Legend of Spyro: Friendship is Magic

by FaizGuy

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Adventure, Crossover, Anthro, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 72186

This is a blend of the Legend of Spyro Series with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

This is a blend of the Legend of Spyro Series with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It will have Spike being replaced by Spyro and the ever wise-cracking Sparx. The Ponies are Anthro in this. The storyline will follow through the Friendship is Magic Parts 1 & 2 before moving to 'A New Beginning' and then bits of Season One of MLP.

Published 2012-09-23 20:04:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-14 16:46:26 UTC

The Beginning

The Legend of Spyro: FiM

A retelling of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, only replacing Spike’s life with Spyro. The Ponies are also Anthro. Hints of FlutterDash in it. Also, you can thank Tyraka628 for the descriptions on Spyro and Ignitus.

In the Year of the Dragon, in a world beyond the realms, I, like all the others, awaited the birth of the dragon of whom the prophecies foretold. But the Dark Master heard the prophecies as well. I should have hidden the eggs long before, but I…I thought we were ready, I thought they were safe...oh... how I was wrong.

“Save them! The Dark Armies have come!”

“May the Ancestors look after you. May they look after us all.”

Eventually, the egg came to rest in a distant land, known by we as Canterlot, where their leader-a princess known as Celestia-and a group of ponies gathered 'round, wondering what magnificent creature could possibly live inside. They didn't have to wonder for long. For, you see, the young dragon within was hatched by a young Unicorn filly by the name ‘Twilight Sparkle.’ What emerged from the egg frightened the young unicorn at first, but finally amazed and astounded her.

It was a purple dragon, who was taken in and raised as one of her kind’s own. She was granted to give him a name. After consideration, she decided upon the name of ‘Spyro.’ Celestia, knowledgeable about we dragons, asked for a young Dragonfly to be his guide…his brother, of sorts. One family allowed their youngest, having been born that same day, be given. He was given the name ‘Sparx,’ for his body glowed as bright as sparks, even when he was born.

The trio, taken in by Celestia as their personal teacher, grew up together in the castle. Twilight’s blood brother, Shining Armor, and the sitter tasked to keep watch upon them, Mi Amore Candenza, came to see the two not of Ponykind as siblings as well. In fact, Twilight, Spyro, and Sparx were like siblings. And a more oddly-matched, yet compatible trio of siblings the world has never seen.

As the years went by, Twilight was tasked to be sent to a place outside Canterlot, a small village known as ‘Ponyville,’ taking along Spyro and Sparx. Their task was simple; go over the list of various tasks assigned to the town for their 1000th Summer Sun Celebration since Celestia’s reign began.

“…So I’m thinking ‘You gotta be kidding me. There is no way you can do that.’ Well, I was proven wrong and your brother walked away ten Bits richer,” a golden dragonfly with a white underbelly, blue eyes, and white hands finished telling as the trio stepped off the chariot.

“Thank you, sirs,” one of the passengers informed the two muscular white Pegasi in golden armor.

“It was nothing, Spyro,” one noted with a chuckle.

“Good luck reigning in your sister’s ideas while you’re here,” the other laughed.

“Oh, hush up,” the other passenger blushed heavily.

“They got you pegged, Twilight,” the dragonfly laughed.

“Oh, hush up, Sparx.”

Spyro’s body was like that of a mix between a cat and a dinosaur, walking upright on all fours with his long tail held out for balance. His hind-legs were like that of a therapod dinosaur, with the ankle joint and three toed feet, while his forelegs were more like humanoid arms, with three fingered, one thumbed hands on each arm; the fingers and toes ended in long. white, curved claws. His large bat wings had a wingspan almost as long as his nose-to-tail was, and had fiery-orange leathery membrane. Though they were not good for flying for some reason. Only gliding was the most he could use them for.

His long, serpentine tail made up a fourth of his body length, and ended in an unusual, yellow arrow-tip, which was razor sharp and had two sharp spikes at each side of the base, making it even more lethal yet strangely made many remind them of a heart much to his chagrin and Sparx's mirth; his neck was a third the length of his tail. His head and jaws were those of a typical dragon: dinosaur-like with flaring nostrils, webbed reptilian ears, and a medium snout and jaws with sharp, knife-like teeth. Yet unlike them, only a few of the teeth in his mouth were incisors while the rest were more flat and meant for grinding.

He had two long, yellow, crooked horns jutting out the back of his head forming Zs, and a spiky gold reptilian frill with orange webbing running through the middle of his head, beginning at his forehead ending halfway down the neck; the frill began a trail of yellow dorsal spines with orange webbing running down his back to his tail arrow. It had been dubbed the 'Spyro-Hawk' by many of the guards since it resembled a mohawk. His somewhat-large, snake-like eyes were a bright violet. His entire body had smooth scaly skin that was like a snake's, except for his back, which was rough and bumpy like a crocodile's, and was a sharp royal-purple in color with darker purple markings and stripes running down his spine and a golden underbelly.

Twilight, her full name being Twilight Sparkle, was an equine. Her coat was that of pale, light-grayish lavender, much of it hidden away by her plaid skirt and white button shirt under a black sleeveless vest. Her moderate sapphire blue hair ended just at the middle of her back, a streak of moderate violet and a streak of brilliant rose in it. Her tail was the same as it gently swayed behind her. She tugged on her white stockings that hugged her legs before she began to walk away with Spyro and Sparx following her.

“Look on the bright side, Twilight. The Princess arranged for you to stay in a library. Doesn't that make you happy?” Spyro pondered.

“It doesn’t for me. It means we have to help her arrange those blasted things as always!” Sparx groaned.

“Yes, yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right! I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon's return.”

“Then…when will you make friends, like the Aunt Sunshine said?” Sparx asked, stopping her by flying in front of her face.

“She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.”

“I’ll wager you all the money you’ve saved,” Sparx bet.

“And you?” Twilight raised a brow.

“I’ll do anything you ask without complain for a whole month,” Sparx replied.

“Deal. Now let’s get started,” Twilight informed as she held up a scroll and a quill-pen.

“Hey, let’s don’t and say we did,” Sparx suggested as Spyro rolled his eyes.

Throughout the day, the trio met five other ponies. The honest farmer, Applejack Smith-Apple; the Loyal Flyer, Rainbow Dash; the Generous tailor, Rarity (Sparx had to be dragged away by Twilight’s Magic from her); the Kind, yet shy, Pegasi animal caretaker, Fluttershy (who had become simply ecstatic at seeing Sparx and followed the trio as he told her all about his [exaggerated] life in Canterlot); and the Laughing party-planning baker, Pinkie Pie. Spyro enjoyed spending time with Fluttershy, though he did note she was a bit frightened of him. The day after was the Summer Sun Celebration, yet it would not be one of joy…

“Dude, that was the best party in my whole life!” Sparx grinned as he turned to a rather well-endowed pink-coated Pony in a baby-blue shirt and a yellow skirt with straps that went over her shoulders, “You, Pinkie Pie, are one awesome party pony!”

“Thanks, Sparx!” the Pony giggled, bouncing in place in excitement, “Oh, I can’t wait to see Princess Celestia raise the sun! Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited- well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went…” she gasped dramatically, “But I mean really, who can top that?”

“You, apparently,” Sparx chuckled before fanfare went off as they looked up at a balcony where the mayor of the town stood.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” she declared, earning cheers from everyone, “In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria....“

“Ready?” a shy, pale grayish-gold Pegasi with knee-length pale rose hair and tail asked a group of birds, the Pegasus wearing a yellow sweater that was stretched by the rather ample bust she had and a long pale rose skirt.

“…Princess Celestia!” the mayor finished before the curtains opened, revealing…no one.

“Huh?” a Unicorn with a moderate indigo mane, and on the shadowed side, a gradient of dark mulberry to moderate mulberry, with a light gray coat covered by a rather fashionable shirt and skirt that ended at her knees pondered before walking to the back.

“This can't be good,” Sparx gulped.

“Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!” the mayor informed.

“Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?” Pinkie Pie pondered.

“I don’t think she’s hiding. Unless it involves cake,” Sparx tapped his chin in thought.

“She's gone!” the Unicorn gasped, poking her head out.

“Ooh, she's good,” Pinkie Pie noted.

“You think she overate on cake again?” Sparx whispered, earning a bop from Spyro’s tail.

Spyro’s body tensed up. His senses were going crazy as storm clouds formed above them while inside the structure. A dark, sinister cackle erupted from them as a star-colored swirling vortex spun around the balcony.

“Oh no…Nightmare Moon!” Twilight gasped.

“Guess I was wrong, then,” Sparx shrugged.

The vortex coalesced into a single figure. Her Pegasi wings, clad in armor darker that the night sky, twitched as her polished horn shined in the small bits of light in the building. Her long, luxurious hair and tail seemed to flow upon their own power. Her coat was even a hint shade lighter than her armor, just barely being able to contrast from it. The armor coated her lower legs, feet, lower arms, hands, and rather large chest and hips, her lower figure hidden by a black dress-like battle dress. Her horn emerged from the helmet on her head, her reptilian eyes showing triumph in their dark gaze.

“…” Sparx gave a wolf whistle before Spyro and Twilight’s tails whapped him on the back of him, “What? You try not to wolf whistle at someone sexy like that, even if you’re a different species.”

“Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces,” the figure noted in an icy tone.

“What did you do with our Princess?!” A cyan-coated Pegasi in a sapphire-blue tracksuit with hoodie and rainbow-colored hair demanded before an orange-coated Pony managed to grab her tail to stop her from flying at Nightmare Moon.

“Whoa there, Nelly…” the Pony grunted, her Stetson nearly knocked off her hip-length golden-blond hair with a ruby pearl in it as her DD-cups jiggled in her plaid shirt tied together below her bust.

“Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?” the figure asked.

“Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about…Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Sno…” Pinkie Pie began before Sparx covered her mouth.

“Uh, Pinks? I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sparx advised.

“Smart choice for once,” Spyro chuckled.

“Whatever, fatty,” Sparx rolled his eyes.

“Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” Nightmare Moon asked the frightened Ponies there.

“I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!” Twilight declared, causing gasps to erupt in the audience.

“Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm he…” Nightmare Moon began before her eyes widened in shock, “The Purple Dragon!”

“Huh? What’s a Dragon?” Spyro pondered in confusion.

“Ohh…Oh, now I see. You don’t know who you are, do you, Purple Dragon?” Nightmare Moon gave a small laugh, “Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”

“What’s she talking about? What’s a Dragon?” Spyro pondered.

“Seize her! Only she knows where the Princess is!” the Mayor ordered as a group of white Pegasi in gold armor flew at her, swords ready in their hands.

“Stand back, you foals!” Nightmare Moon ordered before lightning shot out of her left hand and sent the guards everywhere before she escaped in a swirl of magic colored akin to her hair and tail.

“Come back here!” the cyan Pegasus growled before she flew out a window, yet there was no trace of her, “Nighttime? Forever?” she looked down to see Spyro and Twilight racing off, Sparx holding onto Spyro’s horns for dear life, “Where're they going?”

“Keep looking, you two,” Twilight ordered as she began to look at the titles of various books, “Elements, elements…”

“Nothing up here!” Sparx called before flying over to Spyro, who seemed more distracted than focused, “Something up, Bro?”

“She called me a Purple Dragon,” Spyro noted, looking at his reflection in the mirror, “I’m just a Kirin…aren’t I?”

“You’re still going over this? That’s a bit dumb,” Sparx snorted.

“Ugh! How can we stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?!” Twilight cried out in exasperation before turning to end up face to face with the angry cyan Pegasus.

“And just what are the Elements of Harmony? And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy? Whoa!” the Pegasus yelped as the orange Pony pulled her away by her tail.

“Simmer down, Sally. She ain't no spy,” the Pony argued.

“Sally? I thought you said your name was ‘Rainbow Dash,’” Sparx frowned as he flew before the cyan Pegasus’ face.

“Not the time for that,” she growled.

“But she sure knows what's going on. Don't you, Twilight?” the orange Pony asked as the well-dressed Unicorn, Pinkie Pie, and the shy Pegasus came in.

“Well, Applejack, I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the ‘Elements of Harmony’ are the only things that can stop her, but I don't know what they are, where to find them, I don't even know what they do!”

“We could have Spyro sit on her,” Sparx suggested, “He’s chunky enough.”

Spyro glared at him.

“‘The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide,’” Pinkie Pie read nearby before Twilight dashed over and pulled the book out.

“How did you find that?!”

“It was under ‘E~!’” Pinkie Pie skipped as she sang.

“…” Sparx fell onto the table, laughing up a storm, “You…You never checked ‘E?!’ Oh, Twilight, you’re too rich!”

“Shut up, Sparx,” Twilight sighed in annoyance as she came upon a page in the book, “Oh. ‘There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now…’”

“The Everfree Forest!” the six girls exclaimed in unison, standing before a vast woods.

“Reminds me of the swamp we go to visit my folks,” Sparx recalled, “My nice, safe swamp where Mom is. Yes, where Mommy can hide me from this…”

“Whee! Let's go!” Pinkie Pie began to move in when Twilight stopped her by running ahead of them.

“Not so fast. Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own,” Twilight informed.

“No way, Sis,” Spyro argued, “We’re not going to let you get hurt.”

“Ah agree wit’ th’ feller. No can do, sugarcube. We sure ain't lettin' any friend o’ ours go into that creepy place alone. We're stickin' t’ you like caramel on a candy apple.”

“I could go for one,” Sparx held up a hand while rubbing his stomach.

“Especially if there's candy apples in there,” the two got looks.

“What? Those things are good,” Sparx argued as Spyro and Twilight shook their heads with sighs.

“Oh, I know, right? Especially with candy covering the caramel…” Pinkie Pie licked her lips in delight.

“Come on, let’s get going,” Spyro ran in, “Sparx, stay here.”

“So that's it, huh? Leaving Sparx behind at the old homestead? Not a care in the world, don’t look back,” Sparx fumed.

“This is too dangerous for you, Sparx. Besides, I'm not leaving you behind. I'm just leaving you where you belong.”

“Well I thought I belonged with you, 'coz I'm always with you. But I guess I was wrong, huh?” Sparx fumed before turning and started to fly away, “I'm sure I'm wrong on a lot of things. You know what? You're right, I'm wrong.”

“Don’t worry about Sparx. You know how he is,” Twilight assured, placing a hand on Spyro’s shoulder.

“Yeah…I…” Spyro sighed, “I guess so.”

“So, none of you have been in here before?” Twilight asked.

“Ugh, Heavens no! Just look at it - it's dreadful,” the white Unicorn declared in disgust.

“And it ain't natural, don’t be fergettin’ that, Rarity. Folk say it don't work the same as Equestria,” Applejack snorted.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Nopony knows. You know why?” Rainbow Dash explained as a strange energy resembling Nightmare Moon’s hair and tail slid into the ground beneath the girls and dragon without their notice.

“Rainbow, quit it,” Applejack frowned.

“'cause every pony who's ever come in, has never…come…Out!” Rainbow declared.

It was at the moment, the ground below them gave in, sending the four grounded girls tumbling down the hill towards a cliff. Rainbow Dash and the pale-rose-haired Pegasus managed to fly up and avoided falling.

“Fluttershy! Quick!” Rainbow ordered before she zipped down and grabbed Pinkie Pie.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,” the other Pegasus whimpered as she caught Rarity.

“Hold on! I'm a-comin'!” Applejack called as she grabbed Twilight’s hands as the Unicorn was falling over the cliff.

“Applejack! What do I do?” Twilight whimpered, refusing to look down.

Applejack gulped before noticing something, “Let go.”

“Are you crazy?!”

“No I ain't. I promise you'll be safe.”

“That's not true!”

“Now listen here. What I'm sayin' to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe.”

Twilight just gazed into Applejack’s eyes. Slowly, the Unicorn nodded. The two let go and Twilight fell right onto Spyro’s back.

“You okay, Sis?” Spyro asked as he glided down.

“Oh, thank goodness that you can glide even though you can’t fly, Spyro…” Twilight gave a relieved sigh before Spyro picked up Applejack and flew down to the others, where they heard Rarity give a startle cry.

“Sorry girls. I'm not used to holding anything more than a bunny or two,” Fluttershy apologized.

“At least she fell only a foot,” Applejack noted.

“Oh so very true,” Sparx nodded, getting everyone’s attention.

“Sparx?” Spyro pondered.

“Spyro, so, ah, me and this big guy, Big Macintosh, were chatting and this whole belonging thing, you know, came up, and he helped me come to the conclusion that best friends belong together…” Sparx awkwardly spoke, trying not to look at Spyro, “Even if one of them is purple and does have some weight issues.”

“‘Weight issues,’ huh? At least I've never been turned into a lantern,” Spyro joked, earning a giggle from Twilight.

“Oh please! Lantern shmantern. Let's see what's out there,” Sparx informed as he flew ahead, lighting their path…until a large lion-like creature with raven wings and a scorpion tail landed before them, “Manticore!-!-!”

“Wait,” Fluttershy spoke gently before walking up to the beast as it growled at her, “Shhh... It's okay.”

“Is she…?” Sparx gawked before the Manticore showed a star-colored thorn in its left paw, “A thorn?”

“Oh, you poor, poor little baby,” Fluttershy cooed.

“Little?” Rainbow repeated in a whisper of disbelief, watching Fluttershy in awe.

“Uh, Rainbow, your wings are…” Sparx snickered before a blushing Rainbow quickly tried to force her wings from popping out.

“Now this might hurt for just a second,” Fluttershy comforted before taking the thorn and pulled it out as fast as she could, causing the Manticore to pick her up and roar.

“Fluttershy!” the seven gasped before the Manticore began to lick her face while purring.

“Aw you're just a little ol' baby kitty, aren't you? Yes you are, yes you are,” Fluttershy cooed as she gently patted its head.

“How did you know about the thorn?” Twilight gawked as the Manticore left.

“I didn't. Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness,” Fluttershy noted.

“Eugh. My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck,” Rainbow shuddered in disgust as they trudged through a more murky part of the forest before the area grew dark, “Well, I didn't mean that literally.”

“That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it,” Twilight growled.

“Ladies, ladies, ladies. Allow me,” Sparx smirked before lighting himself up, illuminating everything, revealing monstrous faces all around them, “Ahhhhhh!-!-!”

The girls and Spyro all screamed, Twilight hugging Spyro for dear life in fear. Suddenly, the screams were broken by a laugh. They looked over to see Pinkie Pie laughing at one of the faces while making faces at it.

“Pinkie, what are you doing?! Run!” Twilight called out.

“Breathe, Sparx old boy... go to your happy place,” Sparx whispered to himself.

“Oh girls, Spiral-Wyral, Sparky-Warky, don't you see?” Pinkie Pie giggled, "Why..."

When I was a little filly and the sun was going down…

“Tell me that she's not…” Sparx began.

The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown

“She is,” Spyro facepalmed, realizing that Pinkie Pie was indeed singing.

I'd hide under my pillow
From what I thought I saw
But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way
To deal with fears at all

“Then what is?” Rainbow asked.

“Run away, screaming?” Sparx suggested.

She said: "Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall
Learn to face your fears
You'll see that they can't hurt you
Just laugh to make them disappear."
Ha! Ha! Ha!

With those three words, the face vanished in a puff of smoke, revealing just a tree. The Ponies gasped as Sparx and Spyro gawked.

Soooo, giggle at the ghostly
Guffaw at the grossly
Crack up at the creepy
Whoop it up with the weepy
Chortle at the kooky
Snortle at the spooky
And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... hahahaha...heh...
Laaaaaaauuugh!

With the final face gone, everyone just couldn’t help but continue their laughter. Twilight fell over beside the pink pony and her two ‘brothers.’ Eventually, Pinkie Pie lead the group along with her bouncing, Sparx on her head, as they all laughed. Their laughter stopped when they came upon a fierce river.

“How are we gonna cross this?” Pinkie pondered.

“Well, let’s see…Spyro here, even though he’s chunky, can carry two of you over on a little glide while the two Pegasi can…” Sparx began before they heard a distant cry.

“What a world, what a world,” a voice sobbed.

The group walked along a path and saw a violet sea serpent with a luxurious hair style and mustache. He was sobbing and flailing about in the river, causing the harsh currents.

“Excuse me, sir. Why are you crying?” Twilight pondered, earning the attention of the sea serpent and was about to reply when he saw Spyro.

“The Purple Dragon of Legend!” the sea serpent gasped before bowing, “Oh my goodness! I simply look horrible before such a famous beast of yore.”

“Huh? There it goes again,” Sparx sighed, “What the heck is a dragon?”

“Sir, what are you talking about? You look cool,” Spyro pointed out.

“This tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved moose-tache clean off, and now I look simply horrid!”

“It’s mustache,” Sparx corrected.

“That’s what I said,” the sea serpent informed, causing Sparx to facepalm.

“Oh, give me a break,” Rainbow muttered.

“That’s what all th’ fuss is ‘bout?”

“Why, of course it is. How can you be so insensitive? Oh, just look at him. Such lovely luminescent scales,” Rarity informed.

“I know.”

“And your expertly coiffed mane.”

“Oh, I know, I know.”

“Your fabulous manicure,” Rarity continued as the sea serpent gasped in delight.

“It's so true!”

“…” Sparx looked over at Rainbow, “Gay…”

Spyro swatted Saprx on the head.

“All ruined without your beautiful mustache.”

“It's true, I'm hideous!”

“I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected,” Rarity narrowed her eyes, “Spyro, please do come here.”

“Uh, yes?” Spyro pondered before Rarity held her tail to Spyro’s tail and cut it off with the spade-part of it before using her magic to attach the severed follicles to the sea serpent, forming a curly mustache.

“Oh-hohohoho! My mustache. How wonderful!” the sea serpent exclaimed in delight, looking at his reflection in the calm waters.

“You look smashing.”

“Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail…” Twilight began.

“Oh. It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season. Besides, it'll grow back,” Rarity comforted.

“So would the mustache,” Rainbow whispered, earning a nod from Sparx.

“We can cross now. Let's go. Ah!” Twilight yelped before the sea serpent formed a bridge for them from his body.

“Allow me,” the sea serpent offered.

“Thank you, sir,” Spyro nodded as he got off last.

“Oh, it was nothing for such a fabulous Pony and the Purple Dragon of Legend. I’m sure Ignitus will be delighted to see you. He lives near this tacky little abandoned castle, you know,” the sea serpent smiled before swimming off.

“…Ignitus?” Spyro repeated.

Which brings us to the moment that Spyro's journey really began. When he and I finally met… again… for the very first time… ahhh, it's a long story.

“Are we there yet?” Sparx asked.

“No, Sparx,” Twilight sighed.

“Are we there yet?” Rainbow asked.

“Now y’all be quiet. We ain’t there yet,” Applejack frowned before a figure walked in their path.

“Ah! Wh…Who are you?!” Twilight gulped.

Before them was another resembling Spyro, but he was much older and larger than Spyro, standing 18 feet in height on all fours and almost fifty feet in length. His scales were smooth and a deep reddish-orange in color, with dark red flame markings decorating his body. He only had two horns, which were Z-shaped, facing backwards and upwards, and a flame-shaped frill ran down his head to his neck, as well as flame-shaped frills framing his head, limbs, and tail, the last ending in a fire-shaped tailblade. His underbelly and wing membrane were golden in color, and his eyes were a fiery golden in color with slit pupils.

“And I thought you were a big one. Goodness,” Sparx noted as a shivering Fluttershy ran behind Rainbow.

“You're…you're alive?” the dragon gasped, looking directly at Spyro before shaking his head in sadness and regret, “But it's too late… too late…”

“Too late for what? Who are you? Do you know me? Where do I come from?” Spyro pondered, “What are you? ...What are we? …What am I?!?”

“You mean you don't know?” the larger one of Spyro’s kind pondered in shock and surprise.

“Does it sound like he knows?” Sparx frowned.

“He looks like a giant red version of Spyro,” Rainbow whispered.

“You're a dragon. When you were just an egg, it was my job to protect you…” the dragon looked down at the ground in regret, “…It was my job to protect all of you.”

“Spyro, you can talk to this guy later. We need to take care of Nightmare Moon, first.”

“Luna? Well…” the dragon looked up, “That explains why the moon is still out at noon.” He turned from them, “Come. I will take you to the old castle.”

“Who are you?” Twilight pondered.

“Ignitus,” the dragon replied as they walked ahead, the eight behind him keeping up with his larger steps.

“There are others?” Spyro asked.

“Others?” Ignitus pondered.

“Spyro, this…” Twilight sighed with a shake of her head.

“There were,” the eight looked at Ignitus, “There were four of us, Guardians that is, and we had one job: ensure that all the eggs were hatched. It was the Year of the Dragon, after all, and our very survival depended on those eggs…”

“Your survival?” Rarity repeated.

“But the Temple and Grotto are now gone…overrun by…” Ignitus sighed.

“Temple? What Temple? Can you take me? Can I see it? Where I came from, I mean?” Spyro asked.

“We’re here. The old castle of the Sisters,” Ignitus informed, stopping before a fallen bridge before flying over it, “Hurry over.”

“Why didn’t he fly over there with us?” Sparx complained.

“Leave this to me,” Rainbow patted her moderate-sized chest in pride.

She spread her wings out before shooting down and grabbed the broken rope on the other end of the fallen bridge. She flew up over to the other side to see Ignitus was missing. She shrugged, didn’t really care much for the guy. She was about to tie up the bridge when a mist formed.
“Rainbow…”

“Who's there?”
“Rainbow…”
“I ain't scared of you! Show yourself!”
“We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria.”
“Who?”
“Why, you, of course.”
“Really?! I mean... Oh yeah, me. Hey, uh, you wouldn't mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? 'cause I've been trying to get into that group for like, ever.”
“No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us, The Shadowbolts!”
Three Pegasus Mares emerged from the mist. All three wore black versions of Rarity’s outfit with scarlet lightning bolts on their hips. The leader of them had a shadowed-version of Rainbow’s mane and goggles over her eyes.

“We're the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria, but first, we need a captain. The most magnificent…” she began.

“Yep.”

“…Swiftest…”

“Yes.”

“…Bravest flyer in all the land.”

“Yes,” Rainbow chuckled, rubbing a knuckle on her jacket and looking at it, “It's all true.”

“We need…” the leader whispered into Rainbow’s ear one single word, “…You.”

“Woohoo! Sign me up. Just let me tie this bridge real quick and then we have a deal,” Rainbow informed before the leader stopped her.

“No! It's them or us.”

“Rainbow, what's taking so long?” Twilight pondered before seeing the Shadowbolts, “Oh no. Rainbow! Don't listen to them.”

“Ignitus!” Spyro cried out, “Ignitus, she’s in trouble!”

The leader narrowed her eyes across the bridge before the mist grew thicker, somehow drowning out their voices.

“Well?” the leader asked.

“…You…” the leader smirked at that, “…Thank you! For the offer, I mean, but I'm afraid I have to say no.”

The leader gawked.

“Excellent choice,” the three Shadowbolts looked up and paled at seeing Ignitus standing over them, “And good-bye.”

With that, Ignitus stomped on the three. The energy from the cliff slithered out between his claws and flew off to the castle. He removed it, revealing nothing there.

“Those were an…”

“An illusion crafted by her,” Ignitus informed as the girls crossed the bridge with Spyro and Sparx, “You did well, Rainbow Dash. Such Loyalty.”

“I’d never leave my friends hangin’,” Rainbow nodded, glancing over at Fluttershy, ‘Especially not after what happened all those years ago…’

Spyro, Sparx, and I awaited the six girls outside the castle. I grew worried when all but Twilight Sparkle exited the castle before her scream was heard. Spyro was the first to run in, seeing Luna take the young Unicorn away. I quickly took them to the main chambers, knowing that Luna would most likely be there.

“Hurry, young ones,” Ignitus ordered as the five girls, Spyro, and Sparx ran into the chamber ahead of him.

“Don't worry Twilight, we're here,” Pinkie Pie called.

“Don't worry, we'll be there!” Applejack called as they entered the room to see Nightmare Moon standing amongst broken shards of stone.

“You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here,” Twilight informed, waving her hand to the girls of the group.

“What?” Nightmare Moon gasped as the shards began to glow and flew over to Twilight.

“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of…Honesty!” six shard surrounded Applejack, “Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of…Kindness!” six more surrounded Fluttershy, “Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of…Laughter!” six more surrounded the laughing pink Pony, “Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of…Generosity!” six more floated around Rarity, “And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of…Loyalty!”

“Now this is new,” Sparx noted, seeing six of the remaining twelve shards float around the cyan Pegasus.

“She’s starting to get it,” Ignitus chuckled gently, earning a look from Spyro.

“What do you mean?” Spyro asked quietly.

“The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us,” Twilight continued.

“You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!” Nightmare Moon argued.

“Now that is where you’re wrong,” Ignitus informed.

“Ignitus!” Nightmare Moon gasped, “You’ve gotten old.”

“Of course I have. Still, you are wrong. The ‘spark’ was not one of Unicorn’s magic, but a different ‘spark.’”

“He’s right!” Twilight turned to the five mares with a kind smile on her face, “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are…my friends!”

“You see, Luna, when the Elements of Harmony are ignited by the ‘spark’ that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth Element: the Element of…” Ignitus informed as the remaining six shards spun around Twilight, “…Magic.”

With that, the shards transformed into six items, attaching to the necks of Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash while the last attached to Twilight’s head. A burst of rainbow light shot up and arched right at Nightmare Moon. Ignitus used his wing to shield the dragonfly and purple dragon from the light.

“No! Nooo!” Nightmare Moon screamed as the light slammed into her, filling the area with its glow.

Twilight groaned as Ignitus placed a wet cloth on her head.

“Easy now, Twilight Sparkle. That was a lot of magic you used,” Ignitus informed gently.

“Ugh, my head,” Rainbow mumbled as she got up slowly.

“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked.

“I’m fine,” Fluttershy informed softly nearby.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity gasped, her tail having fully regrown.

“Why Rarity, it's so lovely,” Fluttershy awed.

“I know! I'll never part with it again,” Rarity giggled, hugging it.

“Personally, you look good however you look in my opinion,” Sparx informed.

“No. Your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark,” Fluttershy corrected pointing at the gold necklace on Rarity’s neck that depicted a diamond that resembled one of three on her left hand.

“What? Ooh. So does yours,” Rarity noted, seeing a same necklace on Fluttershy yet the diamond was replaced with a butterfly.

“Look at mine! Look at mine!” Pinkie Pie bounced around, hers having a single balloon jewel on it.

“I see it,” Ignitus chuckled, “Balloons do indeed fit in with laughter.”

“Aw yeah,” Rainbow smirked, looking her her jewel that depicted a ruby thunderbolt.

“Gee, Twilight! Ah thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but Ah reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship,” Applejack, wearing one that depicted an apple, noted to Twilight, who wore a gold tiara with a magenta star on it.

“Indeed you do,” a voice noted.

Everyone turned to the direction the sun was rising to see a being with the same figure as Nightmare Moon, yet wore a Greek toga in the colors of the sun, the top being stretched by her large H-Cups. Over the toga was a set of armor seemingly crafted to blend into the sun’s light within any room. Upon her head was a gold tiara, just above her horn, while her hair was long and ever-flowing within an invisible wind, the three shades of it resembling a sunrise.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight gasped before they all bowed except for Ignitus.

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I knew you could do it,” Celestia noted.

“Yeah, well, she had some major help from me,” Sparx smirked, putting a thumb on his chest, as Spyro rolled his eyes.

“But…You told me it was all an old pony’s tale,” Twilight frowned.

“I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart. Now if only another will as well,” Celestia noted before turning towards where Nightmare Moon once stood, “Princess Luna!”

There, recovering from the magic fired from the Elements, was a younger version of Nightmare Moon-possibly her late teens at best-, the cloth of her outfit having been replaced with a night sky-themed toga and slightly less armor and no helmet. Her mane, once akin to Celestia’s, had been solidified into a moderate azure. The teenager gasped as she looked up at the older Alticorn, who knelt down to the somewhat sitting teen.

“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister,” Celestia spoke gently.

“Sister?” the other Mares pondered.

“Whoa. Never saw that coming,” Sparx pointed out.

“You knew all this time, didn’t you?” Spyro asked, looking up at Ignitus.

“Indeed I have,” Ignitus chuckled, "Why do you think I kept calling her 'Luna' and not 'Nightmare Moon?'"

“Will you accept my friendship?” Celestia asked.

“…” Luna sniffled before hugging her, “I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!”

“I've missed you, too,” Celestia whispered gently, nuzzling her chin into her sister’s hair, as she shed a tear of joy.

“Celestia, Luna. It has been nearly a century since I last saw you both together,” Ignitus chuckled as he approached.

“Ignitus?” Luna blinked, “...You got really old.”

Sparx began to laugh at that. Ignitus facepalmed.

“I forgot you were always rather blunt when it came to pointing things out. Such as when Volteer ended up with that mole.”

“P-Please don’t that up…” Luna blushed.

“Oh, but it was enjoyable,” Celestia giggled, “Now what did you say?”

“I may be old, but I remember it clearly. ‘That’s some mole,’” Ignitus chuckled before using his tail to block the path of the others, “Now calm down, you eight. Celestia, I believe we have much to talk about.”

“Indeed,” Celestia nodded.

“I can’t believe we’re in here while the whole town’s getting their groove on,” Sparx complained, sitting on Spyro’s head.

“It is not surprising. Pinkie Pie’s parties are heard of even in Canterlot,” Celestia giggled as Luna, sitting between her and a shrunken Ignitus via a shrinking spell used by Celestia, nibbled on a slice of cake Pinkie gave her.

“Though this is not why we’re here,” Ignitus informed, “The Elements have appeared once more.”

“Along with a Purple Dragon,” Celestia nodded, “I was hoping this day did not come.”

“Day? What do you mean?” Spyro pondered.

“Princess, did you know Spyro was a dragon?” Twilight pondered.

“Yes. I apologize for the lie I made involving him being a Kirin, but measures needed to be taken in order for darker forces to not appear,” Celestia informed.

“Darker forces?” Fluttershy gulped, hiding behind Rainbow.

“Does it involve that temple? Ignitus, can you take me there? The temple?” Spyro pondered.

“No, no. Who knows what forces occupy the Temple now. What state it's in…” Ignitus sighed as he walked over to a window, gazing out at the sky, “You don't understand. After they came for you…”

“They? Who is they? And why did they come for me?” Spyro asked.

“Because the prophecies spoke of a Purple Dragon, a dragon born only once every ten generations,” Celestia informed, “My sister and I were there for the last Purple Dragon’s birth.”

“They came for you, Spyro,” Ignitus informed.

“You? Does that mean him?” Sparx asked as he pointed at Spyro.

“Wait, this guy?” Rainbow pointed at Spyro.

“Spyro some special once in a purple thing?” Sparx asked before laughing, “Ha ha, I think you might have mixed that one up. Wooo, that’s a little…bit of a stretch. I've heard some, ah, doozies in my day, but that takes the cake.”

“Spyro is it?” Ignitus raised a brow.

“I named him,” Twilight pointed out, “I wanted to call him ‘Spike,’ but for some reason…I just didn’t see it fit with him.”

“Ah. Well, Spyro, I assure you that I'm telling you the truth,” Ignitus informed, “The Dark Armies attacked, intent on destroying the eggs and killing the rest of us.”

“They nearly succeeded if not for the evidence of you and Ignitus, Spyro,” Celestia informed.

“They laid siege to the other islands,” Ignitus informed, “We were at war.”

The six mares, Luna, Spyro, and Sparx gave gasps. Ignitus gazed out upon the skies, his mind wandering and changing the images his eyes saw with those that he once witness. Battles against darkness…battles against things no child nor anyone should bear witness or experience.

“For many years we fought all over the islands. Brutal clashes with the armies of the Dark Master, who was intent on preventing the prophecies from coming true,” Ignitus explained.

“My faithful student, you recall the six months I was gone?” Celestia asked, “It was so I could aid them in their noble cause. The other three Guardians, Ignitus, and I led their small but valiant forces into battle after battle against our ruthless, mercenary foe.”

“Then, when we were beginning to turn the tide…” Ignitus narrowed his eyes as he still gazed out the window, “…Cynder came.”

“Cynder?” Spyro repeated.

“Yes, Cynder,” Celestia nodded.

“Cynder was…is…monstrous, horrific, ferocious, a black dragon that fills the skies with terror, an unstoppable force of nature…”

“Ah, yeah, you had me at ‘ferocious.’ Listen, sounds like that thing that was chasing the three of us in that dream you had last week, Spyro,” Sparx noted.

“Yes, she still searches for me…and years ago, I watched as Cynder plucked the other Guardians from the fields of battle, like so many ripe grapes from a vine.”

“Without them, our cause is lost. Only I and Ignitus managed to escape. Ignitus hid within the Everfree Forest.”

“Not that it matters. Cynder now rules all in our old home…and I sit here wondering what might have been. What else I might have done,” Ignitus whispered, regret within his tone.

“Wow... sounds... fun. I wanna hang out with this guy,” Sparx noted.

“Yeah, why have you given up?” Rainbow Dash pondered.

“I just find out that I'm this special dragon, and you tell me all is lost? That I have no home or family left? I've been told way too much to give up now,” Spyro frowned, “I wanna see where I come from.”

“Me too! Me too!” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down, “We all wanna go see where Spyro-Wyro came from!”

“It’s true. I’ve always wanted to learn where you came from, Spyro,” Twilight noted.

“Hold up, savior boy, were you not listening to this guy? He’s talking about flying dragons, and war, and horrible…This is bad stuff, alright? I don’t know if we’re hearing the same thing…” Sparx noted.

“It sounds scary…” Fluttershy whispered.

“Yes, Spyro, it's not as simple as that. It's true, the prophecies spoke of a purple dragon destined to put his stamp on this age, but the prophecies didn't foretell the devastation that surrounds us now,” Ignitus agreed.

“The Prophecy also foretold that six users of the Elements of Harmony would give aid,” Celestia noted.

“Maybe you're right, but I'm willing to try. I want to take the first step,” Spyro informed.

“And I’ll be with him all the way,” Twilight agreed.

“Same here,” Rainbow Dash nodded, “Sounds sorta cool.”

“Ah ain’t leavin’ you t’ yerselves,” Applejack frowned, “We all jest became friends.”

“It would do some good to show that Cynder what for,” Rarity noted, “But what would I wear for the trip?”

“I…well, if it’s okay with you, Spyro…that is, if it’s fine. I’d…I would like to go, too,” Fluttershy shyly twidled her fingers.

“And we can have lots of fun, too!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

“You're all actually going to go along with this lunatic?” Sparx demanded in shock.

“Very well, then. We'll go. Spyro, you deserve to see your beginning before it all ends,” Ignitus sighed.

“Am I the only one sane here? He’s telling us we’re doomed alright? That’s when I go, ‘Ah, maybe we should go back to Canterlot with the flowers and the fun stuff,’” Sparx gulped.

“We will live early tomorrow, upon the rising of dawn,” Ignitus informed.

“You are welcome to stay in Canterlot tonight. I am sure Luna would love to catch up with you,” Celestia noted with a giggle, causing Luna’s eye to twitch.

“I would be honored, old friend,” Ignitus nodded.

“I can’t believe this!” Spyro exclaimed as he jumped about in excitement, “We get to see my birthplace!”

“Settle down, Spyro,” Twilight giggled as Spyro jumped onto the bed with her, the Unicorn wearing a formal blue sleeping gown, “He wants us to get up early, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” Spyro nodded, “Ohh…I’m too excited to get to sleep!”

“Keep it down!” Sparx argued as he threw a tiny pillow from his drawer with a few pillows and a tiny blanket for him, “I’m trying to get to sleep over here!”

“Sorry, Sparx,” Twilight apologized.

“Next time I’m woken up, I’m sleeping on the couch,” Sparx snorted before the door to the library was knocked on, “Darn it! I’m going to the basement!”

Twilight and Spyro walked downstairs. Twilight’s horn and eyes glowed as she waved a hand at the main entrance to the library. The door opened and the girls walked in.

“Let me guess; you all couldn’t fall asleep?” Twilight asked, earning nods from them all, before sighing, “Let me set the tea…”

“Man, I can’t wait to see where I was born!” Spyro grinned.

“You have t’ remember, Spyro; that there place may not be like what y’er thinkin’ o’,” Applejack reminded him.

“I know. But still, I want to see it. I want to see where my egg was cared for before it ended up in Canterlot,” Spyro spoke as he gazed outside at Luna’s Moon, “I just…I mean, all my life, I thought I was a Kirin, but Ignitus…”

“You really feel that y’all need t’ go there,” Applejack noted, gently sitting beside the dragon on the couch.

“And just think of what we’ll get to see and learn about Spyro’s culture and race,” Twilight noted as she walked out, using her Magic to levitate cups of tea to the girls before sitting on the other side of Spyro on the couch, giving the dragon a cup of tea as well.

“Thanks, Twilight,” Spyro nodded before taking a large gulp of it, emptying it in that single drink.

“Hey, Spyro?”

“Yes?”

“Elephant Tranquilizer was mixed into your tea.”

“…Again?” Spyro whined before collapsing on the couch, his tongue out and letting out small snores, semi-noticeable but not irritatingly sleep-preventing.

“He’s had a few problems sleeping when excited or worried,” Twilight explained to the shocked girls, minus a nodding Pinkie Pie.

“Mr. Cake refuses to let me go to bed without chaining myself to it,” Pinkie Pie explained, “He says I bop him on the face with a rolled-up newspaper while sleepwalking. Crazy, am I right?”

“…” Twilight looked at the others.

“It’s jest Pinkie bein’ Pinkie,” Applejack noted before whispering quietly to Twilight, “Jest don’t let her hair go straight. Trust me; ya wouldn’t like it when her hair’s gone straight.”

Twilight gulped. She quickly nodded while using her magic to levitate a blanket down the stairs and covered Spyro with it.

“So how long have you known this purple guy?” Rainbow asked.

“For thirteen years now, I was only five when we first met,” Twilight explained, “I was the one who caused his egg to hatch when I needed to pass an exam. My magic ended up going haywire when I heard this explosion and saw a rainbow shockwave for a bit before Celestia stopped my runaway magic and undid the spells that happened.”

“Ouch,” Rainbow flinched, “Sorry about that.”

“Why are you sorry?” Twilight pondered.

“I…kinda caused that,” Rainbow admitted, “I was racing this dumb Colt that was messing with Fluttershy here. Ended up using a Sonic Rainboom.”

“A Sonic Rainboom? You mean the Sonic Rainboom? The one that has only been done in myths?” Twilight asked.

“I proved it! But my mom bribed them to wipe it from record,” Rainbow growled.

“What?! Now that’s just insane!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“Ouch. If’n Pinkie says somethin’s crazy, y’all jest know it is,” Applejack flinched.

“I’m not kidding. I still have the only records of it hidden,” Rainbow informed, “I can get it faster than I can clear Ponyville’s skies of clouds.”

“No, no, no!” Twilight yelped quickly, not wanting to have another impossibility episode on herself, “I believe you.”

This is just the start of it all

The Temple of Dragons

Here's the second chapter. I do not own Boomer the Troll. Yes, yes, I know some Spyro Fans do not like Skylanders, but I have to admit that I got attached to the personality this silly troll has. I mean, he has a problem such as no PB for PB&J? H just blows the sandwich up! Hilarious!

“None of you are prepared for what lay ahead,” Ignitus informed, “Nor would anyone be truly prepared.”

The girls gulped. Spyro just narrowed his eyes at Ignitus. Ignitus looked down at the purple dragon’s eyes, seeing the determination within.

“Very well, then let’s begin,” Ignitus nodded before the group of nine walked off.

“Sister…” Celestia looked up from a mound of paperwork that was to be filled out in order for Luna to resume her duties as the Night Alticorn to see the worried expression on her, “The Dark Master…He…”

“He’s spent centuries attempting to escape,” Celestia noted, “You recall the life-cycle of a Dragon, sister dear?”

“Yes. Dragons will age like any other being until they become of age and only a year after hatching do they accelerate their age to that of a child around six years of age. After they become of age, their life cycles slow down drastically, letting them spend 100 years in normal time for just a single year for them. Why do you ask?”

“To assure you that I have faith in my student, her new friends, and our little dragon,” Celestia informed.

“How does that assure me?”

“Because during the years before maturity, a dragon is highly impressionable,” Celestia informed, “I have spent all that time teaching the child all about love, bonds, trust…So many good qualities and memories. Memories you and I used to have.”

“…Sister, I…”

“All is forgiven, Luna,” Celestia smiled gently, pecking her little sister’s forehead, just below the horn, “He did that to you. He will not escape his prison, not now.”

And so, our journey to the Temple began. It was a bit arduous with a few breaks every now and then for the girls and young Spyro. It took nearly a week and a half to reach it. The swamplands that surrounded it had grown wild over the last few years I had been away. Filled with Cynder’s forces; the Apes.

“What were those disgusting monsters?!” Rarity demanded, shaking off a bit of swamp slime from her fashionable explorer’s outfit.

“It was like they were a mixture of bones and the swamp itself,” Twilight noted, “A sort of…symbiotic relationship was made.”

“Growths,” Ignitus informed, “A piece of Cynder’s work, enchanted pieces of this land with the dark magic of the Dark Master.”

“Those clubs o’ theirs sure were tough,” Applejack noted before snickering, “Though it was funny t’ see ya get stuck in th’ chest o’ one o’ them, Rainbow.”

“Aw shut it,” Rainbow blushed heavily.

“Hey, at least they didn’t eat you,” Sparx informed, shaking the last of the gunk off his tail while sitting on Fluttershy’s shoulder, “Thanks for the save, Fluttershy.”

“Oh. It was…nothing, really,” Fluttershy blushed.

“Are you kidding me? You were like a butterfly out there,” Sparx pointed out, “Did you learn from those girls?”

“We’re here,” Ignitus informed as they approached a large scarlet and gold chamber door with two dragon head statues at the sides.

“These are amazing,” Twilight awed, sketching them down in a notebook.

“These are sculptures of the first dragons of Fire and Ice,” Ignitus explained before putting a claw onto the door, “No…”

“What’s wrong?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Cynder's soldiers must have knocked the other two statues out of place…heathens,” Ignitus growled.

“What other two statues?” Rainbow pondered.

“On the other side of this door are two statues just like these. When all four statues are positioned correctly, the door opens,” Ignitus explained.

“Yeah, good. I was never good at geometry. So what do you want us to do?” Sparx asked.

“He needs us to get in there and move the statues into place,” Twilight explained.

“Indeed.”

“Us? How?”

“There's a small tunnel that animals use to access the caves. Find it and use it,” Ignitus explained.

“Yeah, animals, okay. You know what? You do that, and I’ll wait here,” Sparx informed.

“Is that it over there?” Rainbow asked, pointing at an entrance twice her size and blocked by roots and vines.

“Yes. However…It seems to have been sealed off. Please allow me,” Ignatius moved the girls, Spyro, and Sparx behind him before exhaling a small burst of flames that incinerated the roots and vines, revealing the entrance, “Go now.”

The girls and Spyro nodded while Sparx reluctantly followed. They were halfway through when a mushroom erupted from the ground, revealing eight red leafy legs and mandibles.

“Bulb Spider!” Fluttershy gasped, “I’ve never seen one this big before.”

“Get out of the way!” Spyro growled before tackling the Bulb Spider and tossed it to Applejack, who quickly kicked it out of the area.

More came by, but were quickly dealt with by Spyro, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight, the lavender Unicorn stopping every now and then to get detailed notes on the foliage and fauna that was in the trail. Eventually, they walked up to a hole in the ground sealed off by roots and vines.

“Now what?” Rainbow pondered.

“Eh, when in doubt, break it right? Go nuts,” Sparx shrugged.

Spyro quickly jumped into the air above the hole. He spun in the air before slamming through the roots with a headbutt. Spyro screamed in the hole.

“Spyro!” Twilight screamed before jumping down into it, followed by the others.

“Are you o…” Applejack began before they saw Spyro cooking three giant Bulb Spiders twice the size of the ones they had been dealing with.

“Huh? You say something?” Spyro pondered.

“Save me a leg,” Rainbow ordered.

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy gasped.

“What? You told me these Bulb Spiders are a perfect vegetable,” Rainbow shrugged.

“Look!” Rarity pointed at two fallen dragon statues near the doors.

“Hurry, get them set up,” Twilight ordered as she and Rarity began to work together on getting one onto a pedestal while Applejack and Rainbow lifted the other onto its pedestal.

The pedestals glowed before lowering into the ground, locking the statues into place. The doors swung open, revealing Ignitus. He walked into the room.

“Any trouble?” Ignitus asked.

“A little insect trouble…nothing we couldn't handle,” Spyro replied with a shrug.

“Little insects, my tail section,” Sparx frowned as he pointed at the revolving dead Bulb Spiders.

“Oh, a Bulb Spider,” Ignitus noted before walking over and taking a bite of one, “Still as delicious as I remember.”

Eventually, the group continued into the structure. They came upon a larger set of doors with a gold dragon replacing the gold swirl on the door.

“The past is prelude, tomorrow a dim promise. Allow us entrance, do not reject us,” Ignitus recited.

“Are you making that up?” Rainbow asked.

“It should open for us,” Ignitus noted with a frown before closing his eyes in concentration, “There is a…disturbance.” He turned to the others, “It seems my fears have been realized: they've desecrated the interior as well.”

“Guess we'll have t’ open it th’ old-fashioned way,” Applejack adjusted her Stetson.

“Make your way through the connecting rooms, restoring every statue you can find,” Ignitus ordered.

“Hey, you know what? Let’s don’t and say we didn’t. Why don’t you do it?” Sparx asked.

“You want my help? Very well. Hop up,” Ignitus ordered as he walked over to a higher level and sat before it, his back acting at a stairway to it.

“Alright…the old guy’s coming to life,” Sparx pointed out as the grounded girls and Spyro climbed up Ignitus and onto the upper level while Fluttershy and Rainbow flew up there.

“Careful, Spyro. Cynder's forces are surely on their way,” Ignitus advised.

“Oh, goody,” Rainbow and Sparx sighed.

It was then they walked on. Suddenly, Spyro spotted a strange crystal the size of his body growing from the ground. He slammed into it and began to break it apart. The gems that fell from it were quickly absorbed into him, much to the surprise of the others. His wings seemed to have grown almost a half-inch while his horns seemed to grow sharper. His eyes even seemed to glow, albeit faintly.

“Hey Spyro, what was that about?” Sparx pondered.

“Oh, so many designs I could have made with a gem that size,” Rarity sighed.

“I don't really know. I just felt like I had to hit it... and when I did, the power of a thousand suns surged through my body,” Spyro compared.

“Hmm…Maybe those gems are connected to your species, Spyro. Something instinctual must have triggered in you when you saw it,” Twilight noted.

“Right, okay. Well you know what? You should really sleep better,” Sparx noted, “Y'know, I'm gonna stop buggin you. You really need to get eight hours.”

“Forget I said anything. Let's go,” Spyro shook his head.

The group continued on, running into a group of Bulb Spiders surrounding a statue. They quickly made work of them as Spyro pushed the statue into place. A panel slid up and the group entered an empty room with just a trophy and pedestal in it. Applejack yelped when a baboon-like ape landed on her, causing her to start jumping around and slammed the Ape into walls until it fell off, out cold. Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack quickly pushed it into place. They went on and Spyro broke two more of the large gems, much to the chagrin of Rarity the fashionista. Spyro blew on a torso embedded into a wall before the wall flipped around, revealing they were in the room they started in.

“That’s quite an entrance, young dragon and friends. There might be hope for us yet,” Ignitus noted as the doors opened up, revealing another set of the jewels.

“What are these things?” Spyro pondered, “I keep on wanting to smash into them.”

“These are Spirit Gems…a gift from the Ancestors,” Ignitus explained.

“What kind of gift?” Twilight pondered.

“A gift that speaks across generations…A gift that empowers you with the spirit of the past, strengthening you with the wisdom of the ages.”

“I feel more powerful already,” Spyro noted.

“So it would be a bad idea if one were to fashion it into clothing?” Rarity pondered.

“On the contrary; the Spirit Gems can be crafted into armor, giving it special properties,” Ignitus explained.

“Hmm…Remind me to stop Spyro the next time, then,” Rarity noted, “I’ll fashion something fabulous and spectacular for a battle.”

“No feathers,” Rainbow frowned as Spyro broke the Spirit Gems once more, doing his best to not absorb them all and leaving Rarity some of gems colored in red, green, or blue to use later.

“Aw…Thank you, Spyro,” Rarity pecked his cheek, earning a faint blush from the dragon.

“It…It was nothing,” Spyro kicking the ground with his front left claws sheepishly before they continued to walk on, daylight shining through holes in the ceiling.

“Do you hear that?” Ignitus pondered, glancing about.

“What is it?” Fluttershy whimpered, hiding behind Rainbow as the rainbow-maned Pegasus readied her dukes.

“Exactly what I feared,” Ignitus frowned before looking over at them, “Look, perhaps we should turn back.”

“What? After coming this far?” Spyro pondered in shock as Ignitus motioned to a sealed doorway just before them.

“If this door is closed, it means there are intruders behind. It's how the Temple protects itself,” Ignitus explained.

“Ah, yeah. Doesn't work too well, does it?” Sparx asked.

“So what are you saying, Ignitus?” Twilight pondered.

“What I'm saying is the only way the door will open…” Ignitus began.

“D-D-Don't say it…” Fluttershy whimpered.

“…Is if the intruders are kicked out of there,” Spyro frowned.

“Didn't Flutters over there just say don’t say it?” Sparx sighed in exasperation.

The smaller members of the group, minus Fluttershy since she wanted to stay and talk with Ignitus/be protected by the dragon, went through a tunnel. A mad cackling erupted once they were near the end of it along with a few explosives going off.

“What was that?!” Rarity gasped.

“Hmm…Sounded like an old 953 stick of TNT going off about ten meters away,” Pinkie Pie noted.

“You’ll pay for t…!” a voice began before another explosion went off.

“That one sounded like a 980 stick of TNT,” Pinkie Pie checked off.

The group ran ahead and skidded to a halt. All around them were blown up Apes. Standing on a ledge nearby, cackling, was a green-skinned troll. He wore bits of blue armor on his left shoulder, elbows, knees, and his four-toed feet visible. He had a long, brown beard and a tooth or two missing in his big smile.

“I couldn’t hear ya because ya got blown up!” the troll cackled as he jumped down and landed before the group, “Hey there! Nice ta meet ya!”

“Wh…Who are you?” Twilight pondered.

“I’m Boomer!” the troll shouted his name as loud as possible, almost like he wanted to say it as an explosion, “I just moved into this nice joint and was in the middle of doing some Spring Cleaning. Need something? I can easily blow it up!”

“…I like this guy!” Pinkie Pie beamed, “Hiya! I’m Pinkie Pie. I love explosives! Especially fireworks! Though, Mr. and Mrs. Cake made me Pinkie Promise to not use the gas ovens anymore. So what kind of explosive material do you like? Mine’s C4!”

“C4? Pft. That’s simple stuff. Mine’s nitroglycerin!” Boomer beamed.

“Nitroglycerine?! Oh wowee! That makes the biggest explosions!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

“…I think we just met Pinkie Pie’s mutated twin brother,” Rainbow Dash whispered, everyone slowly backing away from the laughing and bonding duo before backing up into something, “…We just backed up into a giant Ape, didn’t we?”

“Yep,” Sparx glanced behind them, paling.

“Big club? Possibly a Spirit Gem attached to the top in the shape of a sledgehammer?” Rainbow asked.

“Ten-four.”

“Loincloth?” Rarity asked, paling and earning strange looks from the others, “What? Loincloths are so incredibly tacky that they’re nightmareish.”

“Uh, yeah. There’s a loincloth,” Sparx noted.

“Boo,” the Ape growled.

“Don’t you mean…” Boomer began before whipping out a bomb the size of his body, “Ka-Boom?!”

“…Eep,” the Ape squeaked.

“I think we have a Troll in the Temple,” Ignitus noted as the room rumbled.

“A-Are they b-b-bad?”

“Not really. Though they love to blow things up. Mainly sheep,” Ignitus chuckled.

“That’s terrible!” Fluttershy gasped as the others, with a grinning Boomer, jumped down from a ledge nearby.

“I have to admit; I loved that explosion!” Boomer exclaimed, patting Spyro on the back, “As of now, I’m under your command, kid!”

“Hm…You befriended a Troll?” Ignitus pondered in surprise, “Celestia must have taught you well.”

“Celestia? Ya mean th’ lady with wings and a horn on her head that told me to come here?” Boomer asked, earning a surprised look from the others.

‘Seems Celestia is trying to give aide in her own way,’ Ignitus thought before the group was surrounded by Apes along with another giant one.

“Well, Ignitus, we nabbed your Guardian buddies but you managed to escape our clutches…” the giant Ape noted before grinning sinisterly, “…until now…”

“Stand back, Spyro, and let me show what a dragon trained in the ancient ways can do,” Ignitus informed sternly.

The group, even a reluctant Boomer, nodded. The Apes prepared to fight before Ignitus exhaled a large fireball into the air. It landed in the middle of the Apes and exploded, knocking them every which way. Ignitus was swift, fierce, and all consuming in his strength, acting as a living, breathing wildfire given sentient thought. Not a single Ape was spared from either a slash of his tail, a swipe of his claws, or a mark from his fangs and flames.

“Woah! The big guy's got some moves,” Sparx awed.

“Yeah! Go, Ignitus!” Rainbow cheered as the larger dragon easily tossed the giant Ape onto his troops with a headbutt-flip.

“Retreat!” the giant Ape called out before they raced away in fear.

“Are you okay, Ignitus?” Spyro asked, seeing the elder dragon panting and almost visibly exhausted to a trained eye.

“Yes, as I get older it takes longer to recover…” Ignitus panted.

“You blew them up!” Boomer cackled in joy, “You are a natural at explosions!”

“I know, right? Ignitus, you are super-dooper-totally awesome!” Pinkie Pie bounced around the dragon in excitement.

“I can’t even say it could be cooler,” Rainbow noted as Fluttershy gently rubbed Ignitus on the back of his head.

“Thank you for protecting us, Mr. Ignitus,” Fluttershy noted.

“You were incredible, Ignitus. Can you show me how to do that?” Spyro asked.

“Patience, young dragon. Soon enough you'll learn all I have to teach. But right now you must fight!” Ignitus replied as more Apes showed up.

“No problem!” Boomer grinned as he tossed Pinkie Pie a bag of TNT, “Ready for the Big Bang?”

“Big Bang?” Pinkie Pie repeated before Boomer whispered into her ear, causing her eyes to widen in untold glee, “Oh yeah…”

“Big…” Boomer began before all the sticks of TNT lit up.

“…Bang…” Pinkie Pie added before both tossed all the TNT all around them.

“…Let’s go!” they both cried out before explosions engulfed the entire room except for a strangely perfect ring around the group.

“…Now I’m starting to understand why Princess Celestia made that law that Gas Ovens are forbidden upon the land of Equestria,” Spyro sweatdropped as the others-minus a concerned Ignitus-nodded.

“If Cynder's forces were here, there will certainly be more of them in the Temple,” Ignitus noted.

“Oh goody,” Rainbow rolled her eyes.

“They won't be there for long,” Spyro smirked.

“Wonderful…now he's getting cocky,” Sparx sighed in annoyance.

“Last time that happened, we had to clean him up from all that tree spa, rose thorns, and a few pine needles,” Twilight sighed.

“Don’t forget that rabbit. You always forget the rabbit,” Sparx informed before the group, minus Ignitus, stopped before what appeared to be a circular pool of green, glowing waters.

“Ignitus, may I take a sample of this water?” Twilight asked.

“But of course,” Ignitus replied as he continued to walk.

Another door opened up and he stopped. The room was actually free of anything akin to growth. In the center of it was a massive statue in the shape of a dragon. Spyro walked over to beside Ignitus. Hoots came from the room and Spyro narrowed his eyes. Ignitus nodded and Spyro charged in with Rainbow and Twilight.

Apes swung down and attempted to tackle them if Twilight didn’t summon a barrier. She grunted a little with each impact due to the mental strain Magic had. She let it drop and Spyro unleashed a wave of flames that burned up a few of the Apes before Rainbow flew into one and delivered a chop to the back of its spine and neck, knocking it out.

Eventually, the trio finished off the last of them and the group continued on, many of them awing at the statue. The doors ahead opened up and the group walked outside. Boomer let out a long whistle.

“Now this is a perfect house! Look at that view!” Boomer grinned.

“Ahhh, home sweet home,” Ignitus gave a wistful sigh.

“Spyro, we're not in Kansas anymore…” Sparx noted.

“Where’s Kansas?” Rainbow Dash pondered.

“What happened here?” Spyro pondered, seeing the lands seemed to be in a perpetual autumn.

“This is what Cynder has done. Put all the islands under her iron rule,” Ignitus noted as Twilight looked over at what remained of a broken dragon egg’s shell.

“I wanted to see where I came from…but I didn't know it was going to be like this,” Spyro noted, “It’s worse than I thought…”

“Yeah, no offense, but this place is a bit of a dump,” Sparx noted.

“Hey! …Yeah, you’re right, but I like it,” Boomer shrugged.

“This was once our home, Spyro,” Ignitus explained, “Together, we can make it our home once again…reclaim what's rightfully ours.”

“What do you mean?” Spyro pondered.

“I mean that my time for heroics is past…but with your help-no…” He looked at everyone, “With all of you helping, we might be able to beat Cynder.”

“I…I can't, Ignitus. I just learned what I am,” Spyro shook his head as it was all catching up to him.

“You can, Spyro, you can. You are a Purple Dragon…a very special creature,” Ignitus informed while motioning towards the others, “And you have the aid of good friends, both old and new, to see you through this,” he gave the purple dragon a proud, almost fatherly smile, “You've given me hope again. Now it's time to give hope to all of them.”

“I'm not sure what help I can be, Ignitus, but I'll try…” Spyro nodded, “I'll try.”

“Good. That's all I can ask. Now come with me. I have something for you,” Ignitus informed as the group walked into the statue room, “The style you all used earlier was crude, archaic, and obvious, Spyro, but you got the job done. Not bad, considering you haven't been taught anything about what it means to be a dragon, Spyro.”

“Thanks…” Spyro looked at the others, “…I think.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know I’m a 2nd degree Black Belt!” Rainbow frowned.

“Celestia informed me of all of you and bits of your pasts,” Ignitus explained, “She’s been studying you six girls for a long time now.”

“What?!” the girls gasped.

“Kinky,” Boomer chuckled.

“She had a feeling you six were intertwined with the Legend, obtaining further evidence caused by your Sonic Rainboom, Rainbow Dash,” Ignitus noted, “Tell me, you haven’t been able to tap into that speed once since you last did it, have you?”

“Um…Well…No,” Rainbow looked down at her feet.

“If you seven are going to have a chance against Cynder and her army, you're going to need to learn a lot more. Boomer, was it? I will need you to help me by teaching Pinkie Pie everything you know about explosives. She already has some knowledge on it from her life before moving to Ponyville,” Ignitus explained.

“Heh. No sweat! I’ll have her up to date on Explosions faster than you can blow up a sheep!” Boomer beamed.

“Oh good…school,” Sparx groaned.

“Whoop,” Rainbow flatly deadpanned.

“Unlike any school you've ever known, young friend,” Ignitus chuckled, “Now…it's time to unleash the True Dragon within you.”

“The True Dragon…” Spyro repeated in a whisper of awe.

“Each of the Guardians is master of an element,” Ignitus continued, “I, as you may have surmised, am Master of Fire. Pay attention and you may be someday too. Let's begin.”

The statue rumbled before lowering down into the ground. Nearby, Boomer and Pinkie Pie walked out. Training Dummies appeared where the statue once stood.

“You seem to have learned how to breathe Fire on your own. Use your fire on these dummies,” Ignitus informed as the Training Dummies charged at Spyro, causing him to dodge.

“Magic training dummies?” Twilight pondered.

“As I have said, Soul Gems are special when used in other items,” Ignitus informed with a chuckle, “These training dummies are fueled by Green Soul Gems, which let us restore our Magic. Now then, Twilight and Rarity, you are both Unicorns. My time with Celestia here and even before Luna was Nightmare Moon when both grew up here with us allowed me to learn much about the Pony race and their own Magic.”

“Really now?”

“Unicorns, Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and-consequentially-Alicorns, have what is known as ‘Fonts.’ The same as we Dragons possess. Twilight, you tapped into all of your Font that day you hatched Spyro from what she told me,” Ignitus informed as Spyro did his exercise, “That was dangerous since it happened by accident.”

Twilight nodded. She knew about the dangers of over-using the Font. When over a fourth is used, the Unicorn starts to feel exhausted. A half spent, and headaches and migraines start forming. After that, Magical Exhaustion would take place and cause the Unicorn to black out. If they didn’t black out, then that would mean they were near-death if they weren’t knocked out quickly in five minutes after entering Magical Exhaustion.

“There are books over there, sealed within the wall. To open the wall, just recite the correct order of the Elements of Harmony,” Ignitus informed, “A simple hint; your journey to yourselves was the order.”

The two nodded and walked over to the wall with Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. They were surprised to see that there were six carvings in a circle, each carving the Cutie Marks on the left hands of the girls. Nearby, Ignitus watched as Spyro finished off the last enemy.

“Very good, young Spyro. This time, see if you can chase them down with your Fire Breath,” Ignitus continued as more dummies appeared, some already lit, “Defeat them before the fires on them do. If not, you’ll have to start again.”

“Let’s see…The journey to ourselves was the order…” Twilight muttered before snapping her right hand’s fingers, “I got it!”

She quickly pressed Applejack’s, Fluttershy’s, Pinkie Pie’s, Rarity’s, Rainbow Dash’s, and then her own. The wall slid down, revealing a shelve of books divided into ‘Pegasus,’ ‘Unicorn,’ and ‘Earth Pony.’ Rarity and Twilight began to read in two of the books as Fluttershy took one that read ‘Animals’ from the ‘Pegasus’ section. Rainbow pulled one out with a familiar symbol of a storm cloud with lightning covering it to her.

“‘Wonderbolt Battle Tactics: Solo Fighter Edition,’” Rainbow read the title, “Now if I had seen this before in a library, I would’ve liked to be a book reader.”

“Got you…at last…” Spyro panted as he incinerated the last dummy.

“Now you have awakened my hopes once more! Now, Spyro, you must learn that there is a time and a place for your attack. Wait until the opportune moment and unleash your Fire,” Ignitus informed as a larger dummy appeared with a club, “While knocking enemies up into the air allows you to unleash many new combination attacks.”

“Right,” Spyro nodded before Ignitus looked over at the girls.

“Everything going well?” Ignitus asked.

“Good so far. They go into deep detail on everything involving the spells,” Twilight informed, “The dangers, amount of Magic needed to effectively cast it. Maintaining the spells…This is truly in-depth in the work.”

“Yes. I’ve been collecting these works for 500 Pony years now,” Ignitus noted, “A mere five for a dragon’s life.”

“You sure do live long,” Applejack noted, leafing through a small book on kicking techniques.

“We do. We can live to be 500 Dragon Years old,” Ignitus informed, “But Purple Dragons…They are rumored to be immortal.”

“If 100 years is a single year for you, then that means 500 is actually 500,000 years,” Twilight noted before the dummy slammed near them.

“Huh? I actually won. Awesome!” Spyro beamed.

“Good job, Spyro,” Twilight nodded.

“Let’s see how well you can improvise with your current abilities,” Ignitus noted.

“You did it! For now, it’s time to move on,” Ignitus informed to a panting Spyro, “Conserve your energy and strike when your enemy is vulnerable. An off-balanced enemy can be quite useful.”

“Why is that?” Spyro pondered.

“You can use that enemy as a weapon against other enemies,” Ignitus informed as two dummies appeared, “Send the first one into the air and then slam it into the other and you’ll see.”

“Well…Okay, I guess,” Spyro shrugged before slamming a dummy into the air and then using his wings and claws to slam it into the other.

“Now you’re ready to proceed,” Ignitus informed before a wall of flames appeared in the middle of the room, as large as Spyro was, “I will now teach you the Fire Ball.”

“Fire Ball?” Spyro repeated.

“Yes. It is a basic fire, one that even Unicorns can learn if given the opportunity,” Ignitus informed, motioning to the two Unicorn girls to come over, “Now then, as you know, Spyro, we dragons have a massive Font rivaling or even surpassing Celestia’s in your case. Yet this spell is capable of learning even if the Font is smaller than a small lake, such as these two have.”

“So how does it work?” Spyro asked.

“You must look deep within you and feel the fire within,” Ignitus explained, “Focus it into your mouth and feel it form into a ball. Then…you release.”

With that, Ignitus made a small intake of breath before opening his mouth. A ball of flames shot through the fire wall and incinerated a dummy.

“You will have mastered this skill once your attacks can go through the flames like mine did,” Ignitus continued before turning to the girls, “As for you two, form it into your hands or at the tip of your horn.”

“So d’ya think they’ll be doin’ it right soon?” Applejack asked.

“Perhaps…” Ignitus began before an explosion went off behind them and Rarity screamed about her shirt, “…In a few hours.”

“Ha-ha! I knew you three had it in you!” Ignitus exclaimed with joy, Rarity having to replace her burnt shirt with a white sports bra, “Now, it is time for the real challenge. It is clear you have a strong kinship with the flames, Spyro. Tell me, you’re starting to feel as if you’re melting in anger, is it not?”

“Y-Yeah…” Spyro grunted, his eyes flashing back and forth between their normal color and a burning ember.

“That is a sign that your magic has absorbed too much Fury. Fury comes from the Purple Spirit Gems and through battle itself. The Purple Spirit Gems are rare to encounter, but battle Fury is much, much easier to reveal. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, step away from the young hatchling. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, come here. Seal away, hide away. Back into the wall from whence you came,” Ignitus ordered as the bookshelf wall was sealed up before the five nodded and ran over to him while more dummies were formed, “Now…With your Fury at this state, you will be able to tap into the flames of the first Fire Guardian himself; Ishlandur. You’ll hear a voice. You must respond and shout out what it wants you to shout. Only then will your Fury vanish.”

“Rrrrr…” Spyro growled as his eyes turned completely burning red, “Fury of Ishlandur's Final Stand!”

Spyro erupted into a swirling crimson vortex. It exploded into a flaming shockwave and Ignitus quickly shielded the five girls and Sparx with his wings. The attack ended and the dummies were just scorch marks of scorch marks.

“Excellent, Spyro. You may just have a chance against Cynder just yet,” Ignitus noted as the statue rose up once more before the room rumbled from a massive explosion outside, a mushroom cloud visible outside.

“…She got her hands on a Gas Oven…” Rarity scowled before a slightly-singed Boomer and Pinkie landed on Rainbow nearby.

“Whooooooo!-!-!” Boomer cried out in glee, patting Pinkie on the back, “Pinkie, you are officially a Bomber!”

“Yay!” Pinkie Pie cheered before Rainbow threw them off her in annoyance and anger.

“…He’s a friendly troll, Ignitus…He’s a friendly troll…” Ignitus mumbled to himself as he walked over to the green waters.

“So what's with the pool, big guy?” Sparx asked, flying right into his face.

“If you must know, certain dragons have the ability to see visions…” Ignitus informed in annoyance at the dragonfly, “The thoughts, memories, and dreams of others…and to see what's happening in places far, far away. I am one such dragon, and in this pool the visions come forth.”

“Amazing…” Twilight awed, writing it down for future reference.

“Oh really, is that so? Okay what am I thinking now? …What am I thinking now? …Okay, now? Now? Now, now, now, now, now?” Ignitus’ left eye twitched.

“I'm afraid it's not that easy, Sparx. It takes time, reflection, and patience,” he looked down into the waters, “What I do see in the Pool of Visions is that Volteer, one of the Guardians, is being held on Dante's Freezer.” He turned to Spyro, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight, “Spyro, while I look for details on the others, I want you to venture there and find out what you can with Twilight and Rainbow Dash.”

“Aw yeah! First mission!” Rainbow Dash pumped her fist.

“Remember, just look around. If you encounter Cynder, run... you're not ready to face her yet. None of you are ready,” Ignitus informed, glaring directly at Rainbow, having read up on her little attitude problem.

“Fine,” Rainbow rolled her eyes.

“I require what Pinkie Pie calls a ‘Pinkie Promise’ from you, Rainbow Dash,” Ignitus informed, causing Rainbow to gulp as she felt Pinkie’s gaze turn to her.

“…Forever…” Pinkie Pie hissed.

“…C-Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye,” Rainbow Dash recited as she made an ‘X’ over her heart and then put her left hand over her left eye.

“Okay, so when people are trying to kill me I run. Got it,” Sparx saluted.

“But Ignitus, how do we get there?” Spyro pondered.

“…I'm glad you asked,” Ignitus chuckled with a fatherly smile.

“Why are you smiling? I don’t like it,” Sparx pointed out.

So what do you think?

Dante's Freezer

Twilight Sparkle's Report on the Outside World and Dragons: Part 1
Dear Princess Celestia,

I'm felling just a bit awkward that you had not only myself, but my new friends all watched since we were foals. I would like to talk to you later about it once all this is over. Right now, Spyro has managed to learn everything Ignitus would teach him about his Fire Breath while teaching a bit of it to myself and Rarity. We now head out into the area known as Dante's Freezer. It has taken us two weeks to reach it with small breaks between for Spyro and Rainbow Dash. Spyro's just simply been pure adrenaline ever since he gained the ability to fly. It's kinda amusing to watch him fly about with that grin on his face. I've never been so proud of being his sister. From what Ignitus explained, Spyro learned how to fly upon forgetting himself. I owe you an hour of hearing you say 'I told you so' on the advice 'The key to learning is forgetting' back then.

From the data I've gathered upon being in this land, the harsh climate of Dantes Freezer makes it home to only the roughest, toughest, and most enduring of creatures, for the area is constantly choked with blizzards. Its massive fort walls are barely enough to shield its inhabitants from the cold, and often times make it more dangerous with falling ice sickles and slippery ramparts. Cannons and other dangerous weapons are abundant here and the Apes are skilled at using them against any dragons or wandering strangers. It reminds me of the tales of Dante's Inferno's Ninth Hell, which is said to be known as a frozen wasteland. It only shows more evidence upon the Viking Zombies that live upon this land. They appear to be at war with the Apes and vice-versa. I pray that we find Volteer quickly.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

PS: Sparx says 'Hi' while Spyro says 'I can't wait to show you I can fly!'

“Let me get this straight, you're saying that I…can fly?” Spyro asked in disbelief as they stood out on the balcony.

“Maybe you've been hanging in those caves and forest a little too long, Old Man. Spyro can't fly. We all know that,” Sparx informed.

“It’s true, actually,” Twilight admitted sheepishly, “Every time we’ve tried, it’s ended with him hitting the ground horns first. Sometimes horn first into a fountain.”

“Yeah, a bit of fresh air might do you good. I've never flown in my life by myself,” Spyro admitted.

“It's you that will be getting some fresh air, Spyro,” Ignitus informed, “Pegasus methods do not work for Dragons, so that would explain it. Now…close your eyes, take a deep breath, and empty your mind…”

Spyro looked over at Twilight. She smiled and gently encouraged him silently. He nodded before closing his eyes and then taking the deep breath. In his thoughts, he thought he could hear a bird cry out.

“Yes, yes, that's it. Now feel the power of your ancestors coursing through your body. In times of crisis they will come to you and teach you... unlocking powers you never knew you had,” Ignitus explained.

“Boy, this I gotta see,” Sparx rolled his eyes, earning a glare from Ignitus for a brief second before he turned back to the younger dragon.

“Just forget everything you ever thought you knew…forget yourself. Only through forgetting will you remember what your ancient blood already knows…” as Ignitus spoke, Spyro’s wings began to flap faster and faster until he began to float into the air, “…You can fly.”

Spyro opened his eyes and looked down. He was above it. He was actually flying. He did small ‘steps’ in his movement as he went over to Twilight.

“I’m…I’m flying…” Spyro choked out in joy, tears welling up in his eyes.

“You’re flying. You’re flying!” Twilight smiled even bigger, a few tears falling off her face.

“I can fly! Wahoo!” Spyro cheered before zipping off and around them all, laughing in joy with Twilight.

“Are you kidding?! He’s flying! Welcome to the club, big guy!” Sparx cheered as he flew besides the ecstatic Purple Dragon.

“Would that be the annoying pest club?” Spyro cracked.

“No, smart aleck, the flying club,” Rainbow replied, flying up over to them.

“Yeah, I could get used to this,” Spyro beamed.

“Dante's Freezer is a desolate arctic expanse that's littered with the machinery of war…soldiers and weapons frozen forever in the posture of destruction. You must find Volteer before he's lost forever,” Ignitus advised.

“Luckily for you two, I brought along winter coats for just an emergency,” Rarity informed, having the two girls their needed clothing.

“Thank you for this, Rarity,” Twilight nodded, putting her jacket on while Spyro landed.

“Care for a ride?” Spyro offered.

“Just like when we were kids,” Twilight giggled.

“Like the time we tricked Shining Armor and Candace?” Spyro chuckled.

“Which time?” Sparx laughed.

“All of them!” Twilight replied with a sly grin.

“…I think I’m going to like traveling with you three,” Rainbow smirked before Pinkie Pie and Boomer handed her a bag of TNT, “What’s this for?”

“Protection,” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Everything. Any problem you have, just blow it up!” Boomer replied.

“Uh…Sure. I’ll come back with an empty sack,” Rainbow nodded, “Either that, or it’ll be filled with stuff that isn’t TNT, okay?”

“Yay! Souvenirs!” the two cheered, hugging her.

‘It will be a shame to see how this will change them all…’ Ignitus thought with regret.

“This is so awesome!” Spyro laughed as Twilight held on tightly as they flew through a cloud.

“Spyro!” Twilight squealed in mirth and fear, shaking off some of the water the cloud was made from.

“What can you expect, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flew beside them, “This is his first time really flying with his own wings and power. He’s in pleasure supreme right now.”

“Does this happen to everyone during the first fourteen-coming onto fifteen-days when you learn to fly with wings?” Twilight asked.

“Nope! Ask Fluttershy. I always believed that she should have been born an Earth Pony or Unicorn, but those wings she has are perfect for her!” Rainbow grinned.

“How come?”

“Because she uses them to look after animals that don’t want to come down from their trees,” Rainbow replied with a shrug, “She’s a vet, you know. She doesn’t really want to be paid, but everyone gives her extra because of her nature. She’s just too damn innocent.”

“Sounds like someone has a crush!” Sparx noted, causing Rainbow to nearly fall in the air from that statement.

“Sh-Shut up!” Rainbow blushed.

“What? I don’t get what the problem is,” Sparx noted.

“Sparx, same-sex relationships are sometimes persecuted for being ‘wrong’ and ‘sick,’” Twilight whispered.

“That’s dumb! Hey, you know what I say about the dudes and chicks who don’t like it; suck it! You’re here, you’re queer, and I am okay with that!” Sparx declared.

“There really isn’t taboo much in dragonfly relationships,” Spyro admitted to a somewhat confused Rainbow before a screeching Ape set on fire flew by them, “Whoa!”

“Apes! They’re lighting themselves on fire and using catapults!” Twilight gasped while looking through a pair of binoculars at the oncoming islands.

The two flyers began to dodge as Twilight used her magic to send the Apes back at their catapults while Spyro used his Fire Balls to blow them up. Eventually, they came upon a frozen wasteland.

“They’re colliding!” Twilight screamed as two glaciers were moving closer together.

“Hang on, Spyro, Twilight!” Rainbow called as she flew behind Spyro and pushed.

The two flyers zipped through the colliding glaciers just inches from their collision. Rainbow saluted the three as she flew beside them. Sparx grinned and gave her a thumbs up while Twilight and Spyro nodded. Eventually, they came upon a fortress in the ice.

“Uh…Rainbow?” Spyro paled, suddenly recalling something.

“Yeah?” Rainbow asked.

“How the heck do I land?”

“Oh, you got to be buckin’ kidding me…” Rainbow muttered as Twilight and Spyro screamed.

“Coming in too fast!” Twilight held tightly onto Spyro.

“This…doesn't look good,” Sparx noted, flying off Spyro.

“Incoming!” Spyro screamed before he and Twilight collided with a mound of snow, poking out and snowmen.

“That’s gonna hurt,” Rainbow cringed.

“Nice landing, ace,” Sparx joked as Spyro and Twilight shook off the snow.

“Yeah. Maybe this flying thing ain’t for me.”

“Well, it sure doesn't help that you're carrying all that weight,” Sparx noted.

“Hey!” Twilight frowned.

“You know, throw a salad in every once in a while. You might be okay,” Sparx continued, keeping his attention on Spyro.

“That was one time and you know it,” Spyro blushed.

“What happened?” Rainbow pondered.

“He has a sweet tooth for candy apples,” Twilight whispered, “He gave me his Puppy Dog Pout to get me to agree to Brunch at Sweet Apple Acres when we first met Applejack and her family.”

“Yeah, I think I'll stick to the ground for a while,” Spyro noted.

“Good idea,” Sparx nodded as the group looked around.

“Not exactly a friendly place, huh? Wonder where we should start…” Twilight pondered.

“Well, I'm no Purple Dragon like you, but maybe we should take that clearly marked path that leads to the interior,” Rainbow pointed out as they began to walk through a field of ice.

“Is it weird that that blinked at me?” Sparx asked, glancing at one.

“Just keep moving,” Twilight whispered before the ice shattered, revealing green-skinned, skinny Vikings in black and red armor.

“Ice cubes alive!” Sparx screamed before an Ape jumped down from a broken pillar, “And we’ve got Monkeys!”

“On it!” Twilight replied before throwing the Vikings away with her Magic while Rainbow pummeled the Ape with a spin-kick followed into a haymakers and then into a buck into the nuts, causing it to collapse to its knees and let out a high-pitched whine of pain.

“Nuts to you!” Rainbow called as she gave him an uppercut that sent the Ape over the snow-covered armor wall before they continued on to a wrecked wall, “How do we get past this? I mean, Spyro, Sparx, and me can fly, but you, Twilight…”

“Why don't we use this thing to knock that bad boy down?” Sparx suggested as he pointed at a catapult.

“Ha, ha. I knew we brought you along for a reason,” Spyro chuckled.

“But what do we load up into it?” Rainbow Dash pondered before a snowball landed beside her.

“Hmm…” Twilight looked up at the tree the snowball fell from, “Sparx, my files.”

“I’m not your secretary,” Sparx frowned before pulling out a folded piece of paper from the tiny backpack he had on, “But here.”

Twilight unfolded the paper before continuing it until it opened up into a normal-sized paper. She began to skim it. Her horn and eyes glowed along with the snowball. It suddenly changed into a boulder.

“Whoa…” Rainbow awed.

“Spyro, load it up. Rainbow, aim. Sparx, prepare to shout ‘fire,’” Twilight ordered.

“Yes, ma’am!” Sparx saluted.

Spyro quickly loaded the boulder into place on the catapult. Rainbow and Spyro pushed together as she aimed it. Twilight nodded to Sparx as she held the lever.

“Fire!” Sparx shouted.

Twilight pulled the lever. The catapult quickly launched the boulder and it slammed into the debris, shattering it and revealing a path. The four let out a cheer as they continued on.

“That was a good idea... glad I thought of it,” Spyro joked.

“You…glad you…? No,” Sparx glared as Twilight giggled.

“He’s kidding,” Twilight comforted, “Right?”

“That’s what we do,” Spyro beamed.

“More Apes and Vikings!” Rainbow called out.

The group quickly began to fight back. Twilight and Spyro quickly fired Fire Balls at them while Rainbow began to pummel them with punches and kicks while using her wings to distract them. They managed to get a bit deeper into the structure before an Ape Giant on a higher level used his staff to create a wall of freezing winds.

“Oh, come on!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“There’s a tree,” Spyro noted before whacking it with his tail, causing a snowball to fall from it.

“Is anyone else weirded out by snowballs falling from trees?” Sparx asked as Twilight used her magic to turn it into a boulder that Spyro quickly loaded and Rainbow aimed.

“Don’t question it,” Rainbow ordered, “If it helps us, I’ll be glad.”

They quickly fired it and knocked the Ape Giant off his stand and rolled away on it, causing the winds to fade away. The girls screamed when they saw a pair of giant bats with Apes flying on them swoop at them, the bats carrying barrels filled with lit dynamite. Twilight quickly formed a shield spell and the barrels collided with it, blowing up and shattering it. Spyro barely caught the aching Twilight.

“Hate when…they break it…” Twilight mumbled.

“She’ll be out of it for a little,” Spyro noted.

“Lucky for us, we’re surrounded by ice,” Sparx informed.

They continued on. As they walked along the path, Spyro carrying Twilight, the group encountered an Ape that was firing snow bombs from a canon. Rainbow and Sparx distracted him with flying and taunts before Spyro unleashed a Fire Ball that blew it-and the Ape-up. Twilight recovered after a few minutes as they continued, but Spyro refused to let her get off until they got to a good spot. Sparx looked out to see a faint image of a dragon flying off.

“You think that was Cynder?”

“I sure hope so,” Spyro noted.

“What?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, if it wasn't, it means there's more than one giant evil dragon around here,” Twilight frowned.

“Oh yeah…” Rainbow gulped in fear.

“I hope that was Cynder too,” Sparx agreed with Spyro.

“G-Guys…” Twilight squeaked out.

“What?” Rainbow turned to her and paled, “Ooh…”

“G-g-g-g-ghost Viking!-!-!” Sparx screamed at the floating upper skeleton of a Viking with one arm and a giant buster-sword.

“Run!” Twilight screamed before they began to run away from it.

Eventually, they came upon a tower with three Vikings charging out of it. A bolt of lightning raced from the top.

“Look out!” Sparx screamed before it slammed into him.

“Spyro! You okay, buddy?” Rainbow asked in concern.

His body trembled before the Vikings and Ghost Viking came upon them. He exhaled and unleashed a blast of lightning all over, destroying them.

“Wooo! I guess so,” Sparx gulped.

“Spyro…You…You breathed lightning!” Twilight gasped as Spyro shook his head.

“I feel like I ate a lightning storm,” Spyro groaned before the group continued on.

“Aw man…Not more of them…” Rainbow whined, seeing more Ghost Vikings and a Giant Ape.

“Rage…At max…” Spyro trembled as his eyes turned scarlet once more.

“Duck and cover!” Sparx screamed before Twilight casted her shield spell once more.

“Fury of Ishlandur's Final Stand!” Spyro roared as he unleashed the flaming vortex shockwave, incinerating the opponents and gate before them.

“Man…That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, no matter how many times I see it,” Rainbow whistled in awe.

“I buckin’ swear that if I see another exploding barrel of Apes…” Rainbow Dash muttered in anger as Spyro tried to knock down a bolted door.

“Maybe we should head this way, genius,” Sparx pointed towards an ice cave entrance just their size, “Hey, Sp…Oh, check this out. Echo!”

“Rainbow Dash is the greatest!” Rainbow called, hearing her echo.

“Oh, please,” Twilight sighed.

“Hold on. I got one. I want to see if it works. I’m an idiot!” Sparx called out.

“You’re an idiot!” the echo replied rather upset.

“…I was not expecting that,” Sparx pointed out as Rainbow fell over, laughing.

“Ha ha, alright my turn,” Spyro chuckled as they ventured deeper into the ice cavern, “Hellooooooo!”

“Hello,” they looked down to see a hoard of Apes.

“Who's the genius now, echo man?” Spyro frowned before the group was about to charge when Rainbow threw ten sticks of TNT that blew the Apes to Kingdom Come.

“…What?” everyone kept staring at her, “Hey, I promised I’d come back with no TNT. Now I just need the souvenirs.”

“Let’s just get going…” Twilight sweatdropped before Spyro landed on a struggling Ape.

“Where’s the Dragon you stored here?” Spyro demanded.

“Next…room…” the Ape groaned before passing out from his wounds.

“…” Twilight glanced about with a small frown.

“Something wrong?” Rainbow asked.

“I just hope they’re all okay,” Twilight noted.

“Yeesh, you’re kinda soft like Fluttershy on this matter,” Rainbow noted, glancing to see a few Apes had been ended in the bombing, “Still, it’s something we’ll have to try to get used to. I mean, these guys come at us with intent to kill, nothing less than that.”

“I…I know, but still…Some of these Apes may have children at their homes, families even,” Twilight noted.

“We’ll send them bouquets.”

“How can you just be so…uncaring?!” Twilight demanded.

“It’s simple; it’s war,” Rainbow replied, not looking back as she followed Spyro.

Twilight raised a brow. ‘It’s war?’ What did she mean by that? Twilight shook her head and followed them into a large arena-like place made from the ice and snow. Nearby was a throne, resting a tall bipedal figure within obsidian and crimson armor akin to what the Vikings had worn, and covered in various areas along with his throne in a thick coating of ice. Sealed in a nearby ice cage was a dragon the size of Ignitus, colored in a bright yellow, almost akin to the stereotypical belief that lightning was yellow/white, and horns/spikes of lightning blue coloring. Strangely, he wore a gag over his mouth.

“Is that Volteer?” Twilight pondered.

“Hey, that’s him. We did it. Bye,” Sparx turned.

“Hmm, I don't like this. It's too quiet…too…easy,” Spyro noted.

“Wha…what part was easy? Eh, getting chased by frozen madmen and gorillas?” Spyro demanded as he flew before the throne, unaware of the ice starting crack.

“Uh, Sparx…” Spyro gulped.

“I mean, really? That was not easy! We got chased by Ghost Vikings!” Sparx exclaimed as a sinister red glow appeared in the armored figure’s eyes.

“Sparx, turn around!” Twilight shouted.

“Is that what I think it is?” Rainbow paled before the ice shattered, the figure standing up with a roar.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!” Sparx screamed before he flew over and ran into the cage, “Hide me, hide me, hide me!”

“Who dares intrude upon the lair of I, the Ice King?” the figure demanded as he jumped down, brandishing a sword and a shield, a white aura emanating from his blade.

“We are here for Volteer, the dragon that lies within the cage over there,” Twilight informed, “We mean you no disrespect, oh noble Ice King.”
“Hmm…You seem to be a Pony. Unicorn, at glance,” the Ice King noted, “Your horn will make a fine addition to my collection.”

“W-w-what?” Twilight paled.
“Prepare for your demise!” the Ice King declared as he charged.
Battle Music: Fight The Knight

The Ice King swung his blade and the girls and Spyro barely jumped back. Spyro retaliated with a Fire Ball, but the Ice King used his shield to block it. He moved it away only to be blasted by five sticks of TNT.

“Ha! Got him!” Rainbow smirked before the Ice King’s helmet landed beside her almost empty sack of TNT, “And I got a souvenir.”
“Grrrrawrg!-!-!” the smoke from the explosion was dispersed as the Ice King, his helmet gone to reveal a demonic skull with bits of skin and an eyeball still attached to it, erupted from it, “Thou shall be first to taste thine blade!”

“Gah!” Rainbow yelped before using her wings and flew over the Ice King.

The Ice King aimed his sword at her and a beam of ice shot out of it. Rainbow barely dodged the attack as it made more stalagmites upon the ceiling. She barely threw a few more sticks of lit dynamite at the king before he swung his blade, releasing a wave that froze them. The Ice King was about to swing once more for Rainbow when he was blasted in the back by lightning. In his cage, the dragon was regaining consciousness to see Spyro unleash his new Lightning Breath.

“Blast you, Dra…” the Ice King began before seeing Spyro’s scales, “A Purple Dragon? Now you would make the supreme trophy for my collection.”

Spyro unleashed another blast of lightning at the Ice King, making him dodge and get hit with Twilight’s Fire Ball, knocking off more parts of his armor and let Rainbow catch it in her bag while she threw more TNT at him. The Ice King roared before a snowflake-shaped barrier spun around him, taking the blasts of TNT. Rainbow reached into her bag once more and paled.

“Uh oh. Outta ammo,” Rainbow gulped before the Ice King slammed a fist into her face and sent her into the cage.

“Are you quite alright?” Volteer asked.

“I’m…I’m fine,” Rainbow gagged a bit.

“Come on, come on! Round Two, Dash!” Sparx pumped his fists before rubbing one of her shoulders and then the other since he couldn’t do both at once, “You gotta be rough. You gotta be tough. You gotta win, win, win!”

“Ugh…” Rainbow groaned.

“Alright. This calls for the Reindeer Shout,” Sparx rubbed his chin, “Yeah?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Yeah?!”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah!” Rainbow cried out.

“Yeah!!!”

“Yeeeaaaah!!!” Rainbow cried out before shooting through the gaps in the bar and slammed into the Ice King just as Spyro and Twilight unleashed a pair of Fire Balls at him, sending him flying off the side with the rest of his armor being blown off upon impact from all three attacks.
“Nooooo!!!” the Ice King roared as he fell down into the darkness below the arena.

“It borders on the miraculous, incredible, stupendous! A dragon your size defeating that… that… thing with the aid of a Unicorn and Pegasus! Thank you... ah…ah…ah…” Volteer tried to think of the Purple Dragon’s name.

“Spyro. And these are my adopted sister, Twilight Sparkle, and our friend, Rainbow Dash.”

“A purple dragon named Spyro, a Unicorn named Twilight Sparkle, and a Pegasus named Rainbow Dash. Amazing. Of course, there were unsubstantiated rumors of a purple dragon countless generations ago, but most considered it hearsay, gossip, legend. It's hard to believe, difficult to fathom, amazing to comprehend... er... um…” Volteer rambled on.

“No wonder they gagged this guy,” Sparx whispered as Rainbow nodded, finishing her collecting of the Ice King’s armor.

“So much time has passed, so many things have been learned, and now, here he is, standing right before me…”

“Excuse me... Mr. Volt,” Twilight spoke.

“Wha... wha... what is it?”

“Sir. Should... shouldn't we get going?” Spyro asked.

“Oh, of course, but where to?”

“Back to the Temple,” Rainbow informed.

“A friend of yours is waiting,” Sparx added.

“Ignitus?”

“Yes, Ignitus,” Twilight nodded.

“Of course, much to tell him, many hypotheses to pose. I believe that…”

To my Faithful Student,

I am so pleased in hearing my little Spyro can finally fly. I'll hold you to that unspoken promise, Twilight Sparkle. Please do your best to stay safe in Dante's Freezer. And when you find Volteer...wear eaplugs. I know it is quite unsettling for you to hear this from me, but Volteer can outtalk anyone. Though I believe Sparx or even Pinkie Pie can give him a run for his Bits. I knew it was a bad idea to introduce him to dictionaries...Curse you, Truth or Dare Night during the war. Hopefully, when you rescue Volteer, Spyro will be able to display the ability to use Lightning. That would just add evidence that he is the Purple Dragon of Legend.

With warm regards,

Princess Celestia

PS: Sparx, don't complain since you wanted to go with them. And I can't wait to see you flying about, my little Spyro.

Tall Plains

Twilight Sparkle's Report on the Outside World and Dragons: Part 2

Dear Princess Celestia,

We’ve saved Volteer. I know this seems counter-intuitive to my shock of you doing background studies on my new friends and I, but I was hoping you could tell me a bit about Rainbow’s Past. She seemed to act so…nonchalant when it came to killing those Apes.
I have managed to learn a bit more about Dragons. It seems that infant Lightning Dragons are introduced into a small zap of electricity when they are still young in order for them to get a feel of their Lightning Breath. This allows them to learn how to create and store their own electricity by using the thought currents inside their brains and let it travel through their systems. Lightning Dragons are also some of the swiftest of the Dragons, rivaling the speed of Wind Dragons, a sub-species of one of the Four Main Elemental Dragons.
Volteer is an interesting dragon to talk with…provided you have earplugs to help in his incessant speaking. But, there are some good qualities about him. Being the most excitable of the two Dragon Masters we’ve met so far, he is best suited for battles in the air allowing him to whip, whirl, flash, and fry enemies that may whizz by. This was evident when we saw him take down a few Apes that were catapulted at us while we were coming back to the Dragon Temple.

Applejack and Fluttershy have been tasked with going to Tall Plains with Spyro and Sparx. Ignitus says that it will take them a week to fly there. From the books I’ve found on Tall Plains, it is situated upon a Cliffside amidst a rainforest. Their inhabitants are the Atlawas, bipedal, humanoid llama beings. They live in a tribe, worship gods, mainly a stone one for harvests, and tend to their large crops. The land is scenic but dangerous, as deadly booby traps intended originally for apes and monsters known as ‘Dreadwings’ litter the landscape. Creatures such as Stone Brutes and the Apes may also pose a threat to them there. However, the landscape is quite beautiful with its rolling hills, small grassy cliffs, deep forest groves, and it's large lush rainforest. So while dangerous, the sheer natural beauty of Tall Plains often makes visiting worth the risk.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

“Yay! Souvenirs!” Pinkie Pie and Boomer cheered as they pulled out the Ice King’s armor.

“Oh, this is such a great housewarming present for you, Boomer!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

“And she used all the TNT!” Boomer grinned, patting Rainbow’s back, “You girls are great!”

“Yeah, well…You were the ones who gave it to me,” Rainbow chuckled.

“Yes, yes, Volteer, it's good to see you as well, but we don't have time to waste on sentiment,” Ignitus sighed, feeling the headache form that Twilight, Rainbow, and Sparx were trying to get rid of from the two weeks it took to return, while holding a plate of a yellow and lightning-blue cake Pinkie Pie had baked just for the occasion, “Back to Cynder…She was doing what to you?”

“Cynder's a chick?” Sparx gawked.

“Well, duh! Cynder’s a girl’s name, Sparx,” Pinkie Pie giggled.

“It's hard to be absolutely sure, Ignitus, but it seems she was using me as some sort of suspended, organic power source…” Volteer informed, putting down his empty, once-cake covered plate.

“Huh?” Rainbow and Sparx pondered.

“She was using him as a battery,” Twilight explained as she looked in another book of spells.

“Why didn't he just say so?” Rainbow demanded.

“He did. You didn’t understand it,” Rarity frowned.

“Not only that, she also left with a glowing yellow orb…and I believe that I somehow powered it,” Volteer continued, “Does this mean anything to you, Ignitus?”

“Perhaps…perhaps. What I do know is that we need to rescue the other Guardians…before Cynder can power any more of those orbs,” Ignitus replied.

“I agree, Ignitus, but first I'd like to impart some useful knowledge to Spyro, vis-a-vis his recently-acquired electricity-based exhalation device.”

“What?” Applejack blinked.

“He says he'd like to teach me some things about that Electricity Breath,” Spyro informed, having told the others what had happened.

“Oi! Why doesn’t he just say so?” Sparx groaned.

“Of course, this is right up the alley for Pegasi as well,” Volteer noted, ushering for Rainbow and Fluttershy to come over as the statue lowered once more, “Now, Rainbow Dash, I saw, noticed, observed you in that fight and saw a very strong spark flowing through you on that last attack.”

“I use that all the time to motivate the Reindeer during the Winter Games,” Sparx smirked.

“Sad, but true,” Spyro and Twilight sighed as Volteer, Rainbow Dash, and Spyro took their positions with Fluttershy trembling in fear.

“Now then…Electricity is the spark of life! Listen and I will teach you three all its secrets,” Volteer informed before stomping his foot down and summoning dummies with electrical sparks coming off them, “Ignitus must have already informed you three about how this works? That if you do not do it within a certain amount of time, these dummies will be set to self-destruct if you are not quick enough?”

“Yeah,” Spyro nodded.

“Good. Good,” Volteer nodded, “Spyro, you felt the spark of Electric Breath before, so just feel it and zap those dummies into the targets that came with them.”

Spyro nodded. He proceeded to perform the task as Rainbow and Fluttershy looked at the yellow dragon.

“Now as for you two, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, I taught Celestia all about how to use Electricity energy and now I shall do the same for the both of you,” Volteer informed before seeing Fluttershy’s trembles, “…Come now, young Pony.” Rainbow blinked as he noticed Volteer’s voice was becoming slow and calming, “I promise you that while this is scary, electricity is a blessing. But that is not how you want it, do you?”

“I…I’m afraid of it…” Fluttershy admitted.

“As am I,” Volteer replied, making Fluttershy blink, “Electricity is much more dangerous than one can think. One misuse and it will hurt others. The power is both a blessing and a curse. Daily, I would go out and release the strongest blast I could. However, since my energy seems to have been put into that stone, I am disconnected to my breath. I do not wish to let it be used on others, but I fear it will.” He gently ran a claw/paw through her hair, “You have a strong gift, Fluttershy, one that only your Kindness can it truly be put to harmonious use. It is that Kindness that makes me want to teach you about it especially.”

“He’s right about that. You’ve always been a kind soul to everypony, even when that happened,” Rainbow Dash admitted, “No matter the race, you always made sure to keep them treated. It was because of your Kindness were we able to end that in a matter of days.”

Fluttershy blinked while blushing at Rainbow Dash, “O…Okay. I…I’ll learn it…if it’s okay with you, Mr. Volteer.”

“Oh, please,” Volteer chuckled in his calm, slow tone, “For you, you may call me ‘Volty,’ okay, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy nodded as Spyro walked over.

“Ah! I see you grasped the concept, Spyro, excellent!” Volteer exclaimed proudly, “Now then, I want you to chase the dummies and hit them with your Electric Breath.” Spyro quickly went off after more dummies that Volteer made as the yellow dragon looked at the girls, his tone entering its calmer self once more, “Now then, I want you both to close your eyes. … …That’s it, girls, now spread your wings. Spread them as far as you can possibly let them.“

Nearby, Twilight and Rarity blinked in confusion as they looked up from their books of fire manipulation for Unicorns to watch it. The two glanced at each other, pondering just why Volteer was acting so calm and talking at a normal pace instead of his usual speed. They glanced at Ignitus, who watched the exercise Volteer was giving with a small smile.

“Volteer only does this when he feels a kindred spirit in someone that he’s teaching,” Ignitus explained to the two, “He deeply cares for others and he was always afraid of his own power. He does not fear Spyro’s ability to use it, though, for he knows that a Purple Dragon instinctively knows how to keep their breaths in check.”

“My, you’re all quick studies,” Volteer noted as Spyro walked over just as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash lowered their wings, sparks coming off them for a few moments, “In the time it took for Spyro to chase down the dummies, you two were able to summon electricity into your wings. Now then, Spyro will focus his Electric Breath into a small sphere and shoot it into an arc. But as you make it, imagining the power of it making a cage. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, you both will do the same, but instead you will summons the electricity into your wings and then bring the tips of your wings together. Celestia did this when she was first learning, so I believe that it is a good way for you two to learn it as well.”

The two Pegasi nodded before closing their eyes once more. The three stood on one side of the dojo as three dummies were made. Slowly, sparks formed on the wings of the two Pegasi as they brought the tips of their wings together before them. With Spyro, he began to feel the electricity coursing through his lungs. All three thought of cages as a sphere of electricity formed on the tips of the Pegasi wings. Spyro exhaled a sphere as Fluttershy and Rainbow ‘tossed’ their spheres at the dummies. The three spheres erupted and formed three cages that caught and electrified the dummies. Spyro and Rainbow Dash proceeded to, while all three were stunned, to pummel them all. The trio began to continue on with their training, combining the electricity in various ways. Soon, Spyro was trembling as his Fury reached its peak. Volteer gulped as everyone quickly dashed behind the two elder Dragons as Volteer summoned a large group of dummies. Spyro began to float into the air and spin. Storm clouds gathered around him before finally…

“Fury of Angtor’s Raging Storm!” Spyro roared as he unleashed a massive shockwave from the thunderstorm cloud that had engulfed him, incinerating the dummies with its sheer power.

“Your training is complete!” Volteer declared before adopting a small smile, “For now.”

“Oh, thank grandmother Faust...” Spyro sighed in relief as he, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash began to rest from the training.

“Man, I never thought I could use electricity that way,” Rainbow smirked, “Man, if I ever learn how to use it safely for entertainment, then there goes my chances of not becoming a Wonderbolt.”

Spyro and Sparx rolled their eyes as Fluttershy giggled a bit. Soon, Twilight approached Ignitus as he gazed into the waters of his reflection pool.

“Master Ignitus, what do you see?” Twilight pondered as she looked down into the green waters with the Fire Dragon Guardian.

“Something both good, yet terrible,” Ignitus replied as he turned to see the approaching Spyro, “Spyro…Cyril, the Ice Guardian, was taken to Tall Plains…You, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Sparx must go there at once…and find him.”

“Yes sir.”

“But if we see danger we should run…right?” Sparx asked hopefully as Fluttershy trembled.

“There are times when all of us need to stand up to danger, young Sparx,” Ignitus informed, “The same as well for you, young Fluttershy.”

“Yeah, maybe next month, next summer, perhaps next year…” Ignitus’ left eye twitched.

“Just go…now,” Ignitus sighed.

“Yes sir,” Sparx gulped.

“Can I ask what we may find there? That is, if it’s okay with you, Ignitus, sir.”

“Well, Fluttershy…Tall Plains was once home to a proud ancient tribe called the Atlawa…”

“Oh, bless you.”

“Sparx,” Spyro frowned.

“The Atlawa were a people in tune with the rhythms of the seasons, focused on their relationship to crops, their surroundings, their gods. They've all been driven underground by Cynder and her forces, who've taken over the tribe's Shrine,” Ignitus informed.

“Ah can’t stand it! Messin’ wit’ th’ farmers…That’s where ah draw th’ line!” Applejack growled.

“I sense that's where Cynder is keeping Cyril, trying to power another crystal. You must find him before she succeeds,” Ignitus ordered.

“Right, it's never easy, is it?” Sparx sighed.

“Nothing worthwhile ever is,” Spyro noted.

“So now you're spouting wisdom, hero boy?”

“C'mon,” Spyro sighed with a shake of his head, “Will you be able to keep up, Fluttershy?”

“Oh! Um…Well…”

“Are you kidding me?” Rainbow frowned at Spyro, “She’s the second-fastest Pegasus I know that isn’t me down in Ponyville!”

“Don’t go denyin’ it, Sugarcube,” Applejack stopped Fluttershy from opening her mouth, “Ah done saw ya when that there kitty cat done fell outta that there tree on th’ other side of town. Y’all were faster than Big Mac when he sees Cheerilee.”

Fluttershy squeaked in fear. Spyro gently patted her hand with his paw, giving her an assuring smile. Fluttershy looked at the dragon and then a Volteer, who gave a gentle nod. She returned it before spreading her wings out to take flight. Applejack got onto Spyro’s back and the two flew off, Fluttershy holding a bag of dynamite given to her by Pinkie Pie and Boomer.

“It…it’s so up high…” Fluttershy gulped, seeing that they were on the edge of a massive floating island.

“Eeyup,” Applejack gulped as she looked over the edge.

“Let’s get going, then. You’ll both feel a bit safer being deeper onto the land, right?” Spyro asked.

“S-Sure,” Applejack nodded as the four went off into the massive tree-filled area.

A few Apes appeared as they entered a stone pathway. Fluttershy quickly made a quick net of lightning before Applejack and Spyro pummeled them. Spyro and Sparx laughed a bit as they slid down a hollowed-out tree before Fluttershy gave a quiet ‘Yay’ as she followed with Applejack giving respect for the tree before she slid down. The four were surrounded by five Apes. Fluttershy yelped before Applejack grabbed a few sticks of dynamite and threw them, letting Spyro light them in mid-air. The resounding explosions were a good-enough distraction to let them flee.

“Great, now what do we do?” Sparx pondered as he noticed a set of four pillars were blocking the path.

“Um…I think I know a way,” Fluttershy noted softly as she pointed at a strange mural that was extending from a nearby wall.

Applejack walked over to it and kicked the mural, forcing it back into the wall. The pathway rumbled and Fluttershy hid behind Applejack while one of the pillars lowered itself into the ground.

“Nice job, Fluttershy!” Applejack beamed, “If’n we find all four, we’ll be able t’ keep on goin’!”

Fluttershy nodded. It took roughly three hours to find the remaining switches due to fighting the Apes, going around various obstacles, and when Fluttershy fainted when she was startled by Spyro once.

“…She’s uncomfortable with me, isn’t she?” Spyro asked as he carried the fainted Pegasus.

“…Promise y’all won’t tell nopony ‘bout it?” Applejack asked.

“Promise.”

“Around th’ time we were fillies, there was a strange problem up in Cloudsdale. Pegasus Fillies and Colts were havin’ nightmares ‘bout dragons and Apes,” Applejack explained, “A few of them were caught in th’ Weather Factory, trying to overload th’ systems. But th’ funny thing was that they were all sound asleep, mumblin’ somethin’ ‘bout somepony’s word was their command. Fluttershy was th’ only one that kept on wakin’ up, screamin’, just around th’ beginning of th’ nights. Ah’m kinda glad that she was stayin’ with Rainbow Dash’s family at th’ time t’ help keep her wakin’ up. Ah was told ‘bout it by ‘em t’ help with some sleepin’ problems Fluttershy done had when she came here. Seein’ y’all must have woken up some o’ th’ nightmares.”

“Seems that the Dark Armies were trying to get control of Equestria,” Spyro frowned.

“Yikes. Think about what would have happened if that had succeeded,” Sparx shuddered as they got outside…to see multiple Apes around a cage holding one of the Atlawas in it.

“Well that’s bad,” Applejack frowned as she pulled the dynamite out.

“‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend,’” Spyro quoted, recalling that Celestia once said it in a lesson she gave Twilight and him.

“Does that mean what I think it does?” Sparx gulped.

“Yeah, we've got to help him,” Spyro replied.

“Oh brother,” Sparx sighed as Spyro lit the fuses on the dynamite and Applejack threw them.

“Ooh? Ook?” one of the Apes blinked as he picked up the sticks and brought them over to the biggest member.

“What’s that? Ralencid Cavernember?” the largest of the Apes there asked before the dynamite blew them up, leaving behind a burned large Ape, “Ohhhh…Boom!”

It collapsed in a loud crash, dead. Applejack jumped along the floating paths towards the caged llama-like being and kicked a part of the wooden bars down.

“Watch it, would ya?” the Atlawa demanded, nearly getting hit.

“We were just trying to help,” Spyro argued as Fluttershy began to wake up.

“Well, the Atlawa and Kane need no help,” the Atlawa snorted.

“Oh, just about to spring into action, huh, Pardner?” Applejack smirked, putting her arms under her bust.

“Forget this guy, Applejack. Come on,” Sparx rolled his eyes.

“What did they want with you anyway?” Spyro pondered.

“It's none of your business!” Kane snorted as he got out, “Now move…I've got a tribe to save.”

“Oh you're welcome!” Sparx shouted at the leaving Atlawa…when they heard a screech.

“Sparx!” Spyro exclaimed as a massive bat/boar fusion landed before them, an Ape riding on its back.

“A Dreadwing…” Fluttershy gulped.

“A what now?” Applejack asked.

“Very dangerous. Fangs that rip through stones, claws that rend the earth, forty-foot wingspan…” Fluttershy trembled.

“Got any weaknesses?” Sparx asked.

“The only way to take them down without killing them is to strike the back of the neck, but that Ape won’t let us,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“Hmm…I got a better idea,” Spyro smirked, “Remember Volteer’s lesson?”

Fluttershy gulped and nodded. Applejack jumped onto the beast’s back and began to fight with the Ape as the Dreadwing began to jump about in a frenzy. Nearby, Spyro and Fluttershy began to summon their Electrical Breath/Wings. Sparx was on lookout as Applejack proceeded to punt the Ape off and into the abyss below.

“Now, Applejack!” Sparx shouted.

Applejack barely jumped off before twin blasts of lightning zapped the Dreadwing, sending it onto the ground in a paralyzed position. Spyro sighed in relief at seeing the beast was incapacitated. The group went on-waiting for Fluttershy to give the beast some herbs to help with the paralyzed state as an apology-and into another stone pathway. They stopped when two large wheels approached them, coming open to reveal they were strange armadillo-like beings with their shells made of a stone material.

“Armourdillos!” Fluttershy gasped in excitement before hugging one, “Aw~ You two are just so cute.”

“…What the hay just happened?” Sparx blinked/demanded as the two creatures licked the Pegasus and getting giggles from her as she petted them.

“Yer lookin’ at Fluttershy’s natural gift; she’s got a way with them critters,” Applejack explained as Fluttershy waved bye-bye to the two Armoudillos.

“Wizball and Ulira said that there are strange holes ahead that fire pointy annoyances from them,” Fluttershy explained, “They’re telling their friends now that we mean them no harm and to just let us pass.”

“Arrow traps?” Spyro raised a brow.

“Whoa! Hold on, you talk with animals?” Sparx asked.

“Um…well…Please don’t see me as strange…” Fluttershy whimpered as tears appeared in her eyes in her embarrassment.

“That’s amazing!” Spyro exclaimed, causing Fluttershy to look at him in surprise.

“Wh-What?”

“It’s really amazing,” Spyro repeated, “You can talk with animals. You’re really amazing, you know that, Fluttershy?”

“Oh! Um…” Fluttershy blushed as she played with her hair while hiding in it.

The group went on after a few minutes to let Fluttershy get over her embarrassment. Applejack held onto Spyro as they flew over a large gap in the path a few times. As they got deeper into the area, more Apes had shown themselves and were helped by the Armourdillos at times to fend them off. As they reached another area where the sky could be seen, Applejack stopped them.

“Hold on. Ah’m feelin’ somethin’ bad ‘bout this,” Applejack narrowed her eyes, looking around.

A soft rumble made them turn to a nearby moss-covered stone. The ‘stone’ proceeded to get up, revealing it was a golem of some kind, made of the moss and stones. Its right arm was the side of its torso while its blue eyes shined ominously.

“It’s a Golem!” Spyro gasped, “Twilight read me a story about them once back in Canterlot. They’re powerful beings, made from Magic.”

“Any way t’ beat ‘em?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah…You have to them them hard and fast,” Spyro replied before firing a meteor from his Fire Breath and slammed it into the Golem, causing its large arm to break apart, “…Okay, that was new.”

“Ah’m startin’ t’ think yer Breath’s getting’ stronger,” Applejack noted, “Must’ve been them gems y’all’ve been breakin’ up on our way through there.”

The Golem roared as it charged at them. Fluttershy squeaked in fear before Spyro tackled her out of the way as Applejack jumped onto the Golem’s back.

“Yeehaw! Ride ‘em, cowpony!” Applejack cheered as the Golem began to jump around to try and get her off.

Applejack got it to slam into a wall and shatter both it and the wall, revealing a rope bridge. Sparx applauded and Applejack tipped her hat to the dragonfly. As the four crossed, Spyro had to use his Electric Breath to knock away the Apes. They had to deal with another Dreadwing, managing to use the same technique they did last time. Soon, they ended up having to deal with two Golems and Applejack managed to trick them into pummeling each other.

“Boy, Golems are idiots,” Sparx admitted as the Pegasus glided over to another part of the land with Applejack on the gliding Purple Dragon.

“Well, Twilight said that they were just muscle, no brains,” Spyro noted.

“Kinda like you, huh?” Sparx joked.

Spyro rolled his eyes as they landed on the next island. They entered through another stone pathway and ended up in a rice field/wheat field area with half the area having rice paddies and the other having fields of wheat. In the wheat area was strange Aztec-themed scarecrows while both sides had various Apes. Spyro was about to attack when Applejack held an arm out. She shook her head before cracking her knuckles and walked over to the Apes.

“Hey! What are you…?” An Ape began before all Tartus occurred.

“Oh, God! My arm!”

“Ah! She ripped my spleen out!”

“Mommy!”

Fluttershy and Spyro kept their eyes covered as the sounds of the Apes screaming and pleading for mercy echoed about for minutes on end. Sparx…he was just enjoying some popcorn Pinkie Pie had packed for him in the Dynamite Sack while watching Applejack go nuts.

“And stay out!” Applejack snapped as she punted an Ape into the abyss before clapping her hands to clean the blood on them, “And that’s how we deal with that!”

“…Remind me not to piss you off about crops,” Sparx informed.

“Y’all got that right,” Applejack snorted while a pale Fluttershy and Spyro looked at them.

“Anyways…We're going to have to use the waterwheels to move ahead,” Spyro noted as he looked at various wooden and stone waterwheels…when more Golems appeared near each wheel.

“Oh, it’s never easy,” Sparx sighed.

“Never again!” Sparx shouted as they walked out of the area to see Kane on a higher level, surrounded by Golems.

“Kane!” Spyro cried out as Kane screamed, falling into the river at their level, knock out and being carried down to another waterfall that went off the floating island.

“Yeah, I know the guy's an ingrate, but you gotta do something, and fast!” Sparx yelped before Spyro hiccupped and released a white smoke that froze the entire river, “…” Sparx turned to the surprised Dragon, “Buddy, you're getting weirder and weirder by the second.”

“That was ice!” Applejack gawked.

“I hope Pinkie Pie doesn’t learn you can do that. She’d most likely ask for you to freeze the lake over to let her skate on it,” Fluttershy noted in concern as she ran to the Atlawa…only for the Golems to surround Applejack and Spyro.

“Holy crap!” Sparx yelped before Spyro hiccupped once more, freezing a Golem.

“…Ah’m likin’ th’ new breath,” Applejack informed before kicking the frozen Golem and shattering it, “Ah am really likin’ it at th’ moment.”

Spyro nodded. He began to think about how he felt when he hiccupped the last two times before exhaling, unleashing a stream of icy smoke that froze over the remaining Golems, letting Applejack shatter them with punches and kicks.

“This should help with the swelling,” Fluttershy informed gently as she took some of the ice into a plastic bag to help with the swelling on his left eye.

“Come on, Flutters!” Sparx called.

“Coming,” Fluttershy replied before running after her friends to go deeper into the area.

“Where are they getting these cannons from?!” Sparx complained as Spyro sent another ‘meteor’ from his mouth to destroy a cannon made of stone they were hiding from.

“No idea,” Spyro replied, “But it’s kinda impressive. Maybe I should take a picture of one for Twilight before we destroy it next time.”

“Ugh! You and Twilight just love tech!” Sparx groaned.

“Jest hurry up an’ help us with this here ball!” Applejack snapped as she pushed a large stone orb towards a slot with Fluttershy.

“Right, right, sorry,” Spyro apologized before he helped push it into the slot, causing a nearby gate to lower itself to reveal Kane, “Kane?”

“You again? Why don't you get outta here and leave me in peace. I'm the boss here…” he looked out at the distance in sadness, “…Nobody else.”

“Boss of what?” Sparx repeated.

“Shhh!” Spyro hushed.

“You're all alone?” Fluttershy asked in concern.

“Only until I kick these bums out,” Kane snorted, “Which reminds me, I can't stand here chatting with purple dragons, two Mares, and mosquitoes…

“Hey, whoa, whoa! Who you calling a mosquito?” Sparx demanded.

“Ah know you did not jest make a sexist comment,” Applejack growled.

“Besides, it’s not safe for you here,” Kane ignored the mad Mare.

“Why you…” Applejack growled before Spyro stopped her.

“Oh, concerned about our welfare now?”

“No need, we can take care of ourselves. Anyway, we need to get to the shrine,” Spyro replied.

“You’ll never make it. The Shrine God has not been appeased since Cynder's forces came…” he shook his head sadly, “He is not happy.”

“So, is anybody fun around here?” Sparx asked.

“Sparx!” Applejack snapped.

“You can't possibly face the God of the Shrine alone,” Kane noted as he tapped a stone wall three times, causing it to rise up.

“Not all of us are loners, Kane,” Spyro replied, “I'm not going alone.”

“He’s got us with him,” Applejack added, putting an arm on Fluttershy’s shoulders.

“It…It’s true, Mr. Kane,” Fluttershy nodded.

“Maybe someday you'll learn that two heads are better than one,” Spyro informed before looking at Sparx, “Even if they are pin heads.”

“Yeah…” Sparx nodded as Applejack snorted back a laugh while Fluttershy giggled, “…What?!”

“…” Kane looked away from them before opening another passageway and went through it.

The group, after fighting off multiple Apes and two more Golems, entered a large maze-like structure. Spyro broke apart more Spirit Gems that had been in there, somehow leading them through the maze. Applejack handled two more Golems with Spyro freezing them. One more was about to hit her from behind when Kane slammed a hoof into its head and shattered it.

“Kane?” Spyro pondered.

“I have to admit, you've done better than I thought possible,” Kane admitted before motioning them to follow him.

“Saying that had to hurt,” Sparx pointed out.

“More than you can imagine,” Kane admitted.

“Ah hear ya. A few years back, ah got sick and I refused t’ not work on th’ farm, but none of mah family would hear that. They done tied me t’ mah bed and only let me go fer bathroom breaks. Sometimes, ya jest gotta swallow yer pride and ask others t’ help ya,” Applejack advised.

“Wise words. Now then, there are some things you should know about the Shrine before you enter…” Kane informed as they stopped before an entrance to a large earthen-made coliseum/shrine before they heard a roar that made Fluttershy sound like a goat and fall onto her back, her legs and arms sticking straight up in fear.

“…She went goat on us,” Sparx blinked before gawking in fear as they saw the distant form of Cynder flying away, “And I think we're done here…”

“Not before we rescue Cyril,” Spyro argued, frowning at Sparx.

“The Atlawa Shrine has been desecrated and the God of the Shrine has not been given tribute since Cynder's forces arrived,” the Atlawa informed, “But if you can subdue his anger, the balance will be returned…and my people can come home.”

“That's fine, but I came to free Cyril,” Spyro argued.

“You must go through the God of the Shrine to free him,” Kane informed.

“Knew you were going to say that,” Sparx groaned.

“Come on, now, sugarcube, y’all can tough it fer a bit longer,” Applejack smirked.

Sparx sighed in defeat before the group walked over a long bridge made of ropes and logs. Soon, they entered the coliseum-like shrine. On the other side of them was another Dragon. He was a bit shorter than Ignitus, but around equal height of Volteer. His underbelly was a vivid violet, almost in the color of frostbite. His scales were as blue as the snow at night with icicle-shaped likes emerging from his elbows, ankles, tail, and head. Even when he was out cold, he appeared to have a regal manner.

“Be careful. Remember last time,” Spyro warned Sparx.

“I know, I know, but Cynder left and I don't see any Ice Kings hanging around this place,” Sparx noted as he flew around.

He landed on a large moss-covered ruin, easily the size of Ignitus and Volteer. Suddenly, the ‘ruin’ rumbled before rising up, revealing it was a Golem. This one seemed to be more muscular in appearance with carvings on its form. Unlike other Golems they encountered, its head was completed. It was blocky, much like its body. It had two ‘teeth’ jutting from the lower jaw and yellow ‘eyes.’

“When will I learn? When things look good, run for the hills,” Sparx sighed with a shake of his head.

“That must be their god,” Applejack gulped.

Fluttershy screamed a bit as the God swung its fist at them, the vines making its upper arms stretching out to do such. The group barely dodged the strike. Fluttershy attempted to freeze it with a sphere of electricity, but the God shrugged it off. She screamed again when it tried to swat her when a barrage of boulders slammed into it, knocking the God over. The ‘boulders’ opened up to reveal ten Armoudillos, the two at the front being the ones Fluttershy met.

“Oh my…!” Fluttershy gasped, “Th-Thank you.”

One of the Armourdillos nodded as they growled at the God. Spyro flew around it with Applejack on his back. She began to throw all the dynamite she had, only for the God to swat it away and out of the ‘shrine.’

“Horseapples,” Applejack frowned before looking at the vines, “Spyro, ah need y’all t’ freeze a vine on him.”

“Huh?”

“Look at its arms,” Applejack pointed out, “Ah’m bettin’ that it can only move because o’ them vines. Take ‘em out and it’ll be easier than bakin’ an apple pie.”

Spyro nodded before firing a wave of ice breath. He managed to freeze over a limb and Applejack jumped off the Purple Dragon to slam it with a kick, shattering the ice and causing the limb to drop off. Sparx gave a whoop near Cyril as the dragon began to wake up.

“W-what now…?” Cyril groaned as he began to elegantly rise in his stupor…only to fully awake when he saw Spyro freezing another arm to let an Armourdillo shatter it, “A Purple Dragon…!”

“Ugh!” Spyro cried out as his body began to tremble.

“Get back, y’all! He’s about to release a Fury Attack!” Applejack screamed.

"Fury of Ishlandur's Final Stand!" Spyro roared out in fury.

The creatures that came to aide them quickly picked up the two Mares and began to retreat behind the debris in the ‘shrine.’ Spyro cried out as he unleashed Ishlandur’s Fury Attack. Unlike last time, it released multiple fire shockwaves as the skies grew red. Meteors rained down and slammed into the God, causing it to cry out in pain as its vines were set on fire. As the Fury ended, the God gave a final groan and collapsed on itself, the vines it once had now ashes.

“You have subdued the God of the Shrine, restored balance to seasons, the land, our world,” Kane informed as he walked over from the Atlawas that had began to show up in the area again while they were bowing in respect to the large group to the two Dragons, the dragonfly, and the two Mares while the God, new vines making its upper limbs, was smiling happily as Fluttershy was plating flowers in the dirt that He had packed onto Himself to let the vines grow.

“It’s perfectly fine, Mister God,” Fluttershy replied gently and motherly, “You were upset because of what Cynder did to your people and your offerings. We’ll make sure to get her and have her apologize, okay?”

The God ‘smiled’ happily as He clapped His hands.

“The Atlawas want to worship you all now,” Kane informed.

“Beg yer pardon?” Applejack blinked in surprise.

“Eep,” Fluttershy squeaked in shyness as she zipped behind Cyril.

“Worship?” Sparx repeated in glee, “Okay, now that's what I'm talkin' about…I've never gotten the respect I deserve…the praise that should be mine…”

“That's very nice, Kane, but we have to get back to our home, figure out how to stop Cynder for good,” Spyro replied.

“And ah’ve got a farm of mah own t’ git back to when this here is all said an’ done,” Applejack added.

“My dear Atlawas, I am the mighty Sparx, scourge of despots…” Sparx began before Cyril interrupted him.

“Yes, yes, old boy, we'd like nothing more than to stay and be a part of your…” Cyril tried to word it right, “…primitive, barbaric society, but duty calls, duty calls…”

“If you must, you must. But know that you're now part of the Atlawa tribe…” Kane informed before giving them all a pendant shaped like a normal llama carved into a mountain of gold, “One of us.”

“I am the mighty Spar…” Sparx slumped when he was given a look from Applejack, “Whatever.”

“By the way…you were right,” Kane informed.

“About what?” Spyro pondered.

“Maybe two heads are better than one,” Kane admitted before he and Spyro looked at Sparx, “Even if one of them belongs to an annoying mosquito.”

“Mosquito, me? Is that…Oh,” Sparx frowned as Fluttershy giggled.

To my faithful student,

I wish your new friends, Spyro, and Sparx the best of luck. In the time I was with the Dragon Elders, I learned that as they absorbed more Spirit Gems, their powers were getting stronger and stronger than before. I attempted to try as well, but it ended up with me passing out from the sheer dragonic power. Do not let anypony there try to do so as well. If I passed out from it…then you should be able to correctly guess as to what a Pony not of Alicorn status would endure.
The Atlawas are a noble tribe of farmers with their God actually being a Golem given sentient life centuries ago. In truth, it was actually Luna’s guard that she made herself when she was a filly. Do not ask me the details, for I would rather not like to recall why. Their emblem is that of the ancestral Llama before a mountain, signifying their connection to both the past and the land. If Spyro and the others return with a pendant that bears this, then they will be considered members of the Atlawas.
And from what your letter before this one entailed, then Cynder must be attempting to do something with the Dragon Elements. I fear the worse if she obtains all four. Thank Mother Faust that I was able to help Ignitus not be captured.
As for the past involving Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash…It was a dark time in Cloudsdale roughly a few years back. It was isolated to just them and I made it kept secret from all other towns and cities.

I wish you the best of luck,
Princess Celestia of Equestria
Goddess of the Sun
Ally to the Dragons
Sister of Luna

PS: Shining Armor and Candace give you both warm regard and wish you all good luck.

Author's Note

Sorry about the long wait, everyone. Just had problems with college, is all.

Munitions Forge

Dear Princess Celestia,

Cyril seems to act just like Rarity in terms of upbringing. They even get along quite well and have even began to start drawing up plans for fashion clothes! Now we have three Dragon Elders to learn from. And these hidden bookshelves are filled with all kinds of information for us! I feel like I’m going to cry from seeing all these books. The natural wildlife here has also seemed to have quieted down. I’m starting to think that Cynder is attempting to perform something on the Dragon Temple. If it’s possible, may we give refuge to the Dra-

Celestia paled as she saw the letter had dried blood on it. She quickly turned to her sister and two others.

The first was an Alicorn just like Luna and Celestia. Her coat was a gentle, soft magenta with her mane in the colors of soft lavender, rosemary, and pink. She was just as lovely as the other two Alicorns. She had a modest C-Cup, a trim waist, and modest hips that went into long, shapely legs. She wore a toga, much like her fellow Alicorns, but had remodeled it into a bit of an outdoors outfit. Her Cutie Mark was that of a heart with gold and wings.

Beside her was the last member of the group, a Stallion Unicorn. His coat was a bit white in coloring with a blue mane and tail. He wore a red and gold military leader uniform with white pants and black boots. His face was etched in worry.

“…Shining Armor, summon the elite members of the Solar and Lunar Guards,” Celestia ordered, trembling in a blend of anger, intense worry, and pure fear, “Luna, Candace, get our armor. We go to battle for our comrades the Dragons! We must rescue and evacuate everypony there immediately!”

“Heh-heh. Sorry, Twily,” Spyro apologized to the annoyed Unicorn, her hand currently bleeding a bit from having been cut during her surprise of Spyro’s little ‘prank’ of him and Rainbow Dash roaring loudly behind her as she was writing…and then Rainbow Dash pranking Spyro with a pepper shaker and sending the incomplete, and now bloodstained, letter.

“My bad, too,” Rainbow sheepishly rubbed the back her her head.

“Yes, yes, Volteer, I see that months of tortured captivity has done nothing to slow that electric tongue of yours from incessantly wagging,” Cyril sighed in annoyance, keeping his ears covered.

“It's just that it's all so exciting, exhilarating, enchanting, enthralling…” Volteer blabbered on.

“All right, no more thesaurus for you, pal. Ya hear me, Twilight. No more dictionaries!” Sparx scolded the Unicorn.

“All of you please be quiet,” Ignitus sighed in annoyance, “It is certainly encouraging that Spyro and his friends have been able to free two of you to allow this reunion, but haven't we forgotten someone?”

“Yes, yes, of course… Terrador,” Cyril spat in disgust, “That uncouth barbarian. You do recall he ruined my latest work of art, don’t you?”

“You mean the fiend who ruined such a portrait was none other than this ‘Terrador’ fellow you speak of?” Rarity gasped, recalling seeing a destroyed self-portrait of Cyril a few days ago in the temple.

“Precisely. Now how do we proceed?” Ignitus pondered.

“I believe I can help, Ignitus,” Cyril offered as he turned to Spyro, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity “Well, young chap, since you learned a few things about ice on Tall Plains, I suggest we adjourn to the Training Room so that I can teach you some more along with the pink Mare and the elegant Madame Rarity. The legacy of the great Ice dragons of yore…my ancestors, who come from the best of the best of this somewhat bedraggled lineage…” Cyril informed as the statue lowered once more, “…is long and storied. With my help, rescuing Terrador should be a certainty.”

“Your pomposity, arrogance, and pretentiousness is odious to the extreme,” Volteer noted.

“Twilight!” Sparx barked.

“Shall we?” Cyril smirked as they entered the Dojo, “Certainly Fire and Electricity are nice sidelights. But now, younglings, you will the secrets of Ice, a power worthy of only the elite.” Cyril continued as he whacked his tail on the floor eloquently, creating ice-themed dummies, “Now then, go on and do what you did with Ignitus and…Volteer…on these dummies, but with Ice. I must explain to these two young Mares on how to call upon Ice.”

“Yes, Cyril,” Spyro nodded.

Cyril nodded before turning to Rarity and the bouncing Pinkie Pie, “Now then, I chose to train you two because I could feel a strong kindred spark within you both.”

“A spark? But that’s fire!” Pinkie Pie argued, “Unless it was a spark made from a snowflake. Then that would make sense. But how would ice make a spark? That’s heat!”

“…” Cyril glanced at Rarity.

“My dear friend Pinkie Pie is, well, Pinkie Pie. It takes a bit of time to understand her,” Rarity assured.

‘Great Bahamut, what have I gotten myself into now?’ Cyril thought with a sweatdrop, “Very well…Now then, to learn ice, you must feel it within you…”

And so the lessons of Ice began. It took a bit, but Rarity was able to start calling out ice from her magic as Spyro was finishing off the dummies Cyril had made. Pinkie Pie…

“Whooo! An explosion made of ice!” Boomer cheered as Pinkie Pie stood on an explosion…made of ice.

“…Good heavens, she is a fast learner…” Cyril blinked in disbelief as Spyro walked over, “Beginner’s luck, I suppose. Now, Spyro, Madam Rarity, Pinkie Pie, I want you to focus on forming shards from the ice. These shards will then be used on the well-sculpted mannequins I created with the aid of Celestia for her training.”

The three nodded. The moment five of the fifteen dummies were made, they were instantly impaled with hundreds of ice shards each…from Pinkie Pie.

“Yay! I win!” Pinkie Pie cheered as Cyril’s jaw dropped to the floor.

As Cyril tended to a sudden migraine that had formed, the three continued their training. As always, Spyro began to tremble as his new Fury began to appear. Ignitus quickly made a barrier of flames as the Ponies and troll dashed behind the dragons.

“Ice in the hole!” Pinkie Pie and Boomer screamed.

“Fury of Perisher’s Unending Blizzard!” Spyro roared.

The area felt colder…and it was only increasing. Snowflakes began to fall, even outside the flame barrier that was made. The barrier began to fluctuate before the entire thing-and most of the ground almost reaching to the dragons-was frozen over. What happened next was a flurry of snowstorms compacted into a miniscule single snowstorm, the echoes of dragons on the warpath erupting from the winds. As the storm died down, the ice completely vanished, leaving a nearly collapsing Spyro in the center of the room.

“Well, you three have mastered the element of Ice, something only which few can boast,” Cyril smirked as he picked up the Purple Dragon to let the statue rise up once more.

“So what exactly are you saying, Ignitus?” Cyril pondered as they stood before the reflection pool.

“Yes, your hypothesis is an intriguing one but it is perplexing to the extreme.”

“Huh?” Pinkie Pie blinked in confusion at Volteer.

“He says he doesn't know what Ignitus is talking about,” Twilight sighed.

“Dude, I never know what he’s saying,” Sparx informed.

“What I'm saying is that Cynder is harnessing the Guardians' power to unlock a portal that must never be opened,” Ignitus informed.

“Why, what's behind this portal?” Spyro pondered.

“That doesn't concern you right now. What does concern you, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Boomer is getting to Munitions Forge and freeing Terrador before she can create another crystal from his powers.”

“Me?! Alright! Bring on the BOOM!”

“And before the volcano blows its…” Volteer began before Ignitus clamped his mouth shut with a claw.

“A v-v-v-volcano…?” Fluttershy squeaked out in fear.

“That's enough, Volteer, there's plenty of time... plenty of time,” Ignitus informed.

“‘Plenty of time?’ What we need more time to have horrible things happen to us?!” Sparx demanded as Fluttershy’s trembles only grew worse.

“It seems I’ll have to take precautions there,” Rarity noted.

“Munitions Forge is an island dominated by Boyzitbig, an unstable volcano that makes life on the surface very dicey. The locals, who live underground, have been forced to mine the metals that Cynder uses to forge her army's weapons,” Ignitus informed.

“What are the locals called?” Spyro asked.

“They're called Manweersmalls,” Boomer chuckled with a grin, “And they love Explosions!”

“Yay!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

“Right. Do I need to write that down?” Sparx asked before seeing Twilight was doing just that.

“Rumor has it that Cynder is holding Terrador somewhere in the mines. We know she's using him to power the last of the crystals she needs to open the portal,” Ignitus informed, “Free him before she gets the chance.”

“Why didn't we just stay in Tall Plains? Oh, I’m a big deal there.”

“Quit complaining, Sparx. Maybe there's a tribe on Munitions Forge you can save too,” Spyro rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, but there's always something special about the first tribe you save. Ya know?” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

“But how are we going to get there? I can’t carry two Mares and a Troll,” Spyro noted.

“You can barely carry yourself,” Sparx pointed out, earning a dirty look from the dragon.

“Like this,” Pinkie Pie replied to Spyro's question before grabbing the edge of existence and pulling it.

Spyro blinked and his nostrils were filled with the smell of lava, magma, soot, and burning fur. His ears rang with rumbles, small explosions, and a whooping Pinkie Pie and Boomer. He gazed about the darkness-and-scarlet-filled skies, the scarlet appearing from the magma flows and the darkness from the continual smoke filling the skies. In the distance was a massive volcano, going straight through the clouds of ash and soot. How they got there...he had no clue what just happened, but they were there.

“Boy is it big!” Sparx gawked.

“Hey! I get its name now!” Pinkie Pie beamed with a giggle.

“Boy, it’s big! But no time for sightseeing, Sparx, Boomer, Pinkie Pie,” Spyro informed.

“Aww…!” the childish duo whined.

“Time to get serious, let's go,” Spyro rolled his eyes as he took lead.

“Ohhh…not again…” Sparx sighed as he shook his head in sadness.

“Twitch-a-twitch-a! Twitch-a-twitch-a!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as her tail began to twitch while Rarity paled significantly.

“Oh dear,” Rarity looked up before pulling Boomer away with her Magic from being hit by a burning rock sent from one of the mini-volcanoes near them.

“What was that?” Sparx asked.

“My Pinkie Sense,” Pinkie Pie replied happily.

“…The what?” Sparx blinked.

“When something happens with my body, then that means something will happen. When my tail’s twitchy, it means ‘something is gonna fall,’” Pinkie Pie explained.

“…And if your tummy rumbles?” Sparx asked as Pinkie Pie's tummy did just that.

“Then it means that ‘Pinkie Pie’s hungry,’” Pinkie Pie giggled before she pulled a cupcake out and ate it.

“Riiiight…” Sparx rolled his eyes before they delved deeper into the area on a broken mine track…only for their path ahead to be blocked by a wall of flames casted by an orange Ape nearby.

“Hey! That meanie blocked our path!” Pinkie Pie frowned as more orange-furred Apes began to surround them.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s play ‘BOOM!’” Boomer smirked as he whipped out more sticks of dynamite.

“Ooh! How do we play?” Pinkie Pie asked as she pulled some out as well.

“Most monkeys blown up by dynamite wins!” Boomer replied.

“Alright!” Pinkie Pie smirked before the five began to go against the Apes…mainly the other four since Sparx was ‘motivating’ them all.

“Such brutes!” Rarity frowned as she looked at the frozen Apes she had made…their prisons in the shapes of suits and dresses, “At least you can go out in regal appearance.”

Soon, they had managed to take down the large Ape that had blocked their path with flames. Spyro attempted to open the door, but it was stuck. Boomer cleared his throat.

“Allow me,” Boomer smirked before throwing a keg of gunpower that had been lit at the door, “Fire in the hole!”

Rarity barely made a shield of ice in time to not be caught in the explosion. She glared at the laughing duo of explosive experts before they delved deeper. Soon, they came upon a possum/mole-like being with a long white mustache. He wore a dirty, coal-and-ash-covered red vest, a red cane, and a soldier’s helmet with a candle on the top. And, most interesting, he was only going up to Rarity’s knees in terms of height.

“Man…is he small!” Spyro blinked in surprise.

“What's that? Who's there?” the native demanded.

“It's…it's me, Spyro…”

“…And the former god of Tall Plains, Sparx,” Sparx sighed.

“Hiya! I’m Pinkie Pie!”

“I’m BOOMER!-!-!-!”

“You lot don't carry the stench of Cynder's beasts, just the smell of burnt fur and explosives, so you must be friends.”

“We are,” Spyro assured.

“And who are you?” Sparx asked.

“I am Mole-Yair, leader of the Manweersmalls,” he replied, “But I'm not much of a leader anymore. Those of my people who aren't mining for Cynder are holed up in the caves, scared out of their little wits, waiting for Boyzitbig to blow…” the area rumbled once more, “Which shouldn't be long. If you would help me free them, perhaps there's something I could do for you?”

“…Will I get to blow up Apes?” Boomer asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m in!”

“Seconded!” Pinkie Pie beamed before gasping, “Oh sweet Celestia! Once this is all over, I need to make a ‘We got the Manweersmalls’ Land back’ Party for them!”

“I don't know. We're here to rescue a big friend of ours,” Spyro noted.

“Is he a mighty dragon?” Mole-Yair asked.

“Yes…why?” Rarity pondered.

“Because I know where he's being kept…” Mole-Yair replied, “He’s in the mines near a large labor camp, where my own brother, Exhumor, toils away. We can help each other.”

“A splendid idea. It should make things much easier for us all,” Rarity nodded.

“Well… which way do we go? What should we do next?” Spyro pondered.

“Oh, it's simple enough, but we've got to hurry. Boyzitbig is getting more unstable by the minute,” Mole-Yair advised as another rumble went off, “We must clear these caves before we can help your friend.”

“You're asking him for directions?” Sparx pondered as he noticed the black sunglasses Mole-Yair wore, “Wow, talk about the blind leading the blind.”

“Forget him, Mole-Yair…We're in,” Spyro stated.

“Excellent! Now then, my people are chained by Fire Crystals, so you must use something cold to set them free,” Mole-Yair explained.

“On it,” Spyro nodded before putting Mole-Yair on his back.

“Onwards!” Mole-Yair declared.

The group went off. As they came across the members of the Manweersmalls, digging into the walls. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Spyro went to work, quickly freezing the stones they were chained to before letting Boomer use small explosives the blow the rocks up. Ape guards began to charge at them, only to meet Boomer’s way of life from the troll himself. Soon, they were all freed and Mole-Yair was jumping around the travelers happily.

“Ha ha! You did it, you did it! A thousand thanks!” Mole-Yair cheered before kissing them all on the cheeks, “Mwah, mwah, mwah!”

“It was nothing,” Spyro sheepishly replied as Rarity began to quickly reapply her make-up.

“No problem, pal,” Sparx shrugged as Pinkie Pie giggled happily.

“Well…You all did your part, now I'll do mine,” Mole-Yair informed before pulling out a map, “Your friend is being kept in the center of the volcano, past the labor camp where my brother, Exhumor, is working. Find him and let him know we're friends, and he'll tell you how to proceed.”

“How will we know Exhumor?” Boomer asked.

“Yeah, all you Man-are-we-smalls look the same to me,” Sparx noted.

“Oh, don’t be a silly-filly, Sparky-Warky,” Pinkie Pie giggled, “They were all different to me.”

“Of course they would,” Sparx deadpanned.

“Oh, you'll know him. Trust me. He's the most cantankerous hard-nosed Manweersmall around,” Mole-Yair informed, “Whatever you do, don't get on his bad side.”

“I see. Thank you for helping us, then,” Rarity curtsied.

“But of course, my dear Unicorn,” Mole-Yair chuckled.

“How’d you know she was a Unicorn?”

“We may be blind, but we’ve met Celestia a few times. We know Unicorns because of a faint hum their horns give off when they use Magic,” Mole-Yair replied, “Pegasi have the flapping-flaps on wings that have the faint sound of hooves walking along a rocky road. And Earth Ponies by that same sound when they walk but without the wings.” He looked over at the bouncing Pinkie Pie, “Pinkie Pie, though…we are unsure of.”

“I’m an Earth Pony,” Pinkie Pie replied between bounces.

“…I understand…” Mole-Yair sweatdropped.

After parting from Mole-Yair, they group continued on. During which, Pinkie Pie discovered that itchy tongue plus twitchy tail results in ‘Enemies Are About to Appear.’ It was through that new Pinkie Sense that the group was able to avoid some of the Dark Armies there. Soon, they had entered a large chamber with an old stone bell structure before them. Spyro and Sparx walked up to the old bell, seeing that it was still intact.

“I bet you can't ring that bell,” Sparx stated.

“Why would I want to?” Spyro pondered.

“Even I agree with that, it’s so…revolting,” Rarity stated with a shudder.

“Meh. Looks brand new in my opinion,” Boomer shrugged.

“Oh, you’re scared, Spyro,” Sparx taunted.

“I'm not scared,” Spyro frowned.

“Oh, the big special dragon is scared of the mean old bell…” Sparx began to baby talk him, causing Pinkie Pie and Boomer to start laughing, “Oh I didn't know, I'm sorry, oh no, I'm sorry baby, why don't I get your pillow all laid out…”

Spyro frowned as Boomer and Pinkie Pie fell over in their laughter. Spyro stomped up to the rope and began ringing the bell just as Pinkie Pie’s tail began to twitch. The structure rumbled before the bell landed on the dragon. Everyone screamed in fear for the Purple Dragon.

“SPYRO!” the four cried out.

“Can you hear me? Are you okay, buddy?!” Sparx pleaded as he flew around the bell, “Hey listen, forget about those cracks I made about your fatness and your being purple and stupid and fat, all right?” Sparx began to cry at that point, “Just get outta there! Please, Spyro, don't be dead!”

“Uh oh…I feel a Combo coming on!” Pinkie Pie’s tail twitched, her eyes fluttered, her knees felt like they were pinching themselves, and her tail twitched once more, “Something’s going to explode in a way we wouldn’t think of.”

The bell rumbled. Everyone stepped back from it as it gave another rumble. Suddenly, the bell exploded as Spyro sneezed. He shook his head before sneezing once more, firing a small storm of tiny stones from his mouth. Rarity ducked

“Did you say something?” Spyro asked.

“Me? No. No, I was talking out loud, thinking of my day, I gotta do…” Sparx nonchalantly replied.

“Oh, just thought I heard something before I blasted my way out,” Spyro informed.

“Oh, that’s funny. Yeah, no, must be hearing things.”

“That’s not what I heard, darling,” Rarity informed, “Now could you please be a gentlecolt and please tell your brother the truth.”

“Oh! Um…Well…” Sparx blushed as he tried to avoid the pleading look in Rarity’s eyes.

“It’s okay, Rarity. There was a crack in there and I heard everything,” Spyro assured.

“Very well, I suppose,” Rarity noted, “Still, you have a new breath. One that seems to be strong enough to handle this bell.”

“It felt like the land just wanted to move away from it or even follow it,” Spyro noted, “I think it’s an Earth Breath or something.”

“Oh man…I wonder what kind of BOOM you can do with this one!” Boomer grinned in excitement.

“I heard an explosion over here!”

“Well, I think we’re about to find out,” Spyro replied as they were surrounded by Apes and a Dreadwing.

“Ooh! Hey, mister, hey! Hey! Hey mister Ape!” Pinkie Pie waved to the Ape riding the Dreadwing.

“What?!” the Ape snarled.

“You ever get the Cold Shoulder before?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“What?” the Ape blinked before Rarity shot some Ice Magic at him, freezing the Ape and Dreadwing.

It was that signal for all heck to break loose. Within a matter of minutes-mainly due to explosives from a pair of happy-trigger bombers-, the Apes had been decimated. As they continued into the tunnels, the ground exploded before them with a claw the size of Boomer. Another followed it before a giant scorpion twice Spyro’s size emerged. The scorpion was forged of the very volcanic area they were in, cracks on its body revealing its innards being that of burning magma.

“I read about these with Twilight back at the abode we’ve been staying at,” Rarity whispered, “This is a Buffalo Beetle. It’s said that they were created by the Manweersmalls centuries ago to be guards of their mines, only for them to backfire and become horrible brutes. They respond to attacks on them. So if we quietly and carefully sneak past it, we should be…”

“Hiya!” Pinkie Pie beamed, sitting on the Buffalo Beetle.

“Of course,” Rarity slumped with dignity.

“Don’t you worry, my lady of beauty, for I shall protect you!” Sparx declared before turning to Spyro, “Sic.”

Spyro frowned at him. With Pinkie, she was giggling while bouncing around on the Buffalo Beetle. The monster slowly raised its stinger, the tip dripping with a bit of sickly-green magma. It sent it down and stabbed itself in the head, causing it to fall apart.

“Now that looks like it hurts,” Pinkie Pie noted, standing beside a bewildered Spyro.

“How did you…When did…How?!” Spyro exclaimed/demanded.

“Darling, it’s best you do not try to figure her out,” Rarity advised.

Spyro and Sparx slowly looked at each other. The group went on until they entered a room with multiple tracks. On one track was a large train-like vehicle. The front was carved to resemble a menacing face with glowing red ‘eyes’ and ‘fang-filled mouth’ and completely obsidian in metal coloring. On it was a slim Ape wearing a red scarf and a conductor’s hat. He also sported an accordion. The song he was singing was anything but good.

[Conductor]
Sometimes, late at night,
You can hear the whistle wail
With a spooky, screechy sound
Like a wheel gone off the rail;
And up in the smoky clouds,
You can almost recognize
The ghost of a crazy engineer
With fiery cinder eyes;
I say, Whoo-whoo!
Can't you hear the haunted train?
Whoo-whoo!
Waitin' on a haunted train
Crash that engine,
You know, only sticks and stones
And old conductors' bones remain...

As he finished his song, a trolley approached with a cart attached to it. On it were a pair of Apes and a third cart filled with jewels.

“Come on, you worthless waste of flesh…let's go,” the Conductor snapped, “We've got to hop on Steam and get back to that flea-bitten dragon. The crystal should be almost ready…and the volcano is right on the brink.”

“Yes, sir, Conductor, sir!” both Apes replied before they attached the gem-filled cart to ‘Steam’ and got on it before the Conductor drove off down the track.

“Come on, Sparx, we've got to catch them!” Spyro ordered as he ran over to the small trolley-like vehicle with a cart in the back, “I’ll drive.”

“Shotgun!” Boomer declared.

“You don't know how to drive this thing,” Sparx noted.

“How hard can it be? It's on rails,” Pinkie Pie pointed out.

“…Famous last words…” Sparx muttered with a sigh.

With that, the small cart went off down the tracks. Soon, they began to come across the train that was carrying a load of Spirit Gems. Rarity’s eyes widened significantly. If she were not a proper Mare, she would have been drooling a river. Pinkie Pie and Boomer smirked as they held up some bags of dynamite and a boombox in Pinkie Pie’s case. Inside the train, three Apes-including the conductor-were watching the sights ahead before one Ape heard ‘Ride of the Valkyries.’ He poked his head out and his body fell over, the Ape’s head blown off. The other two looked at each other before the other Ape looked out the other window and poked his head back in, revealing just his skull set on fire.

“Them again,” the Ape gagged before collapsing in death.

“Hoot! Not again!” the Conductor snarled as he began to increase speed.

“After him! I demand that we ascertain those gems!” Rarity declared, earning looks from everyone but the agreeing Sparx, “I mean…After the Apes and stop any plans they have with those gems?”

Spyro nodded. He increased the speed on their vehicle and the chase was on.

“Oh, I get it now!” Twilight beamed, “So by removing this from the equation, that will give us the true answer!”

“Splendid work, Twilight Sparkle. You certainly are the prized student to our dear friend Celestia!” Volteer beamed before a flash of light occurred in the center of their home.

“Intruders?! I’m on it!” Rainbow shouted as she flew in, about to use her lightning-coated wings when a barrier of magic stopped her, “Huh?!”

“Shiny!” Twilight exclaimed as she ran over and hugged the stallion.

“Twily! Are you okay? Where’s the danger?” the white-coated stallion asked as he looked around.

“D…?! Rainbow Dash…!” Twilight growled as the Pegasus laughed sheepishly.

“Celestia, it is good to see you again,” Ignitus greeted, “And I see you brought along your sister and…” he then noticed Candace, “May I ask who you are?”

“My niece, Princess Candace,” Celestia replied.

“We told thee, sister, that thou were overreacting,” Luna pointed out.

“Um…Well…” Celestia coughed a little with a blush on her face.

“I’m really sorry you did this, Princess,” Twilight apologized, “I had just cut myself and then Spyro sneezed and then…!”

“It’s okay, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia assured before glancing around with her guards at ready, “I do not see Spyro, Sparx, Pinkie Pie, or Rarity.”

“They are out at Munitions Forge, rescuing Terrador,” Ignitus replied before his eyes widened at what was in his reflection pool, "Oh dear..."

“Heh. End of the line,” the Conductor smirked as he went down a different path.

“What’s he talking about?” Boomer pondered, “Ugh…I hate Apes!”

“Um…I believe that that is why he said that,” Rarity pointed ahead at a broken section of track that went outside.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” everyone screamed as they hugged each other and closed their eyes…only to keep screaming while their vehicle had stopped.

“…” Sparx slowly opened an eye, “Hey…We stopped.”

“Huh?” Pinkie Pie looked up to see the exit of the tunnel above them, “How did that happen?”

“I don’t know. Hope it wasn’t an Ape who did that just to kill us,” Boomer growled.
=Actually. That was me=

The group slowly turned to their left to see a surprising sight. It was another Dragon…but drastically different. While the Dragons the group knew-or were in Spyro’s case-were all quadrupeds, the Dragon before them stood on its hind legs, the left leg entirely mechanical and steam-punk in nature along with the right hand. His scales were in the color of lava, their coloring brightened by the lava river nearby. He was easily around nine feet in height with the lower half of his tail entirely mechanical. His lone horn was completely metal and shaped like a blade. Bits of the metal wings were actually still dragon-made. The upper-left side of his face was entirely mechanical with a yellow optic. All the metal on him was made of brilliant metallic cobalt and lined with soft gold. Over his torso was a black miner’s vest that contracted his white underbelly.

“Y…You’re a Dragon?” Spyro blinked.

=Dragon…= the figure chuckled, a robotic edge to his otherwise soft voice =Haven’t been one since I was hatched. Name’s Drobot, adopted son of Exhumor=

“Drobot? Oh! ‘Dragon Robot!’” Pinkie Pie began to giggly.

=My scanner indicated that you have a large quantity of sugar running through your systems, almost constantly fueled by the energy around you= Drobot noted as he gazed at Pinkie and then Rarity =And despite how your coat appears, you are not marshmallow=

“Excuse me?!” Rarity gasped in offense.

“Were you the one who saved us?” Spyro asked.
=Your hypothesis is correct, Purple Dragon. My spying excursions upon Cynder have allowed me to hypothesize that a Purple Dragon is the key factor in liberating the Manweersmalls=

“Huh?” Sparx, Boomer, and Pinkie Pie blinked.

“He means that he was waiting for me to show up to help the Manweersmalls,” Spyro explained, “But why? I mean, you’re a dragon as well.”

=Do you not see my disfigurement? I attempted to and was literally torn to shreds by that dragoness= Drobot snarled =I was just fortunate that the Manweersmalls that found me were able to reconstruct my being into the form you bear witness to at this moment=

“Oh, so that’s why you’re not chubby like my bro here,” Sparx noted, earning an annoyed look from Spyro.

=I see no advancement of average dragon mass=

“It’s because I didn’t know how to fly for the first ten years of my life,” Spyro frowned.

=I was unable to ascertain that ability as well= Drobot nodded in sympathy.

“Ugh. This guy is giving me a headache! Can I blow him up?” Boomer pleaded.
=What did you say, Garden Gnome?=

“Did you just call me a ‘Garden Gnome,’ Metal Head?!” Boomer demanded.
=Metal Head?! Why you little impudent nasal obstacle colored brute!=

“Hold on, you two. You can resume your arguments later. Right now, we need to save the remaining Manweersmalls,” Spyro frowned.
=…Very well=

“Oh, fine. But I’m blowing you up later, Rust Breath!” Boomer snapped before ducking a laser shot from Drobot’s optic, “Never mind.”

“…That was awesome,” Sparx awed.

=I have been unable to ascertain the ability to perform combustion of the carbon dioxide within my former form, so the ones that upgraded my form developed a condensed stream of heat to be more of a threat against the Apes=

“What?” Pinkie Pie blinked.

“Drobot said that when he was given his implants, he was given a laser eye,” Spyro informed.

“Oh! Wow! That is so cool! I bet you could easily light up thousands of candles that that!” Pinkie Pie then gasped loudly, “We should totally have you come to Sugarcube Corner and be a baker!”
=…I am unable to comprehend what you have just said due to the velocity of your vocal chords=

“Then let us continue on,” Rarity offered.
=Affirmative=

The group went off, now aided by Drobot. More Dreadwings appeared in the sky before their riders were shot off by Drobot’s laser eye while Pinkie Pie and Rarity used their Ice Magic to freeze the Dreadwings’ wings. Soon, they were going along a series of tracks and into a tunnel. There, Spyro barely dodged the shovel swings of a blue-furred Manweersmall.

“Wait, wait, wait! We're on your side!” Spyro yelped as he dodged the mole’s swings.

“More likely spies for the Conductor…or that flying beast Cynder!” the mole snapped.

=Father, cease your actions= Drobot informed as he caught the shovel.

“Monsieur Mole-Yair sent us,” Rarity informed.

“My brother is alive? Wait…Robert, is that you?!” the Mole gasped.

“He sure is, pal, he’s all safe and sound. But I gotta say, he's the friendly one in the family,” Sparx noted.

=It is me, Father. Cynder was…an unwinnable encounter= Drobot replied =Other Manweersmalls were able to save my life with cybernetic implants they had been making since I was found=

“Robert…Oh my little son…I’m so, so sorry for what has happened to you,” Exhumor sniffled at his adopted son before turning to the others, “I'm sorry, I'm sorry. In these dark times, one can't take chances. So Mole-Yair is alive. Wonderful news. But why did he send you here?”

“Well, he said you might be able to tell us where our friend, Terrador, is,” Spyro replied.

“If he's a big dragon, I certainly can. The majority of the Manweersmalls are kept here in this camp, forced to live above ground and mine for Cynder…” Exhumor informed.

=There are rumors that your friend is being kept somewhere inside in the darkest pits of the volcano= Drobot informed as Exhumor sighed sadly.

“All of us are doomed…”

“Not if we have anything to say about it,” Pinkie Pie informed.

“What do you mean?” Exhumor asked.

“Yeah, what do you mean?” Sparx asked, not liking where this was going.

“She means we're going to free the Manweersmalls, venture to the darkest pits of Boyzitbig, and find Terrador,” Rarity explained.

“Then it’s off to karaoke!” Sparx declared, earning a head hit from Spyro’s tail, “Ah! Jerk!”

=Scans complete. Five cages in total= Drobot informed as he looked out into the detainment camp below them =Suggestion: Spread out and individually take out the cages=

“Good plan, Drobot,” Spyro nodded, “Pinkie Pie, Boomer, time to play ‘Boom!’ again.”

“Oh yeah!” both high-fived each other in glee.

“Alright…Let’s do it!” Spyro declared as he flew down and released a wave of Ice Breath on the Apes below.

=Targets acquired. Course of Action: Terminate= Drobot growled as his robotic hand shifted into a small sword that sparked with electricity.

He let out a roar before charging into a group of Apes, slashing and zapping them. Nearby, a present landed before some Apes near a cage. One smiled since it was his birthday and walked over to it. He opened it up and his present was Pinkie Pie freezing him and then bucking him to pieces…after shoving a cake down his throat. She proceeded to freeze the others and blew them-and the front of the cage-up, freeing the Manweersmalls there.

Rarity froze the Apes near her and proceeded to freeze the lock on the door. She used her normal magic to lift up a dropped spear nearby and used it to strike the lock, shattering it. Drobot ripped the hinges off his door while Boomer was going to town on the Apes and the cage he was near.

Spyro trembled as sparks came off him. With a roar, Spyro unleashed his Electric Breath’s Fury, creating the storm clouds as before but unleashing serpent-like dragons made of the electrical energy out and incinerating the Apes and the left side of the last cage. Nearby, Mole-Yair and Exhumor emerged from the ground.

“Well, I see you two crazy kids found each other,” Sparx noted as they regrouped.

“Yes, at last…” Mole-Yair turned to the group, “…thanks to all of you.”

“We're just disappointed you didn't leave any fun for us,” Exhumor chuckled.

=Maybe next time, Father= Drobot informed.

“So now, which way to Terrador?” Spyro asked.

“That way…” Exhumor replied as the nearby entrance to Boyzitbig opened, “But be careful. The Conductor and his maniacal locomotive will surely be close by.”

“When you say be careful, does that mean try not to die? I’m trying to do that anyway,” Sparx informed.

“As am I,” Rarity added, “I am just thankful nothing bad has happened to my hair yet.”

“Come, Exhumor, we must get all the Manweersmalls underground…where they belong,” Mole-Yair informed before another rumble occurred.

“Yes, it won't be long now,” Exhumor noted before turning to Drobot, “Robert, please…go with them.”
=What?=

“Son, you have been with us for over a decade now and I am proud to be your father. But right now…You have a duty to fulfill; helping your new friends. Please, as a final request from your father for this day; go with them.”

=I…I accept this assignment you have given unto me, Father= Drobot replied before the two hugged =I will miss you, Papa=

“And I will miss you, my little boulder,” Exhumor sniffled before he and Mole-Yair left.

“Is that…Terrador?” Spyro pondered, gazing out at a green and orange Dragon with his scales seeming to be harder than diamonds and shaped to resemble battle armor that was trapped in a sphere of glowing purple energy with two electric streams going into a crystal below it.

“Big dragon being held prisoner in the center of an explosive volcano? I’m guessing that’s Terrador,” Sparx noted.

“Careful…it's never this easy,” Pinkie Pie warned.

“After the last two times, you're not going to get an argument from me,” Sparx noted before Pinkie Pie sneezed after her tail twitched.

“Something big is heading for us,” Pinkie Pie advised before the train with the Conductor drove into sight.

“Oh, here we go again!” Sparx groaned.

“You're a little late, fellas. The crystal's already charged and the volcano's ready to blow…” the Conductor smirked, “But before it does, me and Steam here are gonna take great pleasure in running you down!”

=Warning. Subzero temperatures are detected= Drobot informed.

“Oh no…” Rarity gasped as she saw Spyro trembling.

“He’s going into another Fury!” Pinkie Pie screamed.

“Abandon plan!” Boomer screamed as he dragged Drobot behind the container Terrador was in.

“Fury of Perisher’s Unending Blizzard!” Spyro roared.

It was then a massive dragon of winter erupted from Spyro’s body. The winter dragon roared before slamming into the train and Conductor, freezing them both to their very cores. Spyro cautiously walked over and put a paw on the train. Both it and rider shattered into snowflakes that instantly melted. Nearby, Drobot used his laser eye to destroy Terrador’s container, letting the dragon out.

“The purple dragon…lives,” Terrador gasped.

“He's got a name you know,” Pinkie Pie informed, “Just like my name is Pinkie Pie! Oh! That reminds me! I need to make a ‘Pleased to meet you’ Party for you with the other Dragon Elders later!”

“Yes, my name is Spyro…and you must be Terrador.”

“Yes, yes I am, and I must say I never thought I'd live to meet you, Spyro…or that you’ve made friends with Ponies,” Terrador chuckled before seeing Rairty, “Wait…Your coat-coloring…You must be Rarity. I heard about you from Molestia.”

“Molestia?!” the two Mares exclaimed as Sparx fell over with Boomer, both wheezing in laughter until the place rumbled once more.

"You deal an Alicorn that goes into a three-day-long heat once every one hundred years and see if you don't end up calling her something like that!" Terrador snorted before shuddering.

“I beg your pardon, Terrador. But I would rather discuss your rather…interesting… nickname for our princess at a later time,” Rarity frowned.

“You said it! Look, I’d love to sit here and hug everybody and chit chat, but how ‘bout we leave before the volcano blows us up?” Sparx asked.

“You're both right,” Terrador nodded as he began to stretch his wings, “I've got to tell the others what Cynder is up to.”

“Let’s go. I’m right behind you. Actually, I’m right in front of you,” Sparx nodded.

It was then a pool of lava before them erupted, unleashing a figure easily the size of Ignitus. It landed and the lava fell off, revealing a near-pitch black dragoness. Drobot’s optic picked up that it was actually a near-dark shade of lavender. Her underbelly was a vivid shade of blood-shot red with a silver, decorated, spiked collar on her neck. Her cranium was lines with eight horns. On the tips of the middle of her wings were two massive curved blades while her tail ended in silver armor forged into a trident.

=Cynder…= Drobot snarled.

“Run!” Terrador snapped.

“Look, when the guy says run, I think he knows something!” Sparx added.

Cynder roared before swooping down and grabbing the crystal that had been used to fortify Terrador’s cage. Terrador roared before he began to fly after her, only to be slammed into the ground easily by a strike of her tail.

“Terrador!” Rarity gasped.

“Go, Spyro! Fly like you've never flown before! I'll go back to the Temple for help!” Terrador ordered.

“Incoming bad girl!” Pinkie Pie and Boomer screamed in fear.

=Flight Mode: Engaged= Drobot growled as a jetpack emerged from his back while his metal wings extended fully.

“Shotgun!” Boomer shouted as he got on Spyro’s back with Pinkie Pie while Rarity sat on Drobot’s back.

Spyro and Drobot quickly took off with Cynder chasing after them. Both dragons began to do their best to dodge the fireballs of red and black flames sent by her.

“Spyro, slow down! I got a plan!” Boomer shouted.

“I hope so,” Spyro replied as he slowed a bit.

“Ka-BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!” Boomer roared as he threw his and Pinkie Pie’s entire load of dynamite along with a vial of nitroglycerine he was holding onto at the dragoness.

Cynder screeched as the explosives went off. Outside, a small part of Boyzitbig exploded from Drobot’s laser eye. The two dragons flew out with a frenzied, slightly injured Cynder giving chase just as Boyzitbig erupted. She nearly got Spyro’s tail had two blurs not slammed into her. Spyro and Drobot stopped and gasped.

“Mom! Ignitus!” Spyro cried out in shock.

“You will not strike my son!” Celestia cried out as she fired a beam of magic at Cynder in unison with Ignitus’ meteor-like fireball.

Cynder roared before recovering and unleashing a vortex of wind from her wings that slammed into Ignitus. Celestia charged up another blast only to be struck by a red and black energy version of Cynder’s head, causing her to tremble a bit for some reason. It let Cynder have an opening to slam into the two and go down into the dark clouds. Spyro was about to chase when Terrador stopped him.

“We've got to find them…help Ignitus and Mom!” Spyro pleaded.

“They're gone, Spyro. There's nothing we can do!” Sparx groaned.

“I don't care…Ignitus and Mom wouldn't leave me…” Spyro argued.

“Spyro, he’s right.”

“I’m right? Oh my god, that’s a first,” Sparx noted, earning a ‘shush’ from Pinkie Pie.

“Yes. You'll never find them in this mess, and you're not ready to face Cynder yet,” Terrador informed, “The time to fight will come…but it is not now.”

“But Mom…”

“Is our Princess of the Sun. I’m sure she can handle this wicked she-beast,” Rarity snorted.

“You’re just mad because of her that your mane’s now sooty,” Pinkie Pie noted.

“Of course I am! She deserves the chopping block for it!” Rarity declared as she hugged her ruined hairstyle.

“I guess you're right. Let's go,” Spyro gulped as he looked down again, ‘Mom…Ignitus…Please don’t die.’

From the desk of Shining Armor, Captain of the Guard:

On Sunday, July 8, 1001 EC (Equestria Calendar), her Royal Highness Princess Celestia received via dragon fire from her ‘adopted’ son, Spyro Infernal Kirin of Equestria, an incomplete message from her Royal Highness Princes Celestia’s Prized Student Number 90, Twilight Sacredheart Sparkle, with dried blood that was confirmed to be a match with said student’s blood samples from the Canterlot Medical Wards.
At 0900 hours following the message, the Royal Guard will be deployed with all three Princesses; Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Only six members, one of which being myself, will be accompanying them to the Dragon Temple located approximately 18 hours eastern from the border of Equestria.
Information provided by Princess Celestia informs the Royal Guard that you do not anger a Dragon correlated to the Earth Element. For when angered, they will stop at nothing to enact revenge. Earth Dragons are the slowest of the four primary elemental Dragons-being that of Fire, Electricity, Ice, and Earth-, with the shortest wingspan. However, they make up for this with their ability to ‘move’ the land and winds to their command. By closing their eyes and lightly moving on the ground, they unleash a ‘seismic sense’ that allows them to ‘see’ any being within a twenty-five meter radius of their position.
Furthermore, Earth Dragon scales-once shed-can only be used once to forge powerful armor. All members of the Royal Equestrian Guard bear armor forged from shed scales of one ‘Terrador,’ the only Earth Dragon Celestia has been recorded to know. The primary diet of an Earth Dragon is-surprisingly-apples with a lightly roasted fish sprinkled with dirt that has touched an apple tree as a side.

Author's Note

I do not own Drobot. I do own his appearance in this.

Cyder's Lair and Convexity

An excerpt from Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s Private Diary (swiped by Sparx the Dragonfly in secret):

Dear Diary,

Dragons! I can’t believe it! *squee* It’s actual living, breathing Dragons! If it weren’t such a somber mood here, I would be doing a ‘Twilight Sparkle’ and bounce around them, cheering ‘yes’ over and over for a full hour or when either I, Shiny, or Aunt Celestia say something (or, as you recall, Sparx calls her fat again by mistake ;3).
Aunt Celestia told me all about the subspecies of Dragons. They’re known as Fear, Acid, Wind, and Darkness. In conjunction, Fear is the subspecies of Fire, Acid and Electricity, Wind is with Earth, and Darkness goes with Ice. Not sure how it works because I kinda fell asleep thinking about wearing something nice for my day off with Shining Armor <3. *sigh dreamily* was concerned with Aunt Luna’s return.
Anyways, Fear Dragons use their breath to create illusions of intense nightmares to distract their foes before striking them in their panicked state. They’re normally slim, thin, and sleek in appearance and blend well with the night sky.
Acid Dragons have saliva that is actually a powerful acid. Ew. The stuff can easily melt through diamonds! I swear if my friend Diamond Ring heard that, she’d faint dramatically because she loves diamonds. Anyways, the Acid Dragons normally wear a silver collar that makes their saliva normal until they want to use their acid spray. I don’t know why they have to use silver, but Aunt Celestia just gave me a shrug when I asked.
Wind Dragons are the second-fastest of the dragons next to the Electric Dragons. They have powerful lungs that let them utilize the wind in various ways. Their able to hear the sound of a pin dropping in one thousand football stadiums when last recorded. That, and they’re the champions in breath-holding at 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 21 seconds. They resemble Fear Dragons in shape, but their scales have miniscule holes in them.
Now Darkness Dragons…Diary, I’ll be frank with you; I am buckin’ glad they’re not around here. They are able to travel through shadows and breath a smoke that turns into the stickiest tar you’ll ever know. Also, Darkness Dragons can go into dreams and manipulate the minds of others to obey them via sleepwalking. It makes me wonder if one was responsible for Cloudsdale’s problem fourteen years ago with the sleepwalking children…
Oh, they’re back! But where are Aunt Celestia and Mr. Ignitus? Oh dear, Spyro looks like he’s about to cry. I’d better go check up on him.

TTFN,

Candace

“It's my fault…I-I failed Ignitus and Mom when they needed me most,” Spyro trembled as he was hugged by Candace, “It's just that the sight of Cynder so close, just…just…”

“…Made your heart stop?” Pinkie Pie offered.

“Put ice in your veins?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Scared the crud out of you? Cause that’s what she did t’ me,” Boomer informed as he walked in, all cleaned up.

=Don’t say things like that, Dumpster Breath=

“Bolt Muncher,” Boomer snorted.

“Yeah, something like that,” Spyro replied, ignoring the cyborg dragon and the explosion-loving troll.

“All warriors feel fear at one time or another, Spyro. There is no shame in that,” Terrador informed.

“Yeah. Just like when we got that letter you sent by accident,” Shining Armor informed as he put a hand on the dragon’s shoulder, “You and Twily had us all scared for you.”

“Yes, it's a proven scientific fact that the quotient between adrenaline and trepidation…”

“Volteer, please, I believe our good friends here were trying to make a point,” Cyril interrupted the yellow dragon.

“Thank you, Cyril,” Terrador chuckled before he looked at Spyro once more, “What I was going to say is that all warriors feel fear, Spyro, but only the most valiant among us can face that fear…and master it. From what I saw of you on Munitions Forge, you are one such warrior.”

=Indeed= Drobot agreed as he moved slowly away from Twilight as she was trying to learn as much as she could about his implants.

“Young dragon, now is the time to complete your training…now is the time to face your fear,” Terrador informed as he turned to the Dragon Dojo, “Come. You as well, Farmer and Captain of the Guards.”

“Am I the only one still petrified?” Sparx asked, a Pegasus Guard shrugging nearby.

“So your brother is the Captain of Celestia’s Guard?” Rarity whispered to Twilight.

“Yes,” Twilight replied, having a funny feeling of knowing what Rarity was thinking, “And you cannot date him. Candace would rip you apart.”

“The Princess?” Rarity blinked as she glanced over at Candace, looking at a few of the books Celestia had left in the Dojo with Luna and the only other Unicorn of Celestia’s Guard.

“Trust me on this, Rarity, a mad Candace is a dangerous Candace,” Twilight whispered, “You remember the papers all talking about how the Hoofington Orphanage was demolished and all the caretakers except for one being turned into plants? That’s because she saw what they were doing to the little Ponies there.”

“Oh my…!” Rarity gasped quietly.

“I’d have done the same thing in her place,” Twilight nodded as she walked over to the reflection pool, “I’m going to try and find where they are. I’ve been learning from Ignitus about how to do this.”

“It’s good to see you again, Shining,” Spyro greeted.

“Likewise, little ‘Bro,’” Shining Armor chuckled.

“So how are ya knowin’ one another?” Applejack asked.

“Well, I grew up with Twilight at Mom and Aunt Luna’s castle. It was through Twilight that I met Shining Armor and we basically hit off after a few visits from him,” Spyro shrugged.

“And the fact that we both chased Sparx through the place after his prank on the both of us,” Shining Armor pointed out.

“Heh-heh-heh. I still have those pictures, Shining Clucker and Spyrooster,” Sparx laughed.

“Shut up, Sparx,” both deadpanned as Applejack snickered before the statue in the Dojo lowered itself once more.

“The power to harness the soil, the wind, the world itself. It is now within your grasps,” Terrador informed, “Let’s begin.”

“It’s going to be the same with the others, isn’t it?” Sparx asked as earth-themed dummies appeared, “You summoning dummies and Spyro takes them out?”

“Something like that, but unlike theirs, they can only be destroyed by a strike to the head after being trapped in their element,” Terrador smirked, “You must focus upon the ground beneath your feet. Keep your eyes closed for the first time, Spyro, since that will make things easier for you. As for our two bipedal friends here…Celestia created a way for you to move the land through body movements and concentration. The key to it is utilizing neutral jing.”

“Jing, sir?” Shining Armor raised a brow.

“Jing involves waiting and listening for the right moment to strike and, when that moment comes, acting decisively. You must endure the enemy’s assault until the right opportunity to counterattack reveals itself, then strike with unyielding force,” Terrador informed as, while he spoke the last part, he crushed a rock he had been holding, “While her style was originally rigid and collectively learned, she soon evolved it to let her keep mobile and only root herself when it was time to strike. Even then, she only did that long enough to actually launch and direct the attack.”

“Kinda sounds like this style of hers wants t’ keep both an offense and defense,” Applejack noted.

“Exactly,” Terrador nodded, “It has a distinct balance between offensive and defensive capabilities, though her use of Ice involved a more refined version by channeling defense into offense.”

“So this technique you’re teaching us uses a balance of strength and defense to overwhelm opponents,” Shining pointed out.

“Correct,” Terrador nodded before opening to shelves and tossed them a pair of scrolls, “Celestia wrote these up. Also, I skimmed through them and noticed one thing; if you lack determination, the land will not respond to your will.”

“I got one!” Spyro beamed nearby.

“Good. Now get the others!” Terrador barked, “And remember to always be gracious in victory!”

“Why do I get the feeling that you were the guy that made the drills the Royal Guard has to go through?” Shining Armor asked.

“Ha! She owes me fifty Bits!” Terrador bragged, causing Shining to facepalm and Applejack to give a soft chuckle.

“Well, let’s git t’ workin’ on these here moves!” Applejack declared as she opened her scroll to see a drawing on an Equine that was going through motions, “No words, jest pictures. Ah’m likin’ this scroll.”

“Eh, there might be hope for you yet, young Dragon,” Terrador noted an hour later as Spyro stumbled over, panting.

“My throat hurts…” Spyro rasped out.

“Of course it does. Why do you think my voice is this deep?” Terrador smirked in a joke, earning just a look from the purple dragon, “Now then, are you near Fury Level?”

“I…I don’t think so…” Spyro replied.

“Good,” Terrador smirked before more of his Dummies appeared, “These don’t have the ‘bury them’ part. Just go pummel them until you can unleash your Fury, but only use Earth Breath attacks. And remember, the breath isn’t just land, but also wind.”

Spyro sighed as he went back into the fray. As another two hours passed, the three training were progressing along well. Spyro was able to release a tornado made of green winds and crumbling ground that sucked up the dummies while Applejack and Shining Armor were able to bend the land into various attacks. Terrador noticed the trembling Spyro was giving off before motioning to the two Ponies there. Applejack realized what was happening and quickly made a wall of the ground just as more dummies surrounded the Purple Dragon.

“Looks like Ignitus may have been right about you, Spyro,” Terrador smirked.

“Fury of Kytheron’s Wrath of Nature!” Spyro roared.

The room began to rumble as Spyro floated into the air. Bits of the land broke apart and spun around the room. With a roar, Spyro unleashed a massive meteor storm of boulders twice his size from the materials that floated in the air, destroying the remaining dummies and Applejack’s earth wall.

“Good job. Now…the final confrontation awaits,” Terrador informed as the dragon statue rose up once more.

“Whoo-whee! Sure was overkill, Spyro,” Applejack noted.

“S-Sorry…” Spyro panted as they entered the main room of the place.

“You've done well, Spyro, Applejack, Shining Armor,” Terrador informed.

Cyril quickly said, “Yes, yes, pat on the back, good going, all that other rubbish, but we've got to get moving here.”

“Cyril is terribly obnoxious but in this case he happens to be right, Terrador,” Volteer pointed out, earning a glare from Cyril, “Ignitus and Celestia are the final piece to Cynder's puzzle. If that last crystal is powered, the portal will open and we'll all be done for!”

“I know, I know,” Terrador frowned.

“What do you mean?” Shining Armor asked.

“When the Dark Master was originally sealed, it was due to the combined efforts of both Dragons, Celestia, and the Elements of Harmony,” Terrador explained, “Luna would have been included had the Dark Master not have turned her into Nightmare Moon almost months before.”

Volteer and Cyril’s tails whapped into Terrador’s head. He growled quietly at them until they pointed at Luna, currently in a corner with a blue space around her.

“…Oops,” Terrador sweatdropped before shaking his head, “Anyways, when I was on Munitions Forge, I overheard the Conductor say that Cynder's final preparations would take place at her lair, where she lives in solitude among the clouds and the towers. I am certain that's where she's taken Ignitus and Celestia.”

“We have to go…come on,” Spyro turned and began to run off.

“I'd give anything to go with you, young warriors, but that crystal sapped the last of my will,” Terrador replied sadly, “I fear my fighting days are over.”

“Every generation must pass the torch to the next, Terrador. Our time is done,” Volteer pointed out.

“Yes, it is Spyro and his friends’ time to shine,” Cyril informed, “Now go to it, young ones!”

“Yes sir!” Spyro saluted.

“Wow, you guys make even me wanna face Cynder,” Sparx chuckled before realizing what he just said, “Did I say that out loud?”

“Eeyup,” one of the Pegasus Guards replied.

=Please await a minute. What are the coordinates to her lair?= Drobot asked.

“…I do not know,” Terrador replied.

“I’ve got them!” Twilight replied as she ran into the room, holding up a piece of paper.

“Splendid, Twilight Sparkle!” Cyril cheered, “It seems Ignitus was correct in teaching you how to use that little trick of his!”

“We better get going,” Twilight said.

“Wait,” the group turned to see Luna walk over, holding…

“The Elements of Harmony?” Rainbow Dash blinked in confusion.

“We shall all be accompanying thee,” Luna informed as she motioned to the Guard and Candace, “The enemy hath stolen Our Sister from Us. We demand war upon these impudent foals!”

“Luna, I would advise against sending both yourself and this new Alicorn we have met,” Volteer advised, “If you and her were to be captured, than it would cause even more dangers.”

“Cynder's Lair is where hope goes to die,” Terrador informed, “A dark, foreboding place in which Cynder broods and skulks and plans her next assault. You must make your way to her fortress, where I'm sure Ignitus and Celestia are being held.”

“We’ll save them no matter what,” Shining Armor nodded.

=Indeed= Drobot agreed.

“You got that right! Wait. That guy’s my landlord. Still, he’s a nice guy…” Boomer shrugged, “What the hay? I’m in it for the BOOM!”

The group quickly left. A few seconds later, Twilight ran back in.

“Almost forgot?” Candace asked with a bit of mirth in her tone.

“Almost forgot,” Twilight replied.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hands and do a little shake!” the two recited/sang as they did a small little set of skips around each other and did a small handshake.

“Good luck,” Candace hugged Twilight close.

“I will, Candace. After all, my brothers will be there,” Twilight assured before she left.

"...What was that about?" Cyril slowly looked at the youngest of the three Alicorns of Canterlot.

"It's a little greeting we made, just me and Twilight," Candace replied with a giggle.

“Next time I say that I want to face Cynder, why don’t you go ahead and punch me in the mouth?” Sparx gulped as he and Fluttershy hid behind Spyro and Rainbow Dash from the massive pitch-black and crystal-covered tower/fortress.

“No problem,” Spyro shrugged.

“Do you have any plans, Shiny?” Twilight asked as she looked at her brother.

“We’ll split up into teams of three. We’ll have one guard on each team,” Shining Armor explained before Pinkie Pie began to scratch her elbow when she froze up.

“Cynder’s coming!” Pinkie Pie screamed as she pushed everyone behind a bush made of gems just before Cynder flew by.

“How did you know that?” the Unicorn Guard asked.

“When my left elbow is itchy, it means ‘Big Meanie is about to fly by,’” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Don’t ask, but it saved us more than once when we freed Terrador,” Sparx advised the Royal Guard members.

“…Okay…” Shining Armor blinked before recovering and looked at a Pegasus Guard and Earth Pony Guard, “Swift Wind, Ground Buster, you’re with me. Twily, Fluttershy, you’re with Pinkie Pie. Applejack, you get Rainbow Dash and Break Strike.”

“Sir,” the Unicorn Guard saluted.

“Rarity, go with Darkest Storms and Land Striker,” Shining Armor ordered.

“With pleasure,” Rarity giggled.

“Okay, I’m starting to see where this is going,” Twilight noted, “You’re making sure we’re all part of a team made of Earth, Sky, and Magic.”

“Right,” Shining Armor nodded before turning to the two dragons, Dragonfly, and Troll.

“We’re a single team,” Spyro nodded.

“Okay. We split up and meet in the fortress,” Shining Armor ordered, “Take out any and all enemies that appear.”

“Right,” everyone but the gulping Fluttershy agreed.

“Terrador made it sound like this place was uninhabited!” Sparx sighed as he spotted a swarm of Apes.

“Now what fun would that be?” Boomer smirked.

“Come on, we've got to take them out!” Spyro ordered.

=Engaging demise of simian warriors= Drobot growled.

“Why is it my fault?” Swift Wind whined as the Apes began to strike at the barrier Shining Armor made.

“Because you kicked the pebble,” Ground Buster muttered.

“Be quiet you two,” Shining Armor ordered before stomping the ground and made a swinging motion with his arms, causing the ground below the group of Apes around his barrier to be impaled by spikes of the land, “Now get your jaws back up. We’ve got work to do.”

“Pinkie Pie, stop laughing!” Twilight scolded as she sent another fireball at an ape.

“But it’s so funny!” Pinkie Pie laughed, “Their jaws dropped to the ground!”

“C-Can we hurry?” Fluttershy whimpered as she paralyzed another Ape that tried to get them, “This…This is giving me bad memories again…”

“I simply abhor these sick beasts,” Rarity growled as she froze a Dreadwing as her two Guards were impaling Apes nearby with their swords.

“You said it,” Darkest Storms growled as he flew over a Dreadwing that tried to eat him before stabbing it through the neck and severed it.

“Hey, Storms, we up for a platter from Joe’s once all of this is said and done?” Land Striker asked.

“You know it,” Darkest Storms replied before grabbing a cloud and kicked it, zapping more Apes that tried to jump Rarity.

“Thank you,” Rarity informed.

“Thank you for that,” Break Strike informed as Applejack pulled him up to a higher level.

“No problem, pardner,” Applejack tilted her hat in recognition.

“Come on!” Rainbow Dash snapped, “The sooner we get to Fluttershy, the better!”

“What’s got yer thong in a bunch?” Applejack asked.

“It’s because of the Griffon/Pegasi Civil War in Cloudsdale, isn’t it?” Break Striker asked, making Rainbow Dash freeze up, “There were many causalities on both sides, but I recognize the name of that shy Mare in your friends. She was in the hospital for six months and probably has the scars from…”

“SHUT UP!” Rainbow snapped, “You don’t know anything about that damn year!”

“What are y’all talkin’ ‘bout?” Applejack frowned.

“Nothing you need to know, got it?” Rainbow Dash growled as she flew ahead of them.

“…Many Pegasi Foals were left without parents. Did you recall how there was no weather for almost several months almost fifteen years back?”

“Yeah. Had t’ ration water supplies,” Applejack recalled, “Almost lost a good amount of th’ trees on th’ farm.”

“That’s because the Griffons of Cloudsdale created a civil war over weather control since they were citizens there, but unable to work in a vital job,” Break Striker explained as they followed after the Pegasus, “Many a good life was lost until Celestia was able to stop it. She had been gone for a bit during that time, most likely here helping the Dragons. I went over a few reports on you girls before I came here with the others and learned that Fluttershy’s name was on the list of near-fatally injured. She had been brought to a hospital with a sword stabbed through her stomach and her back covered in deep claw strikes. She had jumped between her father and a Griffon that was his best friend, trying to stop them. Two months after she had been put in the hospital, we found the bodies of the two, both hanging together in the Griffon’s basement. Both had a suicide note on them along with their wills. Your friend is probably the richest Mare in Equestria with all the money she has from the life insurance the two had taken out a year after the little girl had been born and the cash they left in their wills to her, but the scars of it have probably left your friend in her current state of being incredibly shy.”

“…Ah…Ah see…” Applejack trembled, ‘Did…Did Rainbow Dash see her like that…? Is that why she wants ta git t’ her?’

“Everyone okay?” Spyro asked as they regrouped before two massive black doors.

“They didn’t hurt you, did they?” Rainbow asked Fluttershy, looking her over.

“N-n-no. Tw-Twilight and Pinkie P-Pie were able to k-keep them away…” Fluttershy replied with a heavy blush.

=All outer threats neutralized= Drobot informed =Proceed to interior?=

“Allow us to ‘knock,’” Boomer smirked as he and Pinkie pulled out a large pile of dynamite and quickly stacked it onto the door before everyone ran behind the crystals in the area.

“Fire in the hole!” Pinkie Pie shouted as Rarity and Twilight sent a fireball at the dynamite, lighting them and destroying the door.

“Whoo!” Pinkie and Boomer cheered while Drobot rolled his only real eye before his robotic eye lit up.

=Anomaly detected= Drobot informed before the crystals that had made the door trembled before fusing into a Golem-like being.

“A crystal Golem?” Twilight pondered.

=Oronewo, sub-class of Golem. Larger and sturdier due to their crystal structure= Drobot informed as he analyzed the behemoth before them =Weakness, intense sonic vibrations=

“We need sound and a lot of it,” Twilight translated to the confused others, “Either that or something to vibrate its form enough to shatter it.”

“On it!” Applejack and Shining Armor replied.

The two stood together and slowly entered their stances. Both counted to three in unison as they went through a series of stances, ending with a ‘thrust’ motion. The Oronewo trembled before exploding into shards. Soon, more began to appear.

“Go!” Boomer ordered, “I’ll hold ‘em back!”

“Boomer,” Twilight spoke.

“Heh. This is the way I want to do it. You guys hurry and free the big guy and the boss lady,” the Troll ordered with a big grin, “As for me…It’s time to BRING THE BOOM!-!-!”

As the Ponies, dragonfly, and Purple Dragon ran into the structure, the sounds of Boomer giving off joyous laughter and explosions filled the air. The group pressed on to battle off more Apes that appeared around every-other corner. They were able to avoid a few traps thanks to Pinkie Pie. They turned a corner and ran into a large ape.

“Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!” Sparx screamed before Break Striker killed the Ape with a spear through its heart, “I can’t talk…heart…breaking up…”

“Come on. Ignitus and Mom are waiting,” Spyro informed as they entered a large chamber with an elevator in the center, getting on it to go up.

As the group reached the top of the tower, Twilight and Spyro gasped. The others turned in their direction to see Ignitus and Celestia. The two were chained to to a tower across from them with their energy going into a single crystal.

“Princess/Ignitus!” the Unicron and Purple Dragon cried out.

“Spyro…?” Sparx gulped.

“What?” the purple dragon asked.

“I don't like this…It feels like she's baiting us,” Sparx advised.

“Seems you’re getting smarter,” Shining Armor noted.

“All of you…” Celestia grunted.

“…Destroy the crystal…” Ignitus managed to get out.

“Quickly…” both pleaded.

“Let's get them out of here before Cynder gets back!” Spyro ordered.

“Men, the crystal,” Shining Armor ordered.

The five Royal Guard members nodded. They rushed the stone only for a blur to landed before them, striking them with a green liquid. The five cried out just before their bodies instantly melted.

“Acid!” Shining gasped as Fluttershy lost her lunch.

“If only life were that easy, little ones,” Cynder sneered.

“S-s-s-s-s-s-so…” Sparx began.

“B-b-b-b-b-big…” Fluttershy finished.

“Time you all learned how complicated life can be,” Cynder growled.

“Run, Spyro, all of you…save yourselves!” Ignitus pleaded.

“Not this time. This time I fight!” Spyro replied.

=I concur. You will not take another life!= Drobot snarled at Cynder, his yellow optic glowing red in anger.

“Ah. The little pipsqueak that tried to fight me at Boyzitbig when I first took over the Manweersmalls,” Cynder smirked, “Ha ha ha ha ha…Bring it!”

“Um…Spyro…everyone?” Sparx gulped as Shining Armor pulled out a pair of swords.

“Twily, you and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony go free Princess Celestia and Ignitus. Try to see if the Elements can restore their strength,” Shining Armor ordered, “Spyro, Drobot, and I have it covered here.”

Twilight nodded. The six quickly ran towards the two captured. Cynder attempted to stop them before barely avoiding a laser. Drobot roared before rushing at her, firing another laser from his optic. Cynder flew out of the way and fired a blast of acid at him. Drobot was almost hit when a barrier summoned by Shining Armor stopped it. He dropped the barrier and used magic to send his swords at Cynder. The dark dragon roared before releasing a tornado made of wind from her mouth. She stopped as lightning coursed through her. She turned to see Spyro snarling at her from in the air. Spyro unleashed a barrage of icicles the size of a bed at her. Cynder flew around the icicles and slammed into Spyro with her tail, sending the purple dragon through a wall of the fortress. She flew in with Drobot following, Shining Armor on his back. With the others, they tried to destroy the crystal only for a barrier to stop their attacks.

“Consarn it!” Applejack growled.

“What if we try to use the Elements?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We’ll try it,” Twilight replied, “But I hope that it doesn’t hurt them.”

“They…won’t,” Celestia replied, “But please…just leave us…”

“No way!” Rainbow Dash argued, “We’re not leaving you two behind. Not after what we’ve gone through getting here!” she glanced over at the pile of acid/melted Equines, “Especially not after we lost some good lives.”

Another wall erupted nearby and Cynder was sent out of it by four dragons made of fire, electricity, earth, and ice. She had a few burns and one of her horns had been cut off. Dirt, ice, burns, and sparks of electricity littered her body. She quickly landed near the ponies and batted them away from the crystal as Spyro, Drobot, and Shining Armor flew towards them, the Unicorn on the Purple Dragon’s back. Spyro landed and collapsed onto his side as Shining Armor tumbled off him, all three sporting various injuries and fresh wounds. Cynder began to laugh as the crystal let a bit of its energy hit her, healing her wounds.

“It is so sad it must end this way. Now…Where was I?” Cynder pondered before grabbing the crystal, causing the two captured by her to drop onto the floor before the others, and then flew off through the glass ceiling of the tower they were on.

“Does she ever use doors?” Sparx asked as a cigar-smoking Boomer came up on the elevator, carrying an Ape Pelt with a chandelier made of the crystal-themed Golems.

“There was something in her eyes, Ignitus…” Spyro informed as the others were helping the two up, “…Something familiar.”

=I concur. My first encounter with her also had me sense that connection=

“There should be, Spyro. You, your fellow Dragon here, and Cynder share more than you know,” Celestia explained.

“It's time I told you the truth…all of it,” Ignitus explained, “You see, after I took your egg to the Silver River, I returned to the Grotto to find utter chaos. The other Guardians had been overrun, and all the other eggs had been smashed by the Dark Master's forces…all except five…”

“Five?” Pinkie Pie repeated.

“When I had last visited the Grotto, the eggs had just been laid. Something compelled me to put a spell on a few of the eggs to prevent them from being destroyed,” Celestia informed, “I should have told the others sooner about this…or put it on all the eggs had I known this would have happened. But I was only able to put it on four eggs.”

“You see, the Dark Master was torn. He wanted to destroy all the eggs to prevent the birth of the purple dragon…but he also needed a dragon,” Ignitus explained.

“Why would he need a dragon?” Spyro asked.

“Because, Spyro, only one born in the Year of the Dragon could open the portal that served as the Dark Master's prison,” Celestia replied.

=Cynder?=

“I'm afraid so,” Ignitus replied.

“But if we come from the same place, why is she so, so…?” Spyro couldn’t think of a word.

“Evil? Monstrous? Big? …Sexy?”

“Sparx!” Twilight and Shining Armor exclaimed.

“Oops, did I just say that?”

“Because, Spyro, after the night of the raid, she was corrupted by the Dark Master's poisonous powers…twisted by his evil lore,” Ignitus replied.

“She, like Luna when she had become Nightmare Moon, had become the Dark Master's monster,” Celestia informed.

“But why? What does this Dark Master want?” Twilight pondered.

“He wants to be freed from the portal of Convexity,” Ignitus replied, “To wreak havoc across the realms.”

“And if Cynder gets there, he just might succeed,” Celestia informed before looking down in sadness as a portal erupted in the distance, “I'm afraid we might be too late.”

“No, I refuse to give up... I'm going to stop Cynder and the Dark Master,” Spyro argued.

“Wait you, you heard the Dragon, Spyro. He said, too late. We’ll get him next time,” Sparx assured, “Come on, champ, you did a great job and let’s…let’s take five.”

“No! I'm ready…now!” Spyro argued.

“Okay, okay, Spyro, you're right,” Ignitus replied, “At the very least, you have to try. If the Dark Master escapes, a shadow will fall over the land, and who knows what will happen then.”

“I’m sorry, my little ponies, but if you wish to go with them, then it is not possible. Only a complete Dragon and dragonflies can go into Convexity,” Celestia informed.

“Spyro…” the Purple Dragon turned to see Twilight walk up with her friends from Ponyville, “Take them.”

“Hm?” Spyro pondered before the girls held out their Elements of Harmony, “What are you girls…?”

“Spyro, only dragons and dragonflies can go into Convexity, right?” Rainbow asked.

“Then we want you to have these,” Rarity offered.

“We want you to know that we’ll be with you,” Fluttershy informed.

“That you’re our friend an’ that we’ll be there for ya in spirit,” Applejack nodded.

“That’s so right! You make sure to come back from there and we can have a ‘We-Just-Saved-The-World-From-The-Dark-Master-and-redeemed-Cynder-with-the-Elements-of-Harmony-like-we-did-for-Luna’ Party back in Ponyville!” Pinkie Pie beamed happily.

“…” Twilight knelt down on her good leg and placed a hand on Spyro’s shoulder, “Spyro, my little brother…We can’t go with you, but we will go with you.”

“…” Spyro nodded.

One by one, the girls placed their Elements around Spyro. The six gold items began to glow before floating around him. Honesty and Loyalty connected to his tail and back, causing pristine gold armor to encase them, amplifying the sharpness and swiftness of them. Generosity and Laughter encased his legs in the armor next, extending his claws even further with white blades coating them. Kindness formed armor upon his torso and neck while Magic transformed into a regal, dragonic helmet that extended his horns out with white blades. The emblems of the six Elements lined the back of his wings and the jewels that were on them circled his torso armor. It shifted until he had assumed a bipedal shape, His height remaining the same but also modified to let him have longer arms and legs. Spyro looked at his new form in a broken piece of glass before turning to the girls with a small smile.

“Thank you, girls,” Spyro spoke as they hugged him.

‘A blessing from the girls and the Elements,’ Ignitus thought as he looked at Spyro’s armor and then at the dragon himself, “Spyro, Convexity acts as an airlock between our world and the Dark Realms beyond. You must stop Cynder before she inserts the final crystal and activates the portal, freeing the Dark Master.”

“I will,” Spyro nodded as Sparx held onto his left horn as he flew into the vortex.

“May the Ancestors look after you!” Ignitus called.

“May they look after us all,” Celestia spoke solemnly before they left to return to the Dragon Temple.

Spyro and Sparx exited the portal and landed on a large floating rock. As the two looked around, they saw a strange creature that seemed to be a fusion of whale and jellyfish that floated by them.

“Now…I've seen everything,” Sparx gulped.

“Yeah, if we don't hurry, I have a feeling you're going to see a whole lot more. Come on,” Spyro ordered as he flew over to a larger rock with a strange shrine in the center.

Before the shrine was Cynder, holding the last crystal. The crystal glowed before splitting into two. They floated around the shrine and past three identical crystals that had been put into slots.

“Cynder!”

“It is too late. My Master returns,” Cynder sneered as she faced the two, “Hmmmm…Persistent little fella, aren't you? This is where it really ends.”

“Bring it!” Spyro snapped.

“No mercy this time,” Cynder growled.

“I can't watch this,” Sparx gulped before pulling out a video camera and began to record the fight, “At least, not in person.”

Cynder rushed at Spyro, only for a gold blur to knock her away from the shrine. Cynder avoided the gold blur before sending a wave of acid at it. The blur, Spyro, turned and fired a wave of gold flames at the acid, evaporating it. Before Cynder could move, a barrage of gold ice-made spheres slammed into her, sending her back onto the floating rock. She swung her tail and Spyro caught it in his clawed hands. He spun her around before slamming her into the ‘ground,’ breaking it up a bit. At the shrine, the two gems connected to two final slots. The shrine rumbled before six more slots were revealed.

“What?!” Cynder gasped as she managed to look at the shrine in the middle of their fight, “This can’t be! Six hidden slots?!”

“Those look like…!” Spyro whispered in shock, looking at his armor, ‘Alright, Mom!’

“Ha-ha! Celestia pulled a fast one!” Spark cheered.

“Why you…!” Cynder released a terrifying screech before she flew into the air.

“S…Sparx…” Spyro groaned, purple spark-like flames starting to come from his lips, “I…I feel…”

Cynder released a powerful blast of red and black acid-like magma from her mouth. Spyro responded by unleashing a beam-like blast of the strange energy from his mouth, dispersing the magma shot and slammed it into Cynder.

“A new Breath?” Sparx pondered as a sphere of energy formed before Spyro’s lips.

“Now…It is time to awaken the True Dragon within you.”

With the reminder of Ignitus’ words flowing through Spyro’s head, the six jewels on his armor erupted in power. His eyes snapped open, revealing they were a bright white and glowed. The sphere erupted into the purple energy but mixed in the colors of the Elements into it.

“Fury of Faust’s Convex Harmonic Assault!” Spyro roared.

Multiple dragons of all the colors of the sphere erupted from it. Cynder screamed as the multiple dragons slammed and went through her. Eventually, all the dragons shot into her and unleashed a blast of light. It faded and Cynder collapsed to the ground, her body glowing. She began to shrink down until she was the size of Spyro, assuming a bipedal form akin to Spyro’s. Her features, once menacing and fearsome, had become more akin to a blend of Applejack’s hardened appearance mixed with Rarity’s regal look. Spyro’s eyes widened in surprise at her appearance.

“She is just like me and Drobot.”

“Dude, we've got to get out of here…now!” Sparx barked as the pillar of energy began to suck them towards it.

“I can't leave her behind…I've got to save her,” Spyro informed as he saw Cynder’s unconscious form slide closer to the pillar.

“What? Save the beast that's been trying to kill us?”

“That wasn't her fault…she was being used by the Dark Master!” Spyro snapped.

He shot off and flew into the pillar of energy just as Cynder was pulled into it. Moments later, Spyro erupted out of it, struggling with the suction. He began to fly even harder, unaware of a cone of air forming before him. With one mighty cry, the jewel erupted in energy before he shot out in an explosion of color, Sparx and Cynder on his back.

“Now we can go!”

“I'm right behind you buddy!” Sparx screamed, holding on for dear life.

As the three traversed through the portal, the armor Spyro wore began to retract itself back into the original tiara and necklaces. Upon exiting the portal, the three landed on the balcony of the Dragon Temple, Spyro and Sparx passing out from the intensity of traversing through the portal twice.

“Mommy? Fluff my pillow?” Sparx groaned as he began to wake up from crashing due to overeating during the large party Pinkie set up for not only rescuing the world but also welcoming the dragons and Boomer to Ponyville and Equestria.

“Feeling better, Spyro?” Ignitus pondered as he walked over to Spyro, the dragon now wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

“Not really, Ignitus. That battle drained every last bit of my strength. I’m kinda stuck with just using the Scroll Flame that Mom taught me,” Spyro admitted as he looked at himself in a mirror, “Plus, there’s also this new form my body’s taken.”

“Yes, it will take some time for your powers to return. But they will in time, young dragon. They will in time,” Ignitus informed, “As for the transformation, I believe it was because of the Elements of Harmony blessing you with their power to save Cynder.”

“As much as I am hoping we can do a bit more research into this, I believe that we’ll need to take care of something first,” Celestia noted, motioning to the shy black/purple dragoness-wearing a purple tee and hip-hugging jeans that Rarity had fashioned for her-nearby, keeping away from the others and staying near Spyro at the same time.

“Indeed,” Ignitus nodded before looking at Cynder and Drobot, “Cynder, Drobot, ever since I failed the night of the raid, I've dreamed of this day.”

“It wasn't just you, Ignitus. We all failed,” Volteer argued.

“Be that as it may…we're together again now…thanks to Spyro and the Elements of Harmony,” Ignitus informed before turning to the seven, “Well done, young dragon, little ponies.”

“Thanks, Ignitus, but we still don't know what's happened to the Dark Master…” Twilight noted.

“No matter, Twilight Sparkle. There will be time to talk of the Dark Master later,” Terrador assured, “Now it's time to be grateful for your success. And to enjoy the delicious feast of sweets.”

“'Their success?' What about me?” Sparx demanded as Terrador munched on a platter of cupcakes colored to resemble his scales, “Just because a bunch of weird stuff doesn't come flying out of my mouth, got a pair of horns, or a good fighter, doesn't mean that I didn't help, ya know!”

“You were a big help, Sparx,” Spyro chuckled.

“No doubt about it,” Twilight giggled.

“But just for the record…a lot of weird stuff does come out of that little mouth of yours,” Rainbow smirked.

“And what the heck is that supposed to mean? You know, I don't need this. I could have stayed with the Llama people, whatever, where I was appreciated, but no,” Sparx shook his head, “No. I decided to help the poor helpless dragons rid the world of evil. What a mistake that was because I get no thanks, no respect, no love, no credit…”

“My goodness…and I thought Volteer talked a lot,” Ignitus exclaimed, causing the Lightning Dragon Master to look away sheepishly with a blush, pausing from his slice of Volteer-colored cake that Pinkie Pie had baked.

“I left home too, you know. I’m a little guy. Yeah, that’s right. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but things are a lot bigger to me than they are to you. And did I back away? Nah, nah, nah. Why? Because I've got moxy, I'm a tough cookie, I've got class…I've got fro…” he paused in his rant to cough, “I got a little frog in my throat…As I was saying, on Tall Plains they knew a good thing when they saw it. They recognized the value of a quality dragonfly like me…but here I get nothing... not even a ‘Thanks, hey, how are ya doing, good, let me buy you a drink.’”

“I’m really going to love this assignment you’ve given me, Princess Celestia,” Twilight giggled as she and Celestia watched Sparx rant.

“True. But I also have a secondary task for both you and your new friends; find the other three Dragons I was able to save with that spell,” Celestia ordered, earning a nod from Twilight in return.

“I should go back to the swamp…Mom’ll make it all good…” Sparx sniffled, “Mommy always does.”

Nearby, Spyro just look out in the distance with Cynder. Luna walked over to the two.

“Dost thou see anything, young one?” Luna asked.

“No, but I've got a bad feeling,” Spyro admitted.

“Me too,” Cynder agreed.

Luna nodded, “But still, Spyro, what thou has told Us about the slots, it seems that without the Elements of Harmony there, the Dark Master hasn’t been freed.” She put a wing on Cynder’s form, “As for thee, We wish to do something for thee. Since Our sister took in Spyro, We wish to take thou in as Our Daughter.”

“Y…You would?” Cynder blinked in surprise.

“Yes,” Luna nodded, “We know that pain of being enslaved by the Dark Master feels. It is…dark, dreadful…there is just so much to it that We are unable to list them all. We wish to be there for thee.”

“I…I would like that,” Cynder nodded.

To all the tribes outside of Equestria affected by the Dark Armies,

It is with great pride in informing you all that the Dark Master’s head mistress, Cynder, has been defeated by thanks of the legendary Purple Dragon, Spyro, and the Elements of Harmony. For those of you who fear the Dark Armies will still befall a cruel fate upon you, Equestria wishes to extend a branch to you all and invite you to stay in our land until the Dark Armies have been defeated completely.

With warm regards,
Princesses Celestia and Luna
Rulers of Equestria
Allies of the Dragons

The Ticketmaster

“Thank again fer th’ help, Twi, Spy,” Applejack thanked as the trio walked along a dirt path in Sweet Apple Acres, all three carrying baskets, “Ah bet wit’ Big Macintosh that if’n ah could bring all these here apples in by lunchtime, he’d have t’ walk through town wearin’ Granny’s Girdle.”

“And what did you bet if you lost?” Sparx asked, poking his head out of Twilight’s basket.

“Ah’d walk ‘bout town plot naked fer th’ day,” Applejack replied, earning a wolf whistle from the dragonfly, “Now ah know y’all jest didn’t whistle at that!”

“What? It’s the dream of every guy in the world to see a naked chick in public,” Sparx argued.

“…If’n ah didn’t have five baskets in both mah arms, ah’d buck you clear over Canterlot,” Applejack frowned.

“Twilight beat you to it,” Spyro chuckled as he earned a glare from Sparx and a heavy blush from Twilight, “It was a few years back and I was chasing Sparx. He ended up in Twilight’s private bathroom when she was taking a shower.” Spyro began to laugh until a Magic-coated apple was shoved into his mouth.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Twilight spoke quickly.

“Oh come on~! I’m starving here because I missed my butterfly snack time!” Sparx groaned before going back into the basket.

“Ah still feel sorry fer Fluttershy when she learned that,” Applejack noted, recalling how the Pegasus had fainted into Rainbow Dash’s arms when she learned that Sparx’s main diet was sweets and butterflies.

“Same here. You just can’t feel guilt like making such a shy girl like her faint,” Sparx noted.

“Then why did you b-urp!” Spyro gave a small belch that release small wisps of green flames that quickly formed into a scroll, “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, Spyro,” Twilight replied as she caught the scroll, letting her magic carry the baskets she had, “Hmmm…‘Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce The Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of Julneigh of the 1001 year of the Equestrian Calendar. This event shall be one of utmost importance for it will have all three Royal Alicorns and the children of Princesses Celestia and Luna of Equestria, as important guests of honor. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, cordially extends an invitation to Twilight Sparkle plus one guest?!’”

"Oh no..." Spyro gulped as Twilight and Applejack gasped.

“The Grand Galloping Gala!” the two Mares squealed in excitement.

“This thing again?! Ugh! Every year this thing happens and it’s filled with snooty rich Ponies and kiss-ups!” Sparx groaned before Spyro hiccupped more of the green flames to reveal a pair of gold tickets.

“Look, two tickets,” Spyro quickly caught them.

“Wow, great! I’ve never been to the gala. Have you, Spyro?” Twilight asked.

“Each one when I was old enough,” Spyro sighed in annoyance, “I’ve been lucky because Mom always hid me under an illusion spell to be a Pegasus.”

“Aw, come on Spyro. A dance would be nice,” Twilight encouraged.

“True. I’ve always shared a dance with Mom or Cousin Candace at each one, but…”

“Nice? Twi, it’s a heap good more than jest nice! Ah’d love t’ go if’n ah could have that there ticket,” Applejack noted.

“Really? Why would you want to go?” Sparx asked, poking his head out of a basket.

“Land sakes, if’n ah had an apple stand set up, Ponies would be chowin’ our tasty vittles till th’ cows came home. Do y’all have any idea how much business ah could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that there money, we could do a heap o’ fixin’ up ‘round here. We could replace that saggy ol’ roof,” Applejack pointed at her home’s roof with a few boards nailed onto small holes in it before pointing at a somewhat intact plow, “Replace mah brother’s saggy ol’ plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy ol’ hip o’ hers.”

“That’s what I’d like to hear from others,” Spyro smiled a little at that, “You want to help your family a lot, but you shouldn’t put all your hopes up on a single eve…”

“Whoa!” a cyan blur landed in the middle of the three with Spyro barely able to catch the tossed baskets Twilight had sent with his tail, “Ugh…” Rainbow Dash shook her head as she stood up, “Are we talking about the Grand Galloping Gala?”

“Rainbow Dash, ah thought you told me that y’all were too busy t’ help me harvest these apples. What were you busy doin’, spyin’ on us?” Applejack frowned as Spyro began to block them out while grabbing the baskets Applejack had.

“Why are we doing this?” Sparx asked.

“So I don’t have to hear how embarrassed Applejack was over walking through town naked later,” Spyro replied, “She’s a friend, Sparx, and I don’t want something like that to happen.”

“I do.”

“Pervert.”

“Hey. I love the female body, okay?” Sparx assured before flying away after Spyro glared at him, “Okay. Okay! I’m leaving.”

He flew over to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack butting head with each other. He could swear that the background was having a battle of the land and lightning as sparks came off each others’ eyes. Luckily, Twilight pushed them apart to the best of her abilities.

“Girls, these are my tickets, so I will decide who gets the second ticket, thank you very much,” Twilight frowned as she looked at the two, “Now whoever has the best reason to go should get the ticket, don’t you think?”

“Drummin' up business fer th’ farm?”

“A chance to audition for The Wonderbolts?”

“Money t' fix granny's hip.”

“Living the dream!”

“Oh my, th…those were all pretty good reasons, aren't they?” Twilight blinked, now starting to feel a pit in her stomach until it rumbled, causing her to sheepishly chuckle, “Listen to that, I am starving. I don't know about you, but I can't make important decisions on an empty stomach, so I'll…uh…think about it over lunch and get back to you two, okay?”

“Okay,” both replied before Twilight raced off, letting the two jump back from each other with narrowed eyes.

“…Was that the sound of an explosion just now?” Spyro asked, looking at an open window and pausing from helping a large eight foot Stallion with brown/orange hair and tail, an apple-red coat, and a cut open green apple as his Cutie Mark on his left hand…wearing a girdle and work jeans and cowboy boots.

“Eeyup,” the Stallion replied.

“…You think we should do something, Big Macintosh?”

“Nope. Jest wanna do this here job quickly seein’ how ah lost th’ bet,” Big Macintosh replied.

“Riiight,” Spyro nodded, giving a small smirk as he secretly patted a camera in his left pants pocket.

“So, who you gonna give the ticket to, Twilight?”

“Gah!” Twilight turned around to see Sparx flying behind her, “One; don’t do that. And two; I don't know, Sparx, but I really can't think straight when I'm hungry, so where should we eat?”

“Well, why not the butterfly garden?”

“…Let me correct it; where do you think I should go to eat?” Twilight asked before a door open and Pinkie Pie crashed into her.

“Sorry about that,” Boomer apologized as he poked his head out, “She tried to tackle me into a tickle attack and I ducked.”

“Gah! Bats!” Pinkie Pie screamed as she jumped up, the tickets on her nose, “Bats on my face! Help!” Sparx pulled the tickets off and Pinkie Pie gasped when she saw them, “Wait, these aren't…tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?!”

“The Grand Walloping Halo?” Boomer scratched his head in confusion.

“It's the most amazing incredible tremendous super-fun wonderful terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I've always always always wanted to go!” Pinkie Pie cheered before she began to sing.
[Pinkie Pie]
Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me
Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me
Hip hip
Hooray!
It's the best place for me
For Pinkie...

“…I’m strangely getting used to these spontaneous moments of song she has,” Boomer chuckled.

“With decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!” Pinkie Pie excitedly spoke/listed thing off before resuming her song.
[Pinkie Pie]
Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me
Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me
'Cause it's the most galarrific superly-terrific gala ever
In the whole galaxy
Wheee!!

Pinkie Pie began to bounce around in joy, “Oh thank you Twilight, it's the most wonderful-est gift ever!”

“Um, actually…” Twilight began.

“Pinks, I don’t think that…” Boomer tried to say before the two heard a gasp.

“Are these what I think they are?” Rarity asked as Sparx drooled at seeing the white unicorn, the dragonfly still holding the tickets.

“Uh…” Twilight gulped.

“I see where this is going…” Boomer began to grin deviously as he pulled out a camera designed to resemble a stick of dynamite mixed with a cartoon bomb, “…and I am loving it.”

“Yes, yes, yes! Twilight's taking me to The Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!” Pinkie Pie replied for Twilight.

“The gala?! I design ensembles for the gala every year, but I've never had the opportunity to attend,” Rarity admitted, assuming an enticing position, “Oh, the society, the culture, the glamor! It's where I truly belong, and where I'm destined to meet...him.”

“Him! …Who?” Pinkie Pie pondered.

“What now?” Sparx’s eye twitched.

“Him,” Rarity swooned, “I would stroll through the gala, and everyone would wonder, ‘Who is that mysterious mare?’ They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville.”

‘That is actually true…’ Twilight thought with a sweatdrop.

“Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself, and the princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew: the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot,” Sparx gagged a bit with Twilight, both knowing Celestia's nephew, “Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt. Our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say, ‘Yes!’ We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is…” she paused to giggle, “…what I would become upon marrying him, the stallion of my dreams. Twilight, I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she can... party, and prevent me from meeting my true love. How could you? Hmph.”

Sparx fell over, laughing up a storm. He knew exactly who she was wanting. Sure, he liked the Unicorn and all, but even he knew that he could not resist laughing at her for the idea. It was then a little white bunny Sparx’s size zipped by, stealing the tickets.

“Hey! Get back here with Rarity’s ticket!” Sparx snapped as the bunny jumped into Fluttershy’s arms and showed her what it got.

“Angel, these are perfect,” Fluttershy gasped softly while Drobot looked over her shoulder to examine them.

“Oh boy…” Sparx paled.

“Uh, listen guys, I haven't decided who to give the extra ticket to,” Twilight admitted.

“You haven't?” Rarity and Pinkie Pie gasped, one in excitement and the other in shock.

“Um, excuse me, Twilight. I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be alright, if you haven't given it to someone else…” Fluttershy bashfully and shyly began to hide into her hair.

=Ms. Fluttershy wishes for you to let her accompany you to the Grand Galloping Gala, Ms. Sparkle= Drobot said for her, earning a nod from the Pegasus.

“You? You want to go to the gala?” Rarity asked, her interest piqued, “You wish to endure so many Ponies all at once?”

“Oh, no. I mean, yes, or, actually…kind of,” Fluttershy admitted, “You see, it's not so much The Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance.”

“Oh yeah. That’s the best part of the place. An all you can eat butterfly café,” Sparx licked his lips in delight until Twilight slapped him on the back of his head with a bit of magic.

“The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom…and that's just the flora!” Fluttershy’s eyes began to twinkle as she began to float in the air while hugging the rabbit to her large bosom, “Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!”

“Gee, Fluttershy, it sounds…beautiful?” Twilight raised a brow as she glanced at the now-hovering, joy-filled shy Pegasus as said-Pegasus was nuzzling the rabbit's head.

“Wait just a minute!” the group looked up to see Rainbow Dash land, her feathers ruffled up while dirt and bits of mud on her fell off on the landing.

“Rainbow Dash, were you following me?” Twilight demanded, putting her hands on her hips in frustration.

“No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter,” she poked Twilight in the left breast, “I couldn't risk a goody-two-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anypony.”

“Wait jest another minute,” Applejack frowned as she walked over with Spyro.

“Applejack, were you following me too?” Twilight frowned.

“No. I was followin' this one t’ make sure she didn't try any funny business with th’ ticket,” Applejack replied as she pointed at Rainbow Dash before flinching as small sparks came off her.

“That and who’s coming around the corner. Boomer, got the camera ready?” Spyro snickered.

“You bet!” Boomer replied as he tossed a folding chair made of explosives out and sat in it while munching popcorn.

Rarity was about to say something when Drobot stopped her with a raised cyborg hand. He then pointed at Big Macintosh, walking by wearing the girdle.

“Mares,” Big Macintosh greeted as he walked by, giving a tiny glare at the laughing Boomer and Sparx.

“…Was that…?” Applejack began.

“You’re welcome,” Spyro frowned.

“Ah see…Thank ya kindly fer helpin’ me win th’ bet,” Applejack nodded before glaring at Rainbow, “Still tryin’ t’ take mah ticket.”

“Your ticket?” Rainbow scowled.

“But Twilight's taking me!” Pinkie Pie argued before all five Mares that were friends with Twilight began to argue loudly (or softly, in Fluttershy’s case).

“…Drobot, can you get some mud?” Sparx asked.

=Negative, Sparx=

“Aw, come on~!” Boomer whined.

=Cease your whines, salivating nimrod of explosives=

“…What?” Boomer blinked.

=As they say, ‘Idiots says what?’=

“…What?” Boomer blinked before realizing what he just said, “Hey!”

“QUIET!!!!” the males all turned to the screaming Twilight.

“And then I said, ‘Oatmeal, are you craz…’” Pinkie Pie stopped when she saw the others had shut up, “…oh.”

“Girls, there's no use in arguing,” Twilight frowned as she took the tickets and put them into her skirt’s pocket.

“But Twilight…” Rarity began before the lavender unicorn held up a finger.

“Eh! This is my decision, and I'm gonna make it on my own, and I certainly can't think straight with all this noise…” she paused as her stomach went off, “…not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo.”

Four of the Mares grumbled as they went off. Fluttershy nodded before slowly walking off, Drobot following her.

“And don't worry, I'll figure this out…somehow,” Twilight added.

Twilight Sparkle sighed as she sat in a seat at a mushroom-shaped table with Sparx, Spyro, and Boomer, “What am I gonna do? All five of my best friends have really good reasons to go to the gala.” She began to use her magic on one of the flowers the waiter had set up for an appetizer, “Applejack, or Rainbow Dash? Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy, Rarity…Oh, who should go with me?”

Her stomach went off once more. She proceeded to lick up the petals. The three males looked at each other.

“I say you blow up the other ticket,” Boomer offered.

“Is it always blowing things up with you?” Sparx asked.

“Nah. Sometimes it’s about thinking up new things that can blow up,” Boomer smirked proudly.

“…So if you had a key to a gate before you…?” Sparx began.

“You blow it up!”

“…A pie needs to cool down…” Sparx began once more.

“Blow it up!”

“Have you made your decision?” a waiter asked as he walked over.

“I CAN'T DECIDE!!” Twilight screamed.

“…And that’s another way to ‘Blow It Up,’” Boomer smirked, “Yeah, I’ll take some of the Hay-Fries. Those things are just delicious! Remind me to thank Pinkie Pie later.”

“Twilight, he just wants to take your order,” Sparx rolled his eyes, “Yeah, I’ll take some of those as well.”

“Just some hay fries, a tofu-burger with extra cheese, and a vanilla milkshake,” Spyro replied.

“Oh. I would love a daffodil and daisy sandwich,” Twilight informed before turning to the dragonfly as the waiter left with their orders, “What do you think, Sparx?”

“I think we have to try another restaurant. I mean, I like grass just fine, but would it hurt anybody to offer some butterflies?” Sparx asked.

“I mean about the gala and the ticket and who I should take,” Twilight frowned.

“You're still on that?” Boomer asked in disbelief, “Just blow it up!”

“Guys, listen! How do I choose? And when I do choose, will the other four be mad at me? I mean, I could give up my ticket and give away two, but that would still leave three disappointed ponies. What if I…”

“Twilight, if you go with the two, I’d go with just Fluttershy and Applejack,” Spyro noted, “I managed to hear Fluttershy’s reason and, along with Applejack, their reasons are just selfless or innocent. Rarity and Rainbow just want attention while Pinkie Pie...she just wants to party and the normal musician for it has all but refused to perform near Ponyville and I think it's because of Pinkie Pie.”

“Ah, your food,” the waiter informed as he placed the plates of food onto the table.

“Oh thank you,” Twilight nodded as the others began to quickly eat their own meals, “This looks so good. I'm sure everything will be much clearer once I eat.”

She began to levitate the sandwich up to her lips. She was about to take a bite when a group of Mares ran by, their forms soaked and their clothes hugging their bodies.

“Em, madam? Are you going to eat your food in ze rain?” the waiter asked as the Mares ran into the restaurant.

“It's not raining,” Twilight blinked before looking out to see all but their area was engulfed in rain, “What's going on?”

“That,” Boomer replied as he pointed at the sky before taking out a bomb and pulled the lighting string on it, causing the ‘bomb’ to pop into a large umbrella.

“Huh?” Spyro looked up with Twilight to see a hole in the storm clouds, revealing Rainbow Dash.

“Hi there best friend forever I've ever ever had. Enjoying the sunny weather?” Rainbow asked.

“Rainbow Dash, what are you doing?” Twilight frowned.

“Whaddya you mean? I just saw the smartest, most generous pony about to get rained on, so I thought I'd kick a hole in the clouds to keep her dry so she could dine in peace, that's all."

“…Rainbow, you're not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing me extra special favors, are you?” Twilight asked as Spyro and Sparx slowly hid under Boomer’s oversized umbrella with him as they continued to eat.

“Me? No no no, of course not,” Rainbow replied.

“That sounds like denial,” Sparx replied.

“Uh-huh,” Twilight deadpanned.

“Seriously, I'd do it for any pony,” Rainbow Dash replied before Twilight pointed at Big Macintosh walking by, the girdle sticking to him, “Heh heh, eh.”

“…Now it’s just creepy,” Boomer and Sparx shuddered.

“Rainbow, I am not comfortable accepting unwanted favors, so I'd appreciate it if you close up that rain cloud right now,” Twilight frowned.

“Uh, Twilight? You sure that’s a…” Sparx began.

“Ugh, fine,” Rainbow snorted before she grabbed a cloud behind her and covered the hole.

“That's better,” Twilight smirked before using magic on her sandwich once more…only to get soaked and her sandwich ruined.

“Sucks to be you right now,” Sparx snickered.

“Twilight, it's raining,” Rarity noted as she walked over, holding an elegant umbrella fir for two.

“No, really?” Twilight asked with heavy sarcasm.

“Come with me before you catch a cold,” Rarity ordered before taking the Unicorn by the hand and dragged her off.

“We’ll see you later, Boomer,” Spyro waved as he and Sparx gave chase, the dragon using his wings as an umbrella.

“See ya, buds!” Boomer waved.

Twilight Sparkle shook her head of the remaining water from the bath before seeing she ended up soaking Rarity, “Heh heh, oops, sorry.”

“Oh no, it's quite alright. After all, we are…” Rarity assured before nuzzling her fellow Unicorn, “…the best of friends, are we not? And you know what the best of friends do?”

“Uh…” Twilight began as Sparx and Spyro began to slowly back away.

“Makeovers~!” Rarity almost sang.

“Oh no,” both boys paled as Rarity used her Magic to pull a screen wall over to her and Twilight.

“Ugh, Rarity-ow!-this really isn't fixing it. I mean, thank you but, ooh, that's too tight! Eek!”

“There,” Rarity moved the wall away, revealing Twilight was in an elegant, tightly-fitting dress, “Oh, you're simply darling!”

“Uh, yeah, it is kinda pretty, isn't it?” Twilight admitted, ‘But it’s tighter than anything I’ve worn before…’

“And you two,” Rarity turned to Spyro and the snickering Sparx, “Oh Spyro, Sparx, I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing gents.”

“Oh no,” both paled as the sliding wall was pulled back in.

“D-ah, ow!” Sparx yelped.

“Oh, hey, wow!” Spyro yelped.

“Watch it, whoa!” both screamed.

The sliding wall was pulled away to reveal Spyro in a formal black suit with a soft violet button shirt under his black jacket and a red tie. Sparx…was dressed up as a stereotypical Dutch child.

“Oh, Sparx,” Twilight giggled as Rarity put a Dutch boy’s hat on Sparx’s head, fitted to his size.

“Now you just need a hat,” Rarity nodded before putting a fedora on Spyro’s head.

“I like it,” Spyro admitted as he looked at himself in a mirror, “Hmm…You think I could buy this for the Grand Galloping Gala?”

“Ugh! See you back at the library. I need to get out of this before Boomer or Mecha-Head spy me in...in this,” Sparx shuddered as he flew out before Spyro followed, pulling out an umbrella he had bought on the way to Carousel Boutique.

“Oh, who needs him anyway?” Rarity giggled before turning to Twilight, “This is all about you, and how fabulous you'll look at The Grand Galloping Gala.”

Twilight Sparkle was about to agree when her head processed the last words, “Wait, The Grand…”

Rarity’s gasp interrupted her, “And oh, my goodness, what a coincidence. I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matches yours to a T. We would be the belles of the ball, you and I. Everyone would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and then everyone would finally know, the most beautiful, most talented, most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the Unicorn!” she froze as she noticed the tick developing in Twilight’s left eye, “Ah, and Twilight Sparkle, of course.”

“I see what's going on. You're just buttering me up so I give you the extra ticket. Well it's not gonna work,” Twilight frowned as she used her magic to teleport out of the clothes and into her normal attire, “You're going to have to wait for my decision just like everyone else. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've been trying all day just to get some lunch.”

“Did somepony say 'lunch?'” a voice asked as Twilight paled before the door opened, a rope tied her around her waist, and pulled her outside into the now-clear skies.

“You've got to be kidding me!” Twilight groaned in frustration when she saw Applejack was with a cart…filled with apple-themed meals.

“I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple Brown Betty…” Applejack informed as Twilight began to salivate heavily, “Uh, the dessert, not my auntie. What do you say there, best friend?” Twilight’s stomach went off, “Is that a yes?”

Twilight Sparkle’s left eye twitched, “No. No! I don't know who I'm giving the ticket to, and all these favors aren't making it any easier to decide. In fact, I'm less sure now than I was this morning. Ugh!”

“So, that's a maybe?” Applejack called towards the leaving Pony, only to duck the thrown apple pie in her cart by Twilight’s Magic.

“Ugh, I never thought being showered with favors would be so aggravating!” Twilight growled as she walked into the library…only to see Fluttershy humming as she and some birds were cleaning up the library, Spyro in his normal clothes and Sparx sitting on the couch with Drobot in a seat across from them, playing Monopony.

=Request to purchase your land= Drobot requested towards Sparx.

“Fluttershy, not you too?” Twilight sighed.

“Oh, well, hello Twilight. I hope you don't mind, but we're all doing a little spring cleaning for you,” Fluttershy explained as she landed before her.

“It's summer, almost Fall,” Twilight frowned.

“Oh, well, better late than never, right? It was Angel's idea,” Fluttershy motioned to the little bunny from earlier, currently in a chef’s hat and preparing a salad.

“You're not doing this for the ticket, are you?” Twilight asked.

“Oh no, I'm doing this because you're my very best friend. Right Angel?” Fluttershy asked before the rabbit crossed his arms while frowning, “Oh, yes, we are just doing this for the ticket.”

=Sensors indicate Twilight Sparkle’s heartbeat has gained a high increase since last met today= Drobot noted as Angel offered Twilight the salad.

“No, no, no! Well, this was all very nice of you and Angel, but I'm not accepting any extra favors until I've made my final decision, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” Twilight frowned as she used her magic to have Bunny be put into Fluttershy’s arms before opening the door.

“SURPRISE!” Twilight yelped from the multiple voices as she was pulled outside by various Mares.
[Pinkie Pie]
Twilight is my bestest friend
Whoopie, whoopie!

“Pinkie…” Twilight began.
[Pinkie Pie]
She's the cutest, smartest, all around best pony, pony!

“Uh, Pinkie?” Sparx gulped.
[Pinkie Pie]
I bet if I throw a super-duper fun party, party!

“Pinkie!” Spyro yelped as he saw Twilight’s eyes starting to narrow and twitch.
[Pinkie Pie]
She'll give her extra ticket to the Gala to me!

“PIIINKIIIE!!”Twilight screeched.

“Yes, Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the ticket,” Twilight frowned.

“Wait, what ticket? What gala?”

“Oh no…” Sparx paled, “We’re gonna run again, aren’t we?”

“Oh, you didn't know? Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!” Pinkie Pie declared as Drobot facepalmed.

“The Grand Galloping Gala?” the Mares all gasped.

“What are we gonna do?” Sparx gulped as the party began to go into a mob-ish mode for the extra ticket.

“We're…gonna…run!” Twilight screamed before she and Spyro ran away with sparx flying after them.

“We’re gonna die in a party-frenzied stampede!” Sparx cried in fear.
[music]

The trio zipped by Sugarcube Corner. The herd raced by and the three poked their heads out from behind Applejack’s cart. The flower shop nearby opened the upper half of its door to have one of the Mares poke out. The three ran off once more. The herd ran by a couple that had their heads covered in fanciful hats with the Mare of the two pushing a baby carriage. Once the herd had gone by, the ‘couple’ moved their hats up a bit to reveal Spyro and Twilight. In the carriage was Sparx, wearing a bonnet and pacifier.

One of the Mares stopped and pointed out their disguise. The three fled once more and the herd raced over a bridge…unaware of the three hugging onto the underside of it. Spyro wiped a hand over his brow in relief…before realizing he had let go of the bridge and fell into the stream.

The herd raced by a costume shop. Two of the mannequins, actually Twilight and Spyro in costumes wiped their brows in relief. They raced out after getting the costumes off and into the park. The herd zipped by a bench and the two on it lowered their newspaper, revealing Spyro and Twilight in black sunglasses and mustaches. They smirked at each other before Sparx poked his head out of Twilight’s mane, wearing the same mustache and sunglasses. They ran off and skidded to a halt when they realized they were in a dead-end alleyway. The herd grew closer until Twilight quickly teleported them away.

“Where is she?”

“Where did she go?”

“She's disappeared.”

A spark appeared in the center of the library. The spark ‘blew up’ and revealed Twilight, Spyro, and a slightly-burnt Sparx.

“Ugh, warn me next time you're gonna do that,” Sparx groaned.

“I panicked, okay? Now quick, lock the doors!” Twilight ordered.

The trio quickly zipped off to seal the house from all intruders. Sparx even put a board over the toilet and nailed it down to be safe. All three sighed in relief as they planted themselves on the couch.

“…Feel better?” Boomer asked.

“Much,” Twilight replied.

=That is good to hear= Drobot nodded, pausing from his cup of tea =Though you do realize that you have now sealed yourself away with the five who started this all, correct?=

“Yes, I see them,” Twilight replied as she looked at the stairs to see all five of her friends there.

“…” nothing happened for a few moments as Boomer held up one of his four-fingered hand and counted down to 'one.'

“Yaaaargh!” Twilight’s scream echoed all over the treehouse and broke a few glass objects/mirrors in a twenty yard radius of said treehouse as she collapsed to her knees in frustration, “I can't decide! I just can't decide. It's important to all of you and I just can't stand to disappoint any of you, and giving me gifts and doing me favors won't make any difference, because you're all my friends and I wanna make you all happy and I can't, I just can't!”

Applejack looked down in shame as she saw Twilight was almost in tears before walking over and gently hugged her, “Twilight, sugar, Ah didn't mean t' put so much pressure on you, and if'n it helps, Ah don't want the ticket anymore. Y'all can give it t' somepony else," she hugged Twilight slightly tighter, "Ah won't feel bad, Ah promise.”

“Me too. I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful,” Fluttershy added as she gently flew over to hug her as well.

“And me too! It's no fun upsetting your friends,” Pinkie Pie bounced over.

“Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did,” Rarity added.

“Yes! That means the ticket is mine!” Rainbow Dash cheered before ducking the paint-bomb that Boomer threw at her, turning the ceiling pink in color, “Uh, I mean…you know, I haven't perfected my signature moves for The Wonderbolts anyway. I don't need that ticket either. Eh-heh-heh.”

=Riiiight…= Drobot rolled his organic eye.

“We all got so gun-ho ‘bout going to the gala that we couldn't see how un-gun-ho we were makin’ you,” Applejack spoke.

“We're sorry, Twilight,” all five apologized.

“Thanks girls. Sparx, take down a note,” Twilight ordered.

“All ready,” Sparx replied as he flew over to a nearby table and pulled out the quill pen and ink.

“Ahem. ‘Dear Princess Celestia, I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala.’”

“What?!” the girls gasped.

“‘If my friends can't all go, I do not wish to go either.’”

“Twilight, you don't have to do that,” Applejack assured.

“Nope. I've made up my mind. Spyro, you can send the letter now,” Twilight informed before a knock was heard.

“It sees I came at a good time, then,” the group turned to see Ignitus poke his head in through the opened doorway.

“Ignitus!” Spyro beamed.

“Oops. Forgot to lock the door,” Sparx noted as Twilight facepalmed.

“Celestia forgot to add something onto the scroll,” Ignitus explained before the Mares, Troll, Dragonfly, and two Dragons walked outside before Ignitus held his tail to show more gold tickets, “It was supposed to be ‘cordially invites the Elements of Harmony plus one guest each.’”

“Heh-heh. Reminds me of the time that Sparx secretly put a firecracker in one of Mom’s cakes. Spent a few days in a prank war,” Spyro snickered.

“…” Twilight’s eye twitched.

“What?” Sparx asked as he and Spyro began to slowly back away from the angered look Twilight sent at them.

“You two destroyed the books I just got on one of those days!” Twilight growled.

“…That was…” Sparx held back a laugh, “Molestia’s prank, not ours.”

“Sparx, I’m warning you…” Twilight narrowed her eyes.

“That’s a relief,” Fluttershy admitted, “You almost didn’t get to go to the gala either.”

“It's okay girls. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me, so I would rather not go at all,” Twilight admitted, earning a group hug from the Mares.

“It seems you learned an important lesson on Friendship today, young Twilight Sparkle,” Ignitus noted.

“i have indeed, Ignitus,” Twilight replied.

“Good,” Ignitus nodded before giving her the tickets, “Now I need to get back to Canterlot before anyone sees me. The ponies may be used to seeing you and Drobot now, Spyro, but the other Elders and I are still trying to slowly integrate with the society here while your regain your breaths.”

Spyro nodded. It was then Twilight and Ignitus’ stomachs went off.

“…I knew I forgot something before I left to come here…” Ignitus blushed, the blush hidden surprisingly well under his scales.

“Allow us to treat you and Twilight to dinner, then,” Rarity offered.

“What a great way to apologize and thank Ignitus for bringing the tickets,” Rainbow Dash smirked.

“And to celebrate! Come on everyone, the cupcakes are on me,” Pinkie Pie declared.

“Very well, but let’s hope it’s not literal like last time,” Ignitus chuckled.

“Don’t remind me,” Sparx rolled his eyes as Boomer laughed it up.

Author's Note

Well, we never did know if AJ won or not in her bet with Big Mac, so I wanted that to be seen through.

Applebuck Season

Applejack stretched a bit as she walked out of her home. Big Macintosh soon followed her, bandages around his waist. During the little ‘mob’ incident over the Grand Galloping Gala ticket, the herd hadn’t noticed Big Macintosh and ended up bowling right over him. He was a bit relieved that he ended up with just two of his ribs broken and that it wasn’t Apple Cider Season. Big Macintosh frowned a bit as he recalled that his middle sister had to miss it.

He still couldn’t help but wonder just how Pinkie Pie was able to be there, first in line, every single day of Cider Season, though. Shaking that thought off in fear of the way of life for all Ponies ending, he stopped with his sister at the top of a large hill. The two overlooked acre upon acre of apple tree-coated lands.

“I never tire of seein’ this here sight,” Applejack informed with a soft smile.

“Eeyup. Always thankful fer Johnny Appleseed and his gift fer th’ world,” Big Mac agreed.

Applejack nodded as she resumed staring out at the land, giving a long, low whistle, “Boy howdy! Ah got mah work cut out fer me. That there is th’ biggest bumper crop o' apples Ah ever laid eyes on.”

“Eeyup. Too big for you to handle on your own,” Applejack’s eye twitched at Big Macintosh’s comment.

“Come on, big brother! You need t’ rest up and git yerself better. Ah haven't met an apple orchard yet that Ah can't handle!” Applejack assured as she gave a ‘love punch’ to Big Mac’s side, causing him to hiss in pain, “Oops, sorry. Ah'll take a bite out of this job by day's end.”

“Biting off more than you can chew is just what I'm afraid of,” Big Macintosh noted before she got in his face with a deadly glare.

“Are you sayin' mah mouth is makin' promises mah legs can't keep?” Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes as Big Macintosh swore he heard a dog growling in unison.

“…Eeyup,” Big Mac replied before gulping as Applejack stomped the ground and a rock nearby was sent flying into the air by a pillar of land that followed almost immediately upon her foot’s impact with the ground.

“Why of all the…! This is yer sister Applejack, remember? The loyalest of friends and the most dependable of ponies?!” Applejack demanded.

“But still only one pony, and one pony plus hundreds o' apple trees just doesn't add up to…” he paused as Applejack did the motion once more and another rock went into the air.

“Don't you use yer fancy mathematics to muddle th’ issue! Ah said Ah could handle this harvest and Ah'm gonna prove it to you! I'm gonna get every last apple out of those trees this Applebuck Season all by mahself!” Applejack snapped before turning to the trees and walked down to them, “Well I better get kickin'. These here apples aren't gonna shake themselves outta th’ trees.”

It was quiet that morning in Ponyville. The Pegasi were moving away the clouds from a light drizzle they had scheduled last night. The Ponies were setting up stalls on Market Street as Twilight and Spyro were opening up the library after Sparx and Spyro had to endure Twilight’s five lists for that morning. Boomer walked out from a door the Princesses has made to let him stay at the Dragon Palace but come visit Ponyville near Sugarcube Corner, smacking his lips while scratching his rear. He bent down and picked up his morning newspaper, careful to not spill his coffee. As he began to turn back to his door, the ground rumbled. Up above, Rainbow Dash was reclining on a cloud for a morning nap when her left ear twitched. She looked over her cloud and paled.

“STAMPEDE!” the cyan Pegasus screamed.

“Oh shit!” Boomer screamed, tossing his coffee and paper into the air as he ran back into his door and locking it…before unlocking it, hanging a sign reading ‘Do Not Stampede’ and then closed and locked it.

All around, the Ponies began to panic. Many screamed ‘Stampede’ as they began to hide in their homes or under things. Outside of Ponyville, a large herd of cows were running, all with panicked expressions. Pinkie Pie just laughed as she bounced around.

“He-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ey…!” Pinkie reverberated, “Thi-i-i-i-is ma-a-a-ake-e-e-es my vo-o-o-o-ice sou-u-u-u-u-und sil-l-l-l-lly!”

“Pinkie Pie, are you crazy?! Run!” Twilight snapped as she managed to grab the pinky pony and stop her bouncing.

“Everypony calm down!” Ms. Mayor ordered, “There is no need to panic!”

“But Mayor, whatever shall we do?” Rarity asked as Rainbow looked to the distance the stampede was coming from.

“Look there!” Rainbow called out.

In the distance, coming up on both sides of the stampede, was Applejack and a auburn and white-furred dog wearing a red scarf.

“YEEHAW!” Applejack cried out, “Move aside, Winona. Put 'em up, girl!”

The dog barked twice in confirmation. When the cattle would try to move away, Winona would make sure they stayed in line with a few sharp barks at them. Near the entrance of Ponyville for the stampede, Rarity nearly fainted as Pinkie Pie was munching on some cupcake-like popcorn. Sparx rested in her hair, munching on one of the kernels.

“This is the best rodeo show I've ever seen,” Pinkie Pie beamed.

“Nah. I’ve seen the Rodeo at Canterlot at times. One of the contestants I saw would’ve already stopped the stampede by now,” Sparx shrugged, “But still, this is pretty close up there.”

“Come on, little doggies! Turn!” Applejack whistled, “Winona, put 'em up!” Applejack stomped the ground and made a swinging motion that cause a curved part of land to rise up before them as Winona herded them towards it, “Ha hah! Gotcha.” Winona barked at the cows as they started to slow down from the wall that had appeared before them, “Attagirl. Yee haw!”

“She did it!” Sparx whooped as the Ponies that were still out began to cheer.

“Hooie. Now what was that all about, Daisy Jo?” Applejack asked a cow with a bonnet on her head.

The cow mooed before coughing a little, clearing her throat, “Oh my! Begging your pardon, Applejack, but Mooriella here saw one of those nasty snakes…” the cows all shuddered a bit, “And it just gave us all the willies, don'tcha know.”

“Ah completely understand. Just next time, try an’ steer clear of Ponyville, okay?”

“We certainly will, Applejack. So long, Winona!” Daisy Jo nodded as the cows began to leave, letting Applejack lower the wall she made…only to end up being tossed up and down by a large group of ponies, chanting her name.

“Yee haw! Ride 'em, cowpony!” Pinkie Pie cheered as the Mayor walked over.

“Applejack was just…just…” the Mayor couldn’t think of a word.

“Appletastic!” Pinkie Pie supplied.

“Exactly. We must do something to thank Applejack for single-hoofedly saving the town,” the Mayor noted as she took her spectacles off the clean them.

“I know!” Pinkie Pie beamed.

“A party!” Pinkie Pie cheered as Boomer threw a few fireworks into the air above the decorated City Hall, “Nice fireworks.”

“Hey, they go ‘BOOM!’ and I’ll love ‘em!” Boomer smirked.

“We all ready?” Twilight asked as she stood at the podium with a pile of cards set up beside her.

“Just one last thing,” Rarity replied before quickly setting up Twilight’s hair into a bun, “Now we're ready.”

Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes before turning to the flying in Rainbow, “Is Applejack all set?”

“Actually, I haven't seen her all week,” Rainbow replied sheepishly.

“Not since the stampede,” Pinkie Pie added.

“But she'll be here for sure. Applejack is never late,” Rainbow Dash assured.

“What about the time you told me about her being late for swimming with you?” Sparx asked.

“I rescheduled it for the next day, so she was early,” Rainbow shrugged, causing Sparx to roll his eyes.

=Speakers are operational= Drobot informed, earning a nod from the lavender unicorn.

“Thank you, Drobot,” Twilight nodded as she turned to the crowd that had formed, “Welcome everypony! Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small. A pony whose contributions to…”

Rainbow Dash interrupted her, “Did you see Applejack's slick moves out there? What an athlete. This week she's gonna help me with my new flying trick, and I know it's gonna be so awesome.”

“Exactly,” Twilight agreed as she used her magic to push Rainbow away, “And…”

“This week, I get to run Sugarcube Corner for the first time,” Pinkie Pie informed, causing Twilight to look at her.

“What does that have to do with Applejack?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie was silent for a few moments before her eyes widened, “Oh! Applejack, one of the best bakers ever, is gonna help me. Applejack makes everything great, so free samples for everypony!”

The crowd cheered for that as Spyro pulled Pinkie Pie away with a hook cane, letting Twilight continue, “Oh-kay, that's great. Now if I could just make a point without being inter…”

“Twilight?”

“…rupted,” Twilight slumped as she motioned for Fluttershy to say what she wanted to say.

“Twilight, I'm so sorry, but I just wanted to mention that Applejack is also helping me and Mr. Drobot this week with the official bunny census, where we count up all the new baby bunnies that were born this season. She's gonna help gather them using her wonderful herding skills while Drobot helps me count them,” Fluttershy informed, the microphone barely amplifying her voice before Drobot calmly escorted her off the stage.

“Anyone else? Anyone?” Twilight looked around for anymore interruptions to her speech, “…No? Well then, as I was trying to say…” she glanced at the Mayor, who had just cleared her throat, “Urgh!” Twilight tossed her cards into the air in frustration, “Never mind.”

“Wow. Talk about a bad day, huh?” Sparx snickered until Twilight glared at him as the mayor got onto the podium once she stomped off.

“Ah-ahem. And so, with no further ado, it is my privilege to give the prize, Pony of Ponyville Award, to our beloved guest of honor, a pony of the utmost trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity. Ponyville's most capable and dependable friend: Applejack!” the Mayor declared.

The crowd began to cheer out loud. However, a few minutes passed and Applejack wasn't there. Soon, a silence followed with the mayor giving a small cough.

“…Awkward,” Boomer whispered to Spyro, who merely nodded in agreement.

“Ah'm here. Ah'm here!” a familiar voice yawned, “Sorry Ah'm late--whoa--I was just… whoa…Did Ah get yer tail?”

The crowd began to part in the middle to let Applejack approach, a basket of apples strapped to her back. Her hat was askew with her hair slightly frazzled along with her clothes messy. Thankfully, she had put on a baggy shirt under her plaid button shirt since said shirt hadn’t been tied up as normal. There were a few bags under her eyes that Twilight noticed as she walked up to the stand.

“Miss Mayor. Thank ya kindly fer this here…award thingy,” Applejack paused to yawn before looking over at the large trophy on a table on the stand next to the podium, “It's so bright and shiny and, heh, heh heh, I sure do look funny heh.”

“Okay…” Twilight blinked slowly, “Well, thank you Applejack for saving us from that scary stampede, and always being there for everypony.”

“Yeah. Ah like helpin’ th’ ponyfolks and…” Applejack yawned again, “…and stuff.” She snored a little as she started to fall asleep until Sparx poked her in the side, “Oh, uh, yeah! Uh, Thanks.”

She picked up the trophy and began to walk off. She stumbled a bit halfway through the crowd before continuing on. Slowly, the crowd began to disperse, leaving just the main group.

“Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little…” Twilight began.

“Tired?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Not been on the snooze train all week?” Sparx offered.

“Dizzy?” Fluttershy guessed.

“Messy?” everyone gave Rarity a look, “Well, did you see her mane?”

“She seemed fine to me,” Pinkie Pie replied as Boomer nodded.

=I performed a quick scan and sensors indicate a lack of sleep and minute signs of exhaustion forming= Drobot informed.

“Hmm…” Twilight tapped her chin in thought, “Drobot, come with me.”

=Affirmative=

Applejack grunted as she kicked a tree. The apples on it trembled before falling into buckets around her. She walked over to another tree and kicked, missing it by a few yards. She yelped as she fell over onto her rear.

“What on Earth is that pony doing?” Twilight frowned as she and Drobot came upon that sight.

“Whoops,” Applejack began to stand up as Twilight and Drobot approached.

“Hey Applejack!”

=Salutations= Drobot greeted before snoring was heard =Scans indicate that subject Applejack is experiencing lowered heart rate. Conclusion: She is asleep=

“No duh,” Twilight sighed before gently shaking her, “Applejack.” The Earth Pony snored, so she shook harder, “Applejack. AppleJACK!”

“Huh?! Who?! What?!” Applejack woke up and looked around before seeing the two, “Oh, howdy Twilight, Drobot.”

“What is all this?” Twilight asked.

“It's Applebuck Season.”

“Applewhat season?” Twilight blinked.

=I have researched this. Applebuck Season is a time that the Apple Family uses to harvest all the apples from their trees in order to sell or convert into baked goods to sell, such as apple fritters, apple pie, and apple dumplings= Drobot explained.

“Y’all are right ‘bout that. It's what the Apple family calls harvestin' time. We gather all th’ apples from th’ trees so we can sell 'em,” Applejack confirmed.

“But why are you doing it all alone?” Twilight asked.

“'cause Big McIntosh hurt himself,” Applejack replied as she began to move to another tree.

“What about all those relatives I've met when I first came to Ponyville? Can't they help?” Twilight asked before her friend sighed.

“They were jest here for th’ Apple Family reunion. They actually live all over Equestria and are busy harvestin' their own orchards. So, uh, Ah'm on my own. Which means, Ah should really get back to work,” Twilight and Drobot didn’t move from her path, “Ahem…hint hint? Get back to work?”

“Fine,” Twilight nodded.

“Could y’all step aside?”

=We just did. Sensors indicate that your lack of resting has resulted in optical capabilities=

“Applejack, you don't look so good,” Twilight noted.

“Eh, don't any of you ten worry none, Ah'm just fine and dandy,” Drobot and Twilight glanced at each other in concern as Applejack attempted to kick a tree five meters from her, “Whoa.”

“Do you…want some help?” Twilight offered, earning a scowl from the Earth manipulator.

“‘Help?’ No way, no how.”

=Calculations are not in your favor if you attempt to perform this enormous task by yourself= Drobot noted.

“Is that a challenge from yer fancy mathematics?” Applejack scowled.

“Umm…no?” Twilight replied.

“Well, Ah'm gonna prove to you both that Ah can do it! Now if’n y’all'll excuse me, Ah've got apples to buck,” Applejack snorted.

Rainbow Dash hammered a nail into place. She flew back from the structure she had been working on. It was a large platform, going a foot above a two-story building. Near it was a seesaw-like contraption. It had a flat part on the side facing the ‘tower’ and a scoop on the other side. She glanced over to see Applejack walking over.

“There you are. You were almost late.”

“Ah'm a might' sorry, Rainbow. Ah was busy applebuckin' and Ah guess ah…Ah closed mah eyes fer a second and, when Ah woke up, Ah was almost late. Now, what's this new trick a' yours?” Applejack asked.

“See this contraption?” Rainbow asked.

“Uh... Yeah,” Applejack replied, seeing twenty of them.

“Well, I'm gonna stand on one end, then you're gonna jump down from that platform, launching me into the air faster than I can take off on my own. Once I'm in the air, I'm gonna do some amazing flips and spins that are sure to impress the Wonderbolts.”

“Isn't that a might' dangerous?” Applejack asked in concern.

“Pfft, Heh, not for a pony who can fly,” Rainbow replied as she fluttered her wings a bit.

“Well, alrighty then,” Applejack nodded.

=Current Status: 14 out of 53 book upon Sleep Deprivation and all things relative to the subject completed= Drobot noted as he flipped through the pages of a book.

“Good job on your end,” Twilight nodded before her left ear twitched, “…Do you hear screaming?”

=Affirmative= Drobot replied.

The screaming grew louder before a crash followed. Drobot blinked his non-robotic eye in bewilderment. All over the place, books had fallen off the shelves, a picture had fallen nearby and hadn’t had its glass cracked, and the chair he was across from now sported an upside-down, slightly injured Rainbow Dash.

“…Can I help you?” Twilight asked between clenched teeth and a twitching eye.

“I think somepony else needs your help,” Rainbow groaned.

“Applejack?”

“Yep,” the Pegasus replied before Drobot began to look over her.

=Status: Minor concussion, 0.00000001centi-inch crack in left femur. Twilight Sparkle, I will escort Rainbow Dash to receive immediate medical treatment=

“Good idea. I’ll handle Applejack.”

“Hold on a minute! No way am I…” Rainbow began before Drobot lifted her up and put her into a fireman’s hold before walking out, “Hey! Stop this right now! Aw buck me!”

“Ow!”

Applejack hissed in pain as she rubbed her head. She looked up to see thirteen low-hanging branches where just one was. She put a finger in her left ear, unable to stop hearing a ringing noise.

“Applejack, can we talk?” Applejack turned to see a few Twilight there as they were becoming just one image, “Applejack, can we talk?”

“Can bees squawk?! Ah don't think so!” Applejack shouted.

“No. Can we talk?” Twilight asked.

“Twenty stalks? Bean or celery?” Applejack called.

“No! I need to talk to you!”

“You need to walk to the zoo? Well, who's stoppin' you?”

“I need to talk to you!”

“Oh! Well why didn't you say so?” Twilight facepalmed at that point, “What you wanna talk about?”

“Rainbow Dash dropped in to see me today!”

“That's quite neighborly of her!”

“Yes, except that she crashed onto my balcony after you launched her into the air!”

“Oh, yeah. Ah wasn't feelin’ quite mahself this morning,” Applejack blushed.

“Because you're working too hard and you need help.”

“What? Kelp? I don't need kelp!” Applejack argued before muttering, “I don't even like seaweed.”

“HELP! You need HELP!” Twilight screamed.

“Nothin' doin', Twilight! Ah'm gonna prove to you, t'everypony, that Ah can do this on mah own. Ow! Now if’n you'll excuse me, Ah've gotta go help Pinkie Pie!”

“Ugh!” Twilight facepalmed before teleporting away.

=It could have been worse= Drobot informed as he sat near the bedridden Rainbow Dash, a bandage wrapped around her head.

“I’m stuck here for the rest of the day and tonight,” Rainbow Dash frowned before Twilight appeared via teleporting.

“She’s stubborn,” Twilight frowned before looking at Rainbow, “Staying here for the night for observations?”

“Yep,” Rainbow scowled.

“Well, at least you have just tonight,” a curtain moved to show Spyro in the other bed with Sparx flying beside him.

“Hey, guys,” Rainbow waved, “Was wondering where you went to yesterday.”

Spyro looked up at Sparx, “Tubby here needed to get his tonsils removed, just like last year. And the year before that. And the years before that, too.”

“Huh?” Rainbow blinked.

“Dragons are able to regenerate any lost organs in roughly a single year,” Twilight explained, “Princess Celestia always had to royal doctor remove his tonsils each year since it causes problems with his breaths.” Spyro nodded, “But Spyro’s gotten used to it now since we get to enjoy some ice cream during the week after his surgery.”

Spyro beamed a bit at that. In Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie paused in instructing the semi-deaf Applejack.

“My Dessert Senses are tingling,” Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes, “The stores will be out of Strawberry, Cookie Dough, and Mint Chocolate Chip for the next week. I must prepare for this nightmare!”

“Anything else, Pinkie?” Applejack called.

“…Cupcakes first, prepare later. One last thing, Applejack. Wheat germ.”

“Wheat worms? Oh, that must be fancy talk for earthworms,” Applejack whispered to herself before she walked outside to dig up a few worms and put them into a bowl as Pinkie Pie was distracted by her preparations for the ice cream shortage.

“I’m sure Rainbow will like to read this series,” Twilight noted as she walked up to the hospital with a book…only to be grabbed by a white-coated, soft bubblegum-colored mane Unicorn nurse.

“Oh thank you, Twilight. We need all the help we can get,” she informed.

“Huh? Wh-What?” Twilight pondered before the nurse pulled her into a room full of green-faced Ponies…and a happily-eating Boomer.

“Oh no!” Twilight gasped as she almost dropped the book in her arms, “What happened, Nurse Redheart?”

“It was a mishap with some of the baked goods.”

“No, not baked goods…” the two turned to a bed nearby to see it was a green-faced Pinkie Pie, “Baked Bads.”

Twilight Sparkle narrowed her eyes, “Applejack.”

“Want one?” Boomer offered a green cupcake with a worm sticking out of it.

“Ugh! Boomer!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Out with those, Mr. Boomer,” Nurse Redheart frowned.

“Okay, okay,” Boomer rolled his eyes before tossing Pinkie Pie a firecracker that popped into a ‘Get Well Soon’ Card for her.

“Aw~…Thanks, Boomer! Ugh…” Pinkie Pie groaned before putting the card to the side so she could grab a trashcan and empty her stomach once more.

Applejack grunted as she back the cart she was strapped to. Unfortunately, she ended up in a ditch and the rocking caused her to start falling asleep. It was the sound of Twilight teleporting in.

“What? Huh?” Applejack looked around, upside-down, before seeing Twilight.

“Applejack, we need to talk,” Twilight frowned.

“Wha, huh? Oh, it's you, Twilight,” she paused to yawn, “Ah know what y’all're gonna say, but th’ answer is still no.”

“Not to upset your applecart, but you need help.”

“Hardy har,” Applejack groaned, “And no Ah don't.”

“Here, let me help,” Twilight offered.

“Help? No thanks,” Applejack grunted as she began to swing, “A little more…” sweat formed on her forehead, “Little…” with a final grunt, she finally got the cart back to position, “There. Ah'll prove that this Apple can handle these apples.” She began to kick a nearby tree, “Come on! Apples! Fall off!”

“AJ, think you're beating a dead…tree,” Twilight deadpanned.

“…Ah knew that…” Applejack blushed.

“Actually Applejack, I had something else to talk to you about. I just came back from Ponyville Urgent Care and…”

“You know, Ah'm a little busy t’ get lectured right now, Twilight.”

“But if you'd just let me help…”

“Ugh. No, no, NO!” Applejack screamed as she stomped the ground and caused the dead tree to get sent flying off, “How many times do Ah gotta say it?! Ah don't need no help from nopony! You got that?!”

She never gave Twilight a chance to respond. She immediately stomped the ground and Twilight screamed as she was sent over the barn by a pillar of earth. Twilight grunted before managing to teleport over her bed, landing in it with the force she was flying at.

“Ugh. That pony is stubborn as a mule!” Twilight growled before hearing a mule neigh outside, making her look out and down to see a mule, “No offense.”

“None taken,” the mule called up before continuing his day.

“Oh Applejack! Thank you so much for offering your herding skills for the annual rabbit round up,” Fluttershy smiled as she flew beside the sleep-deprived Mare and her dog Winona.

“Ugh. Why are we doin' this?”

“Well, lots of new baby bunnies have been born, so it's my job to get a count of all the new families.”

“Fine. Can we just get on with it? Ah need t’ finish th’ harvestin’.”

“Certainly, but remember, these are bunnies we're dealing with, not cows. They're a timid bunch and need to be treated gently.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes at Fluttershy, “Ah do NOT need any direction on corrallin' critters. Right, Winona?”

Winona barked in agreement despite the concerned look on her face. The three soon came upon a large group of bunnies in a field. Some were playing around together, other with a tiny ball Fluttershy had given them before going to get Applejack, and some were just together watching the others.

“Okay, little bunnies! I need you to all gather here in the middle,” Fluttershy gently informed.

“That's right!” Applejack stomped the ground, “Let's go, bunnies. In the center. Hop to it!”

The only response was the bunnies starting to shiver. They were not comfortable with the orange one shouting.

"I’m really sorry that I’ve made you late, Drobot.”

=It is of no concern, Ms. Sparkle. I already informed Ms. Fluttershy that I would be unable to attend to the census for multiple reasons= Drobot replied before both stopped at seeing three Mares on the ground.

“The horror, the horror,” a Mare moaned.

“It was awful,” another shivered.

“A disaster. A horrible, horrible disaster!” a third Mare nearly cried as the two looked around the seemingly-fine Ponyville.

“I don't get it.”

=Scans show no drastic changes= Drobot added.

“Our gardens, destroyed!”

“Every last flower, devoured!”

“By…by…THEM!” the third pointed over at all the bunnies nibbling on the plants on Ponyville as Fluttershy tried to stop them.

“Oh my. Oh…Please stop, little bunnies. Oh no! Please, let's go home. Oh my goodness.”

“Alright. Enough is enough!” Twilight growled as her mane and tail went up in flames with her coat turning cream and her eyes crimson for just a moment.

=…= Drobot slowly backed away from Twilight.

“Must! Keep! Buckin'…” Applejack panted between steps, “Jest! A few! More. Must finish harvestin'…”

She was stopped by a massive wall of flames. Twilight stomped out of them with a dark glare in her eyes.

“Alright, Applejack. Your Applebucking hasn't just caused you problems, it's over-propelled Pegasus', practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushels of brand new bouncing baby bunnies. I don't care what you say, you. Need. Help. And if you say ‘no,’ then I’m burning down the next tree you try to buck!” Twilight growled.

“No AD don't!” Applejack growled before slamming a fist into the tree beside her, sending the apples it had onto the cart behind her, “Look, Ah did it. Ah harvested th’ entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help. How d'ya like them apples?”

Twilight’s eye twitched as her fire wall was put out by Drobot via fire extinguisher in his robotic hand. Big Macintosh walked over and calmly put a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. He nodded to her before walking over to Applejack.

“Um, how do you like them apples?” Big Macintosh asked as he pointed at the entire east field, showing they still had their apples.

“Where'd all the apple…? Ah just...Now Ah'm...” Applejack began to babble a bit before giving a sigh and collapsed in a faint.

“Applejack. Applejack.”

'H-Huh?'

“Come on, now. Don’t you dare let me find out you died from something like seeing a field of apples!”

Slowly, Applejack began to open her eyes. The images were blurred at first, but slowly focused. She was surrounded by her friends, her brother and little sister, her grandmother, and Terrador. Each of them all had concerned looks. The soft feeling she was getting made her realize she was in her bed.

“T-Terrador?” Applejack groaned out.

“Oh thank the Ancestors,” Terrador gave a relieved sigh, “Your brother, sister, and grandmother sent me a message by the Rookie’s breath about you fainting and I panicked. Rush right over to make sure you were fine.”

“It was true. The moment Spyro here sent it, about five minutes later we had a panicking Earth Dragon at the barn,” Sparx confirmed.

“Granny though he was a giant snake and nearly hightailed it t’ git th’ shotgun,” AppleBloom added while Granny Smith turned away with an embarrassed blush.

“Twilight came to get us all when you collapsed,” Fluttershy added.

=You’re suffering from exhaustion and dehydration= Drobot informed.

“We were really worried about you, you know?” Boomer frowned at the Earth Pony, “Plus, it explains why the place got overrun by little rabbits yesterday.”

“Why didn’t you just ask us to give you help?” Rarity pondered.

“She was prideful,” Terrador stated, earning a confirming flinch from Applejack, “Back when it was just me, Ignitus, Volteer, Cyril, and Celestia, I decided to take on the Dark Armies on my own once. I ended up nearly killed because I wanted to fight by myself. If the others hadn’t come to save me, I would’ve been gone for sure.” He put a paw/claw on her shoulder, “Applejack, while you’re a proud Mare, you need to know that there is a time to be proud and then there is a time when you need to just swallow it up and let someone give you help.”

Applejack slowly nodded.

“Now Applejack, I completely respect the Apple family ways. You're always there to help any pony in need, so maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you,” Twilight spoke.

“Okay, Twilight.”

“I am not taking ‘no’ for an answer--what?”

“She said ‘yes,’” Terrador rolled his eyes.

“Yes, Twilight. Yes, please. Ah could really use yer help. Ah could use th’ help of mah friends,” Applejack informed.

‘‘Dear Princess Celestia, My friend Applejack is the best friend a pony could ever have, and she's always there to help any pony. The only trouble is, when she needs help, she finds it hard to accept it, so while friendship is about giving of ourselves to friends, it's also about accepting what our friends have to offer. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,’’ Twilight wrote down on a scroll while using her magic to harvest a few dozen trees in Sweet Apple Acres.

Nearby, Drobot drew a few more numbers into the dirt before nodding. He turned to Rainbow and pointed over at a root that was sticking out of the ground. Rainbow Dash nodded before doing a flying kick to the root. The kick’s impact went through the plants before dozens of apples dropped from the trees, being caught by Boomer, AppleBloom, and Pinkie Pie. Nearby, Rarity was sorting through the apples to remove the bad ones. Terrador slammed the ground with his tail as Spyro flew about, catching the apples that had fallen from Terrador’s tail-slam.

“How about y'all take a little break? Ah got some fine apple juice waitin' for ya!” Applejack called as he walked over with Big Macintosh, the two carrying a few plates that had applejuice cups on them (though Big Macintosh was also carrying a keg of apple cider for Terrador since it was big enough for him to use as a cup), “Girls, Master Terrador, Fellers, Ah can't thank y’all enough fer this help. Ah was acting a bit stubborn.”

“A bit?” Terrador repeated, having heard what had been going on with her around Ponyville the last few days.

“Okay. A mite stubborn, and Ah'm awful sorry. Now, Ah know th’ town gave me th’ Prized Pony award, but th’ real award is havin’ y’all here, mah friends,” Applejack informed.

“Well said, my pupil of the Earth,” Terrador nodded, “Ignitus once told me about a proverb he read about; ‘Pride goes before destruction. A hearty spirit before a fall. A lesson Fayton in learned too late.’”

“Fayton?” Applejack repeated.

“Long before Celestia showed that she controlled the sun, there was tale of a Stallion that would ride upon a chariot that was actually the sun. He had a son named ‘Fayton,’ who wished to learn to control the chariot. However, his father is frightened as well. Yet the child’s pride was too great and it caused terrors to occur on the lands.”

“That sounds terrible,” Twilight gasped.

“Yes. Bad choices can hurt others, such as Rainbow Dash ending up with a concussion and a tiny fracture, Pinkie Pie and dozens of others being sent to the hospital for stomach problems from the ‘baked bads,’ and the small rabbits that had been frightened by Applejack and ended up stampeding through Ponyville,” Terrador nodded before his stomach went off…causing the area to rumble in time with it, “Heh. Now you see that, do some good work and you get the need to enjoy a good amount of a hearty meal.”

“You said it! Phew! That applebucking sure made me hungry,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“And I've got the perfect treat,” Boomer smirked as he held up a familiar platter of cupcakes.

“Eeew…! Boomie, I threw those all away. Where'd you get them?”

“From the trash.”

“Ew!” the Mares all exclaimed before Terrador sniffed one.

“Ugh. Worms…” Terrador shuddered as Applejack tilted her head to hide her blushing face.

Author's Note

We never did get the reason how Big Macintosh got hurt.

Griffon the Brush Off

Fluttershy adjusted her small red reading glasses as she picked up a book. It was a pleasant night in her own opinion. She had just finished feeding the nocturnal animals of her home. She was very happy for a nice bat couple, having helped with the birth of their triplet babies, all boys. She snuggled into her covers a bit more as she turned on her lamp. She didn’t really have much of an electric bill since she had installed a few power packs into her home with Twilight’s help. She just needed to send electricity through them to charge them up and they would provide her a total of seventy-two hours of electricity, 12 hours on each power pack.

She turned a page in her book, intent on finding out just what was going to happen to Daring Do. Just as she began to read the new page, her body tensed a little. There were normally small sounds in the air around her home. Now…Now there was just silence…absolute silence. She knew that animals would normally go silent only when one thing happened…There was a big threat near the area. The roof of her bedroom broke apart as something lunged at her through it, roaring. Fluttershy’s scream reached all the way across Ponyville.

“Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy quickly repeated over and over as she shot out of her room with the blur chasing her, “G-Go away, please!”

The blur dodged the tiny net of electricity Fluttershy sent…only to dodge a laser fire. The blur flew off just as Drobot and Rainbow Dash flew over.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow called as she landed and held the pink-haired Mare close, “Are you okay? That thing didn’t hurt you, did it?”

“I…I’m scared…” Fluttershy whimpered as Drobot looked around, his optic now a vivid shade of green.

=Infrared Detection: Failure= Drobot informed =Unknown assailant unable to ascertain=

“Huh?” Rainbow blinked as Spyro landed with Twilight on his back.

“He said whatever that thing that made Fluttershy scream is long gone,” Spyro replied as Twilight’s magic covered Fluttershy for a few seconds.

“She doesn’t have any injuries aside from…” Twilight trailed off, not sure how to bring up what she saw.

“…We know about those,” Rainbow scowled at the Unicorn before Spyro hiccupped another scroll.

“Now?” Twilight pondered as she quickly opened the letter, “Sparx, wake up and shine some light.”

“Fine, fine,” Sparx yawned as he floated out of Twilight’s hair to shine his light on the scroll.

“‘My Faithful Student, As you know, the Griffon Kingdom’s Ambassador is visiting. He has requested to not stay in Canterlot. His reason for doing so is because of a dislike of living in ‘fancy areas.’ Therefore, I would like you to take in him, his mate, his niece, and his mate’s foster son during their stay for negotiations with the Griffon Kingdom. Signed, Princess Celestia,’” Twilight muttered as she read, “Eep. As if tonight wasn’t annoying enough.” She quickly pulled out a blank scroll and a quill pen, “‘Dear Princess Celestia, I will be happy to allow the Griffon Ambassador and his family to stay here during the negotiations. However, right now we have a situation on Fluttershy being assaulted by something. We know that it’s not an animal since they all seem to love her as a mother. Currently, I can prove this for a large group of the more-menacing of animals is near us, looking at Fluttershy in concern.’” She paused to take the developed photo Sparx had taken of said animals nearby, one of which being the Manticore Fluttershy had removed the thorn from its paw for, “‘Is there a possible way for extra security to be added? Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.’”

Spyro was given the scroll and instantly sent it to the princess. Rainbow scowled at the Unicorn.

“Why’d you tell her that?!” Rainbow demanded.

“Because I don’t think just us will be enough to make sure nothing happens to Fluttershy,” Twilight replied, “But for now, Rainbow, we’ll all stay with Fluttershy in case of another attack.”

“That explains th’ scream we heard at Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack frowned as the Mane Six sat in the library with Spyro, Sparx, Boomer, and Drobot, Rainbow sitting directly beside Fluttershy, a wing around the trembling pale gold-coated Pegasus.

Angel hopped in with a bowl of fruit salad. Strangely, there were no pears in the salad. The reason for that was that Fluttershy hated pears. She tried one, did not like it, and avoided any and all pears from then on. He put it on Fluttershy’s lap before hitting Rainbow with a thrown carrot.

“Hey!” Rainbow snapped as the rabbit hopped back into the kitchen…where a tomato flew out of it and hit Applejack.

“How many times do Ah have t’ say ‘sorry’ fer th’ incident?!” Applejack demanded, shaking a fist at the kitchen while Fluttershy gave a tiny giggle.

“He’s trying to help me calm down from last night,” Fluttershy assured as she looked down at the salad, “I still don’t understand what it was that attacked me or why, though…”

“We know it could fly since it dodged Drobot’s laser,” Rainbow pointed out, “Seemed fast, too.”

“Well, whatever it was, we’ll need to guard Fluttershy at all times,” Twilight informed before using her magic to pull in a marker-board with all their headshots on it, “Today, she’ll stay with me and Spyro. Tomorrow, she’ll have Rarity and Drobot around her. The next day will have Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie while the next will have Boomer and Applejack. We’ll continue cycling this until the threat either leaves for good or we catch it.”

“Uh, Twilight? You’re forgetting about the ambassador showing up today?” Sparx asked, causing Twilight to pale.

“Oh buck me! I forgot!” Twilight screamed before she began to zip around with her magic going nuts in organizing and cleaning, “Spyro, get off your plot and help clean up the place!”

Spyro rolled his eyes. He knew her all too well about this OCD she had. He asked Shining Armor once about it and had it confirmed. Afterwards, he spent the rest of that day with Sparx, rolling on the floor and laughing. It was then the door to the library was knocked on and Twilight zipped over and opened in once her hair was right.

“Excuse me, Lassie, but do you know a Ms. Twilight Sparkle?” a Scottish voice pondered.

“Yes, my name is Twilight Sparkle and…” Twilight informed before freezing up.

Before her were two figures, one a griffon and the other more of an eagle. The griffon wore a formal black top and pants with her feathers and fur being shades of black. On her wrists and ankles were silver ornaments while her head had a silver helmet. The eagle had no wings. He wore a blue and black kilt with strange blue and light-blue armor on his torso, lower arms, and lower legs. He had a strange pack-like item on his back, a tube going out of a part of it and into a strange silver and blue blaster attached to his left arm. On its torso was a blue jewel with a carving resembling the wind etched into it.

“Me name is Jet-Vak, I’m the Griffon Kingdom’s ambassador,” the eagle informed in the Scottish accent as he wrapped an arm around the griffon’s waist, “And this is me soon-to-be wife, Sonic Boom.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Sparkle,” Sonic Boom informed, “Princess Celestia and Princess Candace both spoke fondly of you while Princess Luna spoke of how grateful she is to you and your friends.”

“Oh! Well, it was nothing,” Twilight replied before looking around, “Um…Is it just you two for now?”

“Oh no, no, no. Me niece is searchin’ fer a friend of hers. A ‘Rainbow Dash’ as I recall her saying,” Jet-Vak replied.

“As for my foster son…Sunburn, please come down from there,” Sonic Boom ordered as she turned to a house’s roof nearby.

“Okay, Mom!”

A fireball zipped down before going into the library, dispersing to reveal a surprising sight. He appeared to be avian at first glance, but the cobalt underbelly and gold ‘Spyrohawk’ were the signs of a dragon. The fire-themed feathers on his body were, when examined closely, actually scales with a feather-like appearance. He had talons for hands and feet much like Sonic Boom and Jet-Vak did. The ‘feather-scales’ around his blazing eyes were a rich cobalt. His tail was covered in burning scarlet feathers. He wore a black jacket over a white shirt and black baggy pants.

“This is my adopted son, Sunburn,” Sonic Boom introduced.

“Heya! Nice to see ya!” Sunburn smirked, “I’m ready to Roast ‘N’ Toast any newcomers today in pranks!”

“You’re a dragon!” Spyro gawked.

“Huh? Is it really that noticeable?” Sunburn asked.

“Only the underbelly and your ‘mohawk,’” Sparx replied.

“Told you it was a good idea,” Sonic Boom whispered to Jet-Vak.

“Aye,” Jet-Vak chuckled as Twilight motioned for Sonic Boom to come over to her and Fluttershy.

“Yes?” Sonic Boom asked.

“How did you end up with Sunburn? I mean, how does he look part Griffon and part Dragon?” Twilight asked.

“Well, a phoenix that lived near the village I was raised in found his egg. She brought it to me and gave it some of her immortal flames. When the egg hatched, Sunburn was born as part dragon and part phoenix,” Sonic Boom explained, “He is the only hybrid my village ever knew, but it makes him a desirable target for the Dark Armies.”

“What?! Why?” Fluttershy pondered before the three watched Sunburn was engulfed in fire before it dispersed and reappeared nearby, dispersing to reveal Sunburn in it, “Oh my…”

“He’s able to teleport anywhere without even trying,” Sonic Boom explained.

Rainbow sighed as she rested on a cloud. She had left after making sure that Fluttershy was safe enough. She was about to close her eyes when…

“Rainbow Dash!” her eyes snapped wide open as she looked down to see Pinkie Pie looking around and then up at her.

Rainbow screamed before zipping off, destroying the cloud she was on. Pinkie Pie merely smiled as she bounced after her, motioning to someone nearby. Rainbow Dash zipped through three clouds, leaving holes in them, before hiding behind Applejack’s barn. She glanced back where she had flown to see no Pinkie Pie.

“Phew. That was close,” Rainbow sighed in relief as she turned…

“Hi!”

Rainbow’s hair and mane went nuts as she was startled by Pinkie Pie and Sunburn had been behind her. She zipped into the air after that.

“Aah!”

Rainbow Dash rocketed off, going so fast she had the trees bending a bit. As the trees settled, Pinkie Pie began to bounce off after her as Sunburn followed her with a confused look. Rainbow panted as she gazed out through the branches of the library/Twilight, Spyro, and Sparx’s home in Ponyville. She sighed in relief once she felt that Pinkie Pie and Sunburn were missing.

“Hi again.”

Rainbow’s hair and tail drooped along with her face, not even bothering to look down to know she was on Pinkie Pie’s head while Sunburn was just giving another confused, if not excited, look. Jet-Vak yelped as he sent his cup of tea into the air as Rainbow’s scream erupted around the library. Fluttershy peeked out from under the couch after a few moments while Jet-Vak was on the ground with hot tea on his head. Outside, Rainbow Dash flew over multiple hills with Pinkie Pie and Sunburn following once more, this time with both bouncing after her.

Unaware to them, Rainbow Dash had hidden behind a cloud. Once she was sure they were gone, she quietly sky-tip-toed over to a lake and landed near it. Pinkie Pie and Sunburn poked out of the water in scuba gear.

“Pfeh,” Pinkie Pie spat her breather out, “As much as I like doing this chase scene in all the other stories revolving around Season One, I need a favor, Rainbow Dash.”

“Waaa--oh, forget it…” Rainbow sighed as she floated down from her aerial attempt to flee.

“I enjoyed that,” Sunburn chuckled as he shook his scales/feathers dry.

“I totally promise it'll be totally fun. Especially since we’ve got a new buddy to do it with. We almost never have a fellow prankster set up for this episode!” Pinkie Pie beamed.

“Okay…” Rainbow sighed as she rolled her eyes.

“Over to the right. No no, a little to the left. Oh wait, back to the right. Now a little leftish while staying rightly. Stop. Hmm. Maybe a few inches to the south. Now a couple centimeters north. …Okay. One more smidgimeter to the…”

“Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow shouted as she and Sunburn held a cloud over Town Hall.

“Uh, I mean, perfect. Now wait for my signal, you two,” Pinkie Pie advised before she zipped behind a bush nearby.

“Okay, so we’re sleeping in the basement…why?” Sparx complained as he flew out behind Spyro, who was carrying a few dozen blank scrolls.

"Because it's the right thing to do for now. They're guests, Sparx."

"Yeah. So make them sleep in the basement," Sparx frowned at his friend's response.

Pinkie Pie pointed and nodded. Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud and thunder and lightning went off. Spyro yelped as he tossed the scrolls into the air. It was quiet for a few moments before he hiccupped, releasing a bit of magic flames.

“Oh Rainbow Dash, Sunburn, we startled Spyro into getting the hiccups!” Pinkie Pie began to laugh as the other two began to snicker.

“Good one, Pinkie-hiccup!-Pie. Hiccup! You're always pulling a fast one-hiccup!-on me,” Spyro chuckled as he picked up a scroll, only to hiccup and send it away.

“Oh no, you're not hurt are you?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Our fault entirely if it did,” Sunburn informed.

“Ne-hiccup!-eh, don't be-hiccup!-silly. Dragons are-hiccup!-fire-proof,” Spyro assured.

“Not all of us are dragons, though, buddy,” Sparx advised before ducking another magic flame hiccup.

“Oh, okay, good,” Pinkie Pie sighed in relief before the three pranksters began to laugh.

“I wish the same thing-hiccup!-were true with scrolls,” Spyro sighed.

In Canterlot, Ignitus opened a door. In his mouth were currently two plates with entire cakes on them. He nearly dropped them at seeing Celestia, scrolls hitting her from above. He calmly put them on a table nearby.

“…Hiccups?” Ignitus asked.

“I believe so,” Celestia replied as she saw the scrolls were all blank.

“…Should I be concerned about this?”

“It happens every so often. I recall this one time he did and ended up sending me a little orange book Twilight had,” Celestia giggled, “Oh, she was so adorable when she was embarrassed about that!”

“Is she even home?” Rainbow pondered.

“I don't know,” Pinkie Pie replied.

“I hope so,” Sunburn smirked as he rang the doorbell to Carousel Boutique and ran behind a few bushes with the two Mares, “This is gonna be gold.”

“There she is,” Rainbow whispered as Rarity opened the door.

“Yes? Is anypony there?” Rarity pondered before looking down and gasped in delight, seeing a bouquet of Chrysanthemums, “Oh, how beautiful!”

She sniffed the flowers a little. Suddenly, her nose began to burn a bit. She proceeded to let out a series of sneezes, keeping a tissue over her nose via magic. It was then she heard laughter and saw Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Sunburn were laughing. She gave an amused smile in her sneezes when she saw that Sunburn was holding sneezing powder. He paused to dab a little on Pinkie Pie’s nose as they began to run off.

“Aaa-choo!” Pinkie Pie was propelled off by her own sneeze, slightly startling Rarity.

“…Now I was a wee laddie, just out of the RGAF (Royal Griffon Air Force), I began to read through the old fables of yore,” Jet-Vak explained to his fiancé, Spyro, Sparx, and the two Mares, “And what I found in there has been a goal in my life to prove; the Giants!”

“G-Giants?” Fluttershy squeaked as Twilight scribbled it down on a scroll.

“Aye, lassie. Oh, they’re real and they’re spectacular,” Jet-Vak assured, “And they’re huge!”

“Really? You heard the Giants are huge?” Sparx asked as Spyro was drinking a cup of water to stop his hiccups.

“Aye.”

“Check it out, this is my ‘Sarcastic Face,’” Sparx informed before making a funny face and earning a few laughs.

“Laugh all you want, but I heard that they can literally throw boulders the size of houses! Can you imagine? Wake up, throw a boulder! Have a plate of Haggis, throw a boulder! How fantastic!”

“I’ve seen a few in a library I went to once,” Sonic Boom added, “They say that the Giants could punch holes in the ground the size of caverns!”

“I don’t really find that logical,” Twilight noted, “I mean, if you can show me a flying pig, then I’ll believe that.”

“Um…Well…” Fluttershy noted, “I heard something about them from my father and Mr. Wildfeather…”

‘Mah brother?’ Jet-Vak pondered as he glanced at the Pegasus.

“They told me that G-Giants could literally pull islands with relative ease,” Fluttershy noted before Twilight gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Jet-Vak asked before seeing the blank scroll Twilight had, “That’s strange. I know that you were writing about this, lassie.”

“It’s them again,” Sparx snickered before looking out the window at the snickering trio, Pinkie Pie holding a bottle of disappearing ink.

“I think we made a mistake in bringing him along, dear,” Jet-Vak sweatdropped as the three ran off from Twilight trying to hit them with a few magic shots.

Applejack hummed a small tune as she walked towards the barn. She stopped while gasping once she entered the barn. The apples had all been painted!

“Land sakes!” Applejack exclaimed before hearing three laughs.

She turned to see Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Sunburn. All three were laughing up a storm. Applejack narrowed her eyes when she saw Pinkie Pie had a paint tray while the other two had paint brushes. The three ducked a boulder thrown at them. They dashed off when Applejack threw another at them. The Mare grumbled as she stomped over to where they had been. She raised a brow when she saw one of the brushes had been hit with the paint when they had fled. She picked it up before dropping it into the water. She blushed in embarrassment when she saw the paint easily come off…the blush growing even more when she put one of the apples into the barrel of water only for the paint to come off.

Pinkie Pie bounced up and down in excitement, a squeezing device in her hands. It was connected to a small Equine-made turtle-squirter nearby. Fluttershy cautiously approached the lake to feed the ducks and geese there, Spyro following her.

“Is someone over there? Who're we gonna squirt? Who're we gonna squirt?” Pinkie Pie asked in excitement as Sunburn looked over the bushes they were hiding behind with a pair of binoculars.

“Uh…A Pegasus. Big-whoa!-That sweater does not hide those big hooters. Pale-gold coat, pink hair and tail. Oh, hey, it’s that purple dragon too,” Sunburn noted before Rainbow Dash swiped them.

Rainbow Dash chuckled, “Fluttershy and Spyro.”

“WHAT?!” Pinkie Pie gasped as she dropped the trigger, “Nononononono, we can't prank Fluttershy. I mean, she's so sensitive. It'll hurt her feelings, even our most harmless prank. Plus, she’s still afraid of the attacker. What if she thinks that this is part of that attacker’s plans?!”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened at that, “Yeah, you're right about that. Tch. Plus, we can’t prank Spyro or else she’ll think that was meant for her.”

“Well now, this means we need something else. We need another victim who's made of tougher stuff,” Sunburn noted.

“So, who's it gonna be?” Rainbow Dash pondered before her two pranking partners began to snicker and giggle and chuckle.

“Oh, I've got someone in mind. The toughest around,” Pinkie Pie giggled, a hand over her mouth.

“Oh, awesome. Who? Who? Do I know them?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh, yes,” Sunburn paused to snort back a laugh, “You're very close.”

Rainbow Dash raised a brow. It was then she looked into the water and saw her reflection. She was sporting a pair of black eyes. Sunburn and Pinkie Pie fell over, laughing, as Sunburn took out a charcoal stick.

“Good one, you two,” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

Jet-Vak yawned before taking a drink of his coffee. He decided to spend the first half of the night as Fluttershy’s guard. Currently, the Pegasus was sound asleep in a bed across from Twilight’s in the Unicorn’s room.

“Shift change,” Jet-Vak looked to the left to see Spyro walking over.

“Sorry, laddie, but I think I can handle another few hours,” Jet-Vak replied.

“You sure?” Spyro asked.

“This is nothing,” Jet-Vak replied, “One time, I spent three days wide awake for a bodyguard job back home. ‘Course, I still had my wings back then.”

“What happened to them?” Spyro asked.

“Well, it was the night I met me lovely mate,” Jet-Vak explained, “A fire had broken out in an apartment complex. Sunburn was over at a friend’s house. I was helping with evacuating the place when I hear her cry out. A broken beam had caught her and crushed her wings.”

“But she…” Spyro began.

“That’s because I gave her me wings,” Jet-Vak replied, “I’m no Griffon, I’m a Sky Baron. When we reach a certain age, we’re given magic wings as a sign of maturity. I gave her my wings to have hers heal. ‘Course, it took a lot out of me and she ended up flying us out. We hit it off while we were recovering and started dating a bit after that. Few years later, we’re mates and I’m now a pappy.”

“So what about that thing on your back? Is that your replacement wings?” Spyro asked.

“Aye. It was Master Eon who gave me my jetpack and Air Blaster,” Jet-Vak explained.

“Master Eon?”

“A good friend of mine. Remind me to introduce you to him one day, laddie,” Jet-Vak chuckled before he and Spyro tensed, “You felt that, laddie?”

“Yeah. It’s too quiet,” Spyro replied before lightly opening the door to Twilight’s room.

“Nothin’ seems to be out of place,” Jet-Vak noted as he narrowed his eyes while they entered the room, “But you can never be too careful.”

A creaking sound went off. The two barely dodged a falling bookcase, waking up the two girls. The figure from the night before rushed at Fluttershy, a glint barely visible. Fluttershy froze up.

“Daddy! Uncle Gerard!! Stoooooooop!!!”

Fluttershy’s head was filled with intense pain as she remembered the last time she ever saw her father and her father’s closest friend alive. Just as the figure was upon her, a blast of wind slammed into the figure.

“Now see here, ya wee brat,” Jet-Vak growled, “No one, and I mean no one, is going to be hurting a friend of mine before me very eyes. Time for you to deal with a little Hawk and Awe! Eagle-Air Battle Gear!”

His armor glowed before more formed on his arms, legs, and torso. His jetpack turned sleeker with wing-like attachments on the sides as a vivid-green visor covered his eyes. His blaster reshaped, the front becoming wider as blade-like fans formed around the front with rocket-like items appearing inside of it.

“Time for you to deal with the Feathers of Fury,” Vet-Vak scowled before firing an eagle-shaped mass of high-pressured air at the figure.

The figure barely dodged as the tree now sported an eagle-shaped hole. The figure ran and jumped through a window, the cloak the figure wore tearing apart in places to reveal a few feathers and a talon/hand.

“A Griffon…!” Jet-Vak gasped as the figure shot off through the skies.

“Fluttershy!”

The two males in the room turned to see Twilight was trying to shake Fluttershy awake. The Pegasus had fallen onto her side with her eyes clouded over, tears on their brims.

“Rise and shine Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie Pie called as she blew a party favor, “It's a brand new day and we got a lot of pranking to…” she paused as a Griffon with an Eagle theme to her poked her head out from the cloud Pinkie Pie was blowing at, “Ooh.”

The Griffon landed before her. She seemed to be around Rainbow’s age and had an athletic build. She had a high B-Cup under a black tee and a black sleeveless vest. Over her legs were a pair of jeans with the knees torn off. Rainbow Dash landed beside her with a grin.

“Mornin', Pinks. Gilda, this is my gal pal, Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow introduced.

“Hey. What's up?” the griffon greeted.

“Pinkie, this is my griffon friend, Gilda. She’s visiting Ponyville with her uncle and his wife and their kid. We met Jet-Vak, Sonic Boom, and Sunburn yesterday, remember?”

“Oh yeah! Wait, I forgot. What's a griffon?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“She's half-eagle, half-lion…” Rainbow began to explain.

“And all awesome,” Gilda finished before making a swiping gesture and a playful roar, “Raa. Heh-haa. Yeah, that's right.”

“Gilda's my best friend from my days at Junior Speedster flight camp. Hey, remember the chant?” Rainbow asked the Griffon.

“Sha, they made us recite it every morning, I'll never get that lame thing out of my head,” Gilda rolled her eyes.

“Sooo…” Rainbow gave her a hopeful look.

“Ugh. Only for you, Dash,” Gilda gave the cyan Pegasus a soft smile.
[Rainbow Dash and Gilda]
Junior Speedsters are our lives,
Sky-bound soars and daring dives
Junior Speedsters, it's our quest,
To some day be the very best!

Pinkie Pie began to laugh as she applauded, “Oh that was awesome, and it gave me a great idea for a prank. Gilda, you game?”

“Huh. Well, I groove on a good prank as much as the next griffon. But Dash, you promised me we'd get a flying session in this morning.”

“Yeah, uh, well, Pinkie Pie, you don't mind, do you?” Rainbow turned to the pink Earth Pony, “Gilda just got here. We'll catch up with you later. I promise.”

“Oh. Um, well sure, no problem. Have fun you guys, I'll, uh, just catch up with you…” Pinkie Pie began to say before they flew off, “…later.”

She blew her party hooter sadly. Even the noise it gave off reflected on its owner. She glanced over to the side to see Volteer landing, panting.

“Volteer? What are you doing here?” Pinkie Pie pondered.

“Spyro…message…assault last night…Hospital,” Volteer said between gulps of air.

“Hospital?” Pinkie Pie repeated before gasping, “Fluttershy?”

“She’s slipped into a miniature coma of sorts,” Nurse Redheart explained as she informed the group outside a room where Fluttershy was resting in a bed, “I was able to do a scan of her psyche. It…She’s experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and it caused her to experience an attack on her systems. I’m not sure how long she’ll be in her coma.”

“Thank you,” Twilight nodded before glancing over at Volteer, who just stared at Fluttershy thought the observation window, “Volteer?”

“…Who did this?” Volteer asked, eerily calm, “Who caused this?”

“It was a Griffon,” Sonic Boom replied, “My mate told me he saw the feathers and talons of a Griffon. We checked my mate’s niece, but one thing I know about her is that she’s a heavy sleeper and had gone to bed before any of us did. Jet-Vak checked on her once before going up to guard Fluttershy and once more after the attack. Both times she was sound asleep.”

“I swear that when I find the one who hurt her, my fangs will rip their wings off, my claws shall rend their legs to ribbons, the nails of my wings will strike their back,” Volteer trembled as the lights in the area they were in began to go nuts, “I swear upon my ancestral blood that the Griffon that did this to an innocent soul as Fluttershy shall be killed by my very breath! Because now there is no force on this planet that can stop me!”

It was then Volteer released a roar. The lights shattered as the energy racing through them overloaded. The Electric Dragon Elder walked off as Twilight began to lower the magic barrier she had made for the others.

“This is terrible,” Twilight gulped.

“What do you mean?” Sparx asked.

“When a dragon swears upon their ancestral blood to do something, they will enter a complete state of fulfilling that task no matter what the cost,” Twilight explained, “It was something I read in the books back at the Dragon Temple, a quote Celestia had written in one. ‘To anger a Dragon blessed with Electric Breath is to anger a thousand lightning storms condensed to the size of a marble. Volteer showed this when he was angered by a single Ape for killing a friend of his. The entire area was obliterated by that force. It took the combined might of the other Dragon Elders in order to subdue him.’”

Pinkie Pie gulped. She and the other Elements of Harmony had seen the strength Ignitus had the first time they were at the Dragon Temple and he was weak then. If Volteer had been recovering just like the others…

“We need to tell Mom about this and fast,” Spyro stated as Sparx was already scribbling down a letter nearby, sweating like crazy.

“…I’m starting to think we’d better keep Gilda indoors until this settles down,” Jet-Vak gulped.

“Agreed,” Sonic Boom nodded.

“How does she have PTSD? Was it because of what I’ve been hearing about Princess Celestia’s prized student and her friends going out to help some of the outside nations?” Sunburn whispered.

“That was us,” Pinkie Pie replied, her hair starting to lose bits of its puffiness, “But it wasn’t just that. I think she’s had it for years now, but it never really surfaced until last night.”

“I…I see…” Sunburn nodded.

“She was the lassie, wasn’t she?” the group looked at Jet-Vak, “She was the lassie who had nearly died in the Cloudsdale Civil War, wasn’t she?”

“…I’m not sure how to respond to it. I never even heard about the Civil War,” Twilight admitted.

“I have. When I was at Sweet Apple Acres once, I caught Applejack sleeping under an apple tree,” Sparx explained, “Turns out that she sleep-talks and that if you say the right words, you can get her to say anything.”

“What did you learn?” Jet-Vak asked.

“Well, when I mentioned Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, she mumbled something about Fluttershy’s dad and his friend along with something about a double suicide and ‘one rich Mare.’”

“…Then it is her,” Jet-Vak sighed as he took out a wallet and pulled a single picture out, “That Griffon from the double suicide was me brother.” Everyone looked at him in surprise, “We had different mothers with me mother being a Sky Baron like our father while me younger brother’s mother was a Griffon. We got along great just like any brothers would. Didn’t much care ‘bout being different species. Then we met Silent Storm in Flight School and hit it off with him, though me brother had the better bond of friendship with him, he was the Best Man at his wedding while me brother and I were co-Best Mans at his since we introduced him to his wife, the ancestors bless her soul. Me brother had sent Gilda to stay with me when the Civil War began. It wasn’t until a year after the war ended that I got the letter from the morgue about their deaths.”

He showed them the photo he had taken out. The picture was on Jet-Vak and two others, a Griffon and a Pegasus. Jet-Vak was missing his weapons and armor, having an impressive pair of wings instead. The Griffon seemed to be more of a masculine version of Gilda with jade eyes. The Pegasus had Fluttershy’s coat, but his hair and tail were pale ash-emerald in color. Jet-Vak had his arms on their shoulders while the griffon held a baby Griffon in his arms while the Pegasus had a baby Pegasus in his.

“That’s Fluttershy as a baby,” Twilight realized.

“Aye. Took me a bit to see that resemblance,” Jet-Vak noted, “Both sent me letters during the war. Fluttershy was supposed to be taken to her aunt in Canterlot, but it seems that she ended up finding a way back to Cloudsdale.”

Gilda and Rainbow Dash laughed as they flew around, performing various tricks. They soon landed on one of the nearby clouds.

“Whoa, that was sweet. Just like old times,” Gilda chuckled.

“Yeah, only faster. So now what?” Rainbow pondered.

“Hey there.”

“Huh?” the two turned to see Pinkie Pie on Sunburn’s back as he landed on the cloud.

“It's later. And I caught up,” Pinkie Pie greeted.

“Hey,” Sunburn waved.

“Ugh, twip, what are you doing here?”

“I came with Pinkie Pie,” Sunburn replied.

“Pinkie Pie, you are so random,” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

“Rainbow Dash, there’s something I…” Pinkie Pie began.

“Hey Dash, think you got enough gas left to beat me to that cloud?” Gilda interrupted as she pointed at a cloud at a higher area.

“A race? You are so on!” Rainbow replied.

“One, two, three, go!” Gilda declared before they zipped off.

“Hey!” Sunburn shouted.

“After that Pegasus, Sunny!” Pinkie Pie ordered.

“Aye-aye!” Sunburn saluted before flying after them just as they had finished their race.

“I win,” Rainbow smirked.

“As if. I won, dude,” Gilda replied.

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

“Oh, come on, I was way ahead of you.”

“Uh, I don't think so.”

“Oh Geez, dream on.”

“Remember back in camp? I…”

“There is no way you beat me,” Rainbow giggled.

“Whatever,” Gilda gave a sly smile.

“Wow guys, that was really close, but I think Rainbow Dash beat you by a teeny weeny itty bitty hair, or a teeny weeny itty bitty feather,” Pinkie Pie informed as Sunburn landed once more.

“Hah, see? Good thing Pinkie Pie's here to keep you honest, G,” Rainbow smirked as Gilda frowned for a moment.

“Anyways, Rainbow Dash, we have a little problem with…” Pinkie Pie began.

“Dash, last one to that cloud up there is a gnarly phoenix egg. Go!” Gilda shouted before Rainbow Dash raced off to a cloud in the distance before Gilda glared at the two, “I think the high altitude is making you dizzy, Earth Twerp. Take her down, Twip.”

“But we need to…” Sunburn began before Gilda grabbed his beak.

“Shut it, Twip. Don't you two know how to take ‘get lost’ for an answer? Dash doesn't need to hang with dweebs like you now that I'm around. You're dorkin' up the skies, Stinkie Pie, Sunburnt, so make like bees and BUZZ OFF!”

“But, Cousin, Fluttershy is…”

“No one!” Gilda snapped, “I don’t give a flying fig on what you want, Twip. So make like a tree and leave!”

With that, she zipped off after Rainbow Dash. The pink pony and the dragon/phoenix looked at each other and sighed. They had tried to be subtle, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

“Oh yeah. I won that time,” Rainbow Dash smirked as Gilda landed on the cloud.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll beat you…” Gilda began before a megaphone’s feedback went off.

=Attention! Attention, Rainbow Dash! You are required to head to Ponyville General at once= Pinkie Pie called into a megaphone.

=Cousin Gilda, you need to go back to the library, too. A dragon is on the warpath for any Griffons in Ponyville right now= Sunburn added into his own megaphone.

=Please, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy’s in a coma!=

“What?” Rainbow gasped softly as the color of her coat, hair, and tail seemed to start going dull.

“Yeah right,” Gilda snorted as she turned back to see a rainbow streak going across the sky to Ponyville General, “Tch. Those damn spazzoids…”

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow cried out as she flew into the hospital before Ignitus placed a claw over her lips as Terrador and Cyril stopped her by grasping her tail.

“Hush,” Rarity silenced her before pointing at the observation window, “Nurse Redheart is refusing to let anypony do into her room today.”

“Ah knew Ah should’ve talked her into goin’ t’ see one of them psycho-therapist ponies,” Applejack sighed.

“That guy told you about it?!” Rainbow growled, “Of all the…! Ugh! I’m not going to insult the dead. I’m not going to insult the dead…” Rainbow Dash let electricity cover her left fist before slamming it into a wall and made multiple cracks form on the surface, “Buck it to high Tartarus! I swear that I’m going to electrocute the jerk who did this to her!”

“You’ve been beaten to it by Volteer. He plans on killing the one who’s been attacking her,” Twilight admitted, making Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow freeze up.

“Volteer is here?” Rarity asked.

“And he done said he was gonna do what now?” Applejack blinked.

“You all know how he was close to Fluttershy, almost as if she were a daughter he never had,” Twilight explained, “Right now, Volteer wanting to go as far as completely killing the one out to get Fluttershy is proof that he is acting like a mad father.”

“It’s because one of those eggs that had been destroyed was Volteer’s,” Ignitus informed.

“He took it the worst out of us all when it came to what happened that night. He actually went off on his own and we had to work together to stop his rampage on the Apes,” Ignitus explained.

“Wait. But what Princess Celestia had written down…”

“Was something I asked her to do,” Ignitus informed before sighing, “I didn’t want others to use that night as a way to get at Volteer, but it seems that he caused it to himself.”

“When he finds out who exactly is doing all this, Ponyville will be completely destroyed in his killing of the attempted murderer,” Cyril shuddered.

“What?!” the girls-minus Rainbow-, Spyro, and Sparx exclaimed.

“…” Rainbow just blocked the discussion out as she placed a hand on the glass, looking at the sleeping Pegasus.

A little girl sniffled as she sat before two graves, her face covered by her pale rose hair. A Pegasus woman with a gentle cyan-coat and a magenta hair and tail walked over to her. Beside her, a cyan-coated girl with a rainbow hair and tail stood, trying not to look depressed about the graveyard.

“Your father was a good Stallion, Fluttershy,” the adult gently spoke, “As was his friend. To leave you with all the money they had along with your father’s home…You must have been something special to them both.”

“…But why?” Fluttershy sniffled.

“You’re just the kind of Pony everypony likes,” the other girl noted.

“R-Rainbow Dash…” Fluttershy blushed a bit.

“Come now. You’ll live with us, okay?” the woman smiled gently.

Fluttershy and the adult began to leave, letting Rainbow look at the two graves.

“Why did you have to do this to her, Mr. Storm, Mr. Winter?” Rainbow asked the two graves, “She’s really hurt by you two going away. You should’ve stayed alive to be there for her.” She only got silence, “I swear…I swear that I’ll make sure she won’t feel this way again. That something like this won’t happen to her!”

‘I failed…’ Rainbow thought as a tear slid down her cheek, not noticing the others had left.

“So Pinkie Pie, are you sure that this friend of Rainbow Dash is really so mean?” Twilight asked as they walked along a street.

“Um, yeah. She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she interrupted me and Sunny, and she told us to buzz off. She even interrupted us in trying to tell Rainbow Dash that Fluttershy was in the hospital. We had to use a megaphone for it!”

“Why did you even have one?!” Twilight frowned.

“For megaphone emergencies. Anyways, I've never met a griffon this mean. Well, actually, I've never met a griffon at all, but I bet if I had, she wouldn't have been as mean and grumpy as Gilda,” Pinkie Pie replied.

“…You know what I think, Pinkie Pie.”

“Hmm?”

“Well, I think…you're jealous,” Twilight informed.

“Jealous?”

“Well, yes. Jealous. Listen Pinkie, I don't want to upset you, but just because Rainbow Dash has another friend doesn't make Gilda a grump. I mean, perhaps it's you, Pinkie, who needs to improve her attitude,” Twilight advised.

“Improve my attitude?!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “But I…D…B…It's Gilda that…D…Are you seri…” Pinkie let out a scream of frustration as she stomped off, “Just forget it, Twilight!”

Twilight Sparkle sighed. She already had enough trouble with Fluttershy being in the hospital because of an assassination attempt and having to deal with Volteer most likely planning on how to not only kill the assassin, but also end up destroying Ponyville with it. She began to frown as she thought that maybe she had over done it since she didn’t really know Gilda all that well despite her staying at the Library.

“Maybe Twilight is right. Maybe Gilda isn't a big meanie grumpy mean-meanie-pants,” Pinkie Pie sighed, “Maybe I'm just a big jealous judgmental jealous-jealousy-pants.”

Pinkie Pie sat down at a table near the market street. She looked out at the various businesses, going about their day. It was then she caught sight of Gilda near Granny Smith’s apple cart. She sneaked behind it and extended her tail under the cart. Granny Smith looked down and screamed.

“Aaah! A rattler, a rattler! Run for the hills!” Granny Smith jumped into the air and began to run off as fast as she could…going at a snail’s pace, literally, “Everybody forsake yourselves!”

“Aw, poor Granny Smith, she didn't know it was a joke. How mean,” Pinkie Pie scowled before shaking her head, “No, no, I can't misjudge her. It was kind of a funny prank, I guess…” she froze in her speech when she saw Gilda’s tail grab one of the apples and let ear eat it in one bit, “I did misjudge her. She's not only a meanie mean-pants, she's also a thief. Nonononono, she might give it back. It's just a joke. But then again, she did eat it in one bite…and she’s chewing it…yep, she swallowed it. Oh, yeah, she’s a meanie pants. She's a grump, and a thief, and a bully. The meanest kind of mean meanie-pants there is. This calls for extreme measures, Pinkie Pie style.”

“Hey, Pinkie!” Sunburn called as he flew down, “Uh, you know where Gilda is? Pops is kinda miffed with her not being back at the library.”

“She’s right there. She just scared Granny Smith and stole one of the apples from her cart!” Pinkie Pie replied.

“…She used her tail as a snake-imitation?”

“She did that before?”

“Me, a few times,” Sunburn admitted before looking the walking-away Gilda over once, “…She’s missing some feathers.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve lived together for so long that I’ve gotten to know her appearance surprisingly well,” Sunburn replied, “It looks like she got hit by something and caused her to lose a few feathers.”

“…You don’t think…” Pinkie Pie began.

Rainbow Dash’s chest raised and lowered as she sat in a chair directly across from the observation window for Fluttershy’s room. The Pegasus has fallen asleep an hour ago, not once leaving the structure for worry of her friend. A window in Fluttershy’s room had opened up and the assassin entered. The Griffon pulled out a small knife-like sword and began to approach the bed. The Griffon was about to strike when a light was turned on.

“Don’t move,” Rainbow Dash ordered, a sphere of electricity in her left hand aimed directly at the Griffon’s back, “Now slowly lower the hood and back away from Fluttershy.”

“…” the Griffon spun around and slammed a fist into her gut, causing Rainbow Dash to collapse to her knees and dispel her electricity, before turning back to strike down the comatose Pegasus.

“Roast ‘N’ Toast!”

The Griffon’s eyes widened as the Griffon was slammed with a fireball. The fireball dispersed, revealing Sunburn. The cloak of the Griffon erupted into flames upon contact with Sunburn’s attack.

“Well now, seems that you want to cause a national incident…” Sunburn noted as he crossed his arms with a frown as the figure pulled the cloak off, “…Gilda.”

“Stay the hell out of this, Twip,” Gilda growled, “I’m getting my revenge right here, right now.”

“What did she ever do to you?” Sunburn demanded.

“She killed my dad!” Gilda snapped, “Gerard Winter was my father and because of this bitch, he killed himself!”

“So I guess the warning I gave you all those years ago fell on deaf ears, lassie,” Gilda backflipped over the pressurized eagle-shaped air shot and blocked the punch Jet-Vak sent at her, “I’m disappointed, really I am.”

“To hell with you and your damn warnings!” Gilda snapped before slamming her forehead into his, dazing the Sky Baron before she slammed him into the window, knocking him through it.

“Pops!” Sunburn gasped before jumping back from the slash Gilda sent at him as she charged at Fluttershy.

“Now die!” Gilda screeched before her hand was hit by a laser shot as Fluttershy began to stand up, her form blurring as she changed into Drobot.

=Disguise shutting down= Drobot informed as Boomer jumped out of the closet with sticks of dynamite at the ready.

“What?!” Gilda gasped before she was slammed into a wall by a pair of magic shots with her hands being ‘soaked’ into the wall.

“Smart thinkin’, Drobot,” Applejack noted as Jet-Vak flew back into the room, she, Twilight, and Rarity appearing from thin air.

=Thank you= Drobot nodded as he pulled a curtain away to reveal Fluttershy in the other bed.

“H-How did you…?”

=We knew that she would be attacked tonight= Drobot informed =Therefore, we planned for this. Though, it was actually Pinkie Pie that did this=

“What?” Gilda scowled.

“Yep! Surprise!” Pinkie Pie beamed as she poked her head out from under the bed Drobot had been occupying, “I began to figure it out from what Mr. Jet-Vak said about the culprit and then when Sunburn noticed you were missing feathers. It took a bit of convincing for Twilight to do this, though, since she thought I was just being jealous of you.”

“Rainbow, you feelin’ alright from th’ hit?” Applejack asked as she helped up the Pegasus.

“Y…You’ve been trying to kill Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asked, betrayal evident in her tone.

“You wouldn’t understand. Your family fled from Cloudsdale during the Civil War, just like how me and that bitch got sent away for it. But she…she just had to go back there and get in the way of their fighting. She is the reason my dad died!” Gilda snapped, “I swore that I’d kill her no matter what!”

With a screech, she managed to rip her arms out of the wall and rushed at Fluttershy in their shock. Her talons were nearly upon her before she was slammed by a lightning bolt that destroyed the wall outside, revealing Volteer.

“All of you stay back, now,” Volteer growled, a dark tone in his voice, as he flew into the room.

“Oh no…” Twilight gasped quietly.

“How dare you? I will not allow you to kill her,” Volteer growled, sparks appearing in his mouth.

“Ah! Volteer, no!” Twilight yelped, “You’re in a hospital!”

“Die!” Volteer roared as he rushed at Gilda, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her onto the floor.

“…t…”

Volteer froze in his attempt to blast Gilda with a blast of electricity. The others looked over at Fluttershy as she was crying in her sleep.

“Daddy…Uncle Gerard…” Fluttershy sniffled, “Don’t fight…you’re best…friends…”

Volteer slowly closed her mouth. He kept the griffon in his grasp before slamming her into a wall nearby.

“If you dare come near her again, nothing will keep me from killing you. Understand?” Volteer growled as Gilda nodded frantically, “Good…But to make sure you know this; this will be your reminder.”

Before anyone could move, Gilda’s eyes widened. Volteer chewed slowly before swallowing. Gilda looked down at what had been her left arm. Before she could even scream, Volteer had released her, spun, and slammed her into the distance with his tail. He walked over and gently patted Fluttershy’s head.

“It is okay, Fluttershy. Do not cry for them nor cry for doing what you thought was right,” Volteer soothed, “Though your birth-father and his friend are gone from this world, they will always remain in your memories and your heart. Never forget that.”

Pinkie Pie hummed as she finished setting up the streamers. Fluttershy was being let out of the hospital after four days of being in a coma. The entire time, Rainbow Dash and Volteer had stayed near her. The Dragon Elders and Twilight had been spending that time trying to figure out just how Fluttershy in a coma was able to snap him out of his rage.

“Hey Pinkie,” the pink pony turned to see Twilight walk in, “Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks likes I'm the one who misjudged you.”

“It's okay Twilight, even you can't be a super smart smarty smart-pants all the time,” Pinkie Pie assured as she hugged the Unicorn, “Now come on, Twilight, there's still a whole lotta party to finish preparing for and I could sure use some help!”

“Ok, but is it okay if I write my letter to Princess Celestia first?” Twilight asked.

“Sure!” Pinkie replied as she pulled out a blank scroll, a quill pen, her bottle of disappearing ink, and a normal bottle of ink.

“How did you…?” Twilight raised a brow.

“Just in case of emergencies,” Pinkie Pie replied before taking a cupcake out of her shirt and ate it.

“…Okaaay…” Twilight used her magic to take the items and went to work, “‘Dearest Princess Celestia, Today I learned that it's hard to accept when somepony you like wants to spend time with somepony who's not so nice. Though it's impossible to control who your friends hang out with, it is possible to control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the difference between a false friend and the one who is true will surely come to light. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,’” Twilight wrote.

“That’s perfect, Twilight,” Pinkie Pie nodded.

“I swear upon my blood that Gilda’s actions were her own, your majesty,” Jet-Vak assured.

“I know. When hatred takes root, it is difficult for it to be overcome. For some, they never let it go and let it grow within themselves,” Celestia replied, “Her actions were her own, not that of the Griffon Kingdom.”

“…Thank you, Princess Celestia,” Jet-Vak bowed.

“However, I do have something to ask from you,” Celestia noted before looking over at Sunburn, “You were given a ticket from Pinkie Pie, were you not?”

“Hm? Oh, yes,” Sunburn replied as he pulled a gold ticket out, “She asked me to go with her to this party.”

Celestia and Sonic Boom looked at each other with knowing looks. It was then a scroll appeared in the princess’ lap.

“Oh, it seems Twilight sent me a letter on the subject,” Celestia noted before raising a brow at the bottle of ink that came with it, “Though why she also brought me this disappearing ink, I do not understand.”

“Perhaps it’s a way to confirm that you are who you are,” Jet-Vak noted as he realized what that bottle was.

“Perhaps. ‘Dear Twilight Sparkle, My most faithful student…’” Celestia began to write only to have the words vanish, “Oh, huh, wrong ink.”

“…Pinkie Pie is the best Pony I have ever met,” Sunburn began to laugh.

“King Gaul, we found this girl on the shore,” an Ape informed as he and two others brought in a soaked Gilda, clutching what remained of her shoulder.

A figure stood up from his throne. His fur was a deep shade of purple, almost pitch black in coloring. He wore a tunic of purple and silver with armor in the same colors on his left shoulder, lower arms, legs, and feet. On his hips was a pair of broadswords dyed a deep violet. The Ape’s face had a glowing gem-made eye and a horned helmet made of the same purple and silver materials his armor was. He walked over and looked her over. When he brought Gilda’s face to his, his gem eye glowed. The glow faded as he began to chuckle.

“Master Malefor will be pleased with this one,” Gaul informed, “Fit her for Automail and that special stuff that Master Malefor gave us.” He looked at Gilda once more, “Don’t you worry none, Gilda Winter. We will help you become stronger, strong enough to kill Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, all of those who have wronged you.”

“Are you sure you’re fine?” Cyril asked once more.

“Yes, yes, I am quite perfectly fine,” Volteer replied in his normal speedy voice, “How glorious this party is! It’s stupendous, wonderful, exciting, mirth-filled…”

“Shut up and eat,” Terrador grumbled, shoving a slice of cake into Volteer’s mouth.

“Do you really have to do this?” Fluttershy asked, her entire face in a heavy blush.

“No, but I want to,” Rainbow replied, currently having Fluttershy in her lap.

“Two weeks,” Boomer held up five Bits.

=Before the Grand Galloping Gala= Drobot informed as he put six Bits into the hat with Boomer’s five Bits.

“Fluttershy admits to it first,” Spyro stated as he put ten Bits into the hat.

“Eeyup,” Applejack agreed, putting ten Bits into the hat as well, “Ah’m stickin’ with that bet, too, Spyro.”

“…Twenty bits on Fluttershy admitting to it by kissing her just before an event known by Ponies everywhere, such as the Best Young Flyers Competition in Cloudsdale,” Ignitus bet.

"You're on!" Boomer declared.

Author's Note

Did anyone else think I'd do something like this? Even I surprise myself.

Boast Busters

“Come on, Twilight, you can do it!” Sparx urged.

“Okay, here goes,” Twilight nodded.

She closed her eyes as her horn lit up. She fired a shot and struck Drobot, Sparx, and Spyro with it. A ‘poof’ went off before all three sported large bushy mustaches.

“Ha ha! Ya did it!” Sparx cheered.

=Growing magic has been acquired= Drobot noted as he held up a checklist and checked it off.

“That's number twenty-five,” Spyro chuckled, “Twenty-five different types of tricks and counting that you’ve learned since we’ve been staying here.”

“And I think this is the best trick so far,” Sparx smirked as he looked at himself in a mirror, “Hello, Rarity. What's that? Aw, it's nothin', just my awesome mustache.”

“Sorry, Romeo. As attractive and enticing as you look, it's just for practice, and it's gotta go,” Twilight inform as Spyro rolled his eyes.

“Wait!” Sparx yelped before Twilight used her magic once more to make the mustaches vanish, “Aw, rats.”

Twilight Sparkle just giggled at him while Spyro laughed. Drobot gave a soft chuckle as Sparx just frowned at the three of them.

“Twenty-five, Twilight. Twenty-five different kinds of tricks and counting. I thought unicorns were only supposed to have a little magic that matches their special talents,” Sparx noted as the four walked along a street (though Sparx just flew).

“True, for ponies whose talents are for things like cooking or singing or math. But what if a unicorn's special talent is magic?” Twilight asked.

=You provide a good counter argument on that subject= Drobot noted =Should a Unicorn’s special talent be that, then that means that they will have the ability to truly show the potential for what Magic can do=

“Like you, Twilight, and you know a ton of magic,” Spyro complimented.

“Oh, Spyro, stop,” Twilight blushed, “I'm sure there are lots of ponies right here in Ponyville that know just as much magic as me.”

“Are you kiddin'? I don't think there's another unicorn in all of Equestria with your kind of ability, Twilight,” Sparx argued.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Twilight replied, “Can we stop talking about this? I just want to go check up on Fluttershy and see how she’s doing since Gilda’s attempts at killing her. Rainbow Dash said that she’d be staying with her until she was sure that she was a hundred percent okay.”

“Gangway! Comin' through!” a blue-coated, orange hair and tailed colt called as he and a lanky, yellow-orange-coated and green hair and tailed colt raced by.

“Augh! Snips, Snails! What's goin' on?” Sparx asked, knowing the two from when Spyro had gone to the elementary school to help the teacher with a lesson.

“Wha, haven't you heard?” the blue Colt asked.

“There's a new unicorn in town!” the taller of the two Colts replied.

“Yeah! They say that she's got more magical powers than any other unicorn ever!” the blue Colt, Snips, beamed.

“Really?” Spyro asked with a raised brow.

“Aw, no way, that honor goes to Twilight here,” Sparx argued as he pointed his thumb at Twilight.

“So, where is this unicorn?” Spyro asked.

“Ho, she's in the town square. Come on!” Snails replied.

“Yeah! Come on! Whooo!” Snips cheered before he ran off with Snails.

“Oh, this I have got to see,” Sparx smirked as he flew after them.

=I am not surprised. The Cakes have bakery-themed Cutie Marks, so it should not be surprising that there are others with a Cutie Mark for magic use= Drobot noted.

“Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Standing upon a stage was a young Unicorn Mare, around the age of Twilight. Her coat was a brilliant azure while her mane was a pare cornflower blue with a streak of very pale cornflower blue in it. She wore a violet formal suit with the front stretched a bit by her modest bust. Over that was a violet cape with stars on it, arranged to resemble the night sky. She gazed at the crowd with her dark grayish violet eyes. She waved her hands and her horn lit up, filling the skies with fireworks, thankful for the Pegasi making the day one partly cloudy to let them see it in the daytime.

“Ooh~!” the crowd forming before her awed.

“Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!” she continued to boast.

“My, my, my! What boasting!” Rarity tsked as Sparx flew over.

“Come on, no pony's as magical as Twi-- Twi-- Twi-- Oh!” it was then he noticed Rarity and cleared his throat, “Hey, Rarity, I, uh-- Mustache!”

Sparx zipped off, leaving a confused Rarity. Nearby, Twilight began to lower her head a bit.

“There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?” Twilight asked.

“Nothin' at all, 'cept in when someone goes around showin' it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons,” Applejack snorted.

“Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than the rest of us,” Rarity added as it only made Twilight slump further.

“Yeah. I can throw a good party, but I’m not the best at them,” Pinkie Pie informed, “I’m not good with quiet parties, for one. Then again, I’m also bad at tea parties…and slumber parties since you have to go to sleep at those…”

“I believe we get it, dear,” Rarity informed.

“Well, well, well, it seems we have some neighsayers in the audience. Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie?” Trixie smirked at the Mane Six, minus Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, “Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?”

“Just who does she think she is?” Rarity frowned as Sparx returned.

“Yeah! Since we all know that Twilight here is…” Sparx began before Twilight made his mouth turn into a closed zipper.

“Sparx! Shhh!” Twilight hushed.

“What? What's wrong?” Spyro asked.

“You see the way they reacted to Trixie? I don't want anyone thinking I'm a show-off,” Twilight replied.

“Not this again…” Spyro muttered as he rolled his eyes.

“Hey! Mind telling me just what makes you so awesome and all that junk?” Boomer asked with a yawn, “Because so far, I’m not impressed.”

“Heh, why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded Ursa Major!” Trixie declared as her fireworks magic created the image of a large bear.

=An Ursa Major?= Drobot ‘blinked’ =I require further explanation=

“What?” Snails blinked.

“He wants to hear how she did it,” Spyro translated.

“But of course. When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to, but the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic, vanquished the Ursa Major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!” Trixie declared as she used her magic to manipulate the fireworks into mimicking what she said she did.

“Saw, sweet!” Snails cheered.

“That settles it. Trixie truly is the most talented, the most magical, the most awesome unicorn in Ponyville!” Snips declared.

“No, in all of Equestria!” Snails argued.

“And how do you two know? You didn't see it!” Sparx argued, “And besides, Twi--” his zipper appeared once more and closed his lips, “Mmph! M-mmph!”

“It's true, my enthusiastic little admirers. Trixie is most certainly the best in Ponyville!” Trixie declared, earning no applause, “Don't believe the Great and Powerful Trixie? Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians -- anything you can do, I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Hmm? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest equine who has ever lived!?”

“Alrighty then,” Boomer smirked as he jumped onto the stage, “Time to Bring the BOOM!”

With that, he pulled out various different-shaped bombs. He began to juggle them all while lighting them. He tossed them all over the air and they went off in various fireworks, taking on the shapes of various images. He performed a bow as he flicked more fireworks into the air, setting them off and creating the images of the Mane Six’s Cutie Marks in their coat, hair, and tail colors.

“Ta-dah!” Boomer declared as the Ponies began to applaud.

“Great job, Boomer!” Spyro whooped.

“I must admit that you’re quite skilled despite being a Troll.”

“Hey. I’ll have you know we’re all not just warmongers and living under bridges. Me? I live in a temple and love showing off explosions,” Boomer smirked, “Now let’s see you do better.”

“With pleasure,” Trixie smirked.

Her horn glowed as the remains of Boomer’s fireworks glowed with the same coloring. They swirled around as she created more fireworks. The spinning stopped to reveal a dragon made of fireworks. To the ones that personally knew the Dragons, the fireworks dragon reminded them of Ignitus. The ‘dragon’ began to fly about above them before opening its ‘mouth’ to release a series of fireworks, creating star designs in the sky. Trixie made a few movements and the dragon erupted into more fireworks. All around them, the fireworks turned into various animals. She brought them into the air and let them go off one last times before bowing.

“Wow~!” AppleBloom awed as she managed to poke out from behind her sister, “And Ah thought Boomer was cool with his fireworks.”

“…Okay, she got me,” Boomer stated as he applauded while Sparx unzipped his lips.

“Please! She's unbearable! Ya gotta show her! Ya just gotta!” Sparx pleaded to the violet unicorn.

“There's no way I'm going to use my magic now, Sparx. Especially since--” Twilight began to say.

“That's it! Ah can't stand for no more of this!” Applejack interrupted as he got onto the stage.

“You show her, AJ!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

“Can yer magical powers do this?” Applejack asked before whistling once.

AppleBloom tossed her a rope. The Cowpony caught the rope and quickly put it into a lasso. She began to perform various jumps at multiple angles through the lasso’s hoop. She proceeded to finish it by swinging the lasso, grabbing an apple that AppleBloom tossed into the air, and brought it back to her, catching the apple in her teeth. She took a bite of it before bowing to the applause.

“Top that, missy,” Applejack smirked.

“Oh ye of little faith. Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!” Trixie smirked.

She took out a flute and channeled her magic through it. Slowly, she began to play a strange tune from her flute. The end of Applejack’s rope slithered to a dropped baby rattle and grasped it by the hole. The rope began to shake it in a tune that blended with the flute theme. The other side began to rise up slightly as it knotted itself into a snake’s head, what remained of the end extended with a ‘hiss.’

“Land sakes!” Applejack gasped.

The rope-snake ‘hissed’ at her as it slithered around her, seemingly dancing to the music Trixie played. The melody ended and Applejack yelped as the rope-snake had ended up tying her up and tripping her. Trixie lowered her flute as she cut off the magic she was channeling through it.

“Hm…I was going for just the arms,” Trixie noted before levitating a sheet of music, “Oh. My apologies, I played a low E over high C when it was supposed to be a high C over low E.” She used her magic to quickly undo the ropes and straighten her up, “Trixie apologies for any injuries you sustained.”

“How’d y’all done do that t’ mah rope?” Applejack blinked under the cheers of the crowd.

“A magician never reveals their secrets, but I will say that some Unicorns have learned to channel their magic through instruments to give them special abilities,” Trixie smirked before turning to the applauding crowd, “Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails!

=So far, she’s been doing things that have been harmless. I noticed that she was quick on untying Applejack as well= Drobot noted.

“What we need is another unicorn to challenge her. Someone with some magic of her own!” Sparx declared.

“Yeah! A unicorn to show this unicorn who's boss,” Pinkie Pie added as Applejack walked over to them.

“A real unicorn t’ unicorn tussle,” Applebloom added as Twilight began to sweat.

“Uh…” Twilight gulped.

“Enough. Enough, all of you. I take your hint, but Rarity is above such nonsense. Boomer and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but Rarity conducts herself with beauty and grace,” the white Unicorn of the group informed.

“Ooo, what's the matter? Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rat's nest you call a mane?” Trixie asked before wondering why most of the audience cringed at that.

“Oh, it. Is. On! You may think you're tough with all of your so-called powers, but there's more to magic than your brutish ways,” Rarity informed as she walked onto the stage, “A unicorn needs to be more than just muscle. A unicorn needs to have style. A unicorn is not a unicorn without grace and beauty.”

“True. Though to admit, the rope was an accident,” Trixie informed before motioning for Rarity to go on.

“Very well,” Rarity curtsied.

Rarity took a small breath. She called upon the curtain of Trixie’s stage and swirled it around her. In a flash of light, the curtain had reshaped into an elegant, enticing dress. Many of the Stallions and a few Mares had to shove tissues up their bleeding noses at how the dress seemed to bring forth Rarity’s hourglass figure. Drobot noted that the dress seemed to have a Winter design to it in both colors and design. His response to the unasked question was made after that. The area grew slightly cold as Rarity began to call upon her Ice Manipulation Magic. She gently placed a hand on the ground and it rippled, snow surrounding the area. With a snap of her left hand, she created a proper Stallion made of snow wearing a matching snow-made outfit for her own dress. The snow-Stallion bowed as she curtsied. The two enjoyed a small dance that ended after a minute with Rarity giving another curtsy as the snow-Stallion dissipated into a light snow around her.

“Rarity won't let Trixie get the best of her! She's strong, she's beautiful, she's…” Sparx began.

“Quite the impressive Unicorn,” Trixie noted, interrupting Sparx’s statements, “You used your magic to fashion not only a winter wonderland, but also create formal attire most fitting for the season you were imitating.”

“Why thank you. I see you may be uncouth at times, but you understand fashion well.”

“True. You will be quite the challenge to be better than,” Trixie noted as her horn began to glow.

Her outfit began to shift before settling on a more rustic appearance. She wore a sweater-jacket with a pouch and a hood in the back. Her pants were a soft gray without any shoes or socks, letting her be barefooted. She had a sheppard’s cane made of a soft oak in her left hand while her mane had turned snow-white. Rarity raised a brow at her attire as Trixie focused magic through the cane. A soft blue design began to glow along the grooves of the cane. Trixie tapped the cane against a window she had levitated over. Frost appeared on it, surprising the Mane Six that were there along with Boomer and the dragons.

“Whoa! She knows Ice Magic?” Sparx gawked.

“I stumbled upon this strange structure a few years back outside of Equestria when I was traveling to improve my magic abilities, seemingly abandoned. I found a book on manipulating ice while I was there,” Trixie explained as she traced a rabbit in the window.

She gently tapped the rabbit she had drawn. On the other side, a rabbit made of snow hopped out of the window. It bounced around the audience above their heads, sometimes going down to nuzzle one of the Colts, Fillies, or Foals that were there. Trixie swung her cane and the snow on her stage moved before it began to move around the area, taking on the appearance of birds, manta rays, and even goldfish. Trixie motioned for the snow animals to come together before she dispersed them into a gentle snowfall over the audience while using the remaining curtains to make the younger members of the audience jackets to handle the cold. Trixie bowed as her attire changed back as the crowd began to applaud once more.

“I must admit defeat for now,” Rarity noted, “You obviously have much more experience with your ice manipulation than I do.”

“Thank you,” Trixie bowed.

“You know, I was kinda expecting her to turn Rarity’s hair green,” Sparx noted.

“Green?!” Rarity gasped as she brought a mirror out from the open treasure chest Trixie had beside her.

“Oh, wait! That’s a trick mirror! It’s casted to make you look like your hair and tail are…” Trixie winced as Rarity screamed, “…green.”

“Ugh, no. Green hair! Not green hair!” Rarity began to cry as she sped off, “Such an awful, awful color!”

“Well, I never!” a green-haired Mare snorted.

“Well Twilight, guess it's up to you. Come on, show her what you're made of,” Sparx offered before realizing that Twilight wasn’t responding, “…Twilight? Somewhat sister of mine?”

=She left to not be caught up in trying to go onto the stage= Drobot explained.

“Oh come on!” Sparx shouted.

“It seems no one else would like to perform today to see if they can one up Trixie. Very well then, then allow me to end my performance for today with some of my own magic,” Trixie informed.

“Ha! Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing unicorn in all of Equestria. Huh, was there ever any doubt?” Trixie stretched out on a chair as Snips and Snails ran over, carrying a smoothie on a platter.

“Here's your smoothie you asked for, with extra hay, just how you like it,” Snips informed.

“Mmm, hay…” Snails drooled as Trixie used her magic to drink her smoothie before noticing they were still there.

“Yes?”

“Um, tell us another story Great and Powerful Trixie,” Snails pleaded.

“Trixie is far too exhausted from performing feats beyond imagination from today,” Trixie replied as she waved them off, “Begone with you until morning. And Trixie appreciates you bringing her the smoothie.”

“Oh, of course, Great and Powerful Trixie,” Snails bowed.

“Anything you say. We are at your beck and call,” Snips agreed as they walked away.

Trixie waited until they left before giving a soft giggle, “Ah, Colts and their little crushes.” She got up and walked back into her cart, “Well now, time for Trixie to rest for a bit and do what she always does once her shows are over when there are volunteers.”

“Now then y’all jest do this and there ya go!” Applejack grinned as AppleBloom stirred a pot, using a stepping stool to look into the pot, “That’s th’ way t’ cook apple stew!”

“Heh-heh. Thanks, big sis,” AppleBloom beamed before hearing a knock on the door.

“Ah’ll git it,” Applejack noted, “Now don’t be touchin’ anythin’ while ah’m gone, got it?”

“Okay, big sis,” AppleBloom nodded.

Applejack walked over to the front door. She proceeded to open the door before looking around. No one was there. She looked down and to see a rope. She picked it up and blinked in surprise.

“That there sure is strange. This here rope’s heavier than a basket full o’ apples,” Applejack noted before seeing a note, “‘Mah thanks fer bein’ part o’ th’ show with Trixie. Please accept this gift as a way o’ sayin’ ‘Sorry fer th’ trouble with th’ snake-rope trick.’ Lunamoon.’ Heh. Must be her manager or somethin’.” She hefted the rope onto her left shoulder, “But it’s mighty fine o’ her t’ do this.”

“For the last time, Rarity; your hair and tail are not seaweed green!” Rainbow rolled her eyes as she and Fluttershy stood outside the door to Carousel Boutique, the cyan Pegasus keeping an arm wrapped around the pale grayish-gold Pegasus's waist.

“Excuse me. But I require a signature,” a voice noted.

Fluttershy nodded as Rainbow continued to knock on the door. The Pegasus never noticed her fellow winged Equine was signing something before being given a stone.

“Please give this to Ms. Rarity once she is willing to come out,” the voice noted before the owner left.

“I cannot come out! Never again!” Rarity sobbed behind the door.

“…You have a Sapphire Heart,” Fluttershy gently informed before Rarity threw the door open and pulled them (and the heart-shaped sapphire Fluttershy now had) inside.

“How did you come across this?!” Rarity gasped as she took the hand-sized gem and began to examine it.

“A Unicorn gave it to me to give to you,” Fluttershy replied gently before giving Rarity a folded note, “It came with this.”

“Hm?” Rarity was too focused on examining the gem, so Rainbow took the note.

“‘Dear Unicorn who was unfortunate to look into one of Trixie’s joke mirrors, I formally apologize for that accident as it was unintentional. As an apology, I give to you this Sapphire Heart Trixie had been given. Do not worry, we have two more in the cart. Lunamoon,’” Rainbow read with a raised brow, “Okay. What the hay did I miss today?”

“What are you two doing?” Sparx asked as he saw Snips and Snails carrying another smoothie.

“Just bringin' the Great and Powerful Trixie a smoothie,” Snips replied.

“How can you fall for her lameness? She's just a show-off. Unlike Twilight, who…” Sparx began.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished an Ursa Major. Can your Twilight claim that?” Snips interrupted the dragonfly.

“Oh really? Were you guys actually there?” Sparx inquired.

“Well, eh, uh…no, but…”

“But nothin'. The proof is in the pudding,” Sparx replied before Snails laughed.

“I like pudding,” Snails stated before Sparx rolled his eyes.

“Look, unless an Ursa Major comes waltzing up the street for Trixie to vanquish, I am not gonna believe a word she says, and neither should you!” Sparx warned, “Boasting about something like that is some bad stuff. Not like me, who helped beat a God to become a God of the Llama people! See ya!”

“Hm, an Ursa walkin' up the street, hey?” Snips rubbed his chin in thought before grinning at Snails, “Snails! Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?”

“Why is it they call it a flea market when they don't really sell fleas?”

“Yeah, uh…” Snips stopped at that question before facepalming, “Snails, I am going to hurt you later. Now come on.”

“Twilight, would you put down that book and just listen to me?” Spyro sighed as Twilight sat at a desk, reading, while he, Sparx, and Drobot were all sitting nearby.

“Didn't you see how they hated Trixie's bragging, Spyro? If I go out there and show off my magic, I run the risk of losing them as friends.”

=The situation you are describing is implausible= Drobot informed =I see no problem with your magic abilities=

“Tinfoil for Lips is right, about it not being the same thing, Twilight,” Sparx pointed out as Drobot frowned at him, “You'll be using your magic to stand up for your friends!”

“No, you two, it's exactly the same,” Twilight argued as she turned to them.

“Twilight, you shouldn’t worry about it. Remember that she seemed like a bragger, but she never directly insulted Boomer, Applejack, or even Rarity,” Spyro informed, “In fact, she complimented each of what they showed her, upstaged them a bit with magic, and even apologized to Applejack for tying up her legs when it was supposed to be her arms.”

“Yeah, Twilight, plus any one of these tricks, even the teeniest, would be enough to show up Trixie,” Sparx added.

“I don't want to be seen as a bragger like Trixie,” Twilight frowned before sighing, “But I’ll just go talk to her later, okay?”

“But you're the best!” Sparx argued.

“Uh. Please, Sparx, I said no!” Twilight facepalmed before walking over to a shelf to get another book, not really seeing the point in using magic to get a book she could easily reach.

“If that's the way you want to be, then fine,” Sparx frowned as he flew out.

=Is she like this always?= Drobot whispered.

“More times that you’ll understand,” Spyro replied.

“Oh, how we gonna find an Ursa Major when I can't even see my own hoof in front of my face?” Snips groaned as he and Snails walked through the Everfree Forest.

“Hold on,” Snails grunted before his horn lit up a bit, illuminating the two.

“Oh, heh. That's better,” Snips grinned as they continued on towards a cave when they heard growling.

“I knew I should’ve stayed with the Llama People, but no. I just had to go out and help save the world,” Sparx grumbled before seeing Snips and Snails running in his direction, screaming, “Hey, guys, where ya goin'?

“Can't talk now!” Snips replied.

“Got a major problem!” Snail added as they skidded to a halt before they pointed behind them.

“Yeah, Ursa Major, to be exact,” Snips gulped before a roar went off.

“Oh, you didn’t,” Sparx paled.

A massive figure emerged from the forest, roaring. It was easily two-stories high and was in the shape of a bear. Its entire form seemed to be ethereal, made of a blue energy with multiple stars within it. Sparx noticed the tail had ‘stars’ that were of the little dipper.

“You did,” Sparx gulped.

Snips and Snails hugged each other and screamed, “Trixie!”

“Mommy and Llama People!” Sparx cried out before they fled.

“Trixie! Trixie!” the two colts screamed in fear as they banged on her mode of transportation/transformable stage’s door until Trixie poked her head out with a twitching eye.

“Trixie thought she said the Great and Powerful Trixie did not want to be disturbed,” Trixie informed.

“We-- We have a-a tiny problem,” Snips gulped nervously.

“Actually, it's a big one,” Snails corrected.

“What is so important that you cannot wait until morning to disturb Trixie?” Trixie asked in annoyance before hearing a roar and saw the bear looming over one of the nearby buildings, “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding Trixie…An Ursa Minor? Here?!”

“Twilight! You've gotta come! Quick!” Sparx screamed as he flew into the library/place of residence.

“I already told you, Sparx, I don't wanna show up Trixie!” Twilight argued.

“No, you don't understand, it's…” Sparx began before a roar caused the library to rumble and send some books off the shelves, “Oh, come on! I just cleaned up the place before leaving off in a huff!”

“Uh, is that what I think it is?” Twilight asked after she, Spyro, and Sparx rushed outside.

“Majorly,” Sparx replied, “Ursa Major!”

“Great and Powerful Trixie, you've got to vanquish the Ursa,” Snips gulped.

“Yeah, vanquish so we can watch.”

“It took a lot of trouble to get that thing here.”

“Wait, you brought this here?” Trixie demanded before scowling at them, “Are you out of your little pony minds?!”

“But, you're the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Snips argued.

“Yeah, remember? You defeated an Ursa Major,” Snails added before the Ursa roared as slammed a paw down on the ground.

“Trixie does not use magic on babies!” Trixie snapped.

“A baby?!” Snips and Snails exclaimed.

“That is an Ursa Minor, a baby of the Ursa Major! What did you two do to anger a baby of all things?!”

“…Um…Hornet’s nest?” Snips chuckled nervously.

“…If Trixie did not care for children, Trixie would slap you both for this idiotic idea,” Trixie frowned as she pulled her flute out and a few piles of rope, “Trixie is going to be kicking herself for this later, but Trixie has no idea how to calm down a rudely awakened Ursa Minor. Perhaps I’ll try today’s acts for inspiration…”

Trixie began to channel her magic through it once more. She began to let out a gentle melody from her flute, akin to the one she used on Applejack earlier that morning. The ropes came ‘alive’ and ‘hissed’ in unison. They slithered about before entangling one of the Ursa’s legs. The Ursa saw it and tore the rope off with a swipe of one of its claws.

“Aw, come on, Trixie,” Snips whined.

“Stop goofin' around and vanquish it, eh?” Snails asked before Trixie glared at them to be quiet.

She began to approach the Ursa as her nightgown slowly faded away, revealing her earlier ‘winter’ attire. She began to summon as much ice as she could to form a way to cage the Ursa. The Ursa roared before managing to break the ice trying to bind it before charging at the three. Trixie’s outfit changed back before she teleported herself and the two Colts away, letting her cart suffer being crushed.

“Oh, this is bad. So very, very bad…” Trixie gulped, “There is no way Trixie will use fireworks on an Ursa Minor…”

“What's going on?” Twilight asked as she ran over with Spyro and Sparx.

“We brought an Ursa to town,” Snips replied.

“You what!?!” Twilight and Spyro screamed.

“Don't worry, the Great and Powerful Trixie will vanquish it,” Snails assured before Trixie frowned at him.

“I can't.”

Snips and Snails gasped at that, “What!?”

“The Ursa you brought is an Ursa Minor. Do you realize that if you woke the baby up, you’ve probably woken up the mother?!” Trixie scolded, “Ugh! And I’ve told you both already, I may have taken down an Ursa Major, but that was because it was attacking that town and it had no children! It was a lone male. If the Ursa Major that is mother to that Ursa Minor over there comes, I’m not going near it at all!”

“B-But why?” Snails gawked.

“No child should lose their mother,” Trixie replied, “You only get one real mother in life and I do not want to cause that to happen to even an Ursa Minor.”

“Wait, so that story about you killing a Major was real?!” Sparx gawked.

“If I still had my cart, I would gladly show you the photo I kept along with the newspaper article,” Trixie replied, “But now…I have no idea how to prevent this from continuing on.”

“…Let me, then,” Twilight informed.

She walked by them. She gulped nervously before taking a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. She began to summon her magic. The wind began to pick up a bit, hitting some nearby flora. A soft, gentle melody began to go off from the flora, carried around by the wind to the Ursa Minor.

“Nice use of number sixteen,” Sparx noted.

A metallic groan began to go off in the air, just barely heard in the melody playing. Spyro turned to the nearby water-tower to see the top of it was being pulled off, the item covered in Twilight’s magic aura. It flipped upside-down and the water inside it was dropped into the dam that it was floating over. It made its way to Sweet Apple Acres. There, Big Mac yawned as he was keeping watch over the apple fields. He gazed up to see the town’s water tower go into the barn his family with help from Drobot and Spyro had built for the cows in trade of them sharing their milk as rent. He raised a brow when he heard various moos go off.

“Golly, dont'cha know?” he heard one of them gasp as the water tower flew off, filling with milk.

Big Macintosh slowly blinked once. He got up and backed away into the house. The next morning would have his family seeing him in the bomb shelter, a Baked Bad he saved from the incident on hand as ammunition. The only other who had seen what happened the night before knew what he had seen and knew just who did it.

“That's new,” Sparx blinked as the milk-filled water container flew over them.

“Trixie, are you good enough with Ice Magic to form a nipple for this?” Twilight grunted.

“Um, y-yes! Of course Trixie can do that!” Trixie replied as her outfit changed back into her other one once more before she swung her staff and sent ice magic at the container, giving it a baby bottle’s nipple on the top.

The ‘bottle’ flew over to the Ursa Minor. In its starting-to-relax state, it began to drink the milk, grabbing it while Twilight’s magic aura faded from it. Twilight groaned a little as the magic aura around her horn flared up and let her float the entire creature into the air. Nearby, Applejack was running over just as the others of the Mane Six ran up, Drobot and Boomer following.

“What? You again?” Applejack frowned.

“It’s not Trixie’s fault the beast was here. Blame the two who awoke it with a hornet’s nest,” Trixie pointed at Snips and Snails.

It was then Twilight began to rock the Ursa Minor in tune with the melody. Slowly, the Ursa Minor slowly closed its eyes and began to fall asleep. Once Twilight was sure it was asleep, she began to have it float away.

“…Was that just an Ursa M-Minor?” Fluttershy gulped before she began to look around in fear, “Ohhh…Please tell me I did not just see an Ursa Minor.”
=You did not just see an Ursa Minor=

“Oh, that’s good…”

“You saw a sleeping Ursa Minor,” Boomer interrupted as he watched it being floated away, “Whoo-wee! Sparkles here sure does have some strong magic.”

“Eep!” Twilight froze up, nearly dropping the Ursa Minor.

“Don’t stop now,” Trixie advised, summoning her own magic aura to stop the Ursa Minor from falling, “Ignore those around you. Focus on just the act for the moment. We have to make sure that the Ursa Major doesn’t wake up to find her baby missing.” She grit her teeth as she began to shake lightly, “Now please hurry and get this right.”

“Heavens to Betsy. We knew she had ability, but not that much!” Applejack noted as Twilight began to take over once more.

“Trixie must admit defeat today,” Trixie noted as Twilight managed to levitate the Ursa Minor back to its home, having to use more magic to retrace the steps of the Ursa Minor in order to find its home, “Trixie could not subdue the child yet she has.”

“I'm sorry. Please, please don't hate me!” Twilight begged to her friends.

“Hate you?” everyone but Trixie, Snips, Spyro, Sparx, and Snails repeated.

“Why, whatever do you mean, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Ugh! This again!” Sparx groaned, “Twilight here thought you were all gonna be ticked off with her and not want to be her friend if she one-upped Trixie here on magic.”

“Is that there true, Twi?” Applejack asked as she knelt down to the collapsed Unicorn.

“Well, I know how much you all hated Trixie's showing off with her magic tricks, and I just thought…” Twilight began.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Magic's got nothing to do with it. Trixie's just a loudmouth,” Boomer informed.

“Most unpleasant.”

“All hat and no cattle.”

“Ahem. Trixie is right here and that was just Trixie’s stage personality,” Trixie pointed out.

“Not gonna change th’ opinion ah jest said aside from this; y’all are modest when th’ time needs y’all t’ be and yer a fair sport, never mocked us at all fer bein’ one-upped,” Applejack pointed.

“Trixie is a performer, not a bully,” the Unicorn snorted.

“So, you don't mind my magic tricks?” Twilight asked.

“Are you kidding me? I haven’t seen Trixie’s act yet, but I can tell you that I’d never get ticked off by you showing your magic when you need to,” Rainbow snorted.

“You help others with it,” Fluttershy added.

“It’s real great to have when you help me decorate, too!” Pinkie Pie added with a bounce.

“Your magic is a part of who you are, sugarcube, and we like who you are. We're proud to have such a powerful, talented unicorn as our friend,” Applejack assured, putting an assuring hand on Twilight’s shoulder and squeezed it gently.

“And after whuppin' that ursa's hind quarters, we're even prouder,” Rainbow smirked.

“It was more of her having it fall asleep,” Fluttershy corrected softly.

“You are?” Twilight asked, earning nods from everyone.

“So, Twilight, how'd you know what to do with that Ursa Minor?” Sparx asked.

“That's what I was doing when you came looking for me. I was so intrigued by Trixie's stage bragging on the subject that I was compelled to do a little reading up on them,” Twilight informed.

“So it is possible to vanquish an Ursa Major all by yourself?” Rainbow asked.

“That wasn't an Ursa Major, it was a baby, an Ursa Minor,” Twilight explained to the purple dragon, “And it wasn't rampaging, Rainbow. It was just cranky because someponywoke it up.”

“Well, if that was an Ursa Minor, then what's an Ursa Major like?” Sparx asked.

“You don't wanna know,” Trixie shuddered, “It was…most unpleasant. Breath reeked of decaying flesh, blood, and bones. Claws that cut through the sturdiest of metals like an extremely-heated knife through butter. And it had two massive fangs that went down five meters from its jaw. If it were Pony-sized, then it would only be five inches below its jaws.” She hugged herself, “I had to spend a month in the hospital due to Magical Exhaustion after killing it with the strongest Ice Spell I had. Trixie never knew she even had it. It…It felt dark, as if I were engulfed in nothing but rage. A…A…”

“A Fury,” Spyro narrowed his eyes before writing something down and sending it off to Canterlot, “You’re spending the night with us. For a pony to use a Fury…Something’s up with you.”

“Spyro…What did you send?” Twilight asked.

“A note for Cyril,” Spyro replied before glaring at the starting-to-retreat Snips and Snails, “Hold it, you two.”

“Wh-What?” Snails gulped before he began to give nervous laughter at the group glaring down at him, “Uh, we're sorry that we woke up the Ursa Minor.”

“We just wanted to see some awesome magic,” Snail added.

“Ugh! What is with Colts and doing crazy things?!” Trixie facepalmed.

“Yeah! And the way you vanquished that Ursa Minor was awesome!” Snips exclaimed as he looked at Twilight.

“The Ursa Minor was put to sleep. He wasn’t vanquished,” Twilight corrected.

“We deserve whatever punishment you give us,” Snails informed.

“At least one of you is willing to be given punishment,” Applejack noted.

“For starters, you can clean up this mess,” Spyro motioned to the wreckage caused by the Ursa Minor, “And…What do you think, Twilight? Wanna give give them number twenty five?”

“Oh, twenty five! Yes! And I think I deserve it, too,” Sparx grinned.

“None for you,” Spyro ordered.

“Oh, come on. That Ursa Minor really scared me,” Sparx argued as Twilight rolled her eyes.

Snips and Snails raised a brow, “Heah?”

“I think you're right, Spyro,” Twilight smirked before her horn glowed and the two Colts gained mustaches.

“Sweet!” the two exclaimed before they went off to start cleaning.

“You’re not really going to let them clean everything up are you? All by themselves?” Trixie asked.

“Not really,” Twilight replied, “Rainbow Dash, Applejack, go get some carts. Fluttershy, stay with Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie, you round up some Ponies that aren’t afraid of coming back to help clean up. Rarity, take Trixie back to the library and have Drobot watch her. Boomer, get some dynamite to blow up the larger debris.”

“Whoooo!” Boomer whooped before running off.

“Sparx, take a letter to Princess Celestia. Two actually,” Twilight informed before Sparx took out the paper and pen, “Ahem. ‘Dear Princess Celestia, I have learned a very valuable lesson about friendship: I was so afraid of being thought of as a showoff that I was hiding a part of who I am. My friends helped me realize that it's okay to be proud of your talents, and there are times when it's appropriate to show them off…Especially when you're standing up for your friends.’”

“Okay. And the other?”

“On it. ‘Dear Princess Celestia, We have a situation involving an Ursa Major and its cub being near our location. I had to use the water tower in order to lure the cub back to their cave. However, damages have already formed from its angered rampage through part of Ponyville. Current observations suggest thousands of Bits worth of damage, possibly 8500 worth of Bits.’”

“Got it,” Sparx nodded.

“Spyro?”

“Already sending them,” Spyro replied as he sent the scrolls to his adopted mother in Canterlot.

“So, you finally admit that you're the most talented unicorn in all of Ponyville?” Sparx asked as they-consisting of himself, Spyro, and Twilight-traversed through Ponyville, buildings already being rebuilt.

“Well, yeah, but it's nothing to brag about,” Twilight shrugged as they entered the library, where Cyril was at a nearby table with various vials about on it, “Uh…Cyril?”

“Fascinating, simply fascinating,” Cyril muttered before looking over at the sitting Trixie, “Do you realize that you’re one-fifteenth dragon? No wonder you were able to unleash a Fury.”

“What?” Trixie and Twilight blinked in confusion.

“Yes, yes. Then again, it is not surprising. One of your ancestors was a Kirin, the child born from the mating of dragon and Equine, primarily a Unicorn,” Cyril explained, “However, the Fury you released recently is wakening your ancestral blood. There will be changes in you, minute at the best hope, but as the Dragon Elder of Ice, it seems that I will be the one who will need to give you assistance in this time of need.”

“Trixie needs more information, please.”

“…Do you always do this?”

“Only when Trixie is nervous or performing,” Trixie replied, earning a nod from Cyril.

“I see. Well then, I am Cyril. I am the Dragon Elder of Ice, meaning that I know all about the element of Ice. You have Ice Dragons as ancestors and because you used a Fury, it shows signs of you starting to ‘evolve’ in a sense,” Cyril explained, “Therefore, I am asking that you become my apprentice so that I may assist you in your time of need and so that I may pass on my knowledge of Ice to another.”

“…What?”

“He wants to take you in as his personal student,” Spyro translated for Trixie.

“…Then Trixie agrees to your offer,” Trixie informed.

“Marvelous!” Cyril beamed.

Author's Note

I'm really sorry it took so long to update.

Bridle Gossip

"Wow, what a gorgeous day!" Twilight awed as she looked at the sunny sky above them.

"Rainbow Dash must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away," Sparx noted.

"Maybe got the whole weather team here together for it," Spyro added, "So, Twilight, how was everything while I was up at Canterlot?"

"Oh, there was a big storm that lasted for exactly twenty four hours," Twilight informed, "They had to make it like that because the Pegasi missed a scheduled rain last week."

"I still don't get why they forgot last week," Sparx noted.

"I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine," Twilight ignored Sparx before noticing something, "...What? Where is everypony?"

Sparx and Spyro noticed as well. The entire shopping district for Ponyville was bare and void of life. Spyro sniffed the air and noticed that all the ponies were hiding in the buildings...and they were afraid.

"Is it some sort of pony holiday?" Sparx asked.

"Not that I know of."

"Does my breath stink?" Sparx asked before exhaling in front of her.

"Not more than usual," Twilight replied, waving the stink away.

"Is it..." Sparx began to look shiftily, "...Viking Zombies?!

"Uh... not very likely," Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Not likely... but possible?" Sparx whimpered.

"It's not that, you two," Spyro informed, "From what I'm whiffing, everyone's inside the buildings and hiding. I think they're...afraid of something."

"...Is Applejack having her period?" Sparx asked before a magic-made flyswatter slapped him on the head, "Gah! It's the Flyswatter Aliens! They've come to collect the Dragonflies for their collection!"

"You had the nightmare again, didn't you?" Spyro frowned.

"Psst! Twilight! Sparx! Spyro!" a voice whispered before the trio saw Pinkie Pie peeking out of Sugarcube Corner, "Come here! Come! Here! Hurry! Before she gets you!"

Twilight sighed before she walked calmly into the bakery with Spyro, Sparx's natural lighting gently illuminating their way into the dark room, the dragonfly hugging Spyro's horn while shivering.

"Who?! The zombie pony?" Sparx asked.

"Z-Zombie pony?!" Pinkie Pie whimpered, shining her flashlight from under her.

"Gah!" Sparx screamed.

"Sparx! There are no zombie ponies," Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Pinkie, what are you doing here alone in the dark?" Spyro asked.

"I'm not alone in the dark," Pinkie Pie replied before Sparx's glow revealed the other friends and Applejack's little sister.

"Okay then, what are you all doing here in the dark?" Twilight asked, looking at them all in confusion.

"We're hidin' from her!" Applejack informed as she discreetly pointed out the window.

Twilight raised a brow before sharing a look with Spyro. The two looked out the window to see someone in a brown cloak, using a staff to scratch at the ground. Spyro and Twilight were pulled away just before the figure turned to the window. Twilight looked at the girls in annoyance as Spyro just raised a brow in confusion.

"Did you see her, Twilight? Did you see... Zecora?" the little yellow filly with apple red hair asked.

"Apple Bloom! I told you never to say that name," Applejack scolded.

"Well, I saw her glance this way..." Twilight noted.

"Glance evilly this way," Pinkie Pie injected, earning an annoyed look from Spyro and Twilight.

"...And then a bunch of you flip out for no good reason," Spyro finished for Twilight.

"No good reason?" Applejack demanded as she put an arm around Apple BLoom, "Ya call protectin' yer kin 'no good reason?'"

"No, protecting your family is a good trait," Spyro noted.

"Why, as soon as mah sister saw Zecora ridin' into town, she started shakin' in her lil' horseshoes."

"Did not!" Apple Bloom argued, her voice shaking as she was shaken by Applejack.

"So Ah swept her up and brought her here."

"I walked here myself!" Apple Bloom argued, blushing.

"For safe keepin'."

"Applejack, I'm not a baby!" Apple Bloom stomped her foot on the ground, "Ah can take care of myself!"

"Not from that creepy Zecora," Applejack argued.

"I don't know...She's smaller than you girls, meaning she can get into small spaces you all can't," Sparx noted before getting a glare from Applejack.

"She's mysterious," Fluttershy noted.

"Sinister," RD added.

"And spoooooky!" do I even need to say who the pink pony who said this is?

Twilight and Spyro facepalmed, the former groaning in annoyance. They glanced out the window...only to be nearly buried under the others as they looked out as well. The figure reached up to their hood and removed it, revealing a light-grey coat with their black and white hair done in a mohawk. In their ears was a pair of large, gold, hoop earrings. The girls, minus Twilight, gasped.

"Will you cut that out?" Twilight demanded.

"Just look at those stripes! So garish!" Rarity shuddered.

"She's a zebra," Twilight stated.

"A what!?" the others asked.

"A zebra. They're from Girafrica and are a nomadic species. They're amazing healers, but have a quirk of rhyming," Spyro informed, "And her stripes aren't a fashion choice Rarity, they're what she was born with."

"Mare down! Mare down!" Sparx yelped as Rarity fainted.

"Born where? Ah've never seen a pony like that in these parts, 'cept... her!"

"Girafrica," Spyro informed, "Seriously. Does anyone here go to the library? We have an entire bookshelf filled with other equine species in the world. But where does she live here?"

"That's just it, she lives in...th' Everfree Forest!" Applejack declared before a crash that sounded like a thunderclap went off.

"Sparx!" Twilight and Spyro groaned/shouted.

"Sorry! That was me!" Boomer called from the kitchen, "Was looking for any more Baked Bads."

"Th' Everfree Forest just ain't natural. Th' plants grow..."

"...Animals care for themselves..."

"...And the clouds move..."

"All on their own!" Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash finished in unison before Rarity fainted once more.

"And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff! She's so evil I even wrote a song about her!" Pinkie Pie informed.

"Here we go..." Rainbow sighed.

[Pinkie Pie]
She's an evil enchantress
She does evil dances
And if you look deep in her eyes
She'll put you in trances
Then what will she do?
She'll mix up an evil brew
Then she'll gobble you up
In a big tasty stew
Soooo... Watch out!

"Oh good Bahamut," Spyro muttered, "Please tell me you never sang that around her. If you do that, then we will be in big trouble with Griafrica...again."

"I said I was a sorry!" Sparx whined.

"It's a work in progress," Pinkie Pie informed.

"Do Equestria a favor, Pinkie Pie; never sing that again," Spyro advised, "And I will be informing mom and Cyril about this."

"What?! Why?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Like I said, I don't want another incident with Girafrica again. Not after what happened the last time."

"I said I was sorry!" Sparx whined.

"This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors. Now tell me; what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?" Twilight demanded.

"Well..." Rainbow looked about, "Once a month, she comes into Ponyville."

"Oooooh," Twilight dramatically commented.

"Then, she lurks by the stores," Rarity added.

"Oh, my!" Twilight dramatically gasped.

"And then, she digs at the ground," Fluttershy gulped.

"Good gracious!" Twilight dramatically reacted, Apple Bloom walking up over to her, "Okay, I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?"

"Yeah! Maybe she's just tryin' to be neighborly," Apple Bloom agreed, earning a small smile from Twilight and Spyro.

"See? Listen to her," Sparx motioned to Apple Bloom.

"And maybe she's not lurking by the stores, maybe she's going to them, lurk free, to do some shopping?" Twilight continued.

"Yeah! Everypony likes to shop," Apple Bloom agreed, "You know what Ah think?"

"Apple Bloom! Hush and let th' big ponies talk," Applejack scooted her off, Twilight frowning at her friend's action.

"Ah am a big pony!" Apple Bloom muttered under her breath.

"To me, everyone's big," Sparx noted as he landed on her shoulder, "But, I get what you're saying. Glad to see not everyone here in Ponyville is racist."

"Racist?"

"W-what about digging at the ground? You've got to admit that's weird," Rainbow argued.

"What if she's digging for innocent creatures?" Fluttershy asked as Pinkie Pie began to sing again.

"I am sure there is an explanation for everything Zecora does. And if anypony here were actually brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth," Twilight argued.

"Well, Ah'm brave enough," Apple Bloom informed as she discreetly opened the door and snuck out, "I'm gonna find out myself."

"Whoa! Wait up," Sparx noted as he landed on her large, pink bow, "I'll come with you."

"Thanks," Apple Bloom nodded.

"Hey. If you get in trouble, I don't want to be the guy who gets blamed," Sparx shrugged.

With that, the two left. They watched, getting closer through hiding behind things, as Zecora finished digging at the ground with her staff. Shaking her head, she put her hood back up and walked off. Zecora didn't notice as Apple Bloom continued to follow, hiding in the bushes with Sparx.

"You ponies are being ridiculous!" Spyro snapped, "Seriously! And I swear if you don't stop singing that song, Pinkie Pie, I will not be able to control my actions!"

"Well, I heard that Zecora eats hay," Pinkie Pie noted.

"Pinkie, I eat hay; you eat hay!" Twilight countered.

"Yeah, but I heard it's the evil way she eats hay," Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes.

"There's no such thing as an evil way to eat hay!" Spyro exclaimed, "Are you girls seriously acting like this?!"

"Hey! Where's Apple Bloom?" Applejack demanded.

"The door's open," Fluttershy gasped.

"She went outside!" Rarity exclaimed.

"And Zecora's still out there," Rainbow added, holding Fluttershy close.

Applejack sighed, "That silly lil' filly! Ah told her t' stay put!"

"Boomer, you stay here in case Apple Bloom comes back," Spyro ordered.

"Will do!" Boomer's hand gave the 'OK' symbol before going back into the kitchen.

Apple Bloom peeked out of the last bush before the Everfree Forest. She gulped nervously before taking a deep breath and ran into it, Sparx holding her bow tightly. She watched Zecora carefully avoid a patch of blue flowers with blue leaves. The dragonfly and the pony looked at each other before Apple Bloom quickly and carefully avoided the flowers as well.

"Apple Bloom?"

Apple Bloom squeaked as Zecora turned to see the filly. Sparx let out a strangled cry before hiding in Apple Bloom's hair. Zecora raised a brow under her hood at seeing the filly as she was looking behind her to see the girls were all there, Spyro flying a few feet above them.

"You get back here right now!" Applejack ordered.

"Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!" Zecora warned as she backed away into the forest.

"Leaves of blue?" Spyro repeated before noticing the girls had all ended up standing in the patch of blue leaves.

"Y-you keep your creepy mumbo-jumbo to yourself, ya hear?" Applejack demanded, picking Apple Bloom up in her arms.

"I'm really sorry about them!" Twilight apologized, "They've never met a zebra before!"

"Oh brother," Spyro sighed.

"Beware! Beware!"

"Yeah, back at ya, Zecora! You and your lame curse are the ones who better beware!"

"And you!" Applejack frowned at Apple Bloom, "Why couldn't you just listen to yer big sister?"

"I...I..."

"Who knows what kind of nasty curse Zecora could have just put on you?" Applejack didn't even let her finish.

"Just like in my song!"

"You guys, there's no such thing as curses!"

"Well, that's interesting to hear coming from Miss Magic Pants herself," Rainbow snorted.

"My magic, real magic, comes from within. It's a skill you're born with. Curses are artificial, fake magic. It's conjured with potions and incantations; all smoke and mirrors meant to scare. But curses have no real power, they're just an old pony tale," Twilight informed.

"Just you wait, Twilight. You're gonna learn that some pony tales really are true," Applejack advised.

"And you five will be expecting angry letters written to you all from mom later," Spyro informed, earning looks from the girls, "While we were coming here, I've been writing a letter to mom about this situation. And considering what you're all saying, I will be sending it once I get back to the library."

"What?! B-But Zecora..."

"Is an innocent Zebra," Spyro informed, "You just assume she's evil because she doesn't look like any of you."

"You actually sent it?" Twilight asked as Spyro finished buttoning his pajama shirt.

"Of course I did," Spyro replied, "I just...sent it to Ignitus."

"...I'm not sure if that's better or worse," Twilight noted before Spyro hiccuped and a scroll landed in his hands.

"..." Spyro opened it, "'Spyro: Thank you for informing us about this. While Cyril was unable to respond to your message as he is currently giving Trixie a lesson about her abilities, he would like to inform you that he does not like zebras because of an incident that we all swore we would never explain.' Bahamut-dang it, Master Cyril. 'Therefore, we will inform Celestia about this if and only if you and Twilight are unable to show them that Zecora is not as bad as they say she is. When I was living there, Zecora was a great conversationalist, even if Zebras can only speak in rhyme. Even with my new location, I've been making sure to visit her every few weeks to have our normal talks and am planning to see her tomorrow. If you wish, you can have the girls come along and be proved wrong in their actions against her. From: Ignitus.'"

"That makes sense," Twilight noted, "If Ignitus has been living there for years now, it isn't a surprise that he'd know this Zecora."

Spyro nodded, "So...Are we going to do it?"

"Sure. Tomorrow, we'll round up the girls, Boomer, and Drobot, and go with Ignitus to see her," Twilight assured as she put her brush down.

"Good," Spyro nodded.

Twilight Sparkle groaned as she got out of bed, "Ugh... what a dream... Curses, schmurses." she walked over to her bedroom mirror, "Whoa!" she giggled a bit as she saw her hair was a mess, "Maybe Zecora cursed my hair." she gave a nervous laugh as she brushed her hair...before gasping at the floppy horn she now had, blue spots covering it, "Or she cursed my horn!"

Spyro's eyes snapped open upon hearing Twilight's scream. He quickly dashed towards her room.

"Twilight! Are you o...?" Spyro began as he entered her bedroom...only to see the floppy horn, "...Uh..."

"No no no no no! None of these books have a cure!" Twilight groaned as she looked at her disorganized library, "Ugh! There has to be a real reason for this! An illness? An allergy?!"

"A curse!" Sparx argue.

"I said a real reason. Something that points to something real."

"How about this one?" Sparx offered as Spyro showed her a book.

"'Supernaturals'? Sparx, the word supernatural refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies, which are as make-believe as curses. This book is just a bunch of hooey!"

"Twilight, read the rest of the dang book," Spyro frowned, "Seriously, do I have to add that even you, Mom's best student, is acting prejudiced against a zebra? Especially since it hasn't even been two years since the last incident?"

"..." Twilight looked back at the book, "'Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super.'" she blushed, "Oh. ...I guess that this isn't..."

"Ah pfurse!" a muffled voice screamed before Pinkie Pie bounced in, her tongue swollen and covered in blue spots.

"A purse? How could it be a purse?" Sparx asked.

"Pinkie? What happened?" Twilight asked.

"Pee pah Zthecora! Sthe put a cursthe on me!"

"Hey, say it, don't spray it, Pinkie!" Spyro groaned as he wiped the spit off his face.

"Allow me. I happen to speak 'spit-talk,'" Boomer informed as he entered, "She said 'A curse! It was Zecora! She put a curse on me!'"

"Seriously. It's not a curse. Didn't you hear her yesterday about the blue leaves?" Spyro demanded before Rainbow Dash crashed into the side of the doorway.

"Ow!" thud "Oh! Help..." thud, "OW! Me!" Spyro opened the window, barely letting Rainbow in to crash into a wall and revealed her wings were upside down, "OW! I'm cursed!"

"I'm afraid I have to agree," the three looked to see a mound of white, messy hair that was blown a bit for a brief moment to show Rarity's annoyed expression.

"Oh sweet lord!" Sparx freaked.

"Ah hate t' say Ah told ya so, Twilight," a squeaky voice from the door made them look to see a tiny Applejack on Apple Bloom's shoulder, wearing a tiny dress from a doll, "but Ah told ya so!"

"...Wow," Spyro blinked as Drobot, Boomer, and Fluttershy entered.

"It's a curse, Ah tells ya!"

"Okay. I'm not gonna take you seriously with that voice," Sparx snickered.

"But Fluttershy... seems just fine!" Twilight argued, "Spyro as well!"

"That's because I didn't walk through the blue leaves," Spyro pointed out as he skimmed through the book Supernaturals.

"Yes, there doesn't seem to be a thing wrong with them, even if Fluttershy did go through the leaves if what you say is true, Spyro," Rarity examined ever time she was able to blow the hair out of her eyes.

"Fluttershy? Are you okay? Is there something wrong with you?" Twilight asked, earning a nod from her, "Would you care to tell us?" she shook her head, "So... you're not going to tell us?" she nodded, "Yes you're not, or yes you will?"

"Good gravy, girl! What's wrong with you?!" Applejack demanded.

"I don't want to talk about it."

All of them went silent after that. It...It was just...okay, wow. Seriously? Her voice was quite deep now, almost perfect for the blues or something. It was after a few more moments of silence, did Sparx fall onto the table, holding his gut and laughing up a storm.

"This is hilarious! Look at all of you! We got: Hairity..." he pointed at Rarity before Rainbow Dash, "Rainbow Crash..." towards Pinkie now, "Spitty Pie..." he pointed at Applejack as she was put on the table by Apple Bloom, "Apple Teeny..." he then pointed at FLuttershy as she hid behind Drobot, blushing up a storm, "Flutterguy, and..." he looked at Twilight, "...Uh...Well, I got nothin'... 'Twilight Sparkle.' I mean seriously, I can't even work with that."

"This is no joke, Sparx," Twilight frowned at him, "Now start looking for more books so I can find a cure!"

"Seriously? Read the dang book!" Sparx groaned as he pointed at the book in Spyro's hands, who was leafing through it.

"I think we'll find a cure to this curse at Zecora's place!"

"It's not a curse!" Twilight and Spyro snapped as Rainbow crashed into a bookshelf.

"Ah agree with Dash! We'll go to Zecora's and force her t' remove this hex!" Applejack declared.

"It's not a hex either!" Twilight growled, her hair trying to ignite, before everyone but Apple Bloom, Drobot, and Spike started shouting at once.

"This is all my fault. If Ah hadn't followed Zecora in the first place, none of this would have happened," Apple Bloom frowned.

"Hey now. It's not your fault. Blame their stupidity," Sparx advised.

"Ah just gotta fix this, Sparx," Apple Bloom informed.

"You mean we gotta fix this," Sparx informed before zipping over to Drobot, "Yo, Drobot, I need some help escorting a little girl to see someone."

=Acknowledged= Drobot nodded before looking over at Apple Bloom.

"Now where does she think she's goin' this time?" Applejack frowned before she managed to jump into her sister's tail.

"ENOUGH!" Spyro roared out, "This is not a curse! If you'd just read this book, you'd..."

"I don't care what you two say, Twilight, Spyro. It's time to pony up and confront Zecora. Come on, girls. Are you with me?" Rainbow demanded.

"Ah am-pft!"

"And I as well," Rarity agreed.

"Uh, I don't know. Seems awfully dangerous," Fluttershy noted, Boomer trying to avoid snickering.

"How about you, Applejack?" Rainbow asked, not earning any reply, "...Applejack?"

"Pf-she's gone-pft!"

"Aah! Or somepony stepped on her!" Rarity freaked as they began to check their feet.

"...or sat on her?" Twilight guessed.

"I'm clean," Boomer informed.

"Rarity's hair!" Rainbow pointed at Rarity before Pinkie Pie tackled the Unicorn.

"Oh! OH! Pinkie, what are you doing? Ah, really. Aah! You ever hear of personal space?" Rarity demanded.

"Nopthe."

"Drobot and Apple Bloom are gone too!"

"I bet they went after Zecora," Rainbow informed.

"Well we better go find them. Come on girls, let's go," Twilight informed before the door opened.

"Excuse me, but is everyone here, Spyro?" Ignitus asked as he looked inside, "Oh dear. It seems you all stumbled into some Poison Joke."

"...Poison what?" Twilight blinked.

"It's in the book!" Spyro shoved the book Twilight dismissed into her face.

=Heat signatures indicate we are on the correct trail= Drobot informed.

"Thanks," Apple Bloom beamed.

"Stop right there!" a squeaky voice shouted, making Apple Bloom look at her tail to see AJ in it, "Turn around right now, missy!"

"No," Apple Bloom replied.

"No?! You can't ignore a direct order from yer big sister!" Applejack demanded before Spark picked her up and dropped her on a 'large' leaf, "Hey!"

"Hehehe. Sorry, Applejack, but Ah'm the big sister now," Apple Bloom giggled, "Besides, Drobot and Sparx are here, so Ah'll be fine."

"Apple Bloom, you come back here right this instant!" AJ shouted, yet Apple Bloom just ignored her as she held Drobot's non-robotic hand and made their way into the Everfree, "Ah'm gonna tell Big McIntosh on you! Aw, pony feathers."

"You know, he'll probably scold you and not her," Sparx noted, "I mean, she's not being ignorant for one."

"Hush up, you! She's a witch! Ah jest now it!" AJ argued, stomping her foot on the leaf.

"Do you have any proof?" Sparx asked, "And don't you dare mention how she looks! Seriously, don't do that. I may or may not have nearly caused Equestria to go to war with Griafrica because I did something that involved a zebra." AJ gave him a look, "Look. I-I'm just gonna go now. Gotta keep the light in this place for Apple Bloom!" he turned and zipped off, "Okay! See ya! Be good!"

"C'mon girls, troll, and dragons. We've got to get to Zecora's. Hurry!" Twilight ordered as she was about to charge into the forest when Ignitus stopped her with a wing.

"Perhaps you should allow me to lead," Ignitus advised, "I've lived here for a few years now and I know of the paths that are safe and which are not."

"Oh. R-Right," Twilight blushed.

"Hey, wait for me!" Rainbow called as she zipped by haphazardly.

"...We really need to get her to stop trying to fly while her wings are like that," Twilight noted.

"'I tried to stop her! But her wings are acting like they have a mind of their own!'" Boomer translated for Pinkie Pie, "'Seriously, I wonder if the guys who made this had that idea when they decided on what effects the Poison Joke would have on us.' Wait, what?" he turned to see no one beside him before turning to the forest where Ignitus was entering...with Pinkie Pie on his back and waving at them, "Gah! Wait up!"

Up ahead, Rainbow screamed before crashing into a few plants, "...Ow..."

"Rainbow!" Rainbow opened her eyes to see the tiny Applejack standing there with a set of reigns made of the plantlife in her arms, "Thank Celestia! There's no time to lose! I need to get to Zecora's pronto!" before Rainbow could say anything, AJ quickly set her up with the Earth Pony sitting on the Pegasus, using the pony's cleavage as a seat, "Giddyup pony!"

"Ex-CUSE me?" Rainbow demanded.

"YEEE-HAW!" AJ declared before slamming her heel into Rainbow, causing her body to take flight.

"What the...?!"

"No, Rainbow Dash. Other way!"

"Oh. I look horrible!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Plis place plooks horrible!"

"Meh. Looks nice to me," Boomer shrugged before Pinkie Pie showed Rarity the sight before them.

"Oh my. That place really does look horrible!" Rarity gasped.

The group of mares, one troll, and two dragons stood before a large tree, hollowed out to make a house. Tribal masks and different strange items, such as sticks decorated in black stripes, bound feathers, and spiral designs were scattered about the outside of the building. Peeking in through a window, the girls saw the inside was much like the outside.

"Nice decorations, if you like creepy!" Rarity noted.

"They're from her homeland," Ignitus pointed out before Zecora entered from the stairway, carrying a small pouch.

Without her robes, Zecora was revealed to be a beautiful zebra. Her body was quite fit and shapely, more than attractive enough to earn quite a few looks from the opposite gender. All she wore was a pair of fur-made cloths shaped into a knee-length skirt with a slit in the right side and a tube top. Beneath her skirt, the girls could see a sun spiral on her hip. She removed something from the pouch and put it into a bubling cauldron. She let out something in a strange language and Pinkie Pie gasped.

"Sthe sthtole my sthong! Shthe shtole mm mm!"

"She stole your song?" Boomer asked.

"Oh Pinkie. Doesn't sound anything like your song," Twilight noted.

"Ah. Hmm... Pbth!" Pinkie Pie zipped over to Fluttershy and began to whimper and give her sad eyes.

Fluttershy sighed.

[Fluttershy]
She's an evil enchantress
And she does evil dances
And if you look deep in her eyes
She will put you in trances
Then what would she do?
She'll mix up an evil brew
Then she'll gobble you up
In a big tasty stew
Soooo... Watch out.

Ignitus glanced at Spyro, who replied, "Yeah...Blame Pinkie Pie."

"I can assure you that she is not an evil enchantress," Ignitus frowned, "And I am truly ashamed and offended at that song you created about my friend, Pinkamena Diane Pie."

Pinkie Pie slumped at that, her mane and tail deflating a bit.

"You saw those terrible things. Now do you believe us Twilight?" Rarity asked.

"Scary looking masks, confusing incantations, and a great big bubbling cauldron?" Twilight asked.

"The incantation is actually an old tribal song she likes to sign when she's brewing or cooking," Ignitus informed before sniffing the air, "And it seems that she's making something I had to have when I first started living here."

"Mmm! The perfect temperature for ponies, I presume. Now, where is that metal dragon Drobot and little Apple Bloom?" Zecora asked.

"...Sit and stay quiet," Ignitus ordered before any of them could freak.

Once he was sure that they wouldn't do anything, Ignitus calmly approached the door to the treehouse. He rapped on it a few times. Inside, Zecora paused in her brewing to walk over to the door.

"Ah, Ignitus my friend. So good to see you again," Zecora greeted.

"Good day, Zecora," Ignitus greeted, "It's a pleasure to see you as well. Sadly, I have an issue at the moment. Did you by chance see a dragon that was part machine, a dragonfly that talks almost as much as Volteer-maybe even more-, and a little filly with a pink bow?"

"Indeed, I did see those three. Right now, they are helping me," Zecora explained, "Collecting my ingredients, Drobot and Apple Bloom. They should return with them soon. It is so nice to see, that someone from Ponyville doesn't seem to avoid me."

Ignitus nodded, "Indeed. Though, it may have been caused by rumors of you being a witch."

"I am no witch, yet again. I, my friend, am a Shaman," Zecora frowned.

"Yes, yes, I know there is a difference. But I do not think whoever spread the rumor did not," Ignitus informed, "Now then, I have brought along the mares that were inflicted with the Poison Joke and someone I have always hoped to see again."

Zecora raised a brow. Ignitus looked over at the girls, Boomer, and Spyro and motioned for them to come over. When Spyro was over, Zecora gasped before bowing.

"Oh, truly a glorious day this is compared to any past! The purple dragon is alive and here at last!"

"Oh, no, no, no. Please don't bow," Spyro blushed, "My name's Spyro. These are my friends, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Boomer." he winced a bit as he heard Rainbow crash down, hitting the house, "And the one who just crashed into your house, my apologies, is Rainbow. And, judging by the small thing on her neck, that is Applejack. All of them were affected by the Poison Joke."

"Hey," Boomer greeted.

"Hello," Twilight greeted.

"Zecora! Ah think we found all th' things ya asked for," Apple Bloom called as she and Drobot walked over, the filly's face covered by the basket of natural ingredients she was carrying.

"Apple Bloom! You're okay!" Applejack gasped in relief.

"Why wouldn't Ah be?" Apple Bloom asked, "And how'd ya get here? Sparx left ya on a leaf."

"Ah rode on Rainbow Dash," Applejack informed, "Dang blasted curse."

Zecora and Apple Bloom started to laugh.

"Sis, this isn't a curse," Apple Bloom informed.

"If you will remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact. 'Beware, beware you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke.'"

"It was a warnin'. About that blue plant. It's called Poison Joke."

"That plant is much like poison oak. But its results are like a joke."

"What in th' hay does that mean?" AJ demanded.

"It means this plant does not breed wrath. Instead this plant just wants a laugh."

"...Will somepony please talk normal?"

"Oh, you weren't there when Ignitus was telling us about it. What Zecora is saying is that when we ran in to save Apple Bloom, we ran into the poison joke. All our problems are just little jokes that played on us," Twilight informed.

"LITTLE JOKES?! Very funny," Appejack growled.

"Ok, fine. But what about the cauldron in there?" Rainbow asked.

"And the chanting?" Fluttershy added, earning a laugh from Sparx and Boomer.

"And the creepy decor?" Rarity questioned.

"Treasures of the native land where I am from. This one speaks 'hello', and this 'welcome'," Zecora informed.

"Not welcoming at all, if you ask me," Rarity muttered.

"The words I chanted were from olden times. Something you call a nursery rhyme."

"And th' cauldron? That pot of water is fer all these herbal ingredients. Th' cure for poison joke is a simple old-natural remedy. You just gotta take a bubble bath!" Apple Bloom beamed.

"I was trying to figure out what it was and how to cure it. Didn't think it was the one with the bath," Spyro noted, taking out the library's copy of Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super.

"You also have the book, I see. I am glad that you do not lack it in your library," Zecora informed.

"I had the answer the whole time, if only I had bothered to look inside," Twilight shook her head while the other girls were giving shamed looks at the ground.

"Maybe next time you will take a second look, and not judge the cover of the book," Zecora gave a gentle chuckle, earning a nod from Ignitus.

"Zecora? Would you be kind enough to mix up a batch of the herbal bath?" Twilight asked.

"Mix it up I certainly will. Yet I am missing an herb from Ponyville," Zecora informed.

"But whenever Zecora comes to town, all the shops are mysteriously closed," Apple Bloom informed.

"Oh, well... I think we can help you with that," Twilight assured before a flash went off, "...Boomer, did you just take a picture of us?"

"No..." Boomer replied slowly as he discreetly put his bomb-camera away.

"Look Rose! How awful!"

"The wicked enchantress has cursed them all."

"The horror, the horror!"

"Run, ponies! Run!"

"I'm not surprised this happened," Spyro noted as they approached one of the houses.

"Daisy, we need to talk," Twilight stated, frowning at the mare who had spread the witch rumor once she answered the door.

''Dear Princess Celestia,
My friends and I all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your "cover" is; it's the "contents" of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle'' Twilight thought as she wrote her letter, a soft violet one-piece swimsuit on her as she and the other mares were in a large bubble bath.

"Miss Zecora, I would love to get the recipe for this bath. It's simply luxurious!" one of the Spa Mares of the spa they were using to cure the six complimented, the males all sitting outside the spa.

"Applejack! Hey, where's Applejack?!" Apple Bloom asked, causing everyone to check their feet.

"Ah'm right here, little sis," everyone looked over at a sink, Applejack sitting on it with a towel keeping her modest, "Ah ain't tiny no more!"

"Oh! I have never felt so lovely in all my life!" Rarity beamed as she looked at her cured self in a nearby mirror as Rainbow flapped her fixed wings with a small smile.

"Oh, my gosh! I never realized how horrible it is not to be able to talk. I mean, I love talking so much, and when I couldn't talk anymore, my tongue was all 'ehhhh'! It was the worst! Don't you agree, Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Fluttershy remained silent for a few moments before replying with a gentle, "...Yes."

Author's Note

Well, here it is. Sorry it took so long. I just kinda lost interest for a while.