Legacy of the Howlite Howler

by JNKing

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: A New Generation, Sunny Starscout, Adventure
Length: 14051

Shiva's legacy lives on into the next generation.

Many years ago, The Guardians of Harmony kept the land of Equestria united and safe.

But they didn't do it alone. Aided by the Howlite Howler and her Diamond Dog pack, they brought peace and prosperity to the lands beyond Equestria.

Now, even though the Howlite Howler and Guardians have long since faded to myth, there are still some who remember their influence.

And as the earth pony Sunny Starscout seeks to reunite the fractured tribes of Equestria, she finds a diamond dog who remembers the Howlite Howler's teachings... and is more than ready to help.

Published 2021-10-22 19:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2021-12-03 09:41:45 UTC

Chapter 1: Logan

Sunny Starscout was in awe. For most of her life, she had hoped that there was a sign that earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns could get along. It had motivated her to befriend the unicorn Izzy Moonbow. It had inspired her to venture to the pegasus city of Zephyr Heights. And finally, it had led her here.

As the pegasus Zipp Storm led them into the old station, Sunny couldn’t help but smile at the site. Though dust did it’s best to cover the whole area, it couldn’t cover the picture of the Wonder Bolts. Or the signs of the other earth ponies and unicorns. The times of peace.

“This is proof,” Sunny couldn’t help but whisper. “All of pony kind did used to be friends. My dad was right!” She looked to Zipp with gratitude.

The pegasus returned her smile. “Not just all of pony kind,” she noted.

Before Sunny or Izzy could ask what she meant, Zipp turned away from them and whistled.

“Logan!” she called. “You out here, boy?”

Suddenly, the duo heard a snuffling, digging sound.

“Z?” a voice asked. “Hang on… I’m coming! One moment…”

Sunny blinked as the scuffling, digging sound drew closer. “Um…” she turned to Zipp. “What’s… that?”

Zipp smiled. “I got a friend who knew of this place too. But… he’s not a pony.”

Izzy gasped. “Is he a unicorn?”

Zipp chuckled. “Not exactly.”

Right on cue, the ground burst open. And Sunny gaped as a diamond dog appeared from the dust, a ruby clutched in his jaws.

“Sorry, Z,” he grumbled, crunching the gem like candy in his jaws. “I smelled out that ruby, and…”

He paused, shaking off the dirt and giving Sunny the chance to take him in. His bleach blonde fur – covered around the chest by what looked like a leather biker jacket – easily rid itself of the dust, shining like a pearl in the sunlight. His face was like that of a husky or a wolf. His pointed ears perked up in intrigue, and his steel-blue eyes narrowed at the sight of Sunny and Izzy.

Sunny found herself flashing back; to the stories her father had shared with her. Not just of the Guardians of Harmony, but of their allies as well.

Him showing a picture of a wolf-like creature; so similar to the dog in front of her, with the only difference being the one in the picture was female, and her white fur was just a tad bit brighter.

“This was Shiva,” her father explained. “The Howlite Howler. Who’s magical pack link helped the Guardians of Harmony spread friendship and love past pony kind and to the rest of the world.”

Before Sunny could speak…

“Oh, my gosh, he’s adorable!” Izzy cooed, racing up to the dog and cupping his face. “Hey there, little guy.”

Zipp winced. “Oh, not a good idea!”

For a moment, the dog blinked up at her in shock. But as she tried to roll his head from side to side, he gripped her hooves and pulled them off his face.

“Touch me like that again,” he warned, “And I’ll bite yer freaking hooves off!”

Izzy blinked, before wisely backing up. Zipp chuckled, trotting over to Logan’s side.

“Yeah, Logan’s not exactly like Cloudpuff,” Zipp noted, before offering a hoof to Logan. “But he’s got his own charm.” She glanced at the dog. “How’s it going, big guy?”

Instantly, his suspicious look faded, replaced by a grin as he bumped his knuckles against Zipp’s hoof. “S.S.D.D, Z,” he replied. “Chilling, digging…” he glanced at the two again. “Surprised that you showed others this place.” He glanced at Izzy’s horn. “Then again, I’m also surprised unicorns and earth ponies can stand each other’s stink.”

Izzy laughed. “Believe it or not, she actually doesn’t smell like sardines, despite everything my friends said.” She tilted her head. “I thought you’d realize that; aren’t dogs good at smelling things?”

Logan’s fur bristled. “We’re the MASTERS of smelling things!” he said indignantly. “I was just testing you!”

“Oh!” Izzy nodded in understanding. “So, did I pass?”

Logan chuckled, before his ears and tail perked, and a conspiratorial look entered his eyes. “Depends; you girls wouldn’t happen to be interested in unity and harmony, would you?”

Sunny gasped. “You’re interested in that too?” She pranced in place, pulling out her book. “Oh-my-gosh, I have so many questions… I’m not sure where to start.”

“Let’s start with names,” Logan replied, gently putting a paw on the book. “Name’s Logan. You?”

“S-Sunny,” she said. “Sunny Starscout.” She indicated Izzy. “This is Izzy Moonbow. And…”

“I’m familiar with Z,” Logan replied, grinning at the mare. “Met her when she first showed up here. This place has… pretty much been my home for a while.”

Sunny’s grin faded as she looked behind him. “But… all on your own? D-Don’t diamond dogs live in packs?”

Logan’s smile faded. He sat against one of the mechanisms. “We do,” he admitted.

“So, where’s the rest of your pack?” Izzy asked.

Logan huffed. “They kicked me out.”

Sunny’s ears drooped. “Oh… why?”

Logan looked up with a grin. “Because I believe.”

He stood up, bringing the ponies over to a small shrine. Across the wall, painted in what looked like glitter, was a rendition of Shiva. Smaller pictures depicted diamond dogs, connected by the pack link, all flocking around her.

“The Howlite Howler united us with ponies,” Logan explained. “Her pack link spread cooperation and friendship through the land once.”

Izzy gasped. “But… don’t tell me it’s gone too.”

Logan nodded. “When the pack link failed, so did our connection to ponies. Hostility sprung up; fights broke out. And eventually, the dogs were forced to leave. All of them think it’s stupid to believe in ponies anymore.” He looked up with determination. “But I know they’re full of crap. And I’m gonna prove it. One day.”

Sunny winced, looking to Zipp with pity. “It must be really weird, being the only pegasi that still have enough magic to fly.”

Zipp and Logan exchanged a nervous look, before Zipp sighed. “The truth is… we can’t fly either. We’ve been faking it.”

Izzy gasped.

“F-Faking it?” Sunny stammered. “But how?”

“Wires and good lighting,” Logan replied with a grin. “Trust me, I’ve seen some of their shows from up here, and even I can tell…” he shook his head. “They ain’t got magic.”

Zipp nodded. “And I’m just so tired of living that ridiculous lie!” She sat next to Logan. “Logan makes me feel… like I’m coming up for air, so to speak. Like I can get away from the lie and just be myself.”

Logan grinned. “And do this,” he added, before springing to his paws.

Sunny and Izzy watched in awe as Zipp and Logan flung each other through the air. Using air currents from some of the leftover wind turbines, they soared across the air, as easily as if Zipp could actually fly. Then, as they rode off the air currents, Zipp followed after Logan as he dove into the earth like it was water, his powerful claws parting the earth and letting him and Zipp easily tunnel through before popping out next to Izzy and Sunny. As they landed, Logan looked at Sunny with intrigue.

“But… you guys are interested in unity,” he noted. “Maybe…”

“Exactly,” Zipp noted. “I wanted them to see it.”

Logan nodded. “Right this way.” Leading them back to the shrine of Shiva, he uncovered another picture. This one depicted an old stained-glass window of Twilight, holding some sort of crystal; with the wings of a pegasus and the horns of a unicorn.

“Oh, my stars,” Sunny whispered in awe.

“This was made a long time ago,” Zipp explained. “Back when we still had magic.”

“It’s beautiful,” Izzy cooed.

“Eh, it's alright," Logan noted. "Could've stood to have a few more gems."

"It did have gems," Zipp pointed out. "Until you ate them."

Logan nodded with a grin. "Good times."

“But…” Sunny looked back at the dog and pony. “What is it?”

“Not fully sure,” Zipp admitted, before pointing to the wings. “But that’s definitely the pegasus crystal. It’s a part of my mom’s crown.”

“Hm,” Sunny noted in thought, before Logan pointed to the unicorn horn.

“I’ve bet that this is the Unicorn crystal,” he added. “And there’s probably an earth pony crystal as well.” He paused. “Come to think of it, shouldn’t there be a diamond dog crystal too. Unless the rumors are true that Shiva got her powers from a unicorn…”

“Oh-ho-kay,” Sunny said. “Let’s not get too far ahead.” She looked back at the crystals. “At the very least, we need to see if we can unite these two crystals. Maybe the reason the pegasi and unicorns lost their magic is because they were separated.”

“So, if we put them back together…” Izzy offered.

“Magic will return…” Zipp continued.

“And all three pony kinds will get along again!” Sunny concluded.

"And we'll prove all the bigots wrong!" Logan realized.

The four cheered, before Zipp paused.

“Uh… but what about the Unicorn Crystal?”

Izzy laughed. “If you’re looking for crystals, we’ve got a gazillion of them back in Bridlewood.”

"Mm, crystals..." Logan licked his lips. "You know, they taste like sugared ice. I know the unicorn one is off limits, but... if you got a gazillion..."

“Then that’s where we’ll go next.” She turned to Zipp. “After we get the Pegasus crystal from your mom, of course.”

Zipp winced. “That’ll... be tricky. She, uh… never takes her crown off.”

Logan cracked his knuckles. “Then… I’ll see what I can do to grab it.”

Zipp winced. “Please don’t hurt my mom.”

Logan laughed. “Z, come on. Just because I’m a dog doesn’t mean brute force is my only route.” He knelt and started drawing a map. “Look, your sister’s performing at that royal thing-a-ma-bobble, right?”

“Uh… right,” Zipp agreed.

“Then all eyes will be on her,” Logan replied. “While she’s distracted, we make a fake crown, I dig us a path underneath to the back of her throne, and then we swap it with the real one.”

Sunny gave Logan a curious look. “You’re sure you want to help us with this?”

Logan laughed. “After being abandoned by my pack for believing in ponies like you.” He slapped her back playfully. “You better believe it, Starscout. I’m gonna unite all three of you pony breeds, and then I’m gonna find my pack, and rub it in their faces.” He cackled ominously before returning to his tunnel. “You hear that, you mutts!” he boomed down the hole. “LOGAN WOLFE IS GONNA UNITE THE PONIES! AND YOU'RE NOT STOPPING HIM!”

Izzy chuckled at Logan’s defiant laugh, but Sunny walked up next to him.

“If that’s the case,” she noted. “You’re gonna need a disguise.” She indicated his paws and teeth. “Ponies don’t have these, and I’m pretty sure that if they can’t get along with each other, they’ll have a hard time getting along with you.”

"Exactly why I'm gonna stay out of sight," Logan promised. "I'll tunnel you guys underneath the castle, let you make the swap, and then we'll get out of there before anyone notices me."

“Then it sounds like we just need to craft a decoy!” Izzy noted. “Okay, I’ll need a box of macaroni, a tube of glue, fourteen gooey bunnies, and three jelly beans. Oh! And glitter!”

In the time it took for the others to stare at Izzy in shock, Logan had already drilled into the ground. A few seconds later, he came back up with a large sapphire. Baring his claws and teeth, he drilled into the gem, until it perfectly resembled the pegasus crystal.

“Still need that glitter?” he asked with a grin.

Sunny glanced at Izzy nervously, but she just shrugged with a grin. Sunny sighed as she listened to Logan’s laugh.

She had a feeling that this diamond dog was going to make things a lot more interesting.

Author's Note

For anyone who read my first story, 'The Lone Wolf of Equestria,' this is pretty much Logan from that story re-written. A little less sour, a bit more fun, but with all the determination from before. Please let me know what you think of him, and if he's better than how he was in 'Lone Wolf of Equestria.'

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2: The Heist

The worst part about plans going wrong is when they start off going rather well.

With Logan’s shovel-like claws, it was child’s play for Sunny and Izzy to get behind the thrones that Queen Haven and Zipp would be sitting on for the youngest princess Pipp’s performance. And as the pink pegasi flapped about, her wires hidden by the lighting and everyone bedazzled by their song, the pegasus’ voice drowned out the sound of Logan’s drilling, allowing him to carve a hole clean through to Queen Haven’s crown.

Acting fast, Sunny snatched the crown while Izzy replaced it with her decoy. Logan resealed the hole with the very dirt he had collected, and Sunny once again resisted the urge to ask how he was able to accomplish such a feat without magic. For now wasn’t the time for questions; it was the time for taking the first steps to unity.

The trio looked to Zipp, and the pegasus nodded; no one had seen them, and the coast was clear. With a grin of triumph, the trio hopped back down Logan’s hole, and made their way back towards the outside.

Unfortunately, Logan chose to reseal the tunnel the same way he had resealed the throne. And while it did wipe out any trace of their entrance and exit, the shuffling and digging was picked up by a pair of ears. Ears belonging to a certain winged pomeranian.

Cloudpuff sensed the tremors under his tiny paws, and followed the feeling of Logan’s digging to the outside. As he passed by the crowd and nudged open the door, he found himself in front of the most handsome looking stallion he had ever seen. Sure, his wings looked kinda fake, and he had no idea how a pony already covered in fur could have a mustache, but Cloudpuff didn’t care. This stallion was just as worthy of protection and love as Master Haven.

Hitch Trailblazer blinked down at the pomeranian as it gazed up at him with adoring eyes. Looking back up, Hitch scanned the crowd for his target, Sunny Starscout, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Now some pegasi might have thought that dogs were only good for keeping as pets, but Cloudpuff was much smarter than the average dog. Connecting the dogs, he butted his head at Hitch, regaining the sheriff's attention.

“What is it, boy?” Hitch asked.

Cloudpuff dug at the ground where Logan’s digging was coming from, and scampered after it, yapping at Hitch to follow.

Hitch gave a cautious look back at the crowd, but something in his gut warned him that the dog was trying to help. Turning away from the pegasi, he followed Cloudpuff to the outside.

Sure enough, Hitch’s instincts proved right, as he watched Sunny Starscout and the unicorn she had harbored climbing out of a hole in the wall, followed by easily the biggest dog he had ever seen in his life.

Gathering his courage, Hitch approached the trio, as they cackled in glee.

“That was almost too easy,” Sunny noted, gazing with gratitude at Logan. “Thank you so much, Logan.”

“Let’s just make it count,” he replied. “Should we book it for Bridlewood now, or wait for Z?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” Hitch replied, stepping out of the shadows, with Cloudpuff growling at his side.

Sunny gasped, backing up behind her friends while Izzy just gave the stallion a curious look. Logan glanced between Sunny and Hitch and casually put himself between them.

“What d’you want, colt?” Logan growled.

Swallowing down his shock at a dog talking to him, Hitch held himself higher.

“Sunny Starscout,” he stated. “She - that is to say, you,” he added at Sunny, “Are under arrest for the harboring of a fugitive, disruption of the peace…”

Cloudpuff yapped, drawing Logan’s attention.

“Hey,” Logan snapped at his fellow canine. “It’s for a good cause. Your master’s not using that crystal for its intended purpose!”

Cloudpuff growled.

“I’m serious!” Logan shot back. “She’s using the key to saving the world as a glorified head piece!”

Cloudpuff barked.

“I WILL talk about your master that way!”

Sunny and Hitch blinked at the odd argument as Logan devolved from English and the two dogs began barking at each other. Izzy just giggled, watching the whole thing like it was a big show.

Shaking her head, Sunny turned back to Hitch. “Hitch, please listen to me,” she insisted. “We learned the truth: Izzy doesn’t have magic. The unicorns and pegasi? They have no magic! They were never a danger.”

Hitch blinked at her, still partially distracted by Cloudpuff and Logan’s argument. “W-What?” he asked.

“We can bring the magic back,” Sunny insisted, pulling out the crystal. “We can reunite ponykind. We just need to unite this crystal with the unicorn…”

Before she could say more, Cloudpuff’s eyes alighted on his master’s crown. Abandoning his argument with Logan, the winged dog made a lunge for the crown. Logan spun to stop him, but Hitch was faster, catching Logan with his hooves while Cloudpuff snatched the crown from Sunny’s hoof.

“No!” Sunny screamed, Izzy diving to catch the pomeranian… and failing. As the two girls chased after the dog, Hitch tried to untangle himself from Logan.

“Hey! Freeze!” Hitch called, only for Logan to grab him by the tail.

“Figures,” Logan snarled, Hitch shivering as the diamond dog rose up - six feet of angry muscle. “Another scrub with a badge, thinking he has the authority to screw me over.”

Hitch kicked out with his back legs, but Logan took the blows with barely a flinch, catching his hooves at the expense of his tail.

“Well, not today ‘sherriff!’” Logan snarled, spinning the sheriff and hurling him away from the castle.

But Hitch’s time as a sheriff had not been spent eating donuts and lazing around like his partner Sprout. And as he flipped through the air, he landed on a wall and ricocheted himself off. Logan yelped as Hitch kicked him into the wall, and with the dog apparently down, Hitch raced into the castle after Sunny and Izzy, only to hear Logan barking as he pursued.

Hitch saw several guards chasing Sunny and Izzy away from the courtyard. Checking that his fake wings and mustache were still in place, he raced towards them.

“Guards!” he called. “Guards! Monster!”

The guards spun, their eyes widening under their helmets as Logan barreled towards them.

“Holy Haven!” one of them yelped.

The guards desperately charged the dog, but he lunged at them like a bowling ball. Several pegasi went flying with the first strike, but plenty more were able to hold their ground. Logan snarled in defiance, but the pegasi had the numbers. And the last Hitch saw of the diamond dog was him going down in a pile of feathers and armor.

Turning his gaze forward, Hitch focused on where Sunny and Izzy had gone. Hoping that he was not too late, Hitch raced through the nearest door he could find… and found himself back in the auditorium. Pipp was still singing, and no pony seemed to realize what had happened. They didn’t even seem to notice that Zipp had left her throne, and was now struggling with Cloudpuff over the crown.

Though, to be fair, it was hard to tear his eyes away from the pegasus flying above. Hitch almost started dancing to the beat, before he got control of himself.

Have to find Sunny, he reminded himself, heading into the crowd. Have to find…

“ROAAAAAAAAAAA!” A voice howled from behind.

Hitch spun as the doors burst open. A pile of pegasus guards screamed as they were forced into the room, Logan barely visible underneath them as he bulldozed his way in.

“MONSTER DOG!” several ponies shrieked.

Hitch yelped as he realized Logan was coming for him. But just before he could turn and run, Logan wrenched a guard off him and threw him.

Mere minutes earlier, Sunny and Izzy’s desperate race for the dog had led them right into the technician handling Pipp’s wires.

At first, the technician stared at them in horror. Sunny lifted her hooves.

“It’s okay,” she tried to assure him. “Don’t be scared.”

Izzy started to chime in, but just before she could speak, a roar ripped through the air.

All heads spun as Logan surged into the room, a pile of pegasus guards hanging off him. With a mighty roar, Logan spun and hurled a pegasus into the crowd.

Soaring like the magic had been returned, the guard shrieked as he went in a perfect arc over the crowd, over Sunny and Izzy, over the technician… and right into the technician’s control pad.

Sparks flew. Pipp was suddenly yanked into the air as the controls went haywire. With Logan panting, and stumbling on his paws and Pipp being flung around like she had been possessed, Zipp was able to pull the pegasus crystal from Cloudpuff’s jaws and race to Sunny and Izzy’s side.

“I got it,” she reported. “Now let’s...” she paused, spotting Logan as he struggled to stay on his paws. “Geez! Logan!”

Lunging out from the crowd, Zipp and Sunny pulled Logan along, only for more screams to sound.

“It’s the prisoners!”

“Freeze!” Hitch called, but the pegasi only screamed at his appearance, as Logan’s bulldoze technique had knocked his wings off.

“And another earth pony!”

“Forget about them!” another pegasi noted, pointing up as Pipp now hung upside down, tangled in her wires. “She’s a fake! The royals can’t fly!”

Snatching a piece of armor from a guard, Logan hurled it at Pipp, sending her to the ground.

“Go!” Logan barked. “GET OUT OF HERE!”

Not questioning it, Pipp dove into the crowd, as Sunny pulled a battered Logan after Izzy and Zipp. And with Hitch in hot pursuit and chaos reigning through the auditorium, the quartet fled Zephyr Heights' Castle.

The group found refuge in an alleyway. Logan was practically being dragged at that point, he was panting so hard.

“Come on, Logan,” Sunny pleaded as she yanked him along. “Just a little further.”

“Yeah…” Logan gasped, forcing himself up and doing his best to push forward. “Yeah… I can make it… don’t worry bout me…” He wheezed as he threw himself into the shadows of the alleyway, Hitch not far behind him.

Hitch checked their six for pursuers, but any potential pursuers were heading, not after them, but towards the castle. Hitch sighed.

“Okay,” he noted. “I think we lost them.”

Logan gasped for breath. “Oh… now… you’re on our side, huh?” He put himself between Sunny and Hitch. “What happened to arresting, ‘sheriff?’”

Hitch scoffed indignantly. “I can’t arrest her if we’re both in jail.” He glanced up and down Logan’s form. “What in the good name of the law are you, anyway?” He looked to Sunny. “Seriously, where did you find this thing?”

“Hey!” Logan barked. “I’m a diamond dog, not a ‘thing.’”

“Plus,” Zipp added, standing loyally beside her canine friend. “We didn’t need your help. We were doing just fine until you showed up.”

Hitch grimaced. “And you are?”

“Her mom’s the queen,” Izzy explained.

Hitch blinked. “So… you’re a princess?”

“Huh, check it out, Logan,” Zipp noted. “The sheriff just became a detective.”

Logan scoffed. “Detective? Sheriff?” He spat. “They’re all just interfering fools in my book."

Hitch narrowed his eyes, but before he could retort, a news jingle drew their attention to a nearby TV screen.

“Breaking news!” the reporter on screen declared. “Zephyr Heights is in turmoil tonight after the shocking revelation that the royals can’t fly.”

As interviewees flashed across the screen, crying about the ‘betrayal’ and ‘how they can’t trust anyone now,’ Hitch gave a small glare to Logan and Sunny.

“So, tell me something, because I’m a little confused,” Hitch noted to Sunny. “How was this going to lead to unity with the other breeds?”

Logan growled at the sheriff, but Hitch merely cocked an eyebrow, silently asking for an answer. Sunny, for her part, lowered her head in guilt.

“We just… need to unite the crystals,” Sunny insisted, reaching to her saddlebag. “If we can reunite the…” she paused, searching her bag. “No… oh-no-no-no… it’s not here!”

“What?!” Logan stammered, sticking his nose in her bag as well… and accidentally ripping it away from her, getting it stuck on his nose. Zipp snatched the bag off Logan’s nose, but her search proved just as fruitless as the others.

“You gotta be kidding!” Zipp cried.

“Well, on the bright side, we had fun losing it,” Izzy noted.

Logan seethed. “This isn’t about fun! This is about proving all these bigots and hate-mongers wrong!” He turned around. “We have to go back!”

“But it could be anywhere!” Zipp protested.

“Then we look everywhere!” Logan replied. “We search every nook, cranny and hidey-hole until we find it.”

Sunny grabbed Logan before he could limp out. “Wait, Logan,” she reminded him. “Let me look. You still need to recover.”

“I can’t just sit here and do nothing,” Logan insisted. “We can’t just leave it out there for just anyone to find.”

Right on cue, a can clattered, drawing their gaze. A figure stepped out into the light, the pegasus crystal in hoof.

The others gasped, Logan’s ears rising and falling in conflict. The figure holding the pegasus crystal was Pipp Petals. And she did not look happy with the group.

Chapter 3: The Chosen Ones

Pipp held up the crystal. “Someone ‘seriously’ needs to explain why this thing,” she shook the crystal. “Was so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it!”

“Trust me,” Zipp said, striding up to her sister. “It was.”

“You left me hanging there!” Pipp snapped back. “In the spotlight!”

“I cut you down!” Logan pointed out.

“Oh, wonderful, yes, thank you, who are you again?” Pipp demanded.

Before Zipp or Logan could even glance at each other, Pipp cut them off.

“No! It barely matters. You know why? Because now, every pony knows we can’t fly!”

For emphasis, she pulled out her phone, showing a video.

“A warrant is out for the arrest of the princesses,” a reporter declared, followed by an image of Queen Haven against a mugshot board.

“Pipp! Zipp! Save yourselves!” the Queen cried out, before posing for her mug shot.

Pipp lowered her phone, her anger fading to horror and sadness. “This can’t be happening,” she whimpered. “This is so not happening…”

“Pipp!” Zipp called, getting her sister’s attention. “Forget about all that. We can bring back magic; we can allow everyone to fly.”

“But if we’re gonna do that,” Logan added. “We need that crystal.”

Pipp tried to pull away. “Have you both lost your minds?”

Logan seized the crystal and pulled her so she was facing him. “The only thing we’ve lost is our tolerance for this crap!”

Pipp tried to pull away, but Logan gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“How is any of this okay?” he demanded. “Pegasi, living in fear of their fellow ponies just because they don’t have wings? You and your family being forced to lie and deceive just so everyone doesn’t lose their minds? This isn’t what Equestria was founded on.”

Pipp wrenched herself away. “Well, what are we supposed to do?” she demanded. “We can’t change anything.”

Logan grinned as Sunny stepped forward. “Actually, we can,” she said, indicating the crystal again. “If that crystal is paired back up with another crystal with the unicorns, we can restore magic to the land.”

Pipp blinked, glancing immediately at Hitch, who shrugged with a look of complete confusion.

“It may be hard to believe,” Logan said. “But everything worth getting in life is always hard to achieve.” He gripped the crystal in Pipp’s hooves. “Are you willing to take a chance?” He glanced back as another siren sounded. “Or would you rather take the easy route, and put yourself in a cell alongside your mother?” With a quick twist, he wrenched the crystal out of her grip. “Make up your mind fast, because I’m not in the mood for patience. And those guards probably aren’t either.”

Pipp shrunk down as Logan brushed past her, Sunny, Izzy and Zipp giving her pitying looks as they followed Logan. As Pipp stared behind Hitch at her former kingdom, she lowered her head with a sigh.

“Ugh, fine,” she growled, turning to the group. “I know a way out. Follow me.”

Hitch blinked as she moved to the front of the pack. “Wait, what?! You can’t just… but I’m a sheriff!”

“Yeah?” Logan asked, before indicating Zipp and Pipp. “And they’re former princesses, and they’re leading this quest. What’s your point?”

“I, uh…” Hitch groaned, before reluctantly falling in line behind the group, as they followed Pipp out of the city and away from the guards.

As they left Zephyr Heights behind making their way across a daisy field to a massive tree, the group’s spirits remained surprisingly low.

“What am I even doing here?” Hitch moaned. “Hoofing it across daisy fields, looking for a magic crystal that doesn’t even exist…”

“It was going to be my best show ever,” Pipp bemoaned. “And now it’s all over! I’m a criminal! And it’s all because of…”

“Them!” they both hissed in sync, glaring at Izzy, Zipp, Sunny and Logan.

Logan just glanced back at them with a grin. “Hey, you two agree on something. Peace between breeds is getting more possible by the minute!”

Hitch and Pipp blinked at each other. “Did… no! We didn’t agree!”

“Yeah, totally wouldn’t agree with an earth pony,” Pipp agreed.

Logan just grinned. “And you agreed on disagreeing,” he pointed out.

“STOP IT!” Pipp snapped. “It’s not like you’re any better off. How do you even know where to find this ‘other crystal?’”

Zipp stepped up alongside Logan. “Aw, come on,” Zipp said. “You can trust me, sis.”

“Can I?” Pipp demanded. “You’re the one that got Mom thrown in jail!”

Zipp grimaced, but sighed. “Look, once we get our magic back, the whole kingdom will be so excited, they won’t even remember what happened.”

“That’s right,” Logan noted. “You’d be a hero, Pipp Petals. And that’s worth a bit of pain and strife.”

Pipp hummed, looking away, before Hitch stepped up towards Sunny.

“Well, let’s get one thing straight,” Hitch added, pointing at Sunny. “After this whole escapade is over, you are gonna march back home to Maretime Bay with me. Is that clear?”

Logan bristled, growling at the stallion, but Sunny waved the dog off before nodding solemnly to Hitch. “Crystal,” Sunny replied.

“Good,” Hitch said, shooting a smug look at Logan. “Because this badge…” he pointed at his chest. “Means I’m the…”

“Sheriff?” Logan asked, peering down at his chest. “Cuz right now, it looks like you’re an authority without a badge.”

Hitch blinked, before looking down. “WHAT?!” he screamed, searching around. “No-no-no-no, where’s my badge!” He looked up at Logan. “Wait a minute… diamond dogs like shiny things!” He glanced at Izzy, who was wandering around the tree with a bemused expression. “A-And so do unicorns!” He glared at the two. “Alright, which one of you took it!”

Logan just crossed his arms with a grin, while Izzy blinked.

“Oh, you know,” she noted. “I thought I saw a shiny badge-y thing on the ground a few hours ago.”

Hitch gagged. “A FEW HOURS?!”

Logan chuckled. “So much for the role of sheriff,” he mused.

“Eh, it’s probably for the best,” Izzy agreed, moving to Hitch conspiratorially. “Between you and me, buddy, that badge was creating an unhealthy power dynamic.”

Logan cackled at Hitch’s look of disbelief. However, his cackling faded when he looked back at the tree… and noticed something.

The others paused, spotting it as well: a golden wolf-like figure. It gazed at them with eyes filled with longing… and sadness.

Pipp glanced between Logan and the wolf. “Is that, uh… another diamond dog?” she asked.

Logan pushed forward. “Stay behind me,” he replied.

The girls gathered behind Logan, while Hitch - despite his arguments - stepped up next to Logan, ready to help him fight. But the wolf figure didn’t fight them. Instead, it turned and walked away.

Despite himself, Logan followed after it, watching as it cleared past the daisy field and went into some sort of forest. Curious, Sunny ventured after it, followed by Izzy, Zipp and Logan.

“Guys?” Hitch demanded.

“Zipp!” Pipp hissed. “We don’t know what that thing is!”

“Logan does,” Sunny insisted. “Right Logan?”

“I…” Logan shook his head, but followed the beast all the same.

As they delved into the forest, however, a sense of unease fell over the group. The trees seemed to arch over them, like hands about to seize them and drag them to some unknown fate.

Despite their arguments, Pipp clung to Zipp like a security blanket, and Zipp put a wing over her sister protectively. Similarly, Hitch and Sunny stuck together, and with no one else to cling to, Izzy almost hopped onto Logan’s back. Logan, however, remained transfixed by the pearly wolf, who continued to lead them deeper and deeper into the forest.

“This place’s sparkle is all wrong,” Izzy whispered. “It’s like… mahogany, but old… and hurt.”

“We should go back,” Hitch insisted. “I don’t like the look of this place.”

“Me neither,” Pipp whimpered. “I’m so not getting good vibes.”

Sunny looked to Logan. “Logan?” she whispered. “Maybe we shouldn’t…”

But then the wolf looked back at Sunny. And Sunny gasped as other ponies stepped up next to the wolf. All of them shimmering and almost made of mist. But worst of all… they were ponies Sunny recognized.

Rarity. Applejack. Rainbow Dash. Three of…

“T-The Guardians of Harmony…” Sunny whispered.

The others gasped, watching in awe as the pony spirits turned, continuing to lead them forward. With curiosity now infecting the others, they pressed forward, almost in line with Logan as they eventually made their way through the forest… and to a cottage.

But the cottage looked barren - alone and forgotten, with trees and moss growing over what used to look like a quaint little home for an animal lover.

Sunny covered her mouth. Not just any animal lover…

They stepped back as the spirit of Fluttershy appeared. Seemingly unaware of her surroundings, she left food that scattered into dust when she left, made nests for birds that didn’t come, and hummed quietly to herself as she left the cottage behind, joining her fellow guardians and the gold wolf.

Her curiosity rampaging, Sunny almost got ahead of Logan as he followed the spirits out of the forest and into a ruin. Once proud buildings now lay overgrown and taken by the trees and plants. The few lingering signs of civilization were so overgrown and ruined that how they had managed to remain recognizable was a mystery.

Cautiously, the six friends made their way through the ruins. They saw the spirit of Rainbow Dash gaze at what looked like a wrecked clubhouse, with a faint poster depicting her and her team of Wonder Bolts.

They saw a forest of apple trees, almost standing guard around the wreckage of an old farm. The spirit of Applejack tipped her hat in solemn silence.

They saw an old bakery that almost looked made out of gingerbread. The spirit of Pinkie Pie was waiting for them, bouncing into line with the others.

They saw an old carousel, that the spirit of Rarity briefly ventured out to, trying to touch before her hoof started to turn to smoke, and she reluctantly returned to her friends.

Finally, the group made it to ruined and overgrown castle, which was dominated by a large golden oak. The spirit of Twilight stood, regarding the tree that had taken over the castle. Next to her was another wolf, this one a bright white, like a living sun. They turned and smiled at the golden wolf, before the Guardians took up formation alongside Twilight.

The golden wolf turned to Logan, gazing at him and his pony friends with longing.

“Finally…” she whispered. “You came…”

Logan shook his head. “Who… are you?”

“A last echo,” the golden wolf whispered, looking back at the Guardians. “A message… to those willing to hear it…”

Sunny crept closer. “What happened?” she asked.

The golden wolf gazed sadly up at her. “Time,” she replied. “The greatest enemy of all. No matter how long you try to keep peace and harmony… time will eventually come to claim you.”

She gazed sadly at the Guardians, as they withered and aged into elderly mares… and eventually faded away into mist.

“At first, they were revered as heroes,” the gold wolf sighed. “Then legends… and eventually, gods.” Her tail tucked. “But just as time took us away, it also took away the impact of our lessons. All words not spoken by the Guardians or their allies were decried as heresy. Our lessons, originally meant to inspire harmony and love, were used to justify war and hate.” She turned back to the ponies. “That is the cycle of history; when good rises up, evil will eventually rise up to overthrow it. But good will always come back around. Now, just as the Guardians triumphed over evil before, the time has come for new heroes to repeat the cycle.” She gazed at them. “All of you… must continue the Guardians’ work.”

Hitch gasped. “Us?” he stammered. “But… we’re not… we can’t…”

“We just met each other!” Pipp protested. “We’re not some… team of heroes. We couldn’t even…” She looked down. “We couldn’t even keep the respect of our kingdoms.”

The golden wolf crossed over to Pipp, and lifted her chin.

“Twilight wasn’t a hero when she started either,” the gold wolf assured her. “She didn’t think she needed friends. None of them knew each other for more than a day before they defeated Nightmare Moon.” She looked to the others. “All you need… is the willpower and the resolve. And the reminder that the only way for evil to triumph, is for good souls to do nothing.”

Logan swallowed, while Sunny and Zipp held themselves higher. Hitch and Pipp looked at each other in doubt, while Izzy just gazed at the gold wolf in awe.

The wolf turned back to Logan. “Please,” she whispered, her voice becoming desperate. “Promise you will try. Promise you won’t do nothing.”

Logan’s face hardened, and he stood tall. “You have my word,” he said. “I will fight to make this right.”

Sunny stood next to him. “I will too.”

Zipp stepped up. “And so will I.”

Izzy tilted her head, before noticing the others looking at her. “Oh!” she stepped up. “Me, too. Yeah.”

Hitch and Pipp gave each other another worried look, before Hitch sighed. “I’m a sheriff,” he said, stepping up. “It’s my job to keep the peace. And I always complete my job.”

Pipp groaned, before stepping up as well. “I guess I can help too,” she mumbled.

The golden wolf smiled all the same, before dissolving away into mist herself. Leaving the group to ponder what she said, in the ruins of their former heroes.

Chapter 4: Fitting In

The six friends sat under the former Tree of Harmony, a fire warming their bodies.

Or… almost all of their bodies. Hitch sat off to the side, struggling to light his own fire.

“Come on,” he growled as he rubbed the sticks together. “Stupid stick.”

“Need some backup there, sheriff?” Zipp teased.

“No-no, let him do it himself,” Logan insisted. “He’s got this.” He paused. “Even though I still totally don’t like him. But who cares?! I believe!”

“That’s right,” Hitch growled, before pausing. “Not that it means anything, you know, but… I got it!” He and Logan both ignored the girl’s grinning while Hitch ground the sticks together. “If I just had a match…”

Suddenly, the sticks sparked, and a fire coughed to life. But just as Hitch whooped in victory… the fire fizzled out.

Logan’s fur bristled, and with a snarl, he smacked Hitch’s log pile. His claws sparked on the wood, and the fire flared back to life.

Hitch and Logan cackled in victory… before noticing each other, and turning their backs on each other with mutual, “Hmph!”s.

The girls lost it and laughed at the two males’ antics.

“Logan, just admit it,” Zipp said. “You like him.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Z,” Logan said, turning his back on her with another “HMPH!”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Sunny noted. “Animals love Hitch for some reason. He’s got a whole squad back home.”

“I’ve got no idea why,” Hitch admitted. “I’m like a magnet to them.” He smirked. “Didn’t know it worked on diamond dogs too.”

“It’s not; I’m non-magnetic!” Logan replied, turning his back on him again.

The group laughed, before Izzy glanced up at the tree. “So, are we just going to ignore what happened back there with the spirit wolf?”

The humor faded from the air. Logan and Hitch glanced at each other before joining the girls.

“No,” Logan admitted. “We were chosen. It’s our destiny to reunite the world.”

“Are you sure?” Hitch noted. “We didn’t ask to do any of this. If we can just go back to Maretime Bay…”

“Come on, Hitch,” Sunny encouraged. “What have we got to lose?”

“By giving magic back to our enemies?” Hitch asked. “Let me think… oh, I know - a lot!”

“Come on,” Sunny encouraged, indicating the others. “Do they look like enemies to you?”

Hitch watched as Logan settled himself next to Zipp like a big dog, while Pipp blinked in awe as Izzy explained sparkles to her. Hitch didn’t want to admit it, but it was hard to see the others as enemies - especially when Zipp started scratching Logan’s ears, and his back legs thumped just like an ordinary dog.

Hitch sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe I should just go back. Maritime Bay needs me.”

Logan blinked at Hitch, biting back a whimper, while Sunny just sighed.

“If that’s what you want,” Sunny replied. “But you should know I’m actually glad you’re here, Hitch. We all are.”

“I’m not,” Logan said. Sunny just grinned at him. “I’m not!”

Zipp smirked as she noticed Logan’s tail flopping about. “Does your tail do that when you lie?”

Logan snapped at his tail, pulling it to his side with a huff and eliciting laughter from the others. Glaring around, Logan let go of his tail and stood.

“Alright, and like that, I’m taking first watch,” he replied, striding off.

“Oh, come on, Logan,” Zipp protested, struggling not to laugh. “You know we were just joking.”

“Get your winks while you can, ponies,” he replied, not looking back. “We leave for Bridlewood at first light.”

Izzy’s laughter died down, and she gazed at the fire mournfully. Sunny tilted her head at her friend’s reaction.

“Izzy?” Sunny asked. “You okay?”

Izzy smiled up at the group. “Being with you guys has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I guess… I don’t want our adventure to end.”

“Who says it’ll end?” Logan replied, returning. “Reuniting pony kind is just the start. After that, we’ll reunite the diamond dogs and the ponies. And after that, we’ll find the dragons and unite them. Then the changelings, then the hippogriffs…” he grinned as Izzy’s smile returned. “There you go, see? We’ve got plenty of adventures ahead.”

Despite his words comforting Izzy, Pipp and Hitch squirmed at the idea of more adventures. Hitch gave Izzy a confused look.

“Why did you come to Maretime Bay?”

“I always wanted to visit,” Izzy admitted. “When I was a filly, I found this pretty lantern. It had a message inside saying I had friends in Maretime Bay.”

Sunny gasped, drawing Izzy’s gaze.

“It… was you?” Izzy asked.

Sunny nodded. “I… made it with my dad. We always promised each other that someday, we would prove that all ponies were meant to be friends. We’ll do our part. Hoof to heart.”

Logan smiled. “Better make that hoof to paw too,” he offered his own paw. “I don’t just think that all ponies can be friends. I believe we can unite the world.” He looked to Hitch. “Imagine that; the ultimate peace. Everybody working together in harmony to make this world a better place.” He nodded. “That’s what the Howlite Howler wanted. And I guess… that’s what I want too.”

Hitch pondered his words, before edging closer to the group as well. “I guess if a diamond dog is willing to do his part, then I should to.” He smiled at Sunny. “What have we got to lose, right?”

Zipp grinned. “That’s the spirit, sheriff,” she said, standing next to Logan. “And don’t think that I’m staying out either.”

Logan grinned and pat Zipp’s back. “Wouldn’t want it any other way, partner,” he replied.

Pipp sighed. “Well… I will admit that it would be kinda fun to see all those different species.”

Hitch paused, but nodded. “You have to admit; a unicorn forest does sound kind of magical.”

Bridlewood was not that magical. The ominous forest cast everything in a shade of monotone gray, and everything seemed to be drooping in depression.

“Or not,” Hitch muttered.

Logan glanced at him. “Or not what?”

“Gilligan Cut,” Izzy suggested.

Hitch and Logan blinked, but before they could ask, Izzy darted into the forest without fear.

“Come on!” she said happily. “My house isn’t far from here.”

Exchanging a glance, the males followed the mares as Izzy led them to pretty much the only colorful house in the forest.

“Well, here we are, guys,” Izzy said gleefully. “La villa Izzy.”

She opened the doors, and the others gasped in shock. Compared to the creepy forest from before, Izzy’s house was a vibrant rainbow of colors. Various crafted items and inventions sat around the house, from some sort of painting with eyes that moved to some sort of rolling pin with bottles that played music when spun.

“Did you make all of this?” Zipp asked.

“Yep,” Izzy said gleefully. “Uni-cycling!” Isn’t it funky?”

“It’s gorgeous!” Pipp sang, her wings fluttering with glee.

“Mm,” Logan mumbled, licking at a device with crystals in it. “Tastes delicious.” He almost went for a bite, before Sunny and Hitch warned him off with dual glares. Izzy gasped.

“Oh, wait, watch this! Hold everything!” She pulled out some sort of bud-like device and pushed it over to the others. “I never got to use this with actual friends.”

With a crank of a lever, the bud opened up into a flower, with each petal depositing a cup of tea before the other mares. There was even one for Logan, who promptly started lapping at the tea inside.

“Ta-da!” Izzy sang.

Pipp gasped in glee. “I so wish I had live-streamed that!”

Sunny chuckled at the other’s reaction, before a glance outside reminded her of why they were there.

“Look, as much as I want to stay and see all this, we don’t have time for that right now,” she reluctantly admitted. “If we’re gonna get the information we need on the unicorn crystal, we can’t stick out like sore hooves… or paws,” she added towards Logan, who was still lapping at his cup. “We need to look like unicorns.”

Logan paused, his tongue still in his cup. He glanced over. “Are you sure I can’t burrow us across Bridlewood? We can’t just eavesdrop or look for the crystal that way?”

“Oh, come on, it’s a makeover!” Pipp exclaimed. “I love makeovers.”

“I’m with Logan,” Zipp said. “This is not what I signed up for!”

“Besides that,” Hitch added. “How are you going to disguise Logan?” He indicated the wolf. “He’s literally not a pony at all.”

Logan glared at Hitch, but logic quickly chased away his glare. “He’s got a point,” he noted, glancing up at Izzy. “You think you can make a wolf into a unicorn, Iz?”

Izzy grinned as music started to play. “Honey, you came to the right cottage.”

Logan and Hitch exchanged a glance as Izzy put on a projector, and burst into song.

I thought Earth ponies were the pony ladder's bottom rung

I heard that Pegasi were brutes you'd hate to be among

Izzy darted between Sunny, Logan and Zipp.

"You smell like fishes! You're vicious! I bet you eat your young!"

Meet any one of you, the thing to do is run away

Izzy started to dance, with Sunny and Pipp joining in.

But although I know we're all a bunch of different breeds

Take away our wings and horns, and we're just frightened steeds

So let's put aside our differences, 'cause what we need's a win

Oh-oh-oh

Come on, rip out all the pages of your history books

Just because we're undercover doesn't mean we're crooks

Suddenly, she kicked a chair towards Hitch. Out of instinct, Logan knocked Hitch out of the way, and caught swept up in the chair, getting slotted to a mirror and spun as part of Izzy’s song.

When we walk you through the crowd and give your brand new looks a spin

You're gonna fit right in

Hitch stared as Izzy dabbed powder on Logan’s nose, causing the dog to sneeze. “This is a new low,” Hitch mused.

“You're gonna fit right in,” Izzy responded in song.

“It's never gonna work!” Hitch insisted.

“Says who,” Logan defied, leading to Hitch going into his own song.

They taught us unicorns were super-scary maniacs

With horns like razors and tongues like tasers and teeth like tacks

They take your hooves and then they grind them into midnight snacks

The basic gist of it is unicorns are not okay!

But then Sunny pulled Hitch away, bursting into song as Zipp and Pipp joined her in dance.

Look, I know we're riskin' everything for this endeavor

But look at us, we're brave and strong and weird and clever

We're runnin' out of options and we're desperate to begin

Izzy popped into frame. “You're gonna fit right in!”

Hitch chuckled. “If you say so.” before Logan and Sunny appeared on opposite sides of him.

“You're gonna fit right in,” they sang.

“I know you will,” Izzy agreed. “Now watch and learn.”

This is how a unicorn walks (walks)

She led the group down a staircase, showing them how to walk before they dropped into a talk show host studio.

This is how a unicorn talks (talks)

This is how a unicorn hoops

“Hoops?” Logan asked as they watched her shoot a basketball hoop.

This is how a unicorn—

The others winced as they tried to shoot a hoop as well… only for their balls to fall onto Izzy.

This is how a unicorn struts

Oh, watch us shake our unicorn butts

Now you're in the unicorn know

“Whoa!” Izzy breathed.

“Soon you'll be a unicorn pro!” Izzy declared, before breaking out into rap.

Oh, a unicorn horn makes a unicorn stride

It's the more-head on your forehead, it's the source of your pride

Every unicorn who's born has worn a horn that's unique

So we'll whip them up as we speak, you'll be lookin' très magnifique

And with those rocks in our pockets, we'll reap the reward

And folks'll be floored, we'll strike a new chord

Our magic restored!

Encouraged, the rest of the group sprung into song.

Lately, all Equestria has lost its heart

But if we can help to find it, we should play our part

“If we fail, we'll go to prison,” Hitch pointed out.

“But if not, we'll start to grin,” Sunny insisted, before Izzy jumped in front of her.

So let's begin!” The unicorn sang, before Sunny and Logan jumped to her side.

We're gonna fit right in!

Seconds later, the disguises were ready; Pipp walked out, her wings covered and a horn on her head.

This is how a unicorn walks,”

Zipp came out, equally covered and strutting her stuff.

This is how a unicorn talks

Hitch strutted out with a confident grin, his horn perched perfectly in his mane.

Now you're lookin' unicorn strong

Finally, Logan stepped out between a disguised Sunny and Izzy; his canine snout covered by a rubber muzzle that perfectly resembled a pony snout, his paws in small socks that resembled horse hooves, and a unicorn horn perched perfectly on his forehead.

“This is how a unicorn ends this song!” he, Sunny and Izzy sang together in harmony, before stepping out into Bridlewood.

Chapter 5: Bridlewood

True to Izzy’s word, though Bridlewood wasn’t exactly the most cheerful of places, it was pouring with crystals.

“See?” Izzy noted to her friends. “Crystals! Crystals! Crystals!” she practically danced between the different quartzes, smiling with glee at the shock on her friends faces.

Logan followed after her, sniffing at each of the crystals, and even licking them for good measure. “They taste like sugar,” he noted, before taking a bite out of one of them.

“Logan!” Sunny chastised, noticing a few other unicorns. “Don’t draw… attention?”

Sunny took another look at the other unicorns. To say they were different from Izzy would be a monumental understatement: the unicorns’ coats were dull and lifeless, and their eyes sagged as if they hadn’t slept in years. Aimlessly, they wandered, their heads low and their hoofsteps plodding. Three unicorn colts didn’t so much as play on a nearby playground as they did just flop onto the equipment like all of them had suffered some sort of severe breakup.

“Well,” Hitch summed up. “This is cheerful.”

“Seriously,” Logan noted. “What happened?”

“Probably the loss of magic,” Sunny offered. But just as she looked to Izzy, one of the colts jumped up with a gasp.

“You said a bad word!” he shouted at Sunny.

The others blinked. “Huh?”

“Quick, before we get jinxed!” the colt yelled to his friends. And together, they began some sort of strange dance, chanting, “Bing-bong!” over and over.

Logan blinked. “Okay but why though?”

“Unicorns are very superstitious,” Izzy explained. “If a pony ever says a forbidden word, we have to do a ritual to ward off the jinxies.”

“Jinxies?” Pipp asked.

“Bad luck.”

Logan got a cunning look on his face. “So… can we assume that…” he glanced at a nearby unicorn. “MMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAA…”

“Stop it,” Hitch snapped at him, as the unicorn slowly turned to them with horror, before returning to their depressed state when Logan stopped. Hitch sighed at Logan’s childish giggle, before looking to Izzy. “So… what other forbidden words do we need to worry about?”

Izzy glanced around before leaning in conspiratorially. “Magic, wing, feather… oh, and mayonnaise.”

Logan snorted. “MAYO…”

Izzy shut his snout, but Logan still tittered in glee when a unicorn gasped, only to fall back into depression when he failed to complete the word. He grinned at the ponies.

“No,” Sunny warned.

“Yes,” he insisted.

“Logan, we do not have the time,” Sunny insisted. “We need to find the Unicorn Crystal.” She leaned closer. “Reunite the world and prove the hate-mongers wrong?”

Logan rolled his eyes. “You’re right - you’re right.” He motioned for Izzy to let him go… only to speed right over to another unicorn the second his friends’ backs were turned.

“Mayo-waves,” he whispered, causing the unicorn to jump and look around in confusion as he scampered away.

“Did… was that…?” the unicorn whimpered.

Tittering to himself, Logan joined Zipp, who was holding back her own grin as she hoof-bumped his paw. Pipp, however, glowered at them in disapproval before rolling her eyes, following Hitch and Sunny as they followed Izzy.

“Come on,” Izzy said. “There’s something I want to show you.” She led them to another tree house similar to her own, only this one was more focused on the crystals. Logan started to drool at the sight of so many quartz-like gems.

“The Crystal Tea Room?” Sunny read on the sign above the door.

“There’s a pony inside who collects crystals,” Izzy explained. “Maybe he could help us.”

“That’s great,” Sunny said, before pausing, and spinning around. “Logan?!”

“Mahjongg!” Logan barked, sending another unicorn into a confused tizzy. He cackled in delight, before noticing Sunny glaring at him. “I know-I know,” he said, walking back over to them. “No bad words.” He failed to hide his grin.

Inside, they found several other unicorns, lying about without a single care or speck of joy in the world. Izzy immediately sighted down on one particular unicorn.

“That’s the pony,” she noted to Sunny.

Instantly, Logan was at his side. “FFFFFFFebreeze!” he boomed, sending the crystal collector into another confused tizzy.

“Logan, for goodness’ sake!” Sunny snapped, shoving him aside before giving the collector a winning smile. “Sorry… so… word in the forest is you collect crystals?”

“Oh, I…” the collector mumbled, coming down from the confusion. “Yes, I did.” He lowered his head in depression. ‘I lost em all in a limbo contest with Alphabittle.”

Instantly, Izzy winced. “Oh, no.”

Logan grinned. “A challenge?” He chuckled darkly. “Alright, tell us; who is this Alphabittle?”

They got their answer with the clang of a bell.

“Times up,” the biggest unicorn in the room declared to a smaller unicorn. “Pass it over Jasper.”

Another unicorn sighed and forked over some kind of rubiks cube. The cube was hopelessly messed up with colors, but the bigger unicorn easily switched it around with a few swipes of his hooves.

“Guess that makes me the winner,” the unicorn declared happily. “Again. Pay up.”

“Ugh. Fine,” Jasper grumbled, forking over some sort of crystal.

“You could always try winning it back,” the unicorn - Alphabittle - offered. But Jasper just hung his head and wandered. “Alright, suit yourself.”

As Alphabittle placed the crystal among a stack of other trinkets, Sunny and Logan’s eyes lit up as they beheld one particular crystal that matched with what they had seen in the window.

“There it is,” she whispered.

“Okay,” Logan whispered. “So, what should we go with?” He grinned. “Oh! I vote we hit them with all four bad words; see what happens!”

Zipp grimaced. “What is it with you and language, Logan?” She glanced at the others. “This is worse than the time I taught him the forbidden words for pegasi.”

Pipp gasped. “That was YOU?!”

Hitch and Izzy exchanged a look. “Uh, what are…?”

“Oh, no!” Pipp snapped, shutting Logan’s trap tight. “You almost ruined my last live stream shouting that trash down at the city. You’re not ruining this!”

“It isn’t a bad backup plan…” Hitch murmured, though he was wise to keep his voice down so the others couldn’t hear.

Logan squirmed free, almost losing his fake pony muzzle in the process. “Alright-alright,” he growled. “Anyone else got ideas?”

Sunny pondered it for a moment, before her eyes lit up. “I do,” she said. “Maybe I can beat Alphabittle at his own game.”

Logan tilted his head, but sat back, eager to see what she did. Sunny turned to Alphabittle, only for Izzy to race over.

“Wait,” Izzy said, before spritzing Sunny with some perfume. “Alphabittle can smell fear,” she explained.

Logan scoffed. “Can he smell determination.”

Sunny grinned at Logan’s support. “Right… be cool.”

Like a boss, Sunny sat at the counter, ordering a tea with no milk. “Quite the game player, I see,” she noted to the big unicorn.

“It passes the time,” he replied. “Why? You play?”

“I don’t play,” Sunny replied. “I win.”

From the background, Logan grinned. “Yes,” he hissed.

“And I challenge you,” Sunny continued, pointing at the unicorn crystal. “For that.”

Alphabittle laughed. “You think you can beat me?”

“Only one way to find out,” Sunny replied.

“Big talk for a little pony.”

“I think you’ll find I’m average height. Now what do you say?”

“Whatever you’re better,” Alphabittle grinned. “It better be special.”

Barely missing a beat, Sunny put the Pegasus Crystal in front of him, eliciting a gasp of horror from the rest of the Mane Five.

“Special enough for you?” Sunny replied.

Zipp tried to run to Sunny’s side, but Logan held her back. “What are you doing?” she demanded. “That’s…”

“The greatest risks yield the best rewards,” Logan replied with a grin. “Sunny’s got this.”

“But if he wins, we lost both crystals,” Pipp hissed.

“Then one of us challenges him, or we use my plan,” Logan replied. “We’ll be okay.”

With Logan calming the dissenters, the Mane Five watched as Alphabittle and Sunny shook on it.

“Now,” Sunny said. “Give me that cube.”

But Alphabittle laughed. “Oh, no. A special prize calls for a special competition.” He turned to his fellow unicorns. “Bring the ultimate challenge.”

Sunny’s face fell. “The what?”

The others gasped as the other unicorns brought in an electronic dancing game.

“A… dancing game?” Sunny stammered. “Seriously?”

“Don’t worry about it, Starscout!” Logan insisted. “You did great with music numbers!”

“So, both ponies agree?” a beatnik unicorn asked. “Best out of three.”

“Let’s make it more interesting,” Alphabittle replied. “You only need to win one out of three.”

Despite the added favor, the others' faces couldn’t help but fall as the dancing game began.

Save for Logan. “You got this, Sunny!” he boomed. “Equestria is counting on you! You gonna let her down? Show this gelding your moves!”

Though intended to be helpful, Logan’s words only distracted Sunny, keeping her from the buttons. Hitch realized what was going on.

“Logan,” he hissed. “Shut it.”

“But she’s losing,” Logan insisted. “She needs motivation!”

As the two argued, Sunny glanced back, missing several button prompts. And before she knew it, the song was winding down… and she was hopelessly behind.

“Yeah,” Alphabittle cheered. “That’s how you do it.”

“Yay,” the other unicorns deadpanned.

Sunny panted, grimacing in defeat.

“I-It’s okay,” Izzy insisted. “You’re just warming up.”

“Yeah,” Logan agreed. “You got this, girl. You got this in the bag.” He chuckled, before bursting out of the door. Glancing around for any witnesses, he burrowed into the ground, looking for more crystals.

Thankfully, with Logan’s booming barks not distracting her, Sunny did slightly better. However, Alphabittle had clearly played the game for much longer. And though Sunny’s second round was close, he still managed to get ahead.

“Critters,” he declared smugly. “Get my crystal polish ready, would ya?”

“Round three,” the beatnik unicorn noted. “Who will it be?”

Sunny struggled to breath. “Here goes nothing…”

But as the third round began, Pipp came up next to her. “You hear that, Sunny?” she encouraged. “Feel the rhythm take you over. Feel it?”

Following her advice, Sunny began to fall into the rhythm of the song. “I’m feeling it,” she whispered with a laugh. “I’m feeling it!”

“Yeah you are!” Pipp encouraged. “You do this, Sunny, Whoo!”

At that moment, Logan came back in, his costume smudged with dirt, and struggling to hold several crystals with his hoof gloves. Wisely, he skidded to a stop, watching as Sunny’s score grew parallel with Alphabittle’s… and passed it.

“We won!” Sunny gasped in glee.

Alphabittle could only stare in shock, as the Mane Five cheered.

Dropping his crystals, Logan let out a howl of victory… that unfortunately knocked his pony snout off. The fake snout flew through the air, and knocked Sunny’s horn off.

The unicorns gasped in horror.

“An earth pony?” Alphabittle stammered.

Zipp sighed, before throwing off her cape. “And pegasi.”

Logan stepped up. “And diamond dog,” he added.

“And unicorn!” Izzy agreed, before pausing. “Which… you knew already.”

Sunny sighed. “I know it doesn’t look like it, but we’re here to help.”

“Help?” Alphabittle demanded. “We don’t need help. Especially from ponies like you.” He went for the Pegasus Crystal. “Give me the…”

Logan, however, was faster, his claws snatching the crystal away, and warning Alphabittle off with bared teeth. “Don’t even try,” Logan growled. “Sunny won.”

“She tricked me!” Alphabittle insisted. He stamped his hooves, and the unicorns reluctantly rose up, all of them eying Logan’s teeth and claws with trepidation. “The crystal,” Alphabittle growled. “Now!”

Logan simply flashed his claws. “You’ll get claws or teeth. Make your choice.”

Hitch and the others gasped. Though Alphabittle had been a smug unicorn, none of them felt he deserved to get beat up by Logan. But with the unicorns rising up, it was an equally bad idea to try and get Logan to back off. So… Hitch did the next best thing.

“MAGIC! WING! FEATHER! MAYONNAISE!”

Logan and Alphabittle paused. Then…

“Bing!” Alphabittle yelped.

The chant started up. They began to dance. Logan began to smile in glee.

“Hitch, you’re a genius!” Logan cheered.

“Yeah-yeah, later,” Hitch insisted, pulling the dog away. “Now run!”

“Go-go,” Sunny agreed, as the group raced out of the tea shop.

“You’ll play for this!” Alphabittle screamed, trapped in the dance.

“Sorry about that,” Izzy replied.

“Thanks for the laughs,” Logan added.

And together, the six friends left the unicorns behind.

Chapter 6: Maretime Bay

As the group raced away from Bridlewood, Logan’s laughter managed to lift some of the ponies’ hearts.

“Hitch, that was ingenious!” Logan said as they ran. “I’d say I was wrong about you, but…”

“Save it for later,” Sunny insisted, taking the lead. “We just have to…”

Unfortunately, as the group fled Bridlewood, they crashed into someone. Immediately, Logan pulled Hitch and Zipp back, only to discover…

Zipp and Pipp gasped. “MOM!?”

The former Queen Haven gasped at the sight of her daughters, flinging Izzy and Sunny off her. “Oh, my darlings!” she sobbed, pulling them into an embrace. “Thank hoofness!”

“Y-You escaped!” Zipp whispered.

“How did you find us?” Pipp asked.

Haven merely looked down with a grin as Cloudpuff appeared. Logan’s face fell.

“Oh, you again…” Logan grumbled.

Cloudpuff got out a muffled bark at the diamond dog - whatever the pomeranian said made Logan bristle with outrage - before Cloudpuff turned to Hitch, revealing a certain silver object in his mouth.

Hitch cheered in delight. “My badge! Yes!” he happily put on his badge, as Sunny and Logan exchanged a resigned look, and Izzy smiled as Haven hugged her daughters.

“Oh, I’m so glad I found my little fillies,” Haven whispered in relief. She shook herself off. “Okay, now, I know that if you just come back with me, we can explain everything. Spin the story and they’ll love us again.” She grinned hopefully, though her grin faded as the sisters exchanged a glance. “R-Right?”

Logan, however, gasped in delight. “What if I told you…” he noted. “That there’s a way to reveal that you were telling the truth?”

However, when the Queen turned to Logan, her ears flattened and she pulled her daughters behind her.

“You’re the beast that disrupted my daughter’s song,” she noted, the fire of a protective mother flaring to life in her eyes. “You…”

“Whoa, hang on,” Zipp said, jumping between them. “Logan’s.. Different, but…”

“Let us explain,” Sunny tried to interject, only for the sound of galloping to cut her off. Queen Haven gasped as two guards leaped out of the foliage.

“There she is!” one of them cried. “Your Criminal Highness, you’re coming with us!”

But no sooner had the second guard leaped out before he screamed. “Diamond Dogs!” he screamed, pointing at Logan, then pointing at Izzy. “Unicorns!”

Sunny motioned for Logan to stay back, only for another unicorn to emerge with a thud behind them.

“Give me back my crystals!” Alphabittle growled. “And leave Bridlewood.”

Logan spun back around, Sunny barely able to stop him from attacking… before Queen Haven laughed.

“Your crystals?” she demanded, snatching the Pegasus Crystal from Sunny. “This crystal belongs to me.”

“Not anymore, it doesn’t!” Alphabittle growled. “I won it fair and square!”

“Oh, Bull Duty,” Logan snapped.

“Indeed,” Haven agreed. “Unicorns are known cheaters!”

Alphabittle laughed humorlessly. “And you pegasi always thought you were better than us!”

“Hey, that’s our queen you’re talking to!” one of the guards yelled.

“She’s not a queen here!” another unicorn growled.

As the argument devolved into angry screams and roars, Sunny shared a glance with Logan. He wiggled his eyebrows, his tail already wagging as he grinned hopefully.

With a fight close to breaking out, Sunny sighed, and stepped back. “Do your thing,” she muttered.

Eagerly, Logan stepped forward… and let loose with what was less of a howl and more like a roar. The roar slammed into the arguing ponies like a truck, knocking several of the unicorns off their hooves. The rest flinched down where they stood, staring in shock as the wolf let loose with his sonic howl.

As his howl petered out, Logan slowly caught his breath, his eyes narrowed as he took in the frightened faces around him.

“If you guys intend to fight,” he noted. “You’re going to have a hard time doing it without magic.”

“Bing-bong!” one of the unicorns yelped.

“Oh, shut up!” Logan snapped. “You don’t like it when I say magic? Because no pony has it! Pegasi can’t fly, unicorns can’t cast spells…” He indicated himself. “Heck, even the diamond dogs lost the pack link. None of us have magic.”

“Bing-bong!” another unicorn whimpered, before Sunny stepped forward.

“But we can bring it back,” she insisted, wincing as everyone stared at her in disbelief. “I know it sounds unbelievable, but please, just let us try.”

The princesses looked to their mother. “Please Mom,” Pipp asked.

“Trust us,” Zipp added.

Haven winced, gazing at her daughters and the diamond dog before them, before sighing. Reluctantly, she handed the pegasus crystal over to Sunny.

“You’re wasting your time, kid,” Alphabittle grumbled. But regardless, he didn’t protest as Izzy took the unicorn crystal and brought it over to Sunny.

“Ready Izzy?” Sunny asked.

“Ready,” Izzy confirmed.

“For what?” Logan interjected.

The duo paused. “Huh?”

“You guys are missing a crystal,” Logan pointed out. “You got crystals for unicorns and pegasi, but what about the earth ponies?”

Sunny chuckled. “Well, what about us? We don’t have magic?”

“No?” Logan dared. “You don’t think you got super strength or burrowing skills like a diamond dog?” He chuckled. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

Hitch glanced around. “Wait-wait-wait,” he stammered. “You mean to tell me that we still have to find another crystal?”

“This is ridiculous,” Alphabittle said. “You’re just leading us on.”

Logan’s ears flattened. “So what would you do?” Logan demanded. “Go back to being top dog of a bunch of apathetic goths?” He glared at the unicorns. “You’re all content to just sit around and mope about something when you can fix it right now?” He looked to Queen Haven. “You want to go back to your kingdom in disgrace when you could come back like the queen you are?”

Queen Haven blinked. “Well, I…” she stammered, before Logan addressed the whole group.

“You ponies weren’t the only ones that were united once,” Logan insisted. “The Howlite Howler and the Guardians of Harmony fought to unite this country. They gave everything they had to let us live in peace and harmony. And look where we are now?” He indicated the two groups. “Fighting and complaining over… crystals?”

Sunny and Izzy winced, but didn’t speak, as Logan had the attention of everyone around him.

“We were better than that,” Logan insisted. “Twilight Sparkle and Shiva believed we were better than that.” His voice lowered. “Are you really going to give up on them, after everything they sacrificed for us?”

Alphabittle and Haven exchanged a look, before sighing.

“This is the biggest mistake of my life,” Alphabittle grumbled, but he stepped forward. “So, where exactly is this ‘Earth Pony Crystal?’”

Logan paused, considering his question, before Sunny gasped with a grin.

“I know where we can start looking,” she said, before looking at Hitch with a smile. “Hitch… it’s time to take us back to Maretime Bay.”

As the group returned to the city that Sunny and Hitch called home, everyone instantly sensed that something was wrong.

“It’s… quieter than I remember,” Izzy noted. “Is everyone still playing hide and seek?”

“No,” Hitch mumbled, his eyes narrowing. “Something’s going on here.”

Sunny inched into the city, before turning back to Logan, Haven, Alphabittle and the others. “Stay here,” she said. “We’ll figure out what’s happening.”

Despite her claim, the second Sunny and Hitch ran out of sight, Logan dove into the ground and burrowed after them, leaving the pegasi and unicorns worried and pacing on the borders of Maretime Bay.

Soon enough, Hitch, Sunny and the hidden Logan found where everyone was: marching in sync before a large podium.

“Hey,” Hitch yelled to one of the ponies. “What’s going on here?”

“We can’t tell you,” the pony replied. “We’ve signed the Official Sprout Act.”

“Official Sprout what?” Hitch demanded.

“The Stallion in Chief,” another pony announced, before a red earth pony stepped out onto the podium, dressed like some sort of dictator. Logan glared up at him from the earth, glancing at Sunny and Hitch nervously as they gasped in shock.

“SPROUT?!”

“Step!” Sprout ordered. “Citizens of Maretime…” he was cut off as a banner fell in front of him. Logan’s face fell.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Logan grumbled, as Sprout pulled himself out from under the banner and glared at it.

“Can we try that again?” Sprout asked, before Hitch drew his attention.

“Sprout? What are you doing?” Hitch demanded.

The ‘Sprout’ pony just laughed. “Aw, little Sherriff Hitchy came trotting back. Just in time to see ‘me’ do what ‘you’ couldn’t: attack our enemies!”

Logan’s fur bristled, while Hitch stepped closer.

“Wait-wait, no!” he insisted. “Sprout, listen to me! The pegasi and unicorns can be our friends! There’s no need to be afraid of them. Besides, they don’t even have magic.”

The other ponies paused. “What?”

“No magic?” Sprout laughed. “That’s even better!”

“But we can bring magic back!” Sunny insisted. “And with it… friendship.”

Logan grimaced, but to his surprise, several of the ponies relaxed further at the news.

“So, we don’t have to fight?” one of them sighed. “That’s a relief.”

Unfortunately, Sprout was not so easily cowed. “Hey, don’t listen!” he ordered. “They’ve been brainwashed! You’ll all be next if we don’t end this now!” With a press of a button, he lifted the banner, revealing an elaborate war machine. “Say hello,” Sprout declared. “To Sprouticus Maximus.”

The crowd gasped, and Sunny and Hitch backed up, fear in their eyes.

“M-Maybe this is a bit too much,” one of the ponies noted.

But Sprout was undeterred; jumping into his machine, he revved the engine. “Troops!” he declared. “On to Bridlewood!”

But before he could drive forward, Logan burst out of the ground with a snarl.

“Logan?!” Sunny and Hitch yelped.

“Sunny, find the Earth Pony Crystal,” he barked. “Hitch, warn the pegasi and unicorns.” He turned back to Sprout. “This one’s mine.”

Sprout laughed defiantly. “And just what are you supposed to be?” he demanded.

Logan lifted himself to his hind legs, casting aside his leather jacket. As Sunny briefly looked back, she couldn’t help but notice how similar Logan appeared to his ancestor.

“I am Logan Wolfe!” Logan declared. “Descendant of the Howlite Howler, Shiva. Her blood runs through my veins, and her values shine bright in my mind.” He planted himself before the machine. “Once, she stood tall against those that would see our races divided. Now I shall do the same!”

Sprout huffed. “You’ll die,” he replied back. “I’ll beat you, and anyone else that stands in my way!”

Logan merely narrowed his eyes. “No. You will try. And you will fail!”

Cackling, Sprout revved the engine on his machine again, driving it right for the wolf.

But Logan didn’t flinch. With a howl, he threw himself at the machine as well, and they clashed in a shower of sparks.

Chapter 7: The Magic

As Hitch parted ways from Sunny, he spotted the unicorns and pegasi waiting with bated breath on the edge of town.

“What’s happening?” Queen Haven asked.

“Where’s the dog?” Alphabittle added.

“I don’t have much time to explain, but you’re all in danger,” Hitch insisted. “We need to get you out of here now.”

Alphabittle stamped his hoof. “But your earth mare friend and the dog took my crystals.”

“Excuse me, ‘our’ crystals,” Queen Haven growled, before reluctantly adding. “But I agree with the unicorn. We’re not leaving without those.”

Hitch flinched as the sound of a horn blared. Everyone spun as Sprout’s machine appeared out of the city. Logan was at the front of it, pushing back with all his might.

But while he may have had an unbreakable will, the ground was not as stubborn, and gave way under his paws, allowing Sprout to push the wolf to the edge of the city. At first, Sprout watched with glee as Logan struggled against his machine. However, his eyes darted up, spotting the other ponies.

“Well, would you look at this,” he noted coldly. “Our enemies delivered themselves to us.”

Queen Haven gasped, putting herself between her daughters and the machine. “Oh-no-no-no, we’re not here to fight, Mr. Big Robot Pony.”

But her pleas fell on deaf ears. “I do not accept your surrender,” Sprout shot back, turning to the earth ponies who had accompanied him. “Load the Splat-a-pults.”

However, the ponies glanced at each other in doubt. In their moment of hesitation, Logan began to push the machine back.

Sprout snarled. “Why do I have to do everything myself?” he raced over to the splat-a-pults and pulled the lever.

“No!” Logan barked, but Sprout was quick to gun the engine, forcing Logan back to holding the machine in place.

“Logan!” Hitch yelled. “We gotta help him!”

Zipp was the first into battle. “I’ve got your back, buddy!”

Launching onto the machine, Zipp began to fight against the weapons, while Hitch joined Logan in keeping the machine in place.

Logan glanced back at the others. “Where’s Sunny with those crystals?” he demanded.

Izzy and Pipp shared a startled look. “Let’s help her!” Izzy said. The girls raced to the lighthouse where Sunny had fled.

Meanwhile, Alphabittle and Queen Haven at first stood by. Yet, as they watched Logan, Zipp and Hitch fight, Alphabittle noticed the splat-a-pults going erratic. Several critters jumped away to avoid getting hit. And despite his sour outlook, Alphabittle’s eyes narrowed at the prospect of animals getting hurt.

Letting out a bellow like a boar, Alphabittle rushed the machine as well, helping Zipp, Hitch and Logan hold it back. And as the four worked together, back in the light house, Sunny, Izzy and Pipp found the earth pony crystal, and slammed it together with the unicorn and pegasus crystals.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. Sunny, Pipp and Izzy desperately kept the crystals together, hoping for some sort of miracle. But as hope rapidly faded from their eyes, they glanced out towards the window, only to notice…

“Is Logan… glowing?” Sunny asked.

Izzy peered at him. “I can’t tell if that’s not normal, or just his sparkle,” she admitted.

But it wasn’t just his sparkle. Logan himself paused as he noticed his fur beginning to light up. At the same time, Queen Haven yelped as a glowing gold wolf appeared next to her; the same one that had led Logan and the others to the ruins of Ponyville. As she walked past Queen Haven, the golden wolf was joined by others: a glowing white unicorn, a golden earth pony, and a bright blue pegasus. As one, they sped down the hill towards the others.

Sprout cursed, fumbling with his weapons.

“Sprout!” Hitch called. “End this! Now!”

“And let them have magic?” Sprout demanded. “NEVER!”

Logan, however, laughed as the glowing projections got closer. “You already failed, colt,” Logan said.

“WHAT?!” Sprout demanded, his eyes shining with fear as the projections got closer.

“I understand it,” Sunny realized, watching from the side as the projections turned into four beams of energy, twining towards Alphabittle, Logan, Zipp and Hitch. “It wasn’t the crystals that needed to be brought together. It was us!”

The projections slammed into the group of heroes, lighting their fur up like stars. One of Sprouts weapons knocked Zipp off, but her wings lit up with light, and she caught the air, flying without wires. Hitch stumbled off the machine, but a beam of energy hit him as well. His eyes lightning up with determination, he joined Logan with a double kick, denting Sprout’s machine.

“What?!” Sprout stammered. “N-NO!”

But then Alphabittle’s beam hit. His horn erupted with light, and a blast of magic drilled a hole into Sprout’s machine.

“Holy…” Alphabittle stammered, his horn sputtering out as he was unused to the sudden surge.

“Don’t give up!” Logan encouraged. “This is how we bring the magic back. When you choose to work together… nothing is impossible.”

Emboldened by Logan’s words, Hitch, Zipp and Alphabittle struck as one; Alphabittle blasting another beam, and Hitch and Zipp delivering a double kick.

Sprout’s machine shattered into a million pieces, and Sprout himself was sent screaming through the air before tumbling to a stop in front of his mob. As Sprout tried to rise, Logan stepped up and glared him down.

For a moment, everyone tensed, wondering what Logan was going to do. But instead of attacking, Logan offered a paw.

“You can choose hate and fear all you want,” Logan said, taking Sprout’s hoof and pulling him up. “But where did that get you?” He indicated the wrecked machine, before pointing at the glowing Hitch, Zipp and Alphabittle. “These guys chose to work together. And look where it got them?”

With the threat passed, Logan, Hitch, Zipp and Alphabittle got the chance to actually take in what had happened.

“Zipp…” Hitch stammered. “You’re flying!”

Zipp laughed in delight. “I am… I’m actually flying!” She did a flip in the air. “WHOO-HOO!”

Alphabittle gazed up at his horn. “I could do m… I could do…”

“Just say it man, magic!” Logan replied.

“Bing!” Alphabittle yelped, eliciting a laugh from the others.

“Dude, it’s okay,” Logan laughed, looking to Hitch before spotting Sunny. “SUNNY, IT WORKED!”

Indeed, as everyone gathered, they saw an aurea borealis circling in the air. And though they wouldn’t find out until much later, the magic was spreading back across Equestria, returning magic to the unicorns and flight to the pegasi.

And as the sun rose on a restored world, Logan saw a familiar white wolf smiling down at him,. Unfortunately, when he looked at his own paws, the pack link did not shine. He hummed in thought, before he was distracted by Sunny’s hug.

“You did it, guys,” Sunny exclaimed.

“No,” Logan said, as the rest of the Mane Five gathered. “We did it. And even then, our work isn’t done.” He curled his claws. “We have plenty of other species to spread the magic back to.”

“So… more adventures?” Izzy asked eagerly. “Means we don’t have to be apart?”

Logan glanced at the others, who shook their heads.

“We’ll never be apart,” Sunny promised, holding out her hoof. “Hooves to heart?”

Logan smirked and offered his paw. “I think you mean hooves and paw to heart.”

“Works for me,” Hitch replied.

And together, the mares, stallion and wolf put their arms in. “Hooves and paw to heart!”

Author's Note

And for now, that's the end of this adventure.

Thank you all for keeping up with this version of Logan. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make a sequel in the near future; I'd like to wait and see what else Gen 5 has to offer us before I make any plans.

Still, I hope you enjoyed, and thank you again for your support. :pinkiehappy: