> MLP / Gundam AGE - AGE of Infinity > by GundamBrony > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Episode 1 - Birth of a new AGE > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue (Canterlot, set on A Canterlot's Wedding part 2) At the street of Canterlot, everypony was running away from a massive swarm of insectoid like ponies as each of them spat from the mouth a green smile and trapping everypony who caught on it and wrapped on the cocoon. Many Royal Guards did their best to fend off the invaders, but they too fall by them. As buildings crumble down from the ground by the Changeling's magic beam, a mansion near to the far east of Canterlot was also invaded by the Changelings as fires begin to sweep around as each Changeling was hit by a blue powerful magic beam that sends them to the wildfire, but more kept coming. A unicorn mare and stallion with their horns glowing the same colors was fending off the invaders as every time, they shift their direction and fire a large magic beam at them. I can't keep those invaders off. If that happens, then the treasure that we guarded for generations could fall into the wrong hoofs.........the stallion's mind said while fire another at the left. "Papa! Mom!" a voice was heard as they shifted behind and saw a young unicorn colt with a light green smooth mane and a white coat but now covered in dirt and smoke was chased by three Changelings but trip to the ground and saw the invaders about to drain him until two more magic beams hit them. He then got back up and rushed to his parents, trying to get away from the invaders but didn't see a building coming down on him as their parents saw this, they pushed him out of the way just as the building crumble down to the ground. "Mom!!!! Papa!!!!" the unicorn stallion screamed and saw them trapped under the piles as he rushed to them and use his magic to lift them away but no luck as he kept trying with all of his strength but the result is the same. "Cosmo........here." his father levitated something for him. It was a key tied to a string which has an A-shaped design on them "This is the key to an ultimate treasure that we Bringers families hid from all Equestria from all generations." "A treasure?" he asked them "Yes, this treasure has the power to change the world. And now, it's our time to leave in your care, my son." he weakly explained "Once everything is settled, you need to find here in this place. They key will guide you to that treasure for you only. Your the only one who can change the fate of Equestria." his mother added. "Change the fate of Equestria?" he asked as the buildings begin to crumble down as he saw this and tried to pull his parents out. "Please, I can't leave you two alone! Please don't leave me!" Cosmo tearfully begged them but a magic bubble was wrapped as he was pushed away from them. "Don't......worry, my son...........we will.......always.........be with you............in your heart..........." "Now..........it's time for you.........to become..........the hope.........of all.............Equestrian kinds......." As their parents' last words, the buildings crumble down to them left him, mortified as he weakly got back on his hooves, he gazes at the Canterlot castle where he saw a larger insectoid like pony now looking down at the destruction as more Changelings were swarming around her. He gripped the key in vengeance as tears begin to water on his eyes "Mom.......Papa............." And finally, an animalistic screamed echoed the clouds of Canterlot. (10 months, set after Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks and 10 weeks before The Cutie Map part 1 and part 2) A fresh tears was watering on Cosmo's prone form as a beeping noise was heard as he woke up and begin wiping the tears from his eyes. From his cabinet, he grew older as his light green mane was little longer like his younger self along with his tail as his body became somewhat muscular. He gazes around his working station as from the right, a working desk with clutter stuff of tools and blueprints was scattered as top shelves of books was stacked neatly but at the end, it was scattered. He scratched his mane as he mumbled to himself, gazing at the skies of his window "I had the same dream again, mom, papa.........." With that, he got to the shower and wash himself, then got to the kitchen as he preparing his meal while trying to gather his stuff on his saddlebags. A green sphere robot was bouncing to him as it said "Cosmo, hurry! Cosmo, hurry!" "I know that Haro!" he said while rushing to get himself neat as he got his meal and stuffed in his mouth (while trying to swallow it whole which he almost choked) fast and lastly he levitates a portable device. He gaze it as his mind was fixated on the device. The AGE device that my parents guarded for me.............the one that can change Equestria's fate............his mind echoed as a knock was heard from his door. "Cosmo, are you awake?" a voice was heard as he opened it, a familiar dark blue alicorn with mane flowing like the night skies and a cutie mark of a moon with a black blotch look at him curiously. "Oh, good morning, Auntie Luna," Cosmo said with his kind smile. "Have you been up already with your project?" Luna asked him, sternly which he scratch his mane "Because I can see that your eyes are red." "Well, sort of........" he laughed nervously which she facehoof and shook her head and sigh. "What am I going to do with you?" she muttered, "You're almost like Princess Twilight Sparkle........" "Cosmo, sleep deprived! Cosmo, sleep deprived!" Haro echoed which he hung his head in shame and glare at it. "Haro!!!" he wined earned a chuckled to the Princess of Night. "All right, we better leave now. I got some important things with my sister so I hope you balance your studies between your magical studies and your technology studies, especially with that special project you eager to work on." Princess Luna explained which he nodded as they both left the cabinet and headed to the Canterlot Castle. It has been 10 months since after the Changeling's invasion on Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's wedding with the captain of the Royal Guards, Shining Armor, as the loss of his parents, Cosmo was orphaned into the orphanage until he met Princess Luna who apparently known his deceased parents as their students from a long time ago and adopted him as her own nephew. Since then, they formed a family bond to each other as the time they spend, Luna felt that she never had a son before as being talented with magic, he now attends Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorn in which his high knowledge of magic and spells even advanced made everypony see him as 'The other Twilight Sparkle'. Not to mention that because of his loner nature due to the loss of his parents, every time students tried to ask him to hang out with them and such, the only thing he responds is just an emotionless look to them and ignoring them. After rushing to the hallways, dodging everypony in the way, he and Haro made to class as the bell rang "Good, we made it........" Once he took his seat, the teacher begins lecture of an important lesson as while he takes notes from this, his mind flashback when he saw his AGE device dangling on his necklace as the glare from the sunshine on him. It's has been 7 months since I found the treasure that my parents want me to find. The device that my family protected for generations....... Flashback (Canterlot, 3 years after The Coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle {Magical Mystery Cure}) Cosmo begins looking at the wreckage of his old home as he glances around, his heart ached at the terrible memory that happen. Shortly after attending the coronation, he decides to take a stroll to the wreckage of his old home where the ponies put a memorial of the Bringer family. While nopony is occupied it, he begins to look around as he stops and saw the same pillars that entrapped his mother and father. His eyes begin to water as fresh tears begin to stream around him. The memory of his deceased parents and the time they spend flooded his mind. Mom.........Papa............... as he wipes it away as he about to head back home, his key begin to faintly glow light green. "What the?" he wondered as he took it off and hold like a compass as he gazes around the wreckage, the key glows brightly to the middle of the wreckage as he follows to that destination. Once he reached there, the key begin to glow somewhat bright as crouch down as he holds the key and move it around until the key begins to brightly as he begins to touch the ashes soil but once he moves it around he felt a strange touch as he dusted off, he found what to appeared to be a door handle. "A door handle? That's never been here in my old home," he commented as he dusted the rest off, he found a basement door as he opens it, he follows his key downstairs while it glows brightly on the dark corners as the stairs reached to the end as a metallic door was seen with the same symbol of his key. He glances at his key as a special keyhole was shown as he looks at the teeth of it, he inserted in and turned it. Then the door begins to glow brightly as he about to open it, the door shifted to the ground as he saw what to appear to be a small alcove with a medium chest. Once he opens it, he saw something that he never saw before in Equestria: an A shaped device with a cylinder sideways as a black screen with yellow lines on each end. "What's this?" he grabbed as he examined it, then as his hoof was at the button, a green laser shoot out of the device and hit him as in seconds, multiple words were shown on the device : Scanning.......... DNA scan complete, upload data : Cosmo Bringer Son of Nebula Bringer and Stellar Bringer AGE Device activate AGE Device..........his thoughts wonder in curiosity as the screen turned on as two ghostly figures appear before him as his eyes were confused at this "Mom? Papa?" "Son, by the time you found this treasure, it's time to learn the truth of what we Bringers did for the past generations despite all of the things I told you before." his father spoke. His mother spoke as a various scene of a massive object was floating around "What you found is a replica of the device that was created from another world or specifically, another dimension that our ancestors discover in the years of Equestria was formed. Our ancestor, Galaxy Bringer, and Milky Way Bringer were once appertinances to Star Swirl the Bearded. He shows them the prototype mirror and ask them to go through it. It did work but at the cost, they were trapped and live in that dimension until they can find a way to cross back to Equestria and yet, they discover of a new dimension that we have never seen: a world where technology was advanced to intelligent beings called humans as they evolve their homeworld into space. However, that kind of technology was also used in something that'll change their fate: war. Massive humanoid weapons known as Mobile Suits, create chaos and destruction in a way that nopony never imagine." The scene change as various giant alien-like dragons descend and starting causing destruction on the population as other robots tried to fight off the invaders as some were shot or sliced in half and so forth. "However, when hope seems lost, three special Mobile Suits was created on the eve of war, passed from generations to generations." his father continued as a various scene of a larger robots with the same A symbol fighting against the monsters. "These messiahs were known as Gundam." "Gundam?" Cosmo wonders in curiosity as more various scenes shown giant spaceships, firing weapons, the alien monsters firing their weapons or slashing them in an unimaginable way. "These messiahs were created by the Asuno family that our ancestors met and helped them against the dragon-like suits, also controlled by humans, known as Vagan who they want to take back Earth when they populated to Mars but left for dead by the Federation and suffer from the Mars Ray disease. After the One Hundred Year War, peace is finally restored to both sides as they able to use the AGE device and another database called EXA-DB to create the Everse System to prevent the spread of Mars Ray, thus making Mars a safe place to populated for humans." His mother continued. "With the help of some of the AGE Device and the EXA-DB, they were able to return to Equestria thanks to the Asuno family, but not when one of the Asuno family gave something not only as a remembrance but also as a new hope of our home for the near future which is the one you're holding now." His father went on. "However, Galaxy Bringer and Miky Way Bringer kept it dark from all ponies and other creatures, for they fear that this kind of gift can also be used as a weapon of mass destruction. To protect it, they decide to sealed it here in our home, never to see the light of Equestria but they do have a vision that in the future, a new Lineage of Bringer, born from a heart and soul of a savior, would one day use the device to bring hope to all Equestrians and create a new bright future. We believe that it would be you, who is that savior. The one that can change the fate of Equestria." His mother continued. "It's up to you now, to become the savior like the Asuno family did in the past years, and bring hope to Equestria. By the end of this recording, you must take precaution to use the power of the AGE device and keep it from everypony with only those who you trusted and cared for them. Always know that we love you son and we always be proud of you." His father continued. "Be brave like the Asuno family did and when you're in doubt, know that they'll too, watch over you and guide you. Take care." His father continued as the last words, the figures disappeared as Cosmo's eyes were watering as a tears drip onto the device as while he's sniffing, he gripped the device tightly, he couldn't believe what he heard. Mom..........Papa.............I............ then his eyes turned into a determination. I promise................for our..........family's behalf...............and our...........wishes................ End Flashback I'll be the savior like the Asuno family did........... and protect those I cared in Equestria. his eyes fixed on the AGE device as the bell rang, he grabbed his stuff and hurried out of the school and walked towards a abandoned cabin near to his own as he opens it, he closed it and locked it as he set his stuff down. Then as the windows are closed, he then turned on a switch near to the desk, as the empty cabin begin to open from the bottom of what to appeared to be a high tech workstation, filled with advanced computers but each of them shows off what to appear to be a pony like mecha suit, laid on the middle. It has a helmet that has a white V-shaped fin with a blue coloring on the middle on the sides and a rectangular shape and edges on them as a square shape on top of it as it gave a resemblance of a balanced fusion of Age 1, 2, and 3. Next, the body has a design that almost gave A shaped symbol along having almost a blocky shaped like the Age 1. The armors shoulders have a rectangular shaped curved design along with the white block arms with a rectangular shape on the bottom and to each of the end are mechanical hands. The skirt armor has triangular shaped on the front and a wing pieces on the side. For the flank and the back hooves, a white armored was formed as it has the A symbol on each side as the legs gave remembrance of the Age 1 but cross fuse of the Age Fx's. On the side, a large grey block shaped item was connected on the computer with a cylinder-shaped barrel on the right and a square-shaped visor on the upper middle and another is a huge shield with A shaped design on them. "Time for another testing, Gundam........" he whispered with a smile as he presses a few buttons on the table as the cabinet begin to shift the walls and revealed from outside an abandoned training facility that the Royal Guards once set there a few years ago before moving into the castle. And it was a good thing he able to found it when he moved to his new home since Princess Luna and Princess Celestia able to find one that's one block to the castle and since that nopony ever come here often, it makes sense to use as a training ground for his suit. "Haro, set up the dummies! Put at Lv 5!" Cosmo said, putting on what to appear to be a blue and a light green suit with A shaped compartment hole on the chest as he took off his AGE device and put on his helmet. "Roger! Roger!" With the robot bouncing through the computer and connect to it, from the training ground, three larger size dragon-like beings materialized. Cosmo then hold his AGE Device as he slammed it into the compartment hole as the suit begin to glow brightly as the mecha suit begin to shake and shot out of the table and headed towards him like a magnet as he stands on his hind legs, the leg armor begin to open up and attach to them then closed it as he spread his front hooves as the arm armor attached to it as a mechanical hand attach to his hooves as he bailed his fist. Next the skirt armor and the body armor attached to him as the helmet float to him as it opens up and slides in the back, then close it as a visor slide down to his eyes along with a mouth guard covers his muzzle as a green eyes flash then as the A symbol flashes along with more A symbols on the head glows. Then the block-shaped item disconnect as it heading towards as he grabbed with his mechanical hand. "Let's do it, Gundam. Just one more testing and we're good to go," he said through in a metallic voice as he charges at the dummies who also charging at him. At the throne room of the Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna went through some paperwork as half of them were done as Princess Celestia notice of her sister, feeling distant and worried as something that's nagging in her mind and she had a good hunch of what her mind drift to. One of which involves of her adopted nephew and his secret. "Everything's all right, Lulu?" she asked setting the paper down as Luna take a glance at her "I can see that you're worried about him and his oath that he marked." "Well..........." her mind drift a bit but let a sigh, knowing that she can't lie to her "you got me there." "How about we take a walk so we can discuss more?" she asked as she nodded, both princesses take a walk out of the throne room and into the tower where they saw from their rooms, an armored pony fighting three dragons. "You know, it's surprising that his ancestors able to keep something powerful from another world," Celestia commented as she watches the armored pony hacked through the dragon, exploding in the process. "Even Star-Swirl never knew of this outcome." "Yes, to be honest, he only allows us to know of this secret as we made a promise not to tell to everypony, even Twilight and her friends about it." Luna sighed as she watches the armored pony shot a pink beam and pierce through another dragon. "It's has been 3 years since he able to learned of this advanced technology faster than anypony." Luna stared in the clear blue skies "And been 2 years we made that oath ever since I discovered it." Flashback (Canterlot, 2 months after Castle Mane-ia) At his abandon cabin workstation on nighttime, Cosmo was fixing on a what to appear to be a large tube connect to his workstation as his AGE device begins to uploading schematics of blueprints. His eyes are red and have bags on them as whenever his eyelids begin to droop down, he kept shaking himself to wake up. "Cosmo, sleep deprived! Cosmo, sleep deprived!" Haro said while bouncing as he levitates a crystal gem and connects them to a contraption as the crystal melt down into pure energy as he plugged it into the blaster, as he tested by checking the intensity of it as a fainted pink beam burn through a metal alloy. "I know, Haro. Just let........me..........finished............the.....last......" he yawns as his eyelids begin to feel heavy and laid his head on his workstation as he uses his hooves as a pillow and fell asleep. In his dream, he saw himself in a wildfire as he frantically looks around and saw the Changelings attacking other ponies and draining out everypony's life force and love. "No! Leave them alone!" he shouted as he charging at them and buck them, earning the vile creatures' attention as they charging at him but he kept his determine face and charging at them, yelling a battle cry as he levitates a lead pipe and start to swing around them, bashing their heads, and buck them. "Cosmo........." a sweet gentle voice was heard as he saw his parents fighting against them. "Mom! Papa!" he shouted as he about to reach them but what he saw that really infuriate him the most: Queen Chrysalis was blocking his way to them. "Not so fast, colt!" she hissed at him as gripping the lead pipe tightly, he got into his battle stance. "Out of my way!" he charging at her as he about to swing at her, she slammed her left hoof on him causing him to flop on the ground as more Changelings surrounding him. Then he saw a building coming down on them. "No! Mom! Papa!" he screamed as he tried to whack the army out of the way but more slammed their hooves on his back, forcing him on the ground as he saw a building coming down on them. "Let me go, you monsters!" he screamed, trying to get them off but no use as the buildings crumble down on them, causing his eyes to mortified at this. "NOOOOOO!" he screamed as tears begin to water on him despite the ashes caught in his eyes, as Queen Chrysalis begins to walk towards him. "So sad that your parents died because of you........" Queen Chrysalis mocked him, not noticing that he scrunch his hooves on the dirt "But don't worry, you be joining them in the afterlife once I drain all of your love for them." "I won't..............." he said that's beyond a whispered as a glowing A symbol on his chest brighten him as he glares at her that even scare her "I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!!!!!!!!!" With a force pushing them away, he turned himself into one of the messiahs, Gundam Age 1Normal. Then he charging at her, screaming in rage as the Changelings tried to blast him but he remained unharmed as he fires his beam rifle at them, piercing them in the process and exploded on contact then as he draws his beam saber from his left hand, Queen Chrysalis readied her horn as just as they about to clash each other, a familiar voice was heard, "Cosmo!!!!" Then in an instant, all of the Changelings and Queen Chrysalis were banished as if they never appeared as he turned around and saw Princess Luna gliding towards him from the moon. "Auntie Luna, what are you doing here?" he asked her in confusion "It's my job as Princess of the Moon to step into ponies' dreams and free themselves from their nightmare they placed upon." Princess Luna explained the background of the ruined Canterlot was changed to that of the cosmic space. "When I sense yours, I not only felt grief and sadness but also hatred and rage to the Changelings. And the most peculiar sight of all is that you're covered in an armor that I have never seen before." He widened his eyes as he forgets that he still in his Gundam Age 1 form then he sighed at this "All right, there something that you and Princess Celestia need to know. Can you at least keep this secret from everypony? I don't want everypony to involves in this." She takes glance at him as she nodded to him "All right, for my dear nephew." He nodded as both traveled to the memories as they stop at the memory where he discovers the AGE device "My ancestors and my family had been guarded an ancient treasure for the past generations. Before my parents' death, they left me a key and told me to go there to find it and use its power." "What's this power that you're spoken of?" she asked as they saw a dream Cosmo unlocked the basement and uncovered the AGE device. "It's called an AGE device. It's supposed to be a replica of the original that has the power to analyze and evolve through combat. Somehow before you became Nightmare Moon, my ancestors able to travel with Princess Celestia and Star-Swirl the Bearded through the mirror the one that you already know of. But what they didn't know is that they came across a dimension that at one point got trapped in there. My ancestors adapt to another Earth as they learned of the advanced technologies even learned that humanity uses that as meaning to migrate into space colonies, however......." The scene changes of that of space but what's different is that giant robots were shooting at large dragon-like beings as each of them exploded as spaceships were firing at the opposing ones as scrapped parts of robots were scattered. "What's this, Cosmo?" Luna shocked at this battlefield, never seen this bloodshed in her entire life. "This is the result of human advanced with technology, they built giant robots known as Mobile Suits as a result war ensured on two sides. One is the Earth Federation Force who is much in somewhat similar to the Royal Guards in Equestria and the other is the migrated humans were bent on taking earth back from them after they left for dead by the Federation' Olfenoa family and the Mars Ray disease, the Vagans. After joining up the Federation, my ancestors help them in any way to end this and even become pilots. However, there's one family that also joined up with them and created three ancient messiahs." "Three ancient messiahs?" Luna asked as she saw three mobile suits different from the others. Each of them has A insignia on the chest and very bulky chest armor but distinct from each other but kept the colors of red, white, and blue armors with different variations. One is a slim figure, another that's similar to the other but to her surprise, it transforms into a wing-shaped aerial bird like mode, and the other one that even Luna found it impressive, was created from two ships like parts. "Yes, those messiahs were known as Gundams. It was created by the Asuno family who my ancestors met and befriended them that they even reveal their origins to them. After the One Hundred Year war, peace is finally restored to both sides as they combine the AGE device and another called EXA-DB, a military database to create the Everse system and nullify the Mars Ray thus making Mars a safe place to house its population." "Incredible......" Luna commented on this. She could believe at this revelations as she saw the mars turned from being orange like rust into an earth-like population. "Also, thanks to the two devices, they able to create a portal for my ancestors to return to Equestria, but one of the Asuno family gave them as not only a remembrance but a new hope for Equestria in the near future." "You mean........?" Luna begins to understand this as he nodded at her. "Yeah, the one that I now possessed in my care," he said as the memories now shifted to him now focus on the AGE device. "After learning the truth, I decided that in my life, I'll protect those I loved and care. I'll be a savior like them. And so, I begin working on with it, creating an AGE Builder near to my old workshop in order to create my own Gundam." "Cosmo, I don't know about this........this is too much for you to shoulder everything that your parents left you.........."Luna said with a hint of worries. "I know, but my ancestors left for me and those Changelings took everything from me............I won't let anypony suffer from those wretched beasts........my parents entrusted me to become a savior and I shall hold those promise to the end of my life!" he said with a hint of determination. End Flashback "I'm worried that his oath might hurt himself along with the vengeance of the Changelings may come soon." Luna softly said in sadness "I don't want my nephew to be consume by the past." "As so do I, Lulu." Celestia said then an idea perk up "But I do know that there's one pony who can save him. And even though we promised him not to tell it, he'll need to realize that he can't hide it forever." Luna glance at her as if they reading her mind, she nodded as they about to leave, a scroll appeared as Princess Celestia open it as she read it, her eyes widened in surprise. "Sister, what's wrong?" Luna asked her as she looks at the scroll and too had the same expression. "We need to send the Royal Guards to save them!" Princess Celestia said as both princesses rushed out of the tower. At the throne room, the princesses discuss of the Changeling's breakout to four of the Royal Guards. After that, the Royal Guards now headed out of the throne room, to rescue Princess Twilight and her friends. Princess Celestia sighed at this "I never knew that Queen Chrysalis would do something like that. I just hope that Princess Twilight and her friends are all right." "Are you mad at her?" Luna asked as she shook her head. "No, not at all. I can never blame her. The Changelings were always known to use deception not only disguise but also words too." Celestia explained. Luna nodded as something amiss, she saw a shadow moving away as widened her eyes, she knew who that was. Oh no.......... She gallops out of the throne room, ignoring of her sister's call as she kept trotting out of the castle. Don't tell me that what your thinking..............?! At the old cabin workstation, Cosmo kept typing on the computer as particles begin materializing into a catapult as he rushed to wear his combat suit. After his training, he checked the schematic and founded to be perfect sync as he left to see his aunt but he heard the conversation and as curiosity took him over, eavesdrop of their conversation of the Changelings' breakout which widened his eyes in surprise as memory of his parent's last breath and the monster who took them away from him, gritted his teeth as he uses his invisibility spell to hear it more and shocked that the Princess of Friendship and her friends were captured by them. After four Royal Guards left, he then felt his heart that it's time. For all these years, he develops his Gundam to fight against the Changelings and bring hope to Equestria as a savior. And now the Princess of Friendship and her friends are in danger from those monsters. As he wore his suit, he then grabbed his AGE Device and about to stand on the catapult, he was caught in a midnight bubble as he turned and saw Princess Luna stopping him. "Cosmo, what are you doing?!" she asked him "Simple, I'm going out to help Princess Twilight and her friends!" he said, trying to break free from her grasp. "Cosmo, those Changelings are dangerous to face alone! Even in your Gundam suit!" Luna exclaimed as a bright flash, Princess Celestia appeared on her side. "Lulu, what's wrong?!" Celestia asked as he takes glance at this situation and widened her eyes at the realization. "Please, Auntie Luna, you had to let me go! I know the Gundam more than everypony!" "Knowing foreign artifacts won't do anything good! We don't know what that Gundam is capable of!" Luna said trying to pull him back. "Please, Cosmo, you'll die if you go out on your own!" Celestia added. "Die?" he mumbled lower his head as the memory of his deceased parents flash his mind "Even if the Royal Guards, even if Princess Twilight and her friends can take care of themselves, it won't be enough. If I just stayed there, then more ponies will die...........that's why...........I HAD TO DO THIS!" Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were speechless at his words. Never before that they have seen him seriously that even can rival those of a recruit of a Royal Guard's mission. But from his eyes, there were filled with a determination that even Princess Luna and Princess Celestia ponder of their thoughts of his decision. Still, even though what happens from the invasion at the Canterlot wedding between Princess Cadance and Shining Armor even Twilight and her friends venture through the Changelings' Castle to rescue their sisters, it would make sense that their foes are powerful. Finally, Princess Luna let go of the magic bubble "All right, Cosmo. Just make sure you come back safe." Cosmo nodded "I will! And thank you!" With that, he jumps into the catapult and wore his helmet and glance at the device "Let's do this, Gundam. Let's go save everypony." As he slammed his device in the chest compartment as the Gundam armors magnetized into him along with his Beam Rifle and a Shield as the catapult begin to moving upward as he crotch down a bit as blue lights lit up. Cosmo..............you and your Gundam, become the savior like the Asuno family did.............Princess Luna thought "Here I go, Cosmo Bringer, Gundam Age 4, taking off!" he shouted as he felt himself getting pushed as near to the end, he hovers in the skies and thrust forward to the Changelings' castle. Meanwhile, at the Changeling's Castle, everypony was cocooned as each of the Royal Guards tried to break free but no luck as the Changelings was sucking out their life force. As in the middle, Queen Chrysalis smug at this. It was too easy that Princess Twilight able to let them break free by letting one of her subjects shapeshift as herself while she waits for the chance to attack her when she enters the room then the Royal Guards tried to save their beloved princess and gave the chance for her subjects to retaliate. As she walks at this victory, she saw Twilight and her friends, trapped in the cocoons, struggling to break free as she laughed at them "Oh, how's ironic that you ponies always fell that trick? It's always the oldest in the book." "Rgggh! You won't get away with this!" Twilight struggled to break free. Then she turned to Twilight's cocoon and levitate "As for you Princess, it's amazing that your level of magic is something beyond when we first met. It always makes me hungry for it." "Leave her alone, you big creep!" Pinkie shouted "Let her go, ya varmint!" Applejack shouted "Yeah, leave her alone!" Rainbow shouted Then more Changelings came from the front as they carried more of the Royal Guards from before "My Queen, we caught another set of Princess Celestia's Royal Guards." "Oh, so the princess already know of this. Well, it's a shame that it's too late for her to come and save her beloved former student." she mocked as she about to drain Twilight's magic, love, and life, a large fist punch onto the cheek as to Twilight and her friends, along with the Changelings and the Royal Guards, widened in surprise as an armored pony came out of nowhere and save her as with enough force, sends Queen Chrysalis flopping to the ground as she got back up, she glares at the armored pony who stand on its hind legs and into a battle stance. "How dare you injure me, you piece of tin can?!" she hissed angrily at it as Changelings swarming on her side "Turn that armored pony to scrap metal!" With the Changelings charging at Cosmo, he blocked their magic using his shield which to everypony's surprise, it bounces and rebound at the Changelings injuring them. Then as some about to readied their horn, he hovers it away from them as he fires his beam rifle as each of them conjure a shield to protect but as the pink beams hit the shield, it phased through and to everypony's surprise again, it pierces through their chests causing them to exploded into icky green dust. "Did that.........pony just..........." One of the Royal Guards flabbergasted at this. "That's impossible........." Another exclaimed, having his mouth agape. "Whoa.........." Spike exclaimed at this. "But, who, what, how-?!" Rainbow flabbergasted at this. Then Chrysalis hissed in anger and rage. This is the first time that her subjects are dead as nopony ever killed one of her own, but this armored pony can?! How can that, thing able to counter their own magic?! Suddenly one of them swoop down and pound him to the ground and about to absorb his magic but as his eyes flashed as if they heard his battle cry, a large flames came out of the thrusters and blinded its eyes, hissing in pain as a chance, he grabbed the horns and toss around to the other Changelings which knocked out from it but more kept coming from the side of the castle. "Heh, not bad, you're a very interesting pony, able to counter my subject's attacks, but can you face this?!" As on cue, each of the Changelings including Queen Chrysalis shapeshifts into Royal Guards, Twilight and her friends, and Princess Celestia with their evil grin. But unknown to them, Cosmo smirked at this. I don't think so.............his thoughts rang as the A symbol begins to glow brightly as a bright light green wave pulsed around the area as to Twilight and her friends' and even the Royal Guards' surprise, all of the Changelings were revert back to their normal forms. "What's this?!" Queen Chrysalis shrieked at this outcome as multiple Changelings tried to shapeshift but for unknown reason, their horns just fizzled out even she tried to change shape. "What have you done?!" With no answer, he then grabbed his beam dagger and begin charging at her at which Chrysalis roared in anger as she charging at him as she about to swipe her horn but he grabbed it as she tried to blast him with her magic as he grunted at this. "RAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" Cosmo screamed as he impaled it into her chest, causing her to cough out her blood as he repeatedly stabs her again and again and finally, he gave her an uppercut which sends her to the ground. "Queen Chrysalis!!!!!" the Changelings commander screamed as all of the Changelings rushed to her side and saw her coughing up as they saw her wound. "She's okay, but hurt badly!" another said as they tried to help her as Queen Chrysalis groaned in pain, gritted her teeth. "R-Retreat!" she ordered all of the Changelings took off to the skies as they carried her on her backs while flying but not when she glared at the armored pony. Hopefully, the Changelings now had a new powerful foe on the pony sides. Cosmo breathes heavily at this battle. He can't believe that he did it. He and his Gundam actually did it. They able to save the Princess of Friendship and her friends even the Royal Guards. He looked at the cocoons as he uses his beam dagger and cut them open one by one. As all of them got out of the cocoon, he saw Twilight being hugged by her friends as each of them express their worries as the Royal Guards came to their sides as she told them that she's fine. As he stores his beam dagger back to his side skirt, he about to leave, a voice stops him in his track. "Wait!" He turned around and saw her and her friends coming to his side as she said to him in her kind smile "Thanks for saving me and my friends. I never saw you around in Equestria." "Yeah, for an armored pony, you sure are strong!" Applejack remarked "Not to mention you able to counter those nasty bug's magic!" Pinkie added "It's was brave but..........very violent of what you did..........." Fluttershy whispered gratefully but whispered a bit. "That's was awesome! Just what are you?!" Rainbow exclaimed "I agree with Rainbow!" Spike added "Although very barbaric what you did, I'm grateful for saving us, dear." Rarity said, "Would you mind telling us your name?" He then looks down for a bit. He can't just say his real name, otherwise, it'll compromise everything. So the only thing that he can muster is this "Gundam." "Huh?" all of the girls and Spike said in confusion "I am Gundam," he said it again which the girls having confusion expression as they about to ask him more, he took off into the skies faster than Rainbow as she about to follow him, he disappeared in a flash, leaving the girls to wonder about this strange pony is. At the skies of Ponyville, Cosmo was flying towards back to his home at Canterlot, staying hidden in the clouds as his mind drifted off his first victory against the Changelings. Although he able to save Twilight and her friends not to mention of the Royal Guards, he knows now he just sparks an upcoming war between him and his Gundam against the army of Changelings and Queen Chrysalis. But he'll be ready for it because he now becomes the savior of Equestria. Opening Theme (Cosmo's Theme) > Episode 2 - Moving to Ponyville > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Canterlot, 5 weeks before The Cutie Map part 1 and part 2) The rumor spread like wildfire on everypony from Canterlot and Ponyville that the Changelings broke free from their prison and almost about to drain Princess Twilight and her friends even the Royal Guards rescuers, when they're saved by a armored pony who wields armors and weapons that's not only foreign to them, but to counter against the Changelings' magic and even their shapeshifting ablities and even injuring Queen Chrysalis was enough for all of the ponies to consider him a 'savior'. Because of this, fillies were using cardboard boxes to design and wear them as they pretend to be the mysterious savior and play with the others in a game 'Fight the Changelings' as the others pretend to be the Changelings who then use their design to mimic the mysterious savior's fighting style. As for the Princess of Friendship and her friends, after reporting of what happen, Princess Celestia didn't punish her as she told her that it wasn't her fault: the Changelings were always manipulated with words and very cunning of plans as they had to be very extra careful. Twilight also told of the Changelings' origin as they too were surprise, but when she about to ask them about the mysterious savior, they told them that they even never heard of it, consider that they promise to keep one of their adopted nephew's treasure a secret from everypony. After they left, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sighed at this as they glance at the window and watched Cosmo coming to his working station cabin with a cart fulled of scrap metals. Last night after saving Twilight and her friends and even the Royal Guards he returned home where they're waiting for him at his cabin as he reported that his Gundam able to counter the Changelings' magic and even use a system that can automatic disable their shapeshifting abilities, the AGE wave. And also to their surprise, he able to injure Queen Chrysalis as they realize that he meant it literally as indicated that he repeatedly stab her chest using his beam dagger. But he told them that he didn't target the heart which they sighed at this, but for the Princesses, they worried that his vengeance against the Changelings might change him completely. Still they kept their thoughts to themselves as they about to rest for the night, his AGE Device caught his attention as he learned that his Gundam had recorded data from the battle as Cosmo explained that his Gundam is evolving so tomorrow, after school, he'll need to check of the AGE Builder to see what new Wear System that he gained from his first battle. "Sister, do you think that Twilight and her friends maybe the only who can save Cosmo from his own darkness?" Luna asked as they watched him pulled his AGE Builder outside of his training field and begin typing on his computer. "I believe so, Luna. After all, she saved you and my former student from the darkness." Celestia respond as Cosmo placed a scrap metal on a slot from the AGE Builder as typing the computer, it scans the scrap then use a plasma beam to cut the extra parts away as it slot inside of it. "But this will be difficult for them, Celly." Luna inquired "Due to the loss of his beloved parents, he isolated himself from everypony as a result, we getting words from other ponies at your school that whenever they tried to socialize him, he just ignore them and focus on more on his studies and even his desire." "I understand this, Lulu, but sooner or later, Cosmo need to realize that he can't shoulder everything on his own, even if his parent's behalf and their destines. He'll soon be cleansed out of his own darkness that the Changelings placed on him." With that, Princess Celestia levitate a scroll and begin writing on it. Opening "Okay, just need to type this........" Cosmo muttered as he kept typing on his computer as the AGE Builder was humming to the point that the metals that he able to find from the Canterlot Junkyard was enough for him to buy lots of scrap metals. It wasn't easy finding the best and the stable metals but to him, it will always be worth it. As he levitate his sandwich and take a big bite while working, a screen shows him a outline of his Gundam Age 4 as on the right, a outline of a bulky armor was shown following by another. I still can't believe I, no.......we actually did it. Me and my Gundam save Princess Twilight and her friends along with the Royal Guards. And to make it awesome, my AGE Device record of the battle and gained a new Wear Part! This is so cool! My Gundam is going to evolving soon! But to my surprise, it also shows me that I able to go into a hybrid of human and pony form when I wear my Gundam, a anthro form to be precise and can use my Gundam more effectively. According to the AGE data, it said that the AGE Device able to combine the physical forms of humans and ponies when I armored into my Gundam and it said that it can allow anypony to go into their anthro forms only in their mobile suit form. So I going to need to update and change a few things in my Gundam without changing the performance of it if I going to turned into it. Cosmo thought as the screen shows a pony form that somehow standing up on hind legs and having hands. He then turned his glance at the Gundam armor resting on the workstation table and smile. Just you wait, Gundam. Your new form is going to be ready soon. As he turned back to the computer and checking the data, a bright flash appeared as Princess Luna appear as Cosmo said to her without turning his head "Hi Auntie Luna, I take that you want me to go to the throne room, right?" She chuckled at his sense of her thoughts "Yes, it's very important that me and my sister wishes to discuss with you." "All right, but," he turned to her "I going need to put my stuff away first. Don't want anypony to see my special project." With a nod, she disappeared in a bright flash. As he sighed a bit, he got up and starting to activate a few buttons as the AGE Builder camouflage into the forest as he moved it on the right side of his workstation cabin while it continue to analyze more data from the AGE Device that he transfer it. When he discover the AGE Device, not only he able to decoded it and create the AGE Builder but thanks to his skills of combing magic and technology, he able to create a magic fuse tech cloaking material once he build it. And for him, carrying it is very lightweight thanks to using pegasus material like alloy. Once he set all of his stuff back inside the workstation, he grabbed his AGE Device and hurried to the throne room. After a few minutes, he reached the door to the throne room as two unicorn Royal Guards on each sides, stood his attention as their horns lit up. As he enter the throne room, he found only Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as he bow down to them along with saying hello to them. "It's good to see you again, Cosmo." Princess Celestia said. "It's good to see you again, Auntie Celestia. I heard that Auntie Luna want me to come to discuss of things, right?" Cosmo said as she nodded as they begin explaining to him. After what to seem to be a hour, his eyes widened in surprise at their request they decided. "So let me get this right, you're saying that I'll be moving to Ponyville and learn the Magic of Friendship with Princess Twilight and her friends?!" he exclaimed, trying to keep his voice down not to be rude to them. They nodded as he turned his head to the left, rubbing his right front hoof "With all due respect, I-I don't know if I want to............" "I know that your very uncertain of this, but the past few years and months, you been avoiding the students who requested to be your friends and you turned down on them." Celestia explained. "You've been focus more on your studies and your Gundam so long that you been isolated everypony. We believe that maybe it'll be better if you can make friends with them." Luna added. Cosmo felt uneasy at this as he continue to look down "But I don't if I know I can. I'm happy I that I'm alone for the past few months and I already had Haro as my only friend." "I understand that, but you need to find 'real' friends, not the one you build." Celestia pointed out. "But Princess Twilight and her friends are the Elements of Harmony! They save Equestria many times before my encounter with my family's treasure. I'm not that special compare to them." Cosmo exclaimed as without a word, he left the throne room leaving the Royal sisters by themselves. "Sister, if that's all right, I'll go talk to him once I raise the moon?" Luna asked as she nodded. "Of course, you're the only one who you and him are closer since you adopted him. If anypony who can understand him, it's you, Luna." At nighttime, Cosmo was at his workstation, working on his Gundam as he updated the arm guards with the mechanical hands as he tested out on his right hand as he inserted it, a magical aura transformed his hooves into a hand as he tested the movement of them. With a smile, he remove it as his 'hand' turned back to his hoof. He set it down as he sighed at his mind, conflicted at this request. The Princesses wants him to move to Ponyville to learn the Magic of Friendship from Twilight and her friends because of his lonely and cold nature at the school. Okay, so he just ignore a bunch of students, but big deal. He's already fine being alone for the past few months and that loneliness able him to work even harder on his magic studies and becoming a savior of Equestria from the Changelings. Yet he felt a ting of pain in him, telling him that he should at least have friends, but why? He already got Haro on his side and one friend is enough for him.......or is it? While his mind at drift, a bright flash came and Princess Luna appear but like before he said without turning his head "Are you going to say that I been working too hard on my Gundam?" "That and if would be okay, we can talk about it." Luna replied. Cosmo remained silent at this but still, he's felt uncertain of this and a good talk from his adopted auntie can help him a bit "I guess so........" After setting his stuff down and hidden them, they begin walking on the night of Canterlot Square. Even at nighttime, Canterlot ponies came to do their daily life as the lights from each stores shine beautifully as business was booming with Canterlot rich ponies to at the point while Cosmo like this place, he didn't like how the 'snobbish' ponies are ignorant and only care of their own selfish desires not to mention making rude comments of whenever a pony different from them appear in their streets but not him and his decease parents. Before the Changelings' invasion, he and his parents were a different rich ponies. They're friendly to other ponies along with being charitable with their bits as they usual put them into a charitable program of helping the poor from all across of Equestria. Now that his parents are gone, all of the poor ponies thought that all of the Bringer families were dead so they honor them by doing the same for others too. Luna glance at her nephew and broke the silence "I see that you're undecided if you want to move to Ponyville to learn the Magic of Friendship?" "Is that the oblivious?" he muttered still having his head down as they taken a seat near to the fountain on the middle. "I understand your hesitation of moving, but me and my sister were worried about you. Ever since of your loss of your parents, you chose to close your heart from everypony and being isolate to them as the other students bear resentment towards you. You been stuck in your room doing not only studies, but keeping your treasure a secret from all of them while using them to fulfilled your parents' behalf as we the only one who knows it and although we promise not to tell everypony, it's hurting our subjects and our friends from them." she explained. "But that's just it, Auntie Luna. I'm happy with you and Auntie Celestia along with Haro too that I don't need friends. The only thing that matters is to give Equestria a bright future like my family did for all centuries they guarded." Cosmo interjected "I just I can't...........I'm not that special.........to them............and I............." "You don't want to involve somepony you care about?" Luna replied as he sadly nodded. "Yes, like in the recording, my parents told me not to let anypony involve in this but only to those I care. I let you and Auntie Celestia know about this because of what happen before and I can't lie to you and her since you adopted me. Even though Princess Twilight and her friends saved Equestria many times before, I felt that if I let them get close to me, then soon or later, I fear that I'll endanger them both if they found out my secret." he closed his eyes trying to fight the horrible memory that's escaping him. "This danger is too great for them to handle." "Even so, they willing to take it, Cosmo." Luna cupped his chin, making him face at her "I can sense from your heart that happy with being alone, but are you certain that your soul really wanted?" He looked away and scratching his mane and let a deepest sigh "Well.........to tell the truth.............a part of me wishes to make friends even though I don't want to." "And why is that?" Luna asked "Surely, that you can at least make amends to the students and they'll be your friends." "I guess, I don't know where to start..............before my parent's death, when I was little colt, all my life I was living with my parent as unlike other foals go to school, I usually get a lot of tutors as a result, I'm not used to meeting with others at my age around the time." he explained "In turn, I've always seen others and a part of me wishes I was there hanging out with them, but I don't have the courage to do this nor of knowledge of it so I chose not to and be with my parents because of my bonds towards them." "So you been staying home for the past days without going out?" Luna asked "No, in other times, when my parents have enough time, we usually go to the Canterlot Park to hang out. I've always been shy to others as I usually stayed away from them in the playground and played alone. In time when I was alone, I made a imagination friend modeled by my heart and image as we always talk about things and stuff. Some ponies saw me usually called me wired and strange but I just ignore them. But when my parents are gone, I felt at least I want to talk to 'him' but I felt that he too is gone, taken away like my parents from the monsters until I built Haro in the day that I discovered the AGE Device to at least had a friend." After that, they stare into the night skies as the stars twinkle in the the blanket of gentle night until Luna sighed, trying to think of words to say "Cosmo, I think that your parents would want you to had friends. Even though they guarded the AGE Device for so long cause of their inheritance, I think that they want to bring hope to all other ponies. You can't bring hope all by yourself even with the power that you had now. Do you think that you can make everypony happy by yourself without anypony to help you?" She got back up and nuzzled him "I must return to the castle. Just think about it, my dear nephew if that what your parents really want you to do it." With that, Luna disappeared in a bright flash as he look at the AGE Device dangling around his neck then to the stars. He closed his eyes, remembering of his shyness at his colt age. Usually hidden from all other ponies except his parents, they came to him as they encouraged him to meet with the other foals. His father, being the gentle and noble loving pony, rub his mane and told something that almost forgotten to him. "Son, I know how you feel about meeting other ponies but don't be afraid of trying something new. No matter how scary life might be, you need to brave and go through to it." He then glance at his AGE Device and look up to the night sky 'Papa...........Mom.............' The Next Day (Ponyville, 4 weeks before The Cutie Map Part 1 and Part 2) At the train station, the Friendship Express stop as ponies begin to heading out into the station as Cosmo with his luggage came out and gaze around it. "Um excuse me, Mr. Cosmo?" the conductor called to him "Your 'special packages' is ready at the back cart." "Thanks." he quietly said as he went to the back cart, he saw other ponies placing stuff on a carriage as he strapped on him, he then gaze upon the sight of Ponyville. 'Wow, this place is so peaceful..........so comfortable atmosphere............' his mind echoed in sight then begin trek to his destination. While he look around at other places, his mind begin to remember of his decision that his aunties did. Flashback "So you made your decision, Cosmo?" Princess Celestia asked him. After last night, Cosmo decide to headed to the throne room after his school. "Yes, I did. I remember that my parents want me to had friends when I was young and all the time I've been solitude, I felt that I should at least give the Magic of Friendship a chance." Cosmo responded "However, my secret along with my beliefs remain the same. I fear that after the event when I fought Queen Chrysalis, the Changelings might try not only heal her but also, trying to draw me out by disguising as the locals and doing some chaos, so this when my AGE Device come into play." He revealed to them as a sonar map of Canterlot was bleeping with green dots on them "I updated it before I went to sleep, a Changeling scanner. With this, even as it turn off, I can know which pony is them or a Changeling under their magic disguise." "Cosmo, you always wary of them but I can assure you, after the event of the Changelings' Invasion, our guards' magic now amplified to detect their magic presence." Luna replied "Still, I'm going to use it. As for the Gundam Armor and the AGE Builder, I able to transform them into a suitcase so that way when I enter the train station, nopony knows of it even when they tried to scan it, it has a cloaking mode to create illusion from the inside. Would those be okay, Auntie Celestia and Auntie Luna?" Cosmo asked Both of them close their eyes before open them back with a sigh as Celestia replied "I think those will be okay. We set the time already for the next train to come along with setting up your new home already." "Does it has a secret basement or such cause I really want to keep my stuff a secret from everypony?" "And yes, we make sure it has a basement for your Gundam and your technology." Luna replied rolling her eyes which Celestia chuckled quietly. "Thank you so much. I'll write everything of my time in Ponyville and the lesson of Friendship that Princess Twilight and her friends share with me." With that, he left the throne room, getting ready to head to the train station. Flashback end "So if the map is correct, my new house should be right there on the far right of the town hall at Bloom St. 1789" he muttered, taking his eyes on the map as he head to that direction. Once he stop, he saw a pony with a grey mane and and tail, with glasses and white collar with bit of green cloth poofed out on the front. Her cutie mark has a scroll with a green ribbon wrapped around it for her cutie mark. She saw him and greets with a warmth smile "Oh, you must be Cosmo Bringer, correct?" He nodded as she replied "Welcome to Ponyville, I'm Mayor Mare the mayor of Ponyville. I heard from the Princesses that you're moving here and wish to find a house for you to stay. Not to mention that I heard so much about you and your parents." "Really?" "Yes, they help with all of the financials and such when I was your age." she replied as she saw him with a sad smile and gasped "Oh but I am truly sorry about your loss of them. They too were my family." "It's all right." he replied "I'm still trying to move on. It'll take time for me to do it. But it would be best if nopony knows about it? I don't want to make things bit........complicated when I'm around." She nodded her head "Of course, here's the key to your house." She handled him as he hold on his left hoof "If you need anything and such, let me know. Now I must be back to finish with the paperworks." "Thank you, Ms. Mayor Mare." "Just Mayor is fine, Cosmo." With that, she headed back to the town hall as Cosmo enter the house. It was indeed almost like his cabinet but had lots of space as well as have furnished, from the left to right, two couches, coffee table, chairs and tables for the kitchen, refrigerator, stove, and a runner carpet. He went upstairs and from his guess, a bedroom on the right and a bathroom on the left. He then went downstairs and found a door under the staircase and open as he went downstairs and saw the basement. It was..........well......dusty.......but with some modification, it'll do. With a smile, he then bring his luggage and his suitcase inside as Haro jump out of the carriage and hop to his side "New Home! New Home!" "I know, Haro. This place is perfect." he smile at his robotic friend as he about to do something, there was a knock on the door. "Who could that be?" he wonder as he open it, he was greeted with a grey pegasus mare with blond mane and tail and bubbles as her cutie mark (which Cosmo found it odd) and yellow eyes that can't be in a straight position and going in opposite direction. "Can I help you?" he asked her politely "Hi, I'm Derpy Hooves of Ponyville Post Office. I came here to deliver a mail from Cosmo Bringer. I hope I got it right." "No, you got it right." he replied as she handled the mail to him. He open and reveal to be a invitation- wait, invitation? He skim the letter as it read : 'Welcome, new guy! You been invited to Pinkie's Welcoming Party! How I know you're going to be there, let's just say that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna told us about it through mail. So I already got it set and hopefully to see at Sugarcube Corner! We got lots of treats, games, and a dancing party! Hope we become best friends! Your friend, Pinkie Pie' 'Oh, sweet Celestia, why they had to tell them............' his mind deadpanned as he facehoof and sigh a bit. "Oh wow! You must be new pony that she talking about!" Derpy smiled big at this "Maybe we can go together and have some fun! What do you say?" "Well um..........." he trailed off a bit rubbing the back of his mane. To him, he been to his parent's party events as he never socialize with others on his colt age before. He thinking about to say no but he remember why he came here. "Are you all right, sir?" Derpy asked him. "Well, I'm afraid I can't go.........not yet until I get my stuff packed in and...............doing some renovating........." he turn his head away from her, trying to find the right answer. "Are you shy?" Derpy asked him concerning him "Well..............yeah...........I just...........don't do well in............." he stuttered a bit. "It's all right, sir. You can try to renovating after the party and it'll be lots of fun and beside, I'll be here with you as a friend." Derpy replied which he surprise at this. "Friend........?" he asked at this as she nodded. "Yeah, you seem to be a nice pony. So what do you say?" Derpy said as he close his eyes, thinking of this. This mailmare seem very kind and generous to offer new ponies to be her friend. And the princesses did said that he need to learn the Magic of Friendship, so what other choice does he have? With that he open his eyes and nodded "I guess I can give it a shot." "Great!" Derpy cheered as they about to go, Haro hop out of the door and jump onto Cosmo's back as she was surprised at this "Oh! What is that?" "That's Haro. He's.......my first friend that I built in Canterlot." he replied which he hop to her front hooves. "Please to meet you! Please to meet you!" "Awww! He's very cute!" she giggled at the robot friend. "He must really taking a liking to you." he commented as once he lock the front door, they walked towards Sugarcube Corner. After a few silent stroll around Ponyville, he gaze around at how the ponies do their daily bases as he focus to a gingerbread house that something that came out of a storybook that his mother read when he was a colt. Judging by design, he guess that must be the Sugarcube Corner. "Um.........Derpy?" he scratch his head while looking down a bit. "Yes?" "Does this place is edible?" He asked, wonder at this, as his mind bicker his sweet tooth begin to act up with his mouth moistened in drool. "To be honest, nopony every knows." She shrugged as they about to enter, she saw him, rubbing his front left hoof, looking away. "Aren't you coming?" She asked concerning for him. "Well............um.................." he trailed off, unable to say something. 'I don't think it's a good idea. I should at least said no in the first place so I can work on fixing my home and my base for my Gundam. But I can't disappoint Auntie Luna and Auntie Celestia! They sent me here to learn the Magic of Friendship. Arghhhh!' he closed his eyes in frustration 'Why it's so difficult-?!' "Listen, it's going to be okay. I'll be here for you, all right?" She placed her hoof on his left shoulder as he look at her smile which he sighed as he nodded with a small smile. "Thanks, Derpy." With his mind focus back, they open the door as he enter, inside was pitch dark. As Derpy came behind him and closed the door , the lights go on, as a large crowd of ponies shouted in unison causing him to be startled : "Surprise!" In front, confetti and streams were flying everywhere and some landed on his mane along with party blowers and big cheers filling the air along with sweet treats. Then to to his surprise, the rest of Pinkie's friends were also here as well as some of the others mostly from the Canterlot too. "Hi, new guy!" Pinkie came out of nowhere through a blur which he backed away a bit. "I'm Pinkie Pie! I know that you heard of me through the invitations I sent to you and how we know you're going to be moving here! You see, when Twilight got a letter from Princess Celestia about you coming to Ponyville to study the Magic of Friendship, we're surprise that another pony is moving here like how Twilight first came to Ponyville! So I thought, maybe there's another pony who also living in similar horseshoes to her so I thought that since your new here, you might had no friends and that made you lonely! So I quickly zoomed across town and gathering many friends along with my super, duper, best friends help me with setting up the welcoming party! So what's your name?" "Um...........well................"he stammers greatly, unable to understand of what's she saying, but he retain a calm expression and introduce to her "Cosmo." "OOOH! I like that name! Is it because of your cutie mark represent the cosmic space?" She asked about his cutie mark which he glance at his flank which was a blue and green colors swirl around and a starburst identical to Twilight's in light green along with white miniatures stars around it. "Yeah, something like that." he replied oddly which he step out away from her slowly to the door. I forgot that Auntie Luna told me be careful of her if I move here. Now I know why. "Um Pinkie, I think that your making him uncomfortable." Twilight interjected, using her magic to pull her pink friend away from him then turning to him "Sorry about her, she's can bit........odd at some point." He glance at her then relaxed. "It's fine." "Well, you already know Pinkie, I'm Twilight" she place her hoof on her chest. "this Rainbow Dash" she point the cyan rainbow mane pegasus. "Applejack" next the orange earth pony with a stetson and a golden ponytail mane. "Rarity" next the snow white unicorn with a beautiful curly mane. "and Fluttershy" finally she point to the light yellow pegasus with soft pink mane. "Nice to meet you all." he replied then Twilight glance at his robot friend. "Oh and what you got there?" "This is Haro, he's my..........friend." he replied as the robot begin jumping towards Twilight. "Please to meet you! Please to meet you!" "Awwwww! He's adorable!" Pinkie cooed as Haro jump and landed onto Pinkie's back. "He's very fond to all of the ponies I met." "All right since we got the introduction set," Pinkie said as she jump into the air and stayed there "LET'S PARTY!!!!!!!!" As the party commenced, everypony begin dance around the music, courtesy by a white unicorn with blue and white messy mane sunglasses and DJ headphones, playing the music on the DJ table. However, Cosmo, had his confuse yet neutral expression, cocked his neck, seeing ponies dancing different from the party that his parents usually hosted. He always see his parents usual dance in mostly elegance ways along with other Canterlot ponies too, but seeing the ponies from Ponyville dancing freely, it was..........unusual yet amazing. Derpy, dancing on the beat of the music, glance at him "Cosmo, c'mon shake your hooves!" "Huh?" Cosmo said confusing. "You know, dance with the music!" she replied. After a few thought, he sighed sadly "I don't do dancing." "But why?" Derpy asked "I never dance before and.........." Cosmo's sentence was interrupted as a pat on the shoulder as he glance at Applejack. "Don't you worry, sugarcube. Just let your body fall for the music. Trust me, nopony going to laugh at you." With a reassure smile from her, he sighed as let the music take over his body as he begin to move around the beat of the music. For some reason, he felt the beat drumming his heart as he sway around the music as most of the ponies were surprise at his dancing moves. One by one, everypony comment of his dancing skills. "Whoa!" "Yeah, go Cosmo!" "Shake your hooves!" After that, he begin trying out the sweets that Pinkie made, as he take one bite of her special cupcake, he was silent at first, but begin chowing down like he never ate before as he sighed happily. "Golly, it's like you never had any cupcakes before!" Pinkie commented. "Sorry" he blushes in embarrassment. "It's okay, Cosmy! That means you really love my special cupcake! Here!" she gave him a box dozen of it. "You can have the rest of it as a special gift!" Cosmo was speechless then regain his composure. "Thank you." With her Pinkie's happy grin, she bouncing back to the party as he three ponies in a group chat that he easily recognized from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. He closed his eyes as memories of them trying to be friends only to give a emotionless look and ignore them begin to haunt him. Flashback As Cosmo was done with his class, he begin to walking towards home until three ponies, mostly unicorns, came to him. One is a Maya blue coat with duel colors of pigment blue streak and a periwinkle on both mane and tail and with a cutie mark of hourglass. Another is with a yellow coat, cerulean curly mane and tail with lighter tail streak as her cutie mark is three hearts, one of being light green and two being light blue, and the other has a ivory coat with pink curly mane and tail and a cutie mark of three stars. "Hey Cosmo, we about to go to Joe's Doughnut shop to get together. You want to come?" The Maya blue unicorn asked in happily voice as Cosmo only gave them is a emotionless look and walked away from them, eventually snubs them out. However the Maya blue unicorn skip towards him pacing in his walking speed "Ok so maybe your not hungry? How about we do something together? Or maybe we can go for bowling? Or maybe golf? Or-" "No." Cosmo whispered. "Huh?" Cosmo turned to her with his emotionless eyes "No I have actually important things to do." He said nonchalantly before walking away with a shrugged. That shocked her as Cosmo walking away from them as the Maya colored unicorn was sadden by him as her friends came to her side and all have the same expression as both comfort her. End Flashback He sighed a bit and a ting of guilt coming towards him as he sighed he begin walking towards them. I know what I did wrong and I shouldn't snub her like that. I got to at least making up to them. After that, he taken deep breaths as he holds his calmed expression and spoke to them "Hello." The three unicorns take glance at him as both holding their sour moods at him while the Maya blue was surprised. She spoke to him in a curious tone "Hey Cosmo." "What are you doing here?" the yellow unicorn said in a sarcastic tone. The ivory unicorn scoffed in disgust "I thought you want us to leave you alone, consider how you treat us like nothing." "Girls, please." Minuette stopped them before things can escalated faster then turned to him "So what are you doing here?" "I came here to apologize to you three." Cosmo replied which the others were at surprised but holds their suspicious looks. "I know what I did is wrong and I'm sorry for yelling at you like that. I was feeling alone and I always felt happy at this, but I never knew how I able to hurt you like that. I don't know much of this friendship thing but I want to give it a chance. So, I'm sorry and if you still unsure, then I'll leave you three alone for the rest of your life." he bowed to them at which the others felt little pity for him as Minuette pat him on his shoulder then gave him a hug. "It's okay, Cosmo, I forgive you. You just felt lonely when you came here and distance away from all other ponies. If any case, we'll be happy to be your friend." Cosmo was surprised at first then he hugged her back. "Well she has a point. You not that bad, your just lonely." the yellow pony replied "Yeah, if Minuette trusted you, then so can I." the ivory pony added "Thank you." he replied as after a few chat he told them that he'll at least look around more, he begin walking around until Twilight came to him. "So enjoying the party?" Looking around he nodded "Well to be honest, I never felt this more lively than before in my old home." "I can related to that when I came here to Ponyville." Twilight chuckled. "Really?" he cocked his eyebrow. "Yeah, before I became the Princess of Friendship, I've always been focus on my studies as Princess Celestia sent me here, which I met them and became part of my life." she explained as they glance at Rainbow whacking a pinata using a stick. "I guess that you and I aren't that different." he mumbled which Twilight shifted her head to him, looking down. "You see, I've always been focus on my studies too, never care in my life about friendship, only my Haro, until Princess Luna sent me here. To learn about The Magic of Friendship." Cosmo explained. "Wow, I guess that you and I are alike." Twilight commented. "Yeah," Cosmo smile at her "and because of my devotion to my studies, ponies tend to call me 'The other you.' Or 'Another Twilight Sparkle'." "What really?!" Twilight was surprised. Ponies begin calling him another version of her old self? That's strange in a different way. "Yeah and trust me, it's very annoying cause I don't like to be compared to a cute princess-" he widened his eyes as he blush a bit "I-I mean a amazing princess, and-" Twilight felt a blushing came to her cheek"No, it's okay. Thanks for the compliment." "Cosmo's heart rating faster! Cosmo's heart rating faster!" Haro pipped "Haro!!!" he shouted feeling embarrass from his robot friend which Twilight giggled. He regained his cool then smile at her "I'll be looking forward to learn with you and your friends, Princess Twilight Sparkle." "Just Twilight is fine, Cosmo. C'mon, there's plenty of games for you to try." With a nodded, he begin trying other games from apple bopped which caught a apple spring on his mouth, dunking back into the water, whack the pinata which he able to hit with one swing as flooded of candies rained on him, and a Pin a tail on a Pony. After that, both of them begin to talk about the recent event that happened such as the Changelings is free from their prison and a armored pony called 'Gundam' fought them which he kept quiet about that and hoping that nopony ever bring it up luckly they never ask him about it. After a few hours, all of the ponies begin to leave as Cosmo and Derpy helped with Twilight and her friends cleaned up the party then waved goodbye to Twilight and her friends as he, Haro, and Derpy walking together to his house. "Derpy?" "Yeah, Cosmo?" "Thank you, for allow me to experience it. It was amazing." he smiled at her which her cheek was kissed like a red tomato. "It was nothing. I'm glad you enjoyed it." He looking around as a gust of wind blew a newspaper article to his face as he got it out, he read the article which he sighed at this : The Mysterious hero, Gundam. Friend or Foe? Recent news that the Changelings that was prison in their castle was free and capture Princess Twilight and her friends along with some Royal Guards. Just then, a mysterious armored pony with armors and weapons that nopony ever encountered, even disabled the Changeling's shape shifting magic, able to rescue them and defeat the queen. This mysterious hero, know as Gundam, by Princess Twilight Sparkle, disappeared without a trace. Who is Gundam? What's main objective? Is he friend or foe? The Royal Guards knew nothing of this vigilante but this event recent bring the Royal Guards to remained on guard and using their Anti-shape shifting magic for any unexpected foes disguising themselves as us. 'Guess the name Gundam now become like celebrity hero to ponies. And I don't like calling myself a hero.' his mind moaned as Derpy peek through the article and smiled. "Oh, I read about this article. It's a major news about it that everypony that talking about across Equestria!" Derpy exclaimed "Sure the ponies are worried at the news of the Changelings been free, but this Gundam pony had awesome ability that nopony ever seen!" "I hope that I can meet him with my daught, Ditzy Doo. " "You have a daughter?" Cosmo asked "Yeah, she goes to the Ponyville Schoolhouse almost near to Sweet Apples Acres." Derpy explained which he understand. "Well if possible, I think that when the world is safe from crazy things popping out, he'll might come." Cosmo assure him which she smile as both stop at their destination. "Well, thank you, Derpy. For experience my first party and being my first friend." Derpy blush a bit as she turned her head away "Um, y-your welcome......." "Well see you soon?" Cosmo asked as she nodded. "Of course." With that, Derpy flew back to Cloudsdale as he close the door then headed to the basement as he uncover his AGE Builder as the screen shows him the armor at 100%. "Awesome, it's done!" With that, he activate the button as the AGE Builder open up and reveals a new set of armors. Then he turned to his Gundam as he said to it as if it was a living being "Get some rest my Gundam. Your new toy is set for tomorrow." Ending > Episode 3 - Liberation from Equality > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Ponyville, Set on The Cutie Map Part 1) As Cosmo begin to stir, his eyes begin open up as he yawn and scratch his mane. From his new bedroom in his new home, it was almost designed much like his own back at Canterlot as he have little red on his eyelids possible been working on training and sortie his stuff on home. "Aw man, what a day......." he moaned as he got out and fix the bed, he take a quick shower which he felt his body refreshed as he dry himself, he begin making breakfast as he got a newspaper from his house porch, he begin eating a cereal with his coffee as the article shows him daily news in Ponyville and Canterlot. But to the oblivious, the newspaper also shown of him in his Gundam AGE 4 being like a superhero and such. Bored at this, he put the newspaper into his bin as begin fixing his mane as he nodded, he went to the basement as in there, the basement is similar to the one at the abandoned cabin, but thanks to his technological skills, he able to work on it quickly after the last night party as portion of the basement is more technological as the AGE Builder is store on the left corner, a working table on the right, and on the middle, a workstation with his Gundam armor laid on there. Haro saw his friend as it jump towards him "Cosmo, good morning! Cosmo, good morning!" He chuckled as he caught it and rubbing on the top "Morning Haro. How you slept?" "Recharged is at 100%! Recharged is at 100%!" he replied. "That's good." With that he set him onto the ground as he press a few button from near his door way as from the walls begin to shift, turning into a door way as he headed towards it, he found himself to be in a simulator room. "Good thing that last night I able to create this simulation room with some magic and a lot of technology courtesy of my technological skills. And it only taken about 3 minutes. Talk about a new record." he brash to himself as he got his training suit set, he setting up the simulator as the field begin to materialized turning into a clear forest. "Haro, maintain the controls of the simulator. Get the Saurian Armor set." "Roger! Roger!" he said as he slam his AGE Device into the compartment, the armors begin to dissipated and transfer to him, turning him into his AGE 4 Normal only now that he become his true Gundam Mode with the anthro from his discovery, as 4 bulky red armors, shaped to that of T-Rex, from arms to body as the normal armor disengaged and attached to him as his eyes glow as flames burst out from the armors. "Haro! Set enemies at Level Ten!" With that, four blue dragons known as Grafans and bulky green one as Baqto, materialized as they prepare their sabers as Cosmo charging at it as his thrust his fist, as green eyes glow as it open its mouth, revealing razor sharp teeths as one of the Grafans caught into as with much force, he crushed into pieces, exploded as a process as he thrust his left one as his left arm extended as the D-Armor Fist caught another and crush it to pieces, set off another. Then two Batqo firing their vulcans at him which he raised his arms in a defensive mode as he charging at them as he jump and do a roundhouse kick only his right legs extended and a beam saber emit from the D-Armor Legs his legs as each were caught into it, destroying it in a process. As he landed, the other Grafans continue charging at him as he caught one of them, attempt to slice him, on the head as he use it as a mace then he thrust to him as his D-Armor Body begin to open up revealing another set of teeths and chomp the head down. As the other struggle to stand, Cosmo's D-Armors begin to glow as his D-Armor Fist open up as flames shot out of it, scorching them until they become ashes. "Training Done! Training Done!" Haro said as the area revert back to the simulator as he press a button as the training armors dissipate into particles. Then he working on his Haro as pressing a few keys, Haro's eyes light up as he close his mouth down. "Looks like the Saurian Armor is complete." he said as he headed out of the simulator and into his living room. Then he glance at the clock as he was surprise at this "Oh, snap! I'm better head there!" With a quick rush for his items, he got his keys as Haro jump into his saddle bag as he headed out and close the door with locking it, he headed to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom for his new day of Friendship Lesson from Princess Twilight. Opening: At the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, Twilight and her friends came to the throne room as both Pinkie and Rainbow taken their seats except for Twilight, Applejack, having thoughts in her mind. "Okay let's review it one more time." Rainbow facehoof at her friend "Ugh! We already been through this a million time! We found all six keys, defeated Tierk, and got this sweet castle! End of Story!" "Oh don't forget that the Changelings broke free from prison and a new hero saved us!" Pinkie added which all of them shuddered at this event but all shrugged it off. "Yes but why?" "I dunno know sugarcube, maybe it's your new house and ain't more to it." Applejack replied got her seat. "I must say, strictly on aesthetic, there really no words for this! It's simply divine!" Rarity also got to her seat. "I agree with Twilight. And Rarity. And Applejack. And Rainbow Dash. And Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy said as she got to her seat "Oh and Spike too." She said as Spike been asleep. Just then, large hooves steps was heard as Twilight and her friends take glance and saw Cosmo, rushing to the throne room"Sorry I'm late.....Twilight." "Hey Cosmo!" Twilight greet as he set his stuff down on the side as Haro jump to Pinkie and landed on her cotton mane. "Hi Pinkie! Hi Pinkie!" "Hey there Haro!" Pinkie said as she nuzzle him with affection. "So did I miss anything, Miss Sparkle?" he asked hoping that he wasn't too late for their lesson as she shook her head. "No, you didn't miss anything, we just got to review things before we can start." Cosmo sigh happily as he asked her "So what are you reviewing about?" Twilight was about to explain but Rainbow interrupted her "You know, finding six keys, defeating Tirek, and Twilight got her own castle along with the official title." Twilight glare at Rainbow at that response. "I see, but why?" he cocked his head. "That's what we wonder about. As princess, I've been chosen to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria. So why would the Tree of Harmony want us to sit in a castle in Ponyville? It doesn't make sense." Twilight said as he stand on the side on Twilight's throne as when Twilight sit on, Cosmo notice her cutie mark is glowing as each of the throne's cutie marks begin to glow with their respective colors as they shine upon the star shaped platform as the castle starting to rumble as cracks formed as the castle starting to construct and elaborate. With the lights died down, Spike groan as he woke up, he along with the others agape at a holographic map. "Is this new? I like it." Spike got up and walking on top of it "This is incredible, it's got all of Equestria!" "Hi Mom and Dad!" Pinkie saw the rock farm as Spike's foot stomp onto it, her eyes widened then watering. Suddenly, Twilight's cutie mark begin to glow as each of her friends' cutie mark glow as floating images of them point to a mountainous area. Twilight levitate Spike out of the map as Fluttershy take glance at Ponyville and then the location. "But if this Ponyville, why our cutie marks are over there?" "I don't know. But the map want us to find out. The tree, the castle, the map, how come we did not see this?" Twilight said as Spike rubbing his eyes, widened. "Uh girls, I hope I'm not the only ones that needs my eyes check but look!" the girls glance at his direction he pointed as to their eyes widened in surprise : Cosmo's cutie mark, envelop in aqua hue appeared and hovers to Twilight's and her friends'. "What the-?!" Cosmo was speechless. Why would this castle show his with the others? He isn't a element of harmony, and he didn't save from a embodiment of nightmare, spirit of chaos, evil unicorn king, and power hungry centaur. "Uh, why is Cosmo's cutie mark is with us, Twilight?" Rainbow asked. "I don't know, Rainbow." Twilight asked "Since we represent the elements and use the keys to unlock, it should that only us with the elements appeared in the map but I don't get why Cosmo's cutie mark is there?" "Does this mean that the map wants me to come with you and the others?" Cosmo asked as she nodded "But how can that be? I'm not a element of harmony like you and your friends." "I don't know why though, but I do believe that the map might call you for a reason." Twilight answered. Cosmo close his eyes trying to figure out this event. "Y'know what? There's a ton of dangerous adventures around that route." Rainbow looking at the map "Count me in!" "Aw, shoot, I reckon you're right." Applejack said. "Well I was planning to organizing my baking sheet, but okay!" Pinkie said. Rarity sigh at this "Very well." Both ponies look at Fluttershy including Rainbow as she replied "Um, maybe, I should stay here with Spike." "Awesome!" Both pegasus ponies glance at Spike who is wearing a hat with rubbies attach to with a drinking straw and on the right hand a finger point foam glove "Me and Big Mac have a huge weekend ahead of us talkin' hoofball and........" Fluttershy begin to rethink her decision ".......and trading hoofball cards, and arguing hoofball status......." "O-o-on the second thought, maybe I should go with them, just in case if they need me." Fluttershy said. "Cosmo?" Twilight asked him as he open his eyes after a few thoughts gathered. "Well if the map call me for a reason, then I do whatever I can to help." he turned to his Haro friend as he set him down. "Spike can you watch over him for me please?" "Sure, Cosmo." Spike nodded as Haro jump towards Spike as he caught him on his dragon claw. "Looks like it's time for a road trip." Twilight said as all of the ponies headed to the train station, leaving Spike in the castle. "Well, suit yourself. But he's got a Hock Fetlock rookie card I plan to sweet-talk into these little claws." "Hock Fetlock! Hock Fetlock!" Haro echoed Spike's words. At the Friendship Train, Cosmo was looking at the scenery then to the clear blue skies while the girls chatting to each other as Twilight saw him, holding what to appear to be a device shaped as her curiosity get to the best of her, she walking towards him. As for Cosmo, he was lost in his thoughts as his memories new and old still lingering as he gaze at his AGE Device with his grip on it. Mom...........Papa............and the Asuno Family..........I able to open my heart a bit after last night, but I'm still not yet full awaken to friendship and also I'll still keeping my oath to fulfill your wishes................. "Cosmo?" Twilight's voice snapped out as he whipped his head in surprise. "Hey Twilight. You need something?" "No," she take seat next to him "I was curious of that necklace that you holding. I never seen that kind before." Cosmo flinch at this as his mind rang at this. Twilight is curious about my AGE Device? Oh, no, no, no, no.........my parents' from the record told me that I must not let anypony known of this! "Well I found it." he muster up something to not let her curiosity get to her. "Found where?" she asked as if his memories begin to slip, he revealed only one part. "It was the last of my parent's treasure and............" his mind begin to flash back to the horrible memories that the Changelings done to him and his parents "it represent my dearest family." Twilight could sense something is hurting him from his eyes, having a sadden expression. Just as she going to ask more, the train stop as all of the ponies got out of the train as Twilight looking at the map, the others following her from the rope bridge to the hill as they stop at where the map pointed them to : a small village organized save for a house in a parallel line oddly like a equal mark. "There it is." Cosmo looking down at the village standing on a rock. "That's the place on the map." Twilight said as Rarity dust out of dirt in her mane. "Right! Now let's go and find a spa." she begin walking to the town until Twilight stop her. "Wait. We don't know why the map sent us here." Twilight explained "We shouldn't walk right in. It could be a trap." Unknown to them, Cosmo activate his scanner on his AGE Device as a screen shows him for any Changelings on that area so far, none of them appeared. Guess that when Queen Chrysalis is injured, the Changelings been focus on healing her. he thought as he heard Applejack's call. "Cosmo, c'mon!" Whipping his head to their direction, he climb down the hills as he saw Pinkie hiding from the small rocks, and lifting a boulder which he cringed at it when it flatted on her but Pinkie able to move it. After that, all of them peek at the village as Cosmo was confuse at first glance at it : ponies were just living their daily lives. Why would the map sent them to this place that's normal? "This is where the map sent us? It looks like the most boring place in Equestria." Rainbow commented. "It's just a ordinary village with ordinary ponies." Applejack added. "It could certainty use a few architectural flourishes. Or any architectural flourishes." Rarity said. "I think it's lovely." Fluttershy admire of the village but one pony felt that something is off. "I don't like it! I don't like it one bit!" Pinkie said with immediate suspicious as Cosmo cocked his head in confusion. "I know smiles. And those smiles? They're not just right." Pinkie said as Cosmo taken examine of her suspicious at those villager ponies as his coming into surface. She was right. Those smiles, they are just...........creepy and unnatural. "Forget those smiles. Look at the cutie marks." All of them look at what Twilight pointed as another suspicious also surface into Cosmo. One by one, everypony have the same cutie marks : a black equal mark. "Okay, that's wired." Rainbow pointed. "An entire village with the same cutie mark? How can that be?" Twilight wonder as Cosmo tapping his muzzle, trying to think what would cause this. For ponies, having different cutie marks is natural. It represent the part of their hearts and soul. Having the same mark isn't natural, so it's possible that there's something or somepony is causing this. "I bet there's some sort of horrific monster behind all this." Rainbow said as he share confusing glance at her. "What made you say that?" Twilight asked "Cause fighting a horrific monster would be super awesome!" Rainbow replied which Cosmo rolled his eyes. "I reckon we just ought to head to town and talk some local, finding out what's going on." Applejack as Cosmo nodded in agreement. "It would be wise. We need at least find some evidence or clues on this village." "Great idea, AJ. Let's go!" Rainbow zip to the village as the others followed her while Pinkie narrow her eyes at the village. "Those smiles are bad news!" With Pinkie catch up with them , the group walk towards the village as each of the ponies with their creepy smiles, which Cosmo winced at this, kept saying "Welcome" then again "Welcome" and again "Welcome" and even the fillies said the same thing. As if, those ponies are attracting prey to their doom like a fly stuck on a Venus fly trap. Cosmo felt his necklace glow softly as he grip tightly not to raise any suspicious to this place and his friends. My AGE Device sense something is off...........those ponies, I felt as if they're souls and heart are..........tampered with. "This is the mostly pleasant place in Equestria!" Fluttershy said as a grey/dark navy blue pegasus with the same mane style and creepy smiles bids her. "Welcome!" Fluttershy giddy a bit as he take glance Rainbow hoof face in annoyance. Looks like her guess of horrific monster for a epic adventure didn't turn out expected for her which he felt bad for her. "Thanks, a lot map." They come to a stop as a light grey pony with the same features as the others only with a brown cloak bids them "Welcome!" he take glance at Twilight "Pardon me for my forwardness but are you a alicorn?" Twilight gave a nervous smile as Applejack spoke for her "That there's is the Princess of Friendship!" "Well you come the right place for friendship." This coming from the grey earth pony raise suspicious to Cosmo which he narrow his eyes as white unicorn much like the others came to his side. "What brings you to town?" "We're not entirely sure." Twilight answered. "I see, well all are welcome in our little village. My name is Double Diamond and this is Party Favor." he introduces to himself and his friend which his creepy grin creeps Rarity. "Howdy, Double Diamond. I'm Applejack" she introduces to herself then to her friends "and this here's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Cosmo, and Twilight Sparkle." "And you all have your own unique cutie marks." Double Diamond glance at each of their marks which both Pinkie hides hers and Cosmo glare at him which he nervously backed off with his creepy smile still in his place. "If you don't mind, has there been any sort of.........trouble here, lately?" Twilight asked him. "Trouble? Why I don't think we've any trouble in our little village." Double Diamond replied. "So there's no strange things going around in the village?" Cosmo asked which Double Diamond shook his head. "Nope. Nothing strange around in our little village." That did little lower his suspicious as he raise his eyebrow. "It's true. You'll see. Hm" Party Favor said. "Perhaps you'd care to speak to the founder, Starlight Glimmer." Double Diamond said as Cosmo and his friends follow them. "I wish everypony was friendly as these ponies." Fluttershy said. "I don't know if I want that wish to be true Fluttershy, there something that's off of this village that's unnatural." Cosmo said. "He's right, Fluttershy." Pinkie agree with him surprising Twilight and her friends "Something's rotten in this........whatever the name of the village that we're in now." Once the two reach for the house on the upper middle, both of them gave a knock "Starlight, we have some new visitors." The door open as all of them went inside of as Rainbow whispered to Applejack "Be ready to fight, we don't what's going through that door." As the door open, a unicorn mare appeared with a pale, light graysih heliotrope coat and a mane and tail that's curled up on a bun like with duel colors of lighter purple and a pale light grayish aquamarine on a moderate purple. Like the others, she also have a equal cutie mark. By guess from Cosmo, that must be her, the founder of this village. "Welcome! I'm so pleased to have you here." Rainbow groaned in disappointment. Another epic adventure she envisioned failed again as Cosmo felt bad for her not getting a epic adventure. Double Diamond introduced them to Starlight "This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Cosmo, and Twilight Sparkle." Starlight narrow her eyes on Twilight which she ruffle her wings, examine her then to her interest, she also examine Cosmo which he swiftly crane his neck in confusion. "Forgive for my bluntness but I'm assuming you're Princess Twilight Sparkle? We don't get many alicorns around here. As for you, I hope If my memory serve correctly but aren't you supposed to be Cosmo Bringer, the lineage of The Bringer Family? I'm very honor to meet you." Starlight said earning surprise from Twilight and her friends. Cosmo is actually a lineage of The Bringer Family, the famous wealthy family of Canterlot? They heard many kind things about them before Twilight's ascendant into alicorn. But they were killed by a unknown threat on the same day as Princess Cadance's wedding. Decide to change the topic (and also explained to his friends whenever the chance might come), Cosmo replied "It's a honor." "So, how did you hear of our little village?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "It's kind of a long story. Let's just say we found it on a map." Twilight replied. "Technically, it's Tree-Castle-Chest-Map!" Pinkie piped before shift her expression as the others look weirdly at her. "Well, however you found us, we're happy to have you!" Starlight said "We happy for to have anypony who wants to experience true friendship for the first time." "Say what?" both Cosmo and Applejack asked. "Oh, indeed. That's what so unique about our little village, you see." Starlight fix up a picture frame on her wall "Around here, we don't flaunt our special talents because we don't have any special talents to flaunt." "So in other words, the village is actually 'equal'?" Cosmo asked. "You guessed it." Starlight smiled. "Is that why you all have those cutie marks?" Twilight asked about her's and the villagers. "Perhaps it would better if I give you the tour of the village." Starlight said. As on cue when she open the door, a marching drum can be heard. In Our Town "Heads high, ponies!" All of the creepy ponies begin following her with addition of marching whistle "All together now! Every one of you!" "Nopony left behind!" More from their building join her song as Starlight begin her verse. Starlight : Life is so grand in Our Town! We always filled with cheer! We never have to look around! To Know that we're all here The citizens ponies begin marching and sang around Cosmo and his friends which they aren't interesting in their happiness. Citizens : In Our Town, in Our Town We don't have to wait To find out that our destiny Is just to emulate Starlight joined and marched along with the citizens as they continue to smile "Let's see those big, happy smiles!" Starlight : Life is a smile in Our Town Our cutie marks are the same Because we do not separate Ourselves by more than name Two pegasus sang to Rainbow Dash much to her discomfort as they put her down. Citizens : In Our Town, in Our Town We dare not to compete Winning only breads the worst Ego-filled conceit Starlight came behind her which freaked her out "You see? Now everypony wins!" Starlight : Life is a joy in Our Town We're all equal here No one is superior And no one shakes in fear Citizens : In Our Town, in Our Town We work as a team You can't have a nightmare If you never dream Cosmo raise his eyebrows in confusion along with his friends too not to mention that Pinkie already having a distrusting expression. Then Starlight begin sing her verse through close to them much to Pinkie's discomfort. Starlight : Over ponies argue Do you ever know why? When you think your talent's special You don't see eye-to-eye As she sang that last part, she smiled at Cosmo flirtatiously while winks at him, much to both his discomfort and Twilight's sudden envy as he weirdly back away from her. There is just too much differences That leads to disarray But when you learn to act as one It's like a holiday Citizens : In Our Town, in Our Town We don't complicate Fluttershy begin to enjoy the music nodding her head as a process, but Pinkie scorned her, shaking her head and leaving her in tears. The others felt unsure of their philosophy as the ponies continue to sing. Citizens : Join in our utopia Come out of the dark Banded by equality By our cutie mark! At the final part, a flag of equal sign was raised by two other pegasus equal ponies as two rows of ponies smiled with Starlight at the center. Rainbow Dash burst out laughing "You kidding right? Giving up our cutie marks? No way!" "Rainbow Dash don't be rude" Fluttershy sternly said "I don't think we should judge them. They seem perfectly happy with their choice." "Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy." Pinkie Pie said again having her suspicious tone. "I'm sorry, I guess that we're just confused by all of this." Twilight apologized to her. "We have no judgements here in our little village. Each of us was confused once as well blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks." Starlight explained while the other ponies nodded. "But cutie marks represent the hearts and souls. Even if it was a false promise, it can transform something greater that you can't imagine : a new hope for the tomorrow." Cosmo argue about that philosophy which the other ponies look at each other as they question about his reason. Unknown to all ponies, Starlight narrow her eyes at him but quickly change her expression. "That's a interesting words you said but still we remain to our philosophy." Starlight said. Twilight came to his side "When we came to this village, we assumed it was to help in some way. But, well, it doesn't seem like you need any help." Starlight came walking towards her "Having you considered that perhaps you might sent here so we can help you?" "But why would you think that she might need help?" Cosmo got in front of her, being defensive "She know what she's doing." "And what about you? Why are you here? By my eyes, you new to friendship?" Starlight asked him. "I'm here to learn about it with Princess Twilight." "Well, maybe it's consider that perhaps that you also sent here so I can teach you about friendship?" That question raise thoughts to him as he lost into a deep thought. Twilight have a worried expression of that possibility of him learning friendship from her. "After all, nopony has ever come to our little village and leaved. Why should you be any different?" The girls and Cosmo take glance at each other puzzled at this. "But that is entirely up to your choice." "Please enjoy our little corner of Equestria. We're all quite fond of it." Starlight turned back to them "No doubt you will be too. Double Diamond, please help with our guests with whatever they might need." "Of course" Double Diamond said as his creepy grin disturbed them as Starlight begin walking back to her home. "Well, this will certainly provide a boost for our community" she close her eyes then open them with a sinister look "When the rest of the Equestria sees that both a princess and a lineage of the Bringer Family gave their cutie marks to join us.........they'll finally understand what we're trying to accomplish." As the girls and Cosmo continue walking through, both him and Twilight were lost at their deep thoughts. This village and Starlight Glimmer, they believe that everypony should be'equal' by giving up their cutie marks. It's very unreal to do that but they did and everypony seems happy about this. For Cosmo, he felt that even if that's true, giving up their cutie marks would mean that ponies will lose their life to gain this.........unnatural philosophy. When he was little, his parents always told him how cutie marks represent the heart and soul of a pony and giving up yours means that your giving up your heart and soul, despite of a mark that you not meant to have. As for Twilight, she also thinking about him; Cosmo is actually the lineage of The Bringer Family that she heard about them. She remember that her parents met them as their friends as the Bringer Family usually help them with their important work including her dad's teacher career which they loan money for him. But one day at the same day in Princess Cadance's wedding, the Bringer Family were killed by a unknown threat and thought that all of them were gone. She can't help that the Changelings might be the culprit of their deaths as their death taken a hit on her family which they also consider them a family. But another thing that she lost into is that the possibility of Cosmo chose to learn friendship from Starlight. When Princess Luna told her that a new pony has come to Ponyville to learn the Magic of Friendship, she was excited for a chance to have a student under her wing as in the party, she finally got to meet Cosmo. She also begin to learn about him as surprising, he used to be just like her before she discover friendship only he always ignoring ponies who wants to be friends to him. But one strange thing happen to her is that when Starlight was trying to flirt with him, she somehow get a ting of envy. She never know why she act like that. Could she begin to show affection for him? Decide to shake off her thoughts, she begin think about the village's philosophy "A cutie mark is a representation of a pony's natural talent and skills. How's it possible to-" Her thoughts were interrupted from Rarity gasped "What in the name of Equestria is that?!" Rarity pointed as both Cosmo and Twilight glance at a large equal pony selling bland cloaks "Welcome! Care to sample local fashion? We got cloak this month!" Cosmo deadpaned at this with his thoughts about it. Local fashion? Really? As for Rarity, she was almost gag as repulsed by it, she tried to hide her disgust as she stammer nervously "Wha-Ohh, er, perhaps another time, good sir, thank you." The three walking backwards as they taken their seats on the table for lunch as Rarity whispered to Applejack "No wonder nopony's wearing anything!" "Really girls!" Fluttershy sternly said to them "They may do things differently than when we're used to, but that's no reason to be rude." "No, the reason to be rude is that they keep staring at us!" Rainbow argued as she pointed that the citizens stared at them. "Rainbow got a point, Fluttershy." Cosmo commented "It's like they just keep their close eyes on us for whatever reason we might do." "Cosmo, I never knew you would agree with that kind of statement!" Fluttershy scolded at him. "Listen, there's something off about the village, and I had a hunch that Starlight might done something to them." Cosmo interjected "Beside, it isn't natural for this village to act like this." Twilight placed her left hoof on his right shoulder, calming him down before things can escalate quickly as he nodded. Then they saw Double Diamond, sitting across them with a waitress, asking "Need something?" "Uh no, we're good!" Twilight replied as she turned to her friends while another waitress pony came to their side "Fluttershy's right. If we're going to get to the bottom of why the map sent us here, we going to need help of these ponies." Just as the waitress pony begin to speak, Applejack interrupted her "I think we ran off to the end of Equestria, before we even knew what that map was!" "If we ran to the end of Equestria, we would be sitting on a big 'A'." Pinkie making a joke while giggling "Get it?!" "I don't get it......." Cosmo deadpanned at that joke. "You not supposed to get it, Cosmo. It's a joke." Rainbow replied. "Oh, please Miss Pie, this is hardly the time for jokes!" Rarity said "We came all this way and for what?" "Maybe you're right. But we're here now" Twilight said "and it sure feels like something's wrong." Cosmo nodded as Applejack replied "That and a two bits'll give a cup of cider." "Is this a bad time?" the waitress pony asked them. "We shouldn't bickering in front of our new friends. Really Applejack, your almost bad as Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy scolded at her as Rainbow Dash got into her face, annoyed. "Don't drag me into this!" Cosmo take glance at the citizens and notice three cover the fillies' ears. No doubt they don't want to hear them auguring. The waitress pony came to Rarity and asked "Is your friendship ending?" "Are you crazy?!" Pinkie came to her face "We won't let any disagreement over food!" "O-kay, well, my name is Sugar Belle. What can I bring you? We have : muffins......." the waitress pony asked as each of them were confused until Twilight decide to ordered it. "Then I guess we take 7 muffins." "Make that 14!" Pinkie said as the others looked annoyed "What? I'm hungry!" "Come on, guys. We got to stick together. It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now." Twilight said as the others except for Cosmo agree with her, thinking about that. "I guess you're right. And the sooner we figure out why, the sooner we can go home." Applejack said as Sugar Belle placed the muffins on the table. The muffins look stale yet brownish and very.........pale with no flavors. "Forgiving for overhearing, but just your disagreeing and it sounds like you're.........agreeing." Sugar Belle asking as Cosmo raise his eyebrow on her. "Yeah.........?" he asked suspiciously. "Well, you had such differing opinions- and cutie marks." "We have different opinions all the time, darlings." Rarity replied. "But you look like you're friends." Sugar Belle said. "We are friends. A simple disagreement wouldn't change all that." Twilight said as unknown to them, Double Diamond overhears the conversation. Luckily, Cosmo take glance at it as he turned to Sugar Belle who looks nervous as if she was been watched too. "I'm sorry. I'm just having a hard time understanding. Different marks, leads to different opinions....."Cosmo and the others were listen to this philosophy while Pinkie eating one of the muffins ".......which leads to bitterness, and misery." "That's never true, Sugar Belle." Cosmo decide to step up to this philosophy "Even with different marks that ponies along with different talents, if you share those to others, that's how real friendship works along with creating a new future. Cutie marks also represent the heart and soul of a pony. Just being equal wouldn't work. It'll only to lead to a empty future." Sugar Belle was surprise yet speechless of how his words. The other equal ponies begin to question his words and his philosophy. Could being equal only lead to only a empty future? Having different marks can create friendship and even the future? Just as she going to speak, Pinkie spat out the muffins in disgust as while she gagged out, she earns glances from the others. "Mmmm. Good." "It's all right. I'm know I'm not a good baker." Sugar Belle said "At least, I'm not any better than anypony else in the village." She glance back as she nervously saw Double Diamond standing up, disapproving which Cosmo noticed. "Well I........hope you enjoy in our little village!" Sugar Belle said as she about to enter back to the shop. As for Pinkie, she scrapes out of the baked bads until Sugar Belle whispered to her, Twilight, and Cosmo. "Come inside before you go! Meet me downstairs!" She gave a the creepy smiles at Double Diamond before she speeds to her home. After that, the others were confused by this as Rainbow asked "Okay that was wired too." "Let's all sit and eat those muffins and act normal." Twilight said levitate hers "I think we're been watched." Cosmo glance as each of the villagers despite doing their daily basis were keeping their eyes on them. "You think?" Rainbow said annoyed. "No, Rainbow. She meant that somepony here doesn't want to talk to Sugar Belle." Cosmo said as he nodded his head as the others take glance as Double Diamond was eating his muffins. "Whatever the reason, it make sense that they hiding something." The girls nodded at his words as Applejack thinking a way to get to Sugar Belle until she got a idea. One of which requires one particular pony to do the job. "I got a idea." she turns to the pony who can help "But you got to eat all of them muffins, Pinkie." "Me?!" Pinkie panicked "Why me?!" "You got a stronger stomach than any of us" Applejack pointed to Sugar Belle's home "and that filly in there might be our chance to findin' out what the hay is going round here." With the girls and Cosmo glance at Pinkie, she gave a worried expression of eating those baked bads. She never want to eat those baked bads, never, ever, and ever, but if they want answers, she had to do it. "Oh dear Celestia......." For Pinkie, eating sweets is her specialty and she loves all of them except for baked bads. Now her stomach fighting against the baked bads, her face is now green as she ate the last one. She's happy she ate all of them, but her stomach still in battle against the baked bads. "I can't believe you ate all of our muffins, Pinkie Pie!" Applejack said silted as the others have their fake smiles. "We better go inside and get some more!" Once inside, the group headed downstairs with Cosmo walked towards Pinkie "Here, climb on my back." She nodded as she got on him, despite the weight he felt, he carried her with the others. "Nice work, Pinkie" said Twilight. After downstairs, Cosmo set Pinkie down as Cosmo asked "Are you going to be okay?" "Yeah, thanks, Cosmy." Despite Pinkie happiness, her sickness still linger "I just accidentally cardboard tastier than that........" "Hello, Sugar Belle?" Twilight called her in the basement. "Thank you for coming." Sugar Belle said as she emerges out of the shadows with her creepy grin. "Sugar Belle, why do you want us to come down here?" Cosmo asked. "So that nopony could see what's about to happen." At the time, Twilight, Cosmo, Fluttershy, and Rarity looked from the left as Party Favor emerges as well as Rainbow, Pinkie, and Applejack saw the same grey like pegasus from before. Each of them surrounded them as Twilight and Cosmo prepare their magic, Party Favor came to their faces. "Are you really the Princess of Friendship and the lineage of The Bringer Family?" "Do you know Princess Celestia?" the grey like pegasus pony asked. "I love your cutie mark!" Sugar Belle admire Pinkie's which Pinkie disturbed at this. "How can you be friends different cutie marks?" the grey like pegasus came to Rarity's and Fluttershy's side "Don't you end up hating each other?" Sugar Belle then admire Fluttershy's cutie mark which the shy pegasus pony adopted the same expression as Pinkie's. "Oh look at this one! This one is so cute!" she said "I'd love to have my special talent back just for a day!" Then her expression turned to sadden "Make something beside those disgusting muffins......" This raise questions to Cosmo. What did she meant have their special talents back? Does they mean they're stripped off of their special talents and given those equal marks? "So what's stopping you? Go get your cutie marks back!" Rainbow said, not feeling worried. "Daydream is one thing, but you mean having it back on? That's seems extreme." Party Favor said which Rainbow is unamused. To Cosmo's eyes, she knows what actually extreme is. "I'm not sure that Starlight would want that either. She want us to be happy in our sameness." Sugar Belle said which Cosmo's suspicious begin to added up. Starlight might be the culprit of stripping their cutie marks. To get some more clues, Cosmo asked "How do you take somepony's cutie mark away?" "The cutie unmarking is a wonderful experience." the grey like pony said "Starlight use the Staff of Sameness to magically take them away and replacing them with these!" This worries the ponies even Cosmo as Twilight said "But nopony should keep from your cutie marks. It represent such as essential of who you are." "She's right." Cosmo agreeing with her "Didn't you hear how cutie marks represent the heart and soul of a pony? Taking them away and keep from them while be equal would only lead to a empty and sadden future. They also represent of a new tomorrow for the future to come." "Oh, we're not kept from them. They're at the vault up in the caves." the grey like pony said "We can visit them anytime we like to remind of the heartache of a lifetime with special talents. " Cosmo and his friends look at each other as Twilight got a idea "Can we visit the caves?" "Of course! You'll need to ask Starlight about it. But don't tell Starlight about us telling this." "Thanks" Twilight turned to her friends "We better get going." All of them nodded as they headed out but not when Cosmo look back at them "So what's your name?" "Night Glider." "Night Glider, do you and your friends miss your special talents?" he asked as the others looked at each other. "We just doing this because she's our friend." Sugar Belle said. " Real Friends don't forced each other to be who they want to be. I can understand of Starlight's philosophy but I sense there's some a flaws in them." Cosmo replied which the other ponies look at him. The lineage of The Bringer Family have some words that filled with compassion and honesty. "But being different......." "Can only lead to argument and disagreement, but that's a good thing. My dad told me that if you share your talents to other ponies, then you'll grow to understand each other and being friends. There's no shame of doing it to others. Special talents aren't a curse, it's a prayer for the future." The three ponies were stunned at his words that nothing can counter his. Could they only felt false happiness? Was special talents are prayers for the future? Was being equal only leads to only a empty future? Was Starlight being wrong all this time? "Cosmo! Hurry up!" Rainbow called him. "Coming!" he shouted as he turned to them "Please give some time to think about it. Is this what you ponies truly want from the bottom of your hearts?" With that, he rushed to his friends, leaving them to thinking about it. The next day Starlight Glimmer lead Cosmo and his friends to the hills of the desert near to the village where the cutie mark vault is located. Double Diamond stood there smiling at them, but they knew that he's keeping a eye on them. "I'm delighted you're interested in our cutie mark vault." she turns to them in a upbeat tone while leading them "We hope one day that everypony in Equestria will make a pilgrimage here to our little village to have there's removed too, and our message of perfectly equal friendship can finally spread across the land." "This is must why the map sent us." Twilight whispered while Starlight continue talking. "Pilgrimage-ing?" Pinkie asked. "No, she meant that the map sent us to help get their cutie marks back." Cosmo corrected her. "Oh, are you sure, Twilight and Cosmo?" Fluttershy asked them "Maybe they miss them a little, but they didn't even seem unhappy." "Then why do they want to meet us in secret?" Twilight said "And why did they tell us not to tell Starlight about the vault? Something's not right." "In any case, we need to make sure she doesn't know who told us about the vault. We need to keep our guards up. They must know how Starlight might be upset if anypony told her about the vault." The others nodded at him while in secret, he press a few buttons on his AGE Device. "Just through here!" Starlight led through a cave as they enter, they felt a ting of coldness like the sun left them. "Behold, our cutie mark vault!" The group were shocked at this sight! Standing in front of them, a large glass like pillars was filled with different cutie marks locked in the square holes with some have seven empty spots. The vault itself was illuminated with light blue aura as on the middle is a wooden staff also shaped in a equal sign standing on the stone pedestal. Seeing all of those cutie marks stripped away to preserve equality by Starlight, was enough for Cosmo's anger to rise up at the sight of this......atrocity , but he contained a bit with his narrow eyes. Even the girls also have their eyes narrow at this sight. "And here is the staff of sameness!" Starlight approached the pedestal and levitated the staff "It was one of the great mage Meadowbrook's nine enchanting items. We are fortunate to have it here." However, through the name of Meadowbrook, both Cosmo and Twilight have a suspicious look. "This is the tool that allows us to free ourselves for our cutie marks! I'm curious......how did the subject of the vault came up?" Cosmo knew that she's getting suspicious as each of them stayed silence. Well almost... "Oh some of the ponies telling us how much they miss their cutie marks and - " "Pinkie!" Cosmo growled as she quickled placed her hooves onto her mouth. "Oops......" "Were they?" Starlight twirled her staff while having her cheerful demeanor "Well it would seems you inspires all sorts of free thinking, don't you?" Her demeanor changed at that last part. They knew that they're in deep trouble. Rarity laughed nervously " Well, w-we certainly didn't cause any disruptions to your charming little -" "Good. Now we just make sure of that, shall we?" As Rarity backed away, she stumbled upon Double Diamond as more of the creepy ponies begin emerging from the shadows and surrounded them. "It's a trap!" Twilight shouted as all of them got into a battle stance as she teleports away and into the air. As she charges her magic, Starlight pointed the staff as a icky green aura fire on her putting her on magic stasis. She grins evilly as Twilight groan in pain as her cutie mark begin to be pulled away from her flank. Cosmo saw this as she charges at her. "Leave her alone!" Starlight took notice as more of the creepy ponies rammed into the wall as he bucked them off. Before he can continue, it was too late. Twilight's cutie mark was removed as Starlight placed on the vault. In horror, he saw her empty flank now replaced with a equal mark as her mane lose colors as she fell down on the floor. "TWILIGHT!!!!" he screamed as another bolt of magic hit the rest of his friends. Each of them groan in pain as one by one, all of their marks were removed and have the same equal marks with their colors become grey. "NOOOO!!!!!" Then Starlight pointed at Cosmo as another bolt of magic hit him but to everypony's surprise, he was outline with a light green aura as the staff's power struggle to removed but no avail then it dissipated. "What the?! How can you be not affected?!" Starlight exclaimed as she fires another one but the result is the same thing which she growls in anger. Cosmo then noticed that his AGE Device begin to glow the same aura as him as his mind realize at this. The AGE Device is protecting him using advanced magic? However, Starlight notice it and growls at it "Get that necklace off of him!" With the creepy ponies charging at him, Cosmo use his magic as he teleport one area to another as he bucked them using his hind legs, then another came as he punch another, then a roundhouse kick, and a magic bubble throw which he caught several of them and slammed out of the caverns. The girls were speechless at this. Not only he's immune to the staff's magic, but somehow he able to fight off the creepy ponies. Then as he was distracting fighting more of the creepy ponies, Starlight use the staff's magic as another bolt blast him to the wall. "COSMO!!!!" the girls screamed as he begin to get up, two more creepy ponies grab his arms along with holding his horn as he continue to struggle. "Well, you're certainly a interesting pony. Being able to be immune to the staff's powers thanks to that necklace, but you had gone too far of your words so," she snatched his AGE Device as he struggle to get it back from her growls in anger "let's see if you can live without it." With that she fires another bolt as like his friends, he screamed in pain as his cutie mark was removed as he fell down on the floor, then his vision begin to flooded in darkness not when Twilight shouted for him. "COSMO!!!!!" "In sameness, there is peace. Excepetionalism is a lie. Free yourself from your cutie mark. Choose equality as your special talent. Difference is frustration. To excel is to fail." His mind was in darkness as a voice of loudspeaker was heard. Then another noise sounded like Rainbow Dash who was struggle on a door. And another is Pinkie who was complimenting something "Hey, this is pretty good!" Finally Twilight's voice was heard, sounded annoyed "Ugh! We got to get out of here! I don't know how long I can take more of that voices! And......" Her expression sounded worried "I hope that Cosmo is okay." He felt a soft touch on his head as he begin to groaned then begin to wake up. His vision begin to blur but they clear out as he got up. "Ughhh.........." "Cosmo!" Twilight said as the others came to her side then in his surprise, she hug him as he felt warmth from her "Thank goodness you're all right." Felt his cheek burning at that affection, his hooves melt into it as he wrapped around her. He doesn't know how he felt about this affection but his body acted on its own. "Ugggh, can you two please save the mushy stuff for later?" Rainbow's voice was heard annoyed as both of them let go of each other, having their cheeks red as a tomato. "What happen Twilight? Where are we?" he asked. "We're in a 'guest house' by Starlight after she took all of our cutie marks." Twilight explained. Cosmo widened his eyes in this. Starlight manage to take all of his friends cutie marks including his. As he look as his flank, it was no longer his special talent but only a equal mark. Then he felt something missing as he no longer felt his necklace. "Wha-what happened to my necklace?!" Cosmo frantically said. "Starlight took it. When you're knock out by the staff's powers, she manage to take it away before removing your cutie mark." Twilight explained. "No........."he lower his head at this. Starlight took his AGE Device? No, the device that can change the fate of Equestria, the device that grants him the power of the Gundam, and the last link to his deceased parents, now stolen by a evil unicorn. In his despair, he rushed through the door and kick the door but to no avail. Then he tried to use his magic as unnoticed his equal mark glowed black as his magic fizzed out. He gritted his teeth as he tried to kick and punch the door many times. The girls saw this as Twilight rushed to him "Cosmo, stop it!!" "No! I got to get it back from her!" he tried to use his horn to pierce through only that it stings on it which he winced at it. "Please Cosmo!!!" Fluttershy trying to calm him down. "You wouldn't understand!! That necklace meant everything!" he shouted as he about to kick it, both Rainbow Dash and Applejack hold his hooves on the ground. "Listen you need to calm down!" Rainbow Dash said. "Yeah, just kicking and punch or whatever you doing wouldn't work!" Applejack added. "Why are you so desperate to get that necklace back? You can at least get or make another." Rainbow said which he glares at her. "THAT NECKLACE ISN"T SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REPLACED!" he shouted at her which the girls were startled by his outburst as realize what he done, he lower his head down and begin to sobbed quietly. "You ponies have no idea........ I had to........otherwise..............." Twilight saw this as she place her hoof on his shoulder "Cosmo, why is the necklace meant you so much?" After calm down, he sighed as he begin to speak "It represent my decease parents after they died. My parents meant everything to me in my entire life before I met you six. Losing them not only broke my heart, it shatters everything I love and care. And because of this, I was orphaned until I found someone who consider to be my aunt and my mother. While I was at my remains of my old home, I able to find the last treasure of my parents which is this necklace. Since then, I kept this as a connection to my parents." After that, the girls felt tears in their eyes. Never in life, a pony can lose everything they treasure so much. In his surprise, each of them gave a meaningful hug which he surprise at this. "Oh Cosmo, I'm sorry about your loss." Fluttershy said. "No pony should go that traumatic experience." Rarity added. "We're here for you, Cosmo, because that was friends are for." Twilight said "You don't had to go through your suffering alone." Cosmo was shocked beyond words then he finally hug his friends and after a few minutes, he let go of them. "Thank you girls and Rainbow, I'm sorry about shouted at you." "It's okay." Rainbow said "If that necklace meant to you, then we'll going to get it back." "Thanks girls. I never knew having friends can bring hope." After a few silence, he thought a bit then turned to Twilight "Twilight, when I got hit by the staff, even with my necklace's magic protection, there's something odd about it." "Yeah same thing, I haven't studied Eastern Unicorns as I have should, but I'm pretty sure about Medowbrook only have eight magical items, not nine. And I don't remember being a staff." Cosmo nodded "Your right. I had a hunch Starlight made it up. And I can sense that the magic didn't came from that staff itself." "Well, it's look like that you two have plenty of time to think about it." Applejack said as she lie down on the floor and put her hat on her face. Through out the time, all of the girls are asleep while both Twilight and Cosmo are thinking while the loudspeaker continue to say the same philosophy over and over. As the fourth time, both Twilight and Cosmo continue to think until....... "We got it! We know how to get out!" "Forget it, Twilight and Cosmo. The door's not opening." Rainbow groaned. "And I'm afraid the windows are much too small to escape." Rarity pointed out. "But there's a third way." Cosmo said. "Of course! Eventually the wind and weather will wear out the walls until it started to crumble! Then all we have to do is wait for a big hole to form and we can just walk out!" Pinkie said as her equal mark hampering her cheerfulness "I guess." Cosmo deadpanned at her plan. That's going to take about few days and month to happen. "We don't actually have to escape. They'll just let us out when they think we've accepted their philosophy!" Twilight said. "But they're never going to believe us when we switched over in one night." Applejack replied. "There's one of us they might actually believe." Twilight said as both her and Cosmo glance at Fluttershy confused at the plan as they smile at her especially Pinkie. Once she put the pieces together, she realize it. "Oh! Me?!" "You've been saying how great this place is since we got there!" Rainbow pointed out. "But that's because everypony's so nice and their village is so pretty and, and......." Fluttershy smile turn into a frown "Oh you're right. They'll probably believe me. I hate to lie to them." "They've been so welcoming and friendly aside from locking us in here and trying to brainwash us into the things that made us special........." After having a nervous expression, she nodded "I'll do it." "Woo-hooo!" Pinkie cheered as she jump into the air. Sadly the equal mark hampers her again "I mean, cool." "But what I do once I'm out?" Fluttershy asked. "You got to find a way to get our cutie marks back and Cosmo's necklace." Twilight said as Fluttershy gulp at this. Just then the loudspeaker said "Oh, good morning!" Then from the door, Starlight Glimmer appeared "I trust you had pleasant night?" "This way, please. There are some friends who like to see you." Starlight beckon them as once she out, the group smile at Fluttershy as they all headed out as the creepy ponies gather around the house. "Gather rounds, friends, gather rounds! We've come to ask if any of you are ready to join us!" Starlight said as Cosmo noticed Party Favor, Night Glider, and Sugar Belle came too "There are so many friends to be made once you realize you don't need your cutie mark......" she got to Cosmo's face with her smug face which he gritted his teeth while Twilight narrow her eyes at her "or the talents that come with it." "We have a welcome ceremony for new friends! The whole village joins us together to build your new cottage-" "Not interested!" Rainbow shot back at Double Diamond's offering "You may have them now, but we're going to get our cutie marks back!" "Y'all don't understand, do ya!" Applejack said "You can't force anypony to be friends! It don't work like that!" "Please join us!" one of the villagers said "We love new friends!" "It's all right, everypony. This is perfectly normal part of equalization process for those who haven't" Starlight sneered behind Twilight and Cosmo "quite seen the light yet." "We'll try again tomorrow" Starlight said "once you've had a bit more time to consider your philosophy." With that, the group return back to the house but not when Twilight hit Fluttershy's right hoof as she spoke "I've like to join!" She close her mouth as the villagers chatters at this news as both Cosmo and Twilight have a 'upset' expressions. "Fluttershy, but why-?" Cosmo was deeply 'hurt'. "If giving up my cutie mark means I get to stay in this lovely village with these lovely ponies, then I'll do it." Fluttershy said as Starlight smile at this. With that, both Twilight and Cosmo enter back to the house but not when both gave a smile at her as Starlight close the door. "Hope this plan will work." Applejack said. "It'll work, we just need to be patient for Fluttershy to do it." Cosmo replied "We just got to have faith in her." The others nodded as Rainbow realize something "Speaking of which......." She got into his face "You mind telling why you didn't tell us that you're a lineage of the Bringer Family from the first place?!" Cosmo sighed "Look, it ain't easy to tell you about where I come from since........." his expression turned to frown as Applejack and Twilight glare at her. "Rainbow, you know how this feller suffer from his loss! You can't just force him to tell him about it!" Applejack scold at her. "Sorry, Cosmo." Rainbow apologized. "It's okay, I just want to move on, but part of me wish I can go back the past." he lower his head in deep thought. Twilight place her left hoof on his right shoulder. "We can't change what happen in the past, the only we can do is move on and build the future." Twilight said as he smile at her words. Then the door open as surprising, Party Favor enter the house. "I'm so sorry, everypony." he apologized "I never want to leave the village. I love you all-" Then the door was slammed shut as Party Favor in his guilt, slammed his horn onto the door. "What was I've thinking?! I can't believe I even considered asking for my cutie mark back!" "Party Favor, what happened?" Cosmo came to his side as he placed his hoof on shoulder. "Starlight force Fluttershy to give up the name of us for spoke with you and the others in secret and the cutie mark vault. I had to take the blame to protect my friends." Party Favor explained. "Party Favor........" "Don't worry, Fluttershy will have us out in no time!" Rainbow said but Party Favor came to her with panicking eyes. "Didn't you see what just happened here? Your friend has accepted our way! You will all be accepted! It's only a matter of time!" his expression turned to worried as he walk away and laid on the floor. Cosmo can't help that Starlight twisted his mind like this. He felt bad for him for being in a state of mind. As for the others, Rainbow spoke "This guy's a barrel of laughs." "Laughs don't come in barrels. They come from inside of your body's respond to delight." Cosmo and his friends looked at Pinkie's literal phases. "So what we going to do while Fluttershy's looking out for our......" Applejack whispered "cutie marks and Cosmo's necklace." "The only we can do is stay calm and being positive, Applejack." Cosmo replied. Twilight nodded "If Party Favor can see how much we really do like each other, even though we're all different, maybe we can use him to spread our message across the rest of the village." "To excel is to-" the loudspeaker said as a rocking motion, it stops as the girls looked at Cosmo. "What? I can't stand that philosophy too." At night time, all of the ponies are asleep as Cosmo, resting near to the left corner of the wall, turning his head from left to right as he grunted then mumbled. "No.......no........don't..........please............" Twilight woke up from her sleep and saw Cosmo struggling from his sleep. Worried for her student, she came to his side and nudge him "Cosmo? Cosmo wake up. Cosmo." No luck as Party Favor woke up and saw the princess trying to wake him up. Feeling pity for him, he got up and also trying to wake him up "Hey, Cosmo? Hey, come wake up. Cosmo." Dreamscape In his dream he was at a black void as he rushed to find his friends, then he saw Starlight with her evil grin and few other ponies who he recognize them. "Twilight! Girls! I'm so happy to see you!" he rushed to them only for him to stop when he saw them that gave them nightmares : his friends were converted into one of the creepy ponies. "NO! Girls, snapped out of it! What happened to you?!" "We now joined with Starlight.........." Dream Pinkie said "Her philosophy is very true........." Dream Rarity said "Our cutie marks doesn't matter........." Dream Fluttershy added "Now it's your turn to join us.........." said Dream Twilight as Cosmo backed away. "No! I won't join Starlight! No!" he tried to rushed out but more of the creepy ponies emerges from the shadows as the all surrounded him. "No! Twilight please snapped out of it!" he pleaded to her only for her not responded. "So sorry Cosmo, but your dear Twilight just accept the philosophy that we shared with." said Starlight with a smug face. "How dare you-!" he gritted his teeth as his anger begin to boil up "Give my friends back!" "You'll get them back, once you joined with us." Starlight said as all of the creepy ponies begin dogpille onto him. Then as bright green flashes, a shockwave erupts from the area as Starlight widened his eyes and saw him now donned the Gundam AGE 4. "You're going to pay what you done to them, Starlight!" with that, he charges at her as the creepy ponies coming after him only for him to shoot them out as each of them exploded into ashes. "STARLIGHT!!!!!" he screamed as he jump out of the way and charges through her who prepares her Staff of Sameness until a bright flash envelop the area. Dreamscape end "Cosmo!" Twilight shouted as he shot his open and got up, breath heavily. "Are you all right?" she asked him as he glance at her. "Twilight what happen? I-" "You must having a bad dream." Party Favor explained as he gave him some water and a towel. "Thanks." Cosmo wiped the sweats off of him and drank some. After a few minutes of silence, Twilight sat next to him. "Everything all right, Cosmo?" He looked to her as he rubbed his head "Yeah, just a nightmare." "Doesn't look like a ordinary nightmare to me." Twilight said "Cosmo, what was your nightmare about?" He looked down at his water then sighed "Well it's about you and the others except that.........you all changed like the villagers did............and I was the only one left who wasn't............and they all trying to change into one of Starlight's minion...... I felt that you're all going to leave me like my parents." Party Favor was shocked that he had such a horrible nightmare like that about them and his village. He begin to wonder if Starlight's philosophy was wrong all this time. He begin to question of his as his were more, focus on the bright future and compassionate like the other Bringer Family did. "Cosmo," Twilight wrapped him into a caring embrace "we're not going to leave you like that. We're your friends. No matter what, we'll always be together." Cosmo nodded at her words then return it to her. To Cosmo, he felt connect to Twilight when he met her after the party when he moved to Ponyville. She was like the greatest friend that he ever met. In his time in Canterlot, he was always alone but now...........he starting to understand what friendship is like. After a few moments, both let go of their tender hug as Cosmo smiled at her "Thanks, Twilight." She nodded as he gaze through the window and saw the night sky "Twilight do you think that you can teach more of friendship?" "Sure." With that, both Cosmo and Twilight begin talking of how friendship. For Cosmo, he ask if friendship is something that he can find on a book which Twilight shook her head. She told him that friendship can understand through experience which he understand of this. She also explained of her time as Princess Celestia's student which gave on some important lesson that she learned : friendship isn't easy at first but worth fighting for and another is to learn to trust your instincts even if your friends doubt you. He question if that lesson come and even her might not believe in him, she told that she'll be there for him. After that, both decide to rest up as if his heart told to, he came to her "Twilight, do you think I can sleep with you? After that nightmare........" She at first surprised but if her heart told her she nodded as he laid next to her. "Twilight?" "Yeah?" "Thanks again. For being my teacher and the only best friendship teacher." he smiled at her which she blushed at his compliment. "Y-you're welcome." she stammers as both shifted their heads as she was lost in her thought. 'What's with me? Why is my heart felt like that like how I was around with the human Flash Sentry? Can I really falling for him? No, you and him are just friends. I'm his teacher and he's a student.' With that, her mind relaxed as she fallen asleep. (music stop) Unknown to all ponies, in the part of the mountains, two shadow figures spied on top of it as they lower their head down. Then on the skies, a unknown object was seen but turned invisible once it stopped at the village. At the morning came, Twilight begin to stirred as she felt something soft and warm as continue to snuggle with the mysterious object. As for Cosmo, he also felt something soft and warm as he too continue to snug with it until when both ponies open their eyes, their vision begin to blurred as their eyes widened in shocked along with a heavy blushes as their visions clear as what they snuggle with : each other. "WAAAHHH!" both exclaimed as both let go at each other as they got into their hunches, their blushing cheeks grown on them. "T-Twilight! I-I-I-I'm" Cosmo stammered "s-sorry about that!" "N-n-no, it's okay, C-Cosmo.........I-I-I........" Twilight also stammered too as they heard a few snickers as they turned as in their embarrassment, their friends including Party Favor saw everything as Rarity and Applejack gave them a smug smile. "Ohoho, Twilight, I never knew you going to do something like that." Rarity teased "Falling for a young yet a handsome stallion who was a student." "WHAT?!" Both shouted in unison, their pink blushes turned to crimson. "No, it's nothing like that! I-" Cosmo tried to explained but that didn't helped to them. "Then how come you two snuggle with each other?" Rainbow asked. "It was an accident!" Cosmo retorted "We didn't mean too!" "Seems like you two enjoying doing that." Applejack snicker at them as both turned their heads away, feeling their cheeks heating up. Just then, several knocking was heard as the door open as the others except for Party Favor, who stared at him for a moment, were let out by Starlight with Fluttershy along with the villagers too. Each of them including Cosmo were exhausting from last night as Cosmo saw that Starlight is wearing the AGE Device which he gritted his teeth at her dishonoring the treasure of his family, luckily Twilight calmed him down. "I have a good feeling about today! So, do you have anything to say?" Starlight said as the group didn't say a word with Cosmo glare at her. "Aw, pity. Well, let's try again tomorrow, shall we?" she turned to the villagers "No new friends today, I'm afraid!" The others turned and forced to be locked up again in the 'guest room' as Fluttershy looking nervous said "Wait! I'd like to lock them in." "Marvelous, Fluttershy! That's the spirit!" Starlight said as Fluttershy headed to the 'guest room'. "Party Favor, will you join us, please?" Then Party Favor rushing out of the door and hugging her legs, begging her for forgiveness as Fluttershy close the door and locked it. "Glad you're okay Fluttershy." Twilight said. "So have you find a way to get both our cutie marks and my necklace back?" Cosmo asked. Fluttershy shook her head "No, but you wouldn't believe what I found out about her." The others look curious as Fluttershy begin to tell what she found out last night. Fluttershy's Flashback At Starlight's cottage home at night, Fluttershy got outside through the chimney with dust in her coat as she shook them off. "Get the cutie marks and Cosmo's necklace back. That's all you've got to do, Fluttershy" she mumbled as she leaves the chimney "Just sneak through the dark up caves to the spooky old cave with the scary magical staff and get the cutie marks back." "Okay, you're doing great. The caves got to be close now......"Fluttershy said nervously as she realize she still at the roof. Then she heard Starlight's voice. "Excellent work, Double Diamond." "Of course......" Fluttershy look down and saw Double Diamond with a crate of jars "but I don't understand why you want me to bring them here." "Fluttershy is one of us now. Surely she can be trusted" Double Diamond enter her house as it close, Fluttershy peek at the window outside as Starlight levitating two jars containing both Twilight's and Cosmo's cutie marks. In addition, she levitate Cosmo's necklace on the side of them. "These two belong to both a princess and lineage of The Bringer Family along with this necklace with magic that I never seen before. It could be very important to our cause." "But if both Twilight Sparkle and Cosmo Bringer becomes our friend, then why do we care about their old cutie marks along with that necklace?" Double Diamond asked. "I just want to keep them close until everything's.......settled." Starlight replied "You may go now Double Diamond." Fluttershy gasped as she hid fast into the side as Double Diamond leave the house. She peek a bit with a scrunchy face as once everything is clear, she peek the window and saw her levitating her and her friends' cutie marks along with Cosmo's necklace. "Now, let's see what kind of power you have." Starlight glance at his necklace. "Oh dear, how I ever going to get both our cutie marks and his necklace back?" Fluttershy whispered then she heard some commotion as looking up in the window, a bright green flash as Starlight groaned in pain as she flew to that window and saw her cover in water. "Rgggh........that necklace is starting to get on my nerves.........." she growled as she use her magic to activate Cosmo's necklace but it bounce it back at her as she pushed into the wall. Out of her daze she huffed at her failed attempts "Rggggh! Very well, I don't know how Cosmo would able to use it but until then," she levitating to her neck "I'll just had to make sure that he won't laid a hoof on it. And who knows, once I discover your secret, I can put it to good use." Fluttershy was worried at this. Getting the cutie marks back along with Cosmo's necklace is going to be very difficult. Then she placed the cutie marks jar and a towel being levitating as she wiping her self as she set it down, Fluttershy widened her eyes at this sight : instead of her equal mark Starlight's have a two toned blue glimmering streams as on the bottom is a white and purple star. She use a pink make up and cover her flank then she use a black make up with a equal mark stencil on it. Fluttershy gasped as Starlight heard something as she turned to the window, she saw nothing. She look around the window as noting is there, she turns off the lights. Underneath the house, Fluttershy hidden beneath it. "Oh no!" End Fluttershy's Flashback The girls were speechless at this. Starlight Glimmer, the founder of the village have deceive all of them all this time! Not only that, but also, from Cosmo's mind, she's also trying to unlock the secret of the AGE Device and planned to use for her sinister goal. "I knew something is wrong since she use that staff. It was all of her magical powers all this time." said Cosmo. "Why that overgrown dirty mule-!" Rainbow adopted the same expression "C'mon, let's go teach that pony a lesson!" "Hold it, Rainbow! We can't do that!" Cosmo stopped her "By my guess, if we charges at her and told everypony her secret, then nopony would believe in us." "Then what you suggest we do?!" Rainbow retorted at him as he begin thinking his thought then an idea click his head. "I have a plan. Okay....." he gather his friends into a circle as he whispered the plan. Outside "They wouldn't stop talking about how different they are and somehow makes their friendship make them stronger! But even worst, Cosmo kept saying how cutie marks represent the heart and soul of a pony and being equal can only lead to a misery future!" Party Favor explained. "Such backwards thinking." Starlight commented. "But I didn't listen!" Party Favor got up with his face derped "I knew what they been up to and I didn't listen!" "Well done, Party Favor! We welcome you back with open hooves!" Starlight said. "Um, Starlight?" Fluttershy called her "I think we might have two more friends joining us today." She revealed as both Cosmo and Twilight came out which surprise the crowds as Starlight pushed Party Favor away "Is this true?" "W-we think so. But we want to make sure." Twilight replied "If we agree to leave our cutie marks behind in the vault, would we be truly happy?" "Just look around! Equality has given us more happiness than you two ever know!" Starlight pointed to the villagers. "And you wouldn't let us just live with our old cutie marks?" Cosmo pointed to his equal mark. "Out of questions. A pony with a different cutie mark would destroy our philosophy." Starlight said "We're all equal here!" All of the villagers agree with her until Fluttershy shouted. "Then how do you explain this?!" She throw a water from a bucket at her as she got out of the way before she got wet then glare at her. "I knew you couldn't be trusted!" Party Favor notice a drip of water runs through her equal mark flank revealing another behind it as he wiped it away with his cloak. "No! Get away!" It was too late as all of the villagers noticed and gasped in complete shock and horror. Her real cutie mark was exposed as she saw this and tried to hide it away but to no avail "Wha......what are you looking at?! There the problem not me!" Cosmo and his friends smile at their plan success even Party Favor was shocked at this. Cosmo is right about all this. "So it's true.........." Party Favor was deeply hurt and betrayed "You said that cutie marks were evil! You said that special talents lead to pain and heartache!" Double Diamond said, feeling every bit of betrayed as the others did. "They do! Don't you see?! Look at them!" "Then why?" Sugar Belle asked "Why didn't you take ours and not give up yours?" "I....." Starlight could no longer hide the truth "I had to, you fools! How can I collect your cutie marks without my magic?!" "But the staff is all we need!" said Night Glider. "The staff is just a piece of wood that I found on the desert! It's my magic that makes all that possible!" she begin speaking her true colors "You'd be still living in your miserable life, thinking you're better than anypony else if wasn't for my magical abilities! I brought friendship! I brought you equality! I created harmony!" "You don't know the true meaning of friendship and harmony, Starlight!" Cosmo shouted as she glares at him "What you did is trapped those ponies, stripping their heart and soul into their cutie marks, and filled them with your petty lies so you can force them to live you want them to be! This is not friendship! It's tyranny!" "He's right!" Sugar Belle shouted enranger her further "Real friends don't forced each other to be who they want to be!" "Yeah!" Night Glider said "You lie to us about our old cutie marks lead to pain and heartache! Different cutie marks aren't a curse! It's a prayer for the future! And being equality under rule would only lead to a empty and miserable future!" "WOULD YOU THREE SHUT UP!" she's screamed as she charging her magic at them, ready to attack them who angered her further. Twilight spoke up "Everypony have different talents and gifts, and when we share to each other, that's how re - " "QUIET!!!!!" Twilight jolted back while Cosmo got in front of them as Sugar Belle step forward, facing fearless her old leader "You can't have our cutie marks, Starlight! Either we're all equal, or none of us are!" That was it. Her true colors exposed. She no longer have her followers. Well not on her watch. As all of them gaining up on her, her horn begin to glow as she project a barrier then pushed them out allowing her to run to her house until....... "You not getting away!" Cosmo charges at her as he tried to grab his AGE Device from her neck as while she trying to get him off, he able to snapped it off of her as she use her magic and a magic beam push him to the wall. "Cosmo!" Twilight shouted as she and her friends rushed to him as he groaned in pain. "Are you okay?" she asked as he revealed his AGE Device and smile. "Yeah, got my treasure back." "C'mon! Let's get our cutie mark back!" Double Diamond took the lead, galloping in the air. The town ponies cheered in agreement and ran towards the cutie mark vault. Fluttershy then lead her friends to Starlight's house to retrieve theirs too. "Come on! Ours is in there." As they gallop her direction, unknown to them, two figures along with three more peek up from the mountains as their horns glowed then glare at Twilight and her friends. Then they shot up in the air and begin charging at them. In the cutie mark vault, the town villagers tried to break the glass container holding their cutie marks. To all of them, Cosmo's words were right. Each of them desperate to break it but to no avail. As he said, cutie marks are a piece of a heart and soul of a pony. Just separate from them make them really want them back. "Stand back, everypony!" Double Diamond shouted as he charging at the vault with the fake staff as he threw to the vault, breaking it. Then the vault glow in yellow as all of the cutie marks glow and flying out, trying to return to their respective owners. Double Diamond's cutie mark returned to him as his body glow, his flank now have three snow flake. His mane no longer have the long and boring but a athletic and handsome. Then one by one, everypony got their cutie marks back as their unique mane style. In addition, their colors returned as well. This miracle was something that can't be explained. Sugar Belle's coat become bright pink with her curly mane with a green beads on them with a cupcake cutie mark on her flank. Night Glider's mane was swept back, giving her a speedy adrenaline style as her coat become shinier with her cutie mark of a crescent moon with feathers surrounded it. Party Favor's mane also become curly like his friend, but also his light blue coat become shinier too as his cutie mark is a balloon animal. The ponies exited the caves as the cutie marks swirled around the skies. "Even without my cutie mark, I can tell this is beautiful!" Rarity admire at the stunning miracle sight. From her room, Starlight sneered at the ponies who disrupted her philosophy, her lifestyle, and her perfect utopia. But what she sneered the most is Cosmo Bringer and Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and the lineage of the Bringer Family who brought their own philosophy of true friendship and harmony and embed them into their hearts. "They think they can come to my perfect utopia and messed it up!" she levitating the jars with Twilight's and her friends' cutie marks and levitating the bed away, revealing a secret passage "Let's see how they spent the rest of their lives without their cutie marks!" Both Applejack and Rarity grunted as they tried to break the door down but to no avail due to the lack of their cutie marks that loosen their strengths. Even Cosmo's lack of strength wouldn't work as they heard a whistle as they turned and saw Night Glider with her friends as she swoop in the air. "Stand back, everypony!" She charges at the door as it breaks down, as the group searched the house for the jars containing the cutie marks as Fluttershy open Starlight's room. "They were here!" Fluttershy exclaimed as Cosmo saw a secret passage and charging inside, with the other following him. They reached outside as they spotting her heading to the caverns as they barely see where she's going until Party Favor use some balloons and made into binocular and look through. "She's heading for the pass! If she makes it to the mountains......" he turned to the mountain "we'll never find her!" Pinkie took those balloon binocular and look through "These are amazing!" "There's whole networks of caves up there!" Sugar Belle said "Your cutie marks will be gone forever!" "Then let's get going y'all!" Applejack said as the others charging to the mountains. Then Cosmo felt his AGE Device vibrating and glance on the sky and saw a green beam heading towards Sugar Belle. "LOOK OUT!" his instinct kick in as he pushed her out of the way before the green beam hit her. The others were shocked as they glance at the sky and saw a squadron of Changelings. "Changelings?! Here?! Why now?!" Rainbow flabbergasted at this as they fire their magic at them as the others got out of the way. Cosmo grunted at this sight. Those Changelings want revenge on Twilight and her friends and mostly, him as the Gundam for injuring Queen Chrysalis last time. As the girls tried to dodge out of the way, the Changelings able to get the advantage due to the girls lack of cutie marks until when one is about to attack Night Glider, he rammed through then grabbed the horns and twirled to the others Changelings. The Changelings pierce their glare at Cosmo who got into a fighting stance. "I'll distract them, you guys go get Starlight!" Cosmo said. "But Cosmo-" "NO TIME! GO!!!!!!" he shouted as Twilight hesitated for a bit along with the others then gave in, the group headed to the mountain as Twilight take one more glance at Cosmo gave a hoof punch sandwich on one of them then grab a horn and twirled them to the ground as she focus to the mountain range to catch up with Starlight. Cosmo dodge of their magic as he charges as he hoof punch on the muzzle as the Changelings hisses at him as they shape-shift into him which he gritted his teeth at this. "You got to be kidding me!" "You got to be kidding me!" the copies said as they charged at him along with him charging at him as they trade blows and punches, kick, and bucking. Then another copy of him dogpile on him as the others did. "GET.......OFF.....OF ME!" he shouted as he struggle to move as the Changelings prepare their own magic until a pink beam pierce through one of them then another as the Changelings look up into the sky and saw something falling down or somepony : the Gundam. With them distracted, Cosmo focus on his AGE Device as a bright light glare the Changelings, blinding and stun them for a second. Then he rushed to the AGE 4 as a suit materialized into him as he slammed his AGE Device and the armors attached to him, also turning him into his anthro form as his face attached to the Gundam's face as his eyes flashes in green lights. Then the Saurian Armor flew from the sky and attached to him becoming AGE 4 Saurian. "Okay, now I'm set!" His chest begin to light up as a green shockwave pulse through the area, shut down the Changelings' shape-shift abilities as the Changelings shake off from the effect hisses at him as he got into his battle stance. At the mountain range Starlight continue galloping through the mountains with while Night Glider, Sugar Belle, Party Favor, and Double Diamond gave chase as Night Glider flew towards her. "Are you willing to give up everything because of these strangers?!" Starlight shot a magic onto a patch of snow as it falls down on her. "We gave up everything for you, because we thought you are our friend!" Sugar Belle passed through Night Glider who was buried in the snow. "I am your friend!" Starlight shouted at them. "No your not! Cosmo is right about one thing! Real friends don't force each other to be who they want to be!" Night Glider shouted. "Rgggggghhhhhh! That pony is starting to get on my nerves!" Starlight growled. At the battle, Cosmo shot his right arm as his D-Armor fist opens up as the Changelings dodge out of the way but another one grasp onto one of them as with a crunch, the Changeling explode on contact as the others fire their magic at him only for the armors to rebound them as his shoulder D-Armor opens up as shot a torrent of flames as 2 more were caught into it and burned to ashes. Then another set of them grasp onto him as with a smirk, his arms stretched as he slammed them to the ground as his D-Armor chest opens up and fire another torrent of fire on them. He shot both of his legs as both his D-Armor knee open up and grasp two more then fire another torrent of fire from it as both exploded. "Any one of you bugs want some more?" he antagonize them as the remaining were stunned at the sheer Gundam's power then each of them retreated to the sky. Then with everything clear, he soar to the sky as he fly towards the mountain as he landed on a snowy hill as he disengage his Gundam Armor as it flew to the sky. Then he look down as saw Double Diamond skis across a snowy slope, creating a avalanche and buried Starlight before she almost reach the caves as her magic hold wears off, all of the jars shattered as his friends cutie marks including his own are returning to their respective owners. He can feel his mark back as his colors returned to normal white and lime green along with his vast knowledge and skills too. "Ah! Good to be back!" he sighed happily as he about to come down to them, he saw Starlight coming out of the snow slide and glare at them which the others were backing away from her as she charging her horn. Thinking fast, he slide down to the snow as on time, Twilight now with her cutie mark back and her colors too, project a magic shield as Starlight's magic burst through it as he charge his magic and got on the front, he fire his magic beam which both hits on them as both struggle at their magic as Cosmo's magic able to pushed through as Starlight widened her eyes as she got pushed back by the impact on the rock walls. However then strain of use his magic cause him to knee on the ground. (music stop) "Cosmo!" Twilight came to him as she helped him get up "Are you all right?" He nodded as Starlight got up in and grunted in surprise "Wh- I studied that spell for years! How can you two -" "I studied magic for years too! But what I didn't know that studying can take me so far." Twilight said "Each of my friends have taught me something different about myself." Her friends came to them, with their true respective cutie marks and their colors returned. "It was their unique gifts and their passions and personalities helped bring out the magic within me! I'll never would guess that I've represent the Element of Magic without these five! And I certainty wouldn't be here to stop you now!" "Same goes to me, I always been studied magic too but by meeting her and her friends, I know that they helped me to see how friendship are important to me. If wasn't for them I wouldn't be here too and stop your twisted utopia!" Cosmo said. Starlight rolled her eyes "Spare me your sentimental nonsense! I gave these ponies real friendship they never could have otherwise!" "You don't deserve to called it real friendship!" Cosmo shot back at her anger her further. "He's right! You never give us a chance!" Double Diamond shouted which Starlight enraged at this as she charges her magic as a blinding flash, she disappeared into the caves. "She's getting away!" Rainbow exclaimed. "We'll never find her in there!" shouted Double Diamond. "We just have to hope that when she's get the chance to think it over, she realize that you'll have all taught her something." Party Favor came to the two and said "It's you two who taught us something. We all came to this village because we were searching for something missing in our lives. We thought that Starlight had given us but now...." he walked up to his friends "now it seems that it was in front of us all along. It's us!" With that, they gave each other a meaningful hug. A true hug of their true friendship that Twilight and Cosmo placed on them. "So does that mean you'll stay in the village?" Cosmo asked. "It's our home. I'm not going anywhere." Night Glider said. "This is a chance for us to get to know each other again for the very first time!" Double Diamond said. "And I finally have the chance to bake something better than those terrible muffins!" Sugar Belle said as all of them laugh as even Cosmo laughed a bit which is the first time he felt it. Once they reached to the village, the group saw scorching burning ashes on the ground as if there was a battlefield. "Whoa! What happened here?!" Night Glider asked. "Changelings. They retreated when the Gundam came and fought them." Cosmo replied. "THE GUNDAM?!" the group exclaimed. "Wait how did you know about that?" Applejack asked him. "He protected me from them allow me to catch up with you girls." he explained. The girls were skeptical but nodded as Twilight thinking about something "Cosmo, how your able to get to us in time?" Cosmo thinking about then replied "The Gundam put me near to the slopes of the mountains to protect me." Twilight nodded as they headed back to the village but for Applejack, she felt something off about him as there some lies in there at first but placed her thoughts behind her and catch up with them. The village now having their true cutie marks back were now celebrating as Cosmo smile at this sight. He and his friends helped this village show the true magic of friendship and also show his philosophy of their marks being a prayer of a future. "Now those are real smiles." Pinkie said, her cheerfulness return as he nodded. He always like those natural smiles. Applejack have a stark surprise as her cutie mark glows "I'll never get used to this." "I think it's divine." Rarity admire her cutie mark glowing. "Does that mean the map is calling us somewhere else?" Fluttershy asked. "I have a feeling that it means that our work here is done." Twilight replied. "Looks like your right, Twilight. The map did have a reason for sendin' us here. We brought real friendship to these here ponies." Applejack said "Guess that's why you're the Princess of Friendship." "But the map didn't sent me. It sent all of us. Your a part of me, all of you. And there's no doubt that your a part of my mission spread friendship too." Twilight said as the girls gave her a group hug as Cosmo smiled at this. Pinkie notice as she came to him "C'mon, Cosmo! Join us in our group hug!" "But I only did was to help you girls. Nothing more." he protested thinking he's not that important. "Cosmo, you're important to me and the others. Without you, we wouldn't be here to help spread real friendship. Even if we don't know why the map sent you here, but I know one thing, that you'll always needed and we always need you." Twilight said. Cosmo was shocked at her words that his mind couldn't process of this. Twilight and her friends said that they'll always need him to help spread friendship even though he's new to this. He never felt that he's important to other ponies beside his parents who they care for him. He close his eyes then chuckle then smile at them. And now he gave them a meaningful hug. "Thanks girls." After a few moments, Pinkie said "This feels like an ending. It doesn't had to be an ending right? Cause that Sugar Belle can bake!" "Maybe we can stay there a little bit longer. C'mon!" Twilight said as the girls and Cosmo headed to the party. In the party, Cosmo begin trying out the sweets that Sugar Belle made which his sweet tooth acted up which he got over 10 cupcakes as Pinkie commented of how he really love sugar while Twilight talked to other ponies of how true friendship works. Rainbow and Night Glider decide to have a race as usual Rainbow won but also commented of how Night Glider able to keep up with her speed. For Party Favor, he decorate a balloon version of Rarity as she admire it. Fluttershy also trying out some of the punch as it packs some sweet taste while Applejack and Double Diamond talking about their athletic skills which he commented of her bucking skills earning a red cheek tomato Applejack. While Cosmo looking around the party, both Sugar Belle and Night Glider begin to talk about of his combat skill which he boast that he taken Ponjustu when he was little which one of them begin to flirt with him which he's shy at this as Twilight gave them a glare as she take him away from them. After the party, the Mane 7 said their farewells to them while Sugar Belle gave both Pinkie and Cosmo, a dozen of her baking goods which Pinkie gave her a hug as promise she'll visit Sugarcube Corner to try Pinkie's baking goods and also take the time to visit Cosmo which she winked at him as he blush a bit as Twilight gave him a death glare which he was confused at her. Also the similar to Night Glider of coming to visit Ponyville to see Cloudsdale and visit Rainbow Dash and see the Wonderbolts which she was a huge fan of them and like Sugar Belle, a quick visit to Cosmo which he laughed nervously. As for Double Diamond, he do the same to try Sweet Apples Acres' Apple food as Party Favor also decide to visit with Sugar Belle too. With that, the Mane 7 headed back to the end of the line where the train is waiting for them as they rested up while the train continue heading to Ponyville as Cosmo taken the seat on the left look up on the window into the sky, turning to dusk. Meanwhile at the Badlands, the Changelings survivors headed to their new castle as a pierce scream was heard as they headed to the throne room as they saw Queen Chrysalis screaming in pain as the other Changelings use their healing magic on her as her wounded chest continue to struck her with so much pain. "Curse that, Twilight Sparkle! Curse that, GUNDAM! That heap of junk able to not only destroying my children but also dare to injury me?! The Queen of the Changelings?!" she screamed as she gritted her teeth. "One day, that GUNDAM will pay dearly for what he did to me and my children!" she growled. Ending : > Episode 4 - Memory of Home > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Ponyville, Set on Castle Sweet Castle) At his bedroom in his house, Cosmo was sleeping on his bed with a content smile at this. Just a few days ago, he and his friends able to help free the ponies from Starlight's tyranny of friendship and he and his teacher/best friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle able to bring real friendship to them. Since then, he made more of them, Double Diamond, Sugar Belle, Night Glider, and Party Favor as they'll try to visit them to Ponyville when ever they get the chance as he report his friendship lesson to Princess Luna as well as what happen on his first lesson and also his first friendship adventure. But his content grin changed to a frown as something is nagging in his mind. The Changelings attack his friends as even with his newly Saurian Armor for his Gundam, he can't help that those Changelings are bent on taking revenge on Twilight and her friends or worst trying to get him as the Gundam out to take their vengeance on him. And what's even worst, Starlight is trying to unlock the secret of his AGE Device as he fear that she'll might use that secret on her sinister schemes if she got the chance. Ignoring those possibilities, he turned to the right thinking about how he able to learn more about friendship but also a ting of feeling for Princess Twilight Sparkle and wanting to see her. Then as he turned to the right, he felt something bump his muzzle as he opens his eyes, he widened at one particular pink pony on his bed. "Morning Cosmy!" Pinkie said cheerfully as the only thing he responds is an ear-piercing scream. "YAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" then as he jumps out of his bed, he accidentally bumps into his head on the shelves of books as each of the books fell down on him until he opens his eyes annoyed while he pops his head out of the book pile. "Pinkie, what the hay are you doing here in my room?! Or another thing, how did you get into my house?!" he angrily asked. "I always got spare keys from each Ponyville's friends." she showed him a stacked of keys in the keyholes. Really? That's just creepy on a different level. Cosmo's mind deadpanned at this. "So what do you need Pinkie? Celestia hasn't raised the sun yet," he asked while rubbing his eyes and yawn. "I just want to come here and invite you for some pancake breakfast with our friends at Twilight's castle" Pinkie explained, "Do you want to come?" "Uggh.....I don't know.......I just want to do some work.......... since it's the weekend.........." he groggily replied. "You always come when we came to stop Starlight and make everypony have their real smiles!" "That's only when the map needs me," Cosmo said. "C'mon, pleaseee!" Pinkie quiver her mouth as her eyes become big as Cosmo winced at what she's doing. No, no, no.......not the puppy eyes, anything but the puppy eyes! his mind screamed as he tried to look away but no avail. "Cosmo, you can see Twilight when you come." That hit the mark. As much as he wants to work on his Gundam and his technology, part of him really want to see her. Even if there aren't any lesson today, he really wants to spend time with her. "All right, Pinkie. I'll go." he gave in as Pinkie cheered. "Twilight might be waiting for me to get the pancakes set after helping Fluttershy with giving her animals a bath." "Wait, when did that happen?" he asked. "Oh like 3 in morning," she replied as she left his room, possibly headed to the castle. That shocked him. Why would she do something like that very late? He better gets some answer from her after breakfast. With some showering, fixing his mane, and waking up Haro, he set his stuff and wear his AGE Device, he closes the door and locks it until...... "Cosmo!" Derpy called him as he turned to his right and saw her coming. "Hey, Derpy." Both gave them a hug. "I just got some free time to see you. Where are you heading?" Derpy asked. "Pinkie invited me for a pancake breakfast at Twilight's castle." "Really?" "However another thing I'm coming is because I was worried about Twilight." his expression changed to a frown. "What happens to her?" Derpy asked "Pinkie told me that Twilight been up late last night and I was worried about her. I want to go ask her why." Cosmo explained. "Do you think I can come too?" Derpy asked as Cosmo glance at her. He usually does any situation alone in his time but that was before he discovers friendship. After a few thought, he nodded. "We better get going. And I'll ask Pinkie if she can make another batch of pancakes for you." With that, both ponies headed to the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom. Opening At the dinning hall of the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, all of the girls except Twilight and Pinkie gather their seats and sat down. Then Pinkie came with plates of pancakes, Rainbow's pancake have strawberry toppings with a whip cream and sprinkle and Fluttershy's pancake is similar to Rainbow's but with additional of raspberry and blueberry. For Rarity, she also have spread of blueberry with bits of strawberry as Pinkie has whip cream spread with raspberry as for Applejack, hers have strawberry toppings with chocolate chips spread around it. Then the last one have every toppings with the whip cream and maple syrup on top of them. As she set them to her friends, Cosmo and Derpy came as Pinkie waved at them "Cosmy!!! Over here!" "Hey girls." he waved at them then look around and saw there's somepony is missing. "Where's Twilight?" "Oh, she's getting hers ready." Pinkie said "She's on her way. C'mon your pancake is ready!" "Derpy?" Rainbow asked, "What are you doing here?" "I ask her to come with me because of what happened to Twilight last night. I just worried about her," he explained. "Did something happen to her last night?" The others looked away as Applejack said: "Well to be honest, that what we're wondering too." That didn't soothe his worries as Pinkie dash quickly out of the room and made quickly Derpy's pancake and set it near to Cosmo's "There you go, Derpy! I also added some muffins bits to the batter! Hope you like it!" "Thank you Pinkie!" Derpy said as she and Cosmo got to their seats as Twilight came with her pancake. But the others winced at her current state : she has bagged eyes as her neat and beautiful mane was frazzled with dirt, rocks, and sticks over it. Once she set her's on the table, Cosmo spoke to her. "Twilight, are you okay?!" "Oh.....yeah.......just fine........Cosmo.........glad you.......came............" she said with a few yawns as she shakes her head to wake up. As the others dig in into their pancake, Cosmo hasn't eaten his as he continues to stare at Twilight, feeling worried for her which she didn't take notice. Twilight........he thought as Derpy take the glance at him and place her hoof on her shoulder and gave a nodded. As he tastes his pancake, the sweet tasty sugar of the syrup and the fluffy pancake combine with the healthy sugar based fruits covered moist his mouth as he taken another huge bite of it and again and again, nonstop as the girls share an odd glance at his unusual craving. He looked at this as his mouth was covered with a whip cream and berries and gave a toothy grin. "Sorry. Can't resist those pancakes you made Pinkie." Then the girls also take a glance at Pinkie who also covered in berries and whip cream as she licked all of them off "Thanks, Twilight spent the whole night picking the flavor! I'd kept thinking that we'd find the right one but she's insisted I make even more to try." "And more. And more and more and more and more!" she stacked more of those flapjacks "It was like she never wanted to-" "Leave?" Fluttershy said. Cosmo, on the other hand, listens carefully to their conversation. "Exactly!" she takes a huge bite on it "Eventually we ran out of time, so we just went with every-berry-any-chip-surprise!" Pinkie came to Rarity and whispered, "The secret is I lost a measuring spoon in the batter." "Somepony getting a special pancake!" Rarity inspects to see if her pancake doesn't have the measuring spoon. "Up all night, huh? Is that why she's so.......out of it?" Rainbow pointed to the frazzled princess snoring. "So have Twilight been with you girls all night?" Cosmo asked as they nodded "What did she do while she's with you girls?" "Well......" Applejack begins to speak as each of the girls remembers what she did. Applejack's Flashback "She was lending a hoof at Sweet Apple Acres at the other day and struck til' midnight. She dug nearly 50 holes when I only need 10." A multitude of holes was seen as Twilight digging the last hole and grin at the awkward grin cowgirl pony. Rarity's Flashback "She spent an entire afternoon rearranging a single gem drawer at the Boutique. All afternoon!" Twilight was inspecting a purple gem and put it back in the drawer. Rainbow Dash's Flashback "You think that's wired? She raced me a hundred times that other day." Rainbow zoomed and win the race which Twilight lost "And lost every time! She just kept going! Best out of ten," Again Rainbow win the race leaving Twilight another and another the same thing only with Twilight tucked out "best out of a twenty, and best out of a hundred!" Fluttershy's Flashback "Also, Twilight helped me with giving the bath to the animals. Also she desperate want to clean more of my animals as if she doesn't want to leave." Twilight was washing with the animals as well as covered in dirt as she also wiping Angel which Angel's fur become puffy. End Flashbacks "I mean, I know hanging out with me is awesome but it was like she'd rather lose than to-" "Leave?" Fluttershy finish Rainbow's sentence. "Yeah. Who does that?" Rainbow and Fluttershy along with Cosmo and Derpy watch Twilight still snoring as she faces down on her pancake which splat on contact as she rested it like a pillow. Cosmo in other hand or hoof, was in his thinking mode. So far Twilight had been helping the girls and stayed there for overnight every night, as well as Fluttershy, said that she doesn't to leave. As if she was avoiding something. "Girls, don't you think that Twilight might be avoiding something?" he asked as Applejack nodded. "Yeah, that's what I thought. " Applejack replied as Pinkie scarfing all of the pancakes with one gulp. "Soon as she wakes up, we're going figure out what." Then Pinkie felt something stuck in her throat as she hacking out, spiting out a measuring spoon as it landed on Fluttershy's pancake. "I win!" "Huh?!" Twilight woke up, her horn caught one of the pancakes "I'm pancake! I mean awake!" She gave a sheepish smile as her friends glance at her as Applejack asked "Uh, Twilight? Is there something you want to tell us?" "You know how much we appreciate all things you do for us......." Rarity said as she removed the pancake from Twilight's horn which Pinkie snatched away "......and we simply adore having you around, but we worry that you might be........*ahem* avoiding something else?" Twilight sighed knowing that her friends are worried about them "Has it been oblivious?" The ponies share their concerning looks as Cosmo and Derpy even have worried expressions. "I've been.........the thing is.........I know it's silly" Twilight said "but I.........I've been avoiding.......this place." she gestured to the castle which Cosmo understand of this. Was Twilight avoiding her castle? But why? "*gasp* Why in Equestria would you want to avoid such a lovely castle?" Rarity asked. "Yeah, this place has everything." Pinkie said in her usual cheerfulness "Big tall ceilings that make you tiny!" she jumped onto the ceilings. "Shiny new floors that are cold to touch!" she slide onto the floors. "And even have looong empty hallways!" an echo was heard across the castle interior but oddly enough Cosmo can hear an echo said 'Syrup' part which he shrugged at this oddness. Did Pinkie's echoing was broken or he was just hearing things? "Okay, I get it." "The castle is amazing. But it just.......*sigh* doesn't feel like home." Twilight sulking as Cosmo on another hoof, know what's like to feel home sick and how Princess Luna gave him a new home and a new family. Flashback (Canterlot set 10 months before The Crystal Empire part 1 and part 2) Cosmo laid his bed with emotionless eyes, ignoring the voices of other orphans that live here at the Canterlot Orphan Shelter. Since after the loss of his parents, the Royal Guard found him as they able to put him into the Orphanages after the Bringer Family's funeral and since that day, he decides to remove the tittle of the Bringer to hide from everypony. He closes his emotionless eyes, trying to sleep as his dreams of being home with his parents linger on them but even as he wants to live in this dream, he knows that he can't as fresh tears begin dripping on his eyes. Mom.........Papa.............he thought of them as his last dream show him of the tragic event which he crying hard. "Why are you crying, young colt?" a voice was heard as he turned around as he looks up and saw a moon as a bright light shining on him as an alicorn that he heard so much came from the moon. "Are you........Princess Luna?" he asked which she nodded "But what are you doing here?" "I'm a Princess of the Night. It's my duty to step into ponies dreams." she explained, "However of all of the dreams I stepped into, yours caught my interest." She then lowers her horn as she seen through his memory. Luna was shocked that this young colt is the last of the Bringer Family as he lost two of his dearly beloved parents. After that, she looked at him with pity eyes "I see now. I can't believe that all of my friends are gone, you are the last one of the Bringer Family." He nodded then caught him by surprise "Wait you know my family?" "Yes, you see, your mother and your father were once my friends and also my students. Before I was turned into Nightmare Moon, when everypony was shunned at my night, your father and your mother did not as they use my nights for their studies and hope of their dreams to go to space to explore the cosmos of the galaxies and because of that, they earn their cutie marks. Since then, I witness their studies of the spaces and cosmos along with their magical talents when they enter Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, I decide to take them as my protégés. Your father always dream of helping ponies like your grandfather and as well as dreaming of opening a space program in hope that all ponies can explore the universes and your mother is much like her one of my best friend. Even though my bitterness and darkness almost consume me, your parents care for me so much that I consider them my first best friends until one day when my sister decide to assign them into their dimensional travels to the prototype mirror that their ancestors once went through. At first I was hesitated and being protected of them but they promise that they'll come back for me tomorrow." "However, when that day come, I got report from my sister that they were lost into the dimensional mirror travels, my heart was shattered. I lost two of my best friends and my students and because of this, I blame my sister for them thus I let my bitterness and my darkness consume resulting into the Mare of the Moon you heard about. But after I was purified by Twilight Sparkle and her friends, even though I make amends to ponies I wrought upon them, I felt deeply alone and lost until your family came back from the dimensional travels from the mirror. And since then, I able to visit them on daily basis and helping them continue working hard to help other ponies who cannot help themselves, funding their programs and discuss of Royal Duties that I'm having trouble with." Cosmo was speechless at this. He never knew that the Princess of the Night would have his parents as their students let alone of having her as their best friend. "Wow, I know my parents said that they have the best teacher and best friend but I didn't know that it was you." "Your parents have meant everything in my life, Cosmo just like how they're everything in your life," Luna said. "They are. Without them, I wouldn't be here." he lowers his head sadly "Now they're gone.........." She saw him falling into despair as she places her wings on him and nuzzles him "Don't be sad Cosmo. I miss them too." "If you like, I'll come visit you tomorrow. I got a special surprise for you." Luna said as a bright flash envelop everything as he woke up from his bed and got up and stare at the night sky. "Special surprise?" he wonders before heading back to his bed and sleep. The next day At the dinning hall, every orphans colts and fillies were getting their breakfast as each of them got their hay and eggs as Cosmo was at the last line as he finally got to the counter, the only thing left is a muffin which he quickly accepts it. He was walking around trying to find a seat as every foals already taken every seat not that he cares as he went upstairs and ate his meal on his bed. He gazes around the window as seen some of the orphans were adopted one by another with a kind family. After his meal, he decides to sleep in his bed as he heard a door open. "Cosmo, can you come with me?" he got up and saw the caretaker of the orphanages. "Why?" "Because there's somepony who wants to meet you. Perhaps it could be that your going to be adopted." That took him by surprise but he had his suspicious expression. In every book or newspaper he read, he known that when adopted the orphan might have a possibility of having a good life or not. He always avoided being adopted because in his case, he doesn't want anypony to 'replace' his birth parents or worst, just adopting him to get through what remains of his parent's treasure. Still, he can't be too judgmental of this so he nodded and follow the caretaker. When he got downstairs his eyes widened at this. Standing on the front is the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna, the princess that she met in his dream. He quickly bowed to her as she glances at him "No need to bow to me, Cosmo." "Your majesty, I'm surprised that your here but not to be rude, why are you here?" he asked. She giggled and gave him a warm smile "Did you remember the surprise that I told you last night?" He nodded as she levitates a stack of papers "Perhaps you should read this." He read through every page as he skims through it as he was done reading it, his widened at this. This is so unreal at this. This is the surprise that she meant? "You mean-?!" She nodded "Yes, I'm going to make you my dearest nephew and my son." Cosmo's eyes watering at this. Princess Luna, the Princess of the Night, the younger sister of Princess Celestia, adopting him, the last of the Bringer Family as her own nephew and son. Ever since he lost his family, he was a outsider, a alien, and a outcast as he felt that it's his destiny to be alone. But Princess Luna able to save him from his loneliness when they first met in his dream. And now, the Princess of the Night gave him a meaningful hug "C'mon, my dearest nephew and son, let's go home." "Sure, Auntie Luna." he smiles at her new aunt and mother that change his life forever. Flashback ended Cosmo snapped out of his flashback after hearing Rarity's soft chuckle. "Oh, is that all? Why, you need to simply decorate, darling. Make this place your own." "It's just so daunting! Look how big it is! I don't know where even to start!" she pointed as she about to hiding her face into her pancake, Cosmo's magic pulled the pancake away as she laid her head in despair. "You can start by letting us do it for you." Rarity said, "We'll make this place the castle of your dreams, while you go to the Ponyville Spa for much-needed rest and relaxing." "It's a good idea. You being so up all night the least you can do is take a break." Cosmo agreeing with Rarity as she smiles at him. "He's right. I'm saying with love but....." she pulled a mirror as Twilight looked into her reflection " has you looked into the mirror lately?" "I never seen you look this.......mmmmmmm........" Rarity trying to find a right word for her condition. "Frazzled?" Fluttershy said. "Yes! That is the absolutely the word I was going to use." Twilight gave in and smile at her "Ohh, I guess I do need a little help. And so does this castle. And I just know you'll do a great job because nopony knows better than me." "We'll make this place coozier like a hot cup of cider on a rainy day." Applejack said as Rainbow perk at that word cider. "There's going to be cider?!" she asked gleefully as Applejack shown unamused look while Cosmo looks at her with a deadpanned expression. Seriously? Does this happen all the time? his thought about it. Rainbow chaste herself trying to focus on the main priority "Uh, I mean, let's decorate!" "Oh no! Did I miss the pancake?!" Spike's voice was heard as the other turned and saw him woke up with a blanket and strangely a Rarity doll as he joins into the pancake breakfast "I sleep like a baby under that cold, cavernous ceiling." "Spike I'm so glad you're here!" Rarity said to him, who was about to eat of Twilight's pancake. "Really?" he perks up in surprise. "Yes! You're taking Twilight to the spa!" "Great! I've been meaning to get my claws done!" he takes a big bite of the other ponies including Cosmo and Derpy stare at him which he got the bigger picture. "Oh, you mean now." he rolled his eyes as he stuffed his mouth with lots of flapjacks as he and Twilight headed out. "Girls, if you don't mind, I would like to take Cosmo to the spa too! Since he's new here, I thought maybe I can give a tour too." Derpy asked as the others nodded. "Of course, Derpy." Applejack said. "Um, you girls sure that you don't need any help?" he asked. "Darling, we can handle this just fine, now off you two to the spa. And" Rarity said with a sly tone "perhaps it gives more time to spend with Twilight." "Rarity!!!!" he shouted in embarrassment with his cheek turning pink as the others giggled at his face feature. "Now off you two go." After calming himself down, he and Derpy catch up with Twilight and Spike walking out of the castle. "Twilight!" "Cosmo and Derpy, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Derpy here is going to give me a tour of Ponyville. She said that I should tag along with you to the Spa." "Since he's new around in Ponyville, I would like to show him around the town," Derpy explained. Twilight was surprised at first but regain composure "O-oh, all right. Well, hope you two have a good time." "Thanks, Twilight." he nodded as they headed to the spa as a spa pony with a light blue mane and a soft pink with a lotus flower as her cutie mark with another that much like twins only having colors swap and having the same cutie mark. Once they took their orders, Twilight got herself an under mane blow dryer while Cosmo getting both and hooficure and massage as Derpy was getting her own with her mane crimped on her tail. Spike on the other hoof, getting his claw on a hooficure. "Wow, Derpy. I always thought that Spa was only for mares only." he sighed happily with his voice vibrating from his back massage. "Glad I was wrong. Ahhhhhh........" "Glad you're enjoying it, Cosmo." she said relaxing "I can never get tired of this........." "So do I..........." Spike said adopting the same expression as the others. "So Cosmo, what's like in Canterlot?" Derpy asked. "Well, the usual, rich ponies doing their fancy stuff and etc. I just don't go visit that much only when I need to get some supplies," he replied. "Supplies? For what?" Twilight asked curiously. "Um well, school stuff and books." "Sounds boring," Spike commented. "Spike!" Twilight scolded him then turned to him. "So I meant to ask you, Cosmo? What're your special talents?" Twilight asked. "For me, I love to study magic and learn new things. But one thing I really love to do is study astronomy." he said "You see, my parents were named after the galaxies of space including me and we amazed of learning what's beyond our homeworld as we dream of one day open a space program so ponies can learn the astronomy of our the galaxies." he explained as Spike and Derpy glance at them. To them, it's feels like Cosmo came out of a movie, being as a 'clone' of Twilight Sparkle which is strange in many case. "Incredible! I never you and your family have such amazing dream." Twilight praised. "Yeah, we were supposed to do it together......but............" Cosmo's face turned to a frown ".........since they're..........gone......." "Oh, I'm sorry about that......" "It's okay. The least I can do is at least make our dreams come true and that's why I'm going to do in my lifetime." he said as Twilight felt bad for him losing someone that he care. She also noticed how he determined to keep his and her birth parents' dreams come true as she have a worried expression of how far he'll go on his own. The same goes for Derpy who also shown some concern for him. Surely they only met at Pinkie's last party, but for Derpy, she felt something that her heart want to do. As for Spike, when his friends came back, he was surprise at their adventures but one that really surprise him is that Cosmo is actually the last Lineage of the Bringer Family which like the others heard so much about them. After a few minutes, Spike and Cosmo are done with their spa treatment as Cosmo sighed happily "Wow, that was the best treatment that I ever felt!" "Yeah, and my claws are look good!" Spike admiring his claw now with the hooficure treatment, being sharp like dragons should have "Well, I better go check on the others too. You want to come, Cosmo?" He nodded as he turned to Derpy "We'll be right back." With a nodded from her, both of them headed outside and headed to the castle. At the throne room The girls able to finish decorate the throne room with a lighthearted song that came when Twilight, Spike, Cosmo, and Derpy went to the spa. However, the throne room alone look cluttered with each of the girls' works. From Applejack's farm style with crates of apples, hay bales, and flower gardens, Fluttershy introduces a varieties of animals, Pinkie Pie puts every balloons around the throne room's chairs as well as hide several party cannons in the castle interior, Rainbow Dash put up memorabilia and trophies of the Wonderbolts and Daring Do, and Rarity put up curtains and banners with gemstone embedded. "Wow, girls! We did a great......job........together.........heh heh........" Applejack said with a nervous tone as the girls were unsure of their work they done in the castle interior. "Fluttershy, I love that you brought so many animals." Rainbow said halfheartedly as animals gather around her then gave her a nervous smile. "Are these your trophies?" Fluttershy asked. "I prefer to think of them as everypony's trophies with my name permanently etched on them." Rainbow said as Fluttershy felt unsure of her decorate choice. Rarity on the other hoof, also have the same expression as her friends as she glance at Applejack's work "My, my Applejack, bringing the outdoors inside, it's.......earthy......." she levitate a quilt "What a lovely touch." she sniff as she gagged in disgust. "Are these cloaks vintage?" "Nope, just old." Applejack said as she shielding her eye from a blinding light coming from Rarity's curtains "Unlikely your sparkly window doohickeys which are......... why, they are just swell!" Pinkie came in front of them "No one said anything about my hidden confetti cannon! *squee* Oh right! They're hidden." Spike open the door with Cosmo coming behind him "Hey guys, how's my claw look -" "So how's the castle look-" Both have their shocked expression at this sight and shouted in unison "SWEET CELESTIA!!!!!!" "Oh, Spike and Cosmo! Are you two, Twilight, and Derpy done already?" Rarity said with her nervous smile. "Uh, don't worry, Twilight is getting the super deluxe mane blow-out and Derpy getting her massage ready. They'll be in a while." Cosmo said as both taken glance at their work. "Man, this place looks terrible!" Spike said. "You can say that again." Cosmo agreeing with him as the Mane 5 sighed in relief. "Thank goodness somepony said something." Fluttershy said. "It's pretty bad, right?" Rainbow asked. "This place looks more like a mishmash of knickknacks. " Applejack respond. Rarity look around the castle interior "Hmmm. I suppose it is a little cluttered." "What are you guys talking about? I think it looks super fun!" At the last comment from Pinkie, one of the surprise confetti cannon explodes causing the animals to be startled as they knock or stampedes through half of the stuff from trophies, apple bucket, and a bay of hay even Pinkie enjoying the mayhem. "Oh! Oh no!" Fluttershy trying to calm them down "Please don't do that! If we just take a deep breath and calm down-" A pillar collapse in front of her as two chipmunks hurried and climbed into Rarity's diamond curtains. "No! That bunting is broiled by hoof! Don't you move one paw!" Rarity's words didn't respond as the chipmunks tore the curtains leaving a infuriated expression on her face. "EVERYPOONY, STOP!!!!" Her scream caused all of the animals to stop and freeze in place including Pinkie as another curtain collapse with the others glance at it. "Okay, now it's a mess." Another one exploded behind Pinkie. "What are we going to do?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I dunno. But Twilight's blow-out won't take that long." Spike said "If she was avoiding the castle before, she'll never set hoof in here again!" "In other words, if she see this, she'll never come back to this castle!" Cosmo added. "Come on, guys, we've gotta do something! Twilight's counting on us!" Rainbow said as the girls nodded. "Spike and Cosmo, you two got to be back to the spa and stall her! Whatever you two do, don't let her come home!" Rarity said. "Like forever? But we live here." Spike asked. "But how we know when it's the right time Rarity?" Cosmo asked. "Uh, yes, well, uh, maybe you two can manage it'll......sunset-ish?" Rarity bats her eyes on them as Spike sweat dropped then gave a lovely dopey eyes and floating which Cosmo found to be .......scientific impossible. "Anything for you Rarity......." Spike dreamily replied as he float back to the spa while Cosmo cocked his head in confusion. "Okaayyyy......I better get going then." he walked away from her as he hurried to catch up with Spike to the spa, leaving Rarity baffled of him being immune to her charms. When the two came back, they saw Derpy waiting for them outside as he turned to his dragon friend "Spike can you give me a minute with Derpy? She needs to know this too." Spike nodded as he enter the spa. Once everything is clear, Derpy look at him in confusion "What's going on, Cosmo? Did something happen to the castle?" He sighed as he explain to her what happen in the castle. Once he's done, Derpy was surprised at this "Wow, and I thought that I usually make a mess." "So now what?" "Only we can do like Rarity said is to stall her and make sure she doesn't return to the castle until sunset." Cosmo said as they enter, they saw Twilight finish up her mane blow-out and Spike too. When she remove it, her mane gave out a punk like design. "Hey guys, so what do you think of my mane?" Twilight asked as Spike was nervous along with Derpy too. "Great!" "Looks good, Twilight." Derpy said with her nervous smile "I think it's look cute on that." Cosmo said while not fazed by it as Twilight blush a bit at his comment. "Th-thanks, Cosmo." He smile at her as he realize what he said and blush a bit "Y-your welcome." After a few minutes of silence, Twilight clear her throat "Anyway, how does the castle look?" All three of them winced as each of them got even more nervous until Spike spoke up "Great?" "I can't wait to go home and see it!" Twilight was about to leave until Spike pulled her tail. "Great! I mean no!" She looked at him with concerned as Spike was getting nervous "I mean, uh, I'm not......quite ready to go yet. Uh, why we don't we have a massage?" he pulled a pamphlet "I was really hoping to get, uh.......this thingy!" He pointed as Twilight read it "The 'Extra-strength-hot-stone-deep-tissue massage'?" Spike gulped at this then return his nervous smile "Yep!" "I'll think I'll have a traditional massage, but you go for it." Twilight said. "Did someone order a massage?" the pink spa pony said as a crash was heard as a large pony with large muscle around him and a tiny wing made that crater. "YEEEEEAHHHH!" Cosmo was extremely nervous about having that spa with that pony as the blue pony came to him "Would you like one too?" As Cosmo about to answer, they saw that large muscle pony grasp Spike in his pecs then bring him to that treatment. "I'm think I'm good." he said nervously. "Cosmo, in the meantime, why not let me show you around Ponyville?" Derpy asked as he nodded. "Twilight, Derpy is going to give a tour around Ponyville. We'll be back." Cosmo said as Twilight at first hesitated but quickly nodded with her smile as the two headed outside of Ponyville to begin the tour. Derpy showed him the the Schoolhouse which she explained that her daughter usually go to that school when she was busy with her work. Next she took him to the cafe she mentioned as she about to buy some muffins, Cosmo decide to pay for them which he explained that his father taught him it's important to pay something for the lady as it shows generosity which she blushed. After finish their treats, she showed him the Ponyville Hospital and the Ponyville's market which they browse around the market area. Then they came across a Bowling Alley and a Joke shop as well as a hayburger joint called The Hay Burger. Buying two shakes for each of us, they begin heading back to the Day Spa as Twilight was waiting for them with her usual mane. Guess that she rather have this mane than the other mane. As for Spike, well, he was in agonized pain from that massage he ordered. Twilight saw them as she waved at them "Hey guys!" Both of them wave as they came to her side, they taking a stroll across the town while Cosmo seeing Spike in pain, he came to him "Here, climb on my back." "Thanks, Cosmo." Spike climb on his back as while he's holding on, his pain still linger which Cosmo felt sorry for him just like how Pinkie forced to eat those baked bad muffins. Turned to his direction, he asked her "So Twilight, how's the massage?" She sighed blissfully "It was great. I feel totally relaxed. That was a great suggestion, Spike." Spike nodded while grunted in pain as Twilight noticed. "You want to hop on?" Twilight asked "Maybe I can get the castle faster." The three of them winced as they look at the sun as it was too early to come back. Spike then fix his joints, while Cosmo and Derpy winced at the joints cracking. After that, he rubbing his sore back as they trying to act casual. "I mean.........how........nice of this day?" Spike acting little nervous. "I was hoping we can could take the scenic way back, right guys?" "Yeah!" Cosmo nodded. "Of course!" Derpy answered. "I don't know." Twilight felt unsure at this. "Come on. Walking is good for post-massage circulation." Spike said. "Really? I never heard of that theory before." Twilight then turned to the other direction as the others follow her. When they got here, they stop at this sight : it was a tree that was burnt and left in ruins or rather what remains of it. Seeing of this remind Cosmo of his remains of his old home as that horrible memory of this tragedy plays on his mind. "What's this place?" Cosmo asked. "The Golden Oak Library." Twilight answered as Cosmo glance at the sadden princess and the dragon. "It used to be our old home when we move to Ponyville until Tierk destroyed it when he was free from his prison at Tartarus." Cosmo was shocked at this as when he saw Spike hugging Twilight shedding his tears, his memories flashback to that day that power mad centaur that was terrorizing Equestria and hidden himself from him. Flashback (Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns ' Bunker, Set after Twilight's Kingdom Part 1) The news of Lord Tierk is here on Canterlot had gravely alarmed everypony as each of them headed to the safe room that was near underground of the school. However Cosmo, grown from his colt age, was searching for his Auntie Luna as he pushed the ponies out of way while searching for her until he bumped into somepony he was searching for. "Auntie Luna, I was looking for you!" Cosmo hugged her as Princess Luna rubbing his back. "Cosmo you need to get to the safe room! It's not safe here!" Luna said. "But what about you?!" "I need to be there at the castle. My sister along with Princess Cadance and Princess Twilight needs me." Princess Luna said as a large stomp that can almost act as earthquake was heard as the ponies hurried to the safe room. "Auntie Luna, promise me that you come back for me." Cosmo asked her as Princess Luna gave him a deep hug. "I will, promise you going to be okay here?" Luna asked as he nodded as once everypony is here, she closed the door as a magical aura envelop the door and the area. Then everything become silence as everypony whispered, fearing of the monster while Cosmo gripped his AGE Device, hoping that she'll be okay. Then, the large stomp was heard as everypony was silence again as another came as a large voice was heard. The voice of a power mad centaur. "I could sworn I sense a powerful magic here." Lord Tierk's voice was heard as the large foot stomp gotten closer to the school which everypony cringed in fear. "Ohohoho if you talking about the magic of the princess, then I'm certain they should be at the throne room." another voice was heard which some of the ponies recognize that childish and a prankster voice of a certain spirit of chaos. "No, something different. This magic is unlikely that I sense before. It something that's beyond that surpass a alicorn magic that I've sense and very........advanced." Lord Tierk's foot stomps got closer to the school as the ponies cringed tightly to each other while Cosmo kept gripping his AGE Device, feeling scared at first but holding his courage. After a few silence, they can hear him stomping away from the school. "Well whatever it was, it's gone." With that, they can hear his stomps far away which the other ponies sighed heavily. (A few hours, Set after Twilight's Kingdom part 2) While the ponies fallen asleep, Cosmo too, rested on the floor, despite of how uncomfortable the floor is as he twist and turned as he hold his AGE Device. Auntie Luna.............his thought about her as he fallen asleep, trying to get some rest.............. A hoof steps was heard as his eyes and ears perk up as those hoof steps coming closer as everypony heard it as they take their glance at the door. Then the aura that protecting them from Lord Tierk's sense of magic, was dissipate as the door open, revealing Princess Luna. "Auntie Luna!" Cosmo was the first as he rushed to her and gave her a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Both of them nuzzle each other, feeling happy that they reunited from this threat as the other students coming out of the safe room. Flashback end "Cosmo? Cosmo? Cosmo!" Spike's voice snapped him out of his memory lane as he glance at his friends looking at him concerned. "Huh? What?" "You just spaced out when we about to leave. Is everything okay?" Twilight asked as Cosmo take a glance at the remains of the library then back to them. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." he said holding a soft smile as Twilight knew something nagging his mind even though that he tried to hide it. "Well in that case, we better get going." "To where?" "To the bed store." Twilight sighed as she follow him "Spike want to get a new bed."With that, they heading to the bed store. At the castle The girls able to remove the throne room's clutter at one point, they argue of which stuff should go. From Rarity's portrait's, to Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt posters, Applejack's quilts, and so fourth until after a few minutes, Rarity levitate the last of Rainbow Dash's Daring Do poster. "There! Now nothing is cluttering the castle!" The girls looked at the result of cleaning of the cluttering mess, they ending up with returning the way it was before they started. "You're right. There is literary nothing cluttering the castle." "What do we do now?" Fluttershy asked. "I hate to bring the bare of bad news......." Rarity pointed the setting sun "but it's almost sunset. If we don't figure this out soon, it's going to look like we didn't lift a hoof to help her!" "Why this is so hard?!" Rainbow exclaimed "We're Twilight's best friends! This is should be easy for us!" "She said it herself - if anypony should be able to make her comfortable in her new home......." Applejack place her hat on her heart ".....it's us. If we can't do it......." "Then Twilight will be stuck living in a castle that makes her feel........sad!" Fluttershy's word echo through the castle interior though this time the echo isn't broken. "Wow, Fluttershy! I didn't know your voice could be loud enough to echo and your echo didn't broke for once!" Pinkie said earning confusing glance at her. The girls trying to think as time is running out of time as they even knew that Spike and Cosmo won't stall her for that longer. "Can't believe I let go of that portrait........If it had just been me........" Rarity said. "What do we do? What do we do?!" Pinkie panicking "If Twilight comes home now, she'll be like...." she got into Fluttershy "What did you guys do?" she jump where Rainbow Dash is "And we'll to be like Nothing!" then came in front of Rarity's face "And then she'll be like......" then behind Applejack on one of the thrones "I was counting on you! Some friend you are! And then we'll be like......." Pinkie begin to cry hysterically and wails in despair and collapse on the floor. "Calm down, Pinkie." Applejack reassure her "We'll try to figure out what went wrong so we can make it right." "Well, I didn't do anything wrong! I did exactly what I would do if this was my house!" Rarity said. "But it's not your home. It's Twilight's home!" Rainbow argued. "Where did she keeps all of Rainbow Dash trophies?" Rarity interjected. "Touché." Rainbow said. "Maybe we're all little guilty of making ourselves feel at home instead of Twilight." Fluttershy said. "Come on, y'all." Applejack said "We just need to think about Twilight. What was it she'd loved about living in Golden Oak Library?" "Oh, everything! The books, the smell of books, the joy she felt organizing books......." Fluttershy's sentence was interrupted when Rainbow recalled one of her memories. "Remember the time I crashed into all of those books attempting my sonic rainboom after you guys just cleaned up?" Rainbow laughed while the girls were unamused. "That was good time." "Yeah, for you, maybe." Applejack said. Rarity also recalled of her memories "Oh, and Applejack, remember when we were stuck having a sleepover there? That turns out so much fun!" "Remember the times that it got blown up to smithereens?!" Pinkie realize what she said as the girls felt sadden "Wait, no, that was the worst." "We had a lots of good memories there, though. That's what made the Golden Oak Library home." Applejack said as the girls agreeing with her. "Yeah." Then Applejack got an idea "That's it!" (music stop) At Davenport's Quills and Sofa store, Spike is testing out the bed by laying his head down while Cosmo and Derpy look at the window, knew that the sun is setting down soon. Hopefully that the girls able to hurry in time. "How's that one? Too soft? Too hard? Too lumpy?" Spike looking at the window as like Cosmo and Derpy he just hope the girls able to finish it. "Um......just right! I'll take it!" Twilight sighed happily "Oh thank goodness. I thought you'd never find one you like." Davenport glance at the princess and smile when she said "Let's find a salespony and get out of here." "Sounds good to meee- I.....nn, um, uh, heh...." At that moment, Spike and Cosmo saw the girls holding some shovels from the window as Rainbow saw them and mimes them to stall her longer before zip back "....did you hear that?" he intimates a squeaking from the bed "Ee-er, ee-er." "Too squeaky! Better keeping looking." Spike said as Twilight frustrated groan as something that clicks Cosmo's mind he came to her and said. "Um, excuse me for a second, Twilight. Just want to talk with Spike for a bit." With that, he pulled him outside as he glance at both direction to make sure that nopony is around. "Cosmo, what's give?" Spike asked, annoyed. "Listen, I don't know why the girls are here but I'm going to find out. Just keep stalling her and I'll check on the girls." Cosmo explained. "But Rarity said-" "I know, but I'm certain that the girls might need some help even if they don't need any. Just make sure that Derpy knows okay?" Spike crossed his arms a bit then sighed "All right." "Thanks, Spike." "But how I'm going to explain to Twilight if you're going to help with the girls?" "Just tell her that I'm just checking on the girls and helping them out." With that, he hurried to where he saw the girls as Spike came back to the bed store. "Spike what did Cosmo need and where is he?" Twilight asked. "H-He said that he'll go back to the castle to check on the girls and see if they need any help!" Spike nervously answered. "Oh, all right then." With that Twilight walk around the bed store as Spike came to Derpy's side and explained of Cosmo's plan which she nodded. At the remains of the Golden Oak Library, the girls looked at the ruin library with sadden expression consider how they made so much memories of this place with Twilight. Applejack sighed "Maybe my plan won't work after all." After a few silence, Rarity perks up, coming up with a idea "Of course it will, darling. I can see it! You and Fluttershy stay here. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, you come with me. We're going shopping!" "Can I help you this time?" Cosmo asked as the girls whipped their heads behind to see him. "Cosmo, what are you doing?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Simple, helping you girls making Twilight feel like home." he answered. "But darling, I told you we can-" Rarity's sentence was interrupted when Cosmo came to them. "Look, I know you want me and Spike to stall her but I also want to help Twilight making herself feel like home too and not doing that means that I can't help her with anything I can, so as a student and her best friend, I do everything I can to make her happy." The girls were surprised of how Cosmo's determination of helping Twilight out. Despite how he met them for some while on the last party, he somehow grew to care for them. This was proven that how he's trying to open his heart to friendship when he came along during their first Friendship Adventure. With a sighed, Applejack nodded "All right, Cosmo. Guess we going to need you to help with this." "Thank you, Applejack." he smile at her, knowing that he want to do his part. "Now that's settle, we'll meet back at the castle." With that, Rarity trotting away from Ponyville while Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie following her. As Applejack told him what he needs to do, he nodded as the three of them starting digging the roots of the library as surprising Cosmo begin to sing with Applejack and Fluttershy. Make This Castle Your Home (Reprise) Applejack and Cosmo It's not the things that ya gather 'round It's not the things that ya gather 'round Fluttershy and Cosmo It's not the thing that you own It's not the thing that you own Rarity The things that holds the meaning of life Are the memories that you sown All So we make, so we make, so we make This castle a home So we make, so we make This castle a home So we make, so we make This castle a home! With that, all of them return to the castle as they begin working on the roots of the Golden Oak Library. Pinkie Pie empty the shopping bag with the supplies they needed, Rarity threading the gems, Applejack sanding down the roots, Rainbow Dash and Cosmo putting the rope through a hoist, and Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy hoistering the chandelier as Rarity examined of the work as once the chandelier is pulled to the ceilings, the girls and Cosmo smiled at each other knowing that their work is done. At dawn, Twilight, Derpy, and Spike arrive back at the castle as she open it, she said "Hello, we're home!" "Welcome home!" All of the girls and Cosmo welcoming her back as Derpy hugged Cosmo which he accept it. As Twilight and her friends walking through the castle, the princess examine the hallways as it was the same. "Oh, I, uh......" Twilight said nervously while examine the work that her friends did "....love what you did with the place. You did such a good job of.....preserving the integrity of the original design." "Oh, come on!" Spike complained as Twilight glance at the baby dragon "It looks exactly the same!" He turned to Rarity and the others "Do you know how hard it was to keep her from coming back here?! I never want to see another dust ruffles as long as I live! " "Wait? Keep me from coming back here?" Twilight was confused as Cosmo decide to tell her the truth. "You see, when Spike and I came to check on the girls the first time, things was pretty.......clutter at first so Rarity want us to stall you as much so the girls can fix it in time and when me and Spike saw them here in Ponyville, Spike's the one that had to stall you longer while for me.......I had to go help them whenever they need to make the castle feel like home." Rarity nodded at him "You see, it took a teensy bit longer than we thought." Applejack place her hat on her heart "What makes really home feel like home isn't what it looks like. It's the memories you make when you're there." "So we've made something that celebrates the memories of we've made with you since you moved to Ponyville." At Rarity's words, Rainbow and Fluttershy open the door to the throne room as Twilight widened her eyes at this sight : up in the throne room is a chandelier that was actually made from the roots of the Golden Oak Library decorated with gems hanging in strings. Rainbow and Fluttershy came beside the chandelier as the shy pony explained "The ornaments on the chandelier are the reminders of all the fun that we've have together." Pinkie shows one of them as the memory jewel shows the first time Pinkie host a party for her "That one shows your party at the Golden Oak Library welcoming you to Ponyville!" Fluttershy show a blue one as the memory jewel shows another memory of her and her friends at their first Grand Galloping Gala "The time we shared doughnuts after the Grand Galloping Gala!" Twilight continue to amazed at the chandelier as Rarity explained "We were hoping that being able to look at your beautiful old memories would inspire you to make new ones. And the best part of it is, it's made of the roots of the Golden Oak Library, so you won't forget where you came from." The girls and Cosmo and Spike waiting for Twilight's reaction as she turned and have tears of joy "It's exactly what the castle need." With the group happy at the result, Twilight and the girls including Cosmo and Derpy came into a group hug "And I'm ready to make new memories here." "Then let's start with a new memory cake!" Pinkie said as she rush through and back with the cake "Seven layer what's-that-flavor mystery surprise!" "There might be chocolate chips or they might be super spicy black beans!" "Let's go to the dinning room. It's a little sparse, but...." Twilight open the door to the dinning room "at least there's a table and chairs. Whoa!" When she glance at the dinning room, instead of being empty, it was decorate much like being regal form with a unicorn statue and curtain design on top of the stained glass windows. "What happen here? Last I checked, this place was empty!" "I couldn't help myself!" Rarity said "It was begging for the personal touch!" "Truth to be told....." Applejack said "I couldn't either. Your kitchen might have some rustic farm decor, Twilight." "And there may or may not be some Daring Do posters up in the library." Rainbow said. "And some stuffed animals in your bedroom." Fluttershy said as another confetti explosion set off. "What was that?!" Twilight and the others glance at Pinkie with the confetti cannon on top of her head while the cake splattered on both Applejack's tail mane and Cosmo's face. "That would be Pinkie's confetti cannons." Cosmo replied. "What? It's not my fault that I hid them so well!" Everypony laughed at that as Cosmo licked the cake off of his face and tasted. "Well at least it's not those super spicy black bean." With that, Pinkie whipped up another cake as everypony having some cake at the dinning room as night time fallen, everypony headed back to their respective homes as Cosmo came to Twilight's side. "Well, I better head home, Cosmo. My daughter might be waiting for me." With that, Derpy headed back to Cloudsdale. Then he turned to Twilight as both starting to blush at each other. "So I guess I'll see you next week?" "Of course, but Cosmo, how come you didn't added anything to the castle?" Twilight asked as Cosmo shifted his hoof. "Actually I did, you'll find it in your bedroom. It's a surprise that I made." Cosmo replied. "Ok. Well, goodnight Cosmo." Twilight said. "Night." With that, Cosmo trotting back to home but not when he saw Applejack waiting for him at the bridge. "Hey Applejack, you need something?" "Cosmo, we need to talk." She said with firm tone. He share a confusing glance at first but nodded as both walking heading back to his house. "So what do you need to talk about?" "Listen, remember when the Gundam appeared again and defeated the Changelings at that village that we went before?" Cosmo nodded "Well, I need to know is that how do you know so much of the Gundam?" "What?" "Listen, when you told us that the Gundam carried you to the top of the mountains, I saw it and didn't see you carried there." Flashback As Applejack was trotting with her friends to get the cutie marks, she heard a jet sound as she glance up and saw the Gundam heading to that direction with nopony in particular. End Flashback "And when we got here, you just appeared out of nowhere with Twilight." Applejack said as Cosmo felt slight nervous of this. Oh no, she's on to me.......I can't let her know about me being the Gundam and also the secret that I held. his thought about it. "Cosmo, is there something that you not telling me the truth?" Applejack asked as Cosmo stayed silence. "Listen, Applejack, it's best if you forget about it." Cosmo said, trying to keep her from the dark. "But why? You know I don't like ponies keeping a secret from me especially on my friends!" Applejack argued. "Just tell me the truth, Cosmo!" "Listen, there's a reason that ponies keep secrets and that is to protect those that they love from the truth until the time is right. That was my papa's words." With that he rushed back to the house, leaving the farm pony by herself. Cosmo.......I know that there's something hidden that you kept it a secret from us........and I'm going to find out what. Applejack thought about him. Ending : > Episode 5 - Dream of the Apple > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Ponyville, set on Bloom and Gloom) At the morning, Cosmo was walking down in Ponyville, with his carriage filled with metal scraps that he found at the Ponyville junkyard that's one block to the town as well as a shopping bags full of groceries. His mind was filled with some concern from last night. Just after helping his friends making Twilight's castle feel like home because of how she avoiding it, Applejack begin to raise suspicious of what happen after free the village from Starlight. She starting to forcing asking him the truth but he knew that he made a promise by his parents and his oath that nopony should know of his secret in order to protect everypony from the Changelings. So far, no sign of any Changelings in sight even in their disguise last night and today so at least he get some rest on working on fixing his Gundam. But another thing on his mind is that at one point, last night, he took some of the extra gems as it revealed him some of his memories including the tragedy and the discover of the AGE Device and his true destiny. Flashback (Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, Set on Castle Sweet Castle) While Cosmo and Rarity helping sewing the gems for the chandelier, he picked up a few of them as unexpectedly shows him the memory of him discovering the AGE Device. Quickly, he switched to the empty one as he gave one to Rarity. "Ah, thank you darling." she said as she sewing it as while he finding another one, it shows him another memory of him as he glance at the gems as some of the gems shows more of his memories. Thinking fast, he got his saddle bag and put all of them inside and close it. Why those memory gems showing mine? They should show of Twilight's not mine. Beside, even if they know my tragic past, they can't know of my true destiny. he thought about it. Flashback ended While his thought occupied, he didn't see three fillies crashes into him, almost dropped his supplies and groceries as he caught all of them on his magic hold. "Whoa, are you three okay?" he asked not caring for his own being as he glance at the three fillies. One of them have a pale light grayish olive coat with a red mane with a bow tie, the pegasus have a orange coat with a purple messy mane remind him of Rainbow Dash, and the unicorn have a snow white coat with a curly mane with duel gray mulberry and rose. "Yeah, sorry mister for crashing into you." the bowtie earth filly said in a similar accent that remind him of Applejack as he offer them their hoof as all of them got up. "It's okay, just be careful next time." he said as they nodded as they trotting away from him. He glance once more at the three fillies as he felt something about them. Those three fillies were similar to that of his friends. Could they be related to them? With a shrugged he headed back to his home. Opening At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack been working on the apple crops as she bucked the trees, causing the apples to fall on the bucket. Her mind has been caught up with a few things happened last night and the other days. First, being captured by the Changelings and being saved by a metal pony being called himself Gundam using some kind of weapons never seen before, then at the village that they free from Starlight, Cosmo Bringer, Twilight's student and best friend, told that the Gundam appeared and defeated the Changelings while at the same time, brought him to the top of the snow point mountain but to her Apple instinct, she knew that she saw the Gundam flew there and didn't brought him there as when she got there, Cosmo appeared out of nowhere. And last night, she asked Cosmo for the truth and the secret that he's hiding as he told her to drop it and told that ponies have a reason to keep secret to protect something they love and care and protect from the hurtful truth before he left her by herself. As much as if was true, she knew that even if would cause some pain, it would make anypony understand each other whenever they can handle it or not. After bucking the last one, she carried the bucket of apples to the farm as she glance at the sky. Cosmo Bringer, I don't know what kind of secret you been hiding from us, but when the time is right, I'm going to find out what it is and your connection to the Gundam. Then she noticed one of the filly that crashed into Cosmo, the one with a bow tie, walking with her mind nagging at something "Something wrong, Applebloom?" "Hey Applejack." her little sister said as she set her stuff down "I was been thinking a lot lately about getting a cutie mark but I never know what would be like after I got one." "You can explain to me once I finish making some dinner. C'mon now." Applejack said as they headed back to the barn, hoping to know what's going on with her sister. At nighttime, Cosmo got his telescope as he gaze at the stars then record it in his notes. In his eyes, the stars are twinkle beautifully like his parents told him. He remember how his father told him when he was little how stars represent the gift of life as the reason of why the sparkle is that it helps give every the void of space lights as well in science of how stars were born and how they died every 1 billion years. As he move the telescope, he saw a shooting star zipped through. "A shooting star!" he exclaimed as he close his eyes, hold his hoof and begin making a wish. Shooting stars were his favorite things about space because he always know that they if you make a wish then it'll come true. However some of the ponies convince that it was just a legend in the Pon-Greek era. My wish is I want to continue on this path that I taken on my oath that I've sworn. My parents and my ancestors have been around for many generations and now I want to take this road to make sure their heart and soul will not be wasted. he thought as he open his eyes, for the future that about to sprout. "Cosmo, Dinner Time! Cosmo, Dinner Time!" Haro bounced to him as he nodded as he packed his stuff and headed back inside. "All right, it should be done now." He levitate a oven mittens as he open the oven and pulled out his special meal : a carrot based stew with carrots and vegetables along with some hays onto it. He set it on the table along with his plate and drinks along with a book with a illustration of Auntie Luna's cutie mark and the tittle in a bold heading said 'Dream Walking'. Open the book, he begin studied it while eating it as he taken some notes onto his scroll. After finishing his meal, he set the dishes onto the sink, wash them, and put it onto the side to dry it. His mind begin to adrift of last night with Applejack getting suspicious of him. He never knew that of all of the ponies he befriended, Applejack is the one who wants to know his secret. But as before, he trying to keep his friend from the dark in order to fight his own war and to fulfill his parent's wishes. Sorry Applejack, but this is something that you and your friends had to stay out of it. he thought as he clean the table and headed back upstairs and laid on his bed. Then he hold his AGE Device up and sighed. "Something on your mind? Something on your mind?" Haro asked as he sighed a bit. "Haro, Applejack is getting suspicious of my secret last night. I can't let her know of this or any more of my friends otherwise..........." he turned his head side to side then sat up. "I never want to do it but for their own safety, it has to be this way." "It's only that Auntie Luna and Auntie Celestia know this because I can't keep this from them, not when Auntie Luna done so much for me. Twilight and her friends have their own destinies to fulfill while I had to do mine alone. And yet.........." he sighed as he got out of his bed ".......I never want to lose another because of me." He gaze at the stars for a moment at the window as his mind echoed at those who he need them the most. Mom..........Papa...........what should I do? In the Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack helping Applebloom tucked into her bed. Her sister explained that in their Cutie Mark Crusaders' meeting, she got a letter from Bab Seeds, explaining that she got herself a cutie mark which is a pair of scissor as her friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle listed the negative of a cutie mark that either of them doesn't want and what becoming of the Crusaders not to mention if hers isn't an apple, she'll leave her family. "I guess I just spent so much time worryin' about get a cutie mark," she laid on her pillow "I never even thought about what happen after that." "There's so many things that I never considered." Applejack pull a blanket to her. "I'm sure there are, but you don't need to-" Applejack's sentence interrupted when Applebloom rise up from her bed with the blankets covering her big sister "What if I finally get my cutie mark that I don't like? What if I get my cutie mark and nopony likes me?" Applejack remove the blanket from her face "Well, that just ridic-" "What if the Crusaders drift apart?" Applebloom exclaimed worried as Applejack put the blanket over her "I mean, we won't be the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore!" She rise up again like before, gasped "What if it's not an apple?!" "Will I have to move out?!" Applejack have her face partially covered in blanket. "Where will I live?!" Applebloom freaked out in front of her as she slid back to bed. "All right, that's enough, sugarcube." Applejack said pushing her stenson hat back on "Those are way too many questions to answer in one night." "But-" Applebloom said anxiously as her big sister prevent her from rising up. "And nopony is going to make ya move out." Applejack pulled her blanket on top her again. "Are you sure, Applejack?" "Of course, I'm sure. Now get some sleep." she reassure her. "You'll see. Everything will be better by mornin'." Then she sang a lullaby in a sweet melodic tone that the Apple family knows. Hush now, little sister You're loved by all you know You'll never lose their friendship No matter where you go Applebloom felt comforted by this as her eyes begin to dropped. There ain't no call to worry So don't cry or fret Then Applebloom finally close her eyes and sleep. A cutie mark won't change you No matter what you get At the last part, she closed the door as Applebloom yawn and sleep comfortably "No matter what I get." In Cosmo's bedroom, Cosmo sleep peacefully as he shuffle his head as he snore, letting his saliva drool his bed. Then at the window, the stars begin to shone brightly. Dreamscape In his dream, he was at what to appear to be a dream like bridge as he waited for somepony to come as a bright light came, a familiar dark blue alicorn descending gracefully to him. "It's good to see you again my dearest nephew." both gave each other a hug. "Good to see you again Auntie Luna." "I hope that you studied well with the book I gave you before you left to Ponyville." "Don't worry, I make sure of my time to studied it." Cosmo reassure her as both gave a smile. "Let's begin, shall we?" A bright flash envelop the area as he and the Princess of the Night descend what to appear to be a ethereal landscape as they landed Cosmo widened his eyes at this sight. It was sparkling with little lights that glow like stars as each of them take forms of a road or stairs. As they begin walking, he gaze over the ethereal landscape as he was preoccupied with thoughts of his mind. "I see that you're taking a liking to this." Princess Luna asked. "Yeah, this is so unbelievable. To actually walked into the realm of sleep is incredible!" Cosmo said "I always read those in books that you gave me and curiously what is like." "Well I guess it's time to show you how it's done." Princess Luna smirked which he nodded as a row of doors appeared, each with different colors as Princess Luna hopped through one with a scroll as he followed her, he ended up what to appear to be back in Ponyville. "Ponyville? But why I'm here?" he looked around as he saw a familiar pony helping out with the citizens. "Mayor Mare? That means that I'm in her dream." he guessed as he saw Princess Luna, smile at this, as Cosmo trotted to her who begin to descend into a stairs made of stars. "Wait up!" He tried to climb up as he made he was back at the ethereal landscape. "Auntie Luna, how come we can't meet up with her? She would be surprise to see us." he asked. "It's because that only when they needed our assistance of facing a nightmare. Since I sense Mayor Mare doesn't have any nightmares, she won't need my help until the time comes." she explained. "But how we know if we find somepony's dream been infected by a nightmare?" he asked. He read every pages that Princess Luna gave him about stopping a nightmare but didn't told him how he'll know which one. "Every nightmare takes different forms from the ponies' darkest hearts. From their negatives emotions or their worst fears, their darkness create those nightmares when they sleep." "Just like mine." he mumbled as his memory flash to the first nightmare of his family's death and being alone. "Right and that's the reason why I came to you." Princess Luna explained "Your heart have a massive amount of darkness within you after the loss of your parents." "I see....." he said as they continue walking in the ethereal landscape. Throughout the hours of entering ponies dreams undetected, she explained of dreams created from the emotion of ponies along with the memories, visual, and verbal. Along with seeing from everypony from a colt being on a square shaped world with a pix-axe and digging underground, the Cake family dream of making the best special cake which Cosmo drooled at this as Princess Luna rolled her eyes with a amused smile pulled his ears before his sweet tooth can make contact with it, surprising they saw Derpy being huge as the town itself as she chasing a flock of flying muffins which he chuckled at this, and the two ponies, one a mint green unicorn and a earth pony with curly mane consist of both dark blue and light pink, were married to the point of him felt strange at this but shrugged at this. Princess Luna also explained that dreams can changed overtime when their minds and emotions are at a certain thought as when they enter another, he saw Spike being a large handsome knight dragon with Rarity on his arm which she smoother him with a drenches of kisses on his face. Next, they enter a dream as a bipedal being with a owl face was helping Twilight and Spike on a library. After that, they end up back to the ethereal landscape which Cosmo felt amazed as seeing those dreams "That was amazing, Auntie Luna. Strange but amazing at the ponies' dreams." "Thanks and maybe next time you can try to help me with it. It would be a experience for you to learn more of dreams." Princess Luna said as he nodded as he thought of something. "Auntie Luna?" "Yes?" "Have you and Auntie Celestia found out why would my cutie mark appeared in the map in Twilight's castle?" he asked. To him, he never know why would his cutie mark appeared in it. Twilight explain everything to him but even then, she doesn't know why though. "To be honest, me and my sister haven't found anything. We looked at the Canterlot Library along with Twilight searching for anything in the Everfree Forest where our old castle still reside but still nothing came up." Princess Luna explained. "But I do believe that it's possible that it could that your AGE Device might have something to do with it." Cosmo cocked his head in confusion. Why would the AGE Device be connected to the Twilight's castle? It came from another world as it have a advanced technology that nopony ever seen. Then again from what happen before, from the AGE Device protected him from Starlight's magic, to Lord Tierk's sense of a magic that 'surpassing the alicorn's magic', he wonder if there's something more to the AGE Device than meet the eyes. While occupied by his thoughts, both saw a wooden door that was covered in a dark aura. Something that Cosmo guessed by the ting of chills from his body. "Is somepony having a nightmare?" "It would seems so." Princess Luna replied as when they open the door, they saw a filly that Cosmo recognize from before, showing Applejack her cutie mark. "Hey, it's that filly from before." "You know her?" Princess Luna asked. "No, not really, she and her friends crashed into me last morning when I was getting some grocery and supplies." he explained "I never got their names but they sure felt familiar to me as if they're related to my friends." "Her name is Applebloom and she's Applejack's younger sister." Princess Luna said as Cosmo take glance at her "She and the other two, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo created a club known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders." "What they do?" he asked. "They usual go on their quest to find their true talents by doing various things but so far.........." "It always failed?" he guessed as she nodded. "Yes, but they never give up on their quest as some point I had to help Scootaloo faced her fears and Sweetie Belle on her anger on her sister Rarity." Cosmo nodded as he gaze through the nightmare that Applebloom is having. "Infestations? You mean like.......Parasprites?" Applebloom asked the pest pony. Since that morning, she got herself a goodnight sleep as when she woke up, she got herself a cutie mark of a pest pony. "Hah, please. Anypony with a trombone can get rid of parasprites. I'm talking about the serious stuff!" the pest pony said. "You ever heard of twittermites?" A lighting background appeared behind at his sentence. "Twittermites?" Applebloom asked as he shown a container glowing as she peek in, a swarm of bug like sprites giving the glowing effects. "Pest ponies like you and me are the only things keeping these live wires from destroying half of Equestria." "Pest Ponies?" Applebloom widened her eyes. "It's a no easy trade! Even the best of us yearns for the day they can move on to pressure greener pastures." he explained "Oh, now that you're here to take over, my day has finally come." "Take over?" Applebloom asked. "You're going need to stop repeating what I say and pay attention if you want to learn anything." the pest pony said, looking at her. "I'm sorry. I guess this just was not I expectin'." she said looking at her cutie mark. "Don't worry. With a cutie mark like that I'm sure you got the touch." "The touch?" Applebloom repeats as he glare at her. "Oh sorry." Applebloom said wondering. "Auntie Luna, is there such things as Twittermites?" Cosmo asked as he saw the pest pony getting something at the cart. "To be honest, yes, but we have plenty of pest ponies in Equestria to put them somewhere in uncharted places." Luna replied. Then the two watches as the pest pony open the twittermites, released them as Applebloom, holding a tube like thing on her back was shocked from them from behind. "I never want to face those things." he muttered as he watches Applebloom begin sucking the Twittermites. In his room, the AGE Device begins to glow as it release a light green magic towards Cosmo's prone form as he was outline in them. "Huh?" he exclaimed as he looked around the area. "Something the matter, Cosmo?" Princess Luna asked. "I-I don't know. I felt strange........." he said as somehow, he was outline in the same aura as his prone form as all of the magic created the AGE Device. "Where did my AGE Device-?!" he exclaimed as Applebloom's dream door begin to glow as a bright light flash causing them to cover their eyes. Then when the lights died down, Luna looked around and saw somepony's missing. "Cosmo?! Cosmo!" she called him as she widened her eyes at this and turned to the dream door revealing Cosmo laid on the ground. "Ugh......" Cosmo moaned as he open his eyes, his vision begin to clear as he glance around of his surrounding. "What the? How did I got here?" he wonder as he tried to use his dream magic to get out but nothing happen. "Wha-?! My dream magic isn't working! But I don't understand, why isn't working?" he wonder as a voice was heard from his head. "Cosmo can you hear me?" "Auntie Luna, where are you?" he whipped his head around as he trying to find her. "I'm back at the dream world, Cosmo." "Auntie Luna, what's going on? How did I got here into Applebloom's dream?" "I don't know, but I think that your AGE Device had something to do with it." she said as he glance at his AGE Device. "It would seems that unknown magic must transfer you here." "But why?" he asked. "I do not know, but until then, you need to at least help Applebloom." Princess Luna said. "Me? Can't you at least use your magic to get me off of here? My dream magic isn't working for some reason." "I'm afraid that it'll do the same if I did. In my theories, it would seem the device use some type of magic that prevent you or any dream wielding ponies from escaping. Even I can't go in because there's a force field on the dream door. The only way to break free is you help the pony from the nightmare." she explained. Cosmo touched his AGE Device as he glance at it. Why would his device do this? Sure it meant to use the power of the Gundam but it's unknown magic is something that nopony ever know. Could the AGE Device called him to help Applebloom? "All right then. I'll do it. I'll try to play it along so that she won't be suspicious of me entering her dream. She'll think that she also dreamt about me too. " "All right then, but be careful, Cosmo. The Nightmare will also trying to play your greatest fears and make them come true. Good luck." Princess Luna said before he lost contact. With that, he starting walking around as he saw Applebloom as he about to walk towards her, he saw two fillies. One with a pink coat with a purple mane and a cutie mark of a princess crown while the other with a grey coat along a silver mane and a cutie mark of a silver spoon. He glares at them, knowing of those two that he heard from his parents and from other fillies and coats during his time in Canterlot. "Well, well, well! Look at the bug pony!" the pink filly sneered at Applebloom. "It's pest pony!" Applebloom defend herself. "Ew, it sure it is! Ew!" the grey filly push the twittermites canister to Applebloom. "I might know you'd end up" the pink filly taunting her "with the worst cutie mark ever!" Applebloom looked ashamed at her cutie mark while Cosmo continues glaring at the two fillies. "But look on the bright side!" both fillies walking in circle as they continue making fun of her "Whenever you need a friend, you can just go out and catch one!" "That's not funny." Applebloom said. "Heere, friendfriendfriendfriendfrieend!" "Stop it!" Applebloom feeling put down as Cosmo finally snapped. "ENOUGH!!!!!" All of the fillies winced at his voice as Applebloom widened her eyes at the same stallion that she and her friends crashed into him.It's that stallion from before. What's he doing here? "Listen here, you two, just because she got her own cutie mark doesn't mean that you can tease her like a bunch of mules." he walking towards them as he glares at them. "What did you just say?!" the pink filly enraged at the stallion's words. "I said that you two are nothing but a bunch of mules." he repeated as both fillies glare at him. "I'll had you know that I'm a princess! My cutie mark says it all!" she pointed to her flank. "Princess? You not a princess just a joke! A true princess shown compassion and kindness to her subjects and the only you good at as being a big fat jerk!" he countered her "You don't even to call yourself a princess!" That words really shocked her brain out as the grey pony shouted at him "Hey you take that back!" "And you, yours is a silver spoon? What are you good at, collecting spoons for your collections?" Another insult shocked the grey pony. "Now I'm going to ask you this. Get out before I can report this to Applejack or better yet your father." he said. "And I already know of where Filthy Rich is." Both fillies taken step backed as they ran away from him as he sighed and turned to Applebloom. "Geez, mister thanks but I think that you overdone it with calling them mules." she said. "Trust me, I had a reason to call them that, Applebloom." he said. "Wait, you know my name?" he nodded "But we only met yesterday." "Well, I had my guess and also I met your sister, Applejack." "Wait, you know her?" another nodded. "Then that means you must be Cosmo Bringer! Ma'h sister told me about you and how you're a student to Princess Twilight!" "Yeah, you got it on the right track." he said as he saw her feeling sad. "Listen, don't let those two put you down. Your cutie mark is fine." "Yeah but still......." she got up and running towards a forest, dropping the twittermites canister. "Applebloom wait!" he trotting her direction. Unknown to them, a crack was formed on the canister. As Cosmo running to her direction, he saw her at the dark forest. "I wonder if this cutie mark isn't what I was hopping for." he can hear her muttering as he knee down and place his hoof on her shoulder. "Listen, don't let anypony put you down because of your cutie mark. Being a pest pony isn't that bad." he tried to console her. "Still, I don't think it's the right one I wanted." "Why should you have keep it then?" a voice was heard as both ponies whipped their heads to find the source. "Who's there?! What do you mean?!" Applebloom shouted. "If your cutie marks bother you so much get rid of it!" the voice shouted. "Hey you leave her alone, whatever thing you are!" Cosmo defended her. "And you, you seem to be a brave pony but deep inside your still the same from before." the voice said. "What do you mean?" "I mean is that you are afraid of something. Something that you been keeping away from your friends." the voice said as Cosmo gritted his teeth until Applebloom shouted. "Enough! Stop teasing Cosmo! If you know how to wave a hoof and erase a terrible cutie mark, then go ahead!" "Applebloom!" "As easily said as done." With the winds blowing them, Cosmo open his eyes and saw Applebloom without his cutie mark. "Are you sure you want to do that?" Cosmo asked her while both trotting back to Ponyville. "I'm certain, Cosmo. Beside, being a pest pony isn't what I really wanted." Applebloom replied as Cosmo having a worried expression.Just as he about to speak, multiple ponies knocking them out as they running away from something. "Hey! Where's everypony going?" she asked as both turned and saw Ponyville in destructive chaos. "What in the name of Celestia just happen?!" Cosmo exclaimed at this sight. Then they saw Mayor Mare with two other ponies packing up quickly. "Mayor! What's goin' on?!" "Applebloom and Cosmo, you've got to get your family out of town!" Then they heard sounds of a electric sounds as they glance and saw multiple twittermites zap a cottage into ashes. "Twittermites!" Applebloom exclaimed as she hurried back to the wagon with Cosmo following her behind only to find the twittermites canister is broken. Then she have a determination eyes as she load another one and strap it onto her gear. "Twittermites!" she shouted as they passed her. "Here bugbugbugbugbugbug!" she beckoning them as a electric bolt zapped her as Cosmo came to her side, he too got zapped. "Yeow!" he landed on his rump as both tried to catch them but they ended up being zapped again. And again. And again. "Owwwww! You okay Applebloom?" he groaned. "Y-yeah, I'll be fine........." she replied as both got up. "Applebloom! Cosmo! What are in tarnation are you two doing?!" Applejack asked with her bag of her belongs on her back. "We're tryin' to stop the infestation, of course!" Applebloom explained as Cosmo notice more ponies running away from it. "Only a pest pony can do that!" Applejack said "Now come on! We got to skedaddle!" All three ponies glance up as the twittermites swarming over them as Applejack trotting away along with Big Mac pushing a carriage with two other ponies as Applebloom and Cosmo glance at the swarm heading towards Sweet Apple Acres. "We got to do somethin'!" both gallop to Sweet Apple Acres only to find the bugs swarming around the barn and zapped to pieces of cinders, much to the shocked of them. "No, ma'h home......" Applebloom sat down in shame as the Twittermites now heading towards her. "Look out!" Cosmo shouted as he pushed her away as he got zapped and turned into a body of cinders. "COSMO!!!!!!!" Applebloom screamed. Applebloom woke up panting as she was back in her room as she glance at the window. "Whoo-ee. That's what I called a nightmare." she said "It felt so real." Then something clicked in her mind. "I better go find Cosmo!" She was about to run but her stomach rumble "After a big breakfast." Inside the kitchen, Applejack preparing a pancake breakfast as Applebloom enter "Applejack! You not gonna believe the dream that I just had. I guess I do needed more sleep than I thought!" "See, now what did I tell you? A goodnight's sleep'll fix just about -" She notice something on her flank. "Well, no wonder you were so worked up!" "What?" "Looks like somepony got her cutie mark!" Applebloom glance at her flank as a apple in jar was shown. "Again?! I mean.......I did? Whoo-hoo!" she spinning around in excitement. "Potion making! Now that's more like it! I'm just glad Princess Twilight's lessons finally paid off!" she said admiring her new cutie mark. "I expect you to run off to the clubhouse and tell your friends about your cutie mark." Applejack said "But before you go, make sure you do all of your....." she stop as she notice that she's already gone. "chores." Applebloom trotting quickly to the clubhouse but she bumped into somepony again as she rubbing her head, she widened her eyes and saw somepony from her dream. "Cosmo!" she lunged at him and gave a deep hug "I'm so glad you're okay!" "Um, well...." Cosmo stuttered a bit "What are you talking about?" "Oh," she release from her hug and blushed a bit "well um, I kinda dreamt about you and uh......" "Are you okay?" he asked. "Y-yeah, I'm good. I'm Applebloom." she raise her hoof "Applejack's little sister." "Well you already know me, so it's nice to meet you." he grasp her hoof and lightly shake it. "So where are you heading?" "Oh, to show ma'h friends my cutie marks! C'mon!" she grasp his hoof as she pulled him to the clubhouse. Applebloom, I'm sorry for lying you as a figment of a dream. he thought in sadness. I promise that I'll free you from your nightmare. Once they reached to the clubhouse, both climb in as she open the door, two fillies from before were playing horseshoes toss. "Whoohoo!" the two fillies turned and saw Applebloom and a stallion from before. "What's going on?" the white filly asked. "Oh nothin' " Applebloom show her cutie mark "except this brand new cutie mark!" The two were excited at this news as they dancing around while Cosmo just smiled at them as the orange pegasus filly noticed him. "Hey, are you the guy we bump you before?" He nodded as Applebloom introduce to them "Girls, this Cosmo Bringer! The pony that's Twilight's student!" "Really?!" "Awesome!" They all gather towards him like fangirls gather to their favorite idols. "My name is Sweetie Belle!" "And I'm Scootaloo!" "And together," all three said in unison "WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" Cosmo flinched at the volume of the voices as his ears were ringing a bit. "Okay, ow......can you please don't do that? You almost give deaf in my ear." "Sorry." the girls apologized to him. "It's okay. It's nice to meet you two." he gave a smile as Applebloom turned to her friends. "I don't suppose either of you got yours?" "Nope." Scootaloo shake her head. "Me either." Sweetie Belle did the same. Seeing those expression, Cosmo came to them "It's okay you two. I'm certain that you two will find your special talents." Applebloom nodded at him "Yeah, I'd always hope we'd find our cutie marks together." "Me too...." the two were still sadden at being blank flanks but they quickly changed their expression "But I'm still super excited for you." "I know!" Applebloom rushed to the podium "Let's call this meeting to order! I'm sure the three of us will can figure out how to get two more cutie marks! Plus we got Cosmo to help us!" "Wait, what?!" Cosmo baffled. "Since he's Twilight's student, he may know other things we can find two more cutie marks!" Applebloom said. "Uh, Applebloom......" Cosmo trying to get her attention but ignore as Sweetie Belle speak up. "Um, yeah.......the thing is......." "What?" Applebloom and Cosmo looked at them confused. "What's wrong?" "Well, you can't be a Cutie Mark Crusader if you already got a cutie mark and also Cosmo is too old to help us." Scootaloo said. "Oh......just like........Bab Seed." Applebloom said. "What, hey c'mon. Just because Applebloom got a cutie mark doesn't mean she not a Cutie Mark Crusader." Cosmo said as the two fillies turn back on them. "Well, I could just sit quietly with Cosmo in the corner 'til you two figure out......." she said nervously. "Well, technically the clubhouse is for Crusaders only." Sweetie Belle pointed the open door to them. "Oh. Right." Applebloom felt depressed "I guess I should come back later, then.....?" "Please you two, you can't do this. Applebloom is your friend." Cosmo trying to reason with them. Both walked out of the clubhouse as the earth pony filly turned to her friends. "Why?" Sweetie Belle asked "I mean, you can't come in then later." "Oh." "That's enough." Cosmo hold a small glare at them "She's your friend, Sweetie Belle!" "No, I don't think that we're still supposed to be friends." Scootaloo said as she closed the door at his face. "What?!" Applebloom shocked as she turned to the door, both were shocked that the clubhouse is boarded with wood on the windows and door as both are back at the dark forest. "Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Come on, this isn't funny!" Applebloom calling them as both felt a wind pushing them. "More trouble with cutie marks?" the eerie voice was heard again. "No! I mean, w- yeah, I mean...." Applebloom stuttered. "Okay, what did you do to her this time?!" Cosmo shouted. "Nothing, only I did is giving the cutie mark she always wanted." the eerie voice said. "Well yeah, but my friends didn't got theirs and now there's all kinds of trouble." Applebloom said. "Sounds like cutie marks are like two peas in the pods." "I guess so.....I mean....if I was a blank flank again, then it wouldn't be a problem." the farm earth pony said. "Better fix this problem!" Cosmo threaten. "Your wish is my command." a gust of wind swirl upon Applebloom as a bright flash engulf the area. Cosmo woke up with a groaned as he quickly headed to the clubhouse where Applebloom is removing the wood block from the clubhouse. "Cosmo! Thank goodness you're here! Help me out with this!" Applebloom said as he nodded he helped her removing the woodblock. Once they're done, they saw Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looking at them "Hey, Applebloom. Why'd you want us to meet here?" "Well, us blank flanks have to meet us somewhere!" Applebloom said. "Um, actually, Applebloom we sort of got our cutie marks." Scootaloo said as Cosmo shocked at this. This nightmare is really messing her up with the cutie marks things. Wait.......cutie marks........that's it! "You did?!" "Whoa, whoa, whoa! How could you two got them so easily?!" he asked them but only that they ignore him as Applebloom uncomfortable hiding her blank flank. "So what are they?" "Oh, we don't have to go all of that." Scootaloo said. "And we don't have the time to hang out in our old clubhouse." Sweetie Belle added. "Yeah, we've got responsibilities now." Both turned and walking away from them "But maybe we'll see you later." "Much later." "Wait! Hold on! I can get my own cutie mark back, I think!" Applebloom grunted at this situation "Rgh! I mean, I got it once, right?" Cosmo was about to intervene, when a voice was heard, a voice that he knew so much "Cosmo........." "Who's......" he scanned the area as he saw two ponies standing at the the hill. "Mom.......Papa......" he whispered as he trotted to them, leaving her behind. "Cosmo?! Where are you going?!" Applebloom asked as she ran to him. "Mom! Papa!" he cried for them as he saw them walking away "No wait! Mom! Papa!" "Cosmo! Wait!" Applebloom trying to keep up as a blinding flash engulf the area. Applebloom woke up again from her bed as glance at the window, seeing the clubhouse being normal. "What in Equestria is goin' on?" "I'm not sure sleep is the cure-all Applejack thinks it is." Applebloom said then her mind thought on Cosmo hurried somewhere else. But what's going on with Cosmo? And why did he call 'Mom' and 'Papa'? There's nopony else here beside me and ma'h friends. She headed downstairs, holding her blanket on her head and enters the kitchen where Applejack is preparing for breakfast. "Uh......Applejack? I know you said sleep is supposed to make me feel better......but I'm pretty sure it's makin' me worst." "See, now what did I tell you? A goodnight's sleep'll fix-" Applejack having the same expression from yesterday "Well, no wonder you were so worked up........" "Wh-Didn't you hear what I'm said?! I was trying to-" then she noticed that she's at the table as Granny Smith notice something on her flank. "Weeeell, what do we have here?" "What is it, Granny? What's wrong?!" Applebloom asked. "Oh, nothin' right, Applejack?" Granny Smith asked with hint of suspicious. "Right......." Applejack replied with the same expression "Nothin' at all.......Right Big Mac?" Big Mac turned his head away from her then turned at her little sister " Truth is, Applebloom, it's your cutie mark." "Eeyup" Applejack using Big Mac's famous words. "Oh no! What is it now?!" Applebloom check her flank as a dolphin cutie mark was seen. Then she was at a dim light place as her family circle around her. "Well, I can tell what it ain't. It ain't no apple." Big Mac said. "Nnope." Granny Smith agreed. "What?!" "And we don't have room for non-apple." Applejack's voice was replaced with Big Mac's. "Nnope." Big Mac had Applejack's voice. "But this is my home!" Applebloom pleaded them as she suddenly carrying a bag. "Oh, and you're gonna have to change your name." Big Mac said. "Eeyup." "I think just 'Bloom' has a nice ring to it, don't you, Applejack?" "Eeyup" As Applejack open the door, a black abyss was seen as Applebloom screamed hurled into the black abyss as she grip the doorway trying to pulled up. "Cosmo! Help me! COSMO!!!!!" she cried for him but so far nothing as she tried to pull herself, she lost her grip and screaming as she was hurled into the black abyss. Applebloom fall down on the floor, buried in her blanket as she remove them, she saw being back in her room. "Alright, this is getting ridiculous!" She trotted to her mirror as fearfully, peek at her reflection as she saw her flank is blank. "Whoo-ee! I never thought I'd be so happy to not get a cutie mark." As she turned around, she saw her left flank having a ice cream cutie mark. "What the?!" As she turned to her right flank, it had a shining tooth cutie mark. Then again on her left flank now had a french fries cutie mark and in fright, her right flank had herself as a cutie mark. This isn't happening.......her mind cried out. This isn't happening!!!!!As if this wasn't enough of this nightmare, multiple cutie marks surround her. "I don't wanna to see another cutie mark again!" she said, swatting the cutie marks away from her face as she hurried out only to find she was back at the dark forest. "Back so soon?" the eerie voice called. Applebloom glare at the eerie voice and shouted "All right, whoever you are! I dunno what spell you went and cast on me, but I want it to stop right now!" "I didn't cast a spell, on you or anypony else. I only did what you wanted." "Rrrgh!" Applebloom screamed "Why would I want you to torment me with nightmares!" "You didn't catch bugs and I helped." a gust of winds soon blow over the area. "You didn't want to lose friends, and I helped." Applebloom covered her ears, blocking of the eerie voice. "If there's any problem with your family, I'm sure I can help with that too." Then she glance at the source of it as a shadow like pony with a sinister grin at her. "Just like I helped your friend." "Where's Cosmo?!" Applebloom shouted, glaring at it. "What did you do to him?!" "Oh just giving him a blast from the past." the eerie voice replied. Growled in anger, she dashed away from the shadow like pony "I don't want your help! Just get away from me and bring Cosmo back!" "Applebloom, you can't get away from your shadow." a voice was heard as moonlight shines upon her as she look up to moon as a familiar pony emerge from the moon. "Princess Luna?! What are you doing here?! And what do you mean my shadow?!" The Princess of the Night move the moon as the shadow like pony turned back into Applebloom's own. "It was me? You mean I've been doing this on myself?" "Of course, Applebloom. It's your dream." "If I been dreamin' this whole time, why don't I wake up?" the earth filly asked. "Sometimes we can worry about a thing so much, the fear can make us feel like a nightmare." Using her horn, Princess Luna and Applebloom were transported into the dream realm. "I don't supposed there's anything you're particularly afraid of, is there?" Princess Luna asked. "Yeah.......I guess I've been worried about gettin' my cutie mark." Applebloom said. "Well, that's the same as worrying about who you are. That's all a cutie mark is." A grey cloud rain on Applebloom as Princess Luna continue explaining. "If you cannot accept who you are, your life might seem like a bad dream." She blew the grey cloud away from her. "But if I like who I am, do you think other ponies might like me too?" "Of course." "Then it doesn't matter what cutie mark is!" Applebloom said "But that's so simple!" "I must be the only pony in the universe this worried about her cutie mark." "Oh, I wouldn't say that." At instant, multiple doors appeared around them as one open, Applebloom saw Sweetie Belle having a cutie mark of a broom in front of the stage when she about to sing in front of the judges. Then another door open as she saw Scootaloo riding a scooter on a big ramp as her flank have a baking mark as her scooter and helmet were replaced by chef's hat and egg beater and fall onto a valley of cake batter. "Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are havin' nightmares too?" "It's not just them, Applebloom. Another pony also having a nightmare too, trapped in the memories that forever haunted him." Princess Luna said "I believe that I need you and your friends to help me save him from his nightmare." "Who?" Applebloom asked. "The one you befriended in your dream." Princess Luna said as Applebloom at first confused but widened her eyes at this particular pony. "You mean-?!" Princess Luna nodded. "We don't have time now. We must hurry." The Princess of the Night use her horn as in a bright flash, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo appeared as each have expression of confusion as the two saw Princess Luna. "Princess Luna! Applebloom!" Sweetie Belle said. "What are you two doing here?" Scootaloo asked. "Princess Luna want us to help somepony from his nightmare." Applebloom explained. "Who?" "Cosmo Bringer." After trotted the bridge of the dream world, Princess Luna explained of Cosmo being sucked in into Applebloom's dreams and pretended to be a figment of her's while trying to help her from her nightmare. She also explained that Cosmo was Princess Luna's dearest adopted nephew which the Crusaders widened at this. "So let me get this right. Cosmo Bringer is your adopted nephew and you let him come to this dream realm to practice of control his own dreams then suddenly his necklace transport him to ma'h dreams and pretended to be a figment of mine?!" Applebloom asked as she nodded. "Now that's just creepy." Scootaloo commented. "But I don't understand. Why he's having nightmares so much?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Does he usually have good dreams on anything?" Princess Luna shook her head. "Because of one tragic event that scar his heart when he was the same age as you three, it was almost impossible for him to forget it. And because of this, he kept having the same nightmare all over of it, even creating something that threaten him or those that he cares." Princess Luna said as they reached to Cosmo's dream door, it was engulfed in darkness. "Cosmo is in there?" Sweetie Belle asked, feeling scared. To the Crusaders, the darkness is unlike they ever seen before as each of them gulp. "Yes, and the darkness trapped him in it." Princess Luna turned to the Crusaders "Now once we enter, there's a secret that he hidden from everypony else but me and my sister. Promise that you won't let anypony know of this. He's too keen on keeping it from everypony else." The Crusaders look at each other before they recite the Pinkie Promise "We won't let anypony else know of his secret." Applebloom said. With a nod, Princess Luna open the door as a bright flash blinded them as they cover their eyes. As the light died down, the Crusaders open their eyes and gasped at this sight : every sight of Canterlot was at a blazed. Buildings were destroyed, fires crackled around the roads, and ashes cover the area. "What in the name of Celestia is this?!" Scootaloo exclaimed at this as they heard a buzzing noise as the Crusaders look up and saw black creatures that they recognized. "The Changelings?!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed as they soar quickly to the other side as Princess Luna dashed quickly while the Crusaders follow her until they reached at a particular mansion. Then they saw a swarm of Changelings surrounding the building as they saw magic knocking them away. The Crusaders widened their eyes as they saw a familiar pony fighting them. "Cosmo!" Applebloom shouted. Cosmo fire his magic at the swarm in the skies as he dodge a unexpected Changelings and slammed his front hooves on the head on the ground. Then he teleport to the other side quickly and punch two more and with a round kick on another one. "At this rate........." he muttered as he dodge quickly and fire his magic at the left. "Cosmo......." a voice was heard as he and the Crusaders glance around as two other ponies were fighting the Changelings too. "Mom! Papa!" he rushed to helped them but then his path was blocked by somepony else that really fueled his hatred. "Queen Chrysalis!" he growled as he charged at her but with a single blow from her front hoof on his face he knocked him to the ground. Then all of the Changelings did the same thing from before as the hold him on the ground. "NO! Let me go!" he shouted trying to break free but to no avail as he glimpse at the building coming down on his parents. "Oh how pitiful that The Lineage of the Bringer Family think that he had a chance to stop me and my children." Queen Chrysalis mocked at him, still trying to break free. "Let me go! Let me go NOW!" he screamed as he glance at the parents as they gave a sad nod before a building crashed down on them. Cosmo mortified at this as he gave a animistic screamed as he lowered his head, crying at the loss of his parents. Meanwhile the Crusaders couldn't believe at this scene. Cosmo Bringer lost his parents from Queen Chrysalis and the Changelings. Tears swelled up on their eyes as Princess Luna hugged them while having a pitiful expression that his nephew having. "I....can't believe it.............." Applebloom wiping her tears "Cosmo's parents died.............and he couldn't save them........" "Those Changelings...........how could they do.........something so awful.........." Sweetie Belle asked. "Poor guy.........." Scootaloo commented, feeling sorry for him as they watched him sobbing quietly as the Queen of the Changelings walked towards him. "Oh don't worry. You'll be joining them soon enough.........in the afterlife......." she raised her hoof as unnoticed, Cosmo gritted his teeth and glare at her. "QUEEN CHRYSALIS!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed as a bright flashed engulf him knocking the Changelings away from him as the Crusaders closed their eyes. Once the light died down, they open their eyes as their eyes widened to the point that almost stuck in that expression while having their jaws dropped to the ground, Cosmo transformed himself into the AGE 4. "Whawhawhawha-WHAT?!" Scootaloo flabbergasted at this sight. "No way..........Cosmo is actually........." "The Gundam?!" Applebloom exclaimed as Cosmo pulled his beam saber and charging at the queen. "Stop him!" Queen Chrysalis shouted as all of the Changelings charging at him but each time, he quickly slashed through each of them while dodging their magic and swing his saber at them. Once all of them disposed of, his eyes glare at Queen Chrysalis as both charging at full speed and full force as they clash their saber/horn. The Crusaders were speechless at this battle as both Queen Chrysalis and Cosmo heated up in the battle, trading blows from magic, to saber/horn, dodging at their attacks, and blocking them. "This is nuts! I seen battles like this in books but this is too much!" Scootaloo commented at this. Applebloom silently nodded still not taking her eyes out of the battle as Cosmo able to get the upper hand, blocking her magic quickly and fire his beam riffle and blew a hole on Queen Chrysalis' wings sending the insect queen plumed to the ground. With tears coming from her eyes, Applebloom gritted her teeth and rushed to the battlefield. "Applebloom wait!" Princess Luna and the Crusaders shouted as Cosmo about to charged his shot at Queen Chrysalis until a voice shouted at him. "COSMO!!!!!!" Applebloom blocked at the firing point as Cosmo widened his eyes. "Applebloom?" he whispered. "Cosmo please stop! You need stop fighting!" At the same time, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came to Applebloom's side. "Sweetie Belle......Scootaloo......." "Cosmo, you need to snap out of it! This is a nightmare!" Scootaloo shouted. "A nightmare......." At the time, Queen Chrysalis disappeared as the whole area brighten until they're back at the dream realm with Cosmo back to normal form. "Auntie Luna......." he looked away from her "I'm sorry........I couldn't..........I tried to......." "It's not your fault. The Nightmare that Applebloom having must also sense you and put you back into your own too." Princess Luna hugging him using her wing. "It's also the more reason why we need to keep practicing on this to keep in check of your dreams." He nodded as he turned to the Crusaders, having looks of feeling uncertain as Cosmo guessed what the girls saw in his nightmare. "You saw it, right?" Cosmo asked as they gave a nodded. "Everything?" Another nodded from the Crusaders as he look down and sighed heavily. "Cosmo, I understand how you want it to keep a secret but at least give them a chance to know yours." Princess Luna said "After all, they Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony else about this." He nodded as he begin to tell them his life story, how his parents died on the day of Changelings' invasion, Princess Luna adopted him, encounter the AGE Device, and secretly building his own Gundam after learning the truth of his ancestors. After that, the Crusaders having an amazed look. "Whoooa." all of the Crusaders said in awe. "Wow, I never knew your ancestors able to keep it hidden from the face of Equestria." Applebloom commented. "Yeah, and giving powers from another world, that's something came out of Spike's comics." Scootaloo added. "But I don't understand. If your parents want to make sure nopony know of this, why only Princess Luna and Princess Celestia know of this?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Simple. Because Auntie Luna done so much for me to save from my loneliness, she and Auntie Celestia are the only family that I can trust to know this." Cosmo replied as Princess Luna nodded in agreement as the Crusaders smile at this. "So Auntie Luna told me that each of three having a cutie mark problems right?" he asked as they nodded. "I can relate to that." "What?" the Crusaders asked in unison. "You see, when I was your girls' age, I was struggling to find my cutie mark too. Since I tried a lot of things, it didn't suit up to me until my parents decide to take me to an space museum and being fascinated by ponies going to space, I decided to learn more of it and studied a lot of astronomy. At my old school, I did a science project for a science fair and I did on our Solar System along with my magic as I won the prize money. Because of this, I able to found my cutie mark." he explained as he point to his star like galaxy burst cutie mark. "Oh wow!" Sweetie Belle amazed at his "It's almost like Twilight's except with the galaxy burst." "Yeah, I get a lot from other ponies." he chuckled as Princess Luna smiled at this. "Now, it's been a busy long week for us all but I think it's time to bring it to a close." Princess Luna said as a particular door appeared at the middle as it open, Cosmo and the CMC are at the clubhouse. "I know you've all had lot of thing on your minds tonight, but I think Applebloom have something she'd like to share before we wake up." Applebloom nodded as she got to podium "Well, I guess I should call this dream meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to order!" she press on a Javier as it making a honk noise which both Cosmo and Princess Luna amused. "I know we all got pretty anxious when we found out that Babs got her cutie mark but I for one don't want to have nightmares every nights from now until we get ours!" "Me neither!" Scootaloo agree with Applebloom along with Sweetie Belle too. "And even though we're all little scared, a cutie mark won't change who we are and how everypony feels about us." "It's lucky that we're all scared of the same thing. That way we can help and remind each other to be just who we are." Sweetie Belle said as she and Scootaloo give a hive hoof. "And when that day comes that you all get your cutie marks, you can be sure they'll fit you to a T." Princess Luna said. "Also, no matter what happens or how long it takes, what ever your cutie marks you girls got, nothing will change you three of your friendship." Cosmo added which the Crusaders nodded. "Exactly!" Applebloom said. "Do you think that Babs is worried or scarred about some of this stuff?" Scootaloo asked as the CMC, Cosmo, and Princess Luna thinking until Applebloom got an idea. "I know! Let's put together a care package for her! That way she'll know she won't be alone." The Crusaders nodded as Cosmo smile at this. "We wouldn't want to her to think that just because she isn't a Crusader, we can't still be friends!" "If you like, I would like to add something for your cousin too, Applebloom." "Of course, Big Brother Cosmo." Applebloom said which surprise him. "Big Brother?" "Yeah, since you been with me in ma'h dreams, you care for me so much like Big Mac does even though I'm scared." She turned to her friends "What do you say Crusaders? How about having Cosmo become part of the Cutie Mark Crusaders as a special member, the Big Brother member? Even though he already got his, we can still make him a Crusader and our friend since he done so much for me. " Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo look at each other before gave a nodded. "Of course!" "It'll be awesome to have you on board." Sweetie Belle said as Cosmo thought of it before gave a nod. "Okay sure." "All right!" The Crusaders shouted making Cosmo's and Princess Luna's ears ringing a bit. "Okay ow again!" Cosmo muttered but keeping his smile. "But maybe we should do the care package once we wake up?" "Yes good idea." Princess Luna said as the clubhouse begin to spin as a bright flash engulf the dream realm. Applebloom wake up as she stare at the window as she pull her blanket to see her flank as it was blank. She sighed in relived as headed downstairs as she saw Big Mac and Granny Smith at the table along with Applejack cooking up some pancakes. Applejack There ain't no call to worry So don't cry or fret Applebloom A cutie mark won't change me No matter what I get "Well, sure like somepony's feeling better." Applejack flipped the last of the pancake. "You have no idea." Applebloom said. "See, now what did I told you? A goodnight's sleep cures just about everything." At the last sentence, Applebloom widened her eyes at that statement but quickly change her expression. "I guess so. I just wish it wasn't so exhausting." She took a bite of her pancake, leaving her family confused at her statement. Then a knock was heard as Applejack open it, she was surprised at this visitor. "Cosmo? What are you doing here?" Applejack asked him as Applebloom peek the hallway, she widened her eyes with a smile. "Big Brother Cosmo!" Applebloom shouted as she rushed to him, giving her a hug, leaving both Big Mac and Applejack widened their eyes in shocked. "I'm so glad to see you again." "Me too, Applebloom. I got the stuff from the house in my bag." he pointed to his saddle bags "You want to come?" "Of course!" She quickly ate her pancake and dashed to her room while Cosmo saw an shocked Applejack and Big Mac. "What?" "Did. she. called. you. Big. Brother?!" Applejack asked while Big Mac twitching his eyes. "Yeah, why?" he replied as Applejack begin flabbergasted with questions as Applebloom came back with boxes of stuff. "I'm back." She came down to his side "Well me and my big brother got some stuff to do at the Clubhouse! See ya!" With that both close the door and headed to the Clubhouse, leaving both farm ponies fainted after their brains are fried. Ending : > Episode 6 - The Treasure of Winter > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Ponyville, Set 3 months on Tanks for the Memories) In his basement, Cosmo was fixing his AGE 4 Saurian D Armors as he pulled down a protection eye goggles and using the blowtorch. As he carefully mending a scrap metal part he gotten from yesterday as he carefully melt it and mend it on the Saurian D Armors. His mind recalled from what happened last night, something that bother him in his life : three fillies, younger siblings of his friends, known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, know his secret through his nightmare. Yet, they promised him and Auntie Luna to not let anypony knows, even their sisters. As much as he felt relief, he can't helped that he just endangered them into his war. That's one of the worst thing and irresponsible that he did. If either big sister finds out about this, well, they'll have his head. So in no other choice, he had to accept to be a 'big brother' of the Crusaders in order to protect them. Once the liquid metal now mended with the armor, he leave it as he turned to Haro who opened his 'mouth' revealing a laptop as he typing on something until a timer was set at 2 hours. "Okay, the armors should be repaired in that hour." He said as he placed the other component, the inner frames on the side. "I should at least find 'fine quality and toughest' armors next time I shop for new parts." "Haro, just in case if any Changeling attacks comes soon, I want you to equip my Gundam with the Normal Armors." "Roger! Roger!" Haro said, flapping his ears which he chuckled at this. As he and Haro going back to the living room, he set the lock mechanism on the basement door as a machine like locking noise was heard until a 'click'. As he look at the clock, he said "Better meet with the others soon. I got to do my part of the work too." With that, he headed out the door, lock it, and headed out for this is important year to help other ponies in preparing for winter to come. He glance at Cloudsdale coming in closer to Ponyville as he was about to headed to his destination until a rainbow blur tackle him on the ground. "Owww!" Cosmo moaned as he shake off his vision to see Rainbow Dash, holding her pet tortoise "Rainbow, what gives?!" "Sorry for crashing into you, but I need your help!" Rainbow said as both got up. "On what?" Cosmo dusting out of himself while being confused. "On my pet, Tank." she showed him her pet tortoise, flying using a chopper like propeller as he notice Tank yawning "Since you know how to repair or build stuff on your home, maybe you can find something to prevent Tank from hiber- that napping word." "You mean, hibernate-?" "Don't say that word!" Rainbow placing her hoof on his mouth as Cosmo remove her hoof from it. "What? You mean hibern-" "That!" Rainbow shouted closing his mouth again which he groan and remove it again. "Rainbow, I can't build something to prevent Tank from hiber-" as he about to say that word, he saw Rainbow twitch her eye "I mean, napping, for the winter. I only build for those ponies who cannot help themselves. Beside, it's natural for Tank to take a nap on the winter-" "Oh, what do you know about it?!" Rainbow got her eyes dagger on his as Cosmo confused at her changing tone. "You're an egghead!" As much as Cosmo felt little insulted, he kept his cool "Rainbow, please, just let Tank hibern-" "I'm not listing! Lalalalalala!" She clap her ear while making noise and leaves him by himself. "Okay, better go ask Fluttershy about this." With that he headed to the forest to do his part on preparing for winter. Opening : At the forest, everypony was doing their part in preparing for winter. Pegasus ponies are gathering clouds from Cloudsdale and earth and unicorn ponies rake some leaves or giving some winter outfits for the animals, preparing them for their hibernation. As Cosmo doing his part by helping Applejack and Twilight in gathering the leaves, he explain the situation to Fluttershy, helping the animals preparing for winter with Rarity , about Rainbow's unusual behavior and asking him in building something to prevent her pet tortoise from hibernating which he refused. "And after that, she just lashed out in me, calling me an 'egghead' when I tried to convince her to let Tank hibernate and left me." Cosmo finishing his explanation. "That's very unusual for Rainbow to say that to you." Fluttershy said, giving a beaver a winter cap. "You said it. She usually called Twilight by that nickname." Applejack said, which Twilight growled at that comment but shrugged it off as Cosmo rolled his eyes. "Do you think that Rainbow doesn't want to accept the fact that Tank needs to hibernate for the winter?" Cosmo asked while gathering another pile and and place on the pile with Applejack's. "I think so, but still, it's wrong for her to lash out in front of you, Cosmo." Twilight said. "Beside, she never meant to say those words to you. Hopefully when she finally accept it, she'll apologize to you." "Yeah...." As Cosmo was about to speak, a tomboyish voice yelled out as all take glance at Rainbow yelling at Pinkie. "If you think hiber....-you know, that napping thing- it's so cute, why don't you go do it?! Somewhere far away from it!!!" Pinkie walks away from Rainbow, having a anger expression as she (and Pinkie), notice that her friends are watching them surprised. Then she glares at them "What are you looking at?! Pinkie and I just having a conversation!!!" "Look, Rainbow Dash, we all know how upset you are about Tank hiber-" "Shhh!" Pinkie shushed her and hid behind her back "Don't say that word! That's what started it all!" "We all know how upset you are about Tank. But you shouldn't take your anger on your friends." Twilight trying to reason with her but the anger pegasus still not convinced. "Who said anything about anger?! I didn't say anything about anger! I'm not upset! And I'm not angry!" Rainbow shouted. "Do I look angry?!" At that sentence, Rainbow's face turned to super anger as the others were worried about her. "Come on, Tank!" she spin the propeller from Tank's shell "Let's get out of here!" With that, she and Tank leave them, confused by this situation until Cosmo decide to break the ice. "I'll go talk to her." He was about to prepare his cloud walking spell until Applejack stopped him. "Hold on there, sugarcube. Let's give her some time to cool off. If we tried to help her while she's angry, well it ain't pretty." Cosmo sadly nodded as he looked up in the sky, hoping that Rainbow trying to vent out her anger. While gathering more leaves and place them on the piles, he sighed as he gaze at the ponies continue working hard on this season. Then he continue working on gathering the leaves and put them on the piles. "Hey, Cosmo." He turned and saw Applejack coming towards him. "Hey Applejack? Need any help?" "Yeah, a bunch of ponies having problems preparing for the winter." Applejack said. "What kinds of problems?" he asked. "Well it's better if I show you." He followed her to where the ponies having trouble with their jobs : leaves that are raked are strangely put back on the branches, icy puddles that are suddenly cracked, skis are missing, and so forth. "What the hay?" he looked around at this situation "How did this happened?" "I don't know, but until then, we better help them out." Applejack said as he nodded when three voices are heard. "Cosmo!" he turned and saw the CMC coming towards him and gave him a meaningful hug. "Hey girls, glad to see you three again." he said as all separate the embrace "So are you three doing your part on it too?" "Yeah, we think we might get our cutie marks by helping out in preparing the winter." Applebloom said. "Only if you three stayed out of trouble and don't doing anything crusading stuff like the last time you girls did in our last preparation." Applejack added with a stern tone which he chuckled a bit. "However, when we about to be done, our part was put backed the way before we gotten started." Scootaloo said earning a surprised look from him. "I see. Well in that case, everypony also having problems too, so maybe you three can help us in getting things back to the way it should be." Cosmo said as the girls nodded. "Sure, big brother Cosmo!" Sweetie Belle said. "Thanks girls." he smiled at them. With that, Applejack, Cosmo, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders helping other ponies as Cosmo use his spell to freeze the puddles, Applejack buck the trees to make the leaves fall, and the CMC helping the ponies finding the missing skis and moving the leaves once more. While Applejack and Cosmo working on the rest of the leaves from the tree, Applejack begin to speak. "So Cosmo, you and Applebloom along with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are very close." "Yeah we are, why?" he asked "Well, I was wondering how you and Applebloom met and you join their Cutie Mark Crusader club? Aren't you too old to join that club?" she said bucking another leaves. "Well, we just bump into each other last 3 month. That's all." Cosmo replied, not want to tell the dream event but unfortunately that doesn't help the cowgirl pony. "That's it? Just bump into m'ah sister and her friends then some greeting and they offer you to join their club? I don't think you're telling much Cosmo." Applejack narrowed her eyes while having a suspicious tone. "Applejack can you please drop it down and-" "Not until you answer m'ah question Cosmo!" Applejack interrupted him while Cosmo backing up a bit. "Ever since you came here, you'd been hiding the truth from the moment you came to save the village from Starlight and then the CMC automatically calling you a big brother!" "Applejack, please, there's a reason that-" "Secrets and truth needed to be hidden, I know that your father taught you that, but it also hurting those you care!" Applejack interrupted him again as the CMC saw them bickering widened their eyes . "Just tell me the truth! What is your connection between you and the Gundam?!" "Nothing! The Gundam is a savior and that's that!!!!" Cosmo retorted. "Cosmo!!! For pete sake, you're not telling me anything!" Applejack said as Cosmo was about to cracked, the CMC got in between them defending him. "Stop it, Applejack!!!" Applebloom said "Your being hard on him!!!" "Applebloom , you and your get out of the way, this is none-" "No, Applejack, not when you're pressuring our big brother." Sweetie Belle said which surprised at them. "Applejack, please, can't you at least stop pressuring him? He doesn't want to tell you about it because he doesn't want to lose the trust of you and the others." Scootaloo said. Applebloom nodded "Right, and he also telling the truth. We bump into him last 3 month and also we also heard much about him from you and our friends." "Applejack please, don't pressure him on telling a secret that he been hiding." Applebloom pleading with the CMC have big eyes while quivering their mouth as Applejack grunted at this but sighed. "All right, I'll stop pressuring your big brother." She turned to him "Sorry for pressuring you, Cosmo." "It's all right. When the time comes........I'll tell you, but until then, I'm not ready." Cosmo said as Applejack nodded and resume her work but not when a thought came to her mind. Cosmo, I'm sorry but, I'm going to find out your secret myself, whenever you like it or not. "Thanks girls for saving me from Applejack." Cosmo said, doing the remaining of the ice along with the girls helping pushing the leaves. "You're welcome, Cosmo, but I never knew m'ah sister is very keen on knowing your secret." Applebloom said. "Well, it's not easy having a double life as a normal pony and a savior." Cosmo replied "As much as I want to live my life as a normal pony, Equestria needs a savior to watch over all ponies and mythical creatures." "But we got the Elements to protect us." Sweetie Belle said. "Yes but even if we got the important magic of all, it wouldn't be enough." Cosmo said darkly "In order to make sure true peace comes, we need a savior to watch us all. And I had to be that one to make sure nopony suffers." The CMC having a worried expression of this. It's bad enough that Cosmo lost his family to the Changelings, but to devote to fight all evil on his own without any support, it'll be too much for him. "Cosmo, you're just one pony. You can't put the entire world on your shoulder." Applebloom said with hint of sadness. "But I had to. My ancestors protected the AGE Device for generations to generations all for the sake of me to change the fate of Equestria. And I had to do it for them on my own two hooves." He clenched his hoof determined as the CMC were unsure of how to help him. Just as Cosmo was finishing the last puddle, he glance up in the sky and saw more pegasus ponies bringing up clouds from Cloudsdale. Then as he look at the clouds he saw Rainbow on top looking at the factory. His mind begin processing of the problems that happened to the ponies. So far the puddles, lakes, and the leaves not to mention the skis and snow gears were missing were never intentionally so it has to be somepony who's trying to stop it from coming. Then he remember when Rainbow lash out in anger at her friends who's upset of Tank hibernated as he finally picking up the pieces together as he saw Rainbow swooping towards the factory. Oh no.......he thought of it as he turned to the CMC. "Girls, I want you three to go to Applejack." "Huh?" Scootaloo asked "Why?" "I think I know what cause the problem in our work." he turned to the factory. "Now I know how to fix it." At Cloudsdale, Rainbow swoop in and hid on the pillars as she peek through, she hidden in a vase of clouds as one pony passed her, she infiltrating and swoop in another hiding spot. Then she goes hiding on another cloud as she pulled Tank in as a whistle was heard. Ponies begin to leaving the factory as Rainbow whispered. "Lunch hour! Perfect!" She walking slowly, passing through other ponies as she able to reach the factory. Inside, Rainbow unscrewed the vent and kick it as she landed on the locker room with Tank floating in. Then she heard voices as she hidden in a locker as two ponies passed them, Rainbow came out with a uniform outfit as she continue infiltrating until she saw a thundercloud symbol on the room as she peek through the entrance. "The winter lab." she close the door "We're in Tank!" She was about to walk until she saw that her leash was stuck on the door with Tank on the other side as she pulled him in. As she take glance of the factory, it was filled with factory machinery special for winter by pegasus pony. "Now we just gotta to figure out a way to shut it down." she pulled Tank to the factory. Unknown to her, Cosmo peek in front of the entrance. Rainbow looking at the magnifying glass seeing the snowflakes "Sabotaging snowflakes?" "I think we gotta go bigger than that." She tying the leash to the magnifying glass. "Wait here." She zoomed in as she hidden behind the machinery then zipped through the pipes as Tank feeling sleepy, pulling the magnifying glass. Cosmo then quietly hidden behind the table and follow her quietly. Rainbow flying over the clouds and pick one up "Hmm. We could get rid of these clouds but that's still not enough." She glance as she saw a machinery with a large gallon of water pumping through. "Slam dunk!" she zipped to the machinery "With no water, they can't make clouds or snow!" "They can't make winter!" Rainbow said as Tank continue to hover while sleeping with the magnifying glass dragging him. "I hate to do this to the weather ponies....." she spin the container vale "....but desperate times comes for desperate measure!" She pulled the pump out of the container as water begin draining out. Then Rainbow kick the other pipe away "Oopise! Looks like they're little loose!" Suddenly, she saw the pipes being lifted in an light green aura and slammed them back in while the vale being twisted. "What the-?!" She glance at the direction as Cosmo's horn was the same color as his mane. "Sorry Rainbow, but winter stay here!" "Cosmo?!" Rainbow flabbergasted then got nervous "Uh, what are you doing here?" "Well let's see, helping ponies fixing the problem and founding out that the factory is about to sabotage by rainbow mane pegasus who doesn't want to let winter happened." he replied with sarcastic tone then glare at her. "Ohhh!!!" Rainbow zipped back to the first vale frustrated "Whatever, you're not stopping me from preventing winter from coming!!!" She twist the vale only for Cosmo's magic stop her as she grunted trying to break free. "Rainbow, you had to stop! You need to accept it that Tank is hibernating!" "Stop saying that word!!!" Rainbow shouted as she broke free she charges at him only for him to dodge quickly. "Rainbow, everypony is working hard to bring winter here while you messing it up! I know that you don't want Tank to hibernated but-" "SHUT UP!!!!" she roared as she charges at him with full force as he cast a shield as Rainbow crashed on to it. "Rainbow stop it!! Think how Tank is feeling! You won't let him hibernating-" "RAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" she pound on the shield as Cosmo hold on to it while seeing Rainbow furious but also as the same time.......tears coming from her eyes. "Just shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!......." Rainbow's shouts begin to muffle and she land on the cloud looking down gritted her teeth as Cosmo lower his shield. "shut up...shut up....shut up.......you annoying egghead......" "Rainbow, please I know that you don't want to lose him, but he'll always be with you until a few months." Cosmo trying to console her. "I know its hard but its part of nature. Thinking about Tank. He wants to hibernate because he has to. It's part of life." Rainbow looking up to Cosmo as she was about to saying something, a clank was heard as both turned and saw Tank accidentally activate a lever to the fan and being sucked in. Panicking, Rainbow zoomed in and grabbed him while trying to push out of the gale force as she did, a leash was stuck on it. Then as Rainbow speeding through, she crash into a powder of snow as Cosmo rushed to her side. "Rainbow are you okay?!" he wiped the snow off of her as she focus on Tank opens a door as a huge gale of wind burst through with Tank being blown away hitting her as both ponies were caught by the powerful wind and blown through another room. Cosmo groaned as he widened his eyes at this place : each and every container is filled with lighting bolts. Rainbow adopted it too as both saw one container tipped over on the edge. "Oh buck....." he cursed himself. At the jar cracked, lighting crashing around the room as both Cosmo and Rainbow were thrown by the explosion as he landed on the floor but Rainbow landed on a control panel as static shocks begin activating the machinery. Both ponies looked worried as smokes and explosion happened on the factory along with water flooding the factory. "Let's get out of here!" Rainbow shouted as Cosmo dashed to the entrance with Rainbow following him behind until a fan malfunction and sucking everything including Rainbow and Tank along with clouds too as Cosmo glance behind and saw Rainbow trapped in there. "Rainbow!" he shouted as he quickly dashed back to save her. Without anypony heading back in nor coming, he slammed his AGE device onto his chest. At Cosmo's house, Haro's eyes lighted up and begin speaking "Activate AGE Armors! Activate AGE Armors!" As on cue, a bay door was open behind his house as the armors shot up from the catapult and flying towards the sky to Cloudsdale. Most of the ponies seeing the armors flying to the weather factory. Applejack saw the weather factory and pointed "What in name of Celestia's is going on?" "Prepare yourself, everypony. Winter is coming!" Twilight said. The armors passed through every pegasus, panicking while running away, some are persist on the wind. Inside of the factory, Cosmo grunted as the armors crashing in and attached to him, forming the Gundam AGE 4 Normal. He then dash through the wind as he struggle to push through as he begin to be blown away. "No just got to get through!" he grunted as his thrusters push him further as he reached to the vale that controls the machinery as two ponies struggle to control it. He landed on the middle surprising them as he store his weapons and begin twisting the vale but stuck on tightly. With a grunted he twist the vale as the machinery's meter going to red as snow was shot out of the factory as all of the ponies running away. Rainbow screamed while inside the snow with Tank as the snow hit, it sends all snows around the area covering in the process. All of the ponies pop out of the snow including Twilight and her friends as Rainbow groaned while laying on the back and sit up only to realize that someone else is missing. She search through the snow as she found Tank inside of it. "You okay, Tank?" she asked only for a yawn from the tortoise. She look down sadden at this. No matter how she tried to stop it, winter always one step closer and Tank's hibernation is closer. Then Cosmo's words begin to ringing on her mind. "You're problem is that you can't accept Tank going into hibernation!" "Rainbow are you all right?" Twilight asked as Rainbow laid down on the snow. "No." The others look worried as in the weather factory, Cosmo glance down at the scene. (music stop) At Rainbow's room, Rainbow is sulking on her bed with her pajamas as Tank yawing again, feeling depressed as she laid her hoof on his shell. Then a door was open as Fluttershy peeking in as she open it, her friends came too as Pinkie came through her wall. "Knock! Knock!" Pinkie said. "How are you feeling Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked. "Whatever....." Rainbow said still sulking on her bed. Both Twilight and Cosmo looked at each other feeling concern for her as Rarity asked "The poor thing looks so sad! Just what we doing to do?" "I don't know what we can do." Twilight said as Cosmo glance at Rainbow feeling sad for her. "Buck up, sugarcube. You just ain't yourself these days." Applejack tried to console her but she remained the same. "Whatever...." The others looked at Rarity, hoping that she knows what to do. "Uh, how can I say this tactfully.....?" Rarity said "You've lost your sparkle, Rainbow Dash." Nothing. Pinkie then decide to try next "I hate to say this, but" she plugged her muzzle "well...... you become a party pooper!" "Didn't you hear me? " Rainbow said "I said 'whatever'." "I don't know if you're here to cheer me up or what" she laid back on her bed "but I'm fine." "Rainbow..." Cosmo was about to walk towards her until Fluttershy stopped him. "Cosmo, let me handle this." he nodded as Fluttershy begin to speak to her. "Rainbow Dash, your winter is going to be...pet-less." That made her looked surprised as she got up and looking at her as tears begin watered on her eyes as she starting crying while hugging Tank. "Fluttershy, what did you do that for?!" Cosmo asked. "Because she'll never get past this until she lets it out." Fluttershy said as Cosmo realize what she meant. "You mean she was...." Fluttershy nodded at him as Rainbow continue crying hysterically still holding Tank. Twilight looking at Applejack as she pushed her forward with magic and urging her to say something as the farm apple pony came to the broken heart pegasus. "Uh....it's okay. Tank'll come back in a few months." Applejack tried to consoling her but that only make it worst. "Months?!" Rainbow cried even harder as she hugging him "I don't want him to go!" The others look worried as Applejack petting Tank's shell "Alright, alright. There, there." She narrow her eyes whispered to Fluttershy "Nice going, Fluttershy. How did we get her to stop?" "She's got to be about done by now. Can't be too much for left in her." As Rainbow continue crying , she stopped as she wiped her tears, sniffing. Fluttershy sat next to her "Feeling better?" "Uh-huh." Then another crying from her as Fluttershy felt sorry for her. "Oh, your poor, poor thing." Fluttershy tearing up as she hug her alongside her as Rarity is also tearing up too. "I can't bear to see Fluttershy crying." Even Pinkie is tearing up too "It's heart-wrenching." Both ponies came to them and crying along side with Rainbow. Cosmo and Twilight glance at Applejack tip her hat "You too?" "Nope, I'm good." Both ponies came to their crying friends with Twilight speaking "Look, everypony, I know how hard it is saying goodbye-" "I'm mostly sad because you two aren't sad!" Pinkie said as she holds them sorrowfully closer to each other. "What? Us?! What about Applejack?" Cosmo asked. "Applejack cries on the inside, Twilight and Cosmo!" Both ponies looked at Applejack who said in stotic tone. "It's true." After that, the ponies look at Rainbow Dash, finally calming down "It's alright, Fluttershy. It's alright." All of them back away from Rainbow as Applejack asked "You think she's done or getting the third wind?" "I don't know....." Twilight turned to Rainbow "Are you okay, Rainbow?" "I think so." Rainbow got out of her bed while drying her eyes. "I feel better. Really, I do." "Thanks, everypony. I don't know what to do without you." Rainbow said "And Cosmo?" "Yes?" Without a warning, she gave him a deep hug in a deep affection. "Thanks for helping me. You're pretty an awesome friend." Blushing red on his cheek, his hooves were hovering until he wrapped around her and hug her. The girls giggled at this with Twilight twitched her right eye at the scene. "Oh, somepony is jealous..." Applejack teased her. "What?!" Twilight said blushing mad "What are you talking about?!" "You like him don't you, Twilight?" Rarity teased her. Twilight begin to stutter while blushing furiously "No! No I don't!" she turned away from them as the two giggled at their friend's denial of having a crush on him. After a few minute, Rainbow release her hug as she turned to Tank sadly who gave her a smile. "Oh Tank, I'm sure gonna miss you." said Rainbow as both her and Tank rested their heads with Rainbow silently crying. Winter came as everypony enjoying around the snowy hill and frozen lake. Some are sliding down the hill on their sleds, others are playing ice hockey or skating, and some are even playing snowball fight. Cosmo, in his winter attire, walking towards Twilight and her friends (except for Rainbow) with their winter attire, playing snowballs. "Well, looks like winter came. We did a good job there." Cosmo said as the girls nodded. "Well, guess we better start winter with a bang." she kicked up a snowball from her hind leg "The fun comes early! Yee-haw!" She kicked it at Pinkie Pie who ducked under and fall down on the snow, making snow angel "You think we can mess up winter every day? It's less work!" "I don't if Rainbow would want that. She'll go crazy if that happen." Cosmo said as Twilight nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don't think she'll handle it." Twilight said. Then a hoof step was heard as Cosmo and his friends turned and saw Rainbow coming with her winter attire, carrying Tank on her saddlebag "Riding the entire season from Cloudsdale to Ponyville was pretty awesome." Tank yawn as Rainbow knew that this is it "I thought you guys might like to say goodbye to Tank. He's ready to hibernate." "Ooh, you're using the word!" Pinkie said. "Oh, she's using the word!" "And when Tank finishes hibernating, I'm gonna throw him the biggest welcome home party ever!" said Pinkie with her usually bubbly enthusiastic. "Or wait. Should it be a 'welcome above ground' party? Or a 'happy wake-up' party? Maybe an 'it's about time' party." Rarity came to Rainbow's side "And I'll design him a very special suit just in case of occasion whichever one ever ends up being." "I'm glad that you're feelin' a little better, Rainbow Dash." Applejack said. "The same thing, Rainbow." Cosmo said "I'm glad you're feeling little better." "Yeah, me too." she said as she moving towards a tree and digging in the snow. Tank begin approaching his hibernation spot and digging the dirt while Cosmo and his friends looking at him until he settle on the dirt. "So you really want to do this hibernating thing, huh?" Rainbow asked as Tank nodded. This is it then. Tank is going to hibernating as each of Rainbow's friends saying goodbye to him, "Goodbye, Tank." "Happy Winter." "See you later, little feller." "Have a good sleep, Tank." "Bye, Tank." "Goodbye, Tank! We'll miss you!" Then he covering himself in snow as Rainbow watches him while begin to tearing up as Twilight and Cosmo put their hooves on her shoulder as the snow covers his hibernation spot. "Don't worry, Rainbow." Cosmo said "Tank will always thinking of you in his hibernation because your his greatest treasure." Rainbow smiled at him for his attempt to console him "Thanks Cosmo." He nodded as Twilight asked her " Well? Ready for some winter fun?" Rainbow coming towards his hibernation spot and sat down "Uh, I'm gonna hang here and read to him a bit." she pulled a book from her saddlebag "That little guy can never get to sleep without a bedtime story. I'll be right there." Both ponies nodded as they trotting away to begin their snow day but not when Cosmo is occupied on one thought. 'I wonder if I can let go of it once my oath is complete like Rainbow did?' Ending : > Episode 7 - Guardian Angel > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Friendship Train, set 2 weeks on Appleloosa's Most Wanted) The train begin moving towards Appleloosa as it stops at the train stop, all of the ponies coming out of it as Cosmo came out too. His mind begin to recalled last three month; after Rainbow Dash accept her pet tortoise, Tank, to hibernate, she felt like herself a bit. Still little sad that Tank isn't here with her, she often tried to visit his hibernate spot and read a book to him or often hang out with her friends including himself. After that, his Saurian Armors is repaired and switched to his Gundam Armor. But there's one thing that bother him the most : he wonder if he can let go of his past once his oath is complete. Throughout his life, he devoted his life to become the savior after the loss of his parents by the Changelings and ever since he learned of his ancestors' greatest treasure and his destiny is, he's been hiding secrets from his friends but noticeably only Auntie Luna and Auntie Celestia knows this as well as the CMC. He never like involving them into his war but mostly fate often changes even if you tried to be careful with it. Decide to shake those worried thoughts, he glance around at the western town : each of the buildings is decorated for a festival given the fact he saw tents with foods and games. On the right, he saw more of them and a stadium with ponies participating events. "I can't believe I'm here." Cosmo said as he begin walking towards the festival as a memory flashback to his happy moments. Flashback "Mom? Papa?" Cosmo asked while looking at the window curiously. "Where are we going?" "To a place called Appleloosa. My ancestor used to live in this place before he moved to Ponyville." Nebula said rubbing his son's back as the train stops on the train stop. "What's Appleoosa?" Cosmo asked, getting out the train with his parents. "It's a town that was built less than a year by our ancestor who also govern this place as a sheriff, Stardust Bringer. Like you, he came to this town when he traveled the world to find a place called home until he stumble upon this land and meeting with the tribal creatures, the Buffalo, who at were hostile at ponies at first." "Why would the buffalo be hostile to ponies?" Cosmo asked. "It's because of their history that ponies settlers came here before us. Anyway, the Buffalo were hostile at him, but he remained friendly as he built a home here and learning of their cultures. Over time, the buffalo's chief tribe befriended him as he decided to create a museum to share their cultural habits." "Wow...." Cosmo widened his eyes in amazement. "After that, many ponies settlers came too and build a town as Stardust become a sheriff. Since then, while not working, he also helping ponies like we did as well as being one of the best rodeo pony planner which it got famous for everypony in Equestria. So this is the 35th anniversary of Appleloosa's rodeo created by our ancestor." End Flashback "Man, it's been a long time seeing this place." Cosmo looking around at the food tent. "I'm glad that I got to finished my lessons with Twilight and on the perfect time to go." As he walks around while having some candy apples, he saw three familiar fillies walking around the festival then make a stop at a store. "Is that-?" Cosmo decide to walk towards them as unknown to him, a shadow was casting on the left as it left, a large hoofprint was left there. Opening : At the festival, the CMC begin walking around the festival seeing the food and games as they enter a store, Scootaloo buying a cactus hat design as Applebloom also bought a flag shaped band on her head as Sweetie Belle also bought some candy apple. "Applebloom, don't you think that this varmint that the sheriff is talking is dangerous?" Sweetie Belle asked worriedly. "Oh, c'mon Sweetie Belle, this is going to be the most excited rodeo ever." Applebloom said. "Yeah, beside, we're here in this cutie mark gold mine and a low down varmint is going to make it much interesting." Scootaloo added. "Still, don't you think we should head back to Braebun before Applejack realize that we're gone?" Sweetie Belle asked. "No risk, no reward." Applebloom said as Scootaloo nodded. "I guess so...." Sweetie Belle said still unsure. "I having a feeling that I meet you girls again." a voice was heard as the CMC turned and saw their big brother of the CMC. "Cosmo!" all of them said in unison as they gave him a big hug which Cosmo returned it. "Hey girls. I didn't know you three are going to be here." Cosmo said. "Well, Applejack is competing in the Appleloosa's rodeo for m'ah cousin, Braebun." Applebloom explained. "Really? Well, I can't wait to see her compete there." Cosmo smiled at them as they begin walking around the rodeo. "So Cosmo? Why are you here in Appleloosa?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Well, I came here to see the rodeo. My parents used to take me there when I was your age." Cosmo said. "This is the 35th anniversary of the Appleloosa's rodeo since it was formed." "What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked. "Do you know a sheriff by the name of Stardust?" the CMC nodded as Cosmo begin explaining more details of him being the Bringer's ancestor. "Oh wow!" Applebloom exclaimed "I didn't know that Sheirff Stardust was your ancestor!" "I thought of that too, but my parents told me about it when I come here to this town. My mom and papa worked hard to find all of the records of the Bringers in Equestria before they moved to Canterlot." "So what happened to the records?" Sweeite Belle asked. "Well, they gave all of them to Mayor Mare for safekeeping in the Town Hall." Cosmo said as they return to the rodeo as he saw Applejack talking to a stallion possibly his age with a cowboy hat and a brown leather sleeves coat as his left hooves is in a cast. Applejack was speaking to him in a disappointment tone "You said that you're going to keep your eyes on those fillies! How am I going to focus practicing if you're not-" "There they are!" Braebun said then a surprise to him a stallion was behind them "Right where I left them.....with a stallion..." "Cosmo?" Applejack turned to him "What are you doing here? "Good to see you again Applejack." Cosmo said "I came here to watched the rodeo since this was the 35th anniversary." "35th anniversary?" Applejack cocked her eyebrows "Of what?" "Of this place settled since Sheriff Stardust first came to this place and the rodeo." Cosmo replied. "Sheriff Stardust?" Applejack asked "Sheriff Stardust is the first pony to settle here become the founder of Applelsoosa as well as the rodeo too, Applejack." Braebun explained which she nodded. "By the way, cousin, who's this pony? Your coltfriend?" Braebun asked which both blushed intensely at that word 'coltfriend'. "Braebun!!!" Applejack exclaimed "You know I don't have time to go looking for stallions!" Cosmo scratching his mane embarrassed while his cheek is bright red then regain his sense "Sorry, but Applejack is my friend only. Nothing more." "Well shoot." Braebun said in a disappointment tone. "Anyway, Braebun, this is Cosmo Bringer and-" Applejack's sentence was interrupted when her cousin got into his face. "Cosmo Bringer?! As in The Last Lineage of the Bringer family?!" Cosmo nodded as Braebun cheered excitement. "I can't believe it! A Bringer family pony! I heard so much about you since I was a little colt!" Braebun got into his face again as Cosmo laughed nervously. It's there one thing, its that the same reason that he doesn't want anypony to know of his lineage of his decease family. It just make him uncomfortable around other ponies ganging up on him like he's a movie star. "I'm.....honored....." he said with uncertain in his tone as Applejack got in both of them and separated them. "Now come on, Braebun, don't make this feller feel uncomfortable." Applejack said as her cousin nodded sheepishly. "So what do you know about Sheriff Stardust, Cosmo?" the farm pony asked as Cosmo explained to them which both of them were surprised at it. "Well, dang! I didn't know that he's your ancestor!" Barebun said. "We only know through the records in the town hall with only few pages were torn." "Well, I guess that Sheriff Stardust decide to keep our lineage a secret until my family able to uncover them. Though I don't know why do that?" The Apple ponies nodded as Applejack turned to the CMC. "Y'all can't go runnin' off like that, y'hear? Backstage at a rodeo ain't no kind of playground!" Applejack scold them. "Sorry, Applejack. We won't wander off again." said Applebloom. "Applejack, if I may, I found the CMC when I got here and I'd been looking after them so at least you know that I was keeping an eye on them." Cosmo interjected as Applejack narrow her eyes at him then sighed. "Well, you did look after them and I'm grateful for that, Cosmo." Applejack said. He nodded as Applebloom asked her "Speakin' of the rodeo.....what would you say about me and the Crusaders maybe competin' in one teensy-weensy little event or three?" Before Cosmo could interject them out of concern, Braebun pointed and exclaimed "Look out!" All turned as a hay bale stack starting to teetering then begin to topple at the CMC as Cosmo pushed them out of the way as the hay bale stacks raining down on the rodeo. "Are you girls all right?" Cosmo asked as the CMC nodded. He turned to the hay bale as it broke the gates along with the stands too. Braebun came to them "Are you guys all right?" They all nodded as they hug Cosmo while he smile at them while rubbing their manes. Applejack sighed a bit, knowing that Big Mac won't like it if Applebloom was hanging out with Cosmo ever since that they made him a big brother of the CMC. "What they hay just happen?" Applejack asked as they heard another voice on the left. "Sugar and Salt licks! Well, I'll be....." Sheriff Silverstar looking at something at the ground with a serious tone. "What is it, Sheriff?" Applejack came to his side and looking at the dirt and see a large hoofprint by the hay bale. "Is it him?" Braebun asking him. "Ain't no doubt it. It's Trouble Shoes." Sheriff Sliverstar said with a deadly tone. Then a music was heard as the ponies turned to a rodeo clown pony playing a harmonica then backing away. "Who's Trouble Shoes?" Cosmo asked as the CMC looking confused as well. Ponies were congregate at the sheriff's office each of exclaimed of the event that happened as Cosmo can see that everypony wonder if this 'Trouble Shoes' is here in the rodeo. Whoever this Trouble Shoes is, he must done something that ruin the event. Shortly before Cosmo and his friends came to the office, Braebun explained to him about Trouble Shoes and how this outlaw ruin every Appleloosa's Rodeo event. Cosmo wonder why would Trouble Shoes would just come here to the event and ruin it as Braebun said that he doesn't have a clue only that because of him, most of the events were either sabotaged or shut down. As ponies continue to shouted, Sheriff Silverstar came out and addressed the crowd. "All right now, I called this meetin', not a mob scene." Cosmo then glance at some ponies holding a pitchfork and a torch as both threw or settle them away as the Sheriff continued "Now as many as you know, the Equestria rodeo has been plagued by the dirty dealin' of a notorious outlaw." One townpony shouted "He knocked barrels every which way at the Hoof City rodeo! Nearly crushed my Aunt Bae Mare!" Another interjected "That's nothin! He sabotaged the steer pen at Pinato Creek rodeo, settin' off such a stampede they cancelled the whole dadgum thing!" One by one, all of the townponies were shouting in anger as Cosmo was surprise to hear all of the bad stuff that Trouble Shoes did on other rodeos. "Now, now, its true we had an incident this mornin' at our own Appleoosa rodeo. Hay bale stack came down right near on top of those three little fillies! I examined them hoof-prints myself and....uh, it was Trouble Shoes, all right." All of the ponies gasped in shocked as each of them being relentless at this news. "I reckon I oughta cancel this rodeo like the others done......" All of the townponies shouted, feeling relentless until one actually shouted to the sheriff "We can just call the Gundam and handle Trouble Shoes!" At that sentence, Cosmo widened his eyes in shocked along with the CMC too at this as more townsponies agreeing with that. The rest of Appleloosa ponies want him as the Gundam to fight against Trouble Shoes?! That's nuts! The Gundam is meant to defend and protect Equestria as the savior, not catch some outlaw that's causing trouble on the events! "Now, now, we know that this 'Gundam' feller saved Princess Twilight and her friends not to mention fighting against the Changelings a few months ago but you're right, this is gone far enough! We'll double the patrol and at the same time do everything to call the Gundam to hunt Trouble Shoes and bring him to justice! This rodeo will go on! Appleloosa ain't going to be intimated as long as the Gundam will come to our call!" All of the ponies cheered as they following Sheriff Silverstar to start on contacting the Gundam. After they leave, Cosmo rubbing his head in annoyance. This is not good. Every townponies are expecting for me as the Gundam to come and hunt down a outlaw?! That's not what my Gundam is about! "Cosmo, are you all right?" Sweetie Belle asked him as he nodded a bit. "Yeah I'll be fine." "Glad that's settled." Applebloom said and she turned to her big sister "So, uh, Applejack, about me and my pals competin' in the rodeo....." Applejack turned to them as the answer she got, the CMC wouldn't like it. "Don't send us home! It's not fair!" Applebloom pleading her as Cosmo and his friends were inside at Braebun's house. Applejack place her saddle bags on her back "Now quit bellyachin'. I can't have y'all around here with some outlaw on the loose." Then lower her head "Aw, maybe I oughta call it quits and go home too." "But we got Big Brother Cosmo to watch us!" Applebloom point to him. "He won't let us out of our sight!" The Crusaders nodded in agreement as Applejack sighed while rubbing her head. It's bad enough that a outlaw is on the loose in Appleloosa but the CMC are being stubborn and making a point that Cosmo will watch them is even worst. She doesn't even know how the CMC met Cosmo only that they just bumped into each other and because of him, the CMC made him a Big Brother of their club but she knows that there's something more to it and Cosmo won't even spill the bean of truth from his mouth even he tried to just like he won't spill any truth of him and the connection to the Gundam. She needs to find the truth from him. For how long he kept his secret, this is gone far enough. "Look, I understand Cosmo is here, but I think that your 'brother' had something that I need to know." Applejack narrow her eyes at him which he remained calm. "With all due respect, I can watch the CMC-" Cosmo tried to interjected but Applejack came to his face. "I. Need. You." Applejack growled with each sentence as he backed away from her into the wall. "No! We need Cosmo!" Scootaloo trying to interjected as the CMC got in both of them and defended him. "Applejack, don't force him to spill it!" Applebloom glare at her. Before things can escalate, Braebun whistle them, getting their attention. "Now, c'mon, y'all! Don't get into each other's skin!" "Applejack, you can't quit the rodeo nor spill whatever Cosmo is hiding from you. This rodeo is important to Appleloosa! And with you in there, you got a shot at winnin'!" He then pushed both her and Cosmo out the door "Come on, now, you head back to practice along with your coltfriend-" "Braebun!" Applejack blushing red exclaimed while the CMC giggled. "I mean, your 'friend' and don't worry none about these three. I won't let 'em outta my sight." Before Applejack can speak, he close the door and lock it along with bringing a chair on the front and sat on it. "Ya hear? Y'all ain't leavin' my sight!" The CMC look at each other and worried that without them, Applejack might trying to get him to spill his secret. At the door, Cosmo and Applejack walking towards the rodeo as other group of ponies were waiting for her. Cosmo walk towards a bench and sat down on it. Aw man, this isn't my day..........he lower his head and sighed. First an outlaw is on the loose and all of the townsponies are working hard to signal me as the Gundam to hunt him. He look around the town as seeing many ponies discussing of how to contact the Gundam. Some using a light signal while others using a whistle, using magic to contact it, and so forth. "Cosmo......" Applejack called him as he turned to her with a hint of worried and guilt. "Listen, the reason I need to know what you're hiding from me and m'ah friends is-" "I don't want to hear your reason, Applejack." Cosmo interrupted her as he about to walk away. "I don't know why you're so keen on knowing my secret even though I tried telling you what my father taught me, but I don't know if I can trust you since that you keep pressure me. No matter what you tried to do, I won't tell you." "Please just listen to me-" Applejack tried to reason to him only for him to head to the barn. Cosmo.....I know what's like to harbor secrets from everypony that I care............Applejack thought as she continue practicing with her relatives. At the barn, Cosmo sat down near to the stacks of hay as he glance at his AGE Device and place it on his heart. Mom.......Papa........Applejack became relentless of my........no, our secret..........I tried to.........prevent her from knowing it...........but she won't stop............I already involved Auntie Luna........Auntie Celestia........and the Cutie Mark Crusaders...........I don't want to involved more.........of my friends..........into this........including.......Twilight Sparkle........otherwise......... At the woods, the CMC wander at the woods until they spot another giant hoof-print. Shortly after Applejack left with Cosmo, Braebun kept his eyes on them for the rest of the afternoon until when night came, he fell asleep. Applebloom open a window as they sneak out of the house and into the woods in one thing in mind : to find Trouble Shoes. Although, Sweetie Belle got the idea of getting Cosmo away from Applejack before she can pressure him in revealing his secret, Applebloom and Scootaloo didn't listen. "It's another giant hoof-print!" Applebloom said. "Do either of you have any idea where we are?" Sweetie Belle asked. Before they can answer, lighting cracking the clouds, frightened them. Then, drips of rain poured on as their coats and mane begin to wet. "Uh, maybe we should head back and try again later." Scootaloo said, feeling scared. "C'mon, before we loose the trail!" Applebloom said as she make a quick dash with Scootaloo shrugged and follow her and Sweetie Belle got frighten by the thunder with the rain begin filled the giant hoof prints. As they continue wander at the forest, Sweetie Belle said "Come on, we've gone far enough! It's time to go back!" Scootaloo agreeing with her "The rain is getting worse, Applebloom! Let's come back tomorrow." Applebloom sighed then turned to them "Maybe y'all right." she walk towards them "So how do we go back?" The two widened their eyes as Sweetie Belle exclaimed "You mean you don't know?!" Another lighting strike scare the CMC as they trembling in fear. At the barn, everypony quickly finish practicing headed in quickly drying themselves from the rain as Cosmo gave some towels to them as all of them wiping themselves as Applejack enter in. "Here." Cosmo handle a towel to her as she using it wiping herself. "Thanks Cosmo." Applejack said as he nodded. Applejack turned to the relatives "Whew! Good job, y'all. I know they need lots of mud for the rodeo tomorrow, but I wish they would've warned us about this rainstorm." "You said it." Cosmo agreeing with her. Then a hoofstep was heard as both turned and saw Braebun entering. "Braebun?" Applejack asked then notice that someponies were missing "Where are the girls?" Only Braebun shown a nervous laugh along with a grin which means..... "Don't tell me......" Cosmo doesn't want to know but as Braebun said to them, a loud yell from the cowgirl echoed from the barn. "WHAT?!" "Ha!" Sheriff Silverstar place his winning hand on the table "Fish my win!" The other deputies groaned in frustration as Sheriff Silverstar won another game of cards. Then galloping was heard as he turned and saw Applejack, Braebun, and Cosmo rushing in, dripping wet. "Sheriff Silverstar! You gotta help! My sisters gone! And her friends too!" Applejack said. "Cosmo and I searched everywhere. but no sign of em' everywhere!" Braebun added as Cosmo nodded. "It must've been Trouble Shoes!" Applejack said. "Now, now, hold on you four." Sheriff Silverstar calms them down "Trouble Shoes done a lot of things in his day but nothin' like that! In the meanwhile, we got to wait for the Gundam to come out and help us." "Do you really want to wait on that, Sheriff?" Cosmo asked. After in deep thought, Sheriff Silverstar beckons them "Come on, y'all! Let's ride!" All of them galloping into the night as Applejack, Braebun, and Cosmo followed them until his AGE Device glows faintly as he stopped and point his device to the woods. Determined, he gallop into the woods to find them. "We better hurry! Who knows what Trouble Shoes might done to them!" Applejack worried. "Don't worry, we'll find them, Applejack, right Cosmo?" As he turned back, he saw Cosmo missing as Applejack stopped too. "Cosmo?" Braebun called him but no luck as Applejack groaned in frustration. "That pony's sure stubborn as a mule!" Okay, AGE Device, I don't know what you're pointing me, but it's to find the Crusaders, lead the way! he thought as he continue sprinting at the woods, the AGE Device glows brightly on the left as he turn on that direction, he kept galloping until he spotted three fillies. "Girls!" Cosmo called them as the CMC turned and saw him running towards them. "Cosmo!" Just then, piece of the hill break down as the Crusaders fall down. "No!" Cosmo screamed as he dash quickly and jump down and caught them on his arms as all four of them were carried by the mudslide as Cosmo grip them tightly as the mudslide taken them downstream as Cosmo laid on his back along with the CMC were laid on his chest. "Ugggh......" Cosmo groaned, feeling soaked along with the CMC too. "Are you girls all right?" Applebloom nodded "Yeah, we're fine. Thanks, Cosmo." He nodded as once the fillies got out of him, he got up "We better find a place to get out of the rain." Scootaloo looked around and point "Look!" The others look at where she pointed as a abandoned mobile cabin was seen. "Looks abandoned. Let's go see if we can find some blankets around here." said Applebloom as all of them enter into the abandoned mobile cabin as a lighting frighten the CMC as Cosmo hold them as he close the door. "Girls, what happen? Did Trouble Shoes abducted you?" Cosmo asked as the CMC looked nervously as they explained to him what happen. Once they finished their explanation, Cosmo shot a disappointed look like Applejack. "So you just sneak into the house just to find Trouble Shoes and bring him to justice?! That's dangerous!" "I'm sorry, but we just hoping that we can at least get a cutie mark of it." Applebloom said. Cosmo sighed "Girls, I understand of finding your talent but doing something that risking your life is not the way to do it." "Don't you know how worried that me, Applejack, and Braebun are?" The CMC looked at each other, knowing that their big brother is right. "And another thing, if the Changelings ever find you three, then who knows what would happen. You girls are my responsibility too ever since you discovered my secret. I just don't want anything happen to you three...." Cosmo turned and close his eyes, trying to fight his tears. The CMC then gave him a hug and begin to spilled their tears. After that, he gave them a hug to them. "I'm sorry, Cosmo for making you and m'ah family worried." Applebloom said. "Yeah, we won't ever do that again." Scootaloo added. "We Pinkie Promise." The CMC recite the Pinkie Promise as Cosmo nodded. "Thanks, girls." Cosmo said "When we head home once the storm is out, I think you should at least tell Applejack what happened." The CMC groaned a bit at this. They're certain that when they told Applejack, they'll be a lot of trouble. Just then, a noise of wet hoof steps was heard as the CMC backed away from the front door as Cosmo took a defensive stand to protect them. As the steps were closer, Cosmo readied himself as the door open, revealing a shadowed stallion. The CMC screamed as Cosmo, in his battle cry, lunged at the assailant as the shadowed stallion as he punch and kick him only for the shadowed stallion to bump his head and throw Cosmo off of him. As Cosmo was about to fight back, he saw the shadowed stallion stumble, then got tangled in the curtains, stumble backwards, sat on the cactus, made a dent in the roof, and got hit in the pots and the lantern which knocked him out. "Whoa, what did you do, Cosmo?" Scootaloo asked. "Protecting you three." Cosmo replied "Though I guess I overdone this time." The CMC and Cosmo looked down at the stallion as he revealed to be a earth pony, being older than him, with a dark brown mane, brown coat, wearing a cowboy hat that's too small for him, and a cutie mark of a upside down horse shoe. He opened his eyes, though his vision is blurry as Applebloom asked. "Hello? You alright?" The stallion replied with down tone "Surely." "We didn't mean no harm. We just came to get out of the rain." Applebloom said. "Also sorry for attacking you. I just trying to protect my sisters." Cosmo apologize though the CMC were surprised of Cosmo calling them 'sisters'. "Had some hot cider a-cookin' in the kitchen. Doubt it survived." The stallion glance at the mess he did on the cabin and continue sulking. "I ain't gonna rise to greet y'all. Awfully rude, I reckon, but as you can see, I'm fresh casualty of an unusually unfortunate circumstance. My whole life, I suppose." Cosmo think about what he said as well as connecting the incidents that happened in the other rodeo, then asking him "So are you, Trouble Shoes?" "That's me." the stallion replied. Applebloom thought then move to Trouble Shoes only for Scootaloo to stopped her " W-what are you doing?" "I'm gonna unwrap him." Applebloom said. "You can't do that! That's Trouble Shoes!" Sweetie Belle said. "Aw he don't seem that bad." Applebloom reassure them then turned to her brother "Cosmo?" After a few thought, he nodded "Well, I'm little skeptical about Trouble Shoes being an outlaw and for whatever reason he did on the previous rodeo so, I don't think he's that bad." Applebloom nodded and unwrapped Trouble Shoes of the curtain sheds. "Of course, guests would arrive while I ain't got no pie to offer." Trouble Shoes said "Scores more misfortune points for old Trouble Shoes." he didn't see when he stepped on a banana peel and slipping "Wh-whooaaaa!" *Crash!* He crash into the book shelf as three bowling balls falling down on him as Cosmo winced his eyes at this when he saw a big rump on his head. "You okay?" Cosmo asked. "Typical. Bad luck never rests." Trouble Shoes groaned. "You sure that's bad luck? Seems like maybe you're just a little......" Applebloom tried to find the right word. "Klutzy?" Sweetie Belle said. "Accidental?" Cosmo said. "Tell that to the flank!" Trouble Shoes show his cutie mark "Upside-down horseshoe - bad luck. Follows me wherever I go like a sour on old milk. Y'all best vamoose before my bad luck rubs off and stick to y'all. Get along! Skedaddle! " he point the door as another lighting flash "Am-scray!" "Um, we don't know the way back to Appleloosa....." Scootaloo said then a thought occurred from the CMC's mind. "Cosmo, how did you able to find us?" Sweetie Belle asked. "My necklace sense where you girls are so I follow it in similar way to a compass." Cosmo replied. "So you know where to head back to Appleloosa?" Scootaloo asked as Cosmo shook his head. "Unfortunately, because we got slipped into the mudslide, I'm pretty lost too." Cosmo replied as the CMC groaned. "But o' course, I do. Wouldn't know it? My lucky day." Trouble Shoes said as the CMC and Cosmo follow Trouble Shoes to way back to Appleloosa. As the rain end, the CMC and Cosmo continue following Trouble Shoes to Appleloosa. Cosmo begin wonder about him. Those stories from Sheriff Silverstar that he did on the other rodeo weren't on purpose, just bad luck. But how did Trouble Shoes got that 'bad luck' cutie mark? "It's actually kind of sweet of him to help us like this." Sweetie Belle said. "I know!" Scootaloo agreeing with her "What do we do if he takes us back to Appleloosa and the sheriff arrest him? If I get a cutie mark for that, I'll feel guilty every time I see it." Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo feeling guilty if that happens. "But I just don't get how did Trouble Shoes got that cutie mark in the first place?" Cosmo wonder. "There's had to be something more to it than just 'bad luck'. Applebloom thinking then walking next Trouble Shoes "Say there, Trouble Shoes, you might not take us all the way back to Appleloosa. The sheriff sort of has it in his mind that you're a no-good outlaw lookin' to shut down the rodeo." "My kind of luck he'd think that." Trouble Shoes replied. Cosmo decide to ask him as he walk next to him "Trouble Shoes, why do you want to shut down the rodeo?" Trouble Shoes sighed "I never want to shut down the rodeo, but with my bad luck, it always happen." "But if that the case, how did you got that cutie mark?" Cosmo asked as the CMC wonder about that too. "For the story that the sheriff told us, I believe there's something more to that." Trouble Shoes sighed "Just my luck. I was hopin' you'd say no." Trouble Shoes' Flashback "When I was a colt, I wanted to be a rodeo star somethin' fierce, but I just didn't have the knack for it." A younger Trouble Shoes was watching the rodeo as he tried to do the events but so far, all of them he did, failed. "And finally, I wrangled up the guts to audition for rodeo school. Right in the middle of that tryout, I knew I was doin' I was meant to. And wouldn't know? In the flash comes this cutie mark." Trouble Shoes tries for a rodeo school as a cutie mark appeared as distract of his new cutie mark, he lassoed a barrel and pulled towards him. The judges were surprised but laughing at him as Trouble Shoes, stuck in the barrel, feel ashamed and walked away. "I can still remember them judges a-laughin'. Didn't even finished my routine 'cause right then I knew bad luck was my fate. That fire for rodeo never did leave me, though." Through out his life, Trouble Shoes was watching the rodeo from behind the stack of barrels "Couldn't keep away from 'em. So I'd sneak down and have a look, and wouldn't know?" he accidentally knocked the stacks of barrels and made a mess "Bad luck strikes again. Just my lot in life, though......" Flashback end The CMC and Cosmo felt sorry for him. All in his life, he want to be part of the rodeo and his cutie mark appeared, his life turned upside-down and his bad luck causing mess in the rodeo throughout his life. Cosmo thinking about Trouble Shoes' life story and trying to find out more about his cutie mark. Surely he remember that there's no such things as a bad luck cutie mark so there's got to be more to it than just bad luck. "Poor Trouble Shoes. I can't believe those mean judges would laugh at him like that." Sweetie Belle said. "Still, there's got to be more to his cutie mark than being just bad luck." Cosmo said "Beside, I don't think there's a such thing as a bad luck cutie mark." "Don't you see? They weren't laughing at him. They were just enjoying his show." Applebloom said as Cosmo widened his eyes at her statement. "Wait, you mean...." Cosmo thinking the same thing as her. "Yeah, think about it. If we saw a rodeo clown doin' what he did back in the shack, we'd think he's the greatest!" Applebloom said as Cosmo understand this. "So it wasn't bad luck that he did. Trouble Shoe's cutie mark was meant being a rodeo clown." Cosmo said as the CMC nodded. "Right, he could still be in the rodeos, just not the way he thought!" Sweetie Belle said. "So he's been looking at his cutie mark wrong the whole time! It's not bad luck, its-" "Gotcha!" a voice was heard as the CMC and Cosmo saw Trouble Shoes being apprehend by Sheriff Silverstar and his deputies along with Applejack and Braebun. "Trouble Shoes!" Cosmo shouted. "Just my luck." Trouble Shoes mumbled. "Trouble Shoes, you're under arrest for vandalizin' the property and peace of mind of a good rodeo-lovin' ponies of Equestria! Not to mention fillynappin'! And.....generalized mayhem!" "Sheriff Silverstar wait!" Cosmo and the CMC rushed to help Trouble Shoes but Applejack stopped him. "Braebun? Get these fillies somewhere safe." Applejack said as Braebun holding them away as Cosmo break free and tried to save Trouble Shoes only for Applejack stopped him. "Appplejack, let me go! Trouble Shoes isn't what everypony thinks!" Cosmo shouted as Braebun hold him too from his front legs. "Applejack!" But the cowgirl didn't listen as she and the sheriff begin escorting Trouble Shoes to jail. "No!" Cosmo along with the CMC can only watched them helpless to save Trouble Shoes. Meanwhile at the sheriff's office, a green flash appeared then 5 ponies came out with their eyes glowing green with malice. "Applejack, you don't understand! Trouble Shoes isn't what everypony thinks he is!" Cosmo tried to reason with her. Shortly after Trouble Shoes is in jail, the CMC and Cosmo were rested on Braebun's house as the morning came, she's tidy her blond mane. "Yeah, he isn't the menace that everypony thinks!" Applebloom said. "Sake alive, what's with you four? Why in tarnation would you want me to help get him out of jail when he's the one who ran off with y'all to begin with?!" Applejack said as she turned to Cosmo "And not only that, but you also went on your own without telling me, Cosmo. How did you know where to find m'ah sister and her friends?" "I had a hunch, Applejack." Cosmo looked away as Applejack groaned. "Just a hunch?! You mean you just following your gut without telling me?" Applejack said "Why won't you tell me the truth, Cosmo? It is that hard to begin with?! First you won't tell me the connection to the Gundam, then you won't tell me how you and m'ah sister actually met, and you won't even tell me how you able to find them without telling me?!" "Yes, because I want to protect those that I care so that nopony suffers! I have a responsibility as a Bringer for my family and I won't tarnish it because of a stubborn mare who doesn't know what's like to carried all that burden!!" Cosmo yelled at her which Applejack winced at his tone as the CMC came to him and calm him down. Applejack felt little hurt but retain her stotic tone "We'll talk about this later. Now if y'all excuse me, I'm off to win the Appleloosa rodeo hay bale monster stack." As Applejack close the door, she tried to fight back her tears, coming out of her eyes, but wiped them and continue heading to the rodeo. Once Applejack left, Cosmo screamed as he punch his hoof on a wall, venting out his anger as the CMC were worried for him as they left him alone for a while. After a few minutes outside, he open the door as the CMC came to him. "Cosmo, are you all right?" Applebloom asked as he nodded. "Sorry." Cosmo said "For yelling at your sister." "Its okay but next time, can you at least try to calm down?" Sweetie Belle asked as he nodded. "So how do we get Trouble Shoes out of jail?" Scootaloo asked. "I have an idea." Cosmo said as he whispered them. At the Sheriff's office, Trouble Shoes is looking at the rodeo through the narrow bars of his cell that's up high. Trouble Shoes sighed "Well, at least I get me a small view of the rodeo." Then, the mattress that he using to stand on, break down as he fall down on his rump. "Figures." "Aw, come on now, Trouble Shoes! I'm runnin' out of mattresses!" Sheriff Silverstar groaned and point to the stacks of broken mattresses. Trouble Shoes look down depressed as Sheriff Silverstar taking a nap. From the window, the CMC and Cosmo look as they nudging Sweetie Belle as she use her magic. The keys were enveloped in a light green aura as Sweetie Belle concentrating as the keys were floating away. Scootaloo excitedly shaken her as the keys float under the door. Cosmo came out and said "Sheriff Silverstar, come on! You're about to miss the hay bale monster stack!" Sheriff Silverstar woke up surprised "Jimmy, that's starting already?!" He gallop off of his office as the CMC and Cosmo enter his as Sweetie Belle unlock the bars. "Let's go, Trouble Shoes! This here's a jailbreak!" Applebloom said. Trouble Shoes look down, sulking "Ain't no need. Can hear the rodeo just fine from this vintage." "Trouble Shoes, we can help you live your dream." Cosmo said. "Listen, y'all, I'm a criminal. How you proposin' on getting me on the rodeo?" Trouble Shoes stand up as the broken bed dropped down on the floor. "My sisters got an idea." Cosmo point the Crusaders as they grinned happily. The townponies cheering at the hay bale monster stack as the Apple family continue stacking the hay bale as Applejack position herself and kicked another hay bale upwards on top, making it higher. "Go, Applejack!" Applebloom shouted. "Stack those bales!" Cosmo cheered. "You can do it!" Scootaloo cheered. "Whoo-hoo!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "Well, how do I look?" Trouble Shoes asked as the four turned, they saw him dressed as a rodeo clown as the CMC giggled and Cosmo tried to contain his laughter but failed terribly. As Trouble Shoes watched the hay bale monster stack with them, more hay bale were stacking even higher. "Come on now, stack those bales!" Trouble Shoes cheered "Whoo-hoo!" As the final one is hurl, passed between the contestant higher, Applejack kicked the last one as it nearly falls then on top on the other ones. The crowd gasp as a pegasus judge measuring the hay bale stacks as the CMC, Cosmo, and Trouble Shoes looking nervous at the result. Then the pegasus judge place a arrow on the measurement stick, being the highest stack of hay bale. Everpony explode into a cheered as the Apple family feeling proud of their accomplishment. "That's my sister!" Applebloom cheered. Unknown to all ponies, 5 ponies look at each other and nodded as their eyes glow in icky green. Cosmo's AGE Device faintly glows as he hold it up and point at the device as it glows brightly as he take a close look at the crowd. "Cosmo, something wrong?" Applebloom asked as the CMC and Trouble Shoes looked at him concerned. "I don't know, but I got a bad feeling about this." Cosmo said "Just in case, you three stay close to me." The CMC looked at each other and nodded. "What do you mean?" Trouble Shoes asked. "Looks like we're not the only ponies that's here for the rodeo." Cosmo said grimly. As a entertainment music was played, rodeo clowns begin doing their performances as the crowd is laughing but only the 5 mysterious ponies but nopony cares about it. Trouble Shoes look at the rodeo smile at this as Applebloom called him "'Kay now, Trouble Shoes, you're on!" "Say what?!" Trouble Shoes exclaimed "I may be dressed like one, but I ain't no rodeo clown." "You got your cutie mark all wrong, Trouble Shoes! You were born to entertain! You've got a gift for makin' folks laugh, don't you?" Applebloom said. "But my cutie mark is upside-down horseshoe, and that means bad luck." Trouble Shoes said. "That depends on how you look at it." Sweetie Belle said. "Trouble Shoes, my father told me about one thing about cutie marks is that whatever you gotten, it's always meant that it's a gift that makes a ponies' future you created. There not just a curse, but a prayer for a new future." Cosmo said as Trouble Shoes looked at him as his words really touched his heart. "You always wanted to be a part of the rodeo, right?" Applebloom asked. "Now here's your chance!" Trouble Shoes contemplating then with a determined look, he rushed to the stage only to stop in his track at the rodeo clowns continue their performance. He turned to the CMC and Cosmo as Applebloom encouraged him "Go on!" As he about to make a step, he accidentally step on a beach ball as he trips over it as the beach ball hit on Braebun's head as the crowd laughing. Trouble Shoes ' wig came out as the CMC and Cosmo cheered as he galloping the field. "There y'all are! How about your big sis', huh?" Applejack appeared with a trophy on her hoof as the CMC and Cosmo were ignoring as Applebloom and Cosmo looked at her and replied with a flat tones. "Yeah, way to go." "Yeah, awesome." Applejack looked at the direction that the CMC and Cosmo is watching "Since when are y'all so into rodeo clowns?" But the four didn't answer as they continue watching the performance as Trouble Shoes tried to jump, but a rodeo clown crashes into him as the rodeo clown is on top of Trouble Shoes' hooves as the crowd laughing. As the rodeo clowns jumping on hula hoops, Trouble Shoes look at his flank. "Just leave me be, cutie mark! I'm not going to let you be a curse, but a prayer of my future! And I aim to clear that hoop!" He then gallop to the hoops as another see him. Both rodeo clowns quickly dashed leaving the short one as Trouble Shoes continue running towards the short one. The crowds laughing even harder as he crash into the barrels as his head got stuck into one. "Come on now!" Then the rodeo clowns stacked together forming a pyramid. Then they saw Trouble Shoes coming towards him as all of them got out of the way as he crash into the hay bale monster stacks as it topples over and hay bales smushed onto each rodeo clowns as well as Braebun too. The crowds laughing harder than ever even the judges too as Applejack laughing. "That's the best rodeo clown I ever seen!" Cosmo and the CMC gave each other a hoof five for their plan a success. Trouble Shoes peek through a hole at the barrel as he see the spectators laughing harder as the CMC and Cosmo wave at him. They were right. His cutie mark meant to make everypony laugh. The three fillies and their big brother helped him achieve his dream. As he pulled out the barrel off of his head, water splash onto his face as he about to smile with pride, his clown nose come off, shocking the spectators. "Trouble Shoes!" Even the CMC, Cosmo, and Applejack were shocked at this "What the hay?!" "He escaped from jail!" One pony shouted. "Ruinin' another rodeo!" "Let's get him!" The spectators shouted in anger as each of them pick up the pitchfork and torch. Cosmo and the CMC rushed to defend their friend. "Wait, y'all! He ain't what you think he is!" Applebloom shouted. "Trouble Shoes never meant to sabotaged the rodeos!" Cosmo said. "Stand aside, young'uns! This one is going back to jail!" Sheriff Silverstar said as his deputies came on his side. "But he never meant to ruin any rodeos! There were just bad accidents!" Sweetie Belle said. "Sweetie Belle, what are you talkin' about?" Applejack asked. "Trouble Shoes has a gift of making ponies laugh! He made the best rodeo clown I've ever seen." Scootaloo explained. "That's ture! He is awful funny." one of the judges comment. "Trouble Shoes thought that his cutie mark is meant for bad luck in rodeos, but it turns out, he meant to be here. He just didn't know how to use it." Cosmo explained as the crowds muttered. "What he said is true. This here entertainin' y'all with my klutz? That's what I supposed to be doing. I know it now. I didn't mean any harm, honest! I just ain't never loved nothin' like I love the rodeo, so I kept on sneakin' back and makin' a big old mess of things. Turns out I was just a-lookin' at my cutie mark all wrong." Trouble Shoes said as Applejack gave a sympathetic smile. The crowd were moved by him but Sheriff Silverstar said "That may be so, Trouble Shoes, but you gotta still face charges for the problems you caused!" "Sheriff Silverstar-" Cosmo was about to intervene but Trouble Shoes place his hoof on his shoulder. "It' all right, Cosmo, if I done wrong, I'll see to it that I take my medicine and square my accounts." "Truth to be told, we could understand all the trouble with the rodeos, but why'd you have to run off with these little'uns last night?" Sheriff Silverstar asked as the CMC were nervous. "Uh, yeah, about that......."Applebloom was about to explained as Cosmo saw a icky green magic coming towards Applejack. "Look out!!!" he pushed her away before it hit on the ground as all of the ponies gasped in surprised as the five ponies stand up with their horns glow in the same color, glare at them as they changed shaped into familiar bug like ponies. "Changelings!!!" the crowd screamed as all of them rushed out of the bench as Sheriff Silverstar got into his battle stance. "Oh, not those varmints!!!" Sheriff Silverstar said as he using his lasso only for the Changelings to dodge it as they rammed him along with the deputies. "Sheriff Silverstar!!" Cosmo shouted as he saw in the sky, more Changelings wave coming towards the town which all of the townponies screaming in fear. "Trouble Shoes, get the CMC to safety!!!" Cosmo said as Trouble Shoes nodded and carried the fillies on their back and rushed out of the battle. "Applejack you okay?" Cosmo asked her as she nodded as she gone back up. "Thanks for the save." Applejack said as he nodded as more Changelings surrounded them as Cosmo using his magic, blasting them away while Applejack using her hind legs and buck them away while continue running away. "Where are the girls?! And her friends?!" Applejack said. "Trouble Shoes is getting them to safetly!!!" Cosmo said as they saw Trouble Shoes being surrounded by the Changelings at the Sheriff's office. "Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!" Applejack called as she use her lasso and hurled a barrel at them, knocking their feet to the ground. Cosmo using his magic and levitate them and hurled them away as both made it. "Are you girls all right?" Applejack asked as all of them nodded. "Why are the Changelings are here?!" Sweetie Belle shaken in fear. "Let's just say they having a huge grudges on your sister and her friends." Cosmo stated as Applejack saw her relatives fighting against them. "Trouble Shoes, protect the fillies! Applejack, you and I will go and help your relatives!" Cosmo said as they nodded, both rushed to the battlefield only to see some of the ponies being drained by them. Cosmo use his magic and blast them away before the ponies become empty shells as they about to reached in time, another one rammed into him as Applejack shouted. "Cosmo!" Cosmo struggled as he kick them away as more begin swarming towards him. "Applejack, go! I'll handle them!" "Are you crazy?!" Applejack shouted. "No time to argue! Hurry!" Cosmo shot back as Applejack glance at her relatives and him before groaned in frustration. "Just be careful, sugarcube!" Applejack said as she rushed to help her relatives. Cosmo fire his magic at them while another group jump from behind as he quickly fan his magic at them. Then he teleport away as he sidekick them while doing the same thing as he grabbed the horn and hurled at them in the skies while dodging their magic. Several Changelings hissed at him as they enveloped in a green light, and changed into Cosmo's friends. "You think that cheap trick would work on me?" Cosmo shouted as he point his horn and unleashed his magic which stunned them. Then a magic bubble envelop them as he slammed them on the ground repeatedly, as the impact causing them to shape shift back to their original forms. More of several Changelings swooping in as Cosmo prepare himself as they about to tackle him, an torrent of flames shot down on them, burning them to a crisped as the Changelings saw the Gundam coming down. Cosmo point his horn and unleash a glaring light, blinding them. Cosmo quickly slammed his AGE Device and the armors attached to himself, becoming the AGE 4 Saurian. Taking advantage of the glaring light, he swing his right arm as his D-Armor fist stretched as spines appeared as the Changelings were caught on it and slammed to the ground, exploding them on the process. More of them coming to the skies as the D-Armor chest opens up and fire the torrent flames on them. Some dodge it out of the way, while some using their magic to block it, but as the AGE 4 Saurian coming quickly, they're too late to react as Cosmo slammed his D-Armor fists, break the shield and plunging them to the ground. "And stay dead, you monsters!" Cosmo shouted then he taken to the sky and soar to help Applejack and her relatives. Meanwhile, Applejack and her relatives continue fighting the Changelings while protecting the townponies as each time three or five were defeated, more will take their place but increase the numbers. "Dangnabbit! These Changelings are persistent than the ones from before!" Applejack kept lasso them away only for another one to take their place. "Guess that means that the Gundam really tick them after their Queen is hurt by him." As Applejack prepare for another wave, a torrent of flames swoop them and burned them to ashes. Applejack and her relatives look up and saw the Gundam swoop down in front of them. "About time you show up!" Applejack shouted as Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 Saurian turned to her. "Listen, I need you and the ponies to get to safety in the barn!" he turned to the growing force of Changelings "I'll provide cover for all of you!" More of them charging at them as Cosmo jump and swing his D-Armor fist and grasp them and hurled them to the ground. All of the ponies quickly headed to the barn leaving only Applejack to stay put with him. "Why are you still here? I told you-" his sentence was interrupted by her. "And leaving m'ah sister and her friends along with Trouble Shoes and Cosmo alone? Not a chance!" Applejack bucked another one coming towards her. "Listen, Cosmo is safe. I rescued him and he's at the forest, so don't worry." he fire another torrent of flames on the side as more of them kept coming from the sky. "There's too many of them!" Applejack said. "Listen, get to your sister and her friends. I'll handle them." he said as with a nod, Applejack rushed to the Sheriff's office. When Applejack came inside, he saw Trouble Shoes being dogpile by them along with the Changelings getting closer to the CMC as she lasso them and hurl them away. "Applebloom, are you and your friends all right?" Applejack called as both hugged each other as she nodded. "Yeah I'm fine." Then they saw Trouble Shoes as the CMC came to his side. "Trouble Shoes, are you all right?" she came to his side as he nodded. "Yep, I'll be fine." "We better get to the barn quickly before more of them shows up!" Applejack said as they rushed outside only to see the Gundam fighting them as the CMC, holding onto Trouble Shoes' back, looked at the battle. Then multiple laser shot down at them as the fillies hold tightly until another one shot down on the ground, surprising Trouble Shoes as the CMC loose their grip on him. "Applebloom, no!" Applejack screamed as she rushed to save her only for more Changelings blocking her way. Then more of them surrounded them as the CMC frighten at this. Cosmo look down and saw the CMC surrounded. "NO!" He dive down as the Changelings was about to pounce on them, Cosmo speed through and hold the CMC as his D-Armor shoulder conjure a flaming shield which the Changelings were incinerate by contact on it. "Are you girls all right?" he asked as the CMC nodded as he burst his shield as wave of flames knocked the Changelings while he grabbed the CMC along with Applejack and soar them to the forest and put them down. "Stay put." Cosmo said as he taken off into the sky as he saw more Changelings coming towards them. Then a red aura was enveloping the AGE 4 Saurian as flames begin to burst out from the outer frames as Cosmo open his D-Armor chest as he launch a huge torrent of flames only this time, into the shaped of a giant T-Rex as the Changelings were caught into it, burned to ashes. After that, the remaining Changelings cringed at this as they retreated into the skies. All of the town ponies cheered in victory as Cosmo saw Sheriff Silverstar, being banged up but saved by Trouble Shoes as he came down to them. "My goodness, Gundam, I'm so glad that you came to save us from those nasty varmints!" Sheriff Silverstar said as he nodded. "But I just don't get it, why didn't you respond to our call to help us catch an outlaw?" he asked as other ponies asking the same thing. "Simple, because I only come when there's a real threat around Equestria." Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 Saurian replied "I'm not here to catch an outlaw or any criminals, only that my mission is to become a savior of Equestria by defending parts of Equestria from the Changelings." With that, his horn begin to glow in light green color as a blinding flash, he disappeared. At the woods, Applejack and the CMC were searching for Cosmo as each of them shouting for him but no luck. "Cosmo!" Applebloom called. "Cosmo, where are you?" Sweetie Belle called but no luck. "Ugh, where is he?" Scootaloo wondered, searching from the bush. "I don't know, but we got to find him." Applejack said while searching. As they continue on the search, the CMC turned on the left and Applejack going on the right. As the CMC continue wander in the woods, a bright flash appeared as Cosmo in his Gundam AGE 4 Saurian knee down. "Cosmo!" Applebloom and her friends came to him as they can see circuits sparks from the D-Armors. "Are you all right?" Sweetie Belle asked as he nodded. "Yeah, just using a lot of power from the Saurian Armor. Looks like I need to fixed it up again when I get home." Cosmo said. Meanwhile, Applejack continue searching at the woods as she walking on the left. "Man, where is that pony?" Applejack muttered as she saw the CMC with the Gundam, kneed down as she hidden behind the trees while peeking through. "So are you going to get off of that suit?" Scootaloo asked as Applejack eavesdropping. Suit? she thought as a mechanical noise was heard as she focus on the Gundam as the armors begin to split apart and shot up in the skies as her eyes widened in shock as the Gundam's identity revealing to be.......... "What......" Applejack was speechless. From the outer shell of the Gundam, it was her friend. It was Cosmo Bringer. Cosmo breathed sighed as he rubbed Applebloom's head "That was amazing you did." "Yeah, the way that you just incinerated them with a full blast, that was crazy!" Scootaloo amazed. "But the way that you 'bite' them, that was um........" Sweetie Belle trying to find a word. "Violent?" Cosmo asked as she nodded. "I know, but still, I had to fight them in order to protect everypony from them. That's my goal of the savior." Cosmo said. "Cosmo." a voice was heard as Cosmo freeze up at the tone as all of them turned and saw Applejack coming out of the woods with a hard glare. "Applejack, did you see-" Cosmo was surprised at this. "Yes, all of it." Applejack replied "One of which is the Gundam turns out to be m'ah friend dressing up like it's Nightmare Night all the time and risking his life fighting against the Changelings like a superhero!" The tone really scared the CMC as they backed away from them as Applejack continue to glare at him "Tell me the truth and stop lying to me." Cosmo sighed and he explained everything to him, from discover the AGE Device and learning the truth of his ancestors which would lead him to build his own Gundam to become a savior while at the time, keeping the secret from everypony with the exception of Princess Luna and Princess Celesita which he explained that Princess Luna adopted him after the loss of his parents. After that, Applejack was surprised but still retained her anger. "But that doesn't explained of how you met m'ah sister and her friends." Applejack said. "Nor of how they know your secret." "Actually, there's something we need to tell you about it." Applebloom said as she explained that 4 months ago, she was having a nightmare as Cosmo was training with Princess Luna in dream walking to teach him how to control his own nightmare as his AGE Device sent him to her dream which he pretend to be a figment of a dream as her nightmare grew worst it also detect him and sent him back to his own nightmare which Princess Luna save her and her friends as they went to his nightmare and discover his secret which they made a promise not to tell anypony about this as Cosmo explained because of this, he agree on becoming a Big Brother of the CMC in order to protect them. "Applejack, I'm sorry. But you need to understand that I had to do this because of my promise to my parents to not let anypony know this. If anypony I know and care get caught into my own fight, I can't stand the fact of losing them." Cosmo said as he look her away as fresh tears begin to dripped from his eyes until Applejack hug him. "It's okay, sugarcube. I'm sorry for pressure you to reveal your secret." Applejack apologizing "I guess that you remind bit of m'ahself when I tried to hold my secrets, afraid of letting ponies know about it." "Really?" Cosmo wonder along with the CMC too as she explained that at one point before, Twilight's coronation, she went to Canterlot to compete in the Equestria Rodeo Competition only for her not to win a blue ribbon with the prize money for her to fix the town hall as she traveled to Dodge Junction in order to earn some money from a cherry farm run by Cherry Jubilee but her friends came and trying to understand her motives which she tried not to until she finally gave in and tell them which they didn't care if she was a failure and also Fluttershy told her that the town hall can always be repaired but not the hole in their hearts. She also explained sometimes after the event, she and her friends begin spruce up the Sweet Apple Acres for Blue Ribbon, the manager of the Equestria Best Awards, to inspect for a chance for it to be named for the official, exclusive apple supplier for Canterlot Castle along with the grand prize consist of front-row seats at Equestria Rodeo, tickets to Hearth Warming Eve Annual Ball, and a new plot of land for expanding the farm. So far, her friends' different approach to spruce it up causing her to vent out her emotion into her mother's journal which she writes on it but after seeing her friends putting their effort on it, she felt ashamed of vented her anger in her journal. At one point, her sister and her friends want to find the friendship journal so they found Applejack's under her bed by mistake as her friends read it but not mad as she admit that she wasn't being honest to herself or her friends. After that, Sweet Apple Acres won the Best Orchard in Equestria as Blue Ribbon were inspired by their teamwork and asked for her to write a farming advice column in a magazine. After that, Cosmo was impressed of it along with the CMC too. "Wow, I never knew that you had those hard times." Cosmo said. "Trust me, you have no idea." Applejack chuckled. "Still, I can understand of you making a promise to your parents, but Cosmo, you shouldn't shoulder everything on your own. You're just one pony." "I know but it's fate that my parents put me in. I had to accept that." Cosmo said. "There's no such thing as fate and destiny. We ponies make our own choices." Applejack said. "I wish it was easy....." Cosmo mumbled as Applejack sighed. "Anyway, Applejack, since you know my secret, can you at least pinkie promise not to let anypony know this?" Applejack think about before sighed "Well all right. I never like keeping secrets from m'ah friends but for saving me and m'ah sister and her friends, I'll make this exception." Cosmo nodded as Applejack continued "Still, you can't keep hiding your secret forever, Cosmo. You going to have to tell them soon." Cosmo looked away "I understand that. But until then, not now.........until the time is right." Applejack nodded then something click in her brain "Come to think of it," she turned to the CMC "what was that you and your friends about to say?" The CMC looked nervously as they told her what happened. At the rodeo, the CMC were cleaning up the mess as Applebloom sweep the hays, Scootaloo carried a hay bale stack, and Sweetie Belle rolled the barrels with her magic as Applejack was laid on the hay bale. Applebloom sighed and said "You really want to clean this mess Trouble Shoes made?" "Maybe it'll teach you three not to go wanderin' off after I say not to!" Applejack replied as Cosmo appeared with the broom too. "Okay, I can understand why the Crusaders need to be punished but why me too?" Cosmo asked. "For starter, you been hiding that Gundam secret from me and also going out to find m'ah sister and her friends without letting me know." Applejack said as Cosmo rolled his eyes. "And now you know the reason, Applejack." He sweeping the hays to Applebloom's pile. "Ugh. Ain't it bad enough that you get to go back to Ponyville with a shiny trophy, and all we're bringing back is these same old blank flanks!" Applebloom mumbled. "Y'all helped Trouble Shoes realized what his cutie mark really means." Applejack point as Trouble Shoes is talking with some rodeo clowns "Ain't that a nice feelin' you can take back with you?" "She's right, girls. We did help him achieve his dream of him being in a rodeo." Cosmo said. "I guess we did make things a little better." Sweetie Belle said. "It......does feel kinda nice." Scootaloo said. "So....can we stop?" Applebloom asked. "Nnope." Applejack said as the CMC and Cosmo groaned in annoyed. In the Badlands, the Changelings using their magic as Queen Chrysalis finally healed as she begin to get up, she stumbled as her children caught her. "My queen, you need to save some strength." one of them said. Queen Chrysalis grunted as she sat on her couch "What happen to the other rest I sent them to Appleloosa?" "Most of them gone. By the Gundam with greater strength." the guard said as she growled in anger. "How is that 'Gundam' can be that powerful than me and my children?!" "We do not know." another replied. She turned to the others "I need you to find something that we can deal with that Gundam! Now!!!" With that all of them swoop into the red sky as unknown from a far reach of the mountains, a shard of metal was placed as it was glowing green. Ending : > Episode 8 - Party Crasher > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Ponyville, set 4 weeks on Make New Friends But Keep Discord) Cosmo open his closet as it was filled with books and a few clothes as he search the ones in the hangers. His mind begin recalled to the events that happened 2 weeks ago : Applejack, the element of honesty, learned of his secret after saving Appleloosa from the Changelings. It's bad enough that the CMC knows of his secret, but for one of his friends, is even worst. From the time that he met her and her friends, she was suspicious of him after saving the village from Starlight and tried to forced him to spill his secret. He tried to drop it and with some help from the CMC but after saving Appleloosa, she witness him disengage his Gundam. At first he thought he's going to lose the trust of his friend, but she understand him and like the others, promise to not to let the others know of this. However, the words from her, kept echoing from his mind. "You can't keep this secret from them forever, Cosmo. You're going have to tell them soon." Applejack, I wish I would, but I can't risk putting more of ponies I care for into my war. he thought as he found a tuxedo suit, that Auntie Luna gave him prior before he move to Ponyville, hanging on his closet. He pulled it out as he checked for cleanness, free of wrinkles, and freshness. With a careful eye, only a few of wrinkles are seen. Then a series of knock was heard from downstairs as he set his uniform on his bed, walked down and open the door, he saw Spike, covered in bed sheets. "Spike? What are you doing here?" Cosmo asked. "Discord, j-just popped out from my sleep a-and looking for T-Twilight...." Spike said. "You mean that traitor still here?" Cosmo asked in a venomous tone surprising him as he slowly nodded. "Yeah, why?" he asked. "I thought that traitor is gone after he betrayed us to Lord Tierk." Cosmo growled as memories flashback to the news of Discord betrayed everypony and sided with Lord Tierk. Flashback (Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, Set after Twilight's Kingdom part 1) In his classroom, Cosmo was at the front seat, taking notes of magical properties. As he kept his focus on it, a warning bell was heard as he snapped his head to that direction then as he saw the window, he seen ponies being rounded up by a familiar draconequus. Is that, Discord?! The Spirit of Disharmony and Chaos! he thought as a large monstrous centaur begin draining them. That's Tierk! Cosmo's mind screamed as everypony was rushing to get to the bunkers as Cosmo rushed ahead too. End Flashback "Cosmo? Equestria to Cosmo! Hey!" Spike's voice snapped him out of his memory lane as he looked at him, crossing his arms. "Sorry, Spike." he apologized. "What's with the tone, Cosmo? You acted as you hate him." Spike asked. "Because I do hate him." He sighed turned his head away from him. "Why?" "Why? Because, he's the spirit of chaos and disharmony, Spike! He cause so much suffering of everypony because of him, thinking life is a game to him! And not only that, he also sided with Lord Tierk and almost brought Equestria to ruins!" he said as he sighed. Spike understand why he acted like this but he can't blame him. Some of the ponies are still distrusting of Discord after Lord Tierk escaped from his prison at Tartarus. "Listen, Cosmo. Discord has changed. He still reformed after what happen with Lord Tierk and knows of how importance friendship is." Spike said. "I'll see that when I see it with my own eyes." Cosmo said. Spike sighed "Just give him a benefit of a doubt, Cosmo. Twilight and the others already did." He turned to him and nodded slowly then headed upstairs with Spike following him as he checking his tuxedo suit. "So where's Twilight by the way?" Cosmo asked. "She's away in Canterlot, helping Princess Celestia with the Gala." Spike answered. "I see." he saw some wrinkles as he got a iron board and a steamer. He then use the steamer on medium heat and begin removing it. "So everypony is excited for the Grand Galloping Gala?" "Of course, everypony is going there. Have you ever being to the Grand Galloping Gala before?" Spike asked. Cosmo sighed "No, not really. In fact, I stayed away from it." "How come?" "Before I met you and the others, I always been alone with only Haro as my friend. My aunt tried to get me to the Grand Galloping Gala, but I stayed away from it because......" he stopped a bit. "Because?" "It remind me of my parent's royal ball." he said sadly as Spike was shocked to hear that. He place his claw on his left shoulder. "I'm sorry about that." "It's okay. This time, things are going to be different." Cosmo said as he finished removing the wrinkles from his suit. "I'm going to give it a chance." With a nodded from Spike, both went downstairs to eat as in his desk, are two golden tickets. Opening : Cosmo brush his mane with his comb as his waved spike mane now being smooth, he checked his tie along with tied his green bow as he levitate his AGE Device and place on his neck, hidden inside of his tuxedo suit. With a nodded, he got out of the bathroom and saw Spike waiting with his gala uniform. "Okay Spike, I'm all set." "Great, we better hurry now" Spike open the door "The Grand Galloping Gala is about to start soon." He nodded as both headed out as a voice was heard "Cosmo!" He turned and saw Derpy in her Grand Galloping Gala dress. Her golden mane is tied in a bun with two sticks holding it and a bubble decorated hair clip on front, she wore a golden necklace with a bluish like dress with a bubble design. The icy like shoes worn by her making her elegant like a princess, but surprising, her eyelashes were done in a elegant curves. "Whoa...." Cosmo was speechless at her as she walking towards him with her smile. "Derpy.....I......well.......whoa......" he starting to blushing red which she blushing as a tomato. "Well, it was mostly Doctor's help." she said as she shying him away. "So how I look?" she asked. "You look amazing, Derpy." her blush deepened as her mouth crept into a smile. "Thanks Cosmo." With a nodded, both headed to the carriage that Spike got as the young drake's jaw dropped to the ground along with other stallions too. Cosmo open the door and gesture her which she giggled as she enter in. As he close the door, Spike came to him "You're going out with Derpy on a date?!" Cosmo blushed while scratching his mane "Well, the thing is....." Flashback (Cosmo's house, set 2 weeks after Appleloosa's Most Wanted) After returning home, Cosmo was working on his Gundam Armor as his AGE Device showed him some new parts that are blank but a percentage of the data is at 90%. Just a few more to go......he thought as charged the Saurian Armor through a crystal energy pack. Knock! Knock! Knock! He heard the knocking from the front door as he set his tools down, got up and lock the basement door, he open it as Derpy appeared with a letter in her mouth. "Hey Derpy." "Hey Cosmo, got a letter for you from Princess Luna." she showed him as it was an envelop with her cutie mark stamp on the middle as Cosmo grabbed it and open it, his eyes widened in surprise as he pulled two golden tickets. "Two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala......" Cosmo muttered as there was a letter from the Princess of the Night. Dear Cosmo, I got these two tickets for you and one for extra guest. I know that you been avoiding the Grand Galloping Gala ever since that I adopted you, but at least that Princess Twilight and her friends able to mend your wounded heart, so I hoping that at least this time, give the Grand Galloping Gala a chance. I'll be waiting for you at Canterlot Castle. From Princess Luna He looked at the two golden tickets as he sighed. For him, the Grand Galloping Gala isn't his liking because of his old attitude of being alone and pushing ponies away while focus on his Gundam Armor. But thanks to Twilight and her friends, he able to open his heart and understand how important friendship is. "Wow! Two golden tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala! That's awesome!" Derpy exclaimed. He nodded as he ponder his thought. I guess that I never like going to the Grand Galloping Gala is because how it reminds me of my parent's parties with other higher society ponies. He close his eyes as memories of him as a colt was at his home watching his parents talking with other high society ponies. He hidden himself from other foals as he peek through the pillars and watches the foals talking with each other. "Cosmo? You okay?" Derpy's voice snapped him out of it as he lightly shook it. "Yeah, just got something in my mind." he said with a forced smile. "Okay, then." she turned back to continue her work "Well I better-" "Derpy, wait." Cosmo said as he walk to her. "I was wondering if......." he turned away while blushing "if you can come with me to the Grand Galloping Gala? I really want to learn how I can at least enjoy it since I never went there before?" Derpy blush red at his offer "You mean like a-a date?" Cosmo rubbing his head in embarrassment "In a sense...." She smile at him as she gave a big hug "Of course, I would like to go with you." End Flashback "And that's what happen." Cosmo finished his explanation while pushing the carriage as Spike was surprise of this. He never knew that of all stallions (saved for Doctor Hooves), Cosmo would ask her out. Sure that Derpy can be clumsy and strange, but for Cosmo, he never care for that since he known that his words would affect a mare. As he gave him a nodded and smile, Spike began think of himself. Oh boy, Twilight might not have a chance. Even she already made plans for tonight for him. At the Grand Galloping Gala main entrance, all of the ponies are enjoying themselves with Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia, both in their gowns, watching at the front of the stairs. "I must say, it been very nice having you taking over the planning responsibilities for this year's Gala." Princess Celestia said. "Anything I can do to make it easier on you." Princess Twilight said. "Thank you, Twilight. I am quite looking forward to just enjoying the Gala for once." Princess Celestia said. She notice a crystal like necklace that shaped of her cutie mark as she saw him looking around at the crowd. Piecing the possibility, she said "I'm assuming that you're looking for Cosmo?" Twilight turned to her "Yeah, I hope that he can come." "I'm certain that he'll be coming consider that this is his first time going to the Gala." "What do you mean?" Twilight asked as Princess Celestia told her how Cosmo avoided it when he's still live in Canterlot due to the fact of the reminder of his parent's ball gala. "I see..." Twilight felt bad for him. The loss of his parents really harden his heart to the fact of him isolating everypony. She can understand the feeling of being isolation before her coronation. "Don't worry, I'm certain that this time, things will be different for him." Princess Celestia reassure her which she smile as they hear a trumpet fanfare. "Announcing the last of the Bringer Family, Cosmo Bringer!" the Gala announcer said as stepped into the entrance, Twilight widen her eyes in fixed stare in Cosmo's gala dress. The way that he comb his smooth hair along with his tuxedo suit and his green bow, it was seeing a handsome prince for the first time. Just as she about to come to him, the announcer said "And also his guest, Derpy Hooves!" Derpy stepped out as the stallions widened their eyes at her. Normally they usually thought of her going to dress 'differently' but to their amazement, the mailmare pony looks beautiful. Twilight's eyes shifted from amazement to pure shock as she saw Cosmo holding Derpy's hoof and begin walking. Cosmo is going out...........with Derpy........?! Cosmo saw her as both came to her "Hey, Twilight." She shook herself and gave a smile "Oh, uh, hey Cosmo. Glad you came to the Gala. " she turned to Derpy "And I see that you invited Derpy." "Yeah, Cosmo ask me out on a date." Derpy said as unnoticed, Twilight's eyes twitch but retain her cool. "Oh, that's nice." She gave a nervous laugh. "Wow, Twilight, you look amazing." Cosmo commented as Twilight blushing, beet red, while turning her head away. "You like it?" Twilight asked as he nodded then notice Princess Celestia coming towards them. "It's good to see you again, Cosmo." she said. "Yeah, good to see you again, Auntie Celestia." Cosmo said as both Derpy and Twilight shouted in unison in shocked. "Auntie Celestia?!" Princess Celestia giggled at their reaction as Cosmo explained to them "Well, you see, the thing is that Princess Luna adopted me and became my aunt and mother. So in other words, Princess Celestia is also my aunt too. I never want to tell this to other ponies is because I don't want to make a big fuss about it." Both of them were surprise at this. They never know that the Princess of the Night adopted him and became his aunt and mother along with Princess Celestia too. "Speaking of which, where is Auntie Luna?" Cosmo looking around for her. "She's getting herself ready for the gala. She just finished her royal duties and will be there in 10 minutes." Princess Celestia said as he nodded. Then another trumpet fanfare was heard as they turned to see the gala announcer said "Announcing the spirit of chaos, Discord, and his guest....uh...." Discord whispered into his ear "The Smooze!" Coming out is Discord with his gala dress in orange as behind him, a green slime like blob with only the mouth that seen as the guest were shocked at the sight. "Good evening, everypony! What a glorious affair!" he said as the green slime sizes one of the trumpet and swallow it. "He does have a yen for shiny things, the rascal" Discord rubbing the back of it as his paws got sticky with slime and wipe it on the gala announcer's clothes. "I'll take care of this." Twilight said as she speeds away and pushed Discord aside. "What are you doing with that?!" Twilight asked. "Now, now, now. The Smooze may be an it, but it's a it with a heart of, well, blob." The Smooze slither across the floor as Cosmo saw coming towards one of the guest, he use his magic and block the Smooze from getting closer to them. "This night is extremely important," Twilight turned and waved at Princess Celestia then turn back to him with a hard glare "Keep it under control." "Yes, yes, yes, but first, can you at least tell that pony to stop threatening my guest?" Discord points to Cosmo, glaring at it, point his horn, making the Smooze back up. "Cosmo, stop." Twilight called him as Cosmo turned to her as he lower his horn as the Smooze slitter back to Discord. "Sorry, just trying to get that thing away from the guests." Cosmo said as Discord turned to him. "So you must be Cosmo Bringer, it's a honor to meet you. Fluttershy told me so much about you." Discord put his lion paw at him as while on his glare, he grasp it and shook it. "Likewise." he said with a bit of venomous tone . "Anyway, tell me, have you seen Fluttershy anywhere?" Discord asked as he walking away with the Smooze following him leaving them confused. "Sorry, Twilight." Cosmo apologized. "It's okay, but can at least try to do it without threatening next time?" Twilight asked as he nodded. "Sure." "Anyway, we better go check out the Gala, Cosmo. C'mon!" Derpy grabbed his arm as he nodded before following her. "Well, it's good to see you again, Twilight." Cosmo said as both headed to the Gala, leaving the princess feeling sad. "Is everything all right, Twilight?" Princess Celestia asked. "Well, I just want to make this night the best for me and him. But it's looks like I won't able to." she muttered quietly at those last sentence. "You must really like him, don't you?" Princess Celestia said as the young alicorn blushing red at this. "Wh-what do you mean?" Twilight stuttered. "Despite you being his teacher, you must really like him throughout his time when he moved to Ponyville." Princess Celestia guessed. "Well, I-uh-he's my student and I'm his teacher, we c-can't be-.....it'll be imposs-" "It's no strange to feel that way, Twilight." the sun princess replied "I know it's impossible, but as long as you follow your heart, then it'll be possible to share the feelings for him." Twilight nodded as clutch her necklace as her memory flashback to the gift that Cosmo gave to her. Flashback (Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, set after Castle Sweet Castle) "Actually I did, you'll find in your bedroom. It's a surprise I made." Cosmo said. "Ok. Well, goodnight Cosmo." Twilight said. "Goodnight." With that, Cosmo walking back to his home as Twilight close the door but not let her door ajar bit and watching him go before closing back. She saw Spike sleeping on the throne room as she smile and levitate him to her back and bring him to his room. She place him on his basket as she gave a kiss on the head. "Night Spike." Twilight whispered as she place a blanket on him along with a doll of Rarity as Spike snore peacefully and headed to her bedroom. "He said it should be in my room...." she whispered as she look around at her bedroom, she found a small compartment on her bed. She pick it up and open it as she gasped in surprise. Inside of the small box, a star shaped crystal necklace, bore the match of her cutie mark with each ends having a silver metal protecting it. While looking at this admiring, she found a note from the small box as she read the letter. Dear Twilight, I hope you like this gift. It's a Cosmic Shards, one of the rarest gem in whole Equestria. My parents used to collect these and craft them to the cutie mark of somepony that we Bringers care. They also said that if you craft into the cutie mark of one pony who share a connection with and gave that shard, then their bonds towards each other will become everlasting. I craft this into your cutie mark because of our time we share about Friendship and I hope that we'll always be together. Cosmo Bringer Twilight smile as she place her necklace around her neck and glance at it. Thanks Cosmo...... Flashback end She then glance at Cosmo spending time with Derpy as she hope when a chance to come, she'll make her move and hope that Discord won't ruin it. As Cosmo and Derpy enter in, his widened in surprise at this sight. This is much like his parent's royal ball when they hosted. Ponies were talking to each other or having refreshments from the table. "This is amazing....." Cosmo looking around at the main hall while walking around with Derpy. "Wow...." Derpy glance around the area as she glance at Cosmo and smile at him. Then she spotted two ponies walking around as she got his attention and point at him. "It's Fluttershy." Both of them walking towards them as Cosmo called her "Fluttershy!" The meek pony turned and saw Cosmo and Derpy coming and smile at them "Oh, Cosmo, I didn't know you're going to be here." "Well this is my first time coming here, so I'm just adjusting to it." Fluttershy nodded as Cosmo notice another pony with her. She has a hippe mane style along with a flower bandana and her cutie mark of a tree. "By the way, who's she?" Cosmo asked. "Oh this my friend, Tree Hugger." Fluttershy introduce to them "Tree Huger, this is Cosmo Bringer." "Nice to meet you. I'm Tree Hugger. Blessing." she said. "It's a honor to meet you, Ms. Tree Hugger." Cosmo said as Tree Hugger giggled. "Ms. Tree Hugger......oh, I like that!" Tree Hugger said. "It has a peaceful rhythm and heart to it." Cosmo chuckled at her along with Derpy and Fluttershy. The shy pegasus glance at Derpy in surprise "Oh, and I see that Derpy is with you." "Yeah, I ask her out if she want to come so that I won't be alone when I come here." Cosmo explained. "In a sense, it's like a date!" Depry added. "Oh, wow, that's amazing Cosmo!" Fluttershy said. "Thanks." Unnoticed to them, Twilight was watching Cosmo talking with Fluttershy, Tree Hugger, and Derpy as she glare a bit when Derpy wrapped her hoof around his neck. "Well, it's nice to see you again, Fluttershy. And it's also nice to meet you, Ms Tree Hugger." Cosmo and Derpy about to walk around some more "We're going to look around more." Both ponies nodded as they walking to the refreshment table as Cosmo got some muffins for her and some cupcakes for himself. They walk to the table and eating their sweet treat. "Wow, this pretty good." Cosmo said, tasting the sweetness of the cupcake. "You said it." Derpy chomp her muffins with happiness. After finishing their refreshments, they continue to walking around until he saw Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Applejack, and Applebloom with Fluttershy and Tree Huger chatting with each other. Just as he about to say hello to them, Discord came out of nowhere, laughing. "What's so funny?" Tree Hugger asked. "Exactly!" Discord nudge her which the others backed away a bit. "Uhh, I'm gonna to hit the dance floor." Rainbow said as they about to head there, she saw somepony coming towards them. "Cosmo!" then her eyes widened in surprise at another pony with him "And Derpy?!" "Hey girls, glad to see you four again." Cosmo smile then glance at Rainbow's gala dress. "Wow, you're gala dress is very attracting." "Aw thanks." Rainbow looked away while hiding her blush while Applejack snickered a bit. "Glad to see you again, sugarcube. Though I'm surprise that you're with Derpy." Applejack said. "Well, you see I felt that I want to learn about the Grand Galloping Gala so I asked Derpy to come with me." Cosmo explained. "So are you two are on a date?" Applebloom asked as both ponies rubbing their heads while blushing. "Well in a sense." Cosmo glanced at Applejack "Listen Applejack about what happen before........" "It's okay, sugarcube. I understand why you did it and I forgive you." "Still, I'm sorry for what happened." Cosmo apologized as Applejack hugged him. "Better?" Applejack pulled him away from their hug as Cosmo nodded. Then a loud screamed was heard as the others turned as Rarity's voice was heard with some banging on the door. "LET ME IN!" Confused, Cosmo headed to the door and Twilight came along with him. Unlocking the door, Rarity burst out, her gala dress is covered in green slime as she panting before dropping down on the floor. "Rarity, what happened?!" Cosmo helping her get up. "That creature took my jewel!" she point as he saw Twinkleshine chatting with somepony and behind her, the Smooze open its mouth as Cosmo use his magic and prevent it. "I highly suggest you two run!" Cosmo said to them as they turned, they running away as Twilight saw this and glared at Discord. "Discord, I thought I told you to keep your friend under control." Discord scoffed "Oh, please. I'd better things to do than watch that thing all night." A green aura pulled his bearded as Cosmo glared at him, his eyes bore daggers at him "Unless you don't want to see my anger, Discord, you better keep the Smooze under control or else you'll see the other side of myself." "Cosmo, stop!" Twilight tried to intervene him as Discord sighed in annoyance. "All right, all right, geez!" Discord said as he snap his claw and got the Smooze with him. Then he disappeared and reappeared with Rarity with a vacuum as he turn it on and point the hose at her, sucking her gala dress. Once that done, Rarity blushing in embarrassment as walking slowly, feeling naked to the point that Cosmo's confused at her reaction since ponies don't normally wear clothes. "Thank you." Twilight said as she turned to the crowd "It's all right everypony! Let's just get back to enjoying the magical evening." Then she turned to Cosmo and glared at him "Cosmo, what gives?! I thought I told you not to threaten him!" "Hey, I'm trying to make sure I can have the best night without that traitor messing things up!" Cosmo retorted. "What do you mean, Cosmo?" Twilight asked in confusion "What made you bitter to him?" Cosmo looked away as Derpy can sense his anger rising. Twilight place her hoof on his shoulder "Cosmo, please, tell me what's wrong?" Growling, he walk away from the group and headed outside of the gala, leaving them alone. "Cosmo......" Derpy and Twilight muttered. "I just don't get it why he's bitter to Discord?" Fluttershy wondered, seeing the scene. "I guess he's still doubt of him changed." Spike's voice was heard as the girls turned to him watching him leaving. "What do you mean, Spike?" Twilight asked. "Well, you see, Cosmo hated Discord for what happen when Lord Tierk escaped from Tartarus. He also said that he read books of him how he brought unhappiness because of him treating like a game." Spike explained. "In other words, some ponies aren't too trusting to him for what he done including him." "Cosmo......." Twilight muttered. "But didn't you tried telling him that he's changed?" Fluttershy asked. "I did, but he's still bitter of him. I think he need some time to think about it." Spike replied. The girls nodded in understanding as only Derpy and Twilight sighed. Hopefully, Cosmo will try to calm down. At the gardens, Cosmo kick a tree in anger as he sighed and rested on a tree. He glanced at the stars, despite of the trees blocking the view as his anger begin to drop down then into sadness. He rested his head on his front hooves and begin to venting out his emotion. Rggggh! I screwed up! I tried to make this the best night and Discord is making trouble around! Damn that Discord! He always like that : selfish, uncaring, devious, and evil! His mind screamed in anger as he gripped his gala dress then taking deep breath to calm down. Suddenly, a bright light shone underneath his gala dress and pulled his AGE Device. The screen shown multiple dots coming towards his location as he got up and look around for anypony in sight only nothing. "Better get this over with." he muttered as a compartment hole was taking shaped on top of his gala dress as he slammed his device into it. Meanwhile, at the basement, Haro's eyes light up and speaking "Activate AGE Armor! Activate AGE Armor!" On cue, a basement door was open as armors shot up in the sky and flying towards Canterlot. Once the armor target Cosmo, each of them split into separate components and attached to Cosmo, forming the Gundam AGE 4 Normal as he hover into the skies. He glance around for any sign of danger as his visor showed him multiple changelings coming towards Canterlot Castle as he dashed towards the armies. Meanwhile at the top front of the castle, Royal Guards were watching the ponies coming towards the castle. A white unicorn stallion, clad in purple armor monitoring around the area. A orange pegasus guard came to him "Sir, no sign for any Changelings from the second block." "Okay, just tell them to continue their duty and report for anything unusual." "Yes sir." As he about to leave, he notice a frown from his face as he asked him. "You're still worried about the Changelings coming after Princess Twilight and her friends, right?" "Yeah, it's been a while since we last saw the last of them Flash, but ever since this 'Gundam' vigilante came, the Changelings really riled up after what the Gundam did when he saved my sister and her friends." "I get what you mean, the Gundam really did something that nopony should ever done - injuring Queen Chrysalis." Flash said. "I'm grateful for what the Gundam did, but by injuring the queen of the Changelings, he almost taken a being's life." "And now the Changelings wants revenge on Princess Twilight and her friends, believing that the Gundam is our ally which we don't know of." Flash said. "Even we report to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the only thing they said is that the Gundam is a mysterious 'savior' which they don't know of too." Shining Armor said. "So what are you suggesting?" Flash asked. Just as Shining Armor was about to ask, a guard shouted "Changelings coming at the front gate!" The Royal Guards turned and saw a massive swarm of Changelings coming towards the front gate of Canterlot. Most of the ponies outside saw this, screaming as they running inside. "All troops, prepare for battle!" All of the Royal Guard ponies draw their spears as they prepare the massive army - 'BOOM!' A pink beam pierce one of the Changeling, exploding them in the process. All of the Royal Guard shocked at that beam magic as they heard a hovering noise as they widened their eyes at the sight of the mysterious savior vigilante. "Captain, that's......." one of the guard widened in surprise. "Yeah, that's the Gundam." Cosmo/Gundam Age 4 turned to the Royal Guards and said "Get everypony inside! I'll deal with the Changelings!" Before anypony can answer, he charged at the army, draw his beam saber on the left hand and point his beam riffle. "What we going to do, sir?" one of the Royal Guard asked as they watch the Gundam hack and slash the changelings while shooting at them. "We need to get everypony to safety. That's our priority." Shining Armor said as they headed back inside the castle but not when he glanced at the Gundam. At the battlefield, Cosmo/Gundam Age 4 stabbed one of the changelings and split it in half as he dodge from the arsenal of magic firing at him. He point his beam riffle and pull the trigger. A pink beam magic burst through as most changelings dodge quickly but unable to save their comrades who didn't dodge it in time. All of them hissed as they about to use their magic, the A symbol chest glows as Cosmo unleash a green shockwave hitting the changelings and shutting down their shape shift magic. "No way you monsters are going to ruin this night!" he growled as he charged at them, storing his riffle and pulled another beam saber in reverse grip. He slash through the army as the Changelings fire their magic at him only for the armor to protect it as he continue his onslaught against the army. One of the changeling spotted the gate about to closed as it charging towards it, but Cosmo saw it as he throw his beam saber and in the nick of time, impaled it on the head, destroying it in the process. Only a few of the Changelings were remaining left from his attack as Cosmo prepare his weapons. The Changelings then turned back and retreated away from the castle. Cosmo sighed as he turned to the front gate as he saw the Royal Guards coming out, pointing their spears at him. He hover down to the ground as he dropped his weapons. Shining Armor walking towards him with a narrow expression "All right, Gundam. Normally, I should be thankful for saving the ponies from the Changelings and also my sister and friends before, but you're under arrest." "For what?" Cosmo/Gundam Age 4 asked. "For taking action upon yourself without any legal authority." Cosmo sighed as he replied "Sorry, but unless Equestria is safe from the Changelings, they'll need a savior to watch over them." Just as Shining Armor about to speak, a beeping noise was heard as from his visor, Cosmo spotted something that surprised him. "I need to go! Something happened at the Gala!" With that, he quickly grabbed his weapons and headed inside of the castle, leaving the Royal Guards confused yet shocked as they headed inside too. At the gala few moments ago, the Gala was in a complete mess due to the Smooze now of immense size (which Discord locked it in a room full of treasure items) covered the gala. But thanks to Tree Hugger using soft vocalizing to calm the agitated creature and release everypony. All of the ponies cheered for Tree Hugger but Discord finally snapped. "Stop it! Stop it!" Discord shouted. "That's it! I'm done with you, Tree Hugger!" "Oh, man. You're really bumming out." Tree Hugger said "Can you just, like, lower your voice a skosh?" "A skosh? A skosh?!" Discord exclaimed as he tear something from his left eagle claw and open a portal. Then he wave his bear paw as Tree Hugger levitate near to the portal. "Whoa, dude! What is that?!" she pointed to the portal showing a sock puppet in it. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm simply going to send you to another dimension." Discord said "I can't have anything interfering in my relationship with Fluttershy." "Discord, stop!" Fluttershy shouted. "I will, just as soon as she's gone." Discord said. "Then we can have a good laugh and talk about the whole affair over a regular Tuesday tea." "Don't worry, Fluttershy. We'll stop him." Twilight said with the others on her side as Discord shake his tea cup and pulled a disco ball which grew in size as the Smooze entranced by it. Discord threw it as it bounce to Twilight and her friends, the Smooze smothered them. "I'm doing a favor for her Fluttershy. Beside, nothing's going to interfere with out tea time." Discord said. "Not if I had anything to say about that!" another voice was heard as in quick speed, Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 punch Discord's face, sending him topple down to the floor. "Ow! My face!" Discord rubbing his sore cheek as he glanced at the Gundam AGE 4. "The Gundam!" Twilight shouted. "What the hay is he doing here?" Rainbow asked. "Probably came to save Tree Hugger." Pinkie guessed as the others nodded. "D'oh! As if I had to deal with one nuisance, I had to deal with this vigilante!" Discord muttered and glaring at him. "Gundam, please, let me talk to Discord-" Fluttershy's sentence was interrupted as he turned to her. "No, I handle this traitor myself." he store his beam riffle and pulled his beam saber. "I knew that you couldn't be trusted not after a couple of years of your redemption. Now you threaten to send a pony to another dimension, this is gone too far. I'll stop you once and for all!" "Please, do you think you can take me on with that toy of yours?" Discord said "I'm the spirit of chaos for pete sake!" "I know but I mastered on how to nullified your magic." He charging at Discord as he snapped his finger, he disappeared as Discord appeared behind him. However, he spin around and slash towards him which he snapped his finger, conjuring a magic bubble shield, but the impact from his beam saber broke it easily. "What the?! That's shouldn't be impossible! My magic is all chaos!" Discord exclaimed as Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 charging at him as he snapped his finger at him only for no avail. He backed away from it only for the saber to slice the mustache from him. "Well that's rude! Those are my favorite!" Discord snapped his finger and his mustache was fixed. "My armors able to nullified any kinds of magic even chaos magic. So you're petty magic is no match for me!" Cosmo charging at him as Discord kept teleporting away from him only for him to caught him in his throat upon teleporting then slammed him to the ground, injuring him. "Gahhh!" Discord grunted in pain as he growled at the Gundam. "Okay, you want to play rough?!" he snapped his finger as two swords appeared "I'll play rough!" Just as both about to charging at each other, Fluttershy came between them. "ENOUGH!!!!!!!" The two stopped upon this as Flutteshy turned to Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4. "Move it, miss! I had a mission to-" "No, enough Gundam! I told you let me talk to Discord! Why would you go and hurt him?!" Fluttershy asked. "He's nothing but a spirit of chaos! He caused so many misery and unhappiness in the past not to mention, he sided with Lord Tierk and almost put Equestria into ruins! And now he going to threaten somepony so I can't let that traitor live as I must dispelled all chaos to achieve peace!" Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 said. "Yes, he made so many mistake in the past, but he changed now!" Fluttershy argued. "How would you know if he truly changed? How would you know he won't betrayed everypony again?" he asked. "Look, Gundam, I know what I done in the past, but Fluttershy and her friends changed me and open my eyes to see how important friendship is. And I regretted of what I done for sided with Lord Tierk." Discord said. Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 glared at him, gripping his beam saber. But seeing from the eyes from the Spirit of Chaos and from Fluttershy, he soften his eyes as he place his beam saber back into his side skirt. "One talk to him, miss." he said as she nodded as she came to Discord. "I don't understand why are you doing this? We were all getting along so well." Discord argued "As well as we could considering you've stomped all over our friendship by inviting her to the biggest night of the year as if I didn't matter!" He point to Tree Hugger as Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 understood what he meant. "You mean you're doing this because you thought that she abandon you?" he asked. "Exactly!" Discord said. "Do you think that I'd abandon you just because I had a new friend?!" Fluttershy asked. "Yes, because that's what you did!" Discord replied. "No, Discord! I invited a friend to a party! I didn't abandon you!" Fluttershy said "What if you had a friend that you can discuss chaos-based magic with? Would that mean we weren't friends anymore?!" Discord thinking about it "Uh....." "No, I suppose not. It would mean that I'd have different friends for different things......" Discord twiddling his finger "Oh, oh, dear....it looks like I've overreacted just a skosh?" "More like a lot of skoshes!" Fluttershy said then to Tree Hugger "Tree Hugger, could you please give us a minute?" Tree Hugger nodded, giving her some time to talk to him. "I'm just so new at this whole friendship thing." Discord apologized to her while she crossing her arm "It's so much more complicated than it looks." "Do you maybe you won somepony an apology?" Fluttershy asked as Discord offer a flower only for her to slapped it away. "Not me!" "Oh." Discord understand what she meant as he snapped his finger, closing the portal as Tree Hugger fall down only for Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 to caught her and gently set her down. "Now what about that?" Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 point to the Smooze coming towards the other Gala ponies. "Yeah, yeah, I know." Discord said "Sheesh, even grimmer than Princess Celestia......" He reached into the Smooze and pulled all of the treasure out of him, returning him to normal size and free Twilight and her friends. Discord then came to Tree Hugger "Er, Tree Hugger......I'm sorry that you got caught in the middle of my........er, you know......wraith." "Oh, it's all groovy" Tree Hugger said as Discord hug her only for her to push him away. "Um, I need like a few minutes to clear out my charkars before I can hug you from a place of authenticity." "Oh, your charkars...." Discord laugh nervously "Fair enough." Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 sighed that everything calm down as he about to leave he saw Fluttershy coming up to him. She gave a look as understand what she meant he nodded and came to Discord. "Discord, I'm sorry for attacking you. I let my bitterness get to me because of what you did in the past and I decide to make amends to you. Friends?" He raise his hand as Discord smile and grasp his hand. "Friends." Then from Discord, he widened his eyes as he seeing something from him as both release their hands. "Discord, are you all right?" Fluttershy came to his side as he shook his head. "Huh? Oh well, I'm fine." Discord said as Cosmo/Gundam AGE 4 use his horn and teleport away. At the aftermath, the Royal Guards came in with Shining Armor as they saw the mess of the Gala. Princess Celestia explained what happened as Shining Armor explained that the Gundam appeared and defend the castle from a battlefront of Changelings. He also asked if the Gundam appeared as she nodded only for him to disappeared. The guards nodded as they return to their quarters but not when Shining Armor saying hi to his little sister and friends. Once the Gala is cleaned, the party resume as Twilight and her friends with Derpy came to the show stage with Discord and the Smooze. "I own you an apology, Smooze. I spent the whole weekend thinking my own feelings and never thinking about yours." The Smooze respond is a kiss on his cheek as Discord was touched by his affection. "Well, friends! I think I may actually grow to like this multiple-friend thing." "I like it too." Maud, a grey earth pony said. "Hey, it's not a party until somepony spreads magic-resistant ooze uncontrollable in the ballroom." Pinkie squee then hug the ooze creature "Come on, Smoozinator! Let's dance!" The Smooze came down following Pinkie as both dancing while Twilight and Princess Celestia glanced at this. She turned to her former mentor "I'm sorry, Princess Celestia. I thought I can give you a break tonight....." she sighed "but it turns out I was over my head. And now, I won't able to dance with Cosmo........" "I beg to differ." a voice was heard as both turned and saw Cosmo coming in with Princess Luna with her gala dress. "Cosmo!" Twilight rushed towards him and gave a hug which he return the affection. Then both stare at each other as both let go of each other, having their face in crimson. "I'm so glad that you came back." she shyly said. "Well, I'm not going to let the best night be wasted." Cosmo smile as Twilight blush at him. "Princess Luna, so glad you came." Princess Celestia said. "Well, I'm not going to miss my first time in the Gala with my dear nephew." Princess Luna said as Cosmo nodded then glance at Twilight. "Twilight, I'm sorry for making a scene in the Gala. I guess I still have hatred to Discord for what he did before, and I couldn't let it go......." Cosmo's sentence was interrupted as a hoof close his mouth. "It's okay, Cosmo. Spike told me the reason and I understand that." Twilight said "Still once the Gala is over, you're going to apologize to him, okay?" Cosmo nodded with a smile as he turned to Princess Celestia. "Auntie Celestia, I'm sorry......" "You both have nothing to apologize for. This has been the most fun Gala in years!" Princess Celestia said in joyful tone. "Yeah, I know-" "Still, I-" "Wait, What?!" Both double-take as they heard what Princess Celestia said. "But there was ooze in the place!" Twilight said. "And one of the guest threaten to send somepony to another dimension!" Cosmo added. "I know!" Princess Celestia said. "Can you imagine how dull it would be if I haven't invited Discord?" She place her wings onto Twilight as Luna did the same for Cosmo. "Come on! Whoo!" Both princesses pushing them to the dance floor as a soft music was heard as both Twilight and Cosmo shyly glanced away as with some courage, Cosmo held his hoof. (Music Start) "May I have this dance?" Twilight blushing red as she nodded as she gently grasp it as both begin. He held her in the dance floor as from the soft rhythm of the music, one, two, one, two steps keeping up with the music. From each perspective, each of them were nervous of this but Cosmo ignore those fear and let the music control him and Twilight. "Wow, Cosmo. I didn't know you're pretty good." "Well, my Papa taught me how to dance back when I was young." "I only read in books, but I never did this before-whoa!" She stumble on her dress, but Cosmo caught her as their muzzle were closer to each other, making their face red as tomatoes. "You okay?" She only nodded with a smile "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." With a nod, he help her to her hoof as they continue dancing. While dancing, he saw Derpy dancing with a brown stallion with a bow tie and a cutie mark of a hourglass. "Cosmo, thanks." "For what?" "For coming here to the Gala. And for coming back to me." Twilight said. "You're welcome, Twilight." he smile as he gaze into her eyes. They're like sparking like stars that shimmering through the night and filled with beauty that only an angel would swoop down and grace around the field. (Music end) Everypony gaze at the two dancing together like watching a theater show as Discord having thoughts crossing into his mind upon seeing Cosmo. Could this pony................be...............and what's this............power.........it's powerful..........yet........ a frighting darkness coursing in him........ Ending : > Episode 9 - Blade of Bushido > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Ponyville, set 6 weeks in The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone) Cosmo placed his AGE Device onto his AGE Builder as the machine begin to hummed, scanning the data from the device with the screen showing new parts. Cosmo sighed as his thought came into his mind. Just last week night, he got the chance to experience The Grand Galloping Gala with his friends. It was a hearfelt feeling that he did when Derpy came with him but after having a dance with Twilight, he starting to felt his heart beating crazy. He can't understand why though as some point he apologize to Derpy for seeing him dancing with Twilight, she forgive him saying that as long as she got to experience it then she's okay as well as she introduce to her best friend, Doctor Hooves. He also made some amends with Discord after letting go of his hatred to him for what he did in the past as the spirit of chaos said that it's fine as there somepony still hold little hatred to him but will give in time to let go. His mind recalled to a special thing that Twilight did.... Flashback (Ponyville, set in Party Crasher/Make new friends, but keep Discord) Once the train stop at Ponyville, all of Cosmo's friends said their goodbye as they headed back to their homes. Cosmo approach Derpy and Doctor Hooves who about to head back to their homes. "Thanks, Derpy for coming to the Grand Galloping Gala. It was a fun experience." Derpy blushed red and turned her head shyly "Oh, you're welcome Cosmo but it was you who I should be thankful for you." "What do you mean?" Cosmo asked. "You see, I want to go to the Grand Galloping Gala but only problem is that I need to take care of my child. And even with Doctor's help to look after, I tried to have fun in there but most ponies often see me as weird because......." Derpy trailed off as Cosmo guessed what's she feeling due to the fact her eyes begin to water. "Derpy you're special. Don't let anypony change you nor tell you who you are." Cosmo said as Derpy widened her eyes upon his word. "You really mean it?" Cosmo nodded as she smile while having tears dripping on her eyes as she hugged him which he accepted. "Thanks Cosmo, for being my best friend." After a few moments, both said their goodbyes as they headed to their home. He turned around as he saw Twilight heading back home by herself with Spike on her back, sleeping. Feeling butterflies around his stomach and also an unknown feeling, he came to her. "Twilight." She turned and saw Cosmo walking towards her. "Oh, Cosmo, should you head back home to sleep?" "I could ask you the same thing, with Spike on your back sleeping." Cosmo replied "Do you want me to walk you back home?" Twilight turned her head away, shyly "It's okay, I can handle it, you don't need to do this." "I know, but I want to." he raised his hoof as her cheek blushed red, then smile as she grasp her hoof and both walked towards Twilight's castle. "So, what do you think of the Gala?" Twilight asked "To be honest, it was an incredible experience." Cosmo said "It reminded me more of my parent's own gala that they often planned on after every end of the month or year but much lively with you and your friends." "Even though that Discord and the Smooze made it.........." "'Unique?'" Cosmo finished her sentence as she nodded. "By the way, Spike told me about the reason you're grudge against Discord." Twilight said as he lower his head. "Oh, that." "I understand that feeling. I was too uncertain of him when he betrayed us to Lord Tierk, but after seeing how he changed because of Fluttershy, I willing to give it a benefit of a doubt and starting trusting him......sort of." "For me, it was because of him, I was in hiding along with other students at the Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Auntie Luna placed me there when she called with you, Auntie Celestia, Princess Cadance, and you." Cosmo explained. "I see." Cosmo looked down "After Lord Tierk is resealed back into Tartarus, we finally resume back to our lives but for me and some, we're still untrusting of him after what he did." "So what made you give him another chance?" Twilight asked. "I-I thought up deeply after I went to get fresh air." Cosmo said. Twilight nodded as she gave a small smile "By the way thanks." "For what?" "For coming to the Grand Galloping Gala." she gave a small blush "It was memorable." Cosmo blushed as he gave a chuckled "Especially the dance we did?" Twilight giggled "Yeah, that was amazing." "Speaking of which, I got more friendship lessons prepared for you tomorrow, so I hope you get some sleep." "Consider that you got a huge stacks of friendship lesson, I will." Cosmo laughed as Twilight joined too. "By the way, I love the necklace you gave me." Twilight said as she showed the Cosmic Shards "Thanks." "You're welcome, Princess Luna found the rest of it after she adopted me when she came to my old home. I thought of doing something to make it for you." "But why me? Why not Derpy?" she asked "Well, I don't know, but I guessed it's because I feel more connected to you not because of you being the princess, element of harmony, or as my teacher, but something else. Something that's deep within my memories." "What is it?" Twilight asked Before Cosmo can explained, he glance and gave sighed " Oh, we're here." Twilight looked as they are at the front of her castle "Oh, that was.....fast....." she gave a sadden look on the ground but change to her gentle smile. As Twilight walked up the stairs, both blushed at each other as both unable to say something either romantic or a friendship stuff. "So, I guess I'll be seeing you soon tomorrow then." Cosmo rubbed his head. "Yeah, thanks for walking me back home or rather" she turned to Spike, still sleeping "us". "All right, goodnight, Twilight." "Good night." she about to walk up the stairs but stopped as she rushed to him, gave a quick kiss on the cheek, making his light green coat burning in red before returning inside, leaving him stiff as a statue. "Thank you, Cosmo." she gave a nuzzle before heading back home, leaving the stiffed stallion frozen upon what she did. (End Flashback) Cosmo still rubbed his cheek, the spot where Twilight kissed him. Despite being washed, the feeling of the kiss burning his cheek upon the thought as his heart still beating crazy than normal. Could he fallen in love with Twilight? His train of thought was shaken off as a noise was heard as his AGE Builder finished scanning then open up revealing another set of armors. It was similar to the AGE 1 Spallow design but clad in dark blue armor design to that of a samurai. From the legs, it was bulky yet slim design with a samurai design to it as to the end of the feet, have streamed yet bulky design as the front skirt was shorten similar to the Spallow only with a clip on the left side. On the shoulder, it have the samurai designs with builds much like the AGE 1 Razor as for the arms an circular shaped was placed on the bottom. "Sweet!" Cosmo glanced at his newest armor in amazement. "Another AGE armor is complete!" He set them aside as he type something in the computer when Haro called him "Cosmo, Cosmo!" "What is it, Haro?" he asked. "Cutie mark glowing! Cutie mark glowing!" his robot companion point to his mark that is shone as he glanced at it, he guessed what it means. "Guess the map is calling me." he set his stuff down as he levitate his AGE Device and put it on his neck. "Haro, see if you can put the new armor into the Gundam while I'm gone, okay?" "Roger, Roger!" Haro said. With a smile, he headed out of his basement, lock it in, and headed out of his home, locking the front door and headed to the castle. Opening : At the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, Cosmo got there when Pinkie kept hopping and Rainbow who just laid down on the throne when Twilight came in. As the map materialized, only his, Rainbow's, and Pinkie's spinning around a location which Twilight is excited at this location. "This is so exciting. The map is summoning you to Griffonstone, the very heart of the Griffon Kingdom!" the Princess of Friendship levitate a book. "Isn't that the 'Bygone of Griffon Greatness' books cause I read this books back at Canterlot before I moved here." Cosmo said as Twilight nodded. "Glad that you're taking interested into history." "Well, I know to have a good mind in historical events happened in Equestria back at Canterlot." Cosmo said. "Ponies tend to ask me for help in history." "Anyway, I don't know if either of you, save for Cosmo, read 'Bygone of Griffon Greatness' , but Griffon known to be-" "Rude, insensitive bullies?" Rainbow spat it which Cosmo and Twilight turned to her. "You mean Glida?" Twilight asked. "Glida?" Cosmo asked "You mean that griffon that you girls once told me about that bullied Fluttershy and Pinkie when she visit Ponyville?" "The one and the same." Rainbow said. "When she came to Ponyville, she was a total jerk to all my friends, especially Pinkie Pie!" "She was a bit party pooper." Pinkie said as Rainbow nodded. "So, maybe Glida was little bit rude. You still get to go to Griffonstone, and according to this book, it has a rich, fascinating history like Cosmo said." Twilight said as she narrating a history "In ancient times, griffons were known to be greedy as dragons, always hoarding their bits and other treasure. But all that changed when King Grover found the mysterious Idol of Boreas. Legend says the Idol of Boreas was made from dust of golden sunsets, blown across by the northern wind. Possessing the Idol of Boreas filled the griffon with pride. It's said that one great treasure is responsible for turning Griffonstone into the majestic kingdom of all land." "Right, and because of this, the Idol of Boreas was kept into King Grover's castle along with a ceremony tradition that celebrate the discovering of the treasure." Cosmo added. "Yep! Glad I'm not the only one who know interesting in griffons." Twilight said as Cosmo blush a bit. "And why you two care for griffons anyway?" Rainbow asked. "It was Glida's visit that made me curious." Twilight said. "So I picked up 'Bygone Griffons of Greatness' and I've been hooked ever since!" "As for me, my parents have that book when I was young. They told that at some point, one of my ancestor, Chrono Bringer, often visit the Griffonstone to learn more about them." Cosmo explained. "Oh, just like Stardust Bringer that you mention when you came to Appleloosa." Pinkie said as Cosmo nodded. "And now........" Twilight glanced at the map with a sigh "Now you three can get to see Griffonstone with your very eyes." "Guess it's just me, Pinkie, and Rainbow......." Cosmo felt sadden that Twilight isn't coming since the map didn't summon her as she notice at his tone. "Hey, you can totally take my place if you want." Rainbow yawned "I still got a nap to finish." "Rainbow, I don't think that somepony would taking up your place. Beside, the others are busy at the moments." Cosmo said as Rainbow groaned while rolling her eyes. "Why don't you come with us? You are the Princess of Friendship." Pinkie asked. "No, no, if the map wanted me to go to the coolest kingdom in all of Equestria and tour the palace and see the idol that unites the entire species, which would be super amazing, I'm sure I would said so." Twilight pauses upon seeing the map as Cosmo guessed what she's feeling then she make the map disappeared. "You three can handle whatever the issue is just fine. I'll stay here and do important princessy things. I guess." She laid her head feeling unhappy. "Well then, come on, Dashie! We're going to Griffonstone!" Pinkie said as Rainbow sighed. "All right." "That's the spirit!" Pinkie blow a party noise as the two headed out as Cosmo walking slowly and glanced back at Twilight feeling sad. "I wish you can come, Twilight. I felt like things would be different without you." "Cosmo, I understand how you're feeling but I'll be fine. Beside, you said it yourself, the map called you, Pinkie, and Rainbow for a reason so it's clear that you three can handle things." Twilight reassure him as he sighed. "Okay, but just in case, I'll bring something for you." Cosmo said as Twilight giggled. "Here, Cosmo." she levitate a saddlebag to him "Just in case you, Rainbow, and Pinkie need to know when you get there." "Cosmo! Hurry up!" Rainbow's voice was heard as Cosmo exit out the castle. As the Friendship Train traveling to the parts of Equestria to Griffonstone, Cosmo glance at the window as he sighed a bit and turn to see Pinkie sitting next to him while Rainbow reading a book that Twilight made for them. He gaze at his AGE Device as his mind begin to drift as his mind recalled to the event happened after the Grand Galloping Gala. Flashback (Ponyville, set 3 days after Make New Friends, but Keep Discord) While finish repairing all 3 broken carriages at the backyard, Cosmo spotted Applejack coming towards him as he set his tools down. "Hey Applejack. What's going on?" "Well, m'ah Apple carriage is broken after an accident that m'ah brother did on the farm. Being old as long as the Apple family have been." Applejack said. "Say no more. I'll get it fix." Cosmo said. As he begin fixing the bottom of the carriage, he pulled out and said to her "Seems like the bottom is starting to rotten away. I'm going need to get some wood of that type to get it fix." "All right, mine if I tag along?" Applejack asked as he nodded as they walking towards a wood shop. "So, still little sore about Discord?" the farm pony asked as he shook his head. "Not really. After seeing how honest he is, I'll willing to give him the benefit of a doubt....sort of." Cosmo replied. "Yeah, I get what you mean. Some of us are still uncertain of him but overtime we trusting him now." "Yeah." "So is it true that there's another Changeling army coming towards Canterlot Castle?" Applejack asked as he nodded. "Yeah, I had to defend it from them. Can't let it ruin chance to make it the best night." "I know that feeling, Cosmo. M'ah friends and I tried to make our first gala the best night but what we envision didn't go as we thought we did." "Really? How bad?" "We don't want to talk about it." Applejack deadpanned as Cosmo chuckled. "Anyway, how did you know about the Changeling army?" "Well some of the Royal Guards came in after you vanished somewhere along with Shining Armor explaining to us." "Who's Shining Armor?" Cosmo asked as Applejack stopped. "Oh right, Twilight forgot to mention to you. You see, Shining Armor is the Captain of the Royal Guards and also Twilight's big brother." "Wait, what?!" Cosmo shocked at this info. His knowledge trace back to the purple armored stallion, symbolizing the Captain of the Royal Guard that ordered him to be arrested when he donned his Gundam AGE 4 Normal armor. "Something on your mind, Cosmo?" Applejack snapped him out of his mind as Cosmo explained to her what happened. After that, Applejack was surprised to hear that. "Gosh, I never knew that Shining Armor was trying to arrest you even though you save Canterlot." "Well, because of Auntie Celestia and Auntie Luna keeping my secret from everypony, the Royal Guards assume me as a vigilante." "So what now? Unless you going to reveal your secret to them, how you're going to dodge them from arresting you?" "Just do what I always do. Finish my fight and disappeared before they can reach me." End Flashback Cosmo's mind snapped out of his memory lane as Pinkie asked "Whatcha reading, Rainbow?" Rainbow sighed "Twilight literally wrote a book on what we need to do in Griffonstone." "You mean like a guide on how to figure out what problems we're supposed to fix?" Pinkie said while getting candy from the cart. "And then some. It's like Twilight herself in book form." she then imitating Twilight along with her mane " 'Always carrying plenty of bits. The griffons are sure to help you as long as you share the wealth.' " She closed the book as Cosmo groaned "Please don't imitating her like that........" "Okay, okay, you don't want me to make fun of your marefriend." Rainbow teased as Cosmo's cheek turned red. "W-what?! N-no, that's not-" the white unicorn stuttered. "I know that look, Cosmy! That means that you have special feelings for her!" Pinkie pointed as his face turned beet red. Cosmo lower his head in sighed "Let's just switch the subject, okay?! As long as we don't go overspending the bits, then we should be........" Both ponies glance at Pinkie who paying lots of bits on the cart for the load of treats. ".......fine." Both glare at her as the party pony swallow her treat. "Uh, can I borrow some bits?" Both of them rolled their eyes along with hoof face with Cosmo sighed in annoyance. As the train stopped as the three ponies exited out into a rickety like train stop. Cosmo and Rainbow tighten the rope of their saddle bags as Pinkie putting stuff into them as both having a unhappy expression before looking up into the mountain and saw the kingdom on top. From hours, Cosmo and Rainbow walking while Pinkie hopping at some point they see the party pony hopping onto a one stepped pillar. They continue traveling through the bridge as all three of them jump to another ledge. After walking a bit, both of them were tired as Pinkie point to the kingdom which takes another hour to get there. Both of them having a shocked expression as Pinkie reassure them which both smile but once she proceed through, both having an serious expression. At some point, Cosmo decide to carried Rainbow's stuff which he grunted while walking until they finally reached to the entrance of the kingdom. Cosmo grunted while panted heavily due to the heavy load of their saddlebags as he collapse into the ground. "We........finally.......made it........" Cosmo wheeze a bit as he levitate a water bottle and drinking it. "Here Cosmo." Rainbow got her saddlebags out of his back "Thanks for carrying for me." Cosmo nodded to her. "Aw, Twilight should come along!" Pinkie said as Rainbow looked shocked at the sight "Then she could see first-hoof that Griffonstone is....." Pinkie glanced as she had the same expression. Cosmo got up as he too have the same expression upon seeing the sight of Griffonstone : everywhere from the town, the house were ransacked and broken, the floor were a huge mess and the castle seem abandoned. The griffons just doing their daily life despite the town is in a written state. ".....a total dump!" Pinkie commented. As Cosmo, Pinkie, and Rainbow walking in Griffonstone, the Lineage of the Bringer family was shocked to see the written state the town is in. From left to right, he see a griffon trying to land on a branch but it broke down along with a house and two more playing a board game next to a broken house. All around he see a griffon bumping each other which they pushed them out of the way. He was glad that Twilight isn't here to see this otherwise, he can't imagine what reaction she display upon seeing this wasteland. Just what happen to the once majestic peaceful kingdom? Did the Changeling invade this place? No, Changeling mostly hunt pony's emotion and love so a griffon's emotion wouldn't be part of their diet. What about Tierk? Can't be, he only after Equestria Magic so he wouldn't waste time coming to this place. Hopefully that when he get to the castle, he can ask King Grover about it that is if he's alive or not. "Ugh, maybe the map should called Rarity instead of the map." Rainbow said. "Well I'm glad that the map didn't call her otherwise if she see this, well you get the idea." Cosmo said as his mind imagine of her fainted upon one glance at this place and who knows what in Equestria what the fashionista would do next. Rainbow nodded imagine the same thing as him and shivered "Yeah good point." "Still this is the right place right?" Cosmo looking around the area. Pinkie spotted a griffon walking by them "Excuse me, sir?" she got on his face "This is Griffonstone, right?" But the griffon place his claw and moved her to another spot before leaving. "Well, that wasn't nice." Pinkie commented. "See? These griffons are exactly what I thought they'd be." Rainbow said. "Still, there must be a reason why the griffons are acting this way." Cosmo wondered. "Maybe we should find the palace so we can ask the king what's going on?" Pinkie said. "We don't have a king, losers." a rude tomboyish voice was heard as they turned and a female griffon appeared which Rainbow glare at her. "Hello, Glida." "Dash." "Pinkie!" she said as Cosmo looked at her oddly. "What are you doing here?" Rainbow asked venomously. "Uh, I'm a griffon? What's your excuse, dweebs?" Gilda spat at them. "Hey! These 'dweebs' are here to help Griffonstone!" Pinkie said. "Help it what?" Gilda asked. "Well......we're not really sure! But it involves a map and our cutie marks and a problem and-" Glida walking away from her "Bored now!" However she glanced at Cosmo who looked at her curiously. "And who is this dude, Dash? Your coltfriend?" she said as both Rainbow and Cosmo blushed intensely. "He's not my coltfriend!!" Rainbow shouted as Cosmo rubbed his head in embarrassment. "She's right. We're friends not a couple." he turned to the griffon. "Anyway, my name is Cosmo Bringer and -" "Wait, did you say Bringer?" At that tone, Glida glare at him with her wings unfurled up. "Yeah, why-?" Cosmo's sentence was interrupted when Glida charged at him which Cosmo dodge out of the way. Glida then glare daggers at him as she flew in the sky and charged at him as Cosmo prepared his horn until Rainbow stopped her. "Hey! What's the big idea attacking my friend?!" Rainbow glared at her while holding her down. "Why in all Equestria would you dweebs bring a Bringer here?!" Glida asked "All Bringers aren't welcome here in Griffonstone!" That caught his attention as Cosmo raise his eyebrow in confusion "Why?" Glida continue struggling to break free to no avail. "You Bringers cause nothing but misery! Ever since that one of your ancestor caused us to being in this pitiful state!" Glida spat as she calm down as Rainbow let her go but having a furrowed expression. "Why would you blame my ancestor for this?" Cosmo asked "They never did anything wrong!" "Yeah right." Glida said. "Anyway, if there's no king, can you tell us what happened to the Idol of Boreas?" Pinkie asked. Glida laughed at that item "Don't tell me that you really believing that thing?" "You better believe it!" a gruff voice was heard as they turned and saw an old griffon came out of the penthouse, coughing and wheezing in process. "It was the best thing that happen to us griffon!" Glida groaned "Oh great. now you got Grandpa Gruff started!" The old griffon walked up to them but glancing at Cosmo, he furrow his eyebrows "Those eyes, you have the same as him." "You mean Chrono Bringer?" Cosmo asked as he nodded. "Please tell us, what happened to the Idol of Boreas and why my ancestor was blamed for this." "Of course," he laughed "only for a couple of bits." Cosmo sighed as he pulled his bits from his saddle bag and paid him. He glanced at the bits he gotten as he checked on it before putting on his hat. "The first Griffon King, King Grover, united our kind like we've never been united before or since!" the old griffon explaining to them unknown to him, Glida mimicking him. "And he did it all with that incredible Idol of Boreas!" He notice as he turned to Glida, she stopped. Cosmo and Rainbow looked at Pinkie, tried to hold a stiff laugh as Grandpa Gruff explained more while leading them to the kingdom. "At one point, a pony name Chrono Bringer, came to our kingdom as we griffons don't get along with ponies, but he changed everything when he and King Guto became best friends. They talked about how to rule a kingdom, how to pay taxes for our homes, and even offer to build more jobs using the treasures we have for us to work. At some point, they talked of uniting griffons and ponies to work together in a diplomatic solution to protect the Idol of Boreas. Until, Armaspi came, stealing the treasure we supposed to protect. King Guto and Chrono fought against him, but he was too strong and manage to get away with the griffon treasure. Chrono manage to catch up with him and fought bitter hard to retrieve it along side with King Guto, but........the bridge broke by the struck of the lighting, as Chrono only save the King's life while letting the griffon treasure fall to the Abysmal Abyss. With the treasure gone, so as our pride, King Guto ended their friendship with Chrono as griffons throw their hatred at him, banning him from our miserable kingdom along with other members of the Bringer. The end!" Cosmo, Rainbow, and Pinkie were shocked. Even though that Chrono Bringer tried to help his friend even saving his life, his friend threw his hatred at him along with other griffons. The Lineage of the Bringer Family lower his head in sadness while Rainbow place her hoof on his shoulder. Pinkie Pie, tearing up in her eyes, sniffled "That was the sadness story ever!" "Aw, well.....Tough Tailfeathers! No Refund!" Grandpa Gruff said as he flew away. "I know my ancestors always want to good things to Equestria, but........" Cosmo mumbled, unable to say anything as Rainbow continue to console him. "My family never told me about this........even when Chrono did the right thing to help him." "No wonder Twilight's book ended with the coronation of King Guto. Who would want to record a history that sad?" Pinkie said. "It's not sad!" Glida said as Cosmo and Pinkie turned to her "Do we look sad to you?" Seeing Grandpa Gruff struggle to get out, the ponies stayed silence. Rainbow walked to the formal pedestal and turned to them "Pinkie, Cosmo, I think I know why the map sent us. We need to find the Idol of Boreas and bring glory and pride back to Griffonstone!" "But how this would prove anything of it?" Cosmo asked. "Well, if we find it, not only we bring glory and pride back to Griffonstone, but it would bring back the relationship between your ancestor and the griffons." Rainbow said. "That make sense......." Cosmo mumbled. "Ha-ha. Here we go - typical pony hero complex." Gilda said "None of us care about that dumb idol nor any Bringers. Don't you get it. We don't care about anything and that's the way we like it!" Cosmo glared at her, getting his nerve at the breaking point "Say all you want, Glida. But to live without any caring will bring nothing but misery and empty future." "Again with the Bringers' wisdom, you Bringers think you're so high and mighty?! I can't stand of you guys!" Both of them glare daggers ready to break each other until Rainbow pulled Cosmo away from her. "Enough, Glida! You already done enough damage before, I don't want to see you do it again on my friends, got that?!" Glida huffed but retain her furrowed eyebrow and flew away from the palace. Cosmo turned to Rainbow and Pinkie "I'm sorry about my anger." "Hey, it's cool. I know you got lots of mind of what happened to your ancestor." Rainbow said as he nodded. "If any case, we're going to find that treasure, make Griffonstone cool again, bring back the relationship between the Bringers, and go home! Come on!" "Wait, Rainbow Dash." Pinkie said "What about Twilight's advice?" "What, taking bunch of pictures?" Rainbow said. "That's not what she meant, Rainbow." Cosmo said. "She mention to find answer in the library." Rainbow threw the guide book to him which he caught it on his magic grasp. "Knock you two self out. But when you two get bored with Twilight's tour book, I'll be at the Abyssal Abyss to find the Idol of Boreas." Rainbow said. "Okay just be careful Rainbow and if you need me, then I'll come." Cosmo said as Rainbow blushed a bit but retain her cool. "Yeah, just don't make me too sappy." With that, she flew away, leaving them to head to the library. Rainbow burst a door to a shop and landed "I'm here to find your missing idol and save Griffonstone." She open her one eye as her smile ended, seeing a shop owner isn't interested nor care to fix a broken door that Rainbow burst through. "Uh, I'll need some rope, a grappling hook, and a guide to take me down to the Abyssal Abyss." The shop owner replied with an unamused expression "And I need some bits." Rainbow gave an furrowed look and sighed. Meanwhile, Cosmo and Pinkie walk around the town to find the library when Pinkie hopping towards Glida who's pulling a food cart. Pinkie manage to catch up with her while Cosmo walking slowly behind, still having an furrowed expression towards Glida but remained quiet. "Hey, Glida! Word on the street that Griffonstone has an amazing library chock-full of answers!" "Word on what street?" Glida asked. Cosmo decide to speak up "What Pinkie meant is that you may know where's the library is." Glida, despite having daggers at him which he return with his own, growling while pointing the direction "The library is right there, so why don't you two leave me alone?!" The griffon left them as they move towards the library which like the others of the town, is ruined. Cosmo and Pinkie looked around as the party pony stepped on a open book. "Maybe it's good that Twilight didn't came here with us....." Pinkie walking towards a statue of King Grover "It's sad what happened to your town, King, not to mention ended your friendship with Cosmo's ancestor but Rainbow Dash can't be right. This can't all be because of a missing hunk of gold." She starting to move the statue's lower beak, mimicking his voice "You are right, Pinkie! And you got an amazing hair!" "Oh your old charmer!" Pinkie said as she got out of the statue, unknown to her the lower beak fall down on the floor. Cosmo scanned the ruin library as he pulled every single books and skim through every pages then tossed to the floor and repeat the same process. After going through the last book, he groaned "Ugh! It's no use, none of the books have any information that can be helpful!" "Cosmy, calm down." Pinkie got behind him "You're letting your stress boiled your mind, now just take deep breaths." Cosmo inhaled then exhale from his mouth as Pinkie continue to helping him calm down. After taking 20 breaths, he gave a small smile. "Thanks, Pinkie, but how did you know I was stressing out?" "Oh, I learned that when I was helping the author, GundamBrony." Pinkie said. Cosmo cocked his head in confusion "Uh, who?" "GundamBrony, you know the 20 year old guy writing this episode based on the Prime MLP series and this awesome crossover story! I mostly come to his dream and help him calmed down on daily basis." Pinkie said, leaving him another confusion. "Say what?" Then Cosmo remembered some of the things that both Auntie Luna and Princess Twilight told him about Pinkie's randomness (something that Twilight doesn't want to bring up to one point when she tried to understand her). He shook his head and said "Never mind." Pinkie gave a smile as she hopped to the carriage while Cosmo glance around the ruin library shelves. Scanned from every books he pulled he tried to find more clues. I just hope I can find something that Chrono left it here. Since he's friends with King Grover, he always kept a journal like my ancestors did, chronicling everything he did. Pinkie saw two griffons bumped each other then walking away each other as Cosmo saw it too and sighed. I wish I know what truly happened to my ancestor after King Grover ended their friendship. Pinkie got an idea and glance at Glida setting her carriage down "I know what Griffonstone needs!" "Fewer ponies and Bringers?" Glida spat. "A song! I've got an super song about smiling that sure that even the most grumpy griffons grin!" She begin to inhale her breath, but Glida place her claw talons on her mouth. "Can't sing here!" Glida point to a sign with a crossed of a singing sign. "But how do you know into an uplifting musical number with no singing?" Pinkie asked. "Yeah, that's the Griffonstone's biggest problems - lack of uplifting musical numbers." Glida said. While Cosmo glanced at the situation, he sighed as he kept looking around the ruined library, a faint glowed came from his AGE Device as he point to the direction to the roof hays of the ruined library indicated by the brighter shone. Guessing that something hidden, he followed it as he squeeze through inside the roof. As he continue follow his AGE Device, he found something hard he walked on. He look down as he touch the ground, trying to find something hidden until he found a hidden door handle. Using his strength, he lift the wreckage out of the way and open the door only to find it's lock. There's must be a key here somewhere.......Cosmo glanced around the wreckage, trying to find something that can unlock the door. He glanced at the wired shaped compartment shaped to that of his AGE Device. He removed his AGE Device as he placed onto the compartment as a 'click' was heard. Satisfied, he open the hidden door revealing a book on a pedestal along with a treasure chest on the side. He grabbed the book as the cover have a cutie mark of a gear like design along with a star based shaped on the middle. This is it. Chrono Bringer's journal. he open the book as it was filled with sketches and ideas along with research topics. Now I can figure out what happened to him. He flipped the pages until he found one page as he read it through : I knew this day have come. I've been preparing this ever since King Grover and I been friends. Our friendship won't last forever especially the important projects of keep the Idol of Boreas safe. I know that the griffons relied heavily on this treasure but should anything happened to it, then this kingdom would fall into ruins. Griffons would be careless and bitter towards each other and if this keep up, then I fear that they'll be into ruins too. So I decide to place half of my fortune into this chest hopping that this would helped to rebuild their kingdom, a token of my kindness and hidden in this library, keeping it safe until the time comes. Even if the fortune won't be enough, it meant that something needs to replace with something better. But that's up to them to figure out what it is in hope to rebuild their kingdom back to their former glory. Hopefully, that treasure will be unlocked when the time is right. Upon reading the final sentence, Cosmo was surprised at this. Chrono Bringer prepared this event by hidden half of his fortune in Griffonstone. But it leaves with some questions, what is something that can replace the Idol of Boreas? And why hidden it and wait until the time is right? Thinking about this, he widen his eyes in realization. Could he be awaited for me to restore Griffonstone back to former glory? his mind asked as he begin to piece the puzzle together. "Cosmo! Where are you?" Pinkie's voice snapped out of his thinking as he placed the book in his saddlebags, leaving the treasure behind and closed it before heading out. "I'm here Pinkie, what's going on?" "We just need to baked some griffon scones for Glida." Pinkie said "Grampa Gruff's recipe is good but it's missing one important ingredient." "Don't tell me. Friendship. Bringer." Glida sarcastic asked. "Uh, no. Baking powder. Lucky for you, I never leave home without it." Pinkie pulled a baking powder from her mane. "C'mon Cosmo, let's go baked." Cosmo nodded as he helped her baking the griffon scones. After a few minutes, he placed the last one in the oven. "There. That's should be the last one. Just pop into the ovens and it'll be nice and flaky." A griffon was flying by stopped upon smelling the griffon scones as another griffon knocked her to the ground. "Greta!" Glida widened her eyes as she came to her and helped her up only for Greta to move her arm away from her. "Aha!" Pinkie said "We saw it, Glida! You may act like a gruff, grumbling griffon, but inside you're gracious and great!" "What do you two talking about?" Glida asked. "We saw you helping your friend out. So that means that there's some goodness in you." Cosmo replied. "What, her?" Glida turned to Greta walking unhappy "Greta's just some griffon I know. We don't have friends here!" she sighed "I did have a friend once, but you two know how it turns out." Pinkie's eyes begin to move to the other side as she realize something "Oh my gosh, We've got to go find Rainbow Dash!" She runs off, leaving Cosmo by himself as Glida still carried daggers on her eyes but not hard like before. "Can you try to say that you're sorry for what you did before?" Cosmo asked as Glida turned away. "I don't know......she probably hate me after what I did." she sighed. "You don't know until you try. Beside, I don't like seeing you hurting like this and neither do Rainbow Dash." Cosmo said as he runs off to Pinkie's direction. Meanwhile, Rainbow, in her hiking gear she rent from a local shopkeeper Griffin, looking down at the gorge of Abyssal Abyss. "You sure we can't just fly down there? " she got her answer when she tried to fly down as wind currents blew her back to the ledge. "Whoa! Never mind, totally got my answer there." The shopkeeper hold the rope while Rainbow Dash slowly climbing down the gorge. Unfortunately, the wind currents were so strong, the rope was snapped as Rainbow was plunging down, hitting the wall on the left and landed on the small ledge. Rainbow tried to move, but a sharp pain from her left hoof "Ow! My hoof!" she looked up and shouted "Help! Throw me another rope!" "You got bits?" the shopkeeper asked as Rainbow shook her head. The shopkeeper shrugged and left her. "Wait! Heeeeeeeeelph!" Rainbow cried from the distance. Rainbow placed a bandage on her injured leg as she tighten it. She look down on the ledge and attempt to fly only for the wind currents to blow her to the cliffside. She yelled loudly as two voice was heard. "Rainbow! Are you okay?!" Cosmo yelled as she look up and saw Cosmo and Pinkie on the top ledge. "Yeah, but my left leg is hurt! And I can't fly with the wind currents!" "Forgetting the Idol! I figured out how to solve Griffonstone's real problems- scones!" Pinkie shouted as Cosmo looked at her incredulously. "Seriously?!" "Trust me, Cosmy!" Pinkie said "I know that I'm right! I can feel it!" Just as Cosmo about to speak, Rainbow shouted "Guys, little help?!" both of them look down "Throw me another rope!" Cosmo glanced at a rope, tighten in the boulder as Cosmo shouted "Don't worry, I'll come down to get you!" "What?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Hang tight!" Cosmo tighten the rope around his body as he look at Pinkie. "Pinkie, go get help okay? Just in case if I'm stuck with Rainbow, we'll need every help we can." "Okay dokie!" Pinkie saluted as she dash away. Cosmo look down at the ledge as he begin climbing down to Rainbow, however the wind currents continue to blow harder as he struggle to reach towards his friend. "Okay, I almost there-!" Cosmo said as the wind currents cause the rope to snap upon the stress of it from the rocks as he fall down as he land on the ledge where Rainbow caught him. "Gotcha!" Rainbow pulled him up as he tried to stand but his right leg starting to hurt. "Dah! My leg!" he grunted as he glance at his leg as it was bleeding from the impact of the sharp rocks. "Hang tight, let me get it fix." Rainbow said as she got her medical kit and begin tending his leg. After a few minute, she tighten the bandages as Cosmo turned to her "Thanks, Rainbow." She nodded as Cosmo looked at his injured leg "Guess I won't able to walk that much when we get home to Ponyville." "Hey, it's fine. I'll try to help you get to your home." Rainbow said as Cosmo nodded. "How's your leg?" "Oh, just a sprain. Hopefully when I get home, I'll be going to the Ponyville Hospital to get it checked." Rainbow replied. "I see what you mean." Cosmo looked down as his mind is occupied by the thought of the story that Grandpa Gruff told them about and Chrono Bringer's journal. "Chrono knew this was about to happened." he muttered as Rainbow looked at him. "Huh?" "When I was searching for some answers in the ruin library, I found Chrono Bringer's journal and a chest buried in Griffonstone." "Really?" Rainbow asked as Cosmo nodded. "He said that he prepared the chest for this day when the Griffons lose it with most of his fortune that he saved." "Really?! He gave half of his fortune to help Griffonstone?" Rainbow asked. "That would sure make it back to the former glory." "Yeah but even with it, it won't be enough. He said something about an important thing that would help rebuild the kingdom." Cosmo said. "Well what is it?" Rainbow asked. "To be honest, I don't know but he knows it up to the Griffons and us to figure it out." Rainbow groaned as crumb of the ledge begin to break apart. "We better hope that Pinkie comes with some help!" Cosmo said as Rainbow thought of an idea. "Can't you at least teleport us out of there?!" Cosmo tried to use horn but his horn fizzed out. "It's no use, something is interfering with my magic! I think this Abyss have an anti magic around it." "What?!" Rainbow exclaimed as both hold on to the ledge of the mountain. Glida pulled the scones out of the oven as she sample it which her eyes widened along with a smile. "Rainbow Dash and Cosmo are stuck at the ledge of Abyssal Abyss, and I need your help to save them!" Pinkie alert her. "Not my problem." Glida said. "Of course it's your problem, Rainbow is your friend and so is Cosmo!" "Used to be and for him.....I don't, consider what his ancestor have done." "Can't you remember at least what she was?" Pinkie asked. "Yeah, of course." Glida reminiscing of her memories. Flashback (Cloudsdale, Junior Speedster Flight camp, set way before the event of MLP Season 1) At the camp, a fledgling griffon glance around the camp, seeing all of the pegasi ponies flying, training, and racing. She about to flap her wings until a rainbow blur passed her, startled her back to the ground. "Doesn't that griffon know she'd supposed to fly at the Junior Speedster Flight camp?" a brown colt bully teased as the other two laughed at her until the same filly with a rainbow mane blow a cloud at them. "Maybe she doesn't want to make you look bad!" the rainbow maned filly flew to the fledgling "Hey there, I'm Rainbow Dash! And you are....?" "Uh......G-G-G-G-Glida." "You sure about that?" Rainbow teased as Glida cracked a smile "Stick with me and those guys won't give you any guff." She extend her hoof as Glida grab it as they fly together, passing through the cloud rings on same speed, and Glida doing tricks on air. "Whoa! You're awesome!" Rainbow commented. "You too, Rainbow Dash!" Glida laughed. The foals continue watching Rainbow and Glida speed across the cloud tracks. "Well, Glida, let's show them how it's done!" With amount of speed, both crashed through the foal bullies like bowling pins. "Junior Speedsters are our lives," Glida chants. "Skybound soars and daring dives!" Rainbow joins in the chant. "Junior Speedsters, it's our quest to someday be the best!!!" End Flashback Upon remembering it, Glida's eyes begin to water a bit as she wiped her tears. But there's one thing that still bother her. "But there's that Bringer and I don't know if he can be trusted!" Glida spatted. "Not when his ancestor have done in the past." "Glida, please, Cosmo's ancestor may done something in the past, but if anything that I know, he willing to do anything he can to rekindle the bonds between his family ancestor and the griffons because he cares about you. At least try to do it just for Rainbow's sake." Pinkie said as Glida close her eyes. After a few minute, she sighed. "Fine, I'll help them. But that doesn't make them my friends." Glida said. "Duly noted." Pinkie said as Glida past her to help them. "Except it does, right fan brony readers?" With that, Pinkie hopped away, however shadow like figures glance at the scene then walked away. The ledges continue to crumble as Cosmo hold on tight with Rainbow on the side of the wall while feeling the powerful gale force. I can try to use my AGE Device to get us out of here, but I can't do that. It would mean revealing my secret to her! But still, is this the only choice I got with all the others won't work?! Cosmo thought of ways to get out with only one that even he don't like. "Uh, Cosmo, hope you got any plans on getting us out fast?!" Rainbow asked which Cosmo grunted in defeated. As Cosmo opened his mouth, a voice was heard. "Hang on, losers!" Both turned their heads and saw Glida rappelling the rope with Pinkie. "I'm coming!" "Glida!" Cosmo shouted. "What took you so long, doofus?" Rainbow said. Glida dives down to the abyss only for the wind current to blow her away as she grab onto a rock wall. The the ledges crumble as Cosmo grab onto Rainbow and both screaming while plunging to their doom. Pinkie gasped and tie a rope around her "Rainbow Dash! Cosmo! I'm coming for you two!" However, the rope she tied was the the one tighten on the rock for Glida as when she dives down, Glida was also dragging down too. All of them screaming while plunging down as Pinkie dive further and grab both of them. "Gotcha!" Glida land on another ledge and grunted while trying to pull them up "Hold......on........" As she tried to get up, she gasped and saw a skull, the skull of Arimaspi. Then she turned and saw a relic that was thought to be lost forever. "The Idol of Boreas!" she tried to reach it from her right claw as her talons able to move it slowly. "Cosmo, Pinkie, I'm slipping!" Rainbow shouted as Cosmo struggle to grasp her but her hoof begin to slipping. "Hang on........Rainbow!" Pinkie also grasp Cosmo while he tried to pull her up until Rainbow's hoof slipped off as she about to plummet down, Cosmo grasp her body. "I got you!" Glida straining upon those choice between her former friends and the idol until Cosmo's words echo her mind. "You don't know until you try. Beside, I don't like seeing you hurt and neither is Rainbow Dash." With her decision, she climb up and pulled them up as they collapse on the ledge with Rainbow clutching onto Cosmo. "Glida, you save us!" Cosmo sighed then both ponies glance at each other then their faces turn beet red as they let go of each other. They all look at the idol, now tipping down as it plunging down to the abyss. "The Idol!" Rainbow said "You two are more important than some dumb chunk of gold." Glida said as she turned to Cosmo then sighed "Especially you, Cosmo. You're important too." Glida hugged them but their tender moment was interrupted when the ledge begin to break away. "Hugging latter," Pinkie fumbled the rope then fasten tighten the rope on Cosmo and Rainbow "climbing now!" With that Glida begin climbing quickly with Cosmo, Rainbow, and Pinkie tied up. After a few hours of climbing, all of them made safe in the top ledge of the Abyssal Abyss. Cosmo untied the rope as do Pinkie, Rainbow and Glida as Cosmo came to her. "Thank you, Glida for saving us." he said which she look down. "Look, I know my ancestor done something terrible but I knew one thing, is that I do whatever I can to rebuild the kingdom back with or without the Idol or Boreas. That's why," he raise his hoof to her "I want to start over. Start as friends. What do you say?" Glida look at it as she thinking about while Pinkie and Rainbow hopping for them to start over. After a few tension, she raiser her talons and gasp it and both shake it. "Fine with me." Both of them smile as Pinkie hugged the both of them in a tight hug "Oh, I'm so happy that you two got the chance to start over! I better plan to start on Congratulation of making amends with the Griffons and Bringers and Being Friends!" "Pinkie..........can't..........breath....." Cosmo wheezed as Pinkie let go of them, gasping for breath. "Oops sorry." However, their tender moments was cut short as a large explosion was heard as they turned to the source and to the horror, Griffonstone was under attack. "What's going on?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "My home!" Glida shrieked as she unfurled her wings and zoomed off with Cosmo, Rainbow, and Pinkie following behind. All of the Griffons were assaulted by the Changelings as each use their talons to swipe them away only for them to shapeshift into griffons and blasted them with their magic. Buildings were crumbled down as fires crackled on the roof of their homes. Glida rushed in and saw the destruction of the town while seeing griffons being attacked by Changelings. Rainbow, Cosmo, and Pinkie rushed in and have the shocked expression as her. "Changelings again?!" Rainbow exclaimed "What with these guys?!" Glida glanced at her friend "You know those things?!" "Unfortunately we do, these creatures feed off of love by stealing from ponies and can shapeshift into other ponies. They were lead by Queen Chrysalis and tried to invade Canterlot long ago, but that was failed when Twilight and her friends drive them out. Lately they tried to kidnap ponies in Ponyville and even the Crusaders but Twilight and her friends foiled it. Yet they tried to kidnap them instead until the Gundam appeared and injured the queen causing them to take revenge on them." Cosmo explained. "But I never knew those monsters were tartarus bent on taking that far." Glida was shocked at this. She heard about those creatures in books which she never like to read, but to see them in real life is another. She gasped when she saw Greta being surrounded by them. Anger course the griffon as she take flight and swoop them away. "Keep your fifthly hooves off my friend!" Glida shouted as the Changelings hissed at them. "We got to helped them!" Pinkie said as she and Rainbow rushed towards them only for Cosmo to see a Changeling rushed towards them as a green beam fire at them "Look out!" he pushed them away as he was blasted into the wall. "COSMO!" both shouted as both were surrounded by them. Meanwhile Cosmo grunted behind the walls as he tried to get up only to grunt in pain as he clenched his hoof as more Changelings were surrounding him. Unnoticed, he begin pressing few buttons on his AGE Device as cast a glare light spell, blinding them for a bit before rushing to a hiding spot at the walls of a broken building. "Okay, here we go!" he held his AGE Device and the compartment hole appeared in his chest as he slammed it. At Cosmo's basement, Haro's eyes light up and speaking "Activate AGE Armor! Activate AGE Armor!" Armors shot out from the catapult and flying towards Griffonstone, earning attention from Applejack as she knew what's going on. "Cosmo, be careful........" she prayed for him. With each armors separate into components, it attached to Cosmo, forming the AGE 4 but now with the new armors. "Here we go, AGE 4 Bushido, Cosmo Bringer, eliminate the Changelings!" Cosmo took off into the sky as he glanced down upon the kingdom, earning attention from the Changelings and even the griffons and the two ponies. "Look, it's the Gundam!" Pinkie pointed. "But he looks different from what we seen before." Rainbow squinted her eyes upon the new armors. " The Gundam?" Glida asked. "Yeah, the Gundam is a mysterious being that called himself the savior that rescued us numerous times from the Changelings. It has strange weapons and abilities that can counter the Changelings' magic and the one that the Changelings are vengeful at." Rainbow explained. The Changelings hissed as they charging towards him only for him to pulled a scabbard and got into a stance. Then as he flicked his blade, with a blinding speed, he slash towards them as the Changelings were cut in half, exploded on contact. "Whoa, now that's fast!" Pinkie cheered as Glida and Rainbow were impress by that feature. More Changelings coming towards him as he dodge their magic as he point his wrist as beam shurikiens shot out and slice through the bodies as he swung his sword in fast speed. "You're not getting through me!" Cosmo shouted as he continue slash and slice through the army of Changelings. While firing more of the beam shurikines, he spot Grandpa Gruff along with other griffons cornered by them as he dive down and pulled his katana. "No you don't!" Flaps from under the arms and legs as thrusters pushed him faster as with quick speed he slice and dice through them and with flick, all of the Changelings exploded. "You okay?" he asked as the griffons nodded slowly. "Get the griffons to the safe place, I'll handle them!" Cosmo ordered. "But how we know which is our kind?" one of them asked as he glanced at Changelings turned into griffons charging at them as Cosmo activate his AGE wave, disabled their magic. "This should disabled for the time being." he said "Now go!" All of the Griffons nodded as they rushed out of the battlefield as Cosmo got into a stance with his katana and faced another wave of Changelings. With a battle cry, he cut through the army as he hack, slash, slice, and thrust his katana at them. Only 13 changelings left as he slice through them in quick second. With only 3 left, the Changelings fly out of the battlefield. Cosmo swung his sword as he placed back into his scabbard, looking at the remaining Changelings retreating. He looked back at the griffons and each were surprised by the mysterious savior only for him to teleport away using his magic. At the ruin of the Griffonstone, all of the griffons were sadden by their kingdom now in ruins as Rainbow, Pinkie, and Glida were looking around for their friend. "Cosmo!" Pinkie shouted. "Cosmo, where are you?!" Glida shouted. "Cosmo!" Rainbow swoop around to find him until he spotted a hoof as she dive down and pulled it up, revealing Cosmo grunted in pain. "Cosmo, are you all right?!" Rainbow hold him as he nodded. "Yeah, those Changelings' magic really knock me unconscious." he grasp his head "I still felt my head is ringing." She sighed as she helped him up while he hold his head as the other two rushed to him. "You okay?" Pinkie asked as he nodded. "Well I'm glad that you're okay." Glida sighed but sadden as she glanced around the ruin kingdom now in shambles with griffons were in deep depression. "Sadly our home is in deep ruins. Without the Idol of Boreas or any bits or gold, we can't rebuild our home. We might have to abandon it and find a new place to live with." Cosmo look down, trying to think about it before got an idea. "Actually, there's something that I found that will help. Bring the other griffons to the library." he said as they glanced at him as he headed to the library. After gathering all of the griffons, each of them were not only in deep depression but also very bitter and annoyed. Glida, Rainbow, and Pinkie waited for Cosmo to come as the rustled from the roof was heard as they saw him pulling out a treasure chest which the griffons were surprised by it. He set it down and spoke. "Citizens of Griffonstone, as you may not know, I'm the ancestor of Chrono Bringer, Cosmo Bringer." Upon hearing that, all of the griffons booed at him while hissed at them even angrily shouted at him but didn't phase him as he continue "As you know, my ancestor caused the loss of the Idol of Boreas which severed the connection of my ancestor and every griffons. But upon researching on his journal, he knew that day would happened and so he begin place his fortunes into this chest. He planned this in a token of his kindness in hope it will be enough to rebuild the kingdom yet even with it, he also said there's more to it than piles of gold and jewelries." he glanced at Pinkie "Pinkie, would you do the honors of what the kingdom needs?" Pinkie was surprised at this but nodded as she came to his side while the griffons looked incredulously "When we came to griffonstone, we all thought that finding the Idol of Boreas was the reason the map sent us, but upon understanding it, I realize that the map didn't sent for that reason. No, it was meant to replace something better!" "There's nothing better than gold!" one griffon shouted. "I know but after seeing this place I realize that Griffonstone doesn't have Friendship!" she said, the smile never leave her face as the griffons looked incredulously yet listen carefully to the party pony. "If you can learn to care about each other again, Griffonstone could be a mightier kingdom than it was before! And you don't need some gold idol to do that. You just need each other." The griffons soften their hard glare upon understanding of it as they mumbled a bit. Cosmo spoke "I know my ancestor done something terrible to all of you, but one thing he knows, a Bringer will do in their power to restore something that's lost. And my friends and I will do everything we can to help rebuild your kingdom and bring friendship to it." Cosmo then open the chest using his AGE Device and open the fortunes as all of them were gasped upon the amount of treasure store into it. "It will be up to you to make the kingdom brighter than it was before. Please as a token for what my ancestor have done, let us have a fresh start and start rebuilding the kingdom." All of the griffons shouted as all of them got each of their fortunes and starting to rebuild their homes as Cosmo turned to his friends. "Looks like your speech inspired all, but sappy." Rainbow said. "Yeah but I think it was Pinkie Pie who realize what the kingdom needs." Cosmo said. "Aw shucks, it was nothing!" Pinkie blushed a bit. "Speaking of which, if the fortunes that your ancestor saved won't be enough, how we going to get more to rebuild it?" Glida asked. "I was thinking heading back to Canterlot and report what happened. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will provided the financial support to rebuild it." Cosmo said. "But do you think the griffons are ready for this?" Rainbow asked "This isn't like Ponyville." "I know, but we have to. My ancestor long for the rebirth of the kingdom so I do whatever I can to make it a reality." Cosmo glanced at the griffons. "Why you try share some scones with Greta?" Pinkie asked Glida which she rubbed her head but sighed and nodded. She head towards him as upon seeing Glida she refused at first but she offer one as she took a bite she smile as they sharing some and both of them were have smiles and begin chatting. After that, she head back to the group. "Okay, so she was wierded out until she tried the scones. Then she tried and she said it was good! No griffons ever said that!" Cosmo, Rainbow, and Pinkie smiled as their heard a ringing and saw their cutie marks glowing. "Whoa, Pinkie, I guess that really was the problem after all." Rainbow said. "Baking powder make baked goods and friendship fluffy and delicious!" Pinkie said in a commercial reel the squeed. "Well we better head back home." Rainbow said. "What?" Glida yelled "Y-y-you want me to spread friendship here by myself?! How am I supposed to do that?! I haven't made any one single friend yet!" "No you haven't." Rainbow said "You have three." "Hugging! Hugging now!" Pinkie tearing up as all in a group hug. "Maybe you can come visit and meet with the others. You can amend to those you hurt." Cosmo said. "Thanks, Cosmo, but right now I'm still new to this. It'll take time to learn about it before heading to Ponyville to make some amends." Glida said as he nodded. "I understand." Cosmo said "I hope we meet again." He raise his hoof as Glida grasp it and shook it. "The same. You and the others will come back right?" "Of course." "Absolutely!" Pinkie said. "Just try and stop us!" Rainbow said as Cosmo saw Pinkie still hugging Glida tightly as he used his magic to pry her off. Glida turned and wave goodbye to her new friends as they headed back to the train station to head home. Pinkie looked back and saw Glida and Greta enjoying the scones near to the King Grover library with a twinkle on the eyes. "See ya later, you old charmer." Pinkie said. "Uh, Pinkie?" Rainbow asked "Who are you talking to?" "Nopony!" Pinkie said. "Um, Pinkie did you just talking to a-?" Cosmo asked only for her to closed his mouth. "It's nothing! Come on, let's go home and see how Gummy did with Granny Pie's marjolaine!" "Wait you left your pet to cook? Why?" Cosmo asked. "Cosmo," he looked up to Rainbow "don't question it. Trust me, you save less headache from asking Pinkie Pie." Nodded, the three continue walking towards the train station. At the Badlands, two Changelings guards were on patrol on the mountains in search for herbs to heal the survivors. So far only 10 herbs was picked up and place on the basket. "Man, we're slowly losing more of our kind to that 'Gundam'." one of them said. "I know what you mean. Ever since the Gundam appeared and injured the Queen, she's been focus so much on taking revenge on it as well as Twilight Sparkle and her friends." another said. "And every time she send our kind to take vengeance on them, the Gundam is one step stronger with this new power that's interfering with our shape shifting magic." "Not to mention the Queen continue to rant in anger and desire to destroy the Gundam." the first said as the second nodded. "We got enough herbs for the survivors." the second said "We should return to the castle." "Right." Then a faint glow caught their attention as the two guards notice something on the side. They checked it out and saw a strange shard of metal was sticking out of the ground. "What is that?" one of them asked. "I don't know, but we should report to the Queen about this." With that, they hurried to the castle to report of the discovery. Ending :