My Little Pony: Nine Elements Book 4

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Three New Elements - Part 1 (S4:E1)
Chapter 3: Castle Mane-ia (S4:E3)
Chapter 4: Daring Don't (S4:E4)
Chapter 5: Flight to the Finish (S4:E5)
Chapter 6: Power Ponies (S4:E6)
Chapter 7: Welcome to the Neigh-borhood, Gamer Sunset (Original Chapter)
Chapter 2: The Three New Elements - Part 2 (S4:E2)

Chapter 1: The Three New Elements - Part 1 (S4:E1)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 1: The Three New Elements - Part 1

Two days short of a full six months since her return to Equestria, Sunset Shimmer was residing in the Everfree Forest after relearning all the magic she’d forgotten from her time in the human world along with her pet phoenix, Phoebe, and her best friend, Wallflower Blush. On this particular day, the trio stood before a rather crystalline tree located in a cave near Celestia and Luna’s old castle. The center of the tree had a star shaped like Twilight Sparkle's Cutie Mark while Celestia and Luna's Cutie Marks were on the trunk.

“This is the Tree of Harmony that I’ve read about,” Sunset said. “Apparently, it started as a crystal seed that Star Swirl the Bearded and five other ponies planted into the ground before they disappeared.”*

“It’s beautiful,” Wallflower gasped with awe.

“What’s really remarkable is that despite looking like it’s made of crystal,” Sunset added. “It’s as alive as any other tree in this forest.”

“So,” Wallflower said. “Why did Star Swirl and the other ponies plant it?”

“Probably so there’d be something to protect Equestria in their absence,” Sunset speculated. “In a way, they did succeed in that regard. I mean, this tree did bear the Elements of Harmony.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Wallflower said.

Sunset moved towards the tree and found a small opening between its roots, its trunk, and the ground. She got down and reached a forehoof in. She felt around a bit before finding what she was looking for. When she found it, she pulled her forehoof out to reveal what looked like a rock or seed pod.

“What’s that?” Wallflower asked curiously.

“Well, remember how I’d often come back to our shelter with those Element Shards during our time here?” Sunset asked.

“I do, yes,” Wallflower nodded.

Sunset used her magic to make her horn spin like a drill bit, which she used to carve an incision in the object before cracking it open like an egg to reveal it to be full of smaller versions of the gems representing the Elements of Harmony.

“Wow!” Wallflower gasped.

“This is where I’ve been getting them aside from Totems,” Sunset said.

“This is incredible!” Wallflower exclaimed excitedly.

“Each individual shard has a portion of the original gem of the element they represent,” Sunset explained. “But, to be truly effective, they need to be used by the Guardians of Harmony.”

“I see,” Wallflower said.

“That’s why my attempts to make new Elements of Harmony didn’t work,” Sunset continued before she held out a red and yellow gemstone cut into the shape of her Cutie Mark. “This was my first attempt at making a gem representing an Element of Harmony. It didn’t show any signs of having power until my last night in the human world.”

“Ahh~” Wallflower said.

“So, the idea of this experiment,” Sunset said. “Is to get this stone infused with enough energy from the other Elements of Harmony to keep it powered on its own.”

“Alright,” Wallflower said. “Now that the princess gave you permission to do this experiment, you don’t have to worry about you-know-who.”

“And I finally have enough shards to deliver and complete my experiment,” Sunset said. “Can I trust you to help me with the packaging?”

“Of course,” Wallflower smiled. She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out six copies of a map leading to the Tree of Harmony.

Sunset reached into her own saddlebag and placed small piles of shards on top of the maps, making sure to separate the piles by their element. Afterwards, Wallflower folded the maps in such a way that they formed an envelope to contain the shard piles. Phoebe then used her talons to hold the makeshift envelopes closed while Sunset used her magic to create wax seals in the coat colors of the Guardians of Harmony.

“There we go,” Sunset smiled. She levitated the parcels into her saddlebag when suddenly, the trio heard the sound of something moving.

“What’s that?” Wallflower asked.

They turned their heads in the direction of the noise and saw a black, thorny vine sprout out of the ground before acting as a whip towards them. Phoebe took to the air while Sunset and Wallflower jumped out of its path.

“This is different from the Whomping Willows I read about!” Sunset exclaimed. “We better call our dryad contracts!”

“Right!” Wallflower replied, regaining her composure.

“Juniper!” Sunset called.

“Dahlia!” Wallflower called.

Before them appeared two earth pony mares with long pastel green manes, blue eyes, pale alabaster coats, white blouses with mint green overtops, and long seafoam skirts. Both were semi-transparent and had vines that seemed to grow around them. They differed in the lengths of their manes.**

“How may we help?” asked the one with the shorter mane.

As if responding to her question, another vine attempted to whip her, only for it to pass right through.

“We see why you have summoned us,” replied the other.

“Juniper,” Sunset said to the long-maned mare. “I need you and Dahlia to help keep these vines at bay while Phoebe and I go get help.”

Juniper and Dahlia complied and started at once. They made walls of strong oak wood rise from the ground through sheer force of will to keep the malignant vines at bay.

“My sister and I will hold these vines off as long as we can,” Juniper said.

“And I’ll help them,” Wallflower said.

“We’re counting on you three,” Sunset nodded before running out the cave and jumping into the air. “Brisa, grant me wings!” In response to her call, a pair of ethereal butterfly wings appeared on her back, carrying her above the ground***, where she could see more vines sprouting out. “We have to find the guardians quick, Phoebe!”

The phoenix chirped in agreement.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Twilight was covered in dirt after another failed flying attempt. She was in the presence of Spike and all the other Guardians of Harmony, who had each had another birthday in the recent months.

“I may be more used to having wings,” Twilight said, dusting herself off. “But, learning to fly stronger is proving to be difficult.”

“Well,” Rainbow said. “You’re getting better. You crashed way less than last time.”

“Thanks,” Twilight said flatly.

They saw a stained glass window depicting Twilight as an alicorn and Spike by her side.

“They did an incredible job with your window, Twilight,” Rarity smiled. She then noticed Spike feeling a bit hurt from her forgetting to mention him as well. “Oh! And you also look wonderful in window form, Spikey-wikey.” She rubbed his left cheek and he felt better.

Twilight looked a bit sad. Applejack noticed.

“Somethin’ botherin’ ya, Twi?” she asked.

“The Summer Sun Celebration is what brought us all together almost three years ago,” Twilight said. “It doesn’t feel right that we can’t celebrate it all together.”

“Oh, Twilight,” Fluttershy said kindly. “We would love to celebrate together with you. If Princess Celestia hadn’t given you the responsibility, we would absolutely make plans to celebrate the celebration together.”

“The celebration is also Sunset’s birthday,” Pinkie pointed out. “The last two years, we celebrated it in a sort of remembrance when we barely knew her. Now, she’s in Equestria, but, none of us know where she lives now.”

“Mom and I do,” Spike said. “We were going to visit her dorm a short time ago, but, we found a note outside her door saying that she was given permission by Princess Celestia to live in the Everfree Forest to study the Elements of Harmony.”

“That doesn’t exactly narrow it down,” Rarity said. “The Everfree Forest is quite a large place and largely unexplored.”

“Maybe we can ask Zecora,” Fluttershy said. “She knows more about the Everfree Forest than we do.”

“We better get going before we miss the train,” Rainbow said.

“Twilight, Spike,” Applejack said kindly. “We’ll keep ya both close in our hearts. Ah know we’ll get together again soon, but, we’ll miss ya while we’re in Ponyville.”

“And we look forward to your return,” Rarity said.

“Thanks, girls,” Twilight smiled.

“We’ll miss you, too,” Spike said.

Half an hour after the train to Ponyville left, Sunset and Phoebe landed at the Canterlot train station and approached the station manager.

“Excuse me,” Sunset asked. “Are all of the Guardians of Harmony still in Canterlot?”

“I’m afraid not all of them,” he answered. “Five left for Ponyville half an hour ago.”

“So, I won’t be able to find all of them here?” Sunset asked, summing up the situation.

“I’m afraid not, miss,” he replied.

“No, of course not,” Sunset said with a hint of sarcasm. “That would have to be convenient.”

The station manager continued, “Princess Twilight and Prince Spike are still in Canterlot, though.”

“I’ll need to make stops in Ponyville first,” Sunset said. She then ran towards the edge of the platform before using her ethereal wings to take flight with Phoebe following.

At Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie was serving customers their orders when Sunset and Phoebe suddenly entered.

“Hiya, Sunset!” Pinkie said happily before she noticed the expression on her friend’s face. “What’s the matter?”

“Keep a close hold on the contents of this package,” Sunset said, levitating the parcel with the pink wax seal over to her.

“Thanks, Sunset,” Pinkie said. “But, what is it?”

“You’ll find out in due course,” Sunset said before making her way out with Phoebe, leaving Pinkie slightly confused.

At Sweet Apple Acres, the Apple Family was hard at work preparing food for the celebration.

“These’ll really make everypony happy,” Apple Bloom smiled.

“Eeyup,” Big McIntosh said with a smile.

“Uh, AJ?” Caramel said, looking at the farm’s entrance. “Were we expecting a unicorn with a flame-colored mane and tail to visit with a red bird?”

Applejack turned to see the aforementioned mare and phoenix. “Sunset! Wasn’t expectin’ ya ta visit, but, we sure are glad ta see ya!”

“I’m glad to see you, too,” Sunset said, catching her breath. “But, I’m afraid this isn’t a friendly visit.” She then presented her with a parcel with an orange wax seal. “We’re counting on your strength.” She gave the parcel to Applejack before heading off with Phoebe.

“What was that about?” Caramel asked.

“Ah’m not ‘ntirely sure,” Applejack answered. “But, somethin’ tells me ah should hang onta this.”

Rainbow was clearing clouds from the sky in preparation for the celebration when she spotted Sunset running in her general direction with Phoebe following. She flew down to see the two.

“Hey, Sunset,” Rainbow said. “Did you want to see me for something?”

“Right on the money,” Sunset said before levitating the parcel with the blue wax seal. “Make absolutely sure that no harm comes to the contents of this package.”

“You can count on me,” Rainbow nodded, understanding the seriousness of Sunset’s tone. Taking the parcel, Sunset was on her way again.

Rarity was decorating town hall for the celebration when she heard the doors open.

“Hello?” Rarity said, turning to see who came in. It was none other than Sunset and Phoebe. “Ah, hello, Sunset. What brings you here?”

Sunset levitated the parcel with the alabaster white wax seal. “The contents of this parcel aren’t for accessorizing.”

Rarity held the parcel with her magic. “Understood.”

With that, Sunset and Phoebe headed off again.

Fluttershy was rehearsing with her birds in preparation for the celebration.

“Very good, Nils,” Fluttershy said encouragingly. “Your rhythm has improved so much.”

She then heard the unmistakable sound of a phoenix’s song. She turned around to see Phoebe and Sunset.

“Sunset, Phoebe,” she said. “Is everything alright?”

Sunset levitated the parcel with the yellow wax seal to Fluttershy. “Make sure you don’t lose the contents of this package,” she said.

“I won’t,” Fluttershy said understandingly.

“One more stop, Phoebe,” Sunset said. She then made a dash of a small grass hill before jumping into the air. “Brisa, grant me wings!” Once again, ethereal butterfly wings materialized on her back and carried her above the ground. Fluttershy had witnessed the whole thing.

“Wow~” Fluttershy said, amazed.

Back in Canterlot, Twilight was looking wistfully out of a window. The sun was setting and the moon was rising.

“Is there anything I can do to help you, Mom?” Spike asked.

“I just don’t know, Spike,” Twilight answered. “Our friends haven’t been gone for a whole day and I already feel like I’m missing something.”

“I know how you feel,” Spike said. “I miss them, too.”

“And as much as I would like to,” she continued. “I can’t just schedule a quick trip to Ponyville. What if something goes wrong while we’re away?”

“I understand your feelings and your need to uphold the responsibility Princess Celestia gave you,” Spike said. “Now that you’re a princess, you’re under even more pressure than when you were her student.”

At that moment, Princess Celestia walked up to the two.

“I heard that there were some unsettled feelings,” Princess Celestia said kindly. “I hope there is something I can do to help you.”

“Well,” Twilight said. “Your highness-”

“You no longer need to use such formalities with me,” Celestia said. “As a princess yourself, we’re equals now. That goes for you too, Spike, since you are a prince. You may simply call me Celestia if you wish.”

“Alright,” Twilight said. “Celestia… the thing is, I understand the responsibility you gave me, but, all the same, I can’t help but miss my friends. I also thought of scheduling a short visit with them, but, I was worried about the possibility of something going wrong here while I’m away.”

“Sounds like I came at a bad time,” said the voice of Sunset, who stood in the door with Phoebe.

“Sunset?” Spike gasped. “What’s happening?”

“Phoebe and I came here to seek out Twilight’s help,” Sunset answered, levitating the final parcel, which had a lavender wax seal.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“I was hoping to wait until after the Summer Sun Celebration to ask all the Guardians of Harmony at once,” Sunset explained. “But, circumstances forced me to make this request for a different reason than planned.”

Princess Celestia heard this. “What are these circumstances?”

“Wallflower, Phoebe, and I were conducting research on the Elements of Harmony,” Sunset explained. “Suddenly, these black, thorny vines sprouted from the ground and started attacking us. Phoebe and I had to leave Wallflower and the dryads to hold down the fort while we went to seek help. On the first journey here, we saw such vines sprouting all across the forest and some even reaching beyond its borders. Ponyville and Canterlot are safe for now, but, I fear it won’t last much longer. I understand that you’re under a lot of pressure right now, Twilight, so, I won’t force you. But, I ask you as a friend: help me.”

Princess Celestia, Twilight, and Spike listened to these details and didn’t say anything until Sunset was done. Princess Celestia then had a big decision of her own.

“Twilight,” Princess Celestia said. “Knowing this information, I hereby relieve you of your Canterlot responsibilities and ask you to uphold the task at hoof.”

“But, who will take care of them while I’m away?” Twilight asked.

“You let Luna and myself worry about that,” Celestia said. “My negligence indirectly caused Sunset to exile herself from Equestria. I will not let her suffer in such a way again.”

Twilight nodded understandingly and soberly. “I understand, Celestia,” she said. “Spike and I will do what we can to help, as will our friends.”

“Phoebe and I will return to the Everfree Forest,” Sunset said. “Get your affairs in order here, confer with the other Guardians in Ponyville, and meet us in the forest.”

“Understood,” Twilight said. “We’ll be there as fast as we can. And Sunset? Be careful.” And after Sunset teleported herself and Phoebe, she and Spike went to get their affairs in order.

“I will inform Luna of this development,” Celestia said before leaving the room. However, no sooner had she left than a black, thorny vine sprouted behind her.

Later, back in Ponyville, the town was overrun with the same vines. In the Everfree Forest, Wallflower and the dryads were doing their best to subside the vines, but, to little avail.

“These vines refuse to heed our commands,” Juniper lamented.

“I knew the Everfree Forest works differently from other parts of Equestria,” Wallflower said. “But, even for this, this is unnatural!”

“These plants have magic that exceeds even that of a dryad,” Dahlia said. “I can only hope that our other dryad sisters are faring well.”

In Canterlot, Twilight and Spike saw the sun and the moon side by side in the sky.

“What the-” Twilight gasped. “This shouldn’t be like this!”

“You’re right,” Spike gasped. “Oh, first, Sunset needs our help and now, this!”

“You don’t think what Sunset needs help with could also relate to this, do you?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know!” Spike said. “I don’t see how it even could!”

“Regardless,” Twilight said. “We must figure out how to solve these problems, but, we certainly aren’t going to do this alone.”

Out in the streets of Canterlot, the citizens were confused and scared about this unusual situation. They seeked the Princesses’ advice, but, the two were nowhere to be seen. In a stroke of rather bad timing, Twilight and Spike stepped out for all to see.

“Princess Twilight!” they clamored. “Prince Spike!”

The two were quickly overwhelmed by all the ponies asking them for answers. Fortunately, Flash was able to intervene.

“Settle down, everypony!” he yelled, calming the crowd. “I know this is an unusual situation, but, it won’t get taken care of with all of you swarming Princess Twilight and Prince Spike! Give them some space to breathe and things will be taken care of in due course!”

The Canterlot citizens decluttered, giving Twilight and Spike appropriate breathing room.

“Thank you, Flash,” Spike said gratefully.

“Come with me,” Flash said.

Twilight and Spike followed Flash. He led them into the throne room, where Javelin and Vanguard were waiting to close the doors.

“I know this is a lot,” Twilight said. “But, what exactly is going on?”

“It’s Princess Luna and Princess Celestia,” Javelin answered.

“They’ve gone missing,” Vanguard continued.

“What?!” Spike and Twilight said in unison.

“But, that doesn’t make sense,” Twilight said. “Where did they go?”

“That’s the thing,” Flash answered. “We don’t know where they went or why they aren’t here.”

“This is why we came to you,” Javelin continued.

“In the princesses’ absence,” Vanguard continued. “And with Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor being too far away, we came to you if you had orders for us.”

“What about Flash?” Spike asked.

“I’m only a Lieutenant,” Flash said. “Only the captain of the guard can promote me and even the captain doesn’t supersede the reigning monarch.”

“I see,” Spike said.

“There’s no time to waste,” Flash said. “We need to know what you want us to do.”

Twilight was overwhelmed with this situation, but, she knew that other ponies were just as unsettled as she was. So, she took a deep breath in, exhaled, and then explained. “I want you three and other guards to continue the search for Princesses Celestia and Luna. They must be found before other ponies riot. There must be some clue to tell us what happened to them. If you find something, anything, let me and/or Spike know immediately.”

The guards saluted and began looking.

“You did great at taking charge, mom,” Spike said.

“Thanks, Spike,” Twilight said. “I know it’s not the most solid plan right now, but, it’s our only option.”

Suddenly, Maelstrom entered the room.

“Forgive my intrusion, Prince and Princess,” he panted. “But, I have urgent news from Ponyville!”

“What’s going on?” Spike asked.

“The Everfree Forest,” Maelstrom explained. “It seems to be… invading!”

“What?!” Twilight and Spike said in unison again.

At Fluttershy’s cottage, the pegasus was desperately trying to console scared critters.

“It’s going to be okay, everyone,” Fluttershy said. “You're all going to be safe, I promise.” When she looked out her window, it didn’t take her long to see the source of the animals’ distress. “Although, I can see why you’re all afraid… because I’m afraid, too!”

At Sweet Apple Acres, things weren’t much better.

“Ah ain’t ever seen thorny vines like this b’fer!” Granny Smith griped. She tried pulling one out with her teeth, but, it was in vain.

“Ah know o’ some unruly roots,” Applejack said, trying to fight back. “But, this is a lot even fer me!”

In his efforts to pull out a vine, Caramel was tossed by it right at Applejack’s left flank.

“Sorry, honeycrisp!” Caramel apologized.

“It’s alright, Caramel,” Applejack said as she helped him up. While she was turned around, a vine decided to strike her rear end. “Yowch!”

“That wasn’t me!” Caramel said.

“Ah believe ya, Caramel,” she said. “Yer standin’ right in front o’ me n’ ya can’t reach mah rump from there.”

“That’s true,” Caramel said. “We have to keep these things under control somehow!”

“The problem’s figgerin’ out how,” Applejack said before getting a closer look at the vines. “Wait a minute… that ain’t right!”

“What do you mean?” Caramel asked.

“Take a closer look at it,” Applejack said. As Caramel did so, Applejack explained further. “Have ya ever seen a vine ‘er any plant like this ‘fore?”

“Uh, I don’t think I did,” Caramel admitted. “You know my memory doesn’t work well.”

“That’s the thing,” Applejack said. “Ah ain’t ever seen a plant like this ‘fore.” She asked the rest of the family. “Have any o’ y’all seen plants like this?!”

“Nope!” Big McIntosh answered.

“Well, where’re they comin’ from?” Applejack asked before looking up and seeing thorny storm clouds. “N’ what’s goin’ on in the sky?!”

Above the ground, Rainbow likewise took notice of the sky situation.

“Okay,” Rainbow said. “I’ve never seen a cloud like this before. Regardless, I need to clear these out. It’s not scheduled to rain until after the Summer Sun Celebration!” She charged towards one of the clouds, but, a most peculiar thing happened. It bounced like rubber and caught Rainbow, only to release her while she’s covered in excess clouds. “And I thought Discord’s cotton candy clouds were hard to clear. But, I can’t give up!” She flew back to the cloud only for it to throw lightning bolts. Rainbow swiftly dodged the lightning. “Hey!” More clouds started gathering and throwing lightning. “Whoa! Yow!”

At Carousel Boutique, Rarity noticed the unusual goings-on outside.

“Oh, dear,” she said. “This is certainly different from any normal day in Ponyville. It’s most unsettling. Maybe I should pour some tea to calm my nerves.”

She went to prepare the tea, unaware of the vines reaching her house. Two unusual flowers bloomed instantaneously, releasing some odd blue spores. They seeped through the window and reached Rarity’s horn. This caused her magic aura to change beyond her control. As she was pouring a cup of tea from a teapot, the spout poured out the tea in a way that didn’t reach the teacup. Rarity opened her eyes and noticed this perplexing event. Suddenly, the teapot levitated away from her.

“What?!” she gasped. She followed the teapot to her workroom to see the tea pouring onto a hat she had made. “Oh, dear!” The teapot then began squirting Opalescence. “Oh, no! Opal, darling, please know that I’m not doing this on purpose!” She then licked the tip of her hoof and put it on her horn as if extinguishing a match. This caused the magical aura to fizzle out and the teapot stopped moving, falling and shattering to pieces on the floor. Remembering she was looking after her younger sister for the Summer Sun Celebration, she called up. “Sweetie Belle, have you noticed anything particular with your horn or your magic?”

The younger filly came down the stairs using her horn as a pogo stick while it had a light arctic blue aura.

“Yes!” Sweetie Belle called. “Help!”

“Try putting out your horn!” Rarity said. “Lick your hoof and touch your horn with it!”

Sweetie, once she was right-side up again, did so. She panted. “Thanks, Rarity.”

However, the relief was short-lived, as Rarity’s horn unwillingly lit again, levitated a piece of loose curtain, and started chasing after Sweetie. The little filly tried in vain to escape.

“Oh, dear!” Rarity gasped. Soon enough, it was chasing her, too.

Back in Canterlot, Twilight and Spike exited the castle. Twilight was levitating her Element of Magic tiara.

“We’re just about ready to head to Ponyville, Spike,” Twilight said. “I just hope we haven’t missed the express train.”

“Not even the express train is fast enough,” Spike said. “And what about Sunset’s situation?”

“If we can’t get the other Guardians to help, it won’t matter if we help Sunset or not,” Twilight said. “I’m sorry, Spike, but, Sunset will just have to wait.”

“Oh, right,” Spike said. He then took a deep breath. “Still, there’s another way to get to Ponyville.”

“How?” Twilight asked. But, she considered and looked at the wings on her back. “Spike, are you sure you want me to fly us down there? I’m still not the best at flying.”

“It’s the fastest option we have,” Spike said. “Yes, I’m afraid of heights, but, I’m even more afraid of what’s going on right now.”

Twilight took a deep breath. “Alright. Just hang on close to me and keep your eyes closed. I’ll tell you when we’ve landed.”

Spike climbed onto Twilight’s back, got a firm grip, and clenched his eyes shut. Then, Twilight spread her wings, got a running start, flapped her wings, and took off for Ponyville. Despite her clumsy flying, she managed to make it there without hurting herself and especially not hurting Spike.

Back in Ponyville, the citizens were panicking from the strange phenomenon that’s around them. The Guardians of Harmony met up with each other to make sure nopony was hurt. Rarity was the first to speak up.

“I’m certain everypony has noticed that something very strange is going on-” she started before narrowly getting smacked by a flyaway vine. “And I for one would like an explanation!”

“Well, you won’t get any from me,” Rainbow said. “I’m as lost as you are.”

“All o’ these weird plants’re comin’ from the Everfree Forest,” Applejack said. “Mah family, Caramel, n’ Ah’re doin’ our best ta keep ‘em under control, but, they’re too stubborn, even fer us!”

“We have to do something,” Fluttershy said. “I don’t know how much more Ponyville can take.”

“Ah don’t think these things’re content with just overrunnin’ Ponyville,” Applejack said worriedly. “If this keeps up, it’ll cover half o’ Equestria!”

“What can we do about it?” Pinkie asked. “Rummage through the Golden Oak Library and hope we find a book that gives us answers?”

“Well,” Rarity said. “It somewhat worked when Twilight had first told us of the Elements of Harmony.”

Meanwhile, Twilight and Spike were still making their way to Ponyville. Twilight landed on the ground a bit awkwardly.

“Spike?” she said gently. “I’ve landed.”

Spike opened his eyes and saw they were right outside the Golden Oak Library.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said as he got off of Twilight’s back. “I hope my claws haven’t scratched you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Now, let’s get the Elements of Harmony and our friends.”

They stepped in and saw the other Guardians already inside. Applejack looked up from one of the books she was reading to see them.

“Twilight, Spike!” she called. This caught the attention of the others. “Boy howdy, we’re so glad yer both here!”

Fluttershy became immediately apologetic.

“Oh, we’re so sorry for the mess,” Fluttershy said. “You see, we were trying to figure out if any of your books had answers for this strange phenomenon going on outside.”

“Has Princess Celestia sent the both of you to dispel this situation post-haste?” Rarity asked.

“No,” Spike said. “She and Luna went missing before we even got here.”

The other Guardians gasped at this news.

“So, we’re royally screwed here?!” Rainbow asked.

“Not fully,” Twilight said. “I don’t know who has taken them or where they’ve gone, but, I’ve got a hunch that we’re going to need the Elements of Harmony to get them back.” She levitated the other elements to their respective bearers.

“So,” Spike said. “Has anypony found any information from the books you’ve been reading?”

“Alas, no,” Rarity answered. “And Rainbow made her doubts on the parcels Sunset gave us being of any help at all quite clear.”

“Looks like Sunset gave you yours before she gave my mom hers,” Spike said.

“Hmm,” Twilight said, taking out the parcel. “She did say she was researching the Elements of Harmony. Perhaps we should talk to her about this.”

“No offense, Twi,” Rainbow said. “But, I don’t think this is the time to chat with a student of the princess who didn’t live up to the hype.”

“Y’all try living in another world fer three years,” Applejack said sternly. “N’ then show us how yer flyin’ is.” In her stern gestures to emphasize her point, her saddlebag opened and her parcel from Sunset seemed to be emitting a pulsing glow that matched the color of the gem matching her Element of Honesty gem, which also seemed to emit such pulsing glows. “Wha- what’s happenin’?”

Twilight levitated her own parcel and found it and the gem representing her Element of Magic were emitting pulsing glows of the same colors as well. The other guardians found similar results with their own parcels.

“Ooh~!” Pinkie said astounded.

Twilight broke the wax seal on her parcel and found it had a small pile of smaller gems shaped like her own Element of Magic gem.

“This must have been what Sunset was researching,” Twilight figured.

The other guardians opened their parcels and found similar piles of gems shaped like their own Element of Harmony gems.

“What are these things?” Rainbow asked.

“They look like our elements, but, smaller,” Fluttershy said. She then noticed something. “Mine has a note.” She took it out and started reading it. “To Fluttershy, if you’re reading this now, that means you’ve opened the package. I imagine you’re curious about the gems you find enclosed within it. If I’m present when you opened it, please disregard the brief explanation on this note. Otherwise, here is the brief explanation: they are Element Shards of Kindness. For a more in-depth explanation, follow the map making up this package’s wrapping and refer to me at the highlighted destination on the map. Sincerely, Sunset Reginald Shimmer.”****

“So that must be what Sunset meant when she said, ‘you’ll find out in due course,'” Pinkie piped up. “So this must be the due course that she men- her middle name is Reginald?”

“Never mind that!” Applejack shouted. She found a similar note in her own parcel, altered to fit her.

“Sounds like we need to follow the map,” Twilight said.

“Oh, sure,” Rainbow said sarcastically. “Let’s go follow a map provided by a pony we barely know into a place even fewer ponies know anything about! It’s not like we have a bigger problem to deal with!”

“It’s okay to be scared,” Fluttershy said, comfortingly. “I’m scared, too. But, Sunset could have information that we will need to help with this problem.”

“She struggled to use magic to open a door,” Rainbow pointed out. “How can she help with any of this?”

“Meanwhile, back in the invaded Ponyville…” Spike said, trying to get back on topic.

“Spike’s right,” Applejack said. “We have ta do everythin’ we can!”

Twilight studied the situation.

“I think it’s pretty obvious who’s behind this,” she said.

“A supernatural ram that could potentially revive the dead?” Pinkie guessed.*****

Twilight paused. “Not who I had in mind,” she said afterwards. “I was thinking someone much more… chaotic.”

“My Granny Pie on a sugar rush?” Pinkie asked.

“No!” Rainbow said. “She’s talking about Discord!”

“That was actually my next guess,” Pinkie said.

“Hold on, everypony,” Fluttershy said. “He may not be directly responsible for this, but, we should at least ask him about it and see if he does know anything about this.”

“Yeah, ah have mah doubts, too,” Applejack said.

“We should summon him and speak with him,” Twilight said.

The guardians stepped outside the library and saw that they didn’t need to bother summoning Discord as he was in a rather frantic state with a butcher knife in one of his eyes****** and repeatedly snapping his eagle claw digits, but, not getting the results he wanted.

“I don’t like what’s going on here!” he shouted. “Why aren't my Deus Ex Machina story-breaking powers working?!”

“Ah can tell he’s tellin’ the truth,” Applejack said. “If he was responsible, his magic woulda solved this.”

Discord turned to the Guardians of Harmony and practically began begging.

“Of course!” he said. “You’re the heroes of this story who inevitably win no matter what! Please! Use your plot armor to fix this!” The guardians noticed the butcher knife in his eye.

“Oh, my goodness!” Fluttershy gasped. “How did that butcher knife get into your eye?!”

Discord turned his other eye to the knife. “Oh, that?” he said. “Well, I had a little run-in with Dark Mimic and she proceeded to stab me with the knife while saying, among other things, that she would rip off my genitals and shove them into a very uncomfortable place that I cannot say without this story losing its teen rating.”

“After this situation gets worked out,” Spike whispered to Twilight. “We should have a long talk with Dark Mimic.”

“Oh, the ghost of her mother saved you the trouble,” Discord said.

“Anyway,” Fluttershy said politely. “Please don’t take this as any accusation, but, if you didn’t cause this situation, do you have any idea of who did or why this is happening?”

“Well,” Discord said. “These vines remind me of something, but, I can’t remember exactly what.”

“He’s tellin’ the truth ‘bout that, too,” Applejack confirmed.

“That’s bull!” Rainbow said. “He can remember things from over 1,000 years ago!”

“I can’t remember every little thing!” Discord retorted. “Do I look like an elephant to you?!”

“He has got you there, Rainbow,” Rarity said.

“And besides,” Discord continued. “Do you remember everything? Every diaper you’ve worn on a specific week when you were a foal?”

“No,” Rainbow admitted before adding, “But, thanks to my parents logging every single thing I do, I do have a record of-”

“Okay,” Discord interrupted while covering Rainbow’s mouth. “That’s officially more than I needed to know.” He then cleared his throat. “If you find evidence that I have something to do with this, feel free to kick my keister.”

“You have a butt?!” Pinkie asked in surprise.

“It’s a figure of speech,” Discord said. “I don’t have a butt.” Then, he had a look of uncertainty. “Wait, do I?” As he pondered the question— “DON’T YOU DARE DESCRIBE A FANTASY SEQUENCE!” he interrupted before pointing accusingly. “Especially those of you in the comments section! You know who you are!”*******

Suddenly, running out of the Everfree Forest carrying packed saddlebags was Zecora.

“Excuse my intrusion,” she gasped. “But, as you can see, the forest has gone wild, even for me!”

“Ya have any idear why this is happenin’?” Applejack asked.

“And have you met Sunset Shimmer?” Pinkie added.

“As for the second question,” Zecora said. “She and I have met. Her first impression is one I would not forget. As for the first, this is a mystery to me as well. But, I may have something that when combined with a spell. I cannot use it myself, the results would be tragic. It can only respond to dark or Alicorn magic. Twilight, you can change the potion from purple to white. After a sip, you will discover why the sky is both day and night.”

“Uh, are we certain dark magic is a good idea?” Twilight asked. “I’ve had less than pleasant experiences with it.”

“Sunset Shimmer has used dark magic on the potion herself shortly before I departed,” Zecora said. “And her heart hasn’t been corrupted.”

“Uh, that was kind of a slant rhyme,” Pinkie commented.

“We ain’t got time ta talk poetry, Pinkie,” Applejack said.

Twilight focused her horn and a beam of dark magic shot out and hit the potion, turning it from purple to white. She then cautiously took a sip of the potion. So far, nothing seemed to happen.

“It doesn’t seem to be wor-” But, before Twilight could finish her sentence, her eyes suddenly turned white, casting a light glow. After a flash, she looked around her. The area around her looked like a stone throne room with lavish carpentry and two gleaming thrones. “Where am I?”

“Not anoth'r grise!” a familiar voice said.

Twilight turned her attention to the owner of the voice.

“Princess Luna!” she called, for it was indeed the night princess. “I don’t understand. Where are we? Why did you and Celestia disappear?”

Luna, however, didn’t seem to acknowledge her question.

“Didst thou very much expecteth us to sitteth idly by while those gents all bask'd in thy precious lighteth?” the night alicorn said.

“Precious lighteth?” Twilight asked. “Why are you talking like that?”

“Th're can only beest one princess in Equestria!” Luna said as she made her way to the middle of the thrones. “And yond princess… shalt beest us!” She stomped her forehooves, causing large cracks to form and shadows to spread.

Twilight shielded herself from the shrapnel, but, she found she wasn’t hurt. She looked to see the alicorn raising the moon, eclipsing the sun in its path. However, shadows began engulfing Luna, who seemed to become aware of what was happening.

“What manner of sorcery be this?!” Luna cried before the shadows seemed to speak.

“Simple, Luna,” they answered. “You allowed your petty envy to fester, giving birth to me and giving me the power to finally take control. Now, you belong to me!”

Twilight could only watch in terror as Luna screamed in agony as her body was transformed against her will. After the transformation was complete, Princess Luna no longer looked the way she did. Standing in her place is Nightmare Moon. The transformed mare cackled wickedly.

“Free!” she said. “Free at last!”

Twilight gasped with horror at the actions that transpired before her.

[To be Continued…]

Author's Note

Here's the beginning of Book 4.

*FORESHADOWING!!!

**More on them later.

***Explanation later.

****That's a nickname for her. Proof.

*****She may or may not be more correct than they think.

******The first reason for the violence tag.

*******Discord's onto you!

In the flashbacks, Celestia and Luna will both speak Shakespearean English. Since Twilight's seeing it through something other than a projection, there's no translation.

I think it's worth noting that I laid a bit of subtle foreshadowing of my plans for Sunset in the Guardians. Can you spot the signs?

BTW, starting with this chapter, they'll be released on a bi-weekly basis. This idea was proposed by Storm the Pony a while ago, but, implemented now because when she suggested it, it felt weird to do so with no explanation.

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.

Chapter 3: Castle Mane-ia (S4:E3)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 3: Castle Mane-ia

Three days after Sunset’s birthday, Twilight was looking through a book in her and Spike’s room. Twilight was growing slightly frustrated. In her frustration, she threw the book away, narrowly missing Spike, who had been walking by at that very moment. The little dragon could tell something was up.

“Still trying to find answers about the chest?” he asked.

“Yes, Spike,” Twilight panted. “I’m sorry, but, I feel like the books in the library don’t have the answers I’m looking for. I’ve searched every single one and haven’t found anything about the chest from the Tree of Harmony or keys to unlock it.”

“To be fair,” Spike said. “The chest did just recently sprout from something we didn’t know existed until four or five days ago.”*

“That’s true,” Twilight said. She then considered. “Do you think the Castle of the Two Sisters has a library?”

“I’ve explored as much of that castle as you and the other guardians,” Spike said. “And that’s not much. If it does have a library, none of us have found it.”

“Hmm,” Twilight said. “Would you want to come with me tomorrow so we can try and find one?”

“Sure,” Spike said. “Maybe we can see if Sunset, Phoebe, and Wallflower are still there on the way.” Suddenly, Spike’s stomach made a familiar rumble. “Uh-oh, letter coming!” He belches and a scroll materializes.

Twilight levitated the scroll towards her and unfurled it. She read it aloud. “Twilight Sparkle, I’m certain you’re looking for answers within the books of the Golden Oak Library,” she read.

“Hardly surprising from Princess Celestia,” Spike commented.

“Actually,” Twilight said. “It’s from Sunset.”

“Huh?” Spike asked. “How’d she know about what I can do?”

Twilight cleared her throat and continued. “In case you’re wondering, the Castle of the Two Sisters does in fact have a library. You will find enclosed a map of the castle’s layout to find the library. Full disclosure, I cannot promise everything there is in good condition. Remember, that castle has been abandoned for many years.”

“Nice to know Sunset knows for sure,” Spike said.

“Whether or not the books are in decent condition,” Twilight said. “They should hopefully still have information.”

The next day, Twilight and Spike made their way to the old castle. Along the way, they found Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe in the process of packing their belongings.

“Hi, girls,” Spike said.

“Hey,” Sunset said. “What brings you here?”

“We’re exploring the Castle of the Two Sisters,” Twilight said. “Thanks to the map you gave us.”

“By the way,” Spike asked. “How’d you know I could send or receive scrolls through my fire breath?”

“You can do that?” Sunset asked. “I thought you’d get it through your fireplace like Princess Celestia.”

“Spike has a unique gift indeed,” Twilight said. “Mina can attest that even the most magically-gifted Longryus alive can’t do that.”

Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe looked at each other in confusion before returning their gaze to Twilight.

“I’m afraid we’re missing some context here,” Sunset said.

“Oh,” Spike said. “Some time ago, I tried to take part in the Great Dragon Migration to discover what it really meant to be a dragon. There, I met a few dragons. Some were nice and kind dragons like Mina, who is a dragon living in Fillydelphia. Others weren’t as nice, especially not a brutish dragon named Garble and his friends.”

“Okay, but, that doesn’t explain Longryus,” Wallflower replied.

“They’re dragons from Eastern Equestria,” Twilight explained. “They are benevolent dragons and have elemental powers. They’re also capable of flight without wings.”

“Oh,” Sunset said. “Like Chinese and Japanese dragons.”**

“Uh, sure,” Twilight said, still unfamiliar with the terminology.

“Interestingly,” Sunset said. “The Chinese word for dragon is long and the Japanese word for dragon is ryuu.”

“Fascinating,” Wallflower said.

“Anyway,” Spike said, trying to get back on track. “There’s a library at the old castle?”

“Yes,” Sunset confirmed. “I found a book in it that details the Tree of Harmony. That’s how I learned about it in the first place.”***

“Excellent, thank you,” Twilight said. “Believe me, if it weren’t for your help, I would still be frantically searching the Golden Oak Library and growing more and more frustrated.”

“I can’t promise it’ll have anything on the chest,” Sunset said. “But, I can promise you’ll find books on subjects you won’t be able to find anywhere else.”

“We’ll see what we can find,” Twilight said. “Thanks again.”

Sunset led the group to the old castle’s library. Twilight could hardly believe her eyes.

“I have to admit,” Spike said. “It’s not too bad. I see there are some pillows and chairs to sit in.”

“Those were added by us,” Sunset said. “Though, be careful of the star spiders.”

Hearing this, Spike’s purple scales became noticeably lighter and his ear fronds drooped. “Did you say… spiders?”

Noticing Spike’s tone, Sunset addressed him. “You have arachnophobia?”

“Sorry,” Spike shivered. “They just kind of creep me out. Always have since Shining Armor transfigured my teddy bear into one as big as an elephant.”

Sunset comforted Spike gently. “I’m sorry I mentioned them. I didn’t know of your fear. Tell you what, stay on my back and I’ll make sure they don’t come near you.”

Spike took a deep breath. “Thanks, Sunset.” Sunset lowered herself so Spike could climb onto her back.

“You’re so good to him,” Twilight smiled.

“I had a good first impression of him in the human world,” Sunset admitted. “Well, that and a series called Dragon Tales, which helped erode my preconceptions of dragons being a naturally monstrous species.”

“You’ll have to tell us a bit more about that some other time,” Twilight said. “For now, I’m going to start searching through the books.”

Meanwhile, at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow and Applejack were covered in bees with only their eyes visible and neither one moving. Apple Bloom was spending time with her Cutie Mark Crusader friends away from the bees, so, there was no risk of her accidentally getting stung and suffering from an allergic reaction.

“I’m not going to move,” Rainbow said through gritted teeth. “You move.”

“Nuh-uh,” Applejack protested through gritted teeth as well. “There ain’t no way Ah’m movin’.”

Pinkie watched on with enthusiasm. “This is the most daring dare anypony has ever dared to dare another pony to dare!”

“Huh?” asked the bee-covered mares.

“It’s exciting!” Pinkie squeed. “You’ve been at it for the last ten minutes!”

As the two mares continued to stare each other down, a parcel stallion walked up to Pinkie carrying a beehive-style saddlebag.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Rainbow Dash and Applejack are competing for the title of ‘Most Daring Pony!’” Pinkie explained. “This is the final test: the Bee Stare! Last pony to blink wins!”

“So, they’re having a staring contest with bees all over them?” the stallion asked, making sure he heard right.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Pinkie said.

“Yeah, that sounds daring and all,” said the stallion. “But, I’m going to need my bees back please. They have honey they need to make. Honey that’s needed for some of the Apple Family products, I might add.”

“Okay,” Applejack sighed.

“Aww, but, then we won’t know who the most daring pony is~!” Rainbow griped.

“Well, that’s too bad,” the stallion said as he called his bees with a whistle. The bees flew off the mares, revealing they were wearing beekeeper suits. They flew into the beehive-style saddlebags and got to work making honey. The stallion then bid the mares farewell and went on his way.

“Well, that stinks,” Rainbow said.

“Now what do we do?” Applejack asked.

“Well, I’ve been keeping track since the contest started,” Pinkie said. “And you both tied.”

“Tied?!” Applejack asked. “Why does that always happen with us?”

“I know, right?” Rainbow asked. “We can’t both be the Most Daring Pony! There has to be some kind of tiebreaker!”

“You’ll have to figure it out yourselves,” Pinkie said. “I promised to help test the new school bell.” She then wiggled her rear, making her tail somehow ring like a bell. “I get to ring it all week, nonstop! And I don't even have to take turns, because nopony else volunteered!” With a giggle, she hopped away.

“Uh, you heard Pinkie’s tail ringing like a bell, right?” Rainbow asked Applejack.

“Yup,” Applejack answered.

After shaking off the weird feeling, Rainbow turned back to Applejack. “Anyway, we’ll just have to come up with another daring dare.”

Applejack looked towards the Everfree Forest and got an idea. “Ah think ah have just the dare fer us.”

Again with the meanwhiles, Rarity and Fluttershy were making their way through the Everfree Forest.

“Um, Rarity?” Fluttershy said nervously. “Are you sure it isn’t too late in the day for you to be walking through the Everfree Forest? It is star spider season after all, so there are more of them out and about. They can be a bit frenzied this time of year and sometimes bite other creatures that get too close.”

“I shall indeed be cautious,” Rarity explained. “I must be if I’m to get to the Castle of the Two Sisters unscathed. I heard rumors that the castle is filled with the most gorgeous of ancient tapestries in all of pony history! It pains me to think of those magnificent creations rotting away in those old ruins, totally unappreciated.”

“I see,” Fluttershy said. “But, why do you need me to come along?”

“I needed some pony’s help to bring them down and take them to Carousel Boutique,” Rarity said. “I would have called on Rainbow, but, she was too busy in a head-to-head competition with Applejack. Again.”

“Yeah, I can believe that,” Fluttershy muttered, remembering Rainbow’s competitive streak with Applejack. In a clearer and kinder voice, she said, “Well, I’ll do my best to help you anyway, Rarity.”

“Much obliged,” Rarity said as they crossed the rope bridge. “Say, do you think Sunset, Phoebe, or Wallflower are still living here?”

“It’s possible,” Fluttershy said. “But, they might be going back to Canterlot soon. We could ask them if we see them.”

The two made their way to the castle.

“Uh, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, Fluttershy?” Rarity replied.

“Why didn’t you ask Twilight, Spike, or Pinkie to help?” Fluttershy inquired.

“I tried Twilight and Spike first,” Rarity explained. “They weren’t home. Pinkie was asked to judge Rainbow and Applejack’s competition.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Fluttershy said.

“I wasn’t certain if Sunset or Wallflower were still here, so, they were ruled out,” Rarity added.****

Fluttershy nodded understandingly. The two walked into the castle, unaware of a mysterious shadow following them.

As the sun sank lower across the horizon, Applejack and Rainbow made their way to the old castle together.

“Here we are,” Applejack said.

“The Castle of the Two Sisters?” Rainbow asked, confused. “Why are we here? It may be old and crumbling, but, it’s not really scary. This is where we got the Elements of Harmony.”

Applejack began to explain.

“When ah was a filly,” she explained. “Granny Smith told me o’ the legend o’ this castle. When Nightmare Moon was banished ta the moon, not all her dark magic went with her. Roamin’ through its halls is the mysterious Pony o’ Shadows~!”

“Like a ghost?” Rainbow asked.

Applejack held up her front hooves in a ghostly manner and said in a spooky tone, “Nopony knows~!”

Rainbow was less than impressed.

Meanwhile, with Rarity and Fluttershy, they entered the castle throne room and gazed up at the tapestry hanging upon its walls. Rarity gasped in awe.

“Those shades of blue are remarkable!” Rarity gasped, enamored.

“It does look like it could use some restoration, though,” Fluttershy noted.

“Could you be a dear and lift it off that hook while I levitate it down?” Rarity asked.

Fluttershy nods and flies up to gently lift the tapestry off of the hook on the wall. The bar it was attached to was too heavy.

“Oh, my!” Fluttershy yelped. “I think you would have had better luck asking Bulk Biceps to help!”

“No disrespect to him,” Rarity said. “But, he’s a bit too exuberant for this.”

Fluttershy panted and groaned from the strain.

“Try from below,” Rarity suggested.

Fluttershy then flew down towards the bottom of the tapestry and tried to tug on the fabric. However, she ended up getting stuck under it and unknowingly pressing a switch. This caused the wall to rotate, much to Rarity’s surprise.

On the other side, Rainbow was giving her two bits on the dare.

“Okay,” Rainbow said. “I don’t see what’s so daring about an old legend. Besides, I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“Even after ya flew right through an ifrit, saw a gnome, a… whatever Brisa is, n’ two dryads?” Applejack asked.

“Fair enough,” Rainbow said. “But, not all kinds of ghosts.”

Applejack noticed a tapestry that was moving. “Uh, might want ta start believin’ in that kind o’ ghost!”

Rainbow followed the direction Applejack pointed her forehoof. They saw the fluttering of the tapestry, gasped, and ran away into another room. In a flash of lightning, they saw the shadow of a cloaked pony upon the floor with blank circles where the eyes should be.

“Is that?” Applejack said.

“Let’s run before we can find out!” Rainbow said. And they took off down the hallway.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy unknowingly activated the switch again, causing the wall to rotate and throw her out of the tapestry and onto her rump.

“Ow!” she softly interjected. “I think I hurt my wing.”

“I’m terribly sorry, Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “Let’s try a smaller tapestry.” As she led Fluttershy off, Rarity felt the need to ask something. “By the way, where did you disappear to?”

Fluttershy was confused. “Disappear to? What do you mean?”

“When you were struggling under the fabric,” Rarity explained. “The whole wall spun around. Didn’t you hear the clicking sounds?”

“I must have been too busy hearing the tapestry flaps,” Fluttershy admitted.

“It seems you activated a secret door,” Rarity noted.

“I didn’t know this castle had a secret door,” Fluttershy said. “Although, we haven’t really explored all of the castle, so, there’s a lot about it that we don't know about yet.”

“Sunset may have explored it,” Rarity pondered. “Unfortunately, since we don’t know if she’s here or in Canterlot, we can’t ask her for certain.”

“So,” Fluttershy said. “Our best option right now is to keep our eyes open for any other possible secret-”

Click!

Before she could finish her sentence, Fluttershy unknowingly stepped on a pressure plate that activated a trap door she and Rarity fell through.

Meanwhile, Rainbow and Applejack were running through the hallways.

“Okay,” Rainbow panted. “Maybe the legend is true!”

“So,” Applejack explained. “That’s why ah brought ya here! Ah figgered the best darin’ challenge fer us’d be ta stay in the castle all night without gettin’ runnin’ back home scared.”

Rainbow immediately stopped running, feeling challenged.

“Scared?!” she exclaimed. “I’m not scared!”

“Me neither!” Applejack proclaimed.

“Then it’s settled!” Rainbow declared. “Whoever stays in the castle all night is the Most Daring Pony!”

“Deal!” Applejack accepted. The two hood bumped when they suddenly heard a growling noise echo off the stone walls.

“W-well…” Rainbow quivered. “It's going to take more than some shadowy ghost pony or any monstrous growl to get me to leave.”

“Me, too!” Applejack huffed.

The duo left, unaware of the eye in a painting of a stallion moving.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Spike, Sunset, and Wallflower were reading books under light provided by a candelabra that Sunset lit, trying to find answers.

“Have you found anything yet, Spike?” Twilight asked just as she finished the final chapter of a book she was reading.

“No,” Spike answered. “Anypony else?”

“I haven’t found anything yet,” Wallflower admitted.

“I did say not to expect much,” Sunset said.

At that moment, a spider with star markings on its abdomen landed right in front of Spike. Spike gasped with uneasiness. He leaned the chair backward, activating a switch. With a shudder, a pair of bookshelves parted, revealing a hidden room. Twilight, Sunset, and Wallflower gasped with amazement and surprise.

“Spike, are you alright?” Twilight asked.

“Apart from the scare by the star spider,” Spike said. “I’m fine.”

Twilight comforted Spike as only she could. After Spike felt better, they looked into the secret room. Twilight looked at the map Sunset provided to see if it was there. It wasn’t.

“Looks like this castle still has some secrets left to be found,” Sunset commented.

Twilight then noticed something on a podium inside the secret room. She looked closer and read the cover aloud. “The Journal of the Two Sisters.”

“Must’ve been written by Celestia and Luna long ago,” Sunset surmised.

“Hmm,” Twilight pondered. “Do you think they would be opposed to the idea of me reading it?”

“Well, it doesn’t look like they’ll be using it again anytime soon,” Sunset said. “Plus, it might give us some more details about the castle.”

“Alright,” Twilight said. She then started to read the book. “Spike, want to sit close to me?”

Spike sat directly beside her. “You don’t even have to ask.”

Twilight gently nuzzled Spike’s head with hers and she got started reading from the pages aloud. Spike thought he heard a faint growling noise echo off the stone walls, but, decided to ignore it.

Meanwhile, Applejack was descending a spiral staircase with Rainbow flying beside her. They both heard the growling noise, which seemed a bit louder to them.

“Whatever that is,” Rainbow said. “It’s getting pretty close. But, it’s still not going to scare me away.” Then, she sensed a taunting opportunity. “I hope the noise isn’t scaring you, Applejack.”

“Nope~!” Applejack said.***** “Even if it was, ah’d be at least 50% less scared’n y’all, Rainbow Dash.”

“That math doesn't add up,” Rainbow said cheekily. “Because I’m not scared at all.”

“Me neither!” Applejack said as she galloped down the stairs faster.

They soon reached the lower level. The hallway was dimly lit and there seemed to be holes in the walls. The growling noise seemed a bit louder as well.

“W-what’s the matter, Applejack?” Rainbow quivered. She was feeling scared, but, she wasn’t going to admit it. “It’s just a long hallway… full of disembodied pony legs…”

“Yeah…” Applejack said shakily before the noise was heard again. “N’ a deep growlin’ sound. Ain’t nothin’ creepy ‘bout those.”

“N-no…” Rainbow gulped. “No way.”

Together, they walked on, side by side. Neither would admit to the other that they were scared.

Meanwhile, Rarity began using an illumination spell. “I’m starting to wonder if this castle doesn’t want my expertise.”

Fluttershy and Rarity became aware of the room they found themselves in.

“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy squeaked. “H-how do we get out of here?”

“Let’s just calm down,” Rarity said. “I’m sure there’s a way.”

Suddenly, the duo heard a growling noise come out of a nearby hole in a wall.

“Wh-what was that?!” Fluttershy exclaimed, holding onto Rarity.

“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Rarity answered.

On the other side of the wall with the hole was the hallway Rainbow and Applejack were trotting down. They also heard the sound, which seemed louder than the previous time. Rainbow felt a hoof on her back.

“I know that growling is unsettling,” Rainbow said. “But, you don’t need to comfort me. You can let go of my back.”

“Uh, slight problem,” Applejack said. “Ah’m ‘bout five hooves away from ya.”

“Then…” Rainbow said. “If you're over there, then… who is…” She looked to see whose hoof was on her. She screamed with fright and bolted ahead of Applejack. The farm mare followed after, unaware of a silhouette upon the wall. Inside the wall, Rarity gasped with unease.

“What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked.

“I felt something!” Rarity said. “Alive!”

Fluttershy gasped at that. “This means we’re not alone here!” She reached through the hole and pulled one of the hooves, activating another secret door.

“Tapestries or no,” Rarity said with annoyance. “I have had just about enough of these secret passages and whatnot!”

“And we don’t know our way around!” Fluttershy said.

“Who knows how long we’ll have to be here?!” Rarity exclaimed.

With Twilight, Spike, Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe, Twilight was excitedly reading an entry in the journal.

“Listen to this,” she said. “‘I love to duck behind the paintings and though the Hall of Hooves still gives her a fright, the trap door slide is Luna’s favorite.’ Aww, that would have been so cute to see their reactions.” Then, she noticed something that gave her pause. “‘Though, we both agree to be very wary of the living armors******?’”

“Wallflower and I noticed those, too,” Sunset admitted. “They’re exactly what it says on tin. Suits of armor that move on their own.”

“They aren’t dangerous, are they?” Spike asked.

“With a weapon, they could be,” Sunset said. “Particularly when they’re trying to protect their young.”

“Whoa~” Spike said. He then turned back to Twilight. “Is there more to the page, Mom?”

Twilight checked and read, “‘For more information on living armors, please refer to Dungeons and The Creatures Within.’”

“Good to know she provided reference,” Wallflower said.

“Yeah,” Sunset agreed. “We had no idea how living armors came to be until we read about them in that book.”

Twilight also found another page. “‘The Organ of the Outside is almost finished and I can hardly wait.’”

“Just a reminder,” Sunset said. “That journal is older than all of us put together.”

“Thanks, Sunset,” Twilight said. “I’m still enjoying reading it all the same.”

“So, what exactly is the Organ of the Outside?” Spike asked.

“Going by its name alone,” Sunset said. “I assume it’s some kind of pipe organ. Well, as long as it’s not a sentient one voiced by Tim Curry*******, I think we’ll be fine.”

“Tim Curry?” Wallflower asked.

“Right,” Sunset said. “I keep forgetting I’m the only one who spent three years in the human world.” Phoebe chirped indignantly. "The only pony who spent three years in the human world." Phoebe chirped with approval.

“There’s a lot you’ll have to tell us about that when we have spare moments,” Wallflower said.

Deep below, there was a pipe organ and a cloaked figure. They press their hooves on the keys, unleashing loud and long notes. This was heard by both Applejack and Rainbow, who stopped dead in their tracks.

“What-what was that?” Rainbow stammered.

“Sounded like a pipe organ,” Applejack said before the growling noise was heard again with a louder volume.

“And that?!” Rainbow asked. “It’s right on our hooves!”

The organ sounded again. They both whinnied with fright, though they still wouldn’t admit they were scared.

Back with Twilight’s group, the sound of the pipe organ reached them.

“Uh, Sunset?” Spike said. “Does that Organ of the Outside have a player piano function?”

“I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong pony, Spike,” Sunset said. “Up until a few minutes ago, I didn’t know the organ existed. We’ve seen a bit of the castle, but, not all of it.”

Hearing this, Spike held onto Twilight, quivering.

“Tell you what, Spike,” Sunset offered. “I’ll send one of my contracted spirits to investigate. Does that sound good to you?”

“Yeah,” Spike said after taking a deep breath. “Thanks, Sunset.”

Sunset closed her eyes and focused. “Aideen!” In response to her call, a female version of Aiden appeared beside them.

“How can I help you?” she said.

“Search the castle until you find a pipe organ and find out who’s using it,” Sunset said.

“Yes, Sunset,” Aideen nodded and she set off at once. She summoned a small fireball to light her way.

“How many contracts do you have?” Spike asked.

“Including the ones you saw thus far?” Sunset asked rhetorically. “I have six.”

“That’s cool,” Spike replied.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy and Rarity were looking for a way out when Rarity spotted the throne room.

“I can see the throne room,” Rarity said. She then noticed the tapestries within. “Those tapestries are perfect! Even with their old age, they still are captivating.”

Fluttershy looked at them as well. “They are lovely, Rarity,” she nodded. “But, I think we should focus on finding a way out of here. I need to feed Angel.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Rarity said. “Don’t worry. I’m certain we’ll find a way out, even if it’s by accident.”

Deep below, Rainbow and Applejack happened upon a halfway lined with old pony armor.

“Do ya think there’s a single room in this here castle that ain’t filled with terrifyin’ things?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow took a closer look at one suit and gently touched the helmet.

“It’s just pony armor, AJ,” Rainbow said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” They suddenly hear the growling noise again, which sounded even louder. To their surprise, the helmets on the armors turned to face them all on their own.

“U-unless they start… movin’ on their own~!” Applejack quivered. Most of the suits turned their helmets to face one of their own. That last suit looked from one side to the other and hung its head in resignation before leaving its stand while the others stayed put.

“Okay, I’m scared!” Rainbow admitted.

“Me, too!” Applejack also admitted.

When trying to find a way out, Applejack stepped on the empty stand before the organ played a note that activated a secret door, making the stand and the wall behind it spin, taking Applejack with it and leaving a new suit of armor in her place. The suit wobbled as if dizzy.

“Applejack?” Rainbow asked, turning to where her friend was. She instead found herself face to face with the new suit. Rainbow exclaimed with surprise and bolted off.

Another note from the organ caused a similar thing to happen to Rarity. Her exclamation caught Fluttershy’s attention.

“Rarity?!” Fluttershy gasped. “What happened?!” She turned to look in the direction she heard it, but, she found Rarity gone.

Another note from the organ caused a golden goblet to rise from a platform right in front of Wallflower.

“What the-” Wallflower asked. “Where did this come from?”

Another couple notes from the organ and Applejack found herself on a castle ledge next to what looked like a statue of an adult Bulk Buster dragon. Flashes of lightning made it seem more ominous, which the growling noise she’d been hearing lately didn’t help with.

In another part of the castle, Rarity was tossed out of the passage she unwittingly took and saw that she had torn off part of the tapestry she was trying to remove. Back with Twilight’s group, all but Sunset and Phoebe were starting to become unnerved by the organ notes.

“We hadn’t heard back from Aideen yet,” Spike said.

“She’s still trying to find the organ by following the sound,” Sunset said. “She’s keeping me updated through telepathy.”

“Is that why you aren’t nervous, Sunset?” Spike asked.

“Well, that’s part of it,” Sunset admitted. “There’s also the fact that I’ve had an extensive stay in this forest. At first, I was worried since I didn’t know what to expect. Now, it’s just ehh.”

“I see,” Spike nodded. He had to admit Sunset’s explanation made sense.

Meanwhile, Rarity was clearing the branches and leaves from her mane and tail.

“Now, you listen here, castle!” Rarity said, so annoyed that she’s talking to a castle of all things. “You may be old, dilapidated, and scary, but, your wall art is in an atrocious state and I will not rest until I restore it to its former glory!” She jumped through a window.

Meanwhile, Rainbow was still among the armors.

“Hello~!” Rainbow called out. “Applejack? If you made it back to Ponyville, I would win by default, right? Wait… what am I saying? I’m the Guardian of Loyalty! I can’t leave Applejack! I’ve got to find her!” One suit tried to reach out to her. “Whoa! Oh, no you don’t!” She dashed off.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy was hoping Rarity was playing a joke.

“Rarity~” she called. “I know you’re not one for practical jokes, but, I hope this is one. Oh dear, me of all ponies hoping that this is a joke.” She gently placed a hoof on Luna’s old throne when a note from the organ played. “Eep!”

Back in the hall with the armors, Applejack found herself back there and heard the growling noise again.

“Ah guess all that runnin’ ah did is wearin’ me down,” Applejack said wearily. “Ah got ta find Rainbow.”

She saw a suit move to reveal a passageway. Applejack ventured that if she went in there, she could potentially find Rainbow. She cautiously made her way.

At that moment, Rarity stumbled into the foyer.

“Of all of the castles in Equestria,” she grumbled. “This one is by far the most ungrateful!” A loose bit of rubble from the ceiling fell and hit Rarity on the head. Shortly thereafter, she heard the noise she heard when she and Fluttershy were trapped in the room with the hole in the wall. She quivered uneasily and started slowly walking backwards.

At the same time, Fluttershy was also carefully walking backwards into the foyer as she heard the sound, too. “Oh, dear. I can’t bear to imagine Rarity all alone in this castle. Or worse, she is with somepony, but, they are a dangerous stranger.” She shook her head. “I can’t think like that. Don’t assume the worst, hope for the best for my friends.”

Applejack stepped out of the passageway as a section of a wall moved to let her through.

“Rainbow?” Applejack called. “Are ya ‘round here?” She looked to the side and saw the armor. “Whoa!” She jumped back and stepped slowly backwards into the foyer.

With Rainbow, she was looking around for Applejack. She was afraid, but, thinking about Applejack was giving her new courage to find her.

“Haunted statues, creepy armor,” Rainbow muttered. Then, she called out. “Is that all you got, castle?!” She then saw a flash of lightning. “Whoa!” She started flying slowly backwards and down.

The four were unaware that they were approaching each other. It might have stayed that way were it not for their rear ends all making contact with each other simultaneously. That’s when they all erupted in a barrage of frightened screaming and blindly scattering. Rainbow started bouncing off the walls, blindly knocking off one of the tapestries, which fell upon Rarity.

“I was only trying to restore ancient art~!” Rarity sobbed. She ran around with the tapestry over her eyes, unwittingly making some leaves fall onto a pile of rocks that, with the aid of a flash of lightning, made a shadow resembling that of Spike’s profile.

Fluttershy briefly uncovered her eyes and saw the shadow. “Spike?” Applejack ran blindly and bumped into pillars. One of them toppled over and Fluttershy thought she saw it fall onto Spike. “SPIKE~!”

Back with Twilight’s group, the noise was starting to reach them. Sunset was growing frustrated as the noise prevented her from hearing Aideen’s telepathic relay.

Finally, Sunset lost patience. “What is that racket?!” In response to her question, Brisa, who was carrying a tennis racquet larger than herself started nervously taking it out of sight. “And what is that noise?!”********

Twilight closed the journal and set it back on the podium. “You’re right, that is distracting,” she admitted. “We should see what’s going on.”

The five followed the noise and saw the others in a frenzy.

“What’s gotten into them?” Spike asked.

Fluttershy struggled in vain to lift the fallen pillar. “It’s okay, Spike! You’re okay, you’re okay!”

Suddenly, Applejack landed on the pillar after the growling noise was heard. “Whatever ya are, just come on out n’ stop growlin’!”

“Okay,” Sunset said after a few seconds of the others panicking. “I’m putting a stop to this streak of Scooby Doo shenanigans. Cascade!” In response to her call, a mare that seemed to be made entirely of water except for her icy blue eyes and mouth appeared beside her.

“Yes?” she responded.

“I believe those four need to cool off,” Sunset said, pointing to the frenzied mares.

“Understood,” Cascade said and she summoned spheres of water that she threw upon the four frantic mares. In response to the liquids drenching them, they stopped panicking and sputtered as if they’d pulled their heads out of a body of liquid.

“What the hay?” Applejack sputtered. She then noticed. “Sunset? Twilight? Wallflower? Spike? Phoebe?”

Fluttershy, hearing Spike’s name, looked over and saw that he wasn’t harmed at all. “Oh, thank goodness you’re alright, Spike!”

“Of course I’m alright,” Spike said. “I’ve been with mom, Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe all day.”

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked. “What are you doing here?”

“She’s with me,” Rarity explained.

“Now,” Sunset began while walking on her hindhooves with her forehooves on her hips. As she stepped forward, she began speaking like a crotchety old prospector. “What’s with all the screamin’ n’ shoutin’ n’ Scooby Doo shena-” But, before she could finish her sentence, a piece of balcony she was standing on collapsed and she fell, landing with a thud.********* “I’m okay.” She got up and dusted herself off before speaking in her normal voice. “But, seriously, what’s with all the Scooby Doo shenanigans?”

“All the what now?” Rainbow asked.

“Let me put it in ways you can understand,” Sunset said. “Why were all of you screaming and running around like there’s no tomorrow?”

The four ponies tried to explain at the same time, but, with all of them talking over each other, it was hard to understand, so, Twilight stopped them. “One at a time, please!” They stopped talking. “Applejack?”

“Rainbow n’ ah were tryin’ ta break our tie as ta who the most darin’ pony is between us,” Applejack explained.

“Rainbow?”

“We were supposed to stay in here all night to determine which one of us would be the most daring,” Rainbow said. “But, a persistent growling noise and the creepiness of this castle is making that difficult.”

“Rarity?”

“I wanted to restore the castle’s tapestry,” Rarity said. “But, all of the secret entrances and passageways are preventing that!”

“Fluttershy?”

“Rarity asked me to help her,” Fluttershy said. “I was the only one available.”

“What are you doing here, Twilight?” Rainbow asked. “Are you hiding from the Pony of Shadows, too?”

“So, you know about the Pony of Shadows?” Sunset asked.

“Eeyup,” Applejack said. “When Nightmare Moon was banished, not all her dark magic went with her. At night, it takes the form o’ the Pony o’ Shadows.”

“Who told you that?” Sunset asked.

“Mah Granny Smith,” she replied.

“Well, I’m afraid she must’ve gotten the legend muddled up,” Sunset said. “In books I read in Canterlot and this castle’s library, the Pony of Shadows happened before Nightmare Moon.”’**********

“Oh,” Applejack said after a pause. She blushed with embarrassment. “Well then…”

“Finally,” said a masculine voice. “A pony getting it right.”

The other ponies, the dragon, and the phoenix turned their attention to the owner of the voice. They saw a cloaked pony with eyes that seemed to glow yellow in the darkness.

“Wh-who are you?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“For the time being,” the figure responded. “I answer to the name Shadow Lock. Though, I fear the return of the evil I descended from or my own corruption by it.”

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked.

“Show me the way to the castle library,” Shadow demanded. “There’s something I must do for the good of Equestria.”

Sunset and Twilight led Shadow to the library. Spike was riding on Twilight’s back, Phoebe was on Sunset’s back, and Wallflower was walking next to Sunset. The other ponies followed Shadow. Soon, they arrived at the library. Once inside, Shadow removed his hood to reveal his face. His eyes were grayish emerald green, his mane dark cobalt blue and dark grayish orchid, and his coat cornflower bluish gray. He had a scar across his muzzle.

“So,” Applejack said, still unsure. “What is this about?”

Shadow ignored her and illuminated his horn, a vibrant red aura coming off it. Several historical books levitated off the shelves and opened up to reveal their contents being erased.

“What’s going on?” Rainbow asked.

“I’m erasing all records of evil in history,” Shadow said.

“What?” Rarity gasped. “That’s not right!”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Shadow said. “This is for the good of Equestria.”

Sunset decided not to allow this to continue. “Stance up!” she said, pressing the button on her hooflet and transforming into her humanoid form. After transforming, she tackled Shadow to the ground and held him there. The tackle broke his concentration and stopped the spell.

“What are you doing?!” Shadow said, struggling to try and get Sunset off of him. “Let go of me!”

“Wallflower,” Sunset said. “Bring me the Element of Empathy!”

Wallflower nodded and she grabbed it from Sunset’s saddle bag. She brought it closer to Sunset. Sunset then used her free hand to put the tiara on before touching Shadow’s muzzle. Upon contact, Sunset’s eyes began to glow pure white. After some time, she finished gazing into Shadow’s inner thoughts, her eyes stopped glowing, and she broke contact.

“I can understand your fears,” she said. “But, you’re doing more harm than good.”

“H-how did you know what I was thinking?” Shadow asked.

“The Element of Empathy,” Sunset explained. “Allows me to see into the memories of anyone I touch. In your case, I saw a large chunk of your memories being erased.”

Spike, the other ponies, and Phoebe gasped hearing this.

“But, that’s impossible,” Shadow protested. “My memory’s keen as ever.”

“Then, answer this question,” Sunset said. “What is the evil you’re trying to erase the knowledge of?”

“I fail to see the point in this,” Shadow said. “But, I will. That evil is…” Shadow then found himself unable to remember what the evil was. “How can this be? I know that I’m removing knowledge of a great evil, but, I can’t remember what that evil is.”

“That spell wasn’t just erasing the books,” Sunset said. “It was taking the memory of the one reading it. In this case, you. But, you’re also getting rid of knowledge on how to defeat the evil you fear should it ever return. If you continue down this path, it won’t be long before you forget your reason for doing this in the first place.”

Shadow paused to reflect on this. “I… I hadn’t thought of that.”

“There’s a saying,” Sunset said. “That those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Yes, bad things happen, but, forgetting about them isn’t the answer. I’ve been to a world where all the countries waged war on each other for four years.” This caused a large collection of gasps. “Because so few people learned from it, a much worse war of that scale happened over twenty years later.”

“That’s terrible,” Fluttershy gasped, frightened.

“Those wars happened long before I went to that world,” Sunset continued. “But, between the second war and my arrival in that world, there hadn’t been a war of that scale since. Can you guess why that is?”

Rarity held up her hoof. “Was it because they learned from the war?”

“Exactly,” Sunset said. “When learning history, you have to take the good with the bad. Forgetting the bad can cause it to repeat itself.”

Shadow listened to what Sunset was saying. He then sighed with resignation. “You’re right. What I was doing would have been bad as well. Thank you for helping me see that.” He then levitated a particular spellbook. “This is where I got the spell from. I want you to have it so I don’t have to peer through it and get inspired to try it again.”

“I think it’s best if you try a counterspell,” Sunset suggested. “That would be the first step to redemption.”

He peered through the spellbook and found it on a particular page. As he focused his magic, the contents of the books were restored.

“Now, I have an alternate strategy for you,” Sunset said.

“What’s that?” Shadow asked.

“One thing I’ve learned in that other world,” Sunset said. “Is that things aren’t always as black and white as they seem. So, instead of trying to erase knowledge of the evil you descended from and fear so much, you should try to learn what caused your ancestor to go bad in the first place so you can make your own informed decisions to avoid making the same choices.”

“Thank you,” Shadow said gratefully. “I will.” After Sunset got off him, he got a look at her humanoid form. “What did you turn yourself into and how?”

“I’m afraid it’s a bit complicated,” Sunset said. She then pressed the button again and said, “Stance Down!” In a flash of light, she was in her regular pony form again. Suddenly, Sunset heard Aideen’s voice telepathically speak to her. “You found the organ? Well, okay, we’ll be right there.” Before any of them could leave, the growling sound echoed off the stone walls.

“Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked. “What’s that?!”

“I have a theory,” Sunset said. “Applejack, when was the last time you ate?”

Applejack listened to Sunset and figured. “Uh…. what time o’ day is it now?” she asked and the growling sounded again. This time, all looked down to see Applejack’s belly rippling to the noise.

“That was my theory,” Sunset said.

“No wonder it always seemed like it was chasing us,” Rainbow said.

“Guess we were so caught up in our dare-off that ah didn’t think ‘bout food,” Applejack said with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks.

“Remind me,” Sunset said. “What were you two getting into a pissing match over?”

“Why would we compete over peeing?” Rainbow asked. “That’s disgusting.”

“No,” Sunset clarified. “A pissing match is a contest or rivalry in which the main concern of the parties involved is the conspicuous demonstration of superiority.”

“Oh, that makes more sense,” Rainbow said. “We were trying to see who’s the most daring pony. We ended up in a tie when we decided to come here.”

Sunset disappointedly shook her head. “You two are definitely Ashleigh and Roxy’s pony counterparts. Like you two, they would compete in literally anything. In fact, the only thing they haven’t competed in is Russian Roulette.”

All present (barring Phoebe) wore looks of confusion.

“What’s a Rushin’ Rollet?” Applejack asked.

“Russian Roulette,” Sunset corrected. “Is a gambling game played with a gun.”

“And a gun is…?” Rainbow asked.

Sunset went to a wall and spun her horn like a drill bit to etch an illustration of this into the stone.

“This is one example,” Sunset said. “Do any of you know how a cannon works?”

“We do,” Spike said. “Pinkie uses one to shoot confetti and streamers.”

“Same concept,” Sunset said. “But, smaller. This particular illustration is in the actual size of this particular model of gun. When Russian Roulette is played, this is used and there is a big risk if you lose. You’re essentially gambling with your life if you play this dangerous game. Guns use smaller equivalents of cannonballs called bullets. Bullets can do a lot more piercing damage than a cannonball.”

The others listen to Sunset explain the rules of Russian Roulette intently, growing horrified by the idea. Applejack and Rainbow were more so frightened by the idea and thanked their lucky stars that their human counterparts don’t play this “game.”

“Take it from me,” Sunset said. “Guns aren’t idle playthings. If you use one, you better be prepared to risk your life.”

“Or somepony else’s, by the sound of it,” Twilight added.

“Thank Celestia we ain’t got those,” Applejack said. “If’n we did, Ah’d never use one.”

“Me neither,” Rainbow said.

“Now, guns aren’t inherently good or bad,” Sunset said. “They’re used by both criminals and law-enforcement alike. The difference boils down to how they’re used and why. It’s also possible to use bullets made of rubber for crowd control. They won’t kill, but, they’ll hurt real bad.”

The others nodded understandably. Applejack and Rainbow then looked at each other.

“What do ya think, Rainbow?” Applejack said. “Want ta call this whole thing off?”

“Definitely,” Rainbow said.

“Very good,” Sunset said. “Remember, there’s a thin line between being brave and being an idiot.”

“Sunset’s right,” Rainbow said.

“N’ Pinkie,” Applejack said. “Guess we can both be the most darin’ pony, n’ bein’ darin’ is also knowin’ when ta be darin’ fer the right reasons.”

“Now, I propose we get Applejack some food,” Sunset said. At that moment, a creature with the appearance of a large mushroom that walked on two feet resembling upside-down mushrooms that was about a quarter of the height of the ponies walked through into the room. “Ah, speak of the devil.”

“What’s that?” Rainbow asked.

“A walking mushroom***********,” Sunset explained before heading towards the creature and bashing it on the top of its mushroom cap, causing it to land on its rear end and wobble in a motion of dizziness. “This should be big enough for all of us.”

“Should be appetizing,” Rarity said.

“I don’t know about this,” Fluttershy said.

“Relax,” Sunset said. “It’s no different from eating regular mushrooms.”

“Well, if you're certain,” Fluttershy said.

“We’ve been eating them at least twice a week for three months,” Wallflower said. “Word of the wise, don’t try eating them raw. The results aren’t a pretty picture.”

“Well, alright,” Fluttershy at last conceded.

“Huh?” Sunset said. “Oh, right. Forgive the delay, Aideen.” She then levitated a small wooden box out of her saddlebag, opened it, and stuffed the walking mushroom inside it. Despite the mushroom being bigger, the box was able to store it without getting any bigger on the outside. “Sorry, AJ. Aideen’s getting impatient. We’ll have to go to her before she turns this place into a crater.”

“Ah can hang on a mite longer,” Applejack said.

They all followed Sunset until they found the visibly impatient Aideen.

“Thank you, Aideen,” Sunset said comfortingly. “Now, you found the organ?”

“Right over there,” Aideen said, gesturing to the organ, which was being played by another cloaked figure.

“Who’s that?” Shadow asked.

“Let me unmask this Scooby Doo perp,” Sunset said.

“Be careful, Sunset,” Spike said.

Sunset stepped up to the figure, grabbed the cloak, and swiped it off, revealing Pinkie.

“Oh, hi, Sunset,” Pinkie smiled. “Did you know this pipe organ was here? Because I didn’t.”

“Pinkie?” Rainbow asked. “What are you doing here?”

“Well,” Pinkie said. “It turns out that I wasn’t supposed to test it until the last weeks of summer. So, I got bored and decided to visit you, but, you weren’t at your house. So, I decided to explore the castle. It got chilly, so, I grabbed a tarp I found lying around to keep warm. That’s when I found this organ.” She played a couple notes on it, activating a mechanism that launched Sunset at the ceiling.

Sunset clutched her scalp and her eyes shut as she gently lowered herself and muttered, “Ow! Dammit to—augh!!!”

“That explains all of the traps and secret passages,” Rarity said. “So, it wasn’t the castle being offended by my efforts to restore the tapestries.”

“Seriously?” Rainbow said. “That was an actual thought in your mind?”

“That’s enough of that, Rainbow,” Sunset said. “We now know the actual reason and that’s all that matters. Now, let’s go to another room and take Pinkie with us before she triggers another mechanism by accident.”

Later, they were in the secret room and Sunset was chopping up the walking mushroom to make a soup for all present.

“It’s ready!” Sunset announced. “Now, form a line.”

They lined up single file, eagerly awaiting a bowlful of soup, none more so than Applejack. They each tasted it and found it appealing. Sunset sprinkled something on her own serving.

“What’s that?” Twilight asked.

“Dis here is de Cajun spice,” Sunset said in an accent that left the others confused (though, Phoebe covered her beak with an amused chirp). In embarrassment, she facehoofed and spoke normally. “That was my best Justin Wilson************ impression!”

“Can I try some of that?” Spike asked.

“Sure,” Sunset said. She sprinkled some in his serving. “Since you breathe fire, I think it’s safe for you.”

“Thanks, Sunset,” Spike smiled. After stirring the seasoning in so it’s properly distributed, he took a bite. “Hmm. Interesting taste. I think there’s pepper, onion, garlic, and paprika.”

“Right on all counts, little guy,” Sunset said.

Wallflower noticed Rainbow adding some of the seasoning to her own bowl. “No, wait!”

Too late, Rainbow had a spoonful and steam shot out of her mouth like a steam whistle. “Thuh thpithy~!” (“So spicy!”)

Sunset reached into the small wooden box and took out a bucket of milk she gave to Rainbow. Rainbow chugged the milk and she felt better.

“I should’ve warned you,” Wallflower said. “Sunset has an extremely high spice tolerance.”

“I got to say,” Rainbow said, after she had a chance to cool down. “Sunset is hardcore. What kind of pepper was in that stuff?”

“Cayenne,” Sunset said, which surprised all the ponies but Wallflower.

“Cayenne?!” Rainbow asked. “I’m amazed you can eat that without even wincing!”

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Sunset said. “I’ve had Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dipped in barbecue sauce.”

“Whatever those are,” Pinkie said. “Dang!”

“Your human counterpart had that same reaction,” Sunset said.

“I can believe other me,” Pinkie giggled.

“I can’t believe I was so scared,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s okay, Fluttershy,” Applejack said comfortingly. “Most o’ us were scared, even me.”

“Imagination is more powerful than we give it credit for,” Sunset said. “It can change the way we see the world around us.”

“Mom wasn’t scared,” Spike said. “And when she was reading the journal’s pages out loud, I wasn’t scared anymore.”

“AJ and I must have powerful imaginations,” Rainbow said. “Because it made us see old suits of pony armor move on their own.”

“Oh,” Sunset said before biting her lip. “That wasn’t your imagination.”

Hearing this, Rainbow and Applejack turned to Sunset slowly.

“Ya mean,” Applejack said before gulping. “They really do move on their own?”

“Yes, yes they do,” Sunset said. “Don’t worry, though. With the help of my spirit contracts, I was able to pacify them. They won’t hurt you unless you attack first.”

Applejack and Rainbow, hearing this and remembered all that they experienced with them, did the one thing they could do… faint.

At that moment, the armor that left them in the hall entered with a serving tray. Sunset looked at it. “You and your kin heard the noise?” The suit nodded. “You were singled out to make them food?” The suit nodded again. “And you searched for them when it was ready?” The suit nodded a third time. “Well, just leave the platter here and you can go back to your stand to rest.” The suit did such.

After it left, Rainbow and Applejack came to.

“Ooh, my head~” Rainbow said. She saw the platter. “Hey, where’d this come from?”

“You saw a suit of armor leave its stand, right?” Sunset inquired.

“We might have,” Rainbow answered.

“Well, they went to prepare food for you two,” Sunset said. “They were looking for you all over the castle.”

“They?” Applejack asked.

“Living armors are really colonies of mollusks,” Sunset explained. “Newborns find abandoned suits of armor to use as shells by getting between the armor plating. The mollusks can expand and contract like muscles do.”

“Well,” Applejack said. “That was mighty nice o’ them ta prepare food fer us.”

“I guess we owe them thanks,” Rainbow said. “And an apology.”

“After a spiritual cleansing, the living armors can be pretty accommodating when given the chance,” Sunset said. “Under normal circumstances, they can be quite territorial. Especially when their eggs are incubating.”

“Aww,” Fluttershy cooed.

“They lay eggs?” Rainbow asked.

“And gather them in an eggsac mounted on the back of a shield,” Sunset said. “I believe that the living armor mollusks are hermaphrodites and the healthier colonies look after the eggs until they hatch.”

“Intriguing,” Twilight noted. Suddenly, Shadow dropped his spoon. “Shadow?”

“There’s living armors in the dungeon of my family castle!” Shadow said. “When I was a colt, I’d occasionally see pairs of suits holding hooves! At the time, I thought it was a dungeon prank, but, with this new information, I think I might have been witnessing some kind of mating ritual!”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Twilight said, comforting Shadow.

“I think it’s best we save that theory for a different time,” Sunset said.

Shadow nodded, slowly starting to feel better.

“Say, something still puzzles me,” Rainbow said. “How come Sunset wasn’t scared?”

“Well, prior experience,” Sunset admitted. “There’s also reading about the past helping us deal with problems in the present.”

Shadow could only agree.

“This gives me an idea,” Sunset said. “We can keep a journal of friendship lessons.”

“Hey, that is a great idea, Sunset,” Twilight smiled. “We can share it with each other and learn from each other.”

“For your convenience,” Sunset said. “The journal can be kept in Ponyville so I can check updates should I ever visit. How’s that?”

“Works for us,” Pinkie smiled.

“I’ll need to do some traveling,” Shadow said. “I’m taking Sunset’s advice.”

“We hope you have a safe and rewarding trip,” Fluttershy said.

And so, the Guardians bid Shadow Lock a farewell. Once he left, Rarity felt curious about Sunset’s small wooden box.

“By the way, Sunset,” she said. “What is this?”

“Oh,” Sunset said. “It’s a little thing I like to call my Item Box. It can store much more than its size would suggest. You can store anything you want in it as long as it doesn’t have a pulse and it won’t get any heavier.”

“Intriguing,” Rarity said. “I could use something like this in my day-to-day life.”

“And what about that hooflet that lets you change shape?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh,” Sunset said. “I call it the anthropomorpher*************.”

“Neat,” Rainbow said with a nod.

“Before you ask,” Sunset said. “It only works for me since I enchanted it to only respond to my DNA.”

“Fair enough,” Rarity nodded. “I mean, most of us aren’t as used to standing upright on two legs anyway.”

“I developed the anthropomorpher to have a best of both worlds situation,” Sunset said. “As a pony, I have magic, which can compensate for the dexterity hooves lack. But, as a human, I was unable to use magic for the longest time, but, I had greater dexterity.”

“That’s one way to split the difference,” Pinkie said.

“Though, it took a few tries to get it right,” Sunset said. “The first attempt gave me the body of a spider and the head of a giraffe.”

“No comment,” Spike said after a few seconds.

“That sounds utterly terrifying!” Rarity said.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Sunset said.

Suddenly, the light of dawn shined in through a nearby window.

“Looks like we’ve been up all niii–” Spike began before passing out on the floor.

Twilight gently cradled Spike in her front hooves. “We better get back home,” she softly said.

“Yeah,” Sunset said. “We’ll have to sleep in to make up for the sleep we missed.”

“Right,” Rarity said. “We wouldn’t want any of us getting sick after all.”

So, they all headed home.

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter of book 4.

*An excellent point.

**An excellent comparison.

***Good explanation.

****Solid reasoning.

*****Think like that one episode of SpongeBob, Employee of the month, after Squidward asked SpongeBob if he was getting sleepy.

******LORE EXPANSION!

*******Guess the ref.

********Chowder reference.

*********Think Gopher from Winnie the Pooh.

**********FORESHADOWING!!!

***********I got the idea from Delicious in Dungeon.

************If you don't know who that is, look it up.

*************Yes, that's its name.

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.

Chapter 4: Daring Don't (S4:E4)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 4: Daring Don’t

Three days after the all-nighter at the Castle of the Two Sisters, Fluttershy was teaching some chicks to fly.

“Ready to try out what you've learned?” Fluttershy asked sweetly. The chicks chirped in confirmation. “Alright, here we go. I’ll be right there with you.” She gently flapped her wings to demonstrate the motions. The chicks flapped their little wings as well. They managed to get a little bit above their nest. “That’s good, keep going!” she said in a motivated voice. Suddenly, Rainbow started flying in circles.

“Four more months!” the athlete said. “Four more months!”

Fluttershy noticed Rainbow and called up to her. “Four more months of what, Rainbow?”

“Aren’t you excited?!” Rainbow asked.

“I might be if I knew what you were talking about,” Fluttershy answered.

“Oh, right, context,” Rainbow said. “The newest Daring Do book is coming out four months from today!”

“Oh,” Fluttershy said. “I see.”

“I’m so excited to see what kind of adventures she’ll be up against this time~!” Rainbow whooped, loop-de-looping in the air. “So, what amazing, incredible, awesome adventure do you think Daring Do will have in her next book, huh? Will she at long last stalk the Fortress of Talacon, only to be forced to contend with its dreaded and impenetrable arrow defense? And if so, could her skill, quick wits, and courage possibly carry the day? Or will her next adventure bring her face to face with the vast and horrible Ahuizotl himself?! Would she cower, turn tail and run? Or would she fly at him, full bore, knowing full well against all odds that the greatest challenge she ever faced was still surely no match for—”

“RAINBOW!” Fluttershy shouted, stopping Rainbow. “I know you’re excited for the book, but, the announcement only just came out. I don’t know what happens in the next book. I don’t even know what happened in the previous books. I’m not as into the series as you are, so, none of what you’ve been saying made any sense to me.*”

“Oh, right,” Rainbow said. “Sorry about that. I just got really excited. I’ve even been re-reading the previous books to get me back up to speed. Don’t worry, I’ve only been doing it when I was off the clock.”

“I understand,” Fluttershy said. “I need to help these chicks learn how to fly, but, we can chat more about this another time, okay?”

“Okay,” Rainbow said. “You know, I don’t think I’ve taught Sunset to fly yet.”

“She’s very insistent that she only takes those lessons where there’s no chance of any… body seeing her besides us,” Fluttershy said. “In her words. That makes it less likely for you-know-who to find out about her either directly or indirectly.”

“I still don’t get the everybody thing,” Rainbow said. “Why doesn’t she just use everypony like a normal pony. She’s not in that other world anymore.”

“I think it sounds alright,” Fluttershy responded. “And more inclusive in my opinion. After all, if we use everypony, we might be leaving Spike out, since he’s not a pony.**”

“Oh,” Rainbow said as she considered this. “Yeah. He’s been left out of too much already. Though, it’ll still take some getting used to.”

“It probably took her a while to get used to saying ‘everybody’ instead of ‘everypony,’” Fluttershy considered. “She’s still getting used to being back in the world she was born in again. We should try to be more respectful.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Rainbow said. “Thanks, Fluttershy.”

Four days later, Rainbow was excitedly making her way to the Golden Oak Library.

“Only three months and twenty-six days away,” she whispered excitedly to herself. “I’d love to chat with Twilight about story ideas.” She opened the door and, to her surprise, saw that the rest of her Ponyville friends, Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe were all inside and having a celebration.

“Hi, Rainbow,” Twilight said with a smile. “So glad you could join us.”

“What’s going on?” Rainbow asked.

“Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe decided to come visit,” Pinkie said. “So, I decided to throw a party to celebrate!”

“That sounds about right,” Rainbow smiled.

“I’m guessing Spike didn’t get to you when I sent the announcement yesterday,” Sunset said. “The others seemed to get it okay.”

“I tried,” Spike said. “But, she was too busy reading one of the Daring Do books for the twelfth time.”

“Yep, that sounds like Roxy, too,” Sunset replied.

“Rainbow told me recently that she’s been re-reading the books in preparation for the new book,” Fluttershy explained.

“Roxy fangirled over Daring Do books in the human world, too,” Sunset said. “And don’t get me started on her excitement over the movie adaptations.”

“Don’t worry,” Rainbow said as Rarity levitated a cupful of punch. “In three months and twenty-six days, I’ll be able to read the next book and enjoy it.” Rainbow started to sip.

“About that,” Twilight said. “My mom recently told me that they’re pushing the book release date another two months.”

Rainbow did a whole-on spit take and sputtered. “Two more months?!”

“To quote a certain rabbit mascot for a candy company,” Sunset said. “Take it easy.”

“Rabbit mascot?” Fluttershy asked, confused.

“There’s this candy company in the human world called Cadbury,” Sunset explained. “They had this mascot of a female rabbit who would see some male forest animals overworking themselves and she’d offer them a piece of milk chocolate with a caramel filling to help them relax, hence her using that slogan, ‘take it easy.’”***

Rainbow took a deep breath, trying to take the advice to heart. “Twilight,” she asked. “Did your mom say why this was the case?”

“All she told me was that A.K. Yearling wouldn’t be able to finish the book for another two months,” Twilight answered.

“Looks like this A.K. Yearling’s as reclusive as her human counterpart,” Sunset said.

Rainbow thought of this and considered. “Hey, Twilight,” she said. “You wouldn’t happen to know where she lives, do you?”

“My mom might,” Twilight answered. “Though, she hasn’t told me.”

“I think I know why,” Sunset said. “If she shared that kind of information, she’d essentially be doxxing her.”

“Doxxing?” Rarity asked. “I’m not familiar with the term, I’m afraid.”

“Doxxing,” Sunset explained. “Is when you search for and publish private or identifying information about a particular individual on the internet, typically with malicious intent. Since Equestria doesn’t have internet, it’s not proper doxxing.”

“My idea isn’t for malicious intent, though,” Rainbow said. “I want to know because it’s clear that the reason why A.K. Yearling’s book is delayed is because she needs help dealing with everyday nonsense. We could help clean her house, do her laundry, buy her groceries, cook her meals, anything like that.”

“This idea still raises some red flags,” Sunset said.

“She could always say no,” Rainbow said.

“It’s not just that,” Sunset said. “This could also be a violation of her privacy. And I can tell that this isn’t entirely wholesome on your part.”

“Sunset’s right, Rainbow,” Applejack said. “As a fan, ya got ta be respectul o’ her privacy. So, we’re just goin’ ta have ta be patient n’ not be all, ‘five months left, four months left, three months left, two-’”

“I get it, I get it!” Rainbow interrupted and sighed with defeat. “But, you all know that patience isn’t my strong suit.”

Sunset took a deep breath. “That’s apparent, Rainbow,” she said. “I don’t like it, but, with it being apparent you have at least partial helpful motivation, I’ll authorize Twilight to find a way to find out where A.K. Yearling lives.”

This brightened Rainbow up. “Yes!” she exclaimed, hugging Sunset suddenly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! Trust me, nopo- uh, nobody, is going to regret this!”

“However,” Sunset said. “To make sure your fangirling is kept in check, you’re not to go alone and we will make sure that it happens on a day that the other Guardians aren’t occupied with their jobs.”

“Fair enough,” Rainbow said with a nod.

“But, not all of us are as big fans as Rainbow,” Rarity said.

“I understand,” Sunset said. “But, I highly doubt Twilight and myself alone will be enough to keep Rainbow in check. The rest of you have known Rainbow long enough to know how much of a handful she can be.****”

“That’s true,” Applejack said. “Ah’ll have mah rope with me, just in case.”

“Besides,” Sunset said. “In the event she ends up living in a somewhat dangerous place, this can be a safety in numbers thing.”*****

“That’s true,” Fluttershy admitted. “I could also bring some medical supplies.”

“That would be a good idea,” Sunset nodded. She then noticed Spike looking rather sad and alone. “And Spike can come as well if he wants.”

“Really?” Spike asked.

“Yeah,” Rainbow smiled. “Meeting A.K. Yearling and helping her would mean a lot to me. It would also mean a lot if you were there with us.”

“But, what if something happens to him?” Twilight asked.

“Twilight,” Sunset said. “I understand your concerns, but, you can’t keep babying him forever. You need to give him room to grow on his own. Besides, think of this as a good way to keep an eye on him.”

“And with all of us together,” Pinkie said. “There should be more than enough eyes to ensure that Spike is safe.”

Twilight considered all of this. “You’re right,” she conceded.

“For an extra insurance policy,” Sunset said. “You and the original six guardians can carry some Element Shards just in case. I’ll even make sure to keep my own Elements handy.”

“Excellent thinking, Sunset,” Rarity smiled.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Rainbow said. “How’d you find out what the Element of Empathy could do?”

“It was actually an accident if you can believe it,” Wallflower said. “Between when she became a phoenix alicorn and her birthday, when we were packing, she was wearing the Element of Empathy and we shared a congratulatory hug. As we started to ease up, I saw her eyes glowing pure white.”

“Wow,” Rainbow said in an impressed tone. “That’s some discovery.”

“And it was shortly after my birthday that I learned my other elements have powers, too,” Sunset said.

“What are they?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well,” Sunset said, levitating the band with the gem representing the Element of Humility onto her right upper leg. “Let’s just say that with the Element of Humility–” She then touched the gem with her left forehoof and seemed to disappear. “--hiding from Moonrise becomes a bit easier.”

They gasped with amazement.

“She disappeared!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Or, did she turn invisible?”

“You were right the second time,” Sunset’s voice said as she reappeared.

“That’s incredible,” Fluttershy gasped. “What does Redemption do?”

“That one, we’re still trying to figure out,” Sunset said as she rubbed the back of her head.

“That’s alright,” Fluttershy said gently.

“Though, we have some information to work with,” Sunset said before taking out her Item Box and taking out of it a shield shaped like half of the shell of a phoenix egg with golden metallic wings on either side carved into ornate lapping flames.

“Wow~!” they said, impressed by the shield.

“This was once half the shell of a freshly hatched phoenix egg,” Sunset said.

“It’s mighty impressive,” Applejack said. “How’d it get like that?”

“It was the–” Sunset began before remembering Spike was present. “--strangest thing.****** The three of us saw a phoenix egg hatch, a gentle breeze carried half of the shell that broke, it touched the Redemption gem, and one blinding light flash later, it’s this shield.”

“That’s really something,” Spike said.

“That happened as we were heading to the train station the day immediately after our all-nighter at the old castle,” Wallflower said.

“Wow,” Rainbow said with astonishment.

Two days later, Twilight managed to get A.K. Yearling’s address, which her mother had marked on a map with a clear path to follow..

“Thank you,” Twilight said gratefully.

Sunset studied the map carefully. “Looks like we’ll need that safety in numbers strategy after all. This path is close to a few goblin******* settlements.”

“Goblins?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“They can be mischievous tricksters or brutal malefactors,” Sunset explained. “One goblin alone is more of a nuisance than a serious problem, but, here’s the rub: You’re not likely to see one on its own.”

“Oh, dear,” Rarity said worriedly.

“We’ll need to be careful,” Sunset said.

“Ah reckon we should all stand close together,” Applejack said. “Nopony- uh, sorry- nobody should wander off alone.”

The group followed the path on the map, with Pinkie leaving a trail of red paint as they went. They found themselves further from pony civilization.

“Sunset had a point about A.K. Yearling needing privacy,” Twilight said, looking around their surroundings. “I don’t think she would be in such a secluded part of Equestria if she didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“We’ve been lucky avoiding confrontations with goblin settlements thus far,” Sunset said. “But, according to this map, she lives a stone’s throw away from another.”

“You kind of have to wonder how she manages,” Pinkie noted. “As far as we know, she lives all alone and goblins come in big groups.”

“Well, I’ve read a bit about goblins,” Sunset said. “And encountered a few in the Everfree Forest. One thing I learned is that they’re smart enough to speak our language to a degree and have a crude social order, but, as you all saw from the settlements we passed on the way here, they’re not really master builders.”

“I see,” Fluttershy said.

“Goblins can be reasoned with and while they can be underhanded,” Sunset said. “They’re largely creatures of simple needs.”

“Maybe that’s why A. K. Yearling is doing well out here,” Pinkie smiled.

“Or, maybe she isn’t,” Rainbow said in alarm, pointing up ahead to a lonely little cottage that looked like it was ransacked.

“Ya think a gaggle o’ goblins did this?” Applejack asked.

“Unlikely,” Sunset said. “Also, a group of goblins is actually called a tribe.”

“I hope nothing bad happened to A.K. Yearling,” Twilight said worriedly.

“We better look into this,” Rainbow said.

They entered the cottage and found items thrown about across the floor. But, what caught them by surprise was the unconscious bodies of sickly bipedal creatures with skin in varying shades of green, long crooked noses, long pointy ears, and rather low-quality clothes. They’d seen them on the way there and immediately recognized them as goblins.

“Oh, the poor creatures!” Fluttershy gasped. She cradled one of the goblins in her front hooves gently. “They may be mischiefmakers, but, it doesn’t seem fair that they should be harmed like this.”

“I don’t think these goblins are responsible for this mess,” Sunset said.

“Well, if they aren’t,” Rarity ventured to guess. “Then, who was responsible? A.K. Yearling wouldn’t do this to her own home.”

“Whoever it was, it’s unlikely to be a solo act,” Sunset said. “As you can see, there’s ten unconscious goblins across the floor.”

“So?” Pinkie inquired.

“Goblins aren’t very strong individually,” Sunset said. “But, ten working together is enough to overpower any one pony acting alone.”

“What?!” Applejack exclaimed. “Even an earth pony as strong as me?!”

“Yes, Applejack,” Sunset said. “Even you.”********

“Hello?” asked an unfamiliar voice coming from the entrance. All turned to see the owner of the voice. It was what looked like an earth pony mare wearing a gray cloche hat, red-framed glasses, and a purple cloak with ornate white trimming. “What have you done to my house?! What did you do to my goblin security?!”

Rainbow gasped. “A.K. Yearling!” she squeed, but, Applejack helped to rein in her enthusiasm.

“Please forgive us,” Fluttershy explained. “We found your home like this. Same with the goblins.”

The mare went over to one of the unconscious goblins and tapped the side of its face, causing it to stir. “Gobby, what happened here?”

“Theys cames in, mistresses,” the goblin answered in a gravelly and decrepit voice.*********

“Please, Miss Yearling,” Applejack tried to explain. “We didn’t mean no harm. We just came ta-”

“Did they do this, Gobby?” Yearling asked, interrupting her.

Gobby studied them. “No,” he answered. “Stallionses dids this.”

“Stallions?” Wallflower asked.

A.K. Yearling began frantically searching for something. “Oh, where did I put that thing,” she asked herself.

“We’re awfully glad to see you’re alright,” Twilight said.

“Thank you,” Yearling said as she continued to search. “But, this isn’t the time to chat.” Finally, she found what she was looking for. It looked like a simple book. She twisted the rings on the spine, twisted the insignia on the front curve a quarter turn, and then the rings opened and the book opened on the opposite end of the spine, revealing a golden ring. “Ah, thank goodness. This is safe.” She then hid the ring behind her cloak.

“Anyway,” Rainbow said. “We came here because we really wanted to help you. I’m Rainbow Dash and I’m a fan of your Daring Do books, so, I wanted to make sure that you got the help that you needed.”

“You call yourself a fan,” A.K. Yearling said. “Yet you break into my home and attempt to pressure me into finishing my next book sooner? Let me tell you something. I deal with impatient fans every single day, but, they’re still more polite than you because they send letters instead of coming directly to me.”**********

Pinkie then looked at the entrance. “Guess those guys had the same idea.” They all looked where Pinkie pointed.

At the entrance, they saw various stallions and they did not look friendly.

“That’s thems, Misstresses!” Gobby said.

“Don’t worry, Gobby,” A.K. said gently. “I’ll take care of them and make them pay for hurting you and your siblings.” She then threw her cloak off at one henchpony, the hat at another, and her glasses at the third, revealing…

“A. K. Yearling is Daring Do?!” Twilight and Rainbow exclaimed together.

“Well, how about that?” Sunset said.

“Get out while you still can,” Daring said. “This’ll get messy.”

Reluctantly, they had to oblige. Most of them wanted to help, but, they couldn’t argue with Daring Do during this situation. Rainbow, however, insisted on staying by just in case. In a tussle over the ring, it ended up near a fourth stallion.

“Many thanks to your companion, Miss Do,” the stallion said in an accent that was hard to decipher.

“You’re behind my goblin security being knocked out, aren’t you?!” Daring accused.

“Of course,” said the stallion without a trace of shame. “They were the only ones standing between us and the artifact. I know that ten goblins could easily overpower any one pony acting alone. But, three ponies is enough to knock them out. Too bad you haven’t found a hobgoblin. Then, they might have stood a chance.”

“Then, I’ll have to stop you myself, Caballeron!” Daring snapped.

“Uh, can somebody explain what’s going on?” Pinkie asked. “Because I’m completely lost.”

“Sorry,” Spike said. “I’m afraid I can’t help much.”

“Dr. Caballeron,” Twilight explained in a whisper. “Is from book four, Daring Do and the Razor of Dreams. He wanted to partner up with Daring Do on adventures, but, she refused, knowing that he wanted to sell artifacts to the highest bidder.”

Daring Do got herself back up. “Let me guess,” she said. “Ahuizotl put you up to this, didn’t he?”

“That is correct,” Caballeron admitted. “I sell this to him, make a bundle, and retire from archeology in splendor.”

“Ahuizotl has no use for money, you short-sighted fool!” Daring said. “He’s just trying to lure you to your death!”

“Perhaps if you had partnered with me,” Dr. Caballeron snarked. “I would be taking your half-assed threats seriously. To the market, henchponies!” He and his minions left the cottage.

“Should we go in and help her?” Fluttershy asked the others in a whisper.

“Right,” Sunset said. “We’ll need to heal the goblins. You got the medical supplies, Fluttershy?”

“Mm-hmm,” Fluttershy nodded, taking them out of her saddlebag.

As Daring Do patched her injury from the fight, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Wallflower began tending to the unconscious goblins. Daring was surprised by Wallflower using plant magic.

“Whoa~” she said softly. “In all my years of exploring, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“I’ll ignore any taunting you may give me while I help to heal you,” Wallflower said.

“Taunting?” Daring said. “That’s incredible.” She then noticed Spike. “A Bulk Buster whelp?”

“And my son,” Twilight said. “I hatched him from his egg.”

Daring then got another look at Twilight. “Hey, you’re Velvet’s daughter, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am,” Twilight said. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“Velvet gave you the directions here, didn’t she?” Daring ventured to guess.

“Yes,” Twilight admitted. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re very lucky I have more important things to worry about right now or I would contact the royal guard to have you all arrested for trespassing,” Daring said.

“Miss Do,” Rainbow said. “If you’re going to punish anypony, punish me. It was my idea to find you. But, I want to make things right and I want to help you stop Dr. Caballeron.”

“I appreciate the offer,” Daring said. “But, I’ve been doing this kind of thing for years and I can manage alone.” She then made her way out.

“Do you suppose we should stay here until her goblin assistants are well?” Rarity offered. “And then we’ll make our way home?”

“We have to go with her and help,” Rainbow said.

“But, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “Daring Do said that she works alone.”

“How can we just sit by and do nothing?” Rainbow said. “We all know what’s at stake here! Ahuizotl has sought control of the Tenochtitlan Basin since book three!”

“True,” Twilight admitted. “But, in book four, she defeated Ahuizotl and secured control of the Amulet of Atonement, dispelling the dark magic of the Ketztwctl Empress and thus, protecting the basin with the Radiant Shield of Razdon!”

“But, the Radiant Shield of Razdon is vulnerable to the dark enchantment of the Rings of Scorchero!” Rainbow argued.

“But,” Twilight countered. “Are you forgetting that the Rings were scattered to the four corners of Tenochtitlan, thus rendering the dark enchantment powerless?”

“Only,” Rainbow said. “If you assume that the Rings have yet to be retrieved, and the ring Caballeron just stole isn't the last to completely restore the dark tower and its cruel hold on Tenochtitlan! Did you ever think of that?!”

All but Sunset looked confused about what was going on in the conversation.

“This makin’ a lick o’ sense ta y’all?” Applejack asked.

“Not to me,” Rarity said.

“I got lost halfway through the second sentence,” Spike put in.

“No,” Fluttershy said.

“Me neither,” Pinkie said.

“Sorry,” Wallflower said.

“I can kind of make sense of what they're saying,” Sunset said. “I've seen the Daring Do movies in the human world.”

“All things considered,” Pinkie said. “Rainbow does have a good point. At least I think she did.”

“Either way,” Sunset said. “I’m a little middle road about this.”

“We’ve got to help her, though,” Rainbow said with determination. “We’ve got to get the rings to a safe location before it’s too late!”

“Tell you what,” Sunset said. “I know a tactic in the human world used to settle two-way decisions.”

“What’s that?” Rainbow asked.

“It’s called a coin toss,” Sunset explained. She pulled out a silver bit. She then looked at both sides of the silver bit and realized that both sides looked the same. “Uh, hang on a sec.” She looked through her saddle bag and found an American quarter. “Ah, this’ll do. Now, here’s how it works. This coin has two sides. Heads.” She then levitated it to show the other side. “And tails. I know it doesn’t look like a tail, but, that’s what it’s called as opposed to heads. One of you calls heads or tails and the coin gets flipped. The winner is the one who's side is up when the coin lands.”***********

“Okay, heads!” Rainbow called.

“Okay,” Sunset said. “By process of elimination, Twilight chooses tails.” She gripped the quarter with her teeth and flipped it into the air. The coin landed on heads. “Well, that settles it. Sorry, Twilight.”

“That’s alright,” Twilight said. “But, since we’ll be in way over our heads, we will need a plan.”

“Twilight, be real, when has being in over our heads stopped us before?” Rainbow said. “I’m coming, Daring Do!” She then took off.

“Guess we better go after her after we take care of the goblins,” Spike said.

“Yous goes,” Gobby said. “Gobbys will takes cares ofs thises.”

“If you’re sure,” Spike said. “I guess we can’t argue.”

Meanwhile, with Rainbow, she was trying to find Daring Do’s trail. She spotted her limping.

“She’s hurt,” Rainbow said to herself. “Now I’ve really got to help her.” She started making a beeline for the adventurer. “Okay, take a deep breath, Rainbow. She’s a pony in need of help… and she’s your hero from your favorite book series~! Okay, calm down. It’s just another adventure with another pony. Nothing you haven’t been through before.” In her monologue, she was unprepared for the ambush that would befall her. “Okay, you got this. Cool your wings and- AH! Ow! Oof!”

Her attacker was none other than Daring Do, who finally got a good look at her.

“Oh, it’s just you,” Daring said, getting off of Rainbow. “Look, I already said I don’t have time to pander to your impatience.”

“I’m not here to tell you to hurry up with your book,” Rainbow said. “I’m here to help you with getting the rings before it falls into the creepy monkey hands of Ahuizotl.”

Daring sighed. "I don't have time for this. I'll say it once and only once. I. Work. Alone. Got it?!"

“But,” Rainbow objected. “Why won’t you let me team up with you just this once? I promise I won’t get in your way.”

The adventurer only shook her head. "They all say that. They all think they have what it takes to be a partner to me. But, in the end, they always end up getting hurt or worse. Others, like Caballeron, only care about themselves. In the end, trusting others only gets you into more trouble. And in my line of work I've come to learn a hard truth: Since you can't tell who you can trust, it's far better to trust nopony, not even yourself."

“Just because there are some that are hard to trust,” Rainbow argued. “Doesn’t mean that nopony can be trusted. Having others you can count on isn't always a bad thing.”

Daring didn’t believe this in the slightest, but, she could sense that she wouldn’t be winning any time soon. “You're not taking no for an answer, are you?"

“Nope,” Rainbow said. She then extended her hoof out to Daring Do. “So, what do you say? Do we do this together? I've read all your books, I know all your tricks. And not that I mean to brag, but, I've had a couple of life saving adventures myself. You need me.”

Daring let out a pained sigh. “Fine. But, I’m only agreeing to this because you’re making it abundantly clear that you won’t stop pestering me otherwise.”

"Yay!" Rainbow cheered and leaped into the air.

Daring quickly threw up a hoof. "But, only on one condition: You do as I say. I'm in charge and what I say goes. Is that going to be a problem?"

“Understood,” Rainbow nodded. “You’re the expert.”

Hours passed by uneventfully for the two pegasi and Rainbow’s friends hadn’t caught up to her yet.

At last, as night came and Luna's moon rose high into the sky, they came upon a small camp set up by Caballeron and his henchponies. "As I figured," Daring whispered. "It's a long way to the market, so, Caballeron and his stallions decided to stop for dinner." Daring then started to dig.

"Great, time for an ambush!" Rainbow declared as she put her hooves together. "I'm itching for action! Just say the word and I'll pounce!"

“No,” Daring said. “We’re playing this safe. We're doing things my way, remember?"

“Oh, right,” Rainbow said with a sweatdrop. “Sorry.” She saw Daring pick up some leaves from the ground, folding them into a beard before she put on her A.K. Yearling hat and a headband, pulling it down so her face was concealed. She then cautiously approached Dr. Caballeron and she disguised her voice.

“Excuse me,” she said in a gravelly voice. “I have been led to believe that you have in your possession an item of significant importance that might be for sale.” She placed a sack full of gold bits in front of her.

“Ah, well,” Dr. Caballeron said. “I did have another buyer lined up, but, he is not here, so, it sounds like we have a deal.” Before he could give Daring the ring, however, a monstrous roar was heard. Who should emerge but Ahuizotl himself?

“Caballeron~!” he exclaimed. "How dare you try to double cross me!"

Caballeron immediately tried to explain.

“W-well, you see,” Caballeron stammered. “You were not here and this customer happened by and-”

"Spare me the lies, Caballeron! You are too easily tricked!" Ahuizotl growled again. "Leave my sight at once, I won't let you mess this up for me!" Caballeron and his henchponies reluctantly obeyed and Ahuizotl saw through Daring Do's disguise in an instant. "So, we meet again, Daring Do."

“The pleasure is not likewise,” Daring snarked.

“Out of all the creatures I’ve lured to their deaths,” Ahuizotl said. “You are among the very few to escape every time. Naturally, I find this most irksome.”

“That’s too bad,” Daring said. “Because I’ll never end up dead because of you.”

“I’m so irked that I find it to not be worth the effort it expends trying to get you to die,” Ahuizotl said. “So, if you give me the ring, I will let you leave with your life.”

“You know I love you,” Daring said sarcastically. “But, you’ve got to propose before I get a ring involved with you.”

Ahuizotl snickered as he said with a grin, "Interesting, Daring Do. Because my little friends here have a proposal of their own." He snapped his paw-like tail and several cats surrounded him, all hissing and growling. "Get her! But, bring the ring to me!" he instructed.

The cats approached her menacingly. Rainbow watched from afar. It worried her to see Daring Do in trouble. She knew Daring Do got out of tough situations like that on a daily basis, but, before that day, she thought Daring Do was fictional. Knowing she was real made her more worried.

“Come on, Daring,” Rainbow whispered. “You got this… I hope.” She then noticed Daring’s pith helmet. “Hey, Daring, I got your pith helmet! Need me to toss it to you?!” However, her voice was louder than she intended.

“Well, what have we here?” Ahuizotl asked before grabbing Rainbow without warning. “A sidekick, perhaps, Miss Do? You must be growing soft in the head to put another foolish pony’s life in danger.”

“Let me go, you coward!” Rainbow shouted, getting Daring’s attention.

“What are you doing?!” Daring shouted, clearly annoyed, but, mostly horrified. “Let her go, Ahuizotl! It's me you want!"

"Ah, clearly you value this mare a lot. She must be important to you," Ahuizotl grinned. "I'll let her go, if you agree to give up the fight and turn the ring over to me!"

Daring sighed. “Fine,” she said. “But, take me instead and let her go.”

"Don't do it, Daring! You've got this! Show this clown who's boss!" Rainbow demanded of Daring.

“I am showing the clown who’s boss,” Daring said. “I’m showing that same clown why she should have listened to me.” She dropped the ring and stopped fighting.

Ahuizotl smiled. "Excellent! See what happens when you stop trying to fight me, Daring Do? We could've saved all this trouble, but, you had to play the hero. Oh well." He dropped Rainbow Dash and moved to quickly tie up Daring, dangling her in a rug with his tail paw.

A horrified Rainbow could only watch as Ahuizotl carried his prisoner away. "Daring! Don't panic, I'll... I'll come and rescue you!" she insisted even though the tone of her voice betrayed her intentions.

Daring simply called back, "Don't even bother, kid. Ahuizotl's won. Forget about me, save yourself since that's all you care about!" And soon, she and Ahuizotl were out of sight.

Daring’s words rang in Rainbow’s ears and tears welled in her eyes. Her voice cracked as she asked herself, “What have I done?”

It was morning when the others finally caught up with her.

“What the actual hell, Rainbow?!” Sunset said. It was clear that her patience had been spent, though, she made sure to cover Spike’s ear fronds so he couldn’t hear her swearing.************ “Going off half-cocked like that?!”

“You were right,” Rainbow weakly said, her voice still raspy. "I thought maybe I could show Daring Do how awesome it was to have a partner, how cool it can be to have others backing you up. But, I failed. Now, thanks to me, Daring Do has been captured by the evil Ahuizotl."

Sunset’s hard expression changed to a more sympathetic one after hearing the sadness in Rainbow’s voice. She placed the Element of Empathy on her head and placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, allowing her to see what happened before they all arrived.

“What happened before was an honest mistake,” Sunset said. “There were a lot of henchponies and one of Daring Do.”

“Whatever,” Rainbow said dismissively. “Let’s just go home and forget we ever came here.”

“We can’t do that!” Applejack said. “It looks like she needs our help now more’n ever!”

“My ‘attempts’ to help,” Rainbow said sadly. “Are the reason why she’s in trouble in the first place! Twilight was right. I should have stayed out of this. Daring Do was right, too. All I cared about was myself.”

“There’s more to this than meets the eye,” Twilight said before Sunset briefly stifled a snicker.

“Sunset,” Spike said. “There’s nothing funny about this.”

“I know,” Sunset said. “It’s just that her choice of words kind of gave me the impression she learned about Transformers.”

“We’ll have to discuss that another time,” Twilight said. “Even though Daring Do may not want anybody’s help, she might still need it anyway.”

“No,” Rainbow said. “She’s way better off without me.”

“That doesn’t sound like the Rainbow Dash that we love and care about,” Rarity said.

“Yeah,” Pinkie said. “Normally, you would help anybody at the drop of a hat! Or pith helmet, in this case.”

“I got hit with a reality check that I have no business being here,” Rainbow said.

“Okay, Rainbow,” Sunset said. “I didn’t want to do this, but, it looks like I’ll have to take a page from Roxy’s book. Stance up!” She changed into her humanoid form and delivered a strong sucker punch to the side of Rainbow’s face.*************

“Ow!” Rainbow interjected. “What was that for?!”

“Whenever I was wallowing in regret whenever I made a mistake or comparing myself to somebody else,” Sunset said. “Roxy would give me a punch to the face to remind me that doing those things isn’t helping anybody.”

Rainbow rubbed her face. “Boy, you clocked me good.”

“Daring Do thinks you’re just in this for your own gratification,” Sunset said. “This is your chance to redeem yourself in her eyes and prove her wrong.”

“Sunset’s right,” Twilight said. “You’ve put Daring Do so high up on a pedestal that you don’t even see your own self-worth anymore. She’s in that fortress and we’re here, and we wouldn’t be who we are if we didn’t go in after her. And neither would you. So are you with us?”

Rainbow took a second to digest the compelling words. She knew that Twilight and Sunset were right. So, with a newfound confidence, she stood up, wiping her tear-stained cheeks dry.

“Let’s do this,” Rainbow said. “And this time, we’re having a plan. Sunset, what do you have?”

Sunset asked the others to join her in a huddle and Sunset whispered her plan to them. Rainbow would scout ahead to study the situation and report back, then, all of them would enter the temple and while Rainbow helped Daring directly, the rest of them would act as decoys to keep the villains busy.**************

A short time later, Daring Do was bound to shackles. Below her was a pool of water filled with piranhas. Despite her situation, she insisted on being defiant.

“Surrender now, Ahuizotl!” Daring exclaimed. “Or I’ll be forced to take you down!”

Ahuizotl just laughed. “You are so cute that you think you are a threat in your situation. Now, if you will excuse me, I must not be late for my ring-placing ceremony!” He pulled a lever, causing more water to flow.

Daring knew that if the water rose too high, she could drown even with her pegasus lung capacity and more likely, be eaten by piranhas. So, she struggled to break herself free of the bonds. The shackles she was trapped in were connected to loose stone tiles. She manages to pull them out one by one. With one last effort, she managed to get the last tile out so that she’s freed. Before she plummeted into the water, Rainbow swept in and caught her.

“Gotcha!” Rainbow said. She struggled a bit from the weight of the stone tiles. With Daring adding her own wingpower, they made it to a ledge above the water. Once they were safe, Daring stomped and the stone tiles were shattered.

“I was in the middle of freeing myself,” Daring said. “But, thanks… for the assist.”

“You may also need this,” Rainbow said, giving Daring her pith helmet. Daring gratefully took it and placed it on her head.

“You may remember me saying that I work alone, don’t you?” Daring said.

“I do,” Rainbow said. “But, you’ll be lucky that I don’t work alone. Maybe sometimes it's better to do things on your own, but, other times you've got to be able to trust others to help you out. And this looks like one of them.”

Daring listened to Rainbow. She couldn’t explain it, but, she sensed something special in Rainbow. Maybe she isn’t as selfish as I thought she was. “I hope you have a good distraction for Ahuizotl.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Rainbow said. “My friends have that covered.”

In a different fortress room, Ahuizotl and tribal stallions were performing the ring-placing ritual. Approaching the entrance were Rainbow’s friends. Sunset was holding the shield she showed the others before the journey began in one hand and one of Phoebe’s tail feathers in the other (the feather was held like a writing quill).

“Okay, now!” Sunset said.

“Drop the ring, Axel-” Applejack called, but, she fumbled trying to pronounce Ahuizotl’s name. “Whatever yer name is!”

“Ahuizotl,” Sunset enunciated.

“What she said,” Applejack said.

“Place the ring quickly!” Ahuizotl exclaimed.

Sunset dragged the quill across the air, leaving a trail of lines made of fire in its wake. These lines took the shape of archery arrows, which flew at the ground to create a smokescreen.*************** The tribal ponies covered their muzzles from the smoke while Pinkie managed to take one of the rings off of the ornamental stone pillar. After using it as a hula hoop, she tossed it to Applejack and jumped off before Ahuizotl could grab her.

“Stop them!” Ahulizotl ordered.

Sunset used her shield to block attacks from the tribal ponies’ spears. During the ruckus, Rainbow and Daring made their way in and made their way to the pillar.

“Help me get these rings off,” Daring said to Rainbow. Rainbow nodded. The two pegasi worked together to get the rings off, each one heavier than the last. “If we can remove the giant ring at the bottom, the whole fortress will collapse!”

“Was that your plan the whole time?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah,” Daring admitted. “I had to find a way to get inside the fortress. I didn’t count on these rings being so heavy, though.”

Rainbow and Daring continued to work together. Though the largest ring was the heaviest, they knew they couldn’t stop no matter what.

Sunset spotted some of the tribal ponies approaching them with spears and quickly intercepted them. “Not today!” she said. However, her display of courage was cut short as one of the tribal ponies ran a spear through her heart. “Uh, oh…” In seconds, Sunset burst into flames and became a pile of ashes on the floor. Ahuizotl saw this and became rather amused.

“Looks like the fire elemental pony wasn’t so hot after all,” he laughed.

Suddenly, Sunset’s head emerged from the pile of ashes. “I heard that remark, Ahuizotl,” she said. “I’ll have you know I’m just getting started!”****************

“You could say she’s getting warmed up!” Pinkie called.

Ahuizotl was utterly baffled by the sight of Sunset climbing out of her ashes, as were the tribal ponies.

“This…” he said. “This is impossible! You couldn’t have survived that! You’d have to be a…”

Sunset spread her phoenix-like wings, which shone like lapping flames.

“A phoenix alicorn?” she asked.

Ahuizotl growled with frustration as Rainbow and Daring managed to get the last ring off of the pillar. Before they could get it to the top, the temple began to tremble.

“Everybody out!” Rainbow called. “This place is going down!”

“Everybody?” Daring asked.

“Don’t question it, just go!” Sunset shouted.

Rainbow and Daring, carrying the ring, flew out of an opening from the top of the fortress as it collapsed. Most of them managed to escape safely. Some had minor injuries from falling debris, but, would recover later on. Ahuizotl emerged from the rubble.

“Daring Do!” Ahuizotl called. “I will have my revenge!”

Later, Daring Do was looking over Sunset.

“A phoenix alicorn,” Daring said. “Never thought I’d actually see one.”

“This only recently happened,” Sunset said. “But, you’ll probably see more surprising things on your adventures. I don’t just mean a pony who helped you when you didn’t want it.”

Daring sighed. She knew that Sunset was right. So, she turned to Rainbow. “Thank you for all of your help,” Daring said humbly. “I couldn’t have done this without you or your friends. I’m sorry for being so hard on you before. So, I think I’ll include you in my next book. Though, I’ll change your names so the readers don’t start to ask you all questions.”

“Uh,” Sunset said. “Not to undermine your creativity, but, could you leave out any mention of me being a phoenix alicorn? There’s a certain pony out to get me and I don’t want to risk her finding out I’m a phoenix alicorn either by reading the book herself or learning it from one of her followers.”

“Sure thing,” Daring said. She then turned to Twilight. “And tell your mom I said thanks for not ratting me out.”

“I will,” Twilight said. “I’m guessing she had to be in the know so she wouldn’t get suspicious?”

Daring nodded with a wink. “Remember, this is top secret. You can’t tell anypony else.”

“We promise, Miss Do,” Fluttershy said. “Or, um, Miss Yearling.”

“Since we’re not in public,” Daring said. “You can use either name.”

“Something bugs me, though,” Sunset said. “Why do you basically write detailed accounts of your life and sell them to the public?”

“Well, I was born and raised in a wealthy, high-class family,” Daring said. “I found it too boring, so, I decided to use my family’s wealth to travel abroad under the alias of Daring Do. I didn’t always intend to be an author, only writing the stories in journals so I wouldn’t forget them. It wasn’t until about a decade ago when I met Twilight Velvet that she convinced me the stories were worth sharing. Unfortunately, my parents found out about my adventuring ways and didn’t really approve, so, they cut me off. While I do earn a good living by selling my stories, I found that it’s much more rewarding to share my stories.”*****************

“I trust you want us to keep this secret, too?” Spike said.

“Yes,” Daring said. “I’m trusting you with this information because you helped me out.”

“We’ll keep this secret,” Wallflower said truthfully.

“I better destroy this ring so it can never be abused again,” Daring said.

“Good idear,” Applejack said. “We all better get back home.”

When the group all returned to Ponyville the next day, Rainbow was ready to write her entry in the Friendship Journal.

“Rainbow,” Sunset said. “I think it’s best that for this entry, you leave out any mention of Daring Do and A.K. Yearling being one and the same. Just in case someone besides us reads the entry.”******************

“Don’t worry,” Rainbow said. “I know exactly what to write.” In the journal, she spoke aloud as she wrote. “Just had one of the coolest adventures with one of the coolest ponies. I came this close to blowing it because I got so wrapped up in how awesome she is that I nearly forgot about how awesome I am. But, thanks to my friends, I didn’t, because it gave me a chance to show her how important it is to put your trust in somebody else.”

Sunset reviewed the entry. “Very good, Rainbow,” she said.

“Uh, out of curiosity,” Rainbow said. “Do you think you could make one of those anthropomorpher things for me?”

“I plan on making one for each of you,” Sunset said. “Except for Spike. It’s nothing personal. It’s just that since he already walks on two legs anyway, there’d be no point.”

“Cool, thanks,” Rainbow smiled.

“Though, these things are tricky to make,” Sunset said. “It took me three weeks just to make one and the materials are a little hard to come by.”

“Fair enough,” Rainbow said.

Suddenly, Spike burped up a flame that materialized into a scroll.

“Huh?” Sunset said. “Was anybody expecting mail?”

Spike looked at the ribbon around the scroll. “It’s from grandma, mom.”

“I wasn’t expecting anything from my mom, but, thank you, Spike,” Twilight said as she politely took the scroll. She unraveled it and read it aloud. “Dear Twilight, I just got word from A.K. Yearling that the next Daring Do book will be on public bookstore shelves by the end of this month. She says that help she never expected got her inspired to finish it as soon as possible. Sincerely, Twilight Velvet.”

“Hey, that’s amazing,” Rainbow smiled.

One week before the month was through, Rainbow heard a knock at her door. She answered it to find a parcel pegasus.

“Package from A.K. Yearling,” he said.

“Thank you,” Rainbow said gratefully, giving the parcel pegasus a carrot as a tip for his efforts. After he left, she opened the package to reveal the new book: ‘Daring Do and the Rings of Scorchero.’ On the cover was Daring Do and a pegasus that resembled, but, was legally distinct from Rainbow herself. “Awesome!” As Rainbow read the book, she discovered the pseudonyms of herself and her friends. She was called ‘Firefly,’ Spike was named ‘Prickle,’ Applejack was called ‘Mint Julep,’ Fluttershy was called ‘Posey,’ Rarity was called ‘Sparkler,’ Pinkie was called ‘Rosy,’ Twilight was called ‘Starbeam,’ Sunset was called ‘Dusk,’ and Wallflower was called ‘Begonia.’ Phoebe was written as a falcon named ‘Flamewing.’ “Not bad,” she said to herself before she began reading.

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter. Due to the main co-writer being unavailable until January 6th and the other co-writer being unlikely to be available at all, there won't be a new chapter in two weeks.

*Legit point.

**Another legit point.

***I defy you to guess this reference.

****This gives all of them a legit reason to go despite not being Daring Do fans.

*****Yet another legit reason for all to go.

******She was going to say damnedest, but, she stopped herself.

*******Let's face it, goblins would totally fit in in a fantasy world like Equestria.

********TATMR reference FTW.

*********Think Scott McNeil.

**********She's not wrong.

***********A clear demonstration of fairness.

************Sunset protecting Spike's innocence.

*************Be honest, Roxy would totally do that.

**************Tactical brilliance.

***************Personal headcanon.

****************Adaptational badassery FTW!

*****************Backstory by me.

******************FORESHADOWING!!!

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.

Chapter 5: Flight to the Finish (S4:E5)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 5: Flight to the Finish

Nearly two months passed since the Guardians of Harmony learned A.K. Yearling and Daring Do were one and the same. In that time, Sunset, Phoebe, and Wallflower made regular visits to Ponyville (with Sunset still concealing her status as a phoenix alicorn). At the Ponyville Schoolhouse, class was in session. Ms. Cheerilee addressed the class.

“Everypony,” Miss Cheerilee announced. “We have two special guests with a very special announcement. First, please welcome the head of the Equestria Games, Ms. Harshwhinny!”

On Cheerilee’s introduction, Ms. Harshwhinny walked through the front door and stood before the class with her usual dignified expression. “Thank you,” she said before briefing the class. “Now, I'm sure you all know about the Equestria Games, where ponies from all over the land compete for glory in various athletic pursuits. Well, now you littlest ones will have the chance to compete for a weighty responsibility of your very own.”

In the distance, a second voice could be heard saying, “Come on, Ms. Harshwhinny! Tell them the fun part!” It was a voice that most of the students recognized. Making her grand entrance into the classroom was Rainbow Dash. “All you have to do is show her the coolest, most spectacular, most rocking routine and you’re going to be in the Games! The winner will have the honor of waving the flag to open the Games!”

Diamond Tiara felt confident she would win and made sure everypony knew it.

“I certainly have what it takes to wave that flag~” she boasted. “I’ll have a winning routine for sure.”

“I might win,” Aura said.

“Maybe my friends and I could win together!” Scootaloo said, happily hugging Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

“Or us,” said the voices of Snips and Snails.

The students looked at Snips and Snails with doubt, Tails shaking his face with embarrassment as they tried pulling off an impressive pose that immediately fell flat.

“Hey,” Snips shrugged. “It could happen.”

Rainbow cleared her throat. “Anyway, we look forward to seeing what amazing routines you come up with! I know you’re all going to do a great job!”

“Ms. Dash,” Ms. Harshwhinny said sternly. “I would appreciate it if you would curb your enthusiasm. Now, let me be clear on the rules. You ponies will form teams. Each team will create their own flag carrying routine. Everypony will be judged on grace, style, and originality. There is a most complicated scoring system, which I will elaborate on now. Firstly-”

But, before Ms. Harshwhinny could explain, Rainbow interrupted.

“Aw, get to the nitty-gritty later,” the athletic pegasus said. “Tell them the important things, like the fact that I’m the coach. Since I carried the Cloudsdale flag when I was a filly, I was most qualified to be the coach! I burst into the stadium, spreading my wings, and the flag fluttering in the breeze~”

“Professionalism, please!” Ms. Harshwhinny said sternly. “If you wish to keep your job as a coach, you must maintain a professional attitude and keep your emotions at check. Have I made myself clear?”

Rainbow could see that Ms. Harshwhinny was being serious and composed herself. “Yes, Ms. Harshwhinny. Professionalism is my middle name. Well, okay, it’s Prisma, but, you get the idea.”

“Very well,” Ms. Harshwhinny said. She then turned back to the students. “In three days, Ms. Dash here will accompany the competitors to the Crystal Empire where you will demonstrate your routines to myself and the other judges.” She glanced towards Rainbow before adding, “Who will judge you very professionally.”

“Ahem,” Rainbow said, keeping her composure. “Quite, quite correct. In the meantime, get ready to train and train hard because I know this opening ceremony will be one of the most important things that will happen to you in your young lives. I know you’re up for the challenge. Meet me after school tomorrow at 1500 hours sharp. Show me your flag carrying skills.” Tails rose a hoof. “Yes, Tails?”

“Are you aware that classes end half an hour prior to 1500 hours?” Tails asked. “Or, more simply, 3:00 p.m.?”

“I was just about to announce,” Miss Cheerilee said. “During the training, the school days will be half days this week. This will ensure you not only get the education you need, but, also time to practice and rest. So, instead of classes ending at 3:00 p.m. this week, they will end at 11:00 a.m.”

At that announcement, Snips and Snails cheered a bit too loudly.

“Hope that answered your question, Tails,” Rainbow said. “Now, I must go… professionally.” She then exited the schoolhouse as professionally as she knew how. “See how professional I am?” Ms. Harshwhinny was less than amused.

“Ugh,” she groaned, rolling her eyes. She then turned her attention back to the students. “Ponies, the most important thing is that your routine needs to show what your town means to you. So, do Ponyville proud. Work hard, be bold, and wow me. That is all!”

After school was let out for the day, the CMC were making their way out.

“What do you say, fillies?” Scootaloo asked excitedly. “The three of us working together would make a perfect routine and win this thing!”

“Ah’m ready!” Apple Bloom chimed.

“Me, too!” Sweetie Belle chimed in. “Now, just what's so special about Ponyville? And how do we show that in our routine?”

The three fillies put some thought into it. As she thought, Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom, then looked at Sweetie Belle’s horn, and then looked at her own wing.

“I’ve got it!” Scootaloo said, fluttering her wings excitedly. “What makes Ponyville special is that it’s home to three different types of ponies living together as friends!”

"Earth ponies like me!" Apple Bloom realized.

“Unicorns like me!” Sweetie Belle added with a smile.

"And pegasi like me!" Scootaloo replied. “We’ll have to figure out a way to showcase that in our act.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said. “We need a plan.”

“And it’ll take a lot of work,” Sweetie Belle put in.

“And a whole bunch of practice,” Scootaloo smiled. “We may just be little fillies, but, we have hearts as strong as horses!”

The Crusaders' rather excited celebration was only interrupted when they bumped into a cloak-clad Sunset Shimmer.

“Oof!” they all said.

“Oh, my gosh!” Scootaloo gasped. “We are so sorry!”

“We weren’t lookin’ where we were goin’,” Apple Bloom apologized.

“Girls, girls,” Sunset said. “It’s fine. No harm done.”

The three fillies got a good look at Sunset’s face. They heard about Sunset from Spike and the other Guardians and were among the ponies in attendance at her birthday performance, but, this was the first time they were personally meeting her.*

“Hey,” Sweetie smiled. “You’re Sunset Shimmer! Nice to officially meet you.”

“I take it Spike and the other Guardians told you about me?” Sunset guessed with a kind smile.

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom smiled. “Did they tell ya ‘bout us?”

“A little here and there,” Sunset admitted. “Now, don’t tell me who you are. Let me guess.” She looked to Apple Bloom. “You’re Apple Bloom.”

“Yup,” Apple Bloom smiled.

Sunset then looked at Sweetie Belle. “You’re Sweetie Belle.”

“Uh-huh,” Sweetie Belle nodded.

Sunset finally got to Scootaloo. “And you’re Scootaloo.”

“That’s right,” Scootaloo said with a smile.

“Have you heard I’ve been in another world for a while?” Sunset asked.

“We have,” Sweetie Belle said. “Spike told us that since we sometimes hang out together.”

“Well,” Sunset said. “In that other world, I met three young girls who look like human versions of you three.”

“Yeah?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah,” Sunset said. “Though, they had different names. Blossom Alice Apple, Susie Belle Germaine, and Scottie Louise Peters.”

“Uh, what’s a human?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Well, you know Megan from the story of the origin of Hearth’s Warming?” Sunset asked.

“Oh, yeah,” Scootaloo said.

“I believe she was basically one of those,” Sunset said.

The three fillies nodded in an understanding way.

“Did they become Cutie Mark Crusaders, too?” Scootaloo asked.

“There’s a slight problem with that,” Sunset answered. “Humans can’t get Cutie Marks. I know because I’ve seen my own human counterpart in the buff when we showered together.”**

“So,” Apple Bloom said. “How do humans know what to do when they grow up?”

“Speaking from experience,” Sunset said. “They go to school until they’re like 18 to learn skills to get jobs afterwards. Some jobs require further schooling, which is where college comes in.”

“Sounds like a lot of learning,” Scootaloo said.

“It is,” Sunset said. “Before college, there are school events called career days. There’s also job fairs and talent shows.”

“Oh, we know about talent shows,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Anyway,” Sunset said. “Your human counterparts can’t get Cutie Marks, but, they do have a group name with the acronym, ‘CMC.’”

“The Classy Merry Creators?” Sweetie Belle guessed.

“No,” Sunset said. “Canterlot Movie Club.”

“Oh~” Sweetie Belle said. “That makes more sense.”

“There’s a Canterlot in that world?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yep,” Sunset said. “Canterlot City, Massachusetts.”***

“Neat,” Apple Bloom said.

“Your human counterparts set up a YouTube account to post music videos they made,” Sunset said. “To explain what YouTube is would take a bit too long, so, that would have to be a topic for another time. Anyway, what are you three up to?”

“We’re goin’ ta come up with a routine fer the Equestria Games,” Apple Bloom explained. “We’re showin’ what makes Ponyville special ta us: the friendship between three different kinds o’ ponies.”

They suddenly heard what sounded like clapping. They turned their attention to the sound and found that it was Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"Very impressive, too bad you're going to lose," Diamond said with a smirk. "If that's really the best you've got, then, we're going to win for sure."

“And besides,” Silver Spoon added snootily. “We already have the most divine routine planned.”

These are definitely the pony counterparts of Diamanta and Sylvia, Sunset said internally with a less than amused expression.****

“It’s absolutely certain to crush the competition,” Diamond winked sassily. “And I do mean crush.”

Scootaloo was hardly phased by the comment. "But, we're winners!" she replied before she began to burst into song as she added. "And we have hearts-"

“Sure,” Silver interrupted. “But, you know what you don’t have?”

“Patience to deal with bullies like you two,” Sunset said as she approached the fillies.

“Their Cutie Marks!” the two said mockingly before repeating, “Blank Flanks!” over and over again.

“Is that seriously your best material?” Sunset asked stoically.

“Trust us,” Scootaloo said. “We stopped being bothered by that taunt a while ago.”

“And they continue to use it?” Sunset asked.

“Yup,” Apple Bloom said.

“Okay, so, they’re insane,” Sunset said. “Got it.”

“Insane?!” the snobbish fillies asked in indignation.

“Exactly,” Sunset said. “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That’s the traditional definition of insanity.”

“And Cutie Marks or no Cutie Marks,” Sweetie Belle said. “We’re not going to give up. We’ll do our best to ensure that the three of us will win and fly the flag.”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo said. “Let's keep practicing.”

“It was nice meetin’ ya, Sunset,” Apple Bloom said. “But, we got ta mosey on.” And with that, the three set off to practice their routine.

“You two are utterly pathetic,” Sunset said to Diamond and Silver Spoon. “You should be focusing on doing your own routine rather than bringing others down for working hard on theirs. And making fun of them for not having Cutie Marks yet? You may as well be harassing babies.”

“We don’t take advice from strangers,” Silver Spoon said, swishing her mane.

“Well, this stranger doesn’t take kindly to bullies,” Sunset said. “It doesn’t matter where they’re from.”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, surprisingly without any snappy repartee, decided to go about their business.

The next day after school, Rainbow was about to coach the foals. The CMC were putting up a stage and a routine.

“Show me what you’ve got, Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Rainbow called. “And make it good.”

“Don't worry, we will!” Scootaloo said.

“This is a little something we’ve been working on,” Sweetie Belle said. “It’s not perfect, but, we welcome any and all critique afterwards.”

Unknown to them, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were watching from a nearby bush.

“Let’s see those goofs do their saddle routine,” Diamond said in a snooty way.

“Uh, DT?” Silver Spoon said nervously. “Should we really be doing this? I mean, what if somepony sees us and thinks we’re up to something?”

“If anypony comes around,” Diamond replied. “We’ll just come up with a rock solid excuse and hope they don't have any follow-up questions. It’s not like we’ll be sticking around anyway. You want to win, don't you? We need to know what we're up against and how to counter it. Worse comes to worse, as my mom says, we'll have to find a way to get under their fur.” But, it was then that Tiara's eyes focused their gaze upon Scootaloo's wings and an awful idea came to her mind. "Or maybe I should say, under their wings."

Then, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were ready to do their practice routine. Scootaloo announced from backstage, speaking into an acoustic megaphone.

“Since the dawn of recorded time,” she announced in a grandiose manner. “In one town of amazingness, three types of ponies co-exist.”

Apple Bloom then ran onto the stage with ribbons on her front hooves. “We are Earth ponies!” she declared.

Then, Sweetie Belle ran onto the stage with a ribbon tied on her horn. “We are unicorns!” she declared.

Finally, Scootaloo ran onto the stage with ribbons tied on her wings. “We are Pegasi! And the town where friendship reigns is our home! Now, welcome to the stadium from the place we love the most…”

“Ponyville forever!” the three fillies all cheered. “Yay!”

Rainbow Dash, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon all dropped their mouths open. The Crusaders' display was unbelievably good.

“It’s a work in progress,” Scootaloo said. “So, what did you think?”

“If that’s a work in progress,” Rainbow said. “I can’t wait to see the final result. Maybe I can get Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe to see it, too.”

“Thanks, Rainbow,” Apple Bloom said politely.

“We actually met Sunset up close yesterday on our way back from school,” Scootaloo said.

“She’s really nice,” Sweetie Belle said. “And super smart and brave.”

“You have no idea,” Rainbow said before becoming nervous. “You didn’t happen to see what’s under her cloak, did you?”

“No,” Scootaloo said honestly. “We saw she was wearing it and we just figured she was just wearing it because it’s comfortable.”

Rainbow sighed in relief. “Good,” she said. “Her secret’s safe.”

“What secret?” Apple Bloom asked.

Realizing her mistake, Rainbow quickly struggled to correct herself. “Uh, that’s strictly between the Guardians of Harmony, official and honorary alike.”

“Oh,” Apple Bloom said. “Okay then.”

“I’ll just be heading off now,” Rainbow said.

“Okay,” Scootaloo said. “We’ll keep working on our routine and fine-tune it.” With that, Rainbow took her leave.

“Did you see that?!” Diamond asked Silver from the bush. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, they could win!”

“Well, what can we do?” Silver asked. “We already called them blank flanks and it’s become pretty clear to me that doing that doesn’t work anymore.”

“Well, I think it’s time we get under their wings,” Diamond said. So, brushing off the excess leaves, they sauntered up to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Fillies, we just wanted to say that you proved us wrong. Your routine is amazing!”

The Crusaders immediately grew suspicious from her comment.

“If you’re trying to call us blank flanks again,” Scootaloo said. “It won’t work.”

“Oh, we’re not going to do that,” Silver Spoon said. “We learned our lesson and we won’t spout out those words again.”

“That’ll be the day,” Scootaloo said to the other Crusaders before addressing Diamond and Silver. “Well, whatever insult you have, get it over with.”

“Well,” Diamond said. “If you think the word ‘brave’ is an insult, then…”

“Brave?” Scootaloo asked in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Diamond asked. “It is to us.”

“Yeah,” Silver agreed before realizing she had no idea what Diamond was talking about. “What exactly is obvious to us?” she whispered to the pink filly.

Diamond rolled her sapphire blue eyes in annoyance. “I mean, it should be obvious,” she continued. “You three are showcasing all three types of Ponyville ponies, yet you are showcasing a pegasus pony who can’t even fly!” Silver Spoon immediately picked up on what her friend’s plan was and backed up a bit in shock.*****

That is definitely something her mom would do, Silver Spoon thought to herself.

“What in tarnation does that have ta do with anythin’?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I'd say not even being able to fly has everything to do with everything,” Diamond said. “I mean, a Pegasus pony at your age? You should've been flying long ago.”

“Yeah, but, so what?” Scootaloo asked.

“Ms. Harshwhinny will never pick a Pegasus pony who can't fly to represent Ponyville in front of all of Equestria,” Diamond said while Silver quietly tried to make a getaway.

“Ms. Harshwhinny never said anything about that!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“I would’ve thought it was obvious,” Diamond said. “How about you, Silver Spoon?” But, she found Silver Spoon was no longer present. “Silver Spoon? Well, no matter. Have fun practicing anyway, even if your routine won’t, how should I say, take off.” And she sauntered away arrogantly. A short distance away, she caught up with Silver Spoon. “Where were you at the end?”

“Making fun of another pony’s disabilities?” Silver Spoon asked. “That’s low, even for you!”

“What’s the big deal?” Diamond challenged. “We make fun of them all the time for not having Cutie Marks.”

“That’s different,” Silver Spoon said. “Cutie Marks come eventually for everypony. Disabilities are things ponies can’t help. Look, I get that their routine is so good compared to ours, but, what you did was too much.”

Back with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were disgusted by Diamond Tiara’s insults.
“Don’t listen to her, Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said. She then turned to see Scootaloo with a hurt expression on her face. “Scootaloo? Are you okay?”

Scootaloo put on the bravest face she could manage. “The routine isn’t working how it is,” she said, her voice slightly breaking. She then cleared her throat and said, “We’ve got to rethink my part in the whole thing.”

“What?” Apple Bloom asked. “Why?”

“If we want to win,” Scootaloo said. “I need to fly.”

“By tomorrow?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“If I work twice as hard,” Scootaloo said.

“Ah dunno, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said. “Yer contribution is amazin’ n’ Rainbow did like what we showed her. Why don’t we just-”

“We’ve got to work hard together,” Scootaloo interrupted. “And I’ve got to fly. It's the only way we’ll win! Now, it’s back to practice.” She tried using her wings to get her off the stage.

“If Spike wasn’t in Canterlot for his therapy session,” Sweetie Belle asked Apple Bloom. “Do you think he’d think this was a good idea?”

“He’d pro’ly think not,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah mean, none o’ us have wings, so, we wouldn’t have good advice fer her.”

A loud thud was heard.

“Okay,” Scootaloo said, panting. “I’ll just have to work thrice as hard!”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom could tell this would be a long day.

The sun was starting to set while the Crusaders kept practicing.

“Come on, fillies,” Scootaloo said hoarsely after the umpteenth failed attempt at flying. “Try it again.”

“We’ve been rehearsin’ all the livelong day,” Apple Bloom yawned. “We’re gettin’ tired.”

“And hungry,” Sweetie Belle said before sitting on her rump and looking down at her belly with her hooves up. “My stomach’s starting to sound like Spike’s when he skips breakfast.” As if to emphasize her point, Sweetie Belle’s belly made a deep growling noise that could rival the kind Spike’s stomach could make.

“Okay, that's fine,” Scootaloo said. “We’ll just skip to my impressive flying entrance. You’ve done the do-si-do to the left, then to the right. And then, I come in!” She tried to fly, but, she ended up falling with a thud. “Not quite what I had in mind, but, let’s try that again.”

As Scootaloo struggled to fly again, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle whispered to each other.

“Ah liked our routine the way it was,” Apple Bloom whispered.

“Me too,” Sweetie Belle replied, also in a whisper. “But, all Scootaloo cares about now is flying.”

At that point, Applejack, Rarity, and Scootaloo’s aunts arrived.

“There y’all are!” Applejack scolded.

“We have been worried sick about you three!” Rarity scolded.

“What are you doing out so late?” Auntie Lofty asked.

“We were practicing our routine,” Sweetie Belle answered honestly. “But, after Diamond Tiara came along and poked fun at Scootaloo for not being able to fly, Scootaloo decided to change the routine.”

Hearing the explanation, the normally composed Auntie Lofty began quivering with subdued rage.

“I don’t care if Spoiled Rich is one of the most wealthy mares in Ponyville,” she muttered. “I have some very strong words to say to her about Diamond’s awful behavior towards my niece! Making fun of a late bloomer Pegasus with earth pony heritage.”

“Hon,” Aunt Holiday said, trying to soothe her angered wife. “There’ll be time for that. For now, we need to get these little fillies home, fed, and tucked into bed.”

“Especially fed,” Sweetie Belle complained. “We haven’t eaten since lunch.”

“Come along now, sugarcube,” Applejack said to Apple Bloom, her stern attitude subsided.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went to their respective sisters eagerly, but, Scootaloo required some coaxing from her aunts.

“What Diamond Tiara said to you was just wrong,” Holiday said gently. “You shouldn’t let her words get to you like that because she doesn’t understand you the way we do. We love you for who you are and we always will.”

“But, I can’t fly,” Scootaloo said.

“You’re a late bloomer,” Lofty said. “It’s more common than you think. I know because I was one, too.”

“You were?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yes,” Lofty answered. “Just like you, I had a Pegasus mother and an earth pony father. It took me longer than most pegasus foals my age to fly.”

“That would explain a lot,” Scootaloo said downheartedly.

“Don’t think about it too much,” Lofty said. “For now, we need to get you home. We’ll discuss this in the morning.”

“Yeah,” Holiday said gently. “Some good food and restful sleep will do wonders for ya, Scoots.”

The next day after school, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were about to do a runthrough of their revised routine. Rainbow was about to watch.

“Okay,” she said. “Show me what you got!”

Scootaloo ran onto the stage, panting. Though she was able to get some food and rest the previous night, there were still signs of fatigue.

“Ponyville~” Scootaloo announced in a slightly hoarse voice. “Home of the… um…”

“Friendships…” her friends whispered.

“Ah, friendships, yes!” Scootaloo announced. “Thanks. Now, there are four… no, three kinds of ponies living here!”

The fatigued crusaders struggled. They fumbled and stumbled through their routine until they were pony piled on the stage.

“Ta-da~” Scootaloo declared between panting breaths. “So… what do you think?”

“I think you should go back to the first version,” Rainbow said.

“Ah agree,” Apple Bloom said, rubbing one of her eyes.

“I have other teams to coach,” Rainbow said. “Don’t forget, we’ve got to catch the early train to the Crystal Empire. See you in the morning.” With that, she took her leave.

“I think Rainbow has a point,” Sweetie Belle said. “The first version of our routine was good the way it was.”

Scootaloo, however, had different concerns.

“What are we going to do?!” she exclaimed. “We’re competing tomorrow and I still can’t fly! Unless…”

“Scootaloo, stop!” Sweetie Belle suddenly snapped. “We’re too tired!”

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom also snapped. “Ah’m tired, ah’m hungry, n’ ah hate this routine now! It feels like it’s more about you ‘n it feels ‘bout all o’ us!”

“It’s like you don’t even need us anymore!” Sweetie Belle added.

“Of course I do!” Scootaloo insisted. Hearing this, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle smiled at this. “After all, without you two, who’s going to hold the hoop?” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s smiles dropped to disappointed frowns.

“Ya ain’t listenin’ ta yerself!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Ferget this! Ah’m goin’ home!”

Scootaloo looked to Sweetie Belle.

“Are you going to leave me too?” Scootaloo asked.

“You heard Rainbow,” Sweetie said. “With the train leaving early tomorrow, we should get some rest. Don’t forget to do that, too. You don’t want your aunts to worry about you again.”

As she left, Scootaloo tried giving herself a pep talk. “Come on, Scootaloo,” she said to herself. “Do it for Ponyville! Just got to try it twenty times harder!”

She kept trying until the sun was starting to set. It was at that moment, her heart sank.

“I can’t fly,” she sighed sadly. She then began to walk home sadly. “I just can’t.”

She barely walked a few hooves when she bumped into a familiar cloaked mare.

“Scootaloo?” Sunset asked, turning to the downhearted filly. “What are you doing out here so late?”

“Trying and failing to fly,” Scootaloo said.

“Why?” Sunset asked. “I mean, it’s good to practice, but, you shouldn’t over-exhaust yourself.”

“But, I need to fly in order for my routine with the Crusaders to be the best it can be,” Scootaloo said.

“Who said you had to fly?” Sunset asked. “Oh, but, we should continue talking as I walk you back home.” She lowered herself so Scootaloo could get on her back. “Get on my back so you can save your energy.”

Scootaloo scampered onto Sunset’s back. “Thanks, Sunset,” she said gratefully. “And well… Diamond Tiara got it in my head that I couldn’t represent the three groups of ponies if I’m a pegasus pony who can’t fly.”

“I should have known she would find an even worse way to bother you,” Sunset muttered in annoyance. “She’s already getting a head start on being a teenage—” She paused when remembering Scootaloo’s on her back. “—female dog.”******

“I know what you mean,” Scootaloo said. “She’s already a bitch. But, she touched upon something that bothered me for a long time and I never told my friends about it.”

“That you can’t fly?” Sunset surmised before internally saying, The mouth on that filly.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said. “And with my Auntie Lofty telling me that she was a late bloomer when she was a filly, I wanted to prove that I could. But, try as I might, I couldn’t.”

“You can’t rush your ability to fly,” Sunset said sagely. “Anymore than you can rush getting your Cutie Mark.”

“I figured that out,” Scootaloo said. “That’s why I’m thinking about dropping out of the competition.”

“Are you sure?” Sunset said. “That might not be such a good idea.”

“I’m sure,” Scootaloo said. “That way, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle will have a better chance of winning.”

Sunset could tell that Scootaloo needed to have some sense talked into her. So, it was just as well they ran into Scootaloo’s aunts on the way to their house.

“Scootaloo!” Aunt Holiday gasped happily. “You’re safe!”

“Thanks for finding her, miss,” Auntie Lofty said gratefully.

“This little filly’s been working herself to the bone trying to fly,” Sunset said.

“Those words are still bothering her,” Lofty said dismally.

“She needs some sense talked into her,” Sunset said. “Please, may I spend the night with you in your home? I think I have a story that might help her.”

The aunts looked at each other in uncertainty.

“Should we trust her?” Lofty asked.

“She did make sure that Scootaloo was safe,” Holiday said. “Seeing as she hasn’t done anything to harm her, I feel we should at least give her the benefit of the doubt.”

“Right,” Lofty nodded. She then turned her attention to Sunset. “Alright then.”

So, after dinner, Sunset followed Scootaloo to her room, where she saw the young filly’s Rainbow Dash paraphernalia.

“Boy,” Sunset said. “Rainbow really does mean a lot to you, doesn’t she?”

“She’s like my big sister,” Scootaloo said. “Anyway, you said you had a story that you think would help me?”

“There’s parts of me I asked the other guardians to keep secret,” Sunset said. “One of those things is just how much I can relate to what you’re going through and why I went to that other world in the first place. These stories are related.”

“I see,” Scootaloo said.

“The truth is,” Sunset said. “I know what it’s like to be bullied.”

“So, what did you do?” Scootaloo asked.

“I made the mistake of letting my bully get under my skin and became paranoid,” Sunset said before taking out her scroll. “I began keeping a list of the things she did to me.” She unfurled the several hooves long scroll.

Scootaloo read through the list and became horrified at what she read.

“Even Diamond Tiara wouldn’t do any of this!” she exclaimed.

“And worst of all,” Sunset said. “She did them in Princess Celestia’s name.”

“What?!” Scootaloo gasped. “That’s horrible! Princess Celestia would never allow that!”

“Believe me,” Sunset said. “I’m well aware of that now. I learned that she knew nothing about these shortly after I came back to Equestria. But, this isn’t the story I want to tell you. This is just to let you know you’re not alone.”

“Thanks, Sunset,” Scootaloo said, gratefully.

“First, let me ask,” Sunset said. “With your determination to try and fly, have you caused a rift between you, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle?”

Scootaloo carefully considered her answer. The tired expressions of her friends were still fresh in her mind.

“I guess I have,” Scootaloo admitted.

“Well, I can imagine Thomas and Percy would have some words of advice for you,” Sunset said.

“Who are Thomas and Percy?” Scootaloo asked.

“Two close friends who got into a feud over coal,” Sunset answered. “I have ways of illustrating the story so that you can follow along easier.” She took out a small train conductor whistle. “This was a gift from a friend of mine in the human world. I made some enchantments to it since I relearned magic.”

“Ooh,” Scootaloo said, fascinated.

Sunset blew into the whistle and clouds of steam formed around them. One had a depiction of this island:

“This,” Sunset said. “Is the Island of Sodor. It’s a relatively big island situated between Barrow-in-Furness and the Isle of Man. Don’t bother looking up any of them on any maps from this world. You won’t find them.”

“Fair enough,” Scootaloo said.

“Now,” Sunset said. “On this island, there’s vehicles that can talk. Mostly rail vehicles.”

“Wow,” Scootaloo said, enamoured. The steam shifted to show this engine:

“This is Thomas the Tank Engine,” Sunset said. “He lives on the island. He’s a cheeky little engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome.”

“I see,” Scootaloo said. Once again, the steam shifted to show this:

“Thomas,” Sunset said. “Runs a branchline with his coaches, Annie and Clarabel. Thomas thinks his branchline is the most important part of the whole North Western Railway and his two coaches agree with him.”

“That’s cool,” Scootaloo said.

“But, Thomas doesn’t run the branchline all by himself,” Sunset said. “He has friends to help him.”

“That’s good,” Scootaloo smiled. The steam shifted once again to show this:

“There’s Toby the Tram Engine,” Sunset said. “Who works the part of the line that runs to the quarry with his own coach, Henrietta, and a luggage van named Elsie, who unfortunately is not present in this picture.”

“That’s okay,” Scootaloo said. “Toby and Henrietta still look nice.” The steam shifted once again to show this:

“And Percy, who does light mixed traffic work,” Sunset said. “As well as pulling the mail train.”

“Alright,” Scootaloo said.

“The three engines get along really well,” Sunset said. “But, they can get on each other’s nerves.”

“I see,” Scootaloo said.

“This story takes place on one such day,” Sunset said before the steam shifted again:

Unlike previous shifts, the engines could be heard talking.

“Good morning, Thomas,” said Percy.

“It’s 11:30,” Thomas pointed out.

“Still technically the morning,” Percy said.

“You look splendid, Thomas,” Toby complimented.

“Did you get a polish this morning?” Percy inquired.

“Why, yes, I have,” Thomas smiled. “Now my blue color is proper and perfect for my passengers. Blue is the only proper color for an engine.”

“Personally,” Toby said. “I prefer my brown paint.”

“Wait, that’s paint?” Scootaloo asked. “I thought it was just plain wood.”

“Believe me,” Sunset said. “He gets that a lot.”

“Ah, I see,” Scootaloo said. “Please continue.”

“I’ve always been green,” Percy said. “I wouldn’t want to be any other color.”

“Oh, well, uh, anyway,” huffed Thomas. “Blue is the only proper color for a… for a really useful engine. Everyone knows that.”

“Wait,” Percy said. “Weren’t you also green at one poi–?”

“REGARDLESS!” Thomas exclaimed. “I’m blue now and that’s that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have passengers to take.” And with that, he puffed on.

Percy and Toby stayed silent and smiled at each other.

“Thomas was green?” Scootaloo asked.

“Full disclosure,” Sunset admitted. “I have no idea where that came from. It’s likely that Thomas was once a burnt umber.”

“I see,” Scootaloo said. “So, what happened?” The steam shifted again to show Thomas on a siding.

“The following day,” Sunset said. “Thomas was resting in a siding, getting steam up for his next passenger run. The points leading to the siding Thomas was resting on were a bit tricky, so, engines always had to be extra careful when going over them. Before long, Percy puffed by with some coal trucks.”

“Hey, Percy, how are things?” Thomas greeted.

“Better if it weren’t for these trucks being so troublesome,” Percy puffed.

“Sorry to hear that,” Thomas said. “Speaking of hearing, I hear you have a milk train to pull in half an hour.”

“Oh, bother, you’re right!” Percy gasped. “I better hurry!” In his haste, Percy forgot to mind the points.

“Be careful, Percy!” Thomas called. “Those points don’t look very safe!”

But, Percy shunted his trucks into a siding next to Thomas so hard that the catch on one truck’s door burst open. With a rumble and a crash, an avalanche of coal poured out and piled up around Thomas’ wheels, a thick cloud of coal dust rising around him.

“Help!” Thomas coughed. “I’m choking!”

Despite initial worries, when the dust settled, Percy couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Thomas.

“Stop laughing!” Thomas called. “This isn’t funny! Get me out of here!”

“All that talk about looking really useful and now,” Percy said. “You look rather disgraceful!”

“I am not disgraceful!” Thomas called. “You did that on purpose!”

Later, Thomas was being cleaned.

“Stupid Percy,” he grumbled. “He ruined my paintwork on purpose!”

“It’s no good, Frank,” said one workman. “It’s taking too long to clean him.”

“Right, Joe,” Frank agreed. “Toby’ll have to take it.”

This made Thomas very upset. Toby collected Annie and Clarabel with Henrietta and Elsie.

“Not to worry,” Toby said to Annie and Clarabel. “I’ll make sure to look out for you as well as I do my own coaches.”

“I’m guessing that Elsie was between Toby and Henrietta?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yes,” Sunset said before the steam shifted again:

“That night,” Sunset narrated. “Thomas was grumpy, Percy was annoyed that Thomas thought he dirtied him on purpose, and Toby thought it was a great joke.”

“Fancy!” Percy huffed. “A really useful engine like Thomas becoming a disgrace to the railway!”

“It’s your fault!” Thomas protested. “You ruined my paintwork on purpose!”

“I did not!” Percy snapped.

“Rubbish!” Thomas said. “You laughed at me!”

“To be fair,” Toby chuckled. “You would have laughed at Percy if he ended up being covered in coal dust.”

“Yeah!” Percy agreed. “Besides, it was a funny moment!”

“Well, just you wait, Percy,” Thomas said. “One day, you’ll be laughing on the other side of your smokebox! And, trust me, that’s a painful thing to do.”

“What does that even mean?” a confused Percy asked.

“I DON’T KNOW!” Thomas snapped. “I’M ANGRY!”

“YEAH?!” Percy snapped. “WELL, SO AM I!”

“Will you lot shut your gobs and go to sleep already?!” a female voice called out. “Some of us need their beauty sleep, you know!”

“Sorry, Daisy,” Toby apologized.

“Who was that?” Scootaloo asked.

“She’s Daisy the Diesel Railcar,” Sunset said. “She’s basically a coach that can move on its own.”

“I see,” Scootaloo said. “So, what happened next?” The steam shifted again to show Thomas at a platform while Percy shunted in a junction.

“A few days later, Thomas was waiting at a platform while Percy shunted trucks from the junction,” Sunset said. “Just then, Toby passed by, carrying some fuel tankers for the quarry.”

“Take care, you two,” Toby called.

“But,” Sunset narrated. “Nobody noticed that one of the tankers was leaking.”

“Whew,” Percy wheeshed. “I better top off at the water tower.”

“And he did,” Sunset narrated. “Or at least, he tried to. The water tower was at the end of a siding that had unsafe buffers. It didn’t help that the fuel on the track made Percy’s wheels slip.”

“Whoa~!” Percy exclaimed. “I can’t stop!”

“Percy crashed through the buffers,” Sunset narrated. “And was wheel-deep in a coal bunker.”
“Now Percy is the disgraceful one,” Thomas chuckled to himself. The signal dropped and it was time for Thomas to leave. He had seen everything.

“Later that day,” Sunset narrated. “An engine named Edward came and pulled Percy out of the wreckage. By that point, he’d missed his train, so, it had to be pulled by another engine.”

“Bother that Thomas,” Percy grumbled.

“After that, the two engines didn’t feel like speaking to each other,” Sunset narrated. “They didn’t even want to share the same shed. So, Thomas decided one evening to spend the night at Tidmouth sheds with Gordon, the railway’s premiere express engine.”

“Didn’t think I would be seeing you around here, but, I’ll take the company for tonight,” Gordon said.

“I’m not spending the night with Percy,” Thomas grumbled. “We’ve been fighting over coal-related mishaps.”

“Oh dear,” said Gordon. “I think I heard something about that. Well, you both should let these feelings out and afterwards, you’ll both come around.”

“I don’t need your advice, Gordon,” Thomas said. “The last two times an engine took your advice, another engine got into an incident with trucks. One of them was me. It’s partially your fault I’m in this situation in the first place. You had the idea to go on strike because you were too lazy to shunt.”

“Must you bring that up?” Gordon groaned. “We were overworked!”

“When Edward offered to help lighten the load,” Thomas said flatly. “You mocked him for it.”

“And I learned from my mistake after we were shut up and Henry and James set me straight,” Gordon said. “Regardless, you have a branchline to run and Percy’s on it with you. Work still needs to be done. The best way to do it is through tolerance. Do you know how many boorish passengers I pull on the express in a day?”

Thomas paused and thought. “Quite a bit?”

“And it wouldn’t reflect well on me or the railway if I simply told them to bugger off, would it?” Gordon asked.

“I suppose not,” Thomas admitted.

“Precisely,” Gordon said. “Besides, do you remember when I pulled you at the back of the express?”

“How could I forget?” Thomas asked. “You nearly knocked me to bits.”

“And I was sent away for it,” Gordon said. “I did a very stupid thing under some misguided act of retribution. I wanted to pay you out for waking me up, but, I was horrified when I realized it might have killed you. If you can forgive me for almost killing you, then, surely you can forgive Percy for getting a little coal on you.”

Thomas took a moment to digest Gordon’s words. “I must admit,” he said after a pause. “That’s the most sensible advice you’ve ever given to anyone.”

“I suggest we get some rest,” Gordon said. “Hopefully, you’ll be in a better mental place in the morning.”

“Right,” Thomas said and he slowly started to drift to sleep. “Goodnight, Gordon.”

“What were they talking about?” Scootaloo asked.

“Those are stories for another time,” Sunset said.

“Alright,” Scootaloo said. “So, did Thomas and Percy make amends?”

“Yes,” Sunset answered. “But, not right away.” The steam shifted to show Percy pulling an empty train of trucks. “The next day, he was returning home with an empty train. He was starting to grow tired of being angry at Thomas and wanted to be friends again.”

“I just don’t think I can stay mad anymore,” Percy said. “This feud is fast losing its—” Suddenly, his contemplation when he looked up. “Oh, bugger, a tree!” A tree had fallen and landed in front of Percy. He stopped abruptly, causing his trucks to bump into each other.

“D’oh!” interjected one truck.

The steam shifted to show the mess being cleared.

“It took no time at all to clear the mess,” Sunset narrated. “Percy was more startled than hurt, but, he still felt sore when he returned to the sheds.”

“It wouldn’t have happened if you were watching where you were going,” Thomas said unsympathetically.

Percy was really upset to hear this. He quickly forgot his good resolution and spoke to Toby for the rest of the evening. He didn’t speak to Thomas throughout the next day, either. That night, Percy asked Toby a question.

“Toby, what’s a drip?”

“That’s when rain comes through a hole in your cab and the fireman hasn’t got time to mend it,” Toby explained.

“Are you sure?” Percy asked. “I heard a boy at the station call his friend a drip and I don’t think he could fit through a hole in my cab.”

“That’s different,” Thomas said, tired of being ignored. “That boy meant his friend was being a coward or a spoilsport.”

“Yes,” Toby agreed. “There’s that meaning, too.”

“So, if you interrupted a pleasant conversation I was having with Toby,” Percy asked. “Would that make you a drip?”

“You’re a drip!” Thomas exclaimed. “Now, shut up and go to sleep! Sensible engines are trying to sleep.”

The steam shifted again to show Thomas pulling Annie and Clarabel.

“The next morning,” Sunset narrated. “Thomas was running late with his passenger train and was puffing fast to make up for lost time.”

“I shan’t be late,” he puffed. “I shan’t be late!” Suddenly, there was a loud bang and something hard hit the bottom of his left hand water tank. “Ouch!” exclaimed Thomas and stopped. As he did, he felt water splashing cold against his wheels. “What has happened?!”

“One of your siderods has broken,” said the driver. “It swung up and punctured your tank. We’ll have to get help.”

The steam shifted to show Percy shunting.

“At Ffarquhar,” Sunset narrated. “Percy was shunting when the stationmaster came up.”

“Thomas has punctured his tank,” warned the stationmaster. “He’s leaking water and can’t get home on his own. Another engine must go to rescue him and his passengers!”

“So, get another engine to help him,” Percy said.

“You’re the only one available,” the stationmaster said. “Toby’s taking stone from the quarry to the harbor and Daisy’s on her own passenger run.”

“Well, I won’t go,” Percy protested. “Thomas called me a drip, so, he can jolly well stay there and drip himself.”

“Percy,” the stationmaster said sternly. “It would not do our railway any good if the passengers aren’t able to get home. Are you really willing to let them as well as Annie and Clarabel stay out all night over a feud with Thomas?”

Percy listened to the stationmaster and considered his words. “No,” he decided at last. “Alright, I’ll go help.”

During the journey, Percy’s driver found his voice.

“Percy,” he said. “Why have you been so harsh to Thomas lately?”

“I mean he started it,” Percy said.

“Did he really, though?” his driver asked.

Percy was about to answer, but, he found himself struggling.

“What are you two even fighting about in the first place?” his driver asked.

“I…” Percy started to say, but, he stopped. “You know? I don’t remember. I think it was something about coal and paintwork or something.”

“So,” the driver prodded. “You admit this whole thing is just stupid, then?”

“Now that you mention it,” Percy admitted. “It is stupid.”

“You may not want to admit it,” the driver said. “But, you and Thomas are like brothers even though you’re not of the same class. Are you going to leave your honorary brother out there?”

“No, I’m not!” Percy said with newfound determination.

The steam shifted to show Thomas having the broken part of his siderod being removed.

“Thomas had part of his siderod removed to make transporting him easier when help arrived,” Sunset narrated.

“Hello?” Thomas called hopefully. “Who’s coming?” His answer came in the familiar sound of Percy’s whistle.

“Don’t worry, Thomas,” Percy smiled as he stopped in front of Thomas. “I’m here to help.” He switched to Thomas’ line and buffered up.

“I’m sorry for my attitude,” Thomas said as Percy pulled him away. “Looks like my tank turned me into a bigger drip than we expected, didn’t it?”

“I’m sorry, too, Thomas,” Percy said. “This quarrel between us really wasn’t working out for anybody.”

“Do you think it’s possible,” Thomas asked. “That we can put this behind us and be friends again?”

“Percy,” Sunset narrated. “Was too happy to agree.” With that, the steam vanished completely.*******

“Wow~” Scootaloo said, amazed. “That’s quite a story.”

“That it is,” Sunset said. “Now, let’s get to sleep. You’ll need your rest if you’re going to catch the train to the Crystal Empire.”

“You’re right,” Scootaloo said. “Thanks for the story, Sunset. Goodnight.”

The next morning at the train station, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were on the platform. By then, their heads had cooled considerably.

“Where’s Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“It ain’t like her ta not show up in our group activities,” Apple Bloom pondered.

“Hey, fillies,” Scootaloo said as she walked up to her two friends.

“Scootaloo!” they cheered.

“We’re so glad ta see ya!” Apple Bloom said happily. “We were worried ya were goin’ ta miss the train!”

“Well,” Scootaloo said. “About that… I’m not going.”

Hearing this, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom’s smiles dropped to looks of surprise.

“What?!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “Why not?”

“Because I still can’t fly and I don’t want to blow it for the rest of you,” Scootaloo answered. “Otherwise, we’d be stuck in a feud like Thomas and Percy.”

“I can’t believe yer bailin’ on us like-” Apple Bloom started before asking. “Uh, who’re Thomas n’ Percy?”

“Too difficult to explain,” Scootaloo summarized. “The point is, you two are better off without me!”

“That’s not true!” Sweetie Belle protested.

“Ferget it, Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said sternly. “It’s clear she can’t be talked out o’ this. If she’s goin’ ta quit, then we don’t want her n’ we don’t need her!”

“Fine!” Scootaloo said.

“Fine!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“Fine…” Sweetie Belle said sadly. The train’s whistle sounded.

“All aboard~!” called the conductor stallion. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom made their way onto the train.

Scootaloo then ran off with tears streaming from her eyes. She didn’t spot Sunset witnessing her running from the station.

Some time later on the train, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were seated in a passenger carriage, looking out the window. Apple Bloom looked angered while Sweetie Belle looked upset. Though, Apple Bloom’s anger seemed to be fleeting and slowly becoming regret. At that moment, Rainbow came up to see them.

“Hey, fillies,” Rainbow said. She noticed their expressions. “What’s the matter? And where’s Scootaloo?”

“Stayin’ home,” Apple Bloom explained.

“What?!” Rainbow gasped. “Why?!”

“Diamond Tiara put it in her head that she can’t really represent Ponyville without flying,” Sweetie Belle answered.

“When she couldn’t do it,” Apple Bloom added. “She told us she was quittin’.”

“Didn’t you do anything to stop her?” Rainbow asked.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked at each other. They were ashamed.

“Actually, no,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Ah was so mad,” Apple Bloom said. “That ah told her that we didn’t want a quitter.”

“Are you bucking insane?!” Rainbow exclaimed. “You three are a team! But, most importantly, you’re friends and a team never leaves a friend behind! You think Spike would be happy to hear about this?!”

“No,” Sweetie Belle conceded.

“We got ta go back fer her!” Apple Bloom said.

Rainbow pulled the emergency brakes. The train screeched to a stop. Then, Rainbow allowed Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom onto her back.

“Come on!” Rainbow called.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon saw them leave the train. Diamond Tiara couldn't help but smirk and gloat. "That worked out even better than I thought! They might as well be throwing in the towel, they'll never make it back to the Crystal Empire in time to compete!"

Silver Spoon was utterly shocked by her friend’s lack of concern. Deep inside, she secretly hoped that the Cutie Mark Crusaders would make it to the Crystal Empire. "Excuse you?!" she loudly exclaimed. "Do you even realize how mean that sounds?! You proved your point, you drove a wedge between them! So, why can't you just leave them alone?! They never did anything to you!"

“What difference does it make?” Diamond asked. “As long as I win, that’s all that matters.”

“Yes, because you are all that matters, isn’t it?” Silver Spoon said. “Making fun of Scootaloo for having a disability was bad enough, but, this?! You want to win just by preventing them from showing up?! What would that even prove?!”

“That ponies with Cutie Marks are superior to blank flanks,” Diamond Tiara said. “They've always been one step ahead of us, upstaging us at every turn! How can you feel sorry for them?!”

“Because you deserve their upstaging us for taking your awful mother’s advice!” Silver said. “It’s obvious to everypony in Ponyville that your mother is a bad influence on you, but, you still try to get her approval! Lately, I’ve been wondering if her approval is even worth anything!”

Diamond Tiara took all of this in. It took a while for it to sink in, but, eventually, she realized that Silver Spoon was right. She then sighed sadly.

“You’re right,” Diamond said. “I was just jealous because their first routine was so good. It was wrong of me to get under Scootaloo’s wings as I did. When she comes back, I’ll apologize.”

“Especially for the disability thing,” Silver scolded. “I take it pretty personally because I have some kind of disability!” She gestured to her glasses. “You know I can’t see that well without my glasses!”********

“You’re right,” Diamond said. “I’m sorry. I’ll never do that again. And hey, whether we win or lose, I wouldn’t be doing this routine without you, Silver Spoon.”

Suddenly, something occurred to Silver Spoon. “Wait, did we even agree on a routine to practice?”

Diamond Tiara paused. She then held onto her own head and said, “Buck!”*********

Back in Ponyville, Sunset caught up with Scootaloo halfway to her aunts’ house.

“Scootaloo, wait!” Sunset said. “Why aren’t you on the train to the Crystal Empire?”

“Because I started putting a wedge between my friends,” Scootaloo said. “I didn’t want us to feud like Thomas and Percy did, so, I decided to remove myself from the situation altogether.”

“Let me get this straight,” Sunset said, trying to grasp the situation. “I told you a story about owning up to your mistakes and forgiving your friends for getting mad at you, and your takeaway from it was to remove yourself from the situation instead of addressing it?!”

“I’m guessing from your tone,” Scootaloo said. “That wasn’t the point of the story?”

“No!” Sunset said, bothered. “The point was to get you to apologize to your friends before the situation escalated. What you’re doing now is a good way to make the situation escalate.”

Scootaloo took a moment to digest Sunset’s lecture. “Oh, no,” she said. “I didn’t think about that. But, it’s probably too late now.”

“With good friends and teammates,” said Rainbow as she flew up to them with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. “It’s never too late.”

“Uh, Rainbow,” Sunset said. “Scootaloo’s feeling a bit touchy with her inability to fly and, noble as your intentions might be, flying while trying to comfort her might be rubbing salt in the wound.”

“No, it’s okay, Sunset,” Scootaloo said as Rainbow set her hooves on the ground. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle got off of Rainbow’s back. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“We ain’t goin’, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said. “We wouldn’t go anywhere if all o’ us ain’t goin’. Ah wanted ta say ah was sorry fer gettin’ mad at ya when ya told us ya were quittin’.”

“I’m sorry, too, girls,” Scootaloo said after a sigh. “I made everything worse because I got so caught up in thinking that I had to fly for our routine and I pushed you both too hard. I hope you girls can forgive me someday.”

“We already have,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Who said you needed to fly, anyway?” Rainbow asked. “Diamond Tiara?”

“Pegasus ponies are supposed to fly,” Scootaloo said. “After all, you flew when you flew the flag, Rainbow.”

“That’s because that was my routine,” Rainbow said. “You are you. The first routine you did was amazing as it was because it showed what made Ponyville special and what made all of you awesome!”

“Besides,” Sunset said. “Your aunts have said you’re a late bloomer. It’s more common than you realize. You’re still an amazing pony. You’re creative, you’re brave, you're smart, and you’re a good friend. Maybe you’ll fly one day or maybe you won’t. Either way, don’t worry about what you can’t do and focus on what you can do, the best that you can do it.”

Scootaloo took a moment to take all of this in. Slowly but surely, a smile grew upon her face.

“You all are right,” Scootaloo said. “I should be doing what’s important for all of us and make Ponyville proud for just being me! What do you say, Crusaders? We go back to the Crystal Empire and do our routine the way it’s supposed to be done… the first version of it?”

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle yelled happily.

“And don’t worry about your wings growing,” Rainbow said. “Keep working the muscles and you could be flying as good as me. Maybe Bulk Biceps can give you some pointers. He was in the same situation you’re in now. He kept training them and even though they didn’t get bigger than yours are now, his wings still got him a spot in the Wonderbolts!”

“Maybe,” Scootaloo said. “But, we’ve got to get to the Crystal Empire! Can’t keep Ms. Harshwhinny waiting, you know.”

“Everybody, get close to me,” Sunset said. They did as Sunset instructed. In a flash of light, they were teleported to the train to the Crystal Empire.

“Whoo!” Apple Bloom whooped. “We heard that ya had powerful magic, but, that was a rush, Sunset!”

“Thanks so much,” Sweetie Belle said. “Do you think you’ll stay and watch the routines?”

“I may as well,” Sunset said. “My horn needs to cool down a bit before teleporting any of us again. It was risky teleporting all of us to a confined space moving about 70 miles an hour.”

“Well, thanks again,” Scootaloo said, hugging Sunset. “Thanks for everything.”

“Say, I’ve thought of something,” Sweetie Belle said. “Why were you in Ponyville in the first place?”

“Well,” Sunset said. “Wallflower and I have been planning on moving to Ponyville for a while, so, we’re trying to find a place to move into.”

“Ah, that’s so cool,” Apple Bloom smiled. “Have ya found any open houses yet?”

“Despite looking for the last few months,” Sunset admitted. “We’re not having much luck.”

“Oh,” Scootaloo said softly. “We’re sorry to hear that. We hope you can get the help you and Wallflower need to find one.”

Later, Ms. Harshwhinny was getting ready to announce the winner of the contest.

“In the Equestria Games,” she announced. “The Ponyville flag will be carried by… the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“Just as well,” Sunset said to Rainbow. “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s routine looked like it was hastily slapped together at the last minute.”

“Either way,” Rainbow said. “I’m so happy for the CMCs!”

The Crusaders were given wreaths around their necks when Rainbow complimented them.

“Congratulations, fillies,” she said. “What you three did was truly acceptable.”

“Acceptable?” Ms. Harshwhinny commented. “What they did was truly stupendous! It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen! Especially after that lackluster performance by the duo of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!”

Rainbow couldn’t resist a jab at Harshwhinny’s overexcitement. “Contain your excitement, ma’am.” Then, with a wink, she added. “Remember, professionalism.”

Ms. Harshwhinny cleared her throat. “Yes, of course.” She laughed nervously as she congratulated the three fillies once again.

Afterwards, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon approached the trio.

“You three really did an amazing job,” Diamond said humbly. “And you deserve to carry the flag in the Equestria Games.”

“Yeah, congratulations,” Silver said to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“And Scootaloo?” Diamond said. “I take back everything I said about your wings. I was jealous and I touched upon something that I shouldn’t have. So, I’m very sorry and I promise not to make fun of that aspect of you ever again. You don’t have to forgive me, but, I just wanted you to know that I am sorry.”

“You’ll understand if we’re skeptical,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yeah,” Diamond said understandingly.

With that, the two took their leave. The CMCs were skeptical about how genuine Diamond’s apology was, but, decided to leave it at that.

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter. Sorry for the delay. I felt a bit emotional over the loss of someone who created a large part of my childhood andI'mtotallynotcoveringupforthefactthatIforgot.

*It's a callback!

**STOP IT~!

***Personal headcanon.

****Diamanta name provided by Blake. Sylvia name by me.

*****Everybody has standards.

******Self-censorship.

*******The following story Sunset told is dedicated to Britt Allcroft (12/14/1943-12/25/2024).

********Solid reasoning is solid.

*********Apparently, that's a reference to The Amazing Digital Circus my Co-Writer added.

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.

Chapter 6: Power Ponies (S4:E6)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 6: Power Ponies

Four days passed since the Cutie Mark Crusaders won the contest for the Ponyville flag-carrying team. On this particular night, Sunset, Phoebe, and Wallflower were spending the night at the Golden Oak Library. Why, you ask? Well, during the four days leading up to this one, Sunset had managed to convince the Royal Sisters to let the Guardians renovate their old castle. Spike, however, was occupied with something other than sleeping. Twilight noticed.

“Spike,” Twilight yawned, rubbing one of her sleepy eyes. “I know it’s good to read, but, you need to get to sleep.”

“Just two more minutes?” Spike pleaded.

Twilight couldn’t resist Spike’s pleading eyes. “Okay, two more minutes,” she conceded. “Then, it’s lights out, okay?”

“Thanks, mom!” Spike said. “I'm just getting to the really good part! The Mane-iac is about to—”

“Excuse me for interrupting,” Twilight interrupted. “But, who’s the Mane-iac?”

Spike realized that Twilight was lacking in context and decided to explain. As he explained, he showed illustrations from the comic book that he’s reading. “The Mane-iac is the Power Ponies’ most powerful and evil nemesis. She was the power-mad owner of a hair-care product company. A tragic accident at her shampoo factory gave her mane strange powers and it caused her to go completely insane! She and her henchponies are planning to break into the Maretropolis Museum and steal the Electro Orb so that she’ll use it to power up her Doomsday Device! Of course, the Mane-iac wouldn’t have known if Hum Drum hadn’t slipped up and told her all about it.”

“Hum Drum?” Twilight asked.

“He’s this guy wearing the blue boots and pointless red cape,” Spike explained as he pointed to this earth colt. “He’s the Power Ponies’ powerless sidekick. The Power Ponies have to stop the Mane-iac or Maretropolis is doomed!”

“Okay,” Twilight said. “But, don’t stay up too late. If we’re going to make any progress fixing up Celestia and Luna’s old castle tomorrow, we all have to do our part. We don't want to be too tired to lend a hoof, hand, or claw.”

“Okay,” Spike said. He set his comic on his nightstand and turned off the desk lamp. “I’m turning in. Goodnight, Mom.”

“You still have those two minutes,” Twilight said.

“Okay,” Spike smiled, turning his desk lamp back on and grabbing his comic book. He then opened it to the page he was previously on.

As Twilight went back to sleep, she was unaware that Sunset heard what she said.

The next morning, Spike resumed reading his comic book while eating breakfast in his bed. The mares had finished their breakfast downstairs a few minutes before and were waiting for the other Guardians to arrive.

“Hopefully, everypony will show up soon,” Twilight said. “We’ll want an early start to get there and figure out the best course of action.”

Just as she said that, the other guardians entered, all of them carrying buckets, brushes, sponges, and liquid soap bottles.

“Howdy, y’all,” Applejack smiled.

“Hey, everypony,” Twilight said. “We’ll have a busy day ahead of us.” They all began leaving when Sunset blocked the door.

“Hold it, everybody,” Sunset said. “Aren’t you all forgetting something?”

“We have buckets, brushes, sponges, and liquid soap bottles,” Pinkie said. “We have pretty much everything we need.”

“Supply-wise, yes,” Sunset said. “However, Twilight here seems to be forgetting what she said to Spike last night about all of us needing to do our part.”

Twilight gasped, realizing that Sunset was right. “I’ll be right back.” And with that, she ran upstairs to fetch Spike.

“I’m pretty sure we can manage fine without him,” Rainbow said.

“Twilight promised Spike that he’d get a chance to help,” Sunset lectured. “If we left without him or worse, brushed him off if he offered to help, let me ask you. Would it be honest? Would it be loyal? Would it be kind?”

“It wouldn’t be either of those things,” Fluttershy answered.

“That’s right,” Sunset said. “From what I understand, Spike doesn’t take broken promises well. Much less ones made by Twilight. None of you want Twilight to break a promise to Spike, do you?”

They all agreed that it wouldn't be right.* A moment later, Twilight and Spike walked down the stairs to meet with the others. Rarity noticed Spike squinting as he read his comic book.

“I say,” Rarity piped up. “Are you having some vision problems, Spike?”

“Well, something like that,” Spike admitted. "There's a huge blank page towards the end of the comic, just when things are getting to the good part!"

“Man!” Rainbow griped. “I hate it when stories end on a cliffhanger!”

“Indeed,” Sunset said. “That’s one reason I didn’t particularly care for the Adventures of Cliff Hanger segments on Between the Lions.”

“The what now?” Applejack asked.

“Well,” Sunset said. “There was this show called Between the Lions, which largely focused on a family of lions that lived and worked in a public library that was made to teach reading skills to young viewers and they have this segment called the Adventures of Cliff Hanger, which is about a man named Cliff Hanger. The Adventures of Cliff Hanger segments follow this formula: it starts with the titular character holding onto a branch sticking out of a cliff and saying he can’t hold on much longer, he sees something unusual and checks his survival manual to figure out how to deal with it, he follows the instructions and gets off the cliff for a brief moment, and it’s back to square one.”

“I see,” Fluttershy said.

“But,” Spike continued. “I see some text in the bottom corner over here and I’m having trouble reading it because it’s so small. That’s why I’m squinting.”

“Hang on,” Sunset said before she reached into her Item Box and pulled out a magnifying glass. “Try this.”

“Thanks,” Spike said, carefully taking the magnifying glass. “‘You can return to where you started when the Mane-iac is defeated. Take a closer look to join the adventures in this book.’”

Sunset’s eyes widened in surprise and horror upon hearing those words. "Spike, wait, don't!" she shouted, but, it was too late.

Suddenly, a strange dark blue astral portal appeared from the page. It grew wider and started to absorb Spike.

“Help~!” Spike exclaimed.

“Spike!” Twilight exclaimed, grabbing hold of him. But, the others started getting pulled in, too.

"What's happening?! What's going on?!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"Oh, I don't like this! I don't like this at all!" Fluttershy said nervously.

“Like it er not!” Applejack exclaimed. “We better hang on ta somethin’!!”

The light grew brighter and brighter as Spike and the girls tried in vain to avoid being sucked in. In a matter of seconds, the light completely enveloped them, and they could see nothing. Once they had been pulled inside the comic book, it slammed shut with a thud. You never would've guessed that anypony was trapped inside it.

Inside the comic book world, Spike woke up to find himself on top of a skyscraper at night. He looked over the edge to observe his surroundings.

“Where are we?” Spike muttered. “Is this… Maretropolis?”

“What the hay is goin’ on?” Applejack’s voice said.

Spike turned his attention to Applejack’s voice and gasped in surprise and amazement.

“Holy new personas, ponies!” he exclaimed. “Mom, you’re the… Masked Matter-Horn!”

Twilight saw that she had a suit that stretched from her legs up to her chest that was a majestic shade of magenta, except for the neck collar which was an icy blue in color. Her face was covered by a mask the same shade of magenta as her suit, with a pair of yellow colored goggles to match.

“Whoa~” Twilight gasped.

“Pinkie,” Spike continued. “You’re Fili-Second!”

Pinkie saw that she wore a suit that was white with pink streaks all throughout it and for some reason, she couldn't stop herself from prancing.

“Hee-hee-hee~!” Pinkie excitedly giggled.

“Rainbow,” Spike continued. “You’re Zapp!”

Rainbow saw that her mane had been styled into a mohawk while she wore a black suit with a lightning bolt shaped pendant that hung on her neck.

“Awesome!” Rainbow exclaimed.

Spike then saw Rarity, who had a costume that was a dark blue in color and covered in diamonds. Heck, even her mane and tail had diamonds in them. She also had a dark blue mask that was not covered in diamonds and a small yellow collar with a light purple diamond on it. And on her front legs rested two purple diamond shaped charm bracelets.

“Rarity,” Spike gasped. “You’re Radiance!”

“This does indeed look dazzling,” Rarity gasped with a smile.

Spike then saw Applejack, who had a suit that was dark red in color, which matched nicely with her dark brown boots and mask, as well as her dark green harness that held a gold colored lasso. The back half of her mane and all of her tail were protected by a green tube.

“Applejack,” Spike continued. “You’re Mistress Mare-velous!”

“Well, ah’ll be…” Applejack said.

Finally, Spike saw Fluttershy. She had on a forest green suit with butterflies stitched onto the front legs. Her face was protected by a purple mask, which matched the purple collar she was wearing.

“Fluttershy,” Spike continued. “You’re Saddle Rager!” The six mares looked each other over when Spike noticed something. “Wait, where are Sunset and Wallflower?”

They looked around for any sign of the two absent mares. When they found them, Sunset was dressed only in a trench coat and reporter’s hat while Wallflower was the only one with no difference in her appearance at all.

“Sunset’s become… Phoenix Quill**?” Spike said.

Sunset looked over herself, noticing her new attire.

“So I am,” Sunset said.

The other mares looked confused.

“How come she’s in that getup?” Applejack asked.

“Phoenix Quill is a reporter that the Power Ponies get their information from,” Spike explained.

“Is Wallflower Blush a character, too?” Fluttershy asked.

Spike looked closely. “No, doesn’t look like it.”

“What are you all meant to be anyway?” Wallflower asked.

“Well, the others except Sunset are the Power Ponies,” Spike said. “Though, the Power Ponies are short one useful member, which makes sense because the six main members haven’t gotten into a situation they can’t work themselves out of yet.”

“So,” Wallflower continued. “Do you have an explanation for the costume you're wearing, Spike?”

“Costume?” Spike asked before turning to Pinkie. “Pinkie, did you use your distraction technique on me again?”

“No,” Pinkie admitted. “You were always wearing a costume, but, you were so focused on our new costumes that you didn’t notice yours right away.”

Before Spike had a chance to look at his own costume, there came the sound of a wall being demolished. Spike and the girls spun around in time to see the wall of the museum across the street come tumbling down and from the wreckage emerged a purple coated mare with a green colored, tentacle-like mane. "Power Ponies! How kind of you to join us!" the mare greeted, laughing wickedly. "At last, you'll have a front row seat to your own destruction!"

“Destruction mah Aunt Brown Betty!” Applejack snapped. “Who’re ya ta say that?”

“That’s the Mane-iac,” Spike warned. “She’s the Power Ponies’ most fiendish nemesis! My comic book somehow zapped us all in here!”

“So,” Rainbow said. “Somebody zap us out of here! We've got better things to do than play superheroes and super villains! Though, the mohawk is a nice touch.”

“I heard Spike read that the way to get back to where we started was to defeat the Mane-iac,” Sunset said. “So, until Mane-iac’s beaten, we’re basically stuck in this isekai story.”

“Isekai?” the others asked.

“It means in another world,” Sunset summed up.

“Well, that shouldn’t be too hard,” Rainbow said. “I was already awesome, but, now, we have superpowers!”

“But, do you know what they are?” Sunset asked.

“Time for the mane event~!” The Mane-iac quipped.

“Pinkie!” Rainbow said. “Have our back with this-” But, she noticed that the pink mare was nowhere in sight. “Hey, where’d she go?”

“She could be anywhere in the city,” Spike explained. “She’s Fili-Second, the fastest pony in Maretropolis!”

“WHAT?!” Rainbow exclaimed. “But, I’m the fast one! Why’s an Earth Pony faster than a pegasus?!”***

“That’s how it is in the regular comics,” Spike said. “If it’s any consolation, Zapp has the power to control the weather through her lightning bolt pendant.”

Rainbow looked at the pendant around her neck. “Yeah, that helps,” she admitted. “I’m still calling BS on an Earth Pony being faster than a pegasus, though.”

“You’ll just have to swallow those for now,” Spike said. “You’ve got a supervillain to defeat!” He turned to Twilight. “Mom, freeze Mane-iac’s mane!”

“Do what?” Twilight asked in bewilderment.

"You're the Masked Matter-horn! You can shoot all kinds of crazy power beams from your horn!" Spike told Twilight. "Come on, freeze her mane!"

Twilight concentrated and, to her surprise, she quickly discovered that she had no trouble at all building up energy for the freezing shot. But, before she had a chance to fire it at the Mane-iac, her concentration was broken by a smack from a lasso. This caused the energy beam to fire off in a random direction and accidentally hit Fluttershy.

"Twilight!" Fluttershy said angrily.

"Oops! I am so sorry about that!" Twilight said with a blush. "Applejack hit me with her lasso and it made me misfire. Why did you do that, Applejack?!"

Applejack began to sweat. Nervously, she gulped and told Twilight, "Ah don't know what came over me. All ah know is, somethin' inside me felt like ah couldn't let ya have all the glory n’ the next thing ah knew, mah lasso developed a mind o’ its own."

"That's because you're psychically connected to it!" Spike said to Applejack. "Will it to where you want it to go and it'll obey you!"

"But, that still doesn't explain why Applejack would get mad with Twilight for trying to save the day," Rarity replied, as she tried to thaw out Fluttershy.

“Maybe we can worry about that when we don’t have a supervillain to deal with!” Sunset scolded.

“I didn’t think getting away with my crime would be so easy~” Mane-iac chuckled.

Meanwhile, down below, Pinkie had finally shown back up at the scene of the crime. She was just in time to see the Mane-iac start to leave. "Well, this has been quite the experience. But, I really must be going," the Mane-iac boasted. "I've got what I came for."

"No, you don't! You're not getting away that easily, not on my watch!" Pinkie said angrily, rushing forward to block the Mane-iac's path.

"Get out of my way, Fili-Second, or I'll destroy you!" the Mane-iac shouted angrily.

"You and what army?" Pinkie taunted.

As if to answer Pinkie’s question, the Mane-iac’s henchponies appeared on the scene. There were mostly stallions with expertly coiffed manes and tails.

“Pinkie’s in trouble!” Rainbow said before pointing her hooves out. The look of surprise on her face clearly illustrated that whatever she was expecting to happen didn’t. “What’s going on? I thought this pendant would let me control the weather!”

“You have to unholster it and hold it up to do that,” Spike explained.

“Oh!” Rainbow exclaimed. She unholstered the pendant and held it up in the air. “So, do I just think about–” she started before the sky above began to be covered with a series of dark storm clouds. “Okay, it’s working!”

Twilight and Applejack quickly climbed down to the street, Applejack using the golden lasso while Twilight glided, to join the fight against the Mane-iac's minions while Rarity continued to try, to little avail, to thaw Fluttershy out. One of the henchponies noticed.

“Since when could Matter-Horn glide without wings?!” he exclaimed.

“No matter,” the Mane-iac said nonchalantly. “They are still no match for your efforts and myself, my beloved henchpony~!”

“Without wings?” Wallflower asked. “She clearly has wings!” Neither Mane-iac nor her henchponies showed any signs of having heard her.

“The characters that belong in the comic must see us as they know the original Power Ponies characters,” Spike ventured. “Since Wallflower hasn’t become a character in the comic, they must not be able to see or hear her at all.”

“Wh-wh-what do we do?” Fluttershy whimpered.

"Ugh! Rarity! Use your jewelry to create attack constructs!" Spike told Rarity.

“What’s an attack construct?” Rarity asked. “And how do I do that?”

"Just think of something, anything, and your bracelet makes it appear! But, make it something useful," Spike explained.

Rarity took a deep breath and started to think. In a glow of purple light, a small hair dryer appeared.

"Rarity, that's not going to help us!" Spike groaned.

"Oh, but, this is no ordinary hair dryer, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity said with a grin. "This hair dryer has a little bit of extra punch to it." To prove her point, she flicked the switch to turn it on and then pointed the nozzle at the ice that kept Fluttershy trapped. In a matter of seconds, the ice began to melt and Fluttershy was soon freed.

“Oh!” Fluttershy gasped. “Thank you, Rarity! Or, should I call you Radiance?”

“Either way,” Rarity said. “You’re welcome.”

"It's probably best if we start calling each other by our superhero names," Spike told Fluttershy. Then, he turned to Rarity. "How did you melt the ice with just a hair dryer?"

"I told you, it's no ordinary hair dryer," Rarity said with a wink. "This is a portable version of an industrial strength dryer used at the spa. Now, let's go save the city and get ourselves home!"

“Fluttershy,” Spike said. “You’re Saddle Rager. When you get angry, you transform in to a giant, super-strong mare!”

“That must be why I feel so angry for no reason,” Fluttershy reasoned. “Though, it doesn’t sound very polite.”

"Just keep Mane-iac and her henchponies busy," Spike instructed as Rarity brought forth a flying carpet for them to ride on. "I'll grab the Electro-Orb while they're all distracted."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? What if you get caught?" Rarity asked Spike. "This is serious, darling. If you're not careful, you could get hurt or worse!"

“Considering what could happen if somebody doesn’t stop the Mane-iac, it's worth the risk,” Spike nodded. And he hopped off the carpet before Rarity or Fluttershy could say anything else.

"That wasn't what I meant," Rarity said glummy. "Something bad's going to happen to him, I just know it."

"Now, Rarity," Fluttershy replied, putting a hoof around her friend. "We need to have faith in Spike. He's been in tough situations before and he's always come out of them in one piece. This is no different than his trip to the dragonlands or when he risked his life to bring the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadence so she could stop King Sombra."

"You're right, Fluttershy-I mean Saddle Rager," Rarity nodded. "Now, we've got a job to do! It's time we showed The Mane-iac what happens when you mess with The Power Ponies!"

“Did that make sense to you, Sunset?” Wallflower asked, having overheard what they said with her.

“Can’t say that it does,” Sunset admitted. “But, any questions we do have will have to be saved until after we get out of the comic.”

As the fighting raged on just outside the museum, Spike spotted the Electro-Orb resting comfortably on the ground. The Mane-iac was barking out orders to her underlings and thus she did not appear to have her attention focused on the orb. This is almost too easy, Spike thought to himself. I just hope that orb is as light as it looks. So, he went to pick up the orb.

But, just as Spike reached out a claw to grab the Electro-Orb, the Mane-iac spun around and gazed grimly at him. "You shouldn't be taking things that don't belong to you," she scolded as she snatched the orb away with her mane. "Did you really think I'd be dumb enough to not see through your little ruse, Hum Drum?"

“You’ve got a lot of nerve to-” Spike started before realizing what the Mane-iac called him. “Oh no… I’m Hum Drum?”

"I wasn't born yesterday, I know a trap when I see one," Mane-iac said angrily. "You thought that since you had no superpowers of your own to challenge me with, you'd intentionally 'slip up' and tell me about the Electro-Orb, knowing that I wouldn't be able to resist stealing it. Then, when I did, your superhero friends would be waiting. You intended to have them defeat me so that you could then use me as an example of what teamwork could accomplish. Nice try, but, you'll have to do better than that."

"But, but..." Spike stuttered.

"Oh, what? You thinking of thwarting my plans?" Mane-iac asked. "Because I wouldn't if I were you. I own you like I own this city and pretty soon, you'll meet the same fate as it. But, if you get in my way, I won't hesitate to destroy you here and now! So, unless you're in such a hurry to lose, I suggest you keep your nose out of my business, Hum-Drum." Then, Mane-iac turned to her henchponies. "Okay, boys, we've wasted enough time here! Let's go!"

And with that, the henchponies stopped attacking the heroines and made their escape. However, one noticed something. "Uh, we'd love to, boss. But, we can't," he said nervously.

"And why can't we?!" Mane-iac growled.

Another henchpony gulped. "Because of that!" He pointed towards the sky, where a fearsome tornado had just descended from the storm clouds.

“That is a hindrance,” the Mane-iac admitted.

"Zapp! You were supposed to use lightning, not a tornado!" Spike shouted angrily.

"Sorry, this pendant seemed to have a mind of its own! But, you can't deny it's helping to clean up the streets!" Rainbow Dash called as several of the henchponies were sucked into the funnel. Unfortunately, it also managed to pull in some of the Power Ponies until only Mistress Mare-velous and Zapp remained. Sunset and Wallflower had the presence of mind to stay well back.

"Oh my, this is quite the dilemma on your hooves, Power Ponies!" Mane-iac chuckled "You can try to stop me or you can save your teammates and the city you're supposed to protect! What's it going to be?"

Mistress Mare-velous was internally conflicted. She knew how important her friends, but, she also knew that stopping the Mane-iac was also important. However, she realized that it’d be too dangerous for either her or Zapp to face Mane-iac alone.

“We got no choice,” Applejack said. “It's too dangerous fer either one o’ us ta go after Mane-iac alone.”

“R-right,” Rainbow said.

The Mane-iac laughed and, using her mane like a rope, she swung away. The few henchponies who had escaped the wrath of Zapp's tornado followed after her.

Rainbow Dash tried her hardest, but, she was unable to call back the tornado. The pendant would not obey her. Why's this thing being so stubborn? she thought to herself It's just like controlling the weather back home. The only difference is I don’t have to physically touch it.

"Stand back, sugarcube," Applejack said kindly. "Mah lasso n’ ah’ll take care o’ this! That there twister's about ta get hogtied!" Applejack hurled her lasso at the top of the funnel and held on for dear life as she pulled the noose tight. The tornado spun faster and faster as it began to expand. At last, it grew so big that it could not maintain itself, the energy it needed used up. It burst open like a balloon, hurling the henchponies over the horizon. It would've done the same for the Power Ponies, were it not for Rarity's quick thinking. She had managed to encase them inside a protective case and levitated it safely to the ground. Wallflower used her plant magic to make a vine to carry herself and Sunset down.

“Are you girls okay?” Wallflower asked.

“We’ve been better,” Twilight said.

"Whew! That was quite a ride!" Pinkie remarked.

"I thought I was going to be sick! I hate getting spun around like that!" Fluttershy said, stumbling around in a dizzy trance for a minute or two.

"I'm just glad we're all okay," Twilight replied, then she noticed that someone was not with them "Hey, has anybody seen Spike?"

"Over there!" Rarity cried, pointing a hoof towards the rubble that used to be the museum wall.

They all saw Spike looking at his reflection in a large chunk of still intact glass. But, the reflection didn’t show the dragon they recognized. Instead, they saw an earth pony colt in the costume Spike was wearing. Twilight knew from the night before that the colt was known as Hum Drum.

“So,” Twilight said. “That would explain why neither the Mane-iac nor the henchponies didn’t notice the fact that you’re a dragon, Spike.”

“I’m…” Spike said with his voice breaking. “Hum Drum?”

“Only temporarily,” Twilight said.

“What’s he so sad about?” Rainbow asked. “He’s a superhero with superpowers, just like the rest of us."

“Ahem!” Wallflower cleared her throat.

“Sorry,” Rainbow corrected herself. “Like most of us.”

“Hum Drum doesn’t have powers,” Spike said sadly. “That’s why I’m so sad. I’m the Power Ponies' bumbling and totally useless sidekick. He never ever stops the villain, he's only there for comedic relief. He always gets in the way!”

“But, surely you must have powers, Spikey-boo,” Rarity said kindly. “Your character’s wearing a mask and cape.”

"Yeah, for absolutely no reason at all," Spike complained. "He used to have powers way back when. But, he lost them early in the comic's run and ever since, he's been nothing but a joke they use to extend the plot if need be. He's pretty much useless, just like me in this instance."

“Oh, Spike,” Twilight soothed. “You’re not useless. You could never be useless.”

“Yeah,” Sunset said. “In the human world, do you know how many comics they make about superheroes who have no powers at all?”

“No,” Spike admitted. “Only because mom and I didn’t have time to read any comics.”

“There are several of those,” Sunset said. “Iron Man, Batman, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America, Nick Fury, and a bumper crop of more. They don’t have a single superpower to their names, but, they’re still considered to be great superheroes.”

“Sunset has a point,” Twilight said. “You prove to be very helpful to us with or without powers and we know you’ll always be here to help us and we’ll help you, should you need it.”

“Touching as this is, I have a question,” Rainbow said. “Is it just me or did we suck eggs as a team in that fight?”

“It’s not just you that noticed,” Twilight said. “We’re usually better as a team than this.”

“It’s the narrative,” Spike said. “It's trying to force you to act like the real Power Ponies. And in the comics, Matter-Horn and Mare-velous are often clashing over leadership. Some of Mare-velous' rivalry must've gotten a hold of Applejack.”

“Ah’m mighty sorry, y’all,” Applejack apologized.

Pinkie then noticed that her reflection was also different. “Whoa! I’ve gone from Pinkie Pie to key lime pie!” The others looked in her direction and saw this reflected in the glass:

“That’s what Pinkie looks like to this comic’s characters?” Rainbow asked.

“I suppose so,” Fluttershy said. She then looked at her own reflection:

“This is wild,” Applejack managed to say. Again, she looked at her reflection:

“This is so weird,” Rainbow said. Then, she got a look at her reflection:

“Oh, my!” gasped Rarity. She quickly turned to see her reflection:

“Your mane wouldn't really change,” Twilight observed. She then looked at her own reflection:

“It’s surreal seeing your reflection without wings,” Sunset said. When she looked at her own reflection, all present saw no detectable difference aside from her flame-like phoenix wings looking like regular pegasus wings.

“Wow!” Wallflower gasped. However, when she looked at her own reflection, she didn’t see anypony looking back at her. “Whoa… I’ve become invisible.”

“No you didn’t,” Pinkie said. “We can see you just fine.”

“Hmm…” Sunset said. “Let me try something.” She removed her hat and lit up her horn to emit a focused beam of sunlight on Wallflower. Wallflower shielded her eyes until Sunset canceled the spell. “Well, she didn’t become a vampire character.”

“Ha ha,” Wallflower laughed flatly.

“But, how are we able to see and hear her,” Rainbow asked. “When the characters from this comic can't?”

“Well,” Sunset reasoned. “Given the fact that we're not native to this world either and are basically stand-ins for characters who are, the idea that we can see and hear Wallflower makes sense.”

“That is a good theory,” Rarity admitted. “But, that doesn’t explain why your reflection looks so much more like you than ours.”

“Well,” Spike said. “Phoenix Quill already had a pretty strong resemblance to Sunset to begin with.”

“Weird that they were able to replicate my appearance with my exodus from Equestria,” Sunset said. “Let me try something else.” She then removed her trenchcoat to look at her reflection’s Cutie Mark. Instead of a red and yellow shimmering sun, the reflection’s Cutie Mark depicted a phoenix feather used as a writing quill that had a trail of embers in its wake. “Fascinating.”****

“Well, now that we know what we look like and what our powers are,” Twilight said. “We’ll need to figure out the best course of action to stop the Mane-iac from going forward with her plan. Spike, you’re more familiar with this comic than any of us. Can you tell us where we can find the Mane-iac’s hideout?”

“Hold on a sec, Twilight,” Sunset said as she put her costume back on. “Let’s try to work out a plan this time.”

“You’re right, Sunset,” Twilight said after considering this.

“Stance up!” Sunset said before pressing the button on her anthropomorpher and changing into her anthro form (which the trenchcoat adapted to surprisingly well). “Okay, let’s recap the situation so far,” she said as she began sticking out fingers as she listed the relevant points. “We’re in a comic book world.”

“Maretropolis, yes,” Spike added.

“The only way we can get back is to defeat a mare with a bad mane day that the Joker would see as–” Sunset continued before remembering Spike’s presence and promptly correcting herself. “--absolutely crazy.”

“That sounds about right,” Pinkie said.

“And she has a Hairspray Ray of Doom,” Spike said. “It can immobilize the Power Ponies and render their powers useless.”

“The narrative’s making the large majority of you squabble like children over a cookie,” Sunset listed again.

“And it’s still weird that Pinkie Pie, an Earth pony mare, has super speed and I don’t,” Rainbow griped.

Sunset wore a flat expression. “That’s not really an important issue,” she said.

“Still,” Rarity said. “With all of this knowledge under our belt, what is the plan, Sunset? Or, Phoenix Quill, I should say.”

“Well, let’s do a headcount,” Sunset said. “We have a mix of Cyclops and Iceman from the X-Men, the Flash, Storm of the X-Men, the Green Lantern, the love child of Batman and Wonder Woman, the Hulk, and early days Robin. Guess that basically makes me a mix of Lois Lane and Commissioner Gordon in this roster, but, there you go. There’s the headcount.”*****

“When we get back,” Applejack said. “There’s a lot that ya will need ta explain.”

“I’ll do you one better and explain while we work on the castle,” Sunset said. “Now, we’ll let Spike lead the way to Mane-iac’s headquarters and ambush her and her grunts.”

“Right,” Spike said. “Though, I’ll try to stay out of the way.”

“Hold on, Spike,” Sunset said. “Mane-iac and her grunts see you as an Earth Pony colt instead of a dragon just like they see Twilight as a regular unicorn. That means we can still use our natural abilities here. So, you can use your fire breath to fight them.”

“You’re right,” Spike smiled. “I’ll show them useless!” No sooner had he said that than he found a foot of his in a bucket that wasn’t there before. He glared at Pinkie.

“I didn’t put that there, honest,” Pinkie said.

“She’s tellin’ the truth,” Applejack said. This prompted Spike to glare at Rainbow.

“What?” Rainbow said. “I didn’t do it, either! I learned my lesson when one of my pranks got you in trouble!”

“She’s also tellin’ the truth,” Applejack said.

“Looks like the narrative is forcing Spike to be a butt monkey,” Sunset reasoned.

“Knowing Hum Drum from the comics,” Spike said in an annoyed tone, getting the bucket off of his foot. “I can believe that.”

“Spike’s not a monkey,” Pinkie said. “He’s a dragon.”

“A butt monkey is a character in any form of media that has bad stuff happening to them all the time,” Sunset explained. “Whether they deserve it or not.”

“And Spike certainly does not deserve it,” Twilight said gently.

“Stance down!” Sunset said before reverting to her regular pony form. “Now, lead the way, Spike.”

Spike saluted and led the mares towards the Mane-iac’s lair.

Soon, they arrived at what seemed to be an unassuming shampoo factory. The neon in the lights hummed.

“Here it is,” he said softly on the off chance that anypony inside could hear. “We need to be quick. That Electro-Orb she just stole is what she's going to use to power up her Doomsday Device! It's like a super battery that never runs out of energy!"

“It’s a shampoo factory?” Applejack asked.

“Given her origins,” Twilight said. “It would make sense.”

Spike nodded. "The Mane-iac is many things, but, subtle isn't one of them."

"Thank goodness for that." Pinkie Pie chuckled, Rarity and Fluttershy couldn't help but join in.

“So, what’s the plan, Sunse-I mean Phoenix?” Rainbow asked. “Your plans haven’t failed us so far.”

Sunset analyzed the situation carefully. “You’ll have a much better chance of defeating Mane-iac if you can somehow sneak in without being noticed. A direct approach is out of the question. Rainbow-I mean Zapp, you fly around that factory. See if you can find some kind of back door or secret entrance you and the other Power Ponies could use."

“And what of the rest of us,” Rarity asked.

“Just stand down for now,” Sunset instructed. “Radiance and Mare-velous, your help may be needed if the group has to climb up a story or two. Saddle Rager and Fili-Second, you may be needed to create a distraction. And Hum Drum, you're with Matter-Horn unless she or I say otherwise.”

“What if I get in the way?” Spike said.

“You won’t be in our way,” Sunset said. “You’re an important part of our team. Don’t you dare let the narrative make you think otherwise.”

“I’ll try,” Spike said.

“Besides,” Twilight said. "You know more about that factory than any of us. That makes you the best one to point us in the right direction once we get inside."

Just then, an alarm sounded followed by the sound of evil laughter. Rainbow flew back to join the others, looking quite embarrassed.

“What did you do?” Sunset asked sternly.

“I may or may not have tripped an alarm when I tried to sneak in for the element of surprise,” Rainbow explained sheepishly. “I couldn’t see where it was. Sorry. Mane-iac definitely knows we’re here now.”

“So much for ‘element of surprise,’” Twilight said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

“This is okay, this is fine,” Sunset said more to calm herself down than anyone else. “This can still be salvaged, you girls will just have to fight your way in.”

“We can do that,” Applejack nodded. Sure enough, the factory's front door rose up, and all of the Mane-iac's henchponies emerged from it. “Come on, y’all! Time ta Power Pony up!”

“Ooh, nice catchphrase,” Pinkie smiled.

Despite the encouraging words from Sunset, Spike found himself compelled by the narrative to get out of the way. I’m really starting to hate that narrative, he said internally.

"Alright, time to rain down swift justice!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she unholstered her lightning bolt pendant. Storm clouds began to gather in the sky, as electricity surged out from the pendant.

Meanwhile, Twilight was busy focusing on taking down whatever henchpony was foolish enough to approach her. "Freeze ray!" she shouted out, as she fired a freezing blast. Unfortunately, she didn't pay attention to where she was aiming it and ended up hitting Rainbow by mistake.

“Hey!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Watch it! Whose side are you on?!”

"I'm on your side, Zapp!" Twilight protested. "That was a mistake! Besides, you're the one who got in my way!"

"You got in my way, you mean!" Rainbow hissed, turning her attention to Twilight.

"I think you'd better remember who wields the power to freeze, burn, or magically strike whoever she wants!" Twilight warned.

"You couldn't hit straight if your life depended on it!" Rainbow taunted. "You just got lucky with that last hit!"

"No, what are you doing?!" Spike commented, hiding behind a mailbox. "You're supposed to be fighting Mane-iac, not each other! Come on!"

Unfortunately, Twilight and Rainbow Dash were not the only ones fighting. The other girls (minus Sunset and Wallflower) were having their own issues as well.

Rarity was enjoying the seemingly unlimited possibilities that came with her superpower, as she brought forth a set of plates and hurled them at a goon, causing him to trip up and stumble to the ground. "Ooh, I do so love a functional accessory!" she said to herself. "I can do anything in this little number!"

But, when she turned her attention back to the fight, she saw Pinkie Pie zipping back and forth amongst the various underlings, using her super speed mostly to annoy them.

"Fili-Second, are you ever actually going to fight? Or do you want me to do all the dirty work for you?" Rarity groaned.

"Hey, I'm just getting warmed up," Pinkie Pie replied. "I could clear out these goons in the blink of an eye, but, that wouldn't be any fun. If you had my super speed you'd understand."

"Speed isn't everything!" Rarity insisted.

That comment made Pinkie Pie angry. "Shows what you know, that's what slow ponies say!"

"Sounds to me like the only thing that runs faster than you is your mouth!" Rarity complained. "Why don't you put your money where that big mouth of yours is and make yourself useful?!"

"Fine, if it'll make you happy, I'll take out all five of these guys at once!" Pinkie Pie shouted. "And I won't even break a sweat doing it. On the other hoof, you're just going to waste your time using your powers to throw tea sets at these no gooders! Bring something useful to the fight and make things more interesting, maybe give yourself a nice bow and a few arrows to go with it."

"You'll be lucky if I don't turn you into a pin cushion with one!" Rarity hissed, but, did as Pinkie Pie had suggested.

“Girls, stop!” Spike exclaimed angrily.

“Work together, you idiots!” Sunset shouted.

Alas, their cries fell upon deaf ears.

Fluttershy was battling the underlings who thought she would be too easy, all the while fighting to keep her anger in check. I need to save the anger for when it's really necessary. If I get mad now, everypo-no, everybody's in big trouble! she thought to herself.

But, to Applejack, it seemed as if Fluttershy was going out of her way NOT to fight. She was only using defensive moves whenever she was attacked, only occasionally tossing in an offensive attack or two.

This made Applejack furious, as she found herself protecting Fluttershy far more than she would've liked. "Seriously? Ya ain't even just a li’l angry right now?" she angrily asked Fluttershy.

"Oh, I'm getting mad alright," Fluttershy warned. "I've been trying to keep my temper under control, though. I'm pretty sure nopony wants to deal with a raging monster worse than Mane-iac right now."

"Why are ya holdin' back?!" Applejack groaned, deflecting an attack from an underling that had tried to sneak up on her. "Do ya want me ta finish this fight fer ya er somethin'?!"

"You don't need to protect me, I was doing just fine on my own!" Fluttershy protested.

"Then, maybe ya could start goin' on the attack more often n’ stop leavin' me ta have ta guard yer sorry behind!" Applejack insisted. "It would make things a whole lot easier fer the both o’ us!"

“ENOUGH!” Spike and Sunset both shouted.

Despite the setbacks caused by the arguing, the Power Ponies managed to defeat The Mane-iac's henchponies fairly quickly. Sunset, less than pleased with their sloppy performance, decided to literally and metaphorically slap some sense into the other six mares.******

“Hum Drum,” Sunset said in tranquil fury. “Cover your ears and avert your eyes.”

Spike, having a fairly good idea of what’s to come, did as he was told.

After making sure Spike couldn’t hear her, Sunset began giving the mares a tongue-lashing. “What the hell was that?!” she said. “I know that you can’t really help the narrative forcing you to act this way, but, if you don’t at least try f*cking resisting, we may never get back! Try having a little more goddamn sense of self if you want to get back!”*******

“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy gasped. “You’re right, Sunset. I don’t know what’s come over us.”

“Hey,” Applejack said. “Ah’m awful sorry ‘bout gettin’ heated up back there.”

“I’m sorry for accidentally freezing you, Rainbow,” Twilight apologized.

“And I’m sorry, too,” Pinkie and Rarity said together.

“Now,” Sunset said as her anger started to ebb. “Let’s take a moment to cool our heads before one of us has an aneurysm. If you try fighting Mane-iac now, you’ll be more likely to make stupid mistakes.”

“You’re right as usual, Sunset,” Twilight said. “And we’ll also have to make sure that Spike is safe.”

Wallflower gently tapped Spike’s shoulder, signaling that it was safe for him to stop ignoring things.

“Thanks, Wallflower,” Spike said, uncovering his ear fronds and turning back around. “Are we all good?”

“We’re getting there,” Rainbow said.

“It’s a start,” Spike said. “Now, we just need to figure out how to face off against the Mane-iac. She could be anywhere.”

“Like right behind you?” Mane-iac’s voice said. She quickly grabbed Spike before he had a chance to react.

“Spike!” the ponies exclaimed at once.

“Let him go, you menace!” Twilight ordered.

Spike began to panic as he felt Mane-iac put him in a hold that made it difficult to breathe. My neck! My most vital area! he thought anxiously. Come on, Spike! Think! You've got to do something! In a fit of desperation, he did the first thing that came to mind. He sank his fangs into Mane-iac's mane in the hopes of getting a reaction out of her. He most certainly did.

“Yowch!” the Mane-iac interjected. “When the Tartarus did an Earth Pony colt get fangs?!”

“If you think that’s a shock,” Spike smirked. “Wait until you see what’s coming next!”

Mane-iac threw Spike into the air before he had a chance to use his fire breath. In that moment, his fear of heights kicked in and he became paralyzed in fear. Thinking quickly, Sunset used her wings to fly up and catch Spike in her hooves. She then gently brought him back down.

“It’s okay,” Sunset soothed. “I’ve got you.”

Spike momentarily snapped out of his fear to inform the Power Ponies.

"Her mane is the source of her great strength, but, it's also an enormous weak spot for her!" Spike explained. "But, don't try to go for a direct assault on it, she's too smart for that!"

“Got it!” Rainbow nodded. "We can handle The Mane-iac, no sweat." But, unfortunately, Rainbow Dash turned out to be mistaken. Mane-iac easily outsmarted the Power Ponies, defeating them one by one and immobilizing them with a few sprays of The Hairspray Ray of Doom. Soon, she had it pointed at Spike.

“Don’t spray!” he said.

However, Mane-iac laughed arrogantly.

“Why would I waste the effort on a pathetic, powerless weakling like you?” she asked. “What would be the point?”

Spike thought. Wait, if she only sees me as a weakling, maybe I can use this as a way to gain the upper hoof and be one of the only ones mobile to help my friends and Mom. Or maybe I could get Daydream Shimmer! Either way, she’d get defeated! Playing smart, Spike went along with Mane-iac’s assumption that he was weak. “You’re right, Miss Mane-iac~ I am a pathetic little weakling~ Please don’t hurt me~”

“I needn’t bother,” Mane-iac taunted while retreating. “You get hurt by a papercut.”

Once she was out of sight, Sunset and Wallflower went to him.

“Spike,” Wallflower whispered. “Are you okay?”

Spike subtly winked at the two.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m going to find Daydream Shimmer so she can save the Power Ponies.” He then realized something. “Except I have no idea where to find her.” He faceclawed himself as he realized how poorly his plan was thought out.

“Daydream Shimmer?” Sunset asked.

“An extra member of the Power Ponies who shows up whenever the other six are in a situation they can’t get themselves out of,” Spike explained.********

“There’s something familiar about that name,” Wallflower noted.

“Do you have an image of her?” Sunset asked.

“I have a trading card of her,” Spike admitted. He pulled it out of his loose scale folds and showed it to the two present mares.

They looked closely at it.

“Do you have one of Phoenix Quill?” Sunset asked.

“Yeah,” Spike admitted. He pulled it out of the other loose scale fold and showed it to them.

“Hey, the two look kind of similar,” Wallflower noted.

“There’s rumors that they’re the same pony,” Spike said. “Because they’re never seen in the same place at the same time.”

“So, if that is the case,” Sunset surmised. “That would mean that I could potentially be…” She reached into her trenchcoat and pulled out what looked like a compact. On the compact were the words Deus Ex Machina. “Huh… that’s convenient.” She held it above her head and in seconds, she had taken on the appearance of Daydream Shimmer. She was clad in a white dress with a flowing back skirt and an ornamental broach that resembled Sunset's original sun Cutie Mark. She looked herself over. “Welp,” she said. “There’s the obligatory use of Clark Kenting.”

“Wow~!” Wallflower and Spike said, gazing at the newly transformed Sunset Shimmer.

“So, what powers does she have?” Sunset asked.

“Well, she has fire manipulation and mimicry, mind-reading, telekinesis, flight, luck manipulation, and healing powers,” Spike explained.

“Okay,” Sunset said. “That adds the Human Torch, Professor X, Jean Grey with the Phoenix Force, Scarlet Witch, and Iron Fist to the list of my role in the headcount.”

“So, with this information,” Wallflower said. “How are we going to help our friends and stop the Mane-iac?”

“Well, we can’t just waltz in through the front door,” Sunset said. “Spike, I’ll need you to be brave here.”

“I will,” Spike said with determination.

Sunset carried Spike to the roof of the building, the little dragon covering his eyes. Wallflower was carried by Sunset’s telekinesis.

“Whoa~” Wallflower said softly. “I’m not quite used to this yet.”

Sunset gently set them all on the roof. Inside the factory, the Power Ponies had been placed in a large cage hanging on a crane above the floor.

“It doesn’t look like they escaped,” Spike said as Sunset opened a skylight to lower them to a platform overlooking the entire factory. Various containers holding liquids in every color of the rainbow greeted his eyes, as did the bright interior lights that illuminated the factory floor.

The Power Ponies were trapped inside of the cage, unable to move thanks to the effects of the Hairspray Ray of Doom. To make matters worse, just as the effects of the spray began to wear off, a timer sounded and one of The Mane-iac's goons applied the spray again.

Meanwhile, on the factory floor, Mane-iac was gloating about her victory to her imprisoned enemies. "Congratulations, Power Ponies!" she said with a laugh as she held the Electro-Orb in her mane. "You shall live just long enough to see me fire," she yanked the cover off of a large object, revealing it to be a massive cannon in the form of a hair dryer. "The instrument of your destruction! Once the Electro-Orb has powered it up completely, this cannon will amplify the power of my mane one million times!" she cackled, before she added. "Bet you're wondering what the point of that is. Well, I could tell you, but, I don't want to spoil the surprise! You'll find out soon enough, because the six of you shall be my weapon's first victims. And there is nopony who can save you from this fate! So, say your prayers!"

To the surprise of Mane-iac and her underlings, Fluttershy was the one to speak up. "I don't mean to interrupt, but aren't you forgetting about a certain someone?" she asked, glaring at Mane-iac with a stare that would unnerve most ponies.

Unfortunately, Mane-iac wasn't one of them. "Oh, are you talking about Hum Drum? Little guy with absolutely no super powers whatsoever?" she asked, before letting out an evil laugh. "He's utterly useless!" She then waited impatiently as the timer sounded and one of her goons resprayed the Power Ponies. "Puh-lease. Everypony knows you just keep him around because you feel sowwy for him. Wah. Wah," she taunted in the most condescending tone she could muster up.

“Our Hum Drum always comes through when we need him,” Twilight retorted. “He always will!”

The other ponies agreed with her.

Mane-iac scoffed. “The only one of your missing members that could actually pose a threat to my plan is Daydream Shimmer,” she said. “But, she doesn't know any of you are here!”

“No,” Rainbow said. “But, Hum Drum does.”

Mane-iac remained as dismissive as ever. “A lot of good it'll do him,” she said. “As I said, he's utterly useless!”

“He may not have powers,” Pinkie said. “But, he doesn’t need them to find Daydream Shimmer and tell her where we are!”

“Clearly, dementia is a side effect of repeated exposure to the Hairspray Ray of Doom,” Mane-iac said. “If you believe he’s smart enough to think of that.”

“Yeah,” Sunset said as she smugly hovered before Mane-iac. “Except that’s exactly what he did.”

“What?!” Mane-iac gasped. “Impossible!”

“You made a fatal mistake, Mane-iac,” Sunset said. “Underestimating the little guy. Sic her, Hum Drum!”

On Sunset’s order, Spike swung on a rope and kicked Mane-iac off of her perch away from the controls.

If Mane-iac was surprised, she sure didn't show it, she just laughed like crazy. "Oh, if it isn't Hum Drum, this day just keeps getting better and better! Have you come here to surrender? Beg for mercy? Or maybe even request to join my ranks? I assure you all three of them are useless at this point."

"I didn't come to surrender, or beg for mercy, and I'd rather die than join you!" Spike said defiantly. "I came here to defeat you!"

Mane-iac laughed once again. "You must be a comedian, Hum Drum! You can't possibly be serious! There's no way you can win."

"Maybe, but, we don't know that just yet, do we?" Spike asked in a confident tone.

Mane-iac was surprised, but, tried not to let this fact show. "You have no super powers, Hum Drum. You're just a bumbling sidekick that can never do anything right!"

Those words set off a powder keg inside of Spike. Glaring at Mane-iac, he said to her, "Really? Well you know what I have to say to that?! Forget super power! Forget super heroes and super villains! But, most of all, FORGET YOU!!!" He proceeded to unleash a powerful flame belch from his mouth.

"Aw, that's so ador-WHOA!" The Mane-iac cried, as the belch struck her in the face, knocking her off the seat of the cannon.

“We have to get out of here and help Spike,” Twilight said to the other caged mares.

“Stance up!” Sunset said before transforming into her anthro form and subsequently clenching a fist. “Hououken!” At her words, she launched a flaming aura shaped like a phoenix from her fist at the cage. The heat from the aura melted the bars and caused the Power Ponies to sweat off the hairspray that immobilized them.*********

“Thanks, Suns-” Twilight started before correcting herself. “Uh, Daydream Shimmer.”

The henchpony monitoring the Hairspray Ray of Doom was about to fire it again, only for Sunset to glare menacingly at him before summoning a fireball, silently warning him that spraying it at the fireball would set it ablaze. He backed away cautiously. All the while Spike was fighting back against Mane-iac. Unfortunately, even with his claws and his thick dragon scales, Spike was still no match for the incredible super powers of The Mane-iac. And so, after only a short amount of time, he was defeated.

“Spike!” Twilight called.

"What's the matter, Hum Drum?" Mane-iac taunted as she slowly approached her defeated opponent. "No witty comeback? Cat got your tongue? Run out of quips or cheesy one-liners about how I'm going to pay for my crimes? No more words left to fail?"

"I... can't lose... You must be stopped," Spike stuttered as he tried to catch his breath. "You're evil and evil always... loses in the end."

"Oh, come now," Mane-iac gloated with a sinister smile. "If I'm really as evil as you claim I am, then, may the almighty creator strike me down where I stand!" As if the universe had heard that remark, a sudden magic bolt struck Mane-iac. But, it failed to do anything and it faded without fanfare. "Ha! Nice try, big mare!" Mane-iac taunted. "Perhaps next time that'll actually tickle!"

"Oh, it'll do more than tickle! That was just a warning shot!" a familiar female voice shouted.

The Mane-iac froze in place upon hearing that voice, she turned around slowly. "It can't be!" she thought and yet it was. The Power Ponies had escaped.

“I may not have been able to defeat you,” Spike said. “But, I was enough to distract you!”

“Wha-” the Mane-iac stammered. Regaining her composure, she called to her henchponies. “Well, don’t just stand there! Stop them, you idiots!”

Wallflower used her plant magic to run around the henchponies, tying them up in ropes made of interwoven vines, which confused Mane-iac and her minions because they couldn’t see or hear her.

“Where are these vines coming from?!” one henchpony exclaimed.

“I don’t know,” replied another henchpony. “And it’s freaking me out!”

Spike made his way back to the mares.

“Looks like we owe you one," Rainbow Dash said.

"You sure had some guts taking on Mane-iac by yourself," Pinkie added.

"I know, I can't believe I actually did that," Spike chuckled.

"Neither can I!" Mane-iac said angrily as she once again grabbed Spike with her mane. "And if you want my personal opinion, that has to be the single worst mistake you've made today!"

“You may see it as a mistake,” Twilight said. “But, we see it as a real effort from a real friend to help his friends. Now, put him down! We’re the ones you want!”

"Not just yet!" Mane-iac said ominously, holding Spike in front of her to use as a shield. "It may be a first, but, it's far from a pleasure. I have been made a complete laughing stock. AND I DON'T LIKE IT ONE LITTLE BIT!"

“Your ego made you a laughing stock!” Spike snapped.

"You're a smart alack," Mane-iac growled. "And if there's one thing I hate more than anything else, it's annoying smart alecks like you that don't shut up!" And she hurled Spike across the factory, unknowingly making him collide with Wallflower. Both of them slammed into a wall with a sickening smack.

"Spike!" Twilight cried (momentarily forgetting what she was supposed to call him in the comic book world) as she rushed to his side "Are you alright?" she asked him.

“I’ve been better,” Spike groaned.

“I’m okay, too,” Wallflower sarcastically commented. “Thanks for asking.”

Fluttershy looked at what happened to Spike and Wallflower. Suddenly, something inside her snapped. “Are… you… KIDDING ME?! I know you’re evil and all, but, you would seriously propel a child?! REALLY?!” As Fluttershy spoke, her voice gradually grew deeper and louder. “Well, you’re just a great… big… MEANIE! There! I said it! What makes you think you’re so special?!” As Fluttershy continued to speak, her eyes turned red with fury and her body slowly and gradually grew in mass. “That the rules of common courtesy don’t apply to you?! Why don’t you pick on somepony your own size?!” She had become a massive hulking monster, causing Mane-iac to gulp.

“I’m dead, aren’t I?” she asked the other Power Ponies.

“You pissed off the wrong Hulk, Mane-iac,” Sunset said. “Saddle Rager?” The transformed Fluttershy turned to acknowledge her. “Smash.”**********

The beast responded with a small grin before leaping into action. Mane-iac gulped once again and tried to make a desperate run for it. Alas, she couldn't even begin to put distance between herself and Fluttershy when she was ambushed and ended up on the receiving end of a punch that sent her to the floor. Fluttershy then quickly set to work on taking down the rest of the Mane-iac's goons, even though they were already restrained. This caused the others to become uneasy.

“I think it’s best we let her get it out of her system,” Wallflower said.

“Wait,” Applejack said. “What ‘bout the Doomsday Device?”

“Radiance,” Sunset said. “Try taking control of it.”

“Understood,” Rarity nodded and went to the controls. It wasn’t long until she had control. "Just tell me where to aim and I'll shoot!" she said to Sunset.

But, Spike quickly spoke up and asked Rarity. "Could you do me a favor and aim it at Mane-iac? I want to see what happens."

“Right,” Rarity nodded and she took her aim at the villainous mare.

“Are you crazy?!” Rainbow asked. “That’ll make her stronger!”

"Oh no it won't," Spike said with a smirk. "If the power of her mane is amplified, it'll grow wild and uncontrollable. Just watch."

"I hope you're right, darling, for all of our sakes," Rarity said nervously, as she reluctantly aimed the cannon at Mane-iac and fired. The blast struck her head on, knocking her away from Fluttershy.

“AHHHH~!” exclaimed the Mane-iac. Sure enough, just as Spike had predicted, Mane-iac's mane grew wild. In fact, it grew right to the point where it entangled her as if she were locked up in a straightjacket. "My mane!" she cried and began flopping around as the electricity surged through her like crazy. "My maaaaaane!" She then began to laugh insanely and just kept on laughing.

"Once again, the day is saved by—" Spike said heroically, before there came a strange sensation and a blinding flash of white light.

Once the light died down, the group found themselves in the lobby of the Golden Oak Library. However, they were in a tangled mess on the floor.

“Whoo!” Pinkie exclaimed. “What a rush!”

“Hey,” Rainbow said. “Who’s got their pointy muzzle in my–”

“Uh, that’s not my muzzle,” Twilight said.***********

They all managed to get untangled and separated from each other.

"Cupcakes?" Pinkie asked, holding up a plate of the tasty treats.

Rarity was surprised. "How did you-" she began.

"Eh, we had a good half second before we got sucked back out of the comic and the Maretropolis bakery was only sixty-five blocks away!" Pinkie interrupted.

“What really matters is that we’re back home safe and sound,” Spike sighed.

“We wouldn’t be if it weren’t for your efforts, Spike,” Twilight said, giving him a gentle and loving hug. “We appreciate all of your efforts and your helpful spirit. Even when we don’t always ask for your help, it doesn’t mean we don’t think you’re helpful. You were amazing, my son. All the same, you really had me worried when you took on Mane-iac by yourself. Please try not to do that again, I don't know if I can take another scare like that.”

“Don’t worry,” Spike said. “I’ll try not to. I learned that you don’t have to have superpowers to be a super friend.”

“It was pretty awesome you knew Daydream’s signature move,” Rainbow said to Sunset.

“Actually,” Spike said. “Daydream never used such a technique in any of the issues she appeared in.”

“Sunset made that move up herself,” Wallflower said. “I’ve seen her use it before. She says it means Fist of the Phoenix.”

“Oh,” Rainbow said. “That makes it more awesome!”

“I think it’s time to address the elephant in the room,” Sunset said.

“What elephant?” Pinkie asked.

“Spike,” Sunset asked, making a mental note to go over the term with Pinkie later. “Where did you get that comic book exactly?”

“I just found it laying on the ground the other day,” Spike answered. “I never would've touched it if I'd known it was enchanted."

"Well, maybe there's something on the back of the comic that can tell us where it came from," Twilight suggested, but, when she turned to where the comic had been, she was shocked to find that it had disappeared without a trace.

"An enchanted comic that vanishes into thin air," Rarity remarked. "Forgive me for being paranoid, but, I get the feeling it was no accident the comic ended up in Spike's clutches. Someone or something wanted him to find it."

"But, who could that be?" Fluttershy wondered out loud. Unfortunately, nopony knew the answer. And neither did they know about a supernatural ram was watching them from a dark realm.

“So, the dragon foiled my plot yet again,” the ram said. “He and the phoenix alicorn will need further gauging.”

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter.

*Take that, canon!

**OC by me.

***That feels like a reaction she should have had in canon.

****Reflections idea by me.

*****Avengers reference.

******Sunset reached her breaking point.

*******Sunset being a good role model to Spike while simultaneously chewing out the other guardians.

********Yes, that's an EqG reference, sue me.

*********Sunset being a badass.

**********Another Avengers reference.

***********It's her horn.

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.

Chapter 7: Welcome to the Neigh-borhood, Gamer Sunset (Original Chapter)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 7: Welcome to the Neigh-borhood, Gamer Sunset

Six days after the Power Ponies adventure, Twilight woke up to see Spike sleeping in bed beside her. The weather was growing colder, so, Spike decided to sleep in Twilight’s bed to stay warm. That, and Twilight insisted he do so after nearly losing him in the comic book world. Twilight found the sight absolutely precious, sentiments that felt stronger when Spike said a simple phrase in his sleep while nuzzling her sides: “Mama.”

With tears of joy welling in her eyes, she gently nuzzled Spike and softly replied, “That’s right. Mama’s here.” And she gave him a caring kiss on his forehead. She then hugged him against her barrel, the little drake nuzzling his nose into her chest. She tenderly rubbed his back. Soon, the rest of the original Guardians of Harmony entered the room.

“Good morning, Twilight,” Fluttershy softly said. “Good morning, Spike.”

“Shh,” Twilight shushed. “He’s still sleeping. You know how he gets when his sleep is disturbed.”

“Terribly sorry,” Rarity whispered.

Fluttershy gently nuzzled the top of Spike’s head.

“He certainly is cute when he’s asleep,” Fluttershy whispered with a smile.

“Personally,” Rarity whispered. “I find him cute no matter what.”

“That’s sure true,” Applejack whispered with a nod.

Rarity gave Spike a gentle kiss on his left cheek. Spike began stirring, alarming the six ponies.

“Boy~” Spike yawned and stretched. “That was a great sleep.” He looked to see Twilight was awake. “Hi, Mom. Good morning.”

The pleasant mood was not the reaction the ponies were expecting Spike to have.

“Good morning, Spike,” Twilight said. “Our friends are here.”

“That’s weird,” Rainbow said. “Spike usually gets annoyed when he’s woken up. I know that from experience.”

Spike glared at Rainbow. “That was a rough awakening,” he said. “I don’t like rough awakenings. Rarity gave me the kind of awakening I like: a gentle awakening.”

Rarity couldn’t help but blush. She wasn’t sure how Spike knew that it was Rarity who woke him up with a kiss, but, she still felt happy about doing so.

“Now that we’re all awake and together,” Pinkie said. “Is everybody ready for breakfast?”

“Sounds good to me!” Spike said excitedly.

“Sorry if he seems a bit energetic this morning,” Twilight said. “I tried giving him a few emeralds for dinner last night, but, I ended up giving him a bowl full of green apple rock candy by mistake. So, he still has a bit of sugar in his system.” Spike, as if proving her point, gave a little gremlin cackle.*

“No need ta apologize, sugarcube,” Applejack said gently. “Spike’s a young’n n’ havin’ a sugar rush from candy is bound ta happen. Ah know ah’ve seen Apple Bloom have a sugar rush from eatin’ too many homemade apple treats.”

“I propose he have real emeralds until his sugar high dies down,” Rarity said.

“Thanks, Rarity,” Twilight said. “We’ll have to make sure he gets something high in protein and healthy fats. And of course, he’ll have to stay hydrated.”

During breakfast, Pinkie made Spike some fried eggs (non-fertilized, of course).

“Thanks, Pinkie,” Spike smiled. By that point, his sugar rush had died down a bit. He ate them contentedly. Pinkie affectionately rubbed Spike’s head. “They’re really tasty.”

Suddenly, they heard a musical bird chirp, which they recognized as Phoebe.

“That sounds like Phoebe,” Fluttershy smiled. “And with Phoebe close by, that would also mean that Sunset is close by.”

They stepped outside to see Phoebe flying above them before she dropped a scroll from her talons. Spike grabbed it as it dropped and he unfurled it. He then read what was written upon it aloud. “To Twilight, Spike, and friends. Meet me at the Ponyville Train Station within half an hour of receiving this letter. I have a surprise announcement when you get there. Signed, Sunset Reginald Shimmer.”

“Ooh~” Pinkie squeaked excitedly. “I wonder what kind of surprise announcement Sunset has.”

“Well, let’s get to the station now and find out,” Twilight said.

“Phoebe,” Fluttershy said. “Would you like to travel alongside us or would you like to fly ahead back to Sunset?” Phoebe responded with a musical chirp. “Oh, you’re going straight to the station?” Phoebe chirped again. “Alright then.”

The group made it to the station just as the next train came in. Sunset (wearing her disguise to conceal her wings) and Wallflower stepped out of the train with a luggage trolley in tow.

“It’s so good to see you two again,” Twilight said as she hugged both Sunset and Wallflower.

“I trust Phoebe delivered my message?” Sunset said.

“She did,” Spike nodded.

“Well, it’s time for the announcement,” Sunset said. “As of today, the three of us are moving into Ponyville!”

Hearing the announcement, Spike and the Guardians cheered with delight.

“This is the best surprise announcement ever~!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Oh, but, it gets better,” Sunset continued. “We’re moving into the Golden Oak Library!”

Spike and the Guardians cheered with delight again. After the cheering, Twilight took the opportunity to chime in.

“I’ll make certain that you three will be very comfortable,” she said.

“Is the basement free?” Sunset asked.

“As a matter of fact,” Twilight said. “Yes, it is.”

“Perfect,” Sunset said. “I’ll need the space for my alchemy and other experiments.”

“We will have to properly prepare by getting spare beds and a perch for Phoebe should she need one,” Twilight said. “But, I do have some available space where you can set your bags down once we get inside.”

“The luggage in the trolley is actually my luggage,” Wallflower said. “Sunset’s carrying hers in her Item Box.”

“Ah, right,” Twilight said with a blush.

“No disrespect to Wallflower,” Sunset said. “But, I didn’t want to get her luggage cluttered in with mine. That’d be a real hassle.”**

“Yeah,” Wallflower said.

On the way to the library, Sunset managed to move the trolley by herself with minimal effort.

“I think you girls are going to love living with Spike and me,” Twilight said as they moved. “It’s the perfect mix of spacious and cozy.”

“And I’ll have plenty of reading material for research for this world,” Sunset said. Meanwhile, Wallflower was getting a closer look at the plants around the library.

“It looks like these plants are all well tended to,” she smiled. She then lit up her hooves to make some of the plants grow a bit more. “A little extra love doesn't hurt.”

“Just don’t use none o’ that magic fer Winter Wrap-Up,” Applejack said. “‘Specially not on mah farm.”

“Okay, I won’t,” Wallflower said. “Not that my plant magic works all that well in the winter anyway.”

“Thank ya,” Applejack smiled. Then, she registered the last part of Wallflower’s comment. “What ‘bout when we met ya in the Crystal Empire?”

“I think that was because of the spell around it keeping winter out,” Wallflower replied. “Regardless of the season there, the weather is still comfortably warm.”

“Hey, yeah,” Pinkie said. “Weird how we never noticed that detail each time we went there.”

“It’s likely due to the fact that we’ve always been so busy helping the citizens and Princess Cadance,” Rarity ventured to guess.

During that conversation, Sunset was humming a little tune while moving Wallflower’s luggage.

“What’s that tune you’re humming?” Spike asked.

“Oh, the theme song to CatDog,” Sunset answered.

“Cat…dog?” Spike asked. “What kind of an animal is that?”

“A cat and a dog who share a body despite having opposite personalities,” Sunset explained. As Sunset explained, the other mares listened to her. “While the brothers can independently control their upper bodies with two heads, they are conjoined at the midsection, meaning they have no tail or hind legs.” She then illustrated an image of such a creature.

“That does sound like an interesting creature,” Fluttershy noted.

“Cat is a strait-laced, intellectual cat whereas Dog is an impulsive, happy-go-lucky dog,” Sunset continued. “Because Cat and Dog can’t be separated, Dog will often drag his brother into activities Dog enjoys, such as chasing garbage trucks, eating fast food, and exploring, even though Cat is reluctant to do so.”

“Oh my,” Rarity said. “Um, what’s a garbage truck? We know the garbage part, but, the truck part is foreign to us.”

“Well, you know those carts we ponies pull around?” Sunset asked.

“Yeah,” Rainbow said.

“A truck is basically one of those that can move with absolutely no need for a pony to pull it,” Sunset explained.

“Oh, cool,” Rainbow replied. The others got the idea as well. “How does that work?”

“It’s a little too difficult to explain,” Sunset said. “And it’s not really important to what I’m explaining. So, CatDog gets into a lot of zany shenanigans.”

“Sure does sound like it,” Applejack nodded.

“One of their main adversaries are the Greaser Dogs,” Sunset said. “A trio of street thug dogs who get their kicks pounding CatDog. Mostly Cat.”

“Poor Cat,” Fluttershy said sympathetically.

“The Greaser Dogs hate cats,” Sunset said. “But, they feel the only thing worse than a cat is a dog who hangs around with a cat.”

“How awful,” Rarity said.

“Yeah,” Applejack said. “Winona might chase cats sometimes, but, she don’t hurt ‘em.”

“Hey, uh, how did CatDog even happen?” Rainbow asked.

“That’s never explained,” Sunset answered. “Not even in the three episodes that focused on their journey to find their parents.”

“That sounds like a lot to take in, but, still interesting,” Spike said.

“Can we hear the song?” Pinkie asked.

“I’ll do you one better,” Sunset said. She lit up her horn and projected this video from it.

“The characters look like they’re drawn, but, they can move,” Rainbow said. “How do they do that?”

“Through a process called, ‘animation,’” Sunset said. “For one second on screen, it takes twenty-four drawings. As you can tell, it’s a long and tedious process.”

“I can imagine,” Rarity said. “Especially when making those backgrounds over and over.”

“Actually,” Sunset explained. “The backgrounds are only drawn once.”

“Ah~” Rarity nodded.

“The characters are drawn on sheets of a special kind of clear paper called cels,” Sunset explained further. “Each one is drawn differently so that it looks like the characters are moving. This particular form of animation is known as a cartoon.”

“Cartoon, huh?” Pinkie said. “Sounds like my kind of style.”

“Humans have made hundreds of cartoons in almost a century,” Sunset said. “No magic whatsoever was used in making any of them.”

The ponies and Spike were amazed by this.

“The human world has a lot more to it than I thought,” Twilight said.

“Trust me, that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Sunset said. “Now, cartoons were created to entertain those watching them. Though, some were done better than others.”

“Where would this CatDog cartoon fall, in your opinion?” Rarity asked.

“Well, it was one of my personal favorite NickToons,” Sunset answered. “Right up there with Rugrats and Doug.”

“Intriguing,” Rarity said with a nod, making a mental note to ask about those later.

Soon, Sunset’s room was set up in the basement. There was a bed, a dresser, an alchemy table, an art desk, a wardrobe, a desk with large gems shaped into what Twilight and Spike recognized as a computer set, and a slightly larger box-like gem connected to thinner ones via cables.

“Can Spike or I get you anything?” Twilight asked. “It’s getting close to lunchtime.”

“Well, what do you have?” Sunset asked.

“Well, we’ve got bread and ingredients for sandwiches,” Twilight explained.

“Or I can whip up a batch of my hoof-licking nachos,” Spike said.

“I think I’ll have some of both,” Sunset said.

“You’ve got it,” Twilight smiled as she and Spike headed up to the kitchen. Sunset followed them and helped by making her own sandwich. She took a small loaf of bread, sliced it lengthwise, spread butter on the inside of the slices, used her fire magic to toast it, and topped one side with sliced cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, chopped peppers, and hot sauce before placing the top slice on top and using her fire magic to toast the whole thing.

“Impressive,” Spike smiled as he poured the melted cheese over a plateful of homemade tortilla chips.

“I like to call this the spicy hoagie,” Sunset said.

“Sounds tasty,” Spike said. “Would you mind if I had a bite?”

“How about I make you your own?” Sunset offered.

“If you’re up for it,” Spike said. “Thank you.”

Sunset made Spike a sandwich just like her own and gave it to him.

“Enjoy,” Sunset smiled. “And thank you for making me my own batch of nachos.”

Spike took a bite of his sandwich and was amazed by the taste. “Wow~!” he gasped after he swallowed his bite. “That is delicious!”

Sunset sampled Spike’s nachos. “Not too bad yourself, Spike,” she commented.

“Thanks,” Spike said after swallowing a second bite of sandwich. “I love nachos and I love making them. They’re my favorite savory snack.”

“Maybe sometime,” Sunset said. “We can do some cooking together.”

“Sure, that’d be great,” Spike smiled.***

After Sunset and Wallflower’s welcoming party (which consisted of the whole town despite Sunset’s insistence that it be a small scale celebration), Wallflower and the guardians were getting a look at Sunset’s room.

“Your room looks lovely, Sunset,” Rarity said politely.

Rainbow then noticed something unusual. “What’s this?”

“Oh, that’s a cartridge for a video game,” Sunset answered.

“Video game, huh?” Pinkie said.

“What are those?” Rarity asked.

“I’ll show you,” Sunset said. She then touched a big boxy gem, which had the facet facing them turn blue. She then connected another strange device to it before plugging the cartridge into it. “There we go.” The screen turned white before blue stylized letters appeared with voices singing, “SEGA.”

Fluttershy yelped from the sudden loud noise, but, she was still captivated by this new device. Soon, the screen changed to show a logo reading, “Sonic the Hedgehog.”

“‘Sonic the Hedgehog,’” Rainbow said, reading the logo aloud. From the center of the logo came a strange humanoid animal creature with a cocky grin waving his finger.

“Hmm…” Pinkie said, looking at Sonic. “There’s something familiar about that little character, but, I can’t put my hoof on it.”

“Playing a video game,” Sunset explained. “Is like watching a movie or a cartoon, but, you control what happens.”

“That sounds cool,” Spike smiled.

“For this particular game,” Sunset continued. “You control the title character, Sonic the Hedgehog, as he battles the evil Doctor Ivo Robotnik, also known as Doctor Eggman.”

“Sounds like some character,” Applejack said.

“Stance up!” Sunset said before transforming and taking the controller. “Now, watch what happens when I press these buttons.” She made Sonic jump while moving forward, causing him to smash what looked like a ladybug, which then turned into a cute little critter.

“Aww~” Fluttershy cooed.

“That was a Badnik,” Sunset explained. “They’re Robotnik’s robot minions, which use little creatures like the one you just saw as batteries.”

“That’s awful,” Wallflower gasped.

“Sonic can break them with his Spin Attack,” Sunset continued. “That’s when he jumps up and curls into a ball in midair before using his quills like a buzz saw.”

“That’s incredible,” Twilight smiled. She then saw floating, spinning rings. “What are those rings?”

“Power Rings,” Sunset explained. “Sonic collects them. However, if he gets hurt, he drops some rings. Watch what happens if he touches a Badnik without attacking when he doesn’t have any Power Rings.” She made Sonic run right into a Badnik. On contact with the robot, he jumped up and fell through the ground before the screen went black.

“What happened?” Rainbow asked. “Why’d the screen go all black?”

“Sonic died,” Sunset answered before the level restarted. “So, that means I have to try again.” She pointed to one of the corners of the screen. “You see that little icon of Sonic in that corner?”

“Yeah,” Spike replied.

“That represents his extra lives,” Sunset explained. “The number next to it indicates how many he has left.”

They noticed there was a number 2 next to the icon. That indicated there were two lives left.

“What happens if all the lives are lost?” Rarity asked.

“The game’s over,” Sunset answered. “And the player loses.”

“I see,” Rarity said. “Well, this is quite exciting.”

“How exactly does having a Power Ring help Sonic?” Wallflower asked.

“Watch,” Sunset said before she made Sonic get a Power Ring and touch a Badnik without attacking. Sonic jumped back and dropped the ring.

“Cool,” Rainbow smiled.

Sunset then made Sonic recollect the ring, jump up, and smash the Badnik. “As you saw,” she said. “As long as Sonic has at least one Power Ring, he can take a hit without losing a life.”

“That’s great,” Spike said.

“But, this makes him drop the rings he’s carrying,” Sunset said. “Luckily, he can collect them all again.”

“I see,” Twilight said.

“He has to do it fast,” Sunset continued. “Or the rings he dropped will disappear for good.”

“That’s messed up,” Rainbow admitted.

“If Sonic collects 100 Power Rings,” Sunset said. “He gets an extra life.”

“That’ll come in handy,” Applejack smiled.

“There’s also some power-ups to help him along the way,” Sunset said. “They could be additional rings, a shield to take a hit without dropping rings, a temporary speed boost, temporary invincibility, or even a free extra life.”

“That’s interesting,” Wallflower said.

Soon, Sunset made it to a checkpoint with 50 Power Rings.

“Alright,” she said. “Time for the Special Zone.”

“Ooh~” Pinkie said, intrigued. “What happens here?”

“That’s where Sonic gets a Chaos Emerald,” Sunset explained before she brought Sonic to the checkpoint and made him jump into the ring of sparkles. Spike and the ponies were amazed by this. “I need to focus to get the emerald.”

They quieted down as Sunset worked on the controls. After a few tries, she made Sonic get the Chaos Emerald.

“One down,” Sunset smiled. “Five to go.”

“You got this, Sunset,” Twilight said encouragingly.

“What’s the deal with the Chaos Emeralds, anyway?” Rainbow asked.

“The Chaos Emeralds,” Sunset explained. “Are collectibles in the game. Collecting all of them earns the player the good ending.”

“That’s so cool,” Spike smiled.

“I’m sure you noticed times where Sonic was going so fast, his legs looked like blurry wheels,” Sunset said.

“Yeah, we have,” Wallflower said. “Well, I know I have.”

“That’s why he’s called Sonic,” Sunset said. “Because he’s faster than sound and keeps on jumping around.”

“Oh~!” Pinkie exclaimed at last, looking between Sonic and Rainbow. “That’s why he seems so familiar to me!”

“Except Sonic can’t actually fly,” Sunset said. “He hasn’t gotten his Super Form yet.”

Rarity had trouble processing that statement. “I’m sorry,” she said. “He doesn’t have his WHAT?!”

“Super Form,” Sunset repeated. “In the sequel game, there’s seven Chaos Emeralds to find. Getting all of them not only gets the good ending, but, it also gives Sonic the ability to become Super Sonic, which allows him to fly, run faster, and become immune to damage.”

Spike and the ponies were amazed at this.

“That must make the game easy,” Rainbow said.

“Not quite,” Sunset responded. “First, you have to get all seven emeralds. Then, even when you do, you need at least 50 Power Rings to keep the transformation active for 50 seconds.”

“That is a lot ta take in,” Applejack noted.

“Super Sonic can collect more rings to sustain the transformation longer,” Sunset continued. “But, once he completes the stage before running out of rings, the transformation automatically cancels out.”

“Interesting,” Twilight nodded.

“Alright,” Sunset said after a while. “Time for the boss.”

“You got this, Sunset,” Spike smiled encouragingly.

Sunset made Sonic jump on top of Robotnik in quick succession until the scientist is red in the face and retreats. The ponies and Spike cheered for Sunset.

“This isn’t the last of Eggman,” Sunset said. “There’s a few more zones.” She then made Sonic jump on a capsule, making it open and release several critters.

“That is wonderful that all of those little animals are safe,” smiled Fluttershy.

The next morning, Twilight, Spike, and Wallflower found Sunset playing the game more aggressively than the previous day.

“Sunset?” Wallflower coaxed gently. “Are you alright?”

But, Sunset was too focused on the game in front of her. “Come on, Sonic!” she chanted. “Keep it up!”

“Uh, Sunset?” Twilight said, concerned. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

“This is a little disturbing,” Spike said when Sunset didn’t reply.

“Yeah,” Wallflower agreed. “I’ve never seen her act this way.”

“We’ll have to check in with her later,” Twilight said. “When somebody gets into the zone, it can be hard to break them out of it.”

“Yes!” Sunset said. “Chaos Emerald number 3!” As she played her game, she started to sing.

“This is the coolest game I've ever played~
This is the coolest game that was ever made~
Racing down the path with lightning speed~
Yes! Got the next Chaos Emerald~!
The Badnik horde hasn’t got a chance~
Doctor Eggman’s going to need new pants~
As I collect Power Rings in every Zone~
I just can't get enough, I wanna keep on playing more and more~
I just can't get enough and I won't stop until I get through this game and beat its score~!”

By evening, Sunset was still playing. By this point, the other guardians were concerned themselves, having heard what happened. They tried to get her to come upstairs.

“Sunset, come on, it’s no longer time to play~” Pinkie sang as she tried to coax Sunset.

“Sunset, come on, you’ve been inside all day~” Fluttershy added.

“We’re going to go upstairs to grab some food~” Rainbow added.

Alas, their efforts were in vain as Sunset simply levitated a water bottle over and drank from it before singing again.

“I'll be right out, I promise that I will~
But I can't quit this game until~
I defeat Eggman completely~!”

“But, Sunset-” Pinkie started before Sunset interrupted her by singing another chorus.

“I just can't get enough~
I'll get through this story very soon~
I just can't get enough~
Why don't you come and play some other afternoon~”

“Afternoon?” Rainbow asked. “But, the sun’s already-” Once again, Sunset’s singing cut them off.

“I just can't get enough, I wanna keep on playing more and more~
I just can't get enough and I won't stop until I get through this game and beat its score~!”

Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, realizing they couldn’t get through, went back upstairs to regroup with the others.

“Yeah, I would usually get pretty sucked into a good Daring Do book,” Rainbow said with concern. “But, Sunset’s really sucked into this game of hers.”

“I’m really worried about Sunset,” Twilight said. “She’s barely eaten anything since she got here.”

“There has to be something we can do to help her,” Fluttershy said. “If she keeps this up, she might not be able to do other fun things she likes with her friends.”

“Ooh!” Pinkie piped up. “I’ve got an idea! We can give her a potion that would give her nightmares about video games!”

The others were shocked at Pinkie’s idea.

“Pinkie, that’s a horrible idea!” Spike exclaimed. “We’re trying to help Sunset, not traumatize her!”

“Oh, right,” Pinkie said, giggling sheepishly. “Ooh, I got another one. We can hypnotize her into not liking video games.”

“Pinkie, that’s not any better,” Twilight said sternly. “We would be tampering with Sunset’s personality, what makes her uniquely her.”

“Twilight’s right,” Applejack nodded. “We don’t want ta be like Discord used ta be. We want ta show that while these here video games’re good ta play every once in a while, it’s also important that she does other things.”

“That won’t be so easy with her so deep in the zone,” Spike noted. “She doesn’t notice the world around her anymore.”

“So much so that time would seem to pass by in a blur,” Rarity added grimly.

Meanwhile, Sunset had earned the last Chaos Emerald in her game.

“Yes!” she cheered. “Last Chaos Emerald! And before the final zone!” But, just before she was about to get started on it, she heard a deep grumbling noise. “Huh? Does Twilight have plumbing problems or something?” she wondered. The sound sounded again. She looked down and saw her rippling stomach. “Oh,” she said in realization. “It’s my stomach. Guess I should’ve gotten snacks.” She started to stand up, but, suddenly, due to her fatigue, she passed out and collapsed onto the floor.

Twilight, hearing the noise from upstairs, rushed down to see the collapsed Sunset on the ground. She gasped, but, she gently used her magic to levitate Sunset onto her back and carry Sunset to her bed.

As Sunset rested, she was dreaming. In her dream, she found herself in the library, only it was much dustier and covered in cobwebs.

“Whoa,” she said. “That took a lot out of me.” She started to get up, though her body was feeling stiff. “Ow! That feels uncomfortable sitting in one place for a while” As she walked along, she came across a full-length mirror. Looking in it, she saw that she had a body shape like Celestia’s if she were anthropomorphized. “What the-?! H-how long have I been playing that game?”

After looking at herself in the mirror, she saw Spike looking like this:

****

“Hey, Sunset,” Spike said in a deep, yet good-natured sounding voice. “Long time no see.”

“Spike?!” Sunset proclaimed. “Wh-what happened?! Why are you so… so…” She gestured a hand to Spike’s bigger stomach.

“Fat?” Spike said, chuckling heartily. “That’s what happens when a dragon like me grows older. My appetite became more hearty.”

“But, where’s Twilight and the others?” Sunset asked, trying not to panic.

“Twilight is still here,” Spike said, but, with a frown he said. “But, the others… they’re gone.”

“Gone?” Sunset gasped. “Where?”

“They died years ago,” Spike said bluntly.

“Died?!” Sunset queried. “Even Wallflower?”

“All of them are dead, Sunset,” Spike said. “My mom and I moved back to Canterlot after they all died. You’ve been sleeping in the basement for 100 years now. Give or take a few weeks.”

Sunset could hardly believe her ears. “One… one hundred years?” She repeated as tears formed in her eyes. She ran outside and soon came to the Ponyville Cemetery. To her horror, she saw six headstones with the names and Cutie Marks of Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Wallflower. “No… no, this can’t be…” Sunset’s voice began to break as she collapsed onto the ground in turmoil. “What have I done? What have I done~?!”

Back in the real world, Sunset was muttering the same phrase in her sleep. “What have I done…” she muttered. “What have I done…”

“She’s starting to come around!” Twilight whispered.

Sunset slowly started to open her eyes. She saw the relieved looks on her friends’ faces. Sunset’s eyes shot open and tears of joy welled in her eyes. “You’re all here!”

“Of course we are,” Wallflower said. “We were worried you wouldn’t make it yourself.”

Sunset quickly ran to a full-length mirror and found that her anthro body was just as it should be.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Sunset sighed, relieved. “It hasn’t been 100 years, give or take a few weeks. It was a dream.”

“Dream?” Spike asked. “100 years?”

“Never mind that,” Sunset said, turning to face her friends. She had a humble and apologetic look. “Everyone, I’m really sorry that I got so swept up in playing that game. I developed a video game addiction back in the human world and introducing it here inadvertently awakened it after I managed to keep it under control for so long.”

“It’s alright,” Fluttershy said. “It is good to enjoy doing something that you love. Of course, it is also important to remember that you also need to eat and rest.”

“Speaking of eating,” Pinkie said before giving Sunset a cupcake. “A little something to fill your tummy.”

“Thanks, Pinkie,” Sunset said gratefully and she ate the cupcake. She then began to sing one more time. “I’ve been in the human world too long~
I realize now that I was wrong ~” She spoke normally for a moment. “Who needs Sonic the Hedgehog,” her song continued. “When you've got friends~”

The others smiled as Sunset embraced them and continued her song.

“I think I’ve had enough~
After dinner, let’s go outside and play some kick ball~
I think I’ve had enough~
I want to join in with you all~”

After eating, Sunset (having reverted to her regular form) and the others were outside getting ready for kick ball, singing as they did so.

“We just can’t get enough~
When we’re outside, our laughter never ends~
We just can’t get enough~”

Taking a solo verse, Sunset sang, “Why play alone when you can play with all your friends~”

After a game of kickball, Sunset began writing in the Friendship Journal.

“Moving into the Golden Oak Library was a great experience. Unfortunately, I also unlocked a side of myself that I tried to keep calm for a long time. I was so caught up in playing games that I couldn’t focus on my friends. Well, I’m going to work on balancing the time that I spend with my friends and the time that I can enjoy my own things. After all, I’m going to be with my friends for a long time, so, I want to enjoy the time that I have with them.”

Sunset smiled as she finished up her entry. That night, when she fell asleep, she found herself before Princess Luna.

“Thank you for setting me straight, Princess Luna,” Sunset said, humbly genuflecting before the night princess.

“Very perceptive of you to realize that it was my doing,” Luna said. “Gold Lily informed me telepathically of your situation and I felt compelled to intervene.”

“I’m glad she did,” Sunset said.

“I must say,” Luna added. “This concept of video games intrigues me. Perhaps you can teach me more about its principles.”

“Sure,” Sunset complied. “This could also help me learn to balance my interests and spending time with my friends.”

“And,” Luna added. “Since you’re not officially a princess yet, you needn’t worry about royal responsibilities interfering. My royal responsibilities take place during the night, leaving me with ample daylight hours to occupy myself. Frankly, since my return, there’s been no shortage of times where I find myself overwhelmingly bored throughout the day.”*****

Sunset couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to do what I can. Besides, I can kind of relate, given my last year in the human world.”

Luna, having seen Sunset’s dreams and memories up to that point, nodded in understanding. “I will see to it that you receive compensation for your services.”

“Thank you,” Sunset said gratefully. Then, an idea occurred to her. “Say, do you think you can compensate me in the form of materials I need for a project of mine?”

“Of course,” Luna nodded. “Just list the materials you need and I’ll do everything within my power, political or otherwise, to acquire them.”

“I will,” Sunset agreed. “I believe you know the intricacies of my invention, the Anthropomorpher, from my dreams, correct?”

Luna nodded. “Your dreams have them in great detail.”

“It took me a while to physically construct just one,” Sunset admitted. “That was partly due to hooves lacking the dexterity needed for such delicate technology. Now that I have a way around that problem, there’s still the material issue.”

“I see,” Luna said. “I shall assist you with this.”

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter.

*Reference.

**Pragmatism.

***WHOLESOME!

****Art by AleximusPrime.

*****Justification for Gamer Luna.

Here's the reference for the song:

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.

Chapter 2: The Three New Elements - Part 2 (S4:E2)

My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell, Rachael Ravens, and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 2: The Three New Elements - Part 2

Twilight Sparkle was struggling to wrap her head around what happened over the past day. First, she and her friends from Ponyville were having a session where she learns to fly (and crashes regularly). Then, her Ponyville friends had to return to Ponyville to help prepare for the Summer Sun Celebration. Soon after that, Sunset Shimmer (a fellow protege of Celestia) came to her asking for help. After that, strange vines began invading following Celestia and Luna’s disappearance. Twilight thought Discord was responsible, but, seeing him struggle in vain to undo the vines, she saw evidence to the contrary. Now, she was using a potion from Zecora to see what was causing the problems, only to get more than she bargained for.

“Princess Luna,” Twilight asked in a desperate manner. “Why are you like this?”

Luna gave no answer beyond screams of agony as she forcefully turned into the first villain Twilight and the Guardians defeated, Nightmare Moon.

“Free!” she said. “Free at last!”

Twilight stepped well back.

“Releaseth our sist'r, thee fiend!” a familiar voice ordered. Twilight turned around and saw the stern glance of Princess Celestia. “She is to base'r the moon f'r t'is h'r responsibility!”

“You cannot tell me what to do,” Nightmare Moon said defiantly. “In a way, you are as responsible for my birth as your petty sister!”

“Silence!” Princess Celestia snapped. “If 't be true thee shall not releaseth h'r, we shall has't to releaseth thee from h'r ourself!”

Nightmare Moon cackled. “You arrogant fool!” she said. “You cannot release her from me any more than you can actually be a competent ruler! You could have stopped me from forming long ago. But, you did nothing!”

“Yond changes anon!” Princess Celestia said as she charged at the nightmarish mare, her horn aglow.

Nightmare Moon turned into a blue mist, causing Celestia to pass harmlessly through. All Twilight could do was watch as the two sisters battled each other.

Nightmare Moon cackled as she reformed. “You cannot win,” she said in a patronizing tone. “You think you’re so noble and pure, but, the truth is that you too possess a demon such as me in your heart!”

“Yond is not true!” Princess Celestia snapped.

“Oh, but, it is,” Nightmare Moon said. “I see the inner demons of others and you possess one as powerful as me. Say hello to Daybreaker!” She then fired a beam of magic at Celestia’s chest, causing an astral projection of this to emerge from it: a white alicorn with a mane and tail of fire, deep orange eyes, and intimidating armor modeled after the sun. The astral projection cackled wickedly. Twilight looked at the projection and gasped with shock.

“I’m in your heart, you coward!” the fiery demonic alicorn taunted.

Twilight remembered Luna mentioning Daybreaker over a year ago, but, never dreamed she’d actually see her. Now that she was, it was terrifying. Princess Celestia looked in horror.

“No…” Celestia said, trembling with fear.

“All it takes is for you to succumb to negative emotions,” the projection said. “And you would belong to me!”

“No…” Celestia said. “We won’t becometh thee. We won’t!”

Through sheer force of will, Celestia lit up her horn and fired a blast of magical energy that shattered the projection of Daybreaker and drove Nightmare Moon back, where she found herself surrounded by Celestia’s guards. The guards charged at Nightmare, only to get beaten by her brutally despite their valor. Twilight was horrified by how many guards were slaughtered in under a minute. Celestia and Nightmare Moon then faced off against each other, even facing off mid-flight.

“Shame you don’t have competent guards,” Nightmare said. “They never stood a chance!”

“Oh, lief sist'r,” Celestia said. “We art s'rry, but, thou has't given us nay choice but to useth these.” She lit her horn and a rumbling and shaking could be heard. From beneath the palace floor, a large structure with stone orbs emerged. There were six in total. From the orbs, Celestia summoned six colored gemstones. Twilight recognized them as the Elements of Harmony as illustrated in the Legend of the Two Sisters.

“I should have realized,” she said to herself. “The manner of speech, the different looks of the Elements of Harmony. This is the past. The night Celestia banished Luna.”

Celestia levitated the gems while focusing intently as they swirled around her faster and faster. She then levitated up to Nightmare Moon. Both mares charged up their horns and a magical beam struggle occurred. In the end, Celestia won.

“NOOO!!!” cried Nightmare Moon as a rainbow beam engulfed her and sent her to the moon, where spots forming the silhouette of a unicorn mare appeared.

Celestia lowered herself to the ground before looking up towards the moon. Her expression changed from exhausted to horrified as the reality of what she’d done finally took hold.

“What has't we done?” she gasped. “What has't we done!? Sterling’s prediction wast true!”

Princess Sterling, maintaining her stoic expression, appeared before her.

“Anon, thee knoweth the teen of those whose did love ones thee did banish,” Sterling said.

Frantic, Celestia tried to justify that she meant for a different outcome. So frantic was she that she dropped speaking in the royal tongue. “Please, Sterling, I didn’t know that was going to happen! I meant to just banish the inner demon! I wasn’t trying to send Luna away!”

“Their fates w're int'rtwin'd,” Sterling said. “Thy negligence madeth t so.”

“But, I didn’t know!” Celestia panicked.

“Thou can forswear to yourself and thy subjects,” Sterling scolded. “Thou can claimeth thee haven't a qualm. But, thou ne’er can runneth from n'r hideth what thou hath done from the earth.” Sterling gestured around to indicate trees with markings on their trunks resembling the scowling face of Gold Lily looking at Celestia. “The v'ry earth which we doth tread.”*

Celestia looked around with utter shame on her face. “Will my sister return?” she tearfully asked Sterling.

Sterling’s irises began shimmering like the stars in the night sky. “Yes,” she said. “But soft, th're wilt beest a bawbling concession on thy parteth.”

Celestia sniffled sadly. “When Luna returns, I will be a much better sister to her. In the meantime, I have responsibilities to uphold… and my own self to rebuild. I have done wrong and I will not let my arrogance cause another pony’s downfall.” She looked pleadingly. “What must I do?”

“Thou might not but f'rsake thy connection to the Elements of Harmony so yond we may endeav'r to alloweth the stars to aide in h'r escapeth in 1,000 years,” Sterling said.

“Forsake my connection to the elements?!” Celestia said. “But, who will wield them if not me?”

“Thou might not but traineth an inhorn pony,” Sterling said. “Until the day yond inhorn pony finds the elements, thou might not but raiseth the travelling lamp bef're all of thy subjects on the summ'r solstice ev'ry year as a remindeth'r of what thou hast done.”

Princess Celestia bowed her head lowly, complying. Tears dripped from her eyes with shame.

Back in the present day, Twilight’s eyes stopped glowing and tears flowed from her eyes. She looked and saw the others looking at her strangely.

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

“We were just concerned is all,” Rarity said. “You were muttering to yourself.”

“And sobbing,” Fluttershy said. “Are you alright?”

“I was…” Twilight began. “Looking into the past.”

“The past?” Applejack asked. “Did it say anythin’ ‘bout where Celestia n’ Luna are?”

“No,” Twilight admitted. “But, I saw the very night that Luna became Nightmare Moon at her and Celestia’s old castle and was banished.”

“Wait,” Rainbow said. “That doesn’t make sense. How could you see what happened over there 1,000 years ago without actually going to that location?”**

“Probably the same logic behind that time travel spell,” Spike said.***

“Perhaps farther back still has the answers you seek,” Zecora said. “Another sip of the potion will give you a peek.”

“Uh, can I ask something?” Spike asked. Zecora turned her attention to Spike. “You knew what the potion could do, so, why did you look as surprised as the rest of us?”

“I knew the effects of the potion, that much is true,” Zecora admitted. “But, even so, there were still things out of the blue.”

“That’s fair,” Spike shrugged.

Twilight levitated the bottle to her mouth again. She took another sip, slightly disgusted by the bitter dandelion milk taste. Her eyes flashed white again.

Further back in the past, Twilight gazed at her surroundings; they were, in a word, chaotic. She saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna standing firmly next to each other, gazing up at an intimidating foe. That foe happened to be Discord.

“Well, well,” Discord said. “Look who has come to visit from on high.” He then pulled out a rather familiar tail. “Up for a game of pin the tail on the pony, Sunbutt?”

Princess Celestia gasped and noticed that her tail was removed via Chaos magic. Sternly, she faced him. “Playtime is over, Discord!”

Discord was unphased. “Oh, I doubt that,” he said, eating strange black seeds out of a sack. “Hungry?” They didn’t answer. They just stared angrily. “Suit yourself.” He shoveled some into his mouth. He then noticed the princesses pulling the Elements of Harmony out of their saddlebags. “Ooh, what have you got there? New toys, perhaps?”

“These art the Elements of Harmony,” Luna said righteously.

“With these stones, thy fate is seal'd,” Celestia added.

Discord looked unamused. “Oh, that’s really cute, Sunbutt,” he snarked. “If your own magic couldn’t work on me, what makes you think those little baubles will make a difference?” The princesses didn’t respond. The Elements encircled the two alicorns and the magic within caused a prismatic beam of rainbows to emerge towards the draconequus. Discord took that moment to talk condescendingly to them. “Face it, you two are pathetic princesses who don’t even deserve all of the love and admiration!” When the beam struck him, he was turned to stone in the very position he was in before the first time he was freed. After Twilight witnessed this memory, she was sent to a shorter time back. She then saw the Princesses walking up to the Tree of Harmony. Twilight, having neither seen nor heard of it, didn’t recognize it.

“What is that?” she asked herself. She looked over the tree and noticed something familiar on the central branch. “My Cutie Mark…”

“The Tree of Harmony,” Luna said.

“Tree of Harmony?” Twilight repeated softly.

Celestia flew up to the central branch and fired a magical beam at it. The Elements of Harmony then emerged from the branches. The blue, pink, and magenta ones went to Celestia while the red, orange, and purple ones went to Luna.

“Art thou certain?” Luna asked.

“We hath managed to discov'r the only means by which we can defeat Discord and free the citizens of Equestria,” Celestia explained. “Coequal without the elements, the tree shall possesseth pow'rful charm. As longeth as the charm remains, 'twill enwheel and controleth all yond grows in this f'restt.”

Twilight returned to present day.

“What did you find?” Spike asked.

“Well, first, I saw Discord’s initial defeat,” Twilight said. “He had a bag full of strange seeds he was eating and throwing around before he turned to stone, but, I’m not sure how they’re related.”

“Okay,” Discord said. “The turning to stone thing I remember, but, the seeds aren’t ringing any bells for me.”

“Something else I saw is something called the Tree of Harmony,” Twilight continued.

“The Tree of what now?” Rainbow asked.

“Tree of Harmony,” Rarity explained. “Certainly you must know what harmony is by now.”

“I know what harmony is,” Rainbow said. “But, we’ve been the Guardians of Harmony for almost three years now and we’ve literally never heard of such a tree before today.”****

“Neither have I,” Twilight said. “But, it’s where the Elements of Harmony came from. The visions have explained that the magic contained in it keeps the Everfree Forest at bay. So, if the Everfree Forest is invading, then, that must mean that the Tree of Harmony is in danger!”

“Hold it!” Rainbow said. “You’re telling us that the Elements of Harmony, a bunch of magical gemstones, came from a tree?”

“I know a lot about rocks and gems,” Pinkie said. “And I know they usually form underground. But, magical gemstones could grow from a magical tree that came from underground.”

“From what I saw,” Twilight explained. “The tree itself looked like it was made of gemstone, but, it seemed to be alive. Kind of like the Crystal Ponies. They’re partially crystal, too, but, they’re as alive as the rest of us.”*****

Rainbow considered this. “Okay, you got me there.”

“I think Sunset’s seen it herself,” Twilight theorized. “That might be where she got the Element Shards.”

“Do you think if we asked her,” Fluttershy ventured. “She would lead us to the Tree?”

“I’d say it’s a safe bet,” Twilight admitted. “Last I heard from her, she’s still living in the Everfree Forest.”

“Safe travels to you, your son, and your friends,” Zecora said sagely. “Find the answers so that this disaster ends.”

As the group ventured into the forest while following the maps Sunset gave them, a thought occurred to Applejack.

“Twi? Spike?” she asked. “Both o’ y’all saw Sunset last, right?”

“Yes, we did,” Twilight answered. “She said she was looking for help on behalf of Wallflower and the dryads.”

“What’s a dryad?” Rainbow asked.

“I don’t know,” Twilight admitted. “She didn’t say.”

“Though, knowing that Sunset and Wallflower are acquainted with them,” Spike said. “It’s likely we’ll meet at least one sooner or later.”

As they ventured, they saw a most unusual creature. It appeared to resemble a pony with two bull-like horns protruding from the sides of its head, a dark brown coat, golden eyes, clawed hooves, and a mane and tail that flowed like a roaring flame. This creature was releasing fire from one of its clawed forehooves to burn up some of the black, thorny vines. This creature was most frightening to the group.

“What in the hay is this?!” Applejack exclaimed.

“I don’t know what it is,” Rainbow said. “But, I can see what it’s doing! Trying to start a forest fire! I’ll put a stop to that!” Rainbow began flying straight towards the creature to tackle it. But, to her utter confusion, instead of making contact with it, she passed harmlessly through. “Huh?!” she exclaimed before she collided face-first with a tree.

“Rainbow, are you alright?” Fluttershy as she rushed to help her friend.

“And what was that about?” Rarity asked.

“You’re either really bold or really foolish,” the creature said in a deep, masculine voice******. “To have the audacity to try and assault an ifrit like me. Not that it would’ve worked anyway.”

“An ifrit?” Twilight asked. “Is that what you are?”

“Yes,” the creature said as he turned around slowly to face Rainbow with a wicked grin on his face. “And I consider it rude for a fleshy like you to just go right through me without so much as an introduction.” He slowly made his way to Rainbow. “Fortunately for you, you happened upon me in a good mood.” He conjured a fireball above his head as he continued getting closer. “So, I think I’ll let you experience one of my warm welcomes firsthoof!” His voice became increasingly demonic as he got closer.

Rainbow and the others were utterly terrified to the point they couldn’t move. They might’ve stayed that way were it not for a familiar voice calling out, “Aiden, stop it!”

At the voice’s request, the ifrit turned his attention to the owner and backed off. The owner was Sunset Shimmer, who had a disapproving scowl on her face.

“What have I told you about attacking ponies?” she scolded.

“Not to,” the ifrit, whose name was Aiden, said sulkily.

“And why?” Sunset pressed on.

“Because it could start a war with other ponies,” Aiden answered.

“And what’s my policy on starting wars to cure your boredom?” Sunset added.

“It’s not justified,” Aiden replied.

“That’s right,” Sunset said. “I sent you to keep these vines under control. That’s it. Now, what do you say to my friend?”

“She flew right through me!” Aiden protested. “You know how I feel about that!”

“Rainbow?” Sunset asked. “Is this true?”

“Yes,” Rainbow said. “It’s because I thought he was going to start a forest fire.”

“And what have we learned from this?” Sunset asked.

“Don’t make assumptions because of some creatures’ powers,” Rainbow answered.

“To be fair,” Pinkie said. “He was doing things that were open for interpretation.”

Sunset glanced at Pinkie. Then, to Rainbow and Aiden, she asked, “Now, what do you two have to say to each other?”

“Sorry I flew through you,” Rainbow said.

“And I’m sorry I almost attacked you,” Aiden said.

“Thank you,” Sunset nodded. “Now, Aiden, continue with your task and I’ll summon Cascade to put out the fires before things get crazy. Understood?”

“Yes, Sunset,” Aiden nodded. With that, he continued his task.

The Guardians could hardly believe their eyes.

“That was incredible, Sunset!” Rarity exclaimed. “How did you do it?”

“Oh, he’s one of my contracted elemental spirits,” Sunset explained.

“Amazing,” Rarity managed to say, still wildly impressed.

“As a spirit,” Sunset said. “He has no physical presence, so, physical attacks are useless against him. If you think that means he can’t hurt you, think again.”

“I was about to find that out,” Rainbow said. “Thanks for saving my hide back there, Sunset.”

“I see that all of you opened your packages,” Sunset said as she noticed their maps out.

“They sort of opened for us,” Fluttershy said.

Suddenly, a vine with a blue aura emerged from the ground. Sunset reached into her saddlebag and threw five Laughter Shards at it. The shards swirled around the vine before both they and the vine itself vanished without a trace.

“Wow!” the Guardians gasped.

“What just happened?!” Spike asked.

“While waiting for you guys,” Sunset said. “I found out that two to five of these Element Shards can make vines with colored auras disappear.”

“Uh–” Rainbow started before Sunset interrupted.

“It doesn’t work on vines without colored auras, no, you can’t use any color, and no, the shards can’t be used multiple times,” Sunset said in rapid succession.*******

“Whoa,” Rainbow said. “She’s good.”

“I’ll lead you to the shelter Wallflower, Phoebe, and myself are using here,” Sunset said.

“Thank you, Sunset,” Twilight said. “Afterwards, would you mind leading us to the Tree of Harmony?”

“Ah,” Sunset said. “Saw it through Zecora’s potion?”

“I did, yes,” Twilight admitted.

“Well, a little head’s up,” Sunset said. “It may not exactly be the way you saw it in the past.”

“I understand,” Twilight nodded.

As Sunset led them through the trees, Rainbow decided to voice her doubts.

“Why are we following a unicorn who was hyped up so much, only to barely be able to use magic when we meet her?” she complained.

“She’s been living here long enough to know her way around better than any of us,” Twilight said in a matter-of-factly tone.

“That’s… uh…” Rainbow started before admitting. “That’s actually a solid reason.”

“Indeed,” Twilight said. “So less doubting, more cooperating.”

Sunset led the group to a small brick house in a clearing. “Here it is,” she said.

“A brick house?” Rainbow said in surprise. “In this part of the forest?”

“How can this be?” Applejack asked.

“The bricks are made of mud and palm fibers,” Sunset explained.

“How ingenious,” Rarity gasped.

“But, what’re the palm fibers for?” Rainbow asked.

“They keep the mud from cracking as it dries,” Sunset answered.

“That’s really clever,” Fluttershy smiled.

“Since palm trees don’t naturally grow here,” Sunset continued. “Wallflower provided the palm fronds.”

“Thanks, Wallflower,” Pinkie said.

Sunset stepped into the brick house and used her magic to levitate a golden hooflet with a push button on it and a smooth, round crystal protruding from the top onto her right forehoof. The Guardians outside could see her do so.

“Ooh~” they said as they looked on.

Sunset then reached into a set of four totems and pulled out several Element Shards. She stored the shards in her saddle bag.

“Is that where the Element Shards originally came from?” Fluttershy asked.

“No,” Sunset answered. “They originally came from the Tree of Harmony. But, thanks to Zecora, Wallflower and I have found alternative ways to produce them: these totems.”

“Ah, I see,” Fluttershy nodded.

“These ones are specifically Greater Totems of Friendship,” Sunset explained. “They produce one to three of all six different shards every twelve hours.”

“Sounds like a process,” Applejack noted.

“Unfortunately,” Sunset continued. “The totems can only produce shards four times.”

“Oh, dear,” Fluttershy said, concerned. “What happens after that?”

“The totems become inert and useless for producing shards,” Sunset answered. “These ones can only produce shards one more time after the cooldown.”

“I see what you mean,” Spike said.

“We better hurry to lend aid to Wallflower and the dryads,” Sunset said.

“Lead the way, Sunset,” Twilight said.

Sunset led them to a river that she studied with caution. “Hmm,” she pondered. “This’ll be tricky for the ones who can’t fly.” Twilight, in a rare state of impatience, decided to just step forward and use what looked like stepping stones. This alerted Sunset. “Twilight, be careful! That’s a-” However, what emerged from the river was a large crocodile-like beast made of living stone. Twilight exclaimed with fright as the beast snapped his jaws at her. “-cragadile.” Sunset saw the other Guardians get ready to attack. “No, don’t! Fighting a cragadile directly just makes it angrier!”

“What can we do?” Fluttershy asked worriedly. “Twilight needs our help!”

“You just leave that to me!” Sunset said before she cleared her throat and began singing.

“Where is the moment we needed the most~
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost~
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray~
They tell me your passion’s gone away~
And I don’t need no carryin’ on~

Cuz’ you had a bad day, you’re taking one down~
You sing a sad song just to turn it around~
They said you don’t know, just tell me, don’t lie~”

The cragadile’s hostility subsided and it started to sway to the music.

“You work up a smile and you go for a ride~
You had a bad day, the camera don’t lie~
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind~
You had a bad day…. You had a bad day~”

As Sunset sang, Twilight worked her way back to her friends. She quietly thanked Sunset. After the song, Sunset gently spoke to the cragadile.

“You can go back to your rest,” she said. “You won’t be disturbed again.”

The cragadile went back to his riverbank bed calmly.

“How’d you do that?!” Rainbow asked.

“I’ve learned that cragadiles can be soothed with gentle music,” Sunset answered.

“That was a very beautiful song,” Fluttershy commented. “Hector looked like he really appreciated it.”

“Hector?” Rainbow asked.

“I heard him hiss his name,” Fluttershy explained. “He said, ‘Do not disturb the sleep or back of Hector.’”

“To prevent this from happening again,” Sunset said. “I’m going to use my gnome contract.” She closed her eyes and focused. “Forrest!” In response to her call, what looked like a short, fat earth pony stallion with a red cone hat, a large white beard and tail, yellow eyes, and a muddy brown coat appeared.

“How do you do, Sunset,” he said in a friendly manner despite a rather gruff tone********.

“Forrest,” Sunset asked. “Could you possibly make a bridge of earth for us to walk on so we don’t disturb the cragadile sleeping here?”

“Can do,” Forrest smiled and got to work at once. He placed his forehooves on the riverbank and from it emerged a cluster of dirt and rock that morphed into a simple stepping bridge seen throughout Ponyville. “One bridge of earth, exactly as requested.”

“Thank you,” Sunset said as she stepped across it. “Come on.”

The others followed Sunset. The bridge was much sturdier than its composition would suggest. Once they all crossed, Forrest made the bridge return to the earth it came from.

“Anything else?” Forrest asked.

“That’ll be all for the moment,” Sunset said. “But, thanks again.”

With that, Forrest vanished.

“What was that?” Rainbow asked.

“Forrest,” Sunset answered. “He’s a gnome.”

“He was certainly helpful,” Rarity said.

“Yeah,” Sunset nodded. “From my experience, gnomes are usually very stubborn.”

Applejack, after seeing what had happened with the cragadile, cleared her throat. “Hey, that cragadile was a little too close. Ya alright, Twi?”

“I’m fine thanks to Sunset,” she answered.

“Cuz, ah’ve been thinkin’,” Applejack continued. “N’ y’all may r’ may not agree with this idear.”

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“Well,” Applejack said. “Yer a princess.”

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

“Fer starters,” Applejack continued. “Ya nearly got eaten by a cragadile!”

“But, thanks to Sunset,” Twilight argued. “I wasn’t.”

“That ain’t the point,” Applejack said. “The point is, ah don’t think Equestria could afford ta lose another princess. Ah think it’s best that ya head back ta Ponyville.”

“Oh, sure,” Sunset said, sarcasm dripping from every word. “Let’s send the princess that’s barely mastered the use of her wings yet to go waltzing around alone in the forest full of vines that not even the princesses of the sun and the moon, who are older than all of us put together, could defend against. Nothing says ‘I care about this princess’ safety,’ like putting her into a situation where she could end up in danger anyway.”*********

Applejack listened to Sunset’s words. She then held her head lowly with shame. “Sunset, yer right,” she said. She then turned to Twilight. “Twilight, ah am so sorry ah had that thought. Equestria may need its princess, but, we need our friend.”

“Hold up!” Rainbow said before confronting Sunset. “What makes you so sure the princesses couldn’t take care of these plants if they hadn’t disappeared?”

Sunset remained stoic in her reply. “The fact that they went missing at all shortly after these vines started appearing and the fact that all of you are here right now trying to solve the problem. If two veteran alicorn princesses couldn’t stop them, what makes you think that a rookie princess like Twilight has a chance against them?”

Rainbow took this in and sighed. “Okay, you’ve got a point.”

“Honestly,” Sunset said. “I expect those wielding the Elements of Harmony to have more common sense than that.”

“Okay…” Rainbow said. “I’m sorry. I’ll try and do better.”

“Do you still feel willing to take us to the Tree of Harmony, Sunset?” Fluttershy asked.

“For the sake of my friend and the rest of Equestria?” Sunset asked rhetorically. “You can bet your bottom dollar on it.”

“Whoo-hoo!” Pinkie cheered. “Let’s go save Equestria! And on the way, you can explain what a dollar is because I have no idea.”

“Basically,” Sunset said. “It’s a strip of special paper used as money in the human world country I lived in.”

“Oh, so like if bits were made of paper?” Fluttershy asked.

“Similar,” Sunset said. “Though, they have coin denominations that are worth a subunit of currency called cents.”

“Intriguing,” Rarity noted.

Soon, they reached the general location of the Tree of Harmony. Though, to the Guardians, it looked like the castle of the two sisters.

“Why’d you lead us here?” Rainbow asked. “I don’t see any tree.”

“That can be remedied if you simply look down,” Sunset said while pointing into the chasm.

They looked down and saw the magnificent light coming from a cave at the bottom. Unfortunately, there were some of the vines coming out as well.

“It’s been there the whole time?!” Rainbow asked. “How did we not see it?!”

“Perhaps because we were too focused on looking for the Elements of Harmony at the time,” Twilight ventured to guess.

“The chasm was also rather foggy as I recall,” Rarity said.

“Yeah,” Spike said. “We couldn’t see anything down there.”

“There’s a staircase leading down,” Sunset said.

The friends cautiously went down to see the tree covered in the black vines. Phoebe was turning herself into fire to cut a few vines while Wallflower and the dryads stuggled to hold them off.

Fluttershy gasped, “I think the tree is dying. What can we do?”

“You’ll need to figure that out!” Juniper said. “We can’t hold them back much longer!”

Sunset, with a determined look on her face, began spinning her horn like a drill bit.

“I’ll buy some time!” she said before thrusting her spinning horn at a cluster of vines, which stuck to it like cotton candy before being uprooted from the ground. With the vines wadded up on her horn, she made a great effort and the wad of vines burst into flames.

Rainbow was flabbergasted by the sight. “Well,” she said. “Can’t say I didn’t deserve this.” She then stuck her hoof in her mouth.

Twilight looked at the vines engulfing the Tree of Harmony. She then looked at her own Element of Harmony. Then, she remembered what Princess Celestia said to Princess Luna from the vision she saw.

“Coequal without the elements, the tree shall possesseth pow'rful charm. As longeth as the charm remains, 'twill enwheel and controleth all yond grows in this f'restt.”

“I think I know what we have to do,” Twilight said to the others. “We have to give the tree our elements.”

Rainbow removed her hoof from her mouth in surprise. “What?!” she gasped. “If we give the tree our elements, how are we supposed to save the day?!”

“We didn’t need the Elements to beat Chrysalis or Sombra,” Twilight said.

“But, we didn’t beat them at all, though!” Rainbow said. “Those were Shining Armor and Cadance and Spike, respectively!”

“And on top of that,” Rarity added. “The elements are what brought us together. Applejack said so herself.”

“Yes, it was the elements that brought us together,” Twilight said. “But, it wasn’t because of the elements that we stayed together. It was our friendship. My new role as princess of friendship may mean I’ll have to make really hard decisions and our friendships may be tested, but, they will never be broken.”

“Hate to break up this touching moment,” Sunset said. “But, we are in a situation here!”

The Guardians of Harmony nodded. Twilight then levitated the elements out of the ponies’ jewelry and levitated it to the tree. However, a vine erupted from the ground, breaking Twilight’s concentration and making a beeline for Sunset, wrapping around her rear half.

“Sunset!” Twilight exclaimed.

Sunset, however, stayed calm. She held her right forehoof up and pressed the button on the hooflet before saying, “Stance up!” At that moment, her body was engulfed in a blinding light. The Guardians of Harmony and Spike shielded their eyes from the light. When it died down, they looked to see that Sunset had changed. She was standing on her hind legs and still had her unicorn head and tail, but, her front hooves had changed into human arms and her torso resembled what Spike and Twilight recognized as a humanoid shape.**********

“Sunset…” Applejack gasped. “What’d ya turn inta?”

Sunset looked herself over carefully. “Hands and arms, check. Humanoid torso, check. Hooved legs, check.” She felt her tail. “Tail, check.” She felt her head. “Pony head, check.” She looked at her hips. “Oh, hey, I have a Cutie Mark on both sides this time! Looks like I finally got it right.”

“Got what right?” Rarity asked. “What is this?”

“Not the time to explain!” Sunset said before setting her hands on fire. She proceeded to cut the vines with flaming karate chops and she absorbed the flames through her hands before a forest fire could start.

Twilight took a deep breath and she began to levitate the elements towards the tree again. She placed each gem in the spots she memorized. The tree began shining brighter.

“It’s working!” Pinkie said.

“But, it’s not enough,” Twilight said. She then remembered. “Sunset, do you still have the elements that you made?”

“I haven’t been able to make any yet,” Sunset admitted. “But, I think some of the Element Shards each of you have can compensate. They have the same energy as the Elements themselves, but, aren’t as powerful unless they’re used by the Guardian of the Element they represent.”

The ponies nodded. They carefully piled up their Element Shards and Twilight gathered them with her magic. Shards floated towards the Elements they represented, making them stronger. Sunset contributed by throwing some of the shards she collected at the tree. The tree grew brighter still. Vines started defiantly constricting tighter.

Sunset closed her eyes and focused. “Brisa!” In response to her call, a small creature resembling a pony with butterfly-like wings, a greenish coat, blue eyes, and a poofy silver mane and tail appeared.

“Yes, Sunset?” the creature said politely, though, with a cutesy, goofy tone.

“Use blades of wind to cut some of the vines down to size!” Sunset said.

“Understood!” she said and got started. She made blades of pure wind that cut the vines, giving the tree another chance.

“Thanks, Brisa!” Sunset called.

Brisa then got close to Rainbow and sniffed her. “You smell like dental floss covered in peanuts!” she said.

“Uh, thanks?” Rainbow replied, confused.

“Don’t worry about Brisa,” Sunset said. “She says insane stuff like this all the time.”

“Live polka music makes aliens’ heads explode!” Brisa chirped.

“See what I mean?” Sunset said.***********

“What can we do now?” Rarity asked.

As if to answer her question, the vines started dissolving. Wallflower and the dryads let out a sigh of relief.

“Look!” Applejack said.

“Thank you,” Wallflower said gratefully. Phoebe chirped triumphantly.

In Ponyville, Discord was wrestling a vine himself. He was about to land a punch at one, when it disintegrated, leaving him to belly flop onto the ground.

“Oof!” he grunted. He looked around and saw that the vines were gone. “Looks like they succeeded.”

Back at the tree, two walls of vines dissolved, revealing Celestia and Luna, both unharmed. Twilight gasped happily.

“You’re alright!” Twilight said as she and Spike hugged the two princesses.

“For the most part,” Luna admitted. Then, she noticed Sunset in her new form. “Sunset? Is that you?”

“Yes,” Sunset said, rubbing the back of her head. “This new form is thanks to an invention I’ve been working on. It took a few tries to get it right.”

“Your innovation is astounding, Sunset,” Princess Celestia smiled. “And Twilight, I understand that it wasn’t an easy decision to give up the elements, but, it took great courage to relinquish them.”

“And we got to help Sunset save her friend at the same time,” Twilight said. “Though, I’m a bit curious about what experiment she was conducting.”

“Well,” Sunset said. “Do you remember in the human world when I transformed along with my human friends?”

“Yes, I do,” Twilight said.

“Well, that’s when I realized where I went wrong,” Sunset said. She aimed her index finger at a stone wall before a magical beam fired from the finger to the wall, making it move on its own to reveal a room with six pedestals lined up in a circle. “I needed energy from the original six elements.”

“Wow~!” Spike and the guardians said in awe.

“Originally, I was hoping to use the original elements to do this experiment,” Sunset said. The guardians looked downhearted. “Luckily, I figured something like this would happen, so, I stockpiled plenty of Element Shards to compensate.”

“Thank goodness,” Flutteshy said.

Sunset distributed the remaining shards she had to the guardians of the elements they represented. Afterwards, she made trails of a silvery liquid connecting the pedestals with a big puddle of the liquid smack dab in the middle of all the pedestals.

“What’s all this?” Applejack asked.

“This liquid is quicksilver,” Sunset explained. “It’ll act as a conductor for the energy of the shards.”

“Isn’t quicksilver another name for mercury?” Rarity asked cautiously.

“Don’t worry,” Sunset said. “I’ve used my alchemy skills to prevent the poisons from spreading.”

“Ah, thank goodness,” Rarity sighed, relieved.

“Now,” Sunset said. “At each pedestal, you’ll find indentations for the shards to fit in. One in the center and six around it.”

“Good to know,” Twilight said.

“Each of you go to a pedestal and place your respective shards into the indentations,” Sunset instructed. “Don’t worry about the order the shards are put in. It doesn’t matter as long as they’re inserted.” So, each of the guardians stood at a podium. They placed their Element Shards on their podiums. “Good,” Sunset encouraged. She then levitated a gem shaped like her Cutie Mark to the tip of her horn and held a clear gem in each hand before standing in the puddle in the middle. “When I say now, place a forehoof on the central shard on your respective podiums and focus your energy into it.” The Guardians nodded understandingly, waiting for her word. “Okay… now!”

They each placed a forehoof on their respective central shard and focused their energy into it. The podiums sent rainbow-colored energy into the mercury, which traveled through Sunset’s body and into the gems she held. Those gems began to shine brighter and Sunset started making labored breaths. Spike, Wallflower, Phoebe, the dryads, and the princesses watched on with a mix of intrigue and worry.

“I don’t think it’s working,” Spike said. “We better call it off.”

“No!” Sunset said while straining. “I can do this!”

“Sunset, you’re exhausting yourself!” Luna warned.

“Trust me!” Sunset strained. “I can tough it out!”

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Wallflower said to herself, worried for her friend.

Suddenly, the two gems in Sunset’s hands changed colors. One turned cyan and the other turned teal. They and the one on Sunset’s horn began to grow brightly before an astral projection of Gold Lily appeared before Sunset. Sunset opened her eyes. “Okay,” Sunset said. “I think that’s good!”

The guardians let go and stopped focusing. They saw Gold Lily’s projection standing before Sunset.

“Young Sunset Shimmer,” the projection said. “You’ve accomplished something that has not been done in over two thousand years. You have created three new Elements of Harmony.”

Sunset was visibly confused. “Three?” she asked before the gem on her horn and the ones in her hands started floating.

“Yes,” Gold Lily’s projection said as the gems started orbiting Sunset in this order: the one shaped like Sunset’s Cutie Mark, the teal gem, and the cyan gem. Gold Lily’s projection stated the name of each element as they orbited Sunset. “Empathy, Redemption, and Humility.”

“Whoa~” Sunset said. “We… We actually did it…”

“No, Sunset,” Twilight said. “You did it.”

“Empathy is yours to keep,” Gold Lily’s projection said. “For Redemption and Humility, you will act as a stand-in until they choose Guardians of their own.”

“Empathy sounds just right for Sunset,” Wallflower smiled.

“Prove yourself a worthy Guardian and Princess and fear not,” Gold Lily’s projection said while a flabbergasted Sunset saw a phoenix of pure light materialize above the alicorn projection. “The Phoenix of Light shall aid you in ways you could not imagine.” Gold Lily’s projection vanished and the gems orbiting Sunset spun faster and faster, lifting her above the ground and reverting her to her regular pony form. Once she was off the ground, she was engulfed by the Phoenix of Light, creating a blinding radiance. Everyone around her shielded their eyes from the brilliant light. When the light became more tolerable, Sunset’s Cutie Mark could be seen descending.

“Whoa,” Pinkie noted. “Deja vu.”

Sunset then appeared in the center of the podiums with the gem shaped like her Cutie Mark fastened to a tiara like Twilight’s, the other two gems on golden bands on her upper forehooves, a slightly taller body, and, to the surprise of all, beauteous wings like that of a phoenix. They gasped with amazement.

“Sunset,” Twilight gasped in awe.” You’re a… Phoenix alicorn!”

Sunset looked at her new wings, her expression showing that she was surprised herself.

“I…” she gasped. “I can’t believe it!”

“Looks like I’ll have to organize a coronation for you, Sunset,” Celestia said.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a second there,” Sunset interjected. “I think it’s best to wait a bit before we go advertising that I’m a princess now.”

“Why?” Rainbow asked.

“It would possibly draw attention to Moonrise Dazzle,” Sunset said. “If she finds out about this, she would try to attack others just to get to me. I think we all know how dangerous she is. With her charisma, she might’ve built quite a following in the last few months. Some of her followers might be able to walk around in the sunlight while she can’t.”

“Okay, that makes sense,” Rainbow nodded.

“That’s wise thinking, Sunset,” Twilight said. “Hopefully I also have a wise idea when I say that I think you should be the leader of the Guardians of Harmony.”

“Me?!” Sunset exclaimed as if she couldn’t believe what she heard. “Leader?! Oh, no, I-I couldn't. You all have been Guardians of Harmony longer than I have and-”

“Sunset,” Rainbow interrupted. “I need to level with you. When I first met you and saw you struggling to use magic, I thought you were way overhyped and I had my doubts when I heard you relearned all the magic you forgot in just three months. But, you’ve proven me wrong. The magic you used proved you lived up to the hype and then some. But, not only that, while most of Equestria was flipping out and your closest friend was in trouble, you kept your cool despite everything.”

Sunset took a moment to digest Rainbow’s convincing words. She had overheard Rainbow vocally doubting her during the trek. Hearing her most vocal doubter humbly admit she was wrong spoke volumes about the situation.

“Well,” Sunset said after a moment. “If that’s what you all think, then… okay. But, I can’t guarantee that I’ll have all of the solutions. So, I’ll be expecting each of you to pitch in from time to time.”

“We will, Sunset,” Fluttershy nodded.

“For now, though,” Sunset declared. “Wallflower, Phoebe, and I will have to go back to Canterlot to get our affairs in order. In my absence, I’ll need Twilight to be in charge.”

“I’ll do my best for you, Sunset,” Twilight said.

I don’t have the heart to tell them I’m making Twilight lead because I really don’t want to, Sunset said internally. I feel a bit guilty dumping it on her, but, unless I can find a way to live in Ponyville, I can’t lead them effectively from a distance.

At that moment, something strange happened. The tree suddenly produced on a flower a glowing, crystal-like chest that had six key holes on its sides and a seventh on top. Twilight trotted over and inspected this mysterious chest. "What's inside it?" she asked the older princesses. "How am I supposed to open it?"

"That is a mystery even to us, I'm afraid," Princess Luna confessed. "Though the seven locks hardly seem like a coincidence. There must be seven keys needed to unlock the chest and its contents."

Princess Celestia nodded in approval of what her sister had said and then added, "I have no clue as to where those keys might be, but, I can safely say that this mystery is one you will not be solving alone, Twilight." Then, she changed the subject. "But, for now, we must get out of this forest. The Everfree Forest will need time to readjust to having the Tree of Harmony's magic fully active again. And there is still a Summer Sun Celebration to be held as well as Sunset’s birthday."

“Yeah,” Pinkie said. “She’ll be turning 21.”

“Uh, actually,” Sunset said. “I already had my 21st birthday in the human world. Time moves at a different speed there. So, I’ll be turning 22.”

“22, huh?” Applejack said. “That makes ya older ‘n me by a year.”

So, the friends made it out of the forest. Discord met up with them.

“I was so worried about all of you!” Discord said. “But, I’m glad you're all alright.”

Sunset looked at Discord and nearly jumped in surprise at the butcher’s knife still in his eye.

“Whoa!” Sunset yelped. “You want to take that knife out of your eye? Sorry, but, it’s a little distracting… and disturbing.”

Discord finally realized he still had the knife in his eye. “Oh, right, I must have been so focused on the disaster that I grew used to it.” He snapped his claws and the butcher knife disappeared. He then had a look of realization on his face. “OH! Now I remember!”

“Remember what?” Twilight asked.

“You said you saw me eating and spreading strange black seeds in the past, correct?” Discord asked.

“Yes,” Twilight replied.

“Turns out those seeds were my plunderseeds, which became the vines that caused all of you trouble,” Discord said.

“WHAT?!” exclaimed the Guardians.

“If they were your doing,” Rainbow snapped. “Why couldn’t you stop them before?!”

“That puzzles me, too,” Discord admitted. “I put only enough of my magic into them to survive a year after I was turned to stone. Long enough to capture the princesses and the Tree of Harmony before using its power to free me in short order.”

“Ah can tell that yer bein’ honest,” Applejack said. “But, why didn’t ya remember this ‘till now?”

“The knife must’ve prevented me from fully remembering,” Discord surmised. “It was in pretty deep.”

“Something mysterious is going on here,” Twilight said. “We’ll need to figure out why exactly this happened now.”

“There’s still one especially puzzling thing,” Discord said. “Without my magic to sustain them, the plunderseeds should’ve died out after that year was up. Since they didn’t respond to me, something else must’ve been nourishing them in my absence. A creature more powerful than me.”

“Who could that be?” Fluttershy asked.

“I hate to think that it might be…” Sunset said, worry ever present in her voice.

“What creature could possibly be more powerful than Discord?” Rainbow asked, remembering exactly how powerful Discord is.

“I think it might be the one who created Discord,” Sunset said worriedly.

“That’s a possibility,” Discord admitted. “But, because of reasons, we have no way to prove it.”

“True,” Sunset admitted. “What matters is that the disaster is over and there is a Summer Sun Celebration to attend.”

“And a mess to clean up,” Fluttershy added.

“I’ll help with the cleaning,” Discord said. “But, I don’t do windows. By the way, what happened to your little trinkets?”

"We had to return them to the tree," Fluttershy explained. "But, Sunset created three new Elements of Harmony."

"So, you sacrificed six to get three back?" Discord asked. "I know this is rich coming from me, but, that hardly seems like a fair trade."

"It's better than nothing," Pinkie said. "Who knows? Maybe they have their own special powers."

"I highly doubt that," Twilight said.

Before the sunrise of the big day, preparations were made in Canterlot. A fanfare played. Princess Celstia, Princess Luna, and Twilight walked onto the podium.

“Citizens of Equestria,” Princess Celestia announced. “It is no longer with a heavy heart that I hail Nightmare Moon’s defeat. Rather, it is with great joy that I announce the healing of Princess Luna. This festival originally started as a punishment for my arrogance and negligence. Now, it is a celebration of family staying together, even with mistakes made. For the past three years, I've been slowly recovering from that as Luna has been going through her own recovery. However, I still felt guilty about that factoid, but, I had a talk with my fellow Princesses, and we came to an understanding. This will be the last Summer Sun Celebration.” The crowd gasped and whispered to each other in surprise. “And the first Festival of the Two Sisters. From now on, this festival will celebrate my sister just as much as it does me.” The crowd cheered. “But, this is not the only thing being celebrated. For today is also the birthday of a dear student of mine, Sunset Shimmer.” Sunset was called to the stage (wearing a fireproof cloak to hide her wings) and presented to the entire gathering. Sunset had a modest blush from the attention she was receiving from the crowd.************

After a moment of cheering, Princess Celestia nodded to Princess Luna. The lunar princess then used her magic to lower the moon. Celestia then used her magic to raise the sun. Twilight then played her part by flying upwards in between the moonlight and the sunlight, creating a large magenta light in the shape of her Cutie Mark. All were in awe of the sight.

Once all three princesses landed, Celestia made another announcement. “In celebration of this occasion,” she said. “Sunset Shimmer has consented to entertain all of you with a song entitled, ‘It’s not just make believe.’”

Sunset took a deep breath and walked onto the podium. She then began singing.

“I thought that I was too old to believe in fairytales~
But, there's a letter for me waitin' when I check my mail~

I start a shakin' like a seven on the Richter scale~

When you say you love me~

I look in the mirror and I'm not who I used to be at all~

It's comin' clearer...

I'm Cinderella at the ball~

I'm Alice growin' ten feet tall~

It's not just make believe...

Here comes the prince's kiss~

I'm positive the slipper fits~

It's not just make believe...

It started out like just another ordinary day~

Then suddenly my life is different in every way~

The sun is brighter and my happiness is here to say~

It's like I'm dreamin'~

Thank you for showin' me that true love doesn't hurt when you fall~

You got me glowin'...

I'm Cinderella at the ball~

I'm Alice growin' ten feet tall~

It's not just make believe...

Here comes the prince's kiss~

I'm positive the slipper fits~

It's not just make believe...

Whenever, wherever, forever~

I'll be with you~

We haven't, its not just oh ooh~

I look in the mirror and I'm not who I used to be at all~

It's comin' clearer...

I'm Cinderella at the ball~

I'm Alice growin' ten feet tall~

It's not just make believe...

It's really happening~

I feel so good I gotta sing~

It's not just make believe...

I'm Ariel above the sea~

I'm Beauty dancing with the Beast~

It's not just make believe...

Here comes the prince's kiss~

I'm positive the slipper fits~

It's not just make believe~

Oh, it's not just make believe (not just make believe)~
Oh ooh,
It's not just make believe~”

After Sunset finished her song, the audience applauded for her. They didn’t understand many of the terms she used in the song, but, they enjoyed it nonetheless. This was the beginning of Sunset Shimmer’s role as a Guardian of Harmony. While she didn’t know what the future held, she knew she would have new friends by her side.

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's part 2 of the season four opener.

*Try to guess the reference.

**A good question.

***A logical answer.

****Lampshade hanging.

*****An excellent point.

******Provided by Brian Drummond.

*******Yes, that's a Red One reference. Sue me.

********Provided by Scott McNeil.

*********Sunset showing common sense FTW!

**********The reason for the anthro tag.

***********Hazbin Hotel reference FTW!

************Dialogue modified from an idea by Comickook.

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.