The Ponyville train moves across the train tack at a very fast speed as it heads towards its destination. Meanwhile Nightwing and Flash are having a conversation inside the train.
"Maybe it has to do with a changeling threat?" Flash suggested.
"Nah, Crystal heart would repel any changeling to enter the Empire." Nightwing said.
"Well...maybe it's because there's been a mystery that we need to solve?"
"Then they would have asked for us to bring Comet tail."
"Well...what do you think they need us at the Crystal Empire?"
Nightwing rested his head on his two hooves as he thought about why his Teach sent him to the Crystal Empire.
"Well...I got nothing." Nightwing said.
"I can tell you what Lulu wants." A voice said from above them.
'Oh good, he's here.' Nightwing groaned in his thoughts.
"Why the long faces you two? Arn't you happy to see me?" Discord asked as he teleported near them.
"Define happy." Flash said.
"Happy. A form of joy that oneself uses to show others he's in a positive mood." Discord said. "Speaking of which." With a snap of Discords eagle claw Flash disappeared. "Ah, nothing makes me happier than teleporting Somepony somewhere...safe."
"Why did you do that? I already told Flash about the Elements of Chaos." Nightwing said.
"Well you see...wait you did WHAT?!?!"
"I told Flash about the Elements of Chaos."
"May I remind you that this is supposed to be a secert?!"
"Yeah good job with that, Teach found out last night."
"Lulu knows! Are you trying to tell everypony in Equestria?!"
"Hey I didn't tell her, she read my mind and found out."
"Well that makes sense I guess."
"And she's promised to keep it a secret. Now what is it you want to tell me?"
"Huh? Oh right, two things. One there's a Chaos element in the Crystal Empire I want you to get."
"Perfect I'll just search an entire Empire for a small and unique gem."
"Relax, the gem is in the crystal palace, and it will look like the one you have already."
"Oh. Okay...wait then what's the second thing?"
"A riddle dear Watson." Discord said as a bubble pipe appeared in his mouth and a Sherlock homes hat appeared on his head. "An old friend you shall find, one that has been evil and also kind. When you see this pony. You will have emotions of hate."
"That last one didn't rhyme.
"Cut me some slack! I didn't have time to make one up." Discord said as he disappeared and Flash reappeared.
"Hey Flash. Enjoy your visit to...someplace?" Nightwing asked.
"Well, it was okay. Discord teleported me to some type of hole."
"Neat. Oh by the way Discord said that there's a Choas gem in the Crystal Empire that we need to go get." Nightwing said as the train whistle blew and the train began to come to a halt. "Oh look were here."
Sure enough they were at the Crystal Empire train station. When they got off the train there was a Crystal guard pony in crystal armor.
"Are you Nightwing and Flash sentry?" The guard asked.
"Yep, that's us." Flash said.
"Please, come with me."
The trio followed the guard all the way to the palace. As they got closer they saw two mares and a crystal guard with them. As they got closer the two mare became visible.
"Oh no." Nightwing groaned as he saw that the two mares were Fluttershy and Twilight. When Fluttershy and Twilight spotted Nightwing and Flash, Twilight was about to say something but was interupted by Fluttershy.
"Flash!" She squealed as she ran up and tackled Flash. Or tried to anyways, when she came in contact with Flash he stood his ground.
"Good to see you too Fluttershy." Flash said with a smile and Fluttershy let go of him. Then did something unexpected.
She kissed him. On the cheek.
Then she kissed him again.
And again.
And again.
"Alright you two that's enough, I think Twilight was about to say something." Nightwing said as the three stared at Twilight. And one word described her face. Horrified. It was as if every kiss Fluttershy laid on Flash's cheek was another crack in her heart.
"W-w-why?" Twilight whimpered as tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Why?" Fluttershy repeated as she pondered the question. "Why what Twilight?"
"Why did you kiss him?" Twilight said as her voice began to break.
"Oh! Are sisters not supposed to kiss there bothers. I'm so sorry Flash."
"W-what?"
"Flash and Fluttershy are family. Well not in blood because Flash's family adopted her, but you know what I mean." Nightwing said.
Heart restored. "Oh! I thought it was...because of something else."
"Something else like what, Princess?" Flash asked.
"Uhh, nothing. Just forget I said anything."
"Excuse me?" A guard asked as he got the attention of the group. "I'm supposed to bring you four to Princess Cadence."
"Lead the way." Nightwing said. On the way there Fluttershy and Flash were having a conversation.
"So how has Ponyville been?" Flash asked Fluttershy.
"Oh it's been wonderful, I've made so many great friends. But there's not a lot else to tell, so how have you been doing?" She asked.
"Well just yesterday Lightning strike made an appearance a week ago and said he's our new neighbor."
"Lightning strikes back? I better come over some time and say hi."
"I'm sure he'd love that."
"Oh, I'm sorry Nightwing I forgot about you. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because of a letter from my Teach." Nightwing answered.
"Oh yeah that's right your Princess Luna's student. I forgot about that too. Sorry."
"It's alright...so does anyone know why we're here?"
"Not a clue, just that Cadence sent a letter telling us to come here."
"Bluntness must run in the family." Nightwing muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Hey how has your study's in that Nature religion of yours going?"
"It's going great...but I have to go to Whitetail forest in four days for a test I'm supposed to take."
"Really, well I've always wanted an excuse to leave town. Mind if I come with you?"
"Oh not at all. In fact it'll be nice to have some companion."
"I'll be there."
"Ahem." The guard cleared his throat to get the groups attention. "We have arrived."
"..Well don't just stand there open the door." Nightwing said.
"Oh. Of course." The guard said as he opened the door.
Inside the door was an Alicorn with a light pink fur coat, pink eyes, and a pink mane with a baby blue and yellow strip in it. Next to her was a unicorn stallion with a white coat, blue eyes, and a matching blue mane.
Across from the two was a light orange unicorn mare with teal eyes and a mane that was red and yellow. When the mare turned around towards the doorway the group saw who the mare was and immediately recognized her.
"Sunset shimmer?!" They all said in unison.
"Hello...again." Sunset said meekly.
"What is she doing here?" Twilight asked.
"She came through the portal in the other room five hours ago." The Alicorn known as Cadence said.
"Wait, how do you three know Sunset shimmer?" Twilight asked the other three.
"We knew her in the past." Nightwing said.
"Yeah that's kinda why I asked you all to come here." Sunset said.
"Really? And just why did you decide to come here, if you don't mind me asking?" Fluttershy tried to say in a stern voice.
"I've come back to ask you all for a second chance."
"And just why should we give you one?" Nightwing asked.
"Because I've changed. And you know I'm telling the truth Nightwing."
"...Well she's got me there. She is telling the truth."
"Alright if you say so, but I don't know if I can forgive you." Fluttershy said.
"Please give me a second chance."
"Okay, I'll give you a second chance."
"What about you Twilight, should we give her a second chance?" Nightwing asked.
"The last time I saw Sunset shimmer she definitely changed. I say we give her a second chance." Twilight said.
"Okay. Flash what about you?" Nightwing asked.
"..."
"Flash?"
"I don't know if we should, but...if you all say we should then I'm okay with it."
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!" Sunset said with glee as she hugged Nightwing, only for him to pry Sunset off.
"Wait, if we're giving her a second chance then where is she gonna stay?" Fluttershy asked.
"Princess Luna said that she could stay at Nightwings house." The Unicorn stallion, who is known as Shining armor, said.
"Well if that's all that we needed to be here for, let's get going." Twilight said. As she began to leave an evil thought came into Nightwings head along with an evil smile. He turned to Cadence and asked her,
"Excuse me Cadence?" Nightwing asked.
"Yes Nightwing." Cadence replied.
"Is it okay if Flash sentry guards Twilight on some days?"
When Twilight heard that last part she stopped dead in her tracks and turned back to Nightwing with a 'Don't you dare' face.
"What. Why?" Cadence asked.
"Well you see Flash has a bother names Lightning strike, he's a guard like Flash but with less experience. Anyways I was thinking that why not let Lightning strike guard me and get some experience and in the mean time, Flash can guard Twilight."
Cadence looked at Twilight to see that her face was made of pure anger. Then Cadence realized what Nightwing was trying to do and smiled.
"Well when you put it that way." Cadence began.
"Now wait a second Cadence I don't think Twily needs-" Shining armor began but was interrupted by Nightwing.
"Armor, you don't have a voice in this choice. Shut up." Nightwing silenced Armor.
"As I was saying, I don't mind. But only if Sentry agrees with it." Cadence said.
"Well, I guess I'm okay with it." Flash said as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof.
"Then it's settled, Flash can begin Guarding Twilight tomorrow." Nightwing said.
"Is there anything else you need?" Cadence asked.
"Actually yeah. You wouldn't happen to have a gem that is a perfect oval would you?"
"Actually yeah, some miners found something like that two days ago. We put it in the minerals room."
"Wonderful, I'll just pick that up on my way out." Nightwing said as he walked out the door. The second the door closed Twilight shot a laser at Nightwings feet.
"Bye." Nightwing said as he ran off.
"I WILL SKIN YOU ALIVE NIGHTWING!" Twilight shouted. Then turned back to see everyone was staring at her causing her to blush.
"I...uh...I overreacted?"
"Rrrrrright." Sunset said. "Let's head down to the train station and wait for Nightwing there, hmm?"
"Sure...let's do that."
Meanwhile Nightwing was trotting down the crystal halls in search for the mineral room.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." Nightwing said as he passed several rooms until stopping in front of one that was labeled 'Mineral room'.
"Yes." Nightwing said as he opened the door. Inside the room was filled with crystals of all kinds. Luckily they were all organized and easy to find. Nightwing kept looking until he stopped at what he thought was one of them.
The gem was a perfect oval like the one he found at the Two sisters castle, but it was a different color. Unlike the one they found which was pitch black, this one was red with a hint of yellow in it. Nightwing used his magic to levitate the gem in front of him.
"Are you Nightwing?" A voice asked from behind him.
Nightwing spun around to see there were two Pegasus ponies, one had a light blue mane, the other had a dark blue mane. Both were wearing yellow goggles with sharp ends. Also they were wearing a dark purple and black uniform that covered their whole body except for there muzzle.
"Yeah, why do you want to know?" Nightwing asked.
"Oh, just asking." The other Pegasus said as he raised his foreleg and a ball of Lighting formed in his hoof. Then the Pegasus threw the lightning ball straight at Nightwing.
BOOM!!