> Ponyblade Chronicles
>  by ZeroChill
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A lavender-coated alicorn mare with a sapphire-colored mane and tail with a pink stripe running down their middle trotted into a dark room.  Walking towards the center of it, she saw a boxed package sat on a table underneath a light.  Her purple eyes picked up on a manila letter next to the box.  Her horn flashing in a purple light, she levitated the note to herself.



Dear Princess Twilight

While I was journeying across the world for new material to write with, I found a strange object from some ruins in Zebrica.  I don’t know what it exactly is, but it has existed since the beginning of the world.  I leave this object inside of your hooves, since I know that you would be able to unlock its true potential.

-A.K. Yearling



Twilight Sparkle scanned the small letter several times, her jaw slightly dropping in disbelief with each scan.  With her right front hoof, she picked up her jaw and stared at it, her eyebrow scrunched in confusion.

“That’s odd… why would Daring Do send me an artifact?  Why not go for an archeologist that specializes with Zebrican artifacts?”  She asked herself.  Using her magic, she lifted the top from the box.

Within the box were layers of white fleece that formed a mound.  Twilight Sparkle undid the layers, revealing something that raised her left eye in intrigue; it was a red ring, the border smoothed into a perfect circle and the split in the center resembled two pieces.  She picked up the ring and carefully examined it.

“This is one of the most unusual rings I have ever seen.  Why would something like this be in Zebrica?”  She asked herself, seeing a handle jet out of the ring.  “Maybe if I…”

She lifted the ring above her horn and slid it onto the base.  For a few seconds, the ring stood stationary.  However, the top portion of the ring lifted itself all the way to the point of her horn, streams of electricity connecting the two halves.  Twilight Sparkle looked towards her horn, her mouth opened with a frown.

“What’s happening?!”  She shouted, her nerves freezing over.

Suddenly, she felt a foreign force tapping into her magic, pulling it out into the ring.  She grunted in pain.  The lavender magic discharged itself from the bottom half into the top half.  From the top portion, magic was welling up.  The concentrated magic then burst from the tip in a beam, piercing the ceiling, the sky and the heavens.

Slowly turning into a lavender color, the sky began cracking like a Dorito chip and spread throughout the entire land.  The air was littered with the screams of ponies as reality began to break apart on them.

Twilight Sparkle, who was seeing the sky break before her very eyes, began hyperventilating.  Chunks of the sky fell apart, revealing nothing but darkness.  Looking towards the ground, she saw that the same cracks ran along them.  With quick action, she unfolded her wings and flew through the gap in the ceiling.

Above the sky, she saw that the land was shattering into darkness, just as the sky was doing.  Mountains and forests disappeared before her very eyes.  Pegasi that were off the ground looked around them, their eyes and mouths open with fear.  For some reason, their wings were stopped in their beats, causing them to plummet into the darkness like a waterfall.

“Not even the pegasi can escape from this darkness?!  What in the world is happening???”  She shouted once more.  She felt her wings stiffening with no explainable reason.  She screamed as loud as possible, falling unconscious as she was absorbed into the darkness.





A large lake sat within a mountainous region that was littered with verdant grasses.  Upon the lake stood an entire town made of metal and stone.  Three sectors of the town were connected through a series of bridges.

Beyond the town within the landscape was a pocket within the rocks filled with scrap metal.  Amongst the scrap was a fair-skinned young man with blond messy hair and blue eyes that radiated calm collectedness.  He was adorned in a red vest on top of a gray shirt with long sleeves, red plated shorts and red boots with straps running up his knees.  On his back was a long sword with a red-tinged rust on the blade.

“A Mechon M71!  I bet I can use it to align one of the Anti-Air Batteries.”  He stated with a tone resembling a British accent.

He rummaged through the pile of scrap with an excited smile on his face.  After digging it out, his lips formed into a disappointed frown.  He tossed a sheet of metal on the floor.

“No good.  It’s broken.”  He despondently finished, tossing a metallic joint towards the ground.  “The joint buckle… It’s completely useless.”

He stretched his arms out and fell onto his back within the shade of a nearby tree.  He looked towards the cloudy blue sky beyond the ring of rock, seeing a stone figure in the horizon.  A green dragonfly flew onto his left arm.  His eyes went over towards another dragonfly bathed in sunlight on a metal rod.  His eyes wandered lower until he saw a black scrap of machinery.  His mouth pursed into a smile.

“An M69!”  He shouted, standing up from his spot and rushing over towards it.  He examined the shell of machinery, his smile widening with each passing second.  “Its armour would be perfect for making a shield.  If I can just get it off, I should be able to…”

In the midst of pulling it off, the metal suddenly shook, causing him to fall back.  In that moment, a tan-skinned large man sprinted towards him.  He was adorned in an orange and silver sleeveless top with arm braces and plated leggings that were brown, orange and silver.  A metal shield lancer covered his entire arm.

“Shulk!”  He shouted with an Aussie accent, bashing the metal with his shield.

“Reyn!”  Shulk responded, seeing Reyn defend him.  The armor turned around, revealing the face of a brown crustacean within the black shell.  “It’s not a Mechon!  It’s just a Krabble!  It was just using the armour as a shell.”  He stated, pulling out his sword.

“I’ll lure it away and Topple it!”  Reyn said with heat brimming in his voice.  “When it’s down, use your Arts to finish it off!

Shulk nodded, leveling his sword to the Junk Krabble’s level.  He dashed forwards and jumped towards it.

“Turn Strike!”  He shouted, striking the creature.  The Krabble stumbled, losing its footing.  Reyn smiled as he ran up to the Krabble.  He readied his shield lance.

“Wild Down!”  He screamed, striking the Krabble with the point of his lance.  The Krabble became knocked over, unable to move.  “Now, Shulk!”

Shulk ran behind the Junk Krabble.  With his blade in hand, he leaped against its back.

“Back Slash!”  Shouting these words, he struck the Krabble.  The Krabble screeched before it succumbed to its wounds.

Both Shulk and Reyn sheathed their weapons.  Shulk ran towards Reyn’s side, smiling.

“You’re a life saver, Reyn.”  He stated.

“Don’t mention it Shulk.  Next time, do be more careful.  I can’t always be around to protect you forever, you know.”  Reyn responded.

In the midst of their conversation, the two of them heard a grunt of awakening beyond the wreckage.  The two of them stood their guard, carefully walking towards the source of the noise.

“What do you think that noise was, Reyn?”  Shulk asked.

“Beats me, Shulk.  I’ve never heard a non-Homs make that noise before.”  Reyn replied.  Reaching towards the source of the noise, they found Twilight Sparkle, stirring awake from unconsciousness.

As light filled her eyes, Twilight Sparkle saw two humanoid figures in front of her.  Jolting backwards, she stood her stance defensively.  Her horn flashed with light.  Seeing this act, the lance portion of Reyn’s shield extended outwards, pointing towards Twilight Sparkle.

“I've seen clothing before, and I've seen bipedal creatures similar to you, but I don't think I've seen that kind of clothing or creatures with your colors.  Just who are you two?!”  Twilight Sparkle hastily shouted.

Reyn looked towards her, his mouth curled into a do or die frown.  Shulk extended his right arm across Reyn, preventing him from advancing any further.  Reyn looked towards Shulk, his eyes frowning with bemusement.

“Hold up, Reyn.  This creature, it can talk just like us.”  Shulk reasoned.  Hearing his words, Twilight Sparkle stood taller, the tension loosening from her body.

“Wait, ‘creature’?”  She slowly asked.  She looked around her surroundings, foreign objects and land features sprawled in her vision.  “Where am I?”  She sadly asked.

Shulk walked over towards Twilight Sparkle and knelt down to her eye level.

“You don’t seem that hostile, just confused.  You are at the Mechon Wreckage Site just outside of Colony 9.”  He answered.

Twilight Sparkle raised her eyes, mouthing the foreign words from Shulk’s mouth.

“Mechon… Colony 9?  I don’t think those are locations in Equestria.”  She stated.  Shulk brought his hand underneath his chin, rubbing it and humming.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of Equestria.  Colony 9 is located on the calf of the Bionis.  My name is Shulk.  I am a Homs.”  He said, standing up tall.

“That’s an odd name, but it strangely sounds fitting for you.  My name is Twilight Sparkle, a princess of Equestria.”  Twilight Sparkle introduced.

“Nice meetin’ ya, Twilight Sparkle.  My name’s Reyn.”  Reyn introduced, walking towards Twilight Sparkle and stretching his hand outwards.

“The pleasure is mine, Reyn.”  Twilight Sparkle responded, shaking Reyn’s hand with her hoof.  “It’s strange; your voice sounds like a masculine combination between my two friends Applejack and Rainbow Dash.”

“I don’t know who those two are, but I know that ya can’t spell Rainbow Dash without ‘Reyn’.”

“Ummm… okay then.”  She hesitantly stated, forcing a smile.

Shulk looked towards the ring at the base of Twilight Sparkle’s horn.  Its red color and design caused the cogs within his mind to turn.

“Twilight, what is with that ring at the base of your forehead?”  He asked.

Twilight Sparkle’s pupils looked upwards towards the ring.  A fiery stare became directed towards it.

“Wait a moment, this ring!  This ring is the reason why I am even in this world in the first place!  How is a ring capable of breaking Equestria?!”  She screamed in indignation, attempting to push the ring out with her hooves.  “Great, it’s stuck in there as well.”

“Twilight, I want you to accompany Reyn and I to my lab.  I need to examine that ring more closely.  It’s in the fortress sector of the Colony.”  Shulk requested.

“That sounds good, I guess.  But, why is your lab in a Fortress?”  Twilight Sparkle asked curiously.

Reyn groaned, stretched his arms and shook his head.

“Forget it, Shulk.  She’s just going to be asking us questions the entire way back.  She’s going to question why we use the weapons we use, why we are clothed strangely, what the Bionis is and all that sort of junk we already know.  It’s bad enough that we are warring with the Mechon and stuff, and I don’t want to add annoyances on top of our current problems.”

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes shifted towards Reyn, whose hands are placed behind his head.

“I promise that I won’t ask many questions, Reyn.  If Shulk knows anything about this ring, then it should help me figure out where my current situation is.”  Twilight Sparkle reasoned.  “Just please take me back with you guys.  I don’t really know my way around this new world.”

“Look, Reyn; she could help me with my research on the Monado if my assumptions are correct.  Besides, she clearly shows sapience around our levels.  We can’t leave any being like that out here to fend for his or herself.”  Shulk pleaded.

Reyn raised his arms into the air and looked away with a smile on his face.

“You’re the intuitive one here, Shulk.  I’ll allow you to make the call.”  He stated, starting to walk over towards the path.  Shulk faced Twilight Sparkle with a smile on his face.

“Don’t worry, Twilight.  We’ll help you in any way we can to bring you back home.”  Shulk stated in a consoling tone.  Twilight Sparkle nodded, the two of them running over to Reyn.  “Slow down, Reyn!  You got a head start!”  He shouted.

“Hey, you’re the fast one out of the two of us, Shulk!  You can catch up with me!”  Reyn responded in a mellow tone, bursting out with laughter.
	
> Life in Colony 9 (Part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“So, what you are saying is that this world is made up of two giants known as the Bionis and Mechonis, and the Mechon are the sworn enemy for your people?”  Twilight Sparkle asked with interest dripping from her tone.

“Yes.  These Mechon only care about inflicting pain on us.  So, we decided to retaliate by constructing our own defenses.  Though the Mechon are normally impervious to our standard attacks, we were able to keep them at bay using the power of the Monado wielded by the hero Dunban.”  Shulk answered while the trio walked down the mountainous path.

“Fascinating!  I definitely want to get a closer look at this Monado in your lab.  I also want to meet this Dunban as well.”  Twilight Sparkle responded with a gleeful smile.

In the moment after, the mountainous path ended, revealing an open view of the entire area.  Twilight Sparkle’s mouth dropped upon seeing an entire town built a good distance into the lake.

“Ah, Colony 9!  Nothing like the feeling of going back home after a weird encounter.”  Reyn euphorically announced, glancing over to Twilight Sparkle.

“Hey, it’s you two who are weird to me!”  Twilight Sparkle snapped back.

The trio walked across the bridge into town.  In the square of the colony, various beings that Twilight Sparkle had never seen in her life wandered throughout the district, looking through wares and bargaining.  The market district was filled with clamors of discussion and the sounds of spoons digging against the plate for food.

“I didn’t think your people’s lives would be so similar to the lives of my ponies, especially since you make it seem as though you are preparing for war at any given moment.”  Twilight Sparkle noted.

“If it wasn’t for this normalcy we’ve maintained, our morale would have been crushed long ago.”  Shulk explained, looking towards a stand with various cooking implements and seated people.  “Are you feeling hungry, Twilight?  Being unconscious must have given you some kind of hunger.”

Twilight Sparkle opened her mouth, ready to decline.  Doing so, her stomach growled with pangs of hunger.

“You know what?  Food does sound good right about now.”  She stated.

Reyn and Twilight Sparkle sat at the seats near the stand, looking back at the standing Shulk.

“Going to wait for Fiora to deliver food to you again, Shulk?”  Reyn asked in a teasing voice.

“That’s the plan like always.  I don’t want to disappoint her, you know.  I’ll go on ahead to the lab.  We can meet up there.”  Shulk responded, walking into the crowd.

Reyn and Twilight Sparkle directed their attention back to the stout man with a blond beard and a white handkerchief over his head and a wooden smoking pipe in his mouth.  He was at the stove, searing a bright red sauce in rice.  The spicy aroma hit Twilight Sparkle’s nose, causing her to drool with a mouth open in delight and ignore the world around her.  The man at the stove looked back and stealthily smiled.

“It appears you like how my food smells based on that drool on the counter, creature I have yet seen.”  He stated in a hefty voice.

Twilight Sparkle broke out of her stupor and shook her head.  She looked down on the counter, her drool saturating it.  She looked up to the man and chuckled with embarrassment.

“Sorry about that, sir.  I have not yet eaten, and your food smells delicious.”  She explained.

The man moved around the frying pan, stirring the contents within and pouring it out on a plate.  He moved the plate in front of a woman at the counter.  He reached towards a bottle filled with oil and poured it onto the pan.

“One question for you; do you have a taste for bunnit?”  He asked.

Twilight Sparkle looked towards Reyn, who patiently sat at the counter.

“Aren’t bunnits among those creatures that you and Shulk were killing, Reyn?”  She asked.

“Yeah.  bunnits can be annoying, but the meats that come from them are delicious!”  Reyn enthusiastically stated.  “Giorgio, when are we going to get our curry?”

“For you, Reyn, soon.  You are one of my best costumers after all.”  Giorgio stated, pouring a canister of red sauce into the frying pan.  “As for you, I saw the look on your teeth; they’re flat and dull.  They won’t be able to cut through the bunnit meat like other teeth can.  I can substitute your curry with something more pleasing for your teeth.”

“That sounds good, Giorgio.  Thank you for your concern on my diet, and my name is Twilight Sparkle.”  Twilight Sparkle said.

Giorgio smiled, taking out a head of red lettuce, chopping it up and putting it on a separate frying pan.

“With your name, appearance and mannerisms, Twilight, you sound like someone who my daughter would be enthralled to meet.”  He stated, moving around the pan and letting the visually pleasing sauce coat the chopped up lettuce.  “Speaking of my daughter, I haven’t been able to spend much time with her as of late.  My cooking stand is really popular, so I’ve been forcing myself to work from day to night.  Plus, it’s the only way how I could support the two of us.”

Hearing these words from his mouth, Twilight Sparkle could not help but form a frown on her face.

“I’m not sure what to say, Giorgio.  Even if my father was a head astronomer for Canterlot working through the night, he always found the time to spend it with his family.  But, in your case, it seems like you can never find any sort of time with the most important person in your life.”

“Do not worry your head off about it, Twilight.  I’ll find some way to spend time with her, even if it kills me.”  Giorgio replied with a hearty laugh, pouring out the contents of the red cabbage curry onto a plate.  “I hope you enjoy this.  I poured my soul into making this extra delicious.”

Twilight Sparkle looked at the plate before her; the sauce was teeming with spices and vegetation she had not seen before.  She looked towards her left, seeing Reyn being served with curry of his own.  He rubbed his hands in anticipation.

“Come to Reyn, delicious bunnit curry!”  He shouted, taking a spoon on the side of the plate and digging it into the curry.

Twilight Sparkle levitated a spoon next to the plate and scooped a spoonful of the curry, bringing it into her mouth.  Her eyes lit up in excitement, driving her spoon into the curry for more.

“This is delicious!  It’s spicy, but has enough sweetness to counteract the stronger spices.  The cabbage is tender and savory, so it practically melts in my mouth!”  She stated, eating the curry.  “I wish I could hire you as a personal chef, Giorgio.”

Giorgio laughed at the comment made by Twilight Sparkle.

“I’m flattered that you feel that way, but I can’t really dedicate my services to only one customer.  Only amazing chefs can do that.”  He stated.

“Yeah, bird-horn silly for thinking chef like Giorgio stick to one Hom-Hom!”

Twilight Sparkle looked to her right, where the source of the youthfully male voice was.  To her surprise, a small creature with a round body and yellow fur was sitting next to her.  The creature had stubby limbs and ears so long that they can wrap around the creature.

“You look kind of adorable.  What are you?”  She asked.

“Me called Chiigo.  Me Nopon from Colony 9!”  Chiigo introduced.

“I’m going to have to make a mental note about Homs and Nopon.  Thank you for appearing by my side, Chiigo.”  Twilight Sparkle happily stated.  Chiigo smiled, revealing the small fangs on his top gums.

“Chiigo happy to make bird-horn happy!  Chiigo feel good now.”  He stated, walking away from the stand.

“Wait!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted while she was extending her hoof towards the direction Chiigo left.  “Awww… I wanted to learn more about you.”

“Greetings, Princess Twilight.”  A dignified voice called out from behind her.

“Greetings, Sergeant Sprinkles… wait, Sergeant Sprinkles?!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted in realization, turning around to see a white-coated pegasus stallion alongside a brown-coated earth pony stallion and a gray-coated unicorn stallion, all of whom are clad in golden armor.

“Thank goodness you are okay!  I thought that we had lost you when Equestria was absorbed in darkness!”  Sergeant Sprinkles exclaimed with a relieved sigh.

“I was thinking that I was the only one who made it out of that cataclysm.  I want to hear a status report from you.”  Twilight Sparkle requested.

“Yes, Princess!  The three of us awoke within the home of strange creatures about three hours ago in the Residential District.  The residents of the home cared for us and were very friendly.  We came over to the Market District to gather information on our whereabouts.  That was when we found you, Princess.”  Sergeant Sprinkles announced, lifting his right front hoof to his forehead in salutation.

Reyn stopped eating the curry and slowly looked back, seeing three royal guard ponies behind him.  Upon hearing the name of the leading pony, he snickered, gradually breaking into full-blown laughter.  Twilight Sparkle, Sergeant Sprinkles and the two other Royal Guards eyed Reyn with confused expressions.

“Oh man!  Your name is Sprinkles?!  I knew that ‘Twilight Sparkle’ was a funny name, but to think that big, strong stallions such as you have such pushover names?!  What’s next, your two subordinates are Corporal Ice Cream and Private Plain Donut?!”  Reyn shouted with delirious laughter.

“Ummm, actually, that is our names.”  The unicorn squeaked out with a slightly hurt tone.  The earth pony held his right front hoof outwards towards the unicorn.

“Forget it, Corporal Ice Cream; he doesn’t understand the work our parents made to name us.”  Plain Donut consoled.

“I guess so, Private…”  Ice Cream stated dejectedly.

Reyn, who looked towards the three Royal Guards, his smile and laughter breaking down into silence and a frown.

“Hey, don’t take it like that.  I was only joking.  Look, considering you three look like soldiers for Twilight here, how about I take you into the fortress to become soldiers for Colony 9?  While you guys are here, you gotta get some form of work in your field.  Guarding the princess over here can’t really get your bills paid.”  Reyn suggested, turning his frown back into a smile.

The three guardsponies looked towards Twilight Sparkle with pleading looks on their faces.  Twilight Sparkle shrugged with a smile.

“I don’t know how long we are going to be in this world, but these people are going to be in need of your services much more than I am.  After all, I heard that this place can be attacked at any moment.”  She stated, bringing stoic smiles onto each of their faces.

“Alright, err…, Sprinkles, Ice Cream and Plain Donut.  Follow me.  And you might want to come with me, Twilight.  Shulk’s lab is at the fortress.”  Reyn announced.

Twilight Sparkle looked at her curry, which was half-eaten.  She looked up towards Giorgio with pleading eyes.  Giorgio chuckled.

“I’ll prepare a doggy bag for you, Twilight.  Feel free to come over here at any time.”  He stated, taking the plate and putting its contents into a Styrofoam box.

Twiilight Sparkle levitated it onto her back.  She turned around and saw that Reyn, Sprinkles, Ice Cream and Plain Donut were walking out of the area.  Her eyes rose, prompting her to run after them.

“It still isn’t funny the second time, Reyn!”  She shouted.





An amber-coated earth pony mare with a blond mane and tail began to stir awake.  Light entered within her green eyes as her body lied on the concrete ground.  She slowly got up, her strength being refreshed.  She found herself in the center behind steeled walls, various Homs in brown and metal uniforms staring at her as if she had two heads.

“What in tarnation?!  Who are all of you, where am I and what happened?!”  She shouted.  One of the Homs soldiers shouted in a shrill tone.

“That monster talks!”  Another guard shouted, pointing at the pony.

“Now hold on one moment!  I ain’t no monster.  You all look monstrous yourselves.”  She stated.

One of the guards pointed his spear towards the pony, his grip trembling.

“S-s-state your name, or else!”  He stated.  The pony sighed, placing her hoof onto the stalk of the spear and lowering it.

“The name’s Applejack, sugarcube.  I don’t wanna fight any of you, so can you please lower your weapons?”  Applejack kindly pleaded.

The guards looked at each other, their will strengthening to that of iron.  All of the guards around Applejack pointed their spears towards her.  They were so close that one was barely touching her neck.  Applejack’s eyes widened and an urgent need to gulp on air came upon her.  However, she neglected her need, feeling that even a single gulp will give her a messy end.

Shulk, who was walking into the fortress by the gate, saw the group of guards surrounding Applejack and ran towards them.

“What’s happening here?!”  He shouted.

One of the guards looked back and stepped slightly out of line, revealing Applejack to Shulk’s eyes.

“We got an intruder over here.  No doubt, it wanted to infiltrate our headquarters and share our secrets with the Mechon.”  The guard stated.

“This is not a spy, I can assure you.  This creature is my responsibility.”  Shulk reasoned.

“Your responsibility?!  What makes you think that this dangerous creature is your responsibility?”  One of the guards asked, turning back to Shulk.

“This might sound silly, but back when I was at the Mechon Wreckage Site, I found another creature similar to this one.  However, she was slightly bigger, had wings and a horn and was purple in her color.”  Shulk explained.

Applejack’s eyes widened at the details Shulk gave.  In that moment, hope sprung up from her voice.

“Twilight’s here?!  Thank goodness!”  She shouted.

Shulk looked towards Applejack, inspecting the trio of apples on her flank and her tone.  His mind began to piece together the evidence he was given.  The guards, who looked at Shulk, shrugged their shoulders, dropping their spears.

“Alright, Shulk; we believe you.  Just make sure to keep this creature at bay.”  One of the guards stated, creating a sign that caused all the guards to disperse throughout the fortress.  Applejack happily ran up towards Shulk with a gleeful smile on her face.

“Thank ya kindly for that assistance… err…”

“My name is Shulk.  And, based on the details Twilight told me, you must be Applejack.”  Shulk finished.

“So it was Twilight who you found!  Looks like I’m not the only one in this strange place after all.”  Applejack stated with an alleviated tone.

In that moment, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle, Sprinkles, Ice Cream and Plain Donut ran through the gates and laid their eyes on Shulk and Applejack.  Twilight Sparkle grinned with an open mouth, dashing towards Applejack and embracing her neck.

“Applejack!”  She cried out.  “I thought you were lost in that cataclysm!”

Applejack chuckled, returning the embrace back.

“It takes something stronger than a cataclysm to take care of a member of the Apple Family.  But, where are we?”  She asked, releasing the hug.

“Apparently, we are in some place known as Colony 9, which is located on the calf of the world known as the Bionis.  Thankfully, since my personal guard and you wound up here, then that means that all the ponies should be in this world as well.”  Twilight Sparkle replied.

“Well, I really hope that they get warmer welcomes than I had.  I literally woke up with a spear dangerously close to my neck.  If it weren’t for this Shulk fellow here, I would have not made it ‘til nightfall.”

Reyn looked at the two ponies before him and glanced towards Twilight Sparkle, his eye lifted in disbelief.

“I sound nothing like her, Twilight.  Why did you have to say that to me?  Regardless, we’re all here for a reason.  Shulk, aren’t ya going to show our guests the Monado?”

Shulk nodded, waving his hand towards Applejack and Twilight Sparkle to follow him.  Reyn, Sprinkles, Ice Cream and Plain Donut split from the group, continuing on towards the other soldiers in the fortress.





The inside of the building caught Twilight Sparkle and Applejack’s eyes; the dimmed lights and the plastered metal interior made up the inside of the building.

“This place looks amazing!”  Twilight Sparkle stated, walking down the stairs.

“It’s definitely something.  Maybe a bit too fancy for my tastes.”  Applejack commented.

The group of seven continued walking down the stairs until a series of complex machinery came up in sight.  There, on a brazen pedestal made of wires and metals, sat a very unusual sword; it is of a red color with smoothened metal, a zigzag line was present within the sword’s motif, and there were three different gaps within the blade.  One of the gaps was a giant circle near the hilt of the blade.

“All right, Shulk.  How are you?”  A wizened voice called out from behind the group.

Everyone turned towards the source of the voice; an aged man with dirty blond hair covered with a red handkerchief worn on top of his head and a thick moustache sat on a desk, reading a book.  The man wore a blue jacket that was unzipped, revealing his shirtless chest and abdomen, and light blue jeans held together with a black belt.

“Dickson!”  Shulk shouted with a smile.  “When did you get back to Colony 9?”

Dickson chuckled underneath his breath.

“Just now.  I see you’ve been busy.  Looks like your Monado research has been going well.  Looks like I’ve made the right choice leaving you in charge.  On top of that, I see that you have some very interesting guests.”  He stated, walking up towards Shulk, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.

“Your research notes really helped.”  Shulk stated, Dickson walking up towards the sword and examining it with sparked interest in his eyes.

“So, you can activate it now then?”  Dickson asked.

“Well, anyone can activate it.  The problem is controlling it.”

“Yeah.  For everyone except him.”

“Yes.  If anyone other than Dunban were able to control the Monado, we could surpass any military force in the world.”  Shulk announced.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack glanced towards each other, frowns forced on their faces with the implications of the sword before them.  Dickson glanced through the papers in his right hand and saw something that he raised his eye towards.

“What are these hidden functions you mention?”  He asked.

“It’s still only conjecture, but it’s starting to look like the Monado might be something far more significant than just a weapon for defeating the Mechon.”  Shulk voiced out.

“I see.  And the evidence to support your theory?”  Dickson requested.

“It’s the symbol that appears within the centre when it’s activated.  What I know is, the central piece is made from multilayered glass.  The symbol appears on the top layer, and each layer is constructed differently.”

“So it’s possible that other symbols could appear on different layers?”

“Which means…”

“The Monado might conceal even more power.  Am I right?”  Shulk nodded once in response to Dickson’s question.

“If we could just unlock the Monado’s power…”  Shulk poignantly stated, his eyes flashing with images.

Dickson turned towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack, a confident smile on his face.  He walked towards their direction.

“Something tells me you lasses aren’t from around here.”  He stated, glancing towards the ring on Twilight Sparkle’s horn.

“Correct.  You see, my name is…”  Twilight Sparkle began to say before Dickson held his right hand outwards.

“Forget it, I don’t feel like going through introductions.  I only came over here to check up on Shulk and his research on the Monado.”

“Oh… well… may you please tell me more about the Monado, Dickson?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Normally, that information would be classified.  However, since Shulk brought the two of you here, and that ring suspiciously looks like it can be used with the Monado, I guess I can fill in some gaps for you.”  Dickson replied.

“Okay.  So, my first question; what exactly is the Monado?  From my oblivious sight, it just looks like a sword that can fight what you Homs call Mechon.”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Nobody really knows what the Monado actually is.  One day, it just came into existence.  All that is known is that it has the power to fight against the Mechon and that it might have more power than what meets the eye.”  Dickson answered with a snide tone.

“Well ya didn’t need to sound stuck up about it.”  Applejack voiced out.

Dickson shrugged his shoulders.

“I can’t help if my voice sounds like this, lass.  You try living in a state where you’re always fighting Mechon.  A soldier would be lucky if he lives to the age of forty-four.”  He replied.  “Now, I assume you have another question or two for me, princess?”

“Ummmm, yes I do.  It’s my last question, because it seems as if you do not want to talk to us anymore.  How did you even get to know Shulk in the first place?  You have the appearance like you don’t stick around some place for too long.”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

Dickson gave a smile, showing his teeth born towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.

“That’s… not a question relating to the Monado, princess.  I’ll tell you at some time when it becomes relevant for you.  In the meantime, I’m stepping out for some fresh air.  You can join me if you want.”  Dickson offered.

“No thanks, sir.  We would rather want to check to see how Twilight’s guards are doing.”  Applejack stated.

Dickson clicked his tongue and reeled back slightly.  Afterwards, he began walking to the stairs, raising his right hand into the air.

“You girls don’t need to be so formal about it.  I’m not that old.”  He casually stated.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack turned back towards Shulk, who stared at the Monado, mesmerized by the visions of the past.

“Are you okay there, Shulk?”  Applejack asked in a concerned tone.

Shulk, hearing the words of Applejack, shook his head.  He turned around and faced Twilight Sparkle and Applejack with a calm grin on his face.

“Yes.  I’ve just been… thinking about Dunban.  He’s the only one who would dare wield the Monado and its powers, even if it was slowly killing him.  It was because of his use of the Monado that we were able to repel the Mechon at Sword Valley, though it did shoot the nerves in his right arm.”  He stated.

“This Dunban… is he alright?”  Twilight Sparkle asked in genuine concern.

“He’s fine.  He’s in his home being taken care of by Fiora, one of my childhood friends.”  Shulk responded.  “By the way, I’m going to head to his place to meet with Fiora.  Would you two care to accompany me?”

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack looked towards each other and back towards Shulk with smiles eminent on their faces.

“We’d love to accompany ya, Shulk.  This Dunban fellow sounds tougher than Cousin Rhubarb’s Rhubarb Pie.”  Applejack concurred.

“I would personally like to see your relationship with this Fiora, Shulk.  If Reyn’s tone is correct, then you must like her very much.”  Twilight Sparkle added with a slight tease in her tone.

“It’s settled then.  You two are coming with me to visit Fiora.”  Shulk stated, walking towards the stairs.

“You know, Applejack; I have a feeling that Shulk is a bit oblivious to the words of others.”  Twilight Sparkle whispered.

“You mean just like how you were before, Twilight?”  Applejack snidely replied.

“Shut up.”

Twilight Sparkle slanted her eyes in an unamused fashion, walking towards the stairs where Shulk was.  Applejack chuckled to herself, running up to her.





A tan-skinned man with long raven-colored hair and trimmed beard sat down on his bed, examining his scarred right arm.  He wore no shirt, revealing his muscular upper body.  He was adorned in black pants and brown boots.  Around his neck was a necklace with an upside-down triangle in a silver circle.

“Dunban, are you awake yet?”  A sweet voice called out, causing Dunban to turn to the source. 

A fair-skinned young woman with blond hair walked up the steps.  She wore a white top that reached from the bottom of her breasts up to the top of them, an orange miniskirt, white sleeves and brown knee-high socks.  They were all attached together by a few brown straps on her back, shoulders and legs.  She held a tray that contained a bowl of stew, a cup and a sandwich.  Dunban smiled.

“Is it time to eat already?  You didn’t have to bring it yourself.  You could have just called me.”  He stated.

“Don’t be silly!”  Fiora stated, placing the tray on the nightstand.  She leaned over the bed, her chin resting on her crossed arms.  “Do you want me to feed you?”

“Don’t treat me like an invalid.”  Dunban chuckled out.  “I’m better than I was a year ago.”

“Much better.  I really thought I lost you back then.”  Fiora despondently stated, sitting on the floor with her knees curled in.

“Yes.  But now I’m almost well-enough to handle the Monado again.”

“Dunban, don’t say that!”  Fiora shrilly shouted, an upset frown on her face.  “The Mechon have gone now!  Why would you say that?!”

Dunban glanced towards Fiora’s face with a stoic frown on his face.

“I just mean I’m prepared.  Sorry.”

“Ok.”  Fiora stated, easing down into a frown.  After half a second, a wide smile came upon her face.  “More importantly, eat up before it gets cold.  I made something really special today.”

“Don’t feel like you need to stay here then, Fiora.  Go and make your next delivery.”  Dunban responded, Fiora looking at him confused.  “Well, I’m sure you’d like Shulk to try some while it’s still hot?”

His response obliterated a portion of Fiora’s enthusiasm, causing her to turn back and sit down with her knees bent.

“That’s ok.  Shulk has no sense of taste.  He’ll say it’s delicious even if it’s stone cold.”  Fiora stated, eliciting a good-hearted laugh from Dunban.

“In which case today he would actually mean it.”

“Maybe.”

“I’m fine, Fiora.  Off you go.”  Dunban ordered.

“Ok.”  Fiora complied, standing up and looking back.  “Dunban… Thanks.”  She finished saying, retreating down the stairs.

Being left alone in the room, Dunban struggled reaching over towards the nightstand, grunting slightly.  Picking up the spoon with his right hand, a sudden spike of pain jolted throughout his arm.  He dropped the spoon onto the floor.  His hand trembling, he grasped it slightly.  On the nightstand was a photo of himself, Dickson and a large man with a wide forehead and hair exceeding the hairline.

“I’m not finished yet.  I have to be prepared to use the Monado again.”
	
> Life in Colony 9 (Part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Shulk made it onto the surface of the outdoor fortress.  Within their line of sight, they saw Plain Donut bucking and charging against Reyn in a defensive stance with his shield lance extended.

“Come on, Donut, is that the best you can do?”  Reyn enthusiastically called out.

Plain Donut’s stare intensified.  He redoubled his efforts and bucked at a side of the shield lance that lacked any spikes.  Striking the area, he sent Reyn flying onto the upper level of the fortress.

“How is that for my best?”  Plain Donut snidely remarked.

“You have some good guards if one of them can knock Reyn off-guard like that.”  Shulk commented to Twilight Sparkle.

“It is what they were trained to do.  If brute force won’t cut it, then they have to analyze their opponent’s weaknesses.  Reyn just happened to be a bit cocky with how he was throwing around his defense.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.

“That’s Reyn down to a ‘T’ alright.  But, that’s why we all love him.  Don’t let his cockiness give you the wrong idea; he’s very good at what he does.”  Shulk replied.

“You know, I’m beginning to like this Reyn fellow, Shulk.  He does things head on and isn’t afraid of anything.”  Applejack voiced out with a smile.

The trio walked through the gates of the fortress.  In the background, Reyn sat up from the ground.  Plain Donut, who walked up to Reyn from a set of stairs, offered a helping hoof.  Reyn smiled, grasping his right front hoof and getting up.

“That was excellent form, Private.  I wonder how Sprinkles and Ice Cream are doing.”  Reyn stated, his voice cracking under rising giggles.  Plain Donut looked at him with an unamused expression on his face.  “Heh, didn’t mean to laugh at your names.  I’m still trying to get used to this whole business with you creatures.”

“No offense taken, Reyn.  And, for future references, we are known as ponies.”  Plain Donut corrected.  “And, I wouldn’t worry about those two.  They are my superiors for a reason, after all.”





“So you two are creatures known as ponies?  That’s a strange word for me.”  Shulk announced, grasping his chin with his index finger and thumb and walking down a bridge way with Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.

“There are four different kinds of ponies, in case if you didn’t know.  Ponies like Applejack and Plain Donut are known as earth ponies.  They might not have any additional appendages, but they make up with their own brand of stamina and connection to the land.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

“And you saw those wings on Sprinkles there?  He is what is known as a pegasus pony.  Pegasi are capable of flight and weather manipulation.”  Applejack added on.  “And that horn on Ice Cream’s head signifies that he’s a unicorn.  Unicorns are capable of freely using magic.  Some of the levitation you might have witnessed Twi’ using is an example of such magic.”

“I see.  And Twilight here has wings and a horn.  I would also like to assume that she shares in the benefits of being an earth pony as well?”  Shulk rhetorically stated.

“Alicorns are the rarest of the four ponies.  The only two natural alicorns are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.  Any other known alicorns gained access to a powerful source of magic that transformed them into such.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.  “I used to be a unicorn, but since completing Starswirl’s spell and changing my friends’ destinies, I was able to ascend into alicornhood using the magic of the Elements of Harmony.”

“This all sounds fascinating.  Elements of Harmony, magic and changing one’s destiny.”  Shulk voiced out.  “Is it wrong that I would compare magic to another source of energy known as ether?”

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack rolled their tongues at the last word he stated.

“I take it that ether is your world’s brand of magic?”  She asked.

“Ether is the life composition of all matter on the Bionis.  It is necessary for the survival and development of life.  In addition, we use ether for a plethora of tasks and are capable of channeling it.  We Homs have a very limited control over our internal ether without a catalyst, but the Nopon are capable of channeling it through their breath.”  Shulk explained.

“You mean those like Chiigo have more capability of using their ether than people like you?  I wonder if there are any other beings in your world that have more proficiency in using this life energy.”  Twilight Sparkle voiced out.

“I find it difficult to believe that this would be the limit of the ether usage in my world, especially considering unicorns and alicorns exist in your world with great control over their life energy.”  Shulk stated with a hope of disbelief in his voice.

In the midst of the conversation and walk, Applejack’s stomach growled.  She sheepishly smiled and chuckled.  Twilight Sparkle looked at the Styrofoam container on her back and levitated it towards Applejack.

“Here, Applejack.  I was saving this up for later, but you need this more than I do.  It’s not much, but it should stave off your hunger.”  Twilight Sparkle said, with Applejack peering into the container.  “I hope it still is warm.”

Applejack smiled wider than a hyena, digging into the curry face first with voracious excitement.  A few second have passed, and all of the curry within the container was gone.

“Yeehaw!  That’s how we do it in the Apple Family!”  She called out.  “Mighty thanks to you, Twi’.  I appreciate the food that you saved up for me.  There’s nothing worse than travelling on an empty stomach.  Plus, that food was delicious!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Applejack.  Giorgio would be happy to know that he can get another customer with you.”  Shulk replied.

The three walked down through the commercial district, going through the crowds of various people.  They came across a two-story house, tucked away by the edge of the commercial district.

“Well, this is it; this is Dunban’s house.”  Shulk announced, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and himself entering inside the abode.





Dunban sat on the edge of his bed, attempting to hold the spoon with his right hand.  It shook rapidly as he dipped it into the stew.  With the food scooped out, he slowly brought it to his mouth.  The moment it reached his open mouth, he dropped the spoon into the bowl.  He let out an exasperated sigh.

“Relax, Dunban.  It’s just soup.  You’re a grown man who can feed himself.”  He stated.

Within the moment that he picked the spoon up, he heard a myriad of footsteps come from the first floor.

“Come upstairs.”

He smiled slightly when he saw Shulk appear up the stairs, but batted an eye when Twilight Sparkle and Applejack walked in unison with him.

“Dunban, did you see where Fiora went?  I am looking for her right now.”  Shulk asked.

“She actually went off to your lab to visit you.  You must have missed each other along the way.”  Dunban replied with a chuckle.

“I see.”  Shulk replied, remaining silent for a few moments.  He turned towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.  “Would you two mind if I left you here with Dunban?  I need to think about some things, and he enjoys any sort of company he can get.”

“It would be our pleasure, Shulk.  I have many questions to ask him.”  Twilight Sparkle stated with a smile.

“If he’s as tough as you say he is, Shulk, then he should be a very interesting fellow.”  Applejack compliantly agreed.

“Thanks, girls.  I’ll be at the Outlook Park.  Fiora will undoubtedly come there when she doesn’t see me in the lab.”  Shulk stated, gently walking towards the stairs and leaving Dunban, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack alone.

Twilight Sparkle looked over towards Dunban and saw his heavily-scarred right arm.  She cringed slightly.  Applejack, however, examined it more closely with a peculiar interest.  Dunban examined the two ponies before him with similar reactions.

“Out of all the guests that have visited me, you two are by far the most unusual.”  He noted.

“We’ve been getting that a lot around these parts, Dunban.  My name is Applejack, and this here is Twilight Sparkle.  Just call her Twi’ or Twilight.”  Applejack responded with a good-natured smile.

“I see.  But, variety is the spice of life, is it not, Applejack?”  Dunban stated with a light-hearted chuckle.

“Yep.  I’m actually more interested with that scarring on your right arm.  Shulk said something about you being hurt by the Monado.”  Applejack replied.

“So Shulk showed you two the Monado then?  Though I was capable of wielding the Monado, it constantly rejected me.  It hurt to wield it, but I needed to do what I needed to do to protect everyone.  By the time the Battle of Sword Valley ended in the favor of the Bionis forces, my right arm gave up on me.”  Dunban recalled.

Twilight Sparkle examined the black and white photo on the nightstand, her interest caught by the people within the photo.

“You are here, and there’s Dickson.  But, who is that man to the left?”  She asked.

In that moment, Dunban’s cheery smile changed into a serious frown.

“That is Mumkhar.  He was a war buddy of mine.  That was until he left Dickson and me to fend for ourselves so that he could claim the Monado for himself when we would die.  We managed to survive that encounter and win, but I will never forgive him for deserting us like that.”  Dunban stated.

Hearing his words, Twilight Sparkle frowned slightly.  The contrast between the pictured fantasy with smiling faces depicting closeness with the harsh reality of betrayal dampened her mood.

“That must have been hard to deal with.  In a way, it reminds me when how one of my friends was tricked into giving away her sense of loyalty for betrayal.  It’s all better now, though, and I’m in the midst of forgiving the one who tricked her.”  She stated.

“It seems like this trickster has caused you a lot of pain, Twilight.  Of course, if it were me, I would have given him a good bashing for hurting my friends.”  Dunban remarked, eliciting a fit of nervous giggling from Twilight Sparkle.

“Well, we did something like that.  No violence was involved, however.”

Applejack looked up onto the wall, seeing an image of Fiora and Dunban with large smiles on their faces.

“So this must be Fiora in the picture then?”  She asked, rewarded with a smiling nod from Dunban.

“Indeed.  She’s my younger sister.  I know we don’t look too similar to each other, but we still are very close to each other.  We are all that we have, you know.”  Dunban stated.  “My parents died after Fiora was born, so I had to play the role of being the parent and raise her.  She’s blossoming into a beautiful woman.”

Dunban’s words struck the center of Applejack’s heart.  She stayed still there for the moment, pondering on his words.  Finally, she smiled, turning around and facing him.

“You’re real strong, Dunban.  I can respect that about you.”  She happily said.

“I try, Applejack.  I try.”  Dunban somberly stated.  “You know, you two look as if you can take on anything in your path.  Have you tried your hand at fighting yet?”

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack’s ears jolted upwards from the nature of the question.

“Ummm… we don’t actually fight unless if we don’t have a choice but to fight.  Why did you ask that question, Dunban?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

Dunban stood up from his bed with a smile brimming with enthusiasm.  He walked over towards a nearby drawer, opening it and pulling out a short-sleeved shirt of a blue color.  He tossed it over his head and put it on.

“Call me crazy, but you two definitely have the spirits that would make fine warriors.  I can see it in your eyes; once you start with something, you won’t stop until you see it to its end.  Am I not wrong?”  He stated.

“Well, you aren’t wrong, per se, but fights just only end up with endless violent cycles.”  Twilight Sparkle rhetorically answered.

“Well, follow me.  I got some weapons that you two will be interested in.”  Dunban said, ignoring the intent of Twilight Sparkle’s words.

Applejack shrugged, walking downstairs with Dunban.  Twilight Sparkle groaned audibly and followed the two downstairs.





Shulk sat on a bench in a park just outside of the Colony, looking down on the ground with a somber expression on his face.

“The Monado… it’s the only sword that’s effective against the Mechon armour.  They say that before time began, it was wielded by the Bionis.  The same Bionis that we all live on.  It must have a secret.  That’s how Dunban was able to destroy so many Mechon, and why he lost the use of his right arm.  And what is with the sudden appearance of these new creatures?  Are they a sign connected with the Monado?  If only I can just unlock its power, then things will make more sense.”

“Shulk!”  Fiora shouted, running up the stairs to the park and interrupting Shulk’s train of thought.

“Fiora!”  Shulk shouted, seeing Fiora happily hold a metal box from its strap.

Fiora sat down next to Shulk, passing him the box.  Shulk opened its contents, revealing a sandwich, stew and cup within.  Immediately, he grabbed the sandwich and cup and began consuming the contents.

“This is great!  It tastes so good!”  Shulk happily called out.

“Really?”  Fiora skeptically asked, leaning her body over to see Shulk’s face.

“It’s amazing!”  Shulk called out, downing the beverage in his hand.

“Oh, Shulk.  You say that every day.”  Fiora stated with a sigh.

“Not quite.  It’s always delicious.  But today it’s amazing.”  Shulk reasoned.

“Really?”  Fiora asked, her neck getting outwards with anticipation.

“Yeah.”

“Thank goodness!  I used some special herbs and spices today.  So, if you said it was the same as usual, I’d know for sure you had no sense of taste.”  She said, resting her head on her cupped hands.

“What?”  Shulk replied with an oblivious tone.

“Oh, nothing.”

Both Shulk and Fiora sat at the bench, enjoying the sight of the lake, colony and white apparatuses the size of islands below.  Fiora smiled, feeling a gentle wind caress her skin.

“The breeze feels so good.”  She stated with a euphoric smile.

“Yeah.  I had forgotten what it feels like.”  Shulk readily agreed.  “I never thought it would be so quiet here.”

Fiora leaned forward with a grin on her face.

“You’re spending too much time with Reyn.  You’re getting used to all the noise he makes.”

“Yeah, maybe.”  Shulk responded with a small shrug and laugh.  Fiora grinned with a smile on her face.

“It’s so peaceful.  You know, Shulk, I hope everyday can be like this, always.”  She stated.

Shulk stared at the ground for a moment, his eyes barking at him with curiosity.

“Fiora, did you happen to notice anything strange with the crowd in Colony 9 today?”  He asked, turning his head towards Fiora’s direction.

“Not really.  It’s just the same as every other day.  Why do you ask, Shulk?”  Fiora questioned with a confused smile.

“Well, it’s just that today, I’ve met some strange creatures today that call themselves ponies.  I’ve only seen five of them, but it’s implied that there are many more ponies within the colony.  One of the ponies even says that she’s a princess from a different dimension.  I don’t know how that’s theoretically possible.”  Shulk answered.

“Oh?  Can you tell me more about them, Shulk?”  Fiora asked, leaning her head forward with interest.

“Apparently, they come from some land known as Equestria.  There are different types of them.  I left the two of them with Dunban to give him some company.  The other three are with Reyn and the soldiers since they want to serve as soldiers for Colony 9 while they are here.”  Shulk responded.

In that moment, an alarm blared out throughout the entire colony.

“The debris siren.”  Shulk stated, staring at two large sheets of stone falling from the sky.

“Strange.  There hasn’t been much falling lately.”

One of the apparatus islands directed its bulb towards the falling sheets.  From their tips, blue lasers shot out that aimed towards the debris.  The debris became destroyed in a smoky explosion.  Fiora packed the box within her bag while Shulk stood up from his seat.

“There might be more on the way.  The Anti-Air batteries can’t protect us out here.  Let’s get back to the lab.”  He said.

“Okay.”  Fiora complied, standing up from the bench and walking out with Shulk.





Dunban, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack walked a fair amount of distance away from the colony, down to a grassy area by the water’s edge.  Dunban inhaled deeply through his nose, a confident smile on his face.  In his left hand, he held a sturdy briefcase.

“This should be a good spot to train you girls in the art of combat.”  He said with enthusiasm.

“Again, Dunban, we don’t really fight.”  Twilight Sparkle innocently voiced.  “We would rather solve our problems by talking them out.”

A burst of hearty laughter erupted from Dunban’s mouth.  He looked back towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack, kneeling down towards their height levels and looking at both of them in their eyes.  A cocky smile was on his face.

“Not everything can be solved with words, dear Twilight and Applejack.  You’ve learned that the hard way at times, have you not?”  He asked.

“Well… there was that situation when the Changelings that invaded Canterlot, and I did see Twilight here battle Tirek in a super-powered fight with my very own eyes.”  Applejack stated, putting her right hoof underneath her chin while doing so.

“Then it is settled; you two will learn how to fight with these weapons.”  Dunban stated, opening the briefcase in the grasp of his left hand.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack looked into the box and saw a war hammer with a black edge and a stalk that looks as if even pony’s hooves can grasp.  Looking next to the war hammer, Twilight Sparkle noticed a viciously-curved blade with a holster that appears as if it can fit on her horn.  Both Twilight Sparkle and Applejack frowned nervously at the sight.

“Seriously?  These things look as if they can do more than harm a living being.”  Twilight Sparkle commented, levitating the horn blade next to her face.

“I’m with ya, Twi.  These weapons look as if they can break apart skulls.”  Applejack uneasily stated, grasping the war hammer with her hooves.

“That’s the idea!  On the Bionis, there are many monsters that wouldn’t be afraid to hurt its inhabitants.  So, we bring terror to them before they can bring terror to us.”  Dunban reasoned, standing up from his position.  He then pulled out a long blade from a sheath attached to his right hip.

Twilight Sparkle let out an exasperated sigh, levitating the holster of the blade to her horn.

“Alright, so we have our weapons, Dunban.  What’s next?”  She asked with very dull interest in her voice.

“I’m glad you asked, Twilight.  Tell me; are you familiar with combat arts?”  He asked.

“Not… really.”  Twilight Sparkle replied with nervous curiosity.

“Combat arts are essentially moves that one can use.  There are many different classifications of arts, but the main ones boil down to physical and ether arts.  Based off of how you two look, Applejack would be more suited to using physical arts and you would be more suited to using ether arts.  However, that doesn’t mean that they are exclusive one person.  I’m sure that you have physical arts, just like how Applejack has ether arts.  Understood?”  Dunban explained.

“Understood.  I’ve heard from Shulk that ether is this world’s equivalent to magic though, so I’m not sure if anything is really needed to restore ether levels.”  Twilight Sparkle replied.

“Just a bit of a few seconds of cooldown time is all.  It depends on which arts you use, after all.”  Dunban stated.  In that moment, several sizeable rocks began to shake, revealing orange crustaceans underneath.  “It seems like some Beach Krabbles decided to give us a few training dummies.  I’ll show you how one properly uses arts.”

Dunban ran up towards the Krabble with sword in hand.  With a powerful swing of his sword, Dunban struck the Krabble in its shell.  The Krabble turned around and clasped its claws, running towards Dunban.  Dunban held his left arm out and pointed the tip of his blade towards the Krabble.

“Gale Slash!”  He shouted with winds surging underneath his feet.  He dashed forward, not moving his legs in the slightest, and thrust his blade forward and pierced through the Krabble.  Immediately after, his foot flashed in a pink energy.  “Electric Gutbuster!”  He shouted, kicking the Krabble and knocking it off-balance.  His left fist lit up in a green energy, he launched it forward against the Krabble “Steel Strike!”

The Krabble felt the sheer force of the fist hit it.  Already having wobbly legs, it got knocked over on its back, its many feet moving quickly in an attempt to get its balance.  Its vital liquids seeped out of its stab wound until it stopped moving.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack stared wide-eyed at the fallen Krabble, their eyes widened and jaws dropped in shock.  Applejack raised a shaken hoof towards Dunban.

“Did you just…”  She barely stuttered out.

“Gale Slash is a very important art for me, as it allows me to continue into other moves that grant different effects after I use it.  It also makes those that are struck bleed for a period of time.  Electric Gutbuster is an art I would use after using Gale Slash, knocking my opponent off-balance.  It was then when I would use Steel Strike to topple them.  The combination of those moves combined with the damage from bleeding out finished off that Krabble like how Reyn finishes off his curry.”  Dunban proudly proclaimed.

“I don’t know whether to laugh at that joke you’ve made, or feel horrified that you made that as a comparison to taking a life.”  Twilight Sparkle stated with her voice drenched in uncertainty.

“Now, Twilight, one shouldn’t overthink morals within battle.  Rather, one should just act and use every single opportunity to overwhelm his or her foe in battle.  You can only win a battle if your foe is rendered incapacitated under all costs.”

Listening to Dunban’s words, it felt as if a blood vessel within Twilight Sparkle’s brain ruptured.

“What did Shulk get Applejack and me in?”  She said softly to herself.

In that moment, a group of angry Beach Krabble walked up towards the group of three.  Dunban smiled and pointed his blade towards them while Twilight Sparkle and Applejack gulped on air and backed up slightly.

“Well, looks like we have no other choice but to fight!  These Krabble consider us a threat right now.”  Dunban stated.

“Shouldn’t that be a cue for us to, oh I don’t know, leave?!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted.

“They are just Krabble, Twilight.  If anything, this large amount of monsters will prove to be the most fun I’ve had since I was first bed-ridden.”

“What?!  Do you mean that you brought us out here to fight creatures just because you were bored?!”  Twilight Sparkle screamed with fire burning in her voice.

“I might have implied that, yes.  But, it was mostly to teach you girls to hone your warrior’s spirit and get you into the swing of what is done on the Bionis.”  Dunban explained.  “Now, are you two going to run away like cowards or be real warriors and stand up to these Krabble?”

Twilight Sparkle opened her mouth, only to be interrupted by Applejack.

“I’ll stand up with ya, Dunban.  No Apple should run away from a situation in front of them!  Plus, this hammer feels natural around my hooves and is just screaming to be used.”  Applejack responded.

Twilight Sparkle looked towards Dunban, Applejack and the horde of Krabble around them.

“Well, if Applejack is with you, then I guess I have to be with you as well.  I don’t think your sister would appreciate seeing you fight in this condition though.”  She reluctantly stated.

“Now, now, Twilight, she doesn’t need to find out.  Thank you for not running away from me, Twilight and Applejack.”  Dunban stated with a laugh.  “Now we’ll be able to show all these Krabble the wrath of each warrior’s spirit!”
	
> The Battle and Tephra Cave
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight Sparkle readied her horn blade and Applejack moved her war hammer into position in the face of the horde of the Beach Krabbles.

Applejack ran towards the closest Krabble with the hammer in hoof.  With a mighty swing, she smashed the blunt part of the hammer against the Krabble’s shell.  Dunban ran after three Krabbles, and Twilight Sparkle faced off against a group of five Krabbles.

“Hyah!”  Applejack cried out, swinging her hammer against the Krabble in her path.  She leaped into the air, flipped and aimed the hammer down towards her unsuspecting victim.  “Hammer Burst!”  She shouted, the hammer striking the ground and producing a sizeable shockwave with an orange color.  The Krabble directly hit by it took massive damage while the other Krabble were knocked off-balance.

“Good, Applejack!  Keep it up!”  Dunban stated, slashing away some of the Krabble in his path.

Twilight Sparkle charged towards the horde, swinging her head diagonally, vertically and horizontally.  Several Krabble were hit, but they still continued towards her.  She backed up slightly in the face of the swarm, but her eyes flashed with brilliance.

“Wait, I have arts!”  Her horn flashed with a lavender color, and it was aimed towards a single Krabble.  “Magic Spark!”  She shouted, a burst of energy shooting out of her horn and striking the Krabble back.  “Yes!  Now let’s see if I can do that again.”  She said, charging her horn once more.  All what she was given was a disappointing flicker of energy.

Dunban, whose blade was clashing against the Krabble, looked towards Twilight Sparkle.

“I might need to remind you that all arts have a bit of a cooldown time to them, Twilight.”  Dunban stated, a Krabble throwing its right claw towards him, which he narrowly dodged.

“Yeehaw!”  Applejack shouted, pulling a rope out of nowhere and hitching it onto a Krabble.  “Gotcha, pardner.”  She smiled, reeling in the Krabble and whacking it back with her hammer.  “Don’t think I’m done with you yet!”  She stated, pulling back the Krabble and hitting it once more.  That Krabble let out its death cry.

Twilight Sparkle, who watched the Lasso-Rasso Hoedown, felt a burst of confidence within her.  She grinned widely.

“Nice one, Applejack!  Keep up the pressure!”  She called out, feeling the rhythm of battle get to her.  “Now, how about you Krabble take this on for size?!”  Her horn sparked with life once more, charging up with radiant energy.  “Light shot!”

Suddenly, a ball of white light emerged from the tip of Twilight Sparkle’s horn, firing directly towards a Krabble.  The Krabble struck by it got knocked far back.

“Good, Twilight!  That was a nice shot!”  Dunban called out, a host of Krabbles bleeding out behind him.

“I’ll go after that Krabble.  Cover my flank, Dunban and Applejack!”  Twilight Sparkle commanded, dashing after the Krabble towards the edge.

“You heard your friend, Applejack.  Let’s be good companions and aid her in her assault!”  Dunban announced.

Applejack, meanwhile, smacked away the last of the Krabble she was dealing with.

“Way ahead of you, Dunban!”  She announced, both Dunban and herself running towards Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight Sparkle ran towards the sandy shore, next to the still water where the Krabble was.  The Krabble, gradually being able to move, felt a sharp blade go through its body.

“Gotcha!”  She shouted, pulling back her blade.

Dunban and Applejack ran towards her, smiles on their faces.

“So, it seems as if my assumptions were correct, Twilight.  You do, in fact, possess the Warrior’s Spirit.”  He commented.

“I thought that this would have been mindlessly slaughtering innocent creatures.  It turns out that it’s all about position and strategy along with some heated action.  Fighting these battles out is just as interesting as reading through the Theory of Magic by Starswirl the Bearded!”  Twilight Sparkle called out.

“You know, I didn’t really think much of it before, but this pest control is a lot more fun than I thought!”  Applejack compliantly stated.

Before the three, the corpse of the Krabble transformed into a wooden treasure chest within a pillar of golden light, prompting a curious observation by Twilight Sparkle.

“Beating the monsters of your world rewards us with treasure chests?”  She asked.

“Ah yes, I almost forgot that information.  It’s a peculiar feature, but you will never know what you will get until you open a chest.  We also have more chests back there.”  Dunban replied, pointing back at the chests back towards the shoreline.  Applejack whistled with an impressed note.

“Color me surprised!  If those chests have valuable stuff in them, it’d be able to support my family for at least a year!”  She stated, suddenly frowning at her words.  “I just hope they are okay.”

Twilight Sparkle walked over towards Applejack and put her right front hoof on her right shoulder.

“I know that they are okay, Applejack.  If we ended up in this world around civilization, then they should have done so as well.”  She comforted.

“Thanks, Twi.  That really means a lot to me.”  Applejack responded with a growing smile.

Within a nearby grassy patch, a caterpillar the size of a carriage with foliage and brown flesh popped out of the ground.  Bronze spikes covered the top of its body and it has fourteen white legs and a misshapen tail.  Dunban quickly hardened the grip on his sword, staring at the caterpillar fiercely.

“That… doesn’t look like any caterpillar I’ve seen.”  Twilight Sparkle commented, her face staring at the caterpillar in confusion.

“First of all, Twilight, that’s not a caterpillar; it’s a caterpile.  Second of all, this is not some ordinary caterpile; it’s a unique monster known as a Verdant Bluchal.  If you wish to engage it in battle, then you have to take some precautionary measures.  Even if unique monsters are in the same class as other monsters, those unique monsters will always be more powerful than others around their level.”  Dunban warned.

“Should we fight it, Twilight?  That thing does look somewhat menacing.”  Applejack asked, her right front leg twitching slightly.

“I say we go for it.  If we are together, then we cannot lose!”  Twilight Sparkle called out with a confident smile.  She ran towards the creature and shot a Magic Spark towards its direction.  The blast struck it, catching its attention.  The creature quickly slithered towards Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Dunban.

“Get ready, it’s about to attack!”  Dunban called out.
The Verdant Bluchal rolled up into a ball and dashed towards Twilight Sparkle with unreal speed.

“Gah!”  She shouted, knocked back by the surprisingly strong blow.  The Verdant Bluchal then engaged back into its straight form and charged after Applejack.

“Wait, what?”  She stated before she felt the force of a full-blown tackle knock into her.

Applejack was pushed into the ground alongside Twilight Sparkle.  Their eyes and teeth were clenched, the two ponies staving off the pain in their system.  Dunban looked at the Verdant Bluchal with a fiery stare in his eyes.

“You hurt my friends!  I’ll be sure to do more than hurt you!”  He shouted, running up towards the Caterpile.  Suddenly, a storm of blossoms surrounded him.  “Born in a world of strife!”  He shouted, slashing the Caterpile diagonally.  “Against the odds!”  He shouted, performing a horizontal slash.  “We will fight!  Blossom Dance!”  He finished, slashing the Caterpile down the center with two strikes.

“That move looks a bit different than your other arts, Dunban.”  Twilight Sparkle stated, slowly standing up with Applejack.

“That’s my Talent art.  It’s different from other arts in the sense that it is your own personal skill, and thus has its own conditions.  Normally, it’s just striking the other monster to fill it.”  Dunban stated, the Caterpile shaking off the blows as if they were nothing.

“Understood.  Looks like I understood what that art is for.”  Twilight Sparkle stated in epiphany.  She turned towards Applejack with a smile on her face.  “Ready to show this worm why you are the strongest mare in Ponyville?”

“No, but I am ready to show why I am the strongest mare in all of Equestria.”  Applejack snidely remarked, smiling deviously.

The two ponies ran towards Dunban, who was barely dodging and blocking the wrath of the Verdant Bluchal.

“Let’s see if this works.”  Twilight Sparkle stated, closing her eyes and letting the magic flow through her horn.  Her teeth were clenched as pure magic pulsed through her entire horn and body.  “Can’t… control it!”

With a mighty alicorn’s roar, Twilight Sparkle was surrounded in a field of pure magic that expanded outwards.  Dunban’s eyes widened, the grip on his blade loosening up.

The Verdant Bluchal got caught in the expanding blast radius, its body disintegrating into pieces.  Dunban and Applejack quickly rushed in towards the field.  The field dissipated and Twilight Sparkle fell into Dunban's left arm, overlooked by Applejack.

“That… wasn’t supposed to happen.  I was supposed to trap the Caterpile within a cube that would slowly damage it over time and cut its speed.”  She stated.

“I don’t know if you know, but when that surge of ether passed through your horn, I saw the ring around it flash.”  Dunban stated.

“My ring?”  Twilight Sparkle asked, looking up towards the ring on the base of her horn.

“Dunban!!!”  A scream shouted from above a cliff, prompting Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Dunban to look towards the cliff.  From it, Shulk, Reyn, and a very mad Fiora stood at the edge.  The trio of Homs jumped down onto the ground.

“Fiora!  What a very inconvenient time for your arrival!”  Dunban stated, visibly shaken by his sister’s sudden appearance.

“I was actually going to join up with Shulk and Reyn on their excursion into Tephra Cave to locate ether cylinders, but then the three of us saw an explosion of ether in this area.  Now, what are you doing out of bed, and why do you have a sword in your left hand?”  Fiora asked with ferocity.

“Ummm, well, I wanted to show Twilight and Applejack here the way of the warrior.”  Dunban responded nervously.  Fiora looked towards the two ponies next to him, and her angry expression became pacified into a cheerful smile by their sight.

“Aren’t you two just adorable?  Shulk and Reyn told me all about you two ponies.  Did my brother drag you into battle, by any chance?”  She asked.

“Yes, he did.  At first, we were against it because we are normally pacifists.  Then, when we got into the flow of battle, we were surprised with the feelings that overcame us.  I found a unique monster over there and, well, I kind of grew a bit prideful and took it on.  It was a mistake on my part.”  Twilight Sparkle explained, hopping out of Dunban’s left arm.

Fiora looked towards Dunban, her smile disappearing and her teeth viciously born towards him.

“I want you back in our home, Dunban.  When I get back from Tephra Cave, you and I are going to have a serious talk about bringing those that do not wish to initially fight into a fight.”

“Y-yes, Fiora.  I’ll go back home this very instant.”  Dunban stuttered out, intimidated by his sister.

“I don’t want to say anything, Dunban, but your sister is some kinds of frightening when she’s mad.”  Applejack commented, unnerved.

Fiora smiled once more, kneeling down towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack’s levels.

“So my brother taught you girls how to fight then?  I can see the weapons on you.”  She asked.

“Erm, yes.  That does appear to be the case.”  Twilight Sparkle sheepishly responded.

“Well, would you like to accompany Shulk, Reyn and I to Tephra cave, then?    We can really use all the help we can get.”  Fiora requested.

“Yeah!  That was a big explosion you did there, Twilight.  You would be an awesome in battle.”  Reyn responded, pounding his fist into the palm of his hand.

“I won’t force you if you two do not wish to come with us.  After all, Tephra Cave is filled with many monsters and-“

“I’ll accompany you!”  Twilight Sparkle hastily stated, interrupting Shulk.  “I mean, Applejack and I would wish to join you three.  I want to see how you three work as a team and explore more of this world.”

“Well, if it will help bring me closer to getting my family together, then I agree with Twilight.”  Applejack stated.

“That’s wonderful news.  Maybe I get to learn more about you two.”  Fiora happily responded.  “Dunban, I want you back home immediately.  Please don’t give me needless worry by wandering out here in your condition.”

“I’ll… try, Fiora.”  Dunban obediently said.





Shulk, Reyn, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack walked up a cragged path filled with trees and other scenery.  Twilight Sparkle was reading through a manual, skimming over its content.  Shulk looked back towards her with a curious expression on his face.

“Are you reading up on combat arts, Twilight?”  He asked.

“Yes, I am.  According to this, your arts have position-based bonus effects, which make you stealth-based, Reyn’s arts draw all the attention of the enemy to him in addition to having arts that would allow him to tank the enemy, Fiora’s arts are quick and deadly, Applejack’s arts specialize more in Area of Effect damage and my arts are a combination of offensive and defensive-based ether arts.”  Twilight Sparkle replied.

“It seems as if you figured that all by just the few arts we can use.”  Shulk happily stated.

“That’s Twi’ for you, Shulk.  She’s very studious.”  Applejack commented.

“You know, Twilight, maybe you and I could do some research after this.  You definitely show the dedication for the task.”

“It would be my honor to do research with you, Shulk.  Right now, though, I’m still finding out the best combination of partners to go with each other.  According to this manual, a maximum of three combat-capable members of the group can be in battle at a time.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.

The group of five made it towards a gaping cave at the end of the path, along a cliff that overlooked the lake.

“So, Fiora, why is it that you are with Shulk and Reyn on something for the duty of the fortress?  You seem like you have other things to do.”  Applejack asked.

“I forced them to have me join them.  They already forgot the transport cases that I have on my back, after all.  I’d feel much better if I knew where they were at every single given moment.”  Fiora answered with an innocent smile, holding out several steel cylinders from her hand.

“I knew she couldn’t trust us.”  Reyn said to himself in annoyance.

“Don’t be like that, Reyn.  After all, you still get to go into Tephra Cave to do your duty and you still can give those monsters your Reyn Time.”  Fiora reasoned.

“Reyn Time?”  Twilight Sparkle asked out of curiosity.

“It’s something he made up when encountering monsters.  I find it to be funny.”  Fiora responded.

“Ohhh.”  Twilight Sparkle stated while the group entered the cave’s mouth.





The inside of the cave was damp and dark.  Drips of water can be heard from stalactites down the tunnel.

“Well, it’s nice to see that the caves are just as creepy over here as they are at home.”  Applejack commented, her teeth clenched and her body moving slowly.  A loud screech echoed throughout the entire cave.  “What was that?!”  Her courage at their edge, she shouted.

“Calm down, Applejack.  It’s just a Vang.”  Reyn answered.  “You’re jumpier than a Bunnit hopped up on some Black Kiwis.  Don’t tell me you are afraid of caves.”

“Heck no!  I’m an earth pony, and an Apple at that!  We aren’t afraid of anything!”  Applejack announced with much bravado in her voice, ignorant of the fact that a bat-like creature with a lilac face and a purple body roosted on her Stetson.

“Ummm, Applejack; you got something on your hat.”  Slowly pointing to her hat, Shulk said.

Applejack’s eyes slowly widened.  She lifted the Stetson off of her head and saw a giant bat that was sleeping inside of it.  She screamed, tossing her hat towards Twilight Sparkle.  Twilight Sparkle, holding the Stetson with the bat in it in her hooves, shrieked and tossed it immediately to Reyn.

“Don’t go throwing it at me!”  Reyn shouted, passing the Stetson over towards Fiora.

“Don’t toss that hat with that Vang on there at me!”  Fiora retorted, smacking the Vang off of Applejack’s hat.  “Here, Applejack.”

“T-that was a Vang?!  I thought that was just a monstrous bat.  I didn’t think that was a Vang!”  Applejack stated.

“It seems like the tough cowpony is afraid of a little Vang!”  Reyn teased.

“Shut it, Reyn!  You shouted like a sissy as well.  At least I was caught by surprise by that thing.”  Applejack sharply responded, putting the Stetson back on her hat.

In that moment, the Vang came back with five other Vangs.  They all bore their fangs in harmful intent.  Reyn smiled, extending his shield lance out.

“Yeah, it’s Reyn Time now!”  Dashing towards the Vangs, he shouted.  Fiora pulled out two butterfly knives and Applejack pulled out her hammer from her back.

“These no-good varmints startled me!  I’ll teach them a lesson they won’t forget!”  She stated.

Twilight Sparkle glanced over to Shulk, who was watching Reyn, Fiora and Applejack fight against the group of Vangs.

“I question whether Applejack is good against fighting flying enemies right now.  Her best art, Hammer Burst, only affects enemies on the ground.  She has her Lasso-Rasso Hoedown art, though, which should deal quite a large number of damage to a Vang and all other Vangs in their direction.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Twilight.”  Shulk stated, Reyn punching a Vang with his fist, Fiora striking a Vang from its back and Applejack bucking a Vang against a wall.  “See?  The three of them are cleaning up nicely.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Reyn smashed his shield lance into the last Vang, ending its life.  He wiped the sweat off of his brow.

“Man, whatta bunch of jokers!”  He sounded out.

“You tell ‘em, Reyn!”  Applejack stated, hoisting the hammer back onto her back.

“The two of you are really quite smashing with those weapons.”  Fiora commented.

As they traveled down the cave, they came upon a fork in a road; the straight path led into a very open room while the path on the left continued past the area.

“Hold up, everybody.  I think we should take a left here.”  Reyn announced.  “Many soldiers have taken the straight path and ended up being mauled by the monsters there.  At the very least, taking this path would guarantee that we don’t have to face that monster.”

“Wow, Reyn!  That was the smartest thing I have heard come out of your mouth.”  Twilight Sparkle positively commented.

“You make it sound like I never have anything intelligent to say, Twi’.”  Reyn chided with a tongue click.

“That comment about the names of my guards didn’t exactly do you any favors, you know.”

“I know, I know.  But, that’s all water under the bridge now.”

The group took the left path, walking across it.  With a cheerful smile on his face, Reyn looked towards Twilight Sparkle.

“You know, Twilight; Plain Donut, Ice Cream and Sprinkles all got accepted into the Colony 9 Defence Force.  They were born naturals.”

“Well, that’s good to know.  I hope that they don’t treat my guards like common animals, though.  I appreciate all the work they do.”  Twilight Sparkle happily responded.

Bearing a frown with her teeth clenched, Applejack shied her head away from Fiora’s face.  Fiora looked towards Applejack with a smile.

“So Applejack, where did you used to live before you ended up here?  You sound like someone that was born and raised on a farm.”

“Actually, I was.  My family and I continued a lineage of apple farming for Ponyville.  I’m a 4th Generation Ponyville applebucker.”  Applejack replied.  “I live with my older brother, Big Macintosh, my younger sister, Applebloom, and my grandma, Granny Smith.”

“Where are your parents?”  Fiora asked with a wide-eyed expression.  Applejack let out a sad sigh.

“They’re not with us no more.  My mom died from birth complications with Applebloom, and my dad died the day after, too distraught to defend himself against Timberwolves.”  Hearing these words, Fiora tilted her head away, frowning.  “You know, Fiora; Dunban told me about how your folks are dead as well.”

“Yes, that’s true.  My mother died in a similar way your mother died, giving birth to me.  My father served in the Defence Force when the Mechon attacked.  He… didn’t make it out alive.  From that day on, I was raised by my older brother.  When I saw his body mauled the way it was last year, I wanted to cry.  I didn’t want to lose my older brother and father figure.  I know I was a bit tough on him today, but I just can’t stand the thought of being alone.”  She stated, almost on the verge of tears.

“Well, that ain’t all true.  You still have Shulk and Reyn.  By the way, how did you all get to know each other?”  Applejack asked.

“We were friends since our childhood.”  Smiling once more, Fiora answered.  “Reyn’s the fun guy and Shulk’s just a dork.  We formed a trio that can never be broken up, always getting into various misadventures.”

“Gosh, you almost sound like Applebloom and her friends.  They go on many adventures, hoping to earn their cutie marks one day.”  Chuckling, Applejack stated.

“You mean those marks on Twilight and yours’ flanks?  I was meaning to ask why those marks were there.”

“Yep, cutie marks.  When a pony becomes of age and realizes their destiny, they get one of these marks on their flanks.”  She said, pointing to her cutie mark.  “My sis and her friends are trying everything in the book to get one.  The funny thing is that they have their talents, but haven’t realized them yet.  Everypony can see it, but it’s better if they found out for themselves.”

While Fiora and Applejack talked, Shulk, Reyn and Twilight Sparkle walked together, glancing towards each other occasionally.

“Twilight, I think Fiora might be mad at me.”  With a shaken voice, Shulk uttered out.

“Why would that be the case?”  Twilight Sparkle asked, looking up towards him.

“It’s because I wanted to hold the Monado just to see how it was like.  I lost control of it and cut through some of Shulk’s machinery and Fiora.  Thankfully, the Monado can’t cut through Homs and Nopon, so she wasn’t hurt.”  Reyn explained.

“That’s an interesting feature on the Monado, but this still doesn’t explain to me how Fiora would be mad at Shulk.”  Hearing Twilight Sparkle’s words, Shulk’s head slumped below his shoulders.

“I went straight for the broken machinery rather than Fiora.  It’s something small, but I think I gave some bad messages there.”  He regretfully stated.  Twilight Sparkle put her left front hoof on Shulk’s shoulder, causing his head to jet out of his shoulders.

“Listen, Shulk.  It isn’t your fault that you reacted the way you did.  I haven’t seen the Monado in action yet, but the power it has must be destructive if it can cut a swathe through mechanical beings.  Even if what you did was somewhat jerk-like, you did what you did because you knew she was fine.  Don’t beat yourself up over it.”  She stated.

“Thanks, Twilight.  I needed that.”  Shulk responded.

Eventually, the damp cave became brighter and more technologically advanced as the group continued along the path.  The group walked into a room cemented with metal.  Storage Boxes were neatly organized around the place and a metallic ramp that led to the next level caught their eyes.

“Are these the Mag Mell ruins?”  Fiora asked.

“Haven’t you been here before?”  Reyn responded, scratching his head.

“Nope.”

“The Defence Force often uses this for training.  But I come here to do research.”  Shulk explained.  “It’s not really a place that people go.”

“Not surprising.  There are monsters around here that use Mechon parts as armour.”  Reyn stated.

“Wait, what are Mechon parts doing over here?  Does that mean that this place was built by the Mechon?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“I don’t think so.  There’s a path for people to get in.  It might have been a vehicle of some kind.”  Shulk replied.

“Vehicles like those floating bins I saw back at the fortress?”  Applejack questioned.

“A vehicle?  But it’s so big…”  In awe, Fiora stated.

“It’s amazing technology.  I wonder what kind of people made it.”  Shulk pondered.

“I ain’t got a clue.”  Reyn replied with a head shake.

“Maybe it might be other people with more advanced control over ether?  It could be possible.”  Twilight Sparkle hypothesized.

“Possibly.  Regardless, we have to continue on forward if we want to get those ether cylinders.”  Shulk stated.

Within the corridors of the higher level, various soldiers and even some ponies were seen maintaining the halls and keeping order in the place.  The soldiers and ponies within chatted amiably with each other.

“This is incredible!  Earlier today, Applejack was met with a spear to her throat.  Now, I see ponies among the guards, acting as if they are best friends.”  Shulk commented.

“I think they may have come at an understanding, Shulk.  Now that I think about it, your people share similar behavior with my kind.  With a strange, new encounter, we tend to be nervous.  But, the more we get used to the stranger; we open up and just have a pleasant time.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.

“Yep.”  A deep voice called down from the hall.  Applejack’s eyes widened and a large smile appeared on her face.

“Is that you, Big Mac?!”  She called out.  At the end of the hallway, a red-coated earth pony stallion with a blond-green mane appeared.

“Applejack!”  His mouth curling into a grin, Big Macintosh shouted.

The two siblings dashed towards each other and embraced each other by their front legs.  The sight brought heartfelt smiles onto the faces of Shulk, Reyn, Fiora and Twilight Sparkle.

“I thought I wouldn’t see you again!  This is where you’ve been all this time?”  Emotion and relief dripping from her tone, she questioned.

“Yep!”  Big Macintosh responded, his eyes beginning to water up.

The two ponies let go and stepped back from each other.  Lifting her right front hoof towards Big Macintosh’s face, Applejack smiled.

“You must have been so scared when you ended up in this world, Big Mac.  I can see that in your tears.”  She said, wiping away the stray tears.

Big Macintosh looked on Applejack’s back and saw a fierce-looking hammer on her back.

“Is that a weapon, Applejack?”  In a mix of a curious and disappointed voice, he asked.

“Ummm, yeah.  Sorry that I broke taboo, but this world’s pretty dangerous!  It ain’t as peaceful as back home.  These monsters will savagely attack others.”  Applejack explained.

“Hey, Big Mac, is that you?”  The voice of a small male adult called out.  A fair-skinned man with brown hair adorned in the Defence Force Soldier uniform walked into the hallway.  “I don’t think I have seen these ponies before.”  He said.

“Let me introduce you then, Randall.  This here is my sister, Applejack.  Over there is her friend, Twilight Sparkle.”  Big Macintosh stated, causing Twilight Sparkle and Applejack to wave their hooves.

“Howdy, Randall!  My older brother didn’t attempt to buck you yet, did he?”  Applejack asked.

“Nah.  In fact, he’s been a very good companion.  He doesn’t talk much, but we both just get along in our work.  So, what are you five doing here today?”  Randall replied, then questioned.

“We need ether cylinders from the Cylinder Hangar since we don’t have any at the fortress.  You think we can get some?”  Reyn asked.

“Of course you can.  Here, let me lead the way.”  Randall stated, waving his hand forward.  The group walked down the hall, ready for the challenges ahead.
	
> The Mechon Invade
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk, Reyn, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Big Macintosh and Randall all walked into an outdoor area with a perfect view of the lake and colony.  Tucked into a wall was a storage room filled with various handles within circular plates.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?  I’ll be going with Big Mac now to finish up on our duties.”  Randall directed.

“Wait!”  Applejack called out, just as Randall and Big Macintosh were ready to leave.  “Did you see Granny Smith by any chance, Big Mac?”  She asked.

“Nope.”  With a frown, a shake of his head and a sad tone, Big Macintosh replied.

“So if she ain’t here, and she ain’t in Colony 9, then she must be somewhere beyond that locked door in the hallway?”

“Maybe.”  Shrugging his shoulders, he said.  He then walked back inside the cave with Randall.  Applejack sighed.

“Hey, don’t worry about it, Applejack.  We’ll be able to find your grandma and your little sister.  Don’t feel so bummed out.”  With an upbeat voice, Reyn consoled.

“I know.  I just don’t know where they are.  They might be cold, hungry, and cold and hungry.”  Applejack uttered out.  “I know I should be grateful that Big Mac is safe, but I’m still worried about Granny Smith and Applebloom.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t know where my brother, my parents, or any of the other princesses are.  Regardless, we will find them all.  We just have to.”  With her right front hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, Twilight Sparkle comforted.  “Right now, we have to help Shulk, Reyn and Fiora with their current objective.”

Applejack nodded, going into the alcove where the three Homs were at with Twilight Sparkle following close by.

While the group was pulling out ether cylinders from the wall, sirens began to blare throughout the area.  From a gap in the ceiling, two white droids with horseshoe-shaped guards above them and a single red eye appeared.  Fiora gasped slightly.

“Are they Mechon?”  She asked.

“I don’t know.”  Shulk replied seriously.  “But it looks like we have to destroy them!”

“In that case, just leave them to me!”  Reyn furiously shouted.

“Hold up, Reyn.  Would you mind if I had a chance to deal with these robots?  I’ve been meaning to test a few try a few things with Fiora and Shulk.”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Sure, Twilight.  Just remember to give them Twilight Time!”  Reyn stated, sheathing back his weapon.

“Ummm… okay then…”  Folding out the blade compartment from her weapon, Twilight Sparkle uttered out.

With double knives in her hands, Fiora wasted no time with going after the first droid.  Twisting one of her wrists, she thrust a knife into the droid.

“Screw Edge!”  The droid’s system became locked, hovering around awkwardly.

“Good, Fiora!  Now let me try a new art on this.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.  Her horn flashing, the tip of her horn ignited into a green ball.  “Magic Cannon!”  She shouted, shooting the ball at the droid.  The droid immediately fell onto the ground, unable to move.

“Excellent shot, Twilight!”  Running towards the side of the droid, Shulk commented.  Holding his sword with two hands from the side of his head, he thrust his blade forward.  “Slit Edge!”

“Now it’s my turn!”  Fiora stated, holding out her two knives.  “Lacerate!”

She struck deep within the droid’s exoskeleton, causing oil to leak out of its system.

“Wait, that’s another art that inflicts bleed?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Yep.  Dunban showed you his Gale Slash, did he?”  Fiora asked, taking the blade out of the droid.

Shulk ran behind the droid and grasped the hilt of his sword with both hands.

“Back Slash!”  He shouted, striking it down and destroying it.

“Good job, Shulk!”  Twilight Sparkle happily called out.  “Now, let me imbue you with some power.”

Suddenly, Shulk found himself surrounded in a purple mist.  The shimmering stars within seeped into his skin.

“I feel stronger now.  What was that art you did?”  He asked.

“Alicorn’s Grace.  It’s an ether-type move that gives one of my allies increased physical damage output.”  Twilight Sparkle responded.

“I see.  So it looks like this robot is going to go down easy then.”  Shulk stated.  Holding out his sword to his left, he swung it horizontally.  “Stream Edge!”

The remaining droid that was hit by it had a bit of its armor chipped off.  Twilight Sparkle charged her horn once more, firing off her Magic Cannon art.  With the Droid down on the floor, Fiora dashed towards it and quickly jabbed it with her knife.

“Hidden Thorn!”  She shouted.  The droid’s sensors flared up from the art and its eye spun around randomly.

“Nice going, Fiora!”  Shulk called out.  He directed his attention towards the droid and moved behind it.  “Back Slash!”

With the power of the move, the droid became scrap metal.  Everyone in the area wiped their brows off with anticipation.

“Nice going, guys!  You really brought the pain today.”  Reyn commented.

“I’m impressed myself.  Those are some neat combinations you three did there.”  Applejack injected.

The team, content with their victory, grabbed the cylinders within the hangar.  Within this lapse of time, Reyn’s ears twitched once.  He turned around quickly.

“What’s going on?!”

“Listen.  What is that?”  Fearfully, Fiora asked.

“That sound…”  Shulk stated before he dashed out of the hangar, prompting Reyn, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack to follow with a similar speed.  “In the sky!”

As he said, a black machine with a blue tail blazed through the night sky, bringing a trail of light in its wake.  Behind it were several other flying machines that were less impressive in size and detail.

“It’s a…”  Astonished, Shulk began to say.

“This can’t be!”  Fiora squeaked out.

“No way!”  Reyn shouted.

Within the fleet, a flying ship that was black in color carried a myriad of mechanical beings underneath its wings, flying towards Colony 9.

“Mechon!”  Shulk finished.

“Wait, Mechon?  Those things up there are Mechon?!”  Twilight Sparkle asked with a wide-eyed expression.  “There’s so many of them!”

“How?”  Fiora questioned.  “Didn’t my brother destroy them all a year ago?”

With the ship above the town, a rainstorm of Mechon dropped into the town, raining with the fires of doomsday.

“Could the defense mechanism have responded to the Mechon?”  Shulk openly pondered.

“I don’t know, but we can’t just sit around and let those mechanical monsters destroy the Colony!  We need to get there, fast!”  Applejack declared, dashing over the ledge and jumping into the lake below.

“I agree!”  Reyn stated, running towards the ledge with the speed of a cheetah.

“You heard the two.  Let’s jump!”  Shulk ordered.  Everyone else ran after Reyn, jumping into the water.





In response to the blaring siren, the people and ponies of Colony 9 looked up into the sky.

“Hey… This siren!  It sounds different!”  A Homs soldier announced.

“Yeah.  Isn’t that Siren 2?”  Another soldier asked.

“It can’t be.”  Within the sky, the Mechon became visible to their eyes.  Panicked cries and screams sounded throughout the civilian districts.  “The Mechon?!”

“One large Mechon!”  A soldier on an anti-battery unit shouted through a phone upon seeing the folded Mechon in the sky.  “Ten carriers and an unknown number of units emerging from the carriers!”

An aged Homs soldier with a ludicrously pointed pink moustache held a phone in his right hand and menacingly scowled.

“You idiots!  Why didn’t you see this lot until they were right on top of us?!”  He screamed.

“But sir!  We thought the Mechon had all been wiped ou-“The soldier became interrupted by a blue ball blast hurdling towards him.  He screamed before the connection to the phone died.

“Oi!  What’s happening?!  Respond!”  The aged Homs soldier shouted as loudly as possible through the phone.  He banged the phone against the wall and looked up into the sky.  “Anti-Air Batteries one to three!  Why aren’t my targeting systems online?  Don’t let a single one into the colony!”

He then glanced towards Plain Donut, Ice Cream and Sprinkles, all who were now in pony-tailored uniforms of the soldiers of Colony 9.

“What is your command, Colonel Vangarre?”  Sprinkles asked with a diligent salute.

“Assemble everyone who can fight!  Evacuate the civilians to the shelter!  Get a move on, now!”  Vangarre shouted.

“Yes sir!”  All three of the ponies shouted, rushing out of the fortress.

“Fire at will!”  A Homs soldier on an Anti-Air Battery shouted.

From the guns on the batteries, a storm of green lasers fired upwards, lighting up the Mechon-filled sky with explosions and smoke.  One laser fired directly towards a carrier in the sky.  Just before it collided, the giant Mechon slipped in front of the laser, taking the blow.

“We got it!”  A soldier on the battery called out.  The smoke from the explosion settled, revealing a completely intact Mechon in the sky.  “No, wait!”

“What the…?!  Our weapons don’t work on them at all!”  Another soldier fearfully shouted.

The Mechon that was shot slowly unfolded itself, revealing a bulky humanoid-like shape.  It had a protruding horn that jetted up all the way from its back, claws that can stab through metal and nightmarishly white face with red eyes.

“What type of Mechon is that?!  I’ve never seen one like it!”  Intimidated to his wits, a soldier next to Vangarre asked.

“You slackers, fire!  Shoot it down!”  Vangarre shouted through his phone.

On his command, every available Anti-Air unit fired lasers directly towards the faced Mechon in the sky.  The Mechon smiled, twirling out of the way of each laser’s trajectory.  It then flew straight down towards a laser, slicing through the barrel with its long claws.  The soldiers within the battery desperately screamed as it was overtaken by a storm of explosions.

The Mechon rained down onto Colony 9, causing all the inhabitants to run with panic and fear.  Dunban, who watched everything unfold through his window, got up from his bed.  Holding his bad arm with his left hand, he staggered outside.





Shulk, Reyn, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack arrived at the bridge to the Commercial District, greeted by the fires of destruction and bipedal mechanical abominations terrorizing the people and ponies within the area.

One man, who was running away from a Mechon, tripped in front of the group.  The Mechon chasing him opened up the cannon on its right arm, forming three tendrils.  The man turned around and crawled backwards with eyes widened in fear.  A sharp shriek escaped from his mouth as the Mechon’s tendrils closed around his upper body.  The man was rendered limp, and the Mechon slurped his body into its arm.

“W-what in tarnation?!”  Her jaw dropped onto the floor, Applejack shouted.  “Did that robot just eat that man?”

“That’s horrible!”  Gasping behind her hooves, Twilight Sparkle stated.

“Twilight, Applejack, Fiora, I need you three to go around the colony and assist the civilians.  Reyn and I will be heading over towards the fortress to get the Monado.”  With a rise in his shoulders, Shulk ordered.

“Understood, Shulk.”  Twilight Sparkle complied

“You got it, pardner!”  Moving her hoof as if she wanted to give a thumbs up, Applejack stated.

“Are you sure we should be splitting up at this time, Shulk?  I don’t exactly feel comfortable with you and Reyn charging towards the fortress alone.”  Fiora reasoned.  Shulk gently placed his hands on Fiora’s shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“You don’t need to worry about me, Fiora.  I will be fine.  Just make sure that everyone here makes it through safely.”  He coaxed.

“Alright, Shulk.  I trust you.”  With a sheepish smile, Fiora responded.  She looked towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack with a commandeering face.  “Are you two ready to fight the Mechon?  I don’t know about the history of you two when it came to your foes, but this will be my most difficult foes.”

“We’re ready, Fiora.  It might be hard, but we’ll do everything in our power to make sure that those Mechon don’t hurt any more innocent people.”  Twilight Sparkle boldly proclaimed.

With a simple series of nods, Shulk and Reyn dashed towards the north.  More Mechon descending from the sky, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack readied their weapons.





All of the soldiers within the fortress stood within a line formation.  Vangarre stood in the center of the formation, staring down the line of Mechon in front of him.

“You blasted Mechon!  You think you can do what you want in our colony?!”  He shouted.  In that timeframe, Shulk and Reyn reached the bridge to the fortress, stunned at the sight before them.

“The Colonel!”  Shulk shouted.

“The guys!”  Reyn screamed.

The Mechon commenced their attack, ripping their way through the fleet of soldiers before them.  The soldiers fell back, running back towards the fortress.

“Men!  Don’t give up this position!  Run, and I’ll kill you myself!”  Vangarre threatened.

In that moment, the Faced Mechon dropped behind Vangarre.  Vangarre slowly turned his head back and looked directly into its face.  He stumbled backwards slightly.

“What the hell are you?  A Mechon with a face?!”  The two stared at each other, each second ticking away with increasing tensity.  Vangarre stared daggers into its eyes.  “Grin at me, will you?”

Saying these words, he aimed a two-handed gun directly into the Mechon’s face and charged the laser within.  Firing it, the recoil knocked him onto the ground while the laser exploded upon impact.  He screamed.  Looking towards the Face Mechon, his eyes widened in disbelief.

“What?!  Didn’t even dent it!”

The Faced Mechon looked on menacingly while the hordes of Mechon flowed into the fortress with neverending numbers.  A Mechon looked directly at Vangarre and charged towards him, opening up its right cannon.  Vangarre held his gun outward and stopped the vicegrip.

Meanwhile, four-legged Mechon in the shape of an arachnid hoisted onto a vehicle.  The Faced Mechon dug its claws into it, lifting it away effortlessly.  Seeing the struggling Vangarre, it tossed the vehicle towards him and the Mechon trapping him.  The vehicle exploding, he shrieked.  The Faced Mechon flew out of the fortress.

“I’ll make you Mechon pay!”  Reyn shouted, dashing towards the Mechon.

“Reyn, wait!”  Extending his right arm, Shulk called out.  He ran after Reyn, pulling out his sword.

Heading into the fortress, a large swarm of Mechon landed in front of them, blocking the path.  Turning around, another group of Mechon swamped the bridge to the Residential District.  Finally, a group of Mechon flew down towards the bridge to the Commercial District.  Shulk and Reyn stood back to back, seeing all of the Mechon around them.  Reyn clicked his tongue in frustration.

“Figures we’d be surrounded.”  He said.





Running past all of the buildings and trees glowing with light from the fire, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack stopped immediately at the sight of the wall of Mechon in front of them.

“They’re everywhere!”  Fiora shouted, whipping out her knives.

“I didn’t think that the Mechon would be able to assemble their forces this quickly.  They’re much smarter than what I give them credit for.”  Twilight Sparkle admitted, holding out her horn.

Applejack developed a cocky smile and held her hammer outwards.

“Well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.  Ain’t that right, Twi?”  She asked.

“That’s right, Applejack.  And these Mechon are big!”  Twilight Sparkle snidely replied.





Stream Edge!  Shulk shouted, swinging his sword and striking the sea of Mechon in front of him.

Holding his shield lance out, Reyn ran towards the group and thrust it towards the nearest one.

“Wild Down!”

The Mechon struck by it fell onto the ground, unable to move.  Reyn and Shulk slashed and beat apart the downed Mechon with every available move in their arsenal.

“Slit Edge!”

“Bone Upper!”  Punching the Mechon with his fist, Reyn shouted.

“Air Slash!”  Jumping into the air and slashing diagonally, Shulk called out.

“Hammer Beat!”  Slamming the guarder into the Mechon, Reyn stated.

“Back Slash!”

The Mechon stopped moving and whirring, exploding from the extreme damage it took.  Shulk looked back towards Reyn with a smile.

“How do you think I’m doing so far, Reyn?”

“Good speed, but it could be better.  Lucky for you, you have the Reyn to back you up!”  Reyn boisterously said.  With sword and guarder in hand, Shulk and Reyn ran over towards the rest of the Mechon.





Applejack whipped through the Mechon in front of her with her hammer, seemingly not hitting through their brazen armor.

“Please tell me there’s a way to defeat these Mechon, Fiora.”

Fiora, who was barely slicing through the Mechon, looked back towards Applejack.

“We’re going to need to Topple them.  Remember your Hammer Burst art?  Use that alongside Twilight’s Magic Cannon art and we should be able to damage the Mechon more easily.”  She stated.

Twilight Sparkle held off the Mechon in front of her, parrying each strike with her horn blade.  She turned towards Applejack, who jumped into the air.

“Hammer Burst!”  She shouted, smacking the ground with her hammer.  The Mechon within the range of the shockwave shook temporarily, knocked off-balanced by the strike.  They turned towards Applejack and walked towards her.  “Now it’s your turn, Twi!”

“Alright, Applejack!  Here goes nothing!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted, charging her horn up.  “Magic Cannon!”  Firing a green bolt from her horn, the Mechon closest towards Applejack fell over, unable to move.

“Good shot, Twilight!”  Fiora called out, rushing towards the downed Mechon.  “Lacerate!”  She called out.

“Let me get in there with a move of my own!”  Applejack eagerly stated, holding her hammer behind her with her right hoof in the stance of an iaijutsu practicioneer.  “Hammer Swing!”  She stated, tossing the hammer forwards that struck all the Mechon in an arched path.  The hammer coming to her, she expertly caught the handle with her teeth and placed it in her hooves.

“That move looks especially strong, Applejack!”  Twilight Sparkle commented.

“It’s all in the ankle, Twilight.”  Applejack responded with a smile.  Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack continued their attack further into the horde.





Shulk and Reyn stood next to each other, panting and visibly sweating.  The Mechon kept flowing into the battlefield like a raging river.

“That was a close one!”  Shulk stated.

“You were never cut out for this stuff.  You go!  I’ll take care of things here.”  Reyn ordered.

“You’re too out of breath to persuade me.”  Shulk snidely remarked.

“Tell me about it.”

An explosion sounded at the top of the obelisk above Shulk and Reyn, the tip falling down on them.  They both ran away from the looming shadow, diving into the ground and separating from each other.  A Mechon rushed after Reyn, opening up its cannon tendrils and tried to clamp him.

“Reyn, behind you!”  Shulk announced.

With swift reaction, Reyn looked behind him and held out his guarder, preventing the Mechon from making the squeeze.  Shulk jumped up from the ground and ran towards Reyn with the sword in his hand.  He began striking the Mechon that put its tendrils on Reyn’s guarder.

“Get outta here, Shulk!”  Struggling with the tendrils, Reyn uttered out.

“Don’t be stupid!”  The Mechon applies more pressure onto its arm, forcing Reyn further onto his back.  “Hold on!”

A war cry sounded out throughout the battlefield, the dozen of Mechon that walked towards Shulk and Reyn suddenly being dispatched.  Wielding the Monado, Dunban stabbed through the Mechon that held Reyn down, jumped over head with a flip and tossed the Mechon into a nearby support beam, shattering the Mechon with a fiery explosion.  The line of dispatched Mechon quickly exploded with blue flames.  Shulk and Reyn smiled.

“The Monado!”  Shulk stated, seeing Dunban’s body wreathed in blue electricity and the Monado, its blade opened up and shooting out a laser blade from the center, wielded in his left hand.

“Sorry I kept you waiting.”  Looking back towards Shulk and Reyn with a smile, Dunban coolly stated.

“Dunban!”

Shulk and Reyn ran up to Dunban’s side.

“Whoa yeah!  The Monado!  I knew you would pick that up again!”  Shulk commented.

“This is what I was waiting to see!”  Reyn added with an enthusiastic tone.

A score of Mechon approached the newly formed trio.  Dunban pointed the Monado towards the group of Mechon.

“Ready, lads?”

Saying this, Dunban swung the Monado.  A blue ‘機’ flashed within the ring of the hilt.  Then, a purple aura spread throughout the area and lit the three up within a violet aura.  With the blade in hand, Shulk ran towards the Mechon.  He horizontally slashed through the Mechon, cutting through the buttery armor.

“The power of the Monado… I’m really feeling it!”  He shouted.

“Don’t hog all the fun, Shulk!”  Stabbing through a Mechon with the lance portion, Reyn stated.

Dunban ran towards the group of Mechon, moving nimbly with his feet in a dance fashion and slicing the Mechon apart.

“But we musn’t be too careless.”  Dunban warned.





Striking away at the Mechon, Fiora, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack heavily panted.  They backed away from the surging waves of the Mechon.

“It’s no use!  Even if we destroy one, ten just come back in their place.  My Magic Cannon art has recharge times that make it very inconvenient to keep using.”  Twilight Sparkle complained.

Fiora looked towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.  She saw that blue lines connected them to each other and herself.  She smiled.

“A Chain Attack will be able to bypass that sluggish cooldown, Twilight.”

“A Chain Attack?”  Blinking once and cocking her head, Twilight Sparkle asked.

“It can only be done with a full battle group after our bonds in battle are cemented.  In this, we can use any arts as long as the condition is fulfilled, but only once per Chain Attack.”  Fiora explained.  “And now would be a great time for a Chain Attack!”

“I get you.  Should I initialize it?”  Twilight Sparkle questioned.

“I am hoping you would do that.  It falls under the combat formula, anyways.”  Fiora responded.

Twilight Sparkle lifted her right front hoof into the air, stopping time.  The lines that connected her to Applejack and Fiora shattered and a powerful energy filled her soul.

“Magic Cannon!”  She stated, shooting a green ball of energy towards the Mechon in front of her and toppling it.  “Fiora, your turn!”

“Hidden Thorn!”  Fiora shouted, striking the downed Mechon and dazing it.  “Applejack, show them what strength really is!”

“Lasso-Rasso Hoedown!”  Applejack voiced out, roping the down Mechon, pulling it in and smacking it with her hammer.

“Don’t think we are done with you yet!”  Twilight Sparkle said.  “Let’s see how well you do with this!”  Firing her Magic Spark, she stated.  The Mechon exploded from the amount of damage it took.

“Good job, everyone!”  Fiora happily cried out.  She then turned back towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.  “All these Mechon will be a pain to deal with if we have to rely on toppling them to do damage.  I’m going to go get the Mobile Artillery.”  She stated, running towards the Mechon.  “Cover my back!”

“Ah’ll cover ya, Fiora!”  Applejack responded, swinging her hammer and knocking the Mechon away.

“You have my word as well!”  Twilight Sparkle stated, striking her horn against the heads of the Mechon.





Shulk, Reyn and Dunban ran towards the south of the Commercial District.  On the bridge, Dunban screamed in pain, slowing him down.  The pain grew to the point where the grip on his hand is weakened, releasing the Monado onto the ground and kneeling downwards.

“Dunban!”  Running over to his side, Reyn stated.  “You can’t take any more of the Monado!”

“But I must!  I don’t have a choice!”  Reaching his right hand towards the Monado, Dunban ignorantly cried out.  Feeling the insides of his throat cutting up, he coughed out a large splatter of blood before him.

“Reyn’s right.  You can’t go on like this.”  Shulk reasoned, walking towards him.

“Shulk!”  Dunban uttered out.

“Dunban.”  Shulk stated, staring blankly at the Mechon at the other side of the bridge.  With no time wasted, Shulk made a dash towards the Monado.

“Hey!”  Dunban weakly spouted, both him and Reyn looking towards Shulk.

The two of them gasping, Shulk grabbed the Monado by its hilt and maintained his stoic stare towards the Mechon.

“This time, it’s my turn!”  He stated, unsheathing the laser blade from the Monado.

“Shulk, no!  It will kill you!  Shulk!”  Dunban screamed.

Shulk held the Monado with both hands, grunting against the surge of electricity running through his body.  With fire in his eyes, he ran towards the horde of Mechon with the Monado in his right hand.

His eyes flashed a blue color.  His vision rippled with lifeless color.  Everything around him stood still, paralyzed in time.

“What’s happening?”  He asked himself.

Within the veiled vision, he saw a spider-type Mechon walk forward, charging a laser and shooting it towards him.  He got struck by the laser and was knocked onto his back.

His vision returning back to the standard sight, he saw that the event displayed had not happened to him.  The same spider-type Mechon walked forward and charged its laser.  Shulk dodged the blow with surprising agility, causing Reyn and Dunban’s jaws to drop.

“What the?”  Reyn had the time to say before the laser struck at the background within the Commercial District, causing a fiery explosion.

Leaping overhead, Shulk vertically slashed the spider-type Mechon, destroying it.  Seeing a bipedal Mechon in front of him, the symbol on the Monado flashed, his eyes flashing blue once more.  Within the vision, the Mechon reeled back its right claw.  Shulk dove onto the ground and dodged it, but failed to dodge the left claw of the Mechon.

Returning back to reality, Shulk sidestepped away from the same movements as in the vision, completely dodging the Mechon’s attacks.  Seeing a vulnerable point, he diagonally slashed the Mechon.

“Wow.  Shulk’s pretty awesome!”  In bated breath, Reyn commented.

“How can this be?  Shulk is using the Monado.”  Dunban asked with heavy interest.

“What was that?”  Panting, Shulk questioned to himself.

“Shulk, more company!”  Several Mechon dropping between him and Shulk, Reyn warned.

“Reyn!”  Dunban uttered, getting up from the ground.

“Right!”  Reyn complied, the two of them running towards Shulk.

Dunban unsheathed his sword from his right hip and slashed a Mechon approaching Shulk from the back.

“Reyn!  Dunban!”  Shulk exclaimed, looking back and holding a Mechon back.  With renewed vigor, Shulk overpowered the strike from the Mechon and slashed it away.

“I got your back!”  Reyn shouted, digging his shield lance into the ground in front of a Mechon.

“Shulk, do you feel alright?”  Dunban asked.

“I’m okay.  But there was something strange.  Just now, it was as if I could see into the future.  Is this another power of the Monado?”  Shulk responded with a question of his own.

“See into the future?  What are ya saying?”  Reyn skeptically asked.

“Are you certain?  Shulk!”  Dunban questioned in disbelief.

“Yes.”  Pausing for a second, Shulk replied.

“I see.  I remember Dickson saying that the Monado had a hidden power.  Could this be it?”

“What?”

Shulk and Dunban dashed towards opposite direction, slashing away at the Mechon in their path.  Holding a Mechon down with his sword, Dunban focused on his opponent.

“Don’t think about it now!  Just believe what the Monado showed you and fight!”  He encouraged.

“Got it!”  Shulk announced, swinging the Monado ninety degrees around.  The entire battlefield became covered in a purple light, granting Reyn and Dunban violet auras.  “We got to fight our way to the Residential District.  No doubt that Fiora, Twilight and Applejack are there trying to fight off the Mechon!”

Hearing these words, a raging fire burned within Dunban’s heart as he slashed the Mechon in front of him.

“We can’t leave them alone like that!  We have to get there as quickly as possible!”  Dunban commanded, running towards the south at lightning speed.

“Dunban!”  Shulk shouted, following him.

Reyn, who punched through a Mechon with his bare fist, saw Shulk and Dunban running to the south.

“Wait for me!”  Dashing towards them, Reyn shouted.

Shulk, Dunban and Reyn ran quickly along the Colony to the Residential District, slashing their way through the Mechon in the process.  Shulk’s teeth clenched uneasily and stared forebodingly out into the horizon.

“I hope you three are safe, Fiora, Twilight and Applejack.”  With a glimmer of hope, he said to himself.
	
> Confrontation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight Sparkle and Applejack attacked the Mechon, slowly backing up into a corner.  With a grunt of despair, Applejack turned to Twilight Sparkle’s face.

“It’s no good, Twi.  We’re outnumbered and outmatched against these Mechon.”

“At this point, Applejack, I’m starting to agree.  We can only do so much against enemies that are impervious to a majority of our moves.  However, it looks like we have no choice but to fight.  Running away would be too much of a luxury for the both of us right now.”  Panting and striking the Mechon with her blade, Twilight Sparkle reasoned.

“We just have to hold out until we get help.  That should be easy enough.”  Swinging her hammer at nearby Mechon with rising hope, Applejack stated.  Swiftly, a Mechon opened its tendrils and jabbed towards her.  Applejack blocked them with her hammer.  “That is, if we don’t get eaten.”

“Hold on, Applejack.  I’m coming!”  Twilight Sparkle called out, firing her Magic Spark at the Mechon holding Applejack prisoner.  The Mechon released its grip on Applejack, sliding onto the ground.

Smiling, she turned around and faced a bipedal Mechon standing dangerously close to her with its tendrils open.  Her smile slowly descended into a frown.  In the moment the Mechon threw its tendrils at her, a blue laser bisected it, severing its torso off of its legs and destroying it.  Twilight Sparkle looked forward and smiled at the sight of Shulk wielding the Monado.  Reyn and Dunban followed up behind him, destroying the Mechon with their weapons.

“Shulk!  Reyn!  Dunban!”  She happily called out.

“You will not die today, Twilight.  I shall make sure of that.”  The Monado’s symbol for Enchant appearing within the ring of the blade, Shulk stated.  He then swung the blade, filling Twilight Sparkle and Applejack with power.

“Is this a power of the Monado, Shulk?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“It is.  With this power, you will be able to damage the Mechon.”  Slashing at a nearby crawling Mechon, Shulk explained.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack turned towards the hordes of Mechon in front of them with devious smiles on their face.

“It looks like it’s time to tip the scales, Applejack.  Are you ready to scrap these robots?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“I’ve been ready since I first came here.  Let’s get ‘em!”  Applejack shouted, rushing towards the Mechon.  “Now it’s time to show you how a real Apple gets things done around here!”

She charged forward with a speed that created a trail of illusions of herself and slammed her head into the Mechon’s torso.  She flipped forward, kicking into the head of the Mechon and slamming it forwards.

“See how you’d like that Summer Rambo after I go into Hammer Burst!”  She shouted, flipping into the air and slamming the hammer into the ground.  The entire ground shook with double the ferocity of a standard Hammer Burst, shaking up all the non-flying Mechon in the area.

“Allow me to assist, Applejack!”  Her horn illuminating, Twilight Sparkle called out.  “Alicorn’s Grace!”

Applejack smiled, feeling a burst of energy activate within her.

“Thanks, Twi.  Now I can kick twice the flank!”  Applejack shouted, swinging her hammer against the Mechon and shattering their bodies.

“Magic Spark!”  Twilight Sparkle called out, shooting a bolt at a flying Mechon and scrapping it.

“Stream Edge!”  Shulk stated, arching the Monado into a sweeping slash, devastating all the Mechon in the Path.  “Where’s Fiora?!”

“She went to get something called a Mobile Artillery.  She said it would help us fight the Mechon.”  Twilight Sparkle answered.

“Then that’s where we are headed.  Come on, let’s go!”  With an empowered voice, Shulk responded.

The group of five ran through the group of Mechon, bringing blue explosions of ruin and massacre to them.  The road ahead stretched on for what seemed to be forever while endless Mechon seemingly appeared out of nowhere.  In the midst of their race, the Face Mechon dropped in front of them, moving around its claws menacingly.

“It’s massive!”  Shulk commented.

“That Mechon… It has a face?!”  Staggering backwards, Dunban exclaimed.

“That don’t mean nothing!”  Reyn shouted, unsheathing the lance portion of his guarder.

“Reyn’s right.  A Mechon with a face is still just a Mechon.”  Her horn wrapped in lavender energy, Twilight Sparkle stated.

“I want to see if this Mechon can stand against my hammer!”  Applejack happily commented.

“We will not lose.  Not when we have the Monado!”  Holding the Monado, Shulk exclaimed.

He ran forwards, striking the faced Mechon with the laser.  The collision causing a smoky explosion, a confident grin appeared on his face.  With the smoke clearing up, his grin fell down into a surprised frown; the faced Mechon swung the remaining smoke away, revealing its unscratched armor.

“The Mechon, it’s intact?!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted in surprise.

“Don’t be too sure about that, Twi.  Shulk, hit me up with some of that Monado power!”  Applejack commanded.

Shulk nodded, swinging the Monado across and empowering Applejack with it.  Running up towards the Mechon, she smacked her hammer into the faced Mechon.  The hammer bounced off of the Mechon with no visible damage on it.  She gasped and walked back slightly.

“What the hay?!  My hammer has no effect on it!”

“Leave it to me, Applejack!”  Running from behind her, Dunban shouted.  He struck his blade against the Mechon, which was met with a harmless bounce.  “How can this be?!  Even with the power of the Monado, our weapons aren’t having any sort of effect!”

Shulk clenched his teeth.  An indigo ‘斬’ appeared within the ring of the Monado, adding a violet tint to it.  The laser grew three times in size with the power of slicing buildings at its disposal.  With a powerful vertical swing, the Monado came into contact with the head cannon of the faced Mechon.  The laser did not penetrate through the armor, forcing Shulk to jump back.  He looked back at the Monado, panting in frustration.

“The Monado!  It’s not working!”

“What do ya mean?!”  Reyn asked out loud.

“Isn’t the Monado supposed to be the Mechon’s weakness?  Why isn’t this Mechon falling like the others?!”  Twilight Sparkle questioned.

Shulk looked carefully on the faced Mechon and detected a tail end emanating blue electricity.

“What is that light?  Other Mechon don’t have that.  Could… Could that light be why the Monado has no effect?"

The faced Mechon unfolded its claws and aimed them towards the group.

“Shulk!  Reyn!  Twilight!  Applejack!  Get down!”  Running towards the four with his arm extended, Dunban grabbed them and pushed them into the ground, causing the claws to strike bare cement.  “Stay back!  I’ll take it from here!”

“No!  You can’t take any more!”  Reyn shouted, running after Dunban.

“Reyn!  Dunban!  Don’t go off by yourselves against that monstrosity!”  Applejack shouted, running with the group.

The faced Mechon swiped its right claws along the ground, striking Reyn, Dunban and Applejack.  Enshrouded with paralyzing electricity, the three of them were knocked onto the ground, unable to move.  Looking at their friends, Shulk and Twilight Sparkle looked forwards.  The faced Mechon quickly approaching them and swiping its claws towards the two, Shulk and Twilight Sparkle cried out in shock, meeting the same fate as Reyn, Dunban and Applejack.

Mobilizing its claws, the faced Mechon approached the group, intending to finish them.  A red laser struck its back, knocking it onto the ground.  From behind it, Fiora appeared inside of a giant mecha with two Gatling barrels for arms.  She stared daggers towards the downed Mechon.

“Everyone.  Get away, right now!”  She demanded.

“Fiora!”  Still unable to move, Dunban called out.

Getting up, the faced Mechon looked backwards and saw Fiora approaching it at high speeds.  Shulk’s eyes flashed in a blue color instantaneously.  He fidgeted back into existence.

“What did I just…”  He worded out slowly before his eyes widened tremendously.  “Fiora!  Get back!”

“I won’t let you hurt any more people!  We will save Colony 9!”  Moving a lever in the seat forwards, the right barrel rotated, sending a storm of red lasers hurdling towards the faced Mechon.

The faced Mechon walked against the barrage of lasers, seemingly unaffected by them.  A blue ball of electricity charged at the tip of the cannon on its head, firing towards the shooting Gatling barrel.  Fiora flinched and squealed.  Looking in her front with the same ferocity, she fired lasers from the left barrel against it.  The Mechon still was not scratch.

“Fiora!  Get out of here!  Run!”  Shulk desperately called out.

“Shulk!  What’s happening!  Why are you suddenly freaking out so much?!”  Fearfully, Twilight Sparkle asked.

Just like Shulk’s cries, Twilight Sparkle’s question fell on deaf ears.

“You want more?!”  Fiora called out.

The faced Mechon directed its head cannon directly towards the cockpit of the mech.  Its horn cackling with electricity, Fiora plunged the barrel of the mech’s cannon straight into its face, stunning it.  Amongst her grunts and the whirring of the boost, a potent laser shot directly into the faced Mechon’s eye and caused a massive explosion.  The recoil of the blast knocked the mech onto its side, rendering it unable to move.  Fiora covered her head, shrieking from the blow.

Recovering from the blow, she looked amidst the smoke and saw the faced Mechon with the left portion of its face blown away.  It threateningly approaches her.

“How?”  With her breath robbed with fear, Fiora asked.

Grabbing the cannon used against its face, the faced Mechon looked down onto her and slammed the mech into a nearby building, destroying it.  Fiora screamed, her body splayed on the seat of the cockpit turned to its side.

“Fiora!”  Shulk called out.

Dunban and Applejack looked towards the faced Mechon with stunned lungs as it tossed the barrel in its left claw back and approached the downed Fiora as slowly as possible.  It reared back its right claw and turned it to its side.  In that moment, the faced Mechon’s face grinned sadistically.  Seeing this, the color on Shulk’s faced paled immensely, and his lungs burned with a sudden exertion.

“Nooooooooooo!”  He shouted.

With Fiora screaming, the faced Mechon drove its claw into her.  Everything stood silently within the moment.  His life shattering right before his eyes, Dunban did nothing but stare at the moment.  Seeing Fiora’s arm lifelessly hang out of the cockpit, Applejack lost any and all will to move.  Anger building up inside of him, Reyn’s muscles twitched.

Treating it with the harshness of a used-up ragdoll, the faced Mechon tossed Fiora and the mech back, where a swarm of Mechon began harvesting the waste.  Fiora’s blood dripped from the base of the blades of each claws down to their tip as ripples.  Seeing this, a surge of tears leaked out of Twilight Sparkle’s eyes.

His teeth clenched and a fiery stare directed towards the faced Mechon, Shulk’s breathing seethed erratically with anger.  Using the Monado as support, he stood against the electricity within his body, running solely on hatred.

“I’ll kill you!”  He roared loudly.

Reyn pushed himself up from the ground, standing up.  Twilight Sparkle anchored her right hoof into the ground and stood up, shaking her mane.  The group of three deathly stared into the faced Mechon’s eyes.

“Shulk, the Monado doesn’t work.  Should we just Break into Topple?”  Twilight Sparkle suggested.

Shulk pointed the Monado directly towards the faced Mechon’s face.

“Whatever will kill this bastard!”  He fiercely responded, eliciting a cold sweat from Twilight Sparkle.

Shulk ran towards the faced Mechon, instantly swinging the blade with a sweeping motion.  The faced Mechon staggered at the strike.  Reyn ran up to the Mechon, stretching his guarder arm out.

“Wild Down!”  Striking the Mechon, he shouted.

The faced Mechon collapsed onto the ground from the blow.  Twilight Sparkle charged her horn.

“Magic Cannon!”  She shouted, the green bolt striking against the Mechon.

“Good shot, Twilight!”  Reyn complimented.

Shulk ran immediately behind the faced Mechon, lifting his blade up high.

“Back Slash!”  He shouted, striking the back of it.  The Mechon growled, turning back.  Its attention suddenly became distracted when Reyn threw a rock at it.

“Hey!  Attention on me!”  Reyn shouted.

“Magic Spark!”  A magic bolt striking the faced Mechon, Twilight Sparkle shouted.  “Stay down!”

Shulk, Reyn and Twilight Sparkle attacked the faced Mechon at dizzying speeds with each ounce of their emotion pouring into each attack done.

“Air Slash!”

“Bone Upper!”

“Magic Cannon!”

The barrage of arts struck on the downed Mechon, building pressure within its armor.  The faced Mechon jumped up from the ground and wildly swung its claws, knocking away Twilight Sparkle and Reyn.  It drove its right claw towards Shulk.  Shulk quickly whipped out the Monado and crossed it against the claw, blocking it and grunting while looking into its eyes.  In the critical moment, he rolled out of the way.

With the claw still in the ground, Shulk swiftly grasped onto the arm, climbing upon it when it lifted upwards.  At an elevated level, Shulk stood straight on the arm and ran up towards the Mechon’s face with a murderous expression on his face.

“Die!”  He shouted, positioning the Monado towards the charred face of the Mechon.  He jumped towards the face and stabbed through it, grasping onto the Monado as support.  With the laser through his head, the faced Mechon rapidly shook his body, forcing the Monado out of its head and dropping Shulk onto the ground.

“Shulk!”  Reyn and Twilight Sparkle called out, running to his side.

With sparks running down the charred gap in its face, the faced Mechon turned around, deathly staring down upon Shulk, Reyn and Twilight Sparkle.  It looked upwards, seeing the other Mechon retreating from the Colony.  It backed off and stared towards Dunban, who got up from the ground alongside Applejack picking him up by his limp right arm.  It transformed and flew into the sky.

“Get back here!”  Dunban shouted, running limply towards the Mechon with a fierce stare.  He coughed violently, prompting Applejack to raise her eyes in concern.

“Hold on there, Dunban!  You shouldn’t move too much.  I got your back.”  She stated.

“No!”  Shulk desperately cried out, seeing the Mechon, Fiora’s murderer, flee before his eyes.





The morning sun peered above the sky, lighting the smoked town.  Several people began rebuilding the structures of the town, and some of the ponies volunteered to help.  Businesses continued as usual, as if the Mechon Invasion never happened.

Dunban looked out of the window, protectively grasping his right arm.  On the table sat a visibly distraught Applejack, who drank a bit of tea.  Dunban turned around slowly, walked and sat on a seat next to the table.

“I have to thank you for keeping me company today, Applejack.”  He stated, sipping the tea before him.

“It’s, the least I can do for you, Dunban.  With everything that happened, you’re going to need some company to cheer you up.”  Applejack responded.

“You didn’t have to do that for me though, Applejack.  I’ve already accepted the fact that Fiora has passed on.  She fought bravely and perished in battle.  It’s a death fitting for a true warrior.”  Dunban strongly said.

“Don’t give me that hogwash, Dunban.  As the former bearer of the Element of Honesty, I’m quite good with telling when anyone is lying.  You aren’t really doing a good job with it, either.”  Applejack’s words struck into the chinks of his armor, causing Dunban to grunt to himself.  “You don’t have to be tough about this topic, Dunban.  Though Fiora and I didn’t spend much time with each other, her personality and history remind me a lot about my little sister.  It hurts me as well.”

The two sat there silently, looking down onto the table without glancing at each other.

“So, how is your little sister, Applejack?”  Dunban asked without letting much emotion into his voice.

“I’m very worried about her, Dunban.  I don’t know where she is, and learning about what those Mechon do doesn’t make it any easier for me.”  Applejack explained.  “I just hope she is alright.”

“She will be alright, Applejack.  You just have to trust yourself there.”  Dunban reasoned.  “If you do not trust yourself, then you may as well be lying to yourself.”

“You have a point there, Dunban.  I was never any good at lying anyways.  Anyways, I have to go meet up with Reyn and Twilight at the Outlook Park.”  Standing up from the seat, Applejack stated.

“I will see you later, I suppose.”  Dunban stated, Applejack walking towards the door.  With nobody in the house, tears pooled from his eyes, dropping onto the table before him.  “I swear, Fiora, I will avenge you.  I will make sure that faced Mechon pays for taking your life.”





Shulk sat at an empty bench in the park overlooking the Colony, peering over to the invisible space next to him with a frown.  He let out an exasperated sigh.  Reyn, and Twilight Sparkle walked up the stairs to the park and dashed towards him.

“Figures you would’ve been up here, Shulk.  You come here when you’re down, after all.”  Reyn stated, greeted by Shulk’s silence.

Twilight Sparkle looked away with a guilty frown on her face.

“Shulk… I don’t know what to say.  What happened to Fiora was horrible.”  She stated, shutting her eyes and recalling the scene scorching in her mind.  “I’m sorry that I couldn’t save her.”

Shulk looked up towards Twilight Sparkle and frowned.

“It… wasn’t your fault, Twilight.”  He flatly responded.  “Back when we faced the faced Mechon, I had a vision seeing her die.  I wanted to change destiny, but I couldn’t.  I’m just… weak.  I’m pathetic.”

Reyn sat down on the bench towards Shulk and placed his hand on his right shoulder.

“Just because you couldn’t avenge Fiora doesn’t make you weak.  You’ll get another chance against the faced Mechon again another day.”  He consoled.

“Yeah… you’re right.  We will get another shot at him.”  Shulk stated.  He looked forwards and tilted his head slightly.  “Where did Applejack go?”

“Applejack has been with Dunban.  She’ll be here soon.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

On cue, Applejack walked up the stairs.  A brilliant smile rose from her face.

“It looks like you two found Shulk without me.”  Sitting on the ground, she stated.

“It’s good to see you too, Applejack.”  Shulk greeted.  “Anyways, rather than wait around for the Mechon to come and strike us, we should strike at them first.”

“Wait, what?!”  Reeling back in surprise, Twilight Sparkle shouted.  “That sounds like suicide!  The only reason we repelled the Mechon in the first place is because we had the Monado.  Even then, that faced Mechon is impervious to it.”

“Chill out, Twilight.”  Reyn nonchalantly butted in.  “I say that’s a great idea.  Yeah, we nearly lost against the Mechon, but we’ll be even stronger when we strike them.  Plus, we all have a score to settle with Metal Face.”

“I agree.  Those Mechon need to pay for what they did to Fiora.  Plus, if this means being able to find Granny Smith and Applebloom, then I am all up for it.”  Applejack concurred.

“Well, looks like the majority wins.  Applejack and I also need to see if our friends are in good condition as well”  Twilight Sparkle stated with a sigh.  “But, how do we even leave this area?  Last time I checked, there wasn’t much we can go through from Tephra Cave in order to reach the next portion of the world.”

“Maybe… just maybe that locked door in the Mag Mell Ruins was locked because of the Mechon attack.  It should be unlocked now if we try to go there.”  Shulk explained calmly.  He stood up quickly with a fire in his eyes burning greatly.  “Those Mechon will not get away with attacking our village.  They will pay with taking Fiora’s life with their lives.  I shall see that they will all be scrapped.”

He then walked towards the stairs.  Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack followed him.





The evening sun cast its glow onto the land.  Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack walked south of the bridge of the Commercial District.  Reyn looked up into the sky with a seldom frown on his face.

“Right then.”

“Yeah.”  Looking back, Shulk uttered out.

With the group of four walking forwards, Dunban looked out towards them from the window of his house.

“Look after yourselves, boys and girls.  As soon as this heals, I’ll be right back with you.  And then, we will seize our destiny.  Together.”  Grasping his right arm, he stated.

Walking up the mountain path, Twilight Sparkle’s eyes flashed in a lavender color.  Within the dull-colored vision, she saw a group of humanoid creatures in lab coats looking upon a planet from space.  Returning back to reality, she shook her head.

“What… what was that?”  She asked, rubbing her head.

“Is there something amiss, Twilight?”  Shulk asked.

“It’s nothing.  A ray of light from the sun hit my eyes.”  She fibbed through her teeth, eliciting a suspicious hum from Applejack.





A cyan-coated pegasus mare with a rainbow-colored mane opened her magenta eyes.  Next to her was a tall, tan-skinned female Homs with black hair, brown eyes and a beauty mark under her lip.  She wore a blue blouse, short enough to reveal her midriff and her upper arms, a red vest on top of it, dangerously short minishorts with a beige color, orange gloves that ran up her lower arms and brown boots that exceeded past her knees.

“…Who are you?  Where am I?”  The pegasus asked.

The Homs woman kneeled down to her level and gently stroked her hand through her mane.

“I found you collapsed out in the Gaur Plains.  My name is Sharla.  Do you have a name?”

“Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in whatever Gaur Plains is.”  Standing up from the ground, Rainbow Dash replied with a cocky smile.

“You definitely have a good amount of energy for someone who just got up from a coma-like state.  It’s definitely a good quality.”  Sharla happily stated.  She then pointed towards the rest of the Homs, Nopon and ponies in the cave.  “As you can see, you aren’t the only strange creature in this area.  Try to make yourself at home, because this is what is left of our home before it was taken over.”  She sadly said.

“Oh…”  Frowning, Rainbow Dash uttered out.  “Is there a way how I can help?”

Sharla smirked.
> Bonus #1 - Shulk and Twilight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk stood tall in the lab, boring a deep stare into the Monado on the pedestal.  He shut his eyes, thinking back to the day before.  His teeth clenched hard.

“Why?  Why must the Monado be so difficult to understand?!  Why wasn’t I able to damage the faced Mechon?  Why was it that the vision came in the worst possible time?!”  He shouted under his breath.

“Shulk!”

The train of his thoughts broken, he looked towards the stairs and saw Twilight Sparkle running down them.

“Twilight.  How are your guards doing?”  He asked softly.

“They’re in the infirmary along with Colonel Vangarre right now.  They were beaten up, but it wasn’t anything serious.  They should be able to resume their duties tomorrow.  I came over here to check and see how you were doing right now, and see if you were able to examine this ring on my horn.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

“Right.  I did promise that we can have that ring looked at.”  Kneeling down adjacent to the ring, Shulk stated.  “Strange, these markings weren’t here on the ring last time.”

“What do you mean?”  Tilting her head slightly, Twilight Sparkle curiously asked.

“I don’t know if it was due to the ring coming into contact with the Monado, but the ring has developed cybernetic markings, not unlike the Monado.  I’m going to have to examine this phenomenon some more.”  Shulk replied.

Shulk walking over towards his desk, Twilight Sparkle uneasily clenched her teeth.

“Shulk… earlier, you told me that you saw a vision of Fiora dying.  I saw you freaking out right beside me.  After the Mechon killed her, I saw a side of you that really frightened me.  It was jarring to see how such a calm and collected individual such as yourself can turn so violent like that.”

Shulk’s body froze up at her words.  He slowly turned around and looked apologetically towards her.

“I’m sorry, Twilight.  I did not mean to frighten you.”  Saying this, he tilted his head upwards and stared into blank space above.  “Fiora… She meant a lot to me.  She was always so cheerful and energetic, had a wonderful heart and was my best friend.  Like Reyn, she would always make me smile when I am down.  She has that effect on people.”  With these words, he clenched his fist hard, his face scrunched in pain and a stray tear dropped from his right eye.

“Shulk?”  Seeing him beginning to blubber, Twilight Sparkle softly asked.

“That faced Mechon!”  Shulk cried out in a voice strangled by tears.  “It took her away from me in an instant.  I can never see her smile, or hear her laugh again.  She won’t be able to scold her friends and family anymore, nor will she be able to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.”

Shulk’s stray tears burst into rivers, and his words became unintelligible.  Seeing this, Twilight Sparkle walked up to him and unfolded her right wing, wrapping it around his legs.  Pulling his hip in for a hug, Shulk snapped back into reality.

“It’s alright, Shulk.  You can cry until you don’t have to cry anymore.  I will be here to hug you, because that is what you need after everything you’ve been through.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

Looking down to his shaking hands and their closed palms, Shulk slowly opened them.  He kneeled down towards Twilight Sparkle’s level and quickly wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her in closely and crying uncontrollably.  Twilight Sparkle smiled softly and closed her eyes.  She wrapped both her wings and her front hooves around Shulk and slowly rocked him.
	
> Back into Tephra Cave
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack trekked through the Mag Mell Ruins within Tephra Cave.  Unlike their previous journey, there were less soldiers and ponies within them.

Walking through a hallway, they noticed a door on the right.  It had a green light rather than a red light like before.  Walking in front of it, the door slid open, prompting Twilight Sparkle and Applejack to rear back.  Seeing it remain open, the both of them calmed down a bit.

“So, this small corridor leads into more of the cave?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“It should.  Many people used this corridor to go between Colony 9 and Colony 6.”  Shulk explained.

“I see…”  Gulping slightly, Twilight Sparkle responded.

The group of four walked through the passageway.  Deeper down the cavern, the walls of metal turned back into cragged stone, and the path sprawled and curved.  The group came across the end of the path, seeing a spring on the lower level with a beam of moonlight coming from the top.

“You know, this cave ain’t so bad once you get used to it.  At least there’s a spring in here.”  Jumping down from the ledge and walking towards it, Applejack stated.

“Now that you mention it, I feel parched myself, Applejack.”  Walking around the edge to the bottom floor, Twilight Sparkle said in agreement.  

Shulk and Reyn walked down to the spring.  Twilight Sparkle and Applejack each took out a metal canister and began filling them by dipping them into the spring.  Shulk and Reyn sat by the spring’s edge and took out their canisters, filling them up.

“Here’s a fact for you girls; this spring is also known as the Spring of Grief.”  Reyn stated.

“I wonder why it is called that.”  Twilight Sparkle said, sipping from her canister.

“It was said that an important person cried here after the extinction of an entire race of beings on Bionis.  Hence, you have the grief part of the name.”  Reyn explained.

Applejack glanced over to Reyn with a soft smile present on her face.

“We all know that’s a bunch of cow dung.  How can one person cry out an entire spring?”  She asked in a good-natured tone.

“That’s the point of a myth, Applejack.  When one does not understand how a phenomenon has happened, the person spins a tale explaining its origin.  Though, scientific evidence proves the tale to be wrong, the tale itself would always influence the name of the phenomenon and the hearts of those who visit it.”  Twilight Sparkle said.

“It’s interesting how myths even affect one’s perception on a landmark.  The Spring of Grief might sound terrifying in name, but it is home to the concept of natural sacrifice as well.  Our thirsts here are being quenched by the water here because an entire race was said to have been extinct.”  Shulk added on.

“As much as we don’t want it to happen, the end is the only way for new beginnings to happen.  The end is never the end, as I’ve learned from when Tirek destroyed my home and Ponyville’s library.”  Twilight Sparkle conversed.

“This Tirek sounds like a real nasty foe.  Who is he?”  Reyn asked.

“Tirek was a magic-absorbing centaur who was sealed in Tartarus.  Everypony thought that he would have been sealed forever.  But, after a mishap involving the gatekeeper, Cerberus, Tirek was released and began draining the magic from everypony.  It wasn’t until my friends, the Tree of Harmony and I sealed him back into Tartarus.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

Reyn chuckled underneath his breath.

“If it’s true that he only absorbs magic, then he would be starved if he lived on the Bionis.”

“Reyn, you do know that if Applejack and I are capable of using ether, then Tirek would be more than capable enough of draining it from us.”

Reyn stopped chuckling, shutting up after listening to Twilight Sparkle’s reasoning.

“Well, if you can beat him, then he’d be no match for us.  It’ll be easier than getting Giorgio his dance apples.”

“That’s enough break time, everyone.  We still have to go deeper into this cave if we want to reach the other side.”  Standing up from the ground, Shulk announced.

Sighing contently, Applejack got up.

“Shulk’s right.  As much as I like this area, I don’t think it would be smart to stay here.”

“I don’t really feel like sticking around to see why this area really would be called the ‘Spring of Grief’, so…”  Twilight Sparkle said, walking towards the tunnel with Shulk and Applejack.

“Wait, are you two just going to leave me alone in here?!”  Running towards the group, Reyn shouted.

From an obscure shadow in the room, a pair of blue eyes opened up.  Stepping out of the shadow was a black changeling.

“It’s those two ponies back from the Canterlot Invasion.  It looks like they teamed up with the natives of this world.  The Queen would be very interested in hearing the news.”  Quietly following them, he said.





Within the tunnel, the group spotted several purple-gray spiders half the size of a pony and several cocoons on the floor.  Twilight Sparkle uneasily looked at the spiders, clenching her teeth and quickly scanning the area.

“Gee, those spiders do look big.”  Chuckling, she stated.

“Those are Arachnos.  More specifically, they are Worker Arachnos.  Just try not to make any sort of noise and they won’t attack you.”  Shulk quietly explained.

“That’s nice to know… These spider-like creatures attack on sound.”  Uneasily, Twilight Sparkle said.

“Don’t sweat it too much, Twi.  I have a nasty fear of spiders as well.”  Reyn consoled, tapping Twilight Sparkle’s left shoulder.

Not expecting the sudden touch, Twilight Sparkle shrilly screamed.  All of the Arachno Workers in the area turned to the disturbance of the noise and all of the cocoons rustled immensely.  Twilight Sparkle quickly covered her mouth with her hooves.

“Great, now we got these spider-like creatures coming after us now!  Well, it looks like it’s time for some pest contr-“Applejack began to say before she looked to her left and saw that Reyn and Twilight Sparkle disappeared.  “Reyn!  Twilight!  Where are you two at?!”

“We got our own problems right now, Applejack.”  Pulling out the Monado, Shulk ordered.  The blade split and a giant laser fired from it, forming its blade.

“Right.”  Pulling out her hammer, Applejack complied.

She ran up to the horde of Arachnos, slamming her hammer down with each step taken.

“Stream Edge!”  Shulk shouted, sweeping his blade in an arched angle and hitting all of the Arachno in the path.  Applejack’s muscles tensed and her body produced an orange aura.

“Bound Aggression!”  She shouted.

She ran up to the Arachnos and slammed her hammer into them with twice the speed as normal.

“Good, Applejack!  Keep it going!”  Slashing the back of an Arachno, Shulk called out.

The battled raged on for several minutes.  With each passing second, an Arachno’s life perished under Applejack’s relentless use of Hammer Burst and Hammer Swing and Shulk’s tactical use of Back Slash and Slit Edge.  The remaining Arachnos fled from the area.  Shulk and Applejack sweated and panted.

“Looks like we did it.”  Putting away her hammer, Applejack commented.  “Now we just got to find out where Reyn and Twilight went.”

Shulk’s eyes lit up in a blue light.  Within the vision he saw Reyn and Twilight Sparkle within a circular chamber, standing face to face against a giant Arachno.  Twilight Sparkle stood paralyzed in fear, seeing Reyn impaled by the Arachno’s long maws.  The Arachno then turned to her, causing her to scream.

“Applejack, we need to go, now!”  He shouted.

“What’s the matter, Shulk?”  Applejack questioned.

“I had a vision.  Reyn and Twilight will wander into an Arachno Nest.  If we don’t do anything, they will die.”  Seriously, he responded.

“You keep on saying that you have all these visions.  Care to explain how these visions of yours happen?”  Applejack skeptically asked.

“I don’t know how they work.  All I know is that I need to be in possession of the Monado for the visions to happen.  Now, either you run with me or we will lose our friends to some monstrosity.”  He demanded, running down the tunnel.

“It looks like I have no choice.”  Running down the tunnel, Applejack said.

Behind the two, the changeling looked at the various bodies of the Arachnos on the floor.  His eyes widened and his jaw dropped in amazement.

“Those two took care of those Arachno like they were nothing!  And it sounds like they are going after the Arachno Queen.”  He stated before he groaned to himself.  “Even if they are enemies from the past, they are needed to ensure our kind’s survival in this world.  It looks like I have to let them live.  Still, I need to keep an eye on them.”

With those words, he hovered above the ground and followed them.





Continuing down the path, Shulk and Applejack came across a very large area, where a lake sat in the middle of the room.  Several stalagmites and colorful ores littered the area.  Applejack whistled in an impressed tone.

“A lake in a place like this?  Who knew?”  She asked.

“This is the Villa Lake.  If my vision is correct, then Reyn and Twilight shouldn’t be too far ahead.  We just need to climb those vines up on that wall over there.”  Pointing to the wall, Shulk stated.

Applejack looked down on her hooves and scrunched her face with no amusement in it.

“My hooves may be able to do many things, but they can’t scale up walls you know.”  Applejack stated.

“Just climb on a single vine.  They all go to the top anyways.”  Shulk reasoned.

“Easy enough for you to say!  You have opposable hands!”

Shulk and Applejack waded across the lake and reached the other side.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, Shulk: I saw a deposit of crystals near the Spring of Grief.  I also see some around here.  What are those?”  Applejack asked.

“Those are Ether Crystals.  They can be refined into gems that can be attached to armor and weaponry and increase the wielder’s attributes.”  Shulk explained.  “We’ll get some later after we save Reyn and Twilight Sparkle.”

“Okay.”

Trying her best, Applejack latched onto the vine with her mouth and four hooves.  She awkwardly crawled up the wall.  Shulk kept a stoned face, but couldn’t help but snicker.  He climbed up the wall.

Reaching to the top of the wall and onto a strip, Applejack lied down on the floor.  Her eyes peered down upon Shulk, who reached the top of the wall.  He sat down on the edge.

“That was a good climb you did, Applejack.  You definitely did better than when I first climbed something.”  He commented.

Applejack opened her mouth with words being caught inside of it.  She closed it and smiled.

“Let’s go find Reyn and Twilight now.”  She said.





Reyn and Twilight Sparkle wandered into a circular chamber filled with webbing on the walls and pink plants littering the floor.  Reyn shivered.

“I don’t like this room, Twilight.  This just has the scent of spiders written all over it.”  He said.

“I’m with you, Reyn.  Only an impossibly large spider can make webs like that.”  Twilight Sparkle complied.

Wandering closer to the center, the two heard a scratching noise that came out of nowhere.

“What made that noise?!”  Reyn shouted.

“It’s probably nothing, Reyn.”  Skittishly, Twilight Sparkle responded.

The scratching noise intensified.  An Arachno dropped from the ceiling.  Reyn and Twilight Sparkle screamed and backed away.  Behind them was another Arachno.  Turning around them, they were completely surrounded by Arachnos.

In that moment, a spider the size of a tank dropped from the ceiling.  It had a more vibrant shade of purple, two armored sections on its head with red and black spots, and frighteningly twisted maws.

“I think we are in the worst possible situation right now.  What do you think, Twilight?”  Reyn uneasily asked.  Unfortunately for him, Twilight Sparkle stood there, paralyzed in fear of the Arachno Queen.  “This is worse than I thought.”





Shulk and Applejack sprinted down the web-infested hallway.

“Shulk!  Applejack!  Where are you?!”  The voice of Reyn echoed.

“Reyn!”  Shulk and Applejack called out.  Approaching the nest, Shulk and Applejack found a terrified Reyn and Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight!  Reyn!”  Applejack called out.

“There’s too many of them!  I kill one and ten more pop up!”  Reyn stated, smashing his guarder into the Arachnos nearby.  “Plus, this giant spider over here terrorized Twilight.”

Shulk looked towards the Arachno Queen and felt a pit of despair inside of him.

“Reyn!  Come over here, quick!”  Shulk shouted, jumping down to the lower level.

“Do what he says!  You’ll die if you stay there!”  Applejack shouted, jumping down with him.

“Easy for you to say!  These things have my path to you guys blocked!”  Reyn shouted, running in the opposite direction.

The Arachno Queen, detecting his movement, followed after him.

“Reyn!  No!”  Shulk shouted, sprinting after him.

Reyn ran until his path was blocked by a wall of web.  Turning around, he saw the Arachno Queen threateningly staring at him.

“Reyn!”

In the moment Shulk shouted this, the Monado flashed in a yellow aura.  Within the ring of the Monado, a yellow ‘盾’ appeared within it.  Shulk swung the Monado, filling the entire field in its aura.

The moment the Arachno Queen launched her maws forward, Reyn became encased in a yellow barrier.  The attack harmlessly bounced off of it, sending the Arachno Queen back.

“What’s this?!”  Sighing in relief, Reyn shouted.

“The power of the Monado?!”  Raising the Monado into the air, Shulk said to himself.  The Monado’s electricity and blade changed back into a blue color.  Applejack sprinted over towards Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight!  Snap out of it!”  Shaking Twilight Sparkle, she shouted.

“Applejack?  Where am I?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.  She looked around and saw herself surrounded by Arachnos.

“You ran off with Reyn when we were fighting the Arachnos.  Reyn was about to bite the dust until Shulk saved him with a new power from the Monado.”  Applejack explained.

“A new power?”  Twilight Sparkle said to herself.

The swarm of Arachnos approached Applejack and struck her leg.

“Gyaah!  Paralyzing poison!”  She shouted, falling over onto the ground.  Reyn and Shulk turned towards her.

“Applejack!”  The unison of Reyn, Shulk and Twilight Sparkle shouted.

“Don’t worry about me.  Just take care of that Arachno Queen!  I’ll be fine, I promise.”  Applejack commanded.

Twilight Sparkle sternly shook her head and stared at the Arachnos around her.

“Don’t lie to me, Applejack.  I know for a fact that you most certainly are not alright!  I will not let any of my friends fall for any reason.  I refuse!”  She shouted.  “I don’t care if I have arachnophobia.  If a spider hurts my friend, I will act.  Count on it!”

Saying these words, her ring began flashing.  The horn blade on her head unwound itself and the top portion of the ring unscrewed itself and made it to the top of her horn.  A lavender stream of electricity connected the two halves and fully united into a laser.  Shulk’s jaw dropped.

“…What?!”  He said.

Behind Twilight Sparkle, the silhouette of a lilac ‘疗’ appeared behind her.  She swung her augmented horn, which shifted into that color.  Lilac sparkles landed upon Applejack’s lame body, healing her with light.  She stood up from the ground with wide eyes.

“Is that a new spell, Twilight?  I don’t think I have seen you use that before.”  Applejack asked.

“I’m… not sure what I used.”  Her blade turning back into a lavender color, Twilight Sparkle responded hesitantly.

“That’s a Monado!”  Shulk happily shouted.

“Wait, what?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

The Arachno Queen smacked Reyn away with one of her legs.

“I think now it would be a good time to receive that help now, Twilight!”  Reyn shouted in pain.

“Right!  I’m coming over there!”  Twilight Sparkle announced.

She and Applejack ran towards Shulk and Reyn’s side.  Twilight Sparkle rushed forwards, striking the Arachno Queen with her Monado and sending her back stumbling.

“Good hit, Twilight!”  Reyn and Applejack shouted.

Seeing that the Arachno Queen was distracted by Twilight Sparkle, Shulk ran towards her side.

“Air Slash!”  He shouted, jumping into the air and slashing the Arachno Queen by her side.

“Now it’s my turn!”  Applejack shouted, running towards the Arachno Queen.  Taking out her rope, she lassoed the Arachno Queen by her head and pulled her forward.  “Get over here!”

Pulling her in, she bucked the Arachno Queen in its jaw and sent it flying back.  Pulling her back, she took out her hammer and slammed her right in her maw.

“Keep it up, Applejack!  I’ll take care of the Arachnos behind you guys.”  Reyn stated, lighting up in an orange aura.

“Magic Spark!”  A mass of energy growing at the end of the blade, Twilight Sparkle shouted.  The energy struck the Arachno Queen right in its maw.

“Slit Edge!”  Shulk shouted, striking the Arachno Queen in her side.  With the Arachno Queen crying out in pain, Shulk rushed towards her back side.  “Back Slash!”

Striking the abdomen on its, a trio of blue lines connected Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Shulk.

“All right!  It’s time for a Chain Attack!”  Applejack shouted.

Initializing the Chain Attack, Shulk stepped forwards.

“Stream Edge!”  Swinging the Monado, Shulk shouted.  The Arachno Queen was thrown off-balance.

“Magic Cannon!”  Twilight Sparkle announced, firing a green mass from the tip of the blade into the Arachno Queen, tumbling it over.

“I’ve wanted to try this art, and now I can!  Hammer Smash!”  Announcing the art, Applejack held her hammer over her head and heavily hit her head hard.  The earth rumbled underneath it.  The Arachno Queen looked around, dazed.

“We can keep it going!”  Shulk stated.  The laser of his Monado extended far.  He swung the laser down onto the Arachno Queen.  “Monado Buster!”  He shouted.

“Now it’s my turn!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted.  The laser of her Monado retracted in slightly, and a large mass of energy pooled up at the tip.  “Monado Climax!”

Saying these words, a giant laser shot out towards the Arachno Queen, blasting it away.

“That was amazing!”  Energetically jumping around, Applejack screamed.

The Arachno was still dazed on the floor.  Applejack jumped into the air.

“Hammer Burst!”  She shouted, jumping into the air and striking the Arachno Queen on her head.

“Slit Edge!”  Running towards its side and stabbing her, Shulk stated.

The Arachno Queen got up and pushed away Shulk, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.  Shulk’s eyes flashed in a blue color.  Within the vision, the Arachno Queen bit its maws into Twilight Sparkle, dealing critical damage to her with her Arachno Crush I.  His Monado changing into a yellow color, he swung it.

“Monado Shield!”

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Shulk all became enshrouded within the light and shields formed around them.  The Arachno Queen’s Arachno Crush I failed to pierce Twilight Sparkle’s shield, nullifying both the shield around her and the attack.

“Quick thinking, Shulk!”  Twilight Sparkle commented.

“Now it’s time to finish it!”  Shulk shouted, slashing its back with a Back Slash.  The Arachno Queen fell onto the ground.  “We did it!”

Reyn smashed away a majority of the Arachnos in the room.  The remainder of the Arachnos skittered away from the area.

“Nice job, everyone.”

“If it weren’t for you, Reyn, we would have had many more things to worry about.  It looks like you conquered your fear of spiders.”  Twilight Sparkle commented.

“That’s nothing.  You stood up to a big spider and fired a giant laser at it.  If there was anyone who got over that fear, it is you.”  Reyn complimented.

“I’m… still afraid of spiders.”  Shuddering, Twilight Sparkle stated.

“So am I.”

Shulk walked over to a treasure chest dropped by the Queen Arachno and took out a vial of yellow acid.

“It looks like we can use this to burn away at the web covering the tunnel’s entrance.  This situation explains why we haven’t had much people coming from Colony 6.”  Tossing the acid into the web, he said.  The group of four began walking down the tunnel.

“I can’t wait to brag to the rest of my family how we four took down a spider the size of a barn.  It’ll be a story that will pass down generations in the Apple Family legacy.”  Smiling, Applejack stated.

“I had enough about spiders for one day, Applejack.  Please don’t make a glorified statement about them.”  Twilight Sparkle stated with an anxious shiver.  Everyone in the tunnel laughed.

Back in the nest, the changeling looked at the corpse of the Arachno Queen.  His breath became stolen in excitement and happiness.  He flew up through one of the holes in the area.





A larger changeling with a green mane paced back and forth within the cave.  She glanced onto the group of changelings around her and sighed.

“It’s been five days since we appeared in this new world and we have been fortunate enough to land in a cave perfect for a hive.  Those Arachnos, however, have made things very problematic for us.  I already lost many changelings due to their constant attacks on us.  It seems like we aren’t allowed to live here.”  She said.

“My queen, surely there must be a way that we changelings can turn the tides in our favor.”  One changeling suggested.

“We can always try to attack the queen, but we still are too weak right now.  There isn’t any love in the cave for us to power up in, so I don’t feel confident in attacking her.  Plus, we don’t have a strategic location to launch our attacks from yet.”  Queen Chrysalis rationalized.  “If only a messenger flew through that hole with good news.”

In that moment, a changeling flew through the hole Queen Chrysalis pointed at.  Queen Chrysalis stared wide-eyed at the changeling.

“Dragonfly, what brings you over here?”  She asked.

Dragonfly beat his wings and landed on the ground, saluting Queen Chrysalis.

“A group of four characters were spotted.  Two of them are familiar sights, since they were part of the group that went against us in the Canterlot Invasion while there were two natives of this world.  The four killed the Arachno Queen and are leaving towards the north exit to the nearby plains.”  He reported.

It took several seconds before the nature of his words seeped into Queen Chrysalis’s brain.  When it did, however, a wicked grin appeared on her face.

“This is the best possible news I have heard so far.  Not only is it confirmed that we weren’t the only ones transported into the world, but our foes did us a little favor by exterminating the Arachno Queen, thus securing our survival in this world.  And you said they were heading over towards the plains?”

Dragonfly nodded.  Queen Chrysalis walked towards the hole.

“Where are you going, my Queen?”  Dragonfly asked.  Queen Chrysalis turned around and faced him.

“I’m going to go see our foes, of course.  I wish to give them a proper congratulation.”





Rainbow Dash and Sharla stood within a thicket of grass behind a dinosaur-like ox.  Seeing the dinosaur looking the other way, Rainbow Dash grinned.  She then leaped out of the grass.

“Back Strike!”  Smashing her right front hoof into the ox’s back and downing it, she called out.  The ox turned into a wooden chest.  “I’m really feeling it!”

Sharla ran towards the chest and opened it.  Her eyes lit up as she pulled out the contents of the box.

“That’s the last Thick Armu Milk we need for food rations!  You are doing better than I thought you would, Rainbow Dash.”  She complimented.

“Well, I’m glad you happen to have some shoes that allow me to really nail some of these monsters, Sharla.”  Rainbow Dash replied.

“And nailing them is what you are doing very well.  We should hurry back into the Refugee Camp with these materials.  I’m sure that everyone there is looking forward to some fresh milk.”

“Yes, but can we hurry up?  These Smelly Hides we have are becoming unbearable.”  Rainbow Dash requested.

“I know just how you feel, Rainbow Dash.”  Sharla replied.  The two walked away from the area.
	
> Bonus #2 - Awakening
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A purple dragon with a green underbelly woke up within a cave above the edge of a swamp.  Mist was heavily condensed on the floor of the swamp.

“Twilight?  Anypony?  Are you here?”  Frightened, he asked.  He sighed.  “It looks like I’m all by myself… in a foreign land… filled with potentially dangerous monsters.”

He stood up and looked back into the shimmering pool in the cave.  With his green eyes, he detected a set of sharp claws within the water.  He looked back to his claws and wiggled them a bit.

“I hope Twilight wouldn’t mind me getting something to defend myself with.”  He said to himself, slipping the claws over his claws.  He smiled.





A white unicorn mare with a curled purple mane woke up on a lavishly white bed.  In confusion, she sat up on the bed and looked around.

“Thank goodness you are awake.  I was worried that you wouldn’t get up.”  A High English voice stated.

The mare turned to the source of the voice, where a silver-haired young woman with fair skin and teal eyes.  She was adorned in a pink and blue dress and cape with dainty gloves that stretched up to her elbows, white boots and pink knee-high socks.  Behind her head was a small pair of silver wings.

“Who are you, and what is that amazing ensemble of clothing?!”  Excited, the mare asked.

“My name is Melia Antiqua, Crown Princess of the High Entia.  I found you collapsed at one of the beacons at Eryth Sea, so I brought you to my bedroom so that you may recover.  As for my fashion, this is what is typical for us High Entia.”  Melia explained.

“The pleasure is mine, Melia.  My name is Rarity, Ponyville’s premier fashion designer.”  Rarity introduced.  “Where is this place?”

“This is the Imperial City known as Alcamoth.  It is on the head of Bionis.  I can’t wait to introduce you to my father.”  Melia stated.

The two walked out of the bedroom.  Rarity had a large grin on her face.





A butter-coated pegasus mare with a pink mane woke up within an area made out of bark.  Her sight was filled with eleven small Nopon surrounding her.  She smiled at the sight.

“Momapon!  Dadapon!  Bird Elk awake!”  A yellow Nopon said, running towards a pink Nopon and a yellow Nopon, both adults and a wild set of hair that stretched like vines on their heads.  The yellow Nopon had an ‘X’ mark on his abdomen.

“Bird Elk awake!  Riki run to her!”  Riki shouted.

The mare stood up and gawked at the sight of the Nopon around her.  She gently ruffled one of the Nopon’s head.  Up above, Riki burst through one of the windows with his mouth opened fearfully.

“Riki no let Bird Elk eat littlepon!”  Landing in front of the mare, he shouted.  The mare shrieked and hid behind her mane.

“Please don’t hurt me!”  She squeaked out.

Riki eyed the mare in confusion and subsequently dropped his aggression.

“Bird Elk no attack Riki’s littlepon?”  He asked.

“Oh!  Those are your children?!  Oh, you are just as adorable as all of your children here!  And you can talk!  Oh, tell me who you are and where am I?  My name is Fluttershy, if it is okay to say my name before asking for it.”  Fluttershy said.

“Riki’s name is Riki.  Riki Nopon from Makna Forest on Bionis’s back.”  Riki explained.

“That vocal pattern on you is so adorable!  If these are your children, then can I meet your mate?”  Fluttershy asked with a shine in her eyes.

“Fluttershy want to see Wifeypon?  Riki happy to show.”  Riki happily said.





A pink earth pony mare with a poofy mane and tail of a slightly darker shade of pink awoke within a metallic facility.  Her eyes glanced over towards metallic humanoids at machines.  She smiled.

“Hey!  You all look weird!”  She commented.

“Good, you are awake!”  A female metallic humanoid with blue hair, violet eyes and cybernetic gear stated.  “How are you feeling so far?”

“I’m feeling Pinkie Keen.  My name is Pinkie Pie!  What is your name and...” She paused for a moment and swiveled her head, getting a better view of the area.  “Where am I?”

“Your confusion is understandable, Pinkie Pie.  My name is Linada of the Machina.  You are in the Hidden Machina Village, located at the palm of the Fallen Arm of the Mechonis.”  Linada introduced.  “We found you submerged in the water unconscious.  Initially, we thought the worst for you.  However, your vital signs still showed life within you, so we decided to keep you in the medical bay until you got better.”

“Thank you very much, Linada.  Boy, I’m going to have to throw a lot of parties so that I can get to know all of you Musheenas.”  Pinkie Pie commented with wide eyes.  In that moment, her legs became jittery and her mane curled up.  “Somepony that’s not a pony is about to fall somewhere north of here!”  She stated.

Linada turned her head to two other Machina behind her and nodded.  The Machina saluted and ran out of the room.

“What was that?”  She asked.

“Pinkie Pie Sense.  If something happens, my body acts up in veeeeery specific ways.”  Pinkie Pie stated.

“You might prove to be of use for our goals after all then, Pinkie.  You see, we get a lot of Homs and other creatures falling here all the time.  Sometimes, our rescue operations are… unsuccessful.  But, if your abilities are correct, then you will be able to help us save more people that wind up here.”  Linada stated.

“Cool!  I always wanted to work with machine people, except I never knew about machine people so I don’t know if I wanted to work with them but you seem nice enough so okay.  Can I throw a party first?”  Pinkie Pie asked.

“She will definitely fit in nicely around here.”  Linada stated.
	
> Interference from a Queen and Gaur Plains
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack walked out of the mouth of the cave.  They were greeted by open air and a meadow cliff that overlooked the ocean below.  The dawn of day broke across the sky.

The group looked up to the sky and gasped at the sight; two bipedal titans had their battle positions cemented within the flow of time.  The titan that they were on had a sword the size of a country plunged into its right arm while the titan across had carried the hilt of it.

“Wow!  No matter how many times I see this, I never get used to it.”  Reyn stated.

“You weren’t kidding when you two said that your world is made up of two titans… This is unbelievable!”  In astonishing awe, Twilight Sparkle shouted out in excitement.

“This makes me wonder if our own world was a titan.”  Applejack commented.

The group of four looked out towards the black titan in the distance.  It had piercing red eyes behind a fenced mask and a metallic appearance when compared to the natural appearance of the titan they were on.

“On the other side of those clouds…”  Shulk began to say.

“Yep.  It’s our enemy.  Mechonis.”  Reyn finished.

Looking towards the Mechonis, Shulk tightened his hand into a fist.

“Our enemy…”

“The Mechonis looks frightening, but looks do not equal their fortitude.  We will destroy them.”  Twilight Sparkle commented.

“To think that, within that titan, a world exists.”  Applejack stated.

“It’s a wonderful view, isn’t it?”

In pure reaction, the group of four turned to the source of the voice.  Right next to Twilight Sparkle was Queen Chrysalis, who eyed the Mechonis with a gazing passion.  Twilight Sparkle scrunched her face in anger.

“You!  What are you doing here, Queen Chrysalis?!  I thought I saw the last of you at my older brother’s wedding!”  She shouted.

“I suppose you still are angry about how I brainwashed your brother, locked away the princess and invaded Canterlot, are you?”  Calmly turning her head towards Twilight Sparkle, Queen Chrysalis asked.

“You have a lot of nerve to appear before us, Chrysalis.  Tell us what you are doing here or else I will make you regret attacking my family!”  Her Monado unscrewing itself and forming into a laser, Twilight Sparkle demanded.

Queen Chrysalis simply placed her right leg upon the tip of the blade and pushed it back in, eliciting a shocked gasp from Shulk, Reyn, Applejack and especially Twilight Sparkle.

“First of all, I wish to thank you for your bravery.  Though you did not intend for it, you ensured my changelings a chance at survival by exterminating the Arachno Queen.  When I found out that it was you four-“Chrysalis glanced towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack specifically.  “-especially you two, I just had to see for myself to believe it.  And, you know what?  I believe it.”

“Just who are you?  You look uglier than a Brog!”  Reyn asked.

“Ah, forgive me for not formally introducing myself.  My name is Queen Chrysalis, monarch of the changelings from Equestria.”  Queen Chrysalis introduced.  “And while I do not know what a Brog exactly is, I have some guesses as to what they could be.  You better hold your tongue there, Reyn.”

“What?!”  Shulk shouted.  “But we didn’t even introduce ourselves to you!  How do you know his name?”

Queen Chrysalis chuckled at the nature of his question.  She seductively walked towards Shulk.

“As a changeling, I have the power to sense emotions.  As a queen of them, I can read your hearts and determine your identities and other miscellaneous details from there.  For example, Shulk, I can read the emotional distress in your heart.  Somebody close to you seems to have perished.”  Smiling, she became wreathed in green flames.  With the flames subsiding, an exact replication of Fiora, clothes and accessories, appeared before everyone.  “Does my form bring you memories?”

Shulk clenched his teeth and pulled out his Monado and pointed it towards her.

“Change back, now!  You will not insult Fiora by mocking her form!”  He shouted.

Queen Chrysalis smiled nonchalantly.  Fiora’s form vanished in fire, returning back into her standard form.

“That’s to show that you cannot hide anything from me.  You want to head towards the plains beyond this area, do you not?”  Queen Chrysalis asked.

“We do.  Are you going to prevent us from heading over towards there?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Why would I do that when you saved my kind from extinction, Twilight?  I merely wish to tell you that, as heroes of the changelings, you will be free to come and go through Tephra Cave without any interference.  In addition, I have a request to ask of you.”  Queen Chrysalis began.

“What do you want, ugly bug?”  Reyn sternly asked.

“It’s simple really; I wish for a partnership with your group.  Be it weapons, armor and other resources, we changelings will assist you in any way we can.  But, you have to find a place so that we may expand as a civilization in this new world.  You will also have to find other civilizations with plenty of love, so that my changelings can go towards them and feed.  Are these terms alright with you?”  Queen Chrysalis asked.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack growled lowly.  Shulk raised his right hand towards them and looked into the eyes of Queen Chrysalis once more.

“We accept your terms and conditions.”

“Are you crazy?!  Why should we trust her?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“If her words ring true right now, then there isn’t much she can do against us right now.  Our fight is not against the changelings; our fight is against the Mechon and the race against time to find your friends.  We need every single form of help we can get, because it’s going to be a long journey.”  Shulk explained.

“Wise choice, Shulk.  I’m sure that with our combined efforts, we shall quell any threat that comes your way.”  Flying into the air, Queen Chrysalis stated.

“Can we really trust her?  She has a tendency to be deceptive.”  Twilight Sparkle skeptically stated.

“She has an air of trickery around her.  But, if she’s living on the Bionis, then she will also be under attack by the Mechon as well.  Stabbing us in the back will not do her species any good whatsoever.”  Shulk reasoned.

“I know that Queen Chrysalis is a natural born liar, but I agree with Shulk in this case.  She has a lot more to lose than gain with attacking us.”  Applejack complied.

“Talking with a royal bug is great and all, but I think we should hurry into the Gaur Plains now.  Every second we take waiting out here is another second when the Mechon could be attacking.”  Reyn impatiently said.

“There’s not really any use in thinking this over.  Let’s just take this as a blessing for our journey by the Bionis.”  Shulk stated.

The group of four walked up the path, but Twilight Sparkle looked back towards the mouth to the cave with a skeptical eye.





The group walked beyond a narrow path in the cliffs.  Before their very eyes was a large, open set of plains with high cliffs and green grasses.  The blue skies and the scale of the place caused Twilight Sparkle’s jaw to drop and Applejack to grin widely.

“So this is Gaur Plains?  Much bigger than I thought it’d be.”  Applejack commented.  “Uhh, Twi, you might want to pick up your jaw from the ground.”

“I knew that your world would have been fantastic, but I never imagined something like this being on a titan.  I just have to stu-“In the midst of her excitement, Twilight Sparkle eyed a pack of Timberwolves walking in the distance.  “There are Timberwolves here as well?!  Just how many creatures came from Equestria?”

“It’s safe to say that, at this point, everyone from Equestria came over here.  That includes the fauna.”  Applejack stated.

“But, these Timberwolves look a bit different than the ones from home.  For example, one can clearly see that their bark is green with moss and they have a more rugged texture than the ones at the Everfree.”  With a shine in her eye, Twilight Sparkle monologued.

“Timberwolves?”  Scratching the back of his head, Reyn asked.

“Timberwolves are wolves made of wood and have some of the nastiest breath you will ever smell.  They also have some fusion capabilities that allow them to transform into Alphas.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

“So they are more like the Volff’s around here then?  And, based on your reaction, I can assume that they have never been out of the Everfree Forest?  It seems that Timberwolves can adapt very easily to their environments due to their plant-structures.  For now, these Timberwolves will be called ‘Leg Timberwolves’ if that’s okay with you.”  Shulk stated.

“Seems good.  These do appear to be a subspecies of Timberwolves.”  Twilight Sparkle complied.

Applejack peered out into the distance and saw a black pipe-framed vehichle.

“Hey!  Something interesting is over there!”  Running over there, Applejack called out.

Shulk, Reyn and Twilight Sparkle followed her with a similar pace.

“It’s a buggy!”  Reyn stated.

Shulk approached the buggy and touched it with his hand.

“It’s still warm.  It seems like whoever left this here recently did so.”

Saying this, his eyes flashed in a blue color.  Within an area next to a bed of water, a slightly dark-skinned boy wearing a shirt, shorts and a vest alongside a earth pony filly with a large bow were surrounded by two large Armus, both of which were angry.  They hugged each other with fearful stares directed at their oppressors.  Reyn glanced towards Shulk after his eyes dimmed down.

“You had another vision, Shulk?”  Reyn asked.

“Yes.  Somewhere in this area, a young boy and pony are surrounded by Armus.  Though I couldn’t make out the exact location, it is by an area with water.”  Shulk said.

“What did this pony look like?”  Applejack fearfully asked.

“The colors weren’t really shown, but I could definitely tell that it was an earth pony girl with a large bow on top of her head.”

Hearing Shulk’s words, Applejack gasped deeply.

“That’s gotta be Applebloom!  And she’s in danger?!  Hold on tight, Applebloom!”  Running out into the expanse of the plains, she shouted.

“Applejack!  Wait!  We don’t even know where she is!”  Following after her, Twilight Sparkle stated.

“Great.  Those two ran off.”  Lifting his arms in disbelief, Reyn said.

“Well, there’s no use in staying here, Reyn.  We have to follow them and hope that they go to where the vision is.”  Shulk reasoned.





A tan-skinned boy with red hair and brown eyes fearfully embraced a pale yellow-coated earth pony filly with a bright red mane and red bow.  They were next to a spring, being stared down by two angry Armus.

“I’m sorry I pestered you into searching for a cutie mark in monster hunting, Juju.  Can you ever forgive me?”  Applebloom asked.

“You don’t need to apologize, Applebloom.  I wanted to leave towards Colony 6 without my sister.  What a horrible decision that was.”  Juju replied.

The Armus were so close to the two that they can feel the beasts’ breaths going down their necks.  They closed their eyes until a voice echoed outwards.

“Hammer Burst!”

Applejack jumped high into the air and slammed the hammer on the ground, shaking up both Armus and causing them to lose balance.  Juju and Applebloom looked towards her direction and widely grinned.

“Applejack!”  Applebloom shouted.

The Armus shook their heads and directed their attention towards Applejack.

“Magic Cannon!”

A green bolt of magic shot down an Armu from the distance, causing it to topple onto the ground.  Twilight Sparkle hopped over a cliff and ran towards Applejack, Juju and Applebloom.

“Thank goodness we found you Applebloom.”  She stated.

“Twilight!”  Applebloom shouted.

“So you know these ponies?”  Juju asked.

“I’ll tell you later.  But, right now, we have to make sure to keep away from those Armus.”  Applebloom stated.

The Armu that was standing up charged after Applejack.

“Wild Down!”  Jumping over the cliff and diving towards the charging Armu, Reyn shouted.

The Armu dropped onto its side and skidded along the ground.  Reyn glanced over towards Juju and Applebloom and smiled.

“I take it that’s your sister over there, Applejack?”  He asked.

“Yep!  Now we just have to take care of these creatures now.”  Applejack responded.

“I’m already one step ahead of you!  Horn Spike!”  Twilight Sparkle proclaimed.

She ran up towards an Armu and cocked her neck back.  Thrusting her head out, she stabbed the downed Armu with her laser-bladed horn and pulled it back out, causing it to bleed.

“Now it’s my turn!”  Applejack stated, running up towards the Armu and dive kicking into it.  “Summer Rambo!  Now let’s see how you two like my Hammer Smash!”

She lifted her hammer and smashed it onto the Armu’s skull.  The resounding bash reverberated throughout the entire ground, dazing the nearby Armu.  The Armu that was struck ceased to move.

“Nice strike, Applejack!”  Reyn complimented.  “Bone Upper!  War Swing!”

He punched the Armu with a vicious uppercut, following up by extending his arm with the guarder and rotating it around, catching the creature in a vicious whirlwind of the spiked shield.

“Magic Spark!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted, sending a lavender bolt towards the struggling Armu and causing it to stop moving.

Applebloom ran up towards Applejack and embraced her by her right front leg.

“I thought you were gone!  I didn’t see you anywhere!”  Crying, she stated.

Applejack smiled and stroked her mane with her left front hoof.

“Don’t worry, Applebloom.  It turns out everypony made it out of that disaster alive.  I saw Big Mac in this world the other day!”  She stated.

“But what about Granny?”  Frowning, Applebloom asked.

“I thought she was with you!”  Panickingly, Applejack responded.  “Then, if she isn’t with you, then it looks like she’s still somewhere in this world.”

“Applejack!  Twilight!  Reyn!”  Shulk called out, running towards the group.  He eyed Juju and Applebloom.  He smiled.  “It looks like the boy and pony in my vision are safe thanks to you three.”

“Excuse me, but who are you?”  Juju asked.

“My name is Shulk, a Homs Engineer from Colony 9.  You must be from Colony 6.”  Shulk responded.

“You’re right about me being from Colony 6, but the colony was overtaken by the Mechon.  My name is Juju.”  Juju replied.

“That buggy we saw earlier belonged to you, didn’t it?”  Twilight Sparkle asked, causing Juju’s head to shy away from her.

“Truthfully, it’s my older sister’s buggy.  I kind of borrowed it from her without asking.  I wanted to go to Colony 6 to fight the Mechon myself, and Applebloom said something about wanting to get her cutie mark in hunting monsters.  She wouldn’t quit pestering me about it, so I brought her along.”  He stated.

“You do realize how dangerous it is to go alone against the Mechon, right kid?  Entire armies have been massacred by them.  What’s a kid like you supposed to do against even a single Mechon?”  Reyn chastised.

“That’s enough, Reyn.  These two already had a difficult time with their current situation.”  Shulk stated.  “Juju, would you mind telling us where you are staying right now?”

“I’m staying in a cave not far away from here with the other survivors of Colony 6.  We should go there now.”  Juju replied.





The combined group of six trekked towards a small area surrounded by the mountains.  A ship is crashed into the water, and the mouth of a cave was ahead.  The people in the area had sullen expressions on their faces.

“Juju!  Applebloom!”  Sharla stated, turning around towards the groups direction.  “Where have you two been?”  In a serious tone, she asked.

Juju and Applebloom looked away from Sharla’s eyes with nervous frowns.  In that moment, Shulk’s eyes flashed once more.  Within the vision, Juju and Applebloom were being held by robotic tendrils and Sharla ran towards them screaming their names.  She was knocked into the air and eaten by a tendril, shrieking in fear.  Then, the silhouette of the faced Mechon appeared.

“Don’t tell me you were…”  Sharla began to say, looking at the buggy Juju was in.  “I told you a thousand times.  We aren’t ready to leave the camp yet.”

“But I thought…” Juju began reasoning.

“Juju!”  Sharla snapped.

“Sorry, Sharla.”  Juju apologized, looking down on the ground.

“I’m sorry too, Sharla.”  Applebloom also said.

Sharla smiled softly and knelt down to both of their levels, gently placing her hands on top of their heads.  She looked towards Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack with peaked interest in her eyes.

“That gear!  You must be survivors of the Defence Force.”  She stated.  She ran towards Reyn, hurriedly planting the palms of her hands onto his chest.  “Is Colony 6 okay?  Did Gadolt make it!?”

“Hold on.  What’re you talking about?”  Puzzled, Reyn asked.

“We’ve come from Colony 9.”  Shulk replied.

“Colony 9?”  Sharla asked.

“They saved me and Applebloom from some monsters.  This is Reyn, Applejack, Twilight and Shulk.”  Juju stated, pointing to each individual being as he called their names.

“Oh, so you’re not from Colony 6.”  Despondantly, Sharla said.  “Thank you for helping Juju and Applebloom.  I’m Juju’s sister, Sharla.  Applebloom is one of the many ponies that appeared here with us.”

“Applebloom is my little sis, Sharla.”  Applejack happily said.  “I’m glad to see that she’s safe and became friends with your little brother.”

“Juju said that your name was Applejack, did he not?”  Placing her right index finger on her bottom lip, Sharla asked.  “And he said your name was Twilight?”

“Umm, yes he did.  Is there a particular reason why you took so much interest with our names?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“I have a bit of a surprise for you two then.”  Smiling, Sharla responded.  “You two can also come with me.  You saved Juju and Applebloom, so you can all rest here.  It’s only fair that I do that.”

The group followed Sharla into the mouth of the cave.





Rainbow Dash hung around an indigo Nopon child with a red and white-spotted mushroom cap on his head.

“So, Pama, how are you enjoying that Juicy Broccoli that I got for you?”  She asked.

“Pama love Broccoli!  Pama like Bird Elk.  Bird Elk kind adult to Pama.”  Pama replied, causing Rainbow Dash to smile.

“I told you before, Pama; you don’t need to call me ‘Bird Elk’ since I’m not a bird or an elk.  Just call me Rainbow.”  She corrected happily.

“Pama knows, but Pama like calling Rainbow Bird Elk.”  Hugging her leg, Pama stated.

Rainbow Dash gently stroked the top of the mushroom cap affectionately.  Behind her, Sharla came into the room with Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.  Twilight Sparkle and Applejack’s eyes raised and grins formed on their faces.

“Rainbow Dash?!”  Applejack called out.

Rainbow Dash turned around and a wide smile appeared on her face.

“Applejack?!  Twilight?!”  She screamed with excitement.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack sprinted towards Rainbow Dash.  The three ponies embraced each other in a group hug.

“It’s nice to see that you’re alive and kicking, Rainbow Dash!”  Applejack called out.

“Wait, this is Rainbow Dash?”  Reyn stated in shock.  “She looks fruitier than a bowl of Black Kiwis and Dance Apples!”

Hearing this comment, Rainbow Dash popped her head above to see Reyn and stared at him.  She flapped her wings and flew in front of him.

“I look fruity?  Says the muscular guy with a shirt that looks like it can pop off at any moment.  Now that’s the definition of fruity.”  She replied.

With Rainbow Dash and Reyn staring at each other, the tensions within the cave heated up.  No side backed down, and each of those living in the cave awkwardly looked at each other.  Sharla cleared her throat, shattering the silence in the cave.

“Rainbow Dash, this is Reyn.  He saved Juju and Applebloom from some Armu along with your friends.”  Sharla stated.

“Really?  Then I hope you are taking good care of my friends while they are with you two.  Otherwise, I’ll buck you where it hurts.”  Rainbow Dash threatened.

“Ahem.”  Shulk interrupted, dragging Rainbow Dash’s attention towards him.  “My name is Shulk.  And you can feel comfortable knowing that we are taking good of your friend while they are on the Bionis.  Based off of the information Twilight and Applejack said about you, you must be a pegasus pony.”

Rainbow Dash flexed out her wings, closed her eyes and smiled nonchalantly.

“I’m glad you noticed.  I take pride in my flight ability you know.”  She stated.

“Applejack kept telling me about how you do that as well.  In fact, the reason why Reyn made that comment was because Twilight said that he sounded like a combination between you and Applejack.”

“Me!  Sound like him/her?!”  Reyn, Applejack and Rainbow Dash called out at the same time, their voices perfectly matching up with each other.  Their eyes widened.

“It looks like I really do sound like the two of you combined, just with a more masculine tone though.”  Reyn admitted.

“So, anyways, Sharla and I have been teaming up and bringing much needed supplies to the camp.  Also, please try to be soft around the folks here.  They’ve been through a lot.”  Rainbow Dash explained with a sensitive smile.

“I could see that.  After all, Juju did say that Colony 6 was occupied by the Mechon and these are the only ones who made it out.”  Shulk stated, causing Pama to cry a bit.

“Pama… all alone.”  He stated.

Rainbow Dash frowned and walked towards him.

“You don’t need to feel alone, Pama.  You still have others in here who care very much about you.”

“We’ll leave you four alone in here.  Reyn, Sharla and I have a few things to talk about.”  Shulk stated.  Him, Reyn and Sharla walked out of the area and entered into a different portion of the cave.

Eyeing the Nopon next to her, Twilight Sparkle grinned widely.

“A Nopon!  Didn’t see you here.”  She stated with an investigative tone, causing Pama to shriek and turn around fearfully.

“Please, Twilight.  Don’t try to interrogate Pama just because he’s a Nopon.  He’s taken the events that happened to him the worst out of anyone here.  The Mechon invasion orphaned him.”  Rainbow Dash snapped back.

“Ohhh…”  Her interest deflating, Twilight Sparkle worded out.

She softly walked towards Pama, knelt down to his level and had a soft smile on her face.

“Pama?  I’m sorry that I scared you.  I didn’t mean it.”  She took out an orange book and gave it to him.  “I want you to have this book, Pama.  It was my favorite book when I was growing up.  I never leave without it.”

Pama eyed the book with peaked interest.  He saw many vivid pictures of two alicorns, one dark blue and one white, bringing forth the night and day.  He saw how the dark blue alicorn grew jealous and kept the night eternal, but saw that the white alicorn used the power of six gems and sealed the dark blue alicorn into the moon, bringing order back into the world.

“Pama likes book.  Pama thank Bird Horn for book.”  Happily, he said.  He walked away into the cave.

“That was the happiest I’ve seen him, Twi!  It really means a lot to me to see you do that for him.”  Rainbow Dash commented.  “You see, I woke up in this cave after Sharla found me at Gaur Plains.  I owe it to her and the rest of the Colony for taking care of me while I am unconscious.  That’s why I’m willing to do anything for them.”

“Always the loyal one, Rainbow Dash.  It makes me happy to see that about you.”  Twilight Sparkle complimented.  “So, seeing that you have been helping out, do you know how to fight monsters by any chance?”

“Yep.”  Rainbow Dash responded, lifting her viciously-curved horseshoes on her hooves.  “These beauties allowed me to take down anything standing in my way.  Sharla also helped as well by providing me with healing aid with her rifle.”

“Then it seems like we are all in good shape, then.  You see, Applejack and I have also learned how to use weapons in this world.  We’ve been helping Shulk and Reyn fight monsters, like the Mechon.”  Twilight Sparkle responded.

“Wait, you fought the Mechon?!  When I tried fighting them around the Raguel Bridge, I couldn’t even lay a dent on them!”  Rainbow Dash shouted.

“There are actually two tricks to fighting the Mechon.  You have to topple them over so that they would be able to be hit.  It doesn’t work when you are fighting many Mechon, though, as Applejack and I learned.  Another way to damage the Mechon is through a weapon that Shulk wields which is known as the Monado.  With his enchant, weapons are capable of damaging the Mechon.”  Twilight Sparkle explained.

“That explains why you are here today.  But, I don’t see a weapon on you, Twi.  I see Applejack’s hammer, but what weapon do you have?”  Rainbow Dash asked with one eye narrowed and the other raised.

“You see this ring on my horn?  Apparently, it’s another Monado.  That’s all I really know.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.

“Now that we are alone, Twilight, I’ve been meaning to ask you something I wanted to ask you since we left for Tephra Cave.  You’ve been acting pretty weird when you said you got a glare of the sun in your eye.  In this world, the sun’s very mild when compared to Equestria’s sun.  Now I want the truth on why you are acting so suspicious about it.”  Applejack demanded.

“I didn’t want to talk about it, but I think that this Monado might be giving me visions as well.  I only had one, but it was such a weird vision.  I saw a station out in space that was filled with various people.  I just don’t know what it means…”

In that moment, Twilight Sparkle’s eyes flashed purple once more.
	
> For the Past, For the Future
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Light filled Twilight Sparkle’s eyes.  Dimming slowly, she found herself within a white room upon a twin-sized bed with white sheets.

“Where… where am I?”  She asked herself.

She stood up from the bed and looked into a mirror.  Covering her mouth, she gasped at the sight; a fair-skinned woman with black hair that stretched down to her shoulders and purple eyes was projected by the mirror rather than her pony body.  She was adorned in a lab coat, a purple shirt and white pants.  She moved her arms slightly, confirming the body.  She heard a knock on the door nearby.  Turning her head left and right, she faced the door.

“Come in!”

The door slid to the right into the wall.  Behind the door was another fair-skinned woman with silver hair that stretched down to her shoulders.  Unlike Twilight Sparkle’s hair, this woman’s hair had some hair stretch down the back of her shoulders and some hair stretch in front of them.  She was adorned in a lab coat and white pants, but the shirt behind her coat was gray.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your nap, Sophia, but there’s an issue that we need you for.”  She said.

“Alright, errr…”  Twilight Sparkle began to say, prompting a small chuckle from the woman in front of her.

“Your memory with names hasn’t always been the best, Sophia.  My name is May.”  May introduced.  “Though you don’t exactly have the best ability with matching names with faces, you are still a very gifted scientist.  This is why I need you right now.”

“Yes, May.”  Nodding, Twilight Sparkle followed May out of the door.





Looking out of the door, Twilight Sparkle’s jaw dropped at the sight beyond the windows: a blue planet covered in clouds and land masses overlooked the entire area.  Stars and the depths of space were easily seen from the area.  May smiled.

“I know just how you feel, Sophia.  I never get tired of seeing this sight from our Research Station in Earth’s orbit.”

“So… what is this issue that needs to be resolved?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“It’s a simple one for you.”  Walking through sliding double doors, May responded.

Within the room was a giant apparatus in the shape of a hexagon.  It was white and had many flashing colors on it.  Twilight Sparkle’s jaw dropped at the sight of the machine.

“This is the Allocating Logic Vertical Inversion System, but you already knew that, Sophia.  In the testing phases, there was something unusual with the system.  A glitch, if you would call it.  It made interacting with the machine very dangerous as a result.”  May explained.

Twilight Sparkle eyed the machine carefully.  Her throat clenched itself, suppressing a gasp.

“So I have to eliminate the glitch?”  She asked.

“That is correct, Sophia.  Take your time, but I’m sure you’ll be able to remove the glitch.”  Leaving the room, May confidently stated.

Twilight Sparkle eyed the machine in wonder.  She moved her right index finger onto the machine, letting the cool sensation from the metal fill her mind.

“This machine is amazing!  There’s probably enough technology in here to break various laws of physics.  I wonder why something like this is in space.”  She worded out loud.

She noticed an unlit square on the machine that looks like a button.  Curious, she pressed it.  Doing so, the machine began to whir into life and the lights cycled rapidly.  She gasped and stumbled backwards.  A bolt of black electricity built up at the top of the machine, filling Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with shock.

The electricity shot out towards her direction.  She turned around and placed her hands on the back of her head in instinct.  Anticipating the violent shock, she shut her eyes.  However, the pain never came.  Curiously, she looked behind her.

A fair-skinned man, slightly taller than her, with messy blond hair and blue eyes clenched his teeth.  His left eye twitched in pain.  On the back of his lab coat was a very notable scorch mark.  From it emanated the scent of burning fabric and flesh.  Twilight Sparkle screamed.

“Are you okay?!  No, you are definitely not okay!  We have to get you some medical attention, stat!”

Much to her distress, the man smiled slightly and chuckled.

“It’s… not as bad as it looks, Sophia.  I would gladly take the blow for you.”  He stated, grunting out in pain.

“But you are probably experiencing shock from the blow!  How are your nerves feeling?  Can you get up?!”  Twilight Sparkle pressed on with horror.

“I might… need a little help, Sophia.  But… it shouldn’t be-“Saying these words, he collapsed onto the ground with his hand grasping at his chest.

May ran through the door with her eyes and mouth opened in panic.

“Klaus!”  She shouted.  “Quick, Sophia!  We have to get him to the Medical Bay, now!”

Twilight Sparkle nodded, carrying the unconscious Klaus by his legs while May carried him by his arms.





Twilight Sparkle’s eyes stopped flashing.  She found herself back in the Refugee Camp with Rainbow Dash and Applejack with worried frowns on their faces.

“…Rainbow Dash?  Applejack?  Is that you?”

“Twilight!”  Rainbow Dash screamed, running towards her side.  “What happened there?  It seems like you zoned out, and we couldn’t get you to talk.”

“You had us worried for a second there, Twi.”  Sighing in relief, Applejack stated.

“I’m glad to be back, Applejack.  Though… that felt really weird.”  Twilight Sparkle said.  “That vision… didn’t feel like a vision.  It felt like I was in a different body, and I was in space and-“

“Twilight, we already worried about you being conscious.  We don’t want to worry about you suffering brain damage.”  Rainbow Dash stated.

Shulk, Reyn and Sharla walked into the area with panicked frowns on their faces.

“Did anybody see where Juju went?!”  Sharla shouted.

“Oh no…” Her ears perking up, Twilight Sparkle stated.

“He can’t be going to Colony 6, could he?!”  Reyn asked with fear dripping in his voice.

“Then it looks like we have no choice.”  Shulk stated, turning towards Sharla.  “Sharla, do you know where any canyon-like regions are here?”

“There’s a large one across the Raguel Bridge.  You think Juju might be over there?”  Sharla responded.

“I’m positive.  I saw him over there in a vision, being attacked by a Mechon.  We have to go now!”  Shulk stated.

“Rainbow Dash and I are tagging along, too!  We won’t let you find Juju by yourselves.  You four need all the help you can get.”  Sharla reasoned.

Shulk looked at both Sharla and Rainbow Dash, who had stares filled with eager intent.  He sighed to himself.

“Fine.”  He painfully uttered out.

> A Second Faced Mechon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Sharla and Rainbow Dash walked out into the vast plains.  Twilight Sparkle shifted her head to her left and right side, eyeing both of her friends that she found.  She softly smiled.

“Rainbow, out of the three of us, you have the most experience with this place.  Is there anything we need to watch out for?”  She asked.

Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders.

“Not too many things you should be worried about in this area of the Plains except for the Territorial Rotbart.  If you go around the Sky Stage, Villera Hill, Raguel Lake and Windy Caves, then you will encounter some nasty monsters.  Though the Villera Hill and Raguel Lake are fine to walk around, the Sky Stage and Windy Caves really are a host to some terrifying monsters.”

Reyn looked around the group, noticing the talking going on behind him.  In a few seconds, his eyes widened slightly.

“Shulk, I just realized that we have six people in our group that are all capable of fighting.”

“It is getting somewhat big.  I’m not even sure if everyone would be able to fight and gain proper experience.”  Shulk admitted.  “But… we just need to be able to shift around our parties and we should be fine.”

“Yeah, as long as everyone gets a turn, then-“Rainbow Dash began saying until a nearby bush rustled immensely.  Two Leg Timberwolves and a bipedal birdlike creature with a spear popped out of it, growling immensely at the group.

“It’s a group of Timberwolves and a Tirkin!”  Shulk shouted, pulling out his Monado.

“Huh, never expected to see a Tirkin being intelligent enough to use tools.”  Twilight Sparkle noted, extending the laser of her horn.

“Can I join in on the fun?”  Cockily smiling, Rainbow Dash asked.

“I don’t see why not.  It should give you some idea of how we work as a group.”  Twilight Sparkle responded.

At trigger response, Rainbow Dash flew towards the three enemies at instant speed.

“Cross Wing!”  She shouted, sweeping her wings at a diagonal angle against a Tirkin.

A giant white ‘X’ appeared in the air.  Rainbow Dash stepped past the Tirkin, where the ‘X’ disappeared and the Tirkin was assaulted by two slashes.  Twilight Sparkle looked at the results with her jaw visibly dropped.

“When did Rainbow learn that?!”  She shouted.

Rainbow Dash looked behind her and saw two Timberwolves staring her down.  One of the Timberwolves leapt towards her with its claws extended.

“Counter Clone!”

On declaration, Rainbow Das became enshrouded in an orange aura.  The strike of the Timberwolf seemingly missed, striking what appeared to be an illusion of Rainbow Dash.  In an instant, she retaliated with a strong left hook that struck its jaw and caused it to fly.

“Holy cow!”  Twilight Sparkle uttered in sheer amazement.

“Great Bionis!”  Shulk said, speechless at what he witnessed.  Rainbow Dash looked towards the lone Timberwolf next to her and smiled nonchalantly.  The Timberwolf ran away from the area.

“And never come back!”  Rainbow Dash shouted.  She turned around, seeing stunned expressions from Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.  “Did I break you two?”

“You just… those moves looked unreal!”  Applejack exclaimed.

“They are pretty great, aren’t they?  It’s kind of weird how I woke up knowing how to do these moves, though.”  Rainbow Dash softly admitted.

“Ah didn’t know how to do my moves back in Equestria, but this hammer feels like second nature to me, and I’ve been busting monsters ever since.”  Smiling, Applejack stated.

“Though I’ve been proficient with magic, I’ve been using much more combat-oriented magic.  I think that it’s because of the ether we are exposed to in this world that is allowing us to use these new abilities.  I wonder what other abilities we have.”  Twilight Sparkle reasoned.

“Well, there are skill trees.”  Shulk answered.  “Skill trees contain your core beliefs.  The more you stick with your core beliefs, the more skills you can gain.  But, you can only stay with one core belief at a time.”

“That information might have been good to know when we began this journey, Shulk.”  Twilight Sparkle stated with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“You read the manual.  I’d assume that you would have knowledge on them.”  Shulk reasoned.

Twilight Sparkle opened her mouth and raised her front hoof, but lowered it.

“I think we should just go find Juju.  We’ve spent too much time on that topic.”

“Right.  We have to leave towards the area Sharla told us about.”  Shulk stated.





The group ran down towards the grassy hills where a large lake stood down the cliff side.  A bridge appeared in sight.

“The bridge!”  Reyn called out, sprinting towards a wide bridge that connected two land masses.

Underneath the rock formation, a group of Mechon stood on recon.  They eyed the group running towards them.  Their eyes flashed, their claws whirred with life and they marched towards the group.

“Mechon?!”  Reyn shouted, extending out his guarder.

“That’s the Mechon?!  These things weren’t here when I came across this area!”  Rainbow Dash called out.

Shulk pulled out his Monado, extending it.  The symbol for Enchant appeared on his blade.

“You’ll need me if you want to even damage the Mechon, Rainbow Dash.”

Sharla glanced over towards Reyn and put her hand up.

“Hold on there, big boy.  Why don’t you let me take this one?  I’ve been craving a fight with these Mechon for a very long time.  Longer than you can imagine.”

“Fine.”  Reyn said, sheathing back his guarder.

Sharla pulled out a large rifle and pointed it towards the Mechon.  Shulk swung the Monado, encasing the entire area in a hazy aura.  Rainbow Dash and Sharla felt a burst of energy within them.

Sharla aimed her rifle at the nearest Mechon.  Holding it with two hands, she pulled the trigger and blasted the Mechon away.  On cue, Shulk and Rainbow Dash dashed towards the Mechon.

“Shadow Eye!”  Shulk announced, posing defensively.

A dark blue haze came upon him, drawing the attention of the Mechon away from him.  Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash bucked a nearby Mechon in the chest and launched it back.  A scout-type Mechon, whose focus was on her, charged its laser.  A series of laser bolts fired at her, causing her eyes to shoot open in pain.

“Back Slash!”  Shulk shouted, getting behind the scout-type Mechon and slashing its back.

The Mechon burst in orange flares.  Sharla, seeing the bipedal Mechon by itself, aimed her rifle towards it.

“Thunder Bullet!”  She shouted, shooting two rounds of pure electricity towards its direction.  

The Mechon fell onto the ground.  Sharla quickly ran over towards Rainbow Dash, whose right shoulder was charred slightly.

“Does it hurt, Rainbow?”  She asked.

“I’ve suffered worse.  It’s just a little bu-“Rainbow Dash began confidently saying when a shock of nerves ran down her legs, prompting a shrill yelp from her.  “Easy with the touching, Sharla!”  She vehemently stated.

“Sorry, Rainbow, but I have to give a thorough examination of the wound in order to develop the best possible treatment for it.  Any misdiagnosis on my part and giving you the wrong treatment can prove to be fatal in the worst case scenario.”  Sharla reasoned.

Rainbow Dash pouted and softly lied down on the ground, allowing Sharla to look through her wound more carefully.

“Alright, Rainbow.”  Sharla began saying.  She lifted her gun into the air.  “Heal Round!”

Calling out the words, a blue light shot out of Sharla’s rifle and covered Rainbow Dash.  The light knitted back her skin and fur as if the injury never happened.  She smiled.

“I always forget how good of a medic you are sometimes, Sharla.”  She happily stated.

“With all what my Colony went through, I need to be prepared for every single medical emergency.”  Sharla replied.  “Since the Mechon are here, and Juju is beyond the bridge, then that means that…”

With these words entering in her head, she dashed towards the bridge at breakneck speed.

“Sharla, wait!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted, sprouting her wings and flying towards her.

“Twi!”  Reyn said with a similar intensity, running towards the two.

“Come on, everyone!  We have to follow those three!”  Applejack ordered.





Sharla, Reyn and Twilight Sparkle crossed the bridge and passed several ape-like monsters with black hair and orange hair.  Eventually, the walls of the canyon narrowed in on them, splitting the path in two.

“Sharla!  Hold up!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted loudly.

Sharla looked back, seeing a worried Twilight Sparkle and a sweaty Reyn running right behind her.

“What’s the big deal, Sharla?  You acted as if the world would have ended.”  Reyn asked in annoyed worry.

“Sorry… But, if those Mechon are there and Juju went to Colony 6 by himself, then that means that he is in graver danger than I could imagine.  The more time we take up, the less confident I feel about his well-being.”  Sharla explained.

“You are right to be worried, Sharla.  Juju is your younger brother, and I can’t even begin to imagine if my brother were…”  Twilight Sparkle paused herself there, choking the rest of her words down.  “The problem is that you can’t face the Mechon by yourself.  We all need each other so that we can stand a chance against them.”

Sharla let out an exasperated sigh.

“As much as I hate it, you have a point.  My brother is in danger right now, but what chance would I have if I cannot even deal so much as a scrap of damage to the Mechon?  It was foolish of me to run off by myself.”

The group of three smiled.  Reyn pat Sharla on her shoulder.

“Reyn!  Twilght!  Sharla!”  Shulk called out.

Shulk, Applejack and Rainbow Dash ran towards Reyn, Twilight Sparkle and Sharla.  They stopped in place.

“Shulk!  You didn’t happen to run into those Gogols near the edge of the cliff into the lake, did you?”  Reyn asked in a concerned tone.

“Thankfully, they were busy with other things.”  Shulk responded.  He looked up ahead and saw the two paths.  “Which path would be the best past for us to take?”

Sharla turned around and looked towards the left and right paths.

“The left path leads to the Windy Caves.  Though it leads to the upper level, it is filled with powerful monsters like what Rainbow Dash is saying.  The right path is more tranquil and shorter, so it is the ideal path for us to take.”  She said.

“Then it’s the right path we are taking.”  Twilight Sparkle announced, walking down towards it with the rest of the group following her.





After a small hike up the beaten, but verdant trail, the group reached the plateau of the higher plains; a green and brown bowl of vegetation and crags were nestled within the flat mountains.  The sky appeared to be much closer than anyone had imagined.  The sounds of several waterfalls crashed against the water basins below, leaving rainbows in their wake.

Shulk looked out into the distance and saw a spiral pillar with a notable plateau on top of it.  He gasped to himself.

“That’s the place where the vision happens.”  He whispered silently to himself, looking over towards Sharla.  “I can’t let that vision take place.”

“Mumbling to yourself again, Shulk?  Does it have to do with that vision from earlier?”  Reyn asked.

“That place definitely relates to my vision.  We have to get there as quickly as possible.”  Shulk replied, running towards the spiral.

“Hey, wait up!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted, running after him.

“Consarnit!  Can’t we have a single moment where we aren’t chasing after one of our own?”  Applejack questioned loudly, running after Shulk and Twilight Sparkle.

“Yeah… it looks like we have to catch them again.”  Rolling her eyes and sighing, Rainbow Dash stated.





Juju hurriedly sprinted and crawled upon the top of the spiral, avoiding metallic tentacles gunning at him.  His eyes were bloodshot and his breaths cycled dangerously.

Running away, his foot collided with a small stone, causing him to fall onto the ground face first.  He looked back with a wide-eyes and an open mouth, seeing the Mechon tendrils open menacingly.  The tendrils lunging forward, Juju shut his eyes and put his hands on top of his head.  In the darkness of it all, the sound of a laser slashing against metal struck his eardrums.

Slowly opening his eyes, Juju looked up to his savior; Shulk stood tall with his Monado activated.  Right behind him, Twilight Sparkle hurriedly climbed the spiral.  The ring on her horn unscrewed, unsheathing the lavender laser that is her Monado.

“Twilight!  Shulk!”  Applejack screamed out, running to the top of the area.  She looked around, seeing an octopus-shaped Mechon and Juju lying on the ground.  “So that’s the creature in your vision, Shulk?”

“Indeed.  We have to finish it off right now!”  Nodding, Shulk ordered.

“Hold on!  I’m joining in this fight, whether you want me to or not.”  Sharla shouted, running up the spiral with Reyn and Rainbow Dash.  “If this is the Mechon that hurt my little brother, I will pay it back in death!”

Shulk bit his bottom lip in response to Sharla’s words.  He paused in position for a few seconds, uttering a frustrated hum.

“Alright.  You have just as much claim to this monstrosity as any of us do.”

Sharla let out a smirk and cocked her rifle.

“You are mine!”  She said.

Shulk’s Monado flashed to the Enchant symbol.  He swung it, filling Sharla and Twilight Sparkle with its power.  Sharla aimed at the nearest tentacle, shooting it down.

Twilight Sparkle aimed her horn at the Mechon, charging her Magic Spark and shooting the energy at it.  Shulk hopped towards a cluster of tentacles, holding his blade to his side.

“Stream Edge!”  He shouted, unleashing a wide shockwave striking all of the tentacles in its path.

“Metal Blast!”  Sharla stated, firing a shiny bullet at the Mechon.  “We’re doing an awesome job so far.”

The battle against the tentacles gradually increased in hectic action; Twilight Sparkle slashed and stabbed at the tentacles with her Monado, Sharla unleashed rounds of Thunder Bullet against the enemies and Shulk evaded any tentacles, retaliating with powerful slashes.

Unbeknownst to Sharla, three Mechon tendrils snuck up behind her while she was firing at the tentacles in front of her.  Shulk paused in his fight and looked back at her.  A shocked gasp escaped his mouth.

“Sharla!  Behind you!”  He shouted.

Sharla stopped firing and turned around.  As she did, the tentacles snared at her feet, tossing her in the air.  The tendrils opened their fangs like a hungry flytrap.  Sharla screamed, catching the attention of Twilight Sparkle.

“Sharla!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted.

Grasping the hilt of the Monado tightly, Shulk’s eyebrows curved in anger.  Suddenly, the Monado became wreathed in dark blue electricity and a ‘疾’ appeared within its ring.  Sharla was covered within a dark blue aura.  Seeing the tentacles jetting after her, she dodged them with amazing aerial reflexes and ran down the tentacles, shooting the heads off with her rifle in the process.

“This is… a new power!”  Shulk stated hopefully.

Twilight Sparkle eyed the symbol on the Monado and she too felt a burst of energy within her hooves.

“Shulk!  With that new power, we can finish off the enemy!”  She exclaimed.

“You’re right.  We will be untouchable with this new power.”  Shulk stated, running after the Mechon.

A Mechon tendril gunned after Twilight Sparkle.  Looking back in time, Twilight Sparkle jumped and performed an aileron roll at light speed.  Looking back towards the Mechon, her horn flared up with in a hazy purple light.

“Lightning Burst!”  She shouted, unleashing a torrent of electricity towards her aggressor and shorting it out.

One of the tentacles fired a series of blue lasers at Twilight Sparkle.  Quickly, Sharla aimed her rifle towards her.

“Shield Bullet!”   At the declaration of these words, Twilight Sparkle was enveloped within a blue barrier.

A majority of the shots were absorbed by it, but a few managed to pierce through the shield, striking Twilight Sparkle.  She grunted slightly.

“Twilight!”  Shulk shouted.  He raised his Monado into the air.  The blade filled with a soothing light.  “Light Heal!”

Twilight Sparkle became enveloped in the light, and she felt her wounds disappearing.

“Thanks, Shulk.”  She gratefully stated.

“Don’t thank me yet.  Let’s finish off this Mechon with a Chain Attack!”  Shulk shouted, redirecting his attention to the main body.

Time stood still as the energy around Shulk, Twilight Sparkle and Sharla’s rings around them exploded.

“Air Slash!”  Shulk shouted, jumping into the air and slashing the side of the Mechon, causing its feet to lose balance.

“Magic Cannon!”  Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, firing a green bolt of ether from her horn.  The Mechon promptly toppled onto the ground.

“My turn!”  Sharla shouted.  “Thunder Bullet!”  Two rounds of electricity shot forth from her rifle, striking the Mechon towards its head.  “Shulk, finish it off now!”

The laser of Shulk’s Monado extended past its normal size.  Crackling with purple energy, Shulk held it skyward.

“Monado Buster!”  Shulk exclaimed, slamming the laser into the Mechon, utterly destroying it.

Juju’s mouth curved into a relieved smile.  He stood up from the ground, ignorant of the large shadow looming over him.  Taking a few steps forward, a bronze-colored faced Mechon with a giant hammer in its right hand dropped near him.

“Juju!”  Rainbow Dash shouted.

Juju turned around slightly, and his eyes widened fearfully.  Being grabbed by the faced Mechon’s left hand, he screamed.  Rainbow Dash flew towards the faced Mechon and dived towards it with her hind legs.  A simple clank rung out, causing her to fly back onto the ground.

“You pile of junk!  Let him go!”  Reyn exclaimed, running towards the faced Mechon with quickened feet.

“Reyn!  I’m watching your back.”  Shulk stated, running towards the faced Mechon.

The faced Mechon glanced towards Reyn with its red eyes.  From the sky dropped two spider-type Mechon.  Shulk slashed one of the spider Mechon and Reyn held off another one with his guarder.

“Cheers, Shulk!”  Reyn stated, holding back the Mechon as Shulk ran towards the faced Mechon.

Several more spider-type Mechon appeared on the scene.  Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked towards each other, and then glanced towards Twilight Sparkle.

“Go help Shulk, Twi.  We’ll take care of these Mechon!”  Applejack announced.

“We got your backs.  So go save Juju!”  Rainbow Dash stated.

Twilight Sparkle nodded and ran after the faced Mechon.

The faced Mechon, seeing Shulk and Twilight Sparkle run after him, grasped its hammer tightly.

“You little!”  It stated in a male, robotic Cockney accent, swinging its hammer towards the duo.

Shulk and Twilight Sparkle ducked underneath the strike.  Shulk swung his Monado against the metal, but it harmlessly bounced off of it.  The faced Mechon roared loudly and lifted its foot above Shulk.

“Shulk!”  Twilight Sparkle called out, shoving Shulk out of the way of the shadow.  The faced Mechon stomped onto the ground with no result.  Shulk ran around the faced Mechon with a frustrated stare directed towards it.

“Why?  Why can’t I use the Monado?!”  He shouted.  “It’s only the ones that have faces.  But…”  In the midst of his thoughts, the faced Mechon swung its hammer.  Shulk narrowly dodged the blow.  “I can still see what it can do!  Just like before!”

“Shulk, we can worry about that later.  We have to save Juju right now!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted, firing bursts of magic from her horn.  The faced Mechon lifted its right arm, providing a shield from the blasts of magic directed towards him.

“Nice tricks you got there, pipsqueaks!  Darting around the place.  That’s the Monado’s power?  Won’t matter, you both are still flesh and blood, and I reckon you two are nearly done!”  It stated, swinging its hammer down into the ground where Shulk and Twilight Sparkle previously were.

A sentry-type Mechon wandered behind the two.  Applejack and Reyn smacked it with their weapons and tossed it away.

“Behind you!”  The faced Mechon jeered, several more spider-type Mechon dropping onto the ground.

“You leave these Mechon to Reyn and me.  You can depend on us!”  Applejack assured, smashing her hammer down onto the Mechon.

“Don’t lose your focus, Shulk.  You too, Twi.  Take it out!”  Reyn stated, jumping into the air and stabbing against one of the nearby Mechon.

“Got it!”

“Roger!”

Shulk and Twilight Sparkle ran towards the faced Mechon with their Monados extended.  The faced Mechon thrust a punch towards their direction, only to be blocked by their Monados.  With the two on their knees, the faced Mechon lifted its hammer into the air.  A round was shot into the stalk of the hammer, causing an explosion that knocked the faced Mechon off-balanced.

“Now!”  Sharla stated, holding her rifle in a battle-ready position.

“Right!”  Rainbow Dash stated, flying towards the faced Mechon with her hind leg reared for a round house.  With a single clash, she flipped back onto the ground.

“It’s not working!  Our attacks are useless against it!”  Annoyed, she stated.

The faced Mechon appeared as if it made a smile and then jumped into the air.

“That was fun for a while, but now I’m bored!”  It stated, using the height to smash its hammer down onto the ground.

The wind from the initial strike on the ground knocked the group away.  Juju eyed the group with anxiety.

“Sharla!”  He screamed, seeing Sharla knocked over the edge.

Sharla barely managed to grab onto the edge.  She hung for her life.  Shulk and Twilight Sparkle retained their stances, but suddenly became distracted when the faced Mechon’s giant arm struck on the ground to the right.  The faced Mechon lifted its hammer towards the two.

“Time to finish you two off!”

Shulk and Twilight Sparkle stood there, unable to move an inch.

“Shulk!  Twi!  Look out!”  Reyn shouted.

With the faced Mechon having the two trapped with the hammer of impending doom, the red lines of its body flashed in a blue color for the moment.  The faced Mechon, for some reason, dropped its position and began turning around.

“Looks like my time here’s up.  It’s your lucky day, little boy and little filly.  But that luck won’t last forever.”  It stated, uttering cocky laugher and presenting a struggling Juju.  “I’ll keep hold of this brat.  He’ll make a fine addition with that yellow filly wearing a red bow I found nosing around the area.  If you want him and the filly back, you’d better come to Colony 6.  But, you have to be quick.  I’m feeling hungry!”

Hearing the words of the faced Mechon, Applejack couldn’t help but let out a shocked gasp.

“It has Applebloom!”  She shouted.

“You!  You’re gonna pay!”  Reyn exclaimed angrily, eliciting another bout of crazed laughter from the faced Mechon.

“I can’t wait to grind you all into dust!”  The faced Mechon stated, hovering above the ground.

“Sharla!  Sharla!”  Juju shouted in panic, swinging his right arm wildly in a faint hope that he would reach Sharla.  “No!”

Twilight Sparkle’s wings unfolded.  She took towards the air and fired magical blasts towards the faced Mechon’s direction.  The faced Mechon turned back and saw the alicorn take flight against it.  It swung its right arm towards her direction, launching her back towards the spiral.  Twilight Sparkle cried out.

The rest of the Mechon flew up with the faced Mechon.  Rainbow Dash flew towards Sharla and grasped her hand with her hooves.  Making it safely onto the platform, Sharla looked up into the sky.

“Juju…”

Twilight Sparkle, who was launched into the platform, stood up on her back and rubbed her forehead.  An incandescent stare was directed into the sky.

Applejack clenched her teeth and stomped on the ground with her right front hoof.  Her anger can be felt by everyone in the area.

“Applebloom!  I swear if that thing does anything, anything to hurt you, I swear by my name as an Apple that I will kill it in unspeakable ways!”

> Bonus #3 - The Queen Visits the Colony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A full moon shined itself onto the land of Bionis’s Knee.  A brisk air whisked its way throughout Colony 9.  Unlike the hustle and bustle of the daytime, the night mustered together a few Homs, Nopon and Ponies that all gazed into the starry sky.

Within the guise of the night, Queen Chrysalis quietly walked into the Commercial District.  She eyed a Homs man and female at a very ornate lamp stand.  Despite the two being out for a romantic night, she felt very little love come from the woman when compared to the man.  She scoffed.

“It figures that the woman using the man for his money.  How sickening.”  She said to herself, continuing on walking.

Walking to the Residential District, she saw a Nopon man hovering around a Homs man.  The two of which looked like they were having a good time.

“A very brotherly bond, it seems.  Even then, I taste a bit of spice in that relationship.  I know that something will go down with the two of them soon.”  Queen Chrysalis commented silently, hiding an intrigued smile.

Walking down through the Residential District, she noticed a middle-aged Homs woman with dark skin and red-brown hair.  She looked a bit heavy and was dressed in very simple clothing.  She sat on the base of the doorstep with a faraway gaze.  Queen Chrysalis can sense bitterness emanating from the woman.  She walked towards her.

“Excuse me, ma’am.  I couldn’t help but notice that you are out here alone in the night.  Do you mind if I provide some company?”  She asked.

“Of course you can.  Some company would be good.”  Smiling, the woman responded.

Queen Chrysalis lied down on the cement next to the Homs.

“I’m very surprised that you aren’t intimidated by my appearance.”  She curiously stated.

“I’m used to it now.”  Shrugging her shoulders, the woman answered back.  “A bunch of crazy stuff had happened this week.  Beings calling themselves ponies happened to flock into this world all of a sudden, the Mechon attacked the colony again, and my husband still has not come home yet.  You aren’t exactly the most bizarre thing I’ve seen.”

Queen Chrysalis shied her head away from the woman, taking in the comment she made about her husband.

“This week has been bizarre.  My hive and I have wound up in a place you call Tephra Cave, where we faced extinction against the Arachnos.  Had it not been for the help of the Homs named Shulk and an enemy of mine known as Twilight Sparkle, my changelings would have all perished.”  Queen Chrysalis stated, causing the woman to look towards her.

“Did you say Shulk and Twilight Sparkle?”  She asked before smiling.  “Shulk is such a good boy, always working hard for the good of the Colony.  And that Twilight that’s been hanging around him seems like a very nice pony.  What has she done that you marked her and enemy of yours?”

“…Let’s just say I ruined her brother’s wedding and tried to take over the Equestrian capital known as Canterlot.  But, we’re at a truce now that we are in this world as thanks for her heroism.  My name is Queen Chrysalis.”  Queen Chrysalis responded with a warm smile.

“…Françoise.  You may call me Françoise.”  Françoise introduced.  “Pardon the pun, but something seems to be bugging you.  Call it intuition, but it was probably something I said earlier.”

Queen Chrysalis looked down onto the ground with a visible frown on her face.

“To a changeling, love is the most important food while disappointment and frustration has a horribly bitter taste.  When I first saw you, I sensed a large amount of bitterness inside of you.  After hearing you speak, I now realize why you are bitter; when was the last time you saw your husband?”

The nature of the question caused Françoise to back up slightly.  She exhaled a frustrated sigh.

“It was months back since I last saw Arnaut.  It wasn’t the first time he would leave for work and never return.  My daughter, Narine, also misses him a lot.  But, he never stays around long enough for her either.  She’s already ten years old, and she has not seen her father much in ten years.  Arnaut is a good man, but that’s why it is so frustrating!  Eventually, I’m going to have to divorce him.”

Hearing her story, Queen Chrysalis’s eyes widened empathetically.

“A being who has a mate and a child, but never sees the child is abominable in my book.  I may be many things, but seeing deadbeat parents who neglect their spouse and child is one thing I will never stand for.  It’s your lucky night, Françoise.  I’m in the mood to help you with your little dilemma.”  She stated strongly.

“You mean… you’ll bring Arnaut back home?!”  Françoise said with hope eminent in her voice.

“More than that.  I’ll make sure that he fulfills his duty as a husband to you and a father to your daughter.  If you give me something that belongs to him, I’ll be able to ferret him out for you.”  Queen Chrysalis responded, standing up from the ground.

“I do appreciate your help, Chrysalis.  But, please, don’t have him come because you threaten him.  Have him come because he wants to come.”  Françoise pleaded.

“Will do.”





A middle-aged Homs man with fair skin and blonde hair walked onto the bridge just outside of the Defence Force Fortress.  He looked at the water with a visibly exhausted face on him.  He was still inside of a white lab coat and brown pants.  He sighed.

“Another hard day at work.  It pays to be the chief lab scientist, though.”

Unbeknownst to him, Queen Chrysalis emerged from the shadows of the bridge and audibly cleared her throat.  The man turned around swiftly in a panic, seeing the changeling queen in front of him.

“Pardon me, sir, but are you Arnaut?”  Queen Chrysalis asked.

“Umm, err, yes I am.”  Arnaut responded.

Queen Chrysalis let out a silent huff and approached the man, walking circles around him like a hungry lioness.  A bead of sweat dropped from Arnaut’s forehead.

“Let me ask you something, Arnaut; do you miss your wife and daughter?”  Queen Chrysalis asked in an armor-piercing tone.

At this point, Arnaut’s air retreated back into him, choking him on his words.

“Y-y-yes I do.  I miss them…”  He quickly responded.

Queen Chrysalis then went up to his face with a stare equivalent to the force of ten thousand eruptions.

“Then why don’t you ever see them?!  Do you know what happens to girls who grow up without their father?!  They end up confused about their life.  They end up confused about which men would be good for them and which men would be bad for them.  They might end up dead in the middle of a ditch and nobody would ever know about it!  Do you want that to happen to your daughter?!”  She screamed.

Arnaut’s knees quivered severely under pressure.  His teeth were clenched, trying to maintain a strong façade that was quickly breaking down.

“And then there is your wife, who was always worried sick about you!  She comes out every night, waiting for you to come home.  But, you never do.  For ten years, she’s had to raise her daughter without you.  Do you realize how much stress and trouble she has been under?!  She was even thinking about divorcing you!”  Queen Chrysalis shouted.

Her barking brought tears down Arnaut’s face.  Arnaut slumped down on the lamppost behind him.

“I… didn’t think it would be that bad.  It just only felt like seconds.  I decided whether I should go back home or not from time to time.  I say to myself that my family would be alright without me for just one night.  But… one night turned into one week, which turned into months and then years.”  Arnaut stated.

Queen Chrysalis turned around with a content smile on her face.  She eyed behind her.

“Your wife is willing forgive you for all of the time you have missed with her and your daughter, you know.  But, she will only forgive you if you come see her.  Please, be decisive with your statement.  She would only accept one-hundred percent or no percent cooperation from you.”

“I… I will come home.  Please, tell Françoise that I’m coming home.  I’m just so sorry to have brought her through too much trouble.”  Arnaut stated.

“I am sure that your wife will be very happy to hear about it.”  Queen Chrysalis stated, walking back across the bridge.





Françoise sat on her doorstep again, eagerly waiting.  She stood up when Queen Chrysalis walked next to her.

“What did he say?  What did Arnaut say?!”  Françoise desperately asked.

“He said he is going to come home soon.  He will come with a full-fledged apology for you when he gets back.  It turns out that his work piled on top of his mind, but my speech to him caused him to realize his error.”  Smiling, Queen Chrysalis stated.

“Thank you so much, Chrysalis!”  Françoise exclaimed, hugging Queen Chrysalis by her neck.

Queen Chrysalis felt a warm feeling enter within her.  It was the sweet sensation of love.  She grinned.  Breaking from the hug, Françoise looked onto Queen Chrysalis.

“If there is anything I can do for you.”  She stated.

“Would you mind if you told the rest of the colony about my changelings?  And, I would like for you to raise one of the younger changelings currently in my care.  She was recently orphaned by the attacks from the Arachnos, and she needs someone who can love her.  I’m also sure that your daughter will have a good time with a new sister as well.”  Queen Chrysalis requested.

“I would be glad to do that for you, Chrysalis.  But, are there any special requirements with raising changelings?”  Françoise asked.

“Changelings feed off on love.  They can eat solid food, but love is their sustenance.  It would be an experiment to see if we changelings can co-exist with you Homs in this world.  I never want my changelings to be alone when a threat we cannot defeat comes upon us again.”  Queen Chrysalis stated.

“I understand.  And, when Arnaut does come home, he’ll be sure to put in a good word for the Defence Force so that you and your changelings will never worry about having your livelihoods threatened again.”  Françoise assured.

“Then, I hope I can see you again without having to hide in the night, Françoise.”

With these words, Queen Chrysalis departed from the area with a content smile on her face.





Queen Chrysalis walked along the dirt path outside of the colony towards the mouth of the cave.

“These Homs remind me very much of the ponies in Equestria.  Normally, I would have attacked them.  But, I’m in no position at all to attack.”

The path became mountainous, and various bunnits wandered between the trees.

“But… it brought some light into my eyes; if we changelings help anyone out, they will love us in return.  That love will forever feed us.  It seems like going the diplomatic path benefitted me more than I thought.  Then, it looks like these people will need every ounce of help they’ll get.”

At the mouth of the cave, her mind glanced back towards the orphaned changeling in her care.  A genuine sigh of happiness was released from her.

“I’m glad that Glass Wings will have somebody to love after everything.”
	
> While We Think
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The sun set below the horizon, allowing the moon to have dominion over the sky.  Though it was dark out, the patches of grass retained a darker shade of green.  The waters that fell roared and the plains were filled with bright lights illuminated from giant insects.

Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Sharla and Rainbow Dash walked down the path towards the mountain pass beyond the crossing rivers.  Ultimately, Shulk let out an exhausted sigh and sat on the ground with his hands anchoring his body.

“As much as I don’t want to say it, we need to set up camp for the night here.”  He stated.

“Is there a particular reason why, Shulk?  We’ve traveled at night before.”  Cocking her head slightly, Twilight Sparkle asked.

“It was one time, but we shouldn’t get used to doing that.  We need to conserve our energy for fighting the Mechon tomorrow.  It’ll give us time to think about how we can beat the Bronze Face.”  Shulk reasoned, letting out a yawn.

“You have a point.”  Sharla responded in agreement, stretching her arms upwards and bending her hand over to her mouth as she yawned.  “We know that the Bronze Mechon is at the colony guarding Juju.  If we just rush in right now without a strategy, then we will lose and we will be dead.”

A spell of exhaustion overcame the group; everyone started yawning.  Their eyes began to fall.

“Sleeping does sound good right about now.”  Rainbow Dash admitted, lowering herself onto the stone ground underneath.  “Plus, I want to know more about how you four were doing before we met.”

“Stories of our pasts seem like a good way to get to know each other better.”  Applejack said, sitting down on the ground.

“Agreed, Applejack.  I want to hear more about this Equestria you three lived in.”  Reyn stated, rotating his shoulders.





Upon a rocky platform two rivers, a bright fire stood in the center surrounded by the ponies and Homs sitting down.  Reyn looked towards his diagonal right to Applejack.

“Applejack, what’s it like being an apple farmer?”  Reyn asked.

Applejack sighed contently at the thoughts of the question.

“There’s nothing more like getting up at the crack of dawn to see your family all ready to start their days.  My brother gets his plow ready to begin sowing seeds for the new season, Applebloom heads off to school, Granny Smith makes some pancakes with kick for everypony and Winona to eat and I go out into the fields to buck apples.”  She stated.

“Wait, Winona?  I’ve never heard of you talk about any Winona.”  Reyn commented.

“Winona’s my family’s dog.  She’s faithful to the family and herds the critters around home.  I wonder where she’s at right now.”  Applejack said.

Reyn chuckled a bit, hearing Applejack’s words.

“Even the dog helps to farm.  What’s next, the cows can milk themselves and the sheep shear themselves?”  He asked with a bombastic tone.

“Actually, the cows and sheep pay rent on the farm.”  With her eyes closed, Applejack proudly said.

“Oy, that’s a bit weird.”  Scratching the back of his head, Reyn responded.

“But, that’s enough from me right now, Reyn.  I want to hear more about how life was like for you growing up.”  Applejack asked.

“Many people say that I make a good guardian for stuff.  When we were kids, Shulk used to be picked on all the time because of his robot-like interests.  Of course, Fiora and I stepped up and protected him.  It was from that point where we became the closest friends.”  Reyn told.

Hearing these words, Shulk stared deeply into the fire, breathing calmly.

“Just the three of us…  I remember the times when you and I would get into trouble, and then Fiora would bail us out but scold us for our actions.  Those were very good times.”

Twilight Sparkle looked across towards Sharla, who eyed the sky with a glimmer in her eyes.

“Sharla, would you mind telling me just how you and a handful of people survived against the Mechon?  Those are some fearsome enemies.”  She asked.

Sharla snapped back into existence and glanced towards her left.

“I have Gadolt and Otharon to thank for personally allowing Juju and me to leave safely.  I just really hope that they are okay…”  She explained.  “Otharon is like a father to me.  He taught me everything I know about giving medical attention.  Gadolt is my fiancée, a wonderful friend and a great father figure for Juju.  We were engaged to marry each other before the Mechon attacked our colony.”

Twilight Sparkle’s lips curled down into a slight frown.

“So that’s why Juju was very intent on going back to Colony 6, and why you hate the Mechon.  They took away your home and your family.  But, don’t give up hope, Sharla.  I know they are still alive.”  She said.

“Those words mean a lot to me, Twilight.  Thank you.”  Sharla softly said.  She looked towards Reyn.  “Though, when I look at Reyn, I can’t help but see a bit of Gadolt in him.  He definitely has his stubbornness.”

Twilight Sparkle and Sharla both exchanged smiles with each other.  Reyn huffed a bit in response to her words.

“At least she’s telling the truth on how she feels about you, Reyn.”  Applejack said.

“I know, but I feel like a replacement goldfish for someone, now.”  Reyn responded.

Shulk glanced over towards Rainbow Dash, who occasionally tapped her right front hoof on the ground.  Her eyes and mouth were dropped into a bored expression.

“Rainbow Dash, I couldn’t help but notice those lightning bolts you shot out of clouds while we were hunting Leg Piranhaxes.  It looked a bit unusual.”  Shulk said.  Rainbow Dash’s head jetted up and looked towards him.  She smiled confidently.

“I’m a pegasus.  I’m pretty sure Twi already told you what pegasi are capable of, right?”  She asked.

“Now that you mention it, I do recall that she said something about pegasi being able to manipulate weather conditions back in your world.  If I remember correctly, pegasi are responsible for rain, wind, lightning and other conditions.”  Shulk responded.

“We do this by manipulating the moisture that comes to Cloudsdale and turn them into clouds by weather factories.  On a smaller-scale, pegasi can generate clouds by pooling together moisture.  But, it will never be on the same level as how weather factories can produce clouds.”  Rainbow Dash continued.

“If I can go into your world, Rainbow Dash, I would love to explore how these machines of yours work in Cloudsdale.”  Shulk stated, smiling lowly.  “That’s another thing in my thoughts that will keep me up in the night.”

Rainbow Dash cackled a bit under her breath, her funny bone being struck by the nature of Shulk’s words.

“Yeah… good luck with that, Shulk.  Unless if you are a pegasus or know a unicorn with a cloud-walking spell, you can’t even go into Cloudsdale.  Well, you can, but not without falling through the clouds.”

“I’m sure Twilight would be able to provide me with such a spell.  She does know it, right?”  Shulk reasoned.

Twilight Sparkle turned her head to the beck and call of her name.

“It’s one of the spells I used to allow my friends to enter Cloudsdale to watch the Young Flier’s Competition in Cloudsdale about a year ago.  If you do somehow go there, I will be more than happy to provide you with a cloud-walking spell, Shulk.”  She said.

“You heard her, Rainbow Dash.  It looks like I would be capable of exploring through the machinery to see what makes them able to produce clouds and see how they differ from each other in performance.”  Shulk happily responded.

Rainbow Dash let out a pained groan.

“Not even Twilight was this interested in learning about how the machines work in Cloudsdale, since everypony knows how they work.  You are such an egghead, Shulk.”  She remarked.

“You’re saying it as if your machines are not foreign to my eyes.  I could say the same thing about some of the lasers back in Colony 9 and you would wonder how they would do them without the use of the unicorn’s horn.”  Shulk retorted.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth for a second until a random thought entered within her head, causing her to close her mouth, cross her front legs and looked at him with annoyed eyes.

“Touché, Shulk.  Touché.”  She said.

Shulk eyed Rainbow Dash with a soft smile on his face.  When looking at her, a drop of realization came upon him.

“That’s it!”  He shouted, prompting the attention of everyone around the fire.

“Did something come to you, Shulk?”  Reyn asked.

“Though the faced Mechon are impervious to the effects of the Monado, they aren’t impervious to the effects of our attacks.  They aren’t invincible, which means we can still damage them through the strategies we would normally use against big Mechon.  I know we can fight Bronze Face if we can topple it.”  Shulk explained.

“Bronze Face?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“We have encountered two faced Mechon, so I think that they should have different names to tell them apart.  The black one will be known as ‘Metal Face’ and this one will be known as ‘Bronze Face’.”  Shulk answered.

“Ah, I see.  And, yeah, it does make more sense to give them different identifications.  After all, Bronze Face does act a bit different from Metal Face.”  Twilight Sparkle said.

From Reyn and Rainbow Dash, a powerful yawn emerged from both of their mouths.

“I don’t know about you all, but I think I’m ready to go to sleep now.”  Reyn stated.

“I’m with you there, Reyn.  We have to rest up for tomorrow, because that’s when we take Colony 6 from the Mechon by storm and save Juju and Applebloom.”  Rainbow Dash added.

“The moon is high up in the sky now.  It would be a good time to sleep.”  Twilight Sparkle stated.

Everyone began lying down on the ground on their sides, looking up into the sky.  A spell of exhaustion overcame each and every one of them.

“Good night, everyone.  May the Bionis be on our side tomorrow.”  Shulk said before shutting his eyes.





Juju slowly opened his eyes and saw the cavernous walls of a blue cave surrounding him.  Directly below him was a pool of green liquid that flowed freely.  His eyes jolted open from his hazy state.

“Gah!  Ether river!”  He shouted, squirming fiercely.  “Huh?”

He found himself to not be falling down into the ether below.  He also felt his arms stretched far and his legs bound together on a purple forcefield.

“You woke up too, Juju?”

Juju turned around to the source of the voice, where he saw Applebloom hoisted upon a purple barrier in a crucifix position like he was.  He curled his eyebrows into an angry stare directed towards her.

“I thought you would have stayed at the Refugee Camp!  It is too dangerous for you to go out alone!”  He shouted.

“You should listen to your own advice!  You’re the one that snuck out of the camp to come here.  I just did what you did so that I can find my cutie mark in something I’m good at!”  Applebloom retorted angrily.  Then, she shied her head away from Juju and looked dejectedly below.  “That mean machine caught me as I was following behind you and put me in this weird cell.”

Juju looked into Applebloom’s face and heard a slight whimper coming from her.

“Is… is everything alright, Applebloom?”  He asked softly.  A teardrop descended down Applebloom’s bottom eyelid and fell into the ether river.

“Being held like this means that we are going to die, are we?”  She asked in a dejected voice.  “I don’t want to die.  I don’t know where my friends are, and I don’t even have my cutie mark yet.”

Looking downwards, Juju remained silent.  His insides churned from hearing her fate, and his heart ripped in half when the moment he heard her regrets.  He looked back towards Applebloom and smiled.

“We won’t die, Applebloom.  I know that Sharla’s going to rescue us.”  He said.

“I hope so.  I hope that my sis and her friends rescue us.”  Applebloom despondently said.  “I hope they can free us from these cells, and I hope they save your colony.  I hope that these Mechon are beaten as well, so that no one has to worry about them anymore.”

“At this point, we still have hope and each other.  Let us hold onto those for as long as possible.”  Juju stated, looking up towards the giant drill hovering above them.
	
> Bonus #4 - Generosity and Determination
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rarity and Melia walked down an opulent hallway with bright lights flashing from the ceiling above.  The two were escorted by a group of four High Entia adults adorned in armored robes and metal helmets with the top portion jetting out in a beak-like fashion, hiding away their faces.

“So, Melia…”  Rarity began.  “While I am grateful that you took me in, I am but a foreigner in your world and you are the Crown Princess of your kind.  Isn’t it a bit unusual that you brought me into your own home?”

Melia looked down onto the ground, her eyes deep with thought.  She looked towards Rarity and smiled.

“At first, I was somewhat frightened when I heard that an unusual creature was spotted just off one of the islands on Eryth Sea.  I elected to make this encounter.  However, when I looked upon your style, I had a nagging suspicion that you were more than just an unusual creature.  You didn’t look hostile, either.”  She explained.

“I try my best to be as welcoming and friendly as possible.  After all, I do not wish to be associated with barbaric beings just because of how I act.”  Rarity commented, uttering a good-natured chuckle.

“Whatever fate did to bring us together, Rarity, I’m glad that it happened.  From how we interacted, we have many traits in common, and I’m happy that you haven’t commented on my wings.”  Smiling, Melia responded.


Taking her wording into account, Rarity looked at Melia’s wings and then glanced over to the wings of the guards; while the guards’ wings were half the size of their body, Melia’s wings were stubs compared to them.

“But why wouldn’t you want me to comment on those beautiful wings you have?  They fit your form perfectly and don’t look as out of place as any of your guards’ wings do.  No offense to you four.”

“None taken, Miss Rarity.”  The guard to the back right of the group responded in an understanding tone.

“You really think my wings look good, Rarity?”  Shying her head away slowly, Melia asked.

“Positive.  I’m not sure why you make them seem like they are worse than my mane being a green color, but it is a part of who you are and you should display them proudly.  I know that if my friends saw you, they would also give you glowing comments on your wings.”  Rarity responded proudly.

“I’m… at a loss for words.  No one has ever said anything nice about my wings before…”  Her voice trailing off towards silence, Melia uttered out.

Rarity raised an eyebrow in suspicion and looked towards one of the guards.

“I think I must be missing something.  Do any of you gentlecolts wish to enlighten me?”  She asked.

“We’ll answer that question after you understand a bit more on how Alcamoth works.”  The guard nearest to Rarity answered.





Rarity, Melia and the four guards walked into a large chamber.  Towards their right, a large path stretched down a brightly-lit hallway with water cascading from fountains beyond the railings of the path.  A strip from a red carpet stretched down it.

In front of their eyes, an ethereal platform rose above the ground.  Robed in very decorative robes when compared to the guards around him, a wizened man stood proudly upon the platform.  His beard was snow white and his ears were pointed in elven fashion.  Large wings protruded from the back of his head, giving him a heavenly air.  In his right hand rested an ancient staff born of silver, with wings arching and crossing each other at the top end.

The man looked towards his left, smiling softly towards what came in his sight.  The guards bent down upon their knees and bowed.  Looking around her, Rarity followed their example and bowed as well.

“It seems that our guest has awakened, Melia.”  He said.

“She had me worried for a moment, Father.  But, she seems to be in good condition.”  Melia answered, curtseying towards the man.

“Rise, young creature who graces my court.”  Raising his left arm, the man spoke.  Rarity stood up on her hooves and looked up towards him.  “I welcome you to the Imperial City of Alcamoth.  My name is Sorean Antiqua, Emperor of the High Entia.  What is your name?”  Sorean asked.

“My name is Rarity, your highness.  It is a great privilege to be within the presence of royalty.”  Very humbly, Rarity answered.

“It seems that my daughter has taken quite the liking to you, Miss Rarity.  While you are very strange, I do not see a problem with your presence in my hallways.  Seeing your etiquettes and mannerisms, I can see that this isn’t your first time being within the presence of royalty.”  Smiling, Sorean stated.

“I do not mean to come off as brash, Emperor Sorean, but I am quite versed within the norms of the High Culture.  I meet with royalty very often, and one of my friends is a princess as well.  I am always on the most formal of behavior.”  Rarity answered, a hopeful smile shining on her face.

Sorean looked around the room, glancing towards all of the guards.  He nodded his head twice.  All of the guards nodded once and walked out of the chambers, leaving himself, Rarity and Melia alone.

“I can see that you are definitely not a creature born from the Bionis or anywhere else in this world, Rarity.  The closest we have as a comparison are Elks, and they have not a shred of sapience that you have.  I would like to know more about you.”  Sorean inquired.

“I am from a world that is known as Equestria.  It is a world populated with various creatures that share within this field of sapience.  I belong to a species gifted with this sapience known as ponies.  More specifically, I belong to a race of ponies known as unicorns.  Unicorns are known in my world as being able to tap into magical forces using our horns as the conductor.”  Rarity explained.

Sorean raised in eyebrow in interest near the end of Rarity’s words.

“Magical forces?  Would you, by any chance, be willing to demonstrate your control over them?”  He asked.

Rarity nodded silently.  Her horn flashed a soft blue color.  The air sparked with brilliant lights and wisps of illusion, a mystical mist thickening into a galaxy of stars.  Sorean and Melia eyed the demonstration with dropped jaws and sighs of awe.

“Melia.”  Sorean asked, turning towards Melia.  “Should we show our abilities towards Rarity as well?  It might be in her best interest.”

“It would be my honor, father.”  Smiling, Melia answered.

Both Sorean and Melia both closed their eyes.  Their right hands began glowing with a yellow aura.  Yellow energy broke into the contained space above with the glow of a sun, bringing daybreak into the mystical atmosphere.  Rarity’s eyes widened, a gasp of astonishment escaping her voice and her coat shining upon the rays striking her.

“Is that… magic?”  Amazed, Rarity asked.

The sun and atmosphere effects faded, with all three catalysts of supernatural forces having their auras fade.

“No, Rarity.  What we were all doing, you included, was tapping into the ether of the Bionis.”  Melia stated.

“…Ether?  But, it feels so much like magic.”  Rarity answered.

“Maybe it is known as magic where you come from, but we High Entia are able to manipulate ether with relative ease, the same way you can.”  Melia stated.

“So… the High Entia are very much like the unicorns of Bionis?”  Rarity asked.

“In a way, yes.  I’m not sure how well the transition is from unicorn to High Entia, but we both have exceptional control over the force of ether.  In that way, we are related.”  Sorean stated.

“It does explain why the energy around here feels a bit different than magic…  Since we have introductions out of the way, I would like to know more about High Entian culture, Emperor.”  Rarity requested with an enthusiastic gusto in her tone.

Sorean laughed heartily.

“You are probably the first being in my two-hundred and twenty years of ruling to have shown a keen interest in our culture, Rarity.”  He stated, looking over towards Melia.  “Melia, my daughter, I wish for you to show our guest around Alcamoth as well as give a bit of history on it.”

“Are you sure I should do that, father?  Do you trust me with going out in public with a foreigner?”  Melia asked with a hint of nervousness in her tone.

Sorean closed his eyes and exhaled.  A warm fire appeared in his eyes.

“Of course I trust you, Melia.  You have budded into a wonderful young woman that is fit to bear the crown of Alcamoth.  The crowned princess of Alcamoth must be able to hold herself with dignity when dealing with diplomatic business such as this.  Consider this a test for you, Melia; it would test your knowledge of your home and your mental diversity.”

Melia kneeled down on one knee and looked up towards Sorean with a solemn smile on her face.

“It would be my honor, father.  For my right to the crown, I shall gladly show our guest around Alcamoth.”  She answered.

Rarity smiled, and Sorean looked on approvingly.

“Then, it is time to take your first steps towards proving your lineage, Melia.”  Sorean stated.





Melia and Rarity walked down to the halls, accompanied by the four guards that walked them into the chamber of the emperor.  The light bounced off of the waters that flowed with the temperament of a gazelle, casting a calming glow.  The people walked back and forth through the halls.  Rarity glanced up towards Melia with inquiring eyes.

“Your father seems like a nice man, Melia.”  She said.

“He is, but he’s far too busy with maintaining Alcamoth.  Most of the time he spends with me is to prepare me for being the next empress of Alcamoth.  Then… there is my mixed heritage.”  Melia stated.

“Oh?”  Rarity asked.  “Do tell how your heritage plays into all of this.”

“You have noticed that my wings are shorter than most of the other High Entia of the building, correct?  It has to do with the fact that I am part Homs.”  Melia replied, before stopping in place and placing her hand underneath her chin, grasping it slightly.  “It is a custom for the emperor to have two consorts; one from the High Entia, and one from the Homs.  I do not know why it is done, but it leads to fate giving me a Homs mother.”

“Can you tell me the differences between a Homs and a High Entia, Melia?”  Rarity asked.

One of the guards around Melia glanced towards her with excited anticipation.  Melia cracked a soft smile.

“I will let Garan explain that.  He specializes more within Homs and High Entia relations.”  She said.

“While a Homs and a High Entia may look very similar, there are drastic physical differences between the two; first off, a Homs person does not have the head wings that we High Entia share.  Next, a Homs does not have the capability of controlling ether as we High Entia do.  Finally a Homs person’s life span is a quarter of a typical High Entia’s life span.  While the average life span of a High Entia person is four-hundred years, a Homs person typically lives an average life span of one-hundred years.”  Garan stated.

Rarity’s head shot up, and then she cocked it.

“Isn’t that interesting?  Normally, we ponies live just as long as these Homs do.  I’m only nineteen years-old, after all.”  She stood in her exact position for a few seconds, ruminating on her thoughts.  With a flash of brilliance stroking her mind, she grinned.  “With long lifespans, control of a magic-like substance and wings, your people remind me of the alicorns of my world!”

“I assume that alicorns are capable of using ether, have long life spans and are capable of flight?  Quite the similarities our worlds share, Miss Rarity.  However, we are derailing from the topic.”  Garan stated.  “You want to know more about the High Entia and Homs, correct?”

Rarity shied her head away, but looked back with a serious expression.

“I suppose you are right.  Since Melia has a Homs mother, she is half-High Entia?”  She stated.

“That is correct.  While part High Entias have the same features as full-blooded High Entias, we are detected by our short wings.”  Melia responded.

“As far as wings go, you already know my opinion on your wings, Melia.”  Rarity said, looking towards Garan.  “If your name is Garan, then who are the other guards?”

“My name is Aizel.”  Aizel introduced with an even-headed tone.

“My name is Hoggard.”  Hoggard stated with a bow.

“My name is Damil.”  Damil stated, standing still.

“It is nice to be fully acquainted with you four.”  Rarity stated, closing her eyes and keeping a sophisticated air.

Walking through the foyer, a stream of light broke through from the gate leading outside, revealing a city made of white stone and blue metal.  Waters spread throughout large fountains crafted from the very best of experts.  Various High Entia men, women and children walked through the streets with the solemn grace of a crane.  Among their numbers, various Nopon walked hand in hand with them, achieving unity that makes peace everlasting seem like reality.  The city was covered in a huge glass dome, letting shimmering light enter within its radius and nourishing the life within.

Opening her eyes, a loud gasp escaped from Rarity’s mouth.  Her lips curved into a brilliant smile, seeing the vibrancy before her eyes.

“This is Alcamoth?!  I mean, I know the building we are in has to be beautiful since it is the royal palace, but I never knew that a city could ever be so wondrous!  And look at those vehicles!”  She said, pointing towards a blue machine hovering above the ground and carrying people within.

“The citizens of Alcamoth have pride in demonstrating our mental prowess.  Not only are we gifted with ether control, but our minds have allowed us to continue in the pursuits of philosophy, technology and the arts.  We would only have the best for our city.”  Melia stated, smiling with a huff of pride seeping into her voice.

“I can see that.  How about we explore the rest of the city?  I cannot wait to see what it has in store for us!”  Rarity pleaded.

Melia turned towards her Aizel, Hoggard, Garan and Damil.  She looked into the centers of their masks with sovereign order.

“We understand, Princess.”  Aizel stated, following up with breaking apart from Rarity and Melia with the other guards.

“Aizel, Hoggard, Garan and Damil cannot accompany us, unfortunately.  It would attract too much attention to us.”  Melia reasoned.

Rarity nodded, signaling the both of them to take the first steps outside.

“That’s a strange set of stairs ahead.  It looks like they are moving.”  She said, pointing towards the two large conveyor belts that transition between the two tiers of the city.

“That is the idea.  It allows for easy access between the upper and lower levels of the city.”  Melia replied.

Rarity smiled, walking onto a belt that descends towards the lower tier with Melia by her side.

Hoggard looked at the duo as they left the castle.  Though his face was masked, his body stood in bated breath at the sight.

“Hoggard, are you still watching them?”  Walking to his side, Damil asked.

“Please excuse me, Damil.  I was just overcome with a bit of emotion.  Melia practically grew up in our care, so it is somewhat breathtaking to see her actually find someone she can call a friend.  In a way, it is the happiest I have seen her in sixty years.”  Hoggard stated, his voice dipping lowly.

“Now that you mention it, Melia does look much happier around Miss Rarity.  Perhaps… perhaps it will take away the burdens that she carries.  Half-blooded High Entias aren’t exactly adored the rest of the populace, after all.  Combine that with her mother dying while she was a toddler and the distrust of her position from the people… I’m glad that she has someone other than us who she can be herself around.”  Damil said with his voice breaking slightly.

“…Are you crying, Damil?”  Hoggard asked.

“I’m sorry, Hoggard.  I know that Lady Melia’s knights should not cry, but I do not know of any other way to express the emotions in my heart.”  Damil responded.

“I understand, Damil.  I understand…”
	
> The Ether Mine
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Sharla and Rainbow Dash traveled along an ascending trail twisted through time hung just above a deep chasm.  Applejack shifted her head quickly back and forth, her eyes focused on the unusually thin width of the path and her body involuntarily shaking.

“Applejack, are you really that fidgety around heights?”  Sharla asked.

“Not really, but it looks like this entire road can give under at any time.  Twi’ and Rainbow can fly, but we can’t.”  Applejack said in a voice rising with tension.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you felt that way, Applejack.  After all, this path used to be much bigger a few years ago.  Who knows what will be the next path that falls down into the ocean below…”  Sharla responded with a small, yet sinister smile.

“D-don’t say that!  I don’t want this path to fall on us!”  Applejack screamed out.

“It’s not.  I’m just only joking around.  Lighten up!”  Giggling, Sharla replied.  “Anyways, we’re here.”

The group stopped at the hexagon-shaped hole within the wall.  A small bridge lead into the depths of darkness and water flowed freely from the bottom.

“So this is the entrance to the Ether Mine?”  Shulk asked.

“It looks like it.  We have to get in as soon as possible so we can save Applebloom and Juju.”  Twilight Sparkle responded.

“Hey, waaaaaiiiiit!”

In the moment where the group was about to take their first steps into the area, a changeling with two impossibly large bags attached to a saddle flew in from the sky, dropping in on them.

“You seriously aren’t going to go in there without the proper equipment, right?  I know that you are all together, but it still is dangerous to go in with those drabs.”  He said, pointing at the clothing that Shulk, Reyn and Sharla are wearing.

“…Do we know you?”  Reyn asked, scratching the back of his head.

“You shouldn’t.  I know about you four, though, and maybe the rainbow one here.  That chick with the huge gun, I have no idea who she is.”  The changeling responded in a blunt, but honest way.  “Queen Chrysalis recently gave us an order to explore this entire world you people call Bionis, as well as set up shop for dealing weapons, armors and other useful stuff.”

“Well, that’s nice to know.  These bronze hooves haven’t been doing much damage for my liking, especially not against those Mechon jerks.”  Rainbow Dash said, sighing a breath of relief and looking down onto her hooves.

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Rainbow Dash all walked up to the changeling, examining his wares.  In one of his bags were various equipment; there were double-bladed hammers that flashed in a bronze color, spiked hooves with a blue glow, yellow robes and leather armor fashioned for quadrupeds.  In another bag were a large amount of tomes that spilled out of it.

“Why do these look like they only work for us?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

The changeling moved his head up, rolling his eyes.

“We didn’t have enough time to study the species on Bionis to develop armor and weapons for them.  So, we decided to sell you weapons and armor in the changeling reserves.  As for the books… well, err… we just found them.  From what we know, they are skill books used for learning more advanced applications of your moves.  Though, these read as intermediate.  We don’t really know where any of the advanced copies are.”  He responded.

Rainbow Dash took out a set of spiked hooves and showed it to the changeling merchant with an eager smile.

“So how much do these cost?”





The group walked into the cave.  Their steps plopped upon the waters that flooded up towards their ankles.  Twilight Sparkle was geared in a set of yellow robes with a bug pattern on it, Rainbow Dash was geared in a yellow t-shirt and shorts which also had a bug pattern upon it, and Applejack wore a set of leather armor.

“Hey, Applejack, how come you are wearing leather armor?  I thought that we couldn’t wear medium armor.”  Rainbow Dash asked, huffing with slight anger in her voice.

“I linked Reyn’s Medium Equipment skill to me using those Affinity Coins we’ve been collecting.  You should try linking Sharla’s Medium Equipment skill to your Affinity Skill if you want to wear this.”  Applejack explained.

“No thanks.  That armor might weigh me down in combat.  At least these clothes provide some decent defense and retain my agility.”

Within the water were quadruped amphibian creatures in blue skin, had slit eyes and an angler off the top of their heads that emitted light.  The creatures look towards the group, letting out a shrill cry.

“Upas!”  Sharla shouted.

“Hold on, Sharla.  Would you mind if Applejack, Rainbow Dash and I fight these Upas ourselves?  It’ll be the first time the three of us would be on a three versus variable amount of enemies since coming here.”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Knock yourselves out.”

Twilight Sparkle’s Monado unscrewed itself, the top portion flying towards the very tip of her horn.  A beam of pure energy ran between the two portions.  Rainbow Dash stood her position and crouched, ready to pounce.  Applejack stood on her hind legs, taking out a double-bladed hammer from her back.

“Magic Spark!”  Twilight Sparkle shouted, a bolt of energy flying towards the Upa and sent it flying, landing on its back.

“Cross Wing!”  Rainbow Dash shouted, running towards the downed Upa.  Her wings flashed in the moment before slashing the downed Upa.

“My turn!”  Applejack said in succession, launching her hammer in a single powerful swing.  The Upa flew against the wall, uttering a loud cry before it fell onto the ground, dead.

“We have to keep it going!”  Twilight Sparkle screamed, rushing towards an Upa and stabbing it with her horn.

“Way ahead of you.”  Smirking, Rainbow Dash commented.

She flew up into the air.  Between her front hooves, a black cloud with an electrical aura spawned.  She kicked it over towards the Upa, who leaked out blue bodily fluids from Twilight’s Horn Spike and dashed above it with the dominance of an eagle.  She descended onto the cloud with dizzying speeds, kicking it and sending a bolt of lightning onto the Upa below.  The Upa became served in the style of fried Upa with how charred the bolt left it.

Applejack ran up towards the final Upa, who looked around with mouth agape and eyes wide opened.  Using her hammer, she slammed down upon the ground with the might of a meteor.  The Upa shook for a moment before its body was met with a couple of spiked hooves onto its face, courtesy of a charging Rainbow Dash.

“Now to finish it!”  W Chinese letters changing to a purple symbol behind her, Twilight Sparkle shouted.

She aimed her horn towards the Upa, firing a searing beam towards its direction.  The Upa vanished without a trace, leaving the scent of evaporating water in the path’s wake.  Rainbow Dash gazed at the scorch marks on the wall with a wide-eyed expression.  She edged her faces towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction.

“Don’t you think that was a bit of overkill?”  Rainbow Dash asked.

“Maybe that was a bit destructive for my tastes, but I just needed to end it as quickly as possible.  We are on a time limit after all.”  Twilight Sparkle responded.

“Good point.”





The group walked the ramp from the damp exo-tunnel into a small room.  Sharla sat down by the side of a metal bed, sighing.

“It’s hard to believe that I am back here again.  It brings back some bad memories.”  Her eyesight glaring towards the blinding light on the ceiling, she said.

Rainbow Dash flew towards her side and rested her right front hoof onto Sharla’s left shoulder.

“It must have been very hard for you to leave your home like that, Sharla.  I know that if my home was destroyed,-“She paused in her words.  “I know you wanted to stay here to protect Gadolt.  I would have done the same thing in that situation.”

Sharla and Rainbow Dash looked at each other with smiles of ignited fires.  Rainbow Dash patted her hoof against her shoulder.

“Let’s go deeper in this cave.  The longer we wait, the more danger those two will be in.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”





Beyond the room, a series of tunnels criss-crossed up ahead.  Drips of water fell onto large puddles that splattered upon the paths of the cave.  The sounds of whirring joints and the lights of crystals filled the damp air.

Shulk was equipped in a red and white long-sleeved top, leggings and boots in a spiraling red and pink pattern, and dark red and pink gauntlets.  Reyn was equipped in a helmet spiked with light blue crystals, a dense torso in silver and purple colors, silver leggings and boots that caused every step to be a stomp, and blue and silver gauntlets that can punch a hole through any of the tunnel walls.

“Nice to see that you two get more armor on your backs.  I didn’t think your clothing before would’ve held up for that long.”  Applejack commented.

“Quark does hold up better than the material used in my previous clothing, but I’m glad that the color scheme is similar.”  Shulk responded.

“And a tank like me has to keep protecting everyone here.  What kind of tank would I be if enemies can tear through my defences like butter?  Not a very good one, I tell you.”  Reyn commented.

“I still think you make a great tank even if your defences were poor, Reyn.  You are definitely the most stubborn person I know.”  Shulk stated.

“You really mean that, Shulk?”  Reyn asked with a hint of enthusiasm in his voice.

“I believe it, Reyn.”  Applejack said with her eyes shut with a confident smile.  “One of these days, I’ll gladly challenge you to an Iron Pony competition to see which one of us can throw around our weight the best, though.”

“Hah!  Don’t make me laugh, Applejack.  Everyone knows I can throw around my weight the best.”  Reyn hollered with a roar of confidence.

“Is that so, Reyn?  How about we prove it right now?”  Applejack asked, pointing towards a group of Mechon deeper in the tunnel.  “Whoever can take out the most Mechon there can say that they throw around their weight the best.”  With a confident smile, she finished up.

“Is that all?  Man, this is going to be easy.”  Rotating his right shoulder, Reyn stated.  “To be on the fair side, you’re going to go inflict break on all those Mechon and I’ll topple them.”

“Sounds like a plan, Reyn.”  Applejack said.  The Homs and the Pony then ran towards the Mechon, their guarder and hammer ready for action.

Sharla looked at the two, then faced Shulk and Twilight Sparkle with her lips curled in a dumbfounded fashion.

“Should we…?”

Shulk let out a pained sigh.

“Reyn’s not the kind of guy who backs down from competition.  He’s always hasty with his actions and doesn’t like it when others interrupt.”

“Strangely coincidental to Applejack’s aptitude for competition.  I really hope this doesn’t end up escalating to the levels that Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared during the Running of the Leaves.”  Twilight Sparkle uttered out, her eye twitching in small but erratic patterns.

“Well, I trust that they will be fine.  It’s only a few Mechon, after all.  In the meantime, I think this would be a good time to show you how gems works, especially since you know have more gear with open slots.”  Shulk stated.

“Open slots?”  Twilight Sparkle asked, looking back towards her robes.  Her eyes picked up on small indents among the bug patterns.  “So you said that there are gems that augment my effectiveness in various areas, correct?”

Shulk took out a knapsack from a pocket on the left breast of his armor and unwound the rope closing it.  Putting his hand inside the bag, he took out a deep blue hexagon-shaped gem from it.  Twilight Sparkle eyed the gem with fascination shining in her eyes.

“This is one of the gems that Reyn and I made before we left Colony 9.  This specific gem is known as HP Up, a Water Gem that increases your overall vitality while equipped.  It won’t provide much of a boost, however, since we couldn’t refine the characteristic any more than we can.  It still should help you survive in battle, though.”  Shulk explained.

Twilight Sparkle grabbed the gem and eyed it with a curious hum.  Placing it into the slot, she felt a surge of cooling energy wrap around her body and the sensation of more blood flow through her veins.

“It feels kind of weird, but a good kind of weird.  I will be sure to treasure my first gem.”  With a large smile on her face, she stated.

“You know, Twilight, we are in the Ether Mine right now.  Outside of fighting monsters to gain their crystals, there are many deposits in the mine that have various kinds of ether.  We should stock up as much ether crystals as possible.”  Sharla suggested.

Rainbow Dash looked down the tunnel where Reyn and Applejack left to fight the Mechon.  The two of them were nowhere to be seen.  Her body broke out in a cold sweat and her muscles tightened around her lungs.

“Where’s Applejack and Reyn?  Weren’t they here a moment ago?”  She asked.

Shulk, Twilight Sparkle and Sharla looked down the tunnel and widened their eyes at the sight of their missing friends.

“This is not good!  We have to find them, quickly!”  Shulk shouted.  “It looks like we are going to have to hold off our plans of gathering ether crystals and find where our friends went.”

With those words, the four of them ran down towards the tunnel.





Looking down upon the remains of the scout-type Mechon on the ground, Reyn and Applejack had large smiles on their faces.  Reyn wiped beads of sweat off of his forehead with the back of his hand and Applejack exhaled an exhausted sigh.

“We may not have had the Monado on our side this time, but those Mechon went down easy.  So… how many did you destroy, Applejack?”  Reyn asked.

“I’ve destroyed about four Mechon.  How about you, Reyn?”

“…four.  It looks like we both are even when it comes to throwing our weight around.”

Applejack looked towards Reyn with her head cocked and disbelieving eyes.  Then, she smiled.

“Looks like I know who’s worthy of being my first Homs rival.”

Reyn and Applejack clasped their right hand and front hoof together, shaking it.  Shulk, Twilight Sparkle, Sharla and Rainbow Dash ran down the flooded trail towards the two of them with their eyebrows scrunched.

“Reyn!  Applejack!  I thought you would be around us when doing that competition.  Why did the two of you travel off without us like that?”  His breathing erratic, Shulk shouted.

Reyn and Applejack scratched the backs of their heads and cocked their eyes away from everyone else.

“Sorry, Shulk.  Didn’t mean for our contest to move like that.  But, the good thing is that we are still okay, right?”  Reyn replied.

“Applejack, you know how dangerous the Mechon are.  Remember what happened back at Colony 9?  We should always stay close to each other.”  Twilight Sparkle scolded.

Applejack sighed and closed her eyes, looking down in defeat.

“Don’t remind me.  I was nearly made into Mechon food back there.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled and embraced Applejack by her neck with her front legs.

“You scared me there for a second, Applejack.  I’m just glad you and Reyn are okay.”

Throughout the cave, the sound of a gun firing spread throughout the cavern.  Sharla’s ears perked up and she gasped.

“An ether rifle!  Gadolt!”  She shouted, running down the tunnel.

“Sharla!”  Shulk and Rainbow Dash shouted, sprinting and following her.

“Man, another chase?”  Reyn asked, running alongside Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.

Sharla, Shulk and Rainbow Dash ran into a cavity with a concrete platform and a few ramps.  In front of their eyes was a group of Mechon swarming around a dark-skinned man with a bald head and a white beard.  He was dressed in an orange vest, camo leggings and brown boots.  He hid behind a container, firing off explosive lasers at the Mechon.

“Gadolt!”  Sharla shouted, aiming her rifle at a spider-type Mechon and shooting it.

“I know that voice.”  The old man said to himself.  “Medic, is that you?!”  He shouted, right as a Mechon fired an explosive round at the container covering him.

“Otharon!”  Sharla shouted, running to him and shooting the Mechon around.

“That’s our cue, Rainbow Dash!”  Shulk stated, running down to the platform.

“Oh yeah!”  Rainbow Dash shouted, flying down the ramp.

The laser blade of the Monado unsheathed, and Shulk, Sharla and Rainbow Dash poised themselves between the Mechon and Otharon.  Shulk swung the Monado, enchanting Sharla and Rainbow Dash with its energy.

Sharla pulled the trigger of her rifle, shooting a Mechon with several rounds.  She filled the ammo of her rifle with purple rounds.

“Thunder Bullet!”  She shouted, shooting off two electrical shots at a scout-type Mechon.

“Counter Clone!”  Enshrouded in an orange aura, Rainbow Dash screamed.  She launched her spiked hoof against a spider-type Mechon, punching its central body hard.  Behind it, Shulk jumped behind and swung his blade down its back.

“Back Slash!”

The Mechon stood their fazed for a moment, then turned around and smacked Shulk away with one of its legs.  It looked towards Rainbow Dash and fired a laser straight into her chest, knocking her back.

“Rainbow Dash!  Shulk!”  Sharla shouted.  She ran several steps back and filled her rifle with blue rounds.  “Heal round!”

A blue energy mist engulfed Shulk and Rainbow Dash, sewing their injuries and filling them with energy.

“Thanks, Sharla.”  Rainbow Dash stated.  She looked towards the spider Mechon with a fire burning in her eyes.  “You are going down!”  She flew towards the Mechon that struck her, stepped onto the ground in front of it, and spun around rapidly.  Slicing winds formed around her body and thickened, which enveloped the Mechon.  “Localized Tornado!”

The Mechon flew up the tempestuous winds, and Rainbow Dash flew up the eye and uppercut punched the Mechon, knocking it out of the tornado.  The Mechon exploded upon hitting the ground.

“Shadow Eye!”  Shulk called out, being submerged in a shadow energy.  He sprinted towards the scout-type Mechon previously damaged by the Thunder Bullet and aimed his Monado towards its side.  “Slit Edge!”  He shouted, stabbing its side.

The Mechon hovered uneasily from the force of the strike.  Then, a shockwave struck it, denting its armor more than standard.

“Let me finish this Mechon off, Shulk.”  Rainbow Dash offered, flying above it and striking its back with a dive kick.  The Mechon exploded from the strike.

The rest of the scout-type Mechon aimed their guns towards the trio.  Everyone stood their guard, growling intensely at those in their way.  Then, a spiked hammer rotated around the platform and struck the Mechon.  With a ferocious cry, Reyn jumped from the upper level and stabbed one of the Mechon through its head with his guarder.  A green bolt of magic struck another Mechon, knocking it onto the ground and blowing it up.  Twilight Sparkle teleported onto the platform.

“Reyn!  Twilight!  Applejack!”  Shulk shouted with large amounts of enthusiasm and a large smile on his face.

“We aren’t leaving you three alone to deal with all these Mechon.”  Giving a thumbs up towards Shulk, Reyn stated.

Seeing itself outnumbered, the last Mechon fled.

Otharon, seeing the people around him, frowned.

“You weren’t supposed to come back, Medic.  I thought I told you that.”

“We have the Monado on our side, now.  Two of them, actually.”  Sharla rationalized.

Otharon looked towards Shulk’s sword and Twilight Sparkle’s ring.  He hummed lowly.

“Looks like you all may be of big help after all.  But, what are you six doing here in the ether mine?”  He asked.

“Juju and Applebloom were taken by the bronze faced Mechon.  We are here to save them and Gadolt.”  Sharla responded.

Otharon closed his eyes and exhaled slightly.

“Very well, but you six are going to need to rest up before heading deeper into the mine.  It’s dangerous up ahead.”
	
> Visions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shulk, Reyn, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Sharla, Rainbow Dash and Otharon crept around a hallway filled with cracks on the walls and debris everywhere.  Otharon moved his eyes towards Twilight Sparkle, moving them away quickly when she looked towards him.  Otharon sighed and looked towards her one more time, his mouth poised to move.

“Would you happen to be Twilight Sparkle by any chance?”  He asked in a voice heavy with uncertainty.

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened with a bit more energy, and she cocked her head.

“Yes, but how do you know my name?”  She asked.

Otharon sighed a breath of relief, smiling.

“That’s one less thing on my mind.  I suppose I should show you when we get there.  Let’s just say you are in for a big surprise.”

“Okay…?”  Twilight Sparkle worded out.

The group stopped upon seeing the remainder of the hallway blockaded by insurmountable debris.

“Not good.  It looks like we need to find another way through.”  Shulk announced.  Otharon pointed towards a gaping hole towards the right wall.

“This will lead us straight to where we need to go.”  He stated.





Two unicorns sat down within a small room together with frowns echoing their concern.  One was a midnight blue-coated stallion with a coifed mane and tail of an even darker blue color and gold eyes.  His cutie mark was a small crescent moon inside of a larger crescent moon.  The other was an alabaster-coated mare with a white and purple-striped mane and tail that were curled and light blue eyes.  Her cutie mark was a trio of purple stars.

“Otharon has been gone longer than usual.  I hope nothing bad happened to him.”  Shaking her head, the mare stated.

“Now Twilight Velvet, I’m sure he’s fine.  He probably encountered a bit of trouble with a Dark Kisling, or a Vengeful Daulton, or maybe even an Elegant Marin.”  The stallion replied, smiling and gently patting Twilight Velvet’s back.

“But, what if he ran into the dreaded Mechon again, Night Light?”  Twilight Velvet asked in a higher pitch.

“I’m sure he hasn’t encountered any.”  Night Light responded in a shaking voice.

In the midst of their talk, a group of footsteps echoed down the gaping debris.  Twilight Velvet and Night Light’s ears stood tall.  On reaction, they jumped back towards the far wall of the room, their horns lit up in the colors of their eyes.

“If any monsters come by into this room, we can at least say we died putting up a fight when we go to whatever afterlife awaits us!”  Night Light stated with renewed strength.

“…Nothing is coming through that gap yet.”  Twilight Velvet commented.  “Maybe we’re just hearing things again.”

With that, the auras enshrouding their horns disappeared, and they lowered their shoulders.

“You two really should have kept your guard up.  What if we were actually monsters?”  A voice sounding like Otharon’s blurted out from beyond the gap.

Twilight Velvet and Night Light’s heads perked up, smiling as Otharon ducked from underneath the hole.

“Otharon!”  Twilight Velvet shouted, running towards him.  “How did scrounging for resources go?”

Otharon shook his head and held his hands parallel to his head.

“I was attacked by those damned Mechon again.  I thought they had me this time, but I managed to luck out this time; six youths came to my aid.  I brought them with me because they will be able to help us rid this mine of the Mechon.”

He looked towards the hole and cricked his head along with a hand motion towards the room.  Twilight Sparkle, upon entering within the room, had her mouth agape with a smile upon seeing Twilight Velvet and Night Light.

“Mom!  Dad!”  She shouted, dashing towards them with the enthusiasm of a child.

“…Twilight?!”  Night Light shouted in shock and excitement.

Both him and Twilight Velvet ran up towards Twilight Sparkle and embraced her tightly.

“You’re alive!”  Twilight Velvet screeched with anxious delight.  “I was so worried something terrible happened to you!”

“But, how did you two end up here of all places?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“When the both of us woke up, we found ourselves deep within the cave system here.  Seeing that it is a new place we have not seen, we decided to walk around a bit and explore our surroundings.  That quickly became a horrible idea when we saw the mechanical monstrosities known as the Mechon deeper within the cave.  Most of our attacks wound up being ineffective, and we were almost done for.  Thankfully, Otharon saved us.”  Night Light explained.

“If this is where you were hiding out, Otharon, then, then… where’s Gadolt?!  Shouldn’t he be with you?!”  Shouting, Sharla asked.

Otharon paused and looked down onto the ground for a moment, but looked square into Sharla’s eyes.

“After Colony 6 was evacuated, Gadolt and I led a counterstrike against the Mechon to liberate our Defence Force.  Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful and Gadolt was killed by them.”

Hearing these words, a shrill gasp escaped from Sharla’s voice and the fingers on her right hand trembled.

“No… it can’t be real… but Gadolt promised that we would see each other again and…”  The room was filled with a deathly silence.  Sharla clenched her teeth, forcing back tears from her eyes.  She took a deep breath and looked into Otharon’s eyes.  “I refuse to believe he’s dead.  He’s too tough to be brought down by the Mechon.  I know he’s still alive somewhere.”

Shulk, who silently eyed everyone in the room, had his eyes flash in a blue light.  Within the vision, he saw Otharon on top of a machine.

“Juju!  Gadolt!  This is for you!”

Upon the declaration of these words, Otharon was falling into a river of shining green liquid.  The vision ended there, removing the glow from his eyes.  Shulk breathed out a heavy sigh.

“Did you say something, Shulk?”  Reyn, who looked towards Shulk upon reaction, asked.

“It’s… It’s nothing.”  He lied.

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes scrunched in disbelief.  At the moment she would have opened her mouth; her eyes became cloaked in a green glow.





When the glow of her eyes subsided and vision returned to her, she found herself in a white room sitting at the chair inside the body of Sophia.  In front of her was a bed occupied by a resting Klaus.  She looked around the room, confused by the events surrounding her.  When realization struck her, a small gasp escaped her mouth.  At the same time, Klaus began to groan, stirring back into reality.

“Klaus?  Are you… awake?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“So…phia?  Were you watching over me this entire time?”

Klaus sat up on his bed, allowing Twilight Sparkle to see his shirtless bandaged back.  She frowned.

“Klaus, I didn’t know that would happen.  I’m sorry that you got hurt from my mistake.  It’s my fault this happened to you.”

“Don’t… feel sorry, Sophia.  We are working with dangerous technology, and nobody could have seen that happening.”  Klaus stated.

He looked upon the ceiling, his hands both on top of the bed sheet over his lap.

“Is there something on your mind, Klaus?”  Cocking her head slightly, Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Sophia, do you think we are verging into forbidden territory with our experimentation?”  Klaus responded.

“I, ummmm, I’m not too entirely sure about what we are doing, Klaus.  All I understand is that we are working with a very dangerous system that tried to kill us.”

Klaus directed his eyes directly into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes.  A wicked grin erupted from his face.  With his two hands, he gently grabbed her shoulders and shook them.  A haze enveloped around within his irises.

“With this technology, we are capable of creating our own universe!  We can be gods, where we can set up our own laws of the universe.  We can create our own people and decide their fates.  Isn’t that simply amazing?!”

Upon hearing his enthusiastic words, Twilight Sparkle backed up more into her chair, looking at Klaus if he had grown a head out of his chest.  She grabbed his forearms and gently put them back onto the bed.

“Creating a new universe?!  But, what will happen to this universe if we do?”  She responded with a fire burning in her voice.

Almost upon the declaration of these words, the haze in Klaus’s eyes disappeared.  He faced forwards, looking out of a window that showcased a series of stars and a red planet.

“This universe… right.  It is a beautiful universe we live in, Sophia.  We live in a universe where there are entire seas of stars, planets and meteors, with the space that can hold all of it and much more.”  He stated in a calm voice.  “Sophia, do you love the stars?”

Twilight Sparkle’s body calmed down upon hearing the question.  She smiled.

“The stars are very beautiful, Klaus.  They are purely wonderful and I find how they form constellations to be very interesting.”

“Have you ever wanted to create your own star, Sophia?”

“Make… a star?  That’s something I have always dreamed of doing.”

A quick grin appeared on Klaus’s face.

“With this technology, we can make our own star that you can always look upon in the sky, Sophia.  We can continue our experiment, but only to create a star.”

Twilight Sparkle’s face reacted with a smile.

“I would love that, Klaus.  I would love that very much.”





Twilight Sparkle found herself back within the room in the Ether Mine.  Looking around the room, she saw that literally no time had passed around her.

“I say we spent enough time in here as it is.  We have to save Juju and Applebloom before that Mechon eats them.”  Fluttering above the ground with her front legs crossed, Rainbow Dash stated.

“I suppose we did fulfill our purpose in coming here.”  Otharon stated, looking towards Twilight Velvet and Night Light.  “The time to attack has come.  Today, we shall liberate Colony 6 from the Mechon.”

“Finally!”  Applejack stated, turning back towards the hole.  “I didn’t like being tied up in this room.”

“I know how you feel, Applejack.  It’s worse than how the sleeping quarters in the Defence Force gets sometimes.”  Reyn stated, walking out of the room.

One by one, everyone exited the room through the gap in the wall.  Smiling, Twilight Sparkle took a few steps forwards towards the hole.  Doing so, she felt a hand grip her right shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

“Hold it.”

She looked behind her and saw Shulk with eyes focused with unwavering might.

“Is there a problem, Shulk?”  Twilight Sparkle asked.

“You have something you are hiding from us, Twilight.  You aren’t going to leave until you tell me.”

“If that’s how you feel, then let me say this; I know you are hiding something from us as well, Shulk.  I know that it has to do with your vision.  So, if you tell me, then I will tell you.”

Shulk’s back shot up straight, hearing the counter-proposition given to him.  He sighed.

“Please don’t tell anyone else.  This will be our secret; I had a vision where I saw Otharon fall into an ether river in the mine.  Exposure to raw ether is very dangerous for those like you and me.  Otharon will die if that happens.”

“But, shouldn’t we tell everyone else about this?  Holding back news like this isn’t good for everyone.”  Twilight Sparkle reasoned.

“I’m afraid of what would happen if we would.  I didn’t want to tell anyone, because they might make that vision happen.  I don’t want to have another incident happen where we walk into our own fates again like with Fiora…”

“Then, at the least, tell Reyn about your vision.  You two are best friends, so you shouldn’t keep any secrets from each other like that.”

“Your right.  I’ll tell him when I feel ready to tell him.”  Shulk stated.  “Now you have to tell me what you saw.”

“I saw…”  Twilight Sparkle began.  “I was in what looked like an infirmary, looking upon the stars in a Homs body.  I don’t know what it was about, but I saw a man who told me that I could create my own star.”

“That does sound a bit cryptic.  Are you sure you don’t want to tell anyone else about this?”  Shulk asked.

“I only want to tell people when I understand what these visions mean.  At this point, I really don’t have much information other than that.”

“I won’t push you if you aren’t ready yet.  We still need to catch up with our friends and your parents, though.”

Twilight Sparkle jumped up with a gasp.

“They’re probably back at the platform already!  We have to go there, quick!”  Sprinting out of the room, she shouted.  Shulk ran behind her, following her out of the room.
	
> Bonus #5 - Battle of the Reptiles: Spike vs. Reckless Godwin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A thick mist rolled in from the shallow waters of the swamp, covering the damp land with its condensation.  Gnarled trees poked out from beyond the mist, their branches void of any leaves.  Spike walked down a path free from the grass.  He walked at a snail’s pace, scanning the steep cliffs, hills and trees.  His knees shook, but he gripped his newly-found claws hard.

“I had a hunch this place was dangerous, but really?  The first thing that tried to kill me was a basin of poison after I walked outside!”  Throwing his claws into the air with an irritated huff, he shouted.  “And as if the poison didn’t try to do it, a bunch of weird creatures were just waiting for me to get out of there!  Heck, I could’ve sworn I saw a few Timberwolves thrown into the mix… at least I thought it was.  If it weren’t for these claws and those evasion drills I’ve practiced, I would’ve been finished!”

Walking down the path, his eyes picked up a large fortress made entirely out of stone on top of a high cliff.  He hummed, rubbing his chin with one of his claws.

“Well, considering that I’m stranded in the middle of nowhere and nopony’s around, it wouldn’t hurt to check that place out.  If only I knew how to get on top of that cliff…”

Spike looked upon the cragged wall, seeing a cluster of vines that led up towards the cliff.  He smiled without a care in the world, jogging towards the wall covered in vines.

Pulling himself above the ledge, Spike let out an exhausted sigh.

“Tired.  So… very… tired.”

He slumped over the ledge for a few seconds until he heard the sound of footsteps passing nearby.  His head jolted upwards and he faced the direction where the sound was coming from; a small group of bipedal lizard-like creatures in pale-green scales and brown buckles of clothing walked down from a ramp leading into the fortress.  One of the creatures lifted his head into the air, sniffing and wrinkling his nose to find a specific scent.  Another one of the creatures faced that creature.

“Is there a reason you dragged us out here?”  It said in a raspy voice.

The creature that was sniffing looked upon the other creature that asked.  It slanted its eyelids.

“There’s a creature nearby that smells like us Igna, but has a scent that reeks of a different type of ether.  I don’t know what it is, but it is triggering my survival instinct!”  The Igna stated in a raspy, but lighter tone.

Spike gulped on air, ducking his head underneath the ledge.  The longer the Ignas roamed around the area, the more sweat broke out from his scales.  His teeth were clenched hard and his eyes were wide open.  One of the Igna walked over to the ledge where Spike was clung onto and gazed around.  His heart pounded out of his chest, feeling like it was ready to explode at any time.  Just as its eyes would have looked downwards, another Igna shrieked and pointed at a source.

“Intruder!”  It shouted.  All the other Ignas jolted upwards in response and ran towards the source.  There, a teenaged dragon with light green scales, green-yellow wing membranes and yellow eyes slowly lifted his claws into the air, completely surrounded by the Ignas.

“Ummm… err… I don’t mean trouble sirs.”  The teenaged dragon stated, his knees shaking and beads of sweat dropping from his face.  “I was lost and am looking for information regarding my wherabouts.  We dragons should stick together, you know?”  He stated, shrugging his shoulders and smiling under heavy pressure.

The Ignas leered towards his direction.  They unsheathed their swords and shields from their backside and one pointed its blades towards the dragon’s neck.  The dragon pursed his lips with a stone hold and gulped with a cold shake.

“Mistaking Ignas for Dragons is a complete disgrace.  We know that you want; you want to take the Nopon in our fortress so that you can get the Giant’s Treasure with her information, thief.”  The Igna holding the dragon at blade point stated.  “We have ways of dealing with thieves like you.  Mainly, we eviscerate them, eat a good amount of their internal organs and cast their bodies into a nearby basin of water where the Upas will devour what remains.  We are carnivores after all, brother.”  It stated with disdain.

At this point, Spike’s scales turned a lighter color and the dragon was about to collapse underneath the pressure of its feelings at any second.  His wings unfolded in an instant and took off into the sky, shouting a mantra of apologies with a stream of tears falling onto the ground.

“We scared it good!”  One of the Ignas shouted.  The rest of the Ignas retreated back up the ramp into the fortress.  When the area cleared up of the Ignas, Spike climbed over the ledge.  His body was shaken by what happened in front of him.

“Those Ignas… are not friendly at all.”  He said to himself, dusting off his femurs with his claws.  “Wait, did they say something about having somepony captive in there?”





Deep within the walls of the fortress, a female Nopon with peach-colored fur, a yellow and white dress, round glasses and a large backpack, shook and cowered before an unusually large Igna wielding two axes before her.

“We know that you know about the whereabouts of the Giant’s Treasure located in this marsh.  We have been watching you meticulously studying everything that has to do with the Giants.  Tell us how to get to it.”  It stated in a booming, raspy voice.

“K-Kacha no know anything!”  The Nopon, Kacha, stated.  “Kacha just studying ruins!”

The Igna smacked Kacha with the blunt side of the axe in the right hand, causing her to shriek.

“I can smell a liar.  You know too much about the Giants to not know how to get their treasure.  So, I’ll make things interesting for you my little Nopon; either you tell me what you know regarding how to get the treasure, or my people and I will go around smashing every location related to the Giants in the Marsh.”

With these words coming out of his mouth, Kacha gasped in horror.

“You no serious, no?”  She asked.  “Smelly-breath Ignas can’t!  Giant relics too important to historians.”

“And I really don’t care if I can’t get their treasure!  Either you tell me what you know or I will destroy as many things related to the Giants as possible and kill you.”

At the Igna’s proposition, Kacha broke down; she looked directly into its eyes with a notable frown on her face.

“K…Kacha will tell.”





Spike followed up the path that he saw the Ignas leave towards.  He crept around with soft steps, looking around every corner before approaching further.  Much to his surprise, the path had no Ignas at all.  From there, he sprinted until he was blocked off by a door that would not open.

“And I was so close.  Maybe there is another way around?”  He asked himself, turning around and walking back where he started.

Upon turning back around, Spike saw a group of Ignas walking around an open area, keeping watch over it.  He saw another ramp towards the side of the building.  He smiled.

“I hope they don’t mind me using the front door.”

Spike ran up towards the ramp until his movement came into an abrupt stop upon colliding with something.  He fell back and looked forward, seeing three Ignas before him.  The Ignas turned around and glared at him with a stare of death and their weapons gripped in hands.  Spike only looked upon them with widened eyes.





“That’s everything you know about the Giant’s Treasure, Nopon?”  The large Igna asked.

“Y-yes.  Kacha tell you about location of key and way to unlock treasure.  Kacha leave now.”  Kacha stated, walking out through the front door.  An axe dropped right in front of her, blocking her path.  She shrieked.

“You aren’t going anywhere, my little Nopon.  I can’t trust you enough to not tell anyone your secrets.  We are just going to keep you here for an indefinite amount of time.  You are fine with that, are you not?”

Kacha’s mouth hung open at the words of the Igna next to her.

“But… but Kacha need to go back to family.  Grampypon very worried about Kacha.”

Hearing her words, the Igna let out a chuckle.

“Your family does not need to worry one bit.  After all, you are safe here and we won’t destroy any relics.  You should be thanking us for our kindness of letting you live.”

Suddenly, an Igna ran through down the corridor leading outside, panting heavily and eyes wide in desperation.

“S-sir!  An intruder!”

It was all it said when the body of another Igna flew into it, knocking it into the wall and causing it to pass out.  Spike walked down the corridor, looking at his claws with a smile apparent on his face.

“These claws are cool!  And, I guess I don’t know my own strength sometimes.”

The large Igna growled underneath his breath and ran up to Spike.  Spike, who saw the Igna, arched his arms and legs out.

“You must be a brave fool to venture this far out into the Marsh to appear in the Exiled Fortress in the face of Reckless Godwin.”  The large Igna, Reckless Godwin, stated.  “And it was not a wise idea to treat my men standing guard like that either.”

“Look, I originally came here just to see if you had any information on where the heck I am.  But, your kind are not friendly and I hear you are even holding somepony captive.”  Spike said, looking towards Kacha cowering in the corner.  “Do you have any idea how clichéd the damsel in distress by a monstrous creature trope is?  I would appreciate that you let her go so that you won’t have to resort being that creature.”

Reckless Godwin flashed his axes and drove his axe into the ground before Spike, hissing with an urge to perform violence permeating from his breath.  The axe was stuck into the ground, causing large cracks to appear in it.

“A smartarse… just for that, I’ll personally kill you.”  He hissed out in a cold voice.

Spike’s nerves froze up, seeing the Reckless Godwin lift the plunged axe effortlessly out of the ground.  His breathing and heartbeat accelerated upon seeing the edge of the axe pointed towards his direction.  His body was trapped in a prison of fear.

“Spike, you can do this.  Don’t let this overgrown lizard scare you.”  He said to himself, his arms and legs slowly loosening out of his fear.  The axe swung vertically, and Spike jumped far towards the side against the slice, dodging it.

“Stand up and fight, dragon!”  Reckless Godwin shouted.

His claws being engulfed in flames, Spike eyed his opponent with determination.

“My name is Spike, not ‘dragon’.  By the time I’m done with you, you will know my name!”

Spike inhaled deeply and shot a green fire from his mouth, enveloping the Reckless Godwin in its flames.  The Reckless Godwin swung both of his axes once, causing the flames to dissipate.  He rushed up to Spike, smacking him three times in succession with the blunt side of his axes.  Spike audibly grunted with each hit, the final hit causing him to fly across the room into the wall and fell to the ground.

Spike stood up from the ground, rubbing the back of his head.  Reckless Godwin then became enshrouded in a green energy and smashed his axe into Spike twice.  The blows caused him to fall onto his back.  He tried getting up, but found himself unable to.

“Is this how easily you fall?  You talk big but perform so poorly.  I’ll be sure to make your death quick.”

Spike scrunched his eyes, clenched his teeth and grunted.  Reckless Godwin jumped towards him, crossing his axes just above Spike’s throat.  The blades of the axes are poised on each side of his neck.  Reckless Godwin’s grip on his axes tightened, ready to decapitate his victim.

Spike found the energy within himself to place his hands upon the ground.  Pushing himself at an acute angle, he slid past Reckless Godwin’s legs and avoided the move.  Spike jumped and slashed Reckless Godwin’s back with his claws.  Reckless Godwin grasped his back in an instant, holding the wound within his claws.

“You’ll pay for that!”

“Not today.  Fiery Claws!”  The flames within the claws igniting to its peak, Spike shouted.

Spike slashed Reckless Godwin with three consecutive diagonal slashes, the wounds inflicted letting out a hissing noise of water evaporating quickly.  Reckless Godwin’s eyes shut in front of the burn inflicted on him.

“Infernal Guard!”  Spike called out, a red and orange aura surrounding him.

“Enough games.”

With those words, Reckless Godwin crossed his axes.  A hazy blue aura gathered at the crossed portion and exploded, catching Spike within his radius.  Spike shouted out as his nerves screamed in agony.  Then, his hard scales soften to that of an infant’s skin.  On top of that, a green light encircled Reckless Godwin, releasing shockwaves that stunned Spike right at his mark.  Spike dropped down onto his knees with black and yellow electricity enshrouding him.

“My body… it feels soft and tingly.  Was that magic?”  Spike asked, his eyes wincing.

“You have a lot to learn if you don’t know about ether, boy.  I merely shunted your defenses and disallowed your use of arts.”  Reckless Godwin stated, smacking Spike with his axe and sending him flying to a stone throne at the back of the room.  Spike’s aura dissipated.

“That… hurt bad.”

Reckless Godwin smirked, his morale renewed by seeing Spike injured to the point of death’s door.  He crossed his arms, ready to do a wide strike.  Gripping the handles of the axes, he found that his hands were hissing with steam.  He roared in pain, causing him to drop his axes onto the ground.

“How… wait a moment.  That aura!  Striking him while under that aura must have…”  Reckless Godwin began stating until Spike lunged at him, slashing him once and interrupting him.  He walked forward with each slice until Spike and Reckless Godwin were outside in front of the corridor.

“Now, let go of your captive.  I can push you off with a few more strikes, you know.”  Spike stated in a prideful tone.

“I can see you are not like any other dragons, Spike.  You are young, but have a warrior’s heart.  For that, I commend you.  But, there is much for you to learn, such as underestimating your opponent.”

“What are you ta-“Reckless Godwin swung his tail, striking Spike square in the head.  The blow knocked him high into the air, and then Reckless Godwin kicked Spike all the way into the fortress.  Spike lied down upon the ground unconscious.

Kacha, who was watching the battle unfold before her eyes in bated breath, saw him laid on the ground.  She sprinted towards him and shook him multiple times.

“Please!  No die in front of Kacha!”  She pleaded with desperation eminent in her voice.

Reckless Godwin walked into the room, huffing out hot air.  Kacha sprinted in front of Spike’s body and extended her arms outwards with a scowl visible on her face.

“You no hurt brave warrior no more, bully!  Me no care if you hurt me.”  She shouted.

Reckless Godwin lifted his axe high into the air, the blade flashing before the light in the room.  He then plunged the top portion of the axe into the ground before him and repeated with the other axe, unarming himself.

“You are much more trouble than you are worth, Nopon.  I would kill you, but I do not want to bring any bad karma to myself.  Just go, and take Spike with you.”

The eyes behind Kacha’s glasses widened.

“Me… free to go?  No lying?”

“No lying.  Leave before I change my mind, and don’t let any of my Ignas see you.”  Reckless Godwin stated, the back doors of the fortress sliding open.

“Kacha thank you for sparing warrior.”  She stated, tossing Spike onto her backpack and leaving.

“Wait!  Tell Spike to get stronger so that we may fight again.”  Reckless Godwin stated.  Kacha nodded and smiled, walking out of the gate.





Spike groaned, his eyes opening and revealing light to him.  In his line of vision, two Nopon stood above him; one was Kacha, and the other one was a blue-furred Nopon with beady black eyes and a large back tied in front of him.

“He alive!”  Kacha shouted happily.

“Wait, where am I?”  Spike asked, his voice slurred.

“You at Nopon Camp, young warrior.”  The elderly Nopon next to him stated.  “Me named Bokoko.  Grandlittlepon Kacha brought you here after leaving Exiled Fortress.”

“Wait… what?  Does that mean I beat the Reckless Godwin?”  Spike questioned in a daze.  Kacha shook her body.

“No.  Brave Warrior no beat big lizard.  Actually, big lizard beat you to bedtime.  Big lizard let us go, saying we too much trouble for him.”

“Really?!  That’s… actually believable.  A similar thing happened with a group of Diamond Dogs when one of my best friends was captured by them.  She proved to be too much for them to handle.”  Spike stated.  “My name is Spike.  I just have several question about… everything.”

“Spikepon come to right Nopons for questions.  Grampypon is traveling merchant, and Kacha studying giant ruins on Bionis.”

“Bi-what?”  Spike asked, slanting his mouth and lifting an eye in confusion.  “Let’s start with that weird word you said.”