> Magic Paint Brushes 2: A New Canvas To Paint On
>  by Ugly-Duckling123
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prolouge: The Prophecy and the Call
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


When three become four
The darkest of evil will rise once more
Leading an army that can change at will with their Queen by his side
There will be no where to hide

Only when two warriors of harmony become one
Can this be undone
With the love in their hearts they hold
Together they can save the world









Equestria.

A land ruled by two Alicorn sisters who bring forth day and night and keep harmony throughout their land with their magic of hope and love. 

All the ponies in this magical world adore these two mares and what they can do.

Well... Almost all of them.

For in the Badlands there lived a colony of Changelings, creatures that feed off of love and emotions who are ruled by their Queen, Chrysalis who at the point we're coming to see her was up to no good...

"Oh great one, I call upon thee and ask for your help in defeating my most hated enemy, I am calling to you to help lead us so we can destroy Twilight Sparkle." 

At first Chrysalis thought it didn't work but then in the most darkest corner of the cave she was in something moved and a red light began to glow.

"And why, should I help you Your Highness?" a dark strong voice said echoing around the cave.

Chrysalis had a feeling that he would say this so she answered back. "Well if you don't want to get your revenge for what she did to you," and began to walk away. 

"Wait," the voice said "First let me hear why you want to get rid of her, and then I'll decide."

"She ruined my plans to take over Equestria with my Changeling army."

Finally out of the shadows came a Unicorn in silver armor and a royal red cape, the red tip of his curved horn glowing, and pure hatred in his eyes.

"What is your plan then, Chrysalis?" he asked bowing to her.

"First we wait until those losers are at the most venerable, and then we strike." 

"And you called me because?" he asked.

"We need a big, strong stallion like you to lead us," she said attractively "And I thought I'd need help destroying those Elements of Harmony." she added when this didn't work.

"I'll do it," he said after a while. "But I'm only going to for the fear. Understand?" he said looking at her strongly.

"Of course. King Sombra."


> Chap 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

53 Cygnets Way, was home to a young girl by the name of Sarah Jones and across the road lived her boyfriend Eric Foster. 

At first - five months ago, they weren't the best of friends, but when they found a secret message written on Eric's granddad's old paintings, and found themselves in a world of ponies and magic called Equestria, after fighting a great evil together and became Warriors of Harmony, they became the best of friends, with a paint brush that they can use to visit their friends in that world whenever they wished.

Being the Summer Holidays meant Sarah's parents were at home every night for dinner which, since they both ran the school down the road, was very rare. 

Normally Sarah didn't care if they were there or not since she was used to it. But after hearing the news her mother just gave her, she wished they were still at the school.

"But why does he have to come over this weekend?" she asked trying to keep her anger in but failing a bit. "I had plans with Eric." 

"You should be happy your cousin is coming over to see you Sarah." Mr Jones said unfazed by his daughter's complaints. 

"Can't Jack come next week? You know when it's not my five-month-adversary with Eric so he can't tease me, or interfere with our date?" 'Not that he could mind you' she thought looking at her charm bracelet smiling on the inside thinking of her friends in Equestria.

"No Sarah, Jack is coming This weekend and that's that." Mrs Jones said strongly. "Now stop complaining and finish your dinner."

"I'm not hungry," Sarah said pushing her plate away and getting down from the table and going up to her room followed by her dog Midnight.

It wasn't just because of Eric that Sarah didn't want Jack to come over, she thought to her self as she played games on the internet before bed. She didn't want him coming over permanently. Jack was the one who always got into trouble and others too just for the laughs. And he never knew when to stop. 

At the last family reunion, Jack switched the salt everyone was using for their fish and chips with sugar, challenged the kids to a tree climbing contest getting most of them stuck meaning the parents had to call the fire department, and while playing Blind-Mans-Bluff nearly got someone to break an leg because he was hanging from a branch over a hill so he wouldn't get caught because they would all fall down the hill instead of getting him.

'Bing' Sarah's computer sounded as a new message came in.

Hey Sarah guess what? I found out that there's going to be an Art Competition this weekend for 'teenagers and young adults'.
Think I should but the 'Mare in the Moon' in? 
Eric

The 'Mare in the Moon' was the painting the two created together that was their first visit to Equestria, and since their return, it just sat in the corner of Eric's room with all of his granddad's paintings collecting dust. 

It's up to you. But if you do don't say I helped ok, I don't want any... unwanted attention brought to me because of it.

Sarah replied.

'Bing'

What's wrong Princess? I thought you'd be happy about this. What with it being on our five-month-adversary and all.

I am. I was even thinking of visiting everyone. I'm sure Pinkie would like to do something about it. But I just learnt that my cousin Jack will be coming over, and staying for the weekend.

Sarah typed sighing looking at the blue balloon charm on the bracelet.

'Bing'

Ok, before I say don't worry, tell me... Does he have brown hair, brown eyes, always joking and playing pranks and getting others and himself into trouble?

Surprised that Eric just gave a perfect police suspect report about Jack, Sarah just wrote

HOW DO YOU JACK! 

'Bing'

I lived somewhere else before I came here remember Princess. We went to the same school and because of one of his pranks, something about a cat in the kitchens on Tuna Tuesday, and I was the one the cat ran to for safety, I got a whole month's detention.

Did it get straightened out? Was he caught?

'Bing'

No. Apparently he wasn't on school grounds when it happened because 'he went home for lunch'.
When's he coming? Before we avoid him for the length of his stay, I'd like to give him his payment for that prank, if you know what I mean...

He's getting here Friday night and staying the whole weekend. 
You think we can stay in Equestria that long so we wont have to deal with him?

'Bing'

Probably. But we come back where and when we leave remember. So I don't think that will work.

Oh yeah... Still up for the cinema tomorrow?

Sarah asked a new smile on her face changing the subject.

'Bing' 

Sure. And don't worry Princess, I'll protect you from that tyrant when he comes to steal you away.

Thank you good sir knight. But I can handle myself remember...

'Bing'

It's not my fault! Moony locked me in that dungeon remember? When are you going to let that go?

Laughing a bit at how quick the message came back Sarah just replied.

When you admit that I can... Or when the responses become less funny.

'Bing'

Ok You can handle yourself. Happy? Now can you stop?

Alright... for now. 
Well I'm signing off. A princess needs her rest you know. Oh and good luck with the competition.

'Bing'

Thanks. See you tomorrow then. XX :) 

After smiling at the final message Sarah turned off her computer and went to bed wishing Jack would of changed in the years they had spent apart, but knew that he would never change. Turning over to her side, Sarah closed her eyes  feeling the charm bracelet on her wrist warm up a bit, but not caring and went to sleep.
> Chap 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Sarah felt like she didn't get any sleep last night at all.

Yawning as she came down for breakfast she nearly bumped into her father who was on his way to his study.

"Sorry Dad," she said yawning walking around him being stopped before she poured orange juice on to her cereal.

"Have a nice sleep last night?" he asked pulling all that was in front of her away just in case.

"Not really," she replied rubbing at the sleep in her eyes and stretching a bit. "I kept seeing burnt down houses, and hearing everyone screaming and running, and these monsters coming out of the shadows and capturing everypo..." she stopped as she snapped herself awake thinking over what she was about to say.

"Well that's a pretty intense nightmare," her dad said not noticing Sarah rush back upstairs coming back down ten seconds later and rush for the door.
"And where do you think you're going?" he called.

"To see Eric, I have to tell him my dream, and need to make sure he didn't have it as well." she said leaving her father confused thinking it was one of her teenage swings and went to his study.

***

Outside Sarah had just crossed the road when Eric came out the door of his house running down the path way to her.

"I think everypony's in trouble," they said together surprised going into Eric's back garden for some privacy.

"You first," Eric said.

"All last night I dreamt of burnt down houses, hearing screaming and running, and something kept coming out of the shadows catching everypony then disappearing with them." Sarah said taking deep breaths to stay as calm as she could "And before I went to sleep after saying goodbye to you, my bracelet felt warm but I thought it was my imagination." 

"I need to show you something," Eric said grabbing her hand and leading her to his house and his room, after letting her say hi to his mum. "I came across it last night when I was looking for the 'Mare in the Moon'. It's one of Grandad Sam's old paintings but I saw him last night leading the army that attacked the towns." he explained pulling out a painting of a Unicorn with a curved horn tipped red, who was wearing silver body armor and a red cape, sitting tall and proud filling up the whole canvas.

Turning the painting over Sarah looked at the name of the painting. 

King Sombra

"Ok, so we both agree that everyone's in trouble, and we vaguely know who's behind it." Sarah said looking at the painting getting chills even though it was very warm in Eric's room. "So lets go and..."

"HIYA CUZ!"  a scream behind her made her freeze.

"No." she said "No no no no no no. Please tell me it's not Jack." she begged to Eric not turning around.

"I could Princess, but I'd be lying." Eric said pulling the painting away for safety.

"I thought you'd of wanted to see me cuz." Jack said staying in the door frame "And my best friend from school, how are you."

"Who? Oh you mean me?" Eric said pointing to himself "It's just I'd never called us friends. 'Friends' don't let others take the blame for something they didn't do."

"It was the cats fault not mine you got detention Eric," Jack said his everlasting smile on his face. 

"Who brought the cat in for it to be it's fault in the first place?" Eric said getting annoyed being stopped by Sarah who finally turned around.

"What are you doing here Jack?" she asked "You're meant to come over tomorrow." 

"Mum and Dad put me on an earlier train." Jack said shrugging. "Can't tell why." he said inviting himself in to the bedroom and began looking at the paintings. "So what were you talking about before I came in cuz? It sounded really important."

"A story plan for a competition we're working on together." Sarah said hiding her bracelet from Jack's prying eyes.

"Humph, well you can work on that later," Jack said looking over the painting they were both looking at when he came in, with a questioning look as to why anyone would want to paint it.

"Uncle Bill said to tell you to invite me along with you today." Jack said smiling.

"Well we didn't have any plans," Eric said hoping this would work. 

"Well then lets go to the cinema," Jack said clapping his hands "Snack's will be on me so lets go." he said rushing out the door.

"You are the dumbest knight ever," Sarah said after Jack left to Eric her arms crossed.

"Like you would of done any better," Eric said going over to his painting things and picking out the silver paintbrush twirling it in his fingers. "Besides we can worry about that when we get back." 

"I guess." she replied shrugging reaching out for the brush "I hope everyone's alright and that they were just dreams." 

"You guys coming or what?" Jack called from down the hall.

"How about we get rid of Jack first then we go?" Sarah said annoyed and wanting to kill Jack.

"As you wish," Eric said putting the brush in his pocket just in case along with his wallet. "But I think the sooner the better seeing how bad those dreams were."

"We'll go as soon as we can," Sarah said "But we can't if Jack's going to butt in can we?"

With that Sarah, Eric and an uninvited Jack went to the cinema, only to be kicked out ten minutes into the movie because Jack kept talking.
> Chap 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After an afternoon of failed ditch-me-tricks Jack was still with Sarah and Eric loving the fact it was annoying them he was there.

"You know, I should come over more often don't you think cuz?" Jack said smiling hanging from a tree in the park above Sarah who wasn't really listening looking at her bracelet worrying thoughts going in her head, Eric went to go get ice-cream.

"Sarah hello..." Jack said. When this didn't work he got down and squatted in front of her waving his hand in front of her face "Earth to Sarah. Come in Sarah."  still nothing. 
Looking down at what she was staring at,  an evil plan came into his mind, and as quick as a flash he was holding the bracelet and running down the hill.

"JACK!" Sarah screamed getting up and running after him "GIVE THAT BACK!" she yelled into the tree Jack had just climbed

"Why?" Jack asked loving this "What's so important about it? It just looks like something you'd get from a magazine to me." 

"It's non of your beeswax why it's important, it just is so GIVE IT BACK!" Sarah screamed not caring everyone was staring.

"Jack, get down here and give Sarah back her bracelet." Eric said abandoning is spot in line to see what was wrong.

"Oh... I get it now, " Jack said still up in the tree and holding onto the bracelet. "It was a gift from you're special-somepony wasn't it?" 

"What?" Sarah and Eric said together in a confused way, not the screaming the question way. 

Just hearing what he said, Jack threw the bracelet back, got down and ran for home.

"How... How did Jack know that word?" Sarah asked putting the bracelet back on looking down the path he took.

"I don't know. But at least he's gone now so we can go see what's wrong right?" Eric said as they left the park and back to his house.

***
In his room Eric shut the door and pulled out the paintbrush holding it to Sarah gulping hesitating on grabbing it. 

"Sorry but I need to find out about Jack first." she said opening the door and running across the street just as her head rang with pain making her stop to let it pass just as a car was coming.

"SARAH!" Eric screamed rushing to get to her only for someone else to get to her first and save her.
After the car passed an annoyed diver saying something about teenagers. Eric crossed the road to see who saved his princess. 

"Jack?" he asked surprised.

"What? Can't a cousin save another?" he said picking her up and taking her inside into the living room.

"Ok this is going to sound corny, but 'Who are you and what have you done with Jack?'" Eric asked as he came back in from the kitchen with a glass of water and helping Sarah with it.

"And... And how do you know the word 'Special-Somepony'?" Sarah asked pushing the glass away.

"Luckily for you I'm still Jack, And I know that word because art sets have more than paintbrushes." he said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pencil handing it over for them to see.

Made by L.d.V Rome Italy

"So now that we all know each other, how about we go and save everyone?" Jack said hoisting Sarah up and getting the pencil back from Eric. 

"Ok, but don't don't laugh at us when we get there." Sarah said holding the brush with Eric thinking about her friends just like Luna told them to do, feeling it heat up a bit, a bright light coming off it.

Then they were gone.








When the light died down, everyone opened their eyes again and saw that Ponyville was in ruins. 

The whole place was destroyed, houses were burnt down, hay stacks were on fire, and there was no sound or sign of anyone anywhere.

"Well Princess I take it the dreams were real." Eric said sheathing the sword he now held as he wore his Harmony outfit looking over to Sarah in hers.

"But how can we see this?" Sarah asked looking at her bracelet all six gems glowing slightly. "And where is everyone?" 

"Err... you do understand Luna's the Princess of the Night right?" Jack's voice said above them  making them look up and see a pink cloud and a glass of chocolate milk to the side, a silly straw coming out of it. "That includes the moon, the stars, and dreams. Obviously she gave you visions of what was happening so you'll come and help. And look at this place." he said standing up extending his arms for effect. "I don't know why you didn't come sooner." 

Now he was standing up Eric and Sarah had a better look at him, but something wasn't right. First of he had odd socks and shoes on, one bright green the other brown. Next on his right hand he wore a fingerless glove and his sleeve was short, while on the left the sleeve was a three quarter one and his hand was glove free. Finally he wore a full length brown coat and a crown with different animal horns.

"We didn't come earlier, because somepony made an unexpected arrival a day early," Sarah said getting her speech back and flying up to him, "And what the heck are you suppose to be any way?" 

"What? This is my Equestria outfit." Jack said snapping his fingers and appearing on the ground next to Eric.

"Forget it," Sarah said coming back down too. "Lets just try and find everyone and see if we can help."

Just then a noise came from an ally-way of something being knocked over, and something came running out of it and right into them, knocking Sarah over as the pony held onto her feeling safe from whatever was chasing it, saying what was wrong so fast no one heard her.  

"Whoa hold you horses there pony" Jack said smirking "Get it cause she's a pony..." 

"Yeah we get it," Eric said helping Sarah up who was trying to calm down the pony.

"Stop. Please we can't understand what you're saying." Sarah said gently. "Now what happened here?" 

The pony stopped  took a deep breath and tried again.

"Sombra and the Changelings is what happened miss," the pony said extending the 'S's' but no one noticed. "It was Princess Twilight's Coronation party, and out of no where they came and started capturing everyone. And... And..." she said tears building up before she burying her face into Sarah's chest.

"HEY YOU!" someone yelled making everyone spin around to see a flat maned Pinkie who had no signs of fun in her eyes glaring at the filly in Sarah's arms.
"Get away from my friends you bug!" she said walking towards the group.

"You alright Pinkie?" Sarah said carefully, an arm around the filly to keep her safe. 

"Sure I am, now drop that filly and run to the old castle to meet the others." Pinkie said now holding a knife in her hoof.

The three looked between Pinkie and the filly wondering what was going on then Jack saw the filly's eyes spark green and anger form across her face.

Grabbing Sarah he kicked the filly away holding tightly onto his cousin deafening out her screams of protest.

"What... What was that for?" the filly asked scared that her wall of protection from the mad pony was gone.

"Answer a question first," Jack said handing Sarah to Eric "How does a youngster like you know about Sombra and the Changelings" 

"I... I told you sir, they attacked at Princess Twilight's coronation and... and then attacked my home." she said pointing a hoof to Ponyville.

"So if this is your home... How could you of been up in Canterlot to learn their names?" Jack asked poofing up a notepad and police outfit taking down notes on what the filly was saying.

"Ha. Busted" Pinkie said smiling that this guy was helping and seeing through the disguise.

Suddenly the filly was surrounded by green flames and in it's place was a black bug looking pony fangs showing and holes in it's hooves with transparent wings. 

"Ah that makes scene." Jack said acting as if nothing happened noting this down before snapping his fingers gluing the thing to the ground before bowing to Pinkie and turning away."Come on you heard Pinkamena to the castle."

"But what... What is that thing?" Sarah asked looking back as she was being pushed out of town square and into the forest.

"No idea," Jack said a bit too fast. "But if Pinkamena was after it, it couldn't of been anything good."

"Her name's Pinkie, Jack. Not Pinkamena." Sarah said getting out of his hold to face him.

"Not how I understand it," Jack said suddenly somehow in one of the trees.

"What do you mean?" Eric asked looking up at him his sword now a bow and arrow. 

"Guess you've only just learnt about this place then." Jack said smirking. "Well when things are bad like this, Pinkie Pie goes from sweet and bubbly with cotton-candy-curly hair, to straight haired Pinkamena Diane Pie. A slightly darker/crazier side of her who's the best assassin in all of Equestria." he said still hanging from his branch his glass of chocolate milk returned.

"How are you doing that?" Sarah asked flying up and swiping her hand over and under the glass "And how were you doing all that back in town?" she asked bringing her hand back when nothing was found.

"A little something called Magic my dear cousin," Jack said now a small version of himself on top of her head. "That and a few years of practice and a great teacher." he said zapping off of her and back into the tree.

"I know I'm going to regret asking this," Eric said keeping his eyes on the path in case something would come to get them. "But who was your teacher?" 

"Discord of course." Jack said straight away.

"Bit more help please." Eric said "Like you said, we're new here."

"Discord is the Lord of Chaos and the spirit of Dis-Harmony and is watching every minute of this from that bush right over there." Jack said pointing to one of the bushes down the path a bit.

"Must you always have to find me Jack?" a voice said.

"If you don't want to get found, choose better hiding places." Jack said shrugging hand walking in midair over to the bush before flipping over and bowing to Sarah and Eric who followed him.

"Eric, Sarah meet Discord, and vice-visa." he said.

Out of the bushes came a creature neither Sarah or Eric had seen before. 

It looked like a snake, with a red tail with a white tuft of fur, an eagle's talon for his left arm, his right hand a lion's paw, an aligator's right leg, a goats left leg, two mismatched wings one a bat's one a birds, a deer antler and a goat horn on his head, a fang sticking out of his mouth, a white beard, and bright yellow eyes with red pupils of different sizes.

"He... Hello." Sarah said trying not to stare curtsying while kicking Eric in the shins to get him to bow.

"So teach what the buzz?" Jack said as if he we talking to anyone else.

"Well," Discord said zapping up a news studio out of nowhere sitting behind the desk holding the papers.

"It all stared with Twilight Sparkle solving some ancient spell and becoming a pretty purple pony princess," he said stopping letting the picture of an Alicorn Twilight appear over his shoulder. "At her coronation party, Chryssy, and Sombra invaded the castle and said 'We're taking over Equestria and there's nothing anyone can do to stop us.' Or something like that. Then Chryssy sent out her Changelings all over the place to destroy every village, town, city, etc... Abducting any pony they find on the streets who are stupid enough to be out on their own." Here he showed a picture of the three of them just a few minutes ago in the center of town.

"Ah huh." Jack said nodding in understanding as if this was just an ordinary conversation. "And Tia and Lulu?" Jack asked wondering.

"Sadly, their keeping everypony safe in that old castle of theirs in here." Discord said showing the castle with a dome around it.

"'Sadly'" Sarah said butting in pushing Eric away when he tried to get her to stop. "They're protecting their people from those bugs and that Tyrant, and you say 'Sadly'?" she asked.

"It's sad, because to be able to make a dome that big to last for this long, they had to lose their higher level of Alicorn Magic meaning they're just like every other pony." Discord said a hint of annoyance in his voice as the last picture went up to show a white Alicorn with a bubble-gum pink hair, and a midnight blue one with a straight light blue mane.

"Oh..." Sarah said backing away a bit blushing.

"What about Cadence?" Jack asked out of no where ignoring the fool his cousin just made of herself. 

"Who?" Sarah and Eric asked together.

"Wow they are new here aren't they?" Discord whispered into Jack's ear getting a nod in return. "Cadence is the Princess of the Crystal Empire and Love." he said snapping up a picture of a pink Alicorn with a tri-colored mane for them to look at. "And as of what about her... We have no idea. She was there for Twi's coronation then Poof she's gone." he said zapping the picture away. 

"So let me see if I got this right." Eric said changing the bow back into the sword and sheathing it.
"Celestia and Luna are keeping everyone safe in that old castle Moony held me prisoner in when we first came here. But to do that, they gave up some of their magic meaning they can't do anything but move the sun and moon since that's their talents." he stopped getting nods from Discord and Jack.
"There's a third Princess who's missing." Nod. "Twilight's now a Princess." Nod. "And it was because of that, that all this started." Eric concluded getting a final nod.

"What about the Elements?" Sarah asked looking back down the path they came from thinking of Pinkie.

"That, you need to see for yourself." Discord said zapping away the studio "The Forest is not a good place to be in at night." and with another 'Snap' all four were at the rope bridge of the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters.
> Chap 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up in Canterlot, Chrysalis was singing to herself how she'll control all of the ponies of Equestria.


'This plan is going just perfect
The kind of plan that will not fall
Everypony I'll soon control
Every stallion, mare and foal
Who says a girl can't really have it  all?'

A light cough behind her made her spin around to see Sombra standing there.

"I think you mean 'We'll control' Chrysalis." he said looking at her questioningly.

"Of course, I was just replaying a song I sang when I came here last time." she said looking around the room "Get into the mood you know."

"Ah huh." Sombra said not really believing her. "So what are we going to do next then." he asked looking around the room as if looking for ideas when a knock came to the door.

"Enter," Chrysalis said to the door as a solider Changeling came in taking off his helmet and bowing to the two before him.

"Your Highness's," it began "We have lost another collector from Ponyville. But witnesses said that before she was killed by the assassin she was trying to get three Humans under her spell."

"What did these 'Humans' look like?" Sombra asked. 

"Two boy's and one girl. The girl and one of the boys wore outfits that looked like rainbows, the other boy was just a mismatch thing. Sir." he said.

"Well what are you here for?" Chrysalis asked "Go out there and capture them why did you come to us to tell us about them?" 

"The witnesses also said that they felt strong magic come off of them. Ma'am." the solider said trying not to show fear but not to upstage his queen either.

"Then take some troupes with you when you catch them you idiot." Chrysalis said "Do I have to think of everything around here?" 

"Yes Ma'am," he said saluting and running out of the room to relay the order.

"I wonder which one he was saying yes to," Sombra said under his breath smirking.




*




Down in the Everfree Forest, Sarah, Eric, Jack and Discord had just entered the castle and were immediately stopped by a group of Earth Ponies.

"All right who's trying to get into this castle now then?" one of them said as someone came over.

"Oh Abby surely you remember your friendly neighborhood Discord." Discord said bowing a grin on his face elbowing Jack when he got up. "Get it? Neigh-borhood cause their ponies." 

"Good one teach," Jack said laughing, spurting chocolate milk out of his nose all over the ponies dyeing their coats brown.

"What's all this then Abby?" a strong voice asked as a hat-less Applejack came over, then seeing who was there smiled but then, turning to Eric asked "What was the nick name you gave Rainbow Dash down in the dungeon of this place."

"Cloud-Butt." Eric said smiling as he heard the cry 'STOP CALLING ME THAT!' in his head.

"Let them in Abby their friends trust me," Applejack said shooing the group away. "Though I can't say I've met you before..." she said looking at Jack.

"He's my cousin," Sarah explained as they began walking through the castle's hallways following Applejack.

"Take it y'all a bit of a trickster?" she asked looking over her shoulder not seeing him or Discord, then felt something playing with her hair. "Will you get off of me?" she said shaking her head making two mini Jack and Discord's fall to the floor.

"Well that wasn't very nice," Jack said getting back to normal size. "Was it?" 

"Jack, for once can you try and behave, and tone down your level of what you think is fun?" Sarah asked.

"I can try cuz," Jack said "But I don't think it will work. And how can a student of Discord tone down on all things fun? It's like... Like a death sentence." he said zapping up a jail's outfit complete with handcuffs and ankle ball.

"Hold it," Applejack said catching what he just said. "You're a student of Discord? Since when did you start teaching people your tricks?" she turned this to the Draconequus.

"Why since I met him and found out he liked playing pranks of course." Discord said in a Japanese sensi's outfit a black and yellow polka-dotted belt around his waist, bowing to Jack who was now in a karate outfit himself a brown and orange polka-dotted belt on his waist, who bowed back.

"Oh give me a break," Eric said rolling his eyes at the scene, continuing down the hall slipping on the now soap trail hallway banging his head on the floor. "What was that for?" he said slipping and sliding trying to get up.

"Well you said 'Give me a break'." Jack said hovering above the boy on a cotton-candy cloud loving the anger in Eric's face grow as he kept on failing to get up.

"I didn't mean it literally you mismatched pranking bully!" Eric cried after another failed attempt.

"Oh, alright," Jack said trying to sound like himself but the fun had gone out of his voice, as he snapped his fingers making the soapy trail disappear. "I think I'll go play in the forest a bit cuz," he said turning to Sarah. "Let you two lovebirds see Twilight by your self. After all why would the leader of the Elements of Harmony want to meet a 'mismatched pranking bully' for?" he said glaring at Eric who had just gotten up and looking at him.

"Jack wait," Sarah said trying to stop him but a snap and a flash of light later, and he was gone.







> Chap 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As soon as the 'excitement' died down Sarah went straight over to Eric a punched him square on the arm making him cry out.

"Ow jeez what was that for?" he asked rubbing it.

"Someone here was going to do something Knave, so be happy it was me," she said glaring at him as she turned and ran for the door and into the forest to find her upset cousin.

"Come on pretty boy, lets get you to see Twi and the others," Applejack said not too pleased with him or his actions either.

*
After some more walking through the castle the three of them made it to what seemed to of been the library of the place where they saw, a broken-winged Rainbow Dash entertaining a group of foals with the story she was reading, Rarity was giving out blankets she found, Fluttershy and Zecora over in the corner bandaging up some ponies who got hurt during the first invasion, and right at the back were Twilight, Celestia and Luna all looking worried.

As they walked in everyone looked up to see who it was and the Elements and the Princesses came over to greet Eric.

"Nice to see you again Eric," Celestia said smiling "But where is Sarah?" 

"Err... She got angry with me because I insulated her cousin, and they both ran off into the forest." Eric said rubbing the back of his neck bowing his head in shame.

"Well to be fair, you did say some rather mean things to him," Applejack said eying him a bit.

"Yeah," he said "I'll say sorry next time I see him. But first how bad is everything and just what are these 'Changelings' and who's this King Sombra?" 

"Changelings are creatures who have the power to disguise themselves as the ones you love and then feed off of your love for them." Twilight said annoyed for some reason. "The more love they get the stronger they become."

"And Sombra?" Eric said nodding in understanding.

"King Sombra was an old enemy of ours. A Unicorn who's heart was black as night who took over the Crystal Empire" Celestia said "He was then over thrown. Turned to shadow, and banished to the ice of the arctic North."

"But not before he was able to put a curse upon the empire. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air," Luna said continuing with the story "When it returned, the Elements of Harmony went to help protect it and destroyed Sombra for good." 

"So... How is he here now?" Eric said getting the news into his mind.

"HEY SIS I THINK WE FOUND SOMETHING!" a high toned cry screamed from above them making them look up and see a little yellow Earth Pony with a red mane and bow calling them all up to the higher level of the library.

"What is it Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked when they got there.

"We were going though the books to find something more interesting to read, when we came across the one with the story of the Mare in the Moon in." Apple Bloom answered holding up a book.

"So we went looking in it to see if it had anything interesting," an orange Pegasus said buzzing her wings hovering a bit with excitement. "And we found something that might tell us how to fix everything."

"Page 93," the white Unicorn said pushing the book the grown ups.

Shrugging Twilight brought the book up in front of her and turned to the page. 

The pages had turned yellow with age but the words were still visible and could be read.

"When three become four
The darkest of evil will rise once more
Leading an army that can change at will with their Queen by his side
There will be no where to hide

Only when the two warriors of harmony become one
Can this be undone
With the love in their hearts they hold
Together they can save the world"

"So how do you think this will help Scootaloo?" Rainbow asked the orange filly.

"The first line's 'When three become four' dummy." Scootaloo said rolling her eyes "Before Twilight solved that spell and became a princess there were three of them. But with her here now there are four."

"And the next two say The darkest of evil will rise once more. Leading an army that can change at will with their Queen by his side' That's a perfect description on what happened." the unicorn said bouncing around that she did something to help.

"Ok so what about the second half of the poem?" Eric said getting the filly's attention for the first time, making their excitement drain away and them back up a bit eyes on him.

"Oh it's alright girls," Discord said shrinking down to their size to see if their alright. "He's alright. When he isn't shouting insults at people that is. But I think he's one of the two in the second part of that prophecy there."

"Ok I'm sorry I said that," Eric said rubbing the bridge of his nose, "I get like that when I'm annoyed, and say and do things I don't mean to. Hasn't that ever happened to you?" he asked looking at the Draconequus.

"Of course," he said "But by insulting Jack you insulted me. And let me tell you, if we weren't in this crumbly old castle with bigger problems out there, you'd be getting your 'just desserts'." 

"Still no idea who you are," Scootaloo said speaking up and cutting off the argument.

"My name's Eric." he replied bowing to the three filly's "I came here with my girlfriend and her cousin, who at the moment hate me for the same reason Discord does.
"So now that we all know each other," he continued looking at Discord "What do you mean one of the two in the second part?" he asked asking for the book from Twilight so he could see.

"Where did you get that outfit from?" was Discords answer.

"From fighting Moon-Butt the first time we came here..." Eric said not looking up trying to work it out for himself.

"And how did Sarah get hers?" Discord continued.

"By having all the Elements of Harmony inside her." Eric said finally understanding. "Oh no. No no no no no no no no. I'm not going to put her in danger just because this piece of paper says so." 

"I think you may of done that already Sugarcube." Applejack said. "You sent both of them out into the forest after your little argument with Jack remember?"




*




"JACK!" 

In the forest, Sarah was wondering around calling Jack's name trying to find him hoping she'll find him before something else did.
She had been searching for five minutes getting nowhere except to the river.

"I hate my life," she said getting down to the ground picking up a stick and drawing in the dirt resting for a bit before she went back.
"I hate the fact my parents run the school, how I didn't have any friends until Eric came along, how I basically killed him the first time we were here because he was comforting me giving Nightmare Moon time to attack us." 

She was so caught up in this she didn't realize that the shadows were moving or heard the buzzing of wings.

"Why did he have to move in across the street anyway?" she said rubbing out the love hearts she had drawn getting up and brushing herself off turning to see tens of those black bug ponies. 

"Err... Hello?" she said trying to find a way out "Did you want to get to the river? I'm sorry, I'll just..." 

Suddenly they were all pouncing at her teeth bared pinning her down. 

"HELP!" she cried screaming at the top of her lungs only ending up with her mouth getting covered in green gunk. 

Sarah tried struggling out from under them, to blast them back but there were too many of them. 

"Oh Buggsy!" a voice she never thought she would love to hear cried above them making everyone look up seeing Jack lying down in mid air. "Would you mind getting off my cousin. I mean sure she's the perfect cushion and all but I don't think either of our parents want her to die because she was flattened by bugs." 

All he got in reply was a round of hissing and some coming up to fight him. 

"Well I see asking nicely didn't work so..." Jack said getting up and brushing himself down, coming back with a flame thrower and an army's uniform. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" he cried letting the flames burn off the wings of the ones in front of him making them land in giant bowls of jelly he had just zapped up, turning the gun to the ones still on his cousin.

The one standing by Sarah's head seemingly the leader changed into a pony so he could talk to Jack easier.

"You wouldn't fire at us when we're still on her would you boy!" he said grinning. 

"You think you can tell what I'd do or not?" Jack asked lining up the flame thrower finger on the trigger, getting a worried look from Sarah. 

"Go ahead then," the leader said "Turn her to cinders. Because we're not moving." 

"What do you mean by 'we'?" Jack asked smirking.

Confused the leader turned around to see his whole troupe killed, Pinkamena standing to one side twirling her knife in her hoof an evil smile on her lips.

"So I'll ask nicely again," Jack said coming down. "Can you get away from by cousin please." 

"I... I'm just following orders," the pony-ling said getting scared backing away from Sarah so she could get up and rip the stuff from her mouth, but let Jack continue. 

"Well I'm dismissing those orders," Jack said stepping in front of Sarah "So leave us alone."

Getting nods the Changeling, shifted back and flew off into the darkness of the forest.

"Jack!" Sarah said running up to him when he got rid of the flamethrower. "I'm sorry for what Eric said. He was just annoyed that he couldn't get back up. Please come back." 

"Sarah, you need to be more careful out here." Jack said hugging her back "You have no idea what come out in these woods at night."

"I have a few ideas. When I first came, I met Timberwolves, a Manticore, a Ursa Minor and Major, and a Dragon." Sarah said remembering as they went over to Pinkamena who was putting her knife away and together they made their way back to the castle.

Jack smirking said "Timberwolves, Manticore's, Ursa's, and Dragons, oh my." getting a fun-punch on the arm for getting a gag out of it.

"Jack, why did you save me back home?" Sarah asked rubbing her arm looking away. 

Pinkamena feeling that this was a private conversation increased her speed a bit to let them be.

"You mean you wanted to get hit by that car?" Jack asked stopping.

"Well no, not really," Sarah said stopping too. "But at first you were... Laugh-at-anything-and-stealing-bracelets Jack. Then you were save-my-cousin-from-a-car-and-come-with-her-and-her-boyfriend-to-help-the-ponies-of-Equestria Jack. I'm just wondering why?" 

"Well one, I don't think Uncle Bill and Auntie Jodie would of wanted their child hit by a car," Jack said counting off on his fingers. "And two, Equestria is like a second home. Whenever I get... Upset, I come here to let my feelings out. You know."

Sarah was about to reply when her head began to hurt again making her clutch it trying to get it to stop.

"Sarah," she heard Jack say, "Sarah what's wrong?" 

"No... Nothing, lets just get back to the others," she said wondering what that was for looking at her bracelet questioningly, as they raced down the path to catch up with Pinkamena.

> Chap 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After they got back and passed Abby at the door, the three went off to find everyone else finding it rather easy since they just had to follow the yelling.

In the library the group was split in two for what to do. Half  were saying they should go and find Sarah and Jack, while the other was saying they can handle themselves.

"What's with all the shouting?" Jack asked when then got in. "I thought libraries were meant to be quiet?" 

This put an end to the shouting as everyone looked up to see Pinkamena, Sarah and Jack standing at the door releaved that they were alright.

"So what side were on Sir Eric?" Sarah asked curtsying mockingly.

"On the side that said you can handle yourself, fair Princess." Eric said standing with the other Elements returning her gesture with a bow.

"Well at least you finally agree and can trust me to be on my own," Sarah said walking to the second level to be welcomed by the others. 

"Yeah took him long enough didn't it?" Jack said shaking an old broken pocket watch.

"For those who don't know which I'm slightly hoping is all of you," Sarah said "This is my cousin Jack. And I apologize in advance for anything he might do while we're here." 

"Even if that 'thing' stops Sombra and Chryssy cuz?" Jack said in a form of a child holding a flower of forgiveness his eyes wide.

"Well I'm not going to say sorry to those Changlings who got me at the river no." she said getting gasps in return "But I don't think burning their wings off or killing them," she said shivering slightly "was the right way to deal with things." 

"So you wanted to be taken by them?" Jack asked.

"Of course not! Agh..." she said gripping her head and scrunching up her face. 

"You alright Sugarcube?" Applejack asked coming over to see. 

"I'm fine," Sarah said. "Just a bit tired, that's all." 

"You can't lie to an Apple Sugarcube," Applejack said quietly.

"I'm fine. Really." Sarah said looking around seeing worried looks playing with her bracelet that was beginning to feel a bit warm.

"So any ideas on where to look for Cadence," Jack said cutting the conversation sitting on top of the shelves. "I mean we'd want to make sure she's safe before we destroy those two, we can't really ask them when their gone can we?" 

"My guess, is that Chrysalis is keeping her in the Canterlot caves again." Twilight said pulling out a map and showing the others what was written on it. "But this time she'll have her Changelings and has Sombra's magic helping her so it won't be as easy getting her out."

"Some way to spend our anniversary right Princess?" Eric whispered to her as they stood at the back of the group.

"Can we help the ponies and then worry about that?" Sarah asked sighing looking at the filly's who she felt looked too young to be in a situation like this.

"Apparently they get into worse trouble than this every other day," Eric said seeing what Sarah was looking at smiling slipping his hand into hers.

"Attention at the back." a voice cried snapping the two to look forward complete with blushes and giggles from the others.





After the meeting was broken, Sarah went to see Celestia and Luna not sure what to say or how to start.

"I'm sorry we weren't here to help sooner Your Highness's," she said rubbing her arm and looking away in shame "There were... complications back home." she said looking over at Jack who was playing a game of Blind-Man's-Bluff with the Crusaders.

"That's quite alright my dear," Celestia said asking her to follow them outside where it was a bit quieter. "Your head aches are another matter though." she said after the door shut.

"When did they start?" Luna asked worried.

"The first one was back home just before we came here, like 3:30 in the afternoon I guess." she replied "And another happened when Jack and I were coming back from the river just now. Each time my bracelet felt warm until it passed."

"And they only just started?" Luna asked rubbing her chin. 

"Yes." Sarah replied.

"Ideas Sister?" Celestia asked.

"I think Tia, Sarah's headaches may be connected to what happening with Equestria." Luna said to the both of them. "If they have only just started it must be because Harmony in Equestria is not balanced because of the fear and darkness Sombra and Chrysalis are creating."

"So I'm going to keep having these headaches until they're stopped?" Sarah asked.

"Well there is another way to stop your head hurting," Discord said appearing in a flash of light "But I don't think Tia or Lulu would let me do it." Discord said in a stage magician's outfit a saw in his lions paw.

"I think I can put up with them for a while." Sarah said smiling and gritting her teeth through another attack.

"Well if you change your mind," he said zapping out of there.

"Don't worry about Discord, Sarah." Celestia said coming over. "Even though he's the spirit of Chaos, he'll never do anything to ever kill anyone or anything." 

"That's something then," Sarah said quietly playing with her bracelet again wondering what would happen if she took it off to stop her wrist from being burnt off looking at the shadows in the corner of the hall sure she saw them move. 

After a few minutes the three of them went back into the room for a night of laughs and games before they risk their lives to save Equestria.

> Chap 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the fun and games had died down, everyone went to the entrance hall feeling that it would be safer to sleep together.

But Sarah couldn't sleep.

If her head wasn't hurting her, she kept waking up from nightmares of hearing the ponies cries for help and screaming and running.
After the sixth time this happened, she decided to explore the castle a bit in hopes to clear her head. 

Within fifteen minutes, Sarah found the courtyard doors and stepped through them to get some fresh air to clear her head, making sure to close the door as quietly as possible behind her so not to wake up anypony.

The yard wasn't very colorful. In truth almost everything was dead and there were no sounds of animals either. 
But Sarah didn't care. She just looked up at the stars deciding which one to send her wish to picking one that was shining very brightly almost perfectly hanging over the castle.

Closing her eyes and bringing her hands together, Sarah began to say her wish.

"Starlight star bright, 
First star I see tonight, 
I wish I may, I wish I might, 
Have the wish I wish tonight

I wish 'That I can help save everypony in Equestria from Sombra and the Changelings'."

Giving it a few minutes to reach the star, Sarah dropped her hands and was about to go back inside when she heard hoof steps behind her, readying her hands for attack, Sarah stayed looking at the stars.

"That was a very specific wish you just cast there," the voice of a stallion said a few steps behind her. 

"When your wishing you have to be specific or you might get what you want, in a different form of it" Sarah said trying to place the voice to a face of the ponies she had met, not finding any which started to worry her.

"I see," he said still standing behind her. "But if I may ask, What makes you think you'll be able to to stop the King of Darkness and Shadows and the Queen of the Changelings?" 

"I don't know I just..." Sarah began stopping herself registering what he had just said. "I never said anything about darkness and shadows." she said tensing up turning around, to see who she was talking to, gasping when she saw it was King Sombra, his horn glowing a evil smile on his face.

Sarah was about to cry for help to alert the others, but found her voice had gone, and she couldn't move. As if she were frozen with fear.

"You didn't need to my dear," he said "I think I know myself well enough to know all about me." 

Coming out from behind him came some Changelings their horns sparking, hissing and shooting their eyes at the girl waiting for their orders.

"I... I'm not afraid of you."  Sarah said getting her voice back loosening her bracelet a bit so it can fall off in case something happened to her. She didn't really want the enemy to capture her when she had her Harmony powers. 

"I think other wise Sarah," Sombra said loving the fear she was emitting. "Fear is the one thing I always know. How else did you think I got those weak Crystal Ponies under control?
Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. It's your decision." 

"Can I choose 'None-of-the-above'?" Sarah asked shifting her eyes to all the Changelings around her really wishing she had Jack's flame thrower.

Just then the Changelings attacked pinning her to the ground once again covering her mouth with green stuff and wrapping her legs up together, so she couldn't move. Struggling Sarah narrowed her eyes to Sombra who was just sitting there a dark look on his face. 
Finally all her struggling paid off as her bracelet came off and landed in the bushes. Thankfully, her outfit stayed as the rainbow dress and boots, so the bugs didn't notice. 

"I'll say again," Sombra said getting up and making his way over. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way." 

When Sarah just turned away from him, he sighed.

"Hard way it is then." he said lighting his horn a show of black and purple bubbles coming off of it his eyes turning green purple mist coming out of the corners firing at Sarah making her suddenly feel very drowsy and closing her eyes to a sleep that was nothing but nightmares she could not wake up from. 





Celestia had just finished raising the sun and everyone was just getting up and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. 

"So what for breakfast you guys?" Jack asked yawning coming down from the railing he had been hanging from last night. 

"We don't have time for breakfast Jack," Eric said re-clipping his sword to his belt. "We need to get out there and find and/or rescue Cadence, like you said so we can defeat Sombra and Chrysalis."

"I hear that," Applejack said already up and moving going around waking up the others "Anyone know where Sarah is?" she asked not finding her.

"Here I am," a voice said to the right. "I slept in the courtyard last night. I was having trouble sleeping in here." Sarah said coming over smiling to the group.

"Well just as long as you're alright cuz," Jack said a bit of toast in his hand "Remember what I said about being out in these woods late at night?" 

"Yeah yeah, that it's not safe." Sarah said waving her hand towards him. "I can take care of myself Jack. No need to worry."

"Didn't  seem to be able to take care of yourself at the river," Jack said under his breath turning away rolling his eyes and heading outside for some air before they left.


In the courtyard Jack jumped into the tree to finish his toast in peace thinking how they're going to rescue Cadence when something in the bushes reflected the sunlight into his eyes. 
Getting down, Jack went over and reached in pulling out Sarah's bracelet.

Confused thinking he differently saw her wearing it. Jack made it vanish keeping it safe making a note to keep an eye on her.

"Hey Jack," Eric called out from the door "We're about to leave for Canterlot, now Cloud-Butt's woken up."

"Stop calling me that!" Rainbow's voice came out through the doors making Eric and Jack laugh as they went back in.

> Chap 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sarah was just waking up, feeling cold and a tad sick. Slowly she opened her eyes to see nothing around her but darkness.
Walking forward a bit, she was pulled back by the cuffs on her wrists the chains of which led to the wall behind her.

Stepping over them, Sarah looked around her eyes now getting used to the dark.

"He... Hello? Is anyone there?" she called out getting nothing but an echo back increasing her fear factor. "Ok... No idea where I am, Cuffed and chained to the wall, In a dark cold setting, And remember Sombra from last night." she said listing the problems. "Conclusion: HELP!" she screamed pulling on the chains trying to get them off stopping when she heard someone laughing a shill laugh at the situation she was in.

"Nice to see you're finally awake child," the voice said, one of the walls lighting up to reveal a black seaweed maned crooked horned mare. "Oh don't stop, please you're the most fun prisoner I have." she said smiling.

"Where am I?" Sarah asked to the mare trying to be brave.

"The caves beneath Canterlot of course. Once owned by greedy Unicorns who wanted the gems found inside. And now..." she said vanishing and popping up right next to Sarah. "Your prison. Oh and don't think on calling for help. No one will hear you, and no one will think to look for you either."

"What... What do you mean by that?" Sarah asked "Once my friends see I'm missing they'll come and find me. You'll see!" she said rattling her chains in anger.

"Have you learnt nothing since you came to Equestria my dear?" the pony said moving to a rock above Sarah making it seem that she was looking down on her. "A Changeling can change their form into any living thing it wants." 

"My friends wont be dumb enough to fall for your charade." Sarah said getting really ticked off by this pony. 

"We'll see." she said as a form of farewell leaving Sarah in the dark again.

After a few more minutes of chain pulling and rattling later getting nothing but burnt wrists Sarah fell to her knees as tears started to escape from her eyes.





In the Forest, everyone was just getting ready to leave saying to the others in the hall that they'll be careful.

"Just like back home hay cuz?" a tiny Jack asked sitting on Sarah's shoulder. "The grown ups say 'Be careful', we say 'We will' then Emma nearly falls through the thin ice on the lake." 

"If I remember it was you're idea to go skating Jack," Sarah said letting him continue to sit there as she watched the others get ready. "I was going to make sure you didn't do anything stupid." 

Thinking to himself Jack zapped off of Sarah's shoulder and popped up next to Eric.

"Hey Eric, got a minute?" he asked in all seriousness.

"Sure..." Eric said confused as they slipped into the hallway for privacy. "What wrong." 

"First of Pinkie-Promise you'll hear me out, and not react in any loud way when I'm done." Jack said.

Sighing Eric did the motions and recited the rhyme, knowing that a Pinkie-Promise was sacred in Equestria and cannot be broken. 
"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

After nodding in agreement. Jack held out his hands and made Sarah's bracelet appear.

"You called me over to show me you got Sarah's bracelet again?" Eric asked crossing his arms.

"That Sarah is not the one we came here with." Jack said barely above a whisper. "And this is not hers. Go on look and see she wearing it right at this moment." he ordered.

Shrugging Eric looked back into the room and saw on Sarah's wrist was the exact golden charm bracelet Jack was holding in his hands right now.

"Well how do you know that that's not a copy?" Eric said turning back.

"I  tested her with a memory from when we were kids, about my little sister." Jack said  looking away.

"I didn't know you had a sister," Eric said surprised.

"Because we lost her one year we went skating," Jack said gripping the bracelet tightly. "If you... If you know what I mean." 

"I'm sorry," Eric said understanding where Jack was going. "But  what does that have to do with Sarah?" 

"Because, it effected Sarah the most." Jack said "I was on there with them, and they were both about to go in," Jack said not being able to look his friend in the eyes anymore. "I managed to rescue Sarah, and slide her to the bank, but as I went to get Emma the... She..." Jack said struggling to get the words out. 

After a pause he continued.  

"When our parents came to see what was going on, Sarah ran right into Uncle Bill and froze his shirt with her tears and kept saying she was sorry to my mum and dad, thinking it was her fault since she said everything would be alright."

"How do you know she hasn't just blocked that day from her memory?" Eric asked thinking the news over. 

"Emma was three years old. It was her birthday which is why we went out. And even though we were only six, a memory as bad as that... A young one dieing on her birthday because her big brother didn't check the ice of the lake they were skating on... That's a kind of memory that's always there in the back of your mind." Jack finished gripping the bracelet again.

"So what do we do?" Eric asked looking out at the group saying their goodbyes as they were about to leave.

"We need to keep her from knowing we know she's not the she she says she is." Jack said the fun returning to his voice and face as he made the bracelet disappear. "Bet you can't repeat that five times fast." he said as he and Eric walked back into the hall.

"There you two are," Rainbow said spotting them as they came over. "Now lets go already. Equestria won't save it's self from these bugs." 

"Why are you always in a rush Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked catching her friend in her light blue aura causing the Pegasus to stop and be dragged back.

"Besides we have to make sure we all know the plan first," Twilight said trying to get her wings under control regretting solving that old spell. 

"Oh I know Twilight!" Jack said hand in the air waving it trying to get her attention, "Me! Me! Pick me!" 

"Yes Jack," Twilight said after face hoofing herself.

"We get in, find Cadence and whoever else they might have," he began shooting a quick look over at Sarah "Get them out to safety, and then kick those two bullies off the thrones and destroy them. Do I get a sticker?" he said smiling at the laughter he got for that quick remark.

"No. But yes that's the plan." Twilight said to the others. "So lets go."

Getting nods from everyone they left for the door Applejack coming up to Sarah who had been a bit too quiet.
"You alright this morning Sugarcube?" she asked straight out.

"I'm fine Applejack," Sarah said after playing with her bracelet and holding back the pain of a headache again.

"Wasn't your bracelet on your other wrist last night Sarah?" Applejack asked looking at her hands.

"I just felt like it was time for a change, that's all." Sarah said shrugging the Changeling kicking herself that she didn't pay attention to the girl she was impersonating more closely.

Sensing a lie, but not finding what it was, Applejack dropped the subject and stood outside with the others waiting for Twilight to transport them all to Canterlot.

> Chap 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As everyone felt the ground beneath their feet again, they all looked around at the state Sombra and Chrysalis had made of Canterlot. 

The streets were bare from ponies, just like in Ponyville no sound being heard apart from the distant sound of Changeling wings as they flew overhead looking for ponies to take to Sombra and Chrysalis.
Black crystals were scattered everywhere looking as if they had just grown out of the road and buildings. And even though the sun was up and shining, the town seemed to be cloaked in darkness.

"You sure this is the right place Twilight?" Jack asked looking around a frown on his face. 

"Yes," she answered stepping ahead a bit. "Why?" 

"It's just last time I came and visited, Canterlot was more... Colorful, with music and laughter bouncing off of the crystal free buildings, and it didn't want me to hide myself in my room for a week."

"Bet Sombra and Chrysalis weren't ruling the place when that happened though were they?" Rainbow said not liking this place one bit even though it was her home.

Suddenly the sound of wings buzzing got a tad bit louder as a group of Changelings decided to look down the street they were in.

"Quick everypony, down here," Twilight said leading the way into an ally knowing the place, even though it was a darker version of itself, like the back of her hoof.

Just as Fluttershy and Pinkamena disappeared from the Changeling's line of sight, they came down the road hissing at each other pausing and landing sniffing the air.

"What are they doing?" Fluttershy asked in a quiet voice curled up into a tight ball wings clamped to her sides tail wrapped around herself. 

"I think they can smell someones been there," Sarah said trying to act like this was a guess looking out at the two who looked up at her. Quickly Sarah flashed her eyes green so fast only Changelings could see it saying 'I have these ponies, carry on looking for others.' through their minds. 

After hissing at each other some more, the two Changelings flew off again.

"Phew," Rainbow said happy they were gone. "I thought for sure they looked at us for a minute there."

"Me too," Applejack said trying to reassure Fluttershy everything was alright. "Wonder why they didn't attack us."

Eric and Jack just looked to each other for this but said nothing.

"Well I could of taken on those bugs," Pinkamena said stepping back out into the street. "You see the next time we see some Changelings, their mine."

"Then how will we find out where the prisoners are if you kill all of them Pinkie?" Jack asked stepping out to the street wearing a black cloak, a cardboard scythe in his hand, trying not to scare Fluttershy.

"He has a point Pinkie, darling." Rarity said coming out next rolling her eyes at his outfit.

"Speaking of prisoners," Eric said changing his sword into a bow and arrow coming out with Twilight and Rainbow Dash "Do any of you girls know where the entrance to the caves are so we can rescue them, if we can't find a Changeling to hold a knife to his neck to, for the answer?" 

"Not really," Twilight said looking around before moving on down the road. "Last time Chrysalis put me down there from the throne room from the castle, and Cadence and I was in too much of a rush to save my brother to take any notice of where we came up from."

"You have a brother?" the Eric and Sarah asked together surprised.

"So why isn't he here helping us out now." Eric asked carefully sensing this was something no one wanted to talk about.

"Because as Captain of the Royal Guard, he lead them into battle against the Changelings when they first attacked giving us time to escape but was caught along with the others as soon as we left." Twilight said trying to sound strong and not let tears fall. 

"Look on the bright side Twi," Jack said up on someones balcony so he would be safe from what may or may not come from this comment. "At least he's not under her control this time, with his eyes going all..." Here Jack made his eyes swirl in different directions sticking his tongue for effect "...and being forced to marry her." 

Quickly he zapped off of the balcony he was on as a beam of purple anger shot at him from an annoyed Twilight.

"Just how long have you been coming here boy?" Applejack asked looking around searching for Jack.

"A while..." Jack said on top of a doughnut shop a box of doughnuts in his hand deciding which one to have vanishing once again as another streak was shot at him.

"And how long is 'A while'?" Rainbow asked slightly worried but slightly amused that this boy was getting the best of Twilight.

"I was here when Applejack made the whole town ill with food poisoning from her 'baked bads' during Applebuck Season." Jack said sitting on the roof above her with a little diary in his hand and reading glasses held to his eyes."When you Rainbow and AJ founded the Iron Pony Competitions and tied for last place in the Running of the Leaves." he said zapping off to avoid Twilight's aim. "When Rarity had those stupid butterfly wings and flew too close to the sun and had them burnt off and had to be saved by Rainbow Dash," he continued once again just missing Twilight's beam that was getting darker with each shot with her anger. 

"When Pinkie thought you abandoned her and lied to her because none of you liked her parties any more. And one I'm very happy of here... When Twilight made the whole of Ponyville run around for her childhood toy scared that she'll get a ... A tardy!" Jumping up just barley missing the one that was just shot.

"QUIT MOVING!" Twilight yelled looking all over the place for this Student of Discord.

"Surprisingly I haven't gotten anything from Fluttershy," Jack said flipping through his book right next to her. "But I'm sure there were somethings you did wasn't there?" he asked making Fluttershy to hide behind her mane in shame.

"Well back to your answer Rainbow." he said at last being hit with one of Twilight's shots being blasted into the wall.

"Jack!" Sarah called running over to her cousin helping him into a sitting position, as everyone looked over to Twilight purple mist coming out of her eyes her horn still forming black and purple bubbles.

"Twi..." Rainbow asked a tad scared seeing her friend like this. "You in there?" 

"Emma, no." Jack said tears running down his cheeks mist in the corners of his eyes, hands clenched to the sides of his head.

"Jack, Jack speak to me...." Sarah said shaking him as he held his head trying not to scream from the fear and pain he was having and alert the Changelings they were there. "What did you do?" she asked looking to Twilight who just snapped out of what ever it was she was in rubbing her head.

"I...He..." Twilight began stepping away eyes locked on Jack.

"Don't you dare say 'He started it'" Sarah said getting up shooting Twilight daggers. "If you hadn't been shooting at him you wouldn't of hit him." 

"Well Weirdo, if Jack hadn't made Twi want to shoot at him in the first place, and increase her anger by missing her shots like he did, it wouldn't of gotten this bad." Rainbow said stepping up to Twilight.

"Ok, enough of the 'Blame-Game'" Eric said coming over to check on Jack on guard to hold on to 'Sarah' if she charged towards Twilight. "Just tell us what's going on and how we can fix it."

Just then more wings were heard as a bunch of Changelings were coming over to investigate what all the fuss and magical shots were about.

"Quick, follow me," Twilight said running down the road the others following, Eric, sword away, piggybacking Jack and holding Sarah's hand as they ran toward Canterlot Library.

> Chap 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the caves, Sarah had stopped crying and was just finishing one of her favorite songs by Breaking-Benjamin quietly to herself with her eyes closed to forget where she was.

'Don't bury me 
Faceless enemy
I'm so sorry
Is this the way it's got to be?'

Sarah pulled her knees to her chest and laid her head on them.

'Dear Agony...
I feel nothing anymore.'

"Agh..." she said rubbing as another headache hit her looking around for the way out so she can leave as soon as she got the cuffs off her wrists.

Just then Sarah thought she could hear hooves and voices coming from behind one of the walls of the room she was in.

"Hello?" she said getting up and as close to the wall as she could with the cuffs and chains pulling her back. "If you're worried I'll attack, I'm chained to the wall, and don't have my powers, so there's no need to be afraid."

No response, but Sarah had a feeling that whoever it was had heard her, and backed away as far as she could so she was clear of the wall.

Suddenly the one she had just been talking to was destroyed rocks and dust flying everywhere the one who blew it up coughing slightly.

Looking up from her crouching position Sarah saw it was a white Unicorn stallion with blue hair and armor who came to save her. 
Remembering what who she worked out was Chrysalis said about her Changelings taking the form of anything, Sarah stayed on guard to attack.

"It's alright Miss," he said slowly coming over so not to scare her. "We're ponies. And we've all be imprisoned like you." he said looking over his shoulder where a pink Alicorn was standing a bunch of foals and some other ponies around and behind her.

"My names Shining Armour by the way," he said as he got to work breaking the cuffs on Sarah's wrists.

"Sarah Jones." Sarah said still on her guard.

"Who's 'Agony' Miss Jones?" one of the foals asked raising her hoof. 

"Excuse me?" Sarah asked rubbing the pain of the cuffs away when they came undone, looking over to the group.

"Well you kept singing 'Dear Agony'," the filly said speaking her mind. "So we want to know who he, or she, is." 

"The 'Agony' I was signing about is just a charterer in that song, little filly," Sarah said smiling a little "She's no one you need to worry about."

"But the song sounded so sad..." a young colt said stepping forward to be next to the filly."There must of been some reason you sang about her. Other than you being a prisoner by that bug and meanie." 

"Well if there was I think it's because there may or may not a Changeling posing as me around my cousin, boyfriend and friends and there's no news yet that they know she's not me."

"It's alright Sarah," the pink Alicorn said stepping up next to Shining Armour, a small smile on her face. "It will work out all right in the end. You'll see."

"Thanks Cadence." Sarah said returning the smile nodding her thanks.

"You... You know who I am?" Cadence asked stepping away a bit in surprise. 

"Well, not really, but I was giving the 'Who you are' talk by Discord when we met him in the Everfree Forest on our way to see Twilight and the others, after escaping a Changeling in Ponyville, when he was telling us what was going on." Sarah said letting the two foals who had spoken to her to come closer making their way under her arms and putting hooves on her chest so they can look into her face.

"Wait did you say 'Twilight'?" Shining Armor asked he was half listening as he was making sure everyone was alright.

"Yeah, she's one of the ponies me and my boyfriend met when we first came here, why?" Sarah said a worried tone in her voice.

"Just checking if these ears of mine were working," he said shooting a worried look to Cadence no one but Sarah saw, but she said nothing.

"Well then I think we should get going and rescue them," Cadence said stomping her hoof getting nods from everyone as they made their way back out into the corridor and all the Unicorns lit their horns Cadence and Shining Armor leading the way Sarah just stepping out getting chills on how dark it was and how creepy it looked.

'When I get home the first thing I'm going to do is fish my nightlight out and have it on for a whole week,' Sarah promised herself. 'But for now Sarah, you need to help look after these foals and other ponies until you get out of this mess' she said feeling an even stronger headache than before.

"My names Amber, by the way, Miss." the little filly who spoke up said walking beside her. 

"And I'm Chris" the colt added walking on her other side.

"Nice to meet you," Sarah said rubbing her head trying to smile through the pain. 

"Are we going to get out of these caves Miss?" Amber asked after waving Sarah down so she could whisper into her ear. 

"What makes you think that we wont?" Sarah whispered back lifting Amber up so they could keep walking.

"I'm just scared that we'll be stuck down here forever, and I wont see my Mama and Papa or sisters ever again," Amber said tears welling in her eyes burying her face into Sarah's chest.

"You know what someone once told me?" Sarah said lifting the filly's chin so she was looking into her eyes and looking down at the colt doubt written on his face too. 
"He said 'Sometimes, when you come to the end'," she said wiping a tears away from Amber's eyes "'What you need is a friend'."

"But... But I don't know anypony here," Amber said looking at all the ponies in front of them who were all in the same position they were in. 

"You know me," Sarah said "You seem to know Chris. Cadence and Shining Armour seemed to be protective over and look after you. And Cadence is a princess. How can you not know who she is?" 

"But I don't know them." Amber said looking down to the ground sighing. 

"I didn't know anyone when I first came to Equestria either Amber," Sarah said slowing her steps a bit. "But after I met, and made some friends, we were friends till the end. Always looking out for each other, helping each other out, and being there for each other."

When this didn't work Sarah sighed trying to think of some way to make this filly happy. Then it hit her.

"How about we sing a song to get our minds off of how scary things are?" she asked in a loud voice looking towards Shining Armour and Cadence.

"Wonderful idea Sarah," Cadence said smiling. "Anypony have any ideas?" she asked the foals.

"Hush Now Quiet Now" some cried. "Nothing Can Go Wrong" some more said. 

Then Amber stood up in Sarah's arms and gave her suggestion.

"Little Guiding Light" she said happily a smile on her face, earning nods and 'Let's sing that's' from every pony.

"Little Guiding Light it is then," Cadence said then looking to Sarah said "If you don't know the words you'll pick it up as we get going. 
Ok everyone, one, two, three..."

'This little guiding light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little guiding light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little guiding light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine
All the time 
Let it shine'

And together, singing their fears away, Sarah and every pony in the caves slowly made their way out. Sarah trying to beat way the headaches so not to scare a newly happyfied Amber singing the loudest and most beautifully in her arms.

> Chap 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Canterlot Castle, Sombra was pacing around muttering to himself. A feeling of something's not right, coming to him and growing the longer he paced around. 

Finally out of anger that he could not work this out Sombra shot one of his dark beams at the wall a large black crystal growing out of it spouting smaller ones at the edges.

"My what a temper you have there Sombra," Chrysalis's voice said coming up behind him after coming through the window since he locked the door for privacy.

"May I ask what do I owe the pleasure for Chrysalis?" he asked trying to stay as calm as he could but still be strong.

"I just want to know what is wrong, to make sure you're alright and such," Chrysalis said looking around the room that once belonged to Princess Luna seeing and loving what Sombra had done with it.

Instead of blue there was now black, all the star maps were gone replaced by beautiful and expensive looking crystals, and the newest new thing, the giant crystal on the wall.

"Your prisoners down in the caves are giving off less fear than before." Sombra said going back to pacing the room "Which means that they are dead, or they have found someway to lessen the fear with happiness and light." he cursed.

"Well I think this shall make you happy then," Chrysalis said lying on the bed watching him go back and forth in front of her. "A couple of my scouts came back to me a few minutes ago, and said that Twilight and her friends and that Changeling we placed in there are finally here in Canterlot.
"After that some more came in saying they saw her fire one of your Dark Magic shots at that mixed up boy firing him into a wall and they started to sense fear and pain come off him."

"So? I know Twilight can do my magic," Sombra said not stopping "How else do you think she and that puny little Dragon found that stupid Heart to destroy me." 

"It was not the fact that she could do it," Chrysalis said "It was the fear that came off of the boy that had them confused enough that they thought it needed to be reported." 

Knowing that he wouldn't be left alone again until he answered her questions, Sombra explained.

"With Darkness comes Fear." he said looking towards her. "If someone is hit with a Beam of Darkness, the magic seeps into their memories and worst fears and brings them out for that person to, relive them, as it were. 
"Sadly the spell does not last that long. But it's power leaves the one who got hit unable to do anything for at least 24 hours." he concluded looking at her. "Happy?" 

"Yes." she said in a one word answer "Now getting back to the prisoners. I can not be to blame if they die down there or find someway to fight off your fear."

At this Sombra gave her one of his dark looks showing his fangs at her.

"Alright, I'm going," Chrysalis said walking to the window and flying out of it using her magic to close the doors after her.





Down in the streets, everyone had just made it to the library and made it inside.

After Twilight and Rarity made a 'book-bed' Eric gently placed Jack down, who thankfully didn't look in so much pain anymore, but still was now what looked to be in a deep sleep.

After Jack was set down and Fluttershy said she'll watch over him, the others made their way to another part of the library to work out or discuss what happened outside.

"So what exactly happened out there Twilight?" Eric said standing next to Sarah trying not to show nerves or knowledge he knew she wasn't her.

"You saw what happened," Twilight said "He made me mad by joking about my brother, I got mad, he got me more mad by avoiding my shots..."

"Then you blasted him into a wall with a beam that has set him up like this." Sarah said trying hard not to say she knew what it was.

"Ok, so now we know what happened," Applejack said stepping in between them "One is he alright, and two if not can we do anything about it?"

"I don't know," Twilight said "The only other times I used Dark Magic was at the Crystal Empire on the throne to find the Heart, and then on Sombra's stupid door to make it stop moving."

"Well there must be an answer or a counter curse somewhere in at least one of these books right?" Eric said looking at the shelves upon shelves of books.


"Or we can ask for advise." Discord's voice rang around the library before he zapped into existence on one of his cotton-candy clouds.

"Ok," Eric said rubbing a headache away from how more confusing things had just got. "Repeating AJ's questions... Is Jack alright, and if not can we do anything about it?"

Discord came down, now wearing a doctors outfit, making a nurses one appear on Fluttershy, standing next to Jack's book-bed looking him over. 

After a while he stood up and asked straight to Twilight. 
"How long ago did you hit him?" 

"I don't know," Twilight said looking through the books with the rest of the girls. "Five to ten minutes I guess."

"I have the answers then." Discord said happily.

"You going to tell us?" Sarah said trying to act like she cared over her 'cousin'.

Discord turned to her sensing something was different but carried on.  
"Jack's fine, the fears the spell had brought forth have stopped playing. But you will have to wait..." here he brought out a giant hour glass a single grain of sand falling each second, and placed it next to Jack's head. "twenty three hours, fifty minutes and twenty two seconds, before he wakes up again."

"So because of Twilight we've lost a whole day of looking for everyone?" Sarah asked "Great." 

"We have not lost a day Sarah," Eric said annoyed that this bug thinks that she can imitate Sarah. "Jack and whoever stays here to look after him and tell him what's going on when he wakes up, just won't be along for the ride. We can still go, and get everyone out of there and get rid of the big fat parasite and that Lord of Darkness like we originally planned."

For a moment Sarah's eyes flashed green as she ground her teeth at the words this boy was saying about her queen. But stayed in character.
"You're right." she said "I'm sorry Twilight. I'm just scared for Jack. Family and all that." 

"It's alright Sarah." Twilight said smiling. "So who's going to be the ones to stay?" 

While the girls were sorting this out Eric relaid what he and Jack were talking about earlier to Discord. 

"I thought she seemed even more feisty." Discord said playing with his beard looking over at the girls concerned most for Fluttershy who was volunteering to stay behind, only to be put down by Rainbow saying they'll need her to use the Elements.

"Yeah well, Jack said we just need to make sure that she doesn't find out that... 'We know she's not the she she says she is'. But I don't want, for a reason I can't explain, the girls to be put in danger." Eric said eyes on Sarah watching her every move. "To be honest I'm slightly surprised Pinkamena hasn't seen through her yet." he whispered.

"Well, even though Pinkie has a sort of sixth-sense, she's not that good at seeing through Chryssy's  hench-bug disguises." Discord said.

Seeing that the girls were not getting anywhere, Eric took a bold move.

"Sarah and I will watch over Jack and you girls go and find those caves." he said stepping forward causing them to stop arguing.

After the six looked at each other mentally asking each other if this was alright they nodded.

"Alright." Twilight said as appointed leader. "But be careful." 

"Yeah and don't draw the bugs attention with all that lovey dovey stuff you two may do once we leave you alone." Rainbow said smirking and heading for the exist.

"Get real Cloud-Butt we're on a serious mission here." Eric said rolling his eyes. "Do you really think we'd do anything like that?" 

"Stop calling me that!" Rainbow swirled fire in her eyes at Eric.

"Just be careful you guys." Twilight said pushing Rainbow out the door. "And don't let anypony in here once we're gone. You don't know who you can trust with Changelings around."

"You have no idea Twi," Eric said to himself quietly as they left, leaving him a Changeling posing as his girlfriend, an unconscious Jack in the corner, and a going through the joke-book section of the library Discord. 
  
> Chap 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Down in the caves, because the foals were getting a bit tired of all the walking, Cadence and Shining Armor said to stop getting alot of relived sighs from everyone.

Smiling and nodding in agreement, mostly because Amber was starting to get a bit heavy in her arms, Sarah gently placed her down next to a yawning Chris making sure they were asleep before she went to find Cadence and Shining.


Sarah found them together a bit away from everyone else asking each other what to expect when they get out of these caves.

"Ahem," Sarah said getting their attention.

"Hello Sarah," Cadence said a gentle smile on her face as she got up and moved over a bit making room for Sarah to sit in between them. "Good idea with the singing by the way. I doubt we would of made it this far if the foals were all holding us back because they were scared."

"Thank you." Sarah said sitting down. "But the reason I came over is to tell you more on who I am and ask how do you know Twilight? That is of course if that's alright, I just thought you did because you looked worried when I said her name when you... Umm... When I joined you."

Not expecting this both ponies were silent for a minute then Shining Armor explained.

"She's my little sister." he said looking to the roof of the cave. " And I'm not sure how it works for you, excusing my rudeness here. But when a younger sister is in danger or whatever, the older brother isn't happy again until she's safe."

"I know how that feels like." Sarah said tears coming to her eyes as she thought of Jack and Emma, wishing he went for her first. 
"Anyway," she said after a few seconds driving the memory out of her mind before the tears started. 
"As I already said I'm Sarah Jones. About five months ago, by accident in my eyes, although I'm sure someone else would say otherwise, me and Eric found out his Grandfather's old painting set had a very special paintbrush in it, and that's how we came to Equestria.
He was taken by Nightmare Moon to the castle in the woods. While I went down to Ponyville and met everyone who told me about her and we went out to get him back. 
Along the way I learnt some things about friends and those Elements of Harmony. 
Finally when we got back together, and after Moon-Butt knocked the bearers out cold I got this new outfit, that comes with a charm bracelet to help me with my powers but I took it off when Sombra captured me, and Eric got one as well and together we defeated her." 
Sarah finished leaning back  smiling at the memories of that day. When suddenly her head began to hurt with a whole new level of pain, making her clutch it and bend over in pain trying to hold back her screaming so not to scare or wake up the other ponies. 

After a few minutes that felt like hours to her Sarah thought she could hear voices.

"Sarah..." someone was saying. "Sarah are you alright?" 

"Yeah..." she answered not caring who it was as she came back to her original sitting position, knees to her chest head resting gently on top. "Celestia and Luna said I'm suddenly getting these headaches because of the tipped balance of Harmony here." Sarah just explained. "And they're getting worse and going for longer." 

Gently Cadence placed a hoof on Sarah's back just above the wings, and rubbed it to help calm her down.

"Everything will be ok," she said in a 'I am certain' kind of voice. "We just have to get out of here, stop Chrysalis and Sombra and that should fix the Harmony. Then we can get you and Eric back together too. I'm sure their looking for you." she said smiling. 

"Then why are they not here yet?" Sarah said sighing "Or... Or why haven't we heard of anything?" she asked tears coming to her eyes she didn't have the strength to wipe away.

"Well this place is pretty big Sarah," Shining Armor said trying to make her smile "Why else do you think we're still down here, other than the fact we kept getting lost when we started. And Changelings are known to fool the friends of the one they're replacing. Maybe they don't know yet." 

"First of Shining, you would of kept getting lost too, if you had only been down here once in your just gotten a bit shorter life." Cadence said not looking happy at the Unicorn. Then turning to Sarah said "But he's right Sarah, lets just give it sometime somehow we're going to get out of here. And I'm sure you're friends do know and are working even more hard to come and find you."

"Thanks you guys." Sarah said to show she had been listening but stayed put when they went to check on the others thinking 'What position she would been in now, if she just stayed inside last night'. 





Up top, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkamena had got as close to the castle as they could ducking back behind buildings every now and then so not to be spotted by the Changelings coming and going.  

"So how exactly are we going to get down to the caves if we don't know where they are?" Rainbow asked looking around for a sign that says 'Caves Down Here'.

"We can either, let ourselves be caught and taken to them, Blast the street to pieces since they're meant to be right under us, Or we can continue searching and/or watching the Changelings to see if we can work out where they are ourselves. Twilight listed.
"So it depends if we want the slow and sneaky, or fast, loud and sure to be found way to get down there." she said looking all over the castle.

"All right y'all," Applejack said. "Hooves up for 'fast, loud and sure to be found' way," not surprising to anyone Rainbow was the first one to put her hoof in the air followed by Pinkamena.
"Hooves up for 'slow and sneaky' way" Applejack continued raising her own hoof, along with the rest of the girls.
"Four to two, Slow and Sneaky wins." she said lowering her own and moving to the corner of the building to take her turn watching for them.

"What about the  'let yourselves be caught' option?" a voice said behind all of them making them spin only to see no one there.
"Well?" it said again making them look all over the place. 

"That was a joke option..." Twilight said not sure who she was speaking to but began charging her horn anyway.  

"Can I place a suggestion into the pot then Miss?" another voice asked still neither owner showing themselves. 

"Depends what it is um..." Twilight said.

"Ruby," the second voice said.

"And I'm Jade." the first one said. 

Then two little filly's one red and one green with the same mane-do's came out from behind the cardboard boxes and other junk stored down the ally. 

"Now what are two little filly's like you doing out here?" Applejack asked in her stern mothering voice she reserved for Apple Bloom when she did something wrong.

"Hiding here to 'keep safe' from those bugs, while our Mama and Papa try and rescue our sister from the caves." Jade said. 

"They're exhibition experts so they know everything about the caves beneath Canterlot." Ruby said her eyes wide.

"You mind if we go see you parents my little ponies?" Twilight asked a smile on her face. 

"Er... Twi," Applejack said pulling Twilight away so they can have a private conversation. "I'm not saying we shouldn't try that. But we have to remember Changelings are running free all over Canterlot at the moment. And don't y'all  think it a might suspicious that when we ask for help we get it in the form of two little filly's?"  

"You saying that their Changeling AJ?" Twilight whispered so not to get Pinkamena to react.

"I'm saying we can't put all our trust into them straight away." Applejack said rubbing her chin. "And need to ask them a question only ponies will know the answer for."

Turning back Jade and Ruby looked at the mares wondering what they were talking about.

"Before we set out anywhere girls," Applejack asked thinking "Just a simple question here, What happened on the one-thousandth Summer Sun Celebration?"

"Nightmare Moon came back." they both said happily.

"Anything else?"

"You, being the Elements of Harmony turned her back into Preencess Luna." 

Applejack was at a crossroad here. Because those answers were right, but these filly's looked a bit young to know all that. However, they could of been taught about it in school.

"Just one more." she said thinking of a new question. "Can you tell me when a Pony get's his or her Cutie-Mark?"

"When they find that special something that makes them special." Jade said a nodding Ruby in agreement. 

"Err... why all the questions AJ?" Rainbow asked in to her friends ear stepping forward. 

"Just checking something." Applejack whispered back nodding to Twilight.

"Do you know where your parents are girls?" she asked getting down to look them in the eye to show they can trust her.

"They went over there," Ruby said pointing to the castle's gardens.

"But that was a few hours ago." Jade continued, shuffling her feet.

"But they said don't move until they come back with Amber."

"But we're scared Preencess Twilight." they said together tears in their eyes. 

"Oh girls," Twilight said opening her arms nearly getting knocked over by the girls running into her. "It will be ok." she said rubbing their backs trying to comfort them. "We're here now. We will help you and your parents rescue your sister."

"But... But what if we can't Preencess Twilight?" Jade asked pulling back rubbing her nose. 

"Girls. If there's one thing I learnt since moving to Ponyville," Twilight said hugging them again. "Is that you need to trust your friends, new and old and keep your hopes high. This will all work out. You'll see. We just need to rescue everyone who's down in those caves before we do anything else."

"Just out of curiosity girls," Rarity asked "How long ago did your parents leave you here? Not that I'm saying anything bad Twilight," she said after a look she got. "But if you've lost this much hope, I'm just wondering."

"We got here last night," Ruby said "We were on our way to the caves anyway, because they got Amber the day before." 

"And then when Preencess Celestia rose the sun this morning, they told us to stay here and hidden, and not to come out or move until they come back with her." Jade finished.

"So, you've been on your own since this morning?" Fluttershy asked in her quiet voice getting nods from the girls.

"What are we going to do Twi?" Rainbow asked. "We can't really leave them here on their own, but we can't take them with us in case their parents come back, or something happens."

After a minute to think, Twilight just said one name.

"Discord." 

Suddenly there was a flash of light and the Draconequus in question was floating right above them on 'surprise' one of his cotton-candy clouds.

"You called Twilight?" he asked.

"Discord, can you take these two filly's back to the library and watch over them with Eric and Sarah, while we go to the caves, please." Twilight asked writing a note she slid under the box they both came out of after closing it with the Canterlot seal, in case their parents came back.

Suddenly Twilight felt a tug on her mane and turned to Jade and Ruby again. 

After they made sure Discord wasn't listening they said. 

"We're not meant to go off with strangers Preencess Twilight," 

"My dear filly's," Discord said setting his ears a flame as a joke of burning ears "I am no stranger. I may be strange. But I am no stranger. I'm a celebrity in fact." he said poofing up a red carpet and a outfit set for a celebrity complete with sunglasses.

"I know girls," Twilight replied trying to ignore the Draconequus behind her. "But he'll take you somewhere safe, and look after you there. Right Discord?" she asked turning around. 

"On my word as the Master of Chaos Princess," Discord said zapping away everything making a halo appear above his head. 

"Just keep them safe, and don't blow up the library." she said rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Ok," Discord said his halo losing it's shine. "Just be careful in those caves. There may be some unsuspected things down there." with that and a snap on his fingers, Discord and the filly's disappeared.

After a minute to get over what just happened, and to let a troupe of Changelings get out of the way, the girls set off for the castle gardens.

> Chap 13
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the library Eric was looking through the books, mostly to entertain himself, while keeping a eye on 'Sarah' but partly to see if he can learn more about this Sombra and Chrysalis and if there's a way to stop them just in case they can't find Sarah in the Caves.

Eric took a seat that had the perfect view of the door, overlooking Jack, and an open space so there was nowhere for the bug to hide for a sneak attack, who at the moment was upstairs probably trying to work out to get to his love.

Suddenly the winds started to pick up and a spark flashed and laughter could be heard. 

As quick as he could Eric drew his sword and formed it into a bow and arrow ready to fire at whatever it was. Pulling the string back to his cheek keeping both eyes open, Eric held the position, until he saw the obvious shape of Discord. 

"Dude!" Eric cried releasing the string but keeping the bow. "Don't scare me like that! I thought you were coming to attack me." 

"How should I scare you then?" Discord said a grin on his face "Oh by the way, I've just been visiting the girls, and we have some babysitting to do."

"Wait... What?" Eric asked looking around Discord spotting the two filly's. "I don't do babysitting." he said looking up to where the Changeling was suppose to be. "And are you sure it's safer here than out there?" he asked trying not to let anything slip.

"Well put it this way boy," Discord said coming over after poofing up some safe toys for Ruby and Jade to play with. "Out there, they're all alone, there's only a small number of places where they can hide, no one to protect them, and a gazillion Changelings." Discord said bringing up a black board and tallying the things he just said.
"In here, they have us to look after them, if they need to there's lots of places to hide, they have us, and Jack when he wakes up to protect them, and hopefully there's only one bug in here. Besides it's on Princess Twili's orders." 

"Ok ok I see the positives of them being here." Eric said rubbing the bridge of his nose to calm himself down. "But I don't do well with kids."

"These aren't kids," Discord said happily "They're foals." 

"Whatever!" Eric said raising his voice a bit, "The point is I don't get on well with them. Especially when I'm stressed and have my mind and worries elsewhere." 

"Oh come on," Discord said loving the pain he was causing for Eric. "I promise I'll take full responsibility for anything they do while in here."

"While who's in here?" Sarah's voice called out from upstairs as she came down to see what the noise was about. 

"Ok now that we're all here," Discord said calling over the girls. "Eric, Sarah, these are Ruby and Jade, and vise-versa." he said petting the foals heads.

At first they didn't say anything then  Ruby asked Discord to come closer so she can whisper into his ear.

"I don't like the girl Messter Discord," she said "There's... There's something that feels off about her." she said tapping her horn while shifting her eyes to Sarah.

"I can feel it too Messter Discord," Jade said in his other ear, tapping her horn too.

'Well this just got a whole lot more exciting.' Discord thought. 

"Say girls, why don't you go hunting for some books for us to read to you?" he said trying to get them to leave so he could get back to Eric. 

"But..." they said.

"I'll zap up a whole round of chocolate milk to read the story with." he said pushing them to the shelves sighing in relief when they were gone. 

"Er.. what was that about Discord?" Eric asked though having a good idea.

But before anything else was said Discord just snapped his talons and ropes appeared around Sarah.

"Hey what gives?" she said struggling to get out. 

"Cut the act bug," Discord said standing tall walking over to her. "And tell us where the real Sarah is." 

"This is a joke right?" she said "Come on Discord. I am the real Sarah. Eric back me up here, can't you at least tell I'm your girl?" 

"Maybe, if you did a better act on playing her," Eric said changing the bow back to his sword gripping it tightly. "Just so you know parasite, a Knight always knows which Princess is his. So since you're not her, tell us where she is." he said holding the tip to her neck, making her eyes flash green, and a smirk that did not belong on Sarah's face ran across it.

"Where all the other prisoners are duh," she said keeping the form but cutting the act. "You know for a pretty boy who can use that dumb sword, like yourself, and a master of chaos, you two are not really all that smart."

Suddenly green flames wrapped themselves around her burning through the ropes a Changeling standing in her place when the flames died down her horn sparking.

Two gasps came from the left as Ruby and Jade were coming back and saw the whole thing.

As fast as he could Eric ran over to them forming his shield as he did, jumping in front of them to block the Changeling's blast.

"Hey watch where you fire that, Bug," Eric said once she cut the spell off. "You nearly hit these foals."

"I know what I'm doing boy!" she hissed fangs lengthening and wings buzzing. "Now get out of the way so I can capture them for my queen."

"You think I'll let that happen?" Eric asked keeping his eyes on the Changeling. "You need to know who you're fighting. If there's someone in trouble or danger, I'll always get in the way of the bully and tell them to 'Leave them alone'!" Eric said a blast of light shooting out of his shield towards the Changeling.

Just as the Changeling was about to attack again the sound of snapping fingers (or rather talons) reached everyone's ears.

"MY HORN" she screamed looking to her forehead, then spinning to the Draconequus fire burning in her eyes. "Give me back my horn you mixed up ...." she said being cutoff by a big sticker now over her mouth, and new flame-proof ropes tied themselves around her.

"I don't do well with orders Suzy." Discord said more serious than Eric had ever seen him before.

"Wait, what did you just call her?" he asked still over by the foals who had wrapped themselves around his legs. 

"Oh please boy," Discord said looking over to him. "I'm nearly as old as Chryssy herself. "I may not know all her 'subjects' but I can tell some of them apart. Like this lovely lady here."

That getting a death glare from the Changeling in question.

"And you're sure we're safe now?" Eric said  turning his shield back to his sword and sheathing it. 

"More or less." Discord said stroking his beard. "They can't do anything with out their horns. Except scream and wail about not having them." 

"Can they use their magic while in the forms of someone else?" Eric asked crouching down to comfort the foals a bit.

"Beats me? But just in case, or she called her friends while she was off on her own" Discord said thinking snapping his talons. "Now the library has a protective bubble that only I, and Jack when he comes to, can break, and no Changelings can get in." 

"That was really scary," Ruby said still holding onto Eric face buried into him so she can't see the Changeling. 

"I want to go home Messter Eric," Jade added looking up to him tears in her eyes.

"You heard Discord girls," Eric said couching down hugging them both "We're save now, the Changeling's been caught, and the library's protected. And I promise we'll keep you safe in here until you're parents come find you.
Cross my heart hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

This made the girls a bit happier, but they still buried their faces into Eric's chest crying for a while meaning Eric had to change his position to make it work.

After five minutes they had fallen asleep, but every time Eric tried to get up, they started to steer meaning he was stuck there, carefully he reached out to the book they brought back.

"Well look who's doing a grand job at babysitting here then." Discord said coming back from checking up on the Changeling they both agreed to keep upstairs so it wont upset the foals.

"I'm not doing anything, they fell asleep like this and I can't get out from under them." Eric said reading the blurb of 'Dareing Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone'.
"How much longer until Jack wakes up? I think he'll be better at this." Eric asked carefully opening the book to the first chapter

"Just coming to twenty hours." Discord answered looking at the hourglass by the boy's head.

"Anything from the girls?"

"Not yet. Mind if I ask a question Eric?" Discord asked.

"Sure," he answered turning the page. 

"What made you think you're no good with children?"

"It's not just children ok? It's everyone." Eric said pausing "When I was a kid I was on my own a lot because I was the shy quiet little boy in the back of the class, meaning no one noticed me except the bullies who always repeated the same lame lines about how I don't have any friends.
Finally one day after their scheduled taunting, something just snapped. I'll spear the details just saying there were a few broken bones, bite and scratch marks and phone calls home.
The next day I was alone again... but this time apparently it was because they were all scared I'd turn on them or something.
Sarah was the first one to reach out to me, since that day. 'New place, new life' even if your history is still with you and will eventually come back." 

As he finished Eric could have sworn he heard snoring and looked up to see Discord on one of his clouds. Fuming a bit he formed a pea shooter, took aim and fired it at the Draconequus waking him up.

"Huh? What?" he asked looking down to Eric.

"Oh don't mind me Discord. I was just telling you my life story answering your question for you. Go back to sleep don't worry." Eric said sarcasm in his voice finally getting up from the foals "I'm going to go scouting about outside, and I can't believe I'm saying this, 'You're in charge of looking after them'," he said nodding to the girls as he opened the door and left.





Outside, Eric just started walking down the street muttering to himself what just happened in there. Not knowing the streets of Canterlot that well he stayed near the library always checking around him for signs of Changelings.

Suddenly, there was a noise of something falling over down one of the ally-ways and a cry for help.

Debating on what he should do, 'Someone needs help' 'But it could be a trap' 'The six found the girls there might be more' 'They might of just gotton lucky'

Eventually Eric pulled out his sword and ran down the ally confused that he didn't meet anyone when the dead end came up.

"Oh I'm such an idiot." Eric said knowing what will come when he turned around so stayed facing the fence. 

"Yes you are." a nails-on-a-chalkboard voice said and some buzzing wings confirmed Eric how much trouble he was in. 

Seeing no 'You can get out of this' path, Eric just sheathed his sword and turned around to see Chrysalis and her best soldiers behind her.

"Nice to finally meet you Eric." she said smirking slightly.

"Likewise Your Highness." Eric said bowing slightly. "So what do I owe the pleasure for the Queen of the Changelings herself to come looking for little old me for?" he said looking her in the eye not all that comfy about the other Changelings starting to surround him.

"I was just wondering how would you like to be the one to find Sarah? You know I can send you right to her, so you can be together again." she said.

After some minutes of Eric going over her offer in his head he said "No thank you Your Highness." 

"I had a feeling you would say that. Too bad you didn't have a choice." she replied then faster that he could react she shot Eric with her magic stunning him and making a ring of fire around him. 

Unable to do anything but stare, Eric suddenly felt the ground escape from under his feet and fell onto the cold hard ground of the caves.

> Chap 14
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Twilight and the Elements

"We're very grateful for letting us help Mr and Mrs Gemstone," Twilight said when the six Elements and the girls parents were inside the cave.

After finding the filly's and setting Discord the task of looking after them, they ran for the Gardens just catching their parents before they set off down into the caves.

"You're... You're welcome Princess Twilight," Amethyst said a bit nervous about having one of the princesses with her to help look for her daughter.

"Are you sure Ruby and Jade will be safe with Discord, Twilight?" Fireopal asked concerned for his children.

"Don't worry sir," Fluttershy said sounding much louder with her voice bouncing off the walls "Discord's way better to how he was when he came back a few years ago. He'll watch over them."

"If you say so Miss Fluttershy," Fireopal said shrugging handing out mining helmets after checking the lights were working. "Before we set off, are any of you claustrophobic?" he asked once everyone was ready. "Because there are some very tight and small tunnels in these caves."

"Well actually..." Fluttershy began.

"No." Rainbow cut her off her wings fidgeting a bit.

"Ok lets go." 

With that Rainbow and Fluttershy waited until the others had passed before Fluttershy asked her friend why she said that.

"Two reasons 'Shy," Rainbow said taking deep breaths "One, I need to get over this at some point. Two, we need to get to those kids, and if they're needed you can't use the Elements without me."

"But are you sure you'll be ok?" Fluttershy asked finally following her friends into the caves Rainbow right next to her.

"As long as I'm with you 'Shy, I think I can handle this." Rainbow said smiling at her oldest friend.

At the front Amethyst  and Fireopal were giving a brief talk about the caves.

"Before the rule of King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia, just after the founding of Equestria, it was said that Princess Platinum asked her best gem harvesters, to make a pathway from Canterlot to Ponyville, through the mountain, meaning the newly founded friends can come and go see each other whenever they wished." Amethyst said standing tall as the girls looked around them in wonder. 

"However, when her men discovered gems so rare even the greatest gem harvesters ever could not normally find, they decided to tell Princess Platinum that the deed was un-doable and keep the discovery to themselves." Fireopal continued as they walked on a bit to get the search going. 

"Years went by, before these greedy Unicorns were arrested for lying to their Princess and not stating what they had found." Amethyst carried on "In those years they nearly cleared the cave dry of the gems. Apparently they were only found by one of them trying to trade one of the gems he had on him to a dark magic sales man. Although it was he who ratted the others out, when the guards came searching for him, he was nowhere to be found." she concluded.

"Approximately, how long ago did this take place?" Twilight asked getting an idea in her head.

"Around 1500 to 2000 years ago," Fireopal said answering the question making everyone stop  saying he saw something charging up his horn.

In the next part of the caves something was moving groaning from the fall the girls saw it just had.

Slowly they got a bit closer rushing forward when they saw it was...

"Eric!" they cried making the boy look up seeing the main six in mining helmets along with two other ponies. 

"Hey girls," he said rubbing his back a bit as he got up. "Thought I'd drop in to try and help find my girlfriend seeing she did it last time." he said getting a slight laugh from Pinkie and eye rolls from Rarity and Applejack.

"But you're meant to be up there with Discord and Sarah looking after Ruby and Jade." Twilight said moving him away a bit from Amethyst and Fireopal eying the boy up and down.

"About that..." Eric said looking over to who he worked out to be the girls parents "Ok first you have to Pinkie Promise not to start yelling and or freak out." he said shifting his eyes.

Sighing Twilight did the routine and said the words to the unbreakable promise.

"The Sarah in the Library is not the Sarah she says she is." he said really fast to get it out the way. "But it's ok because we have caught her tied her up and Discord's taken away her horn so... No need to worry." 

"What do you... How... You mean to say..." Twilight asked trying not to yell, eventually taking a deep breath and letting it out.

"How long was this happening?" Twilight asked. 

"Jack thinks at least this morning." Eric said "Before we left he found her bracelet in the courtyard bushes so the switch must of been some point last night."

"And you're sure it's safe now for the filly's?"

"More sure than I was when she was roaming free. But now they have Discord and a still knocked out for nineteen and a half hours Jack."


"What's with all the whispering over there Twi?" Applejack asked somehow in the middle of 'Go-Fish' with Pinkie.

"Nothing," Twilight said coming back over with Eric who was introduced to Amethyst and Fireopal. "Lets just find everyone and get out of here."

"Out of curiosity Darling," Rarity said speaking to Twilight "Why were you asking about when the Gem Heist took place?" 

"One thing at a time Rarity," Twilight said unsure how to answer the question at this point as they all carried on through the caves.





Somewhere else in the network of twists and turns Cadence was coming to check up on Sarah who was just looking up to the ceiling still where she and Shining Armour had left her.

"Dear," she said to get her attention. "Why are you still awake? I would have thought after the day you had you'd be out like a light."

"I can't sleep," Sarah said quietly. "Not because I don't want to, but because every time I close my eyes and Sleep takes over me, I have nightmares." she explained.
"Nightmares about never getting out of here, watching and re-watching Ponyville get destroyed, fears that nopony will work out the Sarah with them isn't me, that I won't be able to help protect the kids because I don't have my bracelet..." she said sighing resting her head on her knees. "And these extending ever growing more painful headaches aren't helping either."  she almost screamed rubbing her head tears in her eyes. 

"How much do you believe in your friends Sarah?" Cadence asked reaching out but holding back in case she made it worse. 

"I trust them with my life." Sarah said after the pain had gone.

"And what about Eric and Jack?" 

"Well Jack's family so what ya gonna do?" Sarah said shrugging "And Eric... Even though we got off to a bad start, I will give anything to keep him near me."

"Preencess Cadence, Sarah?" a small voice said behind them making them turn to see Amber, Chris and almost all the other foals and an apologetic Shining Armour. "Is everything ok? We could hear Sarah shouting from where we were sleeping." Amber explained being the self-proclaimed leader apparently.

"Yeah Amber," Sarah said smiling a smile she hoped would fool the foals. "Just headaches and nightmares. I'll get over it." she said yawning slightly.

"Miss Sarah," one of the foals behind Amber said raising their hoof waving it around. "Has your hair always had a black stripe like that?" 

"Excu... Excuse me?" Sarah asked pulling her ponytail around and seeing there was indeed a black stripe mixed in to it. Getting up and backing away from the foals a bit Sarah was muttering to herself looking to her hands feeling her fingers tingling and hands warm up along with another headache that was too painful to just ignore, making her drop to the ground gripping the sides of her head screaming, begging for it to stop.

Suddenly out of nowhere a deep voice rang around the cave scaring the foals and making Cadence and Shining Armour get into their battle stances.

"Well it seems that my works finally paying off now isn't it?" 

"Sombra, your battle is with us," Shining Armour said strongly looking around trying to deafen his ears to Sarah's cries. 

"It won't be in a few minutes my Young Prince." Sombra said coming out from the shadows behind Sarah loving the pain that she was in. 

"Why are you doing this?" Cadence asked "To Sarah, to Equestria, to these innocent foals?" 

"Why does any villain come back for anything Princess? Revenge." Sombra said eyes glowing red for a minute. 

Suddenly hoof steps and cries came out from the tunnel on the right where Twilight, the girls two Unicorns and a boy came out of freezing when they saw the state Sarah was in looking around to try and find what was making this happen to her.

Then Eric found it. 

"King Sombra." he said hand tight around the handle of the sword in his hand. "Humph, from my Grandfather's painting I imagined you a bit taller." he said slowly sliding himself towards Sarah.

"No Eric stop," Sarah said trying to get up looking at him holding her hand out tears in the corners of her eyes. But no one took notice of her her head nearly covered in black hairs.

"And just who might you be Sir?" Sombra asked standing tall eyes on the boy.

"I am Eric Foster. Knight to Sarah Jones," he said pointing his sword at his girlfriend who was still asking him to stay away from her.

"Foster... Foster... No, no names ringing any bells." Sombra said turning his attention to Eric meaning anyone could attack him, well if they weren't all frozen stiff with fear on what he was doing to Sarah. "But I must say Sir Eric, In my eyes, you're not all that good a knight. 
When you first came here you were captured by my dear cousin, meaning your pretty little princess was out in those woods alone. And now this time, you were asleep when she was caught back at the castle in the woods and only noticed that that Changeling wasn't her when Discord's mixed up little student told you so."

"Wait a second, wait a second," Applejack said stepping forward "You said your 'Cousin caught Eric'. Does that mean you're related to Luna and Celestia, seeing as you're saying Nightmare Moon's your 'cousin'?"

"Very good ears Element of Honesty." Sombra said now looking to her "Tell me, what else did you hear in my speech?" 
Silence
"No one? How disappointing,"

"Well it's kind of hard to hear you over my girlfriend screaming," Eric said a shield now in his hand in case Sombra took it the wrong way, which he did sliding Eric back a bit. 

"It's her whose making herself scream Knave." Sombra said stomping his hoof "If she would just accept those new powers I let grow inside her."

"NEVER!" Sarah screamed surprising everyone that she was still paying attention.

"Going back to what was said before Sombra." Twilight said switching her helmet for her Element of Harmony crown. "Is that why you didn't get caught when your fellow Unicorns did when you traded a gem for a book on Dark Magic?" 

"My my, someone's good at puzzles aren't they?" Sombra said looking smug now in a staring contest with Twilight, everyone else confused on what was just said.

"MAKE IT STOP!" Sarah cried bringing everyone's attentions back to the girl who's hair was nearly all black, there were just small srands that still held blondness.

Not being able to see her like this anymore Amber ran up to her knocking her down and yelling in her face to fight back tears in the young Unicorns eyes.

"Fight it Sarah!" she cried on her chest "You told us Agony's nothing to worry about. You said she was just made up for that song you were singing when we found you. Fight it please!" 

Knowing that she couldn't keep fighting this Darkness any longer, but also knowing that once she let it out, the first thing she'll do would be attack the first thing she'll see that wasn't Sombra, Sarah turned to Eric and with a pleading face said 
"Get her, yourself and everyone else away from me." 

Nodding Eric ran up picked up the struggling, screaming filly ran back and called to the others who were in the caves to follow him and the others Eric started running down the tunnel they came out from.


Once the last pony was gone, meaning there was no one there but her and Sombra, Sarah finally let the Darkness take her letting out one last scream that shook the walls as her rainbow skirted one set dress turned into a two part black one. Her knee high boots changing into dark red slip-on high heels. The feathers on her wings turned pitch black growing in size a little. Her elbow length gloves turned to just-passed-the-wrist fingerless ones. And finally her now raven black hair was loose the tiara that was on top of her head falling off hitting the floor with a clatter.

Slowly Sarah got up getting her balance back she looked up with a smirk that should not belong on her face as her newly yellow eyes spied her King.

"Sire..." she said curtsying to him keeping eye contact with the King of Darkness and Shadows. 

"Welcome to the world Sarah Shadows." he said nodding his head slightly.

> Chap 15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in the library, Discord was getting a bit bored about not being able to do anything fun while the filly's were asleep and Jack was still knocked out for eighteen more hours.

"Eric's sure is taking his time on his scouting isn't he?" he asked himself looking at a sundial wrist watch that now appeared on his right wrist, seeing it's been over an hour.

Just as he was bringing it to his ear, tapping it, the doors flung open and in ran Eric carrying a struggling yellow filly, the main six, Cadence and Shining Armor and a few other ponies. Waking up Ruby and Jade who straight away ran over to their parents.

Slowly Eric placed down Amber who just glared up at him and turned away, anger on her face.

"Looks like the scouting went well then Eric?" Discord said zapping up blankets, food and drinks for everyone.

"There were ups and downs," Eric said undoing his belt and placing the sword on the closet table before going over to a beanbag chair rubbing his face trying to block out the lights of the library.
"More precise... There was bad news, good news, better news, worse news and 'I don't want to talk about it' news." he said, then after taking a deep breath not caring everyone was listening with confused eyes.
"The bad news, A few minutes into my scouting I was tricked by Chyssy and plunged down into the caves. Good news, when I got there I immediately came across the six. Better news after a while and from help by Sarah screaming in pain we found the others. Worse news, she was only screaming in pain because Sombra was, I don't know he just did something to her..." Eric said pausing to get his breathe Ruby and Jade, not being there totally afraid and right up close to him eyes wide hanging on to every word he said.

"And the 'I don't want to talk about it' news?" They both said.

"We've lost Sarah to Sombra's dark magic. As we left she was screaming in so much pain." Eric said freeing his face but still not looking at anyone. "Sombra's right. 'What kind of Knight am I when I can't even protect my Princess?'" 
"And the secret about Sarah-ling may of slipped out at some point." he added changing the tone of his voice directing it as a hint to Discord who nodded and snapped his talons zapping up the Changeling from before making everyone stare and back away slightly and Ruby and Jade press themselves against Eric for safety.

"So what are going to do with her Twilight?" Discord said leaving the Changeling still struggling to free herself, putting up a wall around her so Pinkamena can't get to her, for she may be their only hope of getting Sarah back apparently.

After some thought, Twilight answered. "We take her, and everyone else back to the castle," she said. "A lot has happened today, and even though some of us might want to do something about it straight away, we need to talk to Celestia and Luna, and form a new plan." she concluded stomping her hoof to set the order.

Everyone agreed, so as soon as Eric had retrieved his sword, and had a still knocked out Jack on his back, Discord snapped his talons and they were all back at the castle of the Two Pony Sisters, stunning Abby at how many there were she just let them though, as the six went off to Celestia and Luna.

***

Eric wasn't with the others as the stories of that day were retold to the Princesses who were trying to understand it all. 

Instead he was in the courtyard letting his anger out on some wooden dummies he asked Discord to make for him, only stopping when he ran out of steam and sinking to the ground now looking up at the sky.

"Some anniversary..." he said closing his eyes sighing.

"Um... Eric?" a voice said making him open his eyes and turn to see Amethyst by the door coming over to him.

"Er... Yes Mrs Gemstone?" he said getting in a sitting position not sure what to say. 

"Well we were just going over the stories of the day," she said sitting next to him. "And I'd like to personally thank you for protecting Ruby and Jade from the Changeling and looking after them while they were in the library."

"Oh... You're welcome." Eric said a smile on his lips. "But I would of done the same for anypony if they were in the same situation." he admitted.

"Well, just thank you anyway." Amethyst said lying down now. "And when this gets all sorted out, if I don't get to see Sarah before you leave, can you thank her for me for helping to make Amber feel better in the caves?" 

"I will." Eric said wondering if this will get sorted out. 





Up in Canterlot, Sarah was just getting to know who she was now working with better, and about her new powers.

Sarah was down in Canterlot Castle's courtyard training with Chrysalis's Changelings feeling the boost these new powers have given her. 
At the moment she was blindfolded standing in the center of the courtyard hands raised ready to attack, anything that made the slightest sound. After a minute a couple of Changelings started creeping up behind her, trying to see how far they could get, not even making it ten steps before they were slashed back by her.

Next another two tried out in front of her. Dodging them by leaping in to the air somersaulting and landing in a crouch position Sarah kicked her leg out tripping them up by making their hooves come out from underneath them.

Finally three Changelings came towards her each choosing a different way to come to her. One above from the sky, one behind, one in front. 

Cupping her hands together, Sarah concentrated focusing all her power into this last 'Will End Any Battle' trick, letting them come closer and closer. Then just as they were about to attack, Sarah released the ball of energy making an ever expanding bubble around her knocking out those last three Changelings.

Listening to see if it was over, Sarah thought she could hear someone applauding her. Lifting the blindfold Sarah looked around to see Chrysalis and Sombra on the balcony over looking the yard pleased with her work.

"Good work Sarah," Sombra said after she curtsied to them and then stood to attention. "Nice, very nice. What is your purpose?" he asked.

"To destroy all love, hope, and dreams and spread fear and darkness." Sarah said loudly eyes on her new king and queen.

"What have we taught you?"

"Twilight Sparkle and those whimppy ponies are the enemy."

"And what must you do?" 

"I must kill them." Sarah finished narrowing her eyes to show determination grinning that she'll get a chance to do so, as Chrysalis and her Changeling buzzed their wings in their form of cheering her on and congratulating her on her training.

> Chap 16
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a few hours since Eric and the ponies had come back to the castle, and at the moment, the hallways were being filled with the delicious aromas of mash potatoes, carrots, hay fries, apple turnovers, pies, and vegetable soup. But unfortunately even with a stomach begging to seek out the source of the smells, Eric was not hungry, and was still outside looking up at the skies counting all the stars wondering if there were as many here as there were back home.

"466... 467... 468..." he was counting when he heard someone come out but continued in his head '469.. 470...'

"Um... Messter Eric?" a small voice said coming closer to the boy.

Giving up because he thought he may of counted one twice, Eric turned to see Amber stopping a bit away from him scuffing at the ground.

"Yes Amber?" he asked holding out an arm inviting her over.

"Um... I... I come to say 'Sorry for how I acted back in the caves and the lie-berry'." Amber said once she was right up next to him rubbing up against him wanting to be warm and to show she was sorry. "It's... It's just Sarah was really nice to me and I was scared... and... and..." she struggled to get the rest out stopping when she felt someone stroking her back looking up to Eric.

"I understand Amber," Eric said trying to control himself so she didn't feel any worse. "I think that's how everyone felt down there, especially as we were leaving." he said quietly shivering a bit, then he remembered what Amber had said to Sarah when she was trying to get her back.
"Hey Amber. What did you mean when you said Sarah told you ' 'Agony' was nothing to worry about, that she was just made up for that song she was singing' ?" 

"We only found her because she was singing something and she kept repeating 'Dear Agony'." Amber began explaining "When I asked who 'Agony' was Sarah said she was just made up."

"Huh, I didn't know she knew that song." Eric said more to himself. "Well other than that was there a reason you came out here?" he asked now looking  for a star to send a wish to.

"Everyone's asking if you're going to join us for dinner." Amber said now across his lap looking with pleading eyes into his face.

"I'm not really all that hungry Amber," he said but then seeing her disappointed face added "But I suppose I should come back inside shouldn't I?" 

With that and a few minutes for Eric to get the feeling back into his legs, they started to head for the door, when the bushes around them started rustling.

"Amber wait a sec, and stay close to me," Eric said slowly and quietly forming a bow and arrow prepping it, eyes looking all over the place Amber zipping her head to every little sound as she stood trying not to show her fears next to him.

Finally, after detecting where the thing was, Eric sent an arrow into the bush where when it landed it shone as bright as the sun forcing the creature out to get it to fight. Knowing the first thing it will do is attack, Eric formed his shield and got in it's way to Amber.

However, what it was only made his heart break and eyes grow wide hoping it wasn't true.

***

Inside everypony was getting ready for dinner checking they had enough plates, bowls, and cutlery so everyone would be able to get something. 

Well everypony except the foals and Rainbow Dash who somehow was their favorite story reader. 

"'Finally Dareing Do had worked out the puzzle and began hopping from tile to tile getting a bit clumsy at the end and stepping on one that would sent her into the lava river,'" Rainbow said waving her hoof around while using the other to hold the book up to her face, to show how bad the situation was. "After what felt like ages, she was safely across the tiles and continued with her quest to find the rare and valuable Sapphire Stone.'"

Most of the foals were at the edge of their seats eyes wide with wonder, but Ruby, Jade, and Chris were just a bit away from the others having their own conversation on that days happening.

"You think Miss Sarah will be ok?" Ruby said worried playing with one of the dolls she brought with her from the library that was dressed in Sarah's Harmony Outfit. 

"I'm wondering more about Eric," Chris said doing a picture puzzle on the floor three quarters of the way done. "I mean he hasn't left the courtyard since we came here. Even though he's calmed down a bit." he said shrugging.

Just as Jade was about to say something her and Ruby's horns started sparking for no reason and they heard Amber's voice calling to them.

'Sisters, quick get Mama. Get Papa. Get anyone and bring them to the courtyard quick!' 

Hearing the urgency, Ruby and Jade got up and went looking for their parents since Rainbow was occupied with the others, Chris tailing them asking what was wrong. 

But a castle was a big place, and they didn't know where to look first so they just relayed the order to the first person they bumped into.  

Discord.

"Whoa girls where the fire?" he asked resisting the urge to zap up a fireman's outfit complete with a hose.

"In the courtyard!" they both said wrapping a hoof each around his wrists and pulling on them to make him follow them. "Amber's in trouble. She needs our help!" they said when he didn't move anywhere.

"Fillies I'm sure whatever it is Eric can handle it." he said kindly still letting them hold him anyway. 

At that moment Chris came up panting and asked them what the problem was. 

"Amber needs our help in the courtyard," they both answered abandoning Discord and set off for someone else since it seems he wasn't going to believe them.

"How do you know?" Chris said "And what was with the sparking horns and immediate running out of the room?"

"Because we heard her calling for help in our minds," Jade said tapping her horn a nodding Ruby next to her. "And she said get someone and bring them to the courtyard."

"And she sounded scared, she was speaking really fast as if rushing to get the news out!" Ruby added to try and increase the chance that Discord will come looking into his different sized eyes asking to be believed. 

"Ok girls lets go to the courtyard," he said as they went down the corridor and down the stairs. "But I'm sure it's nothing Eric can't handle."

Just as he said that the wall right next to him was demolished scaring everypony and amongst the rubble was Eric holding tight to a scared face to his chest Amber, a shield on the floor at his feet groaning in pain as he set her down and slowly got up holding an arm around his waist eyes set on something outside.

"What took so long?" Amber asked her sisters after Eric picked up his shield and ran back outside.

"Meester Discord didn't believe us when we told him you needed help." Jade said strongly eyes on the Draconequus in question trying to see what was wrong. 

"What got you so worried you had to call us for anyway?" Ruby said backing up from the bricks sure she just spotted some blood.

"Miss Sarah..." Amber replied.

> Chap 17
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had only been a few minutes since the wall of the castle had been blown in, but already almost everyone had found someway to see what was going on in the courtyard, regretting it as the dust cleared and they saw Sarah in her new dress attacking Eric as if she was enjoying it.


"Not a very good fighter are you boy?" Sarah called out when she had once again knocked him down.

"I grew up by the rule 'Don't fight girls'." Eric said back rolling out of the way of her next attack. "And I especially don't fight with my girlfriends!" he added, skillfully shooting an arrow at her to catch the fabric of her dress at the shoulder and pin her to the tree.

"Good thing I'm not your girlfriend then," Sarah said, an evil grin on her face as she kicked his feet out from under him once she was free. "Isn't it?" 

"Yes... You... Are!" Eric said pain in each word, though whether it was emotional or physical, no one could tell.

But Sarah wasn't listening. Instead she just picked Eric up at the shoulders and spread her wings, flying into the air, and held him out at arms length.

"Would a girlfriend do this?" she asked in a loud whisper, loosening her grip while looking away. "Whoops." 

Eric tried his best not to scream as he began falling and prepared himself to hit the floor when instead he landed smack bang in the middle of an over sized pillow and sank into it.

Crawling to the edge and sliding down to meet everyone he had to keep repeating to himself that this girl was not the girl he fell in love with. 

"Eric!" he heard a group of ponies cry as he landed, making him look up - with his arm back around his waist - to the girls with their Elements and Discord, who was looking very prideful for poofing up the pillow.

"Eric are you alright?" Applejack asked.

"Oh yeah," Eric said in his tone and speech patten he used when he was like this. "Besides the fact that I just got dumped by my girlfriend in both ways to 'get dumped'. I'm fine. Thanks for the pillow Discord,"  he added.

"See Chaos is a good thing," Discord said zapping away the pillow and placing a bubble around the eight of them so they'll be safe to talk in case Sarah tried anything.

"Can I get back to you on that? Like after Sarah's either back to normal or away from here?" Eric said, panting a bit wincing when he moved, trying not to show any pain.

"Hello, the girl set out to destroy Elements of Harmony is getting bored over here," Sarah called out to them in a slight mocking voice, getting their attention so they looked up into the tree. 

"And what makes y'all think you can do that, Missy?" Applejack called out narrowing her eyes at this new Sarah.

"Well I spy someone down there who's managed it before," Sarah said now hanging upside down from the highest branch. "So why can't I do it? Oh and it's on Sombra and Chrysalis's orders," she added, ending with her new evil grin on her face.

Conveniently at that point the branch Sarah was hanging from broke away from the tree falling to the ground making her leap off it and flutter in the sky for while.

"Sarah fight it!" Eric called out after the noise of the branch died away, "Fight this darkness inside you. You don't belong on that side, you belong over here with us, with the good ponies, with me!" he said eyes wide as if begging. "You're not Sarah Shadows, you're Sarah Jones, you're..." 

But what she was Eric didn't get to finish saying because at that point Sarah fired an attack right to his chest, bursting the bubble and making him crunch over with pain and fall over backwards. There were definite signs of blood now.

As the girls crowded around Eric, who was coughing up blood, Discord turned to Sarah. "Just how did you get in here anyway? Tia and Lulu's protection spell's meant to hold back all darkness from trying to get in."

"New wonderful powers come with with new abilities, you mismatched old coot," Sarah said, having to avoid a couple of custard pies thrown at her. "How else do you think Sombra managed to get in here last night and capture me?"

"Sarah, we don't want to fight you," Twilight said, stepping forward eyes on Sarah. "You're our friend Sarah and even though friends have fights, this is a bit much don't you think?" 

"I am not your friend!" Sarah said, slowly cupping her hands together forming an energy ball that grew with each word, lifting it above her head. She was about to release it when her head started hurting, making her lose her concentration and meaning the ball of energy was now gone, making her clutch her eyes. When she opened them a frown was on her face.

"Humph, fortunately for the lot of you," she began, coming down by the darkest part of the courtyard with the most shadows. "I've just been set another assignment meaning you get to live for another day of this beautiful world of yours getting destroyed. Bye bye." 

With that, Sarah Shadows slid into the darkness and she was gone.

After waiting a few minutes to be safe, Discord snapped his talons, fixing the wall and setting up lanterns around the courtyard, before snapping them again transporting all of them to the room that was now dubbed the infirmary, just as Eric's eyes slid closed whispering to himself.

"Some anniversary."





When Eric next opened his eyes the first thing he felt was a world of pain. 

Everything hurt, his arms, his head, his chest, his ribs, everything. 

It was even hurting him to breath. Slowly, he tried to get up but found he couldn't do it. Sighing Eric tried to remember when he last hurt this badly - not managing to get very far as he spotted four little foals three Unicorn filly's and a Pegasus colt at the end of his bed, all asleep, who had obviously tried to keep an eye on him throughout the night.

Smiling a little despite the state he was in, Eric turned to the door as it was opened and in came Jack, wearing one of those never seen on Jack's face frowns and not looking into Eric's eyes as he took a stool and sat down by the bed.

"Everyone's just finished filling me in on what went down yesterday when I was out for the count," he said quietly so not to wake up the foals. "Ever thought this is how your first fight with her would end up?" he asked trying to add some humor to the events.

"I think you already know the answer to that Jack," Eric said wincing as he pushed himself up onto his pillows. "So what's the buzz on me and Sarah?" he asked.

"Well..." Jack said poofing up a piece of parchment that unrolled itself going to the floor and flowing behind him a bit. "You, my hopefully-cousin-in-law-if-this-gets-sorted-out, have got...

Three broken ribs, a black eye, intense bleeding, a sprained ankle, a broken wrist, a cracked skull from when you hit the wall, very sore mussels, and one big fat broken heart," Jack finished.

"I worked out that last one last night thank you," Eric said, rolling his eyes. "News on Sarah?" he asked.

"Nothing so far," Jack said, returning to his gloomy self. "Doesn't help that the bug posing as her isn't corroborating either. No one can get through to her," Jack explained. "Twilight thinks if we 'Become friends with her' she'll help us out. But nothing's working. They even confiscated my flamethrower so I wouldn't use it on her to show we mean no harm."

"Couldn't you just... I don't know snap your fingers and get it back?" Eric asked trying not to laugh too much because it hurt.

"Yeah, but our Sarah said to tone down my skills a bit, didn't she?" Jack asked making a glass of chocolate milk appear in front of him.

Just then a few yawns were heard coming from the foot of the bed, as Amber, Ruby and Jade all woke up stretching together and rubbing the sand out of their eyes.

"Hi girls," Jack said trying to lift the tone in his voice chuckling that it made each of them jump and spin around.

"Um..." they all said shifting their eyes to each other their horns sparking, questioning looks on their faces.

"Aren't any of you going to say 'hi' to Jack girls?" Eric said shifting around on the pillows holding his arms out.

"Meester Eric!" Amber cried quickly but carefully walking up to him to show her appreciation for saving her "We thought you'd never wake up," she said tears rolling down her cheeks.

"How long was I out then?" Eric asked comforting her, looking to Jack.

"Between 9 - 11 hours," Jack said shrugging "But you know to a kid if somethings not straight away, it's takes forever." 

Nodding in agreement Eric looked to the girls. 

"I'm alright girls," he said trying to keep the bandages around his waist from being seen by them. "Just a broken heart and a few bones." he said smiling.

"We'll look after you!" they all called big grins on their little faces. 

"That's quite alright girls I can handle myself how about you four go and get some breakfast or something, I'll be down in a bit," he said nodding to the colt who was still asleep.

"Ok..." the three said frowning as they got off the bed, after waking Chris up, and together they went though the door.

> Chap 18
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the library, the mane six were alone with the princesses, Shining Armour and Discord, re-replaying the events down in the caves.

"So you two really are related to Sombra?" Rainbow asked pointing a hoof to the sun and moon princesses.

"Yes Rainbow Dash," Luna said looking up to the ceiling when she lifted her head from her forelegs on the table. "Yes we're related to the King of Shadows, the Lord of Darkness, the Tyrant of the Crystal Empire. He's a Unicorn because we're cousins, Mother and Farther had no idea where he came from or how he's related to us. It's like Blueblood being a nephew to Celestia. We don't know how he's related to us. He just is. OK?" she finished slamming her head back down.

"Jeez I was only checking I understood this right." Rainbow said backing off a bit. 

"If I may Princess Luna," Rarity began carefully "Why are you a tad more upset about us finding this out than Celestia?"

Sighing Luna slid back and repositioned herself to stare at a woodworm hole in the table. 

"When I was in the early stages of becoming Nightmare Moon," she began "As you know I started to grow jealous of Celestia. Being brave I tried to say something to her, but you were always too busy now Mother and Father were gone." Luna said looking over to Celestia. "Sombra was the only one I could turn to, the only one who understood me, who believed in me, one of the only few who loved my nights more than your day.
At some point I told him I was having trouble with my dreams, saying they're so peaceful that the ponies go to bed early and sleep for longer, meaning they miss my nights more.
He told me the only way to keep them up at night, was to scare them so much, that they won't want to sleep. So after a few lessons and weeks of trial and errors, I was finally able to bring a pony nightmares, and their nightmares to life.
But because of that they were too scared to sleep or to appreciate my nights making my hated for the ponies grow even more..."

"So in other words in a slightly shorter and easier version of this story," Discord butted in a movie camera set up to record the pain Luna was letting off, "He helped you come one step closer to becoming Nightmare Moon."

"Yes." Luna said sighing. "The happiest day in my life, was when Twilight and her friends destroyed him when the Empire came back." she said resting on her arms again "I thought with him gone, and only himself Celestia and I knowing who he really was, no one would have to find this out."

"Ahem..." someone said by the door making everyone turn to see a really bad shaped Eric and Jack who was helping him stand on that ankle of his.

Slowly the two came over and joined them Eric sitting down but Jack turning to Celestia and Luna. 

"Now Luna, there are many things you can choose in life, naming a few...
Friends, what you eat, when you go to bed, what you do with you're life in school, and some other junk. But one of the things that can't be chosen, unless you adopt I suppose" he said shrugging "Is family. Have you already forgotten Sarah and I are also cousins?
Every time our families used to get together, whether it was a reunion, a birthday, Christmas, or whatever, I always played pranks on everyone. One of them at the last reunion, nearly got someone a broken leg. 
I know for a fact Sarah has hated me ever since that day on the ice with Emma." Jack said pausing to get himself back together before he continued. 
"But that hasn't stopped me from coming here with her to help you all sort this out has it? Most of the time Families do things to help those who are also in their family who need help. So I doubt he did, but Sombra probably did all that for you because you're family and he wanted to decrease the number of ponies sleeping through your nights." Jack said finishing taking a seat next to Eric.

"Anyone have something to add about families to make Princess Luna feel better?" Eric added looking around eyes mostly set to Applejack the Apples being one of the biggest families in Equestria seeds in every corner of the kingdom.

"What?" she said looking confused "Whatever I say Jackie's already just about said it." she said.

"Then tell us a story from your family about someone embarrassing somepony else," Jack said filling his nails a 'I don't care what you do' look on his face.

"Alright, alright give me a minute." Applejack said thinking.

"If you're having trouble picking one out I have one in my little black book here if you don't mind me reading it." Jack said zapping up the diary he had been reading from the day before.

"I have a good idea what one that is," Applejack said sighing placing her face on the table much like Luna was a few minutes ago. "But seeing as I can't think of any others, be my guest."

"Alright..." Jack said opening the book his reading glasses up to his eyes to emphasize what he was doing, clearing his throat. "On the last Apple Family Reunion, little Miss Want's-This-One-To-Be-Perfect-And-Remembered over there, worked so hard to get a perfect reunion, she ended up tiring out all those who took part in the seven-legged race, exhausting and never-wanting-to-see-another-fritter-againing those in the cooking area, getting them attacked by fruit bats, and then destroying the barn that had only just been re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re..." 

"I think they get the idea chief," Eric said picking up some stifled laughter behind them.

"Rebuilt, totally destroying and ruining, the reunion." Jack finished flipping a page. "However, it all worked out when Applejack got the idea to build a New-new-new-new..."

"Jack," Eric said pausing the boy with the book. "Think we can miss out on the now many times the barn's been destroyed and rebuilt and get on with the story?" 

"Ok ok, Mister Bossy," Jack said turning a few pages jokingly "New barn, getting everypony involved and enjoying themselves and etc. In fact I think she sent a letter to you Celestia after that day didn't ya Orange?" Jack said breaking the tone, rhythm and spell over everypony who all together let out their laughter making Applejack sink under the table to get away from it all.

"So..." Eric said after a few minutes of pain from all the laughter "Anyone else have stories to tell or do you understand Princess?" he said looking to Luna who was now wearing a smile and looking a bit better.

"I think I understand Eric," Luna said an almost unnoticeable smirk on her lips "But to be sure I think I may need another ponies opinion with their family stories." 

"I nominate Eric to tell the next story," Rainbow Dash said resting her chin on her hooves, elbows now perched on the table.

After some not accomplished backing-out's  Eric was given a few minutes to think.

"Ok got one, but I'm not sure it fits the category we're setting up..." he said taking in a deep breath, "And I'm sure four little pairs of ears owners would like to out in the open when they hear this instead of being crammed in a cupboard..." he said getting up and walking over to an ajar cupboard door and opening it all the way to revel Chris and the Gemstone Triples who came tumbling out.

"Now..." Eric said returning to his seat the foals around him their eyes on him so they didn't have to look at anyone else. "Unlike Equestria, back home we've had many Kings and Queens," Eric began explaining. "The time this story is set was when someone called Queen Victoria was on the throne, and although time and life for those with the money to be happy was great, those with a little less money were just that little less happy. 
Now my great-great-grandfather's most prized position was his harmonica. He played it everywhere he went and whenever he wanted to express his feelings.
Anyway, it was coming up to Christmas, er... Hearths-Warming, and my grandfather was having trouble finding a gift for the one he loved. 
He knew what he wanted to get for her, he was just that small bit away from getting it, but with the Christmas bonus he would be getting that year along with almost everything else he had, he would be able to afford it. 
That Christmas, however he didn't get a Christmas bonus he was expecting. After playing his harmonica to liven up the spirits of the people until the delayed musicians showed up, someone pointed out that it was worth it's weight in gold. 
Agreeing grandfather rushed to the shop with the gift he wanted to get his loved one and asked if he could trade it for that gift." 

Pausing here to try and remember the rest Eric looked at the others all hanging on to his every word.

"The next day, Christmas-Day, his loved one came over to see him and they could exchange their gifts to one another.
Grandfather brought his love a beautiful golden chain for her watch which was a family heirloom going back generations. 
And she brought my grandfather a case for his harmonica.
After an uneasy silence they both told the other that they gave up the thing they loved the most, to get a gift for the person they loved the most." he finished getting a debating on what to do silence.

"So she sold her watch for that case, for his harmonica," Ruby said trying to work this out.

"But he traded his harmonica, for that chain for her watch." Jade concluded getting a smile and a nod from Eric who had Amber on his lap bouncing her like a human baby to her enjoyment.

"Yep," Eric said a gentle smile on his lips.

"That was such a loving story Eric," Celestia said smiling at him surprised how good he was getting on with the foals.

"We're sorry for listening in on your stories Preencess Celestia and Luna," the four children said together looking down to the ground shamefully.

"We just wanted to know what's going on with Miss Sarah, and... and why she was like that last night," Chris said fidgeting his wings looking over the table to them.


"If I had to guess my little pony," Celestia said a thoughtful look on her face "There's something wrong with her bracelet. It holds all her Harmony magic and helps her control it."

"But she doesn't have a bracelet," Amber and Chris said knowing her and being the closet to her the longest.

"Erm... Actually she does but..." Jack said going ridged not wanting to look anyone in the eye. Not sure how to end his sentence, Jack just held out his hands and in them appeared Sarah's bracelet the charms shining a little less brightly than yesterday morning.

"Ok before you say anything," Jack said quickly looking around at the angry looks everyone was giving him "I didn't say anything because it would of tipped that Changeling off that we knew she wasn't the she she said she was at the time, and when she revealed herself I was knocked out remember?" Jack said looking straight at Twilight.

"So if we get this back to Sarah, it would 'free' her from the darkness Sombra placed on her?" Eric asked putting Amber down and reaching over to take the bracelet off of Jack holding it tightly as if it would disappear if he let go.

"I think that's the conclusion Eric," Shining Armor said getting up to tell everyone the plan, "But I'm sorry to say, 'You're in no condition to come along with us to try it'." he said leaving.

"Of course I am!" Eric called out to him getting up wrapping an arm around his broken ribs wincing in pain of moving too fast, slowly returning to his seat. 

"Eric," Cadence said quietly meaning he had to pay attention to her. "A princess knows it's a Knights job to protect them, however, it's also her job to look after everypony in her kingdom including..."

"Including the block headed knights, so I've heard before." Eric said his free hand holding onto Sarah's bracelet. "Fine, take it just make sure she gets it and bring her home safely..." he said sliding the bracelet across the table heading for the door.

"Um... Where are you going Eric?" Fluttershy asked.

"To try my hand at getting through to that bug," Eric said hand on the hilt of his sword, as he left the room and headed down to the dungeons.

> Chap 19
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a while since Eric last came here. Although he and Sarah visited Equestria often, they normally stuck around Ponyville, meaning the dungeons of the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters were not looked at by them since their first visit. 

Yet he still, somehow, knew where to go. And after about ten slow minutes because of his ankle and the state he was in, Eric made it to the cells that was his fist memory of Equestria.

"You liking it down here then Suzy?" he asked looking into the one that held the still hornless Changeling who was curled up in the corner.

"What do you want Knight?" she buzzed not looking to him.

"I was only coming to see if you were alright," Eric said holding up his hands and backing away. "But it looks like you are so I'll just be heading back upstairs."

"That's not why you came down." Suzy said turning to look at Eric a bit easier.  "You came down to ask for help for that girl of yours."

"Are you going to give it to us?" Eric asked slowly sinking to the ground outside the door so he wouldn't be standing on his sprained ankle.

"No." she said back. "And nothing you can do or say will change my mind."

"Ok," Eric said shrugging at the outcome "But before I go mind if I ask a question?" he asked looking at her straight in the eye. "Yesterday, when Twilight shot Jack with that Beam of Darkness, or whatever it was... Why were you so worried about him getting hurt?" 

"It's called acting..." Suzy began to explain but Eric interrupted her.

"That was not acting," he said "You were truly terrified that Jack had gotten hurt, I could see it in your eyes, and how you screamed at Twilight when you said 'Don't you dare say 'He started it' ' and 'If you hadn't been shooting at him you wouldn't of hit him'."

After a minute Suzy shook her head and went back to how she was when he came in. 

"Why do you care?" she asked "What difference does it make that I cared that that Student of Discord got hurt?" she continued her cheeks turning slightly green.

Surprised by the answer and how she was acting Eric slowly got back up said goodbye and headed back upstairs.





In the library Eric found Jack putting on a little puppet show for the foals about one of their childhood fairy-tales, judging by the tower set up at the front of the 'stage' Eric assumed it was Rapunzel.

Not wanting to interrupt the show, Eric just took a seat at the back of the crowd and watch with the others.

Jack almost knowing Eric was there, then began the story.

"'Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, there lived a man and his wife who were about to have their first born child.'" Jack's voice said over the speakers so he could be heard, as he brought out two hand puppets of a man and a woman making them wave out to the crowd.
"''But the woman got sick.'" Jack continued "Really sick.' 

Now before I continue I need to tell you about a witch named 'Mother Gothel,' and her little magic flower that had the power of healing the sick and injured.
'Anyway back to the story...


'The man on hearing about this flower and thinking more about his wife and child more than himself, decided to go looking for it. Finally finding it and making a potion that healed the wife. 
'Upon discovering someone had stolen her flower, Gothel went in search of the one who had taken it.'" 

Jack paused to catch his breath the puppets changing from the man and women to a women in a red dress with black hair going left and right as if looking for something.

"'Getting back to the happier side of the story. A lovely little girl with bright blonde hair was born, and everyone was happy. Sadly that happiness came to a quick end. For on the very night Rapunzel was born, Gothel heard about what her father had done for his wife, and snuck into their house stole the child and just like that... was gone with out a trace'"

In the audience almost eveypony had scrunched up closer so they had a face on view at the screen, all of them having wide eyes and open mouths.

"Years past, and at last, because he was running away from the guards,'" Jack continued switching the screen to a forest clearing and holding up a new puppet that was wearing a blue shirt, had brown hair, and a spark of trouble in his eyes "'a man called Eric Jones, came across a tower'"

"Hey!" Eric called out making everypony look at him "Who said you could use me in this?" 

"Well is your name 'Eric Jones'?" Jack asked appearing to the left of the screen so he could look out to Eric raising an eyebrow. "May I continue?" 

All Eric did was cross his arms and mumble to himself. Jack taking that as a yes, disappeared back into the booth.

"Now where was I?" he asked "Oh yes! 'Eric was about to try and climb it when he saw a woman come up to it stopping at the base and looked up towards the door.'" Jack restarted showing a hiding Eric Jones, while Gothel was doing what was just said.

"''Rapunzel... Let down your hair,' Eric heard the woman cry not understanding her, thinking she was just mad, he was about to leave when golden blonde hair the height of the tower came out and whoever was inside, began pulling the woman up.
Starstruck, Eric decided to wait and until she came back out and see what was up there himself.
A few hours later, movement was heard at the top of the tower, and the woman came out, sliding down the hair, and left the clearing'" Jack narrated holding up Gothel who then left to the right of the screen.

"'Coming out from hiding, Eric went to stand where he saw the woman stand and looked up at the door and called up 'Rapunzel... Let down your hair,' After the hair was thrown out the window, Eric began to climb it.'"

The screen was now changed to one of the inside of a tower and 'Eric Jones' was seen popping up and looking around finally setting his fabric eyes onto an 18 year-old Rapunzel in the corner looking scared.

"'Now Rapunzel had never met anyone before, and her mother always told her that the world was a dangerous place. So she was scared when Eric came in to her tower. Seeing that this girl was scared, slowly Eric undid his belt holding a knife and pushed it out of his reach.'" Jack said making 'Eric' do as what he just said.

"'Seeing the man now had nothing he could use to attack her, Rapunzel looked up at the man and asked as strong as she could... 
''Who are you?'
''I'm Eric Jones.' the man said smiling 'And who are you?' he asked.
''Ra... Rapunzel.' she said.'"

With every word Jack was bringing the two puppet's closer together until they were holding hands.

"'After that day, Eric promised to keep visiting Rapunzel, and they grew to be best friends, right under Gothel's nose, and everything was happy. 
'But all happiness always comes to an end at some point. 
'One day when Eric was visiting he promised the next time he came, he'll help Rapunzel escape the tower. 
''I promise I'll help you escape the tower.''" the Eric puppet repeated and left the screen.

"'Excited that she'll finally be able to see what the outside world is like, Rapunzel forgot that the next day Gothel was meant to come and visit her, so when she heard someone say, 'Rapunzel... Let down your hair,' she was too distracted by the hope and said Eric's name as the person climbed in showing an evil looking Gothel'." Jack said holding Gothel's puppet up, getting gasps from the colts and filly's.

"''Mother, I... I...' Rapunzel stammered backing away from the woman."

The screen changed to the forest clearing, everypony, even the grown-ups now looking in on this never before hearing of such a story hanging onto Jack's every words.

"'Later that day Eric came along, with a coil of rope over his shoulder and called up 'Rapunzel... Let down your hair,'.
After climbing up the golden hair and into the tower...'" Jack said slowly changing the screen and having Gothel hide down the right side of the screen only just visible, as Eric came from the right, "'He found Rapunzel was chained and gagged trying to warn him of something but he was so shocked at seeing her like this he was frozen stiff.
'Slowly with a knife in her hand, Gothel came out from hiding and... STABBED THE YOUNG MAN IN THE SIDE!'" Jack screamed through the speakers making everyone jump and the foals to widen their eyes, as the puppets did just what was narrated.

"'Suddenly Rapunzel got loose form her chains, and ran head first into Gothel pushing her out of the tower's window!
'Quickly she turned to Eric, who was struggling to breath.
''Stay with me Eric, stay with me,' Rapunzel said looking all around her for something to help.
''No... No Rapunzel,' Eric said coughing a bit 'It's alright. Take the rope and be free.' he told her with his last breath.

'Upset at how it turned out, because of her foolishness, Rapunzel began to cry and sang a song she had always known, even though she had never heard it before.

''Flower gleam and glow, let you're power shine
Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt, change the Fates design
Save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine
What once was mine'

'As she finished singing a signal tear dropped from her eye and fell onto Eric's cheek where it glowed for a second before making it's way down the the stab wound where it shone with the light of the sun healing him and bringing him back to life.'"

At last the final screen came up, one of a mid-evil village as Jack brought up Rapunzel and Eric. 

"''And they lived happily ever after.''" he said closing the curtains and coming out, bowing to the now somehow crowded room with everyone stomping their hooves in applause.

Finally seeing his chance Eric got up and went over to Jack who was sucking up the praises like a sponge.

"Does anyone mind if I have a few minutes with Jack to talk about this issue with Sarah?" he asked first getting head shakes from everyone, then taking Jack's arm and leading him to the upper level of the library.

"So what the Changeling say about Sarah then Eric?" Jack said sucking up some chocolate milk for his dry throat. 

"That she's not going to give us any help on finding her, and nothing I say can change her mind." Eric said smirking slightly.

"So... why are you so happy about this?" Jack asked questioningly raising an eye brow.

"First: have you been to see her yet since you woke up?" Eric asked.

"No, I'm not good at all that 'friendship' nonsense remember. Now answer my question, what's with the smile?" Jack said taking a sip eyes on Eric.

"I think I may have found you your first girlfriend Jack," Eric said loving the reaction Jack gave, him suddenly stopping sucking on the straw and nearly taking a spit take.

"Oh no, no no no no no no no," Jack said shaking his head and stepping away from Eric knowing where he was going. "There is no way I'm having her as a girlfriend, whether she likes me or not, just so you can get back yours!" Jack said loudly getting everyone's attention.

"This is cause you don't know how to behave around girls isn't it?" Eric said just as loudly. 

Down stairs the mares and stallions were busy pushing all the foals out of the room before they heard something they're not meant to hear, the last one closing the door.

"What do you mean 'I don't know how to behave around girls?'" Jack asked strongly his fists clutching in anger. "I know how to behave around everyone. How else can you tell me why I had more friends then you did in primary school?"

"YOUR FRIENDS WERE THE BULLIES WHO ALONG WITH YOU TEASED ME EVERYDAY!"  Eric screamed trying not to give into the pain that came with it. "That's what I mean by that,  Jack Frost!" Eric said harshly breathing hard, saying Jack's old nick-name from school that he got for always being cold around and to everyone else.

"You still don't know how to pick your fight's do ya boy?" Jack asked anger coming onto his face now as he cracked his knuckles playing with his fingers readying them to snap and strike the first blow, letting Eric pull out his sword first. "So let's see if you can do better this time."

> Chap 20
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outside in the courtyard, ponies were setting up lanterns in all those places which at night would hold the most shadows hoping it would cut down the chances of letting their enemies in.

Suddenly out of nowhere Jack and Eric zapped up in the middle of the yard, making everyone to run to the boundary's so they wouldn't get hurt.

Jack was on top of a sword-less Eric screaming in his ear "TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK!" 
Eric meanwhile was trying to get up, but seeing that it wasn't going to work just spun them so he was on top and yelled "WHY SHOULD I?" 

At this Jack screamed and pushed Eric off him flipped himself over, ran to the left hand wall of the yard,  and started charging at Eric who had only just got up, a battle cry being screamed at the top of his lungs.

"JACK! STOP!" someone called out behind Jack making him slowdown and spin around to see who it was.

In the door way stood the princesses the six, Chris and the Gemstone Triplets all staring in disbelief at what he was about to do. 

Looking around Jack saw that everyone had their eyes, full of question on him. Not knowing how to feel he turned to Eric and said to him as carefully as he could seeing that everyone was watching. "Take it back!" 

"Take what back?" Eric asked rubbing his stomach looking straight to Jack, "The truth that you used to pick on me, or your old school nick name?"

"Both." Jack said "And before I say why  I was like that, do you remember how old we were huh?" Jack asked forgetting everyone was there. "When I started hanging around with them and you became the kid I loved to hate? Why I hate that name so much!"

All eyes turned to Eric as he had a confused look on his face but you could see that, little by little, the puzzle was being fitted together.

"It... It was because of Emma wasn't it?" Eric asked looking at Jack apologetically then to the ground in shame as memories of the first day back after the New Year came to him and news had spread about a girl fallen through a pond she was skating on, around the school and Jack started to pick on him with the other bullies. "You... You were losing your pain through me. Weren't you?" he asked not needing an answer.

After a moment of silence, Fluttershy quietly walked up to the two of them.

"Are... Are you two alright now?" she asked hovering so she could press a hoof on each of them looking from one to the other.

"I'm fine," Eric said shifting his gaze from Jack "Just going to go find my sword and then head for bed. Some how I'm not all that hungry tonight." he said as the way was parted so he could get back inside.

"How about you Jack?" Celestia's smooth voice asked over the continued silence.

"Yeah," he said breathing hard to hold back tears that were forming. "But... If I may, can I have a try at seeing the Changeling? Eric told me something I think might get her to speak to me." he said looking at the ponies in the door too upset to laugh at the faces they were giving.

"Of course you can," Celestia said smiling slightly. "You know the way I trust?" she asked getting a nod, as Jack went back inside as well.

"Well that was exciting wasn't it?" Discord asked flashing into existence next to Fluttershy in a reclining chair with a box of popcorn wearing 3-D glasses.

Being around him enough now to just block him out everypony went back to work setting up the lanterns where as the princesses the six and the foals came over to him.

"You know what they were talking about didn't you Meester Discord," Ruby stated.

"Yes I did," Discord said picking one piece at a time and placing it in his mouth. 

"Who, and what, were they talking about Meester Discord?" Jade asked remembering Jack saying that name earlier in the library when the stories were being exchanged. 

"I don't really have the authority to say." 

"Like something like that's ever stopped you before," Rainbow Dash said loudly rolling her eyes.

"I can't say because I made a Double Pinkie Promise to him not to repeat what he told me, when I found him a few years ago, letting his sadness out by making blizzard in Whitetail Wood blowing up the heads off of snowmen tears coming from his eyes... Do I need to continue Rainbow Dash?" he asked now sitting straight a look of pride on his face.

That shut the blue Pegasus up as she backed away from the chair a bit.

"Will they both be alright Meester Discord?" Amber asked holding up her hoof to get attention.

"I'm sure they'll get over this," Discord said playing with his beard, "But as Jack told Eric yesterday, 'Memories as bad as what they were just talking about, don't ever go away', so I can't be sure for Jack overall."





Down in the dungeons Suzy's sleep was interrupted as she heard two footed footsteps coming down the corridor, but sensing  greater depression than earlier could tell that it wasn't the knight. 
Confused Suzy got up and sat right in the middle of the cell looking out to the corridor as Jack stepped out into the light.

"You're ok!" she said a genuine smile on her lips as she rushed forward to the door to see him better. "I... I thought Discord was lying when he said you'd be fine yesterday, I..." she stopped herself hearing what she was saying and blushing slightly turning away a bit.
"Um... there a reason you and your sadness have come and disturbed me?" she asked avoiding eye contact, but staying where she was.

"I've come to ask, if you'll help us, that's me, Eric, and everypony here, Get Sarah back to the side of good, light and Harmony." Jack asked sitting down so their eyes were closer to each other.

"Wh... Why should I?" Suzy said trying to be strong "Why should I help you get her back and turn on my queen and Sombra?" she asked.

"Because I already lost one family member due to cold and dark," Jack said scrunching up his face to stop the tears "And I don't want to lose another, just because you won't look past your nose and see what you're doing is wrong." he said fists clenched.

Trying to understand why Jack was so upset, and what he meant Suzy thought back to yesterday before they left for Canterlot. 

"That girl you told me about," she said slowly "She did fall into the ice didn't she?" she asked eyes wide, hearing a few small foal sized gasps that made Jack spin around as he saw the Triplets vanish back into the dark and heard their hooves running up the stairs back to the entrance hall.

"Yeah," Jack said sighing "Now please, I have to teach some foals not to listen to conversations that aren't theirs." he said snapping his fingers and flashing out of there.





Upstairs the three filly's agreed to split up for less chance of Jack finding them. 

Ruby, would go to the library, Jade would go to the kitchens, and Amber would go looking for Eric.

But before they had a chance Jack appeared in front of them a look of disappointment on his face his arms crossed.

"You three know it's not nice to listen to private conversations, or to spy on someone. Right?" he asked tapping his foot.

"We're sworry Jack," they said together looking to the ground.

"We... We just wanted to find out why you were so upset with Eric," Ruby said lifting her eyes up to him.

"Girls, do you know the expression 'curiosity killed the cat'?" Jack asked rubbing the bridge of his nose sinking down to the floor so he wasn't glaring down at them.

"No..." they said together in a confused voice.

"Curiosity is like... sweets." Jack said zapping some up to show what he meant giving one to each filly. "Now a little curiosity is alright. It keeps you asking questions, which help you learn and get through life." he said giving them one piece each more as he continued.
"But too many sweets eventually give you tooth aches, and upset tummy's don't they?" he asked finally stopping handing them out waiting for nods from the filly's before he continued. 
"Well with Curiosity those tooth aches and upset tummy's, turn into really bad shaped little ponies," he said unwrapping a sweet for himself "For example," he said seeing they still didn't understand "If you see smoke and flames coming from somewhere, too much curiosity will make you go towards it, and because of that, you can get hurt, can't you?" Jack asked finishing his lesson.

"We're sworry Jack," the triplets said again.

"I know you are," he said a small smile back on his face. "Just think about it and what the outcome will be next time ok?" he said getting up. "Keep the sweets, they might help you to remember. And tell the grown-ups I'll be out in Whitetail Wood for a while ok?" 

With that and nods from the three Jack snapped his fingers and was gone.

> Chap  21
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since her fight with that boy the previous night, Sarah Shadows was thinking about what he had said, and questioning if what she was doing was right.

"Of course this is right," Sarah said to herself as she stood on top of Canterlot Castle's roof looking over the once proud happy city, now swarming with Changelings. "This is what I was born to do wasn't it? This is where I belong, and nothing anyone says can get me to change my mind."

"Not even if that 'Anyone's' a much loved family member?" someone asked behind her, but when she looked nothing was there.

"I have no family," she said out loud readying herself to fight "I stand alone in this world."

"That so..." the voice answered now sounding like it was above her, but still nothing was there. "It's just to me, don't get me wrong, if you're with Sombra and Chrysalis, you're not really 'Alone' are you?" 

"Just who do you think you are!" Sarah called out looking all around, getting just the tiny bit annoyed at this guy.

"Well I think I'm your cousin," Jack said finally making himself visible floating just a bit away from the roof looking straight at her.

"Bit more please..." Sarah said motioning him to carry on "Oh and come a bit closer, I can't hear you properly." she said.

Jack rolled his eyes and zapped up a mega-phone and screamed down it "I'M YOUR COUSIN!" 

After the ringing had died from her ears Sarah looked up to the boy dressed like Discord with curious eyes tilting her head a bit.

"Don't know you, sorry," she said shrugging "Now if you can be so kind, I've got some fear and darkness to spread." she said opening her wings. 

"Fine, but before I go, just let me ask this..." Jack said "What will everyone back home think about you dumping your tile as a Warrior of Harmony to become the Princess of Shadows?" 

And before she could do anything to him, he snapped his fingers and was gone, leaving his cousin alone with her thoughts.





Princess Luna was just raising the moon when Jack popped up on the castle's side of the rope bridge and went inside.

"There you are Jack," he heard someone call to him but couldn't be bothered to see who it was. "I was looking all over Whitetail for you, you know. I would of thought with the way you and Eric left thing's you would of been blowing up snowmen all afternoon." 

"Well, Discord," Jack said knowing that only the Draconequus was the only one who knew he did that when he was upset "I wasn't exactly in Whitetail Woods to be found." he said letting his feet take him to the library.

"So you gonna tell old Discord where you were then?" he asked "And why you look so unhappy?" 

"Yeah, but I think it's something everyone needs to hear," Jack said  entering the library and walking up the stairs to the second floor where everyone was trying to think of a way to get Sarah back.

After announcing his return and saying he had something to tell them everypony put down their books and looked at him with questioning eyes.

"Ok," he said clapping his hands and shifting his eyes a bit "So you lot may, or may not, already know this, but the reason Sarah was like that to Eric last night, other than she's now evil, is because she hasn't got any memories of them being together as boyfriend and girlfriend. All memories she had before she was turned into Sarah Shadows are gone." he said pausing to see how everyone took it.

"And you're certain of this because..." Rainbow asked raising an eyebrow at him. 

"Because I was just talking to her, and she didn't remember me." Jack said "She didn't say, but I could tell she wanted nothing to do with me. And I heard her say that 'This is what she was born to do'." Jack said now taking a seat. "She's acting just like she did the first few weeks after we lost Emma..." he mumbled resting his head on the table.

"So, anyone have any ideas how to get her and her memory back?" Eric's voice asked making everyone jump as he came over hearing everything.

***
In another part of the castle, all the grownups were putting the foals to bed, for the night saying 'Sweet dreams' and 'See you in the morning'.

But there was a hoof-full of foals who didn't want to sleep, and waited until the last grownup had left before shifting in their 'beds' to talk to one another.

"I would have thought this would be over by now," Scootaloo said looking around at her friends who were nodding in agreement. 

"Yeah, I mean last time it only took Cadence and Shining Armour to stop the Changelings, and the love and hope of the Crystal Ponies to defeat Sombra."  Sweetie Belle said sighing. 

"But last time they were weak and getting cocky with themselves, and they were working alone," Amber said not remembering much about the Canterlot Wedding, but had heard about it along with the Empire. "This time, they're working together, they have a plan, their stronger, and they're being careful about what they do." she concluded.

"They're just two hot head bullies Amber," Jade said holding her sister's hoof a warm smile on her face. "And eventually all bullies get stood up to."

"But they have Miss Sarah with them now too," Ruby said quietly "And while I was in the lie-berry looking for a book for Mama and Papa to read to all of us..." she continued not wanting to look in anyone's eyes "I heard Jack say... They, they wiped her memories so she doesn't know any of us, and thinks this is what she was meant to do!" 

"You've been listening in on more conversation again I see little filly," Jack's voice said making the six of them jump and start spinning their heads.

"Isn't that what ya doin' right now Jack?" Apple Bloom asked feeling something on her back turning to see Jack lying across it playing with a cat's-cradle. 

"No, I came in to see if all you good little filly's and colts were asleep," Jack said "I can't help it if I hear you talking while I'm in here, and you're talking so loud. Can I?" he asked.

"I don't think that's the only reason you came in here," Scootaloo said getting back under her blanket yawning. 

"Well I was coming to see if you lucky filly's would like to help us to get Sarah back and save Equestria," Jack said still on top of Apple Bloom "Who knows," he said smirking "You might get your Cutie-Marks for it." 

With that the Crusaders and the Gemstone Triplets went back to the library with Jack.

***

When they got there they saw Amethyst and Fireopal  were there too, arguing with the six about this idea.

"Got them!" Jack called out to deaf ears.

"We will not let our children get wrapped up into this Miss Sparkle," Fireopal said, unfazed by her princessness.

"I completely understand, Mr Gemstone," Twilight said trying to keep her calm "But I'm sure Jack's idea will work and for that we need..."

"And that's another thing," Fireopal said cutting her off "Has it ever accrued to you that perhaps this 'Jack' maybe working with them as well? How do we know he did not get affected when you shot him with that dark magic the other day?" 

"Erm... I'm right here you know Sir?" Jack said obviously resisting the urge to try something on Fireopal for his words. 

"Jack," everyone said happy that the argument could finally be over.

"Mama, Papa, why were you fighting with Preencess Twilight?" the triplets asked walking over to them as the CMC went over to their sisters.

"Yeah especially if this 'idea' of his is meant to get Sarah back?" Scootaloo said pulling Rainbow's unbroken wing around her to keep warm.

"You mean you didn't tell them yet?" Eric said surprised. 

"Well would they of come if I had?" Jack's voice asked getting everyone to look around. "But if they still don't want to do it, we can 'Change' the plan, if it will make everyone happy. Or will that boost up the scale on 'I'm working with them' Sir?" Jack asked zapping up onto the bookcase above Fireopal looking down onto him.

"Can we just hear what this plan is first before we continue shouting over if we're going to do it or not?" Apple Bloom cut in before a new argument broke out.

"Great idea Bloom," Jack said jumping down "So first I need to show you all a... let's say 'movie', before we get into who's going to do what and how we'll do it."

"Wait can you do that?" Eric asked having a good idea what Jack wants to show everyone. 

"I don't know if I can," Jack said zapping up a pop-corn buffet as he spoke "But I'm sure either Discord or Luna can. But once it's over I want it back," he said to the two he called out "That's... because we were so young and whatnot, one of the only few memories I have of her."

"We understand Jack," Luna said a small smile on her face. 

"So from the start, or from the point in question Jackie boy?" Discord asked warming up his fingers as Jack made a screen appear. 

"Doesn't matter," he said "As long as we get an idea on what we want."

***
After the 'movie' was over and Jack had the scene back in his mind, there was an uneasy silence that no one wanted to break. 

Not even a grain of popcorn was moved as the ponies had a few minutes of silence to reflect on what they had just seen.

At last Fireopal spoke up, not looking at anyone but speaking to Jack.
"So where do you want our daughters in this plan of yours?" he asked.

Smiling on the inside, that he finally got Fireopal to go with it Jack replied with a question of his own.
"First, would you all be alright if we turned them into 'Emma's' to make the plan work a bit better?" he asked.

"You sure this wont over complicate things Jack," Eric asked carefully. "Won't Sarah see the girls as Emma as they are?"

"We want to do it!" all six filly's called out together, turning everyone's heads and putting an end to the conversation.

Before another word was said Amber stepped up.
"We don't care if it will be dangerous Mama, Papa," she said "We just want Miss Sarah back."

"Do you three feel the same way Crusaders?" Applejack asked not really sure if she would be happy with sending Bloom out into the field just because a there was a chance this might work.

"Yes," they said together.
"And we'll do it for Sarah," Apple Bloom said standing tall "Not for your marks."

"Well then," Celestia said proud of her ponies and the loyalty they were showing. "The question still stands Mr. Gemstone... Will it be alright to shift them into 'Emma's'?"

Amethyst and Fireopal just looked at each other and nodded in silent agreement.

"As long as everypony evolved in this, gives their words, that our children will be safe." Fireopal replied

> Chap 22
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since Discord's student had come to see her a few hours ago, Sarah Shadows had been flying around Equestria, meaning to be spreading fear and darkness, but was too distracted on what both boys she had seen had said.

"Fight this darkness inside you. You don't belong on that side, you belong over here with us, with the good ponies, with me! You're not Sarah Shadows, you're Sarah Jones!"

"What will everyone back home think about you dumping your tile as a Warrior of Harmony to become the Princess of Shadows?" 

Deciding that she needed a break, to think these conversations over, she made her way over to Whitetail Woods, landing at the borderline and walking slowly in feeling the temperature drop with each step. 

When she got to the center clearing, Sarah was surprised to see a winter wonderland.

From one set of trees to the other, there were piles of snow, while even more fell down from the sky from unseen clouds. Icicles of every color imaginable dripped down from the branches of the trees, there was even a little wooden logged cabin over to the left of the clearing to have as much space to play around in, and finally, only just coming into view now she was actually there inside it, a pond covered in ice and a pair of human ice-skates sitting on a rock next to it.

As Sarah looked around trying to biggerfy her eyes to take in all the beauty this place had, a single snowflake landed on the tip of her nose and all the worry and anger and need to spread fear suddenly went away as a new need came to her... The need to have fun.





Over in the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters, everyone was just working out the kinks of their plan, when Jack got down off the shelf he was on and went over to the window staring out of it a grin on his face.

"Everything alright Jack?" someone asked.

"Depends if my sensors are correct," Jack said poofing up a remote and pointing it at the still up movie screen.

On the screen everybody, even Discord, watch in confusement as they saw Sarah Shadows bouncing around a snow covered forest laughing like there wasn't a care in the world, kicking up snowdrifts, catching flakes on her tongue, making snow angels and snowmen not even showing any signs that she was cold.

"Ok," Rainbow said at last "What in Equestria is up with her and why are you so happy about it?" 

"She stumbled across my winter wonderland I made out of Whitetail Wood and one of my magic snowflakes got her nose," Jack began "Whoever gets hit with them, immediately feels happy and carefree, and have a wanting need for fun for at least one hour tops."

"So how does that benefit us?" Applejack asked.

"While she's like that, she'll be having too much fun and whatever to think she's Sarah Shadows. If we want this plan to work," he said looking around to everyone "We need to do it now."




Back in Whitetail Woods, Sarah was lying flat out on the snow, strangely unaffected by the cold, as if the snow was enchanted so who ever made this place could be here outside of that cabin for as long as they wanted and not fear about getting a cold, or frostbite from the cold.

Trying to remember the last time she had this much fun, Sarah thought she heard footsteps and crunching snow come towards her.
Sitting up Sarah was surprised to a human girl looking - minus the discorded outfit - just like that boy stating he was her 'Cousin'  her face looking familiar.

"Em... Emma?" she said tears in her eyes as she got up and ran over to her getting to her knees when she got there mixed tears seeping out of her eyes.
"But... But how?" she asked shaking her head "You... On that day... On the lake..."

"It doesn't mater Sarah," the girl said flinging her arms around the older girls neck "What matters..." she said pulling away a slight look of sadness on her face "Is that you're hurting everyone with your dark magic, and scaring them."

"But that's what my... my 'special talent' is Emma," Sarah said looking away from her cousin's face unable to look into her eyes with out feeling guilty. 

"Does this 'special talent' make you happy Sarah?" Emma said trying to get the older girl to see the light.

"Not exactly," Sarah said "But what other 'talent's' do I have?" she asked on her back again, Emma next to her. 

"Well this might help you get some ideas," a new old voice said, getting the girls to tilt their heads to Jack up in a tree something in his hand which he threw to Sarah, coming down after it.

Opening her hands, Sarah saw a golden charm bracelet with an orange apple, a pink butterfly, a light blue balloon, a purple diamond, a red lightning bolt, and a pinky-purple six point star on it as the charms.

Feeling a connection with the bracelet, Sarah was about to put it on when the shadows around the three of them started moving on their own, clumping together until Sombra was standing in front of them.

"Sire," Sarah said worryingly, curtsying and hiding the bracelet from his sight. "Why, may I ask are you here?" 

"This wasn't part of the plan Meester Jack," the Gemstone Triplet poising as Emma said hugging the boy who was holding her close to him.

"I know," he said annoyed shooting daggers at the one who caused all this. 

"The better question, my dear," Sombra said looking around paying no attention to the boy or younger girl "Is why are you here in this... this dump, and not out spreading fear and darkness I a set you to do?"

"Hey!" Jack said stepping in front of 'Emma' to give her protection from the king "Just so you know it took me three years to make this place how it is. Thank you very much. And I don't take kindly to hot-head uninvited bullies spoiling it."

"So you must be that student of Discord I've been hearing so much about," Sombra said looking the boy over. "I have to say your fear was one of the best I've sensed these past few days. But now I'm sensing that that has changed has it not. You know, Jack is it?" he asked getting a nod from a ready to snap his fingers behind his back in case something goes wrong Jack. 
"You know Jack, there is a way that your new fear wont come true. And I'm sure you know what that is, right?"

"Is it destroy you and that parasite who calls herself a queen?" Jack asked shifting his eyes around the clearing as he felt Emma hug him a bit more trying to find what scared her. 

"Well I was thinking of you coming to join us," Sombra said his evil look on his face "That way, none of us has to be alone, we can work together, as a family," he said trying to get into Jack's head with his words. "What goes better together than cold," he pointed to Jack who admitted he made this winter wonderland "And dark?" now pointing to Sarah. "And I'm sure we can find some place for that lovely little girl hiding behind you there as well. What do you say?"

"I say you can have me, if you let both of them go," Jack said after a while "I mean I don't just have cold, remember I'm a student of Discord, which means I have chaotic powers, that will spread way more fear than mere darkness on it's own." 

Sombra was thinking this over. The boy was right, chaos does seem to spread more fear than darkness, with everypony running around scared on how things are not what there suppose to be. 

"Going once..." Jack said now  at an auctioneer's stand a hammer in hand.

'Can there be a down side to this?' Sombra thought as the girls were shocked at what Jack had just said.

"Going twice..." Jack continued. 

"Ok ok ok ok ok," Sombra said stopping Jack from hitting the desk. "I'll release Sarah from my magic, and let the girl go... But you will take her place. Lets say we shake on it, you know make it official?" he asked holding out his hoof.

"Just one second please," Jack said stepping down from the stand and moving away from Sombra to have a quick conversation to 'Emma'.

"You're not really going to do this are you Meester Jack?" she asked a shocked look on her face.

"If this is the only way to get back a good Sarah so she can fix everything, then yes." Jack said hugging her to whisper in her ear "If something goes wrong, and that bully cheats me, get out of here as fast as you can, use this to turn back into a pony," here he zapped up a necklace around her neck explaining how to use it "Just say what you wish to be. Once you're on the outside of the tree line, it will poof you up at the bridge too. And get back to the castle to tell the others, don't look back or come back to help. Understand?" he asked.

Getting just a nod from the filly in his sisters skin.

With that Jack got up and brushed the snow off. "So to be clear," he said "I'll be your new play thing, in exchange for Sarah and to leave Emma be?" Jack asked Sombra.

"On my word as King of the Crystal Empire." he said holding out his hoof again towards Jack who slowly took it an uneasy feeling in his tummy as he did so.

Seeing the smirk on Sombra's face as he said that Sarah went over what she learnt about him.

"Jack wait..." she cried but it was too late as Jack was already holding the stallion's hoof and down on his knees in pain his brown hair turning as black as Sarah's and a new outfit, a black all one hoodie, cut-off trousers and trainers took place of his Equestrian outfit. 

"Now my sweet," Sombra said as he turned to Emma, "Your turn." 

"You... You said you'll leave her alone," Jack said as his changes were still at play "You gave your word as King of the Crystal Empire..."

"Yeah about that..." Sombra said looking over to Jack not noticing Emma turn into a Unicorn filly and run away with tears in her eyes "I was never the true king of that Empire, was I?" he asked giving of his evil laugh.

That being the last thing Jack heard before his hair went totally black showing he was now with the Darkness too.

'What have I done?' Sarah thought seeing this unfold before her as the snowflakes power ran out and the Darkness re-rose inside her again as well.
> Chap 23
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in the library, everyone was speechless at what they had just witnessed on the screen.

Everything was going so well, the plan was working, Sarah had back her bracelet, and now they've lost another friend to Sombra and his Dark Magic.

After a few minutes of a mix of shocked and 'thou-shalt-not-be-forgotten' silence Amber came rushing in blinded with her speed and tears and after seeing she bumped  into Eric,  buried her face into him and let her feelings out, repeating how sorry she was that the plan failed.

"Amber none of this is your fault," Eric said getting down on his knees to look her in the eye "And I've got a feeling that Jack wouldn't want you to think it was either."

"So what now then everypony?" Applejack's voice called out behind Eric who was still comforting Amber.

"What do you mean 'what now' AJ?" Rainbow replied a bit strongly one of the ones to take this news the hardest because of her loyalty to her friends "Anyone can tell it's over. We've now lost two friends to Sombra and his darkness, who I'm sure he'll set out on all of us just to get Eric and or us so he and Chrysalis can finally take over Equestria, Apart from Eric's paintbrush-sword-thing we don't have any way to defend ourselves that they don't now have because of Jack's chaos powers, And if we go in there headstrong it's a suckers bet that we'll win this war."

"You know Cloud-Butt, if you always hang onto the bad side of things you'll never see the good side of things that come along with it," Eric said now facing everyone again Amber calming down a bit "There's to sides to every coin you know." 

"Ok smart guy," Rainbow said not even bothering to shun him for his nick-name for her "What good came out of this?"

"Well one," Eric began a slight smirk on his lips "We learnt not to trust Sombra and/or make deals with him. Two Sarah has her bracelet back and I'm sure I saw her recognize it when Jack gave it to her. Three we may still have a chance to win this," he said more in a thinking tone now "But with this new news, I'm not sure on how she'll react or if she'll  work with us just to get him back..."




Down in the dungeons, Suzy had been thinking to herself and going over these feelings she had been feeling for Jack, wondering what they were. Or if it was possible for something with no heart such as her to even have these feelings.

Suddenly the dungeon's door opened and a small group of hooves came down the stairs to see her, looking up she saw the boy from before and the elements and one of the filly's.

"To what do I owe the pleasure for Knight, Elements are you not meant to be upstairs trying to work out how to put an end to this darkness that plauges your home?" 

"Well actually Suzy," Eric said speaking for the group "That's kind of why we're here..." 

"Oh?" she asked cocking her head. "And why should I help you Knight? I already said I'm not going to give you any help."

"Lets answer that with a question of our own," Eric said trying to control his temper with this bug "How much do you care for Jack Jones?" 

"Like it's any of your business," she said turning her back on them and going to the back of the cell then asked some green on her cheeks "Why do you ask?" 

"Because now we lost Meester Jack to that meanie too!" Amber called out hugging Eric's legs a pleading look of forgiveness on her face.

"This... This is a trick right?" Suzy said slowly getting up "Because if it is, it's not funny."

"Unfortunately Suzy," Twilight said stepping up her head slightly bowed "This is no trick. While Jack was out trying to win Sarah back, they came across Sombra, and Jack made a deal with him to take Sarah's place. But Sombra cheated on the deal and now we have lost both of them to the darkness."

Suzy was so shocked by what she had just heard, that she didn't notice that she was shedding purple tears as she backed up from them.

Suddenly there was a flash of light as Discord showed up.
"Not to interrupt this lovely matter my dears, or put you in any danger," he said mumbling the last part "But there are a few guests upstairs in the courtyard asking to see you." with that he zapped out of there as the girls rushed out leaving only Eric, Amber and Suzy. 

"Suzy," Eric said quietly meaning she had to pay attention "I've never had a lot of friends and therefore may not know a lot about friendship or whatever but... and please don't get annoyed, I don't think anyone in your 'colony' were ever your friends."

"Liar. My... My Queen will come and rescue me and... and get me out of this dumb castle of yours." Suzy said curling up a bit more.

"Suzy she's had at least two days to do that," Eric said slowly "I don't think she's coming."

Silence.

"Um... Miss Suzy?" Amber peeped up looking to the Changeling in the cell. "Will you please help us to get Sarah and Jack back. Even if you like any of us or not."

"May I have some time alone to think about all this please Knight?" Suzy said not looking up to the two who were still there. 

"Sure," Eric said turning to leave "Come on Amber, lets see who's trying to attack us this time."

With that Eric and Amber left the dungeons leaving Suzy to be by herself. As Eric was closing the door, he sighed as he thought he could hear the distinct sound of her crying from the news she was just given.





As Eric and Amber got back into the main part of the castle the Crusaders, Ruby and Jade came running up to them worry on their faces, all speaking at once.

"Girls stop," Eric said crouching down to be in their line of sight "I can't understand any of you if you all talk over each other. Now what the problem?" 

As they were about to start again a loud bang and screams of pain echoed through the halls.

Quickly, Eric got up drew his sword, and rushed to the courtyard shocked to see the Elements were knocked out - some showing signs of blood. Luna, Celestia, Cadence Shining Armour and Discord, using all their powers to destroy the shadows that were swirling around creating destruction. And finally on the other side of it, Sarah, Jack, Chrysalis and Sombra all wearing looks of 'I'm-so-loving-this' on their faces.

After telling the foals to stay inside and not come out, no matter what, Eric ran outside and jumped in front of everyone.

"STOP!" he cried holding out both hands looking from side to side. 

"At long last the Knight comes to protect his castle," Chrysalis said buzzing her wings her green eyes on him her fangs showing as she smiled evilly.

"That's right," Eric said turning to face them anger on his face "And as a Warrior of Harmony I shall do all that I can to put an end to what villainy you have created in Equestria."

"What makes you think you, or anypony here will be able to stop us Knight?" Sombra replied  looking around to the others. "Especially as we have two of your friends over here full of darkness now?"

"I didn't say I'll stop you," Eric said not looking to anyone as he said this "I just said 'I'll do all that I can to end this'. Besides if you've got my friends," he said nodding to Sarah and Jack in their new outfits, black hair, and evil smiles "To me, theres not a lot to fight for."

***
Back inside, just on the borderline of the destroyed wall, the six little filly's were trying to see what was going on, and deduce what Eric meant by what he said.

"What's going on out there?" Jade, Ruby, and Amber asked the Crusaders who were using the spying and eavesdropping skills they picked up when they tried to get their Secret-Agent-Cutie-Marks.

"Eric's just said he'll, as a Warrior of Harmony, do all that he can to put an end to what villainy those bullies have created in Equestria." Apple Bloom said an ear-trumpet in her hoof so she could hear what was going on outside better. 

"But isn't he still hurt from his fight with Miss Sarah?" Jade asked peaking around the wall but not seeing much because of the grownups standing in the way.

"I don't think, fighting is what he meant Jade," Amber said backing up a bit shaking her head. 

"What do you mean?" the others asked as the CMC got down off each other.

"When... when he said that," Amber asked Apple Bloom "How was he speaking? Like... Like was it strong, quiet, looking to anyone or not...?" 

"He wasn't looking to anypony in particular," Sweetie Belle said thinking.

"And to be honest," Apple Bloom said "He didn't make it sound too strongly either." 

"What difference does it make how he said he'll beat up the bullies?" Scootaloo asked wings buzzing.

"Because he didn't say he'll beat them up..." Ruby said getting to where Amber was getting at.

"He just said 'He'll do all that he can'." Jade finished, all of them now even more worried then before as they went back to watching the 'meeting' that was happening in the courtyard.

***
"He just said 'He'll do all that he can'." Luna finished, making Celestia, Cadence, Shining Armour and Discord a bit more worried as they went back to seeing Eric stand up to the Queen of the Changelings and the King of Darkness.

"Oh god I sure hope he knows what he's doing," Discord said holding his snapping hand's broken wrist meaning he couldn't do anything but watch.


Over on the side of darkness Sarah was having these feelings as well.

Since she got her bracelet back, slowly the Darkness has been leaving her and some of her memories on who the boy across from them was were coming back.

Not having all her memories and feelings back yet, Sarah knew that if the boy went up with any of the others, they wouldn't go easy on him and he wouldn't last five minutes. Not understanding why she did it Sarah stepped forward.

"Sire, please let me fight him," she said keeping her evil look on her face. "Please let me finish what I started the other night."

Everyone was put into shocked silence at the request Sarah just gave out.

"I am alright with that request," Chrysalis said flicking her greasy mane out of her face. "As long as the puny knight gets destroyed, I don't care who does it." 

"I admire your determination Sarah," Sombra said after a while ignoring everypony as he talked to her "But Jack needs his share at training as well you know. And by how I understand it Knight," he said looking to Eric sword still in hand "You would be more happy fighting him then Sarah wouldn't you?"

"As long as we get them both back," Eric said anger on his face as he said this "I don't give a dam who I fight. I'll even fight you, if you weren't so much of a coward."

For the next few seconds, everyone was still, and no noise was being made as everyone waited in silence, holding their breaths as they waited for Sombra's answer.

"You think I'm a coward?" Sombra asked sitting on his haunches as he looked towards Eric blocking everyone else out.

"Well... Yeah," Eric said eyes only for the King of Darkness before him. "Why else, would you always use your powers and the pony's fears and someone else to to fight your battles for you?" Eric asked shrugging as he looked to the sky. "Answer... Because you're afraid that you wont win. You scared that, if you didn't have any powers, you wont be able to do anything, that you'll go back to being the Princesses weak Unicorn cousin who didn't get any fame because you were just a Unicorn and not an Alicorn like them.
"I bet that's why you wanted Dark Magic in the blumbing first place isn't it.  So you could hide behind all that power and be so scary to everyone, that no one would dare even try to stand up to you. Isn't it?
"Well...?"

> Chap 24
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well..."

Everypony was speechless. 
No one ever thought that anyone would ever say what Eric had just said to the King of Darkness. And now all had their eyes on the pony in question waiting to see his reactions, only to be surprised that he seemed unfazed.

"Alright Sir Knight," Sombra said getting up and walking forward a bit so he was the first one to be addressed "I accept this little challenge of yours. You may fight me, and to prove to you I'm not a coward, I will not use any of my Dark Magic during the fight." He said standing tall "May I ask what the outcomes will be when the time comes?"

"If I win," Eric said strongly without even looking back to discuss this with the others "You let Sarah and Jack go from your magic, and you," he pointed to Chrysalis "Shall withdraw your armies and leave Equestria in piece."

"And if I win Sir Knight?" Sombra asked.

"You may do to me what you wish," Eric said looking him in the eye to prove he meant it "And I will not resist, or fight back, or anything. On my word as a Warrior of Harmony. Cross my heart hope to fly..." 

"No! Not a Pinkie Promise!" a small group of voices said behind him which he ignored and continued with the rhyme.

"Stick a cupcake in my eye." he finished.

Suddenly six little filly's pushed past the grownups and went to stand in between Eric and Sombra looking up at the boy, eyes wide and shocked expressions on their faces.

"Meester Eric, do you know what you've just done?" they all called out.

"I thought I told you girls not to come out here," Eric said looking down at the girls disappointment on his face.

"But..." they said.

"But nothing, now get back inside," he said pointing with his sword "Don't worry," he continued when they hesitated "I know what I'm doing."
Then looking towards Jack asked "May we use your Whitetail Wood wonderland for the 'Battle Field' Jack?" 

Jack, only shrugged and before anyone could do or say anything else, with a snap of his fingers he, Eric, Sarah, Sombra and Chrysalis and all her Changelings were gone. Leaving the others in the courtyard with unreadable expressions on their faces.

***
Inside everyone instently rushed to the library and set up the screen from before and set it to 'Whitetail Wood' nervous on how it would turn out.

While they were setting it up Amber began pacing. So much so that she was beginning to cause a rut into the floor.

"Sis, ruining the castle even more than how it is already, isn't going to sort anything out." Jade, the eldest said to her. 

"Plus the fact you're giving us each a headache with your pacing." Ruby said  rubbing her head soothingly trying to get the pain to stop.

"Why would Meester Eric want the fight to take place in Whitetail Wood?" Amber asked showing that she didn't even hear her sisters.

"AMBER STOP WITH THE PACING PLEASE!" her friends called out knocking her back to her scenes making the necklace Jack gave bounce on her neck causing her look at it.

Feeling it, she looked down and cocked her head trying to remember.

"THAT'S IT!" she called.

"What's it?" Apple Bloom asked confused.

"I think I know why he chose Whitetail Wood." Amber said a wide smile on her face. 

"You going to tell us?" Scootaloo asked raising an eyebrow. 

"Remember what Meester Jack said about his snow?"Amber asked giving them a hint question.

"That 'Whoever gets hit with them, immediately feels happy and carefree, and have a wanting need for fun'," Sweetie Belle remembered speaking slowly trying to remember it all.

"And while they're like that, they'll be having too much fun to be bad," Amber continued nodding.

"But will they work on Sombra?" Jade asked looking out the window toward Whitetail. 

"I think the better question sis, is... Will Eric have enough time and fightingness in him for one to get to him and then enough energy to end it afterwards?" Ruby said.

"IT'S READY EVERYPONY!" Discord called out to the crowd who at once bunched together and watched the screen all at the edge of their seats, and knocking their hooves together silently wishing their last ray of hope against those two will not fail them.




Over in Whitetail, everyone just landed on the snow and were just going over the rules of the battle again.

"Ok, so the deal is, Sir," Eric said shifting his sword to a shield in case it would be a false start. "You are not to use any Dark Magic while you fight me on your own. And If I win you give back Sarah and Jack and leave Equestria in peace."

"I recall those are indeed the terms Knight," Sombra said "But remember, if you don't win, in your own words boy, 'I may do to you what ever I please and you will not resit."

After they agreed on that, Jack came up between them in a tux and a microphone in hand (Remember he's still Discords student even though he's evil now) and called out to Sarah and the Changelings who were now sitting in the stands...

"Mares and Gentle-colts, the fight between King Sombra and knight Sir Eric is about to begin... It shall only be one round no time limit and no rules other than that King Sombra may not use any Dark Magic. The first one to floor the other down for ten seconds is the winner." he said zapping out the way and sitting next to Sarah a box of pop-corn in his hand "Battle... Begin!" he said and a bell rang somewhere telling the two in front of them to start.

Five minutes later...

It had been five minutes since the bell was rung and Sombra and Eric began their fight for the fate of Equestria.

Mostly it was blocking the others attack and shooting at them whenever they could get a chance. 

As the last combo attack died down, Eric and Sombra were seen panting heavily trying to catch their breaths looking into the others eyes both shooting daggers at the other.

"I must say Sir Knight," Sombra said throwing his head back a bit getting his voice back first "You fight rather well, for someone who has only been coming here for five months."

"I'll take that as a compliment sir," Eric said bending down behind the his shield eyes still on the king. "I've been fighting battles against bullies since I was six years old. And even though I nearly always got hurt by them in the end, I did it for those who couldn't fight for themselves, or had any friends to do it for them." he continued getting up stretching a bit rubbing at his broken ribs gently trying to numb the pain.
"Cause as someone once told me... 'Sometimes, when you come to the end... What you need is a friend'." he finished looking to the stands to see if those words had any effect on Sarah.

"Aww... How sweet," Sombra said in his loud voice making a red crystal sword as he spoke, "It's good to know at least some manners and chivalry still exist somewhere in the world. Lot of use it will do you however," he said looking up at Eric now "Because once I'm done with you in this silly battle of yours, you won't need to worry about bullies or have any friends ever again."

With that waiting a few seconds to let Eric shift his shield back to a sword for it to be a fair fight, Sombra charged and swung his sword at Eric.

Up in the stands Sarah was fiddling with her bracelet but picked up her ears when the knight spoke that mantra, sure she had heard it before and tried to remember feeling the bracelet warm up, and a flash of memories came to her...

The painting of the Mare in the Moon, the trip with Pinkie to Sweet Apple Acres, meeting everyone, the forest, the tower and Verde, the point she got her Harmony outfit, the battle against Nightmare, her not being strong enough to stop her, Eric saying those words, Nightmare shooting at him, and finally... her cheeks turned red at that last memory as streaks of her natural blondness returned to her hair.

"Remember now then cuz?" Jack leaned over to her so they weren't caught.

"Yeah, I do..." Sarah said placing the bracelet on her wrist hoping she'll stay her dark form just a bit longer then realized something. "Hey how come you're..."

"Not being evil anymore?" Jack asked raising an eyebrow at her, getting a nod. "No one can tame a student of chaos cuz, whether it's though force or some kind of magic... You can't take me. Plus the fact I think somehow I was like you know... immune or whatever from his magic from Twilight's beam when she got me in Canterlot."

"So you've been faking this whole time?" Sarah asked crossing her arms.

"Well I was always the better Charades master at reunions and Christmas parties wasn't I?" Jack said very proudly rubbing his knuckles against his chest "But it was mostly so I can be there for you when you got everything back, and back you up and what-not if you got them back in a less 'Safe' place." he said trying to find the right word.

"Thanks Jack," she replied sighing a bit a small smile on her lips. "So what next Oh Great and Powerful master of Charades?" she asked bringing her hands together and bowing slightly to her cousin.

"We're going to have some fun in the snow," he said grinning snapping his fingers making them disappear from the stands and dropped them by the lake in the shadows of the trees as they began to form snow balls, every now and then looking up to the fight seeing Eric struggling a bit.

> Chap 25
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Quick! Rewind it!" somepony called out pointing to the screen.

Discord did as the pony requested as murmurs and questions went around the room.

"Now focus on Sarah and Jack," the same pony said happiness in their voice.

After rewatching the scene between Sarah and Jack everyone had their hope levels growing again.

"We need to go and help them," Rainbow said getting up and began to leave.

"No." Celestia said stopping her and everyones cheers.

"But..." Rainbow began. 

"This is not our fight Rainbow Dash," she said "The fight is between Eric and Sombra, we must not interfer."

"So what are Jack and Sarah doing?" Rainbow challenged pointing to the screen.

"I assure you Rainbow," Discord said getting her to focus on him "Jackson Jones knows all the rules on fighting here in Equestria. And he was always the best at spotting loopholes in things like this."

"What do you mean Discord?" Fluttershy asked some foals huddled around her. 

"Sombra said he agreed that 'During the fight he will not use any Dark Magic' right?" he said looking around getting nods and worried looks "But he didn't say about anything after that.
I saw that Jack saw through that when we were still in the courtyard," he continued "And am sure that those snowballs they are making are for just that, and if their needed."

"But what if he wins anyway?" a foal asked waving their hoof around. "Eric said if that happens then he'll let him do what he want to with him."

"Have faith in our Knight little colt," Zecora said making everyone turn to her "For I know that Eric is not a dolt. He may be weak from his fight from before, but he is not one to just in your face, slam the door. He will fight until the task is done, he will fight giving it his all until he has won."

With that everyone turned back to the screen now focused back on Eric and Sombra. Eric looking like he was really struggling, Sombra looking like he was enjoying this so very much.





In Whitetail, Eric had only just dodged an attack that would of ended this fight and was looking around trying find anything that could help.

"Who's the weak one now then Knight?" Sombra said wearing a smile his eyes narrowed "Who's the one afraid they wont win now? Don't try and deny it. I can feel that that's your fear. You're afraid that you will lose and let everypony down."

"Alright," Eric said standing with an arm around his waist a red stain slowly growing bigger by the second "I'll admit that I'm afraid. Yes I'm afraid that I'll lose. I'm afraid that I will let everyone down. I'm afraid that Equestria will fall because there will no longer be anyone here willing to stand up to you to defend it." Eric said breathing a bit hard now clutching his eyes. "But it's because of those feelings that I'm still standing. I will not back down to you Sombra. I will not bow, I will not break, I will not let this world fade away because of your darkness and hatred. I will not fall, I will not leave Equestria all alone to fight you. But I will fight you. And I will win." 

With that Eric quickly shifted his sword to a bow and arrow and fired three flaming arrows at the stallion who created a shield of shadows to protect himself firing red very sharp looking crystals at the knight who was now up in the trees jumping from branch to branch firing more and more arrows the tenth one getting Sombra in the shoulder causing the stallion to cry out in pain and glare up at the boy in the trees as he pulled it out.

"You think a few mere well shot arrows will defeat me Knight?" he asked eyes narrowed and ears moving picking up whispers over by the lake.

"Just managed to get you there didn't I?" Eric asked back.

*

Over by the lake Sarah and Jack were lying in wait a pile of snowballs between them behind a snowdrift watching the fight as is carried on, Sarah really wanting to do something  just being stopped by Jack.

"But if we don't do anything Jack, Eric will lose this," Sarah said her eyes wide tears in the corners of them more of her hair turning back to blonde, looking into a how-he-came-here Jack.

"You can't interfere with fights that aren't yours, here in Equestria cuz," Jack said trying to get her to understand. "This is Eric and Sombra's fight and theirs alone. Until it's over we can't do anything." 

"Then why are we here and not in the stands?" Sarah asked voice rising a bit  "Why are here with a pile of snowballs prepared to have 'some fun in the snow' if we can't do anything?"

"To, if need be, save Eric from Sombra after the fights over," Jack said strongly "Now shut up and just watch will you." 

Sighing slightly Sarah dropped the snowball in her hand, turned her back to the battlefield and brought her knees up to her chest.

"What if he... You know..." she asked after a bit.

"You got to remember this is Eric we're talking about cuz," Jack said struggling not to interfere himself "He'll find someway to get this sorted out." 'I hope' he thought to himself wincing as Eric fell out of the tree he was in because Sombra sent a beam at the branch he was standing on.

*

Groaning in pain as he slowly got up, Eric ground his teeth to stop himself screaming as he was was shot back into the next tree being pinned there by Sombra's crystals ever so slowly growing in length making him raise his head so it didn't cut into his neck.

"There," Sombra said smirking "I believe I have won Knight," with that he stopped and disbursed the crystals and started to walk away.

"Not quite yet Sombra," Eric said getting up with the help from the tree.

"What are you talking about boy?" Sombra said spinning around "I stopped you for ten seconds. That was the rules, you ungrateful little..."

"The rules were 'Your Highness' the first one to floor the other for ten seconds." Eric said seeing his shield over at the base of the tree in front of him wondering if he could make it. "So because you had pinned to a tree, I'm still in this." 

As quickly as he could due to the pain he was in, Eric dove for his shield, shifted it to a sword and clashed it with Sombra's red one that after a while he disarmed and caught in his other hand which he then crossed with his own charging at Sombra making the stallion fall down the feel of metal on either side of his neck, Eric standing over him panting.

> Chap 26
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After ten seconds, plus a few more just to be sure, Eric backed off from the King of Darkness, dropped the crystal sword and sheathed his own. 

"I have won Sombra," he declared strongly before he turned around and started to walk away, and turn to Chrysalis who was still in the stands slight shock on her face. "Now call back all of your Changelings... And leave Equestria, in peace..." he said eyes on her so he didn't see Sombra get up an evil look full of anger, on his face.

"I am surprised at you Knight," Chrysalis said keeping Eric's attention as Sombra changed his horn "It is not everyone, who is willing to stand up to King Sombra, and then win against him."

"Thank you..." Eric said eyes on her while listening for Jack and Sarah after seeing they're no longer in the stands.

"However, I would have thought you learnt from the deal he made with Jack," she replied an evil grin in her lips "Not to trust or make deals with him..." 

"What are..." Eric began to ask before he worked it out flooring himself as a Beam of Darkness was fired from behind him and snowballs fired from over by the lake, making the one shooting the beam stop long enough for Eric to get up pull out his sword and spin around to Sombra.

"We had a deal you tyrant!" he screamed fire being re-lit in his eyes. "You agreed 'No Dark Magic'." 

"I agreed to 'No Dark Magic, during the fight', Knave," Sombra said turning his attention to the lake after throwing Eric back a few paces. "I said not for anything afterwards. Good thing one of you freaks caught it isn't it Jack?" he asked shooting a beam to the snowdrift Jack and Sarah were hiding behind, them only just getting away as it exploded.

"When you've been hanging around with bullies for ten to twelve years," Jack said stepping in front of Sarah, a snowball in hand "You tend to learn how they think..." with that, he threw the snowball, a light blue coming off of it right into Sombra's face, urging Sarah to go check on Eric who was being surrounded by Changelings.





"Can we go help now..." Rainbow asked back in the library dragging along the question slightly.

"I think they can handle it Dashie," Applejack said in reply.

"But sis," Apple Bloom spoke up "Can't you see? Eric's hurt, Sarah's not back to being herself yet, and Jack... He's just throwing snowballs." 

"And they're going up against Sombra and Chrysalis and her Changelings." Jade added. 

"Maybe... there's a way to get the Changelings to back off and stop fighting," Amber said more to herself. Then getting an idea got up and rushed to the dungeon to talk to Suzy, being followed by Ruby, Jade, and Discord to look after them.

*

"Miss Suzy..." the Changeling heard someone call out as the door opened, but not wanting to talk to any of these ponies at the moment did nothing but lie still.

"Miss Suzy?" the same pony asked again a little louder as she came in down the stairs with three others. 

Knowing she wouldn't be able to be left alone and mope about loosing Jack again until she acknowledged them, Suzy turned around, slightly surprised it was that yellow filly from before with her sisters and Discord who was seeing her.

"Yes dear?" she asked strongly buzzing her wigs a bit.

"Well... we," Amber started stepping back from the bars a bit.

"We, my dear sweet little bug," Discord stepped in "Have some news for you.
To be more precise Good news, bad news and can go either way if you help us news."

"I'm not one for riddles Discord," Suzy said curling back up again.

"Jack's alright," Ruby said loudly catching the Changelings ears. 

"But earlier you said..." she began cheeks turning green slightly.

"He was faking it so he'd be there for Sarah when she came to apparently," Jade continued a grin on her face.

"But he or the others might not be for long," Amber said popping Suzy's happiness and tilt her head a questioning look on her face.

"The fight between Eric and Sombra's over," Discord began explaining "However, they agreed no Dark Magic during that fight..." 

"But since it's over now..." Suzy continued understanding slightly "But, but what's Jack got to do with it? And why are you coming here to tell me?" 

"Eric's too weak from the fight, even though he won, he doesn't have too much left to fight him again." Discord said snapping his talons to give her back her horn, wincing a bit because his wrist was still broken "And with Sarah looking after her special-somepony from your queen and siblings, Jack's going up alone against Sombra. And although he knows how to fight I highly doubt that it will last long.
So my dear, will you help?" 

"Well what help can I do?" Suzy asked stepping out of the cell confused that this was happening.

"How high were you in the Changeling Ranking System back at the Hive?" Discord asked, making sure he was standing in front of all the filly's just in case.

"Very high," Suzy said smirking slightly "Not just any-ling is allowed or trusted to take the place of our victims. And before Sombra came I was also one of the ten leaders of those teams." 

"So they'll listen to you Miss Suzy?" Amber asked a bit more brave than Jade and Ruby. 

"Those below me might, if Chrysalis isn't there," Suzy said explaining "But those equal or higher wont."

"Who'd be higher than 'Replacementiee'" Jade asked confused.

"The Queen, the soldiers, and the hunters because they have to tell us who to replace," Suzy said as they began to head back upstairs.

"This might be harder than you thought then Amber," Discord said looking around seeing her playing with that necklace Jack gave her. "Something wrong Amber?" he asked shocking her back to reality.

"How strong is Jack's 'shifting' magic Meester Discord?" Amber asked taking the necklace off to look at it better.

"It depends on what you want to come from it," Discord said scurrying her up the steps. "Size - alright, time - change back on own after two hours, effect - surprisingly not all that good. Why?"

"I have another idea," Amber said "But I don't think anyone will listen to it, or let me do it on my own, or give it a chance." 

And before anything else was said she rushed back to the library where everyone was still either watching the screen being a very good audience or arguing on whether to go and help or not.

Running back into the room and up to the Crusaders, Amber asked them to somehow get everyone's attention so she can say what she want to say to them.

A couple of minutes and an explosion later, everyone had their eyes on the little filly in front of the screen.

"Everypony," Amber called out in her loud grown up voice "Please, I think I have a few ideas but you need to listen to me to understand them."

After the whole room was silent Amber began explaining.





Back in Whitetail Woods, Sarah was trying her hardest to keep the Changeling off of her and Eric, not really wanting to be their pillow a third time.

Eric was also trying to keep his princess safe not wanting to loose her again, but because of the fight he had with her, and the one he just had with Sombra, he wasn't keeping up and going as fast as he would normally would.

"Oh come now children," Chrysalis voice rang out over her Changelings "I'm sure even you can work out, that you're fighting a loosing battle. Why don't you just save all of us the trouble and surrender?"

"Why don't you..." Eric said panting a bit, his sword free arm around his waist "Just pack up and go back to wherever  you came from, those were the terms of that worthless battle I just had with that tyrant. 'I win, he gives back Sarah and Jack, and you leave Equestria.'" 

"Oh please little knight," Chrysalis said in a 'rolling-her-eyes' voice. "Changelings are born and trained to be liars. Besides I don't recall me saying I agree on those 'terms' as you call them, so here we are."

"Well then can you at least make them give us a fair fight?" Sarah asked blasting a few Changelings away with a swipe of her hand "You know one or two at a time or something?" 

"Now what fun would it be then sweetie?" The Queen asked "Besides you seemed just fine while you were up in Canterlot's courtyard preparing to fight this young man right here. Good job with that by the way, saw the whole thing. I wonder what would have happened if Discord hadn't butted in and zapped up that pillow for Eric to land on..."

That got Sarah to pause what she was doing as the memory flashed into her head of the fight, and what she did.

"Sarah?" Eric asked turning to her shooting some more Changelings before they got to her rushing over to her. "Sarah remember you weren't you when you did that," he said taking her shoulders and shaking her a bit. "If it was I know you would never do anything like that to me."

"Even if it was me or not Eric," Sarah began sinking down to her knees rubbing her arms "I still did it, and now that will be a burden for the rest of my life..." 

"No it won't, " Eric said strongly swatting a few bugs away that were getting a bit too close "Haven't these things ever heard of 'personal space'? Anyway, It won't be a 'burden for the rest of your life' because the girl that did that to me was not the girl here in front of me now. It may of been your mouth her words came out from, your hands that let go of my shirt, your eyes I looked into searching to try and find you under the barricaded door that you were being held behind in your own mind... But... SHE WAS NOT YOU!" 

Just then, just like before Eric was attacked from behind while trying to comfort his Princess, making him bend over and scream a bit with the pain, making Sarah snap out of the state she was and look around at all the bugs around them. 

'Right...' she thought 'With me out because of my moping, and Eric trying to comfort me, they had enough time to surround us.' 

Without thinking, as if doing it on instinct, Sarah made a giant bubble surround her and Eric protecting them while she checked if he was alright.

"I can't believe I let that happen again," Sarah said lifting Eric's  head onto her lap hoping he was only knocked out.

> Chap 27
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Sarah and Eric were fighting the Changelings, Jack was going one on one with Sombra, throwing snowballs at the fake king whenever he could, staying in the trees and shadows so he wouldn't get hit with any of his beams of darkness.

Just then...

"Hey there, Jackie Boy," Discord's voice begin to sound in the boy in question's head as he jumped into the trees to keep as safe as he could while he was talking to his teacher.

"Discord?" He asked hiding behind the trunk after firing more snowballs wondering when the paralysing spell would kick in. "Look, I know I've said all those nice things about you and junk,  but you know..."

"'That you hate it when I do this' I know I know," Discord said in a 'I couldn't care less' voice and speaking pattern "But how else was I going to tell you about this brilliant plan Little Amber came up with?"

After jumping to a different tree to avoid Sombra's magic which sent the one he was just on on fire Jack sighed and replied "Fine... What is it?"

"Ok,  so it will be using your 'shifting powers' the filly called it and will get a few volunteers to look like you Oh wonderful student of mine," Discord said lovingly.

"I'm guessing there's a 'but' or something coming right?" Jack asked firing a few exploding eggs at Sombra since the the snowballs weren't working. 

"You are correct my son," Discord said. "You see Jack, for this plan to work, we need you to stop using any Chaos Magic you might be using, if you're using any at all and all that and..."

"Oh for the sake of Equestria Discord," Luna's  voice butted in. "Just tell him the plan already."

"Alright, alright," Discord said annoyed making Jack laugh a bit as he dodged another attack getting the 'King' who's firing these shots a little bit annoyed.

"A small group of ponies are coming to help, and will be dressed as you," Discord said explaining. "There will also hopefully be something going on with Chrissy.
"But since that these ponies are just ponies, they won't be able to do any Chaos Magic, so... so you're not the black sheep in the flock, you can't do any either."

"Slight good thing I'm hardly using them now then right?" Jack asked groaning as he got up after a fall from the tree he was just in, looking over to Sarah and Eric seeing a pink bubble around the two of them, Cangelings bouncing on top, as if it were a bouncy castle, trying to crack it a worried, scared Sarah holding onto a hopefully just unconscious Eric.
"What's the story with the Queen of no Hearts?" he asked. 

"No time to explain now Jack," Luna's  voice answered "Now, a distraction of some kind needs to happen for your side of the plan to take place."

"As you command, Your Highness," Jack said smirking a bit as he poofed up a few smoke bombs releasing them and causing Somba to lose his vision for a bit and hold his attack while he waited for it to clear. 

When he opened them again he saw seven 'Jacks' in front of him all with a snowball in their hands  and before he could even start to try and find the right one, they all began firing at him.

"You think cloning yourself so there is more attacking me will make me surrender boy?" Sombra asked shifting his eyes from one Jack to another trying to find the right one as he let his magic build up. 

"We're not trying to make you surrender..." one of them said jumping out of the way into the trees to be safe. 

"But it would be really nice if you did." another said shrugging back flipping over to the pond.

"Do you think he even knows what 'nice' actually means Jack?"  the third one asked the Jack next to him.

"I don't know Jack," that one answered "I mean everyone should know what 'nice' is shouldn't they? Whether they are or not right?"

"WILL YOU ALL BE QUIET AND LET ME SHOOT AT ONE OF YOU ALREADY?"

"And why would we do that?" The fifth one asked smirking at how annoyed the Lord of Darkness was getting "I mean don't get me wrong and all, my lovely voice can get even on my nerves at times, and they can be a bit annoying" he whispered pointings to the others "But if going quiet means getting shot at... I think we should keep on talking. Right guys?" he asked looking around getting nods from the other five around Sombra while the sixth one, the real one was up in the tree getting the run down of Chrysalis' half of the plan.

'You sure we can trust her though Discord?' he asked after hearing the plan eyes on Sarah and Eric in that bubble.

'Well no, not really Jackie boy,' Discord replied, admittedly 'But Little Amber trusts her, and she likes you remember, and you know how these ponies are... Always protecting and standing up for the ones they love.'

'So Cadence and Shining will come here and get Chrissy to follow them, leaving the others to keep playing on Sarah's bounce-bubble... Then Suzy will come in and give them orders to back off.' 

'Precisely.' 

'Uh huh...' Jack said shifting eyes back to his brothers and Sombra 'Not sure that will work but I'll take help where I can get it when fighting bullies. How long till the Six are ponies again?'

'About... one and a half hours' Discord replied 'Don't know if they or Sombra will let that happen though.'

Just then aloud 'CRASH' sounded as the Changelings finally made it though the bubble. 

Doing with out thinking, Jack jumped down and raced across the field creating two thin, long bladed flame swords and jumped in front of the two who were on the ground  swiping at any Changeling who got to close to them.

*

Over with Sombra, everyone looked up to see what that noise was, and saw the Jack that jumped into the tree come back down, create swords out of no where, and raced to protect them. Sombra feeling the fear that the girl and knight would get hurt coming off him the most.

"Finally," he said letting an evil smile come to his face giving the ones behind him worried looks. 

Before another word was even thought of Sombra discharged his magic, firing it at the six other Jacks around him not caring what it did to them since the one he really wanted, had just so foolishly reviled himself. All because his cousin and best friend were in trouble. The stupid boy.

Then turning to shadow, Sombra sleeked over to the other battle field and began to lie in wait for the right time to finish off the boy.

> Chap 28
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Jack?" Sarah asked shocked slightly finally looking up when she felt nothing happening to her to see what was going on.

"Howdy cuz," Jack answered without looking at her kicking at one Changeling while slashing at another two with his swords.

"But, weren't you over with Sombra?" Sarah asked still on the ground to protect Eric as much as she could, looking over to where his fight was, rubbing her eyes a bit when she saw six more Jacks shakily getting up.

"Amber came up with a few ideas on how to help, that was one," Jack answered her unasked question "A second plan was to help you out over here but I guess the fuse was lit a bit late wasn't it?" Jack asked rhetorically speaking up a bit as if trying to get someone's attention.

"Well it's not my fault that Sarah's protection bubble was so easily broken was it Jack?" Discord answered for him just getting him to shake his head. 

"Just get them over here please I don't think..." he was cut out of his train of thought when Sarah screamed his name making him look up to see shadow like ropes firing at him making him drop the swords and hoisting him up as if he was a marionette as an evil chuckle came to their ears and the Changelings backed off a little eyes still on their prey, their wings buzzing.

"That's better," Chrysalis spoke out smiling wickedly coming over as well. "You know boy, it's not very nice to harm others. Especially when they're smaller than yourself." 

"Says the one who did exactly that at Princess Cadence's and Shining Armour's wedding?" Jack asked strongly while trying to find Sombra as well as make sure that Sarah and Eric were alright and get out of the ropes. 

"How... How do you know that?" Chrysalis asked stepping back surprised slightly holding up her hoof to keep her troops back for just a moment longer to get an answer.

"Err... Cause I was there?" Jack replied speaking as if he was to the dumbest person in the world. "Loved you're song by the way, though it could of used a second person singing along with you. Frankly I'm surprised you were actually dumb enough to send Twilight to the exact place you sent Cadence. I mean anypony would of figured out they'd find one another and come looking for you at foil your plan, right? If it were me I would of just left her." Jack continued keeping the attention of the queen on himself with his lovely voice while the second lot of help arrived. "Seeing how broken she was, I would of bet all I had back then, I have a little more now what with my excellent thievery tricks and all that, that Twilight would of hopped on the next train back to Ponyville. I mean think about it Chryssy," Jack said counting off on his fingers "She lost her brother, her teacher, her supposed foal sitter, and her friends. She was crying when you came back to send her into those caves. And yet you did it anyway." he said shaking his head smirking. "And because of that, it cost you you're invasion to take over Canterlot. See that's what you get for not looking at the BIG picture.

"Now Sombra, on the other hand, before he got his ass walloped by a baby dragon to say the least," Jack commented "Took in every fail-safe thing out there. He made sure to block off Shining Armour's magic, meaning Cadence needed to work extra hard to keep up the barrier, meaning he would get in quicker. He made it so only Dark Magic could get anypony to the Heart. Lets see what else... He built it with those ridiculously many flights of stairs, then again it did take place over a thousand years ago didn't it so... Umm... Oh then he set a booby-trap so if someone did manage to get to the Heart, they'd be trapped with no way out. 

"You see this is where you and he differ from being hot head school ground bullies who just want everything and everypony to fear you." Jack said finally coming to a close  still holding Chrysalis' focus and making the forest around them quiet down all the Chanelings thinking over what this student of Discord said murmuring and nodding heads.

"In fact isn't the reason you called for the 'Great One' because you thought you needed help, in the first place." Jack asked raising an eyebrow to the Queen, finally making her snap and fire with her magic shocking him lightly while also making royal jelly appear over his mouth to shut him up. But the damage had already been done in the form of the Changelings whispering over what was just said.

Sarah could only look on surprised that Jack would do something like that. Use his 'powers' of words to get a whole colony of bugs to question if the one leading them, is the right one to.  
But that surprise turned into hated when Chrysalis shot at him.

"Ok... Ok that's it." Sarah said resting a still knocked out Eric's head down gently, getting up to no reaction to anyone around her. 

'I am good.' she thought strongly her eyes closed hands cupped together focusing. 'The person who hurt all my friends was not me. But the two who made that girl me, are right here. And now they've hurt not only me, but my boyfriend, my cousin, my friends, the princesses, and scared god knows how many foals for life.' she continued wind playing at her fully blonde again hair as she flapped her wings slightly getting those still awake to turn their heads (and those who were watching in the library to widen their eyes in wonder). 
"And I, as a Warrior of Harmony, will not stand for that." she spoke finally opening her eyes to reveal them to be solid white, lifting her hands above her head and letting her powers of light, love, hope, and caring spread out throughout the forest clearing knocking back most of the Changelings scaring some more away, caused Chrysalis to shield her eyes hissing slightly, attacked the dark ropes holding up Jack, Eric to wake up at last, and Sombra to come out of his shadows shaking his head to rid the pain he just received.

~~*~~

Suzy's POV

The Princess of Love, the Young Prince and I made it to Whitetail Wood just as Sombra sent out his ropes to Jack. At first I wanted to do something, anything to help him. But that was not my role in this plan that little yellow foal suggested. 

Then my que... No! Chrysalis. Chrysalis came over to the hanging Jack and spoke to him about what he was doing wasn't all that nice. Like she ever knew what that word meant.
Then Jack began talking to her about the Wedding and spoke of  Sombra and something he called the 'Heart', no idea what that was about, but it seemed the two ponies next to me did, their eyes on him. Where as my eyes were on my siblings and how they were reacting to the words Jack spoke out.

Understanding what he was trying to do I told Cadence and Shining about it and began to change the plan.

Now I'm standing in the back of  the group nodding my head and buzzing along with the others.

"In fact isn't the reason you called for the 'Great One' because you thought you needed help, in the first place." Jack asked raising an eyebrow to Chrysalis.

It took all my will power not to react, or fly up and punch the Queen in the face when she shot at him and cover his mouth with jelly. And was one of the ones whispering the loudest over what was just said.

All the sudden a bright light was coming off of the girl and an unexplainable wind was playing with her hair.

"And I, as a Warrior of Harmony, will not stand for that," she spoke opening her eyes that were solid white. She lifted her hands above her head and letting her powers spread out throughout the forest clearing knocking back most of the Changelings scaring some more away, caused Chrysalis to shield her eyes hissing slightly, attacked the dark ropes holding up Jack, Eric to wake up and Sombra to come out of his shadows shaking his head to rid the pain he just received.

"Changelings," Chrysalis cried over her shoulder "Attack!"

That was my cue.

"Why should we listen to you?" I cried getting everyling to look at me some surprised some shooting warnings.

"What was that?" she asked turning away from Sarah who was coming down to check if the boys were alright.

"It was 'Why should we listen to you?'," I repeated "Why should we listen to someling who doesn't see the big picture in plans to take over someplace?"  I asked looking around getting nods from the lings who were lower in rank than I was at that point. "You all heard what the Student of Discord said right?" I asked everyone hovering in the air a bit so they could all see me. "It was because of her, and her placing Twilight Sparkle with the Princess of Love in the caves, that cost us that invasion during the wedding." I said getting some nods of agreement and the some to look towards Chrysalis as if in a new light.

~~*~~

Third Pony POV

While Suzy was finishing off Jack's  work in getting the Changelings to leave Chrysalis, Sarah came back down and went over to the boys to see if they were alright only to be relived that they were.

"What was that cuz?" Jack asked once he got all the jelly off his face, helping Eric get up placing an arm over his shoulders.

"I... I don't know," Sarah said looking to her hands a small smile on her face. "I  just thought about all the things these two have done, and whoosh," she said  happily "I don't know how to explain it more than that."

"Lets try and work it out later princess," Eric said pain still in his voice his free arm once again around his waist. "Like till after we get things sorted out here and get back to the castle and or home?" 

"Very good idea Knight," Sombra's voice stopped them. "Unfortunately, I highly doubt that that will happen, seeing as I'm going to end all three of you right here and now."

"Over my dead body Sombra," Shining Armour said as he and Cadence came out of the trees and came over to the teenagers. 

"Oh," Sombra said acting a little too much, to be surprised "You figured out the rest of the plan. My you are smart aren't you Young Prince?" 

Everyone gritted the teeth together scowling at the king as he laughed at his own joke. 

"Are we part of your plan Sombra?" Twilight's voice asked as the six, now ponies again came up behind him their elements shining and ready to go.

"Yes as a matter of fact my dear," Sombra said smirking looking down to all of them. "And don't worry you'll get to keep your lives. Now lets see...
"Rainbow Dash, shall become my captain of the guard
Pinkie Pie will be my court jester
Rarity shall get the charge of my crystal mines
Applejack will be in charge of the castles dungeons 
Fluttershy I suppose could be some kind of maid 
and you  Twilight, shall get a new crown to go with those wings. If you know what I mean."

There were harsh looks and words that followed this all making Sombra laugh even more. And then that laughter stopped as he tilted his head back and found he was frozen.

"What... What's going on?" he called out shifting his eyes trying to see who was casting this freezing spell.

"Oh NOW they work," Jack cried annoyed slightly still holding Eric up. "They were meant to go off ages ago."

"What are you talking about peasant?!" Sombra cried doing the best he can to glare at Jack. 

"Those snowballs I kept firing at you Sombie..." Jack began annoyed at what he was just called "Were paralyzing snowballs that was meant to freeze whatever they came into contact with within a few seconds. I need to work on that." he said the last part to himself.

"But... But Discord doesn't know how to do paralyzing spells. In fact I don't think he can even create snow." Fluttershy commented surprising everyone there who looked to Jack.

"Guess it comes with being Jack Frost, Fluttershy?" Jack said shrugging and giving off his signature smirk. "Not so fun now when you're the one who's weak and defenseless is it Sombra?" he asked.

Suddenly a screech that made them all cover their ears sounded behind them making them spin to see the Changelings split in two. Chrysalis, on one side with her soldiers, hunters and other replacementiees. On the other Suzy and all the workers and drones. The rankings didn't fit but the numbers sorted that out.

The screech was because it looked as if Chrysalis fired a shot at Suzy who was now on the ground one fore leg over the other green on the snow around her, her eyes tightly shut trying to go with the pain.

Handing Eric over to Sarah, snatching the knight's sword which he formed into a shield Jack went over and got in between the two of them reflecting the Queen's next attack back onto herself.

All who were watching was shocked at the (bravery? dumbness? crazyness? stupidness?) that this Student of Discord was showing, protecting a group of Changelings  - from the same colony no less - that he was just fighting mere moments before.

~~*~~

Suzy's POV

I did it, I had everyling below me, behind me all thinking that it WAS time for a new leader.

"You think a few Workers, Drones and one Replacementiee are strong enough to stand up and over throw me Replaceiee 362?" Chrysalis hissed at me eyes only on me venom dripping from her fangs.

"I have a name you know Fat Ass... In fact nearly everyling here has one. So why don't you use them?"

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?" Chrysalis screamed over the gasps, murmurs, and shunning I received from that.

"I called you... 'Fat Ass'," I said "I mean if you're not going to use our names, why should we keep using hers, right?" I asked turning my head from side to side seeing everyone on my side agreeing with me,  and even some on her side nodding.

"Oh NOW they work. They were meant to go off ages ago" Jack's voice cried out from where he was, making me to look over there to see what caused him to say that, stifling my laugh a bit at seeing King Sombra as a frozen statue.

"Suzy look out," someling around me called as I turned my head back to Chrysalis seeing a beam shoot out of her horn straight at me and hitting me on the foreleg making me screech and close my eyes at how painful it was, blood coming out onto the snow. 

Hearing Her charge her horn for a second round, I prepare myself for that to come and end my pitiful life... When for some reason it didn't come.

Hearing questions of 'What in Tartars' name does he think he's doing?' and 'Do you see what I see?'.

Wondering what was going on I opened my eyes for them to fling open when I saw Jack, using Eric's shield standing there, protecting me from the witch's attack, a glow coming off him only we on this side of the shield could see.

~~*~~

Jack's POV

Hearing the screech come from Suzy, not thinking about anything except 'Help her,' I gave Eric to Sarah snatching his sword, shifting it into a shield and got in front of her as Chryssy shot another beam at her. 

Holding it up I closed my eyes to the brightness that her attack gave off feeling all-who-were-behind-me's eyes on me as I just saved them when only before I was fighting them.

'I will not let this old hag hurt anyone else.' I told myself, feeling all warm inside for some reason 'Not the ponies, not her own people, not Cuz, not Eric, not no body. I don't care if I'm just a mismatched pranking bully as some may say... I will not let this bug squish anyone else and ruin anyone elses lives.'

~~*~~

Third Pony POV

Finally at long last Chrysalis gave up trying to get through the shield, Discord's student was holding up and cut off her magic an annoyed look on her face.

"You do know the rules of fighting here in Equestria don't you boy?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact I do," Jack said looking at her, still holding the shield up in case she shot another beam of energy. "Both sides need to agree to the fight, once the fight is going, no one can interfere with said fight, the terms from said fight need to be agreed before the fight and those doing the fight need to be able to fulfill them at the end, and NO CHEATING, BACKING OUT, OR DOUBLE-CROSSING ON THE TERMS!" Jack cried, eyes quickly moving over to a frozen Sombra.

"So what did you just do there?" Chrysalis asked nodding to where he stood in front of Suzy and the others.

"Well since I gather that Suzy, and/or no one else over here agreed to fight you, I got in the way... I love loopholes don't you?" Jack asked grinning finally taking down the shield causing everyone to widen their eyes at his new, new outfit, looking just like Eric's but a bit more chaotic. (Well... he is the Student of Chaos...)

"Love the outfit Cuz," Sarah cried out laughing at seeing Jack wearing midnight blue armor, a golden apple as his chest plate. 

"Thanks," Jack cried over to her joking around as he looked himself over "I was going for a Mid-Evil-Knight's look... Think they'll let me in at the club?" he asked causing Pinkie to giggle at the joke and other to roll their eyes.

> Chap 29
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Huh," Discord said  tilting his head at the screen back in the library, "Will you look at that. Well looks like I was wrong then. Here you go Luna." he said handing the Princess of the Night, the only one other than him not stunned at what they were seeing, a bag of sweets.

"Thank you Discord," the midnight princess said tugging on the bag a few times before finally getting it out of the Draconequss' paw.

"Err... mind telling everypony what you two are talking about?" a mothering voice said as they turned to see a room looking at them and Celestia totally confused.

"You remember that prophecy the filly's found Sister?" Luna asked getting a nod from Celestia and the room "The second part said 

Only when two warriors of harmony become one
Can this be undone
With the love in their hearts they hold
Together they can save the world

did it not?" 

More nods.

"It didn't say which warriors of harmony," Discord concluded "It only said when two become one," he said nursing a just swatted away from the bag of sweets tail.

"Umm... Messter Discord, Preencess Luna?" Amber asked speaking for everyone "How did Jack get to be one?" 

"A very good question little filly," Discord said sapping up a detectives outfit complete with a bubble pipe, and pretended to think. "Well we were told that Sarah got her's by having all the elements in her right Zecora?" he asked making everyone turn to the Zebra.

"That is right, believe you me, I was there with her when she first came to Equestria you see." Zecora said nodding not understanding where this was going.

"So One," Discord began "or two, or four or eight, or..." 

"So it would appear that Jack has all the Elements in him as well," Luna said halting Discord and getting to the point. 

"Honesty, he gets people to see truth about things..." Discord began.

"Kindness, towards the children and others when he's not upset at something..." Luna continued.

"Laughter... Do I really need to say the reason?" 

"Generosity, he's giving up his own time to help us in our time of need..."

"Loyalty, towards his friends and cousin..."

"And the Magic of Friendship, being how fun he is, he can make friends anywhere with anyone, after they get to know him." 

The room was silent aside from the screen that was still playing 'Whitetail Wood' and the ponies there were going over what was just told here.

"Ok," Celestia said thinking learning after her first few years on the throne of this place to just go with things like this. "So who's the second since Sarah is Eric's but it's Jack who seems to be the warrior in question?" 

"Well..." Discord began 'puffing' the pipe "I would think it 's dear sweet..."





"...Suzy," Eric said answering Twilight's question.

"How ya come to that weirdo..." Rainbow asked helping Pinkie draw on Sombra's face much to his displeasure - she was bored.

"Well, I'm not really sure where mine came from," Eric said on the ground, letting Fluttershy re-bandage his wounds. "As I remember I only got them because I asked for someway to save Sarah from Nightmare Moon. So it might be something to do with elements or the person the first warrior loves and loves back, or something." 

"So why is it Suzy?" Rainbow asked as if she didn't hear a word that was just said.

"Because they both love each other," Cadence said smiling sensing it. 

"Thank you," Eric said "At least somepony here gets it." 

"Ok," Sarah said getting in on the conversation but watching the fight between her cousin and the Changeling Queen trying to destroy him so she could get to Suzy and the other 'traitors to the Hive' "So sensing she doesn't know or whatever... How exactly do we tell Suzy she needs to step up and take this roll, with out That hearing us, or stopping us along the way?" she asked pointing to Chrysalis.

"Have you ever been a Breezie before Sarah?" Fluttershy asked

"A what?" Sarah and Eric asked never hearing about these creatures before.

"Oh they are just the rarest, tiniest, most adorable magical creatures in the whole of Equestria." 

"There a bit like pony fairies," Cadence said the only one besides Fluttershy to of heard of these creatures.

"So why am I the one being picked?" Sarah asked having learnt to just go with things like this. 

"Just a feeling that she might listen to you or Eric more than she would us but Eric's hurt," Fluttershy said hiding behind her mane. 

"Fine..." Sarah said sighing "But this better not hurt," she said towards Cadence feeling herself shrink, antenna pop out of her head, her feather wings turn into butterfly or were they dragonfly like ones and her body shift from a human to a pony.

"Well how do I look?" she asked in a squeaky voice, buzzing her wings looking at everyone wanting an answer.

"Perfect,  now get over there and tell Suzy, what's going on and that she's the second half to Jack's warrior of harmony pair." Cadence said softly so Sarah's new tiny ears don't blow out or she gets swept away by the power of her voice. 

Saluting, Sarah buzzed her wings and after a shaky start made it over to Suzy.

~~*~~
Suzy watched in amazement as she watched Jack fight Chrysalis, to protect them. 'Protect me...' she thought feeling her cheeks warm up a bit not caring anymore if anyone knew she had a crush on the Student of Discord.

"Suzy..." a small voice called out making her look around to see if one of the filly's had found their way there. 

"Suzy, it's me Sarah, look down," it said again making the Changeling to see a Breezie in a rainbow colored outfit waving at her.

"Sarah? But how..." Suzy asked holding her hoof out tilting her head a bit confused on how this came to be.

"There's no time for that," Sarah said really hating her new voice. "You need to get up there with Jack and somehow defeat Chrysalis."

"What do you mean I have to do it?" Suzy asked shaking her head. "Are you not one of those two warriors of harmony that piece of paper described. Is that not why Sombra wanted you?" 

"I am A warrior of harmony," Sarah said nodding "But with this new, lets call it 'information'," she said pointing over to Jack using sword and shield to fight Chrysalis who had turned herself into a dragon and swiping at him with her claws, the others staying out of this, though if it were an order or choice that was uncertain.
"We believe the two the Prophecy were talking about are him and his love. Now who could that be I wonder?" she asked smirking a smirk on that tiny face of hers.

It took a few minutes before Suzy got what she was talking about.

"But how can I be a warrior of harmony Sarah?" she asked "Changelings and born and trained to be liers, as far as I know none of us really know what kindness is until we've been given it, we don't know how to laugh, noling is ever generous, we are loyal, but only to the Hive, and we don't have any friends. Everyone here to each other are just, what's the word, workmates."

"I don't know," Sarah said a hand (hoof?) on Suzy's face to cheer her up "But you don't know unless you try... And if you don't try Equestria and everyone in it including Jack will go poof thanks to Chryssalis."

This getting Suzy's attention, she looked up at nodded a new look of determination on her face. 

~~*~~
Over at the battle between Jack and Chrysalis, Jack finally got a hit with the sword causing a gash right across Chrysalis' underbelly, a dragon's weak spot, weakening her because of the blood loss meaning she needed to shift back to her true form to save energy. 

"You, Jack, are like that zit on a teenage girls face that never goes away..." she said panting a bit hissing at the boy in blue.

"And you Your Highness, are annoying as new born baby siblings," he said back "And as beautiful as Liz the First..." he added not really getting the message across as no one other than Sarah and Eric knew what he was talking about.

But sensing something amiss, at what he said, Chrysalis shot at him a bit too fast for Jack to react to.

Good thing he was knock out of the way by Suzy then wasn't it? 

"Well what too you so long?" Jack asked her as Suzy shifted into a human girl to stand out to everyone wearing a midnight blue dress with slip-on flats, black and purple fingerless gloves, and hair flying free.

"Why?" she asked smirking slightly blushing "Miss me?" she asked as they kicked off of the ground and into the trees for safety "Oh and word to the wise Jack... She doesn't like to be called ugly." she said tilting her head to Chrysalis.

"What you mean?" Jack asked giving her Eric's shield which she turned into a bow and arrow and began firing. "I didn't say she was ugly. I have no idea what your talking about."

"So what was that comment about 'Liz the First' for?" Suzy asked as Jack turned his sword onto a baseball glove catching Chrysalis' newest attack and threw it right back before it burnt through to his hand.

"Ok so maybe Lizzy wasn't the best of the bunch, but she insulted me first," he said as they jumped to the next set of trees dodging a green fire ball heading their way.

~~*~~

"Ah the memories right Eric?" Sarah asked back to normal sitting with her head on Eric's shoulder his arm around her.

"Let's hope it finishes better for them than it did us right princess?" Eric asked smiling.

"Mind filling us in you two?" Applejack asked seeing them a bit too comfortable with this than she thought they should be.

"That's right, you were all knocked out weren't you," Sarah said sitting up a bit remembering "Well, even  though nearly everything is different, this is playing out almost exactly to how it was with us with Moony when we first came here."

"Yeah but hopefully, since Jack has the powers of Chaos and more fighting skills and Suzy's has her training," Eric began listing things off "Hopefully no one will get hurt when they're tending to the other."  he said getting a slight punch on the arm from Sarah.

"A night out with dinner and a movie that it does turn out that way" she said as Chrysalis told them she didn't care who fought her.

"Your on," Eric said signing the Pinkie Promise with her as they turned back to the fight.

~~*~~
"Any ideas how to stop Chryssy then Suz?" Jack asked Suzy, hanging upside down from one of the trees a basket of water balloons tied to his waist and using a sling shot to fire them at her wings knowing a Changeling with wet wings cannot fly.

"Other than a giant shoe, fly swat, of love bubble," Suzy on the same branch he was hanging from batting away the beams her old queen kept firing at them "I can't think of too many. I mean it's not like we can say 'Please' is it?" 

"Does she even know the true meaning of that word?" Jack asked stopping to think for a bit looking towards Suzy looking lovely in that dress... "Focus Romeo, deal with the bug first then get the bride." Discord said lecturing his student.

"Will you get out of there?!" Jack asked groaning as he went back to work. "Besides how do you know what's going on?"

"Set the screen up after you left with everyone," Discord answered "Been watching the whole thing. Gold star for your word skills on turning Chryssy's Changelings against her like that."

"Yay," Jack said as joyful as he felt at the moment two cans of silly-string in his hands firing at Chrysalis burying her under two piles of blue and white silly sticky stringy mess. "Now can you go so I can complete that order?" 

"Ok, ok I get it. Just be careful Jackie" Discord said signing off letting Jack to focus, on trying to think of a way to stop Chrysalis, looking all around the winter wonderland he made, seeing no Changeling, or pony was over by the pond.

Spinning around so he was the right way up Jack told Suzy his plan giving her a quick peck on the cheek in case it all went wrong and jumped down.

"Ah so you've finally come to see reason then have you?" Chrysalis said standing tall and as dignified as she could with soaked wings and silly-string all over her.

"I've come to see that water balloons and silly-string aren't working to stop you," Jack said snapping his fingers and poofing up on the lake right in the middle "So lets see if a frozen lake can do any different."

"Jack! What are you doing!?" Sarah cried out being pulled back by Applejack trying to stop her from interfering with a fight that wasn't hers.

"What's it look like Cuz?" Jack said doing a few tricks "I'm skating. Don't worry it's perfectly safe." 

"DON'T YOU SAY THAT TO ME WHEN YOU'RE ON A FROZEN LAKE JACKSON JONES!" Sarah said now needing Rainbow and Shining Armour to hold her as well making Jack smile a bit.

"Don't worry... It wont end like last time," Jack said waving a hand "You're there this time and Emma... Well..." he said sighing but then snapping out of it and turned back to Chrysalis. "So Your Highness, want to put your frozen lake attack skills to the test?" he asked  smirking towards her.




"Jack knows what he's doing right Discord?" Celestia asked eyeing the one in question shocked that Jack was doing this.

"I sure hope so..." he said coming back with an extra large box of pop-corn and glass of chocolate milk.

> Chap 30
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in Whitetail, everyone had their eyes on Jack who was prancing around on the ice as if there wasn't a care in the world jumping when he needed to to avoid Chrysalis' attacks, and landing gracefully back down after shooting at her as if this was a game sliding pass a judges table with three more Jacks all holding up 10 on their score cards.

"Will you stay still you ungrateful little whelp!" Chrysalis screamed having trouble even standing on the ice, her hooves sliding out from under her.

"Now why oh why would I do that Chryssy?" Jack asked circling her and returning to the center of the lake. "We're always moving anyway, so what does it matter if I'm moving just a tiny bit more than you are?" 

All the Changelings were trying to hide their laughter at how big a fool this boy was making of the Queen. 

All the Ponies were watching with baited breaths watching the ice rather than the ones on it all wishing it stays solid enough for Jacks plan to play out.

1, Get Chryssy to the lake
2, Get her to the center of the lake
3, She falls in 
4, And becomes a Change-cicle 

"I hope your cousin knows what he's doing Sarah," Suzy said just as nervous as Sarah her keen eye starting to see marks on the ice. 

"Me too," Sarah returned her mind reliving that day on the ice...





"Come on cuz don't you want to join us?" Jack asked coming over with Emma who was just learning to skate, to Sarah who was reading a book.

"I only came to make sure you didn't do anything stupid Jack," Sarah said looking over the top of the book.

"Huh?" Jack said as he took Emma back out "I wonder why Sarah doesn't want to skate with us Em. You have any ideas?" 

"I think she just scared Jack," Emma said in her sweet just-gotten-three-years-old-on-that-day voice. 

"I am not scared," Sarah said calling out to them not taking her eyes off of the book.

"Then come onto the ice," they both cried Emma giggling as Jack lifted her above his head like professional skaters.

Knowing this wont go away until she did, Sarah put down her book, slipped on her skates and stepped onto the ice, waving her arms around to get her balance.

"There, whoa..." Sarah said sliding over to her cousins slowly. "I'm on here. Now can I get off?" she asked loosing her footing and landing on her bum in the center of the frozen lake.

"No way," Jack said leaving Emma for a bit coming over to help Sarah back up laughing. "Now I need to teach you how to skate so you don't fall over," he said catching her just as she was about to fall again wrapping his arms around hers. 

"I can do it myself," Sarah said shaking him off "Just tell me what to do," she said looking down to her feet not seeing the light markings on the ice.

"Fine," Jack said zooming around in front of her so she can see what he was explaining to do as he did it. "Ok, the simplest trick is French Fries and Pizza," Jack began "Keep your feet facing forward to speed up as you skate, and point your toes in to slowdown, and you get going just like you would if you were walking. Any questions?" Jack asked smiling at her.

"Can you go over the french fries and pizza again?" Sarah said having trouble even standing up almost falling over again.

"It's not all that hard Sarah," Emma said coming over as Jack sighed and skated away a bit leaving his sister to teach their cousin to skate.

"First you move one foot, say your right one," she said doing so herself telling Sarah to follow orders. "Good. Now you move the other one and slide it a bit more forward than the first one." Again she did as she instructed Sarah to do.

"Ok, now I know how to move," Sarah said out loud "But that doesn't explain the Pizza Hut order Jack gave out." 

"I'm getting to that," Emma said spinning circles around her older cousin checking she was doing it right. "Ok so to keep going  and sooner or later speed up, keep your skates pointing forward, like french fries and then when you want to slow down again, point your toes slightly as if it were a piece of pizza... You get it now?" Emma asked finally stopping slack bang right in front of Sarah with wide eyes.

"French Fries speed up, Pizza slow down, slide walk to move," Sarah recited taking in a deep breath, closed her eyes, moved her foot, and fell flat on her face.

'CRACK!'

Everyone froze where they were on the lake searching where that noise came from all three pairs of eyes pointing to just under Sarah all three now seeing the lines in the ice that were only getting wider, and deeper the longer she was there.

"Sarah don't move," Jack said getting her to pay attention to him instead as he took off his skates and slowly and carefully made it over to the two girls.

"No Jack get back, it wont hold all three of us," Sarah said trying to get up but that one made it worse.

"DON'T MOVE SARAH!" Jack commanded.

"Jack..." Emma said looking over to her brother then to her cousin, then the ice "I'm scared..." 

"I know Em..." Jack said getting as close as he could looking all around for something to help them "But it's going to be alright, neither of you are going to fall in. Er..." he said spotting his fathers walking stick they 'borrowed' on the ice "We're all going to have some fun instead..." 

"No we're not!" both girls said one slightly in tears the other annoyed that he was facing danger with a smile on that dumb face.

"Come on girls," Jack said looking to the sky for a bit "Would I trick you?" 

"Yes!" the said together "You always play tricks." 

"Ok, yeah you're right," Jack said agreeing "But not...  Not this time, I promise. You have to trust me." Jack said looking from one girl to the other eventually getting nods.

"You girls want to play a game. We're going to play Hop-Scotch like we play everyday," Jack said eyes moving over to the walking stick "Look, it's as easy as One..." Jack began making Emma laugh and scaring Sarah even more as he pretended to lose his balance. "Two... Three." he said now next to the stick his eyes still on the girls.

"Ok, now it Sarah's turn," Jack said holding the stick in his hand. 

"No," Sarah said cutting him off "Get Em off the ice first," she said not sure how this was going to work.

"No offense or anything, by this cuz " Jack said holding the stick out to right in front of her "But between the two of you you're the heavier one, so you need to get off that patch of ice first, I'll recuse Em as soon as you're safe. Now grab the stick." 

"But..." 

"Sarah Jones do you want to live or not?" Jack asked sternly loosing his cool for a bit as the cracks got even wider with Sarah moving to reach for the stick.

Saying nothing but looking at Jack with daggers Sarah grabbed the hook of the stick, and Jack pulled with all his might sliding Sarah to the bank.

Jack was about to get Emma to grab the stick now when after at long last the ice gave way and Emma fell in.

"Emma!" the two six-year-olds cried together, eyes on the hole both of them holding their breaths waiting for the birthday girls head to come out of it.

Two minutes - Nothing was happening, but she was obviously going to come up again soon right?

Five minutes - Their parents voices were calling out to them to come in from the cold, but they didn't hear them.

Seven minutes - Both children knew the truth of the matter, but were shaking their heads tears coming down their faces eyes still on the hole.

Ten minutes - Their parents were coming over to see what was wrong and what was taking them so long.

As soon as they got there the spell was broken and Sarah pulled off her good for nothing skates and ran straight into her dads chest eyes red constantly repeating to Uncle Tom and Auntie Anna how sorry she was that this happened.

"Sarah, Sarah" her dad said unsurly hugging her and smoothing her hair "What happened?"

"In short Uncle Bill," Jack said in a almost-never-heard-from-Jack sad voice, his eyes to the ground "We don't need to worry about not getting Em that playhouse for her birthday anymore."

"Really?!" Sarah screamed pulling away from her dad and spinning around to face Jack. "We just lost Emma and all you can do is make fun about it?!" 

"It was your clumsiness that made the ice start cracking Twinkle Toes!" Jack said anger now on his face now too.

"Well it was you and Emma who wanted me out on that death trap in the first place!" Sarah screamed pointing to the lake. Then trying to hold back the tears but failing to hide them, Sarah rushed back to the house went to the room her family were staying in while they were staying there, and soaked the pillow on her bed crying herself to sleep, her mind replaying what just happened out on the lake.





Back to the present Sarah almost screamed as she saw Jack almost exactly reenacting that fategul day with Chrysalis.

"Come on Chryssy it's not all that hard," he said spinning circles around her "Think of it as french fries and pizza. Oh wait you might never of heard of them have you? What with you always in the Badlands and feeding off of love." 

"Silence you mismatched Student of Chaos," Chrysalis screamed her feet sliding out from under her once again making her land on her stomach.

'CRACK!'

The whole clearing (and library) went quiet and everyone's eyes pointed to just under Chrysalis everyone now seeing the lines in the ice that were only getting wider, and deeper the longer she was there.

"Choose you next few words carefully my dear," Jack said spinning a staff that just appeared in his right hand, looking vaguely  familiar to Sarah, hovering a few inches above the ice meaning Chrysalis was the only one on there.

Silence, only daggers pointing to the boy, because you see even though, she was still fully able to use magic to get her out of this mess, Chrysalis is one of those, who if in the right predicament such as this forgets she can do that.

"Wow..." Jack said sticking his finger in his ear and pulling out a big ball of wax which he made into a mini figure of the Changeling Queen and tying her to a thick piece of wood as if it was a burning steak from olden times "Nothing? That's gotta be a first." 

"Get me off this thing you... You..." Chrysalis said getting her voice back.

"Ah ah ah ah ah..." Jack said holding up his finger "Ask nicely Chryssy. Asking people to do thing for you Nicely gets you way better results. But then you may not know how to do that... So hope you like it there." 

Jack was just about to turn and mid-air walk away when Chrysalis mumbled something into the ice.

"Er... Can you repeat that please Your Highness?" Jack said this time pulling out an even bigger ball of wax from his ear shifting it into a Jack wax statue.

"Can you help me get off this p... please?"

"One more time..." Jack asked his signature smirk on his face as he leaned on the staff as he gently lowered himself to the ice right in front of her.

Rolling her eyes and knowing she'll regret this, but also telling herself to destroy this freak once she was off this death trap Chrysalis asked again "Can you help me get off this please?"

"Well of course I will," Jack said holding out his hand which he swiped away just as her hoof was about to come down into it. "But I'm sure there are a few requests and such before that happens so... Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Twilight, I call upon you all to join us here to discuss matters with her royal highness Queen Chrysalis about the state of Equestia!" Jack called out to the sky through a big mega-phone.

After a couple of seconds, Jack turned to the new watch on his wrist, wondering what was taking the other two princess so long, seeing Twi and Cadence were already here, when two more Alicorns popped up out of no where in the middle of the woods looking around at what was going on.

As the princesses went over to speak to a still downed Chrysalis, Jack made it over to everyone else, spotting Discord was there now too a box of pop-corn in his left hand holding up his right for a high-five a big grin on his face.

"Well done my son," he said zapping up his Sensi of Chaos outfit bowing to Jack "You have learnt well." 

"Arigatō Master," Jack said bowing back staff still in hand.

Just then Suzy and Sarah both decided to punch Jack with all their might on the arms.

"Ow..." Jack said backing off rubbing his arms where they hit him "Girls what was that for?"

"For scaring us to death ya bozo!" they both cried getting stifled laughs from everyone else. 

"Well if it's always going to be this way I wont bother in..." he began but was cut off as Sarah first gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then Suzy for a few seconds longer on the lips then said, both blushing...

"And that's for everything else." 

Just then Jack thought it was the best time to faint a goofy smile on his face butterflies spiraling around his head.

"Good grief," Sarah said under her breath leaving Jack to be 'cared for' by Suzy, going back to Eric.

"Er... You're still mine right?" he said a bit wobbly on his feet. 

"Eww... Eric he's my cousin for crying out loud," Sarah said overreacting jokingly "Of course you're still mine." she said kissing him now feeling more warm than she had felt throughout the whole stay there.

As they came apart all of Eric's injuries were all better and the last bits of Sarah were back to normal.

"Some anniversary," they said together.

~~*~~

Over by the lake the four Princesses of Equestria were going over the matters at hand that will be set in order, once Chrysalis was helped off of the ice.

"So I have to take, every last of my Changelings back to the Badlands where we have little food, and less water, and promise to never attack Equestria ever again?"

"Yes," Celestia said wings spread standing tall. 

"No wait," Twilight said getting in between the two of them before they could bump hooves to seal the deal. "Princess, 'Every last Changeling' includes Suzy..." Twilight whispered pointing over to said Changeling still in her Human form and wearing her Warrior of Harmony outfit, even though Jack has gone back to his old outfit, laughing along with all who were around her, her hand in Jacks.

"Suzy Changeling," Luna called out to the group getting them all to look up and said Changeling to shift back to her true form slightly scared but coming over to the Princess of the Night. 

"Yes Your Highness?" she asked not sure whether to bow or not seeing her Ex-Queen was just there.  

"I'm only going to ask this once my dear," Luna said softly "It's a simple 'Yes No' question but one that may take a few minutes to decipher. And the right answer will reward you proudly, while the wrong one will not. Understand?" she asked a small smile on her lips seeing the spark she had with Jack as well.

"Yes You Highness," Suzy said a bit stronger looking into the Princess of the Night's eyes.

"The question I'm going to ask my dear," Luna began "Is... Do you still follow Queen Chrysalis?" 

> Chap 31
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The whole clearing went silent to give Suzy space to think this over, but she didn't need more than a few seconds before she said strongly... 

"No," bowed and went back over to Jack shifting back to her human self snatching some cotton candy smiling.

"Well that rounds that up then," Luna said smiling turning to an enraged Chrysalis "Once we get you off this lake, you are to take each every single Changeling that still follows you, and return to the Badlands and leave Equestria in peace." she concluded stepping up to her sister.

"Fine, I'll take everyling that still follows me back to the Badlands and leave your puny world in peace," Chrysalis hissed "Just get me off this thing." 

A  'snap' of a couple of fingers from Jack later, and the Changeling Queen was back on the bank, her wings dried out, and all silly-string gone. 

"Humph..." she said in thanks as she went over to gather her Changelings to head home. 

Leaving her to do that, everyone else crowded around Jack and Suzy to thank and congratulate them for sorting this out.

"Why'd ya say you don't follow Chrysalis any more then Suzy?" Applejack asked smiling.

"Because she didn't send any help or whatever to me when I was in trouble," Suzy said slipping her hand into Jack's and holding her head high. "She had two days to come for me when I was in that dumb castle of yours, and yet nothing happened, she may of been the Queen of my race, but she will never be a queen to me."

After a few 'aww's', 'yuck's', and laughs, from everyone Suzy froze for a couple of seconds listening, then with fear on her face quickly pushed Jack to one side getting a blast of green energy to hit her right in the side.

"Suzy!" the six, Sarah, Eric, and Jack called while the others turned to look up to see Chrysalis blowing at her horn.

"Not the one I wanted," she said in 'I-don't-care' voice "But it will do."

"Chrysalis, we had a deal," Celestia said stepping forward "We agreed that you shall leave and leave Equestria in peace. 

"Oh I know we had a deal Celestia," the Queen said flicking at her mane "But we did not agree on 'when' I should go did we?" 

"One would think it would not needed to be said," Luna said returning to Old-Equestrian - something she does when she's annoyed.

Just then...

"Er... Jack," Sarah said getting everyone's attention "How long do your paralyzing snowballs last exactly?" 

"Got a bit more of a situation, here then snowballs cuz," Jack said not answering as he poofed up a giant first-aid kit and began to help Fluttershy.

"I think this is more important," Sarah said grabbing his chin and pointing it to where Sombra... wasn't?

"Ah..." Jack said getting everyone worried, turning back to his Warrior of Harmony self looking all around. 

"All this fuss over a couple of traitorous children," Sombra's voice rang out around the clearing, getting everyone to look everywhere as the shadows began moving by themselves then all gathered together besides Chrysalis, Sombra coming out looking mad "And still they refuse to stop fighting."

"As we've already said Sombra," Eric said pulling out his sword "As long as there are bullies, we'll keep fighting them. So why don't you both save your pride, and everyone's time and leave already?" he asked looking back and forth between the two royals in question.

"And you know..." Jack said closing his eyes "It's not a very good idea to get someone with the powers of Chaos mad. Especially in a place of his own creation." he said opening his eyes to show them as pure white and anger on his face as he placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled calling forth tiny snowmen all over the clearing.

"Er..." Rainbow said not sure how to react "I think you might need to do better than that Jack," she said as Sombra and Chrysalis burst into fits of laughter at this.

"Oh... There's more," Jack said smirking a smirk that didn't quite belong on the boys face "Snow, you see, is a curious thing. One minute it can be calm and soft and quiet begging for you to play with it. The next..." he continued snapping his fingers a sign for all the snowmen to start coming together into one giant beast ice all over it like armor and frozen claws, growing to the height Ponyville Town Hall getting everyone to look up with wide eyes and the King and Queen to shut up.

"It can be ferocious, loud, so cold it stings your face as you try to make your way through it, giving you frostbite and hypothermia." he wrapped up turning to the two  "Beware the Frozen Heart you two." he added as he set his giant snowman towards them. 

With that taken care of, everyone turned back to Suzy who turned back to normal to save her energy green blood staining the snow and bandages and only getting bigger.

"Suz what ya do that for?" Jack asked calming down a bit resting a hand on her shoulder.

"You mean you wanted this to happen to you?" Suzy asked hissing a bit in pain as she moved to look at him better.

"More than I would it happening to you," Jack said annoyed.

"Huh, I thought the Student of Discord was meant to be all fun and games," Suzy said smiling looking into his eyes. 

"Can't any of you do anything," Eric asked around arm around a worried Sarah.

"I'm afraid not," Celestia said sadly shocking everyone. "Luna and I still don't have all our powers and even if we summon them now it will be too much of a rush for us to get them under control - we could end up hurting her even more."

"And my snapping hand's still broken," Discord said for once being serious "I can do little things yeah, but I don't think I can sort this out, sorry." 

"Well what about the Elements then?" Sarah said "Nightmare Moon said when this happened to Eric that a 'Beam of Harmony' that uses all my power would of made him better."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Twilight said quickly before anyone could agree or start shooting. "We don't know if She was telling the truth when she said that to you, for all we know it might of made it worse and she only said that for you to waste your energy so you couldn't stop her." 

Then Eric remembered something and looked to Sarah a smile on his face "'Sometimes, when you come to the end..." he began.

"...What you need is a friend,'" Sarah concluded also smiling and hugging him for that brilliant idea. 

"Mind filling us in there you two," Jack said on his knees Suzy resting against him getting sleepy. 

"You don't need to use a Beam of Harmony," Sarah said confusing everyone into saying 'But you just said's'

"We know," Eric said waving them off "But that wasn't how we got out of this when it happened to me."

"Then how?" Everyone but Jack cried who began to blush as he looked to Suzy.

"They kissed and that fixed Eric back up and destroyed Moony," he said getting everyone's attention.

There was silence for a minute, well apart from the roars and cries from the two royals and the snowman, then Sarah cried...

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" as she left Eric and whacked Jack around the side of the head.

"What?" Jack said shrugging rubbing the pain away.

"You were there when we first came here and you didn't think of showing up or helping us when you saw we needed it!" Sarah said annoyance in her voice "Do you have any idea how much faster and easier it would have been if you of showed up and helped us?" she asked.

"Well if I did, would you be where you are today in that uniform?" Jack asked looking at her up and down "I wouldn't of let anything bad happen to you..." 

"Oh so me getting shot in the back by Nightmare, was on you list of 'Alright - Don't help them things' then?" Eric said just as annoyed arms crossed looking to Jack.

"She shot it before I could do anything," Jack said "And would you of let me help you anyway?" he asked "If I remember before this all started we weren't all that close as friends and family as we are now back then were we?" 

"Can we not dawdle in the past and get to helping Suzy here?" Applejack asked getting everyone to get back to the present. 

"Go on then Jack," Sarah said returning to Eric not caring anymore and deciding to watch the fight her fists clenched in anger.

Sighing, Jack just turned back to Suzy who was blushing a bit a small smile on her face showing she heard how this was going to get sorted out. 

"So you ok with that?" Jack asked rubbing the back of his head through their thoughts so they could talk mildly in private.

"As long as you are," she replied looking away "A kiss from a Changeling can be a dangerous thing, if it goes on too long..."

"All kisses are like that Suz," Jack said getting slightly closer to her. 

"No, not like that," she said putting a hoof to his chest stopping him so he could hear her out. "A kiss from a Changeling can be dangerous because they can drain all the love, energy, and - if the kisser has any - powers, making them just an empty shell with only hate in their hearts."

"But then how else are we going to sort this out?" Jack asked lifting her chin a bit "It will be ok, I promise." Jack whispered and before she could do or say anything else brought her closer and let their lips touch. 

~~*~~

Suzy's POV

As soon as Jack's lips touched mine, I immediately felt all the love and powers he had for me soaking into me and the wound Chrysaliss gave me slowly close up.

Not wanting to drain him I tried to pull away after about five seconds but he just held me there deepening the kiss determined to make sure it went on long enough for me to feel better. I couldn't believe the dangers this boy would go through for the ones he loved.

Smiling feeling a blush come to my cheeks, I stopped struggling and just enjoyed the moment. Knowing he'll still be my Jack Jones even without his love or powers. Though I hoped that he would know when to stop.

~~*~~
Jack's POV

Not wanting to be talked out of it or held back any longer than necessary, I planted my lips on Suzy's as soon as I finished speaking and straight away felt my powers weaken.

After five seconds she tried to pull away, but knowing that she wasn't healed yet I wrapped my arms around her and deepened the kiss determination under the blush on my face to see to it she was alright, feeling more powers and energy seep out of me.

After a few more seconds she stopped struggling and just let me kiss her. 

> Chap 32
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Third Pony POV

After about twenty seconds of the two of them kissing Jack and Suzy pulled apart.

Suzy looking a whole lot better, Jack looking very pale and tired.

"So..." Jack asked panting a bit eyes only on Suzy. "That do it?" 

In form of an answer, Suzy shifted back to her Human form and smiled hugging him. 

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Ok ok love birds," Rainbow Dash's voice came ringing into their ears making them look up "If you forgot we still have a few things to take care of." she said pointing to the fight the royals were having with the snowman which was a bit smaller than before and not as fast.

"Did it.. really take that that much energy Suz?" Jack asked slowly getting up wobbling a bit poofing up the staff he had earlier to lean on shaking off the others saying he was fine.

"I said it would Jack," Suzy replied playing with her hair looking away. "But as long as you still have your love and powers... I think it'll be alright." 

Just then there was a loud roar and crash as Jacks snowman came crashing down after Sombra sliced one of it's legs off anger on his face panting a bit as his stood up tall and shot his eyes over to the group Chrysalis next to him showing the same amount of anger on her face as she flicked a strand if hair out of her face.

"I have had enough, messing around with these childish games," Sombra said stomping his hooves to show his anger "Either you hand over Equestria or we will kill each and everyone of you." 

"Ok," Jack said stepping forward making everyone look at him surprised. "Ok you can have Equestria. I mean it's not really all that important is it? Not like Earth is it guys?" he asked Eric and Sarah telling them to play along.

"Earth?" the king asked letting the name of this new land roll on his tongue.

"Yeah Earth, the place where us three are from," Jack continued pointing to himself and Eric and Sarah. "Earth's got everything Equestria has but it's easier to get to. On Earth someone falls in love with another person every five seconds or something like that," he said to Chrysalis getting her wings buzzing in excitement.

"And there are ginormous crystal mines in one country  called Brazil at least, and Earth also has a whole new section of fears that can not be found in Equestira. Such there are these things called Roller-Coasters that's basically an all you can eat buffet for fear..." he continued this time aiming it towards Sombra.

"Err... Jack I think you may be stretching it a bit," Sarah said worried into Jack's ear. 

"That's how salesmen work Cuz," Jack whispered back zapping up a salesman's outfit complete with jacket, straw hat, and shrinking the staff down to a cane. "Trust me, this will work." 

"So how do we get to this 'Earth' boy?" Sombra asked after a bit of time discussing with Chrysalis, both with evil looks on their faces.

"First Your Majesty," Jack said bowing low for respect "Both of you must hereby and hence forth pull back all the taking over Equestria junk, give it back to Luna and Celestia, and leave it be..." Jack said pausing to give them time to think on this situation and relay that part of the deal.

"That part is taken care of boy," Chrysalis answered "All my Changelings that are still loyal to me..." she hissed looking to Suzy eyes narrowing "Have backed off from your towns and cities and are leaving them now as we speak." she said turning her attention to Luna and Celestia.

"And next..." Jack said snapping his fingers making a large purple horseshoe shaped mirror appear, stepping aside. "You just need to step through this lovely magical mirror, and you'll find yourself on Earth." bowing presenting the mirror to them.

"And there will be no tricks or anything like that?" Sombra asked raising an eyebrow to the boy that was after all the Student of Discord.  

"No tricks sir," Jack continued "Cross my heart hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Just walk on through, and once your on the other side, you'll be on Earth."

Tension built as everyone watch the King of Darkness and the Queen of the Changeling with nearly her whole hoard, only the hoofull that backed Suzy up earlier stayed put, walk up the steps and through the mirror.

Once the last Changeling was gone, Jack shifted his cane into a sledge hammer poofing up protective gear for everyone and smashed the mirror into pieces.

"Jack I can't believe you just let those two just go to Earth," Sarah said once the shock got over everyone, who backed her up with this.

"Oh come on Cuz," Jack said zapping the broken mirror and hammer away "What did being under Sombra's magic mess with your memory? What is the one thing that Equestria has the Earth doesn't that both of them need to get though life?"

"Oh... Oh I know," Pinkie said bouncing around waving her hoof in the air "Me... Me... Pick me..." 

"Yes Pinkie?" Jack asked smiling sucking on a straw for his chocolate milk smirking. 

"Magic... The answer is Magic right?" Pinkie said grinning proudly.

"Correct-a-mondo, my bouncy pink friend," Jack answered giving her a 'Well Done' sticker with his face on it, making her squeal in delight. "And even if they've figured it out by now... Now that the mirrors been destroyed, they can't get back."

"Ok so that's all well and good but where did you send them?" Eric added in now "Because even with out magic, I do not want to ever run into them again." 

"Oh trust me," Jack said "They wont be bothering anyone where they are."

~~*~~

Earth, South Pole

"You imbecile," Chrysalis cried out rubbing her arms trying to warm them up. "You moron... You numskull... You... You..."

"Ah shut up Queeny," Sombra said arms around him too annoyance on his face teeth doing a mixture of chattering and grinding. "We both know you wanted to come here just as much as me, so lay off will ya?" he said.

> Chap 33
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equestria, Whitetail Wood

''So... What now?" Fluttershy asked asking the question everyone was thinking.

"I think the first thing Flutters, is to get back to the castle, maybe celebrate in some way with everyone that this is over, and let the kids have one last night before they head home," Discord said nodding over to Sarah, Eric, and Jack who all looked very tired.

So with a few nods, and a 'snap' of talons later, they were back in the castle being welcomed by cheers and hugs from everypony who were so happy everyone was alright.

Right away Pinkie, her hair back to it's cotton-candy-curly form, pulled out a small blue looking harmless cannon and shot it around the room making party decorations appear surprising Sarah and Eric the most eyes shifting between the decorations and the cannon. 

"Oh that's nothing," Jack said loving the looks on their faces. "You should see the one Cheese Sandwich has, now that's a party cannon, well more like a party tank, but you get the idea." 

"Who?" the two asked together.

"Oh just another Party Pony," Jack said waving it off snapping his fingers poofing up the snacks and a chocolate milk fountain, letting Discord rest his hand for a bit. 

"There's just one thing I don't get," Twilight said attracting everyone's attention putting a halt to the preparations.

Looking up to Jack and Suzy she said "The prophecy stated...

Only when two warriors of harmony become one
Can this be undone
With the love in their hearts they hold
Together they can save the world 

but you're still you, and you're still you," she said pointing this out "So what did it mean by that?"

"Yeah and they didn't save it together did they?" Rainbow added "It was Jack that made them go through that dumb mirror so did the ancient writers get it wrong or is Equestria still in danger?"

"Don't worry Rainbow Dash," Discord said helping himself to some jam doughnuts "Equestria's safe, and are you lot forgetting that Suzy's a Changeling?" 

For a minute there was silence before Jack face palmed himself mumbling curses under his breath.

"You alright Jack?" Sarah asked asking the question everyone except Suzy who had dropped eye contact with everypony was thinking.

"This is why I don't let you into my mind Discord," Jack said addressing his 'master' "You weren't even meant to hear it I blocked off you and Lulu so we can talk privately."

"Jack," Sarah asked getting her cousins attention "What are you talking about?"   

"Lets just say..." Jack said looking to Suzy then up to Discord who was loving this way too much in his opinion "That if I'm getting to where Discord's going cuz," Jack said slowly now looking to Suzy "We might both have a couple of new powers to play around with." 

With that and a flash of green that made everyone shut their eyes because of how bright it was, Jack was a blue Pegasus pony with a white mane and tail and had a snowflake as a Cutie Mark making everyone drop their jaws and back up a bit.

Then a 'snap' of a pair of fingers from Suzy, and a giant cake with bright green frosting decorated with icing sunflowers appeared out of no where, enlarging everypony's eyes and shifting from that to Suzy.

"O...k..." Eric said coming to first "So that answers the questions about the prophecy..." he said as Jack shifted back to being human. "But not what you were yelling to Discord about.

"Is the screen still up in the library?" Jack asked out to the room getting nods. With a 'snap' of his fingers it was now there in the entrance hall saving everyone from going upstairs again and rewound the 'movie' to where he and Suzy were about to kiss. 

Looking to the remote Jack pressed a button and turned to volume up sighing and looking away letting the movie explain.

"So you ok with that?" Jack asked rubbing the back of his head.

"As long as you are," Suzy replied looking away "A kiss from a Changeling can be a dangerous thing, if it goes on too long..."

"All kisses are like that Suz," Jack said getting slightly closer to her.

"No, not like that," she said putting a hoof to his chest stopping him so he could hear her out. "A kiss from a Changeling can be dangerous because they can drain all the love, energy, and - if the kisser has any - powers, making them just an empty shell with only hate in their hearts."

"But then how else are we going to sort this out?" Jack asked lifting her chin a bit "It will be ok, I promise." Jack whispered and before she could do or say anything else brought her closer and let their lips touch. 

Then the movie stopped and everyone turned to Jack and Suzy both wearing blushes and trying to avoid everyones eyes. 

"That was why you were like that when you pulled away from her then?" Applejack asked raising an eyebrow speaking of Jack earlier when he was weakened after his kiss.

"Yep..." Jack said nodding sighing a bit "But enough about this," he said zapping the screen away "Don't we have a party and a certain couples anniversary to enjoy?" he asked poofing up a disco ball, a dance floor, party hats for everyone and thrones and crowns for Eric and Sarah.

With that everyone got into the mood of the party enjoying the music and congratulating Sarah and Eric for their five-month-aversary.

With them distracted, Jack took Suzy's hand and poofed them back to Whitetail Wood.

"Are we not joining the others then Jack?" Suzy asked sitting on one of the rocks by the pond while Jack got to work fixing the place up again.

"I'm not in the mood for some reason tonight," Jack said fixing the rainbow icicles "Besides, this is Sarah and Eric's  five-month-aversay so they should get the spotlight, don't you think?" he said unrolling a large white blanket over the clearing fixing the snow so it was like nothing ever disturbed it.

"Besides," he said snapping his fingers making a new pair of skates appear and gentle music start playing in the trees "If you will allow it my sweet Suzy, I'd like to teach you how to skate," he said smiling bowing slightly. 

"You sure it's safe," Suzy asked speaking of the pond rubbing her arm, shifting her outfit to one a figure-skater would wear nonetheless, blushing a bit.

"Trust me," Jack said making a matching gentleman's outfit for himself and the skates appear on both their feet "This pond is 100% free of ever cracking and making those on top of it fall in."

"Then what was all the twirling and the getting Chrysalis to come on to the pond and loud 'cracks' and the lines underneath her earlier?" 

"Me messing around, making her embarrass herself, sound effects, and special effects," Jack answered in order "Trust me you can put a herd of hippos and crocodiles on there together all jumping around dancing together and not a single crack will come up." he said smirking.

"Well... ok..." Suzy said slowly looking down to her feet "But I don't know how good I'll be. We didn't have ice or snow or anything fun back in the Badlands so just don't judge me." 

"Would I do that?" Jack asked trying to hide the judges table he just poofed up with three more him's like before.

~~*~~

Back in the castle of the two sisters, in the library, some of the fillies and colts were playing with the screen and the remote too puffed out to continue  partying but not too much to go to bed yet.

"Ugh is there nothing exciting happening anywhere in Equestria?" Misty a light grey Pegasus filly with yellow mane and tail and a cloud for a Cutie Mark wined while Amber was flicking the channels trying to find something to watch.

"There might be Misty," Chris said more interested in the puzzle he was doing than the screen "We just haven't found it yet."

"I'm surprised Preencess Celestia and Luna let Messter Discord have this many 'cam-a-ras' around Equestria," Ruby said speaking a word she heard Eric say when he was asking Discord about this screen earlier. 

"I have a feeling they don't know," a gentle voice said making everyone except Amber who was still playing with the remote jump.

"What you mean Miss Fluttershy?" Ruby asked cocking her head slightly.

"Well Discord's one of those who likes to help, but doesn't want it known that he is helping," Fluttershy said coming over and settling down on the ground by the group smiling.

"But to do that, he needs to know everything that's going on everywhere of every second all around Equestria, which is why he has this," she said nodding to the screen which just flicked up a picture of the party in the hall down stairs before changing again. "And because he doesn't want anypony to know he's helping, he hasn't told any of the Princesses about them."

"But isn't it spying then Miss Fluttershy?" Bluebell a light blue Earth Pony filly asked waving her hoof in the air confused. 

"My dear," Discord said appearing up on top of a bookshelf making some of the foals jump "It's only spying, if the one doing it reports what they see to someone else."

"Hey guys I think I found something," Amber said getting everypony to look to the screen again where it was showing Jack's winter wonderland and him and Suzy ice-skating in perfect harmony to the music playing in the background.

"Does Jack know of these Discord?" Fluttershy asked as the foals cheered as Jack lifted Suzy up and they continued skating.

"He knew we had them on earlier," Discord said not really helping since he was in his favorite chair with a box of pop-corn "But I'm not sure he knows they're still on now."

"There you all are," a new voice said as Applejack came in wondering where everyone was, when she was halted by what was playing on the screen and all the foals worried looks at what she'll say.

"Huh, we should get him to challenge Pinkie at some point," was all she said and came over to join them nodding thanks to Discord for the mug of cider he gave her. 

"Somepony say my name?" Pinkie's cheery voice said happily "Hey That's Jack and Suzy isn't it?" she asked "Wow they're really good skaters what with them only being on two legs and all that." she rambled on.

On the screen, the two of them together preformed a triple spin landing on one skate and were now going backwards smiling all the time, earning into more and louder cheers from the foals.

And all of the sudden the two of them on the screen and the music stopped as Jack began to look around.

"You don't think they heard us do you Messter Discord?" Jade asked sounding worried. 

"Hard to say," Discord said playing with his beard "We'll know he had when he pops up here all annoyed..."

"What the hell guys?" Jack asked/yelled as he and Suzy back to what they were wearing before poofing up in front of the screen, both with their arms crossed and annoyed/embarrassed looks on their faces.

"Don't you know it's rude to spy on people?" Suzy accused the room "Especially when they're having a private moment together?" 

"We're sworry Jack and Suzy," all the foals said together looking down to avoid their stares.

"You were really good though," Misty said fluttering her wings cheerfully.

"Yeah," Bluebell said grinning "Can you teach us to skate like that Jack?" 

"Please..." almost all the foals said together with big smiles leaning forward a bit.

"Why don't you get Pinkie Pie to teach you? She is the lead ice cutter during Winter Wrap up you know," Jack asked confused backing up a bit to get away from the creepy smiles he was getting. 

"Are you thinking you'll not be able to do it Jack?" Applejack asked smirking a bit. 

"No," Jack said huffing at the idea "It's just me and Eric and Sarah need to be heading home in the morning so I wont be here to teach them." 

"But doesn't your Whitetail Winter Wonderland only show up when your here Jackie Boy?" Discord asked flicking a popcorn bit into his mouth not caring less for his student's discomfort.

"It's a wood. It will still be there," Jack answered "It just wont have the snow in it. Besides, you know I placed a Forever Frost charm on the pond so it will never melt or crack,so they can go there when I'm not here."

"What was that?" Sarah's voice said as she and Eric showed up now, still wearing the crowns hunting for them.

"Um..." Jack said freezing in his steps not really wanting to face them. "What... What was what cuz?" Jack asked smiling and spinning around after a bit.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS WHEN YOU WERE OUT ON THAT STUPID POND!" Sarah screamed red in the face trying to get to Jack but being held back by Eric and Applejack. 

"I'm guessing pretty worried judging by how you're reacting right?" Jack asked zapping up some body armor just in case Sarah broke free.

"You know what forget it," Sarah said calming herself down "Just forget it. I'm going to bed. See you in the morning, then we can go home," she said taking off her crown and leaving the room to find one of the guest rooms this castle had to offer.

"Wait!" Pinkie called out running out the room "You and Eric didn't get to open your anniversary present yet!" 

Back in the room everyone looked over to Eric who looked just as annoyed if just a tad less than Sarah, eyes only for Jack.

"What?" Jack asked zapping away the armor, shrugging. "Well I couldn't exactly cry out that I did that while Chyssy was there could I? Otherwise it wouldn't of worked."

"Jack, metaphorically cause I know you'll mess around with this," he said to be clear "Place yourself in Sarah's shoes and think about what was going though her head while you were prancing and dancing, and flipping and skipping on that pond of yours. Pretend it was her doing that and you on the sidelines not able to do anything because of these Equestrian laws. Think how scared she was that you at any point could fall in and she lose another cousin, going the same way the last one did." he continued never taking his eyes off the Student of Discord. 

"Now think of how she just felt now, when she learnt that you were never in any danger at all. See though her eyes, how she now sees you and feels towards you just because you failed to mention that one very specific and crustal thing. 

When you have your answer, come and find us." 

With that Eric went off to go find Sarah and see if she were alright.
> Chap 34
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the 'guests of honor' stormed off to one of the castles other rooms for bed, that's when everyone thought it was a good time to pack up the party and go to sleep too.

Soon everyone said 'Goodnight'  to everyone else the lights were turned off leaving only a few dimly light candles in case someone need to get up in the night, and not to scare the younger colts and fillies.

But Jack couldn't sleep. 

First he thought it was because he was on the floor instead of hanging upside down like usual, but even when he found a sturdy enough balcony and all the blood was rushing to his head to make him loose consciousness slightly, he still couldn't sleep.

Thinking he'll count sheep, he placed an illusion spell (one only he could see) on the ponies and Changelings that stayed behind, to make them seem as sheep and began counting in his head so to not wake anyone up.

'One... Two... Three... Four...'

*

'One hundred and seventy one...' 

"This isn't working is it?" he asked shutting off the illusion and coming down to go outside.

"If it pleases you Jack," someone said making him turn around to see Luna positioned like she had been watching him a small smirk on her lips "You lasted longer than I thought you would."

"Yay first place for me then," Jack said quietly "Did I set a new record too?" 

"Sadly no," Luna said getting up "The 'Counting Sheep To Go To Sleep' record belongs to Twilight. She holds it up to Twenty thousand nine hundred and sixty three." 

"Was this when she was up at three a.m and then got all crazy because she was visited by her future self?" Jack asked thinking of when she would of been able to do it.

"Yes. Yes it was Jack," Luna said nodding "But we're not here to talk about my sisters student. We're here to talk about what's on your mind to need to count sheep in the first place."

"Does someone need a reason to count balls of fluff to make them sleepy?" Jack asked answering his own question. "Alright," he said sighing. "I was thinking about what went on in the library a few hours ago. And my mind always replaying what Sarah and Eric both said."

"Good, we're getting somewhere," Luna said pleased poofing up her bag of candy and giving him a piece as an award. "Now, what is it about what they said that's bothering you?" 

"Well," Jack said now on a therapist couch hands together twiddling his thumbs "It was the way Sarah was all mad, and screaming her head off at me when she learnt I placed a Forever Frost spell on my pond, but then was calm but still mad when she said forget it."

"And what of Eric and what he said?" Luna urged him to continue giving him another piece.

"The fact that he said I don't know how Sarah felt when I was on the ice, and it seemed to of started cracking," Jack answered. "But I do know." he said his voice loosing all fun and thought, becoming serous. 

"How so?" Luna's voice asked looking over to a couple of figures in the shadows who were listening in.

"Because what she possibly felt," Jack began "Thinking she might lose someone she loved to the cold icy waters of a body of water because the ice wasn't strong enough to hold them up on... Was most likely what I felt all those years ago when we lost Emma, when Sarah was about to go in and I only just managed to save her," he began.

"I felt scared for what was going on, worried that I might not get to her in time, terrified that as I was inching closer to them, the ice would collapse because of the moving weight and we might all fall in, anger at her when she didn't take the stick so I could get her first because it was wasting time arguing with her meaning the ice would break quicker, relief when I got her to safety and thought I would be able to do the same for Em but..." he stopped their with a sigh. 

"That was the reason why I placed that spell on the one in Whitetail Wood," Jack said without needing to of been asked the question. "So nopony should they come across it and decide to play on it, would go through what me and Sarah went though that winter's afternoon. I may be the Student of Discord, Lulu," Jack continued unaware that he's been speaking to Sarah and Eric too the whole time. "But I do care about health and safety of others. Especially children."

"Anything else that's bothering you?" Luna asked handing over five more pieces just for that speech just now.

"The feeling that neither of my best Human friends will forgive me for this," Jack said getting up in a sitting position and hugging his knees.

"There one way to find out," Luna said using her magic to lift his chin and turn his eyes to the shadows where Sarah and Eric were coming out, both wearing sorrowful looks and avoiding his eyes.

"How... How long have you been there?" Jack asked as they came over.

"For almost all that was said," Eric said for both of them. "Look sorry I set the message that you didn't know what Sarah was feeling," he said rubbing the back of his neck. 

"And I'm sorry I got mad at you Jack," Sarah said rubbing her arm "I should of remembered what you must of felt that day, I remembered what I did, but I didn't and have never thought of what you must of felt. I'm sorry," she said hugging her cousin.

"So... I'm forgiven for not mentioning about the Forever Frost spell?" Jack asked as they pulled away.

"Yes," they both said smiling. 

"Oh good..." Jack said smiling "Now I can possibly get to sleep." 

"I'm not so sure Jack," Celestisa's voice said getting everyone to look towards her as she came over to Luna to raise the sun. "I mean you can, but I doubt you'll get much rest."

"Meh... I'll go to sleep when we get home," Jack said shrugging unwrapping a lolly and started sucking on it. 

"That's a thought," Sarah said making everyone look to her confused. "What of Suzy, Jack?" 

"Huh?" he asked cocking his head confused as he looked over to the Changeling that was sleeping next to him when he was on the ground. 

"Will your pencil work for more than one of you," Sarah began "And if so... Um... What will she look like when she's in our world, cause of the no magic thing? That is if you want her to come with us." 

"Of course I want her to come with us," Jack said not sure how to answer the other questions. "I Just hadn't thought about it before..."

"Yeah you need to be super duper sure on stuff like this before you make big decisions like this," Discord now added zapping up with bed hair in a pink robe and a cup of tea in is paw and talon. "But that puny brush take the both of you two here and back doesn't Sarah?" he asked pointing the arrow to her. 

"Well yeah, but isn't that cause the both of us found it together?" Sarah asked.

"Possibly, but unlikely," Discord said zapping up a large photo album and flicking though it. "Cause you two kids weren't the first ones to find it were you?" 

"How'd you know about that?" Eric asked surprised. 

"Being turned to stone, doesn't mean you don't get to learn what goes on around you," Discord said not looking up from the book still flicking though it "Plus a little Jackdaw told me at some point of your current visit." 

This getting the two to look to Jack who was now back upside down still sucking on his lolly thinking.

"Ah here it is," Discord said turning the book to the lovers "This it the let's say 'family tree' of that little paint brush you have there."

Eric and Sarah looked to it and saw right at the bottom were the two of them with March 2014 - Present in between them both names with a shield and the crest of six gems next to them.

Above that was Eric's grandfather Samuel P. Foster the years going from 1914 - 2014. Above that was someone call Violet Gold and next to her a man called Eugene Fitzherbert, going from 1872 - 1914.

And it just kept going like that. Sometimes it was only one person, sometimes it was two, others three. All in all eventually leading back to Leonardo da Vinci.

"Ok so that the brush," Sarah said surprised so many people have had this brush before the two of them. "But what of Jack's pencil?" 

Suddenly without warning the books pages flipped themselves at top speed coming to a stop on what could only be the pencil's 'family tree' Jack Jones right at the bottom a drawing of an apple with a D, and a newly it looked drawing of the same shield as Sarah and Eric both have, and a big black C, next to the name.

Above him was Sarah and his grandmother Brenda Jones, next to her but off the branch was their grandfather, Peter the years going from 1932 - 2010.

Same as the brush's the number of people changed with each branch going back up the tree, until it too came to Leonardo da Vinci.

"Some good news then cuz," Sarah said looking over to Jack who turned to see what was going on "these things apparently don't have a counter on them, so you'll get to use it with Suzy tagging along.

"Good," Jack said not as hyped up as everyone thought he would be by this news.

"You're happy with that right?" Eric asked cautious, remembering Jack's temper and mood swings from school.

"Course I am," Jack said still not coming down.  "Why wouldn't I be?" 

"You're not sure you want this do you?" Sarah asked knowing that look and voice Jack was giving off.

"It goes to what you said Sarah," Jack said turning to Suzy again "What will she look like? I mean I obviously wont care... But what will everyone else think when suddenly there's a Changeling, or to them a pony with holes in it's hooves a horn, fangs and bug wings, appears out of nowhere?" 

While the others went on about this Celestia raised the sun and after a bit everyone began to wake up meaning the conversation needed to be moved into the library, this time being joined by the six.

"I think Jack," Celestia said after a standstill came to be, after everyone heard the problem and there was a five minute arguing section. "The best way to find out the answer, is to see what happens."

"Ok," Jack said nodding. 
> Chap 35
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in the hall Suzy was just getting up herself and looked around for Jack, not finding him, she went off to ask someone.

"Excuse me," she said to two of the ponies on breakfast duty, a blue mare with pink earrings and a yellow stallion. "Do either of you know where Jack is he wasn't where he was last night when I woke up?" 

"Why no sorry dear," the mare said shaking her head. "But I'm sure he and the others are still here, I doubt they would of left without saying good bye. Waffles?"

Nodding in thanks and getting extra syrup for her waffles Suzy went over to the tables and began eating them. After a bit she was joined by a few of the Changelings also having extra syrup waffles.

"Can I help you lot?" Suzy asked looking around a bit put off by all of them watching her every move.

"We just want to know what's going to happen now now Chrysalis is gone," Scarab said. He was another Replacementiee which was why he spoke up.

"Why you asking me?" Suzy asked confused.

"You stood up to her didn't you Suzy?" Scarab said giving her hints while explaining for her to get it herself. "You're the one who spoke up first. You took the lead when we were in Jack's woods."

"The lead...?"  Suzy said  still confused then it hit her. "No! Nuh uh. Not no way not no how. I am not repeat not being the new queen."

"But you need to be," Arachnie placed in backing up a bit when his new queen turned to him. "We... We need someone to lead us, someone to tell us what to do..."

"You can do that for yourselves," Suzy said looking around at everyone. "You got to make your own decisions and follow your own paths you lot," she said pushing the plate with her breakfast on away and getting up.

"Where you going Suzy?" Arachnie asked along with everyone else muttering the same question.

"I've lost my apatite," she said as she began to walk away.


Deciding to try and find Jack, she began to track him down using her Changeling scene of smell, to the library where just coming out the doors, was Jack.

"Jack," Suzy said smiling hugging him. "You would not believe what Scarab told me just now..." 

"Yeah?" Jack asked inviting her in, the others still there too, but she didn't mind.

"Scarab says he and the other Changelings that stayed behind yesterday," Suzy began looking around to see that everyone was getting it "Want me, ME to be the new dumb queen of the Hive." 

"Do you want..." Jack began after a bit of awkward silence but was cut off.

"Of course I don't want it!" Suzy screamed her eyes flashing green slightly. "Why the hell, would I want to be in charge of those heartless, know nothing about friends, beings who do nothing but suck the love and life out of things?" she said turning her back to him for being so dumb.

"So if we tell you Suzy, that we might have a 'Get Out of Queenlyship Free' card," Discord said to the side with the others a game of Monopoly set up and him playing with a 'Chance' card. "Would you want to take it?" 

"Depends what it is I suppose," she said turning to him, crossing her arms.

"Go to and/or stay on Earth with these guys," Discord said flying his arms around Eric, Sarah, and Jack.

"Go to Earth?" Suzy asked "How?" 

"Via Jackie's pencil that's how," Discord said twirling the silver pencil in his fingers.

"HEY!" Jack said swiping it back "You can't just go around taking other people's things Discord," he said annoyed.

"Didn't seem to bother you that much at school," Eric said to the side "Wasn't there this one time where you 'found' someones old PE kit and then you got a strange rash from it? Or how about that time around Christmas with Jimmy's new bike, and I needed to remind you that his family were three generations of  butchers?" 

"You were going to steal things from butchers?" Sarah asked turning to her cousin in surprise and slight disappointment. 

"I was only going to borrow it," Jack said shrugging "He was going to get it back."

"That's not the point, Jack. Butchers... seriously?" 

"Someone mind telling us what's so bad about these guys?" Rainbow Dash asked getting annoyed she wasn't understanding the problem.

"They're people who are trained to use sharp knives," Eric said not wanting to get too far into it.

"Getting back to the matter at hand then..." Twilight said turning to Suzy. "Do you think you'll want to do that?" 

"If it will get me away from them," Suzy said looking towards the door "I'm all for it." 

"But won't the Changelings need a queen Suzy?" Fluttershy piped up, hiding behind her mane when everyone looked at her.

"So what?" Suzy said shrugging "All they ever cared about were themselves, 'Only the strong can belong', 'If someling falls back, don't go back for them', 'If you care, care for yourself'," Suzy recited some of the quotes that were drilled into her head from when she was a pupa, shocking some of the ponies.

"You lot have shown me all that is just a whole lot of rotten meat," she said looking up at everyone and around the room "If they want a new queen, they can find one on their own. Because it wont be me." 

"But Suz," Sarah said stepping forward "Don't you see? You can lead then out of the dark and them thinking that, and teach them, what we've taught you about friendship." 

"You have no idea what a Changeling Queen does do you?" Suzy asked looking at Sarah a 'Really?' look on her face, her arms crossed.

"Why should..." Sarah was about to ask when Jack cut her off.

"Think about bees and or ants cuz," he said coming over offing Suzy some of the candy he got from Luna to make her feel better. "What to their queens do?" 

"Oh..." Sarah said after a bit blushing slightly "Sorry."

"Forget about it," Suzy said waving her lolly around.

"But..."

"I said... Forget about it."

The room was silent for a bit, all eyes on the two girls.

"So going back to the idea of you going to Earth with these wierdo's," Rainbow Dash said getting the discussion back to where it was before. "We still haven't worked out what... form you'll be in while you're there."

"And with the no magic thing," Applejack continued "We were going to send Jack to go find you so we could test it. If that's alright?" 

"Test it? How?" Suzy asked.

"You and Jack use his pencil, to go home," Eric explained "And then come almost straight back, and tell us if it's... ok or not. If it is then we'll all go home. If not... We'll stay a bit longer to see if we can work something out instead."

Agreeing on that, Suzy took hold of Jack's pencil and with a flash they were both gone. Leaving everyone to wait it out to find out the answer.

> Chap 36
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone was holding their breaths and rocking on their hooves giving worried looks to each other all wondering if this would work.

Then after what seemed like forever, but was more like two minutes, another flash appeared and the odd couple came back still hand in hand with big smiles on their faces.

"Take it it works fine then Jackie?" Discord asked the question everyone wanted to know.

"Sure did," Jack replied pulling on his hair, pulling out a memory with the strand he pulled out of the two of them poofing up in Sarah's living room Suzy her human self dress in a black skirt with an embroidered gold crown on it, a light blue shirt, and knee high boots.

"Still have no idea where she'll live," he said pulling on it some more before it suddenly rushed back into his head "But we can work on that later. For now..." he said snapping his fingers the door firing open to reveal a group of foals and some Changelings who were listening in on the whole thing.

"I thought I taught you squirts too much curiosity is dangerous," he said crossing his arms to them.

"Guess you're just not all that good a teacher then Jack," Eric said smirking getting a laugh from Pinkie and a stiffled one from Sarah.

"That's what we were telling them Jack," Amber said pointing to the Changelings "But they wouldn't listen to us." 

Ignoring the little pony Scarab came forward and up to Suzy "My queen you can't possible be thinking of doing this. Who will lead us? who will care for us?" 

"I am not you queen Scarab," Suzy said quietly a sign she was getting annoyed. "And if you keep calling me that then I'll go and stay there." 

That got him and the others to back off a bit.

"Next you can look after, and lead yourselves," she continued "Or if you sheep don't think you can do that, go under the reign of Celestia and Luna." she said nodding to the two sisters. "I couldn't care less about what you do or not Scarab, but I. Am. Not. Being. Queen." she said teeth turning into fangs and eyes flashing green, fists balled into fists, getting the Replacementiee to back off at last.

"Remind me not to get on her bad side," Eric whispered into Sarah's ear smirking getting a light smack from his girlfriend who was rolling her eyes.

Silence came from the Changeling before them all waiting to see how he'll react. But all he did was stand tall and nod before he left the room.

Arachnie then stepped forward and shifted into a human child so he was shorter then Suzy, even though she didn't want to be one she'll always be a queen to him and the others, and flung his arms around her waist 'Hugging' her he was told this motion the other Humans did was called. 

"Good luck then Suzy," he said backing off staying a child beaming up to her "Hopefully you won't stay there too long." 

"I'll try not to Arachnie," she said kneeling down and hugging him back smiling, after a few seconds feeling more arms around her hugging her good bye seeing all the Changelings, 'secpt one, had turned into children like Arachnie to say good bye to their Queen... no not queen Hero... no not really hero... Their friend.

As they were doing that the foals and ponies were saying their goodbyes to Sarah, Eric, and Jack.

"Do you really have to go?" the foals all asked together all their eyes big and glistening, a slight pout on their faces.

"Oh come on don't give us those faces kids," Jack said coming forth. "We'll be back right?" he asked looking to Sarah and Eric getting nods and smiles. 

"But what if something worse come and destroys Equestria next?" Amber asked stepping forward "What if none of you are here to watch out for us? If you're not here..." 

"Hey hey slow down..." Sarah said coming down now too "One, the danger for now's passed, so you can be happy little colts and fillies again for now. Two, you might not have us, but you have them," she said pointing to the Six, and the princesses "And your parents to watch out and look after you. And three, if something does come... then we'll be back here in an instant. But until then... We'll all be in here." she said pointing to the filly's chest smiling. "So in a way we'll never leave you, as long as you remember us we'll always be with you. All of you." she said looking around to all the foals. 

Getting up together with Jack they went over to Eric and Suzy both of them waiting for their friends. 

Smiling, Sarah took hold of Eric's sword with him, and Jack pulled out his pencil and held it to Suzy, then with all of them smiling said one good bye to everyone, and left.








Together the four teenagers opened their eyes to find themselves in Sarah's living room, back on the day they left - just like the rules Celestia said the paintbrush and presumably the pencil had, said. 

"So what now?" Suzy asked looking a bit nervous now that she was here for longer than two minutes. 

Before anyone could answer, Sarah's parents came through the door glad to see that their little girl was alright.

"Of course I'm alright," Sarah said pulling herself out of her parents choking hugs "Why..." 

"You were nearly hit by a car before we left remember cuz?" Jack whispered taking Suzy's hand to calm her a bit. 

Oh yeah... Sarah thought kicking herself for forgetting that. But when you've had the last few days going through what she had just been through, you couldn't really blame her.

"Any way with that out the way," Jack said speaking up getting his aunt and uncles attention, "Auntie Jodie, Uncle Bill, this is Suzy a new friend of ours we met at the park today," he explained "Says she's from out of town so we invited her over for dinner if that's alright?" 

Getting both parents to say 'Fine by me', they went off to the kitchen to begin getting dinner going and set another few places at the table.

"So," Sarah said turning to the others now that was sorted, "Still going to enter that painting competition?" she asked her boyfriend.

"Nah..." he said smirking "I think we can all agree we've had enough of Equestria for a while."

"What you guys talking about?" Jack asked a big smile on his face.

"I found out last night, here, that there's going to be a Art Competition this weekend for 'teenagers and young adults' held at the church. And was thinking of putting one of mine in. Strangely enough, it's a painting of 'The Mare in the Moon', so I think I'm going to pass."

Suzy was staying quiet by the sofa, still taking everything in when she felt something cold touch her hand making her scream slightly getting the others and Mr Jones to come and check what was wrong, but it was only Midnight coming to say hello.

"It's ok Suzy," Sarah said coming over to her dog hugging her after not seeing her for technically three days. "Midnight might seem scary and all tough and fighting at first, ready to defend her friends when the situation calls it," Sarah began smirking as she looked up at the Changeling-Girl "But in reality she's just a big ball of fur that loves to be loved, who loves you back and likes to play."

"Oh er... Ok," Suzy said getting down slowly petting the animal shakily at first, that going away the more she did it.

~~**~~

For her first night on Earth, Suzy slept with Sarah in her room as a guest the teenagers giving her parents that Suzy hadn't found a place to stay yet which was technically true, all of them surprised that her parents didn't question them about who she was, where she came from, where all her belongings were, etc...

But by the morning she was found in the guest room with Jack on the bed, one under the covers, one on top just to keep the grownup's happy, somehow managing to sleep with their hands held together and smiles on their faces. 

Sarah quietly shut the door and dug out from the hall cabinet an old 'Do Not Disturb' sign and stuck it on the door smirking. 

Jack may be... Well Jack. But he was her and now Suzy's Jack too. Loyal, funny, kind, generous, honest - when he wasn't trying to hide something for a prank he was playing, and all in all a good friend. He definitely deserved the title as a Warrior of Harmony. 

With that Sarah headed down to breakfast a smile on her face all the way down the stairs that lasted all through her cousins stay, and many years after that.


The End