.

“I for one would appreciate an explanation!” a voice sounded out from the town square. Hanzo saw Rarity standing on the deck of the hall.

Rainbow Dash flew down above her shortly after. “All I know is the sky’s split in two, and these clouds moving sure aren’t from around here.”

“Neither are all these crazy plants,” Applejack added. She was on the ground just a few feet away from her friends. “They’re comin from the Everfree Forest. And try as we might, us Earth Ponies can’t do anythin to get rid of em.” A moment later, another root spread across the ground, which Pinkie Pie slid across to join her friends. She and Applejack approached the hall. “Don’t suppose you might know any magic that might stop em from spreadin?” AJ asked Rarity.

“Alas, this whole raging forest situation seems to have left my horn on the fritz,” she answered.

Fluttershy flew in to join her friends. “We have figure out something. I don’t know how much more of this Ponyville can take.” A weed sprouted up and latched on to her. She cried out, trying to get the plant off. Rainbow Dash flew in and kicked the branch off of her. “I don’t know how much more I can take!”

“The forest is expandin, y’all,” Applejack said. Beside her, Pinkie Pie was angrily hopping up and down on another branch, trying to suppress it. “And judgin by how fast it’s movin,” AJ continued, “it doesn’t seem content just takin over Ponyville. I reckon before long, it’ll cover half of Equestria!”

Scorpion stepped forward. “Not if I have anything to do about it.”

“Hanzo!” his friends all shouted in unison.

“I’m glad to see you are all unharmed,” he said, walking over to them.

“Likewise,” Applejack said. “We’re glad to see you here, Hanzo. Hopefully you can help us deal with all this mess.”

“I plan to. We should move inside somewhere, for now. I need time to figure out what exactly is going on, and how we can combat it,” Hanzo suggested.

“Maybe there’s something in one of the books in Twilight’s library that can help,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s a place to start. Let’s move.” Scorpion led the way, fending off weeds and branches with his swords and Hellfire. Rainbow Dash kept away any clouds that veered off towards the group. A few yards away from the library, the group was completely cut off, though.

“What do we do?” Pinkie asked.

“Get behind me. Leave this to me,” Hanzo said. The ponies grouped up behind him. He began gathering energy and building up his Hellfire. With a loud cry, Scorpion jumped in the air and unleashed an extraordinary blaze that incinerated all the vines in sight. He landed with a thud, breathing heavily. He seemed weary after the attack.

“Hanzo! Are you okay?!” Fluttershy asked. She and Rarity helped him to his feet.

“Yes, I’m fine. But I feel weak for some reason. That attack shouldn’t have left me so hindered,” he said.

“Maybe all this crud with the Everfree Forest is having some effect on you, too,” Rainbow Dash said.

“But how can that be? My Hellfire should be able to withstand whatever tainted magics are looming over us.”

“I wouldn’t be too surprised. It’s got Rarity’s magic in a tizzy,” Applejack noted.

“We’ll have to figure it out later. Let’s get inside, quick!” Rainbow Dash said. The group rushed into the library. Rarity shut the door behind them. Scorpion took a seat on the couch, while the rest of the group began perusing the shelves for something they could use.

Fluttershy sat down next to Hanzo. “You okay?”

“I will be fine. Thank you, Fluttershy. You should help the others,” he said.

“Nonsense. I’ll get you a glass of water,” she said. Hanzo nodded. She was in and out of the kitchen in a quick moment.

Scorpion removed his mask and took a sip. “Thank you.”

Fluttershy smiled at him. “Anything for a friend. You think we’ll get through this?” she asked.

“We always do. Besides, we’ve all been through worse. Odd magical impulses and creeping vines should hardly be a problem,” Hanzo said. There was confidence in his voice that cheered Fluttershy up.

After Hanzo regained his strength, he and Fluttershy joined the rest of the group in searching through the shelves for something to aid them in the endeavor of pushing back the invading forest. But nothing they could find seemed to be of any use. There were numerous texts on the Everfree Forest, but none spoke of invading plants or odd weather patterns or a sky split in two. It was all foreign magic, apparently.

“This is startin to feel like a lost cause,” Applejack stated.

“We can’t just give up,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Just keep looking,” Hanzo said. “One of these books must have something that can help us.”

In a flash, a purple blur teleported into the library. The group quickly realized it was Twilight, who flew across the floor and slammed into a pile of books. Outside, Fluttershy saw Spike smack against a window. Twilight recovered from her crash landing. Everypony was relieved to see her.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Rarity said.

“Oh, I hope you know we wouldn’t normally go through your books without permission,” Fluttershy added.

Spike crawled in through the door a moment later. “Sweet ground!” he said, then kissed the floor. “Sweet, sweet, wonderful ground!”

“Okay, I get it, I need to work on my flying!” Twilight jeered.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the Everfree Forest is a teeny, tiny bit out of control,” Pinkie said. Her tail started twitching, and a second later, a massive branch shot into the library through an open window, which knocked Rarity to the floor.

“Guess it turned out you were missin somethin here in Ponyville after all,” Applejack said, cutting the branch in half by shutting the window.

Rarity hopped up, shaking her head to blow off the dizziness. “Well, perhaps you already know what’s going on with this calamity. Has Princess Celestia sent you to dispel it, post haste?”

“Not exactly,” Twilight started. “You see, Princess Celestia is… well, she and Luna are…”

“They’re missing!” Spike shouted out. The group gasped in unison.

“What does this mean, then?” Hanzo asked.

“I’m not sure. I don’t know who’s taken the Princesses, or what’s causing all of this, but I have a feeling we’ll need the Elements of Harmony to stop it,” Twilight said, fetching the Elements from the display case. She gave each pony their respective Element.

“Aw, yeah! Just like old times!” Rainbow Dash cheered.

“I told you we’d always be connected by the Elements,” AJ said to Twilight.

She smiled, then looked to Scorpion. “As for you, Hanzo, I believe you forgot this when you last visited me.” Twilight held up Scorpion’s ring with her magic.

Hanzo chuckled. “I thought I was forgetting something,” he said, holding out his right ring finger. Twilight slipped the ring on. Hanzo was immediately rejuvenated, thanks to the ring’s charm.

“Feeling any better, Hanzo?” Pinkie asked.

“Considerably,” he answered.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Was something wrong that you weren’t feeling well, Hanzo?”

“I had to dispel a great deal of these vines for us to enter the library. But, my attack left me greatly inhibited. It was odd; my Hellfire has never sapped my energy like it did then. I think it may have something to do with this event, as it is causing many untoward magical anomalies.”

Twilight scratched her chin. “I don’t think that would affect your Hellfire, though. Perhaps it’s the magic the Princesses imbued you with when you became Protector.”

Hanzo’s face lit up. “Of course, the magic meant to enhance my natural and demonic abilities.”

“Right. You can’t use magic like we can in Equestria, but I’m sure the magic the Princesses bestowed upon you is out of whack right now. Rather than enhance you, it’s impeding you. Lucky for us, you’re ring is a specific charm that should be immune to magical hindrances.”

“So long as I am able to help you all combat this threat,” Hanzo said, nodding to his friends. “What kind of Protector would I be if I could not?”

Twilight smiled, then stepped over to a window to look outside. “Half day, half night. Strange weather patterns. Out of control plants. I think I’m starting to get a pretty good idea of who we’re up against.”

“You believe this to be Discord’s work?” Scorpion questioned.

“I do.”

Hanzo scratched his chin. “I’m not so sure. Yes, this is all highly chaotic, but something about this doesn’t fit his MO. He’s never been able to cause magical disturbances. And splitting the sky in half seems a bit difficult for him. Yes, he’s been able to cause the sun and moon to erratically change positions, but keeping them both up like this seems a challenge even for him.”

“And, um, he is reformed, remember?” Fluttershy added. The group looked to her; the ponies all gave her quizzical looks.

“I still say we summon him. We have to get to the bottom of this, one way or another, and Discord is the only suspect we’ve got as of now,” Twilight said. Everypony nodded.

After Scorpion put his mask back on, the group moved back outside. They found an empty space among the tattered, plant-filled streets to perform the summoning. The ponies circled up, with Hanzo and Spike standing close by. Twilight engaged her magic, activating the Elements. The ponies were lifted into the air; a rainbow bloomed from Rarity’s Element, connecting all of the others, until it reached the tip of Twilight’s crown. In a flurry of color, Discord magically appeared. He was in the middle of taking a shower

“Winter wrap up, winter wrap u- ooh! Ha ho! Now, Twilight, you know Princess Celestia said that you were to give me a heads up before you summon me, with that little spell she gave you,” Discord said, tapping at Twilight’s crown. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I was in the middle of a particularly invigorating shower,” he continued, shaking his towel-covered behind in Twilight’s face.

“Enough!” Twilight exclaimed, pushing him back. “Release Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and stop the Everfree Forest from invading!” she demanded.

“Why, whatever are you talking about?” he asked, wrapping himself around Twilight.

Hanzo stepped forward. “Look around, draconequus. Chaos is abundant, this day.”

Discord took in his surroundings with an elated grin on his face. “Oh hoho, my!” He teleported to a nearby rooftop. “Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love what you’ve done with the place!” he started, snapping a few pictures. “But I couldn’t possibly be responsible for this. I’m reformed, don’t you remember?” He nudged Fluttershy a few times.

“My friends are inclined to believe otherwise,” Hanzo said.

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash said, swooping in on Discord. “This’s got your cloven hoofprints all over it!”

“I’ll have you know that I have only one cloven hoof,” Discord retorted, as said hoof trotted up his side. It then proceeded to kick Rainbow Dash in the flank. He teleported a few feet away from the group. “Such accusations. And I thought we were friends,” he joked, batting his eyes.

“Drop the act, buster! We’re on to you,” Pinkie said, pointing her hoof at him.

“Come now, gang, I’m innocent. Would I lie to you?”

“Yes!” five of the ponies and Spike cried in unison.

“Um, maybe…” Fluttershy added.

“Well then, it seems we’ve reached an impasse. I’m telling the truth, but you think I’m lying. What do friends like us do in a situation like this, Princess Twilight?” he continued to joke, tapping at her crown again. “Congratulations, by the way, on the promotion. You totally deserve it!” he said, stretching out Twilight’s mouth.

“I say we blast him back to stone!” Rainbow cried out.

“Works for me,” AJ agreed.

“Here, here!” Rarity added. The three attempted to activate their Elements, but Fluttershy intervened.

“Hey! We can’t do that. What he really is telling the truth,” she said.

Discord’s face lit up, and a glowing halo formed above his head for a short moment. “Well, finally! Somepony willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. The rest of you could learn a lot about friendship from my dear friend Shutterfly, here,” he said, grabbing Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy floated gently at his side. “Um, it’s Fluttershy.”

“Oh, right, whatever,” he said, throwing Rainbow Dash and grabbing onto Fluttershy.

“I am inclined to agree with Fluttershy,” Hanzo said.

“Well, this certainly is unexpected. Come now, girls, if even Scorpion here can see the light in me, why can’t all of you?” Discord said.

“Do not mistake me, Discord. You are as trustworthy as a roach, but I do not find your hand in all of this.”

“Come on, Hanzo,” Twilight interjected. “If he’s not behind this, then who is?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps there is a third party involved, or some unknown mystic disturbance at work. I just don’t think this is Discord’s doing. He is too proud to deny his own work. He gains nothing from lying about all of this. If this were his doing, we would know for certain. It all is undoubtedly chaotic, but something about it doesn’t fit Discord’s methods. It isn’t him.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call it pride, but beggars can’t be choosers, now can they?” Discord said, leaning on Scorpion’s shoulder. Hanzo took a step over, causing Discord to fall to the ground. He scoffed at the Protector. “Have you considered counseling, Scorpion? You’re a little rough, sometimes, around the edges,” he joked, propping himself back up.

Hanzo sighed. “We must find answers elsewhere, my friends.” The ponies all looked befuddled.

“Why don’t you ask your zebra friend if she knows anything,” Discord said, knitting the dark branches into an arrow. The arrow pointed over to Zecora, who trudged into Ponyville, lugging behind her all of her belongings.

“Zecora!” Twilight exclaimed. The group all rushed over to her. The zebra fell to the ground under the weight of her things. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash removed the large sack from her back, while Pinkie Pie and Applejack pushed back her cart.

“From my home, I had to flee. The forest has grown too wild, even for me,” Zecora said. The group looked at more of the growing vines in the distance.

“Do you know what could be causing this, Zecora?” Hanzo asked.

“I am afraid it is a mystery to me as well. But, I may have something that if combined with a spell…” she said, walking over to her things. She rummaged through her oddities and pulled out a jar filled with a purple liquid. She placed it on the ground. “I do not dare to use it myself. The results would be tragic. It only responds to Alicorn magic,” she said, looking at Twilight. “Princess Twilight, you can turn the potion from purple to white. After a sip, you may see why the sky is day and night.”

Twilight engaged her dark magical abilities. Her horn pulsated with green, purple, and black energy. She blasted the vile, turning the contents from purple to white, as Zecora mentioned. She lifted it up with her magic. The zebra motioned for Twilight to drink, and she did. The group looked on in anticipation.

Hanzo stepped towards her. “Twilight?”

She shrugged. “Doesn’t seem to be worki-” Twilight dropped the potion. She froze in place. Her eyes shot open and turned white, shining brightly. Everything was fine, for a moment. But then, she started mumbling to herself. She briefly broke down in tears. After about two minutes had passed, she stood upright again. The magic wore off. She shut and rubbed her eyes, and the white glow disappeared. She looked to her friends, who were looking back with concern in their eyes.

“Uh, Twilight?” Spike spoke up.

“What? Why are you all looking at me like that?” she asked.

“It’s just,” Applejack started, “you were mumblin to yerself.”

“Oh, and don’t forget the uncontrollable sobbing,” Pinkie added.

“We were really worried about you,” Fluttershy said.

“I for one found it delightful!” Discord said, resting on a branch. “Sort of a one pony theatre piece, if you will. You should really consider taking it on the road.” He stood beside her, holding a piece of paper that showed Twilight crying.

“Enough, Discord,” Hanzo said. The draconequus rolled his eyes and stepped away. “Twilight, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she answered.

“Did you find out who’s rump we need to kick, and where we can find em?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I saw something from a really long time ago, but it didn’t explain what’s happening now.”

Zecora stepped forward with the potion in hoof. “Perhaps farther back still are the answers you seek. Another sip of the potion will give you a peek.” Spike and Hanzo stood beside Twilight as she held the potion up with her magic again.

“You sure about this?” Spike questioned.

Twilight looked to the rest of her friends, who all seemed anxious of what may come next. With little hesitance, Twilight took another sip from the vile. She gagged at the taste.

Discord popped up in front of the rest of the ponies in a film director’s uniform, with a camera in front of him. “Oh, I do hope she breaks into a song this time,” he said, looking down the lens of the camera.

Twilight’s eyes flashed white again. She mumbled only a few times. She seemed more intent and focused now on what she was seeing. The group could only wait and wonder what it was she was watching. When the magic wore off again, Twilight shook her head to bring herself back to reality.

“So, wutcha find out?” Spike asked eagerly.

“I still don’t know what’s happened to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. But I think I know why the Everfree Forest is acting this way. Something’s happened to the Tree of Harmony.”

The group looked at her in confusion. “The Tree of what now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Hanzo’s face lit up. “It’s where the Princesses first retrieved the Elements of Harmony to defeat Discord all those years ago,” Hanzo answered.

“Uh, yeah. How did you know that?” Twilight asked.

“When I first became Protector, they informed me of the importance of the Tree. I assumed the rest of you already knew about it, so I never say anything. I should have known that would be the source of the problem. It must be in danger,” he said.

“Well, alright then! Let’s go save a… tree,” Applejack said with a smile. “Uh, where is it exactly?”

“Unfortunately…” Hanzo started.

“It’s in there,” Twilight finished, pointing to the Everfree Forest. The group looked on in fear.

Discord laughed. “I’m going to need more popcorn!”

Chapter 3: The Summer Sun Celebration Part 3

The ponies, Spike, and Hanzo approached the entrance of the Everfree Forest. Everypony seemed hesitant and fearful of the danger ahead. Even Hanzo didn’t know what to expect from the forest. More and more vines and plants seemed to grow out of the entrance. The colors of the forest were mostly vibrant shades of purple, which wasn’t normal for the forest. Then again, nothing was normal for the Everfree Forest.

“Seems like only yesterday we were heading into the Forest to find the Elements of Harmony,” Rarity said, turning to her friends.

“Seems like only yesterday I was foolish enough to think I should go after them on my own,” Twilight replied. “I don’t know what we’re going to have to face in there, but I know we have to face it together.” Everypony nodded and spoke in agreement.

The group started making their way through the hectic forest. Shortly on, they came to a small pond. A few rocks stuck out in the water. With no other way across the water, hopping the rocks seemed the best chance to cross. Twilight led the way, hopping on the first rock. She cried out and began to lose her balance, though, as the rocks started shaking erratically. A rockodile rose from the water, flinging Twilight off its tail.

“A rockodile! Run for you lives!” Rarity shouted.

While the rest of the group fled in different directions, Hanzo stood his ground. His hands lit up in flames. “I have this.” The rockodile approached him with a screeching cry. Hanzo leapt over the beast and threw a ball of Hellfire at it. It seemed to have little effect on the creature. It simply roared back at Scorpion.

The beast then lunged at Hanzo, who stepped back to dodge the attack. He then stomped the rockodile’s jaw shut. Chunks of stone flew from its mouth. Hanzo then drew one of his swords. Dragging it across the ground, he sliced across the creature’s face. Lighting his left hand on fire, he scooped down and delivered a powerful hook. The rockodile flipped onto its back. Its underside seemed soft. Hanzo jumped into the air, his sword at the ready. As he went for a killing blow, the beast slapped him away with its tail.

Hanzo flew into a tree with a definitive thud. He dropped his blade and found it difficult to get up. The magical disturbances were affecting him yet again. The rockodile recovered and charged at him again. Before it could reach him, Twilight blasted the creature in the face with her magic. This only seemed to anger the beast. It stalked towards her, as she and Spike were up against a stone wall, with nowhere to go. She tried to fly away, but her wings wouldn’t work.

Before it could get to her and Spike, the rest of the girls lassoed its tail to hold it back. Quickly, Applejack got to roping up the rest of its limbs and mouth. With the beast tied down, the group could rest. Scorpion wearily got to his feet. He retrieved his sword and sheathed it on his back. He rubbed his head and walked over to his friends.

“That was close,” Twilight said.

“Ya think?” Spike added.

“A little too close if you ask me,” Applejack said. “You alright?”

“I’m fine. I just can’t seem to get these wings to do what I want them to do when I want them to do it. What about you, Hanzo? Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine. These magical fluctuations aren’t helping me, though. I should have been able to handle that on my own.”

“You two have been havin a lot of trouble today. And, well, who knows what else might come after us. You know… maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Twilight and Hanzo to go back to Ponyville, and let us look for the Tree of Harmony,” Applejack stated.

Twilight turned to her with a surprised look. “What?! Why?!”

“For starters, you both just nearly got eaten by that rockodilly.”

“It was after all of us, not just me and Hanzo. And it only came after me because I was helping him,” Twilight said.

“You shouldn’t have done that in the first place, though. I had it,” Scorpion argued.

“Hanzo, you just said it yourself; you should have been able to handle it. But ya couldn’t. You’re the Protector of Equis. And Twilight’s a Princess,” Applejack said.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Twilight asked.

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are gone, Twilight. If somethin happened to you… I-I just don’t think Equestria can handle losin another Princess. And Hanzo, you protect the entire realm. If we lost you, who knows what might happen?”

“Applejack does make a valid point,” Rarity said. “Even if we manage to save the Tree of Harmony, it won’t necessarily mean the Princesses will return. Equestria will need somepony to lead in their absence. And losing you, Hanzo, would be a major setback for Equis.”

“But the Tree of Harmony; I’m the only one who’s seen it and knows what it looks like. And I’m sure Hanzo knows a great deal more about it than any of us do,” Twilight retorted.

“Huge tree. Cutie marks on the trunk. Probably being attacked by something hideous and awful. Yeah, I’m pretty sure we’ll know it when we see it,” Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight’s eyes started to well up with tears. “And, you all feel this way? That we shouldn’t be here?”

Nopony in the group could stand to look at her. There was shame written all over their faces. Fluttershy was the first to speak up. “Well, it is probably for the best.”

Without another word, Twilight walked away. Spike followed after her, looking back at the group with an unsure expression. The rest of the ponies looked to Hanzo, who seemed weary to leave.

Applejack was about to speak, but Hanzo cut her off. “I understand your thinking, my friends, but it is counter-intuitive. I will go, only to make sure Twilight is okay. I just…” Hanzo seemed weary. His expression was dour. “Good luck.” Without another word, he walked away to join Twilight and Spike. The three made their way back to Ponyville.

“Twilight?” Spike spoke up.

“I’m alright, Spike,” she said, flashing a weak smile. Scorpion walked silently, his eyes to the ground. “Hanzo, are you okay?” He didn’t say anything. He just kept walking. “Hanzo, please. Say something. Anything.”

He stopped and looked at Twilight and Spike. “Why did we leave them?”

Twilight sighed. “Because…” She paused. She couldn’t think of anything to say.

“There is no valid answer. We shouldn’t have left them,” Hanzo said. “Our friends need us, and we need them. No titles or positions of power should affect that. Is our friendship not important to them? Is it not important to us? We are bound by something stronger than any kind of magic or power. Yet, because you are a Princess, and I am the Protector of Equis, that means we should not partake in the defense of our world. It makes no sense. We should be with them, not skulking back into Ponyville to just wait and watch the chaos unfurl.” He sighed and shook his head. “Putting it bluntly, I’m pissed.”

“I am too, but…” Twilight started, but she stopped herself again.

“Uh, guys, speaking of chaos,” Spike spoke up, pointing over to Discord. He was holding two ponies in a vine, while using Gummy to shave his claw. The trio walked over to him.

“Discord!” Twilight shouted.

He jumped and snapped his fingers to release the ponies. They ran off in a hurry. “You’re welcome!” Discord shouted in an exaggerated manner. He turned back to Twilight, Spike, and Hanzo, floating in the air. “No luck finding your tree?”

“We, ran into some trouble,” Twilight started, “and our friends decided it would be better if we returned to Ponyville while they continue the search. Equestria will need me if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna don’t return, and Equis as a whole needs Hanzo as Protector.”

“I’m just surprised that you went along with their plan at all,” Discord said. “I never thought you’d be the kind of pony, Twilight, who would think that she was better than everypony else. And it seems highly counter-productive to not have the Protector of Equis protect Equis. I thought you took your position seriously, Scorpion.”

“I take it very seriously, Discord,” Hanzo snapped.

“And I don’t think I’m better than anypony,” Twilight added.

“Well, how silly of me to assume that you two would think such things,” Discord joked, floating over them. “All you did was choose to keep yourselves far, far away from the danger, while your friends thrust themselves right into it,” he said, gesturing to the forest. “I’m sure you’ll all be the best of pals again when they return from their terrifying and deeply bonding experience, that they’re having without you.” Discord miniaturized and placed himself in Twilight’s ears. His tone was extremely condescending, and it was getting to Twilight.

She made a sharp turn and flung Discord out of her head. She ran off back towards the Everfree Forest. Hanzo and Spike quickly followed after her. “We never should have agreed to come back here,” Twilight said.

“Uh, didn’t Hanzo already explain that?” Spike asked.

“Yes, I did. Why the sudden change of heart, Twilight?” Hanzo asked. “It wasn’t Discord, was it?”

“C’mon, Twilight. He may be reformed, but he’s not that reformed. He’s just trying to get under your skin,” Spike said.

“Well, it’s working!” Twilight said, using her magic to place Spike on her back. The trio made their way back into the Everfree Forest. They had to find their friends and the Tree of Harmony.

“Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad we’re doing this. It’s the right thing to do,” Hanzo said.

“I know. I should have listened to you earlier. I’m just surprised it took Discord to get us back into the fray.”

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just save Equestria, shall we?” Hanzo said, nodding to his friends. Twilight and Spike smiled back at him.

The trio wandered through the forest for a few minutes, believing they were headed in the right direction. Spike continually pestered about their location, thinking they were lost. Twilight persisted that they weren’t lost, but her tone implied otherwise. Hanzo remained vigilant and reassuring, but he couldn’t disagree with Spike; they were lost.

“Twilight…” Spike muttered.

She wore a defeated look. “I don’t know where we are. We’re lost.” She sat down. “We never should have left them.”

“Now is not the time for pessimism, Twilight,” Hanzo said. “I’ll climb these trees. Maybe I’ll be able to spot the girls from up there.” He looked to Twilight and Spike. Twilight simply stared at the ground, while Spike gestured for Hanzo to get a move on. Scorpion quickly ascended up the tree. Pushing aside the branches and leaves at the top, he easily spotted the girls not far from their location. “Twilight, Spike, I’ve found them,” he said, clambering across the tree.

From above, Hanzo saw the pony and dragon being assaulted by plants. They looked like deranged venus fly traps. He jumped down and drew his blades, slashing away at the attacking plants. When more came after him, he hurled balls of Hellfire at them, burning the plants to a crisp. But they wouldn’t stop coming. They were just like the dark roots and branches, only these were more hostile. Scorpion let out another powerful Hellfire burst like before. Thankfully, it didn’t drain him as much as it had earlier, but the fight was still taking a toll on him. He couldn’t hold out forever; not at the rate of the plants’ attacks. Hoping to attract the attention of the other ponies not far away, he shot a stream of Hellfire into the sky as a beacon.

“Hanzo, behind you!” Spike shouted. Scorpion was too slow. One of the plants slapped him aside. As he tumbled across the ground, another plant ensnared him, and started blasting him with poisonous gas. He struggled to get free, but the gas was knocking him out. Twilight tried blasting the plants with her magic, but she was too weak.

The plants cornered Spike as well. He couldn’t do a thing to stop them. “Help!” he cried out.

Just before the plants were about to finish off Twilight, a vine whipped through the air. It roped around the fly trap, closing its mouth shut. “Listen here, ya rabid rhododendrons! You mess with one of us, ya mess with all of us!” Applejack shouted to the plants. Pinkie Pie blew into a party horn for some added effect. The plants roared at the girls.

“Up here!” Rainbow Dash said, flying towards the plants. She flew passed two of them so quickly that the plants tied each other up in a tight knot.

“Yoohoo! Come and get me!” Pinkie cried out, leading one plant across the field.

“Don’t forget about me!” Rarity shouted, doing the same. Fluttershy and Applejack joined in as well. By the time the group had finished, the plants were completely tied up, unable to move at all.

“Ta da!” Pinkie cheered. One last plant got loose, but before it could snap at Pinkie, Twilight blasted it to pieces. Spike and Hanzo helped her to her feet.

“We sure are glad you came lookin fer us,” Applejack said.

“Not as glad as we are that you found us,” Twilight said.

“Took you all long enough,” Hanzo joked.

“Eh, better late than never,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“The truth of it is, we were simply lost without you two,” Rarity said.

“Ahem,” Spike muttered.

Rarity giggled. “And you too, Spike.” The dragon smiled in response.

Rainbow Dash landed beside the rest of the group. “Heh, yeah, Equestria may need its Princess, and Equis may need its Protector…”

“But we need our friends,” Fluttershy finished. The group joined together for a hug before moving on to the Tree, which Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie had found already.

The Tree of Harmony would otherwise be a magnificent sight, but the group found it grossly entangled by the dark roots of the Everfree Forest. Twilight stepped forward, examining the tree. Hanzo readied his Hellfire, but Twilight quickly stopped him. “I don’t think that’s going to work, Hanzo. You could damage the tree,” she told him.

“Then what do we do?” he asked. Twilight looked back at the tree. She flew in close to it, looking at the symbol in the middle, which resembled her own cutie mark. As she went to touch it, branches wrapped around her hoof. She flew back and zapped them off with her magic. The roots then covered up the center of the Tree. Twilight looked around at the Tree, wondering what she could do.

She turned around and landed near the rest of the group. “I know how we can save the Tree. We have to give it the Elements of Harmony.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Rainbow Dash interrupted, landing in front of Twilight. “How are we supposed to protect Equestria?!”

“How are we supposed to reign Discord in without the Elements to turn him back to stone?” Rarity asked.

“Twilight,” Applejack started, stepping forward, “the Elements of Harmony… they’re what keep us connected no matter what.”

“You’re right about one thing, Applejack; the Elements of Harmony did bring us together. But it isn’t the Elements that keep us connected. It’s our friendship, and it’s more important and more powerful than any magic. My new role in Equestria may mean I have to take on new responsibilities, and our friendship may be tested, but it will never, ever be broken.” She then turned to Hanzo. “And I think Equestria will be just fine without the Elements. Hanzo, I know it’s a lot to put on you, but the protection of Equestria may rest heavily on your shoulders now. You won’t be alone, but there may be more for you to do. I’m sorry to put this on you.”

Hanzo stepped forward and kneeled in front of Twilight. He removed his mask. “When I came to Equestria, it was with ill intent. That intent is gone. All I want now is to see this world and my friends safe and happy. So long as I live and breathe, no harm will befall this land, or any land in the realm of Equis. You’re not pushing anything on me, Twilight. It’s already a part of my duty. Whatever we must do to save Equestria now, then we will do it. Who am I to stop that?” He smiled at her and nodded.

She did the same. “Alright. There’s no time to lose. Everypony ready?” Twilight said, flying into the air.

Hanzo and Applejack joined the rest of the group in a line. “Ready!” they all said in unison.

Twilight removed all of the Elements from the girls’ necklaces. She then removed her own Element from her crown. They all spun around her in magical fashion. Multiple vines snapped out at Twilight. They wrapped around her, and tried to grab onto the Elements. But before they could, Twilight pushed the Elements towards the Tree. She placed each one in its respective spot. The slots closed around the Elements, locking them in place within the Tree.

The Tree of Harmony was once again filled with power and magic. It flashed brightly. The magic reached out into the forest, and beyond into Ponyville. The dark roots and plants were being destroyed. Twilight flew back over to her friends. As the bright light dissipated, the beautiful Tree came into view. Beside it, two clumps of plants remained. They began to disappear, and from the roots came Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Twilight ran forward to hug them both.

“We know how difficult it must have been to give up the Elements. It took great courage to relinquish them,” Celestia said. The group looked back at the Tree. Something was happening to it.

From the five outer Elements came colorful rainbows. They moved into the center, where Twilight’s Element was. From there, the rainbow moved down the trunk of the tree. Symbols of the sun and moon lit up. The rainbow finally moved down to the roots. From there, a pink sprout grew out of the ground. Twilight stepped forward and touched it. It opened with a flash of light. Inside the plant was a chest.

“What’s inside it? How am I supposed to open it?” Twilight asked.

“Six locks, six keys,” Luna stated. They both turned to Celestia.

“I do not know where they are, but I do know it is not a mystery you will not be solving alone,” she said, stepping aside. All of Twilight’s friends looked to her with smiles on their faces. Twilight smiled right back at them.

The group moved above ground. They found the sky to be filled only by the moon, now. It was night time. As well, the dark, spiked clouds had disappeared. The Tree has dispelled all of the dark magic. With the threat eliminated, Celestia and Luna returned to Canterlot. Hanzo and his friends made their way back to Ponyville. As they exited the Everfree Forest, two banners with the group’s faces on them and confetti fell from above, a party horn rang out, and signs saying “#1” shot up from the ground.

Discord appeared before them. “Bravo, everypony, bravo! However did you save the day this time?! Blast the beastie with your magic necklaces, I presume?” He magically appeared on Applejack’s back in a cowpony getup. “Where are those little trinkets of yours?” he asked, holding up AJ’s hair. “You know, the ones you use to send me back to extremely uncomfortable stone prison."

Applejack sighed. “Gone.”

Discord reappeared a few feet away from them. “Gone?!” he said with a chuckle. “Gone…?” He had an evil grin plastered across his face.

“But our friendship remains,” Fluttershy said, flying up to him. “And if you want to remain friends, you’ll stop thinking whatever it is you’re thinking, and help us clean up.” As she spoke, Discord shrunk in size before magically disappearing.

He reappeared full size in a maid outfit. “Fine. But I don’t do windows,” he said, making his way into Ponyville. The group followed behind him.

Hanzo couldn’t help but laugh. Twilight looked at him with a smile. “What’s got you laughing?” she asked him.

“That was very well-handled,” he answered, still laughing.

“I try,” Fluttershy said with a giggle.

“I’m just happy this is all behind us now."

“Well, perhaps not completely behind us,” Twilight said.

“No, I suppose not. What do you think is in the box?” Hanzo asked.

“I don’t know. But it’s like Princess Celestia said; it’s a mystery we won’t have to solve alone. But now that this whole ordeal is over, it’s time to get ready for the Summer Sun Celebration!”

“Still nervous about that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Pfft, hardly. With everything we just went through, I couldn’t be less worried about the Celebration.”

“One thing I don’t get,” Applejack started, “why’d all this happen now?”

“I have no idea,” Discord answered. “Those seeds I planted should have sprouted up ages ago.”

“What did you say?!” Twilight shouted.

“Oh, why should I try to explain it when you can see for yourself?” The potion from earlier appeared in Discord’s hand. He gave it to Twilight. After she took a drink, her eyes went white. “Well, obviously, things didn’t go according to my original plan,” Discord continued. “My plunder seeds should have stolen the magic from the Tree of Harmony and captured Princess Celestia and Princess Luna thousands of moons ago. Alas, it seems the Tree had enough magic to keep the seeds from growing up big and strong! Until now, that is.”

Twilight shook off the magic. “You realize this is information we could have used hours ago?!”

“And rob you from an important lesson about friendship? What kind of friend would do something like that?” Discord joked, pulling at Twilight’s cheek.

“Discord,” Hanzo spoke blankly.

“Yes, Scorpion?” he replied with a grin. Without another word, Hanzo delivered a swift roundhouse kick to Discord’s chest. The draconequus rolled a few feet away, smashing into a tree. “Please, shut up.”

“Oh, alright, I suppose I deserved that,” he said, rubbing his head. The group joined together in laughter at Discord’s dismay.

“Now, let’s go home and get to fixing Ponyville. We have a celebration to prepare for.” As they walked back to Ponyville, the group remained close together, in a unified manner. Hanzo couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Twilight asked, nudging him.

He turned to her with a smile. “I was just thinking of how lucky I am.”

“Lucky?” Pinkie questioned.

“Of course. I’m the Protector of Equis, a world unlike any other. I safeguard something so pure and serene. And I’m surrounded by the greatest friends I could ever ask for. Together, we just saved Equestria. It is a good feeling. And though this life isn’t always easy, I wouldn’t want it any other way. And I have all of you to thank for that.” Everypony smiled at him.

“You only have yourself to thank, Hanzo,” Twilight said. “You chose this life, and you deserve it. And really, we should all be thanking you. Were it not for you, I don’t know if we’d have saved Equestria.”

“Well, it is what I do. It’s what we do,” Hanzo said.

“Exactly,” Applejack said with a wink.

Hanzo chuckled. “Knowing that my friends are safe and happy is thanks enough. Knowing this world is safe is thanks enough. I need no remuneration or praise. Besides, I’m sure you would have found a way to save the day. You faired very well before I arrived.”

“Still, thank you, Hanzo,” Twilight said.

The group joined together for a quick hug before continuing on into Ponyville. When they arrived, they found there wasn’t as much damage to the town as they thought there would be. The primary problem was the plants, but they had all disappeared. Most of the damage came from broken windows and slightly cracked walls and roofs. The clean-up was quick and easy. And, though he said otherwise, Discord did indeed help fix the windows.

Once the repairs had been made, the gang and many other ponies from Ponyville headed into Canterlot for the big ceremony to begin the Summer Sun Celebration. The crowd that had formed was huge, with ponies from all over Equestria. Hanzo (now wearing his more casual clothes) and his friends found a spot up front, where they could see the Princesses perform the ceremony. Twilight stood at the side of the stage, ready to do her part. Soon enough, trumpets started blowing, and the ceremony had begun.

The crowd watched in awe as Celestia and Luna took to the stage. Behind the Princesses were the symbols of the sun and moon. They stood with their wings full span. “Citizens of Equestria,” Celestia started, “it is no longer with a heavy heart, but with great joy that I raise the summer sun. For this celebration now represents not the defeat of Nightmare Moon, but the return of my sister, Princess Luna.” Everypony in the crowd cheered.

Luna lifted herself into the air. Using her magic, she began to lower the moon. Celestia then jumped into the air, and using her magic, she raised the sun. Just as the two celestial objects were parallel to each other, Twilight flew into the sky and shot out a burst of magic where the sun and moon met. The energy took the form of her cutie mark. And as her magic dissipated, the moon left the sky, and the sun shined brightly.

Twilight, Celestia, and Luna landed on the stage, smiling at each other. Twilight then turned her gaze to the crowd. She quickly spotted her friends, who were smiling right back at her. Hanzo’s smile was especially comforting to Twilight. It was the kind of smile that said, “I’m proud of you,” and she smiled back, in way that said, “Thank you.”

When the ceremony was over, everypony from Ponyville returned to the town for a huge party. As Hanzo celebrated the raising of the summer sun with his friends, he took comfort in their presence and joy. And at the end of the day, he and his friends sat atop the roof of his home. They could see all of Ponyville in one direction. In the other, beyond the horizon, was the rest of Equis. And Equis was Hanzo’s to protect. And that didn’t scare him, because he knew that even though the responsibility was his, he would never have to face the task alone. His friends would always be by his side; their most recent endeavor proved just that. They would always be together, and they would always protect each other.

And as the Protector of Equis, Hanzo would always protect his friends. He would always protect the realm. No matter the cost.

Author's Note

Yes, I call it a rockodile. Honestly, I don't know why they didn't call it that in the show. It makes total sense. It was a crocodile made of rocks. Come on! That kind of pun is right up the My Little Pony ally.