Chapter 1: One of many

Twilight gets off of a train in the crystal Empire and began to trot to the castle. She got a letter from her brother telling her to get to him as fast as possible and that he had some brilliant news.

She was happy to see her brother yet again as well as excited to see what was the brilliant news.

She walked to the castle where guards and ponies were all crowding and chattering with slight excitement. Twilight couldn’t see Shining Armor, so she spread her wings and flew up to look for him.

“Twily!” Shining Armor’s voice called. Twilight looked and saw him waving to her. Twilight flew over to him.

“Twily, you’re never gonna believe what happened.” Shining Armor said excitedly as he gave his younger sister a hug.

“What is it!?” Twilight asked, matching her brother’s excitement.

“Come with me.” Shining Armor said, he started walking to a laboratory that was inside the Castle. There was a multitude of scientists at varying stations, and in the middle of the lab was a red cube that was hooked to a bunch of wires.

“What….. What is that?” Twilight asked as she walked a little closer to it.

“This is the Element of Courage. A powerful relic that was lost millenniums ago. It was only recently recovered by one of our archeologists.” Shining Armor explained.

“This is an amazing discovery! Is that what everypony is talking about upstairs?” Twilight asked.

“Yes. Everypony has ever only heard of the Elements of harmony, the fact that there other elements that represent something as great if not greater, it was bound to spark a conversation.” Shining Armor said.

“What do you know about it so far?” Twilight asked.

“Not much. We do know that it possesses a very powerful magic, and it’s extremely heavy.” Shining Armor asked.

“How heavy?” Twilight asked.

“Neither magic or hooves can pick it up.” Shining Armor said, Twilight looked at him confused.

“How did you get it in there then?” Twilight asked. One of the scientists phased through Twilight, much to her confusion.

“Yeah, this actually not a lab, but a 7th dimensional live video surveillance. That way we can have the feeling of being there while also not being there if something goes wrong.” Shining Armor said.

“Are you sure it’s safe for them?” Twilight asked.

“I’m skeptical as well, so I made sure they have a heavy security detail as a just in case anything goes wrong.” Shining Armor said.

“If you don’t mind me asking, who built this? This seems a little advanced in terms science.” Twilight said.

“Fancy Pants built this for us.” Shining Armor said. Twilight’s ears flopped a little.

“Oh… how’s he doing?” Twilight asked.

“He’s recovering well from the Fleur de lis incident.. More or less, but still….. You know, I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Okay.” Shining Armor said.

At the gathering, a white griffon with yellow eyes, a grey beak, and yellow lion legs was was at a drink station serving drinks to everyone stopping by to get a drink.

Under the table was a purple rhinestone started blinking to get his attention.

“Um…. Gustave le Grand!” The griffon called. Gustave le Grand looked at him. “I’m going on break.”

Gustave le Grand nodded and went to take his spot. The griffon walked out of the castle and then out of sight.

Whilst in an alley, he takes out the rhinestone and squeezes it. It breaks and materialized a hologram head. The head was a white female Changeling with yellow eyes and a braided mane.

“Aras, Lance and I have arrived at the location of the hexahedron. That 7th dimensional video surveillance needs to be dealt with so we can move effectively.” The white changeling said.

“Don’t worry about it Jen, I’ll make sure they don’t see a thing. Give me five minutes.” Aras said.

“You have three.” Jen said and disconnected the call. Aras rolled his eyes as he put the rhinestone on the ground and snaps his talons.

“You’d think that being one of the only griffons on the face of the planet to be able to use magic-”

Aras made a magical circle glyph and walked through it. He was now in a blue cape as well and his eyes changed color to green.

“-I’d be given just a little bit more respect.”

He turns invisible and began to fly. He phases through the walls and found his way to the room.

He makes a purple magic circle and places it on the ceiling. This made everything look like it was going well in the room.

“Alright. Lance, Jen, do your thing.” Aras said.

Jen was looking at a watch, installed into her cybernetic hooves. She had cybernetic front legs whereas the larger purple eyed Changeling next to her had cybernetic hind legs.

“Three minutes are up, I hope Aras did his thing. Lance, take care of the guards.” Jen said. Lance nodded and started flying as Jen started digging under the snow.

Two guards on patrol walked around the perimeter of investigation. They were talking amongst each other, whilst remaining in sight of the other guards.

“So, no one’s able to lift that cube, bet you 30 bits that you can pick it up.” Guard number one said.

“Nah, I’ve seen the prince try to lift it, and if he can’t, I know I can’t” Guard number two said.

“Oh come on, you gotta give it a try.”

“I heard Silver Mustang pulled his back out trying to pick that thing up.”

“He did, he’s sure to recover, I’m sure.”

“Not helping with my confidence.”

“Hey, I believe in you, you just gotta use your-”

The two guards heard glass breaking and turned to look at the source.

“-legs.” Guard number one said. The two guards walked over to see what made that sound.

They didn’t get close when Lance landed on Guard number two, shattering him. Before guard number one could react, Lance wrapped his cybernetic hoof around his neck and muffled his scream.

“Shh.” He said. The next thing heard from guard number one was a snap, happening to be the guard’s neck.

“Scarlet, think you can release the restrains on level 7?” A scientist stallion asked.

A mare scientist, named Scarlet, walked over to the computer and moved her hooves to a lever. Before she could touch it, a magic blast hits her in the side, knocking her to the ground. The other scientist looked at her and then Jen standing on her hind hooves and looking at them. Her cybernetic hooves transformed into blades and then she lunged forward.

“So, do you think that there are other elements, like there are the elements, like there are elements of harmony?” Twilight asked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were. If this is only one, then finding the others, however many there are, will be a groundbreaking moment for Equestrian History.” Shining Armor said. The two observed more.

“I wonder how they’re doing.” Twilight said with a tilted head of curiosity.

Back at the Scientist sight, all of the scientists except for Scarlet were dead from stab wounds and cuts. Scarlet was hurt and barely moving but breathing.

Jen turned her hooves back normal and walked over to the hexahedron and observed it.

Her horn glowed.

“Aras, scientists are no longer an issue. I’m next to the hexahedron.” Jen said.

“Now the hard part is getting it to Ligero.” Aras said.

“No it’s not. You’ve got Density manipulation don’t you?” Jen asked.

“Before you finish what I think you’re about to say, I can’t do two different manipulations at once, and once this illusion is down we’re compromised.” Aras said.

“Right. I’ve got an idea.” Jen said. She walked to the hexahedron and opened a portal. She started moving the portal over the hexahedron.

Scarlet pulls the lever to release the restraint which causes a magic pulse to send Jen flying into the camera used to watch the experiment.

Twilight and Shining Armor were confused when the entire 7D room shut off.

“Shining? What happened?” Twilight asked.

“I have no idea.” Shining Armor replied.

Jen recovered to look at Scarlet who was lying down next to the lever. She got up and walked over to her.

“You are gonna regret that.” Jen said. She transforms her hoof into a sword and approached her.

She gets close before being forced to move back as a magic blast landed at her feet. She looks at the sky and sees a changeling flying towards her.

“Change of plans Aras, coming atcha.” Jen said. She makes a portal over the hexahedron and the stalachite it was attached to and sent it through the portal.

“Wait wait wait!” Aras tried to warn. The hexahedron falls through the purple magic circle on the ceiling and landed in front of the two.

“Welp, this had to happen at one point.” Aras said as he turned visible. He lands in front of the two.

“Who’re you?” Shining Armor asked as he stood in front of Twilight defensively.

“I’m-” Aras was interrupted when an explosion was heard in the distance. As Shining Armor looked in that direction, Aras sent a magic blast at him and sent him out of the wall.

“Shining!” Twilight exclaimed out of concern. She turns back to look at Aras, and brings up a shield just in the nick of time. “A griffon that can use magic!?”

Shining Armor slowly stood back up, bleeding from his forehead as he looked back up. He saw the hole in the wall which he was thrown from. One of the crystal guards ran to him.

“Your highness! Are you okay!?” He asked.

“We’re under attack! Get the civilians out of here!” Shining Armor said. The guard saluted and ran to the entrance of the castle. He and other guards started escorting everyone out.

Shining Armor watched as magic beams flew out of the castle walls.

He lit his horn in an attempt to teleport, but was soon knocked to the ground by a metallic kick. He looked up to see Lance walking towards him on his hind legs.

“Okay, you and me.” Shining Armor said as he stood up and got ready to fight.

Aras and Twilight were still battling between each other. He was sending electric blasts her way. Twilight uses her agility and magic to deflect the attacks or dodge them.

She brings up a forcefield to protect herself from a strong electric blast. However, upon making contact with the shield, it was still flowing, as well as getting stronger.

The forcefield wasn’t gonna hold up for long, and the intense trauma to the forcefield was causing Twilight to bleed from her nose.

The forcefield cracked and Twilight closed her eyes, bracing for the worst.

Suddenly, a blast hits Aras in the back. He stumbled and turned around, only to see a Changeling charge him through the wall.

Aras hit the ground hard.

Shining Armor and Lance were exchanging blows left and right. Shining Armor was bruised up all over his body due to the amount of kicks he suffered from Lance’s cybernetic hind legs.

Lance was bleeding from his nose and had his horn was lit up. The two heard the wall break and looked to see Aras knocked to the ground by a changeling.

“Let me guess one of your friends?” Shining Armor assumed. Lance sent a blast at the changeling who sent it back, knocking him back. The changeling landed on the ground and was taller and bulkier than lance, who was already taller and bulkier than Shining Armor. This changeling also had pupils like a pony. Yellow scleras and red eyes. He also had a dark red carapace as well as a red bandana around his neck. He had a thick grey mane in a large ponytail.

“So, not one of your friends?” Shining Armor said. Aras launched two magic circles towards the pillars of the castle. Two of the pillars got destroyed and the castle started to fall.

“Oh no! Cadance! Flurry Heart” Shining Armor exclaimed as the castle started to fall.

Aras grabs Lance to take off running.

The changeling flew up and used his hooves to not only stop the castle, but pushes it back into place. The holes in the pillars were still there and the intact pillars were about to collapse due to the stress.

“Hey! You!” The changeling called for Shining Armor. Shining Armor looked at him. “Use your magic to hold this castle up so I can fix the pillars!”

“Why would I ever help you!?” Shining Armor yelled back.

“You’re kidding right!? Do you want this castle to crash down on top of the citizens!?” The changeling yelled at him. Realizing the changeling had a point, he lit up his horn and used it to hold the castle in place. The changeling flew to the pillars and observed the damages.

“Hey! Will you hurry! This thing is heavy!” Shining Armor strained. The changeling stood on his hind hooves and lit his horn. The aura changes color from red to blue and a clock appeared. He goes back on all fours and the clock reversed. The two pillars started to repair. The second Shining Armor dropped the spell due to fatigue, the pillars were okay. The changeling blows on his heated horn.

“Well, that went better than ex-” The changeling was interrupted when Shining Armor and a bunch of guards surrounded him, armed.

“Stay where you are changeling!” One guard said.

“One: My name is Bandit. Two: Are you serious?” The changeling asked.

“We’re locking you up, do not resist.” Another guard said.

“Wow you are serious and apparently completely dense. Whatever, just throw me in the brig or dungeon already. You’ll find out how foolish you’re being, locking up an ally.” Bandit said as he allowed himself to get chained up. Twilight and Cadance walked out to see the guards escort Bandit into the castle. Cadance, who was holding Flurry Heart with caution.

Cadance’s jaw nearly dropped at the height of the changeling, who was as tall as Princess Luna.

“Sh-Shining Armor?” Cadance said.

“Cadance, are you and Flurry okay?” Shining Armor asked.

“We’re fine. What happened?” Cadance asked.

“I’ll explain later. Right now, I have some questions to ask this guy.” Shining Armor said as he watched the Changeling get escorted to the dungeons.

Twilight watches as well, tilting her head at him. She was actually curious about this Changeling, especially due to him saving her life.

Back at ponyville, in Sweet Apple Acres, Big Macintosh was in the house enjoying some food. He was there with Apple Bloom, who was eating with him. Apple Bloom picked up one of the apple slices and through it at him playfully.

Big Macintosh playfully glared at her and threw it back.

The two share a little laugh before hearing a crash sound come from the barn, as if something crashed into it, disturbing the two of them.

“What was that?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I don’t know. Stay here.” Big Macintosh said. Apple Bloom nodded and Big Macintosh walked out of the house, walking to the barn.

He saw a massive hole in the roof and approached the door.

He opens it and looked inside. In a newly made crater, there was a blue gem that was glowing constantly. Big Macintosh looked at it with caution and curiosity.

“Whoa.” He said.

Author's Note

Well, chapter one is up and the hard part is done.

Next chapter will be soon and the other characters will make an appearance

Voices for OCs

Bandit- Shameik Moore

Jen- Angelina Jolie

Aras- Andy Serkis

See you soon.